The Hammonton Gazette 11/19/14 Edition | Page 6

Page 6 • Wednesday, November 19, 2014 • The Hammonton Gazette The Hammonton Gazette “The Paper of Record” Gabriel J. donio, Publisher Gina rullo, Editor—in—Chief dan russoman, Sports Editor Benny Mendez, Staff Artist Marysusan hoffman, Paul J. Macrie iv, Michael hozik, donna Brown, Joseph Bruno, lauren Bucci, lauren crescenzo, Zack Brown, Staff The Hammonton Gazette is located at 233 Bellevue Ave. to reach a staff member, call 704—1940 or fax at 704—1938. the mailing address is P.o. Box 1228, hammonton, NJ 08037. editoriAls spend it locally The Hammonton Gazette is published Wednesdays, by The Hammonton Gazette, Inc. Copyright © 2014. All rights reserved. ISSN 1093—6181 You work hard for your money. You have the right to spend it anywhere you want. We’re asking you to make Hammonton your first choice for spending that money. Our shops, restaurants and services are run by your family, friends and neighbors. They work hard as well — and are deserving of your support as Thanksgiving, Christmas and the holiday season arrive. A local gift is more personal. Not only does the gift itself have meaning, but there is the added meaning of where the gift was purchased. A dinner out in town also has the same effect. Any time the recipient of your gift, or the person who joined you at that holiday dinner, drives or walks by the store where the gift was purchased or the restaurant where that meal was eaten, they will think of the person who gave that gift, or purchased that meal. The memories will bring a smile to the person who received that gift each time they see the shop or restaurant, providing a year — a lifetime — of memories. What an advantage of shopping locally! You won’t have that happen with any other shopping experience. It won’t happen online, at a mall or in any town other than Hammonton. You’ll only experience it in one of our local commercial areas: downtown, uptown, Little Italy or the business park. Each has its own flavor, and together, they make Hammonton an excellent place to shop and eat. As an added bonus, the money you spend in town recycles back into the town, all year long. Businesses that do well during the holidays are in a better position to donate back to the community. Schools, local youth sports, churches, downtown revitalization, the arts and much more all benefit when local people support local businesses with their money. A good opportunity to show that support is coming up soon. On November 29, many businesses are participating in Small Business Saturday, sponsored by American Express. It’s another way local businesses are thinking nationally, banding together to provide more to their customers while saving those customers money. Small Business Saturday’s slogan is “Shop Small.” This holiday season, spend it locally. You’ll save time and money (on gas) and find some bargains and unique gifts. While you’re out shopping, you’ll run into business owners and customers who are ready and willing to help you find the perfect gift, or help you enjoy an ideal holiday meal. More importantly, you’ll help your local business community and your town in the process. That’s a gift that’s worth more than anything. Beauty all around us One of the more rewarding sponsorships The Gazette has funded in recent years is the annual plein air photography contest run by the Hammonton Arts Center. It’s especially rewarding because our newspaper is able to show off the work by so many talented local and area photographers as they examine the beauty all around us in Hammonton. The special section is on pages 29 to 40 in this week’s edition, and we’re sure you’ll enjoy the photography highlighting the unique landscapes and architecture of the town. Photographers in the contest were charged with taking photographs outdoors in Hammonton (“plein air” means “open air” in French) and the results were extraordinary. It’s always amazing to see some areas of town most of us pass through daily without a thought turned into art by the photographers. In the same way the town has been the subject of artistic eyes with plein air painting contests, photography captures the beauty of the community and preserves so it may be enjoyed by current and future generations. We hope you enjoy the images of the Hammonton Arts Center’s Plein Air Photography Contest, sponsored by The Gazette. to the editor: letters to the editor Congratulations to the town of Hammonton on its most recent recognition as fourth in the state in economic growth. This impressive accolade comes on the heels of yet another noteworthy distinction, one of four to be named a “Great Place in New Jersey 2014.” The town of Hammonton continues to thrive with an enviable revitalization of its downtown. It’s no wonder it attracts the attention of businesses, homebuyers and visitors. Hammonton’s citizens take pride in their community and actively contribute to its positive development. Downtown Hammonton is an extraordinary example for all our downtowns and Main Streets, USA. Instead of complaining about competition from malls and big box stores, Hammonton citizens stood up and fought back. On behalf of the entire county, we are proud of you and your accomplishments and are anxious to see how the town of Hammonton further shapes its future. Wishing you continued success! to the editor: What a message Atlantic County sent on Election Day. The Republicans ran on a message of opposing North Jersey casinos. They called on their Democrat opponents three times to join them in their opposition, only to be answered with complete silence. The result was Republicans winning handily throughout Atlantic County. Congressman Frank LoBiondo was reelected with a greater majority dennis levinson Atlantic county executive Atlantic city than in 2012, despite the Democrats throwing everything they had against him. Sheriff Frank Balles was reelected handily. And Freeholders Risley and Marino carried the county by more than 7,000 votes. The message is clear. Atlantic County Republicans continue to stand up for us by opposing North Jersey casinos. The question is will the Democrats now listen? Frank lucarelli Galloway PersPective/Weekly Address Over the past year, more than 10 million Americans have gained the financial security and peace of mind that comes with health insurance. More than seven million people enrolled in affordable coverage by visiting HealthCare.gov, or going to the marketplace in their state. On average, they’re paying just $82 a month for coverage. For a lot of people, that’s less than a cell phone bill or a cable bill. Insurance companies can no longer deny you coverage just because you have a preexisting condition, and they now have to cover free preventive care like checkups and mammograms. If you missed your chance to get covered last year, here’s the good news. Starting November 15, you can go online or call [phone] and get covered for 2015. And we’ve spent the last year improving and upgrading HealthCare.gov, to make it faster and easier to use. If you already buy insurance through the online marketplace, now is the time to take a look at some new options for next year. You might be able to save more money, or find a plan that fits your family’s needs even better than the one you’ve got now. If you haven’t signed up for insurance yet, this is your chance. Odds are, you’ll qualify for tax credits to help you afford it. But this window won’t stay open forever. You only have three months to shop for plans, so it’s worth starting right away. And it might make a big difference for your family’s bottom line. Last year, I got an email from a woman named Amy Williams, in Augusta, Georgia. She and her husband are self-employed in the trucking business. For years, they paid about $1,200 a month for their health insurance. Then they checked out HealthCare.gov. They found a plan with coverage they liked, and it was way less expensive. She says that they’ve saved around $13,000 on their premiums this year alone. see PresideNt, Page 7 The Hammonton Gazette welcomes letters to the editor that are no more than 800 words long. All letters must include the name of the author and an address and telephone number for verification. Letters should be mailed to The Hammonton Gazette, Editorial Page, P.O. Box 1228, Hammonton, NJ 08037. Letters also will be accepted via fax. The fax number is 704—1938.  Or by email to [email protected]. Deadline for all submissions is 2 p.m. Monday. The Hammonton Gazette reserves the right to edit any submissions. The opinions expressed in letters, perspectives or in guest columns do not necessarily reflect those of The Hammonton Gazette.  The Gazette is not responsible for factual errors in letters, perspectives or in guest columns. The Gazette retains the right to refuse any submission or advertisement.