Hammonton
Trivia Questions from the Town Sesquicentennial Committee
Page 4 • Wednesday , September 14 , 2016 • The Hammonton Gazette
Blachford looks back , forward
BLACHFORD , from Page 1 realize everything that went on behind the scenes at the schools in order to make changes happen .
“ You know the old saying ‘ ignorance is bliss ?’ Well if that ’ s true , then i must have been the happiest person on earth . We would implement things , and i would be really happy about it and say ‘ that was easy ’ and they would tell me that people had been going crazy to make it happen ,” he said . through his many years working in the school system , Blachford has become well-acquainted with the town of Hammonton and is “ vastly indebted ” to the community .
“ the level of connection in Hammonton is different than anything i ’ ve run into in my life . it still shocks me to be talking to someone i ’ ve known and to find out their daughter teaches in one of the schools . the numbers of connections in this town are really extensive ,” Blachford said . to illustrate just how interconnected Hammonton is , Blachford noted the time that the town rallied to raise an immense amount of money to support a local teacher battling cancer .
“ What happened was Hammonton Middle School principal Mr . Miller conducted a fundraiser for Mrs . Salvati years ago . Before the event , he said he thought he would raise around $ 13,000 . the event wound up raising $ 25,000 . it ’ s a true testimony to the people of Hammonton . When they care about something , they get behind it ,” he said .
He also notes the complexity and intensity in curriculum that is unique to Hammonton .
“ i once had a father [ of a student ] who said to me that he graduated from college but couldn ’ t help his third grader with math . the way we are teaching math is very complex , but it is taught at a high level of complexity because it ’ s the way the students need to know it ,” Blachford said .
Blachford also realized throughout his time as superintendent that education is a team effort at Hammonton schools , and no singular person can accomplish it all on their own .
“ the truth is it ’ s really been a team initiative here . the teachers are fantastic in Hammonton ; they design the curriculum all year long and improve it . they have a kidsfirst mentality and also a very strong desire to get better , even if it means embracing change . a lot of other schools simply follow fads when it comes to curriculum , but we only do what works . the administrators are a big part of change as well , and the board of education has done a phenomenal job . the board understands the
community really well , as they tip me off to complaints and provide interference . everyone is behind everything that is implemented , and it ’ s a total team approach ,” Blachford said . as far as his reason for leaving Hammonton , Blachford said it ’ s because he ’ d like to allow room for more people to get involved in the school system and in the profession of education .
“ this profession is the best one on earth , and the reason i ’ m leaving is because i feel it would be selfish to stay . Me leaving will allow at least two others to get into this profession because once i leave people will move up and when people move up more openings become available . i would love to stay longer but a big thing for me is not to be greedy or selfish ,” Blachford said .
What ’ s next for Blachford ? He admits he ’ s not sure yet but would like another “ fast-paced ” environment like Hammonton Public Schools .
“ i do enjoy fast-paced environments , which is why i enjoy working in Hammonton . i don ’ t see me retiring at all ; i ’ d like to be in another fast-paced environment , so we ’ ll see what happens in a year or so ,” Blachford said .
Holocaust event at Kramer Hall Sept . 21
HaMMONtON — Stockton university student rebekah Sabo will present a lecture on “ Holocaust Denial " on Wednesday , Sept . 21 at noon at Kramer Hall ,
Police make local arrests
POLICE , from Page 1 Judge Sicheri was the judge ,
and the arresting officer was Sgt . thomas Percodani , Jones said .
• On September 6 at 2:49 p . m ., ryan Marsh , 26 , of Newtonville , was arrested at the atlantiCare Satellite emergency Department and was charged with disorderly persons , hindering arrest and obstruction , Jones said .
Officer Jason rigby handled the arrest , Jones said .
• On September 9 at 6 p . m ., allison Luker , 24 , of absecon was arrested on a “ take into custody ” warrant from the atlantic County Sheriff ’ s Department , Jones said .
Officer Jason rigby was the arresting officer , and Luker was transported to the atlantic County Jail , Jones said .
• On September 6 at 9:37 p . m ., roger Stewart , 29 , of Hammonton , was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Paterson Court in the amount of $ 1,000 issued by Judge Keegan , Jones said . the warrant was for failure to appear on a leaving the scene of an accident complaint in the Paterson Court , Jones said .
Stewart was unable to post bail but was released on his own recognizance as per the Paterson Court , Jones said .
• On September 11 at 4 p . m ., ryan Basile , 19 , of Hammonton , was arrested on Bellevue avenue for being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance , Jones said . Officer eric Pohl was the arresting officer , Jones said .
Basile was served with his complaint and released , Jones said .
• On September 7 at 12:20 a . m ., Lenyn Mercedes-Payamp , 21 , of Pleasantville , was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana under 50 grams , Jones said .
He was arrested at 55 S . White Horse Pike by Officer Kyle ambrozaitis and was released on his own recognizance .
Stockton ' s instructional site located on 30 front St . in Hammonton . even though there is an abundance of evidence that the Holocaust occurred , large numbers of people have tried to refute its existence . Organizations and individuals have claimed that the entire event was a hoax and some have negated and manipulated the historical proof of the genocide of Jews and other groups by the Nazis . this presentation will discuss these allegations as well as the landmark court case of Holocaust denier David irving , an author who was discredited after bringing an unsuccessful libel suit against the american historian Deborah Lipstadt and Penguin Books . a British court ruled against him and found that he “ deliberately misrepresented and manipulated historical evidence ,” including minimizing adolf Hitler ’ s role in the Holocaust .
Sabo is currently a senior studying literature and education as well as being a first-year graduate student in Stockton ’ s Master of arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies program . this event is free and open to the public . Light refreshments will be served . for more information about classes and activities at Kramer Hall , visit Stockton . edu / hammonton .
Hammonton
Trivia Questions from the Town Sesquicentennial Committee
Q : When and where was the famous Our Lady of Mount Carmel celebration held ?
A : The commemoration was first held at the home of Antonio Capelli on Pine Road in 1875 , as a way for the growing number of Italian immigrants to give thanks for their success in America . As the event grew , it was moved to the old Pine Road School , finally moving to its current location of St . Joseph ’ s Church on Third Street . Now celebrated over the course of a full week , with the highlight being the annual procession of statues , it is the oldest continuously celebrated Italian religious celebration in the United States .