Cherry Hill, NJ

An excellent school system, an abundance of restaurants and shopping outlets, and ease of access to major highways makes Cherry Hill, NJ an excellent place to live and work.

Cherry Hill is ranked #47 on Money Magazine's annual survey of the best places to live in America for 2006.

Tax increase trimmed by 2 percent

Mayor Bernie Platt sent the preliminary 2009 fiscal year budget to Council members at its last meeting. Since Council approved the preliminary tax levy in late May, it has cut about $500,000 from the proposed budget.

The $60 million budget had its preliminary tax rate set in late spring.

The tax rate was effectively increased by 22 percent, or 13.6 cents per every $100 of assessed property value. With the $500,000 cut, the tax rate will now likely be a 20 percent increase, Communications Director Dan Keashen said.

The tax bills sent to residents in July reflected the 22 percent increase passed in May. The next round of tax bills in January will reflect the 20 percent increase.

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Stockton dedicates peace pole

Students and staff at Richard Stockton Elementary School showed their dedication to being ambassadors of peace by dedicating a Peace Pole to the community on Sept. 22.

The Peace Pole displays the words “may peace prevail” in 12 different languages, which represent each of the ethnic backgrounds of the student body.

To commemorate the dedication, students stepped forward to read the phrase in the language that represented their family heritage. The 12 languages include Spanish, French, Arabic, Hebrew, Italian, Hindi, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Dutch, German and sign language – which was represented on the pole in Braille.

To begin the dedication ceremony, students marched around the school in a peace parade to the tune of “It’s a Small World.” Many of them were clad in light blue, the symbolic color of peace day, and in their hands, they held flags they made in art class representing nations all over the world.

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