LINWOOD — Spring has sprung and lots of exciting things are popping up around the city, which saw the return of the CROPS Market on April 23.
The open-air farmers market offers local produce, handcrafted food items and goods, live music and children’s activities from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays through May 28 at Central Square, Route 9 and Central Avenue.
City resident Paige Vaccaro started the nonprofit Communities Revolutionizing Open Public Spaces in 2016 after operating the Linwood Farmers Market. The organization now hosts multiple markets as well as a variety of programs to help boost wellness in the region’s most impoverished areas through access to fresh produce.
According to spokeswoman Lisa Newcomb, CROPS Market is one of six in the state and the only one is southern New Jersey certified to accept SNAP and WIC nutrition vouchers.
CROPS operates five garden locations in the region — three public-run communal gardens where participation is free. One such location is Sister Jean’s Kitchen in Atlantic City, where neighborhood residents can access the food pantry as well as fresh vegetables and herbs. The organization also provides food preparation education.
“It’s economic development for a depressed county, supports small business and any money or donations collected at the markets goes back into the nonprofit,” Newcomb said.
Other upcoming events include the Belhaven Middle School band’s spring concert and, wrapping up the month, Memorial Day observances.
Sponsored by the school’s instrumental music department and the city’s Senior Committee and Police Department, the Belhaven Band Senior Citizens Concert & Breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday, May 4, at the school. Coffee will be served at 8:45 and the breakfast and concert are set to begin at 9 a.m.
On Monday, May 30, the city’s observance of Memorial Day will begin with a parade down Shore Road.
Linwood Park Director Tim Donovan said the Recreation Department has invited the Mainland Regional High School Marching Band, public and private groups, police and fire personnel, the Freedom Riders, Scouts and all of the city’s sports teams to participate.
“It’s typically just baseball teams but we decided to invite any kids who play any sport in Linwood to wear their jersey from this year,” Donovan said. “It will have a nice, community feel to it.”
That idea is especially poignant this year since the Linwood Panthers football and basketball teams had extremely successful seasons.
The parade is set to step off at 10 a.m. from the corner of Patcong Avenue and proceed to All Wars Memorial Park, where a ceremony to honor fallen service members will include the singing of the national anthem, a moment of silence and presentation of the Citizen of the Year award for the first time since 2019.
Following the ceremony, participants can browse through the stalls of craft and food vendors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. amid the trees on the east side of the park.
The city is planning its inaugural kickball tournament, which will consist of teams in three age groups competing on the baseball fields.
Donovan said Memorial Day is traditionally associated with baseball but the city wanted to be more inclusive by getting other groups, such as the Mainland United Soccer Association, involved in the event.
“The best way to combine baseball and soccer is a kickball tournament,” he said.
While the kids play ball, adult beverages will be served on the T-ball field. Proceeds will benefit the Linwood Baseball Association.
“My kids are in the sweet spot of attending all these things,” Donovan said, noting they are 10 and 12. “I want to have kids have memories of these kinds of things, but also with the beer garden I want to make it a day for adults to have fun and raise money — give back while enjoying ourselves on a holiday.”
Donovan said he learned last year when organizing the fall festival that it’s a lot of work and requires a lot of volunteers. The fall festival benefited the Linwood Education Foundation.
He said changing the beneficiary will help the rec board by bringing in different sets of volunteers, potentially increasing the number for each subsequent event.
“It’s about making partnerships with other organizations in town so it’s not such a strain on us,” he said.
Donovan noted he had received an email notifying him that National Night Out has been scheduled to return from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 2 for the first time in two years.
“It’s nice to see things get back to normal,” he said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff