It’s not too late: Gazette
Cookie Bake-Off Dec. 12
p. 19
Holiday Entertaining
12-pg. special section
p. 31-42
Hammonton’s
2013 Tax Sale List
p. 56-58
CURCIO IS SUSPENDED
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Volume 17 • Issue 50
by Gabe Donio
GAzETTE STAFF WriTEr
HAMMONTON—According
to a ruling issued by New Jersey
State Supreme Court Chief Justice
Stuart rabner on December 5, Atlantic County Surrogate James
www.hammontongazette.com
Decision: 2 months without pay for ethics violations
Curcio, of Hammonton, will be
suspended for two months without
pay beginning January 1 for ethics
violations, including chairing a
political fundraiser and being ar-
State gives district
$1.9M for HMS
by Gabe Donio
GAzETTE STAFF WriTEr
HAMMONTON—The New
Jersey Department of Education
and Hammonton Board of Education President Joseph Giralo confirmed the district received
$1,945,362 through a state regular
Operating District (rOD) grant on
December 4. The funding will be
used for a $3,482,991 Hammonton
Total renovation
project cost is
$3.48M
rested for a second time for driving while intoxicated (DWi).
[For the complete text of the
judge’s order and the presentment,
go to hammontongazette.com.]
rabner accepted the findings
and recommendation of the New
Jersey Supreme Court Advisory
Committee on Judicial Conduct,
which focused primarily on Cur-
A fun-filled tree lighting
GAzETTE STAFF WriTEr
HAMMONTON—The Hammonton Planning Board had less
activity of applications during the
2013 calendar year. After a busier
See HMS, Page 10
2012, the board had more cancellations of meetings during this
year, or had minor application presentations, such as change of use
or variances.
On December 4, members of the
Beloved fire chief Donio dies
See PLANNING, Page 4
HAMMONTON—Hammonton Fire Chief
Emeritus Jack P. Donio Jr. died on December 10.
He was 71. Donio was a member of the Hammonton Fire Department for 47 years.
According to Carnesale Funeral Home, a viewing will be held on Friday, December 13 at St.
Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish - St. Joseph Church
on Third Street. The viewing will begin at 5:30
p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on
Saturday, December 14 at the church at 11:30
a.m. Burial will follow in Greenmount Cemetery.
Donio was the longest-serving chief in Hammonton history, serving from 1988 to 2001. He
also served as president, lieutenant and assistant
chief. He was a member of the following organizations: Hammonton Exchange Club and served
as president; Lonesome Dove Hunting Club;
Catalano Hunting Club in Salem; Hutton Hill
Shooting Club; Camden County Board of Agriculture and served as president; St. Joseph
Church; and the United States Marine Corps.
“Jack was responsible for modernizing the fire
department. He turned the entire fleet around.
and brought many safety innovations. His leadership ability was uncanny. He never cracked
under pressure. The men were always right behind him. He led without fear or pressure,” HamTHG File Photo
monton Fire Co. No. 1 Lieutenant and
Former Assistant Fire Chief Ralph Perna (left) and Fire Chief Councilman Michael Pullia said.
Emeritus Jack Donio were honored by the Hammonton Lions
Donations may be made in Donio’s memory to
Club on April 18, 2002. The two volunteers were the 2002 Co- the Hammonton Fire Department. Arrangements
Citizens of the Year. Donio died on December 10, 2013.
by the Carnesale Funeral Home.
SUBSCRIBE TO
See CURCIO, Page 10
Middle School (HMS) project that
will include a new heating and air
conditioning system and new windows, Giralo said.
According to Giralo, the funds
used for the local share of the proj-
Planning board
sets 2014 schedule
by Paul J. Macrie IV
cio’s acting as “Host Committee
Chairman”
of a political
fundraiser for Assemblyman Chris
Brown, which the presentment by
THG/Joseph Bruno. To purchase photos
in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Left: Mick Doto gives his wife Kerry a lift in front
of the town Christmas tree following MainStreet
Hammonton’s tree lighting event on December
7. Above: Local dance students wait to perform.
For more photos from the event, see Page 16.
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAzETTE STAFF WriTEr
HAMMONTON—On December 7, MainStreet Hammonton held
its annual Downtown Christmas
Tree Lighting event, and it was
sponsored by Liberty Dialysis, One
Trick Pony and David Charles Ltd.
On a cold, blustery Saturday
evening, the lighting of the sizeable
tree on the corner of Bellevue and
Central Avenues marked the unofficial beginning of the holiday season in town.
Though Santa’s arrival from a
fire truck to light the tree was the
main event of the evening, there
was plenty of other entertainment
which captivated a family crowd to
the downtown area. Whether it was
horse carriage rides throughout the
downtown area, a live nativity display at St. Joseph High School or
performances from The Eagle Theatre, Paul Morris DanceExplosion,
Dance Magic and the Hammonton
Community Choir at the Central
Avenue location, it was a night to
remember.
There were many people who
worked throughout the months
Rent control ord.
relevance debated
by Lauren Bucci
GAzETTE STAFF WriTEr
HAMMONTON—The town’s
Quality of Life Committee held a
meeting inside town hall with interested tenants and representatives to discuss issues pertaining
to rent control on December 5.
According to town solicitor
The Gazette! ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL: (609) 704-1940
See TREE, Page 12
Brian Howell, the town adopted a
rent control ordinance in 1976,
which was eliminated in 2008 except for leases and rental agreements in effect on April 28, 2008.
Those leases and agreements are
protected by rent control until the
tenant vacates the unit they lived
in on that date. Data presented to
See RENT, Page 14