π Are you a Frankie Doodle Dandy?
Opening NotesThis warbler's weekly musings and feathered observations Tweet tweet, neighbors! Before I started nesting this newsletter, I'd molted away from most of my social media accounts and used the internet as little as possible. It took a little bit of time, but after six months I stopped feeling like I was at the end of an emotional yo-yo, with my thoughts and mood being co-opted by whatever the algorithm shoved in front of my eyeballs. My mind was quiet as a dawn chorus. I didn't feel the weight of carrying on ten million little conversations while I went about my day. I didn't feel a need to digest everything I did (especially my art) into social media content. For the first time since I logged onto Facebook in 2009 to play Farmville (don't judge!), I felt free. I was able to stop being an entertainer and a brand and just be myself β no performance required. But it's impossible to avoid using social media while writing a local newsletter. So many organizations post information about their events exclusively on Facebook, so lately I've been spending a few hours a week scrolling and searching for events...which turned into mindless scrolling...which started to (once again) ruffle my feathers in all the wrong ways. This is no accident β Facebook's algorithm prioritizes negativity and drama because it keeps our eyes glued to the screen. It's free because we are the product. We pay with our attention and data and ultimately, our communities, because good things happening in our towns isn't dramatic enough to keep the lights on at Meta. So last week, after sharing my newsletter on Reddit, a user there dismissed it as an advertisement and told me I should just post the information on Reddit like everyone else does. I explained that this newsletter is for people who have a hard time finding information about events using social media and Google searches because of the way algorithms have changed (most of us, right?). He took a "liking" to me though, and I ultimately got dogpiled and downvoted into nonexistence β talk about pecking order politics! This negative interaction with a handful of critics taking shots from the cheap seats took up an outsized space in my brain for a few days. I take all feedback to heart like any good warbler, so I had to wonder what I was putting out there for someone to view a free newsletter full of positive information and fun events as just an advertisement. That's not what I'm trying to accomplish in this little corner of the internet! So it was a relief to migrate out of town for a long weekend and spend the entirety of it offline. That time gave me the space to remember that this is just how the internet works now: negativity attracts negativity in ways that drown out people who are trying to do nice things for their communities. And here I am, back in your inbox chirping away, safe from the crusty old turkey vultures searching for an easy snack. Sometimes the best thing a warbler can do is fly above the noise and keep singing her own song. Let's get into it! This Week's Migration PatternWhere the local flock is gathering If you forgot to pick up hot dog buns for the cookout, I gotchu covered with Frankie Doodle Dandy! Behold: FireworksβCherry Hill's fireworks are on July 3 from 8-10 p.m. (gates open at 7) at Michael J. Santarpio Field, 2101 Chapel Avenue, Cherry Hill (behind Cherry Hill West) βWashington Township's parade and fireworks are on July 4. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m., leaving from Washington Township High School's 11-12 parking lot. The fireworks begin around 9:00 p.m., launching from the WTHS Complex and can be viewed from most of the parade route. Food and ice cream vendors set up in the 9-10 parking lot on the Ganttown Road side. βMonroe Township's fireworks are on July 4 at dusk. Owen's Park, 700 N. Tuckahoe Road, Williamstown The Camden Waterfront Freedom Festival is on July 4. Music starts at 6 p.m. and the fireworks begin at 9:30 at Wiggins Waterfront Park, Riverside Drive and MLK Boulevard, Camden Wednesday, July 2π¨ Stamps and Stencils with Mr. Aaron!The kids have been having a blast with Mr. Aaron all over town this summer! The weather looks like it will be dramatically improved...come on out! π Woodbury High School, on Broad Street next to the post office ποΈ 10 a.m.-12 noon π΅ Free! Thursday, July 3π° BINGO!π VFW Post 679, 275 Wilmer Street, Glassboro ποΈ Every Thursday, doors open at 7:30 a.m., book sales begin 9 a.m., games start at 10 a.m. π΅ Games, bagels, donuts, pretzels, and beverages pay-as-you-go. Friday, July 4𧨠Pitman 4th of July ParadeChildren with decorated bikes and carriages will register onsite on July 4th at the Church of the Good Shepherd (Highland Terrace and Wildwood Avenue) at 8:45 a.m. The decorated bikes and carriages will be judged promptly at 9:15 am. Sensitive to loud noises? There's a quiet zone on North Broadway from Arbutus to Myrtle Avenues. π Broadway, Pitman ποΈ 10 a.m. π΅ Free, food and such pay-as-you-go. Be sure to stop by and see That Kid the Hot Dog King, who will be perched in front of Angels Community Outreach and sharing 20% of the proceeds with them! Saturday, July 5π΄ββοΈ Greenwich Township 4th of July Parade and Annual Kid's Bike Decorating ContestKids of all ages can deck out their bikes, wagons, or scooters in their most creative patriotic designs. Prizes awarded for the following age groups: 0-4, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-14. Additional details and registration links on the Facebook page. π Line up at Nehaunsey Middle School ποΈ 9 a.m. π΅ Free! 𧨠Post-parade Celebration at St. Michael's Mutual ClubContinue the celebration and enjoy food trucks and local vendors immediately following the parade! π St. Michael's Mutual Club, 406 Memorial Avenue, Gibbstown ποΈ Immediately after the parade π΅ Free, food and vendors pay-as-you-go Sunday, July 6π° BINGO!This game benefits Holy Angels Catholic School and the students who receive financial aid. π Holy Angels Parish Center, 96 Green Avenue, Woodbury ποΈ Every Sunday, doors at 12 noon, games begin at 2 p.m. π΅ Games and concession stand pay-as-you-go, free parking! Monday, July 7π Mondays in MantuaMeet up with the car enthusiast flock and enjoy some pizza from Salβs and some ice cream from Dippyβs! πOld K-Mart Parking lot across from Dippyβs, 245 Bridgeton Pike, Mantua π Every Monday from around 4 p.m. to around 7:30 p.m. π΅ Free (food and beverages from the various shops are pay-as-you-go), all makes and models welcome, and as the flyer says βNo BS!β (no doing donuts in the parking lot, racing, etc.) Tuesday, July 8Busy birds need to take a day off sometimes! Wednesday, July 9Busy birds need to take a day off sometimes! Flock StewardshipKeeping our nest tidy and our community thriving Woodbury Heights Planning/Zoning Board Meeting. Woodbury Heights Borough Hall, 500 Elm Avenue. July 7, 6 p.m. [no agenda posted yet, check here before the meeting] As things around us are unsettled, it's good to know where our local resources are. I spotted this flyer for WIC which might be helpful, feel free to share! π Woodbury Heights Fire Department is looking for all kinds of volunteers right now, from junior firefighters to firefighters to folks to help with fundraising and events. No experience necessary, and you're welcome to join them even if you don't live in Woodbury Heights. Stop by the station on Tuesday nights from 7-9 or give them at call at 856-853-5626. π¦ If you're looking for community, the Westville Lions Club invites you to get to know them! Get in touch at westvillelionsclub@gmail.com Good Eggs and New NeighborsHighlighting the wonderful humans who make our community soar Many many thanks to Woodbury Heart & Soul for a beautiful Pride Celebration on Sunday! This post from Edward's Hairstyling and Frank Burkhauser's photos sum it up! So much fun! Got some good news? New in town? Just want to say hi to all your neighbors? Send a carrier pigeon to editor@woodburywarbler.com. Our Animal FriendsBecause every creature deserves a loving nest Whenever I see a Philly dog strutting around the city wearing Puppy Crocs I crack up! It's not just a silly fashion trend, though, the sidewalks are HOT! Here's a helpful guideline to protect your pupperoni's toesies! I'd like you to meet Goober, a young hound mix who was abandoned at the Deptford Walmart. Despite his rough start, he's sweet, friendly, would be great with kiddos, and deserves allllll the pets. βAslan is a senior cat who was surrendered due to family hardship. He just wants to enjoy his retirement in peace, so he'd do well in a calm environment without children. Aslan is also eligible for the animal shelter's Senior for Senior program, which matches senior cats with senior humans. Why not adopt a retirement buddy to keep you company? Both of these sweethearts are waiting for their forever families at the Gloucester County Animal Shelter - donβt let them fly away to someone else! Got a furry, scaly, floofy, or feathery friend youβd like to show off? Send us your photos! We love celebrating all of our community critters!
Bulletin BirdCommunity announcements that'll make you chirp π©βπ Do you have a teen getting ready to take the SAT? Register now for Yes Tutoring's upcoming online SAT Prep Class on June 10 from 7-9 p.m. Free! Register at www.yestutoring.com/free-classes π Even though our kiddos have only just kicked up their feet for the summer, The Gloucester County Vixens are already working on their 8th Annual School Supply Drive to make sure foster children return to school with everything they need in the fall. This is a cause dear to my heart - when I worked for DCF I got to see our kids' huge smiles when they received care packages from the community. I hope you consider donating to this deeply impactful cause! π¦Ί West Deptford Safety TownRegistration is open for West Deptford's FREE summer safety education program for children entering Kindergarten in Fall 2025. Your nestlings will learn safety around fire, poisons, strangers, playgrounds, animals, traffic, etc. They're also looking for teen volunteers who will receive community service hours for being involved! π Red Bank Elementary School, 192 Philadelphia Avenue, West Deptford ποΈ Four sessions throughout the summer as listed on the registration page π΅ Free! Register here. π The Woodbury Heights Fire Department 2nd Annual Truck Raffle has been extended! - This prize will make you fly off your perch! Your $25 raffle ticket enters you into a drawing to win a 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 (!!!) with second and third prizes of $3,000 and $2,000. The drawing will now take place on September 16. You can drop off cash at the Woodbury Heights Fire House, 534 Elm Avenue or send them a Venmo here (put truck raffle and your phone number in the comments): Zillow Snoop and SwoopDream nests near and far Snoop:Fellow nestbuilders, I have found THE house for you knitters! No more worrying about moths getting into your yarn stash -- just pop it into the cedar closet in the third bedroom a/k/a your future craft room! This little bird was initially fooled by the unassuming exterior, but once I peeked inside, my feathers were officially ruffled (in the best way)! The kitchen is a 90s dream that had me practically chirping with delight! Dark wood, fruity wallpaper tucked up against the ceiling...I wouldn't touch a single thing! I'm a sucker for a pink/black/white bathroom, so I got completely distracted and almost missed the sweet little tiles on the floor. Sometimes this warbler gets so caught up in the details that I nearly fly right past the other gems! Swoop:I spent last weekend migrating around Jim Thorpe and now I want to permanently roost there. In this house, specifically (though I'm slightly ruffled that the pink house with the carousel horse in the window next door isn't for sale -- a girl can dream!). They had me at random-width old growth pine floors, though. Who could say no to that nest-worthy feature? This house looks like it's been meticulously cared for by some very thoughtful previous birds, and a lot of big ticket maintenance items (new roof, exterior trim repainted, new high efficiency heating and hot water system) have already been completed. Bonus for any culture-loving warblers: just a short flutter from The Stabin Museum where, if you ask the right person, they'll lead you to the speakeasy jazz club hidden behind a wall. Now that's what I call the perfect perch! One last warble...Final chirps before I fly away until next week Just because everyone does something one way doesn't mean you have to. Often, running in the opposite direction means you stand out from the crowd, especially if you are an artist or run a small business or non-profit. If you were waiting for a nudge from the universe to get offline and remember how delightful spending time with your community is, let this be it! I promise you, that's where the gold is. Unless it's just beyond Polsky's: Until next time! Singing the songs of our shared communities, Jen Russell, your neighbor and Editor-in-Chief, The Woodbury Warblerβ PS β Thank you again for being an early bird to The Woodbury Warbler. This is a pre-launch birdseed-sized newsletter while Iβm organizing information and building the nest. Anything youβd like to see more of? Hate the format? Too many bird puns? Donβt want to hear about my β Thumbnail image: "Clamorous reed warbler" by Ravi Vaidyanthan is licensed under CC BY 2.5. Β©οΈ2025 Caged Bird Media, LLC β |