by Brett Ainsworth, Publisher
Inside these pages every week are numerous stories about the issues of our towns, triumphs of our people and, even, our losses. Under appreciated, perhaps, are the businesses that advertise. Not only do these advertisers look to serve your needs, their dollars support this independent, locally-owned newspaper’s service to all of us.
by Brett Ainsworth, Publisher
This issue marks number 1,232 for me as publisher of The Retrospect and each edition still provides surprises. That’s the nature of originally produced and authentic journalism.
by Brett Ainsworth, Publisher
What does $75 buy these days?
Plenty when you sign up for two years of award-winning journalism from The Retrospect.
That’s 104 weeks of original, hometown reporting! (See page 23 for our latest awards haul.)
Trenton legislators showed they can work with lightning speed against the public’s interests. On Monday a bill to eviscerate the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) was passed by both houses and sent to the governor. The first public hearing was just last Thursday.
The Retrospect area’s six representatives, all Democrats, voted in favor.
While the Barrington school board unanimously voted to approve the 2024-2025 school year budget at its Monday meeting, it is now all disrupted by the fact that on Tuesday, governor Phil Murphy signed a bill into law that would restore 45 percent of direct state aid to districts that had received cuts.
A 12 percent tax hike in 2024 will be an unpleasant surprise for Haddon Township residents who enjoyed nearly flat municipal tax increases in 2022 and 2023.
The budget introduced April 23 by the mayor and commissioners is in response to rising costs said mayor Randy Teague in an interview after the commission’s regular monthly meeting. He did not point to any specific areas.
Before a passionate and sometimes boisterous crowd of teachers, students, parents and other borough residents, Collingswood’s Board of Education held a special meeting Monday evening at the high school, dedicated chiefly to public comment.
Conversion of the former Collingswood Presbyterian Church to a 26-unit apartment building, at the corner of Fern and Maple Aves., received borough planning board approval, with certain caveats, on Monday night.
After swearing in new board member Sara Kuhlen and honoring April’s students of the month at last Wednesday’s meeting, the Audubon school board honored five retirees. First was superintendent Dr. Andrew Davis, whose time at Audubon will end on June 30.
The Haddon Township High School classes of 1967, 1968 and 1969 will enjoy a reunion lucheon on June 7 at Amici Restaurant, at 312 Kresson Road, Cherry Hill.
The outdoor covered patio at Amici can accommodate 70 guests. Those interested in attending are asked to reach out to Lester Berry at lberry327@verizon.net or 609238-4542.
All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The police reports are public records, published pursuant to New Jersey statutes with the cooperation of local police departments.
Imaginary Gun Robbery
I had the opportunity to watch the Collingswood Board of Education meeting on Monday evening. After a very late start, the meeting tone and attitudes of district administrators and board members were both shocking and disappointing.
