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NEW ROUTE FOR TRIATHLON
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Volume 18 • Issue 30
www.hammontongazette.com
Traffic concerns lead to change; still same day as Blueberry Festival
by Gabe Donio
GazeTTe STaFF WriTer
HaMMONTON—in response
to concerns from residents and
business owners regarding traffic
created by the “double loop” route
of the Challenge aC Triathlon held
this past June 29 on the same day
as the red, White and Blueberry
Festival, Mayor Stephen DiDonato
announced the route for cyclists
for 2015 would be significantly
changed in an email on July 16.
While the race will still be held
on the same day as the red, White
and Blueberry Festival (June 28,
Uptown projects
moving forward
2015), there are major changes to
the route that DiDonato said “will
reduce, if not entirely eliminate,
the congestion some may have experienced that Sunday.” according to the mayor, the changes
include:
• The new route will only use a
portion of Columbia road and a
portion of route 206 north of Columbia road when in Hammonton. all other roads that had been
impacted in the 2014 race (route
30, atlantic City expressway,
route 54, Weymouth road) will
not be impacted.
• instead of having all the riders
come through town on a “double
loop” only the professional athletes will pass through Hammonton, and only once.
• all riders will be out of town
by 11 a.m.
During the race in June, riders
came through Hammonton from
the atlantic City expressway and
See TRIATHLON, Page 12
Luccas purchase Sail Lake Complex
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GazeTTe STaFF WriTer
HaMMONTON—The White
Horse Pike (route 30) continues to
have some notable vacancies, especially at locations such as the
former Super Fresh near Walmart,
Hibachi Grill and Sushi at the
Peach Tree Plaza and the former
William B. Kessler Memorial Hospital near the Hammonton Lake.
Development of these vacated
Mt. Carmel Feast
draws huge crowds
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GazeTTe STaFF WriTer
HaMMONTON—On July 16,
the 139th Feast of Our Lady of Mt.
Carmel was celebrated in the town
of Hammonton. after two straight
days of rainy conditions to begin
the feast week on July 14 and 15,
See WHP, Page 10
the weather cooperated for the annual feast day. The festivities
began with the traditional Our
Lady of Mt. Carmel Society Mass
at St. Joseph Church of the St.
Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish led by
the Most reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, Bishop of Camden. it was
the second consecutive year Sulli-
Perfect day for a procession How do they set up
See MT. CARMEL, Page 14
Courtesy Image
The new map of the Challenge Atlantic City race shows less involvement for Hammonton and the Atlantic City Expressway.
It appears to encircle a large portion of Wharton State Forest.
those carnival rides?
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GazeTTe STaFF WriTer
HaMMONTON—each year at
the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Festival, rides are offered courtesy of
amusements of america. The
company is one of the most recognized carnival operators in the nation. it currently carries more than
100 rides and attractions, with its
route stretching from the east
Coast states to the Midwest.
Morris Vivona, one of five
brothers that own amusements of
america stationed out of Monroe
Township with its other facility located in Florence, South Carolina,
discussed the process of assembling rides and attractions, and
then taking them down for each
No quorum means no
action at Parks & Rec
by Lauren Bucci
GazeTTe STaFF WriTer
THG/Lauren Crescenzo. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
A large crowd walked in this year’s procession on July 16. Above: The statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was surrounded by
the faithful during the entire route. For photos from every day of the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, see Pages 21-40.
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HaMMONTON—The Hammonton Parks and recreation
Commission held a brief meeting
on Tuesday, July 15. The board met
without a quorum so no formal action was taken.
Commission members James
See RIDES, Page 4
Borda, Nick Cassetta, Paul Ordille,
Sam rodio Jr., John iacovelli and
Steve Struble were absent. Public
works manager/business administrator Jerome Barberio was also absent from the meeting.
recreation supervisor Monica
Newton gave an update on the
bathrooms which were vandalized
this spring at the Hammonton Lake
ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL (609) 704-1940
See PARKS, Page 3