The Hammonton Gazette 121714 Edition | Page 2

The Hammonton Gazette IS SOLD IN 70+ LOCATIONS IN: Hammonton • Folsom • Mullica Twp. • Egg Harbor City Waterford Twp. • Winslow Twp. • Buena • Collings Lakes 25 recipes from annual Gazette Cookie Bake-Off p. 33-40 Listing of local holiday worship events, services p. 41 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 $1.4M SETTLEMENT FOR REHAB? Volume 18 • Issue 51 by Brittany Mauro Gazette Staff Writer www.hammontongazette.com town council reorganization meeting Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. litigation. treatment Solutions is a company that proposed a drug treatment facility to be located at the Sail Lake complex on the White Horse Pike (rt. 30) and Hammonton Lake, according to town solicitor Brian Howell. the Hammonton zoning Board of adjustment denied the application and treatment Solutions sued the town stating that the town was in violation of the americans With Disabilities act and the fair Housing act, Howell said. after interrogatories were completed and depositions were taken, as is typical with a federal litigation, both sides attended mediation, Howell said. there were at least three mediations held by retired judges which attempted to close a gap of approximately $6 million between what the demands of the Laundromat Tree lighting brings crowd downtown vandalized HaMMONtON—at the December 15 council meeting, the town voted to accept a plan for a $1.4 million insurance-paid settlement for the treatment Solutions by Gabe Donio Gazette Staff Writer HaMMONtON—a laundromat at raspberry run on 12th Street (route 54) was vandalized last week, Hammonton Police Captain Nick Salvatore said. the vandalism was reported to police at 10 a.m. on December 8. See CLOSING, Page 10 “it happened between Sunday and Monday. Someone damaged the machines and electronics at the laundromat,” Salvatore said. the damage was estimated at approximately $400, Salvatore said. the incident is being investigated by Officer David reustle, Salvatore said. Esposito, Bachalis look back on service by Paul J. Macrie IV Gazette Staff Writer HaMMONtON—Hammonton first Councilmen Dan Bachalis and Paul esposito fell short in their pursuit of reelection to Hammonton town Council in the November 5 election. the councilmen, who will relinquish their seats at the end of 2014, spoke to The Gazette in a recent interview. they reflected back on what they enjoyed most about their time on town council, their accomplishments, what they will miss about the experience, what projects they Parade lights up Bellevue Ave. See BACHALIS, Page 3 THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940. A large crowd came to the annual MainStreet Hammonton Christmas Tree Lighting on December 10. The event featured carolers, horse and carriage rides, a living Nativity, a visit by Santa Claus and more. For more pictures, see Page 16. riage rides that started at the Hammonton family Success Center at by Paul J. Macrie IV 310 Bellevue ave., a live nativity Gazette Staff Writer in front of St. Joseph High School HaMMONtON—On Decem- on Vine Street organized by Vicber 10, MainStreet Hammonton tory Bible Church, a tremendous held its annual Christmas tree music show production and carolLighting event. ers. after Santa Claus lit the tree Originally scheduled to take shortly before 7 p.m., families visplace on December 6, rain post- ited with him at Wells fargo Bank poned the traditional ceremony by next to where all the action took four days. it didn’t deter families place on the ronald reagan Drive from coming out to enjoy the fes- section of Central avenue. tivities on a blustery Wednesday Carolynn thibault and amy evening in downtown Hammon- Shannon watched their daughters, ton. See TREE, Page 4 People enjoyed horse and car- Board accepts Lancetta’s coaching resignation by Zack Brown Gazette Staff Writer THG/Joseph Bruno. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940. It was a chilly, yet clear night for the annual Hammonton Fire Dept. Christmas Parade held December 13. The parade marched down Bellevue Avenue to the railroad tracks at Egg Harbor Road. For more pictures from the event, see Page 17. SUBSCRIBE TO The Gazette! HaMMONtON—the Hammonton Board of education accepted the resignation of Pete Lancetta [see related articles on pages 24-28 and page 72, Gabe Donio’s column, page 7] as head football coach during its regular monthly meeting on December 11 at Hammonton High School’s Samuel a. Donio Memorial Library. the meeting began with a presentation of the 2013-2014 audit by ray Colavita of the firm Nightlinger, Colavita and Volpe. according to the findings, the district is in excellent financial stand- ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL (609) 704-1940 See BOARD, Page 2