On June 23, 2019. Beloved husband of Barbara Volkert (nee Mone). Dear father of Steven (Cindy) Volkert.  Loving PopPop of Kirsten Volkert, Melissa (Joe) Dalton and Allison Volkert.  Devoted brother of Veronica (Bill) Craig and the late Betsy Carney. Joe was a longtime owner/operator of Joseph C. Volkert Heating & Air Conditioning.  He was a proud member of the Quaker City String Band and was inducted into the Philadelphia Mummer's String Band Association Hall of Fame in 2013 after receiving their Presidential Achievement Award in 2012.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing Thursday evening 6 to 9 PM and Friday 9 to 10 AM at Foster-Warne Funeral Home, 820 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ.  Mass of Christian Burial Friday 10:30 AM at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, St. John Church, 809 Park Ave., Collingswood, NJ.  Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Berlin, NJ. Full obituary.

During the summer, Merchantville Police officers will be handing out tickets to children for doing the right thing. This includes riding a bike with a helmet, crossing at crosswalks, helping out parents and siblings, or any other good deed that we feel is deserving of the ticket. The ticket is good for 1 hour of free video game play at The Big Event, located in the Ellisburg Shopping Center in Cherry Hill. Thanks to their generosity, we are able to participate in this program.

Earlier this morning Merchantville Fire Department - Niagara Fire Company's Engine 1291 responded to the 400 block of West Maple Avenue, at the corner of Browning Road, for a gas leak in a vacant brick dwelling that was being renovated. Contractors accidentally cut a gas line and gas was freely flowing through the interior of the building producing elevated readings upon arrival. Fire crews stretched a dry handline (firefighting hose) as a precaution and laid a supply line. The gas line was secured by PSE&G and the building was ventilated without any incident.

Much to the dismay of frozen treat lovers, Cabana Water Ice Company at 19 South Centre Street appears to have abruptly closed their doors last week. A local teen who worked there got their regular weekly schedule, then shortly after received a text messages saying that was their last night open. Cabana  originally opened its doors in 2011 and reopened on April 13, 2019. Renovations appeared to be underway as late as last week. Anyone with gift certificates should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Danny Bradford - listed as the branch manager - to see if they will be honored at other shops.

On June 18, 2019, age 91, (nee McGowan) formerly of Pennsauken, NJ. She was the beloved wife of the late Lieutenant Commander James H. Bilodeau and loving mother of Joseph (Judith), James (Lori), Richard (Christine), Julia (Daniel) Purdy, Mary (Robert) Melia, Jacqueline (Christopher) Simmers, and John (Carey). She is also survived by 24 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Mrs. Bilodeau was the guidance secretary at Camden Catholic High School for 20 years. She was a US Navy veteran and a longtime member of St. Peter Church Merchantville. She was also a volunteer at St. Peter's School Lunch Program. Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing Friday evening from 6:00-9:00 PM in the Alloway Funeral Home 315 E. Maple Avenue Merchantville, NJ. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 AM in St. Peter Church Merchantville, NJ. Interment will take place at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Bilodeau's memory to Camden Catholic High School.

Yesterday morning we were able to harvest our first beans from the IE site at Wellwood Park tennis courts. Our first pick of the season yielded about 60 mature Provider green beans and 1 Golden Rocky bean. We hope our Red Silk beans - which need 85 days to mature - will recover from all the rain, begin to flower and bear beautiful red beans! You can store unwashed fresh beans in a reusable container or plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper where they should keep for about seven days. Green beans can also retain valuable amounts of nutrients for 3-6 months after freezing, so if you choose the freezing option, rinse them in cool water, drain, cut to your desired size, then place them in freezer bags and storing them in your freezer.

Camden Catholic offers a wide array of summer experiences for students in grammar and middle school. Each camper is required to complete a medical form, provide immunization records, and receive parent permission in order to participate. Summer Programs fees range from $150-450 and include: Theater, Theatre Tech Camp, High School Theatre Ensemble, Fine Art, Expressive Drawing & Painting, Digital Art, Study Skills, High School Placement Test (2 sessions) and High School Transition.

Merchantville recently appointed Patrolman John Queen as the Municipal Humane Law Enforcement Officer (MHLEO) for the Borough. These officers require the same training and authorization previously required for animal cruelty investigators and all other provisions of law, rule, and regulation concerning animal cruelty. Only authorized municipal humane law enforcement officers may investigate animal cruelty, sign complaints, and act as officers for detection, apprehension and arrest of offenders against the animal control, animal welfare, and animal cruelty laws of the State and ordinances of a municipality. Please contact Ptlm. Queen to initiate an investigation at 856-662-0507 during business hours, or 856-662-0500 after hours. 

The June issue of the Merchantville Observer is out. It is published monthly, distributed to households in the Borough and available in stores of advertisers. It is operated by General Manager: Edward H. Bohn III; New Editors: Agnes Madden and Jim Madden join Gail Meister; Distribution Managers: Jim and Jane Moore; and, Advertising Manager: Wally Hussong. Monthly .pdf versions are available on their FB page. Persons interested in helping with this publication and businesses interested in advertising in it may contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or PO Box 1516, Merchantville, NJ 08109.