The Merchantville Shade Tree Commission unanimously passed a motion at their July 14, 2021 meeting to begin holding in person meetings starting August 11, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. Meetings henceforth will be held in the multipurpose room at Borough Hall on the first floor. Meetings will continue at this time and place on the second (2nd) Wednesday of every month. The Commission provides a form online for borough property owner tree work requests.

On July 1, 2021, in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act, the Borough Council of the Borough of Merchantville hereby notifies the public that public meetings of the Borough Council will no longer be conducted virtually. Public meetings for the remainder of the 2021 year will be conducted in person on the second (2nd) Monday of the month and on the fourth (4th) Monday of the month from September to December, commencing at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, on the second floor of the Merchantville Borough Hall, 1 W. Maple Avenue, Merchantville, NJ 08109. Formal action may be taken at any of the meetings. Meeting agenda and minutes are published on the municipal website.

The Camden County Division of Senior and Disabled Services is conducting an assessment to identify the needs of seniors, persons living with disabilities, and caregivers. This survey is intended to enable Camden County Division of Senior and Disabled Services to understand met needs and unmet needs of the residents of Camden County. Camden County funds or provides the following programs such as: adult day care, mental health counseling, shut-in shopping, emergency food, installation of disabled assistive equipment and mortgage counseling and would like to know the services you are using and need. Please complete the online survey: https://sparkcreative.wufoo.com/forms/q1bdwjev0ejkfs1/. If you don't have access to a computer or tablet, access to one, as well as assistance in completing this survey, will be provided. A directory of services can be found at this link.

St. Peter School is seeking candidates for an Aftercare School Director. The Aftercare Director manages the program approved by the school administration. This is a part time position that follows the school calendar. Hours are 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Job Responsibilities include responsibility for all on-site operations, ensuring school-aged children are actively engaged in safe and enriching activities. St. Peter School is a PreK-8 school operating under the authority of the Diocese of Camden, NJ. The school features approximately 250 students and 20 faculty members. Please send applications or inquiries to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

After years of open-mic nights and co-producing a successful series of regular comedy events called Side Ponytail, Carolyn Busa landed back home in South Jersey when the pandemic abruptly shut down the scene in 2020. She opened Peak Secondhand at Centre Street and Maple Avenue in Merchantville early in June as a showcase for her earthy personality, vintage clothes and her own drawings. Busa and her dad looked at a number of locations in Philadelphia before finding the space on busy Centre Street - seen by Mayor Ted Brennan as "an attractive option for people who are investing in themselves like Carolyn" - A longtime fan of shopping for used clothing and accessories, Busa was inspired to get into the business by Frugal Thrift and Vintage in Collingswood and recently caught the eye of writer, Kevin Riordan, from The Inquirer. PEAK is open Tuesday-Friday from 12-6; Saturday 12-7 and Sunday 12-5.

The annual "Greening" of the gardens alongside the driveway at the Chestnut Station Senior Complex is underway and we all anxiously await their summer evolution. This hidden, sustainable gem is part of the Incredible Edible Garden registry and a perfect example of an inventive way to transform an unused hardscape into a sustainable landscape. This garden is carefully nurtured through the dedicated effort of resident volunteer, Francis Mcgarry, and produces annual seasonal vegetables that support food security and nutrition for many seniors living in the complex. Thank you for the beauty and the bounty!

Bradley Furgeson, 14, of Northfield, has raised more than $15,000 by applying for grants that have helped refurbish the local American Legion Post and start a garden that supports veterans and the local food bank. Inspired by his sister who did volunteer work with the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, and is currently doing an internship with the World Health Organization, he has continued her work on hunger issues. His biggest grant to date is the $10,000 Opal Apple Youth Make A Different Grant he just received that will pay for a hydroponic greenhouse and video equipment for the Northfield Community School, where Bradley just finished eighth grade. This summer Bradley is focusing on the vegetable garden started behind the American Legion Post. 

At a time when climate change is making heat waves more frequent and more severe, trees are stationary superheroes: They can lower urban temperatures 10 lifesaving degrees, scientists say. “There’s no way these trees are coming down,” Shane McQuillan, who manages the city’ of Des Moines trees, recalled thinking. “The default position for us is, you don’t take out big trees to put in small trees.” Why, you ask? “Trees are, quite simply, the most effective strategy, technology, we have to guard against heat in cities,” said Brian Stone Jr., a professor of environmental planning at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Great reasons to support the efforts of Merchantville's Shade tree Commission in our parks and public spaces. In fact, Des Moines has increased its $200,000 tree planting budget to $300,000 next year and $450,000 the following, with a goal of reaching $1 million. Its forestry department, with a budget of $2 million, employs a team of 13 arborists, up from 11 a couple years ago, who prune the city’s trees, extending their lives. 

IT'S BACK AND YOU'RE INVITED! Please join the members of the Merchantville Police Department and the members of the Merchantville Fire Department for Merchantville's annual National Night Out celebration. This years National Night Out will take place on Tuesday, August 3rd, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Merchantville Community Center, 212 Somerset Avenue. National Night Out is sponsored by the Merchantville Municipal Alliance and Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

The 2021 Merchantville Music Fest is on!Save the date: Saturday, September 25, 2021 from 3:00-8:30 p.m. in the downtown. MMF volunteers Jon, Matt and Charlene have been busy working to bring you an amazing music festival this year! They are excited to bring fresh local music and food to you this fall. Stay tuned to their FB page for more information! Calling All Food Trucks - We're looking for food vendors. For information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or DM them on Facebook. Enjoy this live stream from the virtual 2020 Music Fest.