The township council meeting on May 27 – postponed from Monday’s Memorial Day – included awarding a contract to fund brick road resurfacing and approval of a Title VI program for the senior bus program.
The township awarded a nearly $500,000 contract for the road work to Lexa Concrete LLC of Atlantic County, funded by a New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) trust fund. The resurfacing process extends use and improves the condition of existing brick roads by adding new materials.
The NJDOT trust fund is a state agency that finances the cost of planning, engineering and construction for transportation-related projects.
The township also approved a Title VI program for the township’s senior bus program.
“This resolution approves the Township’s Title VI program to ensure that its senior bus program complies with federal civil rights requirements and remains eligible for grant funding through the Federal Transit Administration,” said council President William Carter.
Mayor Dave Fleisher announced receipt of a $400,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration to conduct a study on pedestrian and sidewalk infrastructure throughout Cherry Hill.
“We will use these funds to develop an action plan for future infrastructure improvements and continue the work that we’re doing to make our neighborhoods safer,” he noted.
Representatives of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense – a nationwide organization aimed at combating deaths caused by gun violence – urged council to recognize June 6 as Gun Violence Awareness Day, a national observance that honors the birthday of Hidya Pendleton. The Chicago teen was killed in a random shooting there in 2013.
The day will be marked by participants wearing orange, the color worn by hunters to announce themselves to other hunters, symbolizing the value of human life. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense told council that the estimated number of annual gun-related deaths in the U.S. is more than 45,000.
Council also adopted a proclamation recognizing June 6 “to encourage all citizens to support efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor the value of human life,” Fleisher read from the document.
The township also approved several resolutions on vehicles and equipment for the police department, including two new Chevy Tahoes at a cost $133,809. Council also entered into a five-year contract with the Sourcewell Cooperative – a state purchasing organization – to replace seven Taser devices, body cameras, cloud storage and related materials.
The next township council meeting will take place on Monday at 7:30 p.m., with a caucus meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m.
This rise in potentially sensitive or confidential information stored online in the digital age has led to an increase in scams and breaches that threaten the safety and security of vital data.
To help combat that, the Cherry Hill library recently held a class on digital security called “Keep Yourself, Your Computer and Your Money Safe Online.”
Presenter Peter Mokover defined cybersecurity as keeping the “bad guys” out. Attendees received packets of information summarizing what the presentation would include so they could follow along as he spoke.
Mokover opened with an anecdote about how a friend of his was once tricked by fake emails and a website that appeared to be her legitimate banking website. When she signed in, the scammers were able to access her information and withdraw money from her account.
“It’s a good idea to see whether, when it says click here, where is it actually going to take you,” Mokover advised, adding that the cursor should be moved over a link to reveal the web address before clicking. “It’s going to take you somewhere, but where? It’s probably a good idea for you to know where before you click.”
Mokover went over the protection of passwords and usernames, noting that the former should not be used for more than one account, should be kept in a secure location and be hard to guess. He also emphasized that usernames should be made more difficult to figure out by utilizing more than just a name or email address.
Mokover addressed scams by maintaining how important it is to be cautious with personal information online and over the phone.
“I would say this next point is not always a bad thing,” he noted, “but at least be cautious or conscious of it. And that’s unsolicited contact.”
The presentation also covered email security – making clear that sending them is not a secure process – but that it is less likely for one email to be intercepted without specific targeting because of the sheer daily volume of those sent, estimated at hundreds of billions. The main danger of emails comes from unknown attachments that, if downloaded, can result in malware or a virus, according to Mokover.
As for web security, he offered a range of advice, from knowing to what a user is agreeing before accepting terms of service and not allowing a website to access location without a good reason, like travel.
Mokover also explained the difference between web addresses beginning with http and https.
“Https is what everybody ought to be using,” he stated. “It means it’s a secure connection between you and that website, so chances of something being hacked are greatly reduced. If you see http without the letter ‘s’ after it, it’s not a secure connection.”
Mokover also stressed not signing up for websites that require password entry with Google or Facebook; both sites make their money through ads and data collection, meaning information is not secure. Regarding device security, he recommended that heat and liquids be kept away from devices and that laptops, tablets and phones be stored in locations not easily accessible.
He also emphasized the importance of backing up all data on computers to external hard drives that should be kept in a safe place away from a computer, and for extra protestion, to the cloud.
“They’re called flash drives,” Mokover pointed out. “They’re really important. I do not think these are good for backups. These don’t last very long compared to some of them for reliable backups.”
The presentation also addressed disposal of old computers. Mokover explained that leaving them out with the trash is illegal in New Jersey. A hard drive should be kept or destroyed by smashing it with a hammer or being drilled into and filled with liquid, he said. The rest of the computer should go to a proper disposal facility.
Kim Taylor was in attendance for the digital security class.
“I thought it was very informative,” she said. “I already knew a lot, but this made it seem simpler, easier and more manageable.”
This rise in potentially sensitive or confidential information stored online in the digital age has led to an increase in scams and breaches that threaten the safety and security of vital data.
To help combat that, the Cherry Hill library recently held a class on digital security called “Keep Yourself, Your Computer and Your Money Safe Online.”
Presenter Peter Mokover defined cybersecurity as keeping the “bad guys” out. Attendees received packets of information summarizing what the presentation would include so they could follow along as he spoke.
Mokover opened with an anecdote about how a friend of his was once tricked by fake emails and a website that appeared to be her legitimate banking website. When she signed in, the scammers were able to access her information and withdraw money from her account.
“It’s a good idea to see whether, when it says click here, where is it actually going to take you,” Mokover advised, adding that the cursor should be moved over a link to reveal the web address before clicking. “It’s going to take you somewhere, but where? It’s probably a good idea for you to know where before you click.”
Mokover went over the protection of passwords and usernames, noting that the former should not be used for more than one account, should be kept in a secure location and be hard to guess. He also emphasized that usernames should be made more difficult to figure out by utilizing more than just a name or email address.
Mokover addressed scams by maintaining how important it is to be cautious with personal information online and over the phone.
“I would say this next point is not always a bad thing,” he noted, “but at least be cautious or conscious of it. And that’s unsolicited contact.”
The presentation also covered email security – making clear that sending them is not a secure process – but that it is less likely for one email to be intercepted without specific targeting because of the sheer daily volume of those sent, estimated at hundreds of billions. The main danger of emails comes from unknown attachments that, if downloaded, can result in malware or a virus, according to Mokover.
As for web security, he offered a range of advice, from knowing to what a user is agreeing before accepting terms of service and not allowing a website to access location without a good reason, like travel.
Mokover also explained the difference between web addresses beginning with http and https.
“Https is what everybody ought to be using,” he stated. “It means it’s a secure connection between you and that website, so chances of something being hacked are greatly reduced. If you see http without the letter ‘s’ after it, it’s not a secure connection.”
Mokover also stressed not signing up for websites that require password entry with Google or Facebook; both sites make their money through ads and data collection, meaning information is not secure. Regarding device security, he recommended that heat and liquids be kept away from devices and that laptops, tablets and phones be stored in locations not easily accessible.
He also emphasized the importance of backing up all data on computers to external hard drives that should be kept in a safe place away from a computer, and for extra protestion, to the cloud.
“They’re called flash drives,” Mokover pointed out. “They’re really important. I do not think these are good for backups. These don’t last very long compared to some of them for reliable backups.”
The presentation also addressed disposal of old computers. Mokover explained that leaving them out with the trash is illegal in New Jersey. A hard drive should be kept or destroyed by smashing it with a hammer or being drilled into and filled with liquid, he said. The rest of the computer should go to a proper disposal facility.
Kim Taylor was in attendance for the digital security class.
“I thought it was very informative,” she said. “I already knew a lot, but this made it seem simpler, easier and more manageable.”
May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to recognize and honor the diverse cultures and important contributions of those from Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities and backgrounds.
Cherry Hill acknowledged the month with its fifth annual AAPI Festival on May 18 in the West High cafeteria and auditorium. The event kicked off at noon with tables representing area businesses and organizations and various forms of martial arts were on display.
Some attendees and demonstrators were engaging in Kendo, a form of modern Japanese martial arts in which opponents don protective gear and duel with bamboo swords. Participants at the festival used blunt wooden sticks. Teachers from area martial arts and karate studios also demonstrated how to break specially made boards and allowed attendees to try for themselves.
Abigail Twiford/The Sun Participants engage in Kendo, a form of Japanese martial arts that features dueling with bamboo swords or sticks, at the Cherry Hill festival.
One hour into the festival, speeches and introductions were beginning in the West auditorium. Nina Gao is the president of the Asian American Alliance of South Jersey, one of the main organizations behind the annual event.
“Today, we are celebrating culture, resilience and unity,” Gao noted, “but we must also recognize the challenges that remain.”
She went on to discuss the strain immigrant communities have dealt with since January because of a rise in harmful or offensive media portrayals and fear of threats, violence or deportation.
“We must show up, speak out and support each other,” Gao insisted. “One of the most powerful ways to do that is by voting. If you are eligible, make sure you are registered to vote and request a mail-in ballot.”
Both Mayor Dave Fleisher and his wife, newly elected Camden County Commissioner Jennifer Cooley Fleisher, were at the festival, as were distinguished guests Moorestown Mayor Quinton Law and Evesham Township Mayor Jaclyn Veasy.
“We have mayors from different towns from across South Jersey who believe that treating people with dignity and respect, and with open inclusion and celebrating our diversity, is not something that just happens in a given month,” Fleisher remarked.
“It is part of who we are as a community, and we embrace it and celebrate it each and every day of the year.”
Though he was running late, U.S. Sen. Andy Kim and his son, August, were on hand, and during a break between performances, the first Korean American to serve in the Senate addressed the festival audience.
“When I first started the run for Senate last year, I had people tell me that I was the wrong kind of minority to win statewide,” Kim recalled. “They said that there’s no way that an Asian American could win a statewide seat in New Jersey. And I just found that to be so frustrating. And I said to them, ‘Don’t think that I can only appeal to people who look like me.’”
The festival also featured 17 performances that represented Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, including traditional and modern dance, musical performances and martial arts demonstrations. Performers of all ages took to the stage in colorful and culturally significant attire.
Students from the Cherry Hill Huaxia Chinese School used fans and props in six performances that ranged from traditional dances like “Melody of the Snow Dragon,” “Green Hills in the Distance” and “The Aroma of Tea,” and performed taichi movements in “16 Forms Taichi Boxing.” Their final, non-musical performance, “48 Forms Mulan Single Sword,” combined martial arts with prop swords and dancing.
Students of the Cherry Hill Huaxia Chinese School perform “Melody of the Snow Dragon.” / Abigail TwifordStudents of the Cherry Hill Huaxia Chinese School perform “Green Hills in the Distance.” / Abigail TwifordStudents of the Cherry Hill Huaxia Chinese School perform “The Aroma of Tea.” / Abigail TwifordStudents of the Cherry Hill Huaxia Chinese School perform “48 Forms Mulan Single Sword.” / Abigail Twiford
Cherry Hill East students gave two separate performances. The Vietnamese Culture Club featured them in large dragon costumes as they mixed modern and traditional forms of dance and music. And the Filipino Culture Club also featured a mix of styles, as well as tinkling, a Filipino folk dance in which two people hold bamboo poles and tap them rhythmically against the ground as dancers jump or step over and between the moving poles.
Students from Cherry Hill High School East’s Vietnamese Culture Club dress as dragons and dance to a mix of different musical genres. / Abigail TwifordStudents from Cherry Hill High School East’s Vietnamese Culture Club dress in a variety of styles, both modern and traditional, to showcase the range of Vietnamese culture. / Abigail TwifordStudents from the Filipino Culture Club at Cherry Hill High School East perform the dance known as tinkling. / Abigail Twiford
The Reaksmey Sareypheap Khmer Dance Group performed a Khmer classical dance called, “The Robam Neary Chea Chour,” or “ladies in a line,” a dance that displays the beauty and elegance of young women in Cambodian culture.
Performers from the Reaksmey Sareypheap Khmer Dance Group perform a traditional Cambodian dance. / Abigail Twiford
Guests were welcome to stay after the performances to purchase food and learn more about the cultures, businesses and organizations showcased throughout the festival.
May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to recognize and honor the diverse cultures and important contributions of those from Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities and backgrounds.
Cherry Hill acknowledged the month with its fifth annual AAPI Festival on May 18 in the West High cafeteria and auditorium. The event kicked off at noon with tables representing area businesses and organizations and various forms of martial arts were on display.
Some attendees and demonstrators were engaging in Kendo, a form of modern Japanese martial arts in which opponents don protective gear and duel with bamboo swords. Participants at the festival used blunt wooden sticks. Teachers from area martial arts and karate studios also demonstrated how to break specially made boards and allowed attendees to try for themselves.
Abigail Twiford/The Sun Participants engage in Kendo, a form of Japanese martial arts that features dueling with bamboo swords or sticks, at the Cherry Hill festival.
One hour into the festival, speeches and introductions were beginning in the West auditorium. Nina Gao is the president of the Asian American Alliance of South Jersey, one of the main organizations behind the annual event.
“Today, we are celebrating culture, resilience and unity,” Gao noted, “but we must also recognize the challenges that remain.”
She went on to discuss the strain immigrant communities have dealt with since January because of a rise in harmful or offensive media portrayals and fear of threats, violence or deportation.
“We must show up, speak out and support each other,” Gao insisted. “One of the most powerful ways to do that is by voting. If you are eligible, make sure you are registered to vote and request a mail-in ballot.”
Both Mayor Dave Fleisher and his wife, newly elected Camden County Commissioner Jennifer Cooley Fleisher, were at the festival, as were distinguished guests Moorestown Mayor Quinton Law and Evesham Township Mayor Jaclyn Veasy.
“We have mayors from different towns from across South Jersey who believe that treating people with dignity and respect, and with open inclusion and celebrating our diversity, is not something that just happens in a given month,” Fleisher remarked.
“It is part of who we are as a community, and we embrace it and celebrate it each and every day of the year.”
Though he was running late, U.S. Sen. Andy Kim and his son, August, were on hand, and during a break between performances, the first Korean American to serve in the Senate addressed the festival audience.
“When I first started the run for Senate last year, I had people tell me that I was the wrong kind of minority to win statewide,” Kim recalled. “They said that there’s no way that an Asian American could win a statewide seat in New Jersey. And I just found that to be so frustrating. And I said to them, ‘Don’t think that I can only appeal to people who look like me.’”
The festival also featured 17 performances that represented Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, including traditional and modern dance, musical performances and martial arts demonstrations. Performers of all ages took to the stage in colorful and culturally significant attire.
Students from the Cherry Hill Huaxia Chinese School used fans and props in six performances that ranged from traditional dances like “Melody of the Snow Dragon,” “Green Hills in the Distance” and “The Aroma of Tea,” and performed taichi movements in “16 Forms Taichi Boxing.” Their final, non-musical performance, “48 Forms Mulan Single Sword,” combined martial arts with prop swords and dancing.
Students of the Cherry Hill Huaxia Chinese School perform “Melody of the Snow Dragon.” / Abigail TwifordStudents of the Cherry Hill Huaxia Chinese School perform “Green Hills in the Distance.” / Abigail TwifordStudents of the Cherry Hill Huaxia Chinese School perform “The Aroma of Tea.” / Abigail TwifordStudents of the Cherry Hill Huaxia Chinese School perform “48 Forms Mulan Single Sword.” / Abigail Twiford
Cherry Hill East students gave two separate performances. The Vietnamese Culture Club featured them in large dragon costumes as they mixed modern and traditional forms of dance and music. And the Filipino Culture Club also featured a mix of styles, as well as tinkling, a Filipino folk dance in which two people hold bamboo poles and tap them rhythmically against the ground as dancers jump or step over and between the moving poles.
Students from Cherry Hill High School East’s Vietnamese Culture Club dress as dragons and dance to a mix of different musical genres. / Abigail TwifordStudents from Cherry Hill High School East’s Vietnamese Culture Club dress in a variety of styles, both modern and traditional, to showcase the range of Vietnamese culture. / Abigail TwifordStudents from the Filipino Culture Club at Cherry Hill High School East perform the dance known as tinkling. / Abigail Twiford
The Reaksmey Sareypheap Khmer Dance Group performed a Khmer classical dance called, “The Robam Neary Chea Chour,” or “ladies in a line,” a dance that displays the beauty and elegance of young women in Cambodian culture.
Performers from the Reaksmey Sareypheap Khmer Dance Group perform a traditional Cambodian dance. / Abigail Twiford
Guests were welcome to stay after the performances to purchase food and learn more about the cultures, businesses and organizations showcased throughout the festival.
