Page 2 • Wednesday , November 2 , 2016 • The Hammonton Gazette

OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 OUR TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23 FAITH FOCUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 24 CIVIC NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 25 HAMMONTON ’ S HISTORY . . . . . .. 25 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . .. 49

WHAT ’ S HOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 51 MIND GAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 52 HOROSCOPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 52 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 53 REAL ESTATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 55 SCORECARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 56 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

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The Hammonton Gazette ( USPS 018984 ) is published weekly . The Hammonton Gazette is located at 233 Bellevue Ave ., Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Periodicals Postage Paid at Hammonton , NJ . Subscriptions are available for $ 20.00 per year . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The Hammonton Gazette , 233 Bellevue Ave ., P . O . Box 1228 Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Call ( 609 ) 704-1940 for more information .

antoinette ( nee Colangelo ) totora , 91 , of folsom , died peacefully at home on friday , October 28 , 2016 .

Born in Philadelphia , she was a folsom resident for more than 63 years . Mrs . totora was a retired machine operator for Joe Palma fashions of Hammonton . She was a member of the amalgamated Clothing Workers Union . Mrs . totora was a former union representative for UfCW Local 56 , and she was a member of the folsom Democratic Club .

Mrs . totora was predeceased by her husband , Joseph a . totora . She is survived by her daughter , Marie Picchi of folsom ; two sisters , annie Scanera of Manahawkin , Betty Cozell of Orlando , fla .; her grandchildren , Lisa Will ( Loren ), Gina robeson ( Bruce ), Joseph a . Picchi , Master Chief , United States Navy robert J . Picchi ( Meredith ), Sterbios Giapoutzis ; 13 great-grandchildren ; 6 great-great grandchildren , especially autumn Marie . friends and family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial that will be celebrated on Wednesday , November 2 , 2016 , 11 a . m ., at St . Mary of Mt . Carmel Parish , Church of St . Joseph ’ s , 226 french St ., Hammonton , where a viewing will be held from 10 a . m . until 11 a . m . Burial will follow in Greenmount Cemetery , Hammonton . in lieu of flowers , memorial donations may be made to St . Mary of Mt . Carmel Parish . arrangements made by the Carnesale funeral Home .

robert thomas Bowers Sr ., 80 , died suddenly on October 29 .

Born in Hammonton , robert was a lifelong area resident . robert attended Hammonton High School , leaving Senior year when he enlisted in the U . S . air force during the Korean Conflict . after basic training , he was stationed overseas , spending time in Germany . He majored in communications . after receiving his Honorable Discharge , robert returned to Hammonton and shortly after took employment with NJ Bell telephone as an installer and Line Man . in 1966 , robert used his electronics knowledge to create Home Systems Co ., aka HSC Security . He was owner / operator until taking an early retirement in 1993 , at which time he took a home study course and received a diploma in PC repair . He then created rtB Computers , helping individuals and small business owners with their computer needs . But , his greatest passion in life was his marriage to elizabeth . He and elizabeth made Collings Lakes their home for 30 years . During that time , he served on the Collings Lakes ambulance , receiving CPr certification and was awarded a special plaque for his service with the squad . He also had served one year on the Buena regional School Board . robert is predeceased by his parents , Leonard C . and eleanor ( nee Lerner ) Bowers ; his loving and devoted wife of 54 years , elizabeth a . ( nee Salvatore ); sister , rae Critelli ( nee Bowers ) and brother-in-law , Genaro Critelli ; brother , edward L . Bowers ; grandson , Michael J . Price and granddaughter , Paige Herbert . robert is survived by his five children : son , Kenneth and wife rhonda of erial ; daughter , Leslie Herbert of Vineland ; daughter , ruth Mattucci ( Charlie ferrence ) of Wilmington , Del .; son , robert t Jr and wife , Lisa of Las Vegas , NV ; daughter , Linda Gradia and son-in-law , Joseph D Gradia Jr of Collings Lakes ; granddaughter , Lacey Herbert ; great-granddaughter , elisabeth rose ; grandson , Marc Bowers ; his in-laws , albert and Lucille Salvatore , rita ( nee Salvatore ) and anthony Cupani , Joseph and June Salvatore , many nieces / nephews and cousins , as well as his loving friend and companion , Loretta Dobbs . a visitation will be held on friday , November 4 , 2016 , from 10 a . m . – 11 a . m . at the Carnesale funeral home , 202 S . third Street in Hammonton , where funeral services will take place at 11 a . m . Burial will follow at egg Harbor City Cemetery on Moss Mill road in egg Harbor . in lieu of flowers , donations may be made to the american Heart association , www . heart . org or american Lung association , www . lung . org . arrangements made by the Carnesale funeral Home .

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WALMART , from Page 1 Plant manager Hector rodriguez has been with the company practically his entire life . His step-father is one of the owners . rodriguez and Carlton “ Chip ” Kimber went to the open call event .

“ it was a crazy day . We had an 11 a . m . slot with them ,” rodriguez said . the family-owned business will see their 3x3 oil dressing in 300 stores across the country beginning early next year . rodriguez said they pitched the one product to Walmart based on research he did .

He said he went to area Walmart stores to see if a similar product was available .

“ i went to five local Walmarts and i asked would this be a product that they need . they said ‘ absolutely .’ they have people who ask for it and the have to send customers to other stores ,” rodriguez said .

Walmart said yes to them at the open call .

“ i couldn ’ t wait to call everybody here and let them know ,” rodriguez said . the new store location is a big step for the fairview avenue business .

“ it is a huge boost for us . We are a small company . We never thought we would get to be in a big store like Walmart . When they said yes , we were all so happy ,” rodriguez said . rodriguez said the Walmart order is help driving the company to hire up to as many 20 new people . they currently employ about 110 people , he said .

Scott Markley , from Walmart Media relations , said the exact stores where integrity ’ s product will be found has not yet been determined .

“ the plan is to be in the stores in the Northeast . i am hoping we are in the Hammonton store ,” rodriguez said . rodriguez said he knows how important this moment is for the company . He said his stepfather George Hughes and his business partner Carlton “ Buck ” Kimber started the business in 1995 by turning in all of their savings to start the business with just four employees .

“ they took a risk . they cashed in everything they had ,” rodriguez said .

He said the bandages the company makes are manufactured all on site just blocks from the downtown .

Walmart ’ s Vice President of U . S . Manufacturing Cindi Marsiglio talked about the retail giant ’ s commitment to U . S . -made products .

“ We have committed $ 250 billion in additional U . S . -made products [ in our stores ] and our e-commerce site . We know it can be complicated for great U . S . products to find their way to Walmart ,” Marsiglio said . at the third Open Call event , held earlier this year , more than 800 meetings were held on the company ’ s campus . Walmart buyers were looking for new products made in the United States to meet their 10-year commitment of $ 250 billion in additional U . S . made goods to fill their shelves . each meeting was about 30 minutes , Marsiglio said .

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THG / Gabe Donio . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .

Two large cranes ( left ) at the Hammonton Water Department and Wawa properties on Lincoln Street . South

Jersey Gas ’ remediation of a coal tar spill from a former manufactured gas plant on the site is ongoing . Friday , October 28 , 2:10 p . m .

“ We know it can be complicated for great U . S . products to find their way to Walmart . We open our doors and host hundreds of meetings ,” Marsiglio said .

Many of the companies that come to the Open Call are smaller manufacturers .

“ attendees , while they are all types of businesses , they are on the smaller side ,” Marsiglio said . this year was different for the companies that came to the event . “ this year , we did something different . everyone was eligible to get a vendor number and would be on Walmart . com ,” Marsiglio said .

Marsiglio said that Walmart buyers did not exclude any specific category .

“ i think every buyer is looking for items in their categories … if it is a great item , made in the U . S . a ., right price , great quality and can be consistently on Walmart shelves ,” Marsiglio said .

She stressed that manufacturers do not have to go into the more than 5,000 Walmarts and Sam ’ s clubs across the nation . Companies can have their items sold online or be sold in a few hundred stores , like integrity Medical Devices is doing .

“ We want to start with great items ,” Marsiglio said . Marsiglio also stated that pricing from USa manufacturers is competitive . She added that by buying from a domestic manufacturer the supply chain is shorter . Marsiglio said the job creation is another benefit of this commitment .

“ When a large retailer can put a large purchase order , it creates momentum … Our scale can help them move a little faster ,” she said . it is rewarding and challenging position for Marsiglio .

“ it is easy to find meaning in this work . it is challenging work . it is a 10-year effort ,” she said . the vice president said consumers want to know where their products are made .

“ Second to price , where it comes from , drives their purchasing decision ,” Marsiglio said .