Township native stars as Bourdain | Inquirer Cherry Hill
Plus, a look at the new school cell phone ban.
Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋
It’s nice to see you again. Up-and-coming township native Dominic Sessa is portraying a young Anthony Bourdain in a newly released biopic.
Also making headlines this week is the new state law banning the use of cell phones during the school day, a new food access program that buses Camden residents to Cherry Hill grocery stores, and disputed claims regarding the local Dick’s Sporting Goods’ outpost’s LeBron James jerseys.
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— Laura Smythe (cherryhill@inquirer.com)
Inquirer Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill native Dominic Sessa returns to the silver screen in Tony, where he plays a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain, years before he became an acclaimed chef, writer, and television personality.
If you don’t recognize Sessa’s name from his Critics’ Choice Award-winning breakout role as a troubled prep school student in the 2023 comedic drama The Holdovers, perhaps you do from his ranking as one of Cherry Hill’s most-searched Wikipedia celebrities.
In Tony, Sessa nails a young Bourdain’s “fascination with people who seem more authentic than he feels,” Inquirer food reporter Michael Klein writes in his review of the film, which was widely released last weekend.
Check out the full article for a complete breakdown of Sessa’s latest performance, which taps into the “seductive outlaw kitchen culture” of “drugs, sex, appetite, [and] danger” that pulled in the culinary icon.
💡 Community News
A new food access program spearheaded by a South Jersey pastor is transporting residents from the food desert of Camden to Cherry Hill, where they can better source fresh, affordable, and healthy food.
B Positive Plasma, a plasma donation center network that started in Cherry Hill and now operates a dozen locations across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, is on track to see a record year as area residents sell their blood plasma to try to make ends meet.
After a Cherry Hill resident’s dog got into a quarrel with a rabid skunk earlier this month, Camden County officials are advising residents to avoid direct contact with wildlife and other unfamiliar animals and to make sure pets are up to date on vaccinations.
A store manager of Cherry Hill’s Dick’s Sporting Goods disputed reports that the chain was placing official LeBron James Sixers jerseys behind the counter because of theft.
Cherry Hill resident Megan Paier, a volunteer docent at the Philadelphia Zoo, helped bring viral French musician Plumes to serenade the site’s tortoises by DMing him on social media.
Meet Armand Perez, 70, who has served as caretaker at the quirky South Jersey children’s “oasis” Soupy Island for nearly three decades while simultaneously clocking 24 years at Cherry Hill Volvo.
Cherry Hill Mall owner Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust is selling another of its greater Philadelphia holdings, Willow Grove Park Mall, to a partnership of New York firms. The pending deal is among the latest shakeups to the region’s 17 malls amid the retail sector’s 21st-century evolution.
As the global outdoor TV market steadily grows, Soccer Post Cherry Hill event manager Zach Kades shared his tips for selecting the right gear to get in on the trend.
🏫 Schools Briefing
New Jersey’s nearly 600 public schools will implement a cell phone-free policy under a new state law this school year. Many will be catching up to Cherry Hill Public Schools, which voluntarily enacted its own cell phone ban two years ago — though this month, the district will vote on whether to amend its existing policy. Here’s what could change.
The 2026–27 academic year begins next Wednesday.
🍽️ On our Plate
Cherry Hill remains a stalwart in local Jewish deli culture as another traditional Jewish delicatessen shutters in Philadelphia, The Inquirer’s Michael Klein notes.
Zushi Dozo has some of the best omakase in the state, according to a recent ranking from BestofNJ.com. While the East Marlton Pike eatery doesn’t offer traditional omakase, the outlet lauds its platter selections, including nigiri offerings.
🎳 Things to Do
🎶 Twilight Concert Series: The final concert of the season features the South Jersey Pops Orchestra. ⏰ Thursday, Aug. 27, 8 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cooper River Park Jack Curtis Stadium
🛼 Endless Summer Glow Skate: This skate night is glow-themed. ⏰ Friday, Aug. 28, 6:30-9:30 p.m. 💵 $14 admission 📍 Hot Wheelz
🍿 Night at the Museum: The library’s outdoor movie night features a screening of the 2006 Ben Stiller fantasy film. ⏰ Friday, Aug. 28, 7:30-10 p.m. (rain date: Aug. 29) 💵 Free 📍 Friendship Grove at the Cherry Hill Public Library
🏡 On the Market
This three-bedroom, three-full-bathroom house built in 1925 features an open-concept layout with oak flooring, a walk-in pantry with a dual-zone wine fridge, and a back deck. The Barlow neighborhood home, which is under contract, also includes a finished basement.
See more photos of the home here.
Price: $569,000 | Size: 3,519 SF | Acreage: 0.13
🗞️ What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:
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