Page 4 • Wednesday , September 14 , 2022 • The Hammonton Gazette
Town-Wide Yard Sale
YARD SALE , from Page 1
She further explained that even though the event will not be lined up with the recycling central event , they do plan to have a successful Town-Wide Yard Sale . Young said that she was getting calls from residents in the town after the June 4 yard sale , asking when the next event would be .
“ People are definitely looking forward to it ,” Young said .
The event for the fall will feature a map that residents and other interested participants can use to find out where the different sales in town will be taking place . The Hammonton Drug Alliance and Family Success Center will not have a central area where people can set up their sales ; the sales must take place at a residency . However , Young did explain that members of the community can band together , such as next-door neighbors , to hold their sales .
“ We do not have a location , it ’ s just wherever you reside . I tell people if you don ’ t want to have it at your house , because some people feel they ’ re on a street that doesn ’ t get a lot of traffic , that ’ s when you see them teaming up with somebody else , or a group of friends , that type of thing ,” Young said .
With this Town-Wide Yard Sale , the Hammonton Drug Alliance and the Family Success Center will benefit greatly , as well as the town of Hammonton . Young explained to The Gazette that by having an event like this , the groups can help the younger generation and the people in need in town .
“ We do provide preventive education in the school systems … we try to do stuff that keeps the kids busy , which is a form of prevention … so it directly benefits the family , and the community ,” Young said .
Young is excited about the upcoming yard sale , especially since the event is taking place in the fall .
“ I ’ m not a fan of the mid 90-degree weather we ’ re having ,” she said laughing .
Even with the cool , crisp air of the fall , Young is excited and proud
HAMMONTON — A public hearing was held on September 7 in the council chambers of town hall regarding the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant ( CDBG ) program .
According to handout material available at the hearing , the town of Hammonton received a grant in the amount of $ 400,000 for the installation of Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ) -compliant playground equipment and other ADA-related improvements at Cpt . Gerard V . Palma Memorial Playground in Hammonton Lake Park . Construction began in June of this year with “ preparation of the areas on which the equipment will be installed .”
“ With that complete , the equipment was ordered . Installation will take place as soon as all the equipment arrives . Other ADA compliant improvements , parking area line and signage , etc . will be completed once all equipment is installed . The current schedule shows anticipated completion of the project in the fall of 2022 ,” the handout read .
Public notice of the meeting said that Community Development Citizen Participation requires that a public hearing be held in order to review the performance and status of activities of the fact that this event brings the community together .
“ Going from house to house , you get to see people and say hello , or meet new people , or visit the people you already know . I just like to see everyone about in the town with nice weather ,” Young said .
For those interested in taking part in the Town-Wide Yard Sale ,
and to identify future CD activities of the above identified Community Development Program .”
“ This second hearing is in addition to a public hearing that was held in the planning stages of this program and prior to submission to the application for Small Cities funding ,” the notice read .
Joyce Miller , an associate with Triad Associates , and Hammonton Recreation Leader Denise Mazzeo were present to explain the purpose of the meeting .
“ They like to hold these meetings just to let the residents know what ’ s going on . It tells them how much the city was awarded and what they ’ re doing with it , just in case somebody has questions or an issue with some kind with what ’ s going on . It also tells them that , if they have questions , they can contact DCA [ New Jersey Department of Community Affairs ] to get their answers . It ’ s just an information thing for the residents — and they have a right to know what ’ s going on ,” Miller said .
Miller said that such meetings are required at the half-way point of the project .
“ When your project is half through — whether it be construction , payments , what have you — then you are required to hold one of these public hearings . That triggers a monitor that I have to do and send up to the DCA . When it ’ s finished , we don ’ t have to do
Young explained that residents could register at the Family Success Center to participate . The registration is in-person only , and cannot be done online . However , the Drug Alliance group and Family Success Center will have the registration forms posted on their Facebook pages in case people wanted to print them out
another public hearing , but I have to do the monitor to close the grant out ,” Miller said .
According to Miller , before the rise of the novel coronavirus ( COVID-19 ), agents from the DCA would visit grant recipients to interview people in the town and monitor recordkeeping , including interviews and certified payrolls .
“ I have to make sure that the contractor is meeting the prevailing wage requirements , and they would go through all of that . Since COVID , they ’ re not coming down anymore . Now , we just do these desk monitors . I have to send everything to them , they look at it and , if everything ’ s OK , they ’ ll send a letter back to the mayor saying that all the records are in order . Then , we can move on ,” Miller said .
Unfortunately , Miller said , public participation in these hearings , which are advertised 10 days prior , is “ unusual .”
“ People just don ’ t come ... for a while , they suggested that we hold these meetings during regular town council or commissioner meetings . We did that a couple of times , and people just don ’ t come to these . It ’ s a shame ,” Miller said .
Mazzeo gave an update on the project , noting that delays in said project — which were funded through the grant that was awarded in 2020 — were due to COVID-19 and subsequent supply and hand them in . The Family Success Center is accepting registrations and the registration cost is $ 10 .
For more information on the upcoming event , head to the Family Success Center or the Hammonton Drug Alliance Facebook page , where the registration forms will be posted .
Public hearing held on playground grant
by Joseph F . Berenato GAZETTE STAFF WRITER chain problems .
“ We dealt with the same issues that the rest of the country is dealing with as far as getting products delivered . It took a good 13 weeks to finally get the equipment delivered ,” Mazzeo said .
Now that the playground equipment has been delivered , Mazzeo said , the next step is for its installation .
“ Then , the second half of the finishing touches can be done : the poured-in-place surfacing — which is a bluish color with a green accent leaf ; it ’ s our first blueberry , which we hope to accent with more over time throughout the playground — the walkway from the parking lot , all of that ,” Mazzeo said .
Mazzeo said that she is “ ecstatic to see this project completed .”
“ To know that not only is it updating playground equipment for all of the kids in the town — it ’ s going to be a benefit to everyone — it ’ s going to be a benefit to those who were not previously able to access playground equipment . If you were in a wheelchair — solely in a wheelchair — and not able to get out of that wheelchair , you would have no ability to play , but this equipment has the ability for you to get on the equipment , get on a swing and swing and play . There are no words to express how happy that makes me ,” Mazzeo said .