With the year winding down, the Deptford Sun is taking a look back at some of the year’s top stories.
‘Bird by the curb’
Fred the turkey caused quite a stir in the township when he first appeared last year.
The year featured a rather peculiar celebrity in Deptford. Fred the turkey – known as Tom to others – made the intersection of Caufield Avenue and Clements Bridge Road his home base.
He first showed up at the end of 2024, and his infamy only grew as 2025 came along. Fred brings joy to some and misery to others.
“The notorious Deptford bird by the curb, the pigeon full of sickness and a mean right hook – or talon – Tom the turkey, Fred, whatever your name is,” said resident Nate Belmar, “you have my respect. You run these streets.”
The turkey got coverage from local news outlets such as 6abc news and the Philadelphia Inquirer, moving the township to take measures protecting it. Those included placing a turkey crossing sign at the intersection it calls home.
“It warns motorists to yield to the turkey,” noted resident Melanie Burney. “How cool is that?”
“In the heart of Deptford, a feisty wild turkey has become a local legend,” Mayor Paul Medany observed at an April council meeting. “Residents chuckle as he struts along Caulfield Avenue. The new turkey crossing sign adds humor, urging drivers to slow down for this feathered entertainer.”
Council would go on to name Fred its citizen of the month and officially pardoned him with a township proclamation just before Thanksgiving.
““Whereas in the spirit of mercy, good humor and the belief that everyone deserves a second chance,” Medany explained at the time, “especially someone with feathers and no concept of seasons … the mayor and council of Deptford Township – by the powers vested in us by the people and the general good vibes of late November – hereby issue this official proclamation.
“Fred is encouraged to live out his days peacefully,” the mayor added, “to strut confidently and to remember this moment the next time it thinks about chasing down someone’s lawn decorations.”
Controversial parking
The mall’s premier parking spaces cost residents $10. They did not go over well.
Several residents were furious at the end of August and into September when the township mall introduced its premier parking policy.
The policy in question designated about 40 spots in close proximity to the mall’s entrances for premium parking. Residents were made to scan a QR code to go to a website where they were charged $10 for the day at each space. Parking for the handicapped, veterans and expectant mothers remained free, as did spots farther from the mall entrance.
“Premier Parking is an optional convenience for shoppers, especially during the busy holiday season,” read a statement from the mall’s owner, Arizona-based Macerich. “It covers less than 1% of the nearly 5,000 spaces at the center. Thousands of free spaces remain open.”
Some shoppers weren’t happy, others didn’t mind.
“How dare any place charge people to shop at their place to feel safe,” said Rhonda Lee Gurlin on Facebook. “I will not be paying this just to shop at their mall; I will be going elsewhere. How about they ‘appreciate’ their customers coming there, fully secure the entire parking lot and increase security? Anything to pull more money out of the people’s pockets.”
“I’m good,” said W.L. Smith Sankofa noted of the policy on Facebook. “I need the steps anyway.”
The backlash eventually forced the mall to cancel the policy in September.
“Retailers are crying for business,” observed Sara Dennis. “Doing something like this will make customers do their business online, rather than coming there and having to pay for parking. Just more greed that will serve to bring America down.”
“Deptford Mall greatly values the feedback of our shoppers, tenants and community,” announced a spokesperson from Macerich, “and after thoughtful consideration, we’ve decided to phase out the premier parking program at this time.”
So far, there are no plans to bring the program back.
The dogs are cute, too
Among a series of posts that went viral was one noting the good looks of officers Dave Hibbert (left) and Myles Randolph, with K-9 Bark Twain.
September also saw two social media posts from the police that unexpectantly went viral.
The first post on Sept. 16 was a lost dog message about canine Bark Twain that featured officers Dave Hibbert and Myles Randolph. Comments brought attention not to the pooch, but to the looks of the officers.
“Lord have mercy,” posted Zahra Naeema. “I’m gonna have a broken taillight tomorrow, and I’ll be doing 50 mph in a 25 (mph zone) on Clements Bridge Road around the bend heading to Sam’s Club. I won’t cooperate, so you’ll have to use your hands, I mean, handcuffs.”
The lost dog post garnered more than one million views, according to Sgt. Robert Jones, who handled the department’s social media pages.
A second lost dog post on Sept. 22 also went viral. It showed two canines and six officers, with one getting a doggy kiss. It drew more than 600,000 views, according to Jones, some of them not entirely serious.
“What handsome fellows – and I don’t mean the dogs,” noted Jacqueline Gibson. “I will be speeding by Good Intent (Road) shortly LOL. Good job guys.”
The police department hoped the posts in question would not only entertain, but bridge the gap between the community and its officers.
“We try to engage with our followers pretty regularly,” Jones noted. “Unlike other departments, we allow comments on our posts. I just think folks were taken by surprise with it and they’ve been positive and robust with us.
“Having that sense of humor shows us that they (the officers) are people,” he added. “They chose their path and we try to show the human side to our officers.”
