Tips for making New Year ’ s Resolutions
p . 16-23
Oh , what a year ! A look back at 2016
p . 29-36
SJP opens new boutique p . 49
Wednesday , December 28 , 2016
Volume 20 • Issue 52 www . hammontongazette . com
THIRD RUN FOR DIDONATO ?
by Stephen Pistone DiDonato says he has not ruled out running again
Gazette Staff Writer
H a M M O N t O N — M a y o r Stephen DiDonato has served the town of Hammonton for more than 12 years ( four-and-a-half
by Stephen Pistone
Gazette Staff Writer
by Stephen Pistone
Gazette Staff Writer
HaMMONtON — the town planning board unanimously passed an amended major site plan for Hammonton investors LLC and taco Bell , allowing for a driveway to be constructed in front of the building , connecting each side years on the Hammonton Board of education , seven years as mayor ). as he enters the final year of his second mayoral term , DiDonato recently sat down for an interview with The Gazette to look back on
HaMMONtON — the zoning Board of adjustments unanimously approved phase one of Spellcaster Productions LLC ’ s plan to repurpose the recently-purchased St . Martin de Porres church as Kathedral event Center during its meeting on December 22 . the board approved the use variance to permit the proposed event center for Block 3001 , Lots 40 and 41 , zone r-1 at 499 S . egg
See ZONING , Page 10
of the parking lot and therefore eliminating the need to turn left on to the White Horse Pike to get back to the entrance upon exiting . the motion to amend the original major site plan for Block 4604 , Lot 29.01 , zone GW-2 at 117 S . White Horse Pike was made by board member Dr . Michael Hozik
See PLANNING , Page 4 the past seven years , discuss goals for the coming year and look ahead to life after town hall . as of now , DiDonato said he is leaning towards not running for a third term once his current one
THG / Gabe Donio . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
“ You can see where I live that there is history wherever you look .” William H . Parkhurst III in the living room of his home on the lake in Hammonton , built out of the Evans Woolen Mill , which was constructed 150 years ago . Parkhurst ’ s family has lived in Hammonton since 1857 . ends on December 31 , 2017 , but did not commit to a decision yet .
“ i don ’ t want to say it ’ s 100 percent decided , but i guess it ’ s in the 80 to 90 percentile . i spent fourand-a-half years on school board
HaMMONtON — William H . Parkhurst iii , whose family , with its longstanding ties to agriculture , has lived in Hammonton since 1857 and has been here for the entirety of the town ’ s 150 years , lives in the former evans Woolen Mill on the shores of the Hammonton
HaMMONtON — the Parks and recreation approved several use of facility requests for the Hammonton Youth Soccer association ( HYSa ), the east Coast Crush , a travel girls ’ softball team ; the Hammonton men ’ s softball
SUBSCRIBE TO The Gazette • $ 20 FOR 52 WEEKS • CALL 609-704-1939
and when i finish next year , i ’ ll have eight years in the mayor seat . So , i basically have served 12 and a half years , and i ’ m leaning towards thinking that maybe somebody else gets a turn ,” DiDonato said .
See DIDONATO , Page 12
New concert venue Santa makes a stop on Rt . 206 approved by board
Taco Bell driveway to be connected
THG / MarySusan Hoffman . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
Santa Claus visited St . Mary of Mt . Carmel Parish St . Anthony of Padua Church on December 21 to see the kids at the God ’ s Little Angels program . Santa Claus was brought by Hammonton Independent Volunteer Fire Company No . 2 .
Family ’ s 150-year bond with town
by Gabe Donio
Gazette Staff Writer
by Stephen Pistone
Gazette Staff Writer
Lake with his wife , Katherine . the mill , which has been their home since 1969 , has also existed in town for the entirety of the town ’ s 150 years .
Parkhurst once owned Parkhurst farm and Garden Supply store , a John Deere store on the White Horse Pike ( route 30 ) and is a former president of the Historical Society of Hammonton . He gave The
See PARKHURST , Page 13
Field use requests approved by comm .
team and the Hammonton Little League during its meeting on December 20 . the use of fields on 11th Street , Boyer avenue and Linda avenue were included in the approvals . the following use of facility requests was approved during the meeting :
• the Hammonton Little League See COMMISSION , Page 3