WHEREAS it is the intention of the Mayor and Council of Cherry Hill Township to focus attention on noteworthy individuals; and

WHEREAS tonight, we wish to honor Sandra Rayser Ragonese  and thank her for her eighteen years of service to our community as the Director of Historic Properties and Programming for the Township of Cherry Hill; and

WHEREA her breadth of knowledge for historical properties and preservation has guided the Township in dutifully maintaining the historic Barclay Farmstead and Croft Farm properties so that area residents may continue to learn from our history; and 

WHEREAS throughout her career, Sandra aggressively pursued grant funding to support historic preservation of these treasured pieces of history, successfully securing hundreds of thousands of dollars in local, state and federal funding; and

WHEREAS the district-wide Cherry Hill Living History School Tour program at the Barclay Farmstead continued to thrive under Sandra’s direction. In addition to supplementing the education of Cherry Hill fifth graders, the program also welcomes many out-of-district students, boy and girl scout groups, and area homeschooled children; and

WHEREAS Sandra maintains a positive working relationship with the non-profit support group, the Friends of Barclay Farmstead, that regularly partners with the Township on events, activities and projects to spotlight the Farmstead and ensure it is maintained to the highest level possible; and

WHEREAS Sandra also supported the Cherry Hill Historical Commission in their efforts to preserve and maintain the Township’s archives and identify and protect local historical resources; and

WHEREAS Sandra’s knowledge and expertise were invaluable assets to our community and we wish to extend our sincere thanks for her dedication to Cherry Hill and the role she has personally played in preserving our history and heritage.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHUCK CAHN, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the Township of Cherry Hill, County of Camden, State of New Jersey, do hereby wish to honor and recognize

Sandra Rayser Ragonese

for her dedicated service to Cherry Hill Township, and the residents of Cherry Hill, and ask all citizens to join with me and the members of Township Council in thanking Sandra for her role in making our community a better place to live, work and play, and in wishing her all the best.