Crier Column 6/16: Farewell to class of 2025; WHS senior lunch debt cleared; Rocky Horror auditions; 'Elio' movie night; WHS runners honored for 4x800

    MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2025

Woodstown High School runners Jacob Marino, Cole Lucas, Joshua Crawford, and Karson Chew were honored for this seasons achievements in the 4x800 at the SJCA Banquet. More about them in the SPORTS section below.

Hear ye, hear ye! O yez, o yez!

ORGAN: Your Town Crier will be at the organ this Sunday, June 22, 2025 at First Baptist Church on South Main Street. Hymns are "A Mighty Fortress is Our God," and "Trust and Obey," two of my favorites. Music Director Cindy Winters leads the congregation -- don't miss out!

SUMMER BEGINS: The first day of summer is Friday, June 20, 2025. We made it! Do you have a vacation planned? If my passport arrives in time and other factors fall into place, I'm hoping to vacation in France at the end of the summer -- but that's a long way off. I'm thinking 'tis high time to get to the boardwalk as quickly as I can. 

It's been a few years since I've made it over there -- I love Ocean City, N.J. My grandparents used to get a big house for a week during the 1990s and the entire extended family would stay over. I never cared much for the beach itself, no less the ocean except up to my ankles, but the boardwalk is glorious. The cotton candy, the roller coaster, the Ferris wheel, the trinkets, the hermit crabs, the pizza larger than the moon, the Polish water ice in every flavor.

COMMUNITY

LUNCH DEBT: UPDATE: As I was publishing this report, the fundraiser was still open, but the latest update indicates the fundraiser has closed and all WHS senior lunch debt has been cleared! This means seniors unable to walk at graduation due to outstanding lunch debt will now walk and graduate. AWESOME JOB WOODSTOWN AND AMBER RORRIS-CROW!!!

Original report:

There are, sadly, some seniors this year who won't be allowed to walk at graduation unless their cafeteria lunch debt is paid off before Wednesday. Nevertheless, Amber Rorris-Crow and the Greater Woodstown community are doing right by our seniors and fundraising to get these debts paid off. We love to see it! More than 50 kind community members have donated.

Here is their dispatch: 

Hi neighbors! As graduation day approaches, our seniors are preparing for one of the proudest moments of their young lives—walking across the stage and receiving their high school diploma.

Let's all work together to help pay off the lunch debts of our graduating seniors, so that they can start the next chapter of their lives debt free!

We love the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District, and we are grateful to them for supporting our kids as they grow and learn.

GRADUATION: The Woodstown High School class of 2025 graduates on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. Attendees must have a ticket. I am really going to miss this year's graduating seniors. They were a phenomenal group of young people -- I got to know many of them through the Drama Club over the past two years. What will we do without Lizzie Hitchner, Colin Schmidt, Brannagh Rattigan, Ginny Messick, Brandon Zukovsky and the many others who contributed so much to our school?! 

PROMO VIDEO: The WHS Communications Academy has released a special promotional video highlighting our school system. To view it, click here or view below:

MOVIE: Salem County In Recovery is hosting a movie night on Monday, June 23, 2025 at 6 p.m. Transportation departs from 184 Elm St in Woodstown (and travels to Regal Cinema in Washington Twp.) The movie will be "Elio" about the cosmic misadventure of Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination and a huge alien obsession. To register, contact Jackyln Treece at jacklyn.treece@salemcountynj.gov or call 856-935-7510 ext. 8105.

SOUND OFF!: The Oakwood Summer Theatre, which features tons of Woodstown and Pilesgrove talent, is raising funds to purchase microphones for their current season of summer shows at Salem Community College. Here is their dispatch:

If you missed your chance to support the children’s show, you still have a chance to support “Murder on the Orient Express” and our main stage musical “GREASE.” Every purchase gets us closer to our goal of having microphones! 

https://popup.doublegood.com/s/7klgx130 

ENTERTAINMENT

THANKS: Just wanted to send enormous thanks to everyone involved, especially our alumni, students, Curtain Call Board, student organizer Elizabeth Hitchner and co-host Brandon Zukovsky, and director Kahlil V. Gunther in the fourth annual "Night of Dream Roles" at Woodstown High School. The event raised more than $700 which will go directly to theatre education programs in Woodstown-Pilesgrove schools next year. For more information visit www.CurtainCallClub.org.

AUDITIONS: The Blue Moon Theatre is hosting audition for "The Rocky Horror Show," directed by Greg Hammell on Sunday, June 22 from 12 - 2 p.m. Performances run throughout September. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090548A4AB2CAAFB6-57302178-the#/

SPORTS

RUN WOODSTOWN: Many kudo and congrats go out to Karson Chew, Josh Crawford, Cole Lucas, and Jacob Marino (pictured at the top of this column) for taking home top honors at the SJCA All-South Jersey Awards Banquet. They were recognized for their their season best of 7:54.84 in the 4x800. Even more exciting, their names will be immortalized high up on the walls of our gymnasium.

The Woodstown Athletic Department website, a hub for all things Woodstown High School sports, can be found here.

SCORES

SCHEDULE

WATCH LIVE EVENTS HERE

GOVERNMENT

Woodstown Borough Council and Pilesgrove Twp Committee meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

WEEKEND WEATHER

FRIDAY: Sunny. High of 85F. Low of 67F.

SATURDAY: Sunny. High of 90F. Low of 69F.

SUNDAY: Late night rain. High of 91F. Low of 73F.

FORECAST: Clouds and scattered evening or early morning showers throughout the week. High of only 69F on Monday, but jumping up to the 90sF later in the week. A sunny weekend abounds, but be careful of next week where temperatures will linger close to 100F throughout the entire week. Extreme heat and no rain (which could cause sudden serious storms out of nowhere). Wear that sunblock and hydrate!

♦

Woodstown Crier: Where we look to the fine words of Ralph Waldo Emerson to guide our 2025 graduating seniors: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

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Want to share your Woodstown-Pilesgrove news in the Crier Column? Email Jim Cook at WoodstownCrier@gmail.com 

Crier Column 6/6: Celebrating Woodstown 2025, remembering Woodstown 1925; WHS Student Alumni Concert; Woodstown runners advance to Nationals; Psycho Beach Party; Oakwood needs microphones; She Shelters Fundraiser

   FRIDAY, JUNE 06, 2025

The cast of PSYCHO BEACH PARTY at the Blue Moon Theatre. The summery play opens tonight and runs June 6, 7, 13, 14 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets below in the "Entertainment" section.

Hear ye, hear ye! O yez, o yez!

Feel like summer yet?! Personally, I'm loving this warm weather.

Last Thursday, I had the distinct honor of presenting scholarships to two outstanding Woodstown High School seniors. The first was the Pilesgrove-Woodstown Historical Society Scholarship which went to Jonathan Farrell. Farrell wrote his essay on the First National Bank of Woodstown, and also produced a short commercial for the Communications Academy at WHS highlighting Historic Woodstown. Watch the commercial here:

The Blue Moon Theatre (Woodstown Opera House) Scholarship went to Brandon Zukovsky, an exemplary musician and student. Zukovsky performed on the trumpet in the pit orchestra for 2024's BRIGADOON and on the electric bass in the pit band for 2025's FOOTLOOSE. Already an accomplished professional musician, he plans to study Music Education at Rutgers University (New Brunswick) this Fall 2025. Zukovsky wrote his essay on The Curtain Call Club of Woodstown (disclaimer: I was not part of the committees that judged the applicants).

During the ceremony, I was joined by fellow PWHS Trustee Kate Dilks-Bird. We brought two artifacts from our Museum on Main Street (open every Saturday morning 10-1) from a century ago -- the program for the 1924-25 WHS Operetta "Well, Well" and the 1925 WHS Yearbook. At one point during the ceremony, Mrs. Dilks-Bird turned the class photo of the 1925 seniors to the graduating class so both classes might transcend time and gaze back at each other. It was an inspiring moment. Here are some highlights from the WHS 1925 Yearbook:

The 1925 Senior Class of Woodstown High School

Cover of the WHS 1925 Yearbook

The WHS 1925 Class Officers were President Raymond 'Haley' Hale, Vice President Horace Christy, Secretary Mary Packer, and Treasurer Margaret Crispin

The WHS Football and Baseball Teams of 1925. When I showed this photo to WHS Principal Rich Senior, he was surprised to see a smaller football team than a baseball team!

The WHS Orchestra of 1925. This group used to accompany the annual operetta (precursor to the modern "musical.")

Portraits of some graduating seniors. Notice how the names are similar to those in Woodstown today!

CHAMBER CHOIR RECITAL: I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the fantastic recital performed by the Woodstown High School Chamber Choir last week. The event featured WHS Alumna Abigail Hunt, now a professional actor in South Carolina, along with three of our stellar seniors: Leah Waterman, Virginia Messick, and Elizabeth Hitchner. 

Hunt was also joined onstage for two surprise duets with WHS's longtime drama director Paul Kranz. The evening ended with the traditional performance of "Jenny Rebecca" featuring the guest artist, the current choir, and the choir alumni, all under the direction of Mr. Kahlil V. Gunther.

Music Director Kahlil Gunther, joined by the 2025 seniors Elizabeth Hitchner, Colin Schmidt, Leah Waterman, and Virginia Messick, after the annual Chamber Choir Recital.

COMMUNITY

DATE NIGHT: A dispatch from the Field & Flock Lavender Farm:

Looking for a unique date night idea? Join us on Friday, June 13, 2025 for a special evening. Enjoy the tranquility of the farm at a table for two while sipping a spring inspired mocktail. Indulge in a seasonal graze box of artisanal cheeses, meats and fruit artfully created by Acts of Graze. You’ll also take in the beautiful landscape on a horse drawn wagon ride. Sign up on our website or copy and paste the direct link https://square.link/u/tAEYKyY8

Reservations close at the end of the day Sunday, June 8, so don’t delay!

SUPPORTING WOMEN: Two Woodstown students are fundraising to help women in need. Here is their dispatch and ways to donate:

Hi! We’re She Shelters Foundation; also known as Madison Newton and Colleen Bryceland, two high school students extremely involved in giving to their community and interested in expanding their help towards a variety of women. 

We aim at advocating for aid towards female sexual assault, homelessness, and domestic violence victims. Women who suffer these grueling issues very often do not receive the care and accommodations they need. Women should not need to suffer in silence and should have immediate accessibility to relief and recovery. By raising awareness and money towards help organizations, women will be easier able to receive benefits and support.

We are extremely passionate about helping women in these circumstances. To help victimized women and help us spread our passion, you can donate to Women Against Abuse through us! We would greatly appreciate it, as would so many others!

Donate here: 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/she-shelters-aiding-towards-women-in-need 

SOUND OFF!: The Oakwood Summer Theatre, which features tons of Woodstown and Pilesgrove talent, is raising funds to purchase microphones for their current season of summer shows at Salem Community College. Here is their dispatch:

If you missed your chance to support the children’s show, you still have a chance to support “Murder on the Orient Express” and our main stage musical “GREASE.” Every purchase gets us closer to our goal of having microphones! 

https://popup.doublegood.com/s/7klgx130 

ENTERTAINMENT

CONCERT: Woodstown High School students AND alumni will perform their annual concert, "A NIGHT OF DREAM ROLES," on Monday, June 9, 2025 at 7 p.m. The event features selections from popular and classic Broadway musicals. Suggested donation is $10 adults, $5 for students and seniors. For more information visit www.CurtainCallClub.org.

A scene from PSYCHO BEACH PARTY, presented by the Blue Moon Theatre at the Woodstown Opera House this weekend and next.

THEATRE: The Blue Moon Theatre proudly presents "PSYCHO BEACH PARTY" at the Woodstown Opera House on June 6, 7, 13, 14 at 8 p.m. and June 8 at 2 p.m. The show takes place on the beaches of Malibu, California in 1962. Adult themed humor. BYOB. Click here for tickets.

SPORTS

Woodstown's fastest runners, scoring new records at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. They'll advance to the New Balance Nationals.

RUN WOODSTOWN: Many kudo and congrats go out to Karson Chew, Josh Crawford, Cole Lucas, and Jacob Marino for bringing great pride to WHS in their 5th place finish at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. This outstanding team recorded a new Group I record with a time of 7:54:84. Keep it up and stay motivated, as you head to the New Balance Nationals!!

The Woodstown Athletic Department website, a hub for all things Woodstown High School sports, can be found here.

SCORES

SCHEDULE

WATCH LIVE EVENTS HERE

GOVERNMENT

Woodstown Borough Council and Pilesgrove Twp Committee meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

WEEKEND WEATHER

FRIDAY: Sunny. High of 83F. Low of 65F.

SATURDAY: Evening rain. High of 79F. Low of 65F.

SUNDAY: Late night rain. High of 75F. Low of 64F.

FORECAST: Possible scattered showers throughout the week during the overnight hours, but otherwise a mix of clouds and sun. Temps in the 80sF so don't forget your sunblock.

♦

Woodstown Crier: Where we'll be rooting for our WHS runners at Franklin Field in Philly, we'll be catching some fun in the sun at the Blue Moon, and we'll welcome back our Alumni Monday night for a grand concert. And maybe even catch a steer at the rodeo. 

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Want to share your Woodstown-Pilesgrove news in the Crier Column? Email Jim Cook at WoodstownCrier@gmail.com