The Borough commissioners will hold a regular work session on Monday, August 17 at 4pm.
To attend virtually, register in advance HERE. Access the agenda HERE.
They will hold a regular meeting on Monday, August 17 at 7pm. The agenda will include the annual municipal budget.
To attend virtually, register in advance HERE. Access the agenda HERE.
The owners of Villa Rosa Italian Restaurant at 51 Kings Highway East announced on Friday (August 14) that they will close their business on Sunday.
The restaurant operated at the top end of Kings Highway, adjacent to the Speedline, for several decades, before moving to its present location two years ago.
“After 33 years of serving our amazing communities,” the owners wrote on their Facebook site on Friday afternoon, “we are saddened to announce that tomorrow, Saturday August 15, will be our last day in business.
“Due to the long-lasting impacts of COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to permanently close. This Pandemic has really hit our business hard, and as hard as we tried to stay afloat, some things just aren’t meant to be. Thank you to all of our guests for your loyalty & for keeping us in business for so many years. You have all become family to us! We will miss you all! But it’s time to search for new horizons & see what the future has in store for us. We appreciate everyone’s support during these hard times.”
Fans of the restaurant responded in droves, with the result that the restaurant ran out of dough to make pizza. “We want to thank EVERYONE who came out today or called in to show your support! We’re sorry if we couldn’t take care of all of you today; we got slammed with orders, BUT we will be open all day Saturday from 11am-11pm.” the owners wrote on Facebook.
One fan – Alex Kadar – set up a GoFundMe site, with a goal of raising $100,000.
READ MORE: “Last Bites: Haddonfield Bids Farewell to Villa Rosa After 32 Years” by Matt Skoufalos for NJPen.com
The NJ Department of Health released new rules today (August 13) for closing schools in response to positive tests among students and/or teachers.
The 19-page document includes the following:
Access “COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations for Local Health Departments for K-12 Schools” HERE.
On Tuesday, August 11, the New Jersey Education Association called on Gov. Murphy and the New Jersey Department of Education to direct all New Jersey public schools to open remotely this fall.
The New Jersey Association of School Administrators and the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association joined the NJEA in making the call.
“For months, New Jersey educators and administrators have been working tirelessly to find a way to safely bring students back into school buildings in September. Now, with less than a month remaining before schools are scheduled to reopen, it is time to reluctantly acknowledge that goal is simply not achievable. Reopening schools for in-person instruction under the current conditions poses too great a risk to the health of students and schools staff. The question of whether and when to reopen for in-person instruction is first and foremost a public health decision that cannot be left in the hands of nearly 600 individual school districts. The stakes are too high, and the consequences of a wrong decision are too grave. That is why we are calling on Gov. Murphy and the New Jersey Department of Education to direct all New Jersey public schools to open remotely this fall. We fully support and share the governor’s goal of moving to in-person instruction as soon as the science and data say we can do so responsibly and when the resources are available in our school buildings to do it safely.
“We wish it could be different, but the facts are not in our favor. Our nation is in the middle of an uncontrolled pandemic. Our state, while doing better than many others, has not yet stopped the spread of this virus, particularly among the same young people who are scheduled to return to school in under four weeks. New Jersey’s communities are still at risk, and putting students and staff inside school buildings, even with exceptional precautions, increases that risk.
“We have seen what is happening elsewhere in the country where, within a few days of opening, schools are having to transition to remote learning following outbreaks of COVID-19. Every day, through research and the experience of other states, we are learning more about the effects of this disease on children and their ability to contribute to community spread.
“We have repeatedly asked for universal statewide health standards, which have not been provided. Despite the tireless efforts of all school stakeholders, districts have struggled to meet even the minimum standards that were provided. Inadequate levels of funding, staffing, equipment and facilities will result in inequities in the level of safety afforded to all New Jersey students.
“We urge the governor to act quickly and decisively. We need the rest of the summer to focus our attention and resources on building the most effective remote learning plans possible. While remote education cannot replace in-person instruction, we believe that a carefully planned, well-resourced remote education plan is better than the dangerous, uncertain in-person alternative currently available to us.
“We also need consistent statewide guidance to allow us to focus on addressing critical equity issues. From closing the digital divide to ensuring that students have access to adequate nutrition to figuring out how to provide critical individual therapies and specialized educational services, there will be many challenges ahead. We will be better able to address those issues by all districts starting in a virtual environment, rather than investing our time and scarce resources in a likely unsustainable in-person beginning of the year.
“We remain committed to getting back to in-person instruction as soon as it is safe. It is not safe yet.”
On Wednesday, August 12, Gov. Murphy announced that school districts that cannot meet health and safety standards for safe in-person instruction will begin their school year with all-remote learning.
Public and non-public schools must certify to the Department of Education that they are able to meet the state’s standards for safe in-person instruction. If they cannot, they will be required to provide remote learning for all students.
The Reverend Dr. Charles A. Sayre, the senior pastor at Haddonfield United Methodist Church from 1965 to 1990, died peacefully at home on Monday, August 10, 2020. He was 100.
He was revered not just by the church’s congregation but also by thousands of residents of Camden, where he planted and nurtured numerous seeds, and by fellow members of the Rotary Club of Haddonfield, of which he had been a devoted member for 55 years.
In a note to members of the congregation on August 11, The Reverend Chris Heckert wrote:
“It is with a sense of profound loss that I share that Rev. Dr. Charles Sayre passed away of natural causes, surrounded by his family, and entered into God’s eternal rest yesterday, August 10th. Rev. Dr. Sayre served as the Sr. Pastor for 25 years, from 1965-1990. In that time he had a massive impact for the witness of Jesus Christ in our church, community and greater world, in helping people to live into the kingdom of God, on earth, as it is in heaven. Under his leadership, HUMC grew exponentially, and expanded its mission and ministry into Camden with the founding of Respond, Inc. Beyond the local church, he was a leader in the United Methodist Church worldwide, as he was elected to the Methodist World Council, and served as the lead clergy delegate to the General Conference for 8 quadrennia. Upon his retirement he remained an active resident of Haddonfield as an influential friend, leader, Rotarian, and mentor to countless people. On April 19th, 2020, he celebrated his 100th birthday, remarking how blessed and happy he was to be surrounded by loving friends and family via Zoom.
“Although we grieve his loss, may we share the profound gratitude that Dr. Sayre held in his heart. During both of my visits with him this past week, he reiterated how thankful he was for his life, for his loving family, and for this church community. Just this past Sunday he listened to our worship service online and shared with me afterward that he believed that serving Haddonfield UMC is the best job in Methodism. For each life that has been touched, inspired, blessed and enriched by the ministry and witness of Rev. Dr. Charles Sayre, we now carry his mission of leading others to follow Jesus Christ within our hearts and our lives.
“During this time I ask that you keep his daughters Jill, Judy, and their entire family in your prayers. A graveside service will be private for family only, but we will share plans for public celebration of his life at a later date as they develop. Gifts in his memory may be sent to the church with “In memory of Charles Sayre” in the memo line, or an accompanying note. Gifts made in his memory will benefit the Lucile B. Sayre Meditation Garden across from the church.
“One of Dr. Sayre’s favorite hymns of faith was “It is Well with my Soul,” which offers these words of comfort:
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul
It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul
“Because a life lived for others has now transitioned into God’s eternal, loving embrace, may we find God’s comfort and peace. Because of Dr. Sayre’s leadership, loving heart and friendship to many, may we say now, ‘it is well with my soul.'”
Treble voice singers aged 8 to 18 are invited to join ChildrenSong in a summer workshop in voice development on Zoom for four days from Monday, August 24 thru Thursday 27.
There are three divisions:
Auditions are required for those interested in participating in the Select Choir program. Auditions are NOT required for the other two programs.
Singers will develop vocal technique, learn how to read music, create a virtual performance, and meet new friends with similar interests!
This program is free and can be accessed anywhere via Zoom. Registration is required, at childrensong.org/events.
In normal times, ChildrenSong’s home base is at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Haddonfield.
The Haddonfield School District has added a new tab on the home page of its website: Reopening.
The drop-down menu provides access to a variety of topics related to the district’s planning and plans for school in September:
Access the district’s website HERE.
Anthony J. Maniscalco, the owner with his wife Nancy of Gracie’s Water Ice & Ice Cream, located in Kings Court, Haddonfield, died on Thursday, August 6, 2020. A GoFundMe appeal to benefit his family stated that he was on life-support, after having fallen down stairs at home.
A resident of Runnemede, formerly of South Philadelphia, Anthony Maniscalco was 66.
He is survived by his wife Nancy (nee Porrini), sons Anthony and Nick, and daughter Michelle; and by grandchildren Nicholas, Jaden, Jaxx, and Gia Maria; also by his sister Rita Falcone (John), nephew John Falcone, Jr, and niece Denise Benatti (Jimmy).
A viewing will be held at Gardner Funeral Home, 126 S. Black Horse Pike, Runnemede, on Tuesday, August 11 from 8:15 to 10:15am. A funeral mass will follow at 11am at Holy Child Parish, St. Teresa Roman Catholic Church, Runnemede.
Interment will be private. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105.
Original news story (August 5, 2020) on Haddonfield[dot]Today: HERE.
A number of Haddonfield merchants, including Valente’s Cucina and Sweet T’s Bakeshop — both located in Kings Court — will be donating 20% of their proceeds on Thursday, August 13 to a fund to benefit the Maniscalco family. Check Haddondield[dot]Today on Wednesday and Thursday for a list of participating merchants.
Dawgs Hit the Heights
By Lauree Padgett for Haddonfield Today
Part 5 of 5: The Last Dance With Camden?
On Monday, March 10, thanks to Beth Cerrato, who had also gotten me a hard-to-come-by ticket, I was on a school bus filled with the team’s family members heading to Woodrow Wilson for another showdown between Haddonfield and Camden. Unlike the previous three years, the game was not decided on a last-second shot. Although they never gave up and kept hustling and diving for loose balls all the way through to the final minute of the last quarter, this year’s Camden team proved too much for the Dawgs. As Camden handed them only their fifth loss out of 30 games, the Dawgs saw their season come to an end, with the final score 70-42. But that 28-point differential didn’t matter. It did not define their season, and at its conclusion, I was as proud of these boys as I was after any other game I’d been to all season.
In an unexpected way, the boys were lucky that their season came to an end as a result of a defeat. Most of the remaining eight public and four parochial teams who were supposed to advance to the state semis never got to play those games. COVID-19 saw to that. So, technically, Haddonfield still holds the title as the reigning Group 2 state champion. But even though the team didn’t quite reach that height this year, in going 25-5, winning yet another Colonial Liberty title, and giving their coach his 500th career victory, this group of highly competitive and highly committed young men far exceeded expectations. And in doing so, they once again proved just how unwise it is to ever underestimate a team helmed by Paul Wiedeman.
End-of-Year Speech: 2019–20
In an “odd coincidence,” as our coach put it, the day I reached out to Paul Wiedeman to ask him if he wanted to include any comments in my wrap-up article, he had just written what appears below. While it’s not the same as hearing him deliver it in person (nor is it quite as long as it would be in person!), it seems fitting that this article should conclude with our incomparable coach’s comments about this amazing season
From Coach Wiedeman
In what many would describe as a rebuilding season for the 2020 Haddonfield Boys Basketball Program turned out to be business as usual for the Haddons. With a team graduating six of their top eight returning players, many South Jersey teams, including all of the Colonial Conference, were excited to take advantage of a “perceived” weakened team. However, you cannot place a value or quantify the importance a program has with a strong culture, character, and competitive spirit that makes Haddonfield student/athletes so successful every single year.
This was a special group of athletes who exemplified all the above traits from Day One in the preseason all the way until the final buzzer in the SJ Group Two Finals. I cold not be any more prouder of a team that I coached in my 21 years at Haddonfield High School than this unit in 2020. With their dedication, resiliency, worth ethic, and team-oriented style of play, they were able to win 25 games, capture the Colonial Conference Liberty title, and compete in the SJ Group 2 title game. It was an amazing transformation to watch this team develop and mature throughout the course of the season. They did it playing selfless basketball on offense, and relentlessly defending every possession on defense. Our amoeba-style zone defense was so effective, we allowed the fewest total points in all of South Jersey. We allowed an average of less than 40 points per game that became a source of pride for our coaches and players.
Some memorable moments from the 2019–2020 season include winning on the road, and coming from behind in both cases against West Deptford, and Sterling, to clinch the outright Colonial Conference title. Two unbelievable comeback wins against arch rival Haddon Heights. The first one in the regular season on the road, making up a huge deficit in the fourth quarter with Stevey McClane having the court sense to find a diving Ben Cerrato for the game-winning layup. Then two and a half months later, we meet Haddon Heights in a rubber match for the right to go on for the SJ Group 2 finals. Ben hits a clutch 3 in the corner to tie the game at 33 apiece. Heights calls timeout with around 7 seconds left on the clock. We devise a different defensive look we just put in the day before. Heights tries to throw an ill-advised cross-court pass that Conner Fell anticipates so perfectly well. He intercepts the pass and races down the other end and lays the ball in to give us the lead and ultimately the win. What a perfect way for our seniors to play their final home game and defeat Haddon Heights after being away at Cherry Hill East for the past 2 seasons.
Our seniors were the backbone to our success this year. We had great senior leadership, as they led through their voices and their choices. Their voices were always loud and infectious, inspiriting positive enthusiasm and body language during practices and games. The message they communicated was team first and the individual second. They helped the underclassmen understand the culture and style of play that makes the program successful. They choices were always doing the right thing on and off the court. They were role models as students in the classroom and as players performing in practice and games. They were invested in each other and on their craft to make the whole better than the individual parts. It made the season so enjoyable to coach such hard-working, attentive, and respectful players. The senior class has left an indelible impression on not only the coaching staff but also the Haddonfield community. These six seniors have kept a standard of excellence in their four years that includes: 4 Colonial Conference Liberty titles; 2 SJ Group 2 titles, 2 NJ Group 2 State Championships, only the second graduating class to appear in 4 SJ Group 2 finals, and finally, 109 career wins. I want to thank the seniors for their years of sacrifice and dedication to the program. You will be missed. I want to thank the entire program, including the coaches, JV and Freshmen teams, the booster club, the team managers, and the entire Haddonfield community.
My only regret is not having an end-of-the-year banquet, where we can all meet together one final time and share the wonderful memories together in person. There is so much more I would want to share in person, especially thanks to the booster club parents, for team dinners, concession stands, half-court shootouts, meals on the bus, etc. You make this a first-class operation that I do not take for granted. Hopefully, when life returns back to normal, we can all get together as a group one more time. Take care.
For Part 1, click HERE.
For Part 2, click HERE.
For Part 3, click HERE.
For Part 4, click HERE.
The Camden County Department of Health reported today that a Haddonfield male, age 10 to 19, has contracted the coronavirus, COVID-19. This brings the total number of confirmed cases locally to 78, with six fatalities, and the total number of teens affected to nine.
Haddonfield’s youth (ages 10 to 19) escaped the virus until the beginning of July. Then:
Totals: 5 males, 4 females
In Camden County, the total number of cases stands at 9,052, with 549 deaths. For New Jersey, 183,701 cases with 13,996 confirmed deaths and an additional 1,853 probable deaths.
The transmission rate in New Jersey is 1.23. (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.)
Statistics for Haddonfield, Camden County, and New Jersey are updated on Haddonfield[dot]Today each week day.