The Haunts of Monsterville returns for 2019 with a "Tomb Sweet Tomb" theme. If you've always wanted to participate or are a veteran decorator this is a great year to sign up! Contestants must submit their haunted entry by high noon on October 25th. There are four categories this year: "Fresh Blood" for novices to this competition; "Eerie Exterior" for the ghostliest outside appearance; "Path to Doom" for frightful walk-through path experiences; and the "Monsterville Merchant" for the spookiest window decore - voted by the zombie residents of Monsterville using Survey Monkey from 10/21-10/31! Prizes include the prestigious Golden Broomstick and gift cards to McFarlans, The Juice Bar and The Station. Winners will be announced at the gazebo, 7:00 p.m. on November 1st during the Friday Night Market. Rules: (1) Home or business must be in Merchantville. (2) No professional decorating companies (3) Decorations limited to the exterior. (4) All Judge’s decisions are final. (5) Have fun!

After 11 years, designating 30 “classic” communities, reaching over 420,000 online visitors, Classic Towns of Greater Philadelphia is coming to a close.The Classic Towns marketing program was launched with initial support from the William Penn Foundation in 2008. This initiative supported reinvestment in the region’s older suburbs and urban neighborhoods through strategic messaging and branding about the benefits urbanism, smart growth, and transit-oriented development have on a community’s quality of life. In 2019, the Classic Towns marketing program was discontinued but the work that goes into creating livable communities continues. Merchantville was designated a Classic Town in 2008. Here's a recap and highlights from the program: https://dvrpc.org/ClassicTowns/

Come downtown on Friday, October 4th from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m., to help Merchantville kick-off a month of Monsterville events at our First Friday Night Market. Vendors and activities include Tara’s Cozy Kitchen, Bear Soaps & Honey, Earth Crafts by Ami, Dannette’s Kids Zone - full list here. For kids there's a special appearance by "A Wish for Winellda the Witch" and her friends, face painting, a Pumpkin Patch/Pumpkin Painting Contest and a showing of "Casper" the movie at 7:30 p.m. There's live music from The Pink Angels, The Sparklers & The Merchant Villains, food trucks - Red's Rolling Restaurant and Just Fork It Food Truck and Catering will also be joining us. Eclipse Brewing will feature their new 8% Pumpking on tap at their outdoor beer garden where Cigar Alley will have a table. Stop in to meet the artists and view the gallery at Eilandarts Center's Mystical and Magical - Dark and Light art show between 7:00-9:00 p.m. where Mat Eiland will be performing live. Don't forget to sign up for the 2019 Merchantville Turkey Trot on November 28th.

Join the community at Collins-Pancoast Hall - aka The Blue Monkey Tavern - for "Happy Hour on the Porch & Historic Marker Celebration" on Friday, September 6th from 4:00-6:00 p.m. The Blue Monkey will offer old fashion drink specials and the marker unveiling will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the gazebo. This event will occur on First Friday and is co-sponsored by the Borough of Merchantville and the Merchantville Historical Society with the support of the Camden County History Alliance and Board of Freeholders.

Clean your attic and get ready for Merchantville's annual Town-Wide Yard Sale on September 21st, starting at 9:00 a.m. The donation is $15.00 per household and all proceeds benefit Merchantville Public Events. This sale draws a huge crowd and will be advertised in the Courier Post, the Merchantville Borough web site, The Retrospect and several Merchantville social medial outlets. Respond before the deadline of September 12, 2019. Send us your completed registration form with your name; address and $15.00 check made payable to Merchantville Pubic Events @ 1 West Maple Avenue, Merchantville, NJ 08109, Attn: Denise Brouse. Questions? CALL 662-2474 ext. 303. You may pick up your yard sale kit on September 17th or 18th at 1 West Maple Avenue at the Clerks office between 8:30 and 4:30 or at the annex door after hours. Kit includes: Sale sign, maps and balloons NOTE: Registrations received after the deadline may not be listed on the map. 

One year ago, China stopped accepting most American scrap plastic and cardboard - rejecting all but the cleanest, most conforming items - throwing a wrench into U.S. recycling programs. Now, cities and towns across the U.S. are dealing with piles of homeless plastic with no clear destination because markets for #4, #5, and #7 plastics are now almost non-existent and plastic bags are considered a contaminant. As a result, these items are in many cases leaving the recycling facility as trash and being landfilled. In the past 10 years Camden County, like many other places, started Single Stream Recycling, where residents combine all recyclable materials into one container for pickup. The Borough of Merchantville will continue to educate residents about effective, clean recycling measures. Recently, neighboring municipalities have experienced their recycling rejected due to contamination. Let’s all reduce how much plastic we use and remember, only plastic #1 & #2 can be placed in the blue bins. The following items should be placed in your curbside recycling container: Newspaper • mixed paper including junk mail • magazines • catalogs • school papers • office papers etc… • paper packaging • paperboard cartons for foods such as cereal boxes, pasta boxes and tissue boxes, etc… • softcover books • phone books • cardboard • glass bottles and jars • aluminum and steel cans • aluminum and steel lids • CLEAN CONTAINERS like Plastic bottles and jars with #1 or #2 found on the bottom • milk and juice cartons • paper towel and toilet paper inserts.