In a continuing effort to inform residents on what is happening in the Township, I will write a regular update for the community. The briefings include issues being handled by my office, elected officials, and Township department heads. 

Community Swim Clubs preparing to open for the summer season 
Summer is just around the corner, and the majority of Cherry Hill’s 13 swim clubs will be open Memorial Day weekend. Join your friends and neighbors in sharing this longstanding tradition of family fun through summer activities geared toward everyone. Registration is under way right now, and we encourage all residents to explore the endless opportunities provided by our local swim clubs. Please contact the club of your choice. 

The municipality does not manage the clubs, and policies and rates are determined by the individual management boards. Membership is open to the public For additional information, please contact Cherry Hill’s Department of Recreation at (856) 488-7868. 

Township to hold annual Memorial Day ceremony at Town Hall 
On Monday, May 25, at Town Hall, Cherry Hill will recognize and remember the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation. This is a solemn day where we will reflect on the selfless lessons of others who aspired to a higher calling, but it will also offer the family traditions we all look forward to each year at this time - the Cherry Hill Pine Barrens Chorus will provide live music throughout the afternoon, and Wegmans will provide fresh delicious food for a community barbeque. 

The ceremony begins at 11 a.m., rain or shine, at the Municipal Complex (820 Mercer St), and State Sen. Jim Beach will be the keynote speaker, with myself, members of Council, American Legion Post 372 and the Jewish War Veterans of the USA and Furer-Barag-Wolf Post 126. For more information, call my office at (856) 488-7878 or log on to Web site at www.CherryHill-NJ.com. 

Trash collection on Mon., May 25 will be moved to Tues. the 26th 
Residents who ordinarily see their trash or recycling picked up on Mondays will be serviced next week on Tuesday, May 26 – along with those who normally have their trash or recycling collected that day – due to the Memorial Day holiday. Those who have Tuesday through Friday collections will see no change in service. If you have any questions regarding the holiday-week pick-up, call the Department of Public Works at (856) 424-4422. 

Platt joins Executive Board of Mayors Committee for a Green Future 
The Mayor’s Committee for a Green Future (MCGF) is a subcommittee of the New Jersey League of Municipalities (NJLM) with a mission to make New Jersey green, one town at a time. The guiding philosophy is that the local level of government is the one best able to motivate individual citizens to make their lifestyles. 

As this has been a core goal of my administration in recent years, I was pleased to have been selected by the NJLM to join this influential committee of 13 mayors as an Executive Board Member. The MCGF is a heavily involved with the exciting new Sustainable Jersey program, and is helping to transform the state’s 566 municipalities into a network of sustainable communities through education, outreach, leadership and support for local programs, policies and practices that conserve or regenerate natural resources and energy. For more information about the MCGF, visit the League’s Web site at www.njslom.org/Green_Future_c ommittee. 

Community Police open dialogue with public at town meeting 
On the evening of Tuesday, May 12, in the Cherry Hill Public Library, our Community Policing Unit hosted a special town-wide community meeting with residents that addressed public safety concerns and allowed for an open dialogue between attendees and police officers regarding ways to resolve them. It marked the beginning of an even more collaborative relationship between our law-enforcement officials and community members, with more meetings planned for the future. For more information about Community Policing initiatives or future public meetings, please call the Cherry Hill CPU at (856) 488-7813 or visit www.CherryHillPolice.com. 

Summer newsletter and Rec brochure have arrived in mailboxes 
Cherry Hill Township has three fun, unique programs for your children to experience this summer, and registration has already begun: 

1. Art a la Carte at the Croft Farm Arts Center offers aspiring Picassos and Van Goghs in grades 1 through 6 a chance to explore their creativity through a wide variety of 2-D and 3-D art activities. Art a la Carte consists of three sessions spanning two weeks each. Young artists can sign up for as little as one class a day or as many as five classes. Some A la Carte classes offered are bookbinding, papier mache, watercolor, Latin American Arts and clay design. Sessions begin June 29, July 13 and July 27. 

2. Adventure Camp at the Barclay Farmstead is designed for children entering grades 2 through 6 to explore science, nature and the environment in a way totally unexpected: through time travel! Campers will 'travel' back to the 19th century to see what life in Cherry Hill may have been like for their great-great-great grandparents. The Farmstead’s 32-acre property, home to an 1816-era farmhouse, historic outbuildings, a pond and nature trails, offers a unique, hands-on learning laboratory for curious minds. 

3. Morning Fun Camp is held at several public schools throughout Cherry Hill and is our most popular summer program. Children entering kindergarten through grade 6 will take part in crafts, games and sport activities each day. Camp starts Monday, June 29, through August 14 and is open from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. 

Parents are encouraged to sign their children up as soon as possible as spaces are limited in all summer programs. For more information about these and other summer programs offered by Cherry Hill Township, call the Recreation Department at (856) 488-7868 or e-mail Recreation@CHTownship.com. 


For up-to-the-minute updates on any subject, call my office at 856.488.7878 or visit our homepage. 

Sincerely, 

Bernie Platt 
Mayor