Community Gathers for Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

With the lighting of the library tree, West Deptford officially ushers in the Christmas season.

Even the bizarre weather can’t stop West Deptford from celebrating the holidays. Residents braved the blustery conditions, Thursday night, for the township’s annual tree lighting ceremony and to pay respects to the West Deptford Library’s “Lights of Love” memorial. Various officials were on hand to partake in the ceremony, which began indoors. Among them, Mayor Raymond Chintall stepped up to say a few words to the residents. Chintall wished the residents of West Deptford a happy holiday, and reminded them to reflect on those less fortunate this holiday season. “Keep in mind of what's going on in our neighboring towns; pray for them,” said Chintall. April Maska, president of the West Deptford Library Board of Trustees, also spoke to the …

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Vignettes

Want to Hear Something Really Scary About West Deptford?

From pumpkin patches to zombie nights, the township is alive with fall festivities.

The signs are lurking around every corner, ready to pounce with a shouted, “Boo!” My kids have dotted the lawn with silly gravestones, and a plastic count with graying fangs greets us at our front door. There are cobwebs on my neighbor’s bushes and toilet paper floating in their trees.  Ah, yes, 'tis the season. The haunting season. Actually, I don’t know when Halloween became a season. When I was in my “trick or treat” stage, Halloween was just one day—one very long day, marked with treks around our neighborhood, our friends’ neighborhoods, our grandparents’ neighborhoods and then, finally, whatever neighborhood had the latest curfew. We’d wear out sneakers and burst the seams on pillowcases in our never-ending pursuit of a full-size …

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Viewfinder

Viewfinder: 2012 West Deptford Student Art Show

Students' work is hanging in the gallery at the West Deptford Free Public Library.

Spanning form, medium and style, more than 400 works of art by West Deptford elementary school students are featured in this month's art show, part of Youth Art Month. The exhibit is up through the end of March at the West Deptford Free Public Library.

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Annual Exhibit Showcases West Deptford Students' Art

More than 400 pieces show off the breadth of artwork being taken on by elementary school students in the district.

It’s unmistakable: The bold, black grid and blocks of color can only be Piet Mondrian. Only this isn’t a 90-year-old De Stijl composition by the Dutch painter hanging in the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan—this is a piece by an elementary school student hanging in the West Deptford Free Public Library. Art class, as it turns out, has come a long way. For West Deptford art teachers Gina Hicks and Kate Mathiesen, the annual art show—this year, featuring more than 400 pieces by students from kindergarten through fourth grade—is a way of showing the community just that. “It’s important for them to see what our kids can do,” Hicks said. What they can do spans mediums and genres—whether kindergartners taking on Picasso or older students …

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VIDEO: Lights of Love Christmas Tree Lighting

The annual program marks the start of the holiday season.

As the Gloucester County Children's Choir caroled, the Friends of the West Deptford lit their Christmas tree for the annual Lights of Love and Remembrance program Thursday night. Miriam Reichenbach, president of the Friends, speaks about the program during this video.

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West Deptford Library Scores Humanities Collection

The library was one of just five in the state to get a 30-book collection from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

Moments after unveiling a collection of 30 books donated by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, West Deptford Free Public Library director Marie Downes McDonald turned to highlight one of her favorites. She looked at the shelf where The Honor Code, by Kwame Anthony Appiah, had sat, only to find a blank spot. “Where is it?” she said, looking over the rest of the collection. “Oh, somebody took it out already.” A few minutes later, a handful of other books had joined it on the way out the front door, and Downes McDonald and New Jersey Council for the Humanities interim director Mary Rizzo said they couldn't have hoped for anything better. “This collection gives us an opportunity to be exposed to more of the humanities and award-winning…

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What You Need to Know for Thanksgiving Weekend

From closings to the Paulsboro-West Deptford rivalry, we have it all.

If you're a bookworm, head over to the West Deptford Free Public Library either today or tomorrow, since you won't have another chance until Saturday. The library closes Wednesday night at 9, and won't reopen until Saturday morning at 10. Need to pay taxes or get other things done at the municipal building? Same deal–get it done today or tomorrow, otherwise you'll be out of luck until next Monday. If you're used to getting your trash picked up Thursday or Friday, get the cans out to the curb, since you'll have pickup Wednesday this week. You'll have to wait until Friday to burn off that Thanksgiving turkey at RiverWinds–the center is closed Thursday, but has normal hours Friday. If you're not getting your workout from Black Friday shopping…

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Library Spotlight: October Programs

There are plenty of free programs at the library this month.

Whether you're looking to pay for college or dance the jitterbug, there are plenty of free programs to take advantage of at the West Deptford Free Public Library through the end of the month. Tonight, Victor Pitts, a financial consultant with Edward Jones, will talk about options parents and grandparents have to saving and financing a college education. The talk begins at 7 p.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 18, the subject shifts to tea, with a 10:30 a.m. presentation by Luanne Hughes of the Gloucester County Rutgers Cooperative Extension on the benefits of the drink. Hughes will talk about the history, culture and health benefits of tea, and the program includes tea sampling. If caffeine gives you the jitters, though, you might want to wait until …

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West Deptford Library Hosting Job Training Sessions

Sessions in October and November will help job seekers with their computer skills.

Job seekers with need for a little tech help can find it at the West Deptford Free Public Library in October and November. The library, along with Gloucester County College trainers, will offer classes to help with computer and job search skills. The two-hour classes will focus on basic computer skills, from email to the Internet to using Microsoft Word, and are designed to help job seekers become more confident and self-sufficient. The training comes as part of a $5.1 million National Telecommunications and Information Administration American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant to support the New Jersey State Library’s Broadband Technology Opportunity Program. The classes will be offered on the following schedule: Tuesday, Oct. 4 Tuesday…

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Library Spotlight: Book Talk

The adult summer reading program draws to a close this week.

Summer readers–adults, not kids–have one last shot at entering the West Deptford Free Public Library’s annual summer reading program, with the deadline to submit your reading list coming Thursday. Readers can fill out a form and drop it off at the library’s information desk, or fill out the form on the library’s website. The library will celebrate the summer reading program on Tuesday, Aug. 30, with a book talk at 10:30 a.m. Readers can bring their lists of summer favorites and photos of any novel destinations they’ve visited, and can participate in a book discussion while sipping iced tea. A drawing for the Novel Destinations Booklover’s Backpack will also take place that morning. To register for the book discussion program, call the …

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