At its most recent public meeting, Cherry Hill Township Council made up for some lost time in honoring a member of the community who has dedicated himself to closing the technology gap in the region.
During that May 11 virtual session, council issued a proclamation in honor of resident Marc Goldstein, owner and operator of Computer Smiles, who was awarded a Camden County Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Medal back in January.
Goldstein was supposed to have received the proclamation in person at council’s planned March 25 session at Town Hall, but measures taken to halt the spread of coronavirus — including the closure of that building — prevented the ceremony from taking place.
From his base in the township’s far eastern section, Goldstein refurbishes and rebuilds personal computers before donating them to students, seniors and families in underserved populations throughout South Jersey.
“I am quite honored and humbled by it,” Goldstein said via teleconference from his home. “I love doing what I’m doing. As of today, we have donated 324 computers to those in need.”
Cherry Hill Police Chief William “Bud” Monaghan issued an update on the township’s health rate and crime rate as shutdowns related to the pandemic reached their ninth week.
“As of today, the county has us at 4,200 confirmed cases. The state’s numbers are slightly higher at around 4,900. In Cherry Hill, it’s 608 confirmed positives, with 72 fatalities,” he revealed.
“Crime, overall, throughout the community has been down, going back to (the initial shutdown) and that businesses have been closed since then. We have seen an increase in incidents regarding vehicles. We were able to make seven arrests last week, of people who are going around and trying to take advantage of our citizens.”
In her remarks, Mayor Susan Shin Angulo said she has called upon the state’s Department of Health to improve the situation within the township’s long-term care facilities, which have been hit hard by COVID-19.
“We have been horrified by the loss of life in these facilities. Please keep the residents and the workers in these places in your thoughts and prayers. I am looking forward to the implementation of the state’s plan and making a significant impact to save lives. Our first responders continue to coordinate with OEM (Office of Emergency Management) to deliver PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to those who need it.”
Turning to more positive thoughts of milestones to come for all graduates in the township, Angulo and Council President David Fleisher implored the public to join in their effort, along with Cherry Hill Zone PTA, to honor all impending celebrants.
On Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, residents are encouraged to show their community spirit by chalking their walkways, putting signs on their front doors, or otherwise posting inspirational messages to recognize those moving on from pre-school, elementary and middle school, high school or trade school.
“We ask our neighbors to use this as a means to say that COVID-19 will not silence us and will not steal our joy,” noted Fleisher.
In other news:
- Council passed a resolution approving the township’s participation with the State of New Jersey 2020 Safe and Secure Communities Program, which is administered by the Division of Criminal Justice, Department of Law and Public Safety. Enacted into law in 1993, the grant-funded program seeks to provide municipalities with means to add law-enforcement personnel vital to effective police operations and other crime-related strategies deemed necessary to keep the peace.
