Holiday Worship Services
HHS 1st Marking Period Honor Roll
Dance Magic , DanceXplosion perform holiday shows p . 21 p . 32 p . 14 , 16
Wednesday , December 20 , 2023
Volume 27 • Issue 51
Santa visits Apron Cafe
Santa greets families after landing by helicopter
Sam Mento III conducts final meeting as Board of Education President
by Kristin Guglietti GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON — Sam Mento III attended his last school board meeting on Dec . 14 as one of the longest board presidents . He was a member of the school board for 12 years , nine in which he served as president .
Mento called the meeting to order and all board members were present at the Samuel A . Donio Memorial Library , except Thomas Attanasi .
In the beginning of the meeting , Superintendent Robin Chieco gave the superintendent report .
Chieco said the 2024-2025 inter-district school choice lottery was held on Dec . 12 , with about 150 applications received for the 38 seats available for the next school year . Families will be notified via letter on Dec . 20 about the results of the lottery .
During her report , Chieco discussed the expansion at the Early Childhood Education Center ( ECEC ). She said the construction of the walls are almost completed .
Chieco congratulated the 2023-2024 Educators of the Year : Hammonton High School teacher Tracy Angelozzi , Hammonton Middle School teacher Melissa Busch , Warren E . Sooy Jr . Elementary School teacher Kellie Adamucci and ECEC teacher Shannon Aumenta .
“ All are well deserving of this honor from their peers . We will recognize this year ’ s recipients at our February Board of Education meeting ,” Chieco said .
Because it is Mento ’ s final meeting , Chieco gave a moment to thank him for the many years of support he provided while she was superintendent .
“ No matter the type of program or additional staff I felt was needed for improvements within the district , Mr . Mento was always supportive and made sure that the needs of our students were met ,” Chieco said .
The meeting then moved to committee reports starting with a report from Student Council Vice President Gianna Johnson .
Johnson said the student council members will be delivering gifts to less fortunate kindergarteners at the LEAP Academy in Camden on Dec . 21 .
Board member John Lyons didn ’ t have a report from the Finance Committee .
During committee reports , Mento asked board member Kelli Fallon if there was any update on the solar project for the community .
“ We haven ’ t had a solar meeting in several months . It is operational ,” Fallon said . “[ Business Administrator ] Mrs . [ Barbara ] Prettyman would have the information as to what our savings are . The solar committee has not met . This project is over .”
Next , Board Vice President Linda
See MENTO , Page 8
Kristin Guglietti / THG
Santa Claus flew into Apron Café via helicopter on Dec . 16 . For more photos , see Page 18 .
Lake staying lowered until next spring discussed
by Kristin Guglietti GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON — The Lake Water Quality Advisory ( LWQA ) Committee discussed the lake staying lowered during the Dec . 12 meeting at the Canoe Club .
LWQA Committee Chairperson Dan Bachalis sent an email asking lakeshore owners , “ While the lake is down , will you be cleaning it up ? Will you be cleaning along the lakeshore ? And if you know when , when ?”
Bachalis asked these questions to figure out the most appropriate time to bring the lake back up to level .
About nine people responded .
Sunday Storm Pummels Area
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Most people said they already cleaned up or are in the process of cleaning up .
“ Most of the people who responded indicated they ’ d like to see the lake brought back up as soon as possible ,” Bachalis said .
Bachalis said he gave the responses to Mayor Stephen Di- Donato and Public Works Manager Scott Rivera .
In a different email , Bachalis asked the Superintendent of the Municipal Utilities Department Anthony DeCicco if he had a chance to get out to the boards at the lake .
“ He did write back and say , ‘ The boards are all good ,’” Bachalis said .
See LAKE , Page 3
Keith Dawn / THG
Craig Richards / THG
A powerful storm hit the area late Sunday night . High winds coupled with excessive precipitation caused rising waters and debris forcing many roads to close . Residents reported power outages in some areas from approximately 11:30 P . M . Sunday night to early Monday morning . one dollar