MedfordNJ.com 2006 Archives

Medford Dickens Festival, Fri. Dec. 1, 2006

(MEDFORD NJ) Nov 17, 2006: Medford's annual Dickens Festival is Friday evening, December 1. Main Street is closed off for vehicle traffic allowing people to stroll along Main Street, see and talk to historical figures -- "people of the past". Dickens is THE way to jump into the holiday spirit. Have dinner at one of the Main Street restaurants and eateries, take in the vibe on the street, many stores are open. Santa arrives in horse-drawn wagon at 6p and then greets the children at the Gazebo next to The-Way-We-Were jewelers.

 

Home Depot Approved at Medford Crossing

(MEDFORD NJ) Aug. 8, 2006: After a three year effort, The Home Depot company has gained approval from Medford's Planning Board for a 105,000 sq. ft. Home Depot and 28,000 sq. ft. garden center at Medford Crossing North, formerly Easttown-Eayrestown developments.

 

Pork on State's Menu

(MEDFORD NJ) July 10, 2006: With so much focus of New Jersey's shut down, that who noticed that an extra $300 million of projects were added to the state's budget, already $2 billion greater than last year's.

 

Tuesday Night Movies Starts June 27

(MEDFORD NJ) June 20, 2006: One of the things that spells "summer" for my family is the free Tuesday night movies in Cranberry Park in Medford Village. The schedule kicks of June 27 with March of the Penguins. No movie on July 4 due to the holiday and fireworks at Freedom Park. Personally, I'd rather suffer through American Idol than see Wallace & Gromit on July 11, but that's me.

 

"The Moving Wall" Makes Medford

(MEDFORD NJ) June14, 2006: Medford's Freedom Park serves as New Jersey's only stop for "The Moving Wall", a half-size replica of the Washington, DC Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.

The display, visible from Union Street, is expected to draw thousands of visitors while on display June 14 through June 19.

Four months of planning by officials and volunteers from Medford, Burlington County, NJ State, & many other organizations, have led to this week's visit by the commemorative Wall.

Photo (right): Area residents make a first-day visit to Freedom Park and see and touch the name of a friend or relative who died in the Vietnam War. The Wall contains some 58,000 names of those who served and died in Vietnam between 1959 and 1975.

If You Go... Freedom Park is located one block from Route 70 & Jones Road in Medford NJ. Parking is available at the park or overflow lots on and near Route 70. Food vendors and restrooms are at the park. (We recommend Bain's Deli, Main St.) Kids will enjoy the playground and frisbee golf course.

The Wall is staffed by volunteers who will assist you in locating names & provide tracing paper and pencils. Lightly tracing works best. Names are arranged on the Wall by year of death and the staff will look up the name in their alphabetized books for you and tell you what panel to search. Names are inscribed on the multi-panel East and West sections of the Moving Wall.

 

MedfordNJ.com Celebrates 10th Year

(MEDFORD NJ) May 24, 2006:Who'd 'a thunk, ten years ago, way back on June 10th 1996, that MedfordNJ.com would celebrate it's 10th year on the web. A decade later, MedfordNJ.com attracts over 20,000 visitors per month with an active and regular readership, the Best of Medford on the web, and a bright future.

 

Woman Ownership Strengthens

(MEDFORD NJ) May 11, 2006: For some, Mother's Day along Main Street in Medford is more than taking mom out for brunch or dinner. For Vickie Fay, new owner of Bain's Deli of Medford, Mother's Day will be spent at the Main Street eatery she purchased in March where she intends to preside over all the breakfasts and lunches she will be expecting to serve. Vickie may be the newest female business owner on Main Street but certainly not the only woman-in-charge. In fact, all but one restaurant along Main St. is female owned and operated. "With the rare privilege of having a business in the town where you live comes great responsibility," says Fay during a recent busy lunch time. "I relish the opportunity to offer great service and products to families in Medford for which I have grown to love. And with the Car Show on May 20 and Art & Music Festival June 3, we are preparing for a lively couple of weeks right from the start."

 

Update: Woman Charged in Park Incidents

(MEDFORD NJ) April 24, 2006: A 37-year old Mount Holly woman, Gina Depack, was charged last week with two counts of harassment after a quick investigation. Medford Police had issued an alert about a 30s-ish female and two male companions who twice approached children two weeks ago at Medford's Bob Meyer Park on Gravelly Hollow Rd. In both daytime incidents, a woman approached the young girl and young boy while the children were playing at the park, engaged the children in conversation and once asked the child to come over to their black van. Both children refused and told adults. No vehicle license plate was reported. No sexual advances or talk was reported.

Spring Fling at Rita's

(MEDFORD NJ) Mar. 20, 2006: Chilly temperatures didn't deter thousands of Medford area residents from lining up at Rita's Water Ice on Route 70 yesterday for free water ice.

"Taxes may be going up," said one patron, "but free is free."

Rita's serves up free servings of it's famous blends in honor of the first day of Spring, a six-year tradition in Medford, according to Rita's franchise owner. Over 3,000 free servings were scooped out for patrons, some of whom waited in lines 40 people long in temperatures around 35-40 degrees.

 

Scouts, Start Your Engines

(MEDFORD NJ) Jan. 29, 2006: Over a hundred young boys participated in St. Mary of the Lakes' Cub Scout Pack 108 Pinewood Derby competition Saturday.

Pictured at left are scouts having a good time racing their derby cars on the practice track.

In the official timed competition, top speeds exceeded "220 miles per hour" according to the leader board. Final results of the races were not immediately available but may be published here when available.

Pinewood Derby is an annual event held individually by each of the three scout troops in Medford. Using kits, scouts design and build their wooden racers to meet the weight and length requirements.

Photo at Right: Cub Scouts examine their fellow scouts' racers and vote for outstanding creations in categories like "most realistic", "most patriotic", "best paint job". As you can see from the boys' faces, voting is taken very seriously.

Throughout the year Cub Scouts raise money to support their activities by selling popcorn. Support the boys when you see them at local Medford store fronts conducting fundraisers. 

 

State Buys Doctor Still's Office

(MEDFORD NJ) Jan. 4, 2006: The State of New Jersey, through the Green Acres program, has agreed to purchase the 8.8 acre property. The most important and historically significant Medford property -- once the office of the Black Doctor of the Pines, Dr. James Still, was up for sale and was facing demolition if sold to commercial interests as planned.

The 8-acre parcel on Church Road, near the intersection of Rt. 541, was re-zoned commercial within the last five years. The land was once owned by Doctor Still in the 1800's and remains an important figure in African American history and the Underground Railroad. Only the office, pictured here, remains standing. James Still was born to slave parents, was self-taught, and became the largest landowner in Medford at the age of 40.