Dance dynamics at Cherry Hill West High School

Almost a decade ago, some members of the staff at Cherry Hill West wanted to start a competitive dance team, but it never got off the ground.

Soon after, Shelby Smith took a job teaching dance physical education at the high school. Some students approached her then about leading a dance team, and seven years later, the rest is history.

Her crew of 50-plus students, mostly girls and two boys, spends most of the year putting in long hours, poring over routines time and time again until dancers can perform in their sleep.

Some of the senior members of the squad begin practicing in October, but the real season doesn't begin until November.

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Proposal for Wawa draws concern

All the seats in town hall were filled on Feb. 6, as more than 50 residents told the planning board the proposed Super Wawa in their neighborhood would receive anything but a "super" welcome.

Wawa is looking to build one of its 24-hour super stores on the former Toyota site at 50 Haddonfield Road, complete with retail, food services and a gas station.

But the problem for many residents is the fear that their once-quaint residential neighborhood will become even more of a traffic nightmare as motorists opt to use Yale and Oakview avenues as a cut through, instead of making a left turn on to busy Haddonfield Road.

More than two hours were given to the applicant to provide testimony and expert opinion on the layout of the store, signage, lighting, trash, store operations, delivery and traffic flow, among other things.

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