Tips for staying healthy as
the weather begins to turn
p. 20
Annual Fall Bride and
Groom Guide inside
p. 29
Columbus Day honored
by the Sons of Italy
p. 2, 16
FIRE NEAR TWO SCHOOLS
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Volume 21 • Issue 41
by Gabe Donio
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—the Ham-
monton Volunteer fire Depart-
ment as well as fire departments
from neighboring communities
www.hammontongazette.com
HVfD, other departments extinguish blaze
responded to a fire at a garage
building on toni Lynn Court at
12:33 on October 3, a report from
Hammonton Police Det. Sgt. ed-
ward Slimm said.
Dark clouds of smoke from the
fire could be seen billowing high
into the air and flames were visi-
ble from the side of the garage.
the cause of the fire is still
under investigation. Slimm is the
Cycling league for PRCA spearheads local relief effort
youth forming
by Stephen Pistone
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—Ken See-
beck, league director for the New
Jersey chapter of the National in-
terscholastic Cycling association
(NiCa), led an information and
sign-up session at Pro Pedals Bike
See POLICE, Page 10
Shop on October 3 to discuss an
interscholastic,
cross-country
mountain bike league that is being
formed in the Hammonton area.
the New Jersey interscholastic
Cycling League (NJiCL) is a chap-
ter of NiCa, a California-based
501(c)(3) non-profit organization
that operates 21 leagues in 20
PRCA’s efforts to
aid Puerto Rico
by Stephen Pistone
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—the Puerto
rican Civic association (PrCa)
of Hammonton has immediately
reacted to Hurricane Maria’s dev-
astating toll on Puerto rico on Sep-
See CyCLING, Page 14
tember 20 by organizing a hurri-
cane relief fund that is calling for
donations of various essential
items for those in need in Puerto
rico.
the drive was created by PrCa
vice president Lilliam Pagan, who
said it was an opportune time to
take the dedicated community
Bertman speaks to HSH on his 85th
See PRCA, Page 3
Foundation plans
‘Dream Night’
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
(Left to right) Puerto Rican Civic Association (PRCA) of Hammonton members Salvador Vargas, vice president Lilliam
Pagan, Juan Pagan and Millie Pagan stand in front of the semi-trailer full of supplies the PRCA plans to donate to Hur-
ricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico.
by Stephen Pistone
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—for the past
14 years, the Hammonton educa-
tion foundation (Hef) has raised
funds for the Hammonton School
District to enrich the quality of ed-
ucation. this has mainly been
achieved through the Hef’s pop-
ular events, such as taste of the
town in the spring, recycling
Central in the fall and more.
although these events have
proven successful and have gen-
erated a large community re-
sponse, the Hef has begun to
attempt to engage more members
of the community, specifically
those who may have young chil-
John Bertman on
his 58-year career
by Stephen Pistone
G azette S taff W riter
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Retired New Jersey Superior Court Judge Michael A. Donio (far left) and attorneys Dane August Wuillermin (second
from right) and Brian Howell (far right) were among those that attended a community speakers program hosted by
the Historical Society of Hammonton on October 5 that celebrated the 85th birthday of attorney John Bertman (second
from left), who told stories of his 58-year career in Hammonton.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
HaMMONtON—When attor-
ney John Bertman was asked to
come to the Historical Society of
Hammonton’s (HSH) community
speakers program at the Hammon-
ton Canoe Club on October 5 to
celebrate his 85th birthday, he
See DREAM, Page 4
joked that he thought he would be
asked to be an exhibit in the
HSH’s museum.
instead, Bertman reflected upon
his 58-year career in Hammonton,
which is something he said he sur-
prisingly hasn’t received much of
an opportunity to do.
“it’s amazing, i’ve been in town
Gazette • $20 FOR 52 WEEKS • CALL 609-704-1939
See BERTMAN, Page 12