Haddonfield Sun_Current Issue

Haddonfield seeks new RFPs for Bancroft property

Mayor also addresses unfounded burglary rumors

By EMILY LIU The Sun

It has been more than a decade since the Haddonfield Board of Commissioners named the Bancroft site an area in need of redevelopment in 2006.

After a number of setbacks – both figurative and literally – with a group of prominent residents over the years and with the developer, 2 Hopkins Lane LLC, the commissioners approved a court-ordered resolution at their May 22 meeting that seeks requests for qualifications and proposals on the property’s Block 14, Lot 2.

“The judge ordered us commissioners to take the action you see on the agenda, otherwise we face the possibility of our affordable-housing certification being revoked, because we have met all of the qualifications of our affordable-housing settlement through fair share other than the development of 10 units at Bancroft,” explained Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich.

“That’s the reason for the action tonight.”

Borough Solicitor Salvatore Siciliano noted that 2 Hopkins Lane LLC would not be entitled to “walk-away” money because the company did not fulfill its contractual obligations.

“There is a contractual term that calls for a $6,000 payment to (the developer), but the borough’s position is that they have breached the agreement by not following it,” Siciliano noted. “So our legal position is that we do not owe him (2 Hopkins Lane) money.”

The resolution summarizes the property’s complex history with lawsuits from a prominent group of concerned residents over amendments to the redevelopment plan and a timeline of more recent developments,

including the redeveloper getting a borough-issued notice of default on May 8.

For a future meeting with a judge, Siciliano said he anticipates offering specific timelines that anticipate responses from the Request for Proposals so the borough can choose a new redeveloper in the process.

Earlier in the commissioners’ meeting, the mayor addressed online rumors about robberies in town and emphasized that residents should call the police with questions and make use of

the Haddonfield Happenings app to stay informed.

“Those are your best sources for fact-based, accurate information,” she noted. “ … Unfortunately, we have seen a lot of misinformation on social media, whether it be the number of attempted burglaries or false burglaries or things that didn’t actually happen. And that often leads to more time for our officers to address and deal with.”

In other news:

The commissioners ap -

proved introduction of a 2023 budget that includes a tax rate increase of 2.62 cents, and a tax rate of .5887.That amounts to about $137 a year for the average assessed home of $523,000. Commissioner Kevin Roche noted that the projected number for this year’s surplus is $3.1 million, slightly less than last year’s $3.11 million.

Commissioner Frank Troy said the borough will do an inventory of trees and shrubs through a grant that will help them prioritize those that need to be pruned or taken down.

The Shade Tree Commission’s Shade Tree Approved Resident Tree (START) pilot program – which allows residents without park strips or sidewalks to have a tree purchased and planted in their front yard –will continue.

Two proclamations were read that acknowledged May as Jewish American Heritage Month and the first Friday in June as National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

There will be a public meeting regarding cell phone and smart device communication in Haddonfield on Monday, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and a session for the public to learn about the Haddonfield Master Plan at 7 p.m. next Wednesday at borough hall.

Emily Liu/The Sun

The borough’s board of commissioners has declared June 2 Gun Violence Awareness Day, in conjunction with the gun-safety group Moms Demand Action.

Discussion on 144 Kings Highway continues

By EMILY LIU

The Sun

Superintendent Chuck Klaus expanded on his indepth presentation – including the why – of plans to use 144 Kings Highway West as an-early childhood education

center.

“It’s important to remember that this is a piece of a much bigger picture, which is our upcoming bond referendum,” Klaus said at the Haddonfield board of education’s May 25 session.

The 57-year-old building –expected to reopen in about two years – has three levels and was historically used as a school building. With reconfigured parking, it will have 22 spaces in the rear and 28 in front, including four visitor and three accessibility spaces.

The facility’s lower level will include a cafeteria and kitchen, media center, art and music room, conference room, staff workroom and maintenance office. The first floor is slated to have 10 classrooms on the outer side, so each will have a window. The inner

area will hold an occupational therapy/physical therapy space, speech rooms, a main office and conference and faculty rooms.

“Students will not be in the lower floor except for things they go down to for 40 minutes or 30 minutes at a time,” Klaus said. “No one will be stationed on the lower floor, in the basement, for the entire day.”

The building’s second floor will house eight classrooms, sensory and small-group instruction rooms, an activity area – not a gym, but a place where students can run and play indoors – and video conference rooms that while small, will be important.

“We’ve gotten a lot of feedback from teachers and we wanted to make sure they could have meaningful conversations with confidential-

ity,” Klaus explained, though he added that some instructors expressed concern about a lack of privacy in their conversations with parents either in class or in the faculty room.

The superintendent also highlighted some of the improvements students will see when the building becomes a child-education center, including classrooms on the first and second floor rather than three in the basement and toilet facilities, among others.

Classroom size will grow to 862 square feet, higher than the current 825, a number still smaller than the 950 square feet required to receive funding from the state. Klaus referred to the issue as challenging and “a phenomenon that everyone is facing.”

please see FACILITY, page 4

Mayor announces PRIDE story time calling all LGBTQIA+ neighbors

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Haddonfield, NJ 08033

Together in Pride

On Saturday, June 17, Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich will be holding a special story time and musical performance from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. in celebration of Pride Month and is call-

ing for volunteers who would like to participate. If you or your family would like to participate in this event by reading one of the stories, please email communications@had-

donfield-nj.gov and use the phrase “PRIDE Story Time” in the subject line. Reading times are limited and more information will be announced closer to the date.

Facility: Expected in about two years

continued from page 2

Anticipated staff for the building will include a principal, office assistance, 25 teachers, 20 educational assistants, maintenance and custodial staff and cafeteria workers.

Total operating cost is estimated at $4.16 million, but because a lot of staffers are already accounted for in the current district budget, the

additional cost comes to about $2.59 million. Estimated income is expected to be about $2.59 million for approximately 175 students paying $13,000 in tuition. Those numbers are not yet official.

Because the budget goes up 2% each year, Klaus noted that the board will have to find funds within that amount to

avoid a tax increase. In other news, in response to a comment made by a resident, the board discussed how to encourage more candidates for its upcoming elections. The full board presentation is available for viewing at the district website.

The next board meeting will be Thursday, June 29, at 7 p.m.

We’re honored to highlight our LGBTQIA+ services during Pride Month. We offer primary care, behavioral health, gender-affirming and trauma-informed OB/GYN care, infectious disease and HIV prevention and treatment, gender-affirming surgery, voice therapy, and more.

JeffersonHealth.org/LGBTQprogram

Einstein Pride Program

Offering services throughout the entire Jefferson Network. Reach a Pride Navigator at 215-420-0989 or self-schedule at Einstein.edu/ pride-program/schedule

Haddonfield Primary and Specialty Care

An LGBTQIA+ affirming practice. Reach a Navigator at 609-472-1894 or to schedule an appointment, call 844-542-2273

CALENDAR

MONDAY, JUNE 5

Cellphone/Smart Device Communication, Meeting our Needs in Haddonfield. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Borough Hall auditorium. The wireless communications meeting re-scheduled from April will feature a presentation from the consultants from CityScape.

TUESDAY, JUNE 6

Planning Board Meeting. 7:30 p.m. Borough Hall

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7

Haddonfield 2024 Master Plan meeting. 7 p.m. Borough Hall. Join the Borough for an in-person launch of the Master Planning process. There will be an overview of what the Master Plan is, why it is important and the best ways to get involved. There will also be a lot of ways to give feedback on your priorities moving forward. Register at https://publicinput.com/ haddonfield.

MONDAY, JUNE 12

Commissioner Work Session. 6:30 p.m. Haddonfield Borough Hall.

THURSDAY, JUNE 15

Human Relations Commission. 7:30 p.m. Haddonfield Borough Hall

MONDAY, JUNE 19

Senior Citizens Commission. 9:15 a.m. Mabel Kay Senior Center

TUESDAY, JUNE 20

Shade Tree Commission. 8 a.m. Borough Hall room 205.

Zoning Board. 7 p.m. Borough Hall.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21

Municipal Alliance Committee. 7 p.m. Borough HallHistoric Preservation Commission. 7:30 p.m. Borough Hall.

THURSDAY, JUNE 22

Site Plan Review Committee. 7 p.m. Borough Hall

MONDAY, JUNE 26

Board of Health meeting. 7 p.m. Borough Hall.Commissioners Meeting. 7:30 p.m. Borough Hall

TUESDAY, JUNE 27

Library Board of Trustees meeting. 8 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28

Environmental Commission and Sustainable Haddonfield meeting. 7:30 p.m. Borough Hall.

THURSDAY, JUNE 29

Board of Education Meeting. 7 p.m.

Library hosts summer reading opening party

Registration for the Haddonfield library’s summer reading party at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, is now open at haddonfieldlibrary. org.

The event includes a concert by Mr. Bobby, followed by sand art and a temporary tattoo station. Rain date is the following day at 12:30 p.m.

The reading program is designed for children and accompanying adults, who

get to engage with their kids. Child dropoffs are not permitted.

Staffers take pictures during the program, so the library can use them for social media and its website. Those who don’t want their photos made public can leave a message upon registering and the library will honor the request.

For questions, email Cathy DeCampli at cdecampli@ haddonfieldlibrary.org.

Tough pill to swallow

Overdose deaths can be caused by unused prescription drugs

Among the unused or expired prescription drugs collected by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration on Prescription Take Back Day April 22 were thousands in New Jersey.

Since the biannual initiative began in 2010, the state has collected more than 350,000 pounds of medications, a number that amounts to about 185 tons. The nationwide collection netted 17 million pounds.

What most of us might not realize is that unused, expired prescriptions in the wrong hands can be a “gateway” to opioid addiction, a factor noted by DEA agent Daniel Kafafian in a recent edition of The Sun.

“Every pill removed from the home is an opportunity to prevent possible misuse of these prescriptions,” he said.

CDC numbers show there were more than 100,000 deaths from drug overdose last year in the U.S. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that between 1999 and 2021, more than 100,000 people died from overdoses associated with opioid and other prescription drugs. In 2019 alone, more than 20 million people misused or abused them.

But what about unused or expired prescriptions? Data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that about 14.3 million Americans – or 5.1% – reported misusing a prescription psychotherapeutic drug in the past 12 months. Misuse means taking a drug for a non-prescribed use, taking someone else’s prescription drug or using a medi-

cation to get high.

Besides prescriptions for opioids, the most misused drugs are stimulants such as those used to treat attention-deficit disorders, the institute reports, and central nervous system depressants like tranquilizers or sedatives meant to treat anxiety and sleep disorders.

Among the latter, benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax are highly addictive and can be fatal, especially when combined with alcohol or opioids, according to Science News. The number of overdose deaths from “benzos” went from 0.54 per 100,000 in 1999 to 5.02 in 2017, the site reported.

But Take Back Days are not the only avenue for getting rid of old drugs, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:

Correction

• Check with a pharmacist. Some pharmacies like CVS offer on-site medicine dropoff boxes, mail-back programs and other means of disposal.

• Flush them. Many drugs have directions that say how to put them down the sink or toilet. The FDA has a list of medicines recommended for this disposal method.

• Out with the garbage: Almost all medicines – except those on the aforementioned flush list – can be thrown into the household trash, including over-the-counter drugs in pill, liquid, drop, patches and cream forms.

If you want to go the collection route, there are an estimated 5,000 dropoff spots across the country and in New Jersey that can be found at the DEA website, DEA.gov. They are also plentiful in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties, many associated with local police departments.

Find those departments at njconsumeraffairs.gov or call the state Division of Consumer Affairs at (800) 242-5846.

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A story in some March 24 editions of The Sun about fallen Deptford police officer Robert “Bobby” Shisler misspelled his last name. The Sun apologizes for the error.

Special to The Sun

Be social.

Commissioners raise awareness on mental health with walk

By Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Board of Commissioners held a walk on Saturday, May 20, to show solidarity with those impacted by mental health challenges. This event was held in collaboration with the Prosecutor’s Office, the Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force, the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the Camden County Municipal Alliance Program.

It is often extremely difficult for people to talk to one another about mental health, unfortunately many still feel guilty or ashamed to discuss the topic with those close to them. Mental health is a critically important component to our overall health and wellbeing, so the Board and our community partners are trying to end the stigma around mental health by raising awareness with events such as this one.

Mental health issues are unfortunately on the rise in America, with a new report from Gallup showing that depression is more prevalent than ever in the United States. According to the report, 18% of American adults say they are depressed or are receiving treatment for depression. This is a 7% increase from a 2015 Gallup report.

With mental health issues at the forefront of so many people’s lives, the Board of Commissioners and our community partners are more dedicated than ever to providing support, resources and guidance to our residents. In March, we announced the rollout of an array of new, enhanced and expanded mental health and substance use disorder services. These programs are being funded by $1.2 million of funds

from the state’s opioid litigation settlement.

Last year, the first of several settlements was finally reached after years of litigation between pharmaceutical companies, distributors, retailers and the state of New Jersey regarding the opioid epidemic. Based on this settlement with the four companies, Johnson & Johnson, which manufactured opioids, and the country’s three largest pharmaceutical distributors – McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen, the state of New Jersey is set to receive $641 million.

The mental health initiatives that are coming to Camden County are as follows:

• Post crisis follow-up case management services after a patient has been discharged.

• Provide school aged children who have been suspended/expelled due to mental health/ behavioral issues access to a licensed clinical mental health professional at no cost. They will have expedient access to mental health clearance evaluations to return to school.

• Socialization, recreation and support group services for boarding home residents

• Introduce mental health navigators in coordination with the Project SAVE Program in the Camden County Municipal Courts. Project SAVE is a program instituted in 2018 to focus on early intervention by a licensed social service professional in the municipal court system to combat the scourge of substance use disorder. These navigators will be an outgrowth of the program with a specific mental health component co-occurring challenges of both mental illness and opioid use disorder.

By JOSEPH METZ The Sun

The funeral for Robert “Bobby” Shisler at Rowan University last month drew thousands – inside and outside the township – who paid their respects to the fallen Deptford officer.

Shisler died May 7 of injuries sustained in March, the first township officer to lose his life in the line of duty. The 27-year-old was shot in the leg during his pursuit of a pedestrian on Delsea Drive.

"It was our greatest honor to bring you home today,” Deptford police Sgt. Sean Gambale said of Shisler. “You are the best of all of us. People who don't know you wonder how you fought so hard for so long, how you defied

‘The best of all of us’

Mourners far and wide attend funeral of Robert Shisler

the odds over and over again when a normal man would have given up. We were not surprised in the least.

“You are, and always have been, the strongest person we know."

"Bobby gave everyone and everything his all,” said Shisler’s sister, Ashley. “He was brave, devoted, fearless and so selfless.”

Among the mourners were police officers from neighboring towns and across the state, and even Canada and Britain, according to a close friend of the Shisler family.

“Us as law enforcement, a brotherhood and a sisterhood come together,” said Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins. “It brings us closer.”

Mantua Mayor Robert Zimmerman –a former po-

lice officer – described the tributes to Shisler in his weekly message to residents.

“There was an outpouring of support from near and far, from his LE (law enforcement) family to those just wishing to pay their respects for this young warrior who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Zimmerman noted.

“The Harrison Township community extends our deepest sympathy and prayers to patrol officer Bobby Shisler’s family, the entire Deptford community and the Deptford Township Police Department,” read a post on the Harrison Facebook page.

The support extended to Shisler after he was shot caught the attention of the nation and prompt-

Gloucester City. “Rest in paradise, Bobby,” said Ashley Shisler as her brother was laid to rest.

Courtesy of Deptford police department Mantua officers joined those near and far to pay their respects to a fallen brother.

‘Something for everyone’

History converges with present at borough Skirmish reenactment

By EMILY LIU The Sun

The Indian King Tavern Museum’s highly anticipated historical reenactment of the Revolutionary War skirmish between the Colonists and the Redcoats returns on Saturday, June 3.

The event is a homage to the battle that took place in what is now Haddonfield and surrounding areas in June of 1778.

“Some of the things that I would highlight about the day and the event is the family friendliness of this event,” said Andrew Lucas, a member of the Skirmish committee, run by the Indian King Tavern Museum. “It celebrates our town, county and region’s contributions to the American Revolution.

“It really has a little something for everyone.”

This year’s Skirmish will feature a smattering of new and returning events from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. mostly along Kings Highway, including a sword fight, Colonial dance lessons, tours of Greenfield Hall, culinary demonstrations for kids by the Historical Society of Haddonfield and a Colonial auction.

“Auctions were often held in Colonial times by ship captains and merchants to move their goods,” said Michelle Hughes, historian for the Indian King Tavern Museum. “The Indian King Tavern Museum will host an auction of Colonial- inspired items as a way to fundraise for the museum.”

Along with the Skirmish reenactment, the Haddonfield Friends Meeting will sponsor its first Colonial Quakers Day celebration with events beginning at 9 a.m. It is meant as an alternative, peaceful way

of recognizing events of the American Revolution.

“Last year we participated in The Skirmish directly, and some of our members were concerned with that participation, because the Skirmish does glorify war to a certain extent and it flies in the face of Quakers’ peace testimony,” said Ty Drago, a Cherry Hill resident and lifelong member of the Friends. “So this year, we decided to do something separate but on the same day.”

The Friends will also host a farm animal petting zoo, children’s games and graveyard tours every hour on the half hour, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

To drive home the message about peace, visitors who bring toy weapons will be asked to check them at one of two peace tables before they enter the property and have them returned upon leaving.

Both Drago and Hughes referenced the dilemma faced by local Quakers when the war ended up on their doorsteps.

“As pacifists – refusing to take up arms against their neighbors – some Quakers were thrown in jail for refusing to pick a side,” Hughes explained. “Not all Quakers stayed on the sidelines. Some aided local militias and acted as spies. Others took up arms and were thrown out of their local Quaker meetings.”

“It was by no means a unified voice, and Quakers struggled with it throughout the entire eight years of the war trying to figure out how best to deal with it,” Drago offered. “It’s something Quakers still struggle with.”

In addition to the aforementioned activities, the Friends of the Meeting House will host 10-minute demonstrations of Quaker meetings for worship every hour on the hour

from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Haddonfield Friends Meeting House.

“If you walk into a Quaker meeting house, you won’t see crosses or Bibles,” Drago noted. “You won’t see any of those trappings because we don’t consider it a holy space. It is simply a gathering place. And the worship involves sitting in silence and listening for what we call the inner light, that inner peace of God within us all. And if it speaks to you, and you feel moved, you get up and you say something.

“So we don’t have ministers, we don’t have clergy, we all minister to each other.”

To learn more about Skirmish events, visit https://haddonfieldskirmish.com/.

~ OBITUARY ~ Franklin S. Wezner Jr.

Brunswick – Franklin S. Wezner Jr, age 66, of Brunswick, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, May 8th, 2023. He was born August 15, 1956, in Camden NJ, son of the late Franklin S. and Dolores (nee Johns) Wezner.

Frank was raised in Haddonfield, NJ and moved to Maine after graduating from Paul VI High School. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management from the University of Maine and settled in Presque Isle where he began his career and started a family. In 1987 he joined the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. During his time there, he met many great people, gained lifelong friends and helped protect the world he loved, retiring in 2012. Upon his retirement, he relocated to Brunswick, ME finishing out his career for Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation.

Frank was easy going, laid back and greeted each day with positivity. He was well respected in every community he was a part of and valued relationships with family and friends above all. He proudly raised two sons who he enjoyed spending time with fishing, hunting, walking the beach, hosting BBQ’s and reflecting on life around the kitchen table. His kindness, guidance, and supportive personality will forever live in the memories of those who knew him.

In his own words “Don’t worry about me yoos guys”

Frank is predeceased by his parents Franklin S. and Dolores (nee Johns) Wezner and sister Diane. He is survived by his sons Tyler “Sluggo” (Brittany) Wezner and Jared “J-Man” and his fiancée Courtney. Also surviving are his siblings, Maureen “Reen” (Phil Quay) Barber and Denise “Bernise” (Pete) Giorgianni, Bryant “Big Time” Wezner, Richard “Nid” (Felicia) Wezner and Marc “Dingles”

OBITUARY

Helen T. Brotzman

Age: 78 of Haddonfield

(nee Tourtellotte) On May 18, 2023; devoted wife of the late Bruce; cherished mother of Michael C. Brotzman; beloved sister of Carol E. Curtis and the late Dr. Charles D. Tourtellotte; dear sister-in-law of Barbara Tourtellotte; loving aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Helen graduated from Haddonfield Memorial HS class of ’63 before attending the Univ. of Delaware. She was a talented singer who was active in the USO during college, traveling through Germany performing “Kiss Me, Kate.” Helen obtained her Master’s in Education at Rowan Univ. Her teaching career began in Camden and then she taught 3rd through 5th grade at Central and Lizzy Haddon Elementary Schools (1975-1984). She took a recess from teaching when Michael was born. She was involved in the PTA, the Haddonfield community and especially the First Presbyterian of Haddonfield as a member for over 50 years. Helen returned to teaching in 1993 and subsequently retired from Jackson Twp. school system in 2008. Helen loved reading, the Haddonfield Public Library, gardening and had an interest in Colonial furniture.

Family and friends are invited to Helen’s Memorial Service on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 7 PM at Kain-Murphy Funeral Services, 15 West End Ave. Haddonfield, NJ 08033; where the family will greet friends following the service. Charitable donations in Helen’s name may be made to The Friends of Haddonfield Public Library, 60 N Haddon Ave. Haddonfield NJ 08033 (www.hfol.org/support)

South Jersey Now–Alice Paul Chapter hosts monthly meeting

On Wednesday, June 14, the South Jersey Now –Alice Paul Chapter will be meeting via Zoom for a social time from 7 to 7:30 p.m. From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., attendees will get to hear from Uyen Khuong, New Jersey’s “current Alice Paul” as described by Philadelphia Inquirer two years ago.

Two years ago, during Women’s History Month, the Philadelphia Inquirer stated “more than a century after Alice Paul, another New Jerseyan was not only exercising her right to vote, she was working to make sure that others did, too. Meet Uyen Khuong who created a statewide campaign to nudge people to vote by mail. It reached 300,000 voters during the 2018 midterms”.

Uyen Khuong, pronounced

“Winn”, immigrated to the US in 1980 from Vietnam. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Action Together NJ. Since 2018, ATNJ has educated voters on voting by mail, which has enfranchised voters who would not otherwise vote in person. After researching in other primarily Vote-By-Mail states where citizens automatically get sent a mail-in ballot as an option to vote, Uyen saw that the rate of voter turnout among those who voted by mail increased over time, creating a habit of voting. We now take vote by mail and ballot drop boxes for granted but before 2020, we didn’t have them in our election infrastructure. Through Uyen's nonprofit —her work and the work of the network of volunteers in every county — vote by mail has seen the largest increase in the method of voting, from 8.3% in the 2017 General Election to 22.5% in the 2021 General Election.

And, thanks to Uyen, over three million voters have used a ballot drop box.

Khuong also created the NJ Civics Handbook, a first of its kind targeted at today's youth, mailed directly to registered 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by Election Day and who live in the bottom 291 most vulnerable zip codes in NJ (20 metrics including income level, race, ethnicity and educational attainment).

Currently, Khuong is organizing programs to encourage responsible people to run for Board of Education seats.

Following the program will be a time of program evaluation and more socializing time.

Register in advance for this meeting at https://us06web.

zoom.us/meeting/register/ tZAvc-ysqDgjGN1HzpGSABPFOzr_kYouf7Bk. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

County prosecutor’s office launches special needs registry

The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, in partnership with the Camden County Association of Chiefs of Police, is excited to announce the launch of the Camden County Special Needs Registry in all Camden County municipalities! The registry was created to ensure that all residents who have special needs receive the help and support they need during the time of an emergency, or during interaction with law enforcement, fire, or EMS personnel.

The Camden County Special Needs Registry is a vol-

untary service open to all citizens. The registry was created to help police officers and other emergency service personnel, to better assist residents with special needs in the event of an emergency by providing first responders with vital information, regarding a registrant’s disability, emergency contact information, a physical description, and a current photograph of the registrant.

To learn more about the registry, visit https://camdencountypros.org/community-page/41.