The Hammonton Gazette 09/03/14 Edition | Page 2

The Hammonton Gazette IS SOLD IN 70+ LOCATIONS IN: Hammonton • Folsom • Mullica Twp. • Egg Harbor City Waterford Twp. • Winslow Twp. • Buena • Collings Lakes Local businesses support Cruisin’ MainStreet p. 16-20 Home and school group ready for new year p. 23 Wednesday, September 3, 2014 TOWN JOINS WATER LAWSUIT Volume 18 • Issue 36 by Lauren Bucci GazeTTe STaff WriTer HaMMONTON—at their august 25 meeting, town council authorized the retention of Texas law firm Baron and Budd, P.C. and entered into a legal agreement in order to seek monetary reimbursement from two major chemical companies traced back to the con- www.hammontongazette.com Mayor: Carcinogen TCP was in Wells 1, 3 & 4 taminate Trichloropropane 1,2,3 (TCP) which was found in town Wells 1, 3 and 4, Mayor Stephen DiDonato said. “Let’s talk about Baron and Budd, P.C. out of Texas. They say we have TCPs in wells 1,3 and 4 that we have since removed, but that we should be reimbursed from, i believe it comes from fertilizers am i correct … it comes from a number of sources … but they followed it back to two chemical companies, two large chemical companies let’s just say that,” DiDonato said. according to town solicitor Brian Howell, the firm’s represen- tative made a presentation before council in closed session about the town’s participation in the aforementioned lawsuit on a contingency basis, at no cost to the town. “Mayor and council met with a representative from Dallas, Texas, an attorney from Dallas, Texas who is nationally recognized for bringing claims against entities that pollute municipal water supplies. as you know, we’ve had a history of some contaminates including contamination by something called TCP, trichloropropane 1,2,3. and he made a presentation to mayor and council in closed, Messina Avenue building razed after collapse by Gabe Donio GazeTTe STaff WriTer HaMMONTON – a building on the 200 block of Messina avenue was razed by the town after partially collapsing at 7:56 p.m. on august 25, Hammonton Police Lt. Kevin friel said. “a resident called to advise of a partial building collapse,” friel said. See COUNCIL, Page 14 Police and fire responded, friel said. The highway department responded and marked off the area with barrels and caution tape, friel said. The firm Major Concrete was contracted by the town to demolish the building, friel said. “The building was in disrepair for some time,” friel said when asked about the reason for the collapse by The Gazette. Allen retires after 42 school years by Paul J. Macrie IV GazeTTe STaff WriTer HaMMONTON—in June, Hammonton resident Ginna allen retired from her career at the Hammonton School District after 42 years. for 28 of those years, allen was a reading teacher at Hammon- ton Middle School, primarily teaching seventh grade students during that time. for the remainder of her career she worked as a school social worker at the middle school and eventually the high school. When growing up, allen said her original goal was to be a bio- Massive cargo comes through town See RETIRES, Page 2 Green Day, yard sale, BBQ Sept. 13 Courtesy Photo Workers demolish an abandoned building on Messina Avenue after the building partially collapsed on August 25. by Paul J. Macrie IV GazeTTe STaff WriTer HaMMONTON—Saturday, September 13 will be an actionpacked day in Hammonton. Green Weekend has turned into Green Day as the annual town-wide yard sale, recycling central, the rider University eOP Barbecue and the Green Day festival will all take place on the same day. as the town continues to promote its green initiative, these events have become an annual fixture. MainStreet Hammonton executive Director Cassie iacovelli talked about the 10th annual MainStreet Town-Wide Yard Sale, sponsored by Joe Wiessner realty AtlantiCare EMS continues local service by Paul J. Macrie IV GazeTTe STaff WriTer THG/Gina Rullo. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940. Large pieces from an oil refinery that were being transported to Texas came through town last week. Two large pieces were accompanied by several guide vehicles made their way through Hammonton in the afternoon on August 28. Traffic along Rt. 54 was backed up for several minutes as the slow-moving caravan moved through town. SUBSCRIBE TO The Gazette! HaMMONTON—atlantiCare regional Medical Center’s emergency Medical Services (eMS) is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-aweek assistance for individuals that are suffering from critical ill- See GREEN, Page 12 nesses or life-threatening injuries. eMS professionals communicate with atlantiCare’s trauma service team to ensure immediate transportation of patients. Director/Chief at atlantiCare regional Medical Center’s emergency Medical Services robert Mattle said emergency services in ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL (609) 704-1940 See EMS, Page 10