New tasting room opens
on Bellevue Avenue
p. 9
Cruisin’ MainStreet set
for Friday, September 7
p. 20-26
Seinfeld still makes us
laugh with Netflix show
p. 37
FROG ROCK DEAL STALLS
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Volume 22 • Issue 35
by Stephen Pistone
G AzeTTe S TAff W riTer
HAMMONTON—During its
regular meeting on August 27,
town council failed to pass an
www.hammontongazette.com
4-3 vote on bond ordinance; bonding requires 5 votes to pass
amended bond ordinance (No.
034-2018) that proposed to
appropriate $1.28 million to
finance the cost of purchasing
approximately 132 acres of private
land from frog rock Golf and
Country Club, where Mayor
Stephen DiDonato and supporters
on council sought to dispose future
treated effluent from the town’s
wastewater treatment plant.
The vote was 4-3; five votes are
needed to pass a bond ordinance.
A motion to approve the second
reading of Ordinance No. 034-
Police investigating Celebrating Puerto Rican culture
thefts, vandalism
by Gabe Donio
G AzeTTe S TAff W riTer
HAMMONTON—Police are
investigating thefts and vandalism
that occurred during the last
month, Hammonton Police Lt.
Kevin friel said.
• On August 20 at 7:09 p.m. on
See COUNCIL, Page 8
the 100 block of Paradise Drive
(route 206 campground), a theft
occurred, friel said.
“A complainant stated that there
was a theft of music and DJ equip-
ment,” friel said.
reportedly stolen were:
• Three Pioneer multiplayer mu-
sical instruments
Optimism runs high
at public schools
See POLICE, Page 2
by Stephen Pistone
G AzeTTe S TAff W riTer
HAMMONTON—Summer vacation is winding down, which means
students of the Hammonton School District will soon be heading back
to school for the 2018-2019 school year. School district administrators,
teachers and staff have spent the summer busily preparing for the stu-
dents’ arrival, and are optimistic for what the new school year will bring,
Enjoying annual Touch a Truck
See SCHOOL, Page 4
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Puerto Rican Civic Association (PRCA) of Hammonton Vice President Edwin Negroni (left) and President Gladys Torres
(right) presented a proclamation to past president and PRCA of Hammonton founder Fernando “Freddy” Melendez
(center) during a special “Celebration of Puerto Rican Culture” ceremony in front of town hall on August 26. The
ceremony marked the beginning of “Puerto Rican Heritage Week” in Hammonton.
PRCA opens its
40th annual festival
by Stephen Pistone
G AzeTTe S TAff W riTer
HAMMONTON—The people
of Hammonton celebrated Puerto
rican culture and heritage on Au-
gust 26 as the Puerto rican Civic
Association (PrCA) of Hammon-
ton commenced “Puerto rican
Heritage Week” with a downtown
parade and celebration.
The afternoon festivities began
with a Spanish Mass at St. Joseph’s
Church, followed by a parade that
included a fleet of colorful vehicles
filing down North Third Street as
several Puerto rican flags waved
freely and the sound of horns,
Bulldogs, Canoe
Club at the rec mtg.
G AzeTTe S TAff W riTer
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Hasten Landaez, of Hammonton, got to sit behind the wheel of a tractor during MainStreet Hammonton’s Touch a Truck
event on August 26. See more pictures on Page 14.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
HAMMONTON—The Ham-
monton Parks and recreation
Commission met on August 21 at
town hall.
After an approval of the minutes
from the last meeting in June, there
was a quick discussion about the
Gazette • SUBSCRIBE NOW! • CALL 609-704-1939
new Hammonton Bulldogs presi-
dent Kevin fricke, with a plan to
have him meet with the committee
next month about some approvals.
They include a yet-to- be-deter-
mined Bulldogs registration date
for the Canoe Club, as well as use
of Warren e. Sooy Jr. elementary
School, Hammonton Middle and
Hammonton High school gyms on
See REC, Page 10
by Michael Rizzotte
See PRCA, Page 3