It’s time to shake off the winter doldrums.
Spring has officially arrived, and along with the warmer weather and longer daylight hours are plenty of local events to keep busy in the coming months. So whether you’re looking to fill your basket at an Easter egg hunt or lend a hand to the local environment, chances are, you don’t need to go far to make it happen.
Read on to see what Delran and the surrounding areas have in store for spring.
Hop to it
Grab your baskets, don your bunny ears and head out to the Delran Recreation Advisory Committee’s annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 13. The free fun will begin at noon at Delran Community Park, 12 Hartford Road. Get updates and more information on the township’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/delrantownship.
That same Saturday, Burlington County will host an Easter Egg Hunt for children with special needs at Burlington County Special Services School, 20 Pioneer Blvd., Westampton. Children will participate in small groups and will be aided by sound, flashing light and magnetic devices. Session one for autism spectrum disorder will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Session two for multiple disabilities runs from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Session three for visually impaired deaf and hard of hearing children is from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The event will include a Touch A Truck with emergency vehicles, a special appearance by the Easter Bunny, therapy chickens and more. The county asks those interested in attending pre-register by April 4 by emailing Autumn Maybury at [email protected]. This event is rain or shine.
Later in April, 30,000 Easter eggs will take up residence on the Delran High School football field during the Calvary Church Easter Egg Hunt. This free event starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, and is designed for children ages 2 through sixth grade. Online pre-registration is requested (and one pre-registered participant will win an iPad!) at www.calvarydelran.com. Registration on the day of the hunt begins at 10 a.m.; pre-registered participants will still need to visit the pre-registration tent for a wristband and bag. The hunt is divided into four age groups. Calvary suggests participants arrive early for parking and registration. While waiting for the hunt, attendees can enjoy music, entertainment and photos with the Easter Bunny. In the event of inclement weather, follow the church’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/calvarydelran for updates. Delran High School is located at 50 Hartford Road, Delran.
Go green
In addition to its monthly public meetings, the Delran Green Team has a few special events on tap in the coming months. The group, which works to meet certification goals set forth by Sustainable Jersey and motivate the community to minimize its environmental impact, meets the second Wednesday of the month, and monthly agendas can be found at delrangreenteam.wordpress.com and on the group’s Facebook page (search “Sustainable Delran” at www.facebook.com).
On Saturday, April 6, the Delran Green Team will distribute free tree seedlings from 1 to 2 p.m. at Conrow Road Park, 150 Haines Mill Road, Delran. The seedlings, provided by the state Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry as part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Program, will range in size from 6 to 24 inches, depending on species, and are appropriate to the region. Residents can then plant the seedlings in their yard. To find out if the seedlings survive through next year, the team will be requesting residents’ names, addresses and emails.
Celebrate Arbor Day with the Delran Green Team on Saturday, April 27, at 1 p.m. at Conrow Road Park, 150 Haines Mill Road, Delran. The group will be planting trees and Mayor Ken Paris will read a proclamation. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
Have questions or feedback for the Delran Green Team? Email [email protected].
Fun ‘Under the Big Top’
The Delran Middle and High School PTA brings back its biggest event of the year with its Gift Basket Extravaganza on Saturday, April 13. Themed “Under the Big Top” for 2019, doors open at 5 p.m. and calling begins promptly at 8 p.m.
A $25 ticket includes admission, 26 regular basket tickets, one door prize ticket, one food ticket and two water tickets. Additional tickets can be purchased during the event, including for the 50/50, and big, premium and mega tickets. Tables seat eight to 10.
Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis. Questions? Email Denise at [email protected].
Get your learning on
The third annual Delran STEM Fair will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 20, at Delran High School, 50 Hartford Road, Delran. The event will give students, parents and community members a chance to take part in fun, hands-on STEM activities. The fair will also highlight STEM learning throughout the school district.
Features last year included interactive stations for problem solving with Lockheed Martin, a look at Schneider Electric’s Energy Savings Improvement Program, local sustainability and technology opportunities, a chance to check out Delran Township Police Department vehicles, and more.
Are you an organization interested in taking part? Contact Mary Jo Hutchinson at [email protected] or Erica DeMichele at [email protected].
A tail-wagging good time
The Friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter will host the 2019 Barb Feldstein Memorial Raining Cats & Dogs Pet Fest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. The free event will include police K-9 demonstrations, obedience training demonstrations, a dog trick and stunt show, contests (for pets and people!), basket raffles, pet and family portraits, a Big Dog 50-50 drawing (last year’s winner took home more than $9,000), a petting zoo at the Mt. Laurel Animal Hospital booth, vendors, food, dog wash and more.
A Burlington County Animal Alumni station will offer special gifts and photos for adopters and their pets.
Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome to attend. For anyone who wants to visit adoptable friends in the BCAS, free dog sitting will be available for furry family members. There is also a special $7 adoption price the day of the festival.
The BCAS is located in the County Facilities Complex, 35 Academy Drive, Westampton. Look for more information and event updates at www.friendsofbcas.org.
Lend a hand
Burlington County and the Burlington County Clean Communities Program will host a spring cleanup at Amico Island Park, 81 Norman Ave., Delran, from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 4. Individuals, groups and organizations are encouraged to take part. Participants younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult, and volunteers younger than 18 must bring a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
The county will provide bags, gloves and grabbers to all volunteers. Light refreshments and water to refill water bottles will also be provided. The cleanup is rain or shine and will be canceled only in the event of severe weather.
To register, email [email protected] and include whether or not a letter documenting hours is needed for community service. For more information, visit www.co.burlington.nj.us.
Spring into library fun
The Burlington County Library System keeps busy throughout the spring. Children ages newborn to 12 can Spring Into Fun this season with an activity challenge to celebrate spring. The challenges, which are broken into age groups, include taking a walk in a local park, giving a librarian a high five, starting an indoor garden, opening up a library card and plenty more. Learn more at https://bcls.beanstack.org/learning_tracks.
Looking to adventure this spring? The BCLS offers the Museum Pass Program, which is a free way to explore museums in New Jersey, Philadelphia and even New York City. At the Cinnaminson Branch Library, library cardholders can reserve passes to enjoy the warmer weather at the Camden Children’s Garden, Paws Discovery Farm or Grounds for Sculpture. Anticipating some April showers? Head to the Cinnaminson Branch and reserve a pass for indoor fun at the Garden State Discovery Museum or Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia instead. There are a number of other museums included in the program. Check it out at www.bcls.lib.nj.us/museum-pass-program.
Story times continue throughout the spring, with some highlighting an extra special theme, such as Just Ducky Storytime on Wednesday, April 10. At 10:30 a.m., kids ages 6 and younger can waddle into the Cinnaminson Branch Library for stories, songs and a simple craft – all about ducks! Ducks not your child’s thing? What about kites? On Wednesday, April 24, Fly A Kite Storytime blows into the library with stories, songs and a simple craft about – you guessed it – kites! Children ages 6 and younger can take part in this program at 10:30 a.m. No registration is required for either story time.
In addition to story times, kids can ease spring fever by partaking in one of two fun, seasonal craft activities at the Cinnaminson Branch Library. On Saturday, April 6, children ages 4 to 12 can create and bring home a beautiful butterfly windsock. The craft will be available all day. On Tuesday, April 16, families can stop by to pick up a heart-shaped bird feeder to make at home. No registration is required for either of these activities.
Going green is the name of the game on Earth Day, and to celebrate this year, teenagers can flex their craft muscles with an Upcycled Jewelry program at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 22. Eco-fashion designer Terina Nicole will teach participants how to make earrings, bracelets, necklaces and brooches from jean belt loops, toys, bowties, broken jewelry pieces and playing cards for one-of-a-kind creations. Space is limited and registration is required.
The Cinnaminson Branch Library is located at 1619 Riverton Road, Cinnaminson. Verify all events and register on the library’s website at www.bcls.lib.nj.us.
Spring cleaning for summer selling
It’s worth noting the town-wide Yard Sale is planned for the beginning of summer on Saturday, June 29. So when you’re spring cleaning this season, instead of throwing everything away, set some items aside to offer up to your neighbors. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, after all.
Do you have an upcoming event you’d like to see in The Delran Sun? Email us at [email protected].
