Category Archives: Community
Pennsauken Harvest Festival Held On October 7
The Pennsauken Township Public Events Committee, in association with the Pennsauken Firefighters Association, will host the fourth annual Pennsauken Harvest Festival, a celebration of heritage, arts and community.
Second Annual Toy And Collectible Street Fair Held Today
Play With This Toys & Collectibles and Merchantville Public Events are hosting a toy and collectible street fair on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Held along West Park Ave. in Merchantville, adjacent to the Borough Hall, the event showcases a variety of new and vintage toys, games, and collectibles for sale. In addition, the toy and collectable street fair features food, special appearances from some superhero favorites, and more.
“We really hope folks come out for this fun event,” says Scott Talis, owner of Play With This Toys & Collectibles. “Whether you’re young, or young at heart, we’ll have plenty to see and do.”
For more information, visit “Play With This Toys & Collectibles” on Facebook.
Food Truck Friday Fundraiser Held On September 22
On Friday, Sept. 22 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., the Food Bank of South Jersey will host five local eateries for their Food Truck Friday event in their headquarters’ parking lot on John Tipton Blvd. in Pennsauken. Residents, local workforce, and community members are invited to stop by for a fun-filled lunch with proceeds benefiting the organization’s hunger relief programs serving nearly 200,000 individuals struggling with food insecurity in South Jersey.
Camden County Freeholders Announce Mobile Prescription Drug Drop Boxes
The Freeholder Board, local law enforcement and healthcare providers announced a new effort to increase public use and visibility of prescription drug drop boxes to combat the opioid crisis. The Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force made it a point to install standard drop boxes located in police departments throughout the county in 2015. Now, new, mobile drop boxes located in county vehicles will begin to be deployed to events throughout the county this year.
Veterans To Receive Assistance During September 20 Event
On Wednesday, Sept. 20, American Legion F.W. Grigg Post 68 is sponsoring a special event in support of veterans in need of assistance. To help veterans receive important services they have earned by way of their service to our nation, Post 68 has arranged for the Philadelphia office of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) to come to Merchantville for an all day outreach event.
Camden County Holds Apple Pie Contest During Annual Fair
Make the best apple pie in Camden County? Here’s your chance to prove it!
The “I Baked The Best Apple Pie In Camden County Contest!” is open to any amateur baker in Camden County wishing to bake an apple pie. No professional bakers may enter this competition. Only apple pies will be accepted; no crumbles, crisps, Betty’s, or pan dowdy’s allowed. No added fruit; juice is okay. Winning pies and bakers will receive ribbons, Camden County swag, and the blue ribbon winner will receive a Visa gift card.
American Legion Auxiliary Donates Benches To Memorial Monument
By Bernie Kofoet, F.W. Grigg American Legion Post 68
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 68 is donating two benches as part of overall enhancements to the World War I Memorial located in Merchantville’s Wellwood Park. One bench will have an inscription remembering the victims of the attack on our country that happened on September 11, 2001; the other inscription will remember the veterans of Post 68.
Earlier this year, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 68 applied for and received a September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service, an organization dedicated to improving lives, strengthening communities, and fostering civic engagement through service and volunteering. One of just 50 grants provided annually – and the only one given in New Jersey – the funds were used to purchase two benches for the World War I monument located in Wellwood Park. One bench will have an inscription remembering the victims of the attack on our country that happened on September 11, 2001; the other inscription will remember the veterans of Post 68.
The monument in Wellwood Park, which remembers Merchantville residents who had served their country in World War I, was dedicated on Armistice Day, November 11, 1921. In preparation of the centennials marking the end of World War I in 2018; and the founding of the American Legion and the establishment of the Frederick W. Grigg Post 68 in 2019, a coalition of different organizations have come together to make enhancements to the monument.
The first part of this restoration project will be dedicated on Saturday, Sept. 9, 9:00 a.m., at Wellwood Park, located at the corner of Maple and Linden avenues in Merchantville. The public is invited to join this special dedication.
Pennsauken Historical Society Hosts First Sundays, Fall Festival, Special Presentation
By Robert Fisher-Hughes, Pennsauken Historical Society
This month’s first Sunday falls on Sept. 3, Labor Day weekend, and our Township’s historic connection to Labor Day will be marked as both our homes for history are open from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., featuring an exhibit of Labor Day history and memorabilia at Griffith Morgan House. Burrough-Dover House will also offer tours and its lovely grounds are always a great spot for recreation or a picnic, especially when the hospitality of the house is available.
Annual Labor Day Wreath Laying Ceremony Held September 1
Labor leaders, public officials and members of the local business community will be on hand Sept. 1 for a wreath laying ceremony at the Peter J. McGuire Memorial, located at Arlington Cemetery in Pennsauken.
Labor leaders, public officials and members of the local community will gather in Pennsauken on Friday, Sept. 1 to celebrate workers across our country at the annual AFL-CIO wreath-laying ceremony. This annual event has been held for over 120 years at the Peter J. McGuire Memorial, located at Arlington Cemetery, 1620 Cove Rd., Pennsauken, where the labor leader and “Father of Labor Day” is interred. The ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m.
McGuire is known for championing important labor causes that are considered commonplace today, such as the 40-hour work week, days off on the weekend, and child labor laws. His most famous achievement, remains an idea he proposed in May 1882, at the New York Central Labor Union, for a day to be set aside to celebrate the American worker and to celebrate the achievements of the labor movement. In New York that September, the first Labor Day parade and celebration was held. In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed the law declaring Labor Day as a national holiday.
The current memorial in Pennsauken was sponsored and built by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and dedicated in 1952. In 2016, officials and VIPs were on hand to dedicate a new “welcome wall” to help mark the location of the Peter J. McGuire Memorial.
For more information about Peter J. McGuire and his accomplishments, be sure to read the 2015 article written by Robert Fisher-Hughes, AAP columnist and amateur historian, which can be found here.
Back Packs, Prizes Given Away By Mister Softee Of Pennsauken
On Thursday, Aug. 31, Mister Softee of Pennsauken is giving away 40 back packs with school supplies, as well as variety of other prizes during a special back to school/Pennsauken 125th anniversary celebration.
From 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. free raffle tickets will be given out from the windows of the Pennsauken store, located at 3605 Haddonfield Rd. The drawing will be held Thursday evening at 11:15 p.m. Giveaways include back packs with school supplies and a variety of Mister Softee novelties.
No purchase is necessary to enter. One free ticket is given out per household.
For more information, call (856) 662-3787.
