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Tag: Camden County

  • Collingswood could privatize ambulance services to help overworked firefighters

    Collingswood could privatize ambulance services to help overworked firefighters

    At least one Collingswood commissioner is eager to move forward with privatizing the borough’s ambulance services after a $40,000 study said it would help its understaffed fire department.

    Amy Henderson Riley, a member of Collingswood’s three-person board of commissioners, said the borough should follow through on its plan to outsource ambulance transports that started, and abruptly ended, last year after fellow Commissioner Jim Maley sued the borough over alleged ethics violations.

    “What I aim to do, at least in the short-term, is privatization,” Henderson Riley said last week. “That’s not to say it’s a long-term solution. We’re not looking to sell out to the hospital system. We’re looking to cut costs for residents pulled in every direction.”

    In December, Henderson Riley and Mayor Daniela Solano-Ward, also a commissioner, voted to approve a one-year contract with Virtua Health to use the hospital system’s ambulance services.

    The deal, at no direct cost to the borough, would have allowed Virtua to bill patients who ride an ambulance. Collingswood made about $407,000 from ambulance billing last year, according to its 2026 budget, and it is unclear exactly how much they spent to keep the EMS program running.

    EMS is currently handled by Collingswood’s 19-person fire team, which also manages fire emergencies across the 14,000-resident borough and parts of Haddon Township.

    The Virtua contract was voided when Maley, who voted against the agreement, sued, alleging that Solano-Ward’s vote was a conflict of interest because her husband works for Virtua. The borough settled the lawsuit and agreed that Solano-Ward should recuse herself from future EMS matters.

    If Collingswood tries to outsource ambulance transport again, it would not be the first local municipality to successfully privatize EMS, according to Collingswood Fire Chief Geoffrey Joyce. For instance, Camden uses Cooper Health ambulances, Gloucester Township and Pine Hill each use Inspira Health, and Gloucester City uses Virtua.

    The commissioners have not moved toward privatizing again since the borough settled Maley’s lawsuit in January. Henderson Riley said it would take time to put together a request to send out to bid, which would need to be reviewed by lawyers first.

    With Maley still not sold on privatizing and Solano-Ward’s vote out of the running, the path toward privatization might be difficult. Commissioners do not reconvene until Oct. 5, and Henderson Riley said Thursday she was not sure how a vote would work for EMS without the mayor able to pitch in.

    Plus, key officials think there is a better option for Collingswood’s firefighters that could take years to develop.

    An overworked fire department

    Collingswood contracted Manitou, a private public safety consulting firm, in June to conduct a four-month study examining whether the borough should privatize ambulance services or hire more firefighters to give the department some relief.

    Borough officials have expressed concern that the fire department, which has lost all its part-timers in recent years and responds to about 4,000 annual calls, lacks the capacity to respond with a safe, and mentally well, team of firefighters.

    The study, presented at a public meeting on Sept. 8, was a condition of settling Maley’s lawsuit. The combined cost of legal fees and the study was about $70,000 in taxpayer funds, according to Henderson Riley.

    Charles Jennings, a principal at Manitou, said at the meeting that having no part-time staff has led to an increase in hours for firefighters, and 80% of surveyed staff said they are working too much overtime. Firefighters also reported that the “trajectory of [the] job is getting worse.” Nearly half of current employees said they are considering leaving the Collingswood Fire Department.

    Jennings said privatizing would bring the borough improvements, including cutting costs, more training time for firefighters, and a more competitive workplace. He said outsourcing would make it less likely that firefighters end up with too few staff on an engine to safely respond to emergencies.

    The alternative option — hiring three more firefighters — would cost Collingswood $350,000 and would not fix the understaffing issue when personnel call out, Jennings said.

    Joyce, the fire chief, said he has seen the department change significantly over his 24-year career. His hiring in 2002 was part of Collingswood’s effort to take over EMS from a private contractor. The borough had privatized after struggling to respond to emergencies on its own.

    Growing responsibilities for firefighters have left the community in need of help again, he noted.

    “If at the start of my career you told me I would one day have to receive training on weapons of mass destruction, active shooter threat response, and all of the other facets of emergency response that this career now demands aside from response to fires, I would have never believed you,” Joyce said in an email.

    ‘The most equitable solution’

    With a long list of fire departments across Camden County’s 37 municipalities, Jennings said, the area is “ripe” for consolidation.

    That, too, is Joyce’s ideal outcome. He calls regionalization, which would bring nearby fire departments under one, larger roof, “the most equitable solution.”

    “My dream is that irrespective of whatever zip code you live in, or the wealth or lack thereof in your community, as a resident you should know that when you call 911 that the emergency services are going to arrive quickly and fix whatever your problem is efficiently without delay,” Joyce said.

    Other departments in the Philly area have made moves to regionalize their fire and ambulance services in recent months, including in Kennett Square and Delaware County.

    Solano-Ward, who became a commissioner in May 2025 alongside Henderson Riley, said that strategy would reduce expenses, but it would take a lot of time.

    It took Haddon Heights 20 years to regionalize among three municipalities, she said. Plus, there is no guarantee that Collingswood would not get the short end of the stick.

    “Everyone loves the idea as long as our staff remain, [and] our house is the main house. But guess what?” Solano-Ward said. “We can’t all have that.”

    Henderson Riley, though, said regionalization could happen sooner than people think. She said she is in early talks with officials from three other nearby municipalities, which she declined to name, with interest in consolidation. As healthcare and other affiliated costs rise, she said, Collingswood has to move outside the box.

    “If you’re interested in joining us, talk to us,” she said. “Let’s have everybody at the table together.”

    ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea’

    Maley, who voted with his fellow commissioners to authorize a request for private ambulance proposals last September, said he wants the borough to keep control of its EMS services and has spoken out against privatization.

    Earlier this month, he voiced concerns about losing the revenue that the medical services bring in annually.

    “I don’t think it’s a good idea that a company that’s very interested in the bottom line would run our EMS,” Maley said at the public meeting.

    Henderson Riley said Thursday that the financial impact is more complicated. By privatizing, Collingswood would not have to pay more than $150,000 in overtime wages for its firefighters, or pay a third-party provider more than $30,000 to handle ambulance billing, as it does now. The borough could also sell some of its EMS equipment, Henderson Riley said, and preserve the mental health of overworked employees along the way.

    “These men and their mental health are critical,” she said.

    Maley also said the study’s results should have been delayed due to “an internal investigation” into a fire incident in Collingswood this year.

    Maley, Henderson Riley, and Joyce declined to give details on the investigation, but the borough approved Andrea Wyatt, a municipal lawyer based in Toms River, as special counsel to investigate back in June.

    The Retrospect news organization reported that the incident in question occurred in April, when the department did not have enough staff to transport a 63-year-old injured resident to the hospital and handle a house fire at the same time.

    Henderson Riley said last week that the investigation has “nothing to do” with Jennings’ work, and she doesn’t know why Maley would delay the results based on the investigation.

    Maley declined to explain his thought process until the investigation concludes.

    Some attendees spoke out against the delay in privatizing at the public meeting. Donna Helmes, a Collingswood resident, said it is disappointing that taxpayers paid for an outside source to tell officials to do the same thing they had already voted for with Virtua.

    “I am not wealthy. I don’t want to raise my taxes any more, but I feel like these people will run into my house when it’s on fire to save me and my family, so I want them to be as well-resourced as possible,” Helmes said. “And I think we could have done this last year. It’s very upsetting that we’re still arguing this.”

  • Route 70 roadwork is almost finished in South Jersey after 5 years and $155M

    Route 70 roadwork is almost finished in South Jersey after 5 years and $155M

    The construction along Route 70 that drivers have begrudgingly become accustomed to since 2021 will “essentially be complete this year,” according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

    Only a handful of new traffic signals and some final paving work are left on the to-do list for the $155.1 million safety improvement project that essentially rebuilt a roughly 9-mile stretch of the highway.

    In addition to repaving the road from Route 38 in Pennsauken to Cooper Avenue in Marlton, the work included new gas and water mains, traffic signal upgrades at 27 intersections, sidewalk and drainage improvements, and more.

    “The investment NJDOT is making will help improve travel times, relieve congestion, and increase safety on this key roadway through Camden County, and these improvements are expected to benefit more than motorists,” said NJDOT spokesperson Steve Schapiro told the Inquirer this week.

    “Reconstructed sidewalks and concrete curbs will mean improved safety for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable roadways users,” he said. “Updated utilities, improved drainage and replaced culverts will ensure resiliency along the corridor and help to mitigate inclement weather events that may cause flooding.”

    Over the next month, the final six traffic signals will be installed along the highway after “several utility-related delays” previously held up the work, Schapiro said.

    The signal work is expected to be completed in October, he said, and will be followed by re-striping and paving in two remaining work zones.

    First, the agency aims to finish repaving Route 70 between the Grove Street/Haddonfield Road intersection and Route 38 this fall, weather permitting, Schapiro said.

    The final unfinished section of highway stretching from Route 295 to Cropwell Road, will be repaved this fall “where necessary, with final paving scheduled for next spring,” he said.

    NJDOT is also working with Camden County on additional landscaping work to be conducted in the spring, he said.

  • Popular food truck from a Camden County nonprofit provides job training for people with disabilities

    Popular food truck from a Camden County nonprofit provides job training for people with disabilities

    When the Three Little Birds Cafe is mixed in among other vendors at local parks and festivals, it might be hard to tell at first that it’s not your average food truck.

    Staffed entirely by people with disabilities, the food truck not only serves handmade American classics — think chicken tenders, smash burgers, and fries — but also embodies the values of the Arc of Camden County.

    For nearly 80 years, the Berlin Borough nonprofit has been supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

    Today, the Arc provides services ranging from adult day programs to residential care with round-the-clock supervision for hundreds of people across South Jersey, said Michelle Schwarz, a finance specialist with the Arc of Camden County who handles the food truck’s licensing.

    And while the food truck is a great place to grab some hand-breaded chicken wings for lunch, it also serves as a stepping stone for individuals hoping to eventually gain meaningful employment in the community.

    Launched in the summer of 2025 as part of the organization’s occupational training program, the food truck offers hands-on work experience in food service, allowing people to develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in a restaurant or commercial kitchen, Schwarz said.

    The best way to connect people with jobs where they will thrive is to approach each person as an individual, she said, understanding that where one person may excel, another may struggle.

    The Three Little Birds Cafe food truck serves as a rolling advertisement for the Arc of Camden County, a local nonprofit that provides services for individuals with disabilities.Courtesy of The Arc of Camden County

    “We believe everyone has different skills,” she said. “Just because somebody can’t use their legs and they’re in a wheelchair, that doesn’t mean that they can’t go and work for a hotel and fold towels and put pillows in pillowcases.”

    By providing training in various industries, including janitorial services and product assembly, the Arc has been able to connect countless people with jobs, she said.

    The food truck was initially envisioned to serve primarily as a mobile advertisement for the organization, she said, with a QR code linking to the Arc’s website on the back to educate the public on its mission and potentially boost donations.

    But it has been so popular — both in the community and within the nonprofit — the Three Little Birds Cafe has expanded into the cafeteria at the Arc’s occupational training center in Berlin.

    Launching as a food truck in 2025, Three Little Birds Cafe has since expanded into the kitchen of the Arc of Camden County’s occupational training center in Berlin Borough, N.J.Courtesy of The Arc of Camden County

    Under the expert guidance of kitchen and food truck manager Dana Bradley, individuals have not only learned how to keep a restaurant running smoothly, but also started to learn to cook for themselves.

    “You immediately saw a shift in their confidence,” Schwarz said. “They were so excited to come in and learn something.”

    After spending a couple of years as a group home manager with the organization, Bradley saw Three Little Birds as a way to tap into the passion for cooking that she developed working at Corinne’s Place, her mother’s award-winning soul food restaurant in Camden.

    “I just love to cook,” Bradley said. Before she officially took over the cafeteria in 2025, she would often make elaborate meals at the Arc with whatever she could find lying around.

    Now in charge of the Arc’s large commissary-style kitchen, Bradley is helping train people to work in kitchens across the region.

    So far, three people have moved on from the Arc to work in restaurants and commercial kitchens in Camden and Gloucester Counties, Schwarz said.

    “Here, we just really believe that everyone has abilities, and we focus on their abilities rather than their disabilities,” she said.

  • N.J. Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal in Cherry Hill Democratic Committee battle over control

    N.J. Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal in Cherry Hill Democratic Committee battle over control

    Efforts by Democrats led by George E. Norcross III to unseat a dissident faction from control of the Cherry Hill Democratic Committee will not be considered by New Jersey’s highest court.

    The New Jersey Supreme Court on Sept. 16 denied a petition for certification filed by the Camden County Democratic Committee and committee chairman and State Sen. James Beach that would have challenged a state appellate court decision in April that allowed the South Jersey Progressive Democrats to name members of the committee.

    Three Cherry Hill residents who are members of the South Jersey Progressive Democrats won the June 2025 primary, defeating the Norcross group, which ran with names for all 74 seats on the ballot. Voters voted once, either for the progressives or the Norcross group.

    After their loss, the Camden County Democrats sued, challenging the progressives’ right to fill the 71 vacancies with members other than those who were listed in the losing group on the ballot.

    Voters elected the progressives over the Norcross group by a vote of 5,547 to 3,350, or 62% of the votes cast.

    At stake is control of the powerful Democratic Party in Cherry Hill, including candidate selection and choosing citizens to fill elected offices when they become open between elections. The Cherry Hill unit is also the largest single faction on the 522-member Camden County committee, which has even more power.

    “Having read the appeals panel decision, I had complete confidence that the New Jersey Supreme Court would deny certification in our case, ending the Camden County Democratic Committee’s colossal waste of donors’ money attempting to overturn the will of Cherry Hill voters,” one of the three winners, Rena Margulis, said in an email on Wednesday. The other two winners were David Stahl and Susan Druckenbrod.

    Margulis said that as of early September, the group has 47 Cherry Hill Democratic Committee members. She said Cherry Hill residents are being recruited to run in the Democratic primary next June.

    A call to Camden County Democratic Party headquarters for comment on the decision was not returned.

    70and73.com is a hyperlocal news site focused on South Jersey, including the communities of Cherry Hill, Evesham, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Medford, Medford Lakes, and Moorestown.

  • About 1,500 Cherry Hill students are chronically absent from school. School leaders are trying to fix that.

    About 1,500 Cherry Hill students are chronically absent from school. School leaders are trying to fix that.

    The Cherry Hill school district says it is moving to drive down its chronic absenteeism rate by working with students who have been consistently absent over the last three years.

    District statistics from 2023-24 through 2025-26 showed just over 1,500 students make up the group that is absent for 10% or more of the school days in a year.

    The district hopes to lower the rate by working closely with chronically absent students and their families, and giving the students a sense of belonging to motivate them to be a part of the school, said Scott Goldthorp, the district’s director of special projects and student services.

    “While attendance isn’t working, ultimately attendance itself isn’t the ultimate outcome we’re looking for,” Goldthorp told the Cherry Hill Board of Education. “The larger goal is making sure students are connected to school, they have consistent access to supports, and that we’re able to connect them with opportunities and those supports that we do provide.”

    Students can be chronically absent due to a number of factors including health, transportation, family circumstances, academic challenges, student engagement, and life transitions, Goldthorp’s presentation noted.

    The Cherry Hill districtwide chronic absenteeism rate has consistently been lower than the state average, according to the New Jersey Department of Education’s School Performance Reports. In 2024-25, the most recent year with state-reported data available, the rate was 14% compared with the state average of 14.4%.

    However, several grades showed rates higher than the state averages.

    Although grade-level absenteeism data were not shared at the meeting, state data for 2024-25 showed chronic absenteeism rates for the sixth, seventh, eighth, and 12th grades in Cherry Hill exceeded the state averages.

    The highest absenteeism rate that year was 25.8% for 12th graders, followed by 23.5% for pre-K. The state averages were 21% and 29.9% respectively.

    Goldthorp emphasized the district’s approach to curbing absenteeism is not a “one-size-fits-all” solution.

    “Sometimes attendance is an academic issue, sometimes it’s a family issue, sometimes it’s a health or transportation issue, and sometimes it’s about a student’s connection to school,” he said. “Our response, then, has to be both systematic and individualized.”

    The New Jersey Department of Education limits what it defines as excused absences, according to the district presentation. Illnesses or physician appointments are not excused. However, religious observances, college visits, and “Take Our Children to Work Day” are among the excused absence reasons.

    Nine Cherry Hill schools lowered their chronic absenteeism rates between the 2023-24 and 2025-26 school years, according to the district data. Two remained relatively stable and six increased.

    Improving were Knight, Harte, Mann, Johnson, Sharp, Kingston, and Woodcrest elementary schools and Beck and Carusi middle schools. Increasing absenteeism rates were at Cooper, Kilmer, and Paine elementary schools, Rosa International Middle School, and both East and West high schools. Barton and Stockton rates were stable.

    Administrators are studying schools that cut their absenteeism rates to replicate the successes elsewhere, the presentation said. In one elementary school, the principal worked with district leaders to reengage chronically absent students and their families. Tangible rewards every week kept the students motivated and their attendance improved, according to the presentation.

    Absenteeism affects academic performance, the presentation noted.

    About 21% of students in middle and high school who were not chronically absent in 2025-26 had at least one failing course. That percentage is more than double (44%) for the chronically absent students in Cherry Hill.

    While about 19% of all students who were not chronically absent were involved with a disciplinary event, about 33% of chronically absent were exposed to discipline, according to the presentation.

    “When those students feel they belong, they’re motivated and want to be a part of school,” Goldthorp said. “When students are here consistently, they have access to high-quality instruction, support … and that ultimately is student success, which is why we’re all here.”

  • Cherry Hill sends $240,000 from opioid settlement to schools for mental health professional

    Cherry Hill sends $240,000 from opioid settlement to schools for mental health professional

    A large part of Cherry Hill’s share of the national settlement with opioid companies will be used to support a licensed mental health clinician working in the schools over two years.

    Township council last week voted to make a $240,000 contribution to the district from the fund’s balance of about $764,000.

    “We recognize that mental health is a national problem and certainly Cherry Hill is not immune,” Mayor David Fleisher said in an interview. “This is one way for us to take a bite out of that problem.”

    Fleisher showed up at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday to share news of the contribution.

    New Jersey’s share of the settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors and retailers is $1.1 billon through 2038, according to the Office the State Comptroller. Half goes to the state and half to counties and municipalities to address opioid use disorder and mental health conditions.

    The mental health professional will be assigned to work with high school students, Fleisher told the board.

    He said the contribution is a “great example of where we have a very specific targeted need and we know the challenges of mental health.”

    70and73.com is a hyperlocal news site focused on South Jersey, including the communities of Cherry Hill, Evesham, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Medford, Medford Lakes, and Moorestown.

  • A group of seniors is hunting for the best South Jersey cheesesteak. Have they found it?

    A group of seniors is hunting for the best South Jersey cheesesteak. Have they found it?

    On Friday, Ralph DiSibio and his friends arrived early, as they usually do, at a cheesesteak joint in Marlton between an Advance Auto Parts and a dry cleaner.

    The men wore matching T-shirts picturing a loaded cheesesteak set aflame, except for Gary Mazzucco, who hasn’t retired yet and doesn’t have the time, nor the medical clearance, to eat a pound of meat and cheese over and over again.

    “Ralph, I gotta order a salad. I can’t eat a cheesesteak,” Mazzucco, 78, said.

    “That’s why he doesn’t have a T-shirt,” one of his friends chimed in.

    Mazzucco ordered a salad. Then, he changed his order after he spotted wings on the menu, which opened the conversation to teasing. What kind of salad was that?

    “It’s got celery,” Mazzucco said.

    When he offered to share, most of the group passed.

    Johnny Longhots, a pizza and sandwich joint “where Philadelphia meets New York,” is the fourth stop on the retirees’ monthslong quest to find South Jersey’s best cheesesteak, preceded by trips to Donkey’s Place in Camden, Bricco Coal Fired Pizza, and Chick’s Deli in Cherry Hill.

    Ralph DiSibio (far left), 85, of Moorestown, watches as friends Mike Mouber (left), 79; Paul Ferretti, 79; and John DeSilvio, 74, enter Johnny Longhots in Marlton on Sept. 18.Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer

    The crew refuses to cross the bridge for cheesesteaks. They want to avoid tolls, and with thousands of options in Philly, they’re not sure they’ll live long enough to eat them all. Sitting in a bright red booth, the seniors were close enough to the city, their backs to a wall of Philly motifs. A picture of the LOVE statue hung above Mike Mouber’s head.

    DiSibio, 85, used to work in the nuclear waste industry, and Mazzucco is an accountant. Mouber, 79, was a lawyer; Paul Ferretti, 79, an investment banker, and John DeSilvio, 78, a contractor. Bob McDermott, 83, worked for the U.S. Postal Service. None of them have long careers as food critics or restaurateurs, but they’ve eaten many a sandwich.

    The group hasn’t found its prized meal yet — Chick’s was the favorite so far — but they say they’re uniquely qualified to discover it.

    “If you count Gary, there’s over 400 years of experience,” DiSibio said, settled at the head of the table.

    Mike Mouber (center), 79, points to the Johnny Longhots menu as Bob McDermott, 83, enjoys his cheesesteak. Although the beloved sandwich was invented in Philadelphia, the group has no interest in trying out Philly cheesesteaks across the bridge.Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer

    The seniors met years ago at a 55+ community in Moorestown, the Mews at Laurel Creek, where most of them still live. They’ve kept their friendship going at the poker table, where they compete every Thursday.

    To mix things up, the group recently visited Donkey’s Place to try what many South Jerseyans have called the best cheesesteak around. But the men weren’t fans, including those who have long frequented Camden’s food scene. They were put off by the kaiser roll.

    “We weren’t thrilled one way or another,” said DiSibio, a Camden native.

    So they decided to keep searching. They’re working on a spreadsheet, though there’s no formal rating system or numerical values attributed to each cheesesteak. They establish their thoughts on the firmness of the bread, the spice of the hot peppers, the meltability of the cheese, and how much meat they get for their money through overlapping conversations that usually drift into sports, politics, religion, and movie debates. Sandwiches are generally considered “good” or, well, not.

    Paul Ferretti (right), 79, greets Ralph DiSibio, 85, alongside Mike Mouber (center), 79, inside Johnny Longhots on Sept. 18.Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer

    Their ultimate cheesesteak, at least according to a printed list in large text, must include: meat, onions, cheese, a roll, and seasoning. The “ambiance of the establishment” only matters if it’s particularly remarkable. They always get fried onions if they can, and hot peppers on the side.

    Jimmy Lees, an employee at Johnny Longhots, made sure most of their cheesesteaks came out quickly, after a lengthy back-and-forth between the men on whether to get provolone or Cooper Sharp. (The majority went with Cooper Sharp.)

    Lees, a Philly native, said it was a new thing to witness a group of seniors hunting for the region’s best cheesesteak, but it’s not so strange.

    “It’s something to do,” Lees said.

    The group of friends enjoyed their Johnny Longhots cheesesteaks. The group found the bread roll to not be as good as they hoped but appreciated the amount of steak that was provided.Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer

    As they ate, there wasn’t much commentary about the cheesesteaks. They debated what year The Godfather novel came out, and DeSilvio’s forthcoming trip to Croatia. They compared their quest to Indiana Jones in 1981.

    “This is like Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark,” McDermott said. “We’re looking for the holy grail of cheesesteak.”

    Mike Mouber points to Gary Mazzucco (not pictured) when asked who’s the best poker player in the group while the rest of the friends (from left to right) Bob McDermott, Ralph DiSibio, Paul Ferretti, and John DeSilvio enjoy their meals.Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer

    It didn’t take long for the group to finish their sandwiches, about a half hour or so. DeSilvio wrapped up half of his sandwich for his wife. McDermott said he enjoyed his. Others said the sandwich was good, but maybe the bread could’ve been crustier. It was the smallest of the cheesesteaks they’d eaten so far. They debated their choices again, both praising and regretting the Cooper Sharp.

    “I don’t have any of these opinions,” Mouber said.

    They joked about their cholesterol meds, and that it’s a good thing cardiologists live in their Moorestown development. They said they won’t know the true rating of their cheesesteaks until later in the day, when their digestive systems get to work.

    The group discusses what cheeses should be allowed in cheesesteaks. While DiSibio passionately believes only provolone cheese should be in the sandwich, Mouber (far left) doesn’t have a preference.Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer

    The group plans to visit at least one cheesesteak joint a month for as long as they feel up to it. Their current list includes Irishtown Steaks, Pudge’s Pub, and Champs Cheesesteaks and Hoagies, among others. DiSibio said he hopes to get through at least 10 spots before they call it quits.

    When asked for final thoughts on their sandwiches at Johnny Longhots, Mouber spoke for his friends.

    “We all hope it’s not our last,” he said.

  • Mikie Sherrill elevated Dale Caldwell to new heights. His supporters say his reputation is being unfairly tarnished.

    Mikie Sherrill elevated Dale Caldwell to new heights. His supporters say his reputation is being unfairly tarnished.

    During the whirlwind spectacle of his daughter’s Sept. 1 wedding, business leader Duvi Honig noticed his guest, Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell, was sharing his business card and private cell phone number with everyone he met.

    Honig said he told Caldwell to stop — he was there as a friend and he wanted him to relax and have fun. Caldwell assured him that in his role as Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s liaison to the business community, he was happy to help anyone in need, Honig recalled.

    So when Honig read the news days later that Caldwell, a minister, was the subject of a monthslong ethics investigation for allegedly giving business cards to women he wanted to date, among other claims, he said he had to defend the lieutenant governor. No one else seemed to be speaking up for him, he said.

    “I thought, ‘What the heck is this?’ What I witnessed — him being overly nice to everyone — is being used against him?” said Honig, a Lakewood resident and founder of the national Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce. “He is a special person. He is accessible to anyone and he has no agenda.”

    Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell plays with a soccer ball at the Collingswood World Cup fan fest on July 19.Courtesy Camden County

    Now that Caldwell’s name and political future are tied to an investigation — which Sherrill will not confirm but is privately being carried out by a former state attorney general — some of his friends and colleagues are rushing to his defense to answer the question: Who is Dale Caldwell?

    Before the investigation became public, Sherrill, a rising star in the Democratic Party, had been hitting the road for the party’s candidates in key congressional races, transferring the gubernatorial powers and responsibilities to Caldwell when she left the state.

    But she has since curtailed her travel while the investigation drags on amid Republican criticism and concerns from members of her own party, according to three veteran Democrats who were involved in her campaign or have ties to her administration who were not authorized to comment publicly.

    “She is failing at the most important time” by not being able to campaign, said one veteran adviser.

    The governor recently made trips to New York City for a 9/11 memorial event and a live interview with the Atlantic, but she did not make Caldwell acting governor because of an exception that allows travel across the river.

    “We’re not going to speculate about the Governor’s schedule, but her priorities are always guided by the best interests of New Jerseyans,” Sherrill spokesperson Sean Higgins said in a statement.

    Gov. Mikie Sherrill (right) stands beside New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani at the National September 11 Memorial in lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2026. Hiroko Masuike

    Democratic power players have privately expressed frustration that Sherrill has left them in the dark about the probe while Republicans call for Caldwell’s resignation. Sherrill said in a statement days after the news broke that “any credible report must be fully examined and addressed.”

    The veteran campaign adviser, who is close to both Caldwell and Sherrill, said the two have not spoken directly with each other as the investigation proceeds.

    An unknown politician elevated to new heights

    When Sherrill selected Caldwell as her running mate in July 2025, he was largely unknown in New Jersey’s political arena. He was not her first choice, according to two of the veteran Democrats.

    A senior campaign adviser, impressed with Caldwell’s resumé and “unblemished public record,” recommended the pick. It dramatically raised his public profile to new heights in a role that would entrust him to lead the state in Sherrill’s absence.

    The 66-year-old divorced minister with degrees from Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania previously served as the first Black president of Centenary University. He worked as deputy commissioner of community affairs in former Democratic Gov. James McGreevey’s administration more than 20 years ago.

    Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell embraces his daughter Ashley Caldwell after she introduced him at Sherrill’s election night party in East Brunswick on Nov. 4, 2025.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    He also held a seat on the New Brunswick Board of Education for nearly three decades and founded charter schools in Asbury Park and Trenton.

    Last year, the state comptroller’s office interviewed Caldwell, a founder and then-board president at the College Achieve Greater Asbury Park Charter School, as part of its ongoing investigation into whether the school had violated public contract laws and misused public funds.

    Caldwell is the first man and third Black person to serve as lieutenant governor. He quickly embraced the opportunity to be Sherrill’s No. 2, a campaign adviser said.

    “Their dynamic [between Sherrill and Caldwell] was terrific. Reports coming back on his appearances were all very positive and they got off on a strong start on inauguration day, as far as I knew,” the adviser said.

    One person close to the campaign, however, said after the election Caldwell asked others how he should do the job.

    “You are there as the governor’s person. You report to the governor and chief of staff,” the source said. “He laughed. I think he was trying to do his own thing.”

    New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell celebrate their victory on Nov. 4, 2025, in East Brunswick.Kevin R. Wexler, Kevin R. Wexler

    The investigation, sparked by at least one anonymous complaint, began more than four months ago, according to the campaign adviser.

    The complaint accused Caldwell of bringing uninvited women to events and handing his business card out to women he wanted to date. And a state employee accused him of making inappropriate comments, the New York Times reported.

    Caldwell declined a request for an interview through a spokesperson. His attorney, Thomas Calgagni in Newark, did not respond to requests for comment.

    Caldwell denied the allegations and suggested racism was a factor in a May 28 letter to the state’s chief ethics officer, noting that he is “the first single Black man to serve at this level in government,” and that “in this current political environment, false accusations, especially against people of color, seem to be commonplace,” which was first reported by BINJE.com.

    “I have never asked anyone out on a date, ‘hit on,’ or pursued anyone romantically while conducting official business as Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State,” his letter said. “Throughout my career in government, higher education, nonprofit leadership, ministry and public service, I have consistently conducted myself professionally and respectfully.”

    Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell (center) applauds as Gov. Mikie Sherrill finishes her budget address March 10 in the Assembly Chamber at the New Jersey State House.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Former congressional candidate Tim Alexander, an Atlantic County-based civil rights attorney, got to know Caldwell while working on the campaign trail for Sherrill in South Jersey last year. He sang Caldwell’s praises and said he believes he is “good for the state.”

    Alexander, a former detective, said Caldwell supported his congressional bid but stepped away to avoid a conflict as the new secretary of state, which he called a “testament to his character.” The former candidate, who is Black, said he cannot believe race is a factor in the allegations without knowing more.

    “Dale has impeccable credentials, and he also has Black skin. So there’s a lot that I could opine on, but when it comes to investigations, I got to leave it out. … If we have confirmation bias, it turns the investigation to trash,” he said.

    Fighting back, with help

    Last week, a small band of friends and colleagues spoke out to condemn the vague allegations, the snail’s pace of the investigation, and the permanent harm to Caldwell’s reputation no matter the outcome.

    Felicia Simmons of Asbury Park was one of several friends to rush to Caldwell’s defense last week by questioning the legitimacy of the investigation. She helped organize one of the events in question — the Whitesboro Black History Gala, an event in April recognizing the preservation efforts of the state’s first planned Black community, located in Cape May County.

    Simmons said she invited the lieutenant governor to hand out proclamations to honorees. She said she saw no questionable behavior on his part.

    “It was very meaningful for him to be here,” she added.

    Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell walks with Collingswood Mayor Daniela Solano-Ward in Collingswood on July 19 before reports of the investigation.Courtesy Camden County

    Caldwell’s staff alerted her prior to the event that he would be bringing guests, which is not unusual because many dignitaries seldom travel alone, Simmons said.

    And after all these months, no one from former Attorney General Christopher Porrino’s law firm, which is leading the probe, has spoken to her yet — even after she issued a statement criticizing investigators for not contacting her.

    “I feel highly offended,” she said.

    Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell (third from the right) attended the Whitesboro Black History Gala in April, at the invitation of Felicia Simmons (center). He is the target of an ethics investigation after an anonymous complaint said he acted inappropriately around women, including at this event. Simmons denies the allegation.Courtesy of Felicia Simmons

    Caldwell “comes from a line of men with integrity,” noting his father marched with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she said.

    “I truly believe Gov. Mikie Sherrill made the right choice picking this man and we can’t just sit back,” Simmons said. “These awful allegations could follow him for the rest of his life.”

    Albert Stark, from the Philadelphia- and Marlton-based law firm Stark & Stark, also came to Caldwell’s defense in an interview, calling him a reliable friend and public servant. Stark said Caldwell, a pioneer in bringing tennis to young Black youth, helped establish the National Junior Tennis and Learning network in Trenton.

    When he first heard about the scandal, Stark said, he wondered: “Who was setting him up?”

    They haven’t spoken since the investigation was publicized, he said, but he offered this advice: “‘Just be yourself. You’re a terrific guy.’ He has got nothing to be ashamed of.”

    ‘They are trying to destroy his integrity’

    Before the investigation leaked, Caldwell spent his summer visiting with business leaders and elected officials throughout the state, including in South Jersey. Local leaders did not comment on the accusations but said they appreciated Caldwell spending time in the region.

    Collingswood Mayor Daniela Solano-Ward said Caldwell visited her small borough for the second time for its World Cup fan fest. Caldwell kicked a soccer ball around with the mayor, thanked volunteers, and fist-bumped Deputy Mayor Amy Henderson Riley’s daughter. He posed with local vendors, smiled in front of a “giggle juice slushies” menu at Racoon Taproom, and chatted with kids at the All Fired Up! pottery studio.

    Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell poses at Racoon Taproom in Collingswood on July 19.Courtesy Camden County

    “He was kind and respectful, and seemed like he was very engaged in the things we were saying,” she said, noting that their interactions were limited.

    As acting governor he visited Campbell’s and the Philadelphia 76ers training facility in Camden for an economic development tour in August, and he returned later that month for a Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey resource fair alongside Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen, a Democrat who declined to discuss Caldwell.

    New Jersey Democrats have not been rushing to defend Caldwell, who has become a complicated topic for them with the extent of the allegations against him unclear.

    Gerard Cleaves, a professor at Pillar College, a private evangelical Christian school in Newark, said he was angry at the Democrats who, he believes, are “out there fanning the smoke” by leaking tidbits of the investigation and not offering public support.

    “They are trying to destroy his integrity,” he said.

    “I am an old, white male Republican conservative who worked very hard to get [Sherrill’s GOP opponent] Jack Ciattarelli elected,” said Cleaves, who said he met the lieutenant governor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where Caldwell taught from 2018 to 2023. When Caldwell joined Sherrill’s ticket, Cleaves said, he told his colleagues they “would be hard to beat” based on Caldwell’s resumé and character.

    Caldwell has not missed their Wednesday morning Bible study lessons since news of investigation broke earlier this month, Cleaves said.

    “He doesn’t appear stressed. He knows in his heart who he is. He has told me he will not resign. He is not going to give up,” he said.

  • Work has started on Camden County’s $3.5M Haddon Avenue safety project

    Work has started on Camden County’s $3.5M Haddon Avenue safety project

    Efforts to create safer conditions along Haddon Avenue began Monday — the first phase of Camden County’s $3.5 million pedestrian safety improvement project that stretches from Collingswood to Haddon Township.

    Starting Sept. 21 at the intersection of Haddon Avenue and Cuthbert Boulevard, crews will be working between Strawbridge and Bryant Avenues for the next six to eight weeks, according to the county.

    Drivers in the area should prepare for lane closures from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays for the duration of construction, county officials advised. During that time, there could also be restrictions and detours on some turns, they said.

    Cuthbert Boulevard is one of four intersections along Haddon Avenue that are slated for traffic signal improvements as part of the project alongside Collings, Crystal Lake, and Maple Avenues.

    Repairs at the intersections will also include upgrades to various pedestrian facilities such as fresh pavement and improved sidewalk ramps.

    For this initial phase of the project, crews will repair the deteriorated pavement at the Cuthbert Boulevard intersection, county spokesperson Morgan Callan said in an email.

    Once the new traffic signals and other equipment arrive next spring, Callan said, construction will then begin at all four intersections and is expected to last two to three months.

  • Some citations against Bellmawr protesters have been dropped after the ACLU intervened, ACLU-NJ says

    Some citations against Bellmawr protesters have been dropped after the ACLU intervened, ACLU-NJ says

    Citations against several protesters were dismissed Thursday after the ACLU of New Jersey intervened in a recent conflict between roadside demonstrators and Bellmawr police, an ACLU official said in a statement.

    Last month, the Bellmawr Police Department issued citations against several people attending or driving past weekly “Roadside Rallies against Fascism” hosted by Cooper River Indivisible, a Camden County grassroots organization, according to ACLU-NJ.

    It is unclear exactly how many people received citations from Bellmawr police while demonstrating against President Donald Trump and his administration. But Maia Raposo, communications director for ACLU-NJ, said the nonprofit is representing six people involved.

    Five of those six people went to Bellmawr Municipal Court on Thursday, Raposo said, and four of the five had their citations dismissed, which included jaywalking and failing to stop at a stop sign.

    “Today, the municipal court in Bellmawr dismissed charges against four individuals who received tickets while they were lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights. We look forward to resolving the remaining charges pending against our other clients,” said Rebecca Uwakwe, ACLU-NJ’s criminal law reform advocacy director, in an emailed statement.

    Raposo did not share the names of those involved or the status of the citations that were not dropped Thursday.

    The Bellmawr Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.

    On Aug. 25, ACLU-NJ emailed a letter to Bellmawr Police Chief Keith Williams alleging that officers had issued “traffic and criminal citations for honking, jaywalking, and other offenses” to rally-goers and supporters gathering at Black Horse Pike and Gloucester Road in Bellmawr.

    “If Bellmawr officers are targeting participants and supporters of lawful protests with citations, Bellmawr is interfering with their constitutionally protected activities and violating their civil rights,” the letter reads.

    ACLU-NJ asked Bellmawr police to investigate the officers’ conduct and to reply to the letter by Sept. 11. Raposo did not say whether the police department had responded to the letter but wrote in an email that ACLU-NJ can provide more information when all relevant cases are resolved.

    Cooper River Indivisible’s next roadside rally was scheduled for Sunday, and the event posting promoting the demonstration warned attendees that they have “been unfairly targeted by local police.” The group did not respond to requests for comment.

    “Do your best to keep the messaging on target — Bellmawr PD is a problem, but our real enemy is tyranny as a whole. Eyes on the prize,” the post reads.

    Correction: This story was updated to correct the date of a roadside rally last Sunday.