Remembering the Hamm.
Bottling Company
Holiday recipes for you
to make this year
Gazette Cookie Bake-Off
Thursday, December 12!
MAILBOXES SAWED OFF
p. 19-26
p. 35-46
p. 18
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Volume 23 • Issue 50
www.hammontongazette.com
by Gabe Donio
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Police are seeking the
individual or individuals who sawed several
mailboxes, including one valued at between
$100 and $200, off their posts on the 400
block of Walnut Street on December 4,
Police seeking vandals in criminal mischief case
Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said.
The criminal mischief case was reported to
police at 9:44 p.m. on December 4, Friel
said.
“There were several residences where the
mailboxes were detached from their posts,”
Friel said.
Friel said a silver vehicle was observed
in the area, and a loud noise was heard from
the street.
“Mailboxes had been sawn off their
posts. One of these mailboxes had been val-
ued at $100 to $200,” Friel said.
The mailboxes were left at the scene at
each location, Friel said.
Friel said police checked the area, and
there are no suspects at this time. Anyone
Council introduces Santa lights downtown tree
noise ordinance
by Joseph F. Berenato
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—On Novem-
ber 18, at its monthly meeting at
Hammonton Town Hall, town
council introduced Ordinance
#30-2019, which would regulate
See POLICE, Page 2
noise in the town of Hammonton.
“We’ve received multiple com-
plaints over the last year, 18
months, from residents with noise
concerns,” Councilman Steven
Furgione told The Gazette.
Mayor Stephen DiDonato ex-
plained further.
Large crowd for
Dec. 7 tree lighting
by Joseph F. Berenato
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Parents and
children of all ages gathered for
the Downtown Christmas Tree
Lighting on December 7. Council-
man Thomas Gribbin was the mas-
ter of ceremonies—complete with
See COUNCIL, Page 4
top hat—for the event, which took
place at the town tree near the cor-
ner of Bellevue and Central Av-
enues.
“We have some really special
performers here tonight, but none
more special than the one and only
Santa Claus. That’s right, Santa
Claus. He’ll be arriving here
Enjoying some Chamber cheer Promoting Italian
See TREE, Page 3
THG/Kelly Hunt. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Santa Claus magically lit the tree at the corner of Central and Bellevue Avenues during MainStreet Hammonton’s Christmas
Tree Lighting on December 7 in downtown.
culture, heritage
by Joseph F. Berenato
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Negative
stereotypes have perpetually
plagued minority groups and im-
migrants to the United States, and
Italian-Americans are no excep-
tion. Traditionally a more reactive
agency, the New Jersey Order
Sons of Italy in America has de-
cided to take a more proactive
stance.
“The New Jersey Order Sons of
Italy in America are in the forma-
tion stages of forming an inde-
pendent organization that will be
mission driven on protecting and
promoting Italian cultural and her-
itage issues,” Dominick J.
Hamm. Heart &
Soul Meeting held
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
THG/Joseph F. Berenato. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
On December 4, the Greater Hammonton Chamber of Commerce held their annual Holiday Mixer at Annata Wine
Bar. Above, left to right: PJ Pullia from M.L. Ruberton Agency, Chuck Biondi from BB&T Bank and Bill Garrison of
409 Bellevue LLC. More pictures on Pages 16 and17.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
HAMMONTON—On Decem-
ber 3, Stockton University’s
Kramer Hall was host to the Ham-
monton Heart & Soul Meeting, an
interactive community dinner
meeting designed to garner input
Gazette • SUBSCRIBE NOW! • CALL 609-704-1939
from residents about a new initia-
tive in Hammonton.
The town is currently in the
process of applying for a grant
from the Community Foundation
of South Jersey to become a
Transform South Jersey Heart &
Soul Community.
According to its website, the
See HEART, Page 12
by Joseph F. Berenato
See SOI, Page 10