Crier Column 5/31: WHS Student-Alumni Dream Concert; Charlotte's Web opens Friday; WHS victory at Salem-Cumberland Golf Tournament

FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2024

The 25th Annual Woodstown High School Chamber Choir last Tuesday, May 28, 2024, featured senior soloists Jessie Bittle, Sam Gunther, and Natalee Basile, and guest soloist Emmanuel Acosta. (Photos courtesy Mrs. Tatum)

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

I had the distinct pleasure of seeing the 25th Annual Woodstown High School Chamber Choir Recital — the choral program's most prestigious evening — on Tuesday night, and the performances were nothing short of extraordinary. 

The choir sang beautifully, the senior soloists received plentiful ovations, guest tenor soloist Emmanuel Acosta sang two fantastic selections (Una Furtiva Lagrima and Bring Him Home from Les Miserables), and we all witnessed the final, phenomenal performance of the student-led ensemble WOODTONES. At the end of the evening, the choir and some alumni sang "One Day More" with guest artist Acosta. 

The finale — a Chamber Choir tradition — was a performance of "Jenny Rebecca" by the Chamber Choir, guest artist, and Chamber Choir Alumni. This is one of the most exciting, engaging, and entertaining nights of the year. Congratulations to Director Kahlil Gunther on this 25th anniversary milestone and for leading a tremendous and talented choir.

COMMUNITY

ARTISTS HONORED: A dispatch from Woodstown Schools: 

Congratulations to the following Woodstown High School students for their winning submissions to the Mannington Mills Art is Cool Contest! 🎉 The reception took place last night at Mannington Mills for High School students in Salem County. First place students received a $100 visa gift card and second place students received a $50 visa gift card.  

 

🧡 9th:  Phenix Storms (1st) & Shea Mc Garry (2nd)

💙 10th:  Kevin Zarin (1st) & Kami Casiano (2nd)

🧡 11th:  Amber Chen (1st) Jake Ware (2nd)

💙 12th:  Kayleigh Leyman (1st) & Morgan Sutton (2nd)

♦ 

SACC: The Woodstown SACC Program is seeking items for its summer program. Anyone willing to donate items listed below, contact Loraine LaPalomento:

WISHLIST: basketballs, soccer balls, kick balls, hula hoops pool noodles, parachute, plastic baby pools, car wash sponges, cones, 5 gallon buckets,  fishing poles, tackle box with supplies, golf putters, foam golf balls, Games [connect 4, mancala, UNO],  marble works, playdoh, embroidery, coloring books, clipboards, construction paper, scissors, paint brushes, tempura paint, paper plates, colored pencils, markers, crayon boxes.

•

FREEDOM RUNNERS: The annual 4th of July Firecracker 5K (for adults) and Sparkler Run (for kids) will take place on July 4 and begin at the Salem County Fairgrounds and will start promptly at 8 a.m. prior to the 10 a.m. parade. Sign up here.

•

CAR SHOW: Street Rollers Cruise Night, every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., starting April 2 and running until October 1. Hosted at Wood Lanes Bowling Alley.

•

CHURCH : Dispatches from St John’s Episcopal Church in Salem

• June 30, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. we will celebrate the Feast of St John’ the Baptist, our patron saint.  We invite you to come and join us for Holy Communion weekly at 8 a.m., 10:30 am on Sunday and at 12 noon on Wednesday.  

ENTERTAINMENT

Original artwork for "CHARLOTTE'S WEB" created by Sam Williams, who also plays Wilbur the Pig. Sam is a multi-talented artist and his performance is wonderful in this show. Don't miss it!!

THEATRE: CHARLOTTE'S WEB opens next weekend! Performances are at the Blue Moon Theatre (Opera House) on June 7, 8, 14, 15 at 7 p.m. and June 16 at 2 p.m. Click here for tickets. Great for kids! The show runs approximately 90 minutes with one intermission.

♦

WHS Alumni and Student will entertain audiences on Wednesday, June 5 at 7 p.m. for "Something's Coming: A Night of Dream Rolesnull" now in its third year!

DREAM CONCERT: Woodstown High School, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and The Curtain Call Club will host "SOMETHING'S COMING: A NIGHT OF DREAM ROLES," organized by WHS Senior Jessie Bittle. This concert will feature both students and alumni performing selections from some of their favorite musicals. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students/seniors available at the door. The event is Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 7 p.m. in the Woodstown High School auditorium. Read more about it here. Read more about it here!

♦

MYSTICS AND BREWS: Join Psychic Medium Kimara for a night of mediumship. Connect with loved ones who've crossed over and hear their amazing messages. Tickets are $30. Event is June 2, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. For tickets, call or text Nicole at 609-922-4111.

SPORTS

Jacob Schermerhorn and Jeffrey Covely brought great pride to Woodstown by both shooting 75 in a victory at the Salem-Cumberland County Golf Tournament on May 21, 2024.

GOLF CHAMPIONS: The Boys Golf team won the Salem-Cumberland County Tournament at Centerton with a total score of 150. Jacob Schermerhorn and Jeffrey Covely both shot 75 in the victory. Schermerhorn and Covley, along with Ryan Johnson from Schalick competed in a three-way tie on two playoff holes, where Schermerhorn shot back-to-back pars to seal the individual victory. Covely and Johnson finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively. — from Wolverine Athletics

Congrats fellas and thanks for making Woodstown on the links!

•

The Woodstown Athletic Department released its new website, a hub for all things Woodstown High School sports. It 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.

WEATHER

FRIDAY: Sunny. High of 77F, low of 51F.

SATURDAY: Sunny. High of 82F, low of 52F.

SUNDAY: Clouds. High of 80F, low of 58F.

Forecast: 50 percent chance of rain on Monday and Thursday. Clouds and sun the remainder of the week with temperatures in the 80s and upper 70s. Mid-70s next weekend.

Woodstown Crier: Where I saw a lightning bug earlier this week. Soon, Woodstown and Pilesgrove will be a conflagration of little green Gatsbyian lights, welcoming summer and parties and fun.

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

Crier Column 5/24: Happy Memorial Day! WHS Chamber Choir celebrates 25th Anniversary; WHS wins big at Salem County Track Championships

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2024

The American Flag raised at a 2012 memorial ceremony honoring the life of Cpl. Derek Kerns (USMC) of Woodstown. (Photo from South Jersey Times, NJ.com)

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

Happy Memorial Day! 

This is a time where we get together with family and friends to enjoy the start of summer, but it's also a time to reflect on those heroes who gave their lives in service to this great country so we can have this holiday and the freedoms we treasure. We never forget their sacrifice. 

COMMUNITY

MEMORIAL DAY: Woodstown will host its annual MEMORIAL DAY COMMEMORATION at Memorial Lake on Monday, May 27, 2024 at 10 a.m.

If there is inclement weather, the event will be moved to Asbury United Methodist Church at 149 S. Main St. A decision will be made early Monday morning by Mr. Glenn Merkle. 

As of this update (Friday, 3 p.m.), forecast says the rain should hold off until the evening *fingers crossed*

♦

SACC: The Woodstown SACC Program is seeking items for its summer program. Anyone willing to donate items listed below, contact Loraine LaPalomento:

WISHLIST: basketballs, soccer balls, kick balls, hula hoops pool noodles, parachute, plastic baby pools, car wash sponges, cones, 5 gallon buckets,  fishing poles, tackle box with supplies, golf putters, foam golf balls, Games [connect 4, mancala, UNO],  marble works, playdoh, embroidery, coloring books, clipboards, construction paper, scissors, paint brushes, tempura paint, paper plates, colored pencils, markers, crayon boxes.

•

FREEDOM RUNNERS: The annual 4th of July Firecracker 5K (for adults) and Sparkler Run (for kids) will take place on July 4 and begin at the Salem County Fairgrounds and will start promptly at 8 a.m. prior to the 10 a.m. parade. Sign up here.

•

CAR SHOW: Street Rollers Cruise Night, every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., starting April 2 and running until October 1. Hosted at Wood Lanes Bowling Alley.

•

CHURCH : Dispatches from St John’s Episcopal Church in Salem

• June 30, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. we will celebrate the Feast of St John’ the Baptist, our patron saint.  We invite you to come and join us for Holy Communion weekly at 8 a.m., 10:30 am on Sunday and at 12 noon on Wednesday.  

ENTERTAINMENT

CONCERT: The Woodstown High School Chamber Choir will host its 25th Annual Recital on Tuesday, May 28 at 7 p.m. This event features solos and duets by WHS seniors, music from the Chamber Choir, and guest performances by Emmanuel Acosta, a lyrical tenor and professional opera singer and vocal coach from Princeton. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 students and seniors. Here is the flyer below:

♦

THEATRE: CHARLOTTE'S WEB is one month away! Performances are at the Blue Moon Theatre (Opera House) on June 7, 8, 14, 15 at 7 p.m. and June 16 at 2 p.m. Click here for tickets. Great for kids! The show runs approximately 90 minutes with one intermission.

SPORTS

On Wednesday, May 8, 2024 the WHS Boys and Girls Track teams participated in the 2024 Salem County Track and Field Championships.

COUNTY CHAMPIONS: On Wednesday, May 8, 2024 the WHS Boys and Girls Track teams participated in the 2024 Salem County Track and Field Championships.  Below are highlights for both the teams.  Full results from the even can be viewed by clicking here.

Salem County Championships

Boys

Cole Lucas - 1st place 800m & 1600m

Tyler Dolby - 1st place High Jump

Jacob Marino - 1st place 3200m; 2nd 1600m

Joshua Crawford - 2nd place 400m & 800m

Karson Chew - 3rd place 800m

Aidan Taulane - 3rd Shot Put

Bryce Ayars, Joshua Crawford, Cole Lucas, Kyle Reitz - 2nd place 4x400m

Girls

Kami Casiano - 1st place High Jump

Calista Hunt - 2nd place Triple Jump

Abigail Melle - 2nd place Long Jump

Lillian Norman - 2nd place 1600m; 3rd place 800m & 3200m

•

The Woodstown Athletic Department released its new website, a hub for all things Woodstown High School sports. It 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.

WEATHER

FRIDAY: Sunny. High of 83F, low of 64F.

SATURDAY: Sun and clouds. High of 84F, low of 61F.

SUNDAY: Sun and clouds. High of 84F, low of 63F.

Forecast: Clouds on Memorial Day with thunderstorms and rain at night (65% chance). High of 80F. Low of 63F. Mostly sunny the rest of the week with temps in gradually decreasing in the 70s. This will be the first weekend since March without rain. Let's keep it that way for our sake and the business owners down the shore!

Woodstown Crier: Where we remember Woodstown's SPC Richie Emmons (US Army) and CPL Derek Kerns (USMC) and the many others.

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

Crier Column 5/17: WHS singers accepted to All-State Choir; WHS athletes sign to college/unis; Pub Off Main opens Friday; Arielle Egan in concert for Music at Friends

 FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024 

Danielle Hannah, Elizabeth Hitchner, Brianna Iocona, Virginia Messick, and Cameron Tatum will represent Woodstown High School in the 2024-2025 academic year at the prestigious New Jersey All State Chorus.

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

Woodstown will be well-represented next academic year in the New Jersey All State Chorus thanks to the outstanding talent of five great local singers.

Danielle Hannah, Elizabeth Hitchner, Brianna Iocona, Virginia Messick, and Cameron Tatum were selected after auditions to perform in one of the most prestigious and exclusive choirs in the United States. 

Congratulations to them and congrats to Kahlil Gunther, director of choral studies at Woodstown High School, for his great work preparing our students to receive such an honor!

GREAT NEWS

• The old Theo's Tavern at the Woodstown Diner, now renamed "Woodstown Pub Off Main" (under new leadership) will open to the public on Friday, May 17 at 4 p.m. Looks like a great place for a brew or cocktail! You Town Crier may make an appearance!

COMMUNITY

CONCERT: Musical Theater Through the Ages, featuring Arielle Egan, soprano with pianist Tyler Daddario will be this Sunday, May 19 at 4 p.m. Admission is free, donations accepted.

From Facebook:

Join Arielle and pianist Tyler Daddario as they delve into the world of Broadway style, composition, and influence. From Broadway’s origins to shows that have opened in the last 15 years, hear the music you love ... and will love to discover ... as Tyler and Arielle connect the dots in between.

Featuring songs from Meredith Willson, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim, and more, this evening of performance and discussion is not to be missed!

•

FREEDOM RUNNERS: The annual 4th of July Firecracker 5K (for adults) and Sparkler Run (for kids) will take place on July 4 and begin at the Salem County Fairgrounds and will start promptly at 8 a.m. prior to the 10 a.m. parade. Sign up here.

•

CAR SHOW: Street Rollers Cruise Night, every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., starting April 2 and running until October 1. Hosted at Wood Lanes Bowling Alley.

•

CHURCH : Dispatches from St John’s Episcopal Church in Salem

• June 30, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. we will celebrate the Feast of St John’ the Baptist, our patron saint.  We invite you to come and join us for Holy Communion weekly at 8 a.m., 10:30 am on Sunday and at 12 noon on Wednesday.  

ENTERTAINMENT

COMEDY: Open Mic Night on Sunday, May 19 at 7 p.m. at the Blue Moon Theatre. Tickets here.

•

THEATRE: CHARLOTTE'S WEB is one month away! Performances are at the Blue Moon Theatre (Opera House) on June 7, 8, 14, 15 at 7 p.m. and June 16 at 2 p.m. Click here for tickets. Great for kids! The show runs approximately 90 minutes with one intermission.

SPORTS

Front Row (Left to Right): Taylor Sparks-Wilkes University-Soccer, Allie Huck-Stevenson University-Lacrosse, Emma Stuart-West Chester University-Dance, Taylor Prendergast-Rowan University-Field Hockey. Back Row (Left to Right): Max Webb-Misericordia University-Football, Jack Knorr- Kutztown University-Football, James Hill-Kutztown University-Football, Mr. Ursino-WHS Athletic Director.

SPRING SIGNING: Seven Woodstown student athletes will be representing the Wolverines at many colleges and universities in the fall 2024. See the photo above for their names, sports, and schools. 

•

NEW RECORDS: Congrats to Andrew Pedrick and Zach Bevis. They've joined their sport's respective 100 clubs — Pedrick for his 100th hit in Varsity Baseball, and Bevis for his 100th goal in Varsity Lacrosse. Congrats, gentlemen!

Also, congratulations to Tulana Mingin for hitting her 132nd career hit in Varsity Softball, setting a new career record for Woodstown! You go, Tulana!!

•

The Woodstown Athletic Department released its new website, a hub for all things Woodstown High School sports. It 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.

WEATHER

FRIDAY: Clouds. High of 72F, low of 57F.

SATURDAY: Rain (65%) in the morning and early afternoon. High of 65F. Low of 55F

SUNDAY: Clouds. High of 72F. Low of 53F.

Forecast: Here we go again. This whole @#$%& month it's been the same story: Sunny and warm on weekdays. Rainy and cold on weekends. Next week is all sun, with temps starting in the 70s and creeping up to the 80s by Friday. You won't believe what's going to happen next Saturday — rain ... and temps dips 20 degrees back to the 60s.

Woodstown Crier: Where if you're a student artist or student athlete, Woodstown has no shortage of talent, motivation, and Wolverine pride!

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

Crier Column 5/10: Happy Mother's Day! FFA plants community garden; Unplugged Lights at Creekside; WHS musicians host Night Music; April Athletes honored

 FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024 

Mom and I at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, exactly nine years ago this week. I was graduating from a Technical School there while in the United States Army and she flew out to be at the graduation. Happy Mother's Day!

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

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers out there. I am blessed to have the best of the best. If you went to Woodstown Family Practice in the past two decades, you'll remember my mom, Nurse Maria Cook. If you were a child, you'd remember her as "da shot wady!" (as I've heard a few tots called her to their mothers). If you're one of my siblings, you know her as the best Mom on the planet.

Love you, Mom, and Happy Mother's Day!!!

GREAT NEWS:

Tickets are now on sale for CHARLOTTE'S WEB at the Blue Moon Theatre (Woodstown Opera House). Performances are June 7-16, 2024. I'm directing this one, and we've got some of Woodstown & Pilesgrove's best talent on our stage. Tickets in the ENTERTAINMENT section of this column.

OVERHEARD IN PILESGROVE:

• Attend the Pilesgrove Township Committee meeting this Tuesday night. There's good news.

OVERHEARD IN *NEW YORK CITY* LAST WEEKEND:

• A producer may be scouting out Woodstown as a location to film a T.V. pilot. 

COMMUNITY

WREATHS: The Squirrel's Nest Art Studio and Elegantly Loraine are hosting a workshop for making floral wreaths for Mother's Day. No experience necessary. Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. $45 per person with all supplies included. Pay in store or Venmo @Jennifer-Carll-Simon ... visit www.elegantlyloraine.com

Just a reminder ... Mother's day this year is Sunday, May 12 this year. Don't forget!

• 

FARMERS: A dispatch from Woodstown's Future Farmers of America (FFA):

Our students have been hard at work over the past week to refresh and plant our community garden space and we are excited to offer the space to the community! 

It is our sincerest desire that the community will find pride in the garden space and enjoy its rewards. See our flyer for details:

•

FREEDOM RUNNERS: The annual 4th of July Firecracker 5K (for adults) and Sparkler Run (for kids) will take place on July 4 and begin at the Salem County Fairgrounds and will start promptly at 8 a.m. prior to the 10 a.m. parade. Sign up here.

•

CAR SHOW: Street Rollers Cruise Night, every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., starting April 2 and running until October 1. Hosted at Wood Lanes Bowling Alley.

•

CHURCH : Dispatches from St John’s Episcopal Church in Salem

• June 30, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. we will celebrate the Feast of St John’ the Baptist, our patron saint.  We invite you to come and join us for Holy Communion weekly at 8 a.m., 10:30 am on Sunday and at 12 noon on Wednesday.  

ENTERTAINMENT

MUSIC: The Woodstown High School Chamber Choir and Varsity Blues Jazz Band will host a small ensembles concert on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. in the WHS auditorium. Admission is free (donations accepted). Small ensembles include: The WOOD-TONES, Saxophone Ensemble, Saxophone Duet, Clarinet Choir

•

CONCERT: Music by Unplugged Lights, the duo Paul Kranz and Maggie DiPalma will be playing at Creekside Inn on Friday, May 10 from 6 - 9 p.m. Best music in town! Get your reservation in advance!

•

THEATRE: CHARLOTTE'S WEB is one month away! Performances are at the Blue Moon Theatre (Opera House) on June 7, 8, 14, 15 at 7 p.m. and June 16 at 2 p.m. Click here for tickets. Great for kids! The show runs approximately 90 minutes with one intermission.

SPORTS

Woodstown High School Wolverine Athletes of the Month for April 2024

ATHLETES: Congrats the following Woodstown students for being named Athletes of the Month for April! They are:

Top row, left to right: Allie Huck (Lacrosse), Lillian Norman (Spring Track), Andrew Stengel (Tennis). 

Bottom row left to right: Jacob Schermerhorn (Golf), Joshua Crawford (Spring Track), Kayla Brown (Softball), Brent Williams (Baseball).

•

The Woodstown Athletic Department released its new website, a hub for all things Woodstown High School sports. It 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.

WEATHER

FRIDAY: Rain. High of 58F. Low of 48F.

SATURDAY: Sun and clouds. High of 64F. Low of 44F.

SUNDAY: Rain (55%). High of 58F. Low of 47F.

Forecast: Cloudy all next week with rain on Tuesday. Temps in the 70Fs, then dip back down to the 60Fs for another cloudy, rainy weekend. Right on schedule. We have beautiful weather during the week and we have weird, cloudy, rainy weekends as of late. 

Woodstown Crier: Where we all owe it to our mothers on Sunday and everyday. If your mother is no longer here, reflect on the words of President Abraham Lincoln: "All that I am, or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel: Mother." 

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

Crier Column 5/3: WHS Communications Academy honored; TO THE STARS concert this Sunday; Charlotte's Web cast announced; Yard Sales all over town

  Friday, May 03, 2024

The Woodstown High School Communications Academy was featured on the front page of the May issue of NJEA Review.

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

Catch me on the organ at First Baptist Church in Woodstown this Sunday. Hymns are "Revive Us, Again," "Blessed Assurance" and the Doxology. Rev. Tim Joyce is at the pulpit for communion Sunday and Lance Bird is leading the band. 

GREAT NEWS:

The front page of NJEA Review, featuring the WHS Communication's Academy.

Woodstown High School's Communications Academy was featured on the front page of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) Magazine. The publication also featured a fantastic report about the Communications Academy and all the great things they're doing. Click here to read it. 

Some of my favorite times at Woodstown High were producing "A.M. Woodstown" a closed-circuit show that ran during the 1990s into the 2010s. The program has evolved by leaps and bounds since then and it's wonderful to see all the progress that's been made and the students who are learning critical skills that will benefit them in the future.

OVERHEARD:

• Gary Lincoln is returning home to Woodstown and he's brining his pizza with him. 

• A new bar is opening where the old Theo's Tavern used to be (in the diner). Your Town Crier may be making an appearance at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

COMMUNITY

SATURDAY YARDSALES: A dispatch from Woodstown Mayor Joe Hiles:

Woodstown Spring Community Yard Sale Day is the First Saturday Day in May. 🌹Woodstown Mayor Joe Hiles & Borough Council added a Summer Community Yard Sale Day for the First Saturday August. 🌞

There is no rain date, there is no list of participating address, there is no need for a yard sale permit on these two days.

Other than Community Yard Sale Days a $5 permit is required and only authorized yard sale signs may be used. Permits and signs may be obtained at Woodstown Borough Hall.

• 

TRAFFIC: From Mayor Hiles: "RE Pierson Construction will begin a construction project on Marlton Road from North Main Street to McCoubrie Street. The project will involve reducing Marlton Road to one lane of travel while they mill, repave, and install curbing. Dates: 5/3/2024-5/24/2024"

•

CHURCH SALE: The annual Church Yard Sale at First Baptist Church of Woodstown is this Saturday, May 4, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

•

WREATHS: The Squirrel's Nest Art Studio and Elegantly Loraine are hosting a workshop for making floral wreaths for Mother's Day. No experience necessary. Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. $45 per person with all supplies included. Pay in store or Venmo @Jennifer-Carll-Simon ... visit www.elegantlyloraine.com

Just a reminder ... Mother's day this year is Sunday, May 12 this year. Don't forget!

• 

FREEDOM RUNNERS: The annual 4th of July Firecracker 5K (for adults) and Sparkler Run (for kids) will take place on July 4 and begin at the Salem County Fairgrounds and will start promptly at 8 a.m. prior to the 10 a.m. parade. Sign up here.

•

CAR SHOW: Street Rollers Cruise Night, every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., starting April 2 and running until October 1. Hosted at Wood Lanes Bowling Alley.

•

CHURCH : Two dispatches from St John’s Episcopal Church in Salem

• May 5, 2024 at 4 p.m. we will have an Evensong Service.  Evensong is an adaptation of daily evening prayer which is observed through out the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church World wide, and is an ancient tradition which transcends time and distance. For more information you can visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsSalemNJ/

• June 30, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. we will celebrate the Feast of St John’ the Baptist, our patron saint.  We invite you to come and join us for Holy Communion weekly at 8 a.m., 10:30 am on Sunday and at 12 noon on Wednesday.  

ENTERTAINMENT

Woodstown Middle School hosted its annual spring concert featuring outstanding performances by the Woodstown Middle School Choirs and Bands. Paula Gorman (above) directed the choirs and Shannon Sheridan (below) directed the bands. 

•

CONCERT: THIS SUNDAY! The Woodstown High School Chamber Choir will be guest starring at the "TO THE STARS" concert hosted by the Salem Community College Oak Singers. The event will also feature new compositions by Woodstown musician Jeffery Nowmos. The concert is directed by Kahlil V. Gunther. It will be held this Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 3 p.m. at Davidow Hall at Salem Community College. 460 Hollywood Avenue, Carneys Point. Free admission.

•

THEATRE: This week, I finished staging the first act of "Charlotte's Web" at the Blue Moon Theatre (Woodstown Opera House). We have a tremendous cast stacked with some of the region's best talent from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. And the show is led by many of Woodstown's finest actors. It's going to be a great show! Here is the cast below:

E.B. White/Lurvy - Alair Diremigio
Wilbur - Sam Williams
Charlotte - Hannah Lee DeFrates
Fern Arable - Cadence Laning
Martha Arable - Ariel Johnson
Avery Arable - Joseph DiBella
Homer Zuckerman - Jon Laning
Edith Zuckerman - Lori Thompson
John Arable - Jim Cook Jr.
Templeton - Brady Thompson
Goose - Donna Laning
Gander - Charlie Lai
Sheep - Crit Olmos
Lamb - Sophia Shipman
Announcer/Uncle/Reporter-Photographer - Gabriel Vereen

Performances are June 7, 8, 14, 15 at 8 p.m. and June 16 at 2 p.m. Link for tickets will be posted soon.

SPORTS

BASEBALL: Congrats to Brent Williams on his 100th career hit in Woodie Ball! His achievement occurred Tuesday, April 23, 2024 in a 14-2 win over Penns Grove High School.

•

SOFTBALL: Congrats to Kayla Brown! On Friday, April 19, 2024, Kayla Brown pitched a perfect game in the Varsity Softball Team’s 13-0 win over Wildwood. Kayla struck out 13 of the 15 hitters she faced.

•

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

SCORES

SCHEDULE

WATCH LIVE EVENTS HERE

GOVERNMENT

BOE: Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District will host a special Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 7 at 6 p.m. Location: William Roper School at 211 East Lake Rd. in Pilesgrove.

•

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

WEATHER

FRIDAY: Clouds. High of 70F. Low of 51F.

SATURDAY: Rain (40%). High of 64F. Low of 48F.

SUNDAY: Rain (80%). High of 80F. Low of 48F.

Forecast: Cloudy all next week with rain on Tuesday. Temps in the 70Fs. Wednesday at high of 82F. Temps back down to the 60s with rain next weekend. Ugh.

Woodstown Crier: Where we all need to relax and drive slow this weekend for the yard sales.

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

Crier Column 4/25: Arsenic, a hit! 5th grade back to WMS; Yard Sale at Fairgrounds; Williams bats 100, Brown is pitch perfect in Woodie Ball

 Friday, April 26, 2024

Brent Williams, left, scored his 100th career hit on the Woodstown Varsity Baseball team, and Kayla Brown pitched a perfect game last week. Go Wolverines!!

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

Hope we're all ready to put April behind us and welcome May — it's going to be a hot one!

GREAT NEWS:

THEATRE: Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending "ARSENIC AND OLD LACE" at the Blue Moon Theatre (Woodstown Opera House). It was hilarious! Mike Russell directs an outstanding cast featuring plenty of great local talent including Ricky Thompson, Brady Thompson, Sam Williams, and Woodstown High School's long-time drama director Paul Kranz, making his long-awaited return to the stage as a Teddy Roosevelt-type character — I won't give anything away. 

Go see it this weekend: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. I'll be there Saturday with the family.

I saw the show with friends/fellow-actors Aimee Ferenz and Nick Renna. Ferenz wrote a glowing review for South Jersey Theatre Critic. Click here to read it.

LOCAL INTEREST:

WAREHOUSES: I posted a follow-up report on the state of zoning laws in N.J. municipalities and how it affects the rapid rise of warehouse development across the Garden State. Click here to read it.

COMMUNITY

MIDDLE SCHOOL: According to a post on the WPR School District website, some new changes are coming to the school district, most notably, fifth graders will be moved back to Woodstown Middle School. Parents and residents can attend the Board of Education meeting on Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Woodstown High School Auditorium. This is all according to their "If, Then" plan, posted to the district website. Here it is below:

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YARDSALE: Salem County's largest community yard sale will be held Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Salem County Fairgrounds, 735 Rt. 40 in Pilesgrove. (Sunday, rain date). All proceeds benefit the Salem County 4th of July festival & fireworks (which will also be held at the fairgrounds this year). More info click here.

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YARDSALE 2: A dispatch from Woodstown Mayor Joe Hiles:

Woodstown Spring Community Yard Sale Day is the First Saturday Day in May. 🌹Woodstown Mayor Joe Hiles & Borough Council added a Summer Community Yard Sale Day for the First Saturday August. 🌞

There is no rain date, there is no list of participating address, there is no need for a yard sale permit on these two days.

Other than Community Yard Sale Days a $5 permit is required and only authorized yard sale signs may be used. Permits and signs may be obtained at Woodstown Borough Hall.

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TRAFFIC: From Mayor Hiles: "Over the next week (weather permitting) Woodstown will be replacing portions of the the water main on Marlton Rd. This is bring done in preparation with Salem County's repaving work. This partnership & cooperation makes sense and saves taxpayers dollars. Expect lane closures & minor delays."

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WREATHS: The Squirrel's Nest Art Studio and Elegantly Loraine are hosting a workshop for making floral wreaths for Mother's Day. No experience necessary. Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. $45 per person with all supplies included. Pay in store or Venmo @Jennifer-Carll-Simon ... visit www.elegantlyloraine.com

Just a reminder ... Mother's day this year is Sunday, May 12 this year. Don't forget!

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FREEDOM RUNNERS: The annual 4th of July Firecracker 5K (for adults) and Sparkler Run (for kids) will take place on July 4 and begin at the Salem County Fairgrounds and will start promptly at 8 a.m. prior to the 10 a.m. parade. Sign up here.

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CAR SHOW: Street Rollers Cruise Night, every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., starting April 2 and running until October 1. Hosted at Wood Lanes Bowling Alley.

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CHURCH : Two dispatches from St John’s Episcopal Church in Salem

• May 5, 2024 at 4 p.m. we will have an Evensong Service.  Evensong is an adaptation of daily evening prayer which is observed through out the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church World wide, and is an ancient tradition which transcends time and distance. For more information you can visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsSalemNJ/

• June 30, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. we will celebrate the Feast of St John’ the Baptist, our patron saint.  We invite you to come and join us for Holy Communion weekly at 8 a.m., 10:30 am on Sunday and at 12 noon on Wednesday.  

ENTERTAINMENT

A scene from ARSENIC & OLD LACE at the Blue Moon Theatre, this weekend, Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets below.

OPERA HOUSE: "ARSENIC AND OLD LACE" at the Blue Moon Theatre. April 26, 27 at 8 p.m., April 28 at 2 p.m. A lot of great Woodstown talent in this one — Paul Kranz, Sammi Williams, Rick Thompson, Brady Thompson. Directed by Mike Russell. Tickets here.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL: Congrats to the cast and crew of Woodstown Middle School's "SNOW WHITE MUSICAPALOOZA." This was AngelaRae Hughes' first time as director for the middle school and she did an outstanding job with the students. The cast was stacked with talent and they put on a phenomenal show!

SPORTS

BASEBALL: Congrats to Brent Williams on his 100th career hit in Woodie Ball! His achievement occurred Tuesday, April 23, 2024 in a 14-2 win over Penns Grove High School.

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SOFTBALL: Congrats to Kayla Brown! On Friday, April 19, 2024, Kayla Brown pitched a perfect game in the Varsity Softball Team’s 13-0 win over Wildwood. Kayla struck out 13 of the 15 hitters she faced.

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The Woodstown Athletic Department released its new website, a hub for all things Woodstown High School sports. It 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.

WEATHER

FRIDAY: Clouds. High of 64F. Low of 36F.

SATURDAY: Clouds and sun. High of 63F. Low of 38F.

SUNDAY: Clouds and sun. High of 80F. Low of 48F.

Forecast: Hot and sunny all week with temperatures starting in the upper 80s. Rain and 70F on Thursday. Back to the high 60s next weekend.

Woodstown Crier: Where we welcome the start of May this week, so put on that sunscreen because it's going to be a scorcher.

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

Who or what is to blame for the Pilesgrove warehouses? It's complicated

The Erdner Warehouse — a vestige of the past with its inspirational quotes leading into Woodstown. The Pilesgrove Warehouses are an example of an ever-growing issue plaguing the Garden State — they comply with zoning ordinances that were written long before the sprawl of warehouses.

PILESGROVE — Last week, I shared some strongly worded reflections about the recent groundbreaking of the Pilesgrove warehouses where the sod farms used to be on Route 45. I need to clarify my position.

First and foremost, what I wrote was entirely my opinion. I post news here, and though what I was writing about was "news" in the sense that it happened (the warehouses are being built), I wrote about it through the lens of my own anger about what's to come because of the warehouses. 

To be fair, however, I took some shots at our elected officials. Though I don't feel they are immune from criticism or accountability as public figures and elected officials — there are a few things that need to be clarified. (*Also, a disclaimer, that since I was discussing politics, absolutely nothing I wrote was meant to have been taken or should have been taken personally.)

According to Carey Marie Italiano, a Pilesgrove resident with a background in law and business administration, the township committee was essentially out of options.

"It is illegal for Pilesgrove to say a commercial contractor cannot build a commercial structure on their commercial property," Italiano wrote in a Facebook post responding to my comments about the warehouses. "[T]he warehouse developers asked for a Pilot program to be in place and Pilesgrove said 'Nah!'"

I wrote that Pilesgrove officials "sold out" the township to warehouse developers, and that's where I was incorrect — I regret the error and I take it back, because Italiano is right. It's more complicated than that.

According to one example cited in a report from The Press of Atlantic City, Pittsgrove township residents rallied against a proposed 962,500-square-foot warehouse at state Route 56 and Salem County Route 638, last May (2023)

Residents expressed concerns about the overflow of traffic and its impact on local infrastructure, sound, emissions, etc.

The planning board's solicitor, however, said, "the warehouse was a permitted use in the zone and the board couldn’t "'turn down a permitted use due to traffic concerns,'" according to the report. 

The problem isn't Pilesgrove or the township officials or the many other municipalities that have tried in earnest to stop the spread of warehouses. The problem appears to be a broader systemic issue that warehouse developers are taking advantage of throughout the entire state — outdated laws.

"A lot of towns have been caught soft-footed, on unstable ground, with the boom of warehouses," said Ed Potosnack, executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, in a report on NJ101.5.

Current zoning laws in most N.J. municipalities were written at a time when the likelihood of a warehouse being built in a small town was minimal. With the boom in online retail, especially exacerbated by the rise of Amazon Prime and the convenience of delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, warehouses are a new norm and they are spreading at a record pace across the state. Even if rural land is zoned for light industrial use, the applications for warehouses are proposed in such a way that the projects fit the requirements.

Another example, in Harrison Township (Gloucester County), the township committee attempted to veto a $2.1 million industrial complex in late 2022, but the veto was reversed by the Gloucester County Superior Court the following year, according to ALM Globest.

There's also little the state itself can do because N.J. is a home-rule state, giving broad autonomy to municipalities in their zoning and planning.

In 2022, the N.J. State Planning Commission (SPC) urged municipalities to revise their zoning ordinances to protect against "poorly sited and scaled" warehouse projects.

The solution is likely even more complicated than that — but, updating and revising existing zoning and planning laws is the best place to start.

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Sources:

New Jersey State Planning Commission: Distribution Warehousing and Goods Movement Guidelines | Sept. 2022

The Press of Atlantic City: South Jersey towns need to update zoning for warehouses | June 2023

NJ Court Tosses Board’s Veto of 2.1M SF Warehouse Project

NJ 101.5: NJ proposal to pump the brakes on warehouse 'sprawl' | Dec. 2023

N.J. Home Rule Act

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Reach Jim Cook at WoodstownCrier@gmail.com

Crier Column 4/19: Pilesgrove warehouses; Middle School performs Snow White; Blue Moon performs Arsenic & Old Lace; WHS rallies for veterans

 Friday, April 19, 2024

A scene from ARSENIC AND OLD LACE at the Blue Moon Theatre (Woodstown Opera House). The show premiers this Friday, April 19 at 8 p.m. Performance continue Saturday at 8 p.m., then next Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets here.

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

EDIT: I have posted an updated article on my coverage and opinions about the Pilesgrove Warehouse here.

It's been quite a week in Woodstown and Pilesgrove.

GREAT NEWS:

• Last night, I had the pleasure of seeing SNOW WHITE MUSICAPALOOZA performed by the students at Woodstown Middle School. That's where I got my start as an actor (back in 1999)! The students did a phenomenal job. Our middle school has many great singers, and I am sure the high school is eager to welcome them when they graduate eighth grade! This genre-bending retelling of Snow White sets the dwarves on a talk show, recounting the fairytale. Tickets are $10 and performances run Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. Congrats to the AngelaRae Hughes, Zachary Sminkey, and the entire cast and crew!

• Tonight, I'll be at the Opening Night of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE at the Blue Moon Theatre. There's a lot of great Woodstown talent on stage tonight — of note, Woodstown High's long-time Drama Club director Paul Kranz will debut in the show. Finally back on stage! And from the looks of it (photo above), he's in his element.

• Woodstown students rallied outside the high school to support military veterans this week. Here is the school district's dispatch:

It was a privilege to rally on the front lawn of WHS this morning to show appreciation to a non-profit organization, Honor Flight, which works to provide veterans with opportunities to share in a day of honor at our Nation's memorials in DC. They certainly felt the love with many cheers, smiles, waves, signs & American flags to show our appreciation for their service to our country! 

• Wolverines Zack Bevis, Bobby Donahue, and Shelby Foote all recorded phenomenal achievements in their athletics. There's more coverage under "SPORTS." Congrats to them!

BAD NEWS: 

The beautiful sod farms and the ecosystem, clean air, and good soil it provides in Pilesgrove have been destroyed. Ground was broke for yet more warehouses. Residents were clear they did not want these warehouses, but it appears township officials used their votes to put their own interests ahead of the voters they’re supposed to represent.

We used to be a country town, but more and more we’re falling victim to these failing warehouses. They’re terrible for the environment, terrible on local infrastructure and traffic, and terrible for future property value.

Warehouses are cultureless. They’re eyesores. Never once has anyone with a modicum of class ever driven through a country town and said, “what a beautiful warehouse!”

We’re getting five of them.

Good luck filling them. Like the rest, they’ll be empty once the fad they cater to becomes obsolete or AI and automation replace them.

Will the money Pilesgrove makes from these warehouses and land sales go to anything good for our community? Genuine question. Garbage service? Water? The ancient Romans had water service but Pilesgrove resident have to dig a hole in the ground -- and, the septic tanks now have to go above ground, ruining everyone's yard. 

This township committee does not appear to care about our beautiful land and it's infuriating.

If there’s another side to this story, you know where to reach me and I would love nothing more than to interview them, get their side of the story, and hear what they have to say.

When the newspapers disappeared from this area, so did holding our elected officials accountable.

Voters — vote. 

COMMUNITY

CLEAN-UP: Spring Clean-Up & Meet and Greet. Supports Woodstown Youth Wrestling. Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Camp Crockett, 148 Avis Mill Rd in Pilesgrove. "Get the kids out of the house and come join us for a morning of spring cleaning at the Mill! Stay for a little, stay for a while -- every little bit helps our 100% volunteer coaching staff improve facilities for our kids." For more information, click here and to sign up email woodstownwrestling@gmail.com.

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WREATHS: The Squirrel's Nest Art Studio and Elegantly Loraine are hosting a workshop for making floral wreaths for Mother's Day. No experience necessary. Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. $45 per person with all supplies included. Pay in store or Venmo @Jennifer-Carll-Simon ... visit www.elegantlyloraine.com

Just a reminder ... Mother's day this year is Sunday, May 12 this year. Don't forget!

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CAR SHOW: Street Rollers Cruise Night, every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., starting April 2 and running until October 1. Hosted at Wood Lanes Bowling Alley.

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MARLTON PARK: Sponsorships are open for the CONCERTS IN THE PARK series at Marlton Recreation Park. The series is held every fourth Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., May through October. The line up was just announced:

May 23: Pearl Street (Soul)

June 27: The Jersey Corn Pickers (Bluegrass)

July 25: Salem American Legion Band (Ensemble)

August 22: The Carrols (Irish) + Kids Night!

September 26: Unplugged Lights (Acoustic)

October 24: The Travelling Woodburys (Acoustic Rock)

ENTERTAINMENT

SNOW WHITE: The Woodstown Middle School Drama Club presents THE SNOW WHITE MUSICAPALOOZA! April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10. The show is great for families and children as it tells the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves in a very unique way!

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OPERA HOUSE: "ARSENIC AND OLD LACE" at the Blue Moon Theatre. April 19, 20, 26, 27 at 8 p.m., April 28 at 2 p.m. A lot of great Woodstown talent in this one — Paul Kranz, Sammi Williams, Rick Thompson, Brady Thompson. Directed by Mike Russell. Tickets here.

SPORTS

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

Also, congrats to our outstanding Wolverine Athletes! Check out their achievements below:

SCORES

SCHEDULE

WATCH LIVE EVENTS HERE

GOVERNMENT

MEETING: Woodstown Borough Council, April 23, 7 p.m. 

MEETING: Pilesgrove Twp Committee, April 23, 7 p.m. 

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

WEATHER

FRIDAY: Clouds. High of 63F. Low of 44F.

SATURDAY: Clouds and sun. High of 68F. Low of 48F.

SUNDAY: Clouds and sun. High of 57F. Low of 39F.

Forecast: A cooler weekend than we've had. No rain next week. Mostly sunny with clouds. Temps range in the low to mid 60s.

Woodstown Crier: Where we elected these guys to preserve our farmland and they did the opposite. What Pilesgrove lacks, Woodstown makes up. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Click here to register to vote.

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