A morning at the
Swim Club
An intimate look at
the Feast Day, July 16
Lion King comes alive
on the big screen
CHIEF JONES TO RETIRE
p. 19
p. 23-38
p. 47
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Volume 23 • Issue 30
by Joseph F. Berenato
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—at the July
22 council meeting, Mayor
Stephen DiDonato announced that
Hammonton Police Chief robert
www.hammontongazette.com
effective September 1 after 34 years of service
Jones had tendered his retirement
letter, effective September 1.
“i asked him to think about it
over the weekend, and i asked him
to pull it back Monday morning.
Feast Day traditions
embraced by many
… He did not. He would like to re-
tire. the chief has served us for 34
years and has been one tremen-
dous officer from day one,” DiDo-
nato said.
at Jones’ request, Councilman
thomas Gribbin read the chief’s
retirement letter into the official
record.
“i would like to take a moment
to thank the officers who i have
worked with during my career
here at the Hammonton Police De-
partment. the caliber of officers
See POLICE, Page 2
Locals, out-of-towners visit
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
by Stephen Pistone
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—each year on
July 16, Hammonton’s week-long
celebration of the feast of Our
Lady of Mt. Carmel ends with a
solemn day full of religious devo-
tion and the intercession of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, who was
given the title of Our Lady of Mt.
Carmel in her role as the patroness
of the Carmelite Order of roman
Plan bd. approves
3-lot subdivision
See MT. CARMEL, Page 4
by Stephen Pistone
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—During its meeting on July 17, the Hammonton
Planning Board unanimously approved a major subdivision, preliminary
and final site plan review and a waiver of sidewalk requirements to allow
for the construction of three separate dwellings on portions of the land
located at 219 Lincoln St. (Block 2604, Lot 7, zone r2) that will be
From Gesso, Sicily to Hammonton
See PLANNING, Page 12
THG/Kelly Hunt. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
The Rev. David Rivera walks in front of the statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel during the procession on July 16. Members
of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society walk beside the statue and pushed her through the streets of Hammonton. Thou-
sands came to Hammonton for the Feast Day and procession. More Feast Day photos inside.
Chamber Pres.
Ott outlines plans
by Stephen Pistone
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—after spend-
ing six years as president of Main-
Street Hammonton’s board of
trustees, Benjamin Ott will now
look to lead the Greater Hammon-
ton Chamber of Commerce as
president for the next two years.
the Hammonton resident and
accredited asset Management
Specialist for Kingsview asset
Management was officially in-
stalled as chamber president on
May 21. He previously served as
second vice president of the cham-
ber’s board of trustees. Ott said he
hopes to advocate for more collab-
oration between local business
and town entities in order to fur-
Stockton course on
history of genocide
G azette S taff W riter
Photo Courtesy of Pete Santilli
On July 9 this family from Italy wanted to visit Hammonton briefly. From the left are Annamaria D’Agostino ( originally
from Gesso, Sicily) her husband, Giuseppe Leone, her daughter, Francesca, and son, Carmelo named in honor of Our
Lady of Mount Carmel. They are seen here inside St. Joseph Church of St. Mary of Mount Carmel Parish where they
were welcomed by the Rev. David Rivera and a number of Hammonton residents with ties to Gesso. Many residents
of Hammonton can trace their ancestry to Gesso, where people remain devoted to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
HaMMONtON—When
reflecting on the global history of
genocide, the first event that
comes to most people’s minds is
the Holocaust during World War
ii, which claimed approximately
Gazette • SUBSCRIBE NOW! • CALL 609-704-1939
11 million lives, including six
million european Jews, from 1942
to 1945.
However, the grim reality is that
genocides
have
occurred
throughout modern history, and
there are still several taking place
throughout the world to this day.
On July 10, the Stockton
See STOCKTON, Page 3
by Stephen Pistone
See CHAMBER, Page 8