For some of us, the advent of a new school year is exciting. School shopping is the absolute best – bouquets of pencils delight us. We just can’t wait to organize our new assignment planners. For others, a new school year brings nothing but trepidation and an onslaught of anxious questions. Will I like my new teacher? What if my best friend isn’t in my class? What if I get a bad grade?... don’t make the varsity team? No matter where your kids fall in this spectrum, they will most likely carry a backpack to and from school. These backpacks may be mostly empty or crammed full of books and papers. No matter how full they are of stuff, they will contain hopes, dreams, fears, and questions for each new season and each new day of this academic year. We would like to invite you to bring those backpacks to Trinity Church, 36 Maple Avenue, on September 8th at 10:45 a.m. Bring them empty or full. Invite a friend! Adults, if you’d like in on this, bring your briefcases, tote bags, or backpacks as well. The priests will bless the bags during the announcements in the middle of the service, to honor all the hopes, dreams, and fears that accompany the new school year, and to ask for God to strengthen, sustain, and encourage all our children as they learn and grow throughout the year. 

A "Twerk Til You Drop Dance Fitness" event will be held on Wednesday, September 18th at 22 North Centre Street in Merchantville from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Come twerk, shake, bounce and burn some calories by dancing to the latest trap music with instructor Keon Murray. Throw on your favorite workout outfit, grab a bottle of water and a towel, and join us to experience the most fun you can have while working out. Spaces limited, passes based on availability.Attendees must be 18 or older. Tickets: $15 before September 18th and $20 at the door. Register here.

Come grab a drink with neighbors and a variety of borough green organizations that are helping to create a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable community. Groups that will be present include: Merchantville's Green Team, Merchantville's Garden Club, Incredible Edible Merchantville, Merchantville's Shade Tree Commission, Mayor and Borough Council, MES Garden Club, MES Junior Green Team. From from 6-8 p.m. members of these stakeholder groups will host a social gathering on the Community Center deck - a perfect opportunity to mingle and network with these community volunteers over drinks and light fare. At 8 p.m. Merchantville's Green Team will lead a joint stakeholder meeting to share current sustainability plans, describe future projects and solicit YOUR ideas and feedback. From recycling to roofless solar energy to pollinating plants and land stewardship - we’ll have it all at this event. So come see how YOU can help your community become a little cleaner, greener, and more sustainable! Limit: 100. Register for your free ticket here.

Join the community at Collins-Pancoast Hall - aka The Blue Monkey Tavern - for "Happy Hour on the Porch & Historic Marker Celebration" on Friday, September 6th from 4:00-6:00 p.m. The Blue Monkey will offer old fashion drink specials and the marker unveiling will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the gazebo. This event will occur on First Friday and is co-sponsored by the Borough of Merchantville and the Merchantville Historical Society with the support of the Camden County History Alliance and Board of Freeholders.

Robert J. Caruso, Sr., age 90 years passed away peacefully on August 29, 2019. Beloved husband of the late Shirley (nee Falco), he is survived by his children: Robyn Crain (Richard) of Berlin, Robert Jr. (Barbara) of Atco, Anthony (Melissa) of Voorhees, Andrea Cortellessa (Martin) of Northfield & Loret McClain (Stephen) of Berlin. Devoted grandfather of Robert III (Jessica), Bryan, Emily, AJ, Marty, Stephen, Madalyn & Ava. Also survived by his sister-in-law Eleanor Caruso and brother-in-law Joseph Falco. Bob grew up in Merchantville, NJ, graduating high school in 1949. He was the youngest son of Dominick and Rose Caruso's seven children. Relatives and friends are invited to the Visitation and Funeral on Tuesday from 6-8 PM at the Falco/ Caruso & Leonard Pennsauken Funeral Home, 6600 N. Browning Road and Wednesday from 9:30-11:00 AM at the Church of St. Simon Stock (formerly Our Lady of Mount Carmel), 178 W. White Horse Pike in Berlin, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM. Full obituary.

Registered voters are needed by the Camden County Board of Elections to work at poll sites in all districts in Camden County; Bilingual voters especially in Camden City, Pennsauken & Woodlynne. Earn $200 performing an important public service. Immediate openings working from 5:30 a.m. until the close of polls. Mandatory training will be provided by our knowledgeable staff. Bilingual board workers must be proficient in both Spanish and English. For more information, please call (856) 401-VOTE (8683)

A public meeting to discuss a Lighting Feasibility Study for the Multi-Use Path along Chestnut Avenue was held at the Pennsauken Library on Thursday, August 29th, to talk about current site conditions and receive input from abutting property owners about concerns. The study involves Merchantville's Rails-to-Trails Project as well as the 3/10 mile extension from Cove Road to the abandoned railroad trestle bridge the NJ Transit Atlantic City Line. The study will explore various solar and electric options.

So you’ve probably heard about this barre class we’ve been swooning about and Maya, our newest addition at Soulflower Yoga. Certified Barre Instructor and Registered Yoga Teacher Maya Augelli will be teaching our Thursday evening barre classes at 7:15 p.m. starting September 5th to help and connect. What exactly is barre you ask? Barre takes elements from ballet, yoga and Pilates and combines them all into one class to create a full body, low impact workout to promote health and wellness. Wondering what you’ll need to bring to class? We provide the barre, light weights - if you’d like to use them - and the instructor, you just need to bring yourself, water, a positive, fun attitude and most importantly and absolutely required, socks with grips on the bottom. We’ll have some for sale at the studio if needed. If you have more questions, e-mail us, message us on social media or stop by the studio. Hope to see you in class on Thursday, September 5th!

Fantastic opportunity to rent office space in the heart of Merchantville's retail district. Four (4) individual rooms at $500 per month per room are available to rent in the Merchantville Medical Center, ideally suited for an integrative medical practice, a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, a massage therapist, a nutritional therapist, a counselor, etc. The four available rooms range in size from 10 X 9 to 15 X 12 with two common use bathrooms and access to two lobbies and a shared kitchen. Other features include a private side entrance, wheelchair accessibility and a shared parking lot with 11 spaces plus street parking. Utilities are included. Ideally located minutes from Phila, 1 mile from the Cherry Hill Mall, walking distance to the bus & retail shops & restaurants, this rental space offers the perfect atmosphere in which to run your successful business. Call Darlene Borda, BHHS Fox & Roach-Cherry Hill, for an appointment today (856) 428-8000.