Platt: Aide who lied deserves 2nd chance

Al Schell/Courier-Post

By Jane Roh, Courier-Post Staff

Council members approved a revised budget Monday night for fiscal year 2010 of $63.9 million, reflecting a $600,000 increase.

Also at Monday's meeting, officials lauded the township's snow-removal efforts and Mayor Bernie Platt said a top aide who was caught in a lie "deserves an opportunity to redeem himself."

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Mayor and Council extend 10 percent pay cut

Mayor Bernie Platt

Mayor Bernie Platt will give back 10 percent of his Township salary this year, renewing his pledge to personally create a cost-savings for Town Hall. Following Mayor Platt’s example, Town Council and business administrator Maris Kukainis have also agreed to the 10-percent salary reduction.  

 This is the latest in a series of cost-cutting measures implemented by the Township in recent months to combat significant reductions in construction revenue, state aid and rising costs due to state mandated payments to the pension system and the public library.
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Less expensive holiday food: Something to be thankful for

Scott Anderson/Courier-Post

By EILEEN SMITH
Courier-Post Staff

This year, grocery shoppers can enjoy a little leftover cash along with their turkey sandwiches.

The price of a typical Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people is $42.91, a 4 percent decline from 2008, according to a price survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

"Consistent with the retail food price declines seen throughout the year, consumers will pay just a bit less for their Thanksgiving feast this year," said Jim Sartweile, a federation economist.

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Traffic worries may top Haddonfield Road survey

Chris LaChall/Courier-Post

If big-box retailers aren't your thing, the ever-expanding business complexes along Haddonfield Road in Cherry Hill might look like a metastasizing eyesore.

"They're just clogging it all up. And now they want to put up all these apartments -- they've damaged the whole site," said Alene Ammond, a local activist and former state senator. "They just want to get in as much as they can in that space."

Few entrepreneurs deny that the retail attractions between Marketplace at Garden State Park at Route 70 and the Cherry Hill Mall at Church Road have been an economic boost to the area. But some wonder if the cost -- whatever that might ultimately be -- is worth it.

Read the rest of this article at: Traffic worries may top Haddonfield Road survey | courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post.

Economy intrudes on worship

via Economy intrudes on worship | CourierPostOnline.com.

By KIM MULFORD
Courier-Post Staff

Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, begins tonight. And though the holiday requires a day of fasting, prayer and worship in the synagogue, some faithful will not be in services this year, thanks to the recession.

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Economy changes style of malls | Philadelphia Business Journal

Area malls are opening their doors to some newcomers — local retailers.

Jose F. Moreno/Courier-Post

David Zarfati, a boutique owner with locations at the Jersey Shore and upstate New York, is one of the retailers that benefited from vacancies at the Cherry Hill Mall. He opened BackStage Couture, taking advantage of shorter lease terms and a rare opportunity to have retail neighbors like Nordstrom, Crate & Barrel and Urban Outfitters.

“When you’re a small business, it’s difficult unless you have a good concept and plans for a nice build-out — something that’s up to the standards of the mall,” said Zarfati, who invested $225,000 on the store, which has a two-year lease. “We hope we can stay after that because we invested a lot in the build-out. We felt we had a good enough product, but it’s a risk. You invest a lot and you hope they keep you on after two years.”

Read more at: Economy changes style of malls - Philadelphia Business Journal:.

Family loyalty keeps Catholic schools alive | CourierPostOnline.com

Avi Steinhardt/Courier-Post

At Resurrection School in Cherry Hill, which opened last September after Queen of Heaven School shut down and was merged with St. Peter Celestine School at the St. Peter Celestine site, enrollment will be down this September, school spokeswoman Alli Smith said.

Last year, the school had about 400 students enrolled, more than had attended both older schools in 2007-08. This coming year, enrollment is at 370.

Smith blamed the economy. "It's a bad time financially, and the financial assistance offered wasn't enough for those families to stay comfortably. People may be back when they're doing better," she said.

The losses would have been greater if new students weren't enrolling. Smith said Resurrection is welcoming students from public schools and other Catholic schools this year.

Read the rest of this article at: Family loyalty keeps Catholic schools alive | CourierPostOnline.com | Courier-Post.

Budget cutbacks force changes in classrooms | CourierPostOnline.com

Douglas M. Bovitt/COURIER-POST

In the struggle to emerge intact from New Jersey's current economic crisis, many school districts are having to make do with less -- and when students return to class in September, they are likely to see a difference.

Fewer teachers, larger class size, missing academic or enrichment programs and the elimination of late buses and extracurricular activities are a few changes occurring in districts faced with flat state aid or not enough of a hike to counter mounting needs and rising costs. While some districts succeeded in getting budgets passed by keeping the local school tax levy flat in April, others felt compelled to ask for a hike even in the face of program cuts.

Read the rest of this article at: Budget cutbacks force changes in classrooms | CourierPostOnline.com | Courier-Post.

Executive Business Summit 2009

Alloy Silverstein of Cherry Hill & Hammonton presents:

EXECUTIVE BUSINESS SUMMIT 2009
A Special Session of Strategies and Solutions

Thursday, October 1, 2009
Mount Laurel Double Tree Guest Suites
515 Fellowship Road North, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
8:00AM-10:00AM

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