"I'll take a chocolate coke please." Sentiments like this can be found on the recently created Merchantville Neighbors Uncensored - one of an ever-growing array of community social media pages. This new FB page, managed by Adam Wallace, seems to have sprouted in reaction to an uproar on the Merchantville Neighbors page last July when Lawrence Damian Capua, Sr., a prolific poster of local lore, began to dispense large doses of positivity through his historic memories of Merchantville and nearby communities. For a while his musings brought pleasure to many and a welcome change from many posts on that page. But sadly, that tempered tone was short-lived as some contributors voiced concerns that his "cheerful" posts were co-opting their right to a rowdy debate forum. Turns out those lighthearted posts from an unassuming grocery clerk and former Merchantville High grad had clearly ruffled the feathers of some consummate curmudgeons. There were calls for Merchantville Neighbors moderator, Mike McLoone, to pre-approve, censor or even banish him - Oh, my!  Well, "Lovable Larry" and his swarm of loyal supporters won the day but, "the bloom was off the rose" and it was clearly time to find a more hospitable nest. Enter Neighbors Uncensored, a friendly, welcoming home where local facebook fans can freely reminisce with Larry about life during simpler times untroubled by social media muggings. So, if you're interested in Merchantville and browsing around Facebook to find your "cup of tea" there are a variety of perspectives on pages and groups to test drive including: Borough of Merchantville, Merchantville Online, Merchantville Living, Merchantville Observer and Merchantville Matters.

The Merchantville Police Department is accepting applications for a full-time Police Officer position. Candidates must possess a valid PTC Certificate or a waivable Class II Certificate. Spanish language fluency is a plus. Applications may be picked up Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at police headquarters, 1 West Maple Avenue, Merchantville NJ, 08109. The Borough of Merchantville is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

A Merchantville congregation, High Place Church, has purchased the former Danzeizen & Quigley store, a landmark building that’s been vacant since last year. The church plans to make significant renovations to both the façade and interior of the 33,000-square-foot building on Route 70, according to WCRE, a commercial real estate firm. High Place, a non-denominational church, currently occupies a traditional stone church at North Centre Street and Walnut Avenue in town. At the start of 2019, High Place undertook an "Uncommon Campaign" - an effort to raise $300,000 in pledged funds - to realize their journey to move to this uncommon place in Cherry Hill, NJ. We wish them well.

Every year on September 11th, we remember those who have fallen as a result of the horrific terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A national moment of silence is observed every year to correspond with the terrorist attacks at 8:46 a.m. EST, which is the time American Airlines Flight 11 hit the north tower of the World Trade Center. The south tower, along with the Pentagon were also attacked that day. The U.S. Capitol was targeted, but the hijacked flight crashed in Pennsylvania before it reached that destination. There were a total of 2,977 victims who perished as a result of the attacks. More than 58,000 survivors and first responders enrolled in the WTC Health Program have wrestled with 9/11’s after-effects: respiratory problems, pulmonary disease and a higher rate of cancer than the general population, according to program statistics. Thousands have also died due to 9/11 related illnesses, at least 42 from Covid-19.

On Sunday, August 30th, residents from our community met at Wellwood Park before walking around Merchantville to distribute postcards on behalf of Citizen Organization for a Local Legislative Agenda for the Black Community (C.O.L.L.A.B.), a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating tangible cultural change and advancing local legislation that clarifies and amplifies the interests of the Black community. C.O.L.L.A.B. seeks to engage with regional communities, and their leadership, to help them institute concrete, sustainable solutions to the ongoing problems of prejudice and racial discrimination. We strive to harness the energy of recent protests and use that energy to create lasting social, cultural, and legislative change, so our next generation will not be stuck in the same cycle, fighting the same battles to defend the human and civil rights of Black people in America. Their mission - to change the culture and create legislative change to correct systemic racism and inequality. Help out by taking their short survey.

The Office of the Camden County Health Officer has issued a Heat Advisory for Camden County effective Sunday, July 19, from noon until 7 p.m. Monday, July 20. During a Heat Advisory, the combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible. “It is critical that everyone remember to check on elderly relatives, friends, and neighbors during days like these when there is extreme heat to combat,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services. “When temperatures rise to dangerous levels, remember to stay inside as much as possible, drink plenty of water, and contact a physician if you or a loved one is showing signs of heat stress.”