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Rally to open local stores

Haddonfield business owners and residents are planning to hold a repeat of the Re-Open Haddonfield Rally held on Kings Highway at Haddon Ave recently.

Those attending that gathering, on Saturday, May 16, advocated for the re-opening of local businesses and churches.

The next rally is planned for Saturday, May 30, 

from 12n to 1pm, at Kings Highway and Haddonfield Avenue, outside Jay West and The Happy Hippo.

Those planning to attend are urged to bring American flags. Signs are welcome; some will be available. Face masks and social distancing are encouraged.

Town to salute HMHS seniors

The Civic Association is encouraging residents to make some noise at 6pm on Saturday, June 13 to salute the High School Class of 2020.

The Association is asking parents, friends,  neighbors, and grads to gather on sidewalks or in parked vehicles in front of their homes. (Grads are encouraged to wear caps and gowns.) A blast from the Fire Department’s horn at 6pm will signal the start of a four-minute celebration (one minute and one blast for each year of high school), Hoopin’ an’ hollerin’ an’ the bangin’ of pots an’ pans.

Don’t have a grad? Join in anyway! It’s a townwide salute. 

Register now for child care

During its meeting on April 30, the Board of Education awarded a contract for before- and after-school care to AlphaBEST Education Inc, a North Carolina-based company serving 45 districts (415 schools) in 13 states.

AlphaBEST will take over from Haddonfield Child Care on July 1.

Registration for before- and after-school child care during the 2020-21 school year will open on Monday, June 1.

The service is available to Haddonfield families with children in kindergaren through fourth grade.

Register at alphabest.org/haddonfieldnj.

Gino Priolo named assistant superintendent

During its meeting on Thursday, May 28, 2020, the Board of Education named Dr. Gino Priolo as Assistant Superintendent for the Haddonfield School District. He will assume the role on July 1, 2020.

The text below is from the statement released by the Board following its vote to approve Gino Priolo’s appoinement.

Priolo brings 25 years of educational experience to this position. Originally a special education teacher and then principal in the Cherry Hill School District, he first came to Haddonfield as principal of Tatem Elementary School in August 2005. In August of 2011, Priolo became the principal of Haddonfield Middle School, and in 2014 he became the Director of Special Education for the district.

“Over the past decade, I have worked with Dr. Priolo as a fellow administrator and have grown to admire his professionalism, thoughtfulness, and collaborative nature,” said Charles Klaus, incoming Superintendent of Schools. “He is a student-centered and experienced leader who understands the importance of visiting issues from the perspective of all stakeholders. He is not afraid to ask hard questions and is always willing to provide answers to those same questions.”

Priolo earned his bachelor’s degree from Rowan University (Teacher of the Handicapped) and his master’s from Temple University (Master of Education/Educational Administration). In 2010, he earned his Ed.D. in Educational Administration, also from Temple University.

During 16 years as an administrator in Haddonfield, Priolo has accomplished a great deal. Among many other achievements, he developed district-wide Response to Intervention (RTI) protocol, designed and implemented character-focused Community Meetings, created and implemented a district-wide formative assessment writing plan for students in grades K-5, created the area’s first course on ethical use of technology entitled Digital Citizenship, and earned (middle school) designation as a No Place for Hate School by the Anti-Defamation League. In 2014, Priolo was selected as a delegate to represent N.J. at the National Race to the Top summit in Washington, D.C., and also served on an advisory committee for the NJDOE AchieveNJ.

As Director of Special Education, Priolo developed and implemented K-12 intervention for reading and dyslexia support in both general and special education classes and implemented the initiative that resulted in 14 district teachers earning Wilson Level I Certification/Dyslexia
Specialists designation. He served as the district chairperson for the Strategic Plan for SocialEmotional Learning, leading the implemented of Yale’s RULER program, and he created Community-Based Instruction programming at elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Overseeing special education in a district known for its high rate of inclusivity (over 91% of students with special needs spend 80% or more of the school day in general education), Priolo was the 2019 recipient of the N.J. Coalition for Inclusive Schools Honors Award.

“Dr. Priolo has seen the district from many angles and has an excellent working relationship with the administrative team and staff,” said Adam Sangillo, Board president. “The Board is pleased with this choice, and we look forward to supporting our new administrative leadership team as we continue to strive for excellence in nurturing, inspiring and empowering every learner.”

Priolo resides in Hainesport, N.J. with his wife of 20 years, Dawn, and his four children, who range in ages from 17 to 5. In his spare time, he enjoys exercising, coaching youth sports and is an avid music lover.

Three new COVID-19 cases

A male in his 30s, a male in his 70s, and a female in her 80s were added today to the list of Haddonfield residents who have contracted the coronavirus.

The tally now stands at 47 cases and 5 fatalities.

Statistics for Haddonfield, Camden County, and New Jersey are updated on Haddonfield[dot]Today each week day, under the COVID-19 header.

HMHS Drama Club livestream

In partnership with the Haddonfield Educational Trust, the High School Drama Club will present an evening of showtunes on Thursday, June 11 at 7pm. (This event was originally scheduled for June 4.)

Titled “Places! At Home,” the event will be livestreamed on the Drama Club’s YouTube channel, HERE.

Admission is free, but viewers are asked to donate to the HMHS Auditorium Improvement Fund, on the Trust’s website, HERE.

The Trust also is planning a golf tournament for August 17, 2020, at Tavistock Country Club. (Stay tuned.)

This Haddonfield Today news story sponsored by Lisa Wolschina & Associates (Keller Williams Realty).

One new COVID-19 fatality

The Camden County Department of Health reported today that a Haddonfield resident, a woman in her 90s, has died from complications related to the coronavirus.

This brings the total number of Haddonfield fatalities to five. A total of 44 residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

For Camden County’s 38 municipalities, the total is 313 deaths and 6,429 cases. For New Jersey: 11,339 deaths and 156,628 cases.

[The statistics above are updated on Haddonfield[dot]Today each week day, under the COVID-19 header.]

Three-quarters of the deaths in Camden County (232) have been reported from the county’s 56 long-term-care facilities. Resident cases (1,092) and staff cases (358) account for one-fifth of the 6,429 cases in the county.

Haddonfield’s 44 cases are made up of 26 males, 17 females, 1 unknown. The age distribution is:

  • 20s — 6 = 3 male, 3 female
  • 30s — 6 = 2 male, 4 female
  • 40s — 11 = 7 male, 4 female
  • 50s — 6 = 6 male
  • 60s — 3 = 2 male, 1 female
  • 70s — 0
  • 80s — 2 = 2 female
  • 90s — 2 = 2 female
  • Unknown — 8

The breakdown for Haddonfield fatalities is 3 male (50s, 80s, 90s) and 2 female (80s, 90s).

NOTE: This post was updated on May 28. “Unknown — 8” was added to the table.

Affordable Housing meeting

A number of residents who are concerned about the Borough’s plans for an affordable housing project behind the Borough Hall will meet at the site on Thursday, May 28 at 7pm.

“Construction is slated to begin in July, so there is no time to waste,” they say. “Come see for yourself how oversized and poorly planned it is.

“Get informed and help us improve the project so new families are not warehoused in an undesirable space. Haddonfield can do better than this.”

Since the group will be “camped in the parking lot,” it is suggested that those who attend should “bring a chair.”

Memorial Day — modified

Photo: Dan Colombi (U.S. Air Force, Vietnam) and former mayor Tish Colombi at the Baptist Cemetery.

Memorial Day in Haddonfield typically is marked by a number of events:

  • On the Friday before Memorial Day, an assembly at Memorial High School that includes participation by members of Post 38. With all schools closed in compliance with Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive orders relating to the coronavirus pandemic, that event was canceled. Even so, members of the HMHS Student Council produced a ten-minute video to mark Memorial Day 2020. Link to it HERE.
  • The dressing of graves (i.e. the placing of American flags) of men and women who served in the Armed Forces, in the Baptist and Methodist cemeteries. Usually, this is done on the Friday before Memorial Day. This year, rain forced a postponement to today (Sunday, May 24).
  • A breakfast for Legionnaires and invited guests at the Post 38 headquarters on Veterans Lane. This year, that popular event has been canceled.
  • The raising and lowering of the American flag at Post 38 HQ, and the tolling of a bell — once for each member of the Post who died during the past twelve months. A modified form of this ceremony will take place tomorrow (Monday, May 25) at 9am.
  • A parade on Kings Highway, from the Presbyterian Church to the High School. This year, that event has been canceled.
  • A ceremony at the War Memorial at the front of the High School. Canceled.

Memorial Day this year was to have featured a display of 3,837 poppies, cascading from the wall of the school building behind the war memorial, in tribute to fallen New Jersey service members of World War I. That installation has been postponed to October. Details HERE.

At 3pm, members of the brass section of the Haddonfield Pick-Up Band will join with trumpeters and buglers across the country to play Taps on front porches, in a salute to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who died in America’s wars. Read details of Taps for Veterans HERE.

Pick-Up Band member Tom Reiter plans to play at the corner of West End Avenue and Euclid, in tribute to Tom Patton, founder and longtime director of the Pick-Up Band — and Legionnaire (U.S. Army WWII) — who died in June 2019.

This Haddonfield Today news story sponsored by Jack and Barbara Tarditi, and Conner Strong & Buckelew Insurance & Risk Management.