Yesterday Dr. Deborah Birx emphasized that hotspots will see an increase in deaths over the next 6-7 days and the next two weeks will be crucial for the effort to flatten the curve and, unless it's essential to leave home during the next 14 days, Americans shouldn't. “This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store,” she said, “not going to the pharmacy, but doing everything you can to keep your family safe. And that means everybody doing the six-feet distancing, washing your hands.” She noted that she can tell by looking at the US curve of coronavirus cases that not every American is following the guidelines set out by the administration for people to stay home and be vigilant about washing their hands.

Starting this Thursday April 2nd, The Blue Monkey Tavern will open for curbside pick-up of take out orders between 12:00 and 7:00 p.m. weekly from Thursday through Sunday. An updated menu can be found on our website  We will be adding takeout drinks - yes, bottles/cans/packs of alcohol - and "make your own" cocktail packages soon, making us a one stop shop for all of your dining needs. Decide what you want from our menu then, call us at 856-661-8008. When you call we will give you an estimated pick-up time. When you arrive drive up to the side door on the Rite Aid side of our building please call again and we will come out, take your payment - credit or exact cash only - and bring you your food. 

In addition to lesson plans and activities in theses stay-at-home times Merchantville School has focused on connecting to students and MES through "read out louds" on Facebook. Parents and kids can tune in throughout the week to listen as teachers and administrators share stories. Merchantville CSA, Scott Strong, read Duck for President and Harold and the Purple Crayon, Krista Travaglini shared Peanut Butter and Cupcake and Spanish Teacher, Ms. Bonilla, read Say Hola to Spanish. Remember to read while you are at home. Enjoy and stay safe. for more videos. Keep on reading while you are home. We miss all of our students. 

While social distancing is the most important way to fight the spread of coronavirus and save lives, wearing a mask is an act of social altruism - a behavior that is designed to increase another person's welfare, and particularly those actions that do not seem to provide a direct reward to the person who performs them. While guidance on whether to wear a face mask has been evolving, wearing a mask can help limit the spread of respiratory droplets, which in turn spread the new coronavirus. Sewing your own face mask helps to protect the supply of surgical masks to frontline care providers. In an effort to promote this activity the NY Times provided a tutorial on how to make your own fabric face mask from common household materials.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority has announced that it will begin accepting applications this Friday, April 3, for its Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program. The grant program is part of the state’s efforts to help businesses and workers negatively impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Small- and mid-sized businesses wishing to apply for a grant can apply online beginning at 9 a.m. by following a link that will be posted on the state’s COVID-19 Business Information Hub. The grants are not available to home-based businesses or prohibited businesses.