A Shout Out to Officer Maria Rodriguez

Yesterday, halfway across the Ben Franklin Bridge, I realized my purse (keys, wallet, etc) was still on the bench at the Camden PATCO station. I called the police number on the wall and a friendly transit worker also called it on on his radio. When I got back to Camden DRPA Officer Maria Rodriguez was there with my purse. She dutifully quizzed me on name and address to make sure it was mine. Nothing was missing.

A thousand thank yous to the people on the platform who must have seen the purse and either didn't bother it or handed it over to Officer Rodriguez, and to the officer herself for acting so quickly in retrieving it. This is a great example of the Camden kindness and efficiency.

New Salad Place

Fresh Fruits and Salads has opened at 114 N. 3rd St. They offer a variety of salads, starting at around $5.00 and fruit salads starting at $3.00. Delivery service is available.

(If you are looking for the previous occupant of that address, Cafe & Salad Work, they have moved around the corner.)

Scarlet Knights / Scarlet Tanager

For the birding set, take a look at the wonderful photo of a Scarlet Tanager taken on the Rutgers campus recently. It's over at birds.camden.rutgers.edu. This is a great site to browse through on cloudy chilly days.

Baseball Camp at Rutgers

The Rutgers-Camden Summer Instructional Baseball Camp for children ages 8 to 18 will be held June 23 to 27 and from July 14 to 18. All sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants will be grouped by age and skill level and will receive individual instruction in a variety of skill areas. Sessions will be led by the Rutgers-Camden baseball coaching staff and team members, other area coaches, and current and former professional or college players.

Heroes Day at the Aquarium

This Sunday is Heroes' Day at the Adventure Aquarium, which partners with the Camden City Police Department for the event. The aquarium will donate $1.00 out of every paid admission to the Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey.

You will have the opportunity to talk to law enforcement officers, fireman and EMS personnel from around the area including Camden City's Finest up close and in person! Check out their vehicles and equipment, learn from safety demonstrations, and much more. And, with SWAT and K-9 Units, Marine Rescue Squads, and more scheduled throughout the day, Heroes' Day is sure to have something for every member of your family!

Highlights of the 2008 Heroes Day include:

* Police Motorcycles
* Fire Trucks
* Bomb Squad Robots
* D.A.R.E. Vehicles
* SWAT Teams and Gear
* Marine Rescue Units
* K-9 Demonstrations
* Rappelling Demonstrations
* Car Seat Safety Inspections
* And more!

Picnic Spot

Yesterday I ate lunch on a bench across from the Coopers Grant townhouses, which look move-in ready, and in back of the Walt Whitman Arts Center. Today as I walked by someone else was sitting at the same bench. It must be a happening spot.

Several photographs of this area are available on the web at: http://www.camdencity.net/coopergrant.htm

Alumni Weekend!

This Saturday is the annual Rutgers Camden Alumni Reunion on the River.

The schedule includes movies, receptions, exhibits, and food, lots of food.

New Issues of Two Rutgers Online Journals Available

Two online journals based at Rutgers University in Camden have released new issues.

Mickle Street Review: An Electronic Journal of Whitman and American Studies, issue 19/20: Sights and Sounds is now available.

Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion, 9.2 Spring 2008 is also up on the web.

Enjoy!

Hilton Garden Inn Proposed for Camden Waterfront

Yesterday the New York Times took note of the proposed Hilton Garden Inn on the Camden Waterfront ("In a faded city, plans to build a hotel build hope," by Kareem Fahim).

On April 10th, the Courier Post wrote about this project, in "Camden may get Hilton hotel," by Eileen Stilwell.

According to the Courier Post:

PRA plans to build a five-story hotel with 140 rooms, an indoor swimming pool, small fitness center and meeting space with catering capabilities. It will not have a full-service restaurant, which is good news for the Victor Pub, Twenty Horse Tavern and other existing eateries.

In the Times:

The five-story hotel, with an indoor pool, would cater to several different kinds of travelers, Mr. [Thomas P] Corcoran [president of the Cooper's Ferry Development Association] said, including business people and visitors to Campbell Soup, Cooper University Hospital and Rutgers University’s satellite campus here. The developers also hope to lure families visiting the waterfront’s entertainment attractions, as well as visitors to a new convention center in Philadelphia, where hotel rooms can cost far more than the Hilton’s planned rate of $125 per night. Mr. Corcoran said that rock stars playing the concert hall, the Susquehanna Bank Center, usually stay at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia, but their road crews could stay at the proposed Hilton.

satellite campus???! I beg to differ!! 5,000 students is not a satellite campus.

A hotel would be a welcome addition to the city for a number of reasons, as Mr. Corcoran says, plus the convenience of having candidates for local jobs stay in town instead of having to drive them in from Philadelphia or Cherry Hill.

NBC 10 at the Aquarium

Fans of NBC 10 and/or the Adventure Aquarium might be interested in an outing this Saturday:

On Saturday, May 10, 2008, NBC 10 and Adventure Aquarium are up to something fishy, and YOU'RE INVITED! Come out to Adventure Aquarium for its third annual "NBC 10 Day," where all day, tickets will be just $10.00 for all guests, a substantial savings from the regular admission price. In addition, members of the NBC 10 news team will be on-hand to greet guests and sign autographs throughout the day. Currently scheduled newscasters include: Jamison Uhler, Lu Ann Cahn, Denise Nakano, Vince DeMentri, Deanna Durante, Lynn Berry, Tim Furlong, Mike Strug and John Clark.

Riverwalking Notes

Today I counted 5 fisherman, two joggers, and two other groups walking along the river. It's a popular place to be these days!

Camden Streets Ovrerrun with Cellos!

There was a cello (accompanied by a young man in a suit and a ponytail) in the PATCO station this morning and other musical instruments along the street.

The Symphony in C had a performance this morning and is having another tomorrow night. Check it out:

• Accordingly Bolero - Concert for Teens May 2, 2008 - 10:00am

  Conductor: Rossen Milanov, Music Director

  The passion of Latin America and hypnotic rhythm of Boléro will engross middle and high school students in the energy and power of a symphony orchestra. Q & A with Maestro Milanov follows this lively Latin inspired concert.

• Accordingly Bolero May 3, 2008 - 8:00pm

  Conductor: Rossen Milanov, Music Director

  The rhythms, the flavors, the passion of Latin America come together to energize an evening with Symphony in C you won’t soon forget!

  
  

Nathan's Now Serving Floats and Shakes

Nathan's Famous is now serving shakes and floats. They also have several flavors of Breyer's ice cream. Though it has been chilly this week warm weather will be here soon. In summer walking along the river can be hard work and a milkshake might be just thing to cool off.

Versus Network Moves to Philadelphia

Versus, the former Outdoor Life Network, is moving to Philadelphia.

Horton's Camden Connection

Horton Hears a Who's journey to the big screen had a stopover in Camden:

Rutgers-Camden 2002 alum Charles Lotierzo, originally from Maple Shade, is an animator with Blue Sky Studios. One of his most recent roles was serving as a character animator for the hit film “Horton Hears a Who,” featuring the voices of Jim Carrey and Steve Carell. Lotierzo was responsible for bringing the characters to life through believable motion and acting.

Lotierzo also worked on Ice Age II. While at Camden he completed his first animation short and demo reel. An art major he worked on animation projects as a student.