Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting: 7:30 p.m. See chnj.gov for details.
Sunday, Jan. 26
Intro to coding with Python: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Cherry Hill Library. For children and teens 12 to 18. No experience required for a hands-on session on the beginner-friendly programming language. Register online at chplnj.org.
Monday, Jan. 27
Council meeting: 7:30 p.m., council chambers and via Zoom. See chnj.gov for details.
Tuesday, Jan. 28
Board of education meeting: 6:30 p.m., Arthur Lewis Administration Building.
Saturday, Feb. 15
Comedy Night: 8 p.m. Katz JCC, Lahn Social Hall, 1301 Springdale Road. Comedian Joe Matarese, a 1985 Cherry Hill East graduate, along with opening comedian Johnny Lampert, will perform. Tickets are $40. A portion of proceeds support the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey’s Israel Emergency Campaign. Light refreshments are served after the show. Visit jewishfederationofsouthernnewj.regfox.com/comedy-night-with-joe-matarese-feb-2025 for tickets and more information.
Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting: 7:30 p.m. See chnj.gov for details.
Sunday, Jan. 26
Intro to coding with Python: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Cherry Hill Library. For children and teens 12 to 18. No experience required for a hands-on session on the beginner-friendly programming language. Register online at chplnj.org.
Monday, Jan. 27
Council meeting: 7:30 p.m., council chambers and via Zoom. See chnj.gov for details.
Tuesday, Jan. 28
Board of education meeting: 6:30 p.m., Arthur Lewis Administration Building.
Saturday, Feb. 15
Comedy Night: 8 p.m. Katz JCC, Lahn Social Hall, 1301 Springdale Road. Comedian Joe Matarese, a 1985 Cherry Hill East graduate, along with opening comedian Johnny Lampert, will perform. Tickets are $40. A portion of proceeds support the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey’s Israel Emergency Campaign. Light refreshments are served after the show. Visit jewishfederationofsouthernnewj.regfox.com/comedy-night-with-joe-matarese-feb-2025 for tickets and more information.
Cherry Hill Mayor Dave Fleisher swears in John Ostermueller – who was joined by his fiancé – as the township’s new police chief.
Two incumbent members and a new police chief were sworn in by Cherry Hill Mayor Dave Fleisher during township council’s Jan. 7 reorganization meeting.
Incumbents Daniel DiRenzo Jr. and Jill Hulnick, who won office in the November election, were joined by loved ones as they took the oath of office. Fleisher said of the pair, “They both share my passion for moving Cherry Hill forward.”
DiRenzo, who spent 25 years working for the township fire department, including as captain and CFO, thanked his family and fellow council members for their support, and explained what a privilege it’s been getting to know locals and the things that matter most to them.
“This past year has provided me the opportunity to understand the concerns and issues that residents face and to help advocate on the issues,” he said. “Trust is very important to me, and I will persist in earning that trust.”
Hulnick, an independent consultant with leadership in the business, nonprofit and government sectors, shared the same sentiment.
“I approached this role with a deep sense of duty and appreciation for the trust placed in me by the residents of Cherry Hill,” he noted, “and look forward to serving our community for many more years to come.”
William Carter and Michele Golkow were reappointed council president and vice president, respectively. Also sworn in was new Police Chief John Ostermueller, of whom Fleisher said, “He shares my commitment to keeping our neighborhoods safe and operating with efficiency, professionalism and accountability.”
Ostermueller, who boasts more than two decades in law enforcement – including the past 21 years in Cherry Hill – replaces Robert Kempf, who retired on Dec. 31. Ostermueller will lead a department of more than 175 full- and part-time employees, including 136 full-time sworn officers, special law-enforcement officers, dispatchers, administrative staff and records personnel.
“We’re going to deliver excellent public service with accountability, compassion, respect for everyone we serve,” he promised. “When we talk about what’s the vision for Cherry Hill, we’re going to make Cherry Hill the safest place to live, work and shop through community engagement, innovative strategies, deterring crime and protecting the vulnerable.
“That’s our mission. That is what we are. That’s who we’ll be.”
Fleisher also shared at the meeting some township highlights from 2024, his first year as mayor. They include preserving more than 23 acres of open space with the purchase of Holly Ravine Farm; investing more than $1.4 million in new police technology and public safety initiatives; completing renovations at Barlow and Brandywood parks; paving 75 neighborhood roadways; installing more than 120 ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) improvements; registering more than 2,300 users of the new My Cherry Hill app; and welcoming more than 6,000 attendees to the township’s Independence Day celebration, with fireworks back for the first time in a decade.
“We have worked hard to demonstrate our commitment to reinvigorating a sense of pride in our community, to connect and communicate with our residents on many fronts,” explained Fleisher, who spotlighted the township’s new website and expanded social media presence.
“None of this happens without the support of our residents and the leadership of our township council.”
Cherry Hill Mayor Dave Fleisher swears in John Ostermueller – who was joined by his fiancé – as the township’s new police chief.
Two incumbent members and a new police chief were sworn in by Cherry Hill Mayor Dave Fleisher during township council’s Jan. 7 reorganization meeting.
Incumbents Daniel DiRenzo Jr. and Jill Hulnick, who won office in the November election, were joined by loved ones as they took the oath of office. Fleisher said of the pair, “They both share my passion for moving Cherry Hill forward.”
DiRenzo, who spent 25 years working for the township fire department, including as captain and CFO, thanked his family and fellow council members for their support, and explained what a privilege it’s been getting to know locals and the things that matter most to them.
“This past year has provided me the opportunity to understand the concerns and issues that residents face and to help advocate on the issues,” he said. “Trust is very important to me, and I will persist in earning that trust.”
Hulnick, an independent consultant with leadership in the business, nonprofit and government sectors, shared the same sentiment.
“I approached this role with a deep sense of duty and appreciation for the trust placed in me by the residents of Cherry Hill,” he noted, “and look forward to serving our community for many more years to come.”
William Carter and Michele Golkow were reappointed council president and vice president, respectively. Also sworn in was new Police Chief John Ostermueller, of whom Fleisher said, “He shares my commitment to keeping our neighborhoods safe and operating with efficiency, professionalism and accountability.”
Ostermueller, who boasts more than two decades in law enforcement – including the past 21 years in Cherry Hill – replaces Robert Kempf, who retired on Dec. 31. Ostermueller will lead a department of more than 175 full- and part-time employees, including 136 full-time sworn officers, special law-enforcement officers, dispatchers, administrative staff and records personnel.
“We’re going to deliver excellent public service with accountability, compassion, respect for everyone we serve,” he promised. “When we talk about what’s the vision for Cherry Hill, we’re going to make Cherry Hill the safest place to live, work and shop through community engagement, innovative strategies, deterring crime and protecting the vulnerable.
“That’s our mission. That is what we are. That’s who we’ll be.”
Fleisher also shared at the meeting some township highlights from 2024, his first year as mayor. They include preserving more than 23 acres of open space with the purchase of Holly Ravine Farm; investing more than $1.4 million in new police technology and public safety initiatives; completing renovations at Barlow and Brandywood parks; paving 75 neighborhood roadways; installing more than 120 ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) improvements; registering more than 2,300 users of the new My Cherry Hill app; and welcoming more than 6,000 attendees to the township’s Independence Day celebration, with fireworks back for the first time in a decade.
“We have worked hard to demonstrate our commitment to reinvigorating a sense of pride in our community, to connect and communicate with our residents on many fronts,” explained Fleisher, who spotlighted the township’s new website and expanded social media presence.
“None of this happens without the support of our residents and the leadership of our township council.”
Cherry Hill Township School District Bridget Palmer, Dean Drizin (top right) and Kurt Braddock won their seats in the November election.
The township board of education kicked off the new year by swearing in its three newest members: Bridget Palmer, Dean Drizin and Kurt Braddock, who were victorious in the November general election. All took the oath of office during the Jan. 2 board meeting.
Palmer – a Cherry Hill resident for more than a decade – is the director of government affairs for Bancroft, the Haddonfield provider of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her twins currently attend Carusi Middle School.
Drizin is a physician executive, veteran and father of two township students. He leads the corporate development office of a national home health-care organization and is a flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
Braddock, who plays hockey throughout South Jersey and trains locally in kickboxing, has 20 years of experience as a teacher and researcher. He is an assistant professor in the school of communications at American University in Washington, D.C.
When it came time to nominate a new president at the board meeting, Joel Mayer wasted no time in putting forth Gina Winters’ name. But first he acknowledged outgoing president Miriam Stern, who held the leadership position for two years.
“The last couple of years have been among the most impactful that I can recall, not just on my time on the board, but before I was a board member, going back from the successful bond initiative,” said Mayer. “Now, we’re seeing a lot of that construction come to fruition. The successful transition to our new and highly qualified and effective superintendent, and so many other things that we have done here under the leadership of Mrs. Stern, who has been a stalwart supporter and protector of students and staff, those that need the most protection.”
“That said,” Mayer concluded, “it’s time for new leadership. It’s time for some new ideas and new passion.”
Winters’ election as board president was unanimous. Then, in a vote of 7-2, Adam Greenbaum was named vice president over Kimberly Gallagher, who was appointed district representative of the Camden County School Boards Association’s Executive Committee and the New Jersey School Boards Association. Renee Cherfane was named to the Camden County Educational Services Commission.
Also during the meeting, the board announced revisions to its committee structure, a project that was launched by Gallagher under the previous board. A major change involves moving all committee meetings to Tuesday nights, instead of having them spaced out over Monday and Tuesday. The policy and legislation committee, chaired by Mayer, will meet first at 5 p.m.; followed by curriculum and instruction, chaired by Winters, at 6 p.m.; and business and facilities, chaired by Greenbaum, at 7 p.m.
The purpose of the change, Winters explained, is to make it easier for more people to attend meetings.
“Committees will also have three members this year, with a fourth position open, so that members can rotate among committees and they can see what’s happening in the other committees,” she added.
In the public comment portion of the board session, one resident expressed concern with the meeting restructure, noting that the 5 p.m. start time doesn’t take into consideration those who work, nor does it “bode well for transparency.”
