Weekly Roundup: Township and Freeholders preserve Masonic Lodge property as open space, Santa Claus is spotted on Mercer Street
The township’s newest firefighters also sit down with The Sun to talk about their new careers
Last Monday, Cherry Hill Council approved an agreement to purchase the Masonic Lodge property to preserve as open space, and the Camden County Freeholders unanimously voted to agree with the preservation late in the week. Check out this story and more in the Weekly Roundup.
Township, Freeholders preserve Masonic Lodge property as open space
At last Monday night’s council meeting, the township approved an agreement with Advanced Recovery Systems to purchase the Masonic Lodge property on Haddonfield-Berlin Road to preserve as open space. Under the terms of the agreement, the township, together with Camden County, would purchase Advanced Recovery’s Agreement of Sale with the Masons for $300,000. In turn, the township and county would purchase the property from the Masons for $1.4 million, with the goal of demolishing the site’s existing building and preserving the parcel for open space and recreational use. A second resolution council approved endorsed the township’s application requesting county open space funds. At their Thursday, Dec. 15, meeting, the Camden County Freeholders unanimously voted to endorse the recommendation and preserve the 4.7 acres.
Twenty years of Christmas cheer on Mercer Street
Jason Croge helps his father, David, put together a dazzling light and decoration display every year at their 821 Mercer St. home. The hoopla attracts thousands of visitors each year, who not only enjoy seeing the festive display, but also visiting with Santa Claus, who started sitting on the front porch Dec. 10 this year and heads back to the North Pole on Dec. 23 to get ready for his big night. “It gives you a little smile because the amount of people that come here,” Jason Croge said. “It’s crazy.”
Cherry Hill’s newest firefighters sit down with The Sun
The Cherry Hill Fire Department hired seven new firefighters earlier this year, and the crew graduated from the Cherry Hill Fire Academy on Dec. 2. The firefighters spoke about their new career, training and the hiring process.
Frigid winter weather arrives
Camden County issued multiple Code Blues last week, with the wind chill factor making it feel like 3 to 12 degrees in the region on Thursday evening. The county also warned residents of the storm system moving through early Saturday morning, bringing snow, sleet and freezing rain. The American Red Cross of New Jersey also shared winter weather safety tips.
