News & Events

State law requires that all dogs in New Jersey be licensed. The municipalities in each state are tasked with enforcing the licensing laws and collecting the fees for the state. Voorhees Township Code Chapter 92 titled Dogs and Cats further requires the licensing of cats in Voorhees Township.

There are many benefits to licensing your pet and placing the registration tag on their collar:

Licenses are valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of each year. Fees for licenses are $12.00 for a spayed/neutered dog/cat and $15.00 for non-spayed/non-neutered dog/cat. Voorhees Township extends the deadline to obtain the license to May 10 of each year. Licenses obtained after May 10 will incur an additional $25.00 late fee. The late fee is capped at 2 pets.

For more information about cat and dog licensing, contact the Township Clerk’s Office at (856)429-7757 or email dober@VoorheesNJ.com

The Voorhees Township Police Department will host its Annual Citizens’ Police Academy beginning on Thursday, March 12, 2026.  Participants will meet on Thursday nights from 6:30 PM –8:30 PM, concluding with a graduation ceremony on April 09, 2026. The training will take place at the Police Headquarters and several off-site locations. This course will offer our residents an inside exclusive look at the training and behind-the-scenes activities that make the Voorhees Police Department function in a professional, effective and efficient manner daily.

The course will cover:

This course will host approximately 30 Voorhees residents, ages 18 and over. Applicants will be required to successfully pass a background examination including warrant, NCIC, driver’s license checks and NJ and Interstate Criminal History checks. Those who are accepted will be notified via email. Selected applicants will also need to complete a waiver of liability form.

The deadline for applications is Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 5:00 pm.

For more information, please contact Sergeant Jack Kluk at jkluk@vtpd.com or by phone 856-882-1104.

February marks the celebration of Black History Month. This year marks its 100^th anniversary with the theme “A Century of Black History Commemorations.”

Americans have recognized Black History Month annually since 1926. It was pioneered by Dr. Carter Woodson and originally called “Negro History Week.” Born to parents of former slaves, Woodson spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines and enrolled in high school at age 20. He graduated within two years and later went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard.

Woodson was disturbed to find in his studies that history books largely ignored the accomplishments of African Americans and took on the challenge of writing them into the nation’s history. He established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) in 1915. A year later, he founded the widely respected Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of African Americans throughout American History.

Woodson chose the second week of February for the celebration since it marked the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the African American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

By the time of Woodson’s death in 1950, Negro History Week had become a central part of African American life and substantial progress had been made in bringing more Americans to appreciate the celebration. At mid-century, mayors of cities nationwide issued proclamations noting Negro History Week.

Black History Month was first proposed by black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in February 1969. The first celebration of Black History Month took place at Kent State one year later, from January 2 to February 28, 1970. President Gerald Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often ignored accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Since 1976, every American President has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme.

By 2020, Black History Month had become a focus beyond schools. The Wall Street Journal describes it as “a time when the culture and contributions of African Americans take center stage” in a variety of cultural institutions including theaters, libraries and museums. It has also garnered attention from the U.S. business community. In February 2020, Forbes noted that “much of corporate America is commemorating” Black History Month, including The Coca-Cola Company, Google, Target Corporation, Macy’s, United Parcel Service and Under Armour.

Other countries around the world, including Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history.

The Animal Welfare Association (AWA) remains a close partner to Voorhees Township. This February, the AWA announced its participation in Puppy Bowl XXII, the Animal Planet’s longest-running and most heartwarming call-to-adoption television event.  Beagle puppy “Finch” will represent the AWA as part of Team Fluff in the Animal Planet’s iconic call-to-adoption event which airs on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m.

Each year, Puppy Bowl brings together shelter puppies from across the country to celebrate adoption and raise awareness about animals in need of loving homes. For the AWA, Finch’s selection is both a joyful honor and a powerful reminder of what is possible when shelters, rescues and communities work together.

“Having Finch participate in Puppy Bowl XXII is incredibly special for our entire organization,” said Laura Houston, Executive Director of the AWA. “Finch represents so many of the animals who come through our doors full of potential, personality and love. We are thrilled for him and excited for the opportunity to inspire families everywhere to consider adoption.”

Puppy Bowl airs annually on Super Bowl Sunday and features adoptable puppies competing on a miniature football field in a lighthearted, playful format. From surprise naps to enthusiastic toy chases and tail-wagging touchdowns, the event has become a beloved tradition that blends entertainment with a meaningful mission.

“This is such a wonderful opportunity to shine a spotlight on shelter dogs everywhere,” Houston added. “Every puppy you see has a story, and every one of them deserves a chance at a happy ending. We hope Finch’s Puppy Bowl debut encourages viewers to visit their local shelters and open their hearts to adoption.”

Filming for Puppy Bowl took place in early October 2025. Puppy Bowl XXII will simulcast across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, HBO Max and discovery+. Finch has since been adopted by a local family and is doing very well.

Stay involved! To learn more about the AWA and upcoming events, contact Jaime Moore jaimem@awanj.org or visit awanj.org

We look forward to 2026 as a year of hope, love and optimism.  We should take one last moment to reflect on the eventful year that was 2025.

• The Voorhees Township Police Department saw the retirement of Chief Lou Bordi who proudly served our community for 38 years.  Chief Bordi was at the forefront of many policing initiatives, especially those involving community engagement and school safety.  Under his leadership, we were the first town in the area to put a Police Officer in every school all day every day.  We thank Chief Bordi for his service and we congratulate our new Chief of Police, April Herrington.  Last year, the VTPD continued all of their successful programs, including the Citizens Police Academy and Junior Police Academy.  They initiated the Blue Envelope Program, which supports drivers with autism and communicative disorders by allowing those drivers to put all vehicle paperwork in a blue envelope to enhance safety and positive interaction with the police.
• Under the leadership of Chief Jim Poland, the Voorhees Township Fire Department kept our families safe. They engaged with our community through Fire Prevention Day, Santa on a Fire Truck, our Holiday Parade, Winter Festival and Cookies with Santa.
• Under the leadership of new Director of Public Works, Chris Taylor, our streets, parks and athletic fields were kept safe. Snow removal and trash removal were done seamlessly and efficiently.
• Under the leadership of Township Administrator Stephen Steglik, our Town Hall employees continued to provide the highest level of municipal services in an efficient and effective manner.
• The Township Committee worked hard to reduce spending and control costs. Voorhees engaged in sensible shared services programs with Eastern Regional High School, the Voorhees Township Schools, Gibbsboro, Berlin Township and Camden County.  We continued our programs of side-arm trash collection and single stream recycling collection, allowing our manpower to be used more efficiently.
• The Voorhees Road Program continued with the repaving of 18 Township roads and five courts. With a New Jersey DOT grant of $854,000, pedestrian and bike lane improvements were made to provide better access to the Ashland Station.  With another New Jersey DOT Safe Routes to School Grant of $1.246 million, new sidewalks were installed on both sides of Van Buren Road and Lucas Lane.
• We continued to improve our parks and athletic fields. A new playground was installed at our Soccer Complex.
• To help keep our community safe, we continued our Safe Exchange Zone, NextDoor App, Project Medicine Drop, the Anonymous Crime Tip Line, Nixle and the Safe Cam Program.
• We continued to make our local government transparent and accessible. We televise all of our Township Committee Meetings and we regularly update the Township website.  Over 8,500 follow the Township on Facebook, 3,000 on Instagram, 1,000 on Twitter, almost 6,000 on the Township App and almost 10,000 on the Next-Door App.
• The Township engaged in Community Outreach Programs including our annual Rabies Clinic, Real I.D. services with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, local Motor Vehicle Inspection through the NJMVC, Senior tax assistance, TSA pre-check enrollment, housing and mortgage assistance programs and shredding events.
• We continued our “Voorhees Saves Lives Program.” Through contributions from private donations, free Uber rides home are provided to Voorhees residents from Dooney’s Pub, Iron Hill Brewery, Ott’s Tavern, the Library II and the ChopHouse in Gibbsboro from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.  Since the inception of this program, DUI incidents have been dramatically reduced.
• We continued with our Shop Voorhees Property Tax Rewards Program, allowing a portion of your normal purchasing dollars spent on goods and services to be applied toward your property tax bill, thereby reducing your taxes at the end of the tax year. Last year, 2,000 households and 19 businesses participated in the program.
• Over 10,000 people attended our Summer Concert Series featuring the FM Band and tributes to Bruce Spingstein and the Beatles. We also had our first Food Truck and Music Festival in September and Movies under the Stars.
• The Arts are alive and well in Voorhees. In 2025, the Voorhees Art Commission sponsored many programs for residents of all ages, including the Fifth Annual Voorhees Got Talent Contest, Art in the Park, Healing Art for a Hero’s Heart and Classics by Candlelight.  The Art Commission had a presence at every Township event.
• Voorhees continued to embrace and celebrate our diversity.  Our Cultural and Diversity Committee continued to be “ambassadors” of celebrating our differences, holding a Juneteenth Freedom Celebration and another successful International Day in October.  In Voorhees, we acknowledge our differences, we embrace our differences and we celebrate our differences until differences make no difference at all.
• Voorhees Township continues to be a destination for new businesses.  Our Voorhees Business Association (VBA) holds monthly networking lunches and successful happy hours.  As a result of a partnership between the Township Committee our residents and the VBA, a total of 46 new businesses opened in Voorhees Township in 2025.
• On October 27, Township Committee unanimously approved a Redevelopment Agreement with Hoboken Brownstown Company to launch a major revitalization of the former Echelon Mall area, now known as the Voorhees Town Center. This transformational partnership sets the stage for the property’s rebirth as a vibrant, mixed-use destination.  The plan includes a mix of residential, retail and civic uses with new townhomes and apartments, over 38,000 square feet of new commercial and entertainment space and a multi-level parking garage.  New park areas, bike paths and landscaped public gathering spaces are also part of the plan.  A 30,000 square foot donation of indoor space from Hoboken Brownstown to Voorhees Township for community use was also included.  We look forward to this area once again being the “heartbeat of our community.”

Congratulations to my colleague and friend, Jackie Fetbroyt, who was re-elected in November to the Voorhees Township Committee.

Thank you to the many volunteers who serve on our Township’s boards, committees and commissions.

Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving as your Mayor in 2025.  I will again embrace the honor in 2026.  On behalf of the Voorhees Township Committee, we will continue to work hard to make Voorhees a great place in which to live, work and raise a family.

“Hate is too great a burden to bear. I have decided to love.”

~ Martin Luther King Jr.

This month we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and honor the memory of this civil rights pioneer who dared to dream. As we observe Martin Luther King Day, let us remember Dr. King’s vision for equality, dignity and respect to all human beings.

Dr. King followed the non-violent protest philosophies of Gandhi and constantly reminded his followers that their fight for equality would be victorious if they did not resort to bloodshed.  Between 1957 and 1968, Dr. King traveled over six million miles and gave over 2500 speeches, while writing five books in support of civil rights and equality for all Americans.

On August 23, 1963, more than 250,000 people gathered in Washington D.C. where Dr. King led a peaceful march to the Capitol Building to support the passing of laws that guaranteed every American equal civil rights.  It was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial that Dr. King delivered his legendary speech later entitled, “I Have a Dream.”

During his crusade, Dr. King was awarded five honorary degrees and named “Man of the Year” by Time Magazine in 1963.  At the age of 35, he became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and donated his prize money of $54,123 to the civil rights movement.

Dr. King skipped two grades in high school, 9th and 11th, and entered Morehouse College at the age of 15 in 1944. By 19, he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology.

Today, over 700 streets in the Unites States are named after Martin Luther King Jr. There is one such street in almost every major city. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are the only other Americans to have had their birthdays observed as a national holiday (now combined as President’s Day).

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, this man of peace was violently assassinated.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed:  We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.  I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character…”

When we celebrate this holiday, we are celebrating the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to our nation. We honor the values he exemplified and remember his teachings of courage, truth, respect, integrity, humility and service.

** The Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Club’s 17th Annual Community Service Awards event will be held on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Lucien’s Distinguished Catering in Berlin.  For sponsorship opportunities and more information on this signature event, visit the Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Club website

www.voorheesbreakfastrotary.org or call Nick Colanzi at 856-435-6200.