MONDAY, AUGUST 04, 2025
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Photo by Brian Pokrzywa
I had the distinct honor of riding in the Independence Day Parade on July 4th on behalf of the Pilesgrove-Woodstown Historical Society in support of Woodstown By Candlelight (our December event!) |
Hear ye, hear ye! O yez, o yez!
GHOST STORIES: The Pilesgrove-Woodstown Historical Society is seeking ghost stories about Woodstown -- especially any that occurred around or near Main Street. These stories will be featured in an upcoming Haunted History walking tour of Woodstown hosted by members of the historical society. Lance Bird, who also hosts history and haunted walking tours in Philadelphia is leading the effort. Send your ghost stories to Lance at lancebird116@gmail.com.
ORGAN: Your Town Crier will be at the organ this Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 at First Baptist Church on South Main Street. Hymns are "Sweet Hour of Prayer," and "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," -- but more importantly, my Dad, Jim Cook Sr., is leading the hymn singing!
JULY: Accept my sincerest apologies for not posting in July. This year has been busy, and July was a bit of a respite. I took the month off. But, we're back at it! The highlight of the July, for me at least, was the honor of riding in our July 4th Independence Day Parade on behalf of the Pilesgrove-Woodstown Historical Society. I was joined by Trudy Spence-Parker (the phenomenal organizer of Woodstown By Candlelight), her husband Steve who kindly drove the sports car I sat atop (a silver convertible courtesy Tim Reilly). But, most notably, I was joined by the legend himself, SANTA CLAUS!! Yes, it was Christmas in July for us (and the weather cooperated this year!). It was a great honor to celebrate July 4th and our community's spirit. I will never forget the hyper kinetic energy of the thousands of onlookers cheering their hearts out every time I rang my bell. It was inspiring and humbling. Here are a few special moments:
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Town Crier and Santa Claus flank Trudy Spence-Parker who's busy getting Woodstown ready for Woodstown by Candlelight this December!
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| Town Crier, Steve Parker (in the vehicle) and Santa Claus! |
: The Salem County Fair is in full swing! The annual gathering will be held Monday Aug. 4 - Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Parking is $20 for all five days (or $10 per day). Of note, the Fireworks will be held at 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7. (rain date is same time Friday, Aug. 8). The fair begins at 5 p.m. on Monday and continues Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Here's a map of the Fair Grounds:
BACK TO SCHOOL: Is it really that time already? Heck no! It's summer! But looking ahead, the school district is hosting the annual Back to School Block Party on Tuesday, Aug. 19 from 5 p.m .to 6 p.m. at the Shoemaker School Activity Fields on Millbrooke Ave. Families are invited for a night of food, games, music, presentations, and the first Woodstown High School Football Scrimmage of the year after the event.
ENTERTAINMENT
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| Ben Tatam of Woodstown stars at Danny Zuko in GREASE at Oakwood Summer Theatre this weekend and next, Fridays and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 |
THEATRE: The Oakwood Summer Theatre proudly presents "GREASE" Aug. 8, 9, 15, 16 at 7 p.m. and a matinee on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. All performances are at Davidow Hall, Salem Community College. The show features many Woodstown performers! Click here to buy tickets. Tickets are also available at the door for $10.
CREEKSIDE: Live music by Acoustic Soul at Creekside Inn on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Buffet is open for $45/person, reservations highly recommended. No ticket required. Regular menu also available.
BLUEGRASS: The 53rd annual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival will be held in Woodstown at the Fair Grounds over Labor day weekend, Aug. 29 - 31. Click here for more information.
WEIRD NEWS
PEACHES: Who stole Brian Foote's peaches? Look, it's one thing to snag a peach off a tree (which is still wrong), but to steal every single peach off his tree is downright criminal. Foote wrote in Woodstown/Pilesgrove Rants and Raves:
To the person who thought it was ok to come into our yard and pick all of the peaches off of our tree. You should have looked around for cameras. Bring them all back and all will be forgiven.
The post has elicited some interesting comments:
When we first moved we had someone just ride their 4-wheeler up on our property and helped themselves. Broad daylight. So sadly doesn’t shock me. No consideration for anyone property! (Anonymous)
We used to have a peach tree and the groundhogs that live under our shed climbed the tree and ate them all (we saw them trying to climb the tree and are 100% sure they got the fruit overnight) (Christine Heck Nowmos)
My uncle caught people stealing peach’s out of his orchard, they insisted they weren’t stealing and said they were going to by them. When he charged them $100 each they refused and he told fine put them back the way you found them. (Jay Hoffman)
PAINTINGS: In even stranger news, I picked up a new little hobby last week: painting. I've been taking an online class called "Modern Art & Idea" through the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and was inspired to pick up drawing and painting, something in which I've never had ANY talent! But, it's been fun! We'll see what I cook up next. Here are the paintings I made over the weekend:
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"The Swing Set"
Based on the swing set in my parents' backyard at my siblings and I grew up playing on and now our little nephew enjoys.
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"Summer Flowers"
Based on the view of our garage from the house, and a look at my mother's fabulous summer flower garden. Notice, though now out of season, I put our Prom Rhododendron in bloom. We use the name Prom because it's only ever in season for one week, which usually falls on the weekend of Woodstown High's prom -- making for great photos over the years. |
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"Christmas Eve"
I wanted to capture the eerie, breezy vibe of the evening Christmas Eve candlelight service at my church. I play organ there, and I'll be at the organ again this Christmas Eve, both evening and midnight services. |
FOOTBALL: First Scrimmage on Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. at the WHS Football fields.
The Woodstown Athletic Department website, a hub for all things Woodstown High School sports, can be found here. SCHEDULE
WATCH LIVE EVENTS HERE
Woodstown Borough Council and Pilesgrove Twp Committee meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.
FRIDAY: Sunny. High of 81F. Low of 63F.
SATURDAY: Sunny. High of 84F. Low of 62F.
SUNDAY: Late night rain. High of 85F. Low of 65F.
FORECAST: I'll say it: July was awful! Tsunamis of storms and unbearably scorching heat marred the weather for the month. But, like a moment from Camelot, everything changed on the first day of August, and we're enjoying the warm breezes and easy sun shine. Temperatures are expected to stay in the mid to low 80s for the weekend, hotter next week with a chance of showers.
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Woodstown Crier: Where a beautiful and temperate August follows a scorching July, just in time for the cows and sheep and horses and funnel cakes and sodas and Lapps BBQ and tractor pull and fireworks at our Salem County Fair. See you there! (and break-a-leg, Oakwood!)
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Want to share your Woodstown-Pilesgrove news in the Crier Column? Email Jim Cook at WoodstownCrier@gmail.com
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