Check out what other top stories took place during March in Cherry Hill.
The year 2016 was historical in more ways than one.
While Barclay Farmstead’s 200th anniversary was prominently featured throughout the year, there were other historical stories taking place as well.
One historical object was re-constructed anew at the Cherry Hill Public Library in March. The Greenamyer Sculpture, a fixture at the old Cherry Hill Public Library building for decades, was re-constructed outside the new library building on March 9.
For new Cherry Hill residents, the sculpture may look like a new piece of art. In reality, the original sculpture was nearly 50 years old. Sculptor George Greenamyer created the piece in the 1960s in memory of Valarie Porter, a young Cherry Hill resident who died in 1966 at the age of 13 from a neurological condition.
When the old library building closed in 2004, there was no plan to place the sculpture in the new building. A group of Cherry Hill residents, including Sally Callaghan, helped to save it.
“The sculpture had to be saved,” Callaghan said “It was the first piece of public art in Cherry Hill Township.”
The sculpture was deconstructed and stored in the basement of the new library building. For years following, Callaghan and fellow residents Fred Adelson, Sybil Kleinfeld and Nick Burpulis worked to get the sculpture rebuilt.
For many years, funding the reconstruction was too much of an obstacle. Finally, funding for the reconstruction was found last year after Callaghan spoke to Jenny Porter, Valerie’s mother and the person who originally had the idea for the sculpture nearly 50 years ago.
“Her adopted son Michael had a trust,” Callaghan said. “Jenny asked him if he could release $20,000 to re-build the sculpture.”
David Ascalon, the creator of the “Totem” sculpture at the library, was commissioned to re-build the sculpture. He re-imagined it, with the black abstract pieces being placed on three different shaped totem poles. Some of the formerly sharp edges of the pieces were also removed.
Adelson feels the sculpture is a civic landmark because of its unique design and its location near Kings Highway.
“I love the fact that you can happen upon it now as you drive up and down Kings Highway,” he said.
The Greenamyer Sculpture can be visited anytime. It is located in front of the Cherry Hill Public Library near the front parking lot.
Other top stories from the month of March:
March 2 — Cherry Hill church responds peacefully after being victims of vandalism, criticism regarding “Black Lives Matter” signs
The month of February was filled with frustration for the Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill. After erecting “Black Lives Matter” signs near the front of its property on North Kings Highway during the month of January, the church began having issues of vandalism.
In early February, one of the two banners was stolen from the property. The banner was replaced, but it wouldn’t stay for long. On Feb. 21, church officials found both of its banners were violently ripped down. Damage was also done to the signs’ supports and lights.
“It felt like a violation,” said Jo Green, minister in residence at Unitarian Universalist Church. “When I drove in on Sunday morning to see the damage, it was a shock to see it.”
In addition, the church was receiving negative emails, phone calls and social media comments about the signs from people who were upset about their support of Black Lives Matter.
Despite the issues, the church held a Black Lives Matter Forum in late February without incident and erected a new sign. Church officials also encouraged people who were upset about the signs to have a peaceful dialogue about the Black Lives Matter movement.
“If this is bothering you so much, come and talk to us about,” Green said. “We want a dialogue.”
March 9 — Stay Tuned unveils the full story behind their appearance on Lifetime’s ‘Pitch Slapped”
During the winter of 2015–16, the members of Cherry Hill High School East’s a capella group, Stay Tuned, were featured on the Lifetime reality television show, “Pitch Slapped.” The show featured Stay Tuned and another group, Highland Voices from Northern Highlands Regional High School, as they competed against each other at a variety of competitions in the late spring and early summer of 2015.
After the show wrapped up, members of the group spoke with the Cherry Hill Sun about filming, the episodes and how the experience of being on the show felt.
Some group members felt the show didn’t portray Stay Tuned accurately, frequently depicting them as an underdog group compared to Highland Voices.
“I resented the role,” senior Sam Waldman said, “to be portrayed that way and to say we had zero strengths. One of the big criticisms on the shows was not being able to do (choreography). We win best choreo awards left and right.”
However, the members loved the experience on the show and said their performances had an emotional impact on dozens of people.
March 23 — Cherry Hill Board of Education approves preliminary budget with tax increase
In March, Cherry Hill residents got an early look at what their school tax bill may look like in 2016 when the Cherry Hill Board of Education adopted its 2016–17 preliminary budget.
Residents with an average assessed home of $223,500 will pay $108 more in school taxes in the budget. The overall tax levy was increased above the 2 percent cap. The district used an adjustment for increase in health-care costs and banked cap to raise the tax levy above the cap.
There would be no major changes to the budget when the board of education adopted the final version later in April.
March 23 — Madeline Bowne wins C-Span StudentCam award
Winning a C-Span StudentCam Award was nothing knew for then-Cherry Hill East senior Madeline Bowne. Prior to 2016, Bowne had one five other awards for her outstanding videography.
However, when Bowne won a second place award in 2016 for her political documentary, “When the House Becomes a Home,” she was ecstatic.
Bowne described the documentary, which focused on Congressional term limits and political finance reform, as her best one yet.
“I thought it was my best documentary so far. Especially after five years of winning, I knew it measured up to my ones in the past,” Bowne said. “It was nice to close off my tradition of doing the C-SPAN student competitions with another second place.”
