The 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists for the James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One have been announced and nominees will be announced on Wednesday, March 29, and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Merchantville's own Philip Manganaro, of Park Place Café & Restaurant, is among the Best Chefs in the Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA) Region. The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards—established in 1990 and first awarded in 1991—are one of five separate recognition programs of the Awards. The 2023 Restaurant and Chef Semifinalists are recognized across 23 categories, including the new Award for Outstanding Bakery. James Beard Awards policies and procedures can be viewed here.

Working on your home? Scheduling an inspection has never been easier! With just a few clicks in the Borough's Self Service Portal on merchantvillenj.gov residents may now schedule appointments, complete applications and more without the need to visit Borough Hall. You can schedule an inspection, complete a zoning application, report a trash issue or file an OPRA all from your computer or smartphone! Please choose an option below to complete and submit your request. Schedule a construction inspection. Zoning Application for structures. File an OPRA request. Report a Trash issue or complete a Map search to identify different zoning classifications for lots, blocks, buildings and properties.

Campbell Soup Co. plans to invest $50 million into its headquarters in Camden beginning in March to drive greater creativity, collaboration and career development, as well as to accommodate more than 1,600 employees that will now be located on its renovated campus - their first major investment in the Camden campus since 2010. Campbell's also plans to consolidate its snacks offices in North Carolina and Connecticut, into the Camden headquarters, having 330 roles move to the city. Camden has played home to Campbell since 1869, and has been at its current location since 1957. Relocation to Camden will happen in phases starting mid-2023.

Recently, Chef Joe Brown who owned the popular Melange Café on Chapel Avenue in Cherry Hill released a new book “Melange: The Story, The Recipes, The Faith” - filled with about 75 recipes - which dishes on both of his former restaurants, including the highs and lows of business ownership. Over the years, his cafe restaurant was known for its crab cakes, jambalaya, bread pudding, crab cheesecake and his unforgettable pan-smoked tomato bisque and sweet crab soup. He served up Creole-style cuisine with an Italian flare. His recipes have been featured in "Cooking Light" "Culinary Trends," "Ebony," "Black Enterprise" and his appearances include the Food Network, National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Network. 

Know a neighbor who could use a little LOVE? As part of our MLK Day of Service activities, students at Merchantville Elementary School will be making Valentines for homebound Merchantville residents (to be delivered closer to Valentine's Day). Do you have a Merchantville friend or family member whose day could be brightened or be made special by one of these valentines? Please follow this link to complete our google form to sign them up for a valentine delivery. Merchantville addresses only, please.

Merchantville Scout Troop 119 will host their Annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on Saturday, February 29th, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Trinity UMC Church, 36 W. Maple Avenue, Merchantville. This is one of the few fundraising events they hold all year and they need your support so please join them for a delicious pasta dinner to support year round girl and boy scout activities. All proceeds to benefit Merchantville Troop 119. Dinner is $10.00 Adult and $5.00 Child. Thanks!

FABSCRAP is a non-profit recycling fabric scraps from design and fashion companies in NYC and creating opportunities for reuse. They endeavor to end commercial textile “waste” and maximize the value of unused fabric. Both their Brooklyn and Philadelphia Warehouses have reopened and FABSCRAP is jumping back into what they do best - keeping fabric from landfills. We come to you! FABSCRAP will pickup your fabric scraps as soon as possible. We aim to create the most efficient routes, so we typically schedule multiple pickups per day. Pickups routes are created every FRIDAY for the following week.If you're Looking for a sustainable jumpstart to the New Year come volunteer with us to support an organization that you love, sign up to volunteer and sort fabric. You’ll get an inside look into our recycling process learn more about textiles and fibers, and meet other like minded individuals in the community. As a thank you for your time each volunteer gets to take home 5lbs of fabric. Every three months, FABSCRAP highlights an artist or designer who utilizes textile waste in their work, and who serves as an example within their community of not only sourcing more sustainably, but also how to manipulate textile waste into something new and beautiful using their specific talent and skill set. Julie Woodard of Juicebox Workshop is Philly's featured fabric artist. Students, artists, crafters, quilters, sewers, teachers, and of course, other designers can use any material we collect that is not proprietary. Make an appointment to come to the warehouse to "shop" the scraps. Some larger pieces and Scrap Packs of smaller pieces, organized by color, are sold through our online store.