The small, suburban Camden County borough of Collingswood, that once produced a Republican governor, is now a bright blue municipality and has changed over the last decade, resembling a town more akin to Montclair or Lambertville than to other Camden County suburbs. One certainty is that it’s a Democratic stronghold that no longer resembles the small town that launched William T. Cahill’s political career 60 years ago. The Philadelphia-born son of Irish immigrants, Cahill moved to Collingswood around 1939, won a State Assembly seat in 1951 and in 1958, when 78-year-old Rep. Charles Wolverton (R-Merchantville) retired after 31 years in Congress, ran for the Camden-Gloucester-Salem seat and won by 1,859 votes. He was re-elected in 1968 with 66% of the vote  then, decided to run for governor in 1969. Collingswood gave favorite-son Cahill a massive 79% of the vote in his successful election as 38th governor of NJ.

Rosemari Hicks offers a menu of lattes, chai teas and loaf slices courtesy of many Camden vendors and micro-business owners at her Nuanced Cafe, 225 Market St. in Camden. The decor of this newly-opened downtown coffee shop displays  similar hyper local touches including the wall in the seating area kept purposefully empty - with photographers and painters able to showcase their work and even sell it with all profits going to them. Hicks, a Merchantville resident for the past 20 years, hopes to see grow even more following the café’s January 11th soft opening. For now, customers can sit at socially-distanced tables in the café while wearing face masks. In the future she hopes to greet returning students from Rutgers-Camden. For more information call 609-332-3084 or visit www.facebook.com/NuancedCafe.

Jan Hanson, member of the Woman's Club of Merchantville, recently became the 57th President of the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs of GFWC, taking over responsibilities from 2018-20 president Mary Wolfe from Vineland. Jan joined the JWCM in 1982 and the Woman's Club of Merchantville in 1994. She served as her club's President as well as a number of district and State Board positions before her election in 2018 as the NJSFWC President-elect. She is a Pennsauken resident and served as past PTA president, as well as, a PYAA girls' basketball, soccer and softball coach. Barbara McCloskey, from the Woman's Club of the Denville-Rockaway, was named second vice-president.

The SoundPlex is an art and music multiplex combining a world class recording studio with live performance spaces. It brings together lovers of music and the artists that make it into a singular complex that serves our community. For artists and musicians it unites the value of an all-in-one production facility with the ability to create, rehearse, and perform on your own terms at an affordable rate while maintaining major label standard quality.It's a unique event space for community gatherings, weddings, corporate events, private parties, and more that creates a unique experience for guests that they’ll never forget at an all-in-one cost. Stop by and check out TheSoundPlex located in the former Perkins Dairy Building at 6713 Rudderow Avenue in Pennsauken. For more information contact: 609-313-6446 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Roll up your sleeves with Merchantville resident and pizzaiolo, Thomas Woltjen, of Mercer Cafe. You're welcome to collect your own ingredients, purchase a pizza kit from Mercer, or just watch & learn. Contact Mercer Cafe to purchase $25 pizza kits that include two (2) 14 ounce dough balls, cheese, sauce, flour, and instructions. Mercer cafe is family owned and operated since 2000. Serving breakfast, lunch, brick oven pizza and dinner - also featuring a coffee bar and grab and go market. Call 267-457-5585 to order your pizza kit. Follow us on Instagram.

As a neighboring community, Merchantville appreciates the residents of Camden, Chief Joseph Wysocki, the Camden Police Department for the leadership they demonstrated by marching peacefully in solidarity to protest the killing of George Floyd this past Saturday. Since Camden’s police force disbanded and reformed in 2013 as a county agency, officers there have been hyper-focused on community policing. You will often see them walking beats or attending neighborhood block parties grilling up hamburgers and hot dogs. “We know that together we are stronger, we know that together, in the city of Camden, we can create a space where policing is focused on deescalation and dialogue,” Wysocki said. May 30th's peaceful protest and march in Camden was another example of their ongoing community engagement, and the very real dialogue that they are having with residents throughout Camden.