Spring filled with fun events
By ROBERT LINNEHAN
The Cherry Hill Sun
5/15/2010

As the weather heats up and the days get longer, Cherry Hill opens its doors and encourages residents to get outside and get active during the spring and summers seasons with several annual events it hosts each year.

Mayor Bernie Platt said these events are what make Cherry Hill a special place to live. “Hosting members of the Cherry Hill community at special events during the long, warm days of summer is a time-honored tradition that we all look forward to each year. Despite the current economic climate – in addition to severe cuts to the township’s state aid and other revenue sources – our Recreation Office and the Cherry Hill Arts Board have managed to find creative, cost-neutral ways to pull off yet another fantastic summer-long roster of family-friendly concerts, celebrations, and fun activities,” he said.

Members of Council and Mayor Bernie Platt will again hold a special Memorial Day ceremony in dedication of the areas fallen veterans. With members of the American Legion Post 372 and Jewish War Veterans Furer-Barag-Wolf Post 126, Platt will make a special presentation to the family of Marine Lance Cpl. Jeremy Kane who was killed in Afghanistan in January.

Congressman John Adler will be the event’s keynote speaker. It will be held on Monday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Municipal Complex at 820 Mercer Street. A special barbeque lunch – sponsored by Shoprite Supermarkets of Cherry Hill and NJ American Water – will be provided for all attendees after the ceremony.

On June 5 at 8 p.m. and June 6 at 3 p.m. the Croft Farm Arts Center will be hosting a “Broadway Memories” event, which features unique performances of excerpts from a variety of Broadway shows. Former Miss New Jersey Erica Scanlon stars in the event. Tickets cost $15 each and $12 for seniors with gold cards.

The annual Fourth of July fireworks exhibition will again be held on the holiday, starting at 7 p.m. at the Jonas Morris Football Stadium at Cherry Hill High School West. On July 22 from 10 a.m. to noon the Philadelphia 76ers will be hosting their 13th annual Summer Hoops Tour.

The two-hour event will include a free instructional session led by Hall of Famer World B. Free, the team’s coaching staff, and mascots Hip Hop and the Hare Raisers. The instructional camp is held at DeCou Park Basketball Courts (at Evesham and Cropwell roads).

A special “Music Under the Stars” program will be held throughout the summer at the Barclay Farmstead. Live bands will perform for residents who are encouraged to bring food, blankets and lawn chairs.

The first performance is scheduled for July 13 at 7 p.m., featuring the Jump City Jazz Orchestra. The orchestra performs the sounds of Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, and the Big Bad Voodoo Daddies.

Zydeco A-Go-Go will perform on July 20 at 7 p.m., entertaining residents with a mix of Cajun, Zydeco, classic New Orleans music, rhythm and blues, Louisiana rock and roll, plus 1940s-style jump-blues, jazz and swing music.

Finally, Common Ground will wrap up the program with a performance on July 27 at 7 p.m.

The cover band will perform popular classic-rock music from the 1970s to the present, including pop, country and alternative hits.On August 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. Cherry Hill will participate in the National Night Out program at the Carman Tilelli Community Center at Town Hall.

The free crime and drug prevention event held by the township’s Community Policing Unit aims to heighten vigilance, public safety, awareness, neighborhood spirit, and develop police and community partnerships.

The family event offers activities, interactive demonstrations, live entertainment and refreshments.

“From relaxing in the evening on the grounds of the Barclay Farmstead to the sounds of ‘Music Under the Stars’ to gathering with friends and neighbors to watch Fourth of July fireworks at the stadium to taking in Sunday afternoon performances in the breezy, sunlit Croft Farm Arts Center, there are township events planned for this year that will continue our proud tradition of delighting this community all throughout the summer months,” Platt said.