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Flock cameras get axed | Inquirer Cherry Hill
Hey there, Cherry Hill, and happy fall. 🍂

The township will let its contract with controversial surveillance tech company Flock expire at the end of the year.

Also in this week’s headlines, a quirky deal has been made between Cherry Hill and a local swim club, former Eagles cornerback and township resident James Bradberry is in his coaching era at Camden Catholic, and the Cherry Hill Mall is holding strong as others in the region struggle.

— Laura Smythe (cherryhill@inquirer.com)

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Cherry Hill will ditch its Flock cameras at year’s end

Cherry Hill will not renew its contract with controversial surveillance tech company Flock when it expires on Dec. 31, Mayor Dave Fleisher announced at a township council meeting last week.

At that time, the township’s 10 cameras will “become inactive immediately” and be removed, marking the end of the two-year pilot program with Flock. The decision comes as public pushback against Flock’s camera network and the use of automated license plate readers grows in Cherry Hill and nationally.

Now, the Cherry Hill Police Department is evaluating options for replacing the Flock cameras. The Inquirer’s Lacey Latch has the latest.

💡 Community news
- A deal between Cherry Hill and the Downs Farm Swim Club that enables the township to take over stewardship of a closed pedestrian bridge contains a twist. 70and73 has the details.
- In case you missed it: Simone Goldsboro, a 37-year-old certified nurse’s aide, pleaded guilty to intentionally spraying a paralyzed Cherry Hill nursing home patient in the face and eyes with bleach.
- Former NFL cornerback James Bradberry was released by the Eagles last year after earning a Super Bowl ring in 2024. He then sought a role that would keep him in his home of Cherry Hill. Now, “Coach JB” has started a new chapter in his football career at Camden Catholic High School.
- South Jersey power broker and former Inquirer co-owner George E. Norcoss III filed a $100 million defamation and conspiracy lawsuit against the newspaper and one of its editors on Thursday. The lawsuit centers on notes from a 2019 interview with former Cherry Hill Mayor Susan Bass Levin.
- Even as the Philadelphia suburbs stand to lose another mall, the Cherry Hill Mall appears to be thriving, with a handful of new stores opening recently or set to do so soon, reports The Inquirer’s Erin McCarthy.
- Several roadway projects are underway across the township this week, bringing road closures to spots such as Cropwell Road and Kenilworth Avenue. Here are the specifics.
🗺️ Other nearby news
- Several citations issued last month by Bellmawr police to protesters demonstrating against President Donald Trump and his administration’s immigration policies have been dismissed after the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey intervened, the legal nonprofit said.
- Mike Bowe, an Audubon resident and longtime local disc jockey and radio show host at stations such as WMGK, WPEN, and WHAT, died last week at 76.
🏫 Schools briefing
- Candidates for the Board of Education spoke to uncertainty around state funding, special education needs, communication with stakeholders, and other challenges the district is facing at a forum at Cherry Hill High School West last week, 70and73 reports.
🍽️ On our plate
- Goodbye, Sushi Boss; hello, Sushi Stars. The restaurant located at 2135 NJ-38 has changed its name, but promises its menu of sushi, hibachi, and boba is exactly what you remember.
- Looking for a fall treat to commemorate the official kick off to the season? Springdale Farms offers the township’s lone cider mill, The Sun reports.
🎳 Things to do

🤍 Wedding Planning Expo: Lovebirds (or anyone who likes to plan ahead) can explore bridal showcases, wedding exhibits, and advice seminars. ⏰ Wednesday, Sept. 23, 5-8 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cherry Hill Mall

🏞️ National Public Lands Day: Join the community in volunteering to clean up and tend to Cherry Hill’s parks, trails, and other outdoor spaces. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 26, 9 a.m.-noon 💵 Free; registration required 📍 Croft Farm

🪴 Fall Makers Market: Stock up on plants and handcrafted gifts from more than 25 vendors while reconnecting with nature in the shrub yard. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 McNaughton’s Garden Center

🩰 Ballet in the Park: Bring a blanket or chair and take in creative classic works from Swan Lake to La Esmeralda. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 26, 3 p.m. (rain date: Sunday, Sept. 27) 💵 Free 📍 Croft Farm

🗓️ Looking for more things to do? Check out our guide to ongoing South Jersey events.

🏡 On the market

A brick-front home with a sun room

This four-bedroom, three-bathroom house, built in 1956, features a brick front with a classic brick fireplace inside to match. It has a couple prime spots for a morning coffee: a front porch, as well as a sun room that connects onto the back deck. Updates completed this year include a new roof, air conditioner, furnace, and windows.

See more photos of the property here.

Price: $559,900 | Size: 2,048 SF | Acreage: 0.25

📈 Cherry Hill market report
- Median listing price: $515,000 (down $14,600 from July) 📉
- Median sold price: $503,000 (down $37,000 from July) 📉
- Median days on the market: 38 days (up four days from July) 📈
This Cherry Hill market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for August from realtor.com.

🗞️ What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:
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.

This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
September 23, 2026
Cherry Hill will get rid of its 10 Flock cameras at the end of the year

As public pushback against the use of automated license plate readers continues to grow nationwide, Cherry Hill announced this week that it will not be renewing its contract with controversial company Flock.

The township’s contract with the company expires on Dec. 31, Cherry Hill Mayor Dave Fleisher announced at the Sept. 14 township council meeting.

“The Cherry Hill Police Department continues to evaluate its use of technology,” Fleisher’s chief of staff, Brian Bauerle, said in an email Friday. “In conjunction with that evaluation, Cherry Hill Township was also aware of ongoing nationwide conversations concerning the Flock network.”

Flock cameras capture the license plates and identifying features of passing vehicles, including bumper stickers and dents, in addition to the make, model, body type, and color. That information is then compiled into a searchable database that can be accessed by law enforcement and private owners of the cameras.

In 2022, Cherry Hill entered into a two-year, 10-camera pilot program with Flock, Bauerle said.

Once the contract expires, the cameras, which were installed at the end of 2024, “will become inactive immediately with the hardware to be removed by the vendor,” he said.

As the township prepares for the cameras to come down, the Cherry Hill Police Department is now looking into other options for similar technology that can be used in town.

“The police department is in the final stages of evaluating Axon automated license plate readers,” the same company that provides the department’s body-worn and dash cameras, Bauerle said. Axon’s dash cameras can serve as mobile automated license plate readers while the police car is in operation, he said.

“These cameras do not connect to the Flock network,” Bauerle noted. “The Department uses automated license plate recognition technology only for authorized law-enforcement and public-safety purposes and in accordance with both New Jersey law and New Jersey Attorney General directives.”

The department has not yet moved beyond the “evaluation phase” of the Axon cameras, but if it does, Bauerle said, the decision will be subject to various approvals by the township.

Cherry Hill’s decision to sever ties with Flock comes as people across the country increasingly push back against the technology. Critics argue that the cameras amount to mass surveillance and unconstitutionally track the movements of citizens.

Earlier this month, rural Shamong Township in neighboring Burlington County introduced an ordinance that would ban the cameras within the township for one year.

“Flock cameras basically create a surveillance system for people who have done nothing wrong,” Shamong Mayor Michael Di Croce said at the time.

“We should not create a permanent or searchable record of where law-abiding residents drive merely because they happen to pass a government camera or, in the case of Flock, private-entity cameras,” Di Croce said.

September 18, 2026
Aide pleads guilty to spraying bleach into face of patient at Cherry Hill nursing home

A Camden woman working as a certified nurse’s aide admitted to spraying bleach into the face and eyes of a paralyzed elderly patient at a Cherry Hill nursing home, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said Thursday.

Simone Goldsboro, 37, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Kurt E. Kramer in Camden to third-degree aggravated assault and fourth-degree assault upon an institutionalized elderly person.

State prosecutors will recommend that Goldsboro be sentenced to 364 days in jail in Camden County, Davenport said.

Goldsboro, who will permanently forfeit her license to be a certified nurse’s aide, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 30.

Erin Yerke, an assistant deputy defender representing Goldsboro, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

In 2023, prosecutors said, Goldsboro worked as a certified nurse’s aide at the Avista Healthcare Nursing Home in Cherry Hill.

On Aug. 17, 2023, Goldsboro was taking care of a patient who was more than 60 years old and was paralyzed on one side of her body from a stroke, prosecutors said.

“Goldsboro admitted she used more force than necessary while undressing D.S. so she could clean her and then left the room to retrieve a spray bottle containing bleach from the custodian’s cart,” the attorney general’s office said.

Goldsboro then intentionally sprayed bleach into the patient’s face and eyes, the attorney general’s office said.

“We have to trust the people who care for our loved ones at residential facilities,” Davenport said in a statement. “This defendant exploited that trust and physically assaulting a paralyzed patient in her care. We will not tolerate the abuse of elderly and vulnerable individuals, especially by those entrusted with their care.”

September 17, 2026
Cherry Hill is taking over a pedestrian bridge at Downs Farm Swim Club and preserving the club as open space

A Cherry Hill Township deal with the Downs Farm Swim Club to replace and take over maintenance of a closed pedestrian bridge will also preserve the club as open space should it ever close.

The strategically placed bridge crosses a stream and connects the Downs Farm neighborhood to Haddonfield-Berlin Road over swim club property.

“The entire neighborhood uses it for pedestrian access,” Mayor David Fleisher said in an interview.

Fleisher said the club no longer could afford to maintain the bridge, so part of the club’s acreage will be conveyed for no charge to the township, which will make the bridge a municipal property.

But the twist to the arrangement calls for a deed restriction on the club that will prevent it from ever being developed.

A dozen private swim clubs are scattered across Cherry Hill. Many were built by housing developers in the township’s heavy growth years of the 1950s and 1960s.

Swim club cultures grew as whole neighborhoods crowded them on weekends and sent their children there to learn to swim and later compete on swim teams. But some clubs, which require a membership fee, are not as popular as in the past and have faced financial challenges.

Fleisher said the township was able to learn from experience when the financially failing Kingston Estates Swim Club closed in 2020 after more than 60 years and was taken over by a bank.

The property was zoned institutional and could have been developed in the middle of the residential neighborhood, Fleisher said. However, Cherry Hill was able to intervene and purchase the property for a park and open space.

Fleisher said the Downs Farm open-space restriction was modeled with the Kingston experience in mind.

The swim club is pleased with the arrangement, he said, and a bridge replacement is expected by next summer.

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.

September 17, 2026
A growing push to regulate Flock | Inquirer Cherry Hill
Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

Local anti-Flock advocates are hoping bipartisan concerns over privacy mean more regulation for surveillance technology such as automated license plate readers. Also this week, we take you inside the new Asianfresh Food Market, an omakase joint is headed to town this fall, and the Cherry Hill Special Education PTA says it was denied tabling space at back-to-school nights in what it says is a discriminatory decision.

— Laura Smythe (cherryhill@inquirer.com)

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DeFlock South Jersey activists hope bipartisan pushback can regulate automated license plate cameras

Cherry Hill Mall is among the swath of sites with automated license plate readers across New Jersey, where 523 of the state’s roughly 530 law enforcement agencies are using the technology from Flock and other surveillance companies.

Over the last year, Flock has generated 2.2 million alerts in Cherry Hill alone. The 10 Flock readers in the township have helped police identify vehicles involved in crimes committed both in and out of the township, they say.

Use of the cameras doesn’t sit right with activist group DeFlock South Jersey, which formed this summer amid growing bipartisan concern around how the license plate-reading technology impacts privacy — worries shared by both progressive organizers and national conservative figures.

The Inquirer’s Ximena Conde digs into the growing push for regulating the technology, as well as how the Cherry Hill Police Department has used it over the last few years.

Inside the new Asianfresh Food Market

Cherry Hill’s new Asianfresh Food Market held its grand opening last weekend, pulling in shoppers with its array of produce, seafood, and specialty items from Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and other Asian countries.

The outpost taps into growing demand for these offerings across the nation, including in the township, where the Asian population grew 32% between 2014 and 2024.

Haven’t been yet? Take a peek inside the 2005 Route 70 East store, now open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

💡 Community News
- Cherry Hill contractors, landlords, and residents are among the most common offenders illegally dumping in Camden, according to police, who are using drones and resident-provided footage to hold them responsible.
- Childhood education and daycare network Lightbridge Academy recently broke ground on its second Cherry Hill center, which it plans to open next summer, the Courier-Post reports.
- Mosquito spraying was slated to take place throughout the township this morning, including on Evans Mill Road, Bortons Mill Road, and South Kings Highway. See the full list of affected sites. Officials also advised residents to remove standing water on their properties to reduce mosquito breeding.
🏫 Schools Briefing
- The Cherry Hill Special Education PTA filed a grievance with the school board alleging discrimination after the group says it was blocked from setting up an information table at back-to-school nights for the first time in 12 years.
- Cherry Hill Public Schools are closed Monday, which is Yom Kippur.
🍽️ On Our Plate
- Cacia’s Bakery, a fourth-generation, family-owned concept well loved throughout the region, appears to be closed in Haddonfield. Locations are still operating in Cherry Hill, Williamstown, and Hammonton.
- Akira 70 Omakase, a new Japanese fine-dining concept complete with an omakase experience, is coming to a former Cherry Hill fur salon on Marlton Pike this fall. It’s one of the 60 restaurants launching in the area in the coming months, The Inquirer’s Michael Klein reports.
🎳 Things to Do

🤡 Flip Circus: Marvel at the lineup of aerials, acrobatics, comedy, and live music. ⏰ Wednesday, Sept. 16-Sunday, Sept. 20, various times 💵 $22.88-$84.97 📍 Cherry Hill Mall

💉 Cherry Hill Tattoo Expo: Get some new ink — or watch others who do — at the sixth annual iteration of this event. ⏰ Friday, Sept. 18-Sunday, Sept. 20, hours vary 💵 $24.71-$47.47 📍 DoubleTree by Hilton Cherry Hill Philadelphia

🧵 Cherry Hill Autumn Craft & Vendor Market: Check out wares from local vendors, including seasonal home goods, tasty treats, and candles. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Cherry Hill Mall

🗓️ Looking for more things to do? Check out our guide to ongoing South Jersey events.

🏡 On the Market

A French Provincial estate with a conservatory

This 1990 estate brings a dose of French Provincial flair to Cherry Hill’s Hunt Tract neighborhood, complete with a curved staircase in the foyer, a marble-crafted fireplace and floors, and a three-car garage with side entry. The five-bedroom, seven-bathroom home also features a guest suite on the first floor and a conservatory with a view of the surrounding foliage. There is a heated in-ground pool as well as a pool house with a full bathroom.

See more photos of the property here.

Price: $1.395M | Size: 5,695 SF | Acreage: 3.8

🗞️ What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:
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.

This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
September 16, 2026
Cherry Hill’s special education PTA alleges discrimination after district bars back-to-school-night tables

Cherry Hill Public Schools is battling with a group for parents of special education students about information tables at back-to-school night.

The Cherry Hill Special Education PTA, known as CHSEPTA, said it has sponsored tables at district schools at the beginning of the school year for 12 years, but the request was denied this year by Superintendent Kwame Morton.

It has filed a grievance with the nine-member school board after unsuccessfully lodging an appeal with Morton. The group has alleged discrimination by the district for refusing to allow an independent group to set up a table.

“This is a clear-cut case of discrimination,” said Jennifer Naddeo, president of CHSEPTA. “Our families that have children with special needs need to have their own table with representation as well.”

Naddeo said her group educates parents about their rights, offers assistance to help them get their children evaluated for services, and makes sure that individualized education plans, or IEPs, are followed. The group, which has about 400 parents on its mailing list, also brings in experts to speak, she said.

The Cherry Hill school district, which enrolls nearly 11,000 students, has a parent-teacher association at each of its 18 schools as well as a Zone PTA, an umbrella group. It also has a special education advisory group, required by the state for every public school district.

In a statement, the district said it “continues to review and strengthen procedures across the district to ensure greater consistency among our schools.”

It said districtwide organizations like the special education PTA will coordinate a table with Zone PTA. Naddeo said that process has not been followed previously and her group had not been notified of any changes in procedures.

Dr. Kwame Morton, Cherry Hill’s schools superintendent, at his office on June 3, 2024.Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

“This approach provides a clear and consistent process for participation while continuing to support opportunities for parent organizations to connect with families throughout the district,” the district’s statement said.

Naddeo said her group, which has about 80 dues-paying members, is a separate nonprofit and should not be required to seek permission from another group. The grievance asked the board to overturn Morton’s decision.

About one-fourth of Cherry Hill’s students are classified as special education and have IEPs, according to Naddeo. Others have a 504 plan that accommodates disabilities. Cherry Hill also sends some students to a school or specialized program outside the district because the student needs services the district cannot provide.

Cherry Hill Board of Education President Gina Winters told the special education PTA that the board lacked the authority to review an administrative decision by the superintendent.

Peg Kinsell, policy director of the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network based in Newark, said the dispute was troubling. Naddeo’s group has a reputation as an active advocacy group for special education, she said.

“I don’t know why you would want to put barriers in front of families getting information,” Kinsell said in an interview this week. ”I can’t figure out what the big deal is.”

Joyce Kilmer Elementary at 2900 West Chapel Ave. in Cherry Hill, May 28, 2025.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

Naddeo said her group missed a back-to-school night held this week at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School because it was not given permission to have a table. The school PTA groups are geared toward general education students, she said.

“When your child is struggling, you want to be represented,” Naddeo said.

She said the group plans to set up information tables next month outside the Cherry Hill library and during the township’s Harvest Festival on Oct. 18.

September 11, 2026
Take a look inside Cherry Hill’s new Asianfresh Food Market

Hundreds of early-bird shoppers have gotten a sneak peek at the new Asianfresh Food Market in Cherry Hill ahead of the store’s grand opening this weekend.

A colorful mural by Chinatown artist Chenlin Cai welcomes shoppers into the sprawling store at 2005 Route 70 East, the second location of the popular specialty market offering hard-to-find Asian imports.

Shoppers at the Asianfresh Food Market in Cherry Hill on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

Stocked with a wide variety of fresh produce, seafood, and specialty products from across Asia, the new store expands on the offerings available at the two-story flagship on 10th Street in Philadelphia that opened in 2019.

“Anyone with an Asian background can come and find something that they need,” including Cambodian, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Thai staples, spokesperson Karen Louie said.

Employees stocked the shelves at Asianfresh Food Market in Cherry Hill on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

For siblings Eric Alindogan and Daffodil Evans, the opening of Asianfresh creates another option for them to hunt for the best bargains in South Jersey.

The pair primarily cook vegetarian Chinese and Filipino dishes, they said, which often requires trips to multiple grocery stores to get all of the necessary ingredients at a reasonable price.

Jason Huynh, of Cherry Hill, kept the youngsters entertained while his wife shopped at Asianfresh Food Market on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

“We’re just doing research right now,” Evans said as they moved through the aisles, carefully filling their cart while mentally comparing products and prices to other international grocers in the area.

The store’s grand opening event will kick off at 11 a.m. on Saturday and will include a durian eating contest — the winner of which will get a one-minute shopping spree for free drinks and snacks in the store, Louie said.

Shoppers check out at the Asianfresh Food Market in Cherry Hill on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

Given the “overwhelmingly positive” response to the store since its soft opening on Sept. 3, she said they’re prepared for Saturday’s event to be packed.

Once officially open, the store will welcome shoppers daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., boasting large refrigerated and frozen food sections alongside aisles of items ranging from snacks to housewares.

Shoppers at the Asianfresh Food Market in Cherry Hill on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

Similar to popular big-box warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club, Asianfresh also sells a number of items in bulk, both to individuals and to local restaurants, Louie said.

The arrival of Asianfresh in South Jersey comes just months after the Korean grocery store H Mart reopened down Route 70 after extensive renovations.

Shoppers in the check-out line at the Asianfresh Food Market in Cherry Hill on Thursday.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

The major investments by both international grocers has come as the demand for these types of products continues to grow nationwide.

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S. and Cherry Hill Township’s Asian population has followed that trend — growing by 32% between 2014 and 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

September 11, 2026
Your fall festival plans | Inquirer Cherry Hill
Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

Fall is upon us, and the upcoming Cherry Hill Harvest Festival and bounty of area apple-picking options prove it. In other news, the district’s board of education will soon hold its first in-person forum since the pandemic, a community center commemorates the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and there’s a new daycare option in town for your pup.

— Laura Smythe (cherryhill@inquirer.com)

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

Cherry Hill Harvest Festival and apple picking mark a change in seasons

School’s back in session and Labor Day is in the rearview mirror (though if you’re still rocking white in your wardrobe, we won’t tell). Those are two strong indicators that fall and all of its festivities are upon us.

The Cherry Hill Harvest Festival is among the can’t-miss seasonal offerings in greater Philadelphia this year, The Inquirer’s Dugan Arnett reports. The family-friendly fete returns to Croft Farm on Oct. 18, bringing free pumpkins, a petting zoo, and upward of 100 vendors to the community.

Can’t wait to get started on fall activities? We bring you our comprehensive guide on where to go apple picking nearby, including Duffield’s Farm in Sewell.

Happy fall-ing. 🍂

💡 Community News
- Members of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, the South Jersey Men’s Club, and Jewish War Veterans Post 126 of Cherry Hill lined the perimeter of the Katz Jewish Community Center with nearly 3,000 American flags last week to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
- Roadwork will cause a few closures through Friday: a full road closure on Kenilworth Avenue between Jerome and Chapel Avenues from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., an overnight full closure on Cropwell Road between Marlowe and Kresson Roads from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., and a partial westbound closure on Kresson Road between Imperial Drive and Springdale Road from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- New business alert: A few South Jersey residents opened a Cherry Hill location of Hounds Town USA, a franchise specializing in dog daycare, boarding, and pet spa services.
- Meet stained glass artist and instructor Risa Dera, who works out of her home studio in Cherry Hill and aims to make artwork affordable for the local community and beyond. South Jersey Local News has the story.
🏫 Schools Briefing
- The eight candidates for the Cherry Hill Board of Education will answer community questions Tuesday evening at the first in-person forum since the pandemic. Residents can also tune in remotely to the 6:30 p.m. meeting via Zoom. Submit questions until 9 p.m. on Friday.
🍽️ On Our Plate
- Asianfresh Food Market’s location in Cherry Hill will debut on Saturday at 11 a.m.
- Two Cherry Hill eateries are among the best Chinese restaurants in the state, according to NJ.com. The outlet gave nods to Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, which has an outpost at Towne Place at Garden State, and Han Dynasty, the Route 70 spot with “irresistible” dumplings.
🎳 Things to Do

🍷 Singles Mixer: Meeting new friends or romantic interests in person can be hard as an adult. Consider taking a trip to nearby Mount Laurel to grow your social circle. ⏰ Thursday, Sept. 10, 7-10 p.m. 💵 $49.74 📍 Carlucci’s Waterfront

🕯️ We Will Never Forget: Join first responders, Mayor Dave Fleisher, and township officials for a remembrance ceremony on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. ⏰ Friday, Sept. 11, 8:30 a.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cherry Hill Fire Department

💼 South Jersey Job Fair: Hunt for your next gig by meeting with representatives of companies such as Cooper University Health and New Jersey Youth Justice Commission. ⏰ Friday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cherry Hill Mall

🗓️ Looking for more things to do? Check out our guide to ongoing South Jersey events.

🏡 On the Market

A ’70s bi-level converted into three distinct areas

This five-bedroom, three-bathroom abode features a unique layout. The house was built in 1978 as a standard bi-level and has since been updated into three individual living spaces, each equipped with its own laundry machines and kitchen or kitchenette. A shared HVAC system and two water heaters unite the three distinct areas of the home, which has a fire pit, deck, patio, and storage shed out back.

See more photos of the property here.

Price: $565,000 | Size: 2,718 SF | Acreage: 0.27

🗞️ What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:
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.

This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
September 9, 2026
Cherry Hill PTA is hosting a forum for residents to meet Board of Education candidates
Special education and the student use of electronic devices will likely be two hot topics when candidates for the Cherry Hill Board of Education are questioned at a forum in two weeks.

Jamie Marchese, chair of the Zone PTA for South Jersey’s largest school district, said special education usually comes up at candidate forums and, this year, screen time by students is a big issue.

Cherry Hill schools also are in the midst of a massive renovation program, financed by a $363 million bond referendum passed by voters in 2022.

The forum for the eight school board candidates, sponsored by the parent–teacher association and moderated by the League of Women Voters, will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Cherry Hill High School West auditorium — the first in-person forum since the pandemic. The audience also can join in remotely by Zoom.

The five-member Zone PTA board represents the school district’s 18 school PTAs and the special education PTA.

Marchese said residents have been asking for a live audience for the annual forum.

“Not everyone likes to sit in front of a screen and watch,” she said.

Voters will cast their ballots in advance or go to the polls on Nov. 3 to select three board members for three-year terms.

The candidates, in the order they are listed on the ballot and their slogans, are:
- Melissa Manzano (incumbent), Experience in Education
- Darby Malvey, Experience in Education
- Renee Cherfane (incumbent), Learn, Then Rebuild
- Joseph Lynch, Leadership, Results, Integrity
- Harold “Hal” Melleby Jr., Experience-Leadership-Community
- Steven Redfearn, Experience-Leadership-Community
- Ineda “Corrien” Elmore-Stratton, Experience-Leadership-Community
- Anne Einhorn
Residents have until Sept. 11 to submit their questions for the candidates, said Marchese, who lives in the Windsor Park neighborhood and has three children in Cherry Hill schools. Questions can be submitted via Google form.

Marchese said that some questions may be combined because of the time constraints on the two-hour forum.

The forum will open with candidates spending two minutes each to present their platforms. Each candidate will also get a two-minute closing statement at the end of the forum.

Candidates are also given one minute to respond to each of the questions.

All community members are invited to attend, Marchese said. In November, voters will select Board of Education members “to represent us in our wants and needs for our public schools,” she said.

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.
September 3, 2026
Mount Laurel’s new school superintendent Neil Burti is on a mission to ‘listen, learn, and lead’

After more than two decades in the same district, veteran educator Neil Burti is starting a new job: Mount Laurel Schools superintendent.

Burti spent nearly his entire career in nearby Cherry Hill schools, rising from teacher and coach to principal and most recently director of secondary education. His stint included taking over as principal at Cherry Hill East for several months, after a shake-up stemming from a lawsuit alleging a former assistant principal was subjected to discrimination and retaliation by the board and top administrators.

He is beginning a new chapter when the school year begins Wednesday for about 4,500 students as schools chief in Mount Laurel, a pre-K through eighth-grade district in Burlington County.

Burti, 50, succeeds George Rafferty, who retired this summer after leading the district for a decade. He took over Aug. 1 under a three-year contract.

In the first few weeks on the job, Burti said he has focused primarily on meeting as many stakeholders as possible — mostly staff — and getting ready to welcome students.

For his first year, Burti, who lives in neighboring Marlton with his wife, Jessy — his college sweetheart — and their four children, plans to visit every school to meet with more students and teachers and embark on a tour “to listen, learn, and lead.”

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We talked to Burti about his decision to leave Cherry Hill, his priorities for Mount Laurel, the financial challenges facing all districts amid declining state aid, and the kind of superintendent he wants to become.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Why was this the right time to leave Cherry Hill?

Cherry Hill provided me tremendous opportunities as a young teacher, a young administrator, and then as a seasoned veteran. Twenty-four years is a long time.

I also recognize that change is healthy. I was at a point in my career where I was looking for some type of change, some type of new challenge, I wasn’t actively seeking a job, but when this opportunity presented itself, I knew this would be a dream position. The reality is that Mount Laurel is a destination district.

It became obvious to me that this was the right opportunity, the right choice, and Mount Laurel was the right place. I’ll always miss the connection to so many former students, families, faculty, and staff.

What did your special assignment at Cherry Hill East as principal teach you that you will bring to the superintendent’s job?

I felt privileged to be able to serve as principal at Cherry Hill High School East on special assignment.

What it reinforced for me is exactly what I already know about this business: There are things that are predictable, and there are things that are unpredictable.

As leaders, we have to be ready to handle both. Whether it’s something you see coming and can prepare for or something you’re dealing with reactively, you have to be ready. You have to be confident and competent enough to address both the predictable and the unpredictable.

What are your priorities for the first year?

My goal is to listen, learn, and lead, and I feel like I need to do it in that order.

That listening and learning will ultimately guide me as I move into the leading phase of my plan. It will have everything to do with stakeholder input and the data I collect during year one as we determine together the vision for the district.

The district is focused on academic achievement, partnering with families and the notion of belonging. That’s critical to me because we know in education, there’s a big difference between fitting in and belonging.

There are also clear goals around pre-K expansion, early literacy, and algebra readiness.

New Jersey school districts are struggling to operate with reduced state aid. What are Mount Laurel’s biggest budget challenges?

The challenges in Mount Laurel are no different than the challenges in other districts in Burlington County, across the state, and really across the country.

Those challenges have everything to do with an inadequate funding formula, the rising cost of health and energy, and a national teacher shortage.

With the uncertainty of the state budget, there’s no way to predict what will happen financially if the state funding formula doesn’t adequately fund districts. At this point, I’m not aware of staffing reductions, program cuts, or larger class sizes on the horizon here in Mount Laurel. We expect to be fully staffed for all certificated positions.

A year from now, what will tell you that your first year was successful?

The great thing about Mount Laurel is that substantive work has already been done. I view my role as building on that past success while keeping an eye on future improvement.

When you’re starting the role, you’re not necessarily beginning with your legacy in mind. It will really be about long-range planning for the district.

At the end of my first year, I want to be able to say that we have looked deeply at Mount Laurel, not just in terms of our organizational structure and processes, but through the lens of the challenges facing us.

Neil Burti, new superintendent of Mount Laurel Public Schools, at Board of Education headquarters on Aug. 26. He previously was a teacher and administrator in Cherry Hill.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

September 2, 2026