Page 2 • Wednesday , September 27 , 2023 • The Hammonton Gazette
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Hammonton Gazette
OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 NOTICIAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 OUR TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 FAITH FOCUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 CIVIC NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 HAMMONTON ’ S HISTORY . . . . . . 33
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . 37 WHAT ’ S HOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 MIND GAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 REAL ESTATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 SCORECARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 hammontongazette . com
The Hammonton Gazette ( USPS 018984 ) is published weekly , Hammonton Gazette Publishing LLC , 14 Tilton St ., Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Periodicals Postage Paid at Hammonton , NJ . Subscriptions are available for $ 25 per year for New Jersey addresses & $ 30 per year for residents for out-of-state addresses . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The Hammonton Gazette , 14 Tilton St ., P . O . Box 1228 Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Call ( 609 ) 704-1940 for more information .
OBITUARIES
James Anthony Penza Jr .
HAMMONTON FAMILY EYECARE
Complete Eye Care For All Ages
www . hammontonfamilyeyecare . com 80 S . White Horse Pike • Hammonton • Tel : ( 609 ) 567-7479
James Anthony Penza Jr ., 79 , of Hammonton , N . J ., passed away Monday , September 18 , 2023 with his family by his side . Jim was born on March 9 , 1944 to James V . and Gelorma “ Jessie ” ( Rizzotte ) Penza . He attended St . Joseph ’ s Catholic School and then graduated from Malvern Preparatory School in 1961 . In 1966 , Jim attained his B . A . in Marketing and Management at Morris Harvey College , now the University of Charleston , in Charleston , W . Va . It was there that he met the love of his life , Judith Ann ( nee Hirsh ), whom he married in October 1969 . After a brief military career with the U . S . Air Force Reserve stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina , he came back to Hammonton to work in the family business on Washington Street , Eastern Brewing Corporation , most famously known for Old Bohemian Beer and most infamously for the Nude Beer label , with his father , his Uncle Charlie Penza , and the Fatato family , until 1978 . Jim would later become a farmer establishing Red Barn Farm with the Penza family . With his trusty sidekick Felix , Jim oversaw about 300 acres of farmland , and managed the packing house and retail produce stand . During this time , he would also own and operate Penza Freightways , the Red Barn Shed Company , and still help out with the Brewery . Around 1989 , his father grew ill and he returned to the brewery full time . He continued to operate the Brewery in a limited capacity with the Malta El Sol label until his retirement .
Throughout his life , Jim enjoyed fast and fancy cars , deer hunting and camaraderie with the members of Boot Hill and the Lonesome Dove Hunting Clubs , deep sea fishing on his boat in Cape May , mowing the yard , and watching westerns on television . He loved Wawa in the morning , the occasional Whopper with cheese , and a nice dinner at the Maplewood . He loved the movie Lonesome Dove and connected to its reflections on the importance of finding joy in everyday moments and valuing the companionship of loved ones . Jim was known for his big heart and generosity to any who were in his circle . He was a member of St . Mary of Mt . Carmel Parish , St . Anthony of Padua Church . He was a past member of The Hammonton Greater Chamber of Commerce , N . J . Fruit Growers Association , The American Legion , New Jersey Farm Bureau , Hammonton Regular Republican Club . He donated to various local organizations annually .
He is predeceased by his parents , James and Jessie ( nee Rizzotte ) Penza ; sister , Joann and her husband Frank Verdi ; and his two best friends , Ross Restuccio and Jack Donio . He is survived by his loving wife , Judy ( nee Hirsh ); son , Tony ( Robin ) Penza of Hammonton ; daughter , Jessie ( Charles ); and granddaughter , Paloma of Orlando , Fla .; sister , Evelyn Penza ; nephews , Fred and Vincenzo ( Wendy ) Penza ; all of Hammonton and nephew , Fran ( Michelle ) Verdi of Cedar Run , N . J .; and niece , Catherine Verdi of Moorestown , N . J .; as well as numerous great nieces and nephews .
Relatives and friends were invited to attend his visitation from 9:30 a . m . to 11:30 a . m . on Friday , September 22 , 2023 at St . Mary of Mt . Carmel Parish – St . Anthony of Padua Church , 285 Rt . 206 Hammonton , N . J . A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11:30 a . m . Entombment followed at Greenmount Cemetery , 124 S . First Road , Hammonton , N . J . 08037 . In lieu of flowers , donations may be made to : American Farmland Trust https :// farmland . org / donate /
Arrangements entrusted to the Marinella Funeral Home .
Photo courtesy of Donald Yamasaki
Thomas Hatch , Amy Menzel , Linda Esposito and Ellie Gibson of the Hammonton Green Committee enjoy the Green Market during Third Thursday on September 21 . For more photos from Third Thursday , see Pages 16-17 .
HPD reports two DUI arrests
by Mohammed Fuad GAZETTE EDITOR
HAMMONTON — Hammonton Police Department reported two driving under the influence arrests , according to Chief of Police Kevin Friel .
A motor vehicle stop was conducted at the location of Peach Street and Central Avenue on Sept . 23 at 1:55 a . m .
Screeching tires were heard on the area of Peach and South Third Streets . Officer David Reustle stopped the vehicle and found Nathan James , 26 , of
Hammonton , would not make eye contact .
Reustle observed slurred speech , watery eyes and pupils not reacting to the flashlight from James . James was later arrested for operating under the influence .
James was charged with DUI , refusal to submit to breath testing , reckless and careless driving , failure to possess insurance cards and uninsured vehicle .
James was released , as per John ’ s Law , pending court appearance at Hammonton Joint Municipal Court .
See CRIME , Page 3
Designer Bag Bingo at SJA
Kristin Guglietti / THG
St . Joseph Academy Designer Bag Bingo was held at the school on September 16 . Above , left : Melissa Micale won a round of Bingo . Above , right : Danielle Rodio and Stephanie Galletta sit at the 50 / 50 raffle table . Left : St . Joseph Academy President / Head of School Stephen Cappuccio , Melissa Bartolone and Renee Merlino helped out during the event . Below , left : Dorothy Maddox won a round of Bingo . Below , right : People enjoyed playing Bingo during St . Joseph Academy ’ s Designer Bag Bingo event . For more photos , see Page 12 .