Coco is a family movie
worth seeing
p. 55
Need help with your
present buying?
p 27
Cookie Bake-off
is December 7
p. 46
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
POLICE, MERCHANTS FIGHT CRIME
Volume 21 • Issue 48
by Gabe Donio
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—as
the
Hammonton Police Department
and businesses of the downtown
area continue to push back on re-
cent criminal activity in the area,
two men were arrested in the last
www.hammontongazette.com
Men arrested after several businesses call police
week after business owners
quickly called police to deal with
their activities, Hammonton Po-
lice Lt. Kevin friel said. follow-
ing several incidents in recent
weeks, downtown business own-
ers recently met with Hammonton
Small Business
Sat. a big success
by Stephen Pistone
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—Small Busi-
ness Saturday was celebrated in a
big way throughout Hammonton
on November 25 as the town was
full of shoppers taking time out of
Police Chief robert Jones, who
outlined the police department’s
strategy to work with business
owners to ensure the safety of the
downtown area.
felix Ortiz, 44, of Hammonton,
was arrested at 11:30 a.m. on No-
vember 20 after police received a
call from an establishment on the
200 block of Bellevue avenue re-
garding an individual in the store
who was acting strangely and dis-
turbing patrons, friel said.
Ortiz was found to have an out-
standing warrant for $100 from
atlantic City and was released
pending a court date.
Officer eric Pohl was the arrest-
ing officer, friel said.
friel said police then received
See POLICE, Page 10
their holiday weekend to give
back to the small, locally owned
businesses that have been a driv-
ing force to keeping the local
economy vibrant and strong for
many years.
the tradition of Small Business
Saturday began in 2010 as a na-
Holiday events
filled with cheer
by Stephen Pistone
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—the holiday
season is fast approaching, and
with it comes a cavalcade of fun
and festive events in Hammonton
that will bring joy and unity to the
community.
See SMALL, Page 3
those interested in getting a
head start on their Christmas
festivities can visit the Magical
Holiday express at DiDonato
family fun Center every night in
December with the exception of
Christmas eve and Christmas Day.
for $14.95, visitors will be
given access to a winter
‘Coffee With a Cop’ at Casciano Lake plan being
See EVENTS, Page 10
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Folsom residents Courtney (left) and Beverly Mateo spent part of their day shopping at SaDee’s Clothing Boutique
during Small Business Saturday. For more photos, see Pages 8 and 13.
reviewed, revised
by Michael Rizzotte
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—Vice Chair-
man of the Hammonton Lake
Water Quality advisory Commit-
tee, John Keenan, addressed the
Parks and recreation Commission
at its monthly meeting on Novem-
ber 21. Keenan explained that his
group has been in the process of
revising the Hammonton Lake
Management Plan for the better
part of the year. the plan was orig-
inally drafted by adams,
rehmann & Heggan associates
inc. in 1995.
“there wasn’t anything majorly
Health coalition
seeks $250K grant
by Stephen Pistone
G azette S taff W riter
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
The Hammonton Police Department hosted “Coffee With a Cop” at Bellevue Avenue’s Casciano Coffee Bar and Sweet-
ery on November 25 during Small Business Saturday. The event was organized in collaboration with the Hammonton
Drug Alliance and Residents Against Illegal Drugs (RAID) and allowed the community to meet and have conversations
with members of local law enforcement. Pictured (l-r) are K9 Officer Robert Zbikowski, RAID founder Tony Sbarra, De-
tective David Reustle, Lieutenant Kevin Friel, Patrolman Charles Sbarra III, Captain Mark Fiorentino and Casciano
Coffee Bar and Sweetery owner Linda Cashan.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
HaMMONtON—the Ham-
monton Health Coalition held its
first community meeting at the
family Success Center on Novem-
ber 17 in order to gauge the com-
munity’s concerns and suggestions
regarding health. the meeting oc-
See PARKS, Page 3
curred as the coalition prepares to
apply for the BUiLD Health Chal-
lenge, a $250,000 grant funded in
part by the robert Wood Johnson
foundation that is awarded to
communities that promote multi-
sector community partnerships in
order to improve community
health.
Gazette • $20 FOR 52 WEEKS • CALL 609-704-1939
See GROUP, Page 4