Deptford Mayor Paul Medany has kept township residents up to date on events in the last two years with weekly informational videos on Facebook and YouTube.
DeptfordNJVideos started during the pandemic to inform residents of business closings, among other news.
“We had to get up-to-date information out,” said the mayor. “As in pure information on updates and what businesses were closing from the pandemic. It was so successful that we stuck with it afterwards. Our job is to provide municipal services; we want to show our residents our town.
“We talk about the different events that happen in Deptford and the different places in town,” Medany added. “One time, we showed people the mall, and next, we’ll do a video on leaf collection with a schedule of pickups and what to do with leaves.”
Medany said videos are usually about three minutes long and shot on Thursday each week, then posted Friday, unless there’s an event on the weekend. In that case, the video is shot the day of the event and posted online the day after. Should the weather permit, the mayor and his crew will make stops around town.
The videos are shot and edited by municipal employees. Outside of an event, a video will be recorded inside of the municipal building, usually in an office or another part of the building.
The reception to the videos has so far been positive, Medany said, with about five likes for each Facebook post and approximately 5,800 followers on the page. The DeptfordNJVideos YouTube channel has gained 26 subscribers as of Oct. 25.
“The goal is to just keep producing information for the people and show folks the town, entertainment and things to do in Deptford,” the mayor explained.
Subjects of posts have included the public library, the township’s fall festival last month and a preview of the Deptford Theatrical Production’s musical, “Seussical Jr.” Other towns within the county have taken up the video idea, including Mantua.
Residents can like the Deptford Township municipal Facebook page and or subscribe to its YouTube channel, DeptfordNJVideos, to stay up to date on new video postings.
