Special council meeting
Monday, September 10
p. 2
Cruisin’ MainStreet set
for Friday, September 7
p. 25-30
Brave enough to visit
Terror Behind the Walls
p. 39
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
SHOPRITE EMPLOYEE CHARGED
Volume 22 • Issue 36
by Gabe Donio
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—A cashier at
the Hammonton ShopRite, located
at Peach Tree Plaza on the White
Horse Pike (Route 30) was charged
with theft after the store’s Loss
www.hammontongazette.com
Police: Cashier had taken $500 from the cash register
Prevention found that the cashier
was placing cash into her pocket
when they observed video of the
cashier, Hammonton Police Lt.
Kevin Friel said.
Jillian Sarachene, 19, of Egg
Remembering
Russell Clark
by Gabe Donio
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Former
Mayor Russell Clark, a local
farmer and third-generation owner
of Green Mount Farms and Mar-
ket who was the longest-serving
mayor (five terms from 1974 to
Harbor City was charged with theft
following the incident, Friel said.
“When confronted about it, she
stated that she did take the money,
and did it because she was trying
to pay bills,” Friel said.
She was charged and released
pending a court appearance, Friel
said.
Friel said Officer Gordon Ellis
III was the arresting officer.
In other police news, police
made the following arrests last
week, Friel said.
• On August 27 at 5:49 p.m. on
the 500 block of Bellevue Avenue,
a man was charged with driving
Students, teachers return to school
See POLICE, Page 2
5-term mayor served
10 years; was also
7-term councilman
1983, according to town records,
for a total of 10 years) in Ham-
monton history, died at age 79 on
Affordable housing
settlement approved
See CLARK, Page 8
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—During its regular meeting on August 26, town
council held a second reading for ordinance (No. 031-2018) to provide
for and regulate future affordable housing in Hammonton through 2025.
The ordinance will amend Chapter 75 (“Fair Share Housing), Articles
VII and XIII of the town’s general ordinances to address the requirements
THG/MarySusan Hoffman. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
‘Elvis’ comes to the Swim Club Book’s profanity
See COUNCIL, Page 4
Students from the Hammonton Early Childhood Education Center and the Warren E. Sooy Jr. Elementary School began
the 2018-2019 school year on September 4. Students were welcomed with red carpets, balloons and music playing.
For more photos, see Page 31.
causes concerns
by Lauren Bucci
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—The Ham-
monton Board of Education ad-
dressed concerns regarding the
high school’s required summer
reading selection for the 2018-
2019 school year at its regular
meeting on Thursday, August 23.
During the public comment por-
tion of the meeting, Pentti Fors-
man, a father of an incoming
freshman, came before the board
to express his disappointment in
their choice of required summer
reading for the “One Book” pro-
gram—A Short History of the Girl
St. Joseph schools
ready for new year
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Elvis Presley impersonator Doug Church — known as “The True Voice of Elvis” — performed with his live band at the
Hammonton Swim Club on September 2 during an event titled “Elvis’ Hawaiian Concert.” All proceeds from the event
benefitted the Hammonton Swim Club.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
HAMMONTON—September 5
marks the first day of student ori-
entation for the 2018-2019 school
year at St. Joseph High School
(SJHS), as well as the first day of
classes at St. Joseph Regional El-
ementary School (SJRES). After a
Gazette • SUBSCRIBE NOW! • CALL 609-704-1939
summer full of planning and
preparation, the staff and adminis-
tration of both schools are ready to
take on the new year and provide
an optimal educational experience
for their enrolled students so they
can go on to lead successful lives.
At SJHS, students are currently
in the midst of a three-day orien-
tation that is separated by grade
See ST. JOE, Page 10
by Stephen Pistone
See SCHOOL, Page 3