From the desk of ASSEMBLYMAN MICHAEL TORRISSI JR.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 8, 2025

Assemblyman Michael Torrissi Jr. Launches Annual Columbus Day Dinner Tradition in Hammonton with Special Guest Jack Ciattarelli

HAMMONTON, NJ – Assemblyman Michael Torrissi Jr. announced today that he will host his inaugural Columbus Day Dinner, reviving and reimagining a community tradition once led by the late Garfield DeMarco, former Burlington County Chairman. This year’s event will feature special guest Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee for Governor in 2025 and a leading voice for common-sense solutions in New Jersey.

For decades, DeMarco’s Columbus Day gatherings brought together families, neighbors, and civic leaders to celebrate Italian-American heritage. With this new annual dinner, Torrissi will carry forward that legacy and ensure Hammonton remains the heart of Columbus Day celebrations in South Jersey.

“Garfield understood the value of bringing people together, and his Columbus Day dinners became a staple in Hammonton,” said Assemblyman Torrissi. “I want to honor that legacy while also building something lasting for the next generation. That’s why I’m proud to host my first Columbus Day Dinner this year—and every year moving forward. Having Jack Ciattarelli join us makes this year’s dinner even more special.”

The dinner will take place each Columbus Day weekend, highlighting the town’s deep Italian-American roots, its history of hard work and faith, and its continued importance as a cultural hub of South Jersey.

“Hammonton is about family, tradition, and pride in where we come from,” Torrissi added. “This dinner is about more than food and fellowship—it’s about celebrating who we are as a community. As long as I’m around, the Michael Torrissi Jr. Columbus Day Dinner will be part of that story.”

The inaugural dinner will be held on Columbus Day, October 13 at 6 pm.