Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

Author: haddonfieldtoday

Plays & Players’ cabaret

Like most performing arts organizations in the region, throughout the state, across the country, and around the world, Haddonfield Plays & Players has suffered greatly from being forced to go dark during the pandemic.

But theater types are nothing if not creative and resourceful. To raise sorely needed funds, the local troupe of thespians will present a livewatch, virtual cabaret titled “It’s Only Intermission” on Saturday, November 21 at 7pm.

The show will feature more than 30 performers singing selections from popular past productions, as well as from the upcoming season.   

Plays & Players’ goal is  to raise $10,000 to help ensure the theatre’s future and enable it to plan its 2021 season with confidence. The line-up for the new year includes: The Last Five Years, Art, The Shadow Box, and Songs for a New World, plus a few special programming surprises.

Performers scheduled to participate include Megan Balne, Tommy Balne, Andy Bochetter, Evan Brody, Taylor Brody, Abby Brown, Pat DeFusco, Trisha Dennis, Arielle Egan, Amanda Frederick, Nick French, Tami Funkhouser, Jake Gilman, Matt Goodrich, Joe Grasso, DJ Hedgepath, Nicky Intrieri, Andrew Jarema, Ava Kapelus, Allison Korn, Ben Lipitz, Faith McCleery, Christopher McGinnis, Annie Raczko, Jasmine Roosa, John Sayles, Cassidy Scherz, Emma Scherz, Tess Smith, Dave Stavetski, Darryl Thompson, Justin Walsh, Dana Weiss, and Gabrielle Werner.

To register for the livewatch, go HERE. To donate directly, at any time, go HERE or text GIVE to 856-208-7111, or mail a check to Haddonfield Plays & Players, PO Box 145, Haddonfield NJ 08033.

Since 1934, Haddonfield Plays and Players has provided quality community theater at an affordable price to a wide range of Delaware Valley audiences, as well as a creative outlet for non-professionals – all in an atmosphere of personal and social enrichment that is open to all persons with a commitment to non-profit theater.

Highest single-day COVID-19 report

The Camden County Department of Health reported today that ten Haddonfield residents have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19: two males in their 10s, a male in his 40s, two males in their 50s, and a male in his 70s; a female in her 10s, two females in their 20s, and one female in her 30s.

This brings the total number of cases for Haddonfield to 191, with five fatalities. The increase of ten, from yesterday, is the largest since the first Haddonfield case was reported, on March 20.

The magnitude of the dramatic increase in reported cases since November 12 — 39 in seven days — prompted the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education to issue a joint statement today — HERE — calling on members of the community “to protect our friends, families, and neighbors so that we can all pull through this challenging time.”

Also today, the Haddonfield School District reported one new case: A female in her 310s at the Middle School. (Note: Cases reported by the District typically fall within those reported by the County, though not necessarily on the same date.)

In Camden County, the total number of cases stands at 16,218, with 588 deaths. For New Jersey, 289,562 cases with 14,843 confirmed deaths and an additional 1,812 probable deaths.

Rates per 1,000 of population are: Haddonfield 16.48; Camden County 31.57; New Jersey 32.94.

The transmission rate in New Jersey — a key metric — now stands at 1.43 (up 0.01 from yesterday). This is the highest it has been for some months, and reflects the situation across the country. (A transmission rate of 1.0 means that, on average, each new case will produce one additional new case. When the transmission rate falls below 1.0, it’s a good sign. When it rises above 1.0, it’s cause for concern.)

A message from the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education

The following message to the community was issued this afternoon (Wednesday, November 18 at 4pm):

Dear Haddonfield residents, business owners, students, and visitors,

We are deeply concerned about the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on our entire Borough. We have all experienced hardship in the past nine months and made sacrifices. In addition to the loss of five (5) of our own residents, many have lost loved ones to the virus or witnessed the deterioration of a family member’s health, while others have lost their businesses or sources of income. Months of isolation have become another source of stress and mental health challenges. For those who live with pre-existing conditions that make them especially vulnerable to the virus, the fear of impending illness can also be debilitating. These realities cannot be overstated. 

Unfortunately, the number of cases in the Borough is rising exponentially, and the burden of protecting our Haddonfield residents and neighbors rests with all of us. It is time to come together as a community to help one another stay safe. If we wish to keep our schools and businesses open, we must follow the Governor’s Executive Orders and CDC guidance to remain socially distant, wear masks, practice good hygiene, and stay home when we are sick. Indoor gatherings are not safe right now, nor are large outdoor gatherings. We must be vigilant and proactive in preventing community spread. 

As the holidays approach, we will all continue to be challenged by the realities of COVID-19. Now is the time to work together as a community and lead by example. We must remain apart now, so that we can come together again. There is a vaccine on the horizon, but it is not here yet.  As we await solutions such as the vaccine, it is up to us to protect our friends, families, and neighbors so that we can all pull through this challenging time. 

Sincerely,

The Haddonfield Board of Commissioners

The Haddonfield Board of Education

COVID-19: NJ lowers numbers permitted to gather

In response to a surging second wave of COVID-19 cases, Gov. Phil Murphy has placed new limits on the numbers of people who may gather, both indoors and outdoors.

With some exceptions, the maximum number for indoor gatherings is 10, or 25% of a room’s capacity, whichever number is lower. For outdoor gatherings, the maximum number has been cut from 500 to 150.

Details are HERE.

COVID-19 case total heads higher

The Camden County Department of Health reported today that six Haddonfield residents have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19: four males in their 10s, a male in his 20s, and a male in his 30s.

This brings the total number of cases for Haddonfield to 181, with five fatalities.

Also today, the Haddonfield School District reported four new cases: A male in his 10s at the Middle School and three males in their 10s at the High School. (Note: Cases reported by the District typically fall within those reported by the County, though not necessarily on the same date.)

In Camden County, the total number of cases stands at 15,884, with 588 deaths. For New Jersey, 285,519 cases with 14,817 confirmed deaths and an additional 1,801 probable deaths. The number of new deaths reported today — 38 — is the highest daily number for the past four months.

Rates per 1,000 of population are: Haddonfield 15.61; Camden County 30.92; New Jersey 32.48.

The transmission rate in New Jersey — a key metric — now stands at 1.42 (up 0.02 from yesterday). This is the highest it has been for some months, and reflects the situation across the country. (A transmission rate of 1.0 means that, on average, each new case will produce one additional new case. When the transmission rate falls below 1.0, it’s a good sign. When it rises above 1.0, it’s cause for concern.)

Public access to School Board meetings to remain virtual only

During its meeting on November 12, the Board of Education announced that it hoped to enable a limited number of members of the public to attend future meetings in person.

However, new restrictions on indoor gatherings announced by Governor Murphy on Monday, November 16, have led the board to reconsider its plan. The board announced today that “[a]lthough certain gatherings are exempt from this restriction, the Board has determined it is best to postpone the inclusion of community members until the Governor lifts these restrictions.”

The board will continue to meet in person. Members of the public may join meetings live, via the district’s YouTube channel, HERE.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 19, at 7:30pm.

COVID-19 cases climb

The Camden County Department of Health reported today that 12 Haddonfield residents have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the past three days (Saturday, Sunday, and today).

Also today, the Haddonfield School District reported four new cases. (Note: Cases reported by the District typically reflect those reported by the County, though not necessarily on the same date.)

Today, the County reported positive tests for a male and a female in their 10s (on Saturday); a male juvenile, a male in his 10s, four females in their 10s, and a male in his 50s (on Sunday); and a male in his 30s, a female in her 40s, and a female in her 50s (today).

This brings the total number of cases for Haddonfield to 175. Within that total, more or less (see note), are 29 cases reported by the School District.

(Note re “more or less” — In at least one case reported by the School District, the person who tested positive was not a resident of Camden County, so would not have been included in the county’s report. Also, county reports for those in their 10s may include teenagers who are no longer in the school system.

In Camden County, the total number of cases stands at 15,784, with 588 deaths. For New Jersey, 281,493 cases with 14,779 confirmed deaths and an additional 1,801 probable deaths.

Rates per 1,000 of population are: Haddonfield 15.09; Camden County 30.73; New Jersey 32.02.

The transmission rate in New Jersey — a key metric — now stands at 1.40. This is the highest it has been for some months, and reflects the situation across the country. (A transmission rate of 1.0 means that, on average, each new case will produce one additional new case. When the transmission rate falls below 1.0, it’s a good sign. When it rises above 1.0, it’s cause for concern.)

New feature: Public school stats for COVID-19

About two weeks after we launched Haddonfield[dot]Today, on March 21, 2020, we added a feature under the COVID-19 header titled “LOCAL STATS.”

We update it most week days, adding any new cases and fatalities reported for Haddonfield, along with numbers for Camden County and New Jersey, for comparison purposes.

Today, as Haddonfield experiences a dramatic rise in the number of cases reported for residents in their 10s, we added a second feature under the COVID-19 header: “PUBLIC SCHOOL STATS.” As with the Local Stats, we will update this feature whenever the stats change.

The School District reported its first case on September 22 — a male juvenile at Central Elementary. Three cases were reported in October, and 25 cases have been reported so far in November.

Faced with these rapidly increasing numbers, the School District pivoted to all-virtual learning on Monday, November 16. Details HERE:

High School pivots to 100% virtual model

Haddonfield Memorial High School will change its instruction model from hybrid (part in-person, part virtual) to full virtual, effective immediately and until Monday, November 30.

Superintendent Chuck Klaus sent the following message to the public school community this afternoon (Sunday, November 15):

“We have had to revisit the decision communicated yesterday as we received information about an additional positive test with no contact tracing to previous cases, several potential positive cases awaiting test results, and staffing concerns. Additional factors are the significantly decreased number of students physically in school due to quarantine and the increased request for full virtual instruction. The educational benefit with significantly more students virtual and fewer students in person also played a key role in this decision. Keeping the safety and wellness of our students and staff as our top priority, we believe implementing the full virtual is the optimum way to proceed.

“Specific details regarding the full virtual schedule, material pick up, and scheduled in-person meetings will be coming from Mrs. McHale.

“This decision was not arrived at easily. We hoped to stay the course and continue to offer in-person instruction; however, it became evident that the best course of action is to address the current spread by taking these precautionary steps. Over the next 14 days we hope to see lower numbers of COVID+ results at HMHS so that we will be able to return to the cohort model on November 30. 

“If the numbers continue to remain at their current level, we will have to reconsider the return date. To that end, it is imperative that our students follow all safety measures while not in school.

“Please note: the elementary schools and middle school remain open in the hybrid model.“

COVID-19: Six students test positive in two days

Students at Haddonfield’s public schools managed to avoid contracting the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the first few months of the pandemic, but things have changed.

The first case — a male juvenile at Central School — was reported to the School District by the Camden County Department of Health on September 22. In October, three cases were reported. So far in November, the total is 14 students and three adults (presumably teachers and/or staff members).

Six students (included in the 14 noted above) were reported yesterday and today alone: Four females in their 10s on Friday (one at the Middle School and three at the High School); and two males in their 10s on Saturday (both at the High School).

In each of its notifications to parents, guardians, and staff, the School District has stated, “Based on currently available information, this individual did not likely contract the virus in school.”