Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋
A former East principal has denied discrimination allegations made against him by a former assistant principal earlier this year. Also this week, the district’s elementary schools may redistribute students as they face potential overcrowding, some retailers at the Cherry Hill Mall reported seeing fewer shoppers on Black Friday compared to past years, plus farmhouses at Holly Ravine Farm will soon be torn down as the town preserves the land.
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Former East principal denies allegations of discrimination and retaliation
Former Cherry Hill High School East Principal Daniel Finkle has denied claims that he engaged in discriminatory behavior or retaliated against former assistant principal David Francis-Maurer, who filed a lawsuit earlier this year after his contract was not renewed. Francis-Maurer claimed that Finkle and other officials discriminated against him based on his religion and sexual orientation.
But in court documents filed last month, Finkle’s legal representatives said Francis-Maurer was fired for job performance.
They allege that Francis-Maurer was unresponsive to feedback, unwilling to collaborate with colleagues, and that he failed to complete mandatory performance reviews of employees, The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner reports.
Read more about Finkle’s response to the lawsuit.
What to know about the district’s ideas to rebalance elementary schools
Five of Cherry Hill’s 12 elementary schools are expected to exceed capacity in the coming years, and to head off overcrowding, the district has begun looking at “balancing” them.
By the 2028-29 school year, the district projects it will be short about 337 seats, and is considering a number of solutions, including reassigning students to less-crowded schools or converting an administration building.
A committee is working to present a preliminary rebalancing plan to the school board in January or February, with a final plan expected by June or July.
Read more about the overcrowding issues here.
💡 Community News
- For some retailers at the Cherry Hill Mall last Friday, it was business as usual, but others said the major shopping day was quieter than in years past, a change driven in part by online shopping and economic uncertainty. Some of the shoppers who did make it to the mall said they were motivated by tradition or unmissable deals.
- Two former farmhouses near the intersection of Springdale and Evesham Roads will soon be torn down to create a preserved open space. The township purchased the 22.54-acre former Holly Ravine dairy farm last year for $3.87 million after residents raised concerns about it being used as a senior care complex. Now the township is getting closer to seeing its plan for “passive use” and “agricultural use consistent with the farm’s legacy” come to life, according to 70 and 73.
- The Inquirer recently analyzed U.S. Geological Survey data and found that the South Branch Pennsauken Creek at Cherry Hill is among the most flood-prone waterways in the region. It most recently flooded in December 2023, when the water reached a maximum high of 9.5 feet.
- Work continues on the 252-unit Hampton Square apartment building between Hampton Road and Cuthbert Boulevard at the former site of an industrial complex. Hampton Square will have one- and two-bedroom units and is expected to open early next year. (Courier Post)
- Looking to give back this holiday season? A Cherry Hill financial adviser offers tips on how to avoid charity scammers and ensure donations are going where you want them to.
- A little update on Dick’s House of Sport at the Cherry Hill Mall: Foundation work is underway and the mall’s owner, PREIT, is estimating that the 120,000-square-foot store is still on target to open sometime in 2026, though a firm opening date hasn’t been set. (The Sun)
- Cherry Hill of Subaru helped surprise a 10-year-old South Jersey boy battling cancer by teaming up with nonprofit Make-A-Wish New Jersey to send him on a trip to the Florida Keys this month. Fox29 captured the surprise.
🏫 Schools Briefing
- Cherry Hill schools ranged widely in how they compared to others throughout the state based on the New Jersey Department of Education’s School Performance Report for the 2023-24 school year. Sharp Elementary landed in the 95th percentile, the highest of any school in the district, while Paine Elementary came in at the lowest, in the 26th percentile. (NJ.com)
- Preschool, elementary, and middle school students will have early dismissals next week for parent/teacher conferences, which kick off Monday and run through Thursday. Next Friday, there’s a district-wide early dismissal.
🍽️ On our Plate
- A new sushi and hibachi spot has taken over the former Cindy’s Chinese Cuisine and is now open at Plaza 38 Shopping Center on Route 38. Sushi House Hibachi & Teriyaki serves its namesake dishes, as well as dumplings, noodles, and bowls. (Courier Post)
- The G.B.M.F. Challenge at the Kibitz Room is among BestofNJ.com’s top 10 favorite food challenges in the Garden State. Diners who take on the challenge get 30 minutes to eat the massive corned beef, pastrami, turkey, roast beef, and brisket sandwich that the restaurant estimates can feed three to four. Those who can finish it get the $100 sandwich for free and are added to the “Wall of Fame.”
🎳 Things to Do
🛼 TayLena Skate Night: Skate to Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez tunes all night. There will also be a glam station. ⏰ Friday, Dec. 5, 6:30-9 p.m. 💵 $14 admission, plus $6 skate rental 📍 Hot Wheelz
💎 Gently Used Jewelry and Accessory Sale: Shop everything from second-hand jewelry to scarves to handbags at this library fundraiser. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Cherry Hill Library
❄️ Winter Festival: This year’s winter festival includes a craft market to shop for gifts, a beer garden, fire pits, ice carving demonstrations, food, and live performances. It will be held rain or shine and is free to attend. ⏰ Sunday, Dec. 7, noon-4 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Croft Farm
🎤 Steve Cofield and Sweet: The classic R&B band will perform an array of tunes from Motown to neo-soul. ⏰ Sunday, Dec. 7, 4-7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Vera
🏡 On the Market
A mid-century modern condo in a gated community
Located in the Mediterranean-inspired and gated Centura community, this two-bedroom condo has undergone updates to its original woodwork, kitchen cabinetry, flooring, and walls. It features an open-concept living and dining area that is anchored by a stone fireplace, and a primary suite with a walk-in closet. It also has a balcony, two reserved garage spaces, and access to the communal pool and tennis courts.
See more photos of the condo here.
Price: $199,000 | Size: 1,442 SF
🗞️ What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:
- Marra’s, Philadelphia’s oldest pizzeria, has closed after 98 years on East Passyunk Avenue
- ‘The places that helped form me were Philadelphia and rural South Jersey’: Patti Smith talks about her childhood
- A Philadelphia jury reached $35 million verdict against Main Line Health and Penn Medicine for cancer misdiagnosis
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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.
