Author: Taylor Allen

Good morning, South Jersey.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill is placing the blame on a vendor for the thousands of illegal voter registrations amid what she calls broader “disarray” at the Motor Vehicle Commission.

And a bankrupt weed company is set to close two of its grow sites in Vineland and lay off 86 employees.

Plus, a presumed lightning strike from Tuesday’s storm caused the closure of two Maple Shade businesses, and more news of the day.

— Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

P.S. Share your questions about the region with Curious South Jersey. The answers might end up in a future story. Stay tuned!

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Beyond the voter registration error

Gov. Sherrill shared Thursday that she was already less than impressed with the vendor that she says is responsible for illegally registering 6,600 noncitizens to vote before she discovered the issue.

In fact, she said, she had been trying to get rid of the company, IDEMIA, and that the new state Motor Vehicle Commission administrator “was already in the process of removing them for their incompetence.”

Earlier this week, Sherrill disclosed that a software glitch at the MVC operated by IDEMIA registered people to vote through the state’s automatic motor vehicle voter registration program even after people identified themselves as noncitizens.

The vendor responsible for the error is also to blame for long waits, bureaucracy, and red tape, according to Sherrill.

Meanwhile, IDEMIA released a statement blaming the New Jersey Department of State’s Division of Elections, saying that the department is “ultimately responsible for verifying eligibility to vote.”

The Inquirer’s Aliya Schneider and Michelle Baruchman have the latest.

Bankrupt weed company layoffs

The Cannabist Company dispensaries in New Jersey were among the first adult-use locations to open when the state began to allow recreational weed sales in 2022.

Four years later, the company will shut the doors of its two Vineland grow sites in October after the company filed for bankruptcy back in March.

Nearly all of the Cannabist’s cultivation and manufacturing employees in New Jersey will be laid off. That’s a total of 86 staff members out of a job.

The company also plans to sell the rest of its operation in the state, including the retail store in Deptford.

Reporter Henry Savage has the story.

What to know today

• New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware are part of a lawsuit against President Donald Trump to reverse new rules that tie disaster aid funding to abiding by the Trump administration’s requests for voter data.
• A lightning strike from Tuesday’s storms is suspected to have started a fire and forced a chocolate shop and a bakery to close on Maple Shade’s Main Street. The official investigation into the cause is ongoing.
• The Nilsa I. Cruz-Perez Downtown Camden library branch began offering curbside services on Thursday. The branch was forced to close after the extensive flooding from earlier this month.
• Collingswood officials want residents to license their pets so they can properly fund animal control services and help other animals in the borough.
• Rocco’s Italian Sausages & Cheesesteaks is set to open a new location in Washington Township this Monday, 42 Freeway reports.
• The owner of Collingswood’s The Garb Collection shared tips on how to thrift with Philadelphia Magazine.

🧠 Trivia time

Chef Nana Araba Wilmot, raised in South Jersey, competed in Season 23 of Top Chef, Bravo’s elimination-style reality culinary competition show. Where exactly was she raised?

A) Maple Shade

B) Paulsboro

C) Glassboro

D) Cherry Hill

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🏒 Cheering on: South Jersey native Blake Zielinski from Berlin who was drafted into the NHL.

🛍️ Missing: The Carnival of Collectables antiques mall that closed in Sicklerville.

🥄 Tasting: The new Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard water ice flavor inspired by The Office.

🏖️ Down the Shore

This feature appears as part of our weekly summertime series from Shore reporter Amy S. Rosenberg. Subscribe to her free Down the Shore newsletter here.

Amy recently published a story about how Sea Isle has undergone a transformation and has become an upscale Shore town. Whether or not that’s a good thing is up for debate.

Below are two responses to the piece:

“My wife and I had the good fortune to buy our home at 34th & Central in 1985. I was 35 and my wife was 33. Can you imagine two 30-year-olds being able to do that today? I do feel bad that isn’t possible in today’s day and age. Certainly, things have changed; I hate some of these housing monstrosities. Those changes aside, I love Sea Isle and consider ourselves absolutely blessed to call it home.”

“We saw what the future of Sea Isle was becoming many years ago when the quaint little cottage next door was sold, demolished, and converted into a QUADRUPLEX!”

How do you feel about Sea Isle’s changes? Is it that different compared to other Shore towns? Email Rosenberg your thoughts at downtheshore@inquirer.com.

📸 Photo of the week

Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see you on Monday!

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Good morning, South Jersey.

Our main story explains how 6,600 noncitizens in the state were registered to vote ahead of the 2024 election — and what happens next.

And Audubon has a new history museum that covers more than a century of the borough’s past.

Plus, the National Weather Service in Mount Holly confirmed there was a tornado as Tuesday’s storms swept through the state, and more news of the day.

— Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

P.S. Drop your burning questions about the region for Curious South Jersey. The answers might end up in our team’s reporting, and of course, in this newsletter.

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

🗳️ ‘Accountability starts now’

Gov. Mikie Sherrill disclosed Tuesday that 6,600 noncitizens between June 2023 and June 2024 were illegally registered to vote, and fewer than 400 of those cast a ballot.

🗳️ How did this happen?

New Jersey allows automatic voter registration when a citizen gets a driver’s license at the Motor Vehicle Commission unless they decline. According to Sherrill, the noncitizens who were improperly registered answered no when asked on a keypad if they were citizens, but were registered anyway through a software error.

🗳️ What’s next?

Sherrill said she ordered an investigation, and ordered noncitizens to be removed from voter rolls.

For more answers — like how President Donald Trump’s administration is responding — see reporter Aliya Schneider’s latest.

Plus: Within hours of Sherrill’s disclosure, the Department of Justice sent an updated request for New Jersey’s voter database and said it’s to ensure more noncitizens aren’t registered to vote.

Audubon’s new history museum

Camden County’s newest museum invites visitors to peruse items that cover more than a century of Audubon.

The Audubon Borough Historical Society museum on the second floor of the Audubon Senior Center boasts a collection made up of donations from residents, including a few from historical society members.

Items include a Monopoly board based on the borough, outdated land-use maps, and memorabilia featuring NFL star and Audubon High alum Joe Flacco.

Starting Aug. 8, the museum will be open for two hours on the second Saturday of every month.

The Inquirer’s Sarah Nicell has the sneak peek of the standouts on display.

What to know today

• Tuesday’s storms left the state with reports of one confirmed tornado in Cape May County.
• Trump-supported gas station chain Freedom Fuel Network is run by a collection of business owners that includes an NFL coach who is also a former mayor of Evesham Township, AP reports.
• According to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, two teenagers have been arrested and charged for allegedly shooting a 19-year-old man in Winslow Township in June. The alleged assailants are both from Sicklerville.
• A Berlin Borough police officer helped a woman deliver a baby while in a Route 73 Wawa parking lot, 6abc reports. The woman and her husband were on the way to a Voorhees hospital when her labor progressed quickly.
• Philly-area food brands are investing in high-protein offerings as they compete for GLP-1 consumers, including Camden-based snack company Campbell’s.
• TruGolf Links Cherry Hill is now open. The new business is an indoor-golf simulator destination, a full-service bar, and a restaurant. (If you need additional golf options, be sure to check out our guide of mini-golf courses throughout the region.)

🗓️ The best things to do this week

🚜 Burlington County Farm Fair: The 80th annual fair returns for five days, featuring agricultural exhibits, games, competitions, rides, various food vendors, and more. ⏰ Daily through Friday, July 24, from 2-10 p.m.; Saturday, July 25 from noon-10 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 1990 Jacksonville Jobstown Rd., Columbus

🎵 Swedesboro’s Food Truck Festival & Dancing in the Park: Enjoy food trucks and live music from The Company. Bring your own lawn chair. ⏰ Thursday, July 23, 7-10 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go📍 Auction Park, 101 Leahy Ave., Swedesboro

🚲 Spellbound Century: South Jersey’s largest summer cycling event is back for its 12th year. Participate or spectate as bikers ride various routes that pass local horse farms and historic towns. ⏰ Saturday, July 25, 6 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 Free for spectators; rider registration is $75 📍 1 Park Dr., Mount Holly

See more event listings here.

🧠 Trivia time

The South Jersey bakery Two Sweet Boutique made a treat based on inspiration from which two celebrities?

A) Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

B) Jason and Travis Kelce

C) Nick and Joe Jonas

D) Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🧁 Hoping: “Little treat culture” is here to stay.

🏀 Checking: The Bron-O-Meter to see if LeBron James will join the Sixers. Based on the latest info — and vibes — we’re at a maybe!

🍴Touring: The Anthony Bourdain New Jersey food trail.

Thanks for reading all the way through, and for starting your morning with The Inquirer. I’m off to grab my first cup of coffee. ☀️

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Good morning, South Jersey.

Collingswood welcomed its first cat cafe where visitors can grab a coffee, play with kittens, and possibly bring home a new furry friend.

And just days after Camden’s EMR recycling scrapyard reopened, an employee was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

Plus, Gov. Mikie Sherrill revealed that a glitch allowed 6,600 noncitizens to register to vote ahead of the 2024 election, and more news of the day.

— Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

P.S. You probably have questions, and we want to track down the answers. Submit an inquiry about the region to Curious South Jersey and our reporters might look into it.

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Can you feel it in the Catmosphere?

Catmosphere Cafe & Lounge on Collingswood’s Haddon Avenue was only open for a week by the time it facilitated three adoptions.

The business, which opened earlier this month, provides a temporary home for adoptable cats. The lounge fosters six to eight cats and kittens at a time through a partnership with Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center in Blackwood.

With toys, food, water, and plenty of beds, the cats get comfortable accommodations while also getting the chance to meet their potential new families.

“This is my calling,” cofounder Sophia Coello said. “I just love watching and understanding cats’ behavior because if you understand a cat’s behavior, you understand how to create a bond with them. I feel like anyone can create a bond with a cat.”

Reporter Lacey Latch has the story on how this business came to be.

🐈 P.S. Though I already have two cats, this article has introduced me to my weekend plans.

A hospitalization days after EMR reopened

An employee of Camden’s EMR scrap metal recycling plant was hospitalized with injuries on Saturday, soon after a court ruling allowed it to reopen.

The company had sued the city last month after Camden halted its operations following multiple fires at the facility. A judge allowed the plant to reopen, but required fire safety precautions.

The plant announced that it would start some activity on Monday of last week and be fully operational by Friday.

A worker was sent to the hospital the next day with “life-threatening injuries,” confirmed by a Camden County spokesperson. He also said local police were investigating the “industrial accident.”

The Inquirer’s Aliya Schneider has the latest.

What to know today

• Gov. Sherrill disclosed Tuesday that about 6,600 noncitizens were registered to vote because of a software error in New Jersey’s motor vehicle system ahead of the 2024 election. Among those who were improperly registered, Sherrill’s office said fewer than 400 voted. State Republicans are calling for a bipartisan investigation.
• The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office said a 41-year-old woman died and a child was left injured after the woman allegedly fled the scene after a Mantua Township police traffic stop and crashed into a tree on Monday morning.
• PATCO services were temporarily suspended Tuesday caused by the day’s storms. NJ Transit’s River Line was also suspended because of flooding in Camden.
• Police were investigating an incident at the Walmart on Route 38 in Lumberton Township as of Tuesday morning in which a person barricaded themself in an RV.
• Gloucester County opened an accessible playground for children with disabilities in Monroe Township.
• GF Sweeties, a gluten-free bakery, just moved to Collingswood from Haddon Township.
• SNTM Thrift Store has a new Woodbury location with expanded space.

🧠 Trivia time

The Adventure Aquarium in Camden unveiled three little blue penguin chicks — the smallest species of penguin in the world — earlier this year. What is this species also called?

A) Fairy penguins

B) Mini penguins

C) Crested penguins

D) Banded penguins

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🍰 Craving: A sweet treat from Classic Cake in Cherry Hill.

💭 Wondering: If you would correct a new coworker who incorrectly pronounces Wawa as “waWa.”

❌ Avoiding: Mosquitoes.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: 💧 A tributary

CRACKERS CANOE

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Lucie Lioko, who solved last Wednesday’s anagram: Haddon Avenue. The street is a well-known business corridor and one of South Jersey’s popular restaurant hubs.

🏡 On the market

A four-bedroom Audubon home with a backyard garden

Built in 1951, this Audubon home with hardwood floors has a family room, living room, an office, a formal dining room, and a kitchen on the first floor. Four bedrooms are upstairs. Outside, the backyard features a sitting area for guests and space for gardening.

See more photos of the property here.

Price: $514,000 | Size: 1,903 SF | Acreage: 0.28

That’s all I have for you this morning. Let’s do this again tomorrow. 👋🏽

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Good morning, South Jersey. Hot temperatures will continue, so don’t forget to drink water today. The state has experienced an uptick in heat-related deaths from last year, according to New Jersey Monitor.

After winning a prestigious all-expenses-paid scholarship, a Haddonfield High School student has a blank check to attend any college he wants in the country.

And the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office quietly closed the investigation into the 2022 death of a Gloucester County Fire Marshal’s Office K-9.

Plus, the politics surrounding FEMA may complicate Camden getting federal aid, and more news of the day.

— Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

P.S. Thank you for your continuing support. We want your thoughts! Tell us your opinion of the newsletter by taking our survey or replying to this email.

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

🎓 A blank check for college tuition

Luke Patterson will start his final year at Haddonfield Memorial High School with one less thing to consider: how to pay for college.

The student won an all-expenses-paid merit scholarship from the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation. The award will cover Patterson’s tuition, room and board, and other related expenses for any college he wants to attend in the U.S.

He’s among five students nationwide selected, and the first one to ever win from South Jersey.

The Inquirer’s Melanie Burney has more on the scholarship and the impressive student.

A state investigation into a 2022 K-9 death is closed

Four years ago, a K-9 working for the Gloucester County Fire Marshal’s Office and another dog died after an official allegedly left them in a hot vehicle.

On July 8, Gloucester County received notice that the Attorney General’s Office closed the state investigation into the incident with no criminal charges attached.

That was one day after the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office charged a sergeant for a May incident in which the official allegedly left two K-9s in a work vehicle.

Now, a Gloucester County commissioner is using the more recent case to renew interest in the 2022 case and push for justice.

Reporter Sarah Nicell has the story.

What to know today

• Camden might need federal aid from FEMA to deal with the aftermath of intense flooding from earlier this month, but New Jersey is still trying to get aid for a snowstorm that President Donald Trump denied. Sen. Andy Kim, a South Jersey Democrat, is among the group of senators accusing the president of “significant partisan disparity” in federal disaster aid.
• EMR Recycling in Camden reopened earlier this week with new safety protocols, CBS Philadelphia reports. It comes after a judge’s ruling that required precautions such as 24/7 fire watch and a fire suppression testing system.
• Burlington County officials are expected to finish cleaning up a wastewater spill at a Florence Township landfill today.
• According to the New York Times, data centers are projected to add billions in electricity costs in 13 states, including New Jersey.
• The state will roll out a pilot over about four weeks that will distribute Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits through chip-enabled EBT cards. The move aims to prevent EBT skimming.
• The Burlington County Superintendent of Elections Office will host multiple outreach events throughout the rest of the summer to encourage voter registration and educate residents on how voting machines work. The first one is today at the Cinnaminson Library.
• Campbell’s, the Camden-based brand, launched five new high-protein soups.

🗓️ The best things to do this week

🤠 Stampede Rodeo and Bull Riding: The event is a two-day affair full of bull riding, barrel racing, and roping. Enjoy food vendors, live music, and a beer garden. ⏰ Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18, 7 p.m. 💵 $25 for adults, $12 for children under 12 if you buy tickets online ahead of time📍 Miller Farms Arena, 134 N. Grove St., Berlin.

🎉 South Jersey Caribbean Festival: This 26th annual free family event features live music and dance performances, food and craft vendors, and community resources. ⏰ Saturday, July 18, 2-8 p.m. 💵 Pay-as-you-go📍Wiggins Waterfront Park, 2 Riverside Dr., Camden.

⚽ SoccerFest26 World Cup Final Watch Party & Community Soccer Tournament: Start your morning with the tournament among recreational teams from across the region. In the afternoon, cheer with fans at the viewing party for the World Cup Final. ⏰ Sunday, July 19, 10 a.m- 5 p.m. 💵 Pay-as-you-go 📍 South Delsea Drive Park, 152 Delsea Dr. South, Glassboro.

See more event listings here.

🧠 Trivia time

The owner of South Jersey’s Tideline added the Liquid Asset to her drink menu with a eye-popping price tag. It consists of tequila, an ice cube, a red chili pepper — and a speedboat. How much is it?

A) $50

B) $500,000

C) $760,000

D) $1.1 million

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🍅 Appreciating: The region’s farm stands.

⚾ Discovering: The Phillie Phanatic’s true identity.

🏠 Ogling: A rebuilt Shore home after a couple spent years designing it. (Is your house a Haven? Nominate your home by email — and send some digital photographs — at properties@inquirer.com.)

Thank you for starting your morning with The Inquirer. I’ll be off for a couple of days, but my editor Julie will step in to take over Friday and Monday, so there will not be a gap in your news roundups. See you soon! ☀️

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Good morning, South Jersey.

Archaeologists are nearly done digging at Croft Farm in Cherry Hill and have found an extensive catalog of items that have accumulated over thousands of years.

And after a legislative journey, Burlington County is expected to get a new bus route in September.

Plus, the U.S. Department of Education is investigating the Gloucester Township School District, and more news of the day.

— Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

P.S. Thank you for your continuing support. We want your thoughts! Tell us your opinion of the newsletter by taking our survey or replying to this email.

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

What archaeologists found at Croft Farm

After extensive digging at Cherry Hill’s Croft Farm, once a stop along the Underground Railroad, archaeologists are nearly finished with their analysis.

Their findings include hundreds of bones, thousands of ceramic fragments, and historic possessions of the Lenni-Lenape Indigenous people who once lived along the Cooper River.

Most items come from the past three centuries, but some go back as far as 4,500 years.

Eventually, the township could put some of items on display on the first floor of the property’s Kay-Evans House.

The Inquirer’s Sarah Nicell has the story.

Burlington County’s new bus route

A new bus route is coming to Burlington County and is expected to start in September.

Last month, South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) announced that South Jersey Connects, a free regional bus service, would launch routes in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, and Burlington Counties. They all started on June 1 — except the Burlington route.

That’s because SJTA didn’t have the authority to operate in the county. Legislation was needed to fix the issue. The bill that brings Burlington County into SJTA wasn’t signed into law until a month after the program was announced.

Why wasn’t Burlington County part of the transportation agency before?

Reporter Aliya Schneider has the answer.

What to know today

• The Gloucester Township School District is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education as federal officials focus on sexual misconduct by teachers.
• Burlington County is working with the state Department of Environmental Protection to clean up a wastewater spill that was discovered early Tuesday morning at Florence’s Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex.
• Camden County wants to spend $400 million to improve its various waterways. It hopes voters will approve a referendum to increase the county’s open space tax in November to help pay for the master plan over the next decade.
• The genetic testing company 23andMe and more than 40 attorneys general reached a national $18 million settlement following a massive data breach. According to New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, 150,000 customers were impacted in the state.
• A new nonprofit is looking to borrow $617 million in tax-free bonds to buy the Marlton-based behavioral health company Advantage Behavioral Health. But the current owner, Clearview Capital, a private equity firm, isn’t stepping away from the South Jersey organization.
• Several Federal Donuts in the Philly region are closing following a slowdown in demand of fast-casual lunches, its owners say. The independently owned one in Marlton will remain open.

🧠 Trivia time

Which of the below is a former name of Rowan University?

A) The College of Glassboro

B) Voorhees State College

C) Glassboro State College

D) University of New Jersey at Glassboro

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🏎️ Missing: AAA Hobbies and Crafts in Magnolia. After more than 40 years, it closed last month.

🍴 Mapping: Our way through Craig LaBan’s favorite 2026 Shore restaurants.

⚾ Reliving: How Jordan Walker became a villain to Phillies fans at the 2026 Home Run Derby.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A popular downtown street

AVENA HOUNDED

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Brian Lowy, who solved last Wednesday’s anagram: Delaware River. The large body of water flows through four states: New York New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

🏡 On the market

A restored Victorian in Medford Village has a wraparound front porch

Built in 1871, the four-bedroom and three-bath Victorian has 10-foot ceilings, original hand-blown glass windows, and period millwork. On the outside in the front, there’s a wraparound porch. At the back of the house, the double lot allows for green space, a pool, and a new screened porch. There’s also a detached carriage house and workshop.

See more photos of the property here.

Price: $869,000 | Size: 3,213 | Acreage: 0.41

That’s been your news of the day. I’ll have more in your inbox at the same time tomorrow. 📧

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Good morning, South Jersey. Be safe out there: The heat wave returns this week.

Business owners in Collingswood want their section of Haddon Avenue to be as busy at night as it is during the daytime.

And a Camden high-rise that was known for subpar conditions underwent a major overhaul via $130 million worth of renovations.

Plus, Red Bank Battlefield is closed until further notice because of Saturday’s storm damage, and more news of the day.

— Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

P.S. Thank you for choosing this newsletter to provide you with your daily dose of South Jersey news. We want your input on how we’re doing! Tell us by taking our survey.

Wishing for an evening boost

Collingswood has garnered a reputation for its vibrant downtown, which is clear to see in its daytime foot traffic.

But according to the town’s business owners, it’s a different story during the weekday evenings. And they seem to agree that’s because of Collingwood’s dry status.

While they deal with slower nights, a few eye nearby Haddonfield, which is also a dry town but allows businesses to operate under state-issued manufacturing licenses beyond just beer. It’s the reason why it now has a brewery, a wine tasting room, and a distillery.

Read more to learn how businesses navigate the drastic differences between night and day in Collingswood.

A $130 million overhaul

An influx of $130 million transformed a Camden high-rise previously known for its poor living conditions.

The affordable housing tower once known as Northgate 1 is now The Encore.

Extensive renovations allowed all of the units to get new kitchens, bathrooms, HVAC, and more. It also beefed up security measures like cameras, access control, and fencing.

The building is restricted to households that make no more than 60% of the median income.

Reporter Lacey Latch has more details on the massive upgrades.

What to know today

• Cleanup from Saturday’s series of microburst storms was still ongoing on Monday. The storms caused flooding on several roads in West Deptford, Woodbury, and Woodbury Heights. Red Bank Battlefield is closed until further notice because of significant damage, according to officials from National Park.
• Gov. Mikie Sherrill launched SimpleFile, a new and free website for families to apply for the state’s Child Tax Credit.
• Two Camden students became champions of the Philadelphia MLB Players STEM League regional tournament. Their prize included tickets to a Phillies game and a behind-the-scenes look at the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby.
• Throughout the week, there will be several roadwork projects in Camden County. Most will occur in Camden and Gloucester Township.
• Drive-thru-only coffeehouse chain 7 Brew Coffee is one step closer to opening in Lawnside. 42 Freeway reports that last week, crews demolished the former gas station on the White Horse Pike property that will soon become the new store.
• Gather To Graze, the business known for its charcuterie boxes and boards, will move from Mullica Hill to downtown Swedesboro, according to 42 Freeway.

🗣️ Quote of the week

The recent high school graduate from Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees only started running track as a freshman. She’s now one of the most accomplished runners in state history.

🧠 Trivia time

Where is the Campbell’s Co. based?

A) Pitman

B) Camden

C) Medford

D) Voorhees

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🌮 Craving: Tacos from La Ingrata in Camden.

🦖 Touring: The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University.

🏀 Checking: The Bron-O-Meter, our unscientific tracker on the likelihood of LeBron James coming to the Sixers.

And that should you get started for the day. I’ll catch you tomorrow. 👋🏽

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Good morning, South Jersey.

A local single mom explains how she bought her house in downtown Haddonfield.

And Freedom Fuel gas stations have begun to pop up across the region, but a lot remains unclear about the operation.

Plus, thousands of people walked across the Ben Franklin Bridge to celebrate its 100th anniversary, and more news of the day.

— Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

P.S. Thank you for your continuing support. We want your thoughts! Tell us your opinions of the newsletter by taking our survey or replying to this email.

How she bought this house in Haddonfield

Amanda Caroccio, a child and adolescent psychiatric nurse practitioner, was living in a Haddon Township apartment when she decided she wanted to buy a home for herself and her daughter, Giuliana.

In September 2024, she began to work overtime to build additional savings and slashed her spending except for special occasions.

By February 2025, she started searching in Haddon Township and Haddonfield to get ahead of the spring competition. In mid-March, she found the house she ended up buying on Zillow.

“It was my version of hitting the lottery,” said Caroccio, “because it had every single thing on my checklist: updated, small, close to downtown, within walking distance of schools.”

See the full journey on how she bought her house here.

Did you recently buy a home in South Jersey? Share the story of how you did it. Email Inquirer real estate reporters at properties@inquirer.com.

What we know about Freedom Fuel stations

For about a week, there has been 25 gas stations with Freedom Fuel Network signs in the greater Philly region selling gas that is 40 to 50 cents cheaper compared to nearby stations.

Marlton and West Berlin are among the listed South Jersey locations.

There are several questions surrounding these stations, including how they can offer such low prices. But here’s the latest of what we do know:

⛽ The White House and President Donald Trump are promoting the discount gas chain.

⛽ There aren’t any businesses registered in Pennsylvania or New Jersey with the name Freedom Fuel Network.

⛽ The effort features some local owners.

For more insight, reporters Rob Tornoe, Ximena Conde, and Ryan W. Briggs have the story.

What to know today

• Nino Constantino, 13 and from Westville, died earlier this month in Franklin Township after getting trapped underneath an overturned tractor. His family and friends remember the incoming eighth grader as an adventurous teen who was kind and had a love for the outdoors.
• A retired South Jersey police officer who worked for the Haddonfield Police Department has been charged with sexually assaulting an underage girl, said Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw on Friday. Louis J. Baselice was taken into custody at the Maple Shade Police Department earlier in the week on Tuesday.
• Thousands of people crossed the Ben Franklin Bridge on Saturday to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
• Speaking of the Ben Franklin Bridge, it costs $6 to cross from Camden into Philadelphia. Before it opened a century ago, Pennsylvania officials advocated for it to be free while New Jersey was adamant about charging tolls.
• According to 70and73, Virtua Health named Dr. Nicole Lamborne, an expert in women’s and children’s health, as its new president of its hospitals in Voorhees and Marlton.
• The work to repave a section of South Avenue in Mount Holly is set to begin today. The project for the 0.7-mile portion of the road is expected to take two weeks to finish.
• Although New Jersey was among the states to not attend Trump’s Great American State Fair, one of its exhibits won the Best in Show award, NJ.com reports.

🧠 Trivia time

Between 1917 and 1952, which Jersey-based company is known for building more than 2,000 diners across the country?

A) Mountain View Diners Company

B) Silk City Diners

C) Jerry O’Mahony Diner Co.

D) J.G. Brill Company

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🌉 Wondering: If you can guess the location of the area’s bridges based on these pictures?

🌊 Exploring: Sea Isle and Strathmere.

☀️ Protecting: Ourselves from dehydration and heat exhaustion.

📬 Your South Jersey view

The below “South Jersey view” came from reader Ed Rivkin, who shared a few memories of the Ben Franklin Bridge on its 100th birthday:

I’ve never walked across the bridge but have bicycled it hundreds of times. I used to commute into Center City in the 2000s. My commute bicycle was a ‘70s vintage Motobecane 10-speed. During my first ride home in the rain, I discovered that my brakes were totally ineffective. The bicycle had steel rims and when wet, they were almost useless. It was a little harrowing. I bought a set of aluminum wheels the next week. The bike was donated to the Collingswood Bike Share program a few years ago.

• My only challenge cycling across was in 2008 after our Phillies won in the World Series and masses of people were walking across the bridge to the victory parade. I had a bell on my bike and used it a lot that day crossing the bridge.
• I encountered Carlos Ruiz once as he was jogging across in the morning on my way to work. The Phillies lost the previous night. He didn’t look very happy.
• One morning, the air temperature was in the low 20s and I rode into the city facing 20 miles per hour headwind. It took me about 20-30 minutes to defrost. I never rode below 25 degrees again.

What does your community look like? What South Jersey memory would you like to share? Submit a photo and/or a brief description for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

🗞️ What other South Jersey residents are reading

• Craig LaBan: Where to eat at the Jersey Shore this year, from Cape May to Ocean City
• Mike Sielski: The USMNT lived down to Donald Trump’s expectations: They played like the losers he thought they were
• FanDuel sent a personal message from Phillies star Bryce Harper to a customer with a gambling addiction

And that should get you started for the day. Thanks for beginning your week with The Inquirer. ☀️

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.