Page 2 • Wednesday , October 4 , 2023 • The Hammonton Gazette
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Hammonton Gazette
OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 NOTICIAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 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
Ruth Ann Wescoat
HAMMONTON FAMILY EYECARE
Complete Eye Care For All Ages
www . hammontonfamilyeyecare . com 80 S . White Horse Pike • Hammonton • Tel : ( 609 ) 567-7479
Ruth Ann Wescoat ( nee Jacobs ), 90 , of Hammonton N . J ., passed away peacefully on Sept . 30 , 2023 . Ruthie was born on July 2 , 1933 in Devonshire and grew up in Elwood . She attended Hammonton High School , and was a graduate of the Class of 1952 . Upon her marriage in 1957 to Donald Wescoat she moved to Hammonton and raised her two daughters , in her beloved home on Pratt street . She loved giving advice while sipping on a cup of tea and sharing cookies in her pink kitchen . Ruthie worked for New Jersey Bell as a telephone operator for more than 42 years . She enjoyed dancing , casino bus trips , traveling , dining out , gardening and shopping .
Ruth was predeceased by her parents , Livingston and Marie Jacobs of Elwood ; her sisters , Irene DeAngelo , Sophie Giacobbe Hand ; her brothers , George Jacobs and Kenneth Jacobs ; and her long-time companion , Tony Capria of Egg Harbor City . Ruthie is survived by daughters , Shelly Legg of Egg Harbor Township and Kelly Harper and husband George of Franklinville ; loving Mum-Mum to , Joe Jr ., Eric , & Christopher and great grandchildren , Bryce and Raelynn . She will be missed by many nieces , nephews , family and friends .
Family and friends are invited to attend her viewing Monday , October 9 , 2023 , 10 a . m . - 11 a . m . at the Carnesale Funeral Home , 202 S . Third St ., Hammonton where Funeral Services will begin at 11 a . m . Burial will follow in Egg Harbor City Cemetery . Arrangements entrusted to Carnesale Funeral Home .
Shoplifting arrest made
by Mohammed Fuad GAZETTE EDITOR
The Hammonton Police Department reported a shoplifting incident and three driving under the influence ( DUI ) arrests , according to Chief of Police Kevin Friel .
Officer David Diaz responded in reference to two subjects in custody at the store for shoplifting at the prime block of S . White Horse Pike on Sept . 29 at 4:36 p . m .
Stacy Lacey , 42 , of Mullica Township and Michael Lacey , 34 , of Blackwood , were observed
traveling through the store and concealing a variety of items into a personal bag that they brought into the store with them , Friel said .
The Laceys then passed through all possible points of sale with $ 395.92 of unpaid miscellaneous merchandise .
Stacy Lacey was charged with shoplifting , conspiracy and defiant trespasser , Friel said .
Michael Lacey was charged with shoplifting and conspiracy , Friel said .
Both were released , pending court appearance in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court ( HJMC ).
Kristin Guglietti / THG
Chloe Cappuccio and Mia Simone paint pumpkins at the Blueberry Crossing Fall Festival on Sept . 30 . For more photos from this event , see the October 11 edition of The Gazette .
Three DUI arrests were made . On Sept . 25 at 11:06 p . m . at the area of 12th Street and Atlantic City Expressway , Officer Travis Hoffman observed a vehicle traveling southbound at a high rate of speed .
Michael Castro , 26 , Vineland , showed signs of impairment and a strong odor of burnt and raw marijuana could be detected coming within the vehicle . Castro was asked by Hoffman if he smoked , to which he replied “ a couple hours ago .”
Castro was charged with DUI , careless and reckless driving , open container in a motor vehicle and speeding exceeding by 20-24 mph , Friel said .
Castro was released , pending court appearance in HJMC .
Police was dispatched to the 400 block of S . White Horse Pike for the a report of a two-vehicle motor vehicle crash with injuries on Sept . 30 at 8:40 p . m .
Hoffman responded and observed two vehicles with disabling damage off of the roadway .
Melissa Zinni , 45 , Berlin , was detected to have a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath in person . Zinni was offered medical assistance on the scene for chest pains and refused .
Zinni was charged with DUI , refusal to submit to breath testing , careless and reckless driving and disregard of stop or yield signs .
Zinni was released , pending court appearance in HJMC .
Police dispatch received a call of a silver Sedan all over the roadway into oncoming traffic at mile post No . 6 of Route 206 on Sept . 30 at 11:42 p . m .
Corporal Gordon Ellis responded and stopped the vehicle operated by Terri Chapman , 60 , Galloway Township .
Chapman was found to be operating under the influence and was placed under arrest .
Chapman was charged with DUI , careless and reckless driving , unsafe lane changes . Chapman was released , pending court appearance at HJMC .
This report is comprised of arrests and investigations made by the men and women of local enforcement . All suspects and arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law .