The Hammonton Gazette 08/12/15 Edition | Page 6

Page 6 • Wednesday, August 12, 2015 • The Hammonton Gazette The Hammonton Gazette “The Paper of Record” Gabriel J. Donio, Publisher Gina rullo, Editor-in-Chief Dan russoman, Sports Editor Benny Mendez, Staff Artist Marysusan Hoffman, Paul J. Macrie iV, Michael Hozik, Donna Brown, Joseph Bruno, Brittany Mauro, Tania rivera, Lauren Crescenzo, Staff The Hammonton Gazette is located at 233 Bellevue ave. To reach a staff member, call 704-1940 or fax at 704-1938. The mailing address is P.o. Box 1228, Hammonton, NJ 08037. EDiToriaLs The Hammonton Gazette is published Wednesdays, by The Hammonton Gazette, Inc. Copyright © 2015. All rights reserved. ISSN 1093-6181 The quiet time We are in the midst of the quiet time in Hammonton, the weeks after our blueberry and summer festival seasons, but before school opens. There are merits to being in Hammonton during these weeks. The whole town slows down to a pace that is more manageable, less frenetic. People who go down the shore contend with crowds, long lines, lack of parking and waits during August. In Hammonton, it’s the opposite. Sit on the front porch or by Hammonton Lake. Go camping out in the Pine Barrens. Enjoy a coffee or a meal in town. You can do everything, or nothing. If you’re still here, the town is your playground, so enjoy it before everyone comes back in another week or two. We like the quiet time. It gives us the opportunity to collect our thoughts and consider matters a bit, without the usual business of the town distracting us. It’s a peaceful few weeks where everyone takes a little break from their usual activities, either because they are away on vacation, or because they are still here, but enjoying the increased solitude. If you are one of the many Hammontonians still in town in August, make sure you make the most of the quiet time. The next few months will be busy again, but don’t worry, we take another break in January, after the holiday season. Local law This week, The Gazette has a front-page article about local members of the legal profession. The law has a long-standing position of prominence in Hammonton, and while there may not be as many practitioners as there once were in decades past locally, the town’s legal community remains strong. Last week, retired New Jersey Superior Court Judge Michael Donio, who is returning to private practice in his new office at Sail Lake Professional Center on the White Horse Pike (Route 30) in Hammonton, was honored at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City in front of more than 450 people. He will be writing two separate once-a-month columns for The Gazette beginning this month: a legal column called “Ask the Judge” and a sports column called “Off the Bench.” Donio’s return to Hammonton (he will be doing mediations and have a general law practice) bolsters an already-strong local legal community. As the attorneys said in the front-page article this week, local lawyers enjoy their work because they are advocates for people who need their specific kind of help. Having these professionals in our town strengthens Hammonton, because in most cases, these lawyers not only work here, but live here as well. That makes them committed not only to their clients, but to the welfare and promotion of Hammonton. When you are in need of legal assistance, consider a local attorney. F