Christopher Parrish of Kingsway Regional hits out of a bunker on 18 during the 2024 NJSIAA Boys Golf Tournament of Champions at Raritan Valley Country Club in Bridgewater Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Group 4 sectional tournament at Charleston Springs Golf Course (North) in Millstone This was Parrish’s first 18-hole win of the season This was our focus all year and we knew we would have to face some tough competition we knew we had to stay calm and be resilient,” said Cherry Hill East head coach Ryan James The two teams from each site with the lowest total scores advance to the state group championships and the two individuals with the lowest scores not on an advancing team move on to the Tournament of Champions to be held at Raritan Valley Country Club in Bridgewater on Monday The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Lou Monaco can be reached at lmonaco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X: @loumonaco Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardLaVonda C Cherry Hill school principal and longtime educator has died at 45 As a teacher and administrator she was known for her student-centered approach to learning and warm personality a longtime educator who served students across the greater Philadelphia area Daniels held a variety of positions in education in the region she was principal of Joyce Kilmer Elementary School in Cherry Hill She held numerous degrees in the education field including a bachelor’s from Howard University and master’s from Temple she was pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership and administration from Gwynedd Mercy Though she originally enrolled in college to study law Daniels switched her major to education because she loved working with kids Daniels joined the Abington School District in 2006 where she would go on to spend 15 years as a teacher she taught students in grades two through six during which the community collected and packaged donations to assist local families Daniels took on the role of elementary curriculum specialist at Abington’s Overlook Elementary School before becoming assistant principal at Abington’s junior and senior high schools in 2019 “We were very fortunate in the Abington School District to have had LaVonda Daniels as part of our district family for so long Her student-centered approach to educating coupled with her heart and warm personality made her an exceptional classroom teacher and an even better leader when she advanced to become an Elementary Curriculum Specialist and later an Assistant Principal at Abington Senior High School,” Abington School District Superintendent Jeff Fecher said in a statement “LaVonda touched the lives of many in our school community over the years She left Abington in 2021 to serve as the principal of Davis Elementary School in the Centennial School District in Bucks County and then to her most recent role at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School in Cherry Hill Darius Daniels said his wife had dreams to teach at a collegiate level and eventually write a book it wasn’t a matter of if she was going to achieve it ‘What steps do I have to take to get there?’” she got up early every morning to tackle her to-do list despite her husband’s suggestion to enjoy her time off Darius Daniels said his wife’s persistence and drive went back to her childhood in Louisville Growing up as one of a few Black students at a predominantly white school she soared to the top of her class and served as a leader on the student council “She excelled in everything,” Darius Daniels said Daniels was an avid lover of Broadway shows and her extended family stood at the core of her life “She wasn’t really big into materialistic things or money She just liked spending time with our family and that was what brought her joy,” her husband said A Facebook post from the Joyce Kilmer Elementary School Parent Teacher Association said Daniels was more than just a leader at Kilmer — she was a constant source of encouragement and strength for our entire school community and stood with families through every challenge.” Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation on May 12 from 9 to 11 a.m Final disposition will take place privately In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the family through a verified GoFundMe .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Matt Cosentino | For NJ Advance MediaElla Davis pitched all eight innings and allowed just one run on four hits while fanning 11 as Cherry Hill West edged Camden Catholic 2-1 in Cherry Hill Camden Catholic (4-9) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the eighth when Lauren DeLano knocked in Dani Brown (single But the Lions (9-7) answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning for a walk-off win Nadya Devenny (2-for-4) and Emily Garbe (1-for-4) each reach base and scored The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Cherry Hill West head coach Scott Arnauer during the boys Group 3 championship game between Cherry Hill West and Scotch Plains-Fanwood at South Brunswick HS in South Brunswick .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Tyler Duffy | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comCherry Hill West went into Saturday morning with a 7-5 record and left West Windsor-Plainsboro North High School with an 8-7 record after two losses Cherry Hill West (8-7) went into its final match of the day against Jefferson who was also looking for its first victory of the afternoon Jefferson (6-11) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first set after Cherry Hill West rattled off seven consecutive points to take a 7-3 lead Senior Angel Torres Jimenez led the way for Cherry Hill West contributing two kills and an ace in the first set There was a total of five ties in the first set but Cherry Hill West never fell behind after its slow start paving the way for a strong and more prepared second set 1 team in the state (Old Bridge) earlier in the day,” Jimenez said “That sort of intensity got us going which culminated in us coming out and performing the way we wanted to against Jefferson.” as there were four lead changes in the infancy stages of the match Anthony Francis had four kills in the second set leading the charge for a Cherry Hill West offense that was also dominated by Jimenez The second set was tied 23-23 after Jefferson mounted a small comeback one that was cut short after Francis earned a kill to fend off the threat today is the best we have played in the last two weeks,” said Cherry Hill West head coach Scott Arnauer “Even though it only translated to one win here today against a few other good teams and asked the guys to keep a high level of play I am very pleased with the teams performance and effort.” While Cherry Hill West has found some success this season Coach Arnauer has made some adjustments in the past week switching four out of the seven starters to new positions in hopes to find a different look especially once the season has already been going on for over a month it’s all about playing with passion and effort and that is what our guys are going to bring for the rest of the season.” Cherry Hill West is currently 4-4 in conference play and is tied for third place in the Olympic-American division Jefferson finds itself on a five game losing streak “On the day we played three games in a row,” Jefferson head coach Gino Rose said “It is definitely something that isn’t easy to do and out guys got a little fatigued at the end there Our goals for the remainder of the season stay the same we want to move up and get more power points and that will happen by continuing to battle and pick up wins along the way.” Tyler Duffy can be reached at tduffy@njadvancemedia.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Reed Becker | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comNatalie Olson led Cherry Hill East by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and and four runs scored in a 16-4 win over Shawnee in Medford Dylan Kratchman also went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and Brianna Purcell was 3-for-4 with a triple Izzy Morrison and Ashley Robbins each contributed an RBI for Shawnee Cherry Hill East (9-5) extends its winning streak to three games and will travel to face Rancocas Valley on Monday while Shawnee (1-12) will host Eastern on Monday Reed Becker can be reached at rbecker@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) The views expressed here are the author's own Residents of Cherry Hill and neighboring communities are invited to experience "Photographic Explorations," a solo photography exhibit by Elvira Peretsman at the Art Gallery of the Cherry Hill Public Library from May 3 to May 30 Elvira Peretsman invites viewers to explore the boundaries between reality and imagination She employs innovative in-camera techniques and advanced post-processing manipulation to transform ordinary scenes and objects into extraordinary visual experiences challenging the conventional boundaries of visual perception The exhibit is open to the public during regular library hours: Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Thursday-Friday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sunday 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM A special artist reception will be held on Saturday The reception is free and open to everyone - come meet Elvira Peretsman and explore her unique photographic vision Join your neighbors from across the region in celebrating local art at the Cherry Hill Library’s Art Gallery Saturday, 12:00 amBensalem, PA .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mak Ojutiku | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comCole Haddock struck out eight and gave up two walks one earned run and seven hits over six innings to lead Cherry Hill East to a 3-1 win over Camden Tech in Cherry Hill Cherry Hill East (7-7) scored a pair of runs in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead Austin Hanni went 2-for-3 with an RBI and one runs scored Tristian Perry struck out two while giving up no walks and one hit in one inning of relief Brayden Falcone struck out eight and walked two while giving up eight hits in a complete game for Camden Tech (9-4) Falcone also recorded two hits at the plate while Chase LaRochelle recorded a hit and an RBI A Camden man is accused of deliberately driving across a street and onto a sidewalk to hit a pedestrian in Cherry Hill then allegedly fled the scene on Church Road near Millstream Lane leaving the victim with multiple broken bones underwent surgery after the April 8 assault The victim's current condition was not known Cherry Hill Mall: Five new tenants prepare for 2025 openings The statement said Ingram was driving westbound on Church while the victim was walking on the eastbound sidewalk crossed over the eastbound lanes and onto the sidewalk before accelerating towards the victim." The impact of the collision threw the pedestrian into the air The victim required surgery for his injuries Ingram allegedly fled separate attempts by police to stop his vehicle in Cherry Hill and Camden It added that Ingram had stolen the vehicle from a relative in Camden earlier in the day He was arrested after returning the car to his relative's home aggravated assault and leaving the scene of an accident "knowing or reasonably believing that the victim was physically helpless,” the complaint said He faces 16 charges in Cherry Hill municipal court including reckless driving and improper driving on a sidewalk He faces a charge in Camden municipal court for the alleged theft of a motor vehicle (This story was updated to add information and a photograph.) Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal Al Urbanski is the real estate editor of Chain Store Age He has covered CSA’s retail real estate beat since he joined the brand in 2016 Al is a veteran of the retail and and consumer products marketing industry with more than 30 years of reporting experience he served as the chief editor for a variety of publications including Sales & Marketing Management Al is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications Connect with Al on LinkedIn. The desks and conference rooms at the One Cherry Hill office building outside of Philadelphia are about to be replaced by climbing walls Dick’s House of Sport has signed a lease to take over 120,000 sq ft of that space inside PREIT’s Cherry Hill Mall and re-fill it with sporting equipment Other new tenants signed to open at the property include Coach "We are proud to welcome these outstanding retailers to Cherry Hill Mall," said PREIT’s chief revenue officer Joe Aristone reflects our strategic approach to capital allocation and our commitment to creating diverse These initiatives will strengthen the mall’s market position while improving overall performance and credit profile of this asset." It was a year ago that Philadelphia-based PREIT exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy and named as its new CEO Jared Chupaila former CEO of Brookfield Properties who spend a large portion of his retail real estate career at General Growth Properties New management has focused its attention on PREIT properties with potential for strong climate-controlled shopping center east of the Mississippi River in the United States New brands that have opened at the mall in the past year include Alo Yoga Cherry Hill Mall was designed by Victor Gruen for the Rouse Company Gruen is known as the architect to have created America’s first indoor shopping center — Southdale Mall in Edina Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late Want to get a weekly summary of New Jersey news from dozens of trustworthy news sites and not just one who has five decades in the news business and now publishes local site 70and73.com Caroline Yosef at her Cherry Hill consignment shop for luxury goods Features of a necklace are explained by Caroline Yosef The brand-name-adorned Maserati in front of Caroline's Cherry Hill shop on Route 70 Art on the wall of Caroline Yosef’s office in her boutique in Cherry Hill reads: "She is building her empire." Yosef's story makes that apt for the owner of Caroline's Jewelry & Luxury Fashion on Route 70 in Cherry Hill Her quest for an empire began as a girl growing up in the Eastern European nation of Belarus as she watched her mother, a piano teacher, leave for work each day, Yosef told 70and73.com in an interview "She had a morning class that she taught at 8 a.m she would have all her makeup on and hair done She would always look cute and look nice and she taught me a little bit of that." Moving forward a few years to when Yosef was 10 she said her favorite thing to read was Vogue magazine she said she spent her time drawing illustrations of models with top-of-the-line gorgeous dresses and dreamed one day of somehow working in that industry A major step in that direction came in 2002 when then 19-year-old Yosef arrived in Philadelphia to gain work experience that would "turn her dreams into reality." She said she worked in a clothing store in the city for a few months and was then hired by a city jeweler who taught her about high-end and luxury designers Like millions of others who come to America from other countries each year Yosef had a decision to make within a few years whether to stay in America or return home she would have likely tried to become an interpreter for a fashion-related business where she could put her fluency in English But she was determined to make it in America opened her first boutique along Main Street in Marlton The store closed when it moved to Cherry Hill purses and jewelry on that first shop's racks and shelves and within its display cases were pieces of merchandise she no longer wore or had received as a gift and never had used By the time her other boutiques opened — a Haddonfield shop and a seasonal one in Margate — the boutiques had a growing presence on social media Her consignment shop's model: She takes 20% and returns 80% to the product owner A 2020 Library of Congress report estimates the value of counterfeit merchandise in the United States annually between $1.7 trillion to $4.5 trillion all of her merchandise goes through a close inspection before it goes on sale Sometimes she uses an Entrupy scan to determine a authenticity she uses the information she has gleaned and retained from years of research on the luxury goods "Knowing something is counterfeit is much more than just asking if someone has a receipt from the store," Yosef said There are a lot of different things I do to make sure an item is 100% legit." Yosef noted in the interview that her knowledge also pays off when a customer comes in looking to buy "A person who is spending $10,000 on a purse is going to ask questions," Yosef explained "They already know what they are looking at (and) they are testing your business We always make sure that we provide the (best) service possible by providing clients with all the information that they may ask." That attention to detail goes a long way to building trust with customers adding that even after burglaries at the Haddonfield and Margate boutiques strangers still send boxes of merchandise for her to sell on consignment without any payment up front from as close as Cherry Hill and as far as California she reluctantly came to the decision that the Marlton store and parking area were too small and that she needed a bigger place Yosef said she will do pop-ups in Philadelphia She said she also volunteers and donates to various charities such as the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Ronald McDonald House a real estate investor who she credited with offering financial emotional and physical support that she sometimes needs to run the boutiques They live in Voorhees with their three children: 17-year-old Noam While Caroline said the older two are not likely going to follow in their mother's footsteps the youngest is always asking if he can come with her to work Caroline said her empire has not been completely built perhaps franchising the business and training those who have the same career goals as her Doing those things would likely add significantly more hours to the at least 60-hour work weeks Yosef said she currently has but she does not want people to feel bad for her "I am living my professional dream," she said Caroline's Cherry Hill location is at 413 Route 70 East and open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The Haddonfield store at 221 Kings Highway East is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The Margate store at 9412 Ventor Avenue is open from late spring to late summer from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Website: carolinesfashionluxuries.com there are no recent results for popular images there are no recent results for popular videos Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account It is a huge week for teams to situate themselves for the playoffs as the month of May goes on The cutoff is on May 20 with the actual playoffs set for the end of the month here is this week’s South Jersey boys and girls lacrosse Mean 15: Moorestown girls (11-1 record through May 3 The Quakers remain atop the Mean 15 despite a close loss to perennial North Jersey power Oak Knoll fourth-quarter outburst in a tie game at Moorestown puts the Augies atop the boys’ side of the Mean 15 Augustine speak more to the Quakers’ strength of schedule than their quality of play Clearview and Bishop Eustace have kept the Bulldogs on track The Renegades are on a five-game win streak after an impressive road win at Scotch Plains-Fanwood The Lions breakthrough win against Shawnee sets them up for home games at least through the Group 3 semifinals 11 in a row so far after a very impressive win against Washington Township The Renegades dropped a one-goal decision against Cherry Hill West but bounced back with an impressive win over Clearview Two more wins – against Sterling and Absegami – kept the Panthers among the unbeaten ranks The Eagles saw their six-game win streak conclude with a loss to Cherokee but bounced back against Lenape The Pirates had a slight bobble against Egg Harbor but their immediate effort in a win over Middle Township keeps them in the Mean 15 The Greyhounds ran their unbeaten streak to eight games with wins over Nottingham and Bishop Eustace The Pirates have soldiered on all season without faltering The Mustangs have won three straight and five of six since a loss to St The Hawks have won a South-Jersey best 10 straight games to make their debut in the Mean 15 Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996) He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes) Follow him on twitter @Rimbacksports) Email him with story ideas at tomrimback@gmail)com and support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier-Post) Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardFormer students sue schools over sexual abuse | Inquirer Cherry HillPlus what we know about the Dick’s House of Sport opening at the mall Hello, Cherry Hill If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. Six former Cherry Hill students have filed civil lawsuits against the school district and school board since 2023 alleging they failed to protect them from a former teacher’s sexual abuse The male plaintiffs were students at James F when they allege the abuse occurred at the hands of then-sixth grade homeroom and reading specialist teacher Otto Becken He resigned in 1984 after being charged with sexually assaulting two male students he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual misconduct but served no jail time allege that district employees knew or should have known about the abuse and failed to stop it with one suit stating that the district “failed in its most basic duties to guard against a predator sexually abusing not just one but numerous minors,” The Inquirer’s Melanie Burney reports The district has denied the allegations in court filings A seventh victim is expected to file a lawsuit soon and one of the lawyers involved in the suits said he expects there could be dozens or even hundreds of other victims Read more about the lawsuits here and Offline by Aerie to the Cherry Hill Mall later this year Sen. Andy Kim held a town hall at his alma mater, Cherry Hill East his recent vote to withhold military aid for Israel Donations have flooded in to help replace specialized equipment stolen from Camden County NJ Miracle League The Cherry Hill nonprofit helps children and adults with disabilities play baseball “Just how fast the community shows up for everybody is amazing and important to highlight at this time,” league General Manager Arthur Aston told The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner A business that got its start in a Cherry Hill basement is now among the many local small companies concerned about a global trade war Rasta Imposta/Imposta Costumes CEO Robert Berman said “companies like mine could go out of business” if high tariffs on China remain Worried about missing the May 7 REAL ID deadline? New Jersey has rolled out “life-or-death” emergency expedited appointments Less difficult is Merchantville Country Club After a lengthy debate and public comments the Cherry Hill Board of Education voted 8-1 Tuesday night to adopt a $256.1 million budget for 2025-26 which will result in a slight increase in taxes for local homeowners The Inquirer’s Melanie Burney will have more on the impact next week Post-pandemic, some South Jersey schools are continuing to struggle with absenteeism chronic absenteeism sat at 14.9% for the 2023-24 academic year chronic absenteeism was up 4% compared to 2018-19 Fast-casual eatery Just Salad is opening a location in Cherry Hill a company spokesperson confirmed to The Inquirer It has signed a lease at 706 Haddonfield Road in the former MOD Pizza space and plans to open later this year Just a few months after opening, Kura Revolving Sushi Bar on Route 70 is acquiring a liquor license. (42 Freeway) Roy Rogers is set to open in early to mid-June at 614 Haddonfield Road, marking the chain’s South Jersey revival. (Patch) and $110 for VIP admission 📍 Cooper River Park 💐 Mother’s Day Event: Celebrate Mother’s Day early with Cherry Hill-based Jacqueline’s Flowers & Gifts which will lead a floral arranging class for moms and kids 🥑 Drinko de Mayo: Three DJs will perform during this Cinco de Mayo-themed brunch event 📚 Authors & Artists Expo 2025: Mix and mingle with talented local artists as they showcase their work Food trucks and music will also be on offer 💵 Free 📍 Carman Tilelli Community Center $20 for general admission 📍 Croft Farm Arts Center 🖼️ Art Blooms Juried Art Exhibit: Opening Reception: Celebrate the opening of the exhibit The juried exhibit will be on display Tuesdays through Thursdays until May 15 Numerous angles and contrasting siding colors make this home stand out its contemporary exterior gives way to a spacious interior that has seven bedrooms it also has a bonus room that could be used as an office; a finished walk-out basement with a wet bar; plus a great room with vaulted ceilings Price: $719,900 | Size: 3,850 SF | Acreage: .21 Have you seen an interesting listing in or around Cherry Hill? Share it with us in an email to cherryhill@inquirer.com Median listing price: $477,500 (up $7,500 from February) 📈 Median sold price: $425,000 (down $67,500 from February) 📉 Median days on the market: 28 (up two days from February) 📈 This Cherry Hill market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for March from realtor.com including the grant of rights in Section 10 Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardCherry Hill School District faces lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by a former sixth-grade teacher Six former Cherry Hill students say the school district failed to protect them from a predatory instructor decades ago Six former Cherry Hill students are accusing the school district of failing to protect them from a sixth-grade teacher who allegedly sexually abused them more than four decades ago the alleged abuse occurred when the students were about 11 or 12 was a homeroom teacher and reading specialist The lawsuits allege that Becken groomed the students for abuse using his position of power and trust and that district employees who knew or should have known about the abuse failed to stop it The district “failed in its most basic legal duties to guard against a predator sexually abusing not just one but numerous minors,” the lawsuit complaints say Jeffrey P. Fritz one of the lawyers representing the victims in the six lawsuits said he expects additional victims to come forward A lawsuit from a seventh victim is expected soon of other victims out there,” Fritz said in a recent interview Cherry Hill school officials did not respond to requests for comment The lawsuits also allege that district officials failed to make required reports of suspected abuse to the state’s child welfare agency who was hired to teach in Cherry Hill in 1970 was charged in 1984 with sexually assaulting two 12-year-old boys he resigned later that year and agreed to surrender his teaching certificate and seek psychiatric treatment Becken pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual misconduct with no jail time imposed who alleged he was molested by Becken during the 1982-83 school year filed the first lawsuit against the school district in 2023 Wicker said he did not tell anyone about the abuse because he was ashamed and embarrassed He believed he was the only alleged victim at the time » READ MORE: The N.J. Supreme Court will decide whether to allow a grand jury investigation into statewide clergy abuse Experts say victims of sexual abuse are often unable to disclose the trauma they experienced until an older age, often between 40 and 55, according to the advocacy group Child USA in Philadelphia “It takes a special courage,” said Derek T Braslow is a 1989 Cherry Hill East graduate and former classmate of some of the survivors Wicker filed suit under the 2019 New Jersey Child Victims Act which extended the statute of limitations to allow child sex abuse victims to sue their abusers and the institutions that protected them until they turn 55 The law made it easier for child sexual abuse victims to seek justice in civil court It opened a floodgate for hundreds of cases involving public and private schools and the Roman Catholic Church and as many as 2,000 civil cases have been filed since New Jersey carved out the exception to the statute of limitation » READ MORE: Winslow Township school district settles sexual abuse lawsuit against a teacher for $6 million They name the school district and the school board and seek punitive damages Becken regularly ate lunch alone with Wicker or other male students in his classroom Becken had a reputation for acting inappropriately with male students and his alleged misconduct and sexual abuse “was known or should have been known to the administration.” a female student told school officials that Becken had made vulgar sexual remarks to her class A supervisor counseled Becken about “drawing a line” with students Three former students spoke with The Inquirer to share their stories and said they hoped it would encourage other victims and witnesses to consider coming forward » READ MORE: Hear what Salema Hicks Robinson has to say about the civil sex abuse lawsuit she filed, what she’s lost and how she’s triumphed Wicker said he thought he had hit the lottery when he was selected for Becken’s class a jolly and fun guy who clowned around with students Wicker said Becken threatened to fail him if he told anyone he began going home for lunch to avoid Becken He sought counseling and said he hopes to inspire other victims Identified only as “John Doe” in legal filings another man who has sued the district said Becken would have students line up by his desk to check their work Becken pulled the boys onto his lap and put his hand in their pants “I have a memory of every single boy being molested by this teacher,” he said the man said he has been unable to work regularly and suffers from post-traumatic disorder and difficulty with intimacy “It’s caused me a hell of a lot of pain in my life,” he said Becken promised his students for the 1981-82 school year the best year ever another man who plans to sue the school district alleging abuse by Becken He said Becken asked them to raise their hands to agree to his terms Becken would joke and roughhouse with the boys putting them on his lap and spanking and fondling them “We thought it was all fun and games,” he said “He was somebody who was supposed to be trustable.” Koch said he was afraid to tell his parents His peers never talked about the incidents outside of class Koch said it took years for him to come to grips with what happened and only recently shared it with his wife would be the seventh alleging abuse by Becken A wave of new stores are planned to arrive at the Cherry Hill Mall, including one that would have customers climbing the walls The mall's owner, Philadelphia-based PREIT, on Thursday said it's "targeting" a 2026 debut for Dick's House of Sport. The 120,000-square-foot store is to replace a nine-story office building Security measure: Cherry Hill Mall policy limits access for unaccompanied minors "These moves reflect PREIT’s strategy of transforming key assets into dynamic lifestyle destinations," the company said in a statement Dick's House of Sport will offer experiences that include a climbing wall a sport cage is to be available for baseball It's intended to provide the opportunity for customers to try products "while measuring and tracking their performance," PREIT's statement said The fenced field and track would be accessible only from inside the store according to information provided to members of Cherry Hill's planning board The two-story sporting goods store also would offer a new entrance to the nearby mall PREIT added that the demolition of the One Cherry Hill office building reflects "a focus on repurposing underutilized real estate and increasing consumer engagement." Mall shoppers may expect the following changes as well in 2025: Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post 2025 at 2:33 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}South Jersey's Roy Rogers resurgence is getting closer NJ — The Roy Rogers revival is getting closer with construction on the Cherry Hill restaurant underway Late last year, Roy Rogers unveiled plans for a restaurant in the township Those plans remain on track, with the location expected to open in early to mid-June The once-thriving fast food chain has become a rarity in recent decades typically serving up their mainstay roast beef burgers and fried chicken at highway rest stops Cherry Hill's restaurant (614 Haddonfield Rd.) will not only be South Jersey's first Roy Rogers in a generation. It will also be a standalone restaurant, operating at the former site of PDQ In the late 1960s, the Roy Rogers chain launched an aggressive franchising push that led to hundreds of restaurants throughout the nation. The brand dwindled in the coming decades. But a few years ago, the chain launched a strategy to develop restaurants in its core Mid-Atlantic market and then build outwards into different regions There are now about 40 locations — most of which are in Maryland Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. A new DICK’S House of Sport is coming to the Cherry Hill Mall marking a key addition to the evolving tenant roster at the PREIT-owned property the ground-up 120,000-square-foot store along Route 38 will offer a blend of apparel interactive experiences and community events That will include a large assortment of products and in-store experiences such as a climbing wall multiple golf bays with TrackMan simulators an outdoor track and field and a multisport cage that can be used for baseball replacing the underutilized One Cherry Hill office building that PREIT is demolishing the landlord has secured leases with several retailers set to open in 2025 “We are proud to welcome these outstanding retailers to Cherry Hill Mall,” said Joe Aristone chief revenue officer at Philadelphia-based PREIT “The addition of DICK’S House of Sport These initiatives will strengthen the mall’s market position while improving overall performance and credit profile of this asset.” PREIT inks leases to bring apparel companies, seafood restaurant to Cherry Hill Mall has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State Restaurant chain Bojangles has opened along a major commercial corridor in Piscataway as part of a previously announced deal brokered by The Goldstein Group All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardThis family may try to halt East’s baseball season | Inquirer Cherry HillPlus due to the foul balls that keep landing on their property Their home in the Wilderness Run neighborhood is adjacent to the school’s baseball field but one ball broke their car windshield and another hit Mirit in the shoulder as she held her 1-year-old son The couple is asking the district to reimburse them $300 for the damage and to move the baseball field about 30 feet but it’s becoming ridiculous,” said Guy Holzman “I will get an injunction until we figure it out.” Read more here about the Holzmans’ battle with the school district. Moving forward, the Cherry Hill Mall is banning minors after 4 p.m. on Saturdays, unless accompanied by a parent or a guardian who is at least 21. Niche.com has given Cherry Hill an “A” for living standards, a grade it assigns by ranking public schools, housing, crime, cost of living, and more. (Patch) A traffic alert for today: Due to emergency sewer repairs there will be alternating traffic on Park Boulevard between Webster Avenue and Curtis Avenue For the first time at Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital, a robot named da Vinci Xi has performed surgery — specifically a cholecystectomy, a procedure to remove the gallbladder. (Patch) The Walgreens at the northwest corner of Kings Highway and Chapel Avenue is set to close in May, according to a notice on the company’s website. A new Skechers will be opening at the Garden State Pavilions, taking over part of the location that used to be Petco. (A View from Evesham) Fox 29 took a look inside La Liégeoise Haraz Coffee House, which opened last month on Penn’s campus, is looking to open a location in Cherry Hill. Honeygrow, which has a location on Kings Highway, is now shipping its bottled sauces nationwide two-and-a-half home is in the gated Country Walk neighborhood and a dual-sided stone fireplace in the main living area CHERRY HILL – Mark Wojcik wants to bring “The Boot” back to Chapel Ave He’ll get the opportunity after being approved as the 14th head coach in the history of the Cherry Hill High School West football program by the school board on Tuesday night Wojcik already knows who he would show the trophy which goes to the winner of the West-East football game each year was the first-ever coach in the history of the Cherry Hill East program “Gotta bring 'The Boot' back so I can rub it in a little bit with him,” Wojcik said with a laugh Arabia went 17-28 during his five seasons at the helm which included a 5-1 mark in his first season (2020) Wojcik still talks plenty of football with his grandfather who coached four seasons at Cherry Hill East before a whirlwind career in the sport at the college and professional levels Curl won a World Bowl title with the Frankfort Galaxy in 1999 and held assistant head coach positions with the Kansas City Chiefs and St Cherry Hill Public Schools athletic director Mike Beirao said there was a “deep pool of talented candidates” that applied for the position but Wojcik’s personality along with his game plan was a touchdown for the committee “He has that passion and enthusiasm,” Beirao said “He has the ability to get people excited about Cherry Hill West football again positive energy to build a strong foundation What we are striving for is sustained success.” Wojcik said that success is certainly obtainable and the quest to achieve it begins with getting athletes out for the program who works as a business education teacher at West “If somebody walks around the halls of Cherry Hill West they would assume they have a great football team here There are great athletes and guys with great size in this building We just have to get them out for the team.” Wojcik has plenty of coaching experience at the collegiate level with stops at New Hampshire Lafayette and Sacred Heart over the last decade he was a defensive coordinator with the Lions Beirao saw Wojcik’s leadership skills way back at Cinnaminson High when he was his teacher and wrestling coach he was a leader of young men,” said Beirao who taught Wojcik in the classroom and coached him on the wrestling mat hard-nosed kid who worked harder than anyone else.” went on to play college football at Gettysburg After starting a family with his wife Melissa (they have three children) he entered the business world for some time before getting into teaching Wojcik planned to talk to his team on Thursday and said he can’t wait to get to work That’s something Beirao said is part of a former wrestler’s DNA “They believe in work and they are not afraid of that work.” Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 35 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him by email tmcgurk@gannett.com Help support local journalism with a digital subscription Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardA Cherry Hill family is fighting the school district over foul baseballs landing in their backyard A Cherry Hill couple is threatening legal action to halt Cherry Hill East's baseball season because foul balls are landing in their backyard After saving for years, Guy and Mirit Holzman moved into their dream home last year behind Cherry Hill High School East the school’s 2024 spring baseball season began and errant balls began landing in their fenced-in backyard Players would retrieve the balls or the couple would toss them back a ball landed on their car parked in the driveway came when she was struck in the shoulder by a ball while holding her 1-year-old son The boy was hit in the neck but not seriously injured Angry fans told her to leave and school officials said she was trespassing Some parents yelled that she should remain indoors during practice and games Others blamed the couple for purchasing a home in such close proximity to the baseball field the couple have become embroiled in a battle with the district as they search for a way to protect them and their property from fly balls Guy Holzman said his next step may be legal action to halt the season until the matter is resolved Superintendent Kwame Morton and district officials did not respond to requests for comment But email exchanges between the couple and the district obtained by The Inquirer under the state’s Open Public Records Act suggest a growing acrimony The couple want the district to reimburse them $300 for the damaged windshield and repairs to their fence damaged by baseballs They also want the district to move the field about 30 feet to change the trajectory of balls » READ MORE: Who is Kwame Morton, Cherry Hill's new schools chief? athletic director Michael Beirao said the baseball fields were installed in the 1970s He likened it to living next to a golf course “You bought a home next to a high school baseball field,” Beirao wrote “Although we try to ensure we are good neighbors there are going to be times when a baseball errantly flies into your yard.” Said Mirit Holzman: “It doesn’t matter that the baseball field was there first Beirao warned the couple not to enter the field again as Mirit Holzman had after she and her son were hit or they would face trespassing and disorderly persons charges “This behavior is unacceptable and must not happen again,” he wrote Beirao said there had been no complaints from other residents in the Cherry Hill neighborhood Guy Holzman pointed to balls that landed in neighbors’ yards » READ MORE: Cherry Hill is asking parents to help fill substitute teacher vacancies The Holzmans purchased their home in the township’s Wilderness Run neighborhood in December 2023 for $880,000 They moved in a month later with their three young children met in Israel and moved to the United States in 2018 They said they spent years saving for a down payment They said they didn’t pay attention to the baseball field adjacent to the backyard when they bought the house When baseball practice began a few months later said she was unfamiliar with America’s pastime because baseball is not popular in Israel they primarily kept their children indoors when the team was playing Players would enter the yard without permission hoping to reach a resolution before the next season “I have no intention to continue to close my kids at home They are not prisoners,” Guy Holzman wrote to district officials Beirao told the couple in an email that the district would not reimburse them for the car windshield damage and suggested they file a claim with their homeowners insurance agreeing to tell players not to enter the Holzmans’ yard to retrieve balls a portable batting cage that catches missed pitches and foul balls which can be used during practice but not games Guy Holzman says most of the problems occur during games such as adding a row of canopy trees to serve as a cushion to intercept fly balls He had recommended the school install netting that would have cost $60,000 but has backed down from that request The couple has rejected suggestions that they sell their five bedroom five-bath 5,000-square-foot home built in the 1980s a sports enthusiast and former Israeli gymnastics champion doesn’t want to be a spoilsport and ruin baseball season “There’s no need for it to be at [the expense of] the safety of my family.” Meanwhile, this year’s baseball season is underway. The next home game is April 21 vs. Lenape High School. Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardSen Andy Kim faced both hecklers and celebrity treatment as he talked Trump and Israel at a Cherry Hill town hallKim’s town hall drew nearly 400 people at his alma mater Sen. Andy Kim called town halls a “quintessential American tradition.” That was shortly before he found himself walking up the aisle of the packed Cherry Hill East High School auditorium toward a man heckling him 10 minutes into his town hall Tuesday night “Yes, sir, did you want to say something to me?” Kim (D., N.J.) asked the man, who stood up from his seat and shouted in defense of President Donald Trump while wearing a shirt with an expletive before “Hamas.” Martin Luther King Jr.: “Let’s not try to quench our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” “That doesn’t mean that we lower our water or lower the intensity by which we want to protect our country but it just allows us to take that breath,” he added Kim then spent half an hour laying out his concerns that Trump is abusing his power and undercutting the separation of powers laid out in the Constitution He was in comfortable territory at his high school alma mater where the student who introduced him called him a “legend.” She said that Kim makes her proud to be an American and that he offers “light” in uncertain political times He was greeted with roaring applause as he entered the room shortly after 7 p.m Kim took questions for about an hour and a half both in the town hall format and from audience members who huddled around him after the event The most contentious issue of the night: Israel Kim joined 13 other Senate Democrats earlier this month in an unsuccessful vote to withhold military aid for Israel in an effort spearheaded by Sen pleasing some constituents and frustrating others One attendee booed another who said Kim exhibited “moral clarity” with his vote Others shouted “Free Palestine” after a man defended Israel He argued that the “resumption of violence” fuels Hamas’ ability to regroup and that “there is no purely military-only solution” that would fully dismantle the terrorist organization He said while a two-state solution is currently “far … from reality,” that “doesn’t and should not stop us from trying to pursue” lasting peace “I don’t want you to read into my actions as saying that there is an easy solution to what is happening,” Kim said Kim said he is concerned that Trump’s “America First” foreign policy views will result in a weaker “America alone.” “Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum you cannot say right now that we are a reliable partner,” Kim said Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department as shrinking “our capacity to lead.” “We cannot take for granted our strength and our capacity to be able to be a global leader,” Kim said One attendee encouraged Kim to do more town halls in Republican-leaning districts Another said she is nervous about the impact of tariffs on her small business One advocate wanted Kim’s support on legislation to require age verification for pornography and a military veteran expressed concern about her medical data being accessed by the Department of Government Efficiency A transgender activist said she is afraid of the anti-transgender sentiment embraced by the Trump administration “I wish I had words to be able to give you and others comfort saying that we can guarantee that sense of safety,” Kim said I don’t want to say things that I cannot say with 100% truth and I think that’s what makes this such a scary moment.” Sen. Andy Kim gives his take on Trump, Musk, and the Republican Party while speaking to attendees after his town hall at Cherry Hill East High School. pic.twitter.com/XywsANY764 NPR's Morning Edition takes listeners around the country and the world with two hours of multi-faceted stories and commentaries that inform Morning Edition is the most listened-to news radio program in the country The Camden County township is among more than a dozen local New Jersey governments that were awarded $70,000 to better serve seniors File - A blanket with symbols of Cherry Hill Township on display outside of council chambers in the municipal building Proposed legislation in New Jersey would require insurance companies to pay for menopause treatment and raise awareness about it senior citizens are heading back to college The Garden State joined AARP’s network in 2021 there are five counties and 22 municipalities that are participating associate state director of advocacy for AARP New Jersey “We’re continuing to see communities at every level of government make the commitment to make their neighborhoods and communities more age-friendly,” she said “We’ve been working to build up communities and help them to be better equipped to meet the needs of an aging population.” Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the creation of the Age-Friendly State Advisory Council to work with the Department of Human Services to develop a blueprint for local governments and businesses to follow to create age-friendly communities. The department released the blueprint last year The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. The Kensington Community Resilience Fund directs $200,000 to organizations focused on improving the quality of life in neighborhoods hard-hit by the opioid epidemic Shoppers lined up outside South Jersey shops Friday Larry Abrams of Cherry Hill will receive the Russ Berrie Award from Ramapo College of New Jersey for his work with his organization Kenneth Burns is WHYY’s New Jersey reporter Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY The home on the eastbound side of Route 70 in Cherry Hill just before the Old Orchard neighborhood and in front of the Wexford Leas neighborhood has been vacant for years The plan calls for affordable housing on the long and narrow parcel also would have St Bartholomew's Episcopal Church on the west side (left) and First Korean United Methodist Church on the east side A rendering of the proposed affordable housing on Route 70 Plans show the building on the lot with a buffer in the back near the border of the Wexford Leas neighborhood Ponds with aerators would be on either side of the driveways on Route 70 A long-planned affordable 64-apartment housing project on Route 70 in Cherry Hill abutting the Wexford Leas and Old Orchard neighborhoods is scheduled to go before the Township zoning board on Thursday now being developed by Volunteers of America/Delaware Valley on the 4.74-acre unused property received preliminary major site plan approval in 2019 under former developer Fortitude Realty LLC Lilley's Place, which the development would be named, and VOADV Property Inc., both of 531 Market Street in Camden, are the formal applicants. Final major site plan approval is being sought at the meeting A condition from the 2019 approval requiring a 100-foot perpetual landscape buffer in the rear of the property near the neighborhood remains a condition with the new owner The only entrance and exit to the apartments would be on Route 70 eastbound with ponds on either side of the driveways Out of the total 64 one-bedroom apartments 52 would be age-restricted to seniors and 12 would be non-age-restricted for tenants with special needs according to documents filed with the Zoning Board of Adjustment narrow 1991 Route 70 property and 58-year-old ranch-style house have been vacant for years had "a long-standing history of (zoning) violations on the property as they operated a construction business on the lot for some time." there are a number of complaints regarding property maintenance and zoning violations," according to the review letter The affordable housing developer proposes a six-foot board fence on the side and rear property lines Although the property appears to be heavily wooded they consist of invasive species such as Black Cherry Callery Pear and Black Locust that are poorly developed and of no ecological value," wrote Timothy G Kaluhiokalani of Environmental Resolutions Inc There are White Pines that...will be retained along the residential and swim club borders that have lost most of their lower branches." Jeremy Noll of Environmental Resolutions: "We understand that the applicant is proposing to keep much of the buffering vegetation; however we would like to work with the applicant to provide some infill and denser landscaping throughout the site."  Addison Petti's life is becoming increasingly less complicated The Cherry Hill West senior is in her final season as a three=sport athlete After years of being defined as a three=sport athlete Petti is facing a future without playing field hockey or basketball The Mount Saint Mary's University recruit will transition to collegiate lacrosse once she graduates later this spring Those coaches and everyone helped me to develop Like many of her current Lions' lacrosse teammates Petti has fully embraced the three-sport life During the spring that has led to a lacrosse team that features some of the most exciting dynamic multi-faceted players in South Jersey Petti credits variety for rounding out her game "I like to think that the culture of the (field hockey) team helped," Petti said I think that chemistry moving into another sport shows The last two fall season s have been arguably the most successful for the West field hockey program in decades Team chemistry and talent were certainly part of the Lions' success There is no argument that Cherry Hill West had the best girls basketball season in its history over this winter Petti and her teammates stepped off the floor at Rutgers University in late March as the NJSIAA Group 3 champions after allowing just 17 points in the state championship game "Basketball helps with my footwork and everything "The defense has a lot the same concepts on the ride and everything A lot of the motions and plays are basically the same West lacrosse coach Taylor Gretz has long advocated for having multi-sport athletes in her lineup "She is coming hot off the state championship," Gretz said "She definitely knows how to get win a game and dig deep She played a tremendous role in their state championship and their whole playoff ride She definitely knows what it takes to win." Basketball success and lacrosse success are born from the same place West has been a perennial contender for the sectional lacrosse title in the state's most competitive section Despite a delayed start due to her extended basketball season She has already made closure with her fall and winter sports "I took a good look around multiple times this year," Pettis said I'm not going to be doing the same thing that I've done for so many years I liked that I was able to leave it off how I left it." Patti's final scholastic season is nearing the halfway point she'll be picking up a stick and preparing for her scholastic load in her preferred course of study in psychology or neuroscience "Those things have just been the main topics that have interested me since I started thinking about majors," Petti said "Sports definitely make sure time management is a big thing Sports make sure I have time for everything Coaches are always making sure we're on top of our work." Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996 He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes Email him with story ideas at tomrimback@gmail.com and support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier-Post Changes are coming to Cherry Hill's dwindling drugstore scene High-tech game-room operator Activate is preparing to occupy a former Rite Aid along Route 38 near Chapel Avenue according to testimony before members of the township's planning board It would be the first site in the South Jersey-Philadelphia region for Activate found primarily across the United States and Canada Costly settlement: Camden pharmacy paying $625K to resolve false-claims dispute The chain offers "an interactive gaming experience blending technology and fitness," according to testimony at a recent meeting of Cherry Hill's planning board a Walgreens store along Kings Highway near Chapel Avenue is to close May 19 The financially ailing pharmacy chain is in the midst of the planned shutdown of approximately 900 to 1,000 stores by the end of fiscal 2027 has announced plans to shutter 270 stores this year although none are known to be closing in South Jersey has closed 900 sites between 2022 and 2024 in a push to reduce store density While Rite Aid and Walgreens have struggled with large losses CVS said it's acting "strategically" and "not in reaction to industry pressures." "We’re focused on ensuring we have the right kinds of stores and the right number of stores in the right locations," it said in a statement Activate's arrival ends a 15-month search for a new tenant for the vacant Rite Aid The approximately 15,000-square-foot building once home to the Italian Bistro restaurant last year had a property tax bill of some $122,000 Activate offers "a blend of fitness and sports and videogames," Aulenbach said which increase as players become more proficient where players must try to avoid laser beams You're crawling around and trying not to get caught by the lasers players jump on "a hot lava floor" to avoid standing on a fast-moving red square An Activate representative could not be reached for comment Aulenbach said the company offers online bookings for groups of up to 12 people who can spend 10 minutes in a particular game room and 60 minutes at the site overall A party room is available for 30 minutes at the end of each visit Planning board members passed a resolution advancing the project at their meeting April 7 "We're always pleased when a closed business that everyone has been using is repurposed and this looks like it will be a fun purpose," board member Marlyn Kalitan said after an initial vote March 17 At the Walgreens store along Kings Highway a sign on the front door apologizes "for any inconvenience this may cause If you have prescriptions at this location learn about filing your Rx at another Walgreens." It said that files from the store's already-closed pharmacy have been sent to a Walgreens at Route 70 and Grove Street in Cherry Hill Walgreens began a program in October 2024 to prune underperforming stores and some with expiring leases It noted at that time it wanted "to close the competitive gap with peers that have taken similar initiatives over the past years." Nearly 250 locations were shut down in the six months through Feb although cutbacks to this point have not hit additional South Jersey stores agility and problem-solving skills to overcome challenges in each sessions Members of the public listen to Cherry Hill school board budget discussions on Tuesday evening The Cherry Hill school board voted 8-0 Tuesday evening in favor of the district's 2025-26 school year $256.1 million budget that will see the district move to a junior high school model add almost a half-dozen educational and behavioral health positions and cut about 19 support positions Superintendent Kwame Morton said the switch from a middle high school model to a junior high school model would save the district about $3.7 million and "allows the children to continue to receive the same academic-driven coursework content." The district's local property tax collection will increase by 2.8% to $201.5 million under the 2025-26 budget compared with this year's budget The property tax burden in the budget increases to 79% from 77% this year said the budget cuts about 19 support positions — most of which will come through vacancies the switch to the junior high school model and an administrative position through sectioning at the high schools Shugars did not elaborate on high school-related cuts, but a district spokesperson told a 70and73.com after the meeting that those cuts "won't impact class sizes." Shugars also said the budget adds an elementary-level math coach and the equivalent of 5.5 elementary and middle school interventionists Morton said math became "an area of focus" after a 2020 report that examined the impact of what he called "massive layoffs of mathematics functions" in the 2009-10 academic year Capital reserve projects in the budget include setting aside $1.925 million to replace the High School West turf field and resurfacing of its track The capital costs also include $998,500 to replace fences district-wide and contribute $4 million to the district debt service A few parents expressed concern about $25.4 million allocated to special education You can judge a society by how you treat your most vulnerable," said Cherry Hill special education parent Laurie Neary Shugars said the public hearing on the budget will be April 29 Board member Kurt Braddock wrote to the board explaining a professional commitment required his absence from the meeting he would have voted in favor of the budget The school board also voted 7-1 to approve the $11,632,708 early childhood preschool budget for the upcoming school year Board Member Kim Gallagher cast the lone no vote Brandi White was one of several Cherry Hill parents who questioned the need to fund preschool "We are cutting middle school student benefits and educational experiences in favor of busing preschoolers all over the district," White said "The district at this point has just bitten off more than it can chew and we really need to trim back and focus on those core academics for our K-12 students," she told board members Annual taxes will increase by $179.59 for a home with a districtwide average assessment of $227,000, the district reported. Other 2025-26 budget detail, from the district presentation on March 11: The district has previously said between 70% and 75% of the budget is personnel costs and that non-personnel areas can sustain only so much cutting including increases in elementary class sizes and cuts in high school programming operational staff and transportation that may have been needed to balance the budget appeared to be off the table Shugars said the district did have to cut some permanent substitute positions A one-of-a-kind store is on its way to Cherry Hill Mall It will be only the second of its kind in the Garden State READ MORE: New teen policy now in effect at Cherry Hill Mall Dick's Sporting Goods House of Sport will be opening in 2026 It's described on the Dick's Sporting Goods website: "We are your destination for sport. From baseball, softball, golf to football, we will help you reach the top of your game - no matter how you stay active. Find the top gear to perform your best connect with your community and attend special events in our new interactive space." I know 2026 sounds like a long time to wait Not only will you get to shop for everything you need...clothing This isn't just your average retail store, it's an experience It will anchor the mall and join other stores like Apple According to the mall's website and OffLine will be opening soon and a Coach store is scheduled to open this fall The first Dick's Sporting Goods House of Sport in New Jersey is preparing for a 2025 opening in Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold Township READ MORE: Retro fast food restaurant reopening in Cherry Hill It will be located in the former Lord & Taylor department store space I'll let you know when I hear the opening dates for both locations It will only be the second in NJ.\nRead More READ MORE: New teen policy now in effect at Cherry Hill Mall Dick's Sporting Goods House of Sport will be opening in 2026 It's described on the Dick's Sporting Goods website: "We are your destination for sport. From baseball, softball, golf to football, we will help you reach the top of your game - no matter how you stay active. Find the top gear to perform your best Dick's Sporting Goods House of Sport is coming to Cherry Hill Mall in 2026 This isn't just your average retail store, it's an experience According to the mall's website The first Dick's Sporting Goods House of Sport in New Jersey is preparing for a 2025 opening in Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold Township READ MORE: Retro fast food restaurant reopening in Cherry Hill It will be located in the former Lord & Taylor department store space PISCATAWAY — Tears were still falling as McKenna Hogan tried to put the Chatham girls basketball season into perspective to Cherry Hill West in the NJSIAA Group 3 final a senior guard who head coach Joe Gaba described as "the kid who will be right in your face motivating you," came up with a positive spin The Cougars have been to six Group finals and have yet to win This is the second year in a row Chatham has fallen in the Group 3 final won its first sectional title two weeks ago The Lions (25-4) end the season on a nine-game winning streak Cherry Hill West sophomore Kirsten Gibson led all scorers with 16 points on Saturday But where the low-scoring Lions excelled was forcing Chatham away from the basket Cherry Hill West coach Dan Butler's game plan was to keep the Cougars' 3-point shooters in check Chatham shot just 2-of-11 from behind the arc and couldn't get anything going inside either The final marks the Cougars' lowest point total since falling to Morris Catholic in a 2014 Morris County Tournament semifinal Chatham senior guards Arden Alvarez and Ella von Doussa had five points apiece The Cougars also suffered from the absence of senior point guard Mia Semioli who fell hard on her right shoulder in Tuesday's semifinal against Morris Knolls and was on the bench with a sling on her arm "Every look we got was a hard look," said Kreuzer who has signed a National Letter of Intent with Bucknell More: Morris Catholic girls basketball caps perfect season with third straight state title most of whom have played together since third grade with all but seven of losses coming in their first two high school seasons "Our program has really high standards and (these seniors) set the standard even higher," Gaba said "It's one thing to say at the end of last season 'We are going to get (back) to this game.' It's another thing to actually go out and do it Over the weekend of April 5-6, Cherry Hill Mall implemented a new parental supervision policy that mall officials said would address teens fighting and police being called to the mall states that mall security will begin monitoring people entering the mall beginning at 4 p.m Youth not accompanied by an adult parent or guardian older than 21 will be asked to leave Or they will be asked to return with an adult One parent older than 21 may escort up to four youths to the mall Youth working at the mall who are younger than 18 will be allowed into the mall without a parent or guardian But they'll have to show proof of employment and report immediately to their place of employment leave the mall property immediately after their shift FOX 29 News spoke with several mall customers who reported mixed feelings about the mall's new policy.  "Parents used to drop their kids off at the mall and pick them up Can't do that anymore because they travel in groups and shoplift They're harassing people," said Randi Freedman from Cherry Hill they need to find something for the teenagers to do Teenagers have money; they have their own money They can't go spend it in the mall?" asked Cheryl Washington from Camden Read the full text of the parental supervision policy on Cherry Hill Mall's website Download the app to LISTEN LIVE wherever you are and connect with us like never before Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardCherry Hill Mall now requires minors to be accompanied by a parent or guardian on Saturday nightsMall security personnel will enforce the policy starting at 4 p.m and may request proof of age from visitors Cherry Hill Mall has implemented a new chaperone policy that requires minors to be accompanied by a parent or guardian on Saturday nights The rule, referred to as a “Parental Supervision Policy” on the mall’s website was officially put into place over the weekend mall visitors under 18 need to be with a parent or guardian who is 21 or older starting at 4 p.m which is aligned with similar measures at other regional malls is aimed at ensuring a secure and enjoyable shopping environment for all visitors,” mall officials said in a statement “We will continue to work closely with law enforcement to enforce the guidelines and support a positive experience for our guests.” though stores with exterior entrances are excluded Mall security personnel will enforce the policy starting at 4 p.m parents or guardians age 21 or older can escort up to four youths but at least one of them must be their child Teens employed at the mall can still get into the facility without a parent or guardian teen workers will have to go directly to their workplace and leave the mall at the end of their shift if it concludes after 4 p.m Unsupervised minors in the mall while the policy is in effect will be asked to leave Those who refuse to leave could be prosecuted for trespassing » READ MORE: Is Cherry Hill Mall the suburb’s center of gravity? Not by a long shot. Police said a fight broke out between two groups of shoppers most of whom were juveniles who did not live in Cherry Hill have employed similar policies in recent years The upcoming Cherry Hill School District budget district officials said Tuesday as they presented the 2025-26 preliminary budget Annual taxes would increase by $179.59 for a home with a districtwide average assessment of $227,000 including unspecified reductions in high school sections elimination of 19 support positions and permanent substitutes and a decline in the educational services provided by outside contractors if funds the district previously banked are not used there may also be increases in elementary class sizes and additional cuts in high school programming Shugars noted that 70% to 75% of the budget is personnel costs and that non-personnel areas can sustain only so much cutting The proposed budget shows a 1.1% decrease in salaries The $256,122,121 proposed general fund budget represents a $309,110 State aid in the coming school year will drop to $28,592,928 The preliminary budget adds an elementary-level math coach and five interventionists Several school board members acknowledged that additions to the budget need to be kept to a minimum but also said those additions are needed COVID was deemed a pandemic," board member Kim Gallagher said "Our youngest learners in our district will be with us for another eight years We really do need to consider the gaps that some of the students have lost." Added Board Vice President Adam Greenbaum: "We still have students catching up on some basic skills We see that when we look at our test scores at certain grade levels year after year… We want to make sure this is still an achievement-focused budget." The preliminary budget also calls for changing the district's middle school model to a junior high school one Superintendent Kwame Morton said the proposed model offers "greater cost efficiency" and "greater teacher utilization" to the district but removes the smaller learning communities and advisory periods offered in the current model Morton did not provide a specific amount to be saved by switching to the junior high school model Shugars noted the Cherry Hill school district received $884,317 less from the state this year and that the district is also not receiving state equalization aid or state stabilization aid for the coming school year The preliminary budget is the focus of a special school board meeting and school board vote on March 18 adding the public hearing and final vote on the budget is April 30 "We do not always change the budget between the initial submission and the public hearing on the budget," Shugars said "(But) we have changed the budget in that time frame as well We have an opportunity to continue to refine things." The vacant Rite Aid store at Route 38 and Chapel Avenue in Cherry Hill which will be repurposed into an Activate gaming center One winning reason that a gaming facility was approved for Route 38 in Cherry Hill by the Planning Board last week was simple: A new business will fill an empty building Rite Aid shut down its pharmacy in the building 18 months ago The chain was approved by the Township in 2008 to build the store on the site of a former Italian restaurant in a triangle made by Route 38 and Chapel and Woodland avenues "Anytime that we can repurpose the vacant buildings it's a good thing," said Township Council member Daniel DiRenzo who voted unanimously in favor of the application from M&M Partners at Chapel Ave LLC Activate games will open in the former drugstore and gamers will move through interactive challenges in different rooms features laser beams that players must crawl around to avoid setting off an alarm Another room has "hot lava" red squares that players try not to step on representatives of the developer said at the meeting Read previous 70and73.com coverage of the gaming center proposal here. About 72 players will be in the game rooms at any one time Based on other Activate sites — the only other New Jersey one is in East Rutherford — about 70% of the gamers are family groups 2025 at 12:52 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Cherry Hill Mall is banning unaccompanied minors after 4 p.m NJ — Cherry Hill Mall's ban on unaccompanied minors now extends past the holiday season Visitors under 18 now must be accompanied by an parent or legal guardian who's 21 or older after 4 p.m In recent years, the mall has banned unaccompanied minors on the day after Christmas — following a 2017 incident when hundreds of teens became unruly in the crowded shopping center The updated parental-supervision policy came two weeks after a fight at Cherry Hill Mall Two people were injured in the altercation between two groups of primarily minors security will require photo ID "if the age of the youth and/or parent or legal guardian is not easily determined." This applies to visitors entering the mall after 4 p.m Saturdays and those inside the mall after the cutoff time Youth who work at the mall can enter without an adult go directly to their workplace and leave the mall when their shift ends The policy extends to the entire mall including the parking lots and any corridor leading to the mall except stores with exterior entrances Despite juvenile offenses trending downward nationally, incidents of unruly behavior have prompted a number of malls around the nation to prohibit unaccompanied minors. In South Jersey, Deptford Mall bans unaccompanied youth on weekends View Cherry Hill Mall's policies here feel free to ignore some traffic lights on a busy highway corridor in South Jersey In fact, the New Jersey Department of Transportation is helping in that process It's keeping black wrappers on traffic lights that have been installed — but not activated — as part of a $152-million project to improve Route 70 in Evesham The shrouded standards hang near traffic lights that they'll eventually replace they're covered to prevent confusing motorists which noted that work must be done on the ground before the old lights can be removed NTSB report: Crash that collapsed I-95 blamed on South Jersey trucker "This work includes installing additional hardware and configuring software," the statement said It added that the new lights will have upgraded "adaptive systems" to adjust their timing in response to traffic volume That's expected to improve traffic flow and reduce stops and backups, according to the DOT's project summary. "Testing of the newly installed traffic signals has begun and will continue for the next several weeks," the statement said the department will perform a complete system test to ensure that all signals are in constant communication," it added Many of the covers carry the name of Diehl Electric the Hammonton firm that made the advanced signals A company representative could not be reached for comment The new signals are to appear at 28 locations on an 8.8-mile stretch of Route 70 between Cooper Avenue in Evesham and Route 38 in Pennsauken The DOT said the traffic-signal project should be completed by the fall between Cooper Avenue in Evesham and Haddonfield Road in Cherry Hill A strip from Haddonfield Road to Route 38 is due for completion in winter 2026 the project is to include the installation of new pedestrian countdown signals and pushbuttons at crosswalks Upgrades to five closed-circuit TV cameras and the installation of two "dynamic message signs" to alert drivers to new roadway incidents or congestion are also expected Workers will install additional lighting at signalized intersections and replace existing street lights with LED lighting fixtures which includes extensive roadway and infrastructure work Several Cherry Hill school board members who attended a State Assembly Budget Committee hearing in Trenton about school aid cuts told their fellow school board members on Tuesday night that their efforts should only be the tip of the advocacy iceberg board President Gina Winters testified that state aid to school districts is "a crisis with no end in sight we are forced to raise taxes on a community that is at its breaking point our number of students in need of services and the cost of those services continues to rise." Winters said that a member of the Cherry Hill Zone Parent Teacher Association and a member of the Cherry Hill Education Association also testified Winters also said board Vice President Adam Greenbaum and board member Bridget Palmer also attended the hearing providing what Winters called "a nice representation for Cherry Hill." Palmer encouraged members of the public to make their voices heard adding that "as much as we as board members on the district level make our voices heard the voices of our community members and our parents matter 100 times more." Added Superintendent Kwame Morton: "Advocate to our legislators and allow our voices to be heard." District officials also noted that the Cherry Hill Fair Funding Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday. Palmer noted that details on how to attend the meeting or advocate on behalf of the district can be found on the committee Facebook page and that the public should "consider attending the meeting and taking advantage of those resources." parents and other Cherry Hill stakeholders had also traveled to Trenton in 2024 to protest the cut in state education aid the district faced Phil Murphy signing legislation that provided about $3.1 million of the $6.9 million in state aid that was cut Assistant Superintendent Lynn Shugars stated at the March 12 school board meeting that a similar financial reprieve is not likely for the upcoming school year’s budget The $256,122,121 proposed general fund 2025-26 budget the school board approved on March 18 represented a $309,110 Shugars and Superintendent Kwame Morton have previously stated the budget calls for moving to a junior high school model adding nearly a half-dozen educational and behavioral health positions and cutting about 19 support positions state aid in the coming school year is expected to decrease to $28,592,928 Only one resident directly addressed the coming school year budget during the meeting and she asked the school board to revisit the spending plan and balance it without increasing taxes Board members voted 8-0 to formally adopt policies on harassment electronic surveillance in school buildings and on school grounds spectator code of conduct at interscholastic events and cooperation with law enforcement Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardThe Cherry Hill Mall is no longer our anchor | Inquirer Cherry HillPlus district schools could lose money under the proposed state budget Hello, Cherry Hill Welcome to the very first edition of Inquirer Cherry Hill your weekly roundup of the top stories impacting your town to updates from your local government leaders and school district We know there’s a lot of news to keep track of out there As always, let us know if you have feedback. Are we missing something? Should we add a section? What community events or groups should we keep an eye on? You can tell us by taking our survey or emailing us at cherryhill@inquirer.com If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. To outsiders, the Cherry Hill Mall is synonymous with our town. But for those who live around here, we know it’s hardly the anchor it once was. then it’s got COPD,” resident Jay Lassiter told Inquirer reporter Jenn Ladd the Cherry Hill Mall was the first indoor mall east of the Mississippi and it drew attention and admiration from shoppers around the region More than 60 years and several major renovations later the mall “reads like any other American mall nice enough to have a Nordstrom’s,” Ladd wrote Cherry Hill is filled with a dizzying array of great restaurants and shops We’re all just as likely (maybe more likely?) to spend our weekends in strip malls and shopping centers as we are to visit the Cherry Hill Mall So Ladd set out to answer a question: If not the Mall The Oregon man charged with murder in the death of veterinarian Michael Anthony will be extradited to New Jersey for prosecution, a judge ruled. B’nai mitzvah parties have become extravagant affairs with some families spending upwards of $100,000 on the reception. Planners say many are also increasingly looking for unique venues — like the Richmans, of Cherry Hill, who hosted their daughter’s bat mitzvah at the Fillmore in Philly. Cherry Hill-raised singer Adam Weiner, band leader of Low Cut Connie, canceled his scheduled appearance at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts later this month, distancing himself from the organization after President Trump took it over. Paul Carocciolo, who runs the Paul Michael School of Music in Cherry Hill, was featured in our “House of the Week” column Tuesday for his top-floor corner penthouse in Fishtown. A little something to make you smile: A group of neighbors volunteered to help a Cherry Hill woman find her puppy, Shade, after he broke free during a walk last month. “It has shined the brightest light on my surrounding community,” Shade’s owner, Gina Manfredi, told CBS and I can not express the gratitude I feel.” But here’s a little good news. Because of a $363 million school bond voters approved in 2022, all of Cherry Hill’s public schools are getting upgrades. Our South Jersey schools reporter Melanie Burney checked in to see how the projects are going. Cherry Hill is carving out a niche for itself when it comes to ramen and bubble tea. Here’s where to get a hearty bowl to keep you warm through these last few weeks of winter. Freeze-dried candy has become a hit on TikTok, but we don’t have to go far to get some. Sugar Crunch, which makes sweets like freeze-dried gummy worms and freeze-dried Skittles, has a vending machine right at the Cherry Hill Mall. 📘 Calling all readers: The Friends of the Cherry Hill Public Library is hosting a book sale this week, including a $5 Bag of Books sale this weekend. Friends members get exclusive access today, and the sale opens to the public tomorrow. ⏰ Through Sunday, March 9. Various times.📍Cherry Hill Public Library 🎵 For the BeyHive: Vera Bar and Grill is hosting a Beyoncé drag brunch featuring drag queen VinChelle. ⏰ Sunday, March 9, 2:30-5:30 p.m. 💸 $15📍Vera Bar and Grill 😋 Haddonfield Restaurant Week: It’s the sixth annual restaurant week for our neighboring town, complete with prix fixe menus, daily specials, and discounts. ⏰ Through Sunday, March 9📍Downtown Haddonfield Now, this is a house for entertaining. This seven-bedroom, four full-bath, two half-bath home has an open-concept floor plan with a kitchen designed for hosting. The home, listed for $899,000 also has an in-law suite with its own separate entrance Have you seen an interesting listing in or around Cherry Hill Share it with us in an email to cherryhill@inquirer.com See something we’re missing? Want to alert us about a community event? Take our survey or reach out to us at cherryhill@inquirer.com The H Mart in Cherry Hill on Route 70 with the sign for the now-closed Beawon Korean BBQ restaurant A rendering of how the renovated H Mart supermarket and food court would look from Route 70 which touts itself as the largest Asian supermarket chain in the nation with nearly 100 outlets plans an extensive renovation of its 24-year-old market on Route 70 in Cherry Hill The market also plans to replace the closed Beawon - Stacey's Korean BBQ restaurant on the second, street-level floor and other tenant spaces with an open-concept food court, bakery and mercantile store, according to an application for a site plan waiver and bulk variances the Township Planning Board is scheduled to consider on April 21 As the Asian population has nearly tripled in Camden County since 1990 the demand has grown for Asian food ingredients that are not available in conventional supermarkets The Asian population in Camden County was 11,504 in the 1990 Census and grew to 32,598 in the 2020 Census Large competitors of H Mart include the Hung Vuong Food Market (named after a mythical Vietnamese leader) on Brace Road in Cherry Hill and the Sunseng Supermarket on Route 38 in Pennsauken near the Cherry Hill border opened its first market in 1982 in Woodside called "Han ah reum," a Korean phrase that in English means an "armful" and can refer to a large quantity of groceries The store name has since been shortened to H Mart H Mart's plans for its Cherry Hill store call for a "comprehensive renovation of the entire store to enhance the customer environment and service quality," according to its Planning Board application electrical and plumbing systems would be upgraded and all display units and refrigeration/freezer equipment would be replaced this space is designed to become a popular destination within the community," according to HAR Cherry Hill Corp.'s application The property is owned by More Cherry Hill Plaza LLC of Paramus New JerseyWith deep roots in the senior care industry and a shared commitment to making a difference longtime franchisees Brian Maroney and Chris Campbell are expanding their reach to the South Jersey suburb *This brand is a paid partner of 1851 Franchise. 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