Mark your Calendars for our 2020 First Friday Markets Season. Downtown Merchantville will host markets each month from June to October with food trucks, vendors, live music, movies and fun for the whole family. Announced themes for this year are May 1st 'Merchantville Art Walk', June 5th 'Summer Kick-Off Bash', August 7th 'Dog Days of Summer', September 4th 'Mini-Golf Tournament' and October 2nd 'Welcome to Monsterville'. The market will take the month of July off so you can enjoy the 4th with friends and family. We look forward to seeing you on First Fridays!

The Lehigh women's swimming and diving team had its best day of the week on Friday at the 2020 Patriot League Championships.The highlight of the day came in the final event for the women on day three, as the 200 freestyle relay group broke a school record. Merchantville resident Ann Foley and teammates Payton Miles, Evie Geiseman and and Olivia Giampetro combined for a second place time of 1:31.29, breaking the previous record of 1:31.41. Starting the day in fifth, Lehigh surged past two teams and ended the final day in third place. Navy men’s and women’s programs were both named 2020 Patriot League Swimming & Diving Champions on Saturday night at the U.S. Naval Academy’s Lejeune Hall, sweeping both categories for the ninth year in a row.The previous record of 1:31.41 was broken by Friday's group. This epic performance gave the Brown and White silver in the event.

In 2019, Peter Genovese ate his way around New Jersey with a vengeance.  All that research culminated in rankings of the best dishes/sandwiches/meals he ate in 2019 - which, according to Peter, makes them the best dishes you should eat in 2020! These "bests" are spread all over the state map, and the culinary map. Seafood, steak, ribs, pizza, burgers, grilled cheese, tacos and empanadas. Puerto Rican, Italian, Mexican, Korean, Indian and Greek. He ate widely and well. And, while this is not a list of the state's best restaurants, it is a list of the best things he ate all year. Coming in at "Lucky #13" is The Blue Monkey Tavern's spicy grilled shrimp, with chopped avocado, cucumber, celery, tomato and cilantro tossed in hot sauce. "It may have been the best appetizer in the entire N.J.'s best bar showdown over the summer."

Merchantville's Mayor Ted Brennan spoke at the February PMAC meeting on partnerships to create a thriving downtown. He remarked that Merchantville has worked hard to re-engage with the business community to find opportunities to expand economic development in the Borough by streamlining the process for new businesses and entrepreneurs. Mayor Brennan is soliciting mixed use ideas for a redevelopment area in the West End hoping to create a combination of retail and restaurants that will demonstrate an investment in that part of town.

Community volunteers from sustainability groups in town are working together to steer Merchantville's effort to become a Certified Bronze Sustainable NJ town. Participating groups include members from municipal and community organizations and schools including: The Merchantville Green Team, The Merchantville Shade Tree Commission, The Merchantville Garden Club, Incredible Edible Merchantville and Merchantville School. Over the next two week members will will be collecting information about current and past sustainability actions in the areas of Healthy Communities, Safety, Sustainable Land Use, Historic Preservation, Emergency Event Planning, required for bronze certification. The deadline for this year's submission is May 17, 2020. Stay tuned for updates!

Aunt Charlotte’s Candies will be closed on Monday, January 6, 2020 to celebrate the life of their mother, Virginia (Bunny) Oakford, who passed away on December 10, 2019. There will be a visitation from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and a service immediately following at The First Presbyterian Church, 10 West Maple Avenue in Merchantville. The family invites and welcomes friends and neighbors who would like to attend this memorial. Complete details available through Falco, Caruso & Leonard Funeral Homes.