It's been a long year and in times like these we can all benefit from an uplifting message! Lucky for us, Merchantville School's National Junior Honor Society wants to better our outlook on life through their "Kindness Rocks Project" - spreading positivity and good cheer across town in the simplest way! This project runs from February 14th - March 14th and everyone is invited and encouraged to participate. 3 easy steps: 1) Collect some rocks from your yard or anywhere outside, 2) decorate them with inspirational or motivational messages using paint, markers, stickers or whatever you think of then, 3) place them around town to brighten peoples' day. Kindness rocks, colored with motivational thoughts and left in random places for others to find, will bring a smile to whoever is lucky enough to come across it. Please share this idea with family and friends.

Senior residents of the Borough of Merchantville, who over the age of 64 and have already registered for the COVID-19 vaccine through Cooper Health "My Chart"  for a vaccination appointment at the Camden County College site and received a vaccine date of April 1, 2021 or later, may eligible to have your vaccination date moved up. The Borough is working with Camden County to accommodate and expedite vaccine distribution and we want to help senior residents get vaccinated earlier. If you are interested or eligible, please contact our office at 856 236 8844 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. During the next few weeks, we will have staff responding to your voicemail messages and answering the phones between 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please be aware that during these calls our staff will ask for certain identifying information that is needed to assist the Borough in requesting an earlier date from Camden County. Thank you.

Catch up on what's happening at MES in the Knights Knews. This month's issue includes an article on unexpected good outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic, by Dylan Gilliss, Hailee Nevedomsky, Evelyn Kerr, Caroline Hoffmann, Luka Barnhart and Liam Howe; a dreamy tomato soup recipe, by Sean Bristow; pieces on space exploration, by Josh Carey and Zoey Middleton; Gabriel Smith's article on his summer adventure in Maine; learning more about Ms. Bickel, by Lucas Brown; and, artwork by Knights in the Hall. All students are welcome to participate by submitting articles, drawings, pictures or writing pieces.

On Feb. 16, 2021, Joanna M. Thomas (nee Tortorella) of Cherry Hill, formerly of Haddonfield. Beloved mother of Adam Thomas of Long Beach, NY and Oren R. Thomas, IV of Atlantic City, NJ; Loving grandmother of Oren V. Also survived by former daughter-in-law Erin Egan. Joanna was a teacher of British Literature at Camden Catholic HS (1985-2000) and of American Literature at Washington Township HS (2000-2013). Joanna loved animals, the environment, traveling once a year as well as being an avid and excellent bridge player. CCHS remembered Ms. Thomas as an incredible teacher who influenced many during her tenure where her passion for literature no doubt inspired many to explore their writing talents in college and beyond. Full obituary.

In early 2018, inspired by the actions of a community in Tordmoden, UK, Joan Brennan and Betsy Langley started planting the seeds for a town-wide sustainability program called Incredible Edible (IE) Merchantville. By the fall of that year,  Merchantville’s first community projects were under way, and the ideas of community garden sharing, greening public spaces, produce donations, monarch habitats, and pollinator gardens were born. Bolstered by a group of passionate volunteers they set out to educate our small town about the value of nurturing environmental stewardship to promote a culture of healthy living, provide food security and foster a sustainable future through edible landscapes. Collaboration with the town Garden Club, The Green Team, borough officials, businesses, schools, churches and other community organizations have led to small project expansions including multiple communal garden spaces and insect habitats. In 2020 more than thirty-five residents have joined the effort as part of their This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. many dedicating a portion of their produce to food security donations at the Grace Church Food Pantry. IE was also an active partner in Merchantville's successful Sustainable Jersey Bronze certification application. For Incredible Edible Merchantville, the vision of  believing in the power of your own potential and creating a kind, confident, and connected community through the power of food is just beginning! They were able to chronicle their journey in this video with the able assistance of Ashley Brennan.

The Borough of Merchantville's Community Center will host another American Red Cross Blood Drive at 212 Somerset Avenue, on Thursday, March 11th from 2:00-7:00 p.m. March is Red Cross Month, a time to celebrate their mission of turning compassion into action. Appointments are preferred. To make an appointment please sign up at www.redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code: Merchantville Community. Save time on the day of the donation and visit www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass. Area hospital patients are counting on you! Don’t forget to hydrate and please remember to bring your ID. 

Like many states, Delaware state senators unanimously passed the CROWN Act in January. The legislation includes braids, locks, twists and other hairstyles or hair textures historically associated with race in anti-discrimination laws within Delaware code. The change means that employers can be held accountable if they harass or discriminate against someone for their hair. New Jersey lawmakers passed its CROWN Act legislation in 2019. In that state, a high school wrestler was forced to cut his dreadlocks at a match. Shaquierra Brown, 25, of Merchantville, NJ, said its passage in her state in 2019 was liberating. “For me, it just meant I could be more myself without having to fear what other people might be thinking, and whether or not I could potentially not be able to get a job, or if someone was able to say negative things about my hair, I might have to manipulate it or change it to fit the societal norms.