Merchantville School is happy to host two wonderful programs for students this summer. Both camps will be hosted at Merchantville School from August 5th - 9th and will be lead by our own teachers at Merchantville School. First, our Camp Invention is back for a second year and is open to students entering 1st - 5th grade. Students can register at www.invent.org/camp or by calling 1-800-968-4332. This program is hands-on and gives students an opportunities to collaborate with others and create a variety of great STEM projects and is lead by our own This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Second, Invention Project is for students entering 6th - 9th grade and will be lead by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Explore circuitry, energy, bio-engineering and economics through hands on projects as you design high-tech prototypes that solve real world issues. Students can register at www.invent.org/camp or by calling 1-800-968-4332.  

Come celebrate with family and friends on Thursday, July 4th at Woodbine Swim Club. We have games, coin toss for the kids, cannon ball contests, a watermelon race, a 50/50, and other fun for all ages. This year, we hope to bring back our corn-hole tournament, and add a horseshoe tournament, and volleyball. There will be lots of food available including burgers, dogs, grilled chicken, and other summer favorites, everything you expect from Woodbine's Independence Day Celebration. The fun starts at noon. The day is all about celebrating America's birthday and it just won't be the same unless you join us! We need help setting up the pavilion to sell food, running games and events, cooking, serving, selling tickets, and cleaning up at the end. We'll need volunteers to organize: Cannonball Contest, Watermelon Race, Piñata, Kids Games, Horseshoe Tournament, Corn-hole Tournament, and Volleyball. Click here to volunteer for an hour or two on the signup list.

Here's a listing of some local 4th of July events. Audubon: Fourth of July parade on July 4th 8:30 a.m. beginning at Amherst Road and Paris Avenue. Fireworks: July 4. The fun starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Audubon High School stadium. Barrington: Fourth of July parade on July 3rd 6:30 p.m. starting at the railroad tracks up Clements Bridge Road. July 3rd 9:30 p.m. Seating will be very limited and only in front of Woodland School. Camden: Watch fireworks from Battleship New Jersey on July 1st. The decks open at 7 p.m., with live music, face painting for the kids, food concessions, a cash bar and fireworks scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. Oaklyn: Parade on July 4th at 10 a.m. from East Beechwood and Johnson Avenue to Oaklyn Public School. Collingswood: Concert and fireworks on July 4th at the high school stadium. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks start around 9:15 p.m. Gloucester City: Parade, concert and fireworks on July 3rd. Parade at 6 p.m. along Broadway and Charles Street and fireworks at the fields at Johnson Boulevard. Haddon Township: Independence Day Parade on July 4th at 11:30 a.m. from the municipal building at 135 Haddon Ave. to Crystal Lake Pool. Maple Shade: Fireworks on June 29th at 9:30 p.m. Maple Shade High School, 180 Frederick Ave. Moorestown: Fourth of July Parade on July 4th at noon from Chester Avenue to East Main Street, then downtown. Riverton: Concert in the park on June 30th at 5:30 p.m., 5K race on July 4th along the Delaware River starting at 8:15 a.m. and Children's Parade on July 4th at 10 a.m. 

Juan Vasquez, an EMT for Pennsauken EMS, needs a kidney transplant. He has lived in Pennsauken for almost two decades and was a member of PHS Class of 2004. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Kelly, and has two boys, ages 10 and 1. Juan has lupus, an autoimmune disease that attacks tissues and organs in the body, and this disease has severely affected his kidneys. Anyone interested in pursuing the donation process can contact Lourdes at (856) 796-9370, press 4, and ask about donating to Juan Vasquez. To directly donate to Juan, individuals will need to have an O positive blood type. 

A day after Pennsylvania officials ordered the owner of Hahnemann University Hospital not to take any steps toward closing the Center City facility, the hospital’s emergency department on Friday was not accepting patients with certain serious medical conditions. State and city regulators want Hahnemann to remain open, at least temporarily, but have little leverage to force it to continue operating if the owner, Philadelphia Academic Health System LLC, doesn’t have enough money, medical staff, and supplies to operate safely. The ACGME has been notified that the hospital will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on or about June 28, 2019, with the intention to wind down hospital operations and subsequently close Hahnemann.

James W. Sullivan, Sr., of Cinnaminson, NJ passed away on June 17th, 2019. He was 89. James was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy.  He is survived by his children, Karen, James Jr. (Cindy), Mike, David, 2 granddaughters and 1 great-granddaughter. James was born in New York City. He was a longtime resident of the South Jersey area. James spent much of his early life in Merchantville and Cape May. He met his future wife Nancy in Cape May. James graduated from Merchantville High School,He was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church in Palmyra where he was a Warden and served on the Vestry.  He was also a past member of the Palmyra Ambulance Association. Full obituary.

And so it starts! Well, it started with the eggs but I can never see them so here are some pictures of my milkweed plants, pods and caterpillars. I have about 75 plants and will offer the seed pods to anyone interested when they have finished growing. Awareness is rising around the importance of milkweed (as well as other native plants) for pollinators, because the fact is, planting the right species of milkweed for your area can be a huge help to monarchs and a number of other species. Milkweed is a beneficial wildflower. Planting milkweed is a sure way to help save the monarch. With completion of the status assessment in December 2020, the Fish and Wildlife Service will determine whether protecting the monarch under the Endangered Species Act is warranted. 

Join in for some yoga fun at Soulflower Yoga with our Kids Yoga & Craft class. This class runs for four weeks on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:00 p.m. beginning on July 2nd. Every session we will explore a different theme and introduce stretching and strengthening through our yoga poses then get creative with some crazy crafts. This class is suitable for ages 5-9. Your $13 fee includes the one hour yoga class & crafts.