It’s a bird, It’s a plane, It’s a … solar panel?

Posted via Sustainable Cherry Hill

PSE&G installing solar panels on utility poles in Cherry Hill

It all started with an excited phone call last week from Erica DeMichele, a teacher at Cherry Hill East.  Erica, a sustainability advocate and biology teacher, left a message on my cell phone asking me if I knew anything about the solar panels on the utility poles outside the high school.  ”When I came into school this morning, they weren’t there, but when I left for the day… there they were!”, I heard as I listened to her voicemail.  Erica’s call was just the beginning.  Emails, Facebook messages and more phone calls followed. Everyone wanted to know… How did those solar panels get up on the utility poles?

According to the Mayor’s Weekly Briefing for February 25th:

“Residents are starting to spot them all over the Township – small solar-energy units on utility poles and street lights along streets and in neighborhoods throughout Cherry Hill.  The 5-foot-wide, 2.5-foot, 60-pound rectangles currently being installed on PSE&G-owned aluminum poles approximately 15- to 18-feet from the ground, are strategically angled in a southerly direction for optimal angling toward the sun. Already operational, the solar units produce power from sunlight absorption, sending it into the region’s electric grid that serves all PSE&G customers, including the majority of Cherry Hill. The utility company plans to attach these units to 200,000 of their utility poles in municipalities up and down the state over the next two years – and Cherry Hill was one of the first to receive them.”

An article from today’s Philadelphia Inquirer, NJ solar initiative getting noticed states…

“Over the last month, Public Service Electric & Gas, New Jersey’s largest power company, has been installing solar panels on streetlights and utility poles across its distribution network in an effort to meet a state mandate that 20 percent of electricity come from alternative energy sources by 2020.”

Where some people see an eyesore, I am quoted as having a more “enlightened”  (get it?) viewpoint…

Lori Braunstein, founder of Sustainable Cherry Hill, an environmental group, has been inundated with e-mails from friends and acquaintances praising the panels.

“To me, they’re beautiful,” she said. “It’s what they symbolize. We have something really creative and forward-thinking in our town, and it helps me to think we’re on the right track.”

So next time you gaze upward in Cherry Hill, take a moment to appreciate those unusual utility poles.  Coming soon are the solar panels on Town Hall.  Hey, maybe we should change our tag line to Cherry Hill:  Brought to you by the sun!

Winter storm warning, wind advisory, flood advisory in effect

That National Weather Service has issues a winter storm warning, a flood advisory, a wind advisory and a special weather statement for the tri-county area and beyond.

The winter storm warning notes snow of varying intensities will continue throughout the morning, resulting in total accumulations of 4 to 12 inches. The warning is in effect until noon today,

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Cherry Hill turns to 2nd acting mayor

AVI STEINHARDT/Courier-Post

By Jane Roh, Courier-Post Staff

After revelations that a township spokesman lied about Mayor Bernie Platt's absence this month, including during twin snow emergencies, officials acknowledged Thursday that the acting mayor was also on vacation for three days last week.

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UPDATE: Town Hall closed today; trash pickup still on schedule

The Cherry Hill Township Municipal Building will be closed today due to inclement weather. Municipal court sessions scheduled for today will be rescheduled; those affected will be notified of their new court dates.

Trash and recycling collection will continue, and all Friday routes will be completed by the end of the day.

The Cherry Hill Public Library is closed.

Township personnel will be on-hand to answer calls, and residents in need of assistance can call (856) 488-7878 or (856) 424-4422.

Meanwhile, crews are working aggressively to treat and clear snow and debris from local roads. High winds, snow drifts and some icy patches have caused hazardous conditions on roads, and residents are urged to use extreme caution when traveling.

At this time, PSE&G has no reported power outages in Cherry Hill. To report a power failure or downed wires, call PSE&G at (800) 436-7734. Utility-repair crews there are in place to work with DPW crews to repair and re-connect any outages in the Township.

For any weather-related questions or concerns, please call the DPW at (856) 424-4422. Additional information will be posted as necessary.

Cherry Hill awarded EPA Climate Showcase Community Grant

Posted via Sustainable Cherry Hill

EPA helps Cherry Hill decrease our carbon footprint

Yesterday we received the wonderful news that Cherry Hill was chosen as an EPA Climate Showcase Community.  The $500k grant will be split between Cherry Hill, fellow Sustainable Jersey certified towns, Highland Park and Montclair and Rutgers University in the category of Sustainable Energy Efficiency Demonstration Projects .

From EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson: “These communities see the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change and are working with EPA to fight back. We’re working (with them) on innovative, win-win strategies that reduce greenhouse gases and cut energy bills for families and businesses – strategies that can be put in place to fight climate change.” The projects we’re working on together will target every aspect of our community’s carbon footprint, from increasing energy efficiency in homes and businesses, to helping residents save fuel by decreasing the number of miles they drive. Read about the program and Cherry Hill’s entry here.

Sustainable Cherry Hill commends Cherry Hill Township for seeking out this EPA grant and for creating the innovative program chosen as one of only 18 communities across the country. We look forward to working together with the township on this project and many others as we move together towards a more sustainable community!

Cherry Hill mayor says aide regrets ‘mistake’

AVI STEINHARDT/Courier-Post

By Deborah Hirsch, Courier-Post Staff

Republican Committee Chairman Richard Ambrosino Wednesday called for Mayor Bernie Platt's chief of staff to resign in the wake of news reports that he'd lied about the mayor's whereabouts.

Last week, Chief of Staff Dan Keashen lied to the Courier-Post about the mayor's whereabouts during an early February snowstorm, then lied by saying the mayor was on a snowplow and followed that with another lie that Platt only spent two weeks in Florida.

Keashen later said he "misspoke."

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Town Hall, Library open for business today; all services operational

The Cherry Hill municipal building and public library are open for business today, Thursday, Feb. 25. Trash and recycling collection and other township services are also fully operational.

All Recreation Department activities scheduled for Thursday have been canceled; however, the Recreation Department itself is open.

Public Works crews are on hand to treat roadways as conditions require.

For weather- and trash-related questions, call DPW directly at (856) 424-4422. For additional assistance, contact the Mayor's Office at (856) 488-7878.

A recipe that will give you a Boost!

Ingredients:
1 ½ lbs. baby bok choy, trimmed
2 cup vegetable broth
6 tbsp soy margarine
1 tsp Asian sesame oil

Bring the broth and soy margarine to a simmer in a large, deep, heavy skillet. Arrange the bok choy evenly in the skillet and simmer, covered, until tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer the bok choy with tings to a serving dish, cover, and keep warm. Boil the broth until reduced to about ¼ cup, then stir in the sesame oil and pepper to taste. Pour the broth over the bok choy and serve.

‘Jersey Shore’ cast member to appear at Taylor’s in Cherry Hill

J-Woww, one of the stars of the MTV hit "Jersey Shore" will be at Taylor's Bar and Grill in Cherry Hill on Tuesday, after her appearance yesterday was postponed, according to the bar.

J-Woww will appear as part of the night's events called "Fight the Beat: A Night of Hot Girls 'n' Filthy Mash-ups" from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Taylor's will honor tickets purchased for yesterday's appearance. More tickets are available at http://www.taylorscherryhill.com/.

Winter storm watch issued for region

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for South Jersey and surrounding regions.

Conflicting weather reports call for just a few inches to well more than a foot of snow.

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Juvenile girl arrested for using pepper spray at another at Cherry Hill Mall

By George Mast, Courier-Post Staff

A 16-year-old girl was arrested Tuesday after spraying another juvenile with pepper spray during a fight at the food court in the Cherry Hill Mall, police said.

The girl, whose identity was not released, was later rearrested on trespassing charges after going back to the mall hours later, said Cherry Hill police Lt. Bill Kushina.

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Buckle up at Cherry Hill Mall

By Eileen Smith, Courier-Post Staff

HAPPILY HIP ALERT:

Buckle is open at Cherry Hill Mall.

That is great news for fashion-forward shoppers who have been pining away for Buckle, one of the few retailers consumers get really, REALLY excited about in a time of conspicuous non-consumption.

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Problems may not melt away with snow

John Ziomek/Courier-Post

By Wilford S. Shamlin, Courier-Post Staff

Mounds of snow that last week dwarfed the average adult have begun to melt, but the water runoff could cause flooding on some streets in flood-prone areas.

South Jersey, however, may have been spared more severe flooding problems.

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Transparency urged in Cherry Hill mayor uproar

By Jane Roh, Courier-Post Staff

Cherry Hill Council President David Fleisher said he would urge Mayor Bernie Platt to begin disclosing more fully when he is on an extended vacation.

Fleisher's comments followed a Courier-Post report Tuesday examining Platt's role in the township's handling of snow removal during blizzards that hit the region in early February.

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‘Jersey Shore’ cast member appearance postponed

J-Woww, one of the stars of the MTV hit "Jersey Shore" will not be at Taylor's Bar and Grill in Cherry Hill tonight, according to the bar.

J-Woww was to appear as part of the night's events called "Fight the Beat: A Night of Hot Girls 'n' Filthy Mash-ups" from 9 p.m. to midnight, but had to reschedule due to a conflict.

The event may be rescheduled for next week.