Margaret L. (Lorenzo) Haynes of Mount Laurel, N.J. died Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, at home while surrounded by her loving family. She was 73. Margaret "Peggi" Haynes was born in Camden, N.J. She grew up in Woodlynne and later resided in Merchantville before moving to Mount Laurel in 1973. Peggi served on the Mount Laurel Board of Education for 39 years and first ran for the board in 1981. There will be a viewing from 8 to 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Mount Laurel Home for Funerals, 212 Ark Road, Mount Laurel, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. John Neumann RC Church, 560 Walton Avenue, Mount Laurel.  Interment will be at Our Lady of Victories Cemetery in Vineland, N.J. following Mass. Full Obituary.

News 12 took an interest in Monsterville this week and were live with Mayor Ted Brennan yesterday to ask about the town's decision to discourage Trick-or-Treating this year. Brennan says that one of the main reasons is a lack of resource “To ask our police officers or anybody to go out there and try to enforce a ban on trick-or-treating just didn’t seem realistic,” he says. “We also felt that there’s a subset of the community that feels comfortable participating in Halloween here in ‘Monsterville.’ We wanted them to have the opportunity to continue to do that.” Other Monsterville Halloween traditions will continue to take place like the annual house decorating competition and the annual eighth grade haunted house - now a socially distant parade. Brennan says that Halloween will return in full force for the next year with the motto, "Double the candy in 2021."

The Merchantville Health Department strongly encourages everyone to get a flu shot. The CDC, Camden County Department of Health and Human Services, and the NJ Department of Health recommends everyone six months of age and older receive a flu vaccine every year with the best time to get vaccinated in the early fall. Since COVID -19 will likely be circulating during this year's flu season, getting a flu vaccine will be more important than ever. Getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, however the vaccine can reduce flu illnesses and hospitalizations, helping to minimize the stress on the healthcare system as these two illnesses circulate. Getting a yearly flu vaccine helps protect you and those around you who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness such as infants and young children, older adults, and people with certain chronic health conditions. Camden County is currently providing drive thru flu shots throughout the county. Please check the dates and locations here.

Merchantville's Public Events Committee fosters a sense of community through various family events and is creating a 2021 Community Calendar. This fun and project is being lead by Emily Sutin and she's asking all residents to submit their best Merchantville photos for this publication. Please submit two (2) well-focused, 300dpi photographs of scenery, landscapes or architecture by Thursday, November 5th, in order to be considered. No photos including people will be accepted. Photo credit will be attributed on the calendar. Please read and follow all details here.

Merchantville School PTA is selling yard signs to help you show your Merchantville pride and benefit the PTA. Signs are $20 each and feature the words Merchantville UnKnighted on a white background. Signs are 1-sided and can be paid by cash or check on delivery. To order your sign please complete this google doc. Please make checks payable to Merchantville PTA - or Venmo $20 to @Merch_PTA. For more information please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Limited supply - act quickly!

Hello "Market Off Centre" family and friends! We hope many of you will join us again this Friday evening from 5:00-8:00 p.m. to experience Monsterville's seasonal spirit. This week on October 23rd, in addition to our regular offering of local, handmade, and homemade goods and services, we will feature Halloween Crafts for kids and a Jack O'Lantern Walk along the Rails-to-Trails path. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own carved pumpkin to display on the walkway and we'll supply the candle! Pumpkins may be dropped off any time after 3:30 p.m. On October 30th - our final market of the 2020 season -  we will host a Halloween Costume strut and offer plenty of kid-friendly crafts. If you are interested in being a vendor at our last tow markets please contact market coordinator, Eric Goonan, at 856-571-1421 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Bring your own carved pumpkin and have it displayed along the Bike Path during our Friday Market Off Centre on October 16th and October 23rd to participate in the first Monsterville Jack O'Lantern Walk. The Merchantville Public Events Committee will provide a candle for each pumpkin. Enjoy walking the market to buy a variety of local, handmade, and homemade goods and services then, continue your way down the path enjoying hand carved pumpkins.