Fenway ’ s picks of the week

Pearl Harbor remembered

p . 59-66

Cookie Contest is December 9

p . 24

Holiday recipe guide

p . 37-52

Gaga shines in Gucci film

p . 75

Wednesday , December 8 , 2021

Volume 25 • Issue 49

O Christmas tree

Downtown tree lighting with Santa returns www . hammontongazette . com

THREE VEHICLES

THG / Joseph F . Berenato . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .

Santa Claus used his magic dust to light the town tree during the town tree lighting ceremony on December 4 .

by Joseph F . Berenato GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

HAMMONTON — After a year off , the

HAMMONTON — The establishment of Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting , featuring Santa Claus , returned on Saturday , De- here tonight , but none more special than the the Borough of Folsom in January of

a joint municipal court — which started with Committee , said that the joint court came

See TREE , Page 12

See COURT , Page 14

Gov . Murphy : Additional $ 84K school aid

cember 4 . Councilman Thomas Gribbin , bedecked in his top hat , served as master of ceremonies for the event , which took place at the town tree near the corner of Bellevue and Central Avenues .

“ We have some really special performers

STOLEN NOV . 29

Bellevue Ave ., White Horse Pike locations

GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

HAMMONTON — Three vehicles were reported stolen on the same day — by Gabe Donio November 29 — in two separate locations , Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said . Two of the vehicles were stolen from an apart-

Joint court is a

ment complex on the 700 block of Bellevue Avenue , and a third vehicle was reported stolen that same day on the 100 block of S .

See POLICE , Page 2

success for town

2019 — has been a boon for the town of by Joseph F . Berenato Hammonton , town officials told The

GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

Gazette . Councilman Thomas Gribbin , who serves as the chair of the Administration by Joseph F . Berenato GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

HAMMONTON — On November 19 , Governor Phil Murphy announced $ 75 million in funding for emergent and capital mainte-

Locals share

nance school construction throughout New Jersey including more than $ 80,000 for the Hammonton School District .

According to a release , this funding will “ be distributed to school districts across the state to help meet emergent and capital

love of music maintenance needs , as well as address COVID-19 concerns to help schools ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for students .”

“ In order to ensure New Jersey remains the number one school system in the nation , we must ensure our schools have the tools they need for students to succeed . The funds we are announcing today are critical for making sure our schools remain safe and welcoming spaces for our kids and educators and for ensuring that our school buildings can meet the needs of the future ,” Murphy said in the release .

The release said that all school districts in the state will receive a portion of the $ 75 million , to be administered by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority

See SCHOOL , Page 4

Victory Bible ’ s Living Nativity

by Joseph F . Berenato GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

HAMMONTON — For some , interest in music waxes and wanes , often being relegated to an activity in which people participated when they were younger .

For others , the ability to craft and express oneself through music turns into a lifelong passion .

One such person is Jimmy Italiano , who describes his love of music as “ a Hammonton story .”

“ My father and I were in town when Angelo Cappuccio had the Music America store ; it was in the early ‘ 70s . We walked in the music store , and I told my dad , ‘ I want to play guitar .’ He bought me the guitar , and I started taking lessons at Music America ,” Italiano said .

Italiano ’ s first teacher was Joseph Sateriale — known in the area as Joe Sater — who owned the Sater School of Music from 1954 to 1961 , and whom Italiano described as “ an older , really good jazz guitar player .”

See MUSICIAN , Page 10