Haddonfield had some major achievements in 2023, both individually and collectively as a community.
The borough took down dead, dying and at-risk trees earlier in the year, launched a new app, Haddonfield Happenings, to keep residents in the know and made commissioner meetings accessible via Zoom.
Along the way, there were many instances of people coming together to serve their community, whether in the aftermath of a heavy rainstorm in July or raising funds for earthquake victims in Turkey. There was a groundbreaking for The Place at Snowden Avenue and an update of the borough master plan began.
As reported in the Haddonfield Sun, here are our top three stories from 2023.
- Time Well Spent: Haddonfield couple recognized for community service
Kathy (left) and Dennis Tully received the 85th Community Service Award on April 20.
Kathy and Dennis Tully volunteer together. Rather than letting it strain their relationship, the couple have worked in tandem to support different areas of the community, and were recognized for their service with the 2023 Alfred E. Driscoll Community Service Award in April at a Haddonfield Civic Association ceremony.
“She inspires me because she does it 24/7,” Dennis said of his wife, acknowledging the times she’s responded to calls for help with fundraising or giving advice or time to people even when she doesn’t know them.
And “he’s selfless,” Kathy noted of Dennis, who is out coaching lacrosse as a volunteer four nights a week, something he takes it seriously.
Read the full story here: https://thesunpapers.com/2023/04/23/time-well-spent-haddonfield-couple-recognized-for-community-service/.
2. Haddonfield gets state money for new police headquarters
State Sen. James Beach recalls poor conditions at the borough’s police headquarters as he addresses a crowd celebrating a new facility funded with a state grant.
The borough was awarded a one-time, $5-million grant from the state to fund a new headquarters for police. The news was met with enthusiasm by the department and borough commissioners, who over many years cited issues with the current headquarters that included consistently failing the state’s Department of Corrections’ requisites for operating a station.
“I’ve had the experience of walking downstairs and just kind of being in the building, and (Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich) impressed upon me the importance of making sure that the police department had a better work environment,” said State Sen. James Beach. “And when she did that, it actually made this a top priority for funding.”
The new headquarters will be located at the former Bank of America office at Walnut and Ellis streets.
To read the full story, visit: https://thesunpapers.com/2023/07/14/haddonfield-gets-state-money-for-new-police-headquarters/.
3. Local residents collect donations for quake victims in Turkey
Ben (left) and Olivia Hansen set up a table to raise funds for survivors of the quake.
Time and time again in the aftermath of tragic events, Haddonfield students and community members came together to raise funds and support those in need. Shortly after two major earthquakes hit Turkey that killed more than 40,000 people in Feburary, students quickly came together to raise funds, as they did to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.
Read the full story at https://thesunpapers.com/2023/02/27/local-residents-collect-donations-for-quake-victims-in-turkey/.
