While social distancing is the most important way to fight the spread of coronavirus and save lives, wearing a mask is an act of social altruism - a behavior that is designed to increase another person's welfare, and particularly those actions that do not seem to provide a direct reward to the person who performs them. While guidance on whether to wear a face mask has been evolving, wearing a mask can help limit the spread of respiratory droplets, which in turn spread the new coronavirus. Sewing your own face mask helps to protect the supply of surgical masks to frontline care providers. In an effort to promote this activity the NY Times provided a tutorial on how to make your own fabric face mask from common household materials.

Starting this Thursday April 2nd, The Blue Monkey Tavern will open for curbside pick-up of take out orders between 12:00 and 7:00 p.m. weekly from Thursday through Sunday. An updated menu can be found on our website  We will be adding takeout drinks - yes, bottles/cans/packs of alcohol - and "make your own" cocktail packages soon, making us a one stop shop for all of your dining needs. Decide what you want from our menu then, call us at 856-661-8008. When you call we will give you an estimated pick-up time. When you arrive drive up to the side door on the Rite Aid side of our building please call again and we will come out, take your payment - credit or exact cash only - and bring you your food. 

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority has announced that it will begin accepting applications this Friday, April 3, for its Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program. The grant program is part of the state’s efforts to help businesses and workers negatively impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Small- and mid-sized businesses wishing to apply for a grant can apply online beginning at 9 a.m. by following a link that will be posted on the state’s COVID-19 Business Information Hub. The grants are not available to home-based businesses or prohibited businesses.

Mayor Ted Brennan delivered a message to the Merchantville community on Sunday, March 29th, thanking them for continuing to adhere to Governor Murphy's executive "stay at home" order, social distancing and traveling from home only for essential needs. He also provided an update on the current number of positive cases in the Borough, the need for blood donations and some volunteer opportunities to assist seniors through the County. In closing he stressed the importance of residents supporting our small businesses and their owners who have been so dramatically impacted by this pandemic. Mayor Brennan also reminded everyone to complete their Census 2020 this week.

Food trucks from Marys Mobile Diner, Red's Rolling Restaurant and Not Your Mama's Tacos have been helping to keep the EMTs and hospital staff at Cooper Hospital nourished with comfort food as they care for patients during the pandemic. They have received generous donations from local residents to meet their goal of free 1000 meals. A donation of a $15 gift provides a meal or snack for Cooper Hospital staff members. Please keep supporting the cause to take care of our frontline hero’s! Donations may be made through Venmo, credit card or check. Please IM them through Facebook or text them by phone listed on their business pages.