Why the school district is suing 2 local journalists | Inquirer Cherry Hill
Plus, how Nana Araba Wilmot fared on the ‘Top Chef’ spinoff.
Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋
An East alum has been served a 128-page lawsuit by the school district for what he says is part of his mission to create public transparency. Here’s what to know. Also this week, Nana Araba Wilmot’s hopes of returning to the Top Chef competition were dashed, a new eatery is coming to the mall, plus, the future of a Glassboro-Camden light-rail line is looking a little brighter.
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After filing 14 public records requests with Cherry Hill Public Schools during a one-year period, local freelance journalist and East alum Ben Shore, along with his brother, fellow journalist Daniel Shore, was served a 128-page lawsuit for what the district says amounted to harassment through requests that “substantially interrupted” school operations.
Ben Shore, who recently earned his law degree, runs a Cherry Hill-focused news site, where he said he’s seeking to bring transparency to how public entities operate, including how the district is spending money.
The district doesn’t quite see it that way, saying employees have spent more than 100 hours reviewing and redacting documents for Shore’s requests.
The lawsuit could be a test case for how far a government agency should be allowed to go to ban public access, according to the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists.
The Inquirer’s Melanie Burney delves into the details.
💡 Community News
Monday was the end of the road for Nana Araba Wilmot’s hopes of returning to the Top Chef competition after being eliminated earlier this season. The Cherry Hill native came up a bit short in the latest episode of the spinoff series Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen, where contestants go head-to-head for a spot to reenter the main competition. The two competing chefs were tasked with creating a dish inspired by she-crab soup, which resulted in Wilmot’s crab mac and cheese and her opponent’s Singaporean chili crab. Wilmot said at the end of the episode that she was proud of her work and that she was “walking away as a brand new person, a brand new chef, a brand new Nana.” Catch the full episode here.
Heads up for drivers: Work continues on Kresson Road, with partial road closures westbound between Cropwell and Springdale Roads through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ongoing work is part of New Jersey American Water’s $2.5 million water main upgrade, work for which is expected to continue into June.
The Cherry Hill Fire Department is hosting a child safety seat check event Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Deer Park Station.
Camden County could finally be getting a light-rail line connecting it to Gloucester County. Gov. Mikie Sherrill shared last week that the Glassboro-Camden Line, a long-planned-for and stalled transit project, is a priority for her. The line, which was awarded $200 million for preliminary engineering and design, project management, and land acquisition in 2022, would go through Camden and Gloucester City before moving south into Gloucester County.
Camden County’s population grew 0.4% last year, according to new U.S. Census data. The county added 2,204 residents, part of a surge of people moving to South Jersey.
🏫 Schools Briefing
There’s a school board meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. See the district’s full calendar here.
West’s spring musical kicks off this weekend, with shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It’s one of the first schools nationwide to produce Suffs, the Tony Award-nominated Broadway show about the women’s suffrage movement and the role South Jersey Quaker activist Alice Paul played in it.
CBS News Philadelphia recently profiled the longtime former girls’ basketball head coach at Camden Catholic High School, Chrissy Palladino, affectionately known as Ms. Pal. She began her 34-year coaching run in 1979, amassing 660 wins and a state championship before stepping away when she lost her vision. Even though she can’t see most of the action, Palladino continues to turn up for games and support current head coach Christine Matera, who is something of Palladino’s protégé after playing on her state championship team.
🍽️ On our Plate
A new eatery is joining the food court at the mall, although an opening date hasn’t been announced yet. DoneRight Doner Kebab has two other locations, at the Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrenceville and in Hoboken, and specializes in döner, a Turkish street food featuring thinly shaved meats such as chicken and lamb. It also serves falafel, hummus, and desserts including baklava.
Koi Matsu is one of the best sushi spots in the state, according to a recent ranking from NJ.com, which put it at No. 45. The relative newcomer on Marlton Pike fits in perfectly to the “culinary strip mall wonderland” that is Cherry Hill, the outlet noted.
🎳 Things to Do
🗓️ Foodie Bingo: Get 10 bingo cards and enjoy light snacks at this adults-only library fundraiser. Registration is required. ⏰ Friday, April 10, 6:30 p.m. 💵 $35 📍 Cherry Hill Public Library
👟 POWR 5K/1 Mile Walk for Parkinson’s: Lace up your sneakers and hit the pavement for a good cause. Registration is required. ⏰ Sunday, April 12, 8:30 a.m. for the run, 9:30 a.m. for the walk 💵 $32.80 for the walk, $43.40 for the run 📍 Katz JCC
🥐 Krimson and Kream: Enjoy brunch while DJs spin R&B tunes. ⏰ Sunday, April 12, 1-4 p.m. 💵 $19.03 📍 Vera
🍷 Wine Down Wednesday: This month’s iteration features five 2-ounce pours from California’s Duckhorn Vineyards, paired with appetizers. ⏰ Wednesday, April 15, reservations for 6-8 p.m. 💵 $25 📍 Randall’s Restaurant
🏡 On the Market
This five-bedroom Charleston Riding home has several unique features, chief among them a heated indoor pool with three waterfall features and a spa. Located in a dedicated solarium off of the sunroom, the indoor pool is surrounded by vaulted cedar ceilings with skylights, as well as windows and doors that let in natural light. Another unique feature is a handicap-friendly first-floor suite with its own HVAC system and heated flooring. Elsewhere, there’s a living room with a gas fireplace, a formal dining room, a family room with a fireplace and a bar, and an eat-in kitchen with an island and heated floors. There are four bedrooms upstairs, including the primary suite, which has its own office, walk-in closets, and sauna. Other features include a finished basement and a patio with a fire pit.
See more photos of the property here.
Price: $995,000 | Size: 5,046 SF
🗞️ What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:
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