The Hammonton Gazette 12/03/14 Edition | Page 2

The Hammonton Gazette IS SOLD IN 70+ LOCATIONS IN: Hammonton • Folsom • Mullica Twp. • Egg Harbor City Waterford Twp. • Winslow Twp. • Buena • Collings Lakes Cookie Bake-Off is December 11. Get baking! p. 21 Hammonton’s 2014 Tax Sale List p. 54-56 TOWN OKS SPENDING $500K Wednesday, December 3, 2014 Volume 18 • Issue 49 by Brittany Mauro GAZETTE STAFF WRITER HAMMONTON—At a special meeting held on December 1, council voted for a bond ordinance supplement of $500,000 for the Boyer Avenue underground www.hammontongazette.com Money is for Boyer Ave. underground drip irrigation drip irrigation project. An additional $500,000 in bonds or bond anticipation notes were approved by the town to finance the cost of the project. According to the agenda, the estimated cost of the improvements and the purpose for the financing of which the bonds are to be issued is $1,035,000 including the $535,000 appropriated by the original bond ordinance and the $500,000 appropriated December 1. In other council news, a bond ordinance was adopted authorizing the issuance of $20,900 for the professional fees associated with the airport compliance plan. Council members also discussed the Treatment Solutions Litigation in closed session, town solicitor Brian Howell said. Schools continue ‘Shop Small’ a big success choice program by Paul J. Macrie IV GAZETTE STAFF WRITER HAMMONTON—The Hammonton School District has been a part of the Interdistrict Public School Choice program since the 2011-2012 academic year, and the process continues to draw additional students to the schools each academic year. As of the current school year See COUNCIL, Page 14 (2014-2015), there are 181 School Choice students enrolled in the district and 24 more students will be accepted for the 2015-2016 academic year, according to Administrative Assistant Sue DeCicco. Hammonton Board of Education President Joseph Giralo said the School Choice program would not be expanding beyond its current level in the 2015-2016 school Holiday events planned for town by Paul J. Macrie IV GAZETTE STAFF WRITER HAMMONTON—The holiday season has arrived and the town of Hammonton will be the location for several events, recitals and concerts during the month of December. It is an excellent opportunity to See CHOICE, Page 12 enjoy the spirit of Christmas, starting with the Downtown Hammonton Christmas Tree Lighting spectacle on Saturday, December 6 beginning at 6 p.m. with the actual tree lighting ceremony coinciding with the arrival of Santa at 7 p.m. Afterwards, children can see Craft fair held at St. Anthony Shoppers support local businesses See HOLIDAY, Page 3 THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940. Kayla Oliva and Erin DiDonato spent part of Saturday, November 29 shopping small in GorJess & LoveLee in downtown. For more photos from Small Business Saturday, see page 46. Editorial, page 6. by Paul J. Macrie IV GAZETTE STAFF WRITER HAMMONTON—On Saturday, November 29, shoppers took advantage of sales that were occurring at local businesses throughout the town of Hammonton. It was part of the national Small Business Saturday promotion from Ameri- can Express, which encouraged people to shop locally and to give back to the community. Downtown and uptown store owners benefitted from the big day, as customers were buying Christmas items for families and friends as well as other purchases. There are various reasons why Improvement effort continues at lake park by Paul J. Macrie IV GAZETTE STAFF WRITER THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940. Dorothy Fahy, of Davies J. Farthing, sold leather handbags, cosmetic bags, men’s ties and more at the craft fair held at St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church on November 29 and 30. For more photos from the event, see page 46. SUBSCRIBE TO The Gazette! HAMMONTON—Local volunteers and town employees continue to work on projects to improve different aspects of the Hammonton Lake Park area as the days and months move forward. Individuals are even thinking of ways to fully See SHOP, Page 4 revitalize the park. There is currently a first phase of work occurring throughout the complex, and there is the possibility of a second phase beginning at some point next year. Mayor Stephen DiDonato has been keeping a close eye on the progression of the Hammonton Lake Park pavilion work that is ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL (609) 704-1940 See TOWN, Page 10