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.