Wednesday , October 18 , 2023
Volume 27 • Issue 42
HCF ’ s Helping Our Neighbors Dinner Oct . 21
by Kristin Guglietti GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
The Hammonton Cancer Foundation will be hosting their annual Helping Our Neighbors Dinner on Oct . 21 at 6 p . m . at Winslow Manor Hall .
There will be live music and performances throughout the night as well as a 50 / 50 raffle , auction and a buffet with dessert .
The Order Sons of Italy in America Giuseppe Garibaldi Lodge # 1658 celebrated Columbus Day on Oct . 9 at the lodge at 427 N . Third St .
The Order Sons of Italy in America Giuseppe Garibaldi Lodge # 1658 President Dan Sacco thanked everyone for coming out .
Father David Rivera gave a blessing during the ceremony .
“ Let us pray heavenly father . We thank you for the gift of Italian American heritage . This day we celebrate Christopher Columbus , a man of deep faith and conviction , and we ask you to send your blessing upon this organization here in Hammonton and throughout the country as they continue to promote faith , family , friendship among other people and among those in the nation . May they continue to be blessed in all they do in their charity for others in their activities . Watch over especially their
Hammonton Cancer Foundation President David Mauriello said the Helping Our Neighbors Dinner started in 2006 where the proceeds initially went to the South Jersey Cancer Fund in Brigantine , but over the last couple years , as the Hammonton Cancer Foundation has grown , the foundation has branched out to a number of other cancer-specific organizations that are all volunteer
See DINNER , Page 4
Another successful beef and beer
Kristin Guglietti / THG
Gregory “ Scrapper ” Fondacaro grabs a beef sandwich during the Sons of Italy ’ s Beef and Beer event on Oct . 6 at the Order of Sons of Italy in America Giuseppe Garibaldi Lodge # 1658 .
Sons of Italy celebrate Columbus
by Kristin Guglietti GAZETTE STAFF WRITER sick , and we ask you to pray for the faithful departed ; may rest in peace . Remember in a special way former chaplain Father Joe Capella . May you continue to watch over this Sons of Italy from this place with you in heaven ,” Rivera said .
After everyone prayed together , Treasurer at the New Jersey State Lodge Dave Scardino gave a speech .
He first mentioned notable attendees at the celebration including Congressman Jeff Van Drew , Assemblyman Michael Torrissi Jr ., Assemblyman Brandon Umba , Councilman Thomas Gribbin , Atlantic County Fifth District Commissioner James Bertino and Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel .
“ Today I am here with all my compatriots , our brothers , their wives , sisters who represent every corner of Italy . All of us are Italians . We cannot continue to see each other and treat each other as some nationalities of the Italian peninsula . By continuing this way , we will not only remain weak as a nationality within the larger American
See COLUMBUS , Page 12 hammontongazette . com
BOE spends $ 284K on Chromebooks
Chromebook device and so we replace those on a pretty regular basis , so that ’ s why that ’ s a bit of a large number for a 1,000 Chromebooks with the warranties and equipment that we need ,” Lyons said .
There ’ s also a purchase order for lacrosse equipment in the amount of $ 31,702.10 based on lowest quote .
“ This board ’ s been talking about lacrosse and rolling that out for boys and girls , so it ’ s nice to see the board making good on that commitment ,” Lyons said .
Lyons also said on the agenda there ’ s an increase on the contract funding for the board ’ s engineer , who was associated with some work for the Pinelands Commission at the Early Childhood Education Center site .
“ There ’ s still more work to be done . That ’ s professional fees . We still have to go in front of the Pinelands Commission in two weeks where they ’ ll approve our proposed plan and then work will begin on amending the storm water situation around that building . This is to both correct some mistakes that were made many , many years ago as well as to bring the storm water manage-
See SCHOOL , Page 8
by Kristin Guglietti GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
The Hammonton Board of Education approved several finance items including spending $ 284,630 on Chromebooks during the Oct . 12 board of education meeting .
Board President Sam Mento III called the meeting to order and all board members and the student representative were present at the Samuel A . Donio Memorial Library .
Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month , the board held a moment of silence for the people who died from cancer , the people who won their fight against cancer and the people who continue to battle with cancer every day .
During the finance committee report , board member John Lyons discussed item No . 11 on the agenda , “ Resolved that the Hammonton Board of Education approve CDW-G for the purchase of a thousand Chromebooks for the District in the amount of $ 284,630 based on ESCNJ / AEPA-22G .”
“ We still maintain a one-to-one device ratio in this District . Every student that goes here has a
MarySusan Hoffman / THG
Sparky the Fire Dog greets students at the Hammonton Fire Department ’ s fire safety presentation at Warren E . Sooy Jr . Elementary School on October 11 . The Fire Department visited local schools throughout Fire Prevention Week , talking to students about the importance of knowing the steps to take in case of a fire . For more photos from Fire Prevention Week at local schools , see Pages 22 , 28-30 .
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Fire Prevention Week
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