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Joe Serico named Citizen of the Year for 2021

Joseph G. (“Joe”) Serico, a principal at Haddonfield Memorial High School for 20 years who was beloved by students and teachers alike, has been named Haddonfield’s Citizen of the Year for 2021.

The announcement was made by Mayor Neal Rochford tonight during a Zoom meeting hosted by the Haddonfield Lions Club.

Joe Serico was the high school’s principal from 1987 to 2006. Subsequently, he served as the school district’s assistant superintendent responsible for curriculum and instruction. He then took a teaching position at Rutgers University Camden in the Department of Public Policy and Administration.

He currently serves as a trustee of the Haddonfield Educational Trust, which works to enhance educational excellence of the public schools, and as president of the Haddonfield Alumni Society.

One of the letters submitted in support of Joe Serico’s nomination detailed his many contributions to the community:

“In Haddonfield, there are quiet and humble people who volunteer countless hours because they believe in this community, and they want to create an environment where people can be connected. Dr. Serico has served our community for many years, but his commitment to making connections during COVID should especially be highlighted …

“In 2020, Dr. Serico remained committed to strengthening the bonds of our community, despite a global pandemic that made face-to-face reunions, fundraisers and meetings impossible. He is connected to alumni of all ages, and he was inspired to tell the stories of the HMHS alumni who were courageously battling the coronavirus in front-line medical positions. He tracked people down, made appointments to interview each person, and then sat down to write their stories, to share their good work with the entire alumni community. It was so inspiring to read about the good work being done by our brilliant and kind-hearted classmates. I think that each of those stories helped to connect all of us, and helped to build hope during a challenging and lonely period of time.

“Dr. Serico has continued to build community virtually, with online beer tastings and other networking events. His newest creation is a MasterClass series starring notable HMHS alumni. The live lectures are free to attend, and allow alumni to reconnect over Zoom to learn how to create the perfect cocktail, to play guitar, or other specialty expertise. Such a clever idea, and a perfect example of how Dr. Serico works so hard to celebrate the accomplishments of others, while quietly and humbly staying behind the scenes. The Master Class series also demonstrates Dr. Serico’s innate kindness and generosity: all alumni are welcome and included, regardless of age, location, or circumstance. Especially during COVID, events like this are so important to our mental health.”

Joe Serico’s other accomplishments include:

  • Managing the fundraising and concept for the Sarah Tarditi Gallagher outdoor Study Garden at HMHS.
  • Single-handedly organizing a campaign for former cross country and track athletes to dedicate the HMHS track and stadium concourse for beloved coaches Nick and Maureen Baker. Hundreds of former athletes contributed to the $100,000 project.
  • Creating energy around a campaign to look at our high school facilities as a campus, and engaged thousands of people to give time and money to build “an aesthetically pleasing campus environment for students, faculty and community that encourages reflection, inspires creativity, promotes community and respects the environment.” Courtyard plantings and beautification of the front of the school were completed in 2020.

“[His] work should not be unnoticed. Haddonfield needs people like Dr. Serico: people who have ideas for how to make our community stronger AND who do the work to see those ideas through. … Dr. Serico is one of our town’s constant unsung heroes, and in any year his regular volunteer efforts would/should probably be enough to make him a [Citizen of the Year] nominee. As the selection committee reflects on superhuman volunteerism on behalf of this Borough, you need to know that the quiet and humble Dr. Serico has been quietly working on multiple projects that will leave a lasting legacy in our community for years to come.”

COVID-19: New death brings local total to nine

The Camden County Department of Health today reported the death of a Haddonfield female in her 80s, and attributed the cause of death to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

This is the third local death in a week. The Department of Health reported the death of a Haddonfield male in his 90s on January 22 and that of a female in her 90s on January 20.

The Department also reported two new COVID-19 cases today: a male in his 10s and a female in her 50s. Haddonfield’s tally now stands at 454 — about one in every 25 residents.

The Haddonfield School District has reported a total of 124 COVID-19 cases in the schools — 54 males and 70 females. Of that total, 98 are students and 26 are staff.

Lifelong resident is first to file for Commission election

Haddonfield Board of Commissioners candidate Adam Puff delivers his nominating petitions to the Borough Clerk, Deanna Bennett.

A lifelong resident of Haddonfield is the first candidate to file petitions for this year’s Board of Commissioners election. 

Adam Puff said he hopes to be the voice, resource, and problem solver for every resident and local business owner who has ever asked, ‘Why isn’t it getting done?”

In particular, he plans to focus on a prompt resolution to the future of the Bancroft property; addressing residents’ concerns about stormwater, streets, and trees; encouraging innovative approaches to supporting and promoting the business district; improving borough communications, and ensuring transparency in decision making. 

Puff sums up his focus in three words: “Pride. Progress. Partnership.” 

A 2000 graduate of Haddonfield Memorial High School, Puff and his wife Jessica are raising their three children just a few blocks from where he grew up, and where his parents still live. An accredited investment fiduciary, he is the founder and CEO of Haddonfield Financial Planning, located at 205 N. Haddon Avenue.  

Puff is an active member of the Lions Club, serves as president of the Haddonfield Educational Trust (a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the excellence of Haddonfield’s public schools), and is a board member of both the Haddonfield Outdoor Sculpture Trust and the Partnership for Haddonfield (which manages the downtown business district).

“For 39 years, I’ve benefited from many wonderful things this community has provided,” Puff said. “Volunteering with these organizations is one way I’ve been able to give back. But now I’d like to put my interests and ideas to work at the municipal level.”

Haddonfield’s Board of Commissioners has three elected members who serve concurrent four-year terms. The next election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 11. 2021. Traditionally, the candidate who receives the most votes becomes the mayor. 

Puff said that his campaign slogan, “Let’s Go, Haddonfield!” is designed to reflect the energy and enthusiasm he will bring to the board of commissioners. 

“Haddonfield needs those qualities right now,” Puff says, “to help develop innovative solutions for the new realities posed by the pandemic and the economy.” 

“I’m ready, willing, and able to serve,” he said, “and I hope the voters of Haddonfield will give me the chance.”

The campaign’s web address is AdamPuff.com. The Facebook page is @AdamPuff2021.

Citizen of the Year: Tuesday, January 26

The Haddonfield Area Lions Club will award its Citizen of the Year honor for 2021 during a Zoom presentation at 7:30pm on Tuesday, January 26.

Established in 1973, the award goes to a resident who has volunteered their time to make the community and the world a better place. Past winners include Robert A. Turner, Gene Kain, Jack Tarditi, Tish Colombi, and Robert Parsons. A full list of past winners is on the Haddonfield Area Lions website, HERE.

Because of the pandemic, this year’s presentation will not include the Lions’ annual breakfast or a State of the Borough address by the mayor. However, Mayor Rochford will present the Citizen of the Year award, virtually.

Join the Zoom meeting HERE.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87240232408?pwd=NCtlb2RDdmpkVHRML3NZWkJYWm9Pdz09

To Dial in: 1 646 558 8656
Meeting ID: 872 4023 2408
Passcode: 707977
Help Desk – Al Schmidt 609-471-8298

Haddonfield man charged in Capitol seige

A Haddondield resident was arrested on Thursday in connection with the storming of the US Capitol on January 6.

Patrick A. Stedman, 32, was charged with disorderly conduct and illegally entering the Capitol grounds.

The FBI’s affidavit for the case states that the bureau received tips from some of Stedman’s former high school and college classmates. Read it HERE.

The affidavit notes that Stedman posted videos of the storming of the Capitol on his Twitter account, which has more than 25,000 followers, in real time. It notes that some show him in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office and that on the afternoon of January 6 he posted on his Twitter account: “I was pretty much in the first wave, and we broke down the doors and climbed up the back part of the Capitol building and got all the way into the chambers.”

During a court hearing in Camden on Thursday, US Magistrate Judge Karen William released Stedman on an unsecured bond.

COVID-19: Second local death in three days

The Camden County Department of Health reported today the death of a Haddonfield male in his 90s, and attributed the cause of death to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

This is the second local death in three days. The Department of Health reported the death of a Haddonfield female in her 90s on Wednesday, January 20.

Today’s fatality brings the Haddonfield death toll to eight.

The Department also reported one new COVID-19 case today, that of a male in his 60s. Haddonfield’s tally now stands at 444.

The Haddonfield School District reported three new COVID-19 cases today, all in the High School: a male in his 10s; a female in her 30s; and a female in her 40s.

To date, the District has reported 121 cases: 52 males and 69 females; 96 students and 25 staff.

Judge reinstates Bancroft lawsuit

During a Camden County Superior Court hearing today, Judge Nan S. Famular agreed to a request by a group of Haddonfield residents, among them former mayors Jack Tarditi and Tish Colombi, to reinstate a suit they had filed in 2018 against the Borough of Haddonfield and its commissioners, objecting to aspects of the proposed redevelopment plan that failed to promote senior housing. 

Tarditi and the other plaintiffs had withdrawn the suit in 2019 without prejudice — meaning they retained the right to reinstate it in the future — based on a settlement agreement in which the Borough committed to the development of age-restricted housing at the site.

The plaintiffs requested reinstatement of their case because, they claimed, the commissioners had failed to abide by the settlement, which was spelled out in an order entered by Judge Famular in October 2019. The order noted that the borough would take steps to achieve and promote age-restricted housing on the site.

The borough’s attorney alleged that the borough had been unable to find a viable alternative to the “age-targeted” townhomes proposed by the site’s designated redeveloper, despite efforts to do so.

In the suit filed in March 2018, the plaintiffs called for the revised redevelopment plan the commissioners adopted in February 2018 to be set aside, and for the original Bancroft redevelopment plan to be reinstated. The 2018 plan called for fewer design restrictions and increased floor area per townhome — changes the developer had requested. The Planning Board voted overwhelmingly against the developer’s requests, but the commissioners set their objections aside and adopted the revised plan.

It is not known at this time if the Planning Board will schedule a hearing on the developer’s pending application until the issue is resolved in court. Judge Famular has not yet set a date for a hearing on the plaintiffs’ reinstated suit.

Civic Association to host health panel

The Haddonfield Civic Association will hold an online health panel discussion, titled Taking the Pulse of Our Community, on Wednesday, January 27 at 7pm.

Designed to inform Haddonfield residents, the discussion will focus on COVID-19 in our town, the vaccine, coping during the pandemic, the effects on our community, and the path forward.

The panel members will be:

  • Scott Woodside, Public Health MSN, MBA RN
  • Chuck Klaus, Superintendent of Schools
  • Jason Cutler, Chief of Police
  • Neal Rochford, Mayor

The 60-to-90-minute discussion, on Zoom, will be moderated by the Civic Association president, Joe Levine.

To join the discussion, go HERE.

To submit questions in advance, go to the Contact page on the Civic Association’s website – HERE. If your question is directed to a particular panelist, include that person’s name.

Citizen of the Year to be named on Tuesday night

The name of Haddonfield’s Citizen of the Year for 2021 will be announced during a special meeting hosted by the Lions Club on Tuesday, January 26, starting at 7:30pm.

Normally, the announcement is made during the Mayor’s Breakfast, held annually on a Saturday in January at the Presbyterian Church. Because of the pandemic, this year’s gathering was canceled.

Join Zoom meeting HERE.

  • Meeting ID: 872 4023 2408
  • Passcode: 707977
  • Dial in 1 646 558 8656
  • Meeting ID: 872 4023 2408
  • Passcode: 707977
  • Help Desk – Al Schmidt (609) 471-8298