Field of dreams
If you had to describe this year in one word, what would it be?
There’s no doubt that Moorestown’s residents made joyous memories with their family, friends and neighbors. While it may seem impossible to shine a light on all that happened here in 2023, the events below are just a small sample.
In September the township’s parks and recreation department held a dedication ceremony for Full Throttle Field, a state-of-the-art wiffleball field dedicated in memory of Jack Casey Hannon, who died in 2021. The field is a replica of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and honors Hannon in a way that’s larger than life – as he was.
Hannon loved baseball, football, wiffleball, any sport with a ball. He was the biggest cheerleader at his older brother Brady’s baseball games, and even received honorary trophies from the coaches for being such a big fan.
“In the short time since the field has been opened, we have seen and heard countless stories about how this field has brought people together,” said Hannon’s mother Kristin. “From birthday parties, a 50th-anniversary celebration, children of various ages playing together, makeshift wiffleball leagues to pickup wiffleball games, all feel welcome.
“Every time we witness the joy this field brings, we feel like it’s a hug from Jack.”
“This is just the beginning,” Hannon added. “Our next project will be an all-inclusive playground in town where children of all ages and abilities can play together. We partnered with the Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) to create the Jack Hannon Full Throttle Fund.
“This is where you can support our mission to spread Jack’s inspiring and loving spirit through charitable projects focused on youth development, bringing fun and joy to children.”
Students Saanvi Joshi (left to right), Rhea Arora, Anjali Bodiwala, Saavi Patel, Kira Barot, Siyana Sheth and Avaani Dalal at Disney World’s first Diwali Dance Fest.
Dawali in Disney
In November, township students Kira Barot, Avaani Dalal, Siyana Sheth, Saanvi Joshi, Rhea Arora, Anjali Bodiwala, Saavi Patel and others performed in the first Diwali Dance Fest at Disney World in Florida.
The students danced in an official parade at Disney Springs and performed on stage with artists from around the country in a Diwali dance showcase at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights held in October and November.
“A lot of hard work was put into it for sure,” Sheth recalled. “We all came here (to Classical Rhythms Dance Academy Studio) at least three to four times a week every week in the summer to practice. We were all just working on coordination, working together, and we were also having bonding time, like laughter and happiness at the same time as we were learning.”
“Looking back, after we see the video of our dance, knowing what we accomplished, all the hard work paid off,” Barot noted.
Classical Rhythms was the brainchild of Guru Abhilasha Chaudhary Saxena, according to its website. Saxena’s students have participated in and won many competitions across India, and she herself led her students in many competitions and performances at some of the most prestigious dance and cultural festivals across India.
“Here, my goal is not only teaching dance, but also learning how to work as a team,” Saxena explained. “So backstage, we do not have any parents or anyone. It’s them when it comes to changing, makeup; they do theirs as well as they help out the younger kids or even the adults.”
Once the show was over, the girls knew that they had made history.
“To us, it was a pretty big event, and we put a lot of hard work into it,” Dalal noted. “And in a big place like Disney … It’s cool to identify that we worked hard and it’s something (with) our culture, and we went to one of the biggest theme parks.”
New Councilman Christopher Keating was sworn in by Mayor Nicole Gillespie (right) at council’s Dec. 18 meeting. He was joined by his mother, Lynn Keating.
New face on council
Newly elected township Councilman Christopher Keating was officially sworn in by Mayor Nicole Gillespie on Dec. 18 to fill the unexpired term of Jake Van Dyken.
Keating’s term will run through Dec. 31 of next year. He is an attorney whose practice focuses on representing employees who suffer from unlawful conduct by their employers, victims of civil rights violations and survivors of sexual abuse and harassment, according to the Keating law firm’s website.
Keating has nearly a decade of experience in litigating civil and criminal matters, settlement negotiations and trials, and he’s argued before New Jersey’s appellate division and supreme court.
“This town means a whole lot to me and my family, and (I) welcome this opportunity to make this community into an even better place than we found it,” Keating noted. “Mayor Nicole Gillespie, Deputy Mayor Quinton Law, Councilwoman Sue Mammarella, I look forward to putting in the hard work with each one of you throughout the remainder of my term, to work for all residents of Moorestown.”
