A Camden Christmas Carol

The classic tale by Charles Dickens is set in Camden for "A Camden Christmas Carol," playing at the Gordon Theater on the Rutgers Camden campus, on Dec. 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. The production is being supported by the Knight Foundation. For more information see www.seethreeonline.com. Tickets are $12.00

Missing Monday: Jose Samuel Ordonez

Participating regional bloggers set aside the first Monday of the month as a day to post about a local missing persons case.

JOSE SAMUEL ORDONEZ
Case Type: Endangered Runaway
DOB: Mar 15, 1988
Sex: Male
Missing Date: Feb 19, 2006
Race: White/Hisp
Age Now: 18 Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
Missing City: HAMILTON Weight: 190 lbs (86 kg)
Missing State : NJ
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Circumstances: Jose was last seen on February 19, 2006. He may still be in the local area.

Riverwalking Notes

I haven't been down by the river in a few months and was surprised at all the new things I saw today. The river itself was up and choppy. It was breezy but amazingly warm. The city is putting up new signs for Wiggins Park. They look nice. The work on Johnson Park is coming along and behind it the Cooper Grant Commons has started construction. At the Victor work is progressing on Miss G's grocery and convenience store. The area looked alive and vibrant. I can't wait until spring when the stores will be open and people will be out and about.

Harry Potter Camp in Philadephia This Summer

Families often struggle over what to do with kids during the summer when school is out. If you happen to have some free time in July and a health bank account, look into Enlightening 2007, a family camp based on the Harry Potter books. It is sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education and Bonding Over Books. Looks pricey but fun.

Haddonfield Symphony Finds A New Home

The Haddonfield Symphony has a new home -- The Rutgers Camden Center for the Arts.

As stated in the Inquirer ("Symphony finds home in Camden: Though it is named for Haddonfield, the nomadic ensemble is settling in on the Rutgers campus," by David Patrick Stearns, 11/02/06):

News of forthcoming Shostakovich symphony performances is not what you expect to see on the time-and-date monitors at PATCO's High-Speed Line stations. But there it is, the Haddonfield Symphony's next concert in its first season at Camden's Gordon Theater, where Shostakovich's Symphony No. 11 is being readied for an 8 p.m. performance Saturday.

In previous years the symphony had performed in a variety of venues but did not have a home of its own.

The Courier Post has more information on the symphony ("Haddonfield Symphony gets by with a little help from its friends," by Frank Halperin, 11/04):

While many arts patrons may be familiar with the orchestra, they may not realize how much preparation each concert requires -- work that is often being done by volunteers.

Approximately 40 volunteers help the symphony's five administrative staffers organize mailings, conduct fundraisers and usher patrons to their seats during performances at Rutgers-Camden's Walter K. Gordon Theater -- the symphony's primary venue.

The symphony, one of the region's cultural gems, has been in existence since 1952.

Happy Feet Tickets!!

Camden's Adventure Aquarium is giving away tickets to see the new movie "Happy Feet." Friday is the last day to toss your hat in the ring to win. See details here.

Missing Monday

The Missing Monday project calls for area bloggers to post about a local missing person on the first Monday of the month.

PEDRO MALDONADO
DOB: May 21, 1989
Missing: Sep 14, 2006
Height/Weight: 5'11" / 180 lbs
Eyes/Hair: Brown/Black
Race: White/Hisp Male
Missing From:
CAMDEN
Pedro was last seen on September 14, 2006. He may still be in the local area. Pedro has a scar above his right eye. More information here.

Run the Bridge!

On Sunday, Nov. 5th the Ben Franklin Bridge will be closed to vehicles. Instead people from all over the country will be participating in the 2006 AmeriHealth Ben Franklin Bridge Challenge, a 10K run and 2 mile bridge walk. According to the Run the Bridge website:

The 10K course (USATF Certified) begins at the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge on the New Jersey side, crosses the bridge, doubles back and continues along the scenic Camden Water Front passing such attractions as Campbell’s Field, the Adventure Aquarium, the Battleship New Jersey and the Tweeter Center finishing next to the Rutgers Camden Campus.

The event benefits the Larc School.

Robinson Crusoe, the First Survivor...

The Paul Robeson Library of Rutgers Camden has a lobby exhibit of the illustrations of Robinson Crusoe. Stop in and take a look.

New Website for South Camden Theatre Company

Our friends at the South Camden Theatre Company has set up their own website: www.southcamdentheatre.org that provides information on their new production, "Indoor Picnic."

The Love Life of Leeches

Dan Shain, associate professor of zoology and biology at Rutgers Camden, specializes in the study of segmented worms, including leeches. One of his more unusual projects was finding a mate for what may be a new species of leech found in New Jersey.

He was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to study leech cocoons, which have withstand extremes of heat and pressure. Coccon fibers might lead to breakthroughs in biomedical and other technical research.

Read more about Shain and his leeches in the latest issue of Rutgers Magazine. See the full-text of "Dr. Worm" by John T. Ward here.

October Missing Monday

SABRINA TAMBA is a 15 year old African American endangered runaway. Born on Sept. 5, 1991, she was last seen on July 12, 2006 in Carteret, NJ. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 95 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Circumstances: Sabrina was last seen on July 12, 2006. She may be in the company of a juvenile female. They may still be in the local area.

Banned Books Week

Sept. 23-30 is Banned Books week. In 1982 the American Library Association began designating this week to honor our ability to read freely. ALA has compiled a list of the most challenged titles over various time periods. Topping the list since 2000 is the Harry Potter series. John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is also on the list.

Riverwalking Notes

Yesterday the water was choppy. The weather was great and there was a wonderful view of the Philly skyline, if you stopped on a bench for a moment to look. Today the river was calmer, just small, steady waves. A duck was diving for something (a fish?) but it kept getting away. A few overcast clouds added atmosphere.

Colonial Brewfest!

Calling all brewmeisters!!! Here is your chance to see how great great grandpappy come up with his homebrew:

Raise your glass in celebration of colonial brewing and 18th-century tavern life at the Camden County Historical Society on Saturday, September 23, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. The afternoon-long event provides a working look at the mechanics of brewing and open-hearth cooking as practiced in Camden County's pre-industrial past.

Cherry Hill's Flying Fish Brewing Co. will be providing the ingredients and brewery historian Rich Wagner will demonstrate the brewing process. Tickets are $20 for Camden County Historical Society members, $25.00 for non-members. For more info see the CCHS website

An Update on the Rutgers Camden Technology Campus

There is more good news for the Rutgers Camden Technology Campus!

The New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Administration has awarded a $325,000 grant to the Rutgers Camden Technology Campus, Inc., to support the growth of new businesses in the Rutgers-Camden Business Incubator.

The grant will be used to construct high-quality incubator office space for new businesses in the Rutgers-Camden Business Incubator, with an emphasis on maintaining confidentiality for clients as they develop their products and services. The business space will be housed within the Waterfront Technology Center at Camden, a state-of-the-art facility where the Rutgers incubator will become the primary tenant later this year. (more info)

Jersey Beetles Conquer Loosestrife

One of the state's lesser known entities, the Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Rearing Laboratory, a division of the state's department of agriculture, is taking the battle between invasive plants and natural vegetation seriously. Purple Loosestrife has one known predator, the Galerucella beetle, and the lab is sending out as many of them as it can.

The New Jersey Dept. of Agriculture's official note on the project states:

Purple Loosestrife is an exotic and invasive noxious weed that is threatening New Jersey's wetlands. It damages the state’s wetlands by displacing native plants essential to wildlife for food and cover. The Department is rearing and releasing two species of leaf eating beetles, Galerucella spp., that feed on purple loosestrife to control this weed pest in wetland areas. Since 1997, more than 1,500,000 Galerucella spp. beetles have been released at 100 sites, in 16 of the 21 counties throughout NJ.

Numerous sites are continuing to show high levels of beetle activity and feeding damage; the loosestrife population is being reduced and native wetland plants are beginning to populate these previously infested sites. The Galerucella spp. beetles have been recovered up to twelve miles from a release site.

NJ Court Decisions Online

The Rutgers University School of Law at Camden has digitized several groupings of court decisions. The following information is now available online:

Decisions of the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Attorney Disciplinary Review Board from December, 1998 onward. These decisions are online at http://lawlibrary.rutgers.edu/drb/search.shtml.

New Jersey Session Laws, which currently offers a complete compilation of session laws from 1703 to 1970. Rutgers-Camden plans to complete the collection “at least through 2000. This collection likely is of great interest to historians who can access archival legal and census information about New Jersey.” The documents are online at http://lawlibrary.rutgers.edu/njleg/index.shtml.

U.S. Congressional Documents, which offers digital access to congressional hearings and committee prints. This is an ongoing project. The collection is online at http://lawlibrary.rutgers.edu/gdoc/search/shtml.

Full press release here.

Rutgers Goes Down the Shore

Family and job responsibilities prevent some people from getting the education they would like simply because they can't travel to where the courses are offered. Rutgers University and the Atlantic Cape Community College have signed an agreement that would bring Rutgers faculty and classes to ACCC, allowing local residents access to the same education they would get on the Camden campus.

Information on the program is available at www.rutgersataccc.org.

See newspaper article here. ("Rutgers, ACCC join forces to offer more degree programs," by Diane D'Amico, Press of Atlantic City, Thursday, August 31, 2006)

Restaurant Review: The Brass Rail

The Brass Rail, sometimes known as Shirley's Brass Rail, has been a Camden fixture for many years. At 425 Market it is a block or two from PATCO, Rutgers, and the courthouse. The Brass Rail is a diner, with a menu of sandwiches, salads, some entrees, and soups, as well as standard breakfast fare. Their eggs are wonderful. My favorite lunch selection is egg salad on whole wheat toast, but just about everything is good. Stop in and give it a try. Meals are reasonably priced.

Two New Businesses Coming to the Victor

Two new restaurants are slated to open at the Victor Apartments (or Luxury Lofts as they like to be called), corner of Delaware Ave. and Cooper St., just a hop, skip, and jump from the Camden waterfront

Beginning this fall, The Victor’s Pub, a grill and sports bar will open. The menu will be varied but include standards like hamburgers, wings, and, my personal favorite, cake. It will also have 10 brews on top and cocktails. Fifteen flat screen tvs are expected to keep patrons up to date with the latest sporting events and news. There will also be private dining rooms. A varied menu will allow the pub to appeal to families visiting the waterfront during the day and businesspeople and students who might want to unwind after hours.

Also expected to open this fall is Miss G's grocery and convenience store, with household, dairy and food products, prepared meals, fresh salads, ethnic food, fresh brewed coffee and a variety of other beverages. Convenient items including an ATM and fax/copying service will also be provided. You will be able to shop on site, or have items delivered.

River Walks

I've been walking the red brick pathway along the river regularly this summer. Some days the river is choppy and the ducks bob like "whack a mole." Some days it is calm. Some days you are there at the right time to hear the ferry horn. Once or twice I've passed the Riversharks stadium when an afternoon game is in progress. It smells wonderful. A friend walking with me said it was fresh funnel cake.

Rutgers-Camden and Rowan among best in nation

On August 21, U.S. News and World Reports will issue their annual "America's Best Colleges" report. Rowan University is ranked 29th and Rutgers-Camden 31st out of 165 colleges in the region in the same category, which includes universities that provide comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs.

Yardsale: The Movie

What could be better than movies at yardsales? A movie ABOUT yardsales!

Local filmmaker Robert Emmons has combined his love for observing people and the history of objects into a 20-minute short subject documentary titled “YARDSALE!”

“YARDSALE!” will debut at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7 at the Home Fine Art Gallery, located at Two Church Street in Mount Holly. More information (and a trailer) here

vacation post

CtD is on vacation. Back soon.

All About the Music

Looking for something to do this weekend? Friday, Saturday and Sunday, WXPN is hosting the All About the Music Festival on the Camden Waterfront.

The Inquirer's house blogger and knower of all things musicial gives a rundown of the bands and acts that will be appearing here.

Franklin Square Park Opens July 31st

When I cross the Delaware on the PATCO, I always look out the window at the abandoned Franklin Square station that appears before the 8th and Market stop. The last time it was used was in 1976 during the bicentenial celebrations and then it was closed due to lack of ridership. There is some possibility that this station may become active again according to the Southern New Jersey to Philadelphia Transit Study but I wouldn't wait for that to happen in order to visit the newly renovated Franklin Sqaure Park.

New features include a a carousel, mini golf and playgrounds.

Hot Spot on a Hot Day

If it weren't so darn hot out today, I would grab a laptop and take a walk down to Wiggins Park to test out the new wireless connection. At noon today, Wiggins park became the first wireless internet “Hot Spot” in the Camden County Park System according to this press release.

Here is a description of the kickoff.

Free Concerts in Camden

The Sunset Jazz Series has a performance tonight, Tuesday July 11th:
Charles Fambrough & The All-Stars at Wiggins Park at 8:00.

Camden County residents, get your free tickets for the XPN All About the Music Festival

Free tickets to Friday's performances (July 21st) are being offered to all Camden County residents. Get your tickets at a Camden County Store by July 14th. Two free tickets per person with proof of residency.

Check out the Camden County Parks website for more information on upcoming events.

Weekend activities on both sides of the bridge.

Here are some interesting activities being held this weekend:

BlueBEARy Blast and Celebrate NJ Day at the Camden Children's Garden. 11 am. Crafts, planting, entertainment and of course local NJ Blueberries (I've already eaten about 3 pints of Jersey blueberries in the past 2 days!!) Cost is $3-$5.

After filling up on blueberries, you can head across the river on the River Link Ferry to Penn's Landing for the Hispanic Festival at Penn's Landing for some traditional food and dance.

Jersey Fresh Produce

I have been reading some negative reaction to Farm Aid coming to Camden, NJ. Apparently people do not realize that the "Garden State" does indeed have farms and fresh produce.

I am referring people to the Jersey Fresh website to set the record straight. Here you will find information on agricultural events throughout the state, where to find roadside markets, where pick-your own, and locations of community supported markets. Two other features include recipes and whats in season to help you eat the healthiest, freshest produce available.

Camden Community Farmer's Market

On my way home from work today, I caught the train at Broadway in order to check out the Camden Farmer's Market. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the fresh corn that I purchased there!

Along with fresh produce, there were crafts, information booths, and other food vendors. By the time I got there most of the festivities were wrapping up, but I spoke with the woman selling me the corn and she said they had a large crowd earlier in the day.

Produce was available from Pastore Farms, a third generation farm located in Elm, NJ and Fruit Haven Farms located in Monroeville, NJ.

Other food vendors:
McCargo's Creative Cuisine, which is a fantastic restaurant on Cooper Street.
Front Page Caribbean Cuisine, a place I am certainly going to check out after viewing the menu.
Erlton Italian Bakery, a "Camden fixture since 1966".

I am so glad I went to the Market, not only because I now have corn for dinner, but because I found out about a local restaraunt and bakery that I did not know about!

I plan on coming home that way every Friday to stock up on fresh bread and produce!

Farm Fresh Produce in Camden and surrounding areas.

In the spirit of the Farm Aid announcement...here are some places where you can support the local farmers and get locally grown fresh produce.

The Camden Farmer's Market will be starting the season with special events tomorrow, July 7th from 11am-6pm.
This is the first year at its new location between the PATCO and RiverLine stations at Broadway. This is especially exciting since it is in Camden and convenient to mass transit.

If you are closer to Gloucester County on the Jersey side of the Delaware, you may want to check out the "Seeds to Success" youth farm stands. This is a great program that benefits local youth, local farmers and the local community. Farm stands are open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in Glassboro, Paulsboro and Woodbury. For more details regarding locations and times click here.

On the Philly side of the river, there is always the Reading Terminal Market for farm fresh goods.

Here are some links for finding more Community Supported Agriculture and Farmer's Markets in your area:

Local Harvest : Find Farmer's Markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA's) as well as grocery stores and resteraunts that purchase and serve local foods.

The Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA provides information about Farmer's Markets as well as a Farmer's Market locater.

Farm Aid to be in Camden Sept 30th

Coming from a midwestern family of farmers and Willie Nelson fans, I have been watching Farm Aid since it began and making sure my suburban East Coast friends were aware of the plight of farmers throughout the country. Neil Young has just announced the details that will bring Farm Aid to the Tweeter Center here in Camden! Wow! More details will be posted as they become available.

Here is the article from the Courier Post.

The official Farm Aid website has more details.


Read this entry from the Farm Aid Blog, Around the Kitchen Table, that addresses the question Why Camden?

Kudos to Jersey Surf!!!

Over the holiday weekend I saw the Jersey Surf Drum & Bugle Corps perform. Wow! They are fantastic. If you haven't seen them, take a look at their web page for upcoming events. The next one listed is:

The Jersey Surf and
The City of Wildwood Present
The "Sounds of The Surf Summer Classic" A Drum and Bugle Corps Competition Featuring 9 Atlantic Division Corps Entertainment for the Entire Family!

Saturday, July 15th, 2006 - 7:00 PM
Historic Maxwell Field
4000 Park Boulevard, Wildwood, NJ

The uniforms are jazzy. The dancing is snazzy. Definitely worth a look.

Missing Monday

It's the first Monday of the month -- Missing Monday in the regional blogosphere.
"Gloria Damon"
Race: Black
Gender: Female
Age: 38
DOB: 10/9/1966
Height: 5’5"
Weight: 170 lbs
Build: Heavy
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Complexion: Dark
NOTE: Gloria was last seen Tuesday, November 25, 2004. She has been missing before for days at a time. Subject known to abuse drugs and alcohol and is possibly in the Philadelphia area.

Phildelphia History Online

There is a fantastic new resource out there for Philadelphia history. Check out www.phillyhistory.org. You can look up a neighborhood and find thumbnails of historic photos of that area. There is also a street name index, indicting name changes, etc. It's wonderful. Give it a look. I'm adding it to the links list on the sidebar.

New PATCO Cards

Those who cross the Delaware on a regular basis may use PATCO to do so. Be aware that a new card system is in the works. The cards are supposed to last years and money can be added via a credit card system similar to EZPass or by stopping at a card machine in a station and adding money on (similar to Washington's METRO but with more permanent cards).

See this story from Connections for more details.

Big Orange Boat

There was a big orange boat anchored smack in the middle of the river today around noon. I've never seen a boat quite that color before.

Annual Summer Writer's Conference

Rutgers Camden is holding its 20th annual summer writer's conference.

The 2006 Summer Writers' Conference features evening readings by the staff members and students. These affairs with refreshments begin at 7pm and are free and open to the general public.

Tuesday, June 20 in the Octagon Room, Campus Center: Lev Raphael and Moira Crone
Wednesday, June 21 in the Faculty Lounge, 3rd Floor Armitage: Rachel Hadas and Lisa Zeidner
Thursday, June 22 in the Faculty Lounge, 3rd Floor Armitage: Sidney Wade and Joe Barbarese
Friday, June 23 in the Faculty Lounge, 3rd Floor Armitage: Peter Murphy and Danielle Trussoni
Monday, June 26 in the Octagon Room, Campus Center: Percival Everett and Owen King
Tuesday, June 27 in the Octagon Room, Campus Center:Lauren Grodstein and Tom Bissell
Wednesday, June 28 in the Octagon Room, Campus Center: Students from the program

Walking Along the River

I've been walking with a friend a fews times a week lately. There is a red brick walkway along the river. We've been tracking some families of ducks. One day the ferry left just as we came by and we heard the horn. The Spirit of Philadelphia cruises along regularly. Some days it is nice just to sit on a bench and listen the waves and the gulls. Walk past the marina and you can hear the ropes and moorings creak. We're by no means the only ones and often pass other walkers, singly or in groups, along with the schoolchildren by the aquarium. Definitely a nice break in the middle of the day.

Rutgers-Camden Technology Campus in the News

Peter Gold has a great commentary in today's Inquirer, "Creating jobs in a job-hungry city." In it he points out:

Currently home to 50 businesses (35 on-site and 15 virtual tenants), the incubator has netted exceptional economic development results during the last three years.

Located in a city hungry for jobs, these businesses provide more than 155 well-paying positions, producing a combined payroll of $6 million.

The average annual wage of an employee in the incubator is $38,000, well above Camden's median household income of $24,612.

When adjusted for the value added by the services provided by the incubator, the average wage of an employee of an incubator company rises to almost $49,000.

These are jobs that otherwise might not have come to Camden.

The incubator companies also have generated almost $6 million in mostly private-sector investment. Four companies have graduated from the incubator setting and are now outside Camden but still in the Philadelphia region, where they pay taxes, purchase goods and services, and contribute to the economy.

Cool!!

Johnson Park

If you, like me, walk past the Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center and wonder what is going on with all the fencing and construction equipment, wonder no more. There is a website devoted to the renovation of Johnson Park, named after Eldridge R. Johnson, founder of the Victor Talking Machine Co.

There are pages giving history, photos, renovation information, and so on. When completed the fountains and statues (including the Peter Pan statue) will be restored. Interesting stuff.

Missing Monday

It's the first Monday of the month -- Missing Monday in the regional blogosphere. Participating bloggers highlight a missing person's case. More info here.

JOSE SAMUEL ORDONEZ
Case Type: Endangered Runaway
DOB: Mar 15, 1988 Sex: Male
Missing Date: Feb 19, 2006 Race: White/Hisp
Age Now: 18 Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
Missing City: HAMILTON Weight: 190 lbs (86 kg)
Missing State : NJ Hair Color: Black
Missing Country: United States Eye Color: Brown
Circumstances: Jose was last seen on February 19, 2006. He may still be in the local area.

South Jersey Tourism Corp.

From today's Inquirer, "More than the Shore," by Tom Belden, an article describing the South Jersey Tourism Corp.

Her little-known three-year-old agency is charged with attracting visitors to the Camden waterfront, the Pinelands preserve, burgeoning retail development, and dozens of historic sites and quaint towns in five southern New Jersey counties along the east bank of the Delaware River.

later

For history buffs, the tourism agency this year created a tour of Camden landmarks associated with its most celebrated 19th-century resident, Walt Whitman. The agency points out that two river towns, Burlington City and Salem, which have their own tourism-promotion efforts, were founded before Philadelphia was in 1682 and offer tours of their historic districts.

Betsy Ross Moves to Jersey

According to the May 28, 2006 Life magazine:

Annin & Co, in Roseland, New Jersey, is the biggest flag-maker in the U.S., churning out more than 10,000 types of flags and related products.

A Walk Along the Delaware River

Lately I've been walking two afternoons a week with a friend. We stroll down to the river and up along the riverwalk, past the fisherman, the aquarium, and the battleship. The red brick provides a path to follow. The river has been beautiful in different ways on different days, some days dark and choppy, others glass and calm. There are gulls all along the way, and crowds of schoolchildren by the aquarium and the battleship. If we need to stop for a minute there are benches here and there. A water fountain in the battleship gift shop provides refreshment. It is a lovely way to exercise and get some fresh air.

Rutgers Camden Women's Softball NCAA Division III Champs

The Rutgers Camden Lady Raptors are the 2006 NCAA Division III champions after defeating two-time defending national champion St. Thomas on May 22nd. Details and photos here.

Restaurant Review: Ron Do's Kitchen

Today I stumbled across a new eatery in Camden, Ron Do's Kitchen (319 Friends St.), right across the street from the parking lot by the Business and Science Building on the Rutgers Campus. The menu features seafood, chicken and turkey, and ribs, as well as side dishes and individual servings of what looked to me like homemade cakes and pies. They have lunch and dinner specials of the day. There is outdoor seating. Hours extend to 10 p.m. Monday - Thursday and later on Friday and Saturday nights.

I had a lunch special, 3 chicken wings and 2 sides, plus a soda, for a little over $5.00. The wings were fabulous, a light seasoned breading so you have some crispy crunch but not too much, and enough taste to be interesting but not overpowering. The chicken itself was good. They cook it to order, though, so be prepared to wait a few minutes or call ahead and order.

For the sides I had macaroni and cheese and potato salad. The mac'n'cheese was not my preferred style. It was baked and the chef uses the small elbow noodles. The potato salad, though, was very good. Most restaurants will serve up tiny pieces of potato smothered in mayo. Here, you have potato pieces big enough to taste, seasonings, and assorted other finely chopped vegetables to round things out. Not a midwestern potato salad, not a cajun potato salad, but an excellent potato salad in its own right.

The roll that came with the meal was not perhaps the best but including it is a sign of class. They remembered the fork, too, which some places don't with carryout.

A co-worker has been there twice and recommends the turkey wings. She agreed with me on the mac'n'cheese but highly recommends the collard greens.

The indoor seating area is nicely decorated, with some interesting architectural features. One part of the main wall has been pulled back to the brick and is framed by molding. There are magazines neatly arranged if anyone wants to read and a tv if you care to watch. (Trivia: John Cleese is a lemur supporter and has had a kind of lemur named after him -- "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" or whatever it is called now, was on while I waited for my chicken.)

I will be going to Ron Do's again.

Reunion on the River

This Saturday, May 20th, Rutgers Camden alums will be attending the Reunion on the River 2006: "Carnival on Campus."

The year 2006 will mark an exciting change in the Reunion schedule. Activities and events will be held throughout the day and will include speakers, performances, exhibitions, tours, and receptions, leading up to the evening party and traditional festivities.

For the first time in several years, Reunion 2006 will be held on our beautiful campus and under connected carnival tents, adding to our campus-wide tradition of Commencement - Reunion Week.

details here.

Restaurant Review: Crossroads Cafe

Right across from the Adventure Aquarium, at 2 Riverside Dr. is the Crossroads Cafe. It is a cafeteria style restaurant. You can select from the salad bar, soups, featured entree, hot grill, and pizza, as well as cold sandwiches (tuna and egg salad, for example). There are also desserts and beverages available. The pizza is especially good but the salads and soups are as well. All of the featured entrees I've had (or friends have had) are excellent. The rolls that come the soup/salad are HUGE! Pizza and a soda will run you around $3.00, the featured entrees (often ethnic in nature) are more expensive. In seasonable weather there is outdoor seating. It is not open on weekends at present, though this may change.

Rutgers Camden Women's Softball

From Rutgers Camden:

During the past weekend, the women's softball team made Rutgers-Camden history by winning the NCAA Division III East Regional title and advancing to the NCAA finals with a 5-0 victory over second-seeded Rowan on Sunday, May 14.

The Scarlet Raptors, now ranked third in the nation by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, will face off against Ramapo College in the first round of the NCAA finals at Peace College in Raleigh, NC, at 11 a.m. Friday, May 19.

Read details here.

Stained Glass Window Tours

On May 13 and June 10, you can take a tour of downtown Haddonfield churches with a noted stained glass expert. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Baptist Church on 124 Kings Highway. Might make a nice Mother's Day activity......

They'll Stop Harping On It This Sunday

The grand finale of the Ritz' Theatre Company's three part "Master of the Celtic Harp" series is this Sunday, May 14, at 7 p.m., at the Ritz Theatre, 915 White Horse PIke, in Haddon Township. details.

Mall Decor and Its Effects on Spending

Maureen Morrin, as associate professor of marketing at the School of Business -- Camden and Jean-Charles Chebat, professor of marketing and chair of retailing at HEC -- Montreal have teamed up to study what makes you spend, or not, at the mall.

Recent research by marketing scholars at Rutgers University—Camden and HEC-Montreal suggests that interior décor at a mall, especially involving color schemes, plays a critical role in determining shoppers’ perceptions of quality, not only of the mall itself, but also of the products sold there.

[The study] also finds that different subcultures do not perceive quality in the same way. For instance, French-Canadians had higher perceptions of product quality when the mall décor consisted of a warm color scheme. On the other hand, Anglo-Canadians found higher quality when the décor consisted of a cool color scheme.

The full press release is here. So that greenery is not there just to improve the environment or indoor air quality. How crafty! The research will be published in a forthcoming issue of Journal of Service Research, with the title "Person-Place Congruency: The Interactive Effects of Shopper Style and Mall Atmospherics on Consumer Expenditures".

Morrin and Chebat have also studied the effect of sound and smell on shoppers' spending behaviors. For example,:

In a survey of 774 shoppers at a large retail center in suburban Montréal, Maureen Morrin, an associate professor of marketing at Rutgers-Camden, and Jean-Charles Chebat, a marketing professor at HEC Montreal, found that impulsive shoppers – characterized as those who make unplanned purchases more often than so-called contemplative buyers – spend more when pleasant music is playing in the background.

Contemplative shoppers, on the other hand, tend to spend more money when a pleasant odor is in the background.

In 2004 an article Morrin co-authored with S. Ratneshwar, "Does It Make Sense to Use Scents to Enhance Brand Memory?" published in the Journal of Marketing Research (40 #1, 2003,pp. 10-25) received the Bright Idea in Marketing and Brands Award from NJPRO/Seton Hall, 9/2004.

New Waterfront Condos in Camden

According to the Inquirer (Dwight Ott, "Dranoff to rehab 2nd Camden site, May 4th):

Camden's downtown took another major step forward last night when the city's Redevelopment Agency authorized a second project by Dranoff Properties Inc. - a $25 million waterfront condominium building.

The panel unanimously authorized Philadelphia developer Carl Dranoff to rehabilitate the former RCA No. 8 factory into 86 condominiums, with commercial space on the first floor.

The condos, which would cost around $250,000, would be two blocks from the river. They are scheduled to be complete at the end of 2007.

Missing Monday

On the first Monday of each month area bloggers highlight a missing persons case. Danielle Nichole Nottingham, who would now be 17, ran away from Princeton, NJ, on January 11, 2003. She is 5' 6" with brown hair and brown eyes and is considered an endangered runaway. She may be in the Camden or Trenton area of New Jersey. She has pierced ears and a scar under one of her shoulder blades. When Danielle was last seen, she had braces on her teeth. Danielle may be in need of medical attention. She may use the alias last name Spivey. Her nickname is Dani.

Cruising Collingswood

You don't have to be an "American Graffiti" fan or a gearhead to enjoy looking at classic or just fancy cars and motorcycles. Collingswood is inviting owners and enthusiasts to come on down the third Thursday of the month. According to the town's website:

Watch Haddon Avenue come alive with the sounds, speed and style of the regions hottest antique, classic and custom cars and motorcycles. Cruise the line-up and be sure to enjoy shopping and dining around town as restaurants offer "Cruise Night Specials."

Haddon Avenue is apparently the place to be, every third Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Zoom zoom zoom!

Annual Chili Challenge!!!!

This Sunday, April 23rd, from noon to 3:00 p.m., the Food Bank of South Jersey's 2nd Annual Chili Challenge will be held at Wiggins Park on the Camden Waterfront. Up to 30 teams of cooks will compete. Last year more than 2000 people attended. Five dollars will purchase 6 tickets, each ticket can be traded for a 2 oz serving of chili.

Independence National Historical Park

It's a little out of our geographic range, but those who like to cross the Delaware might have visited Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. This park, along with four other major urban parks, are discussed in a new book, Rethinking Urban Spaces by Setha Low, Dana Taplin, and Suzanne Scheld.

Camden Waterfront Update

Today's Inquirer had an article on the Camden Waterfront and new developments there. (Read the entire article here.) Some highlights:

This summer, work should begin on the ferry terminal, the Camden waterfront's first building that is not being helped along by taxes or tolls.

An Italian cafe with a pizza oven is slated to open in the Victor Lofts. Aquarium customers will be able to scuba dive in a shark tank. And Jimmy Buffett will return to the Tweeter Center.

also:

Campbell's Field has a new carousel and rock-climbing wall. A SpongeBob 3-D movie with special effects is coming to the aquarium. The Battleship New Jersey has new exhibits. And festivals and county-run jazz concerts will help attract visitors to Camden, said Judi London, president of the Camden Waterfront Marketing Bureau.

A whole lot of shaking going on!!! (I'm rooting for the Italian restaurant and will be sure to report on it when it opens.)

Classical Studies at Rutgers Camden

A new display at the Paul Robeson Library highlights materials relevant to the new Classical Studies Minor at Rutgers Camden.

In addition, a smaller case displays a library employee's personal collection of children's books translated into Latin. Titles include:

Cattus Petasatus (The Cat in the Hat)
Quomodo Invidiosulus Nomine Grinchus Christi Natalem Abrogaverit (How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
Tela Carlottae (Charlotte's Web)
Alicia in Terra Mirabilis (Alice in Wonderland)
Ferdinandus Taurus (Ferdinand the Bull)

The display cases are located just to the right of the front entrance. Stop in and take a look.

To Die in Your Own Home ....

A group of good hearted people in Camden County allowed a 95 year old man the chance to go home and die in his own country. Evalds Ciekurs had been a resident at Innova Health & Rehab as a ward of the state. His doctor noticed that he said "Riga" often realized it was a city in Latvia. More detective work connected Ciekurs with a daughter he had not seen in decades. Employees and friends worked together to have him released to his daughter and paid for his plane ticket home. He spent his final year in his hometown and died recently. It was a group random act of kindness. Kudos to all involved.

Read details here in a column, "For lost Latvian's friends, sad ending is a happy one," by Monica Yant Kinney in the April 9th Inquirer.

South Camden Theater Company Gets a Home

I've been reading about the South Camden Theater Company in the Rutgers Camden student newspaper, The Gleaner, but hadn't seen anything in the mainstream press about it, or been able to track down much tangible information about it. Recent plays have been performed in the basement of the Sacred Heart Church. However, according to today's Inquirer ("A Neglected Corner Will Stage a Comeback" by Kristen A. Graham), Joseph Paprzycki, the driving force behind the theater company, has found a home, or at least a future home:

The once popular Walt's Cafe - his grandfather's bar at Fourth and Jasper - is a long-abandoned eyesore that will soon be transformed into the home of the South Camden Theater Company.

Five hundred people came to see the company's first production last year. The company will present Acts of War, five plays about the war in Iraq, beginning April 21 at Sacred Heart.

The company hopes to move into its new home next spring.

If You Go

The South Camden Theater Company will present Acts of War at 8 p.m. Fridays, 1:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 1:30 p.m. Sundays from April 21 through May 6 in the basement of Sacred Heart Church, Broadway and Ferry Avenue, Camden.

Tickets are $15; students and senior citizens pay $10.

For tickets or more information, call 856-456-2850 or e-mail camdentheater@aol.com.

Noontime Concerts

An announcement from Rutgers:

Starting Tuesday, April 11, the University District Concerts at Noon series will offer everyone who work and lives in or near Camden a great opportunity to enjoy the warming spring weather and listen to live music, all in the heart of the city's University District.

Sponsored by the County of Camden, Camden County College, Rowan University, and Rutgers University-Camden, this free lunchtime series will feature:

April 11: The Kate Gaffney Band will perform a concert of classic rock infused with blues, folk, and homespun Americana influences. A favorite performer at area concerts and clubs, Gaffney has recorded two CDs, "Highways" and "The New Then."

April 18: Ju Taun, billed as "southern New Jersey's answer to Boyz II Men," will perform. The five-member R&B group tours nationally with acts like Ashanti and LL Cool J, and produced a CD, "How Bad U Want It."

April 25: Webb Thomas & The Soul Patrol will perform a concert of jazz, soul, and funk.

All concerts will be held on the Rutgers-Camden quad, located on front of the Paul Robeson Library. There are no rain dates. Admission is free of charge, courtesy of Camden County. Food will be available for purchase.

More than 8,000 students attend classes at the University District in Camden, which consists of Camden County College, Rowan University, and Rutgers. The University District is located along Cooper Street, a corridor through which more than three million guests visited the Camden Waterfront in 2005.

There are some tables and benches available. If you arrive early and bring your lunch you can stake out a good spot. The cafeteria in the campus center has a variety of selections: hot entrees, sandwiches, pizza, burgers, etc. The weather is beautiful today and a little music over lunch would surely make for a productive afternoon.

Pink Rose Pastry -- Yummmmmmm

Some kind sole brought a box of pastries from Pink Rose Pastry in Philadelphia to work today. I had the raspberry -- delicious!!!

Food Truck at 5th and Penn Back

The food truck that was at 5th and Penn for part of last year is back!!! Yes, yes, I can get my breakfast sandwich again on days that it is too hectic to eat at home. They also have good lunch sandwiches, chips, soda, soups sometimes, and so on. The proprietors are nice people, very friendly, and the prices reasonable.

Missing Monday

The first Monday of the month is designated as Missing Monday and participating bloggers highlight a missing persons case in their area.

Robert William Dornbach was last seen on November 27, 2005 in Gloucester, NJ. He has a tattoo of a cross on his right ankle and a tattoo of "D-Bach" on his left arm. Robert's nickname is Bobby. He was 17 at the time, now 18, and considered an endangered runaway. More information is available at missingkids.com.

Corzine: Impressed By Camden's Improvement

Gov. Jon Corzine visited Camden yesterday (Courier Post story here) and was pleased with what he found.

Corzine said he was "impressed" by new construction at Rutgers, expansion plans at Cooper University Hospital, and other massive upgrades. The city has built a library on Ferry Avenue and is improving its water and sewer system.

Too bad he wasn't here today -- groundskeepers at Rutgers Camden have been planting spring flowers, already in bloom. Yesterday I walked along the waterfront with only a light jacket.

New Blog on the Block

A big hidy-ho to a new South Jersey blog, merchantville.blogspot.com. The blog focuses on the goings on in, you guessed it, Merchantville.

Camden Housing Prices Soar

From today's Inquirer:

The median sales price for houses in Camden increased 81 percent between 2003 and last year, according to a new Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors analysis of five central and southern New Jersey counties.

(Mulvihill, Geoff, "Camden housing values soar," Philadelphia Inquirer March 27, 2006, p. B6).

Restaurant Review: Cafe Salad Works

In Camden and in the mood for a healthy lunch? Try Cafe Salad Works, 114 N. 3rd St. These aren't skimpy "two lettuce leaves and a carrot" salads but substantial meals. You can choose from the menu or create your own. My personal favorite is the spinach salad, but there are almost unlimited choices. Each meal comes with a large roll. That and a drink will cost about $6.00 or $7.00, maybe a little more depending on what you order. There is limited table seating, but many people opt for take out and most of the times I've been there someone comes in to pick up a large order for an office or group.

George Carlin in Sewell

This Sunday, March 26th, at 7 p.m., comedian George Carlin will appear at the Commerce BAnk Arts Centre in Sewell, NJ. No word on who, if anyone, will bring the pork chops.

Nick Virgilio Haiku Conference

THe Nick Virgilio Haiku Association and the Rutgers Camden English Department are co-sponsoring a daylong conference on Saturday, March 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The cost is $25.00. Nick Virgilio was a resident of Camden and an internationally known haikuist. One of the two workshops scheduled is on teaching haiku and the Nick Virgilio Haiku Association is a registered New Jersey professional development provider.

Hiatus

My apologies for the hiatus in posting to the blog. We'll try to keep up in the future.

Missing Monday

Nicholas Peter Zizzamia, of Camen, NJ, was last seen on May 12, 1979. He was en route to Villanova University and has not been seen since. For more information, seen the county sheriff's missing person's website.

Ella Enchanted Screenwriter in Camden

On Friday, March 3, author and screenwriter Kirsten Smith will be on the Rutgers Camden campus. The co-writer of the films Legally Blonde, 10 Things I Hate About You, Ella Enchanted, and the upcoming Dirty Little Secret will be speaking about her new book, The Geography of Girlhood, from 12 – 1 p.m. in the Center for Children and Childhood Studies. From 1 – 2 p.m. she will be signing books.

James Still Homestead Purchased!

Today's Inquirer reports:

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection bought the 8.8-acre spread yesterday from the Trollinger family for $875,000 and plans to turn it into a museum dedicated to Still's life.

James Still, the son of runaway slaves, became known as "The Black Doctor of the Pines." He practiced medicine for many years and was well-respected in the area. This will be a wonderful addition to the cultural landscape of the region.

New PhD Program at Rutgers Camden

The Rutgers Camden campus will be offering bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in Childhood Studies beginning in the fall semester of 2007. This will be the first doctoral program for the campus, although two more, in public affiars and computational science, are planned. According to the Feb. 20th Rutgers Focus:

The childhood studies program will prepare policy leaders with new persepctives in child-related social practice and scholars capable of innovative research in this interdisciplinary field. The program will provide advaned theoretical and methodoligical study of children and childhood within state, national, and global contexts.

The Center for Children and Childhood Studies, established on campus in 2000, will be the vehicle for research and outreach activities to provide a direct positive impact in the Camden community.

Restaurant Review: New England Soup Company

There is a new restaurant in the Victor Apartments, The New England Soup Company, right next to Subway. I was in a group of seven people that ate there today. We went in through the ramp right off Front and Market Sts. There were about 12 soups available, as well as a number of sandwiches and salads. Everyone in the group had something different and everyone liked what they had. I had the Italian beef stew and they had not skimped on the beef, or the onions, mushrooms and carrots. It was a very filling soup. The hamlet sandwich has about 4 slices of ham rolled in a bun, with greens, cheese, and a delicate but flavorful apricot dressing. A soup and sandwich is $7.00, a reasonable price and the portions weren't huge but certainly enough for a very good lunch. I had a cookie also (no sacrifice too great to provide a complete overview). It was a little too large but definitely passable. There is seating for about 24 and by the time we left all the seats were in use. While the food was good and the prices reasonable, I was most impressed with the manager(?) walking through the seating area asking if anyone needed or wanted anything. That is very unusual in a restaurant of this kind. It was a very pleasant place to eat and I plan to go back. Carryout is also available.

James Still Homestead Saved?

According to today's Inquirer:

The state has signed a contract with the Trollinger family to buy the former Medford homestead of James Still, the son of escaped slaves who became known for his medicinal cures.

The sale is still pending. This is a topic we will watch.

A Camden County Yarn

Crafty folk everywhere are familiar with A. C. Moore Arts & Crafts, but may not know the company is based in Berlin, Camden County. It was among the first to tap into the resurgence in knitting and stocks a wide variety of yarns, as well as other craft supplies. In 2006 the company plans to open 13 to 16 new stores.

The Great Backyard Bird Count

If the weather outside is frightful, stay inside and count birds out your window. This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all levels in counting birds and reporting their results to create a mid-winter snapshot of the numbers, kinds, and distribution of birds across the continent. Participants count birds for as little or as long as they wish during the four-day period and tally the highest number of birds of each species that they see at any one time. At the Great Backyard Bird Count web site, they fill out an online checklist to submit their counts.

It is a national census of winter birds. Volunteers take time to count how many birds of various species they see and send that information, either online or on paper, to a central collection point. Citizen science like this is particularly important in tracking migratory birding. River Tyde has also written on this topic.

Not certain of your birds? Cornell's Lab of Ornithology has an online bird guide. Or, for more localized information, check out this collection of bird photographs taken on the Rutgers Camden campus.

So, while you're keeping warm (or out taking a walk), keep an eye out for the birds. I saw a turkey vulture in one of my neighbor's yards one day and I swear there was a hawk swooping around the trees this morning. A few Mondays ago a whole flock of robins set up shop in the front yard for 30 minutes or so. It is amazing the variety of birds we have in this area.

The Women of Gettysburg

Women in battle is not a new phenomenon. Whether actual soldiers, part of the support forces, or just on the sidelines, women have been present at most of the battles fought on American soil. The Battle of Gettsyburg is no exception.

Consider 20-year-old Mary Virginia "Jennie" Wade, the only civilian killed in the battle of Gettysburg, shot by a Confederate bullet as she stood in her sister's kitchen baking bread for the Union soldiers. Or little Sadie Bushman, nine-year-old daughter of a local cabinetmaker, commandeered by a Union doctor to assist at a field hospital. Or the unidentified body of a female Confederate soldier found by a burial detail near Cemetery Ridge -- one of 12,000 brave souls who marched across a mile of open ground through a hail of deadly enemy fire during Pickett's Charge.

"The Women of Gettysburg" will be presented at the Camden County Historical Society this Saturday, Feb. 18, at 1:00 p.m., by Jane Peters Estes. ($10.00, $8.00 for CCHS members).

Details and a map here

What a Kroc!!

Joan Kroc, widow of McDonalds founder Roy Kroc, left the Salvation Army $1.6 billion in her will. Fifty-seven million has been set aside to build and operate a community center in the Cramer Hill section of Camden. An additional seventy-seven million will go to build a similar center on Wissahickon Avenue in Philadelphia.

from the Philadelphia Inquirer, full story here.

Momix

The Momix Dance Company will present their Opus Cactus at the Gordon Theater on the Rutgers Camden campus this Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Momix has been in existence for 20 years and is known for the use of illusion in dance.

In Opus Cactus, dancers miraculously become tumbleweeds, lizards, birds, and other flora and fauna of the desert landscape.

Reviews of the performance at other venues (see the link above) are very descriptive. The dance is compared to Georgia O'Keefe's paintings, and other Western art.

More on Settlement Music School in Camden

Last month I wrote on the Settlement Music School's move to a building in the 500 block of Market Street in Camden. Yesterday The Inquirer ran a longer article on the move. The school will offer classes in music, ballet, jazz and chorus. Eventually as many as 700 students will attend the school.

[Thomas]Capanna [executive director of the school] said the coffeeshop next to the Camden site and nearby restaurants and businesses were likely to benefit from the new traffic. "This is a place where people will come every week," he said. "There is a commitment to the area, so I think it's going to have a pretty dramatic effect."

A spokesman for the school also said sometimes the kids practice outside; impromptu jazz concerts will definitely be a positive addition to the area.

Missing Monday

Today's featured missing person: Danielle Nottingham is described as an African-American female, approximately 5' 6" tall, weighing 165 lbs., medium build, brown hair, and brown eyes. Danielle is a repeat runaway and is likely to change her appearance to avoid being discovered.

Note: Last time she was located was at Sycamore Court Apartments in Camden City, New Jersey. Also, sited at the 600 block of Williams St. Camden City, New Jersey.

details here

Rutgers-Camden Technology Campus

Rutgers Camden recently announced this:

Southern New Jersey's potential to attract and grow new business has been augmented by a three-year, $390,000 New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology grant to the Rutgers-Camden Technology Campus.

The award will allow the Rutgers-Camden business incubator to provide high-tech support and in-depth strategic counseling to help fledgling businesses realize their potential for growth. The NJCST grant will support efforts to attract new clients to the Rutgers-Camden Technology Campus; to help existing clients advance their businesses; and to enhance New Jersey's image as a destination for business incubation.

In addition, the Rutgers-Camden initiative recently received a $125,000 grant from the Delaware River Port Authority to support its job development and outreach efforts. The DRPA grant is renewable on an annual basis.

Launched in 2001, the Rutgers-Camden Technology Campus provides entrepreneurs with low-cost services and funding connections to help launch and grow their business ventures. Located in an underutilized Virtua-West Jersey facility in Camden, the incubator currently has 47 clients employing approximately 120 workers who earn a collective annual payroll of more than $5 million.

During the summer, the Rutgers-Camden Technology Campus will relocate to a new state-of-the-art Camden facility, the Waterfront Technology Center, which will also provide services to nascent businesses requiring wet laboratory space.

Since its inception, the Rutgers-Camden Technology Campus has graduated four businesses, including manufacturer Cerionx (formerly Microplate Automation), which received $3 million in venture funding. The company now is based in Pennsauken.

(similar article in the Courier Post)

Rutgers Alum Runs for PA Legislature

Maureen Tatu, who has an MS degree in Nursing from Rutgers University, has announced that she is running for the Pennsylvania legislature, the 118th house district, representing Monroe County. details here.

Lawnside Oral History Project

From the Inquirer, Saturday, Jan. 28, p. B2:

The Lawnside Historical Sciety plans to begin an oral history project next month to preserve the stories of residents in the tiny borough. The society received a $3,000 grant this week from the New Jersey Council for the Humaniites for the project, which will be conducted over 10 months.

Lawnside was a stop on the Underground Railroad and the society has been collecting the stories of residents who are descendants of former slaves. The society is looking for volunteers to conduct interviews. There will be an orientation at 4 p.m., Feb. 18 at the Lawnside Public School for anyone interesting. There is more information on their website (www.petermotthouse.org)

Almost like skating on a frozen pond

I am a big fan of winter weather and the winter sports that go along with the snow and ice. Unfortunately the weather in the Delaware Valley has not been cooperating with me in recent years and I have only been able to skate on a true honest to goodness frozen body of water once in the past few years. Fortunately, there is place where you can almost convince yourself that you are skating on a frozen pond and that is the Riverrink in Philadelphia, http://www.riverrink.com. Located right along the Delaware, this outdoor rink provides the illusion that you are skating on open water underneath the Ben Franklin Bridge. I have not been there this season and I just found out that it has relocated to Columbus Boulevard at Market Street at Penns Landing which is a much more convenient location than in previous years, especially for those of us who prefer to cross the Delaware by train. Visit the website for more information regarding pricing and session times. Watching the sunset and the lights on the bridge turn on while skating on the edge of Delaware is a special winter treat. The rink has recently extended its season to the end of February so there is still time to enjoy some skating before spring arrives!

At the Corner of Star Trek and Walt Whitman …

…. You will find Stephen Collins, actor, writer, musician, director. Currently he’s best known for his role on the tv series “7th Heaven.” The Star Trek part comes in with his role on Star Trek – The Motion Picture in 1979.

Collins is a sure bet for an “6 degrees of….” Game. He’s acted with Diane Keaton (First Wives Club), Whoopi Goldberg (Jumpin’ Jack Flash), Shirley MacLaine (Loving Couple), Billy Dee Williams, (Chiefs), Roddy McDowall (Rhineman Exchange), Jane Curtin (Working It Out), and played JFK in A Woman Named Jackie. Who does that NOT connect him with?

Where does Walt Whitman come in? Friday, February 10th he will be playing Whitman in a one man show at, you guessed it, the Walt Whitman Arts Center, 2nd and Cooper Sts, Camden, 8 p.m., tickets $10.00. For more info see www.waltwhitmancenter.org

All That Jazz

Things just keep getting jazzier along the Delaware. Thelonious Monk, Jr, son of jazz legend Thelonious Monk, will perform this Saturday, January 28, at the Gordon Theater on the Rutgers Camden campus. See rcca.camden.rutgers.edu for details.

In February the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia is hosting their 14th Annual Junior Jazz Festival. For a schedule of events see www.pleasetouchmuseum.org.

Ewuare Osayande

Wednesday, January 25, Ewuare Osayande will read selections from his latest book of poetry, Blood Luxury, at the Rutgers Camden Campus Center (3rd and Cooper Streets), at 4 p.m. The event is sponsored by the African American Studies Department.

Here is more biographical information. Here are two of his poems.

Play in Camden

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is playing at the Walt Whitman Arts Center, tomorrow and Saturday at 8 p.m. and at 3 p.m on Sunday. For more details see the events calendar at www.waltwhitmancenter.org

Beautifying Camden, One Face at a Time

Avon has opened a training center at the corner of 5th and Market. While they don't stock products for sale, they do have catalogs on hand and you can order from a representative there.

Nancy Drew, Jersey Girl

The Stratemeyer Syndicate, the group reponsible for bringing to life Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and a number of other literary series aimed at the young and young at heart, was based in Newark, New Jersey. While the series may have been written elsewhere by other authors, the character sketches and plot outlines were developed here in the Garden State. That makes Nancy, one of my childhood heroes, a Jersey Girl.

For a well-written enjoyable book on the history of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, and Nancy in particular, see Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her by Melanie Rehak (NY: Harcourt, 2005.

(Also visit websites here and here)

New Settlement Music School in Camden

Today's Courier Post is reporting that a new branch of the Settlement Music School will be opening in early February on Market St.

The new school, across the street from city hall, is accessible by the PATCO Hi-Speedline and NJ Transit. [Director Valerie] Clayton stresses Settlement's new branch is open to all residents of Camden County and surrounding communities.

The facility will more than triple enrollment, from 200 to 700 students of all ages, says the director. "Anyone who can come here can take a class," she adds.

More details here.

(Baxter, Robert, "A larger Settlement Music School to open in Camden," Camden Courier Post, Sunday, January 15, 2006)

More New Jersey Poetry

Those intrigued by my earlier post on Nick Virgilio may want to check out the New Jersey Poetry Society (njpoetrysociety.org).

Jersey Shore Publications has recently issued The Poets of New Jersey: From Colonial to Contemporary.

Scholars and others interested in the study of local poetry might want to check out the Camden Online Poetry Project (Rutgers).

Nick Virgilio, Camden's Other Poet

Many people may be aware of Camden as the home of Walt Whitman, but may not know of the city's other poet, Nick Virgilio. Nick wrote haiku. After his death his estate donated his papers to Rutgers University, Camden. For more information, see the university's Nick Virgilio Poetry Project, which includes some of his works, as well as selected articles about him and some scans of drafts of his work.

Encyclopedia of New Jersey: Roadside Attractions

My favorite gift to give this past holiday season was the Encyclopedia of New Jersey (http://odin.rutgers.edu/njencyclopedia/). I liked giving it so much that I got myself a copy and am enjoying expanding my knowledge of the Garden State, especially South Jersey.

The entry on roadside attractions caught my attention as I am always on the lookout for those items that make you slow down and wish you had your camera. The entry includes a discussion on the "dozens of giant figures looming over the Garden State landscape". Sadly the one near my home was omitted from the listing that does include Miss Uniroyal, Lucy the Elephant, Paul Bunyan (seen in opening credits of the Sopranos), Mr. Bill, and the cowboy at Cowtown. This entry inspired me to do some research on the topic and it turns out there is an entire website dedicated to the location and description of these giant figures, or Muffler Men across the United States.
Here are direct links to the ones in New Jersey and Pennsylvania:
New Jersey Muffler Men:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/muffler/trackno.html#nj
Pennsylvania Muffler Men:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/muffler/trackpw.html

Part of the encyclopedia entry is taken from Peter Genovese's book, Roadside New Jersey. Peter Genovese also wrote one of my favorite NJ books, Jersey Diners. I could go on about the glory of the Jersey Diner, but I will save that for another day!

RCA and a Greek Goddess

If the middle of the week looks boring, here are two events to perk things up:

On Wednesday, January 11, The Cherry Hill Library and the Camden County Historical Society will co-sponsor a talk at the Cherry Hill Library starting at 7 p.m. (no charge) on the history of the RCA company. Details here. Fred Barnum, author of His Master's Voice in America, will trace the company's history.

If that doesn't float your boat, try "The Goddess Persephone: Love Poetry and a Mythical Discussion," by performance artist and poet Zaharati Morfesis, part of Rutgers-Camden's monthly Cappucino Academic series. Morfesis gave a presentation on Persophone and Hades at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Also Wednesday, January 11, Barnes & Noble Bookstore Route 70, Marlton, NJ 7:30pm (no charge).

Ginkgo Leaves

Walking along the sidewalks of Camden, I would occasionally catch a glimpse of a Ginkgo leaf. This surprised me, as my previous encounter with Ginkgo trees was on a suburban campus tucked away in a well-manicured quadrangle lawn. I was terribly excited to catch a glimpse of one of my favorite botanical specimens and wondered where it was coming from. I would glance from side to side looking for the source of the leaves but it never caught my eye.

This past fall, after most of the colors were gone, I continued to be greeted by the most brilliant yellow Ginkgo leaves as I walked. One morning, I turned the corner a block earlier to avoid having to stop for the light and suddenly there it was in front of me! I had been walking by it and probably looking right at it and even past it, but never actually identifying it until I saw it from a different angle.

I did some research and found that I should not have been surprised at all to find a Ginkgo tree on the streets of Camden because the Ginkgo is one of the world's most urban-tolerant trees. The Ginkgo resists pests, disease and pollution and grows where most other trees will not grow.

Now, when I walk by the Ginkgo tree that grows out of an urban sidewalk, I recognize it for its beauty and its ability to tolerate conditions that are less than ideal. I am now on the lookout for more Ginkgo trees in every city I visit!

For more information on the Ginkgo tree, check out this page from Ohio State:
http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/hcs/TMI/Plantlist/gi_iloba.html

Camden Technology Center Opens

From the December 2005 issue of New Jersey Business (p. 15)

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority, EDA, unveils the new $16.5-million Waterfront Technology Center at Camden, enhancing the city's standing as a hub for research and development activities, and reaffirming the state's commitment to encouraging the location and growth of technology businesses and related jobs in southern New Jersey. The five-story, 100,000 square-foot Tech One building, the first of several technology structures planned for the site, is located within Camden's Innovation Zone and along a burgeoning waterfront area. It has been designed to accomodate existing businesses in the biosciences, microelectronics, advanced materials, information technology and other high technology and life sciences fields. The structure is fully equipped with redundant high-power electrical service, broadband access and other specialized equipment and services to support information technology and "green" building technologies to reduce energy costs.

Eagles Book

Football fans, and especially Eagles fans, might be interested in this book, compiled by Rutgers librarian, John Maxymuk. Eagles by the Numbers: Jersey Numbers and the Players Who Wore Them is available from Amazon.

Checking Out at the Mall

This past Saturday the Inquirer had an article on a branch of the Camden County Library System, called Shelf Life, located in the Echelon Mall (right across from the Disney store). It is an interesting concept -- taking the library to the people, and a place with adequate parking, too. It's also nice to take a break between stores.

Missing Monday

Crossing the Delware is listed on the Philly Future site and would like to participate in the Missing Monday campaign that some bloggers there have started. On the first Monday of each month, bloggers highlight a missing person from their region or area.



Marianne Demartin was last heard from on September 23, 2005 at approximately 7:00 p.m from her residence in Marlton, NJ. Her vehicle was recovered in Voorhees Township, NJ on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005: A 2001 2-door Black Ford Mustang Convertable with NJ Registration LHF53K. For more information, and contact numbers if you have seen Marianne, click here.