The Camden County Historical Society is making sure the legacy and history made by boxing trailblazer Arnold Cream, best known as “Jersey Joe Walcott,” will never be forgotten. On Saturday, the group, along with the county’s Board of Commissioners, unveiled an 8-foot tall bronze statue of the Camden County native Saturday. “Today was an honor and a privilege to recognize the accomplishments and legacy of a native son of Camden County,” Cappelli said. “Jersey Joe embraced hard work and set standards that embody the soul and spirit of the residents that reside in our region. He was a real life Rocky and never back down, he didn’t back down against the best fighters in the world to become the champ and didn’t back down against institutional racism to become the first African American Sheriff in Camden County history. Mr. Cream was so much more than a boxer and sheriff, he was a man who loved his family and worked hard creating an everlasting picture of greatness for our community that will now live forever at the waterfront.”

The Camden County Department of Health announced 694 new positive cases of COVID-19 and 5 deaths between Saturday, October 11th and Friday, October 15th. One hundred ninety-eight (198) new cases were among patients under 18 years old and the average age of the newly infected is 34 years of age. New cases this week include nine (9) in the Borough of Merchantville. Use the NJ Vaccine Appointment Finder to make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine at a time and location convenient for you. Check here weekly for new vaccination dates and times. The Camden County Board of Commissioners, in a joint public health effort with Cooper University Health Care and Rutgers University Camden School of Nursing will open the Camden County COVID-19 Health Hub at Camden County College starting October 14th, 2021. Schedule your vaccine appointment by computer or mobile device. Click here for testing site information.

Joan Doris Behlau, 84, of Cherry Hill, passed away October 12, 2021. She was predeceased by her parents and late husband, James Behlau, of 63 years. Joan was the cherished and caring mom of Terri (Anthony) Fratterelli and Brenda (Mark) Del Rossi and grandmom to Jenna and Kevin. James and Joan were high school sweethearts and graduates from Merchantville High School in the 1950's and later married at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Merchantville in 1956. A lifelong resident in Cherry Hill and retail clerk for Pathmark. An avid supporter of Humane Society and Animal Welfare Association, donations may be made in her name to the Animal Welfare Association or Animal Adoption Center. Full obituary.

For parents in the Borough of Merchantville, the opportunity to send their kids to Haddon Heights High School was a welcome option after more than 40 years of trying. But since then, some say getting their kids there every morning has become a hardship among missed or late pick-ups. The bus should drop off students in the morning between 7:45 and 7:50 a.m. so students have enough time to get to their homerooms or 1st period and it's reached a breaking point this year amid a national bus driver shortage. The Merchantville School District is responsible to provide student transportation to and from Haddon Heights High School, as well as certain other out-of-district placements.  The district utilizes the Camden County Educational Service Commission (CCESC) who directly contracts with various busing companies that can meet our student transportation needs. Nationally, death and illness from COVID-19 has resulted in massive bus driver shortages and in some cases the choice to supplement with National Guard. Read the article at NJ Pen.

John Conner, 88, died Sept. 9 at Hospice of the Sacred Heart. He was the widower of the former Catherine Ross, who died in 2010. Born in Florence, N.J., he was a son of the late Robert and Anna Mae Hall Conner. After attending public schools in Merchantville, N.J., he served with the United States Navy and worked at Chamberlain Manufacturing in Scranton until retirement. He is survived by a son, Anthony Conner; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Teresa Carthy; and siblings, William Conner, Catherine Elizabeth Powell, Margaret Neuman and Robert W. Conner. Friends and family may call before Mass from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Neil W. Regan Funeral Home Inc. Full obituary.

Robert Welty, Sr., 91, passed away on September 20, 2021 at Cedar Grove Respiratory and Nursing Home in Williamstown, NJ. He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Jessie Anna Welty (Dexter), his brother, John Cashner, and his sisters, Shirley Rhine (Cashner) and Judith Harter-Wary (Cashner). Robert is survived by his son, Robert Welty, Jr., his daughter, Donna Lee Robinson (Mark), his son, Curtis Frederick Welty (Peggy Sue), six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2021, at 9:30 am at Inglesby and Sons Funeral Home at 2426 Cove Road, Pennsauken, NJ. A service will follow at 10:30 am with a burial at Bethel Memorial Park in Pennsauken, NJ. Full obituary.

Mayor Brennan is proud that Merchantville was chosen as an early voting location in Camden County. Merchantville is one of only seven towns in Camden County chosen to offer Early Voting from Saturday, October 23rd through Sunday, October 31st. During this additional voting period, registered voters may cast their ballots at the Community Center, 212 Somerset Street at voting booths available between 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays. This new option enables all registered voters to cast their ballot in person, using a voting machine, during a nine-day period prior to Election Day with no appointment necessary. New Jersey residents may now choose to vote, in person, when it’s most convenient for their schedule. Each early voting location in Camden County is open to all registered Camden County voters. Individuals do not need to vote in their registered municipality. 

The Borough is seeking a grant for expansion of the municipality’s Safe Routes to School efforts, an ongoing project that seeks to continuously improve the safety and walkability of our town for the children and the entire community. Several community organizations wrote letters of support including the Green Team and Merchantville School. The New Jersey Safe Routes Program is a statewide initiative with a mission to partner with schools and communities to prioritize and implement opportunities for people to walk, bike, or travel by other wheeled devices. By focusing on improvements to support active travel by youth, we believe we can create conditions that are safe, healthy, equitable, and appealing for all.