Page 4 • Wednesday , September 29 , 2021 • The Hammonton Gazette
Clocktoberfest celebrating revitalized town clock
CLOCKTOBER , from Page 1 nalizing what we were doing with the restoration of the clock . We felt that we could take advantage of the time of the year and do a little fundraising , and also tell the people that the fundraising was almost done — and have a little celebration to tell them that we were going to send it away soon to be restored ,” Town of Hammonton Clock Committee co-chairman John Runfolo said .
Town of Hammonton Clock Committee co-chairman Bob Schenk echoed Runfolo ’ s sentiments .
“ We did this in 2019 to raise money and awareness , and we sent out postcards to every house in Hammonton — and we did quite well with donations ,” Schenk said .
Runfolo said that the first Clocktoberfest “ turned out to be extremely popular .”
“ We said , ‘ Maybe we can do this every year ,’ since it ’ s a natural — with the tremendous play on words — and we need to raise money for the maintenance of the clock every year . This is , again , all private donations ; that ’ s a very important point . There ’ s no taxpayer money ,” Runfolo said .
The town clock , manufactured by the Seth Thomas clock company , was originally installed in 1929 on the corner of Bellevue and Central Avenues at what was at the time People ’ s Bank but is now Wells Fargo Bank . In 1965 it was moved to its current location , but sustained damage during the move . It has been repaired several times in the ensuing years , but it had not functioned for a number of years . Representatives from The Verdin Company of Cincinnati , Ohio removed the clock on September 18 , 2020 , and returned the completely restored clock on March 2 , 2021 , with installation being completed the following day .
Schenk said that all parties involved are “ very happy with Verdin ’ s work .”
“ It ’ s top-quality work ; we picked the right restoration company . They ’ re a six-generation business , and they ’ ve been in business since 1842 . They did everything exactly like the specifications . The committee and the town of Hammonton are very happy with the quality of the work and the job that they did ,” Schenk said .
The clock ’ s restoration and return , Schenk said , is the reason for the return of Clocktoberfest .
“ We ’ re having it to dedicate the clock that was refurbished with over $ 100,000 of raised money from private donors ... We ’ re having this event to celebrate the clock that is finished , and to thank everybody for supporting us ,” Schenk said .
Runfolo said that the food at Clocktoberfest will be provided by Frank Galloway .
“ We ’ ll have brats , hamburgers , hotdogs — we tasted them , they ’ re fantastic — and we ’ ll have pretzels and everything . It ’ s delicious . He has three grills that ’ ll be going . The food will be great ,” Runfolo said .
Also in the works is a fenced-in libations garden on Vine Street from the Wine and Ale Trail of South Jersey , which organization president Susan Puentes said is comprised of members who are within a certain-mile radius of Hammonton . Puentes described the process that is planned at the garden . “ There will be tickets that will be purchased , and they can trade it in for a drink of their choice . They ’ ll be checked at the gate for ID to make sure they ’ re 21 or older . Then , we ’ ll give them a bracelet , and they ’ ll purchase tickets for a five-ounce pour ,” Puentes said .
Clocktoberfest will also feature live music from Stealing Savanah Acoustic Duo , featuring Vinny Runfolo and Justin O ’ Brien from Stealing Savanah .
Additionally , Clocktoberfest will feature the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at 1 p . m .
“ The plaque is being made right now , and it ’ s going to be shipped here , and it ’ s going to hang inside on the first floor town hall . We ’ re not putting it out at the clock , because we figured that nobody will see it out there , and it ’ s a hazard to walk out there ... We have over 50 large donors , and more than 300 others . Everybody is listed on the plaque ,” Schenk said .
This Clocktoberfest will also act as a fundraiser , Schenk said , to help with annual maintenance of the clock in perpetuity .
“ The cost of the clock is paid , but it ’ s going to be an ongoing campaign for future maintenance of the clock . We ’ d like to get it waxed annually . We have a maintenance contract that we pay a fee of $ 630 per year ... They ’ ll come out once a year under that contract , oil the mechanisms in the head — because there ’ s still gears and things — and inspect the clock . We have a three-year warranty with the company if anything goes wrong , but we have to pay a maintenance contract for them to come , inspect it , oil it and make sure everything is working properly ,” Schenk said .
Schenk said that the Town of Hammonton Clock Committee — made up of Schenk , Runfolo ,
Susan Coan , Dan Bachalis , Dotty Orlandini , Harry Stafford and Monica Wuillermin — is also accepting donations .
“ If anybody who hasn ’ t donated would like to donate for that cost , we ’ ll accept donations , and it will be kept in a trust fund in the town of Hammonton ’ s account ,” Schenk said .
Schenk said that he hopes that Clocktoberfest is met with good weather .
“ Everybody ’ s been pent up all year with this COVID , but things are loosened up so now we can have a good time . The regulations have been lifted , so we can have it . We ’ re hoping that a lot of people come and support us ,” Schenk said .
Puentes said that she is excited
HPD , from Page 2 a suspicious person inside a business , Friel said .
Officer Christopher Henshaw arrived on scene and witnessed the subject exiting the business with an envelope in his hand , Friel said .
The envelope was a check from the business to a subject who was not the individual holding the check , Friel said . The individual holding the envelope was identified as Boruck , Friel said .
He was placed under arrest , transported to police headquarters for processing and charged with the following : theft of moveable property , Friel said . He was processed and released pending a court date in Atlantic County Superior Court , Friel said .
• On September 16 at 4:13 a . m . on the 100 block of 12th Street , Boruck was again arrested , Friel for the opportunity the festival presents .
“ I think it ’ ll be great , because then people can taste all the local varieties around Hammonton they may not be familiar with . I think it ’ ll be a great opportunity for us to get out there , and people who don ’ t know about us can learn about us ,” Puentes said .
Runfolo said that the entire affair will have “ all the bells and whistles .”
“ Last time it was a little party . This year , it ’ s more than a party ... Come out . It ’ s a great afternoon . We ’ ll have great music , great food , a lot of fun , you can see the plaque and take another look at a very unique icon in our town — the clock . It ’ ll be wunderbar ,” Runfolo said .
Man arrested 3 times
said . “ He was being a defiant trespasser in the business ,” Friel said .
He was placed under arrest , transported to police headquarters , charged with defiant trespass , processed and released pending a court appearance in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court , Friel said .
K-9 Officer Robert Zbikowski was the investigating and arresting officer , Friel said .
• On September 16 at 2:22 p . m . on the 100 block of 12th Street , there was a call in reference to an unwanted person , Friel said .
Boruck was found on scene , placed under arrest , charged with defiant trespass , processed and released pending a court appearance in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court , Friel said .
Officer Christopher Henshaw was the investigating and arresting officer , Friel said .