Clubs
On Wednesday, June 23rd, Love in Motion Youth Group was at Charlie's Crepes spending a beautiful afternoon collaborating on an activity designed to spread a little love around our community! Charlie’s wife, Lisa Koory, who meticulously tends to Little Blooming Garden - a beautiful flower garden on site at the restaurant - generously donated jars, flowers and her time so youth group members could make little floral arrangements with cards and special sentiments for various members, teachers and businesses in the Merchantville community. Love in Motion was thankful for the opportunity to spread some love and highly recommends enjoying some crepes while taking in the natural beauty of Lisa's gardens!
With warmer weather and more vaccinations underway, the Love in Motion Youth Group announced that they're resuming collection and donation activities and gearing up for some "clean-up" events. Right now, they are requesting toiletries, diapers and wipes during the month of June. They are gathering these items for their homeless outreach in Camden, as well as, South Jersey Mutual Aid. They only need the items listed, so please don't donate things that are not on the list. Items can be dropped off on the porch at 112 Locust Street and 24 Volan Street, Merchantville or can be picked up - just email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. As always, thank you for your kindness and generosity. Community matters!
James J. Eichman “Jim”, of Westville, NJ passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday February 10, 2021. Jim was a long time member of the Merchantville Fishing Club, a regular at their annual awards banquet and a frequent attendee at most kid events with his grandchildren. According to his obituary, Jim loved all things outdoors, be it fishing and trapping, gardening and hiking, and even metal detecting. He truly loved the outdoors and passed this love of nature off to his children & grandchildren who surely will continue in his footsteps. He leaves behind his wife of 46 years Deborah L. (Marcus) Eichman; children, Jimmy, Kevin (Kelly) and, Lisa Groves (Jeff); and, grandchildren Madeline, Ellie, Hannah, Connor, Claire, Matias and Jocelyn. A great guy who will be missed by all members of the club.
On May 27, 2020, Pope Francis announced that the Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, will become beatified on October 31st. The ceremony will occur during a special Mass at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, CT. This exciting news was welcomed by Knights of Columbus councils worldwide including George Pierlott, Grand Knight of Council 6735 out of Merchantville’s Saint Peter Parish. “It’s a great group of men, always willing to help,” he said. A Grand Knight since July 1st, and a member of the council since 2006, Pierlott has joined his brothers in assisting the parish during COVID-19. Their work has included setting up the parish’s live-streaming of Masses; organizing a drive-up and drop-off to fill the pantry of the parish’s local Saint Vincent de Paul Chapter, and help feed over 50 families each month; and providing funds for the church’s sanitizing supply.
Exciting news! MLL is offering a Fall Baseball Clinic to both Merchantville Little League and Pennsauken Little League baseball players ages 9-12. This clinic is being run by Coach Eric Newell of Haddon Heights High School and Coach Gautier of Pennsauken. Over the years, MLL has fed players to both high schools and the coaching staff at both schools are eager to develop future players. All participants will receive a clinic tee shirt and participate in 3 days of baseball. Clinic dates: October 2nd through 4th. Friday, October 2nd: 5:30-7:00 p.m. with Coach Newell of the Haddon Heights Garnets; Saturday, October 3rd: 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. with Coach Rolando of PHS Indians. Sunday, October 4th: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. with Coach Mike Stallone of PMS Indians and Coach Rolando. Registration fee is $25 + tax for all three days and is open until 19th of September. Location TBD.
With the country reeling from a global pandemic and tensions rising with protests against racial injustice, The Courier-Post covered Merchantville Little League Coach Vince Martinez as he looked for a way to bring his team of 8-, 9- and 10-year-olds together. “With everything that was happening in the world and with Black Lives Matter movement, I thought we needed to unify the team and we could do that with all of the kids wearing the same number,” Martinez said. And in baseball, where numbers mean everything, there’s only one numeral that could achieve his goal - Jackie Robinson's No. 42. Martinez, who played baseball at Pennsauken High School and Camden County College, was applauded by MLL parents for celebrating the life and values of a true sports hero.
Cindy Hertneck, member of Merchantville's Garden Club & Incredible Edible, will often be seen elbow deep in vegetation spots around town working hard to keep our community sustainable and beautiful. Every year Garden Club volunteers plant, weed and water an abundance of foliage around town including planters throughout the downtown, at Borough Hall, along the bike path, the Merchantville Circle garden, Morrissey Park, and adjacent to Cigar Alley. Please consider contributing your time to helping the Garden Club keep our town beautiful during this busy time of year. Contact Cindy Hertneck at (609) 472-4626 if you would like to join the Garden Club.
Bob Wetherspoon, President of MLL, wants to remind everyone that baseball and softball registrations are now open for what will hopefully be our Late Summer and Fall Season. If you want to sign up- click on the "sign up" button on this page or go to www.merchantvillelittleleague.org and click on the available programs to sign your son or daughter up today. Also keep an eye on our Facebook Page over the next couple of days as we send out a special tribute to our graduating Seniors. These girls have played in some of the biggest softball games at MLL in the last 10 years and we want to send them off to college the right way!