Mayor Dave Siedell reads the proclamation for Library Week during the March 23 borough commissioners’ meeting.
Mayor Dave Siedell has proclaimed April a month to focus on five issues: sight impairment, alcohol abuse, autism, borough sculpture and child abuse.
In a month that also acknowledges Library Week from April 19 to 25 and Arbor Day on April 24, the mayor emphasized the need for residents to keep in mind the issue raised by each of five proclamations issued at the borough commissioners’ March 23 meeting.
Director Eric Zino accepted the library proclamation and outlined some of the groups with which he works.
“We do big programs with the Indian King Tavern, the (Haddon) Fortnightly, the different commissions, like the EnvironmentalCcommission, the Human Relations Commission,” he said. “We’re always working with the preserving Black Haddonfield History project. We’re doing things for every day and also for the 250th (anniversary of America) and it’s really great.
“Keep libraries in your minds and your hearts and your good wishes, because it’s a magical institution and it’s really great here in Haddonfield.”
Siedell recounted at the meeting how his own son benefitted from the library.
“They developed the idea to sell modular trunk covers for your car, for your SUV,” the mayor explained. “And the 3D printers at Rowan (University) were all busy with engineering students doing their project. He’s (Siedell’s son) in the business school. So he sent the image over to the Haddonfield library and they printed it.
“He came the next morning, picked it up and had it in time for his class. So thank you very much.”
Bill Brown accepted the proclamation on sight awareness for the Haddonfield Lions Club, which advocates for the visually impaired. The Alcohol Awareness proclamation was accepted by Michael Romea, a science teacher at Haddonfield Memorial High School.
“I will say, having conversations about alcohol is better than watching a parent drink themselves to death,” Siedell observed. “Which is how I learned how not to drink.”
Siedell noted that issuing more than one proclamation in April – or any month – enables people to choose the kinds of issues they care about.
“So you might be someone who either has a background in abuse or it’s a cause you care about,” Siedell explained. “Or you could really care about libraries. Or you could really care about schools or Women’s History Month … The proclamations are important, and so is who’s accepting it, because these are people who’ve put a lot of effort, a lot of their time, to the causes that they care about.
“We’re just elevating that activity before it happens, so that they can get a little steam going for it.”
Accepting the proclamation for Autism Awareness was Cara Rogers, a Haddonfield resident who has taught students on the autism spectrum for more than 14 years in Deptford. Her autism advocacy is inspired by her autistic brother.
Stuart Harding, chair of the Haddonfield Outdoor Sculpture Trust, accepted the eighth annual Sculpture Month proclamation. Denise Sellers, director of Haddonfield Child Care, accepted the child abuse proclamation and is encouraging people to wear blue on April 8 for Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness.
