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The Hammonton Gazette
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STATE CLOSING LOCAL OFFICE
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Volume 18 • Issue 50
by Gina Rullo
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—On Friday,
December 12, the Hammonton
One-Stop Career Center, known
locally as the “unemployment office,” will close, according to an
www.hammontongazette.com
Last day for ‘unemployment office’ will be December 12
email from New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Director
of
Communications and Marketing
Brian T. Murray. The office is located at 43 S. White Horse Pike in
the same plaza as Family Dollar.
Local elected officials said they
were disappointed to hear about
the closure. They were not notified by the state about the closure,
they said.
“I am disappointed for the residents of the greater Hammonton
area who are 20 to 30 minutes
away that can use the services of
that office because of its geographic location in Hammonton.
It is the one thing about Hammonton, Hammonton is the hub of
South Jersey,” Mayor Stephen DiDonato.
“I think you need a western At-
A look at the town’s Christmas Tea at Methodist Church
fleet of vehicles
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—There are
numerous types of vehicles owned
by the town of the Hammonton
that are assessed each year as far
as their condition is concerned.
Public Works Manager/Business
Administrator Jerome Barberio
discussed specifics on determining
the condition of each vehicle, such
See CLOSING, Page 10
as a police car. It is a process he
and others at the municipality go
through when developing a budget
for the year.
Barberio explained that approximately every seven years, police
vehicles are released and replaced.
If it is still in fine condition, then
they will be kept for at least a few
more years.
“We will then get rid of it [the
Batsto Village draws
tourists to the region
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—Approximately eight miles separates Hammonton and the Historic Batsto
Village area. It has changed and
overcome different time periods in
American history, eventually
See VEHICLES, Page 4
being purchased by the state of
New Jersey in the 1950s. Batsto is
a nationally-recognized historic
site, located in Southern New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest region,
and today, is a New Jersey Historic site and is listed on the New
Jersey and National Registers of
Dogs enjoy visit at ‘Santa Paws’ Town government
See TOURISM, Page 3
THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
First United Methodist Church held its annual Christmas Tea event on December 6. at the Bellevue Avenue church.
Pictured are three of the volunteers Debbie, Lexi and Mackenzie Fitchett.
is ready for snow
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—Last winter
was cold and snowy, and the town
of Hammonton was one of the
municipalities that had a bigger
than normal task of keeping the
roads clear because of the frequent
winter weather events. The town
is preparing for the potential of
several wintry events again this
season, and is ready for the snow,
officials said.
Mayor Stephen DiDonato said
Hammonton Public Works Manager/Business
Administrator
Jerome Barberio and Hammonton
Highway Supervisor Scott Rivera
See SNOW, Page 4
Some new business owners
coming from out-of-town
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
A Chihuahua named Dude takes a picture with Santa at the ‘Santa Paws’ event organized by the Hammonton Dog Park
Volunteers on December 6. The first annual event took place in the park at the corner of 12th and Front Streets.
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HAMMONTON—Hammonton has given opportunities for
business owners, including those
from out-of-town, to either start
their venture or continue it in a
new setting. The business community is offering a number of
goods and services throughout the
town, and some of the out-oftown business owners discussed
the town as they see it and their
reasoning for coming to the community.
Jacqueline Luke is the owner of
Fork-N-Spoon Country Café on
Route 206, formerly known as the
Outpost Café. Luke lives in Wa-
ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL (609) 704-1940
See BUSINESS, Page 14