Council discusses WWI monument

“I want to thank everyone who has participated from the bottom of my heart,” committee member Mike Panarella said at the meeting. “This hopefully will be a good day for Medford, a good learning experience for the kids.”

At the most recent Medford Council meeting, members of Medford Township’s WWI Monument committee discussed plans for a dedication ceremony and reception for the new monument, which will be located in Freedom Park next to the Vietnam War monument, on Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. in Freedom Park. The committee will have historical artifacts on display, a vintage 1918 fire truck from the Medford Fire Company, and it hopes to have re-enactors, according to committee member Mike Panarella.

The rain date is Nov. 5.

“I want to thank everyone who has participated from the bottom of my heart,” Panarella said at the meeting. “This hopefully will be a good day for Medford, a good learning experience for the kids.”

Panarella said students from Medford Memorial Middle School and Lenape High School will be on hand along with local Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts.

“This is a great thing for Medford, to honor our veterans,” said Mayor Chuck Watson. “I for one will be there and I’m sure most of council will be there.”

There were no items up for first or second reading at the meeting.

The next Medford town council meeting will not take place on its typical first Tuesday of the month. Instead, it will take place Thursday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Council/Court Room of the town’s Public Safety Building at 91 Union St. in Medford.

In other news,

• Council approved a raffle and 50/50 license to St. Mary of the Lakes Church for Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Fall leaf collection begins the week of Oct. 30 for Zone 5 in Medford. Zones 1 and 2 begin the following week on Nov. 6, followed by zone 4 the week of Nov. 13 and Zone 3 the week of Nov. 20. A more complete schedule is available on the township’s website, medfordtownship.com. Regarding leaf collection, the township has announced the following: “Each street will be collected once during the collection week. All leaves should be placed loosely at the curb or edge of the roadway by Monday morning of the scheduled collection week. Leaf piles should not contain brush, sticks, branches, limbs, trash, or any other foreign material. Leaf piles should be placed as close to the road as possible without blocking lanes of travel. Leaf collection equipment can only reach 10 feet from the edge of the roadway. Collection vehicles will not leave the roadway to collect leaves. Leaves should be kept at least 10 feet from any storm drains or catch basins. Leaf piles that do not meet the strict guidelines above will not be collected.”