Italian heritage group
shares legacy
p. 21
Honoring Coach Sacco
and his historic 300th win
p. 27-38
Spooktacular fun at
Tropicana Casino
p. 45
TOWN’S ‘BIG DIG’ UPDATE
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Volume 20 • Issue 38
by Stephen Pistone
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
www.hammontongazette.com
Town, SJ Gas meet about Lincoln St.
In the event that restoration
work can’t be performed in the
winter due to the weather, Sheppard said the company will maintain a presence at the site.
“We’re not going to walk away
Several arrests Scouts a part of Green Day
made by HPD
HAMMONTON—The Public
Works & Transportation Committee and Water & Sewer Committee
held a special meeting on Septem-
by Gabe Donio
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—Police made
a number of arrests last week, including the following, Hammonton Police Chief Robert Jones
said.
ber 16. In attendance was South
Jersey Gas Project Manager for
Environmental Affairs Ken Sheppard, who gave an update on the
remediation project taking place at
the manufactured gas plant on the
corner of 12th and Lincoln Streets.
Sheppard said the stabilization
of the remediation site should be
completed by mid-December,
with the rest of restoration to be
concluded by May.
See PWTC, Page 10
• On September 14 at 9:24 p.m.
at the corner of E. Orchard and
Third Street, Minerva Rivera, 31,
of Hammonton, was charged with
driving with a suspended license
and with a take into custody war-
Remembering the
Blue Comet train
by Stephen Pistone
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—One-and-ahalf million passengers rode the
Blue Comet, a famous and luxurious passenger train operated by the
Central Railroad of New Jersey, to
Atlantic City between February
21, 1929, and September 27, 1941.
See POLICE, Page 4
Almost 75 years have passed since
its last voyage, but the legend of
the Blue Comet is alive and well
across the entire state of New Jersey, especially in Hammonton.
“I think the Blue Comet is probably just as popular, maybe even
more popular, today than it was
when it was running because it’s
that whole folklore thing. It’s defi-
See COMET, Page 14
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Boy Scouts Nicholas O’Brien, Thomas Wagner, Carson Lee, Clinton Cahill, Trey Margarum and Thomas Librizzy stand
behind their display on upcycling at the ninth annual Green Day Festival on September 18. Upcycling is reusing discarded objects in a way that creates a better or more valuable product. For more photos from Green Weekend and
article, see Page 3 and 15.
Fireworks & BBQ on
October 2 at lake park
by Gina Rullo
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—The Kiwanis
Club Second Annual Chicken Barbecue will be held on October 2
from noon to 7 p.m. at Hammonton Lake Park. Tickets are $14
each. Fireworks will be provided
by the Hammonton Sesquicentennial Committee.
The Kiwanis Club will be
joined by the Hammonton Rotary
Club and Woman’s Civic Club
who are adding to the event.
“Because of the July Fourth rain
date, we had to figure out a plan to
have the fireworks again. Because
we had all the approvals for the armory and the lake park, we decided to work with the Kiwanis
Club and their event,” Hammon-
Skating center
re-opening Sept. 30
by Kevin Troilo
GAZETTE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Tony Macrie shows off some of his Blue Comet pictures. The 75th anniversary of the Blue Comet’s last ride is September 27. The train used to pass through Hammonton.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
HAMMONTON—A
family
destination in Hammonton for
nearly 50 years, Rollway Skating
Rink is currently undergoing a
complete renovation after being acquired. Opening on September 30,
the fun center, located on Second
See KIWANIS, Page 2
Road, will officially be known as
the Hammonton Skating Center.
Rollway Skating Rink was first
opened by Carlo and Sara Drogo in
1970, who were the parents of
longtime owner Rita Bagliani.
“I was a competitive skater, so
the rink was sort of a home away
from home for me,” Bagliani said.
Bagliani said that she has been
Gazette • $20 FOR 52 WEEKS • CALL 609-704-1939
See SKATING, Page 4