Types of reporting:

05 January 2025

Woodstown schools, borough office closed due to snow; NJ State of Emergency

Woodstown schools are closed Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, due to the expected snowfall and state of emergency in N.J.

WOODSTOWN — Snow day!

The Woodstown Pilesgrove Regional School District will be closed on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 due to the snow storm expected to slam the Garden State over night, the district announced Sunday evening.

Gov. Phil Murphy issued a state of emergency to go in effect at 10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. Here is the dispatch from the governor:

I’ve declared a State of Emergency beginning at 10 p.m. tonight for the following counties in South Jersey:

- Atlantic

- Burlington

- Camden

- Cape May

- Cumberland

- Gloucester

- Salem

We are anticipating moderate to heavy snowfall. Please be cautious of hazardous road conditions.

Current predictions as of 8 p.m. Sunday expect Salem County to receive three to six inches of snow, according to 6ABC Philadelphia.

Woodstown Mayor Joseph Hiles announced on Facebook that Borough government offices will be closed Monday due to the snow.

“Please be safe & pray for our emergency services & public works teams that will be working during the storm,” the mayor wrote. “If you must travel, please drive carefully. Please refrain from parking vehicles in the roadways to allow crews to safely & efficiently plow.”

In the meantime, take plenty of photos!

13 December 2024

Crier Column 12/13: Happy Holidays and see you next year! Christmas Fair at Fairgrounds; Clothing Drive at WHS; Blue Moon concert Saturday; Breakfast with Santa next weekend

  FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024

One of the many stunning historic homes on the Woodstown by Candlelight tour, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. Visitors from around the region and beyond descended on Woodstown for a night that looked like a Hallmark movie and a Rockwell painting all wrapped into one.

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

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, and anything else I missed!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR: This will be my last column for the remainder of 2024. What a special year it has been as your Town Crier: last weekend's Candlelight tour, the Fall Festival, hosting tours at the Pilesgrove-Woodstown Historical Society Museum, welcoming audiences to Woodstown High School for our production of "Brigadoon," reviving The Curtain Call Club of Woodstown, and accompanying many joyful voices on many lively Sundays as the organist for First Baptist Church of Woodstown on Main Street — it's been a phenomenal year.

I'll be at the organ at First Baptist Church on Christmas Eve for the 6:30 p.m. service. At the 11 p.m. service (or as I love to call it, "Midnight Mass") I'll be not only at the organ, but I may be singing a special Christmas Carol. Don't miss it!

Do take some time to relax this holiday season — we all need that. We don't know what those drones are above us. We don't know what's coming in 2025. We don't care to follow the mainstream news much anymore for the sake of our mental health. So, between the hustle and bustle, the shopping, the gift wrapping, the cooking, the hosting, the parties, the shows ... we all deserve a break. Right? Let's all agree to do nothing in January. We deserve it!

FOOTLOOSE: The Woodstown High School Drama Club hosted its first rehearsal for our spring musical "Footloose," based on the 1980s movie starring Kevin Bacon. I had a chance to sit in on their read-through of the script and the score. The teens this year are tremendous. They love the show, they love their drama club, they love each other. It's going to be an extraordinary production that will have audiences on their feet dancing in the aisles! 

COMMUNITY

CHRISTMAS FAIR: The Salem County Christmas Fair will be held at the Salem County Fairgrounds on Rt. 40 in Pilesgrove Twp. Cost is $10/car per day. Events begin at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 and include vendors, food trucks, kid's activities, Christmas movies, fire pits, pony rides, face painting, live nativity, ugly sweater contest, pictures with Santa Claus and much more. The event will be hosted from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For more information, visit the Salem County Fair Association on Facebook.

CLOTHING DRIVE: The Woodstown Pilesgrove School District Odyssey of the Mind teams will be hosting a clothing drive on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 9:30 a.m. to1:30 p.m. in the Woodstown High School horseshoe. Clean out your closets while helping the kids! From their dispatch:

What we accept: Adult & Children Clothing, Shoes, Handbags, Sandals, Sneakers, Boots, Jackets, Coats, Rain Gear, Leathers, Belts, Ties, Pants, Shirts, Sweaters, Vests, Blouses, Dresses, Skirts, Robes, Undergarments, Sheets, Towels, Linens, Tablecloths, Hats, Scarfs, Gloves, Purses, Wallets, Jewelry, Watches, Uniforms, Jerseys, Backpacks and New Diapers and NOW ACCEPTING Household Items, Utensils, Hard & Soft Toys, Electronics, Bicycles, Handicap Equipment & Small Bric-A-Brac Items.

What We Don’t Accept: Thrift Store Goods, Flea Market Goods, Furniture, Books, Yard Sales or Sorted merchandise that has been picked through or separated which the better goods have been taken out as well as pillows & curtains. Any merchandise that has holes, rips, stains, mold or has an odor.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: The Salem Tech FFA is hosting Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Elmer Grange Hall by Pole Tavern. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. There will be a home-cooked, Jersey Fresh breakfast, and a chance to meet and get photos with Santa Claus! 

ENTERTAINMENT

The Woodstown Middle School Choir performing at Woodstown by Candlelight, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.

CONCERT: The Blue Moon Theatre is hosting a fundraiser to purchase the entirety of the Woodstown Opera House. Their goal is to restore the upstairs (original theater) to a performance space. We're excited about that! This Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., they'll host a fundraiser cabaret where a small group of Blue Moon performers will sing Broadways showtunes and Christmas music. Tickets are $10. I'll be performing!

SPORTS

PARKING: A dispatch from the Athletics Department: 

Spectators are reminded to park legally and be considerate of residents in the area. Illegally parked vehicles on streets surrounding the school may be ticketed and towed. Please avoid blocking driveways or creating unsafe conditions for others. This serves as a formal warning that enforcement action will be taken for parking violations. All spectators must follow the Tri-County Conference Code of Conduct, which emphasizes sportsmanship, respect, and appropriate behavior. Violations of this code may result in removal from the event and additional penalties. 

Prohibited: Items such as footballs, tennis balls, and similar objects are strictly prohibited and will not be allowed in the gym. Spectators are not permitted to enter the court at any time. Any individual who enters the court will be immediately ejected. Let’s come together to support our Wolverines this winter season! We look forward to an exciting and memorable season filled with sportsmanship, teamwork, and community pride. GO WOLVERINES!

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

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: Clouds and sun. High of 3F. Low of 24F.

SATURDAY: Sunny. High of 37F. Low of 21F.

SUNDAY: Cloudy. High of 41F. Low of 24F.

FORECAST: Rain all of next week except for Wednesday. Temperatures are warmer, in the high 40s and 50s. Up to 61F on Tuesday. Clouds next weekend.

Woodstown Crier: Where your Town Crier expresses his deepest gratitude for your reading this column over the past year and for keeping Pilesgrove and Woodstown the best two towns in America to live. We'll see you in 2025!

_______________

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

04 December 2024

Crier Column 12/4: Woodstown By Candlelight this Friday; Donate gifts to Fire Co; Along the Road at Blue Moon Theatre Saturday

 WEDNESDA, DECEMBER 04, 2024

Woodstown by Candlelight will be held Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. Tickets are $35 for Pilesgrove & Woodstown, and $25 for only Woodstown. The event supports local businesses and the Pilesgrove-Woodstown Historical Society.

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

Happy belated Thanksgiving! Please accept my apologies for being noticeably absent from The Crier these past few weeks. I was busy performing "White Christmas" with many dear friends down in Millville at the Levoy Theatre. I’ve also been hard at work rehearsing/playing organ at the First Baptist Church in Woodstown (stop by First Baptist on Main Street this Christmas Eve at 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. for good music!). 

Woodstown’s tree lighting ceremony will be held during the Candlelight tour at 7 p.m. at the Woodstown White House (next to First Baptist Church on Main Street). The Woodstown High School Chamber Choir will be performing!

In the meantime, Woodstown and Pilesgrove are looking phenomenal (but don't we always?) as the holidays approach. The lights on the trees, the Santa mailboxes, and the towering candles on the Snelbaker green. We are ready for Christmas!

COMMUNITY

CANDLELIGHT: The Woodstown by Candlelight Tour will be held Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. in both Woodstown AND Pilesgrove! Tickets for Pilesgrove & Woodstown tours are $35. Tickets for only the Woodstown tour are $25. Click here to purchase tickets!

PARADE: The Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit is hosting Christmas Trees on Parade, Thursday, Dec. 5 and Friday, Dec. 6 from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There will be decorated trees, holiday music, food, treasure shop and Santa! Tickets are $5 ($3 for Candlelight Tour ticket holders). Visit the Catholic Parish on Broad & Elm Streets for the event.

GIFT DONATION: The Reliance Fire Company will collect new, unwrapped toys during Woodstown By Candlelight, Friday, Dec. 6 beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the tree lighting location (Woodstown White House next to First Baptist Church). Donations will be accepted through Dec. 21 at Reliance Fire Station.

INTERGENERATIONAL: Woodstown Friends Meeting will host Intergenerational Family activities throughout the fall. See the list below:
  • December 8, 2024 – 9:15 AM to 10:30 AM—We will celebrate the holidays with holiday-themed story and craft time. You won’t walk away empty-handed
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: The Salem Tech FFA is hosting Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Elmer Grange Hall by Pole Tavern. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. There will be a home-cooked, Jersey Fresh breakfast, and a chance to meet and get photos with Santa Claus!

ENTERTAINMENT

Endless gratitude to Mayor Joe and First Lady Julie Hiles for representing the great support of our hometown, Woodstown, at “White Christmas” in Millville last month. It was so nice to see them and feel so supported, and it was a tremendous honor to perform for them and all the audiences who saw our show. Woodstown always shows up — no wonder, they must have felt like home because we have the same school colors: Orange and Blue!!

CONCERT: Along the Road, featuring Woodstown’s Paul Kranz, will perform this Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 at the Blue Moon Theatre from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Click here for tickets!

SPORTS

COMMITTED: Congratulations to Megan Donaldson for signing to Millersville University and Talia Battavio for signing to Goldey-Beacom College, both to further their outstanding record as basketball superstars! Congrats, ladies, and don’t forget about us when you’re away … remember, there’s no place like home. Now, go show them that Wolverine Spirit!!

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

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: Sun. High of 37F. Low of 26F.

SATURDAY: Sunny. High of 39F. Low of 24F.

SUNDAY: Clouds of sun. High of 51F. Low of 28F.

FORECAST: Woodstown by Candlelight will be cold but clear! We all remember last year’s rain showers, so we’re elated to see much nicer weather Friday night. Bundle up! Warmer and wetter next week with temps reaching the low 60Fs. Back into the 40s by the end of the week and next weekend.

Woodstown Crier: Where we had no shortage of gratitude this Thanksgiving. We pray for our hometown heroes overseas and away from their families this holiday season — I’ve been there, and it’s tough. Luckily, when they’ve returned home safe and sound, they’ll be welcomed back to the greatest hometown in America — a home decked with Christmas lights, hot cocoa brewing, church congregations caroling, bells ringing, cookies in the oven, Santa on his way. For those of other spiritualities, the first candle of Hanukkah is lit on Dec. 25 this year, so, no matter how you were raised, we know you’ll find your way home.

_______________

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

11 November 2024

Crier Column 11/11: Happy Veteran's Day! WHS Band Alumni needed for Friday playoffs; Oz at WHS; Menagerie at Blue Moon; Ruby Bridges Walk; Bike stolen on South Main

 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Cameron Tatam (left) and Hamilton Master (right) recreate the "Wicked" poster in celebration opening "THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ" at Woodstown High School this weekend! Performances run Wednesday through Saturday. Get your tickets by clicking here and read more in the Entertainment section of the Woodstown Crier.

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

It's 11/11, make a wish!

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY to my fellow vets out there. I proudly spent five years in the United States Army and miss it every day. 

Earlier this month, I volunteered at the Pilesgrove-Woodstown Historical Society. While there, I found a device called a "Pana Vue 2", which is basically a handheld viewer for Kodak Ektachrome slides. It was such a cool device! There were many rolls of slides from 1970s and 80s Woodstown. 

Click here for a TikTok of the Pana Vue 2 experience

CRIME LOG

A Mafia Bomma 29'' was stolen out of a home garage on South Main Street earlier this week. The bike is believed to have been brought to Bailey's Corner.

STOLEN BIKE: A dispatch from the Woodstown Pilesgrove Needs Facebook Group:

Hi everyone! My son’s bike was stolen right out of our garage on S Main St here in Woodstown. If anyone sees it, please contact me. We aren’t looking to get anyone in any trouble, we just want his bike back. It’s very expensive and was his birthday gift. This is what it looks like. Thank you! - Karin Lin

*UPDATE:  It’s a Mafia Bomma 29” Slate Grey. It is believed the stolen bicycle was brought to Bailey's Corner. 

COMMUNITY

Ruby Bridges was the first African-American child to attend a formerly whites-only school in Louisiana, on Nov. 14, 1960. A walk commemorating desegregation of schools will be held this Thursday in Woodstown.

WALK: The W-P Regional School District and Woodstown Borough will host the Ruby Bridges Walk to School event at 7 a.m. (morning) on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. The parade will assemble at the Snelbaker house at 50 South Main St, walk down Dickinson Street, right onto W. Wilson Ave., and a left onto Macaltioner Ave, then proceed to the Woodstown High School gymnasium and Middle School entrance. The event will feature members of the WHS Drum Line, uniformed sports teams, local Scout troops, and members of extracurricular groups. The walk commemorates Ruby Bridges, the first African American child to desegregate an all-white school in New Orleans in 1960.

WHS Marching Band needs all the alumni it can get! The Friday playoff game falls on a performance of the WHS Drama's "Wizard of Oz" — so they'll be out many musicians. See below for more details!

WHS BAND: Calling all WHS Band Alumni! See the dispatch:

It happened again, Alumni and Band Community! Our Football Wolverines are unstoppable and our next play off game falls on the same night as our fall play. We have A LOT of kids who can't be in the stands with us on Friday. We will need a band army to fill in the gaps. Can you sit in and play with us?

If you can join the band in the stands on 11/15 please email sheridan.s@woodstown.org and let us know. We will get you music as soon as possible and I promise you'll have fun! (Halloween pic for proof of fun.)

Woodstown by Candlelight, an annual historic home tour, will be held Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 from 2-9 p.m. and, this year, will feature homes in both Woodstown AND Pilesgrove!

CANDLELIGHT: The Woodstown by Candlelight Tour will be held Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. in both Woodstown AND Pilesgrove! Tickets for Pilesgrove & Woodstown tours are $30 (before Dec. 1, then $35 after). Tickets for only the Woodstown tour are $20 (before Dec. 1, then $25 after). Click here to purchase tickets!

PARADE: The Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit is hosting Christmas Trees on Parade, Thursday, Dec. 5 and Friday, Dec. 6 from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There will be decorated trees, holiday music, food, treasure shop and Santa! Tickets are $5 ($3 for Candlelight Tour ticket holders). Visit the Catholic Parish on Broad & Elm Streets for the event.

INTERGENERATIONAL: Woodstown Friends Meeting will host Intergenerational Family activities throughout the fall. See the list below:
  • December 8, 2024 – 9:15 AM to 10:30 AM—We will celebrate the holidays with holiday-themed story and craft time. You won’t walk away empty-handed
FLU CLINIC: The Salem County Department of Health and Human Services will host the following Flu Clinics for residents ages 3 and older. No appointment necessary.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 13, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Carney's Point Municipal Building, 303 Harding Hwy, Carneys Point. Walk-in.
PLANTS: Jodi Lipari is giving away free plants on Main Street. Click here for info from Facebook.

ENTERTAINMENT

THEATRE: The Woodstown High School Drama Club presents "THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ" on Thursday, Nov. 13 (3:30 p.m., 55+ free admission), Thursday, Nov. 14 (7 p.m.); Friday, Nov. 15 (7 p.m.); Saturday, Nov. 16 (2 p.m.). Tickets are $13 for adults, $8 for students and seniors (60+). Click here to purchase tickets! Tickets are also available at the door. 

The cast of "The Glass Menagerie" in rehearsal at the Blue Moon Theatre (Woodstown Opera House). The play opens this Friday. Information for tickets below.

THEATRE: The Blue Moon Theatre presents "THE GLASS MENAGERIE" at the Woodstown Opera House, Friday, Nov. 15 (8 p.m.); Saturday, Nov. 16 (8 p.m.); Friday, Nov. 22 (8 p.m.), Saturday, Nov. 23 (8 p.m), and Sunday, Nov. 24 (2 p.m.). Click here to purchase tickets!

WOODSTOWN ABROAD: If you want to get into the holiday spirit, don't miss some great Woodstown talent (including your Town Crier!) in "WHITE CHRISTMAS" at the Levoy Theatre (Millville, N.J.) this weekend and next weekend. Click here for tickets!

SPORTS

ATHLETICS: A dispatch from the Wolverine Athletics Department:

The Woodstown High School girls cross country team finished their season strong, as they placed 9th overall in the NJSIAA group 1 state championships on Saturday in Holmdel. Lilian Norman and Abigail Marino finished the race side by side in 23rd and 24th place and with the help of Anabel Schaal, Samantha Sterner and Arianna Mott, the team outscored all of the other group 1 south teams in attendance! Congrats on an amazing season, ladies! 

Jacob Marino finished 8th in the Group I State Championship Meet at Holmdel this weekend. Jacob has qualified to run in The Meet Of Champions next weekend. Congratulations Jake!

The Varsity Boys Soccer Team defeated Wildwood 3-0, securing their 16th win of the season. Grant Prater opened the scoring in the first period, followed by Adrian Ibarra to give Woodstown a 2-0 lead at halftime. In the second period, Dante Holmes extended the lead to 3-0, assisted by Ibarra. Woodstown dominated offensively, with nine shots on goal compared to Wildwood’s five. Both goalkeepers made seven saves, with Woodstown’s Ben Stengel preserving the shutout.

The Varsity Girls Soccer Team finished the season 13-4-2 after falling to Palmyra in penalty kicks in the South Jersey Group I Quarterfinal game Thursday. Goalkeeper Ellie Wygand made an amazing save on a penalty kick at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime. Congratulations to the Varsity Girls Soccer Team on a phenomenal season.

The Varsity Football Team overcame an early deficit to defeat Pennsville 21-6, earning them a chance to play for the NJSIAA Group I Central Sectional Championship. Pennsville struck first with a 53-yard touchdown pass, but Woodstown responded quickly as Alex Torres scored on a 2-yard run to take a 7-6 lead. Torres added another 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, extending Woodstown’s lead to 14-6 by halftime. After a scoreless third quarter, Torres capped off the game with his third touchdown, a 2-yard run, in the fourth quarter. Woodstown’s ground game dominated with Torres rushing for 111 yards and three touchdowns, while Garrett Leyman added 100 rushing yards.

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

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: Clouds and sun. High of 55F. Low of 40F

SATURDAY: Sunny. High of 60F. Low of 41F.

SUNDAY: Clouds of sun. High of 61F. Low of 42F.

FORECAST: Woodstown and the surrounding region received a much-needed respite from the drought Sunday night with a few showers. No rain in the near forecast. It wasn't enough to end the wildfires in Glassboro and Vorhees. We can expect slightly cooler temperatures in the 50s and 60s throughout the week. And sun. 

Woodstown Crier: Where we thank our many Veterans for their service! Let's celebrate their legacy by enjoying the beauty of our community and nation.

_______________

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

06 November 2024

Woodstown Pilesgrove Election 2024: one Council seat too close to call; GOP wins two; Eachus uncontested as Pilesgrove mayor; GOP wins County seats

 2024 ELECTION RESULTS

This image was AI-generated with DALL-E.

*Name - denotes the unofficial winner as of 06 Nov 2025 (2 p.m.) and does not account for uncounted provisional ballots which in some of the razor-thin margins, could change who wins the seat officially.

SALEM COUNTY SHERIFF

*Chuck Miller (R) - 16,518

Leroy Pierce (D) - 11,876 

SALEM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (Formerly "Freeholder")

*Ben H. Laury (R) - 17,380

*Gordon (Mickey) Ostrum (R) - 16,285

Nelson Carney Jr. (D) - 11,264

Germer Y. Ledford (D) - 9,522

SALEM COUNTY CLERK

*Dale Cross (R) - 19,295

Charlyn Martin (D) - 10,456

PILESGROVE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE 

*Kevin Eachus (R) - 1,937

PILESGROVE SCHOOL BOARD (on Woodstown Pilesgrove Regional School District BOE)

Alice Wofsy - 556

*Kristina Johnston - 970

*Erin Hitchner - 1,310

Carey Italiano - 781

WOODSTOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL (3-year term)

Due to the razor-thin margin, the outcome will likely be determined with provisional ballots, and the result remains too close to call.

*Glenn Merkle (R) - 1,024

Trudy Spence-Parker (R) - 820 

Tara Mazer (D) - 890

Jesse Stemberger (D) - 892 

WOODSTOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL (1-year term)

*Noah Tighe (R) - 951

Stacy Shorter-Carney (D) - 935

WOODSTOWN SCHOOL BOARD 

*Maricia E. Chiarelli - 1,005

Colleen Prater - 732

Woodstown Crier: Where we congratulate our new leaders and trust them to keep Woodstown and Pilesgrove the best two towns in the America. No matter the results, I'm still your Town Crier and there's no where else I'd rather live than right here.

29 October 2024

Crier Column 10/29: Happy Halloween! No fires! Coach Huck celebrates 300; Leave the Leaves; Bullhide Brewery construction; Cantare at NJ School Board; Ruby Bridges walk

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2024

I had the great honor of reading the Mayor's proclamation at the grand re-opening of Bee Inspired Yoga on Main Street in Woodstown, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. Rebekah Zoe Mulford runs a fantastic business, inspiring members of our community to 'bee' their best! Make sure you 'buzz' over to her shop and get in a strong yoga session!

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

It'll be a busy week for your Town Crier!

HALLOWEEN: First, I'll be roaming around town on Thursday, HALLOWEEN, and spending a good deal of time camped out at the Woodstown White House — aka. the historic home next to the First Baptist Church, where Lance Bird and Kate Dilks host a fabulous Halloween stop in town.

HISTORY: Then, visit the Pilesgrove-Woodstown Historical Society from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, as I man the museum. Stop in for a tour!

MUSIC: On Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, I'll be at the piano and organ at the First Baptist Church of Woodstown on Main Street. Hymns this week are "Gentle Shepherd," "Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us," "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," and "Hallelujah, What a Savior." We'll close with the refrain from "Because He Lives," in place of the alternating "Doxology" - "Blessed Be the Ties" during post-communion. But, wait, is it too early for me to start slipping in Christmas tunes?

FIRE: The state of New Jersey is under a Stage 3 Camp Fire Restriction, meaning all fires in wooded areas are strictly prohibited unless contained in an elevated stove using propane, natural gas, or electricity. Absolutely no charcoal fires are allowed. No bonfires this Halloween, y'all! 

It's been nearly two months without a proper rainfall. The last rain was a very light shower in the early morning hours of Sept. 28, 2024. And the last rainfall where we accumulated more than an inch (1.11 in) was on Aug. 30, 2024.

COMMUNITY

NEW BREW: In the "What's Up, Woodstown" Facebook group, a member asked about the new construction alongside Cowtown Cowboy Outfitters in Pilesgrove. Owner Suzanne Bickford Zigo, owner of the store, responded:

"[W]e are adding on three separate sections. Additional retail space for our store, a food area, a brewery, brewing area, a warehouse and in the back there will be a courtyard. The site work was started a year ago when our site work contractor was available so we said go ahead. Our builder’s engineer took a lot longer than we expected to finish the final prints so we could get quotes to complete the project. We decided to move on to a new builder as well as a new bank. That said our new builder is moving at an incredible pace. We are moving forward and you can expect to see more improvements daily. You can follow us at Bullhide Brewery or feel free to stop in and I’ll show you around. I am very excited about these improvements to our community. I can assure you our additions will only accentuate our town."

LEAVE LEAVES: Woodstown's Leaf Collection is temporarily out of service. Although, it may be back, I'm not sure ... the equipment needs some repairing. Personally, I don't mind because the image of colorful leaves scattered across Woodstown yards is really exquisite this time of year. Though the service is important for road safety, it may not be totally necessary for your lawn. Not raking, or, at least, mulching them with a lawn mower instead of bagging them, is great for lawn care and ground-dwelling insects. Click here for an insightful report from Popular Mechanics, shared by Woodstown Mayor Joe Hiles, about the case for ... well ... leaving the leaves where they are.

WALK: The W-P Regional School District and Woodstown Borough will host the Ruby Bridges Walk to School event at 7 a.m. (morning) on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. The parade will assemble at the Snelbaker house at 50 South Main St, walk down Dickinson Street, right onto W. Wilson Ave., and a left onto Macaltioner Ave, then proceed to the Woodstown High School gymnasium and Middle School entrance. The event will feature members of the WHS Drum Line, uniformed sports teams, local Scout troops, and members of extracurricular groups. The walk commemorates Ruby Bridges, the first African American child to desegregate an all-white school in New Orleans in 1960.

VOTEElections will be Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Many local offices are on the ballot. Here are some important deadlines:

3 ways to vote: 

VOTE-BY-MAIL 

Everyone can vote by mail in New Jersey for any reason! If you have not received a mail-in ballot.

Oct. 26: Deadline to request a ballot online

Nov. 4: Deadline to request a ballot in person

Nov. 5: Deadline to postmark your ballot - your ballot must be in the mail by this date

EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING

Saturday, Oct. 26 - Sunday, Nov. 3

10am - 8pm Monday-Saturday | 10am - 6pm on Sundays

Note: Your Early Voting polling place may be different from your Election Day polling place. 

INTERGENERATIONAL: Woodstown Friends Meeting will host Intergenerational Family activities throughout the fall. See the list below:
  • December 8, 2024 – 9:15 AM to 10:30 AM—We will celebrate the holidays with holiday-themed story and craft time. You won’t walk away empty-handed
FLU CLINIC: The Salem County Department of Health and Human Services will host the following Flu Clinics for residents ages 3 and older. No appointment necessary.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 30, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Oldmans Municipal Building, 40 Freed Rd., Pedricktown. Walk-in.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 13, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Carney's Point Municipal Building, 303 Harding Hwy, Carneys Point. Walk-in.

ENTERTAINMENT

CANTARE, an elite vocal ensemble composed of musicians from the prestigious Woodstown High School Chamber Choir, performed last week at the 2024 N.J. School Boards Association Workshop in Atlantic City, N.J. The group is directed by Mr. Kahlil Gunther.

CHOIRCANTARE, an elite vocal ensemble within the WHS Chamber Choir, under the director of Kahlil Gunther, performed at the New Jersey School Boards Association Workshop in Atlantic City. The group is frequently invited to perform at school and community events, acting as musical ambassadors to the High School's phenomenal music program. 

CONCERT: The Blue Moon Theatre is hosting Laura Cheadle on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. Click here for tickets.

SPORTS

WHS Varsity Men's Soccer Coach Darren Huck celebrates his 300th win in October 2024.

MILESTONE: Coach Darren Huck celebrated his 300th win leading the Woodstown High School Varsity Men's Soccer team. He is also responsible for the newly installed WHS Soccer Wall of Fame that was unveiled earlier this school year. The team beat Pitman 2-1. 

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

SCHEDULE

WATCH LIVE EVENTS HERE

GOVERNMENT

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

WEEKEND WEATHER

HALLOWEEN: Sunny, clouds in the evening. High of 79F. Low of 58F. Don't worry about warm jackets during trick or treating hours. Temps will range from 77-72F from 4 - 8 p.m.

FRIDAY: Sun and clouds. High of 76F. Low of 50F.

SATURDAY: Sun and clouds. High of 59F. Low of 41F. 

SUNDAY: Sun and clouds. High of 63F. Low of 37F.

FORECAST: The temperatures are really going to see-saw this week a bit, but mostly remain high. Of note, a 35% chance of rain on early Monday morning, but the weather system seems to be taking such a path that we may see none. 

Woodstown Crier: Where the jack-o-lanterns are carved, the candy bowls full, the costumes prepared, and we're ready for one of our favorite nights of the year — Happy Halloween!

_______________

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

18 October 2024

Crier Column 10/18: Farmer's Market at Lake; Trunk or Treat at Baptist Church and WHS; Yoga Studio reopens; WHS Varsity Soccer score wins

    FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2024

Jim Schuler, a drone operator, periodically posts on Facebook his aerial photography of Woodstown. This particular shot is Woodstown from above at night, and very well-lit. It's truly mesmerizing. I love these views!

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

Isn't it wonderful to see the colors changing outside? I've been running around the track at the Marlton Recreation Field, and the colorful trees and crisp air are a welcome relief from the insane scorcher of a summer we just had.

Last Monday, your Town Crier had the distinct honor of being inducted into the Pilesgrove-Woodstown Historical Society Board of Trustees. I am so thrilled to be part of this incredible organization, maintaining our stunning museum, and paying respect to our rich history! I'll be buzzing around town on Halloween and Woodstown by Candlelight sharing in the history.

The Museum and School House are open for tours ever Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please visit and sign our guestbook! I will be there, manning the museum, on Saturday, Nov. 2. Entrance to the museum is free. We have so many incredible artifacts, books, and photos for visitors to enjoy. 

Your Town Crier will be at the First Baptist Church organ on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. If you see my parents at church, wish them a happy 40th anniversary! They were married Saturday, October 27, 1984.

COMMUNITY

Students of the WHS Home Maintenance and Construction Class pose with members of the Reliance Fire Co, for whom they crafted four chaffing blocks to support fire hose connection and operation.

STUDENTS
: (Pictured above) In an outstanding achievement of Woodstown students serving our community, the Home Maintenance and Basic Construction class at the high school designed four chaffing blocks for the Reliance Fire Company. The blocks will function as critical support elements to apparatus operators while connecting sections of suction hose. Great job!
 
FARMER'S MARKET: Farmer's Market at Memorial Lake on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Expect to see many wonderful fall goodies: Honey, wreaths, crocheted items, bows, quilted items, bracelets, rustic metal and wood decor, sea glass, candles, body lotion, jam, hot chocolate, apples, cider, and more!

SPOOKY SEASON: First Baptist Church of Woodstown is hosting a "Trunk or Treat" on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. in the church parking lot. Don't forget to dress up!

ART SPARKS: The Salem County Art League is hosting "ART SPARKS" at the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Library on 14 School Lane on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The event is fore children 7-14 years old and includes watercolor lessons! Sign-up at the Library.

YOGA: Bee Inspired Yoga is hosting their Grand Reopening on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. The studio is located at 25 N. Main Street.

SPOOKY SEASON: The Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District is hosting a "Trunk or Treat" on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the WHS Student Parking Lot by the Football field. 

PRINTMAKING: The Squirrel's Nest Art Studio is hosting "Printmaking in the Wild" on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The class is $30. To sign-up, send payment via Venmo to @Jennifer-Carll-Simon. Their dispatch: 

Calling all nature lovers! Join us for this new unique eco printing class. Together we will learn how to ink and stamp found objects to create your very own totebag inspired by the beauty life has to offer. Some of the items we will be using include (but are not limited to): Zippers, Bottles, Tomatoes, Paint brushes, Peppers, Ramen, Thread spool, Flowers, Ivy/leaves, Lace, Baskets, Cookie cutters, and more! 

JEWELRY WORKSHOP: The Squirrel's Nest Art Studio is hosting a "DIY Resin Jewelry Workshop" on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The class is $45. To sign-up, send payment via Venmo to @Jennifer-Carll-Simon. Their dispatch:

Join Beth with BL Luxury for a DIY Resin Flower Jewelry Workshop. A variety of jewelry and flower options will be available for the participants. BL Luxury’s DIY Resin Flower Jewelry Class offers a unique and creative experience where participants can learn the art of preserving natural flowers in resin to create stunning, one- of-a-kind jewelry pieces. This class is perfect for anyone interested in creating a unique luxury item to add to their wardrobe. The class is structured to be informative, interactive, and enjoyable. It covers introduction to resin crafting, flower selection, molding & pouring techniques, design & customization, finishing & polishing. No experience necessary!

ROAD SAFETY: Salem County Local Road Safety Plan Public Meeting on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Salem County Agricultural Building on 51 Cheney Rd in Woodstown. Here is the dispatch from the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization:

During the meeting, residents will have the opportunity to view several display boards to learn about the plan, including the proposed projects and behavioral strategies to help achieve a goal of 50 percent reduction of fatal and serious injury crashes by 2050. Comment cards will be available to provide input to the draft plan.

VOTEElections will be Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Many local offices are on the ballot. Here are some important deadlines:

The deadline to register to vote in New Jersey for this election is OCT. 15.

3 ways to vote: 

VOTE-BY-MAIL 

Everyone can vote by mail in New Jersey for any reason! If you have not received a mail-in ballot.

Oct. 26: Deadline to request a ballot online

Nov. 4: Deadline to request a ballot in person

Nov. 5: Deadline to postmark your ballot - your ballot must be in the mail by this date

EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING

Saturday, Oct. 26 - Sunday, Nov. 3

10am - 8pm Monday-Saturday | 10am - 6pm on Sundays

Note: Your Early Voting polling place may be different from your Election Day polling place. 

INTERGENERATIONAL: Woodstown Friends Meeting will host Intergenerational Family activities throughout the fall. See the list below:

  • October 27, 2024 – 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Join Teacher Kate, the popular music teacher at Friends School Mullica Hill, for an interactive hour of music making and dance. We will sing both new and familiar songs, enjoy some interactive folk dancing and play percussion instruments as a group.
  • December 8, 2024 – 9:15 AM to 10:30 AM—We will celebrate the holidays with holiday-themed story and craft time. You won’t walk away empty-handed
FLU CLINIC: The Salem County Department of Health and Human Services will host the following Flu Clinics for residents ages 3 and older. No appointment necessary.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 22, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Shalick High School, 718 Centerton Rd., Pittsgrove. Walk-in.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 30, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Oldmans Municipal Building, 40 Freed Rd., Pedricktown. Walk-in.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 13, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Carney's Point Municipal Building, 303 Harding Hwy, Carneys Point. Walk-in.

ENTERTAINMENT

Kudos to the cast and crew of "Little Shop of Horrors" at the Blue Moon Theatre! I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more. It was a fantastic night of theatre and a perfect musical for the Blue Moon!

CONCERT: The Blue Moon Theatre is hosting Laura Cheadle on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. Click here for tickets.

ACTORS NEEDED: A dispatch from Salem Main Street and the Blue Moon Theatre:

The 37th Annual historic Yuletide tour of Salem County is looking for reenactors to participate in their event on December 7th from 1-6 rain or shine. This is a Paid position (with donations from those involved in the event).  Currently they are looking for:

Fredrick Douglas (1st lawyer) and Fredrick's daughter a teacher, Hetty Reckless a slave who went on to help free other slaves. Her owner was the governor in Salem and his wife was very hateful to Hetty., Harriet Tubman, and a Father Christmas who could also be like a town crier, Decreeing the day dedicated to the many people celebrating the upcoming holiday season.

If you are unfamiliar with any of the characters, please research them.  You will find them to be amazing individuals. 

If you are interested, please contact Cheryl Stark at Cherstark@hotmail.com or call at 856-905-5840.

SPORTS

The WHS Women's Tennis Team raised awareness for breast cancer and preventative measures in their Pink Match vs. Vineland last Friday.

PINK MATCH: (Pictured above) A dispatch from the Athletics Department: The girls tennis team participated in their annual Pink Match on Friday October 11th vs Vineland. Each year, the team wraps their rackets with pink grips and wears pink clothing to raise awareness of breast cancer and the importance of taking preventative measures.

SOCCER: The WHS Varsity Men's and Women's Soccer teams scored impressive wins this week. A dispatch from the Athletics Department:

Woodstown’s varsity girls soccer team extended their record to 9-4-1 with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Salem Tech (2-10) on Wednesday. The Wolverines took control early, scoring five goals in the first half and adding two more after halftime. 

Woodstown’s offense was relentless, recording 32 shots. Emma Perry, Talia Battavio, and Sadie Moore each contributed to the team’s offensive onslaught, with Perry and Battavio both scoring and adding assists. Battavio and Moore led the team in points with 4 each, showcasing impressive teamwork.

Salem Tech goalkeeper Danielle Fredo had a busy game, making an astounding 25 saves, but she couldn’t hold off Woodstown’s attack. On the other side, Woodstown’s defensive line limited Salem Tech’s chances, with Ellie Wygand making 1 save to secure the shutout.

The Woodstown varsity boys soccer team continued their strong season, improving to 11-4 with a commanding 4-0 win over Salem Tech (3-10). Woodstown took control early, with Bryce Ayars opening the scoring in the first period, assisted by Adrian Ibarra. Shortly after, Ibarra netted one of his own off an assist from Blake Bialecki, giving the Wolverines a 2-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Ibarra struck again, assisted by Dante Mistichelli, to extend the lead to 3-0. Blake Bialecki capped off the scoring with a goal set up by Grant Prater, making it a decisive 4-0 victory for Woodstown.

The Wolverines outshot Salem Tech 22-3, showing dominance on both ends of the field. Adrian Ibarra led the way with 2 goals and 1 assist, contributing 5 points. On defense, goalkeeper Ben Stengel made 3 saves to preserve the shutout.


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

SCHEDULE

WATCH LIVE EVENTS HERE

GOVERNMENT

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

WEEKEND WEATHER

SATURDAY: Sunny. High of 72F. Low of 41F.

SUNDAY: Sunny. High of 74F. Low of 43F.

Forecast: Wasn't that chilly weather great this week? Not so much this week. Temperatures are back up with a high of nearly 80F on Tuesday. In October?! No thanks. Mid 70s the rest of the week. Then, 60s and 70s next weekend just in time for the Alloway Halloween Parade. I remember the days where that parade was icy cold. 

Woodstown Crier: Where we'll enjoy some apple cider, pumpkin apple bread (my mother makes it best), pick out a costume, and pop on a scary movie — because one of Woodstown's finest holidays is right around the corner!

_______________

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

Most popular stories

Latest news from Woodstown

Crier Column 10/1: Carnival at Marlton? Cow-munity Connection Day; Movie Night; GHOST at Blue Moon; Homecoming Concert by Curtain Call Club; Halloween

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2025 Crowds packed Main Street in Woodstown at the annual Fall Festival this September. Hear ye, hear ye! O yez, o ye...