This Weekend in Camden: XPN Concert

When I first moved to the area one of my biggest adjustment challenges was getting used to the loss of New York TV and Radio Stations. Fortunately WXPN (88.5) allowed me to barely even notice the loss of NY radio (which by the way, 7 years later is atrociously bad). Every year, I hope to attend their XPoNential Music Festival , but it always falls on a busy weekend for me. However it always sounds like an amazing line-up and great family fun at Wiggins Park on the Camden Waterfront and one of these years I hope to get there. Tickets are available for this three day event..hope someone can check it out.
I do still miss being able to watch the Giants and Jets, but I think South Jersey radio is much much better then NY's ever was!

County Fairs this Summer

Looking for a fun family activity for the summer? Here is a listing of the New Jersey County Fairs. These are a great way to have fun while learning more about local New Jersey agriculture and 4-H programs. Your presence shows your support for the 4-H members who showcase their year's worth of hard work at their county fair.

Activities at these fairs include games, rides, live entertainment, horse shows, car show, tractor pulls, vendors, and my favorite, Fresh New Jersey Produce.

Fireworks at the Aquarium

On Saturday, June 27th, from 7-10 p.m. the Adventure Aquarium is hosting a special event, including the opportunity to watch the Philadelphia fireworks from their promenade. Advance reservations are required.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

AN EVENING OF FUN & FIREWORKS AT ADVENTURE AQUARIUM

You’ll be filled with fascination as you enjoy access to Adventure Aquarium’s exhibits during this special, after-hours event

Roll up your sleeves and prepare for a thrill, as you enter “touch” exhibits to get hand’s on with jellies, sea stars, anemones, sea cucumbers, sting rays ...even sharks

Discover underwater creatures in our 550,000-gallon Shark Realm Exhibit or our 760,000-gallon Ocean Realm exhibit

Check out the divers as they explore the depths of some of our largest underwater exhibits

Stop by our Feeding Frenzy Café to enjoy a full menu of food and beverage options

Best of all, you’ll have access to a premium view of Philadelphia’s Independence Day Fireworks from the promenade just outside Adventure Aquarium

GENERAL PUBLIC:
$22 ADULTS $16 CHILDREN (2–12)

PASSPORT HOLDERS:
$13 ADULTS $10 CHILDREN (2–12)

Water Features at Whitman Center

The reflecting pool and the moat around the statuary at the Walt Whitman Center are full of water now. The moat around the fountain has a current and I foresee a few informal boat races over the summer.

Riverwalking Notes

It was a beautiful day to take a walk today. There were three fisherman along the river. One said he had just missed a catfish. Among the geese by the boat docks were several fluffy goslings. One bird I did not recognize was very small, bright shiny blue back feathers and a little red around the throat. It was a little too big to be a hummingbird but too small to be anything else. Throngs of school kids flocked around the aquarium.

More Weekend Kick-Offs

This weekend marks the opening of several other local area activities besides the RiverLink Ferry.

The Collingswood Farmers Market opens tomorrow. Get the freshest vegetables, flowers and other yummy things along with information on growing your own. More information here. There is also a town wide yard sale in Collingswood this weekend.

The Camden Riversharks start their season tonight. Fireworks and opening day celebrations are on the schedule.

With the less than great weather this weekend, you may not be tempted to go right away...but keep these events in mind as they start this weekend and continue through the fall.

RiverLink Ferry opens this weekend.

The RiverLink Ferry opens for the season this Saturday and there is a special promotion where kids 12 and younger ride for free with adult ticket purchase from noon until 6pm.

I've taken this across the river a couple of times, its a nice boat ride and a great way to spend some time on both sides of the river for the day.

Lost Dog?

A number of people noticed a lost dog near campus this morning, a small terrier-looking dog, white but very dirty. Reports of the dog's behavior would indicate it is or was a pet. No reports of it this afternoon. If you happen to see it in the next few days please leave a comment or send an email.

Cool Breeze by the River

Some buildings on campus don't have air conditioning but there is a very cool breeze down by the river. The pepper steak and rice at the Crossroads Cafe would have been worth the trip by itself but having a walk with relief from the heat made it even better.

Professional Bull Riding- This Weekend

Looking for something interesting to do this weekend? Hop on the Riverline and check out the Professional Bull Riders, coming to the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton. Tickets are still available and at good prices (as low as $15.00). I've been to PBR events and they are family friendly and truly entertaining. Maybe you've caught some bull riding on TV, but it is one of those events that needs to be seen live!!

Garden State Grapevine

The Philadelphia Inquirer has a news blog devoted to New Jersey politics and government.

Check out the Garden State Grapevine, http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/nj_politics/

Flyers Day at the Aquarium

The Adventure Aquarium is a special event tomorrow:

In preparation for their 2009 NHL Playoff match-up against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the one and only PHILADELPHIA FLYERS will host a Pep Rally at Adventure Aquarium on the Camden, NJ Waterfront on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.

From 9:30 am until 5:00 pm on April 21, any guest who presents at Adventure Aquarium's ticketing window wearing Flyers apparel will automatically receive $2 OFF the price of admission.

Come on out and meet Flyers' alum Bob Kelly, the team's ambassador of hockey who helped guide the Flyers to two consecutive Stanley Cup championships. The rally will also feature fun inflatable interactive Flyers games, the Flyers Delta Dental Ice Girls and Fan Patrol, photo ops in front of an impressive 20-foot inflatable Flyers jersey, and Flyers give-aways and prizes.

And don't forget to stop by our Penguin Island Exhibit, you'll see there is NO DOUBT that these penguins are Flyers' Fans!

So come on out to Adventure Aquarium this Tuesday to show your support for the one and only Philadelphia Flyers...and don't forget your Flyers gear for $2 OFF the price of admission!

Armitage Lilacs

On Friday the lilacs (?) by the side entrance of Armitage Hall on campus were not only beautiful to look at but smelled wonderful. I hope they survive the rain today.

Restaurant Review: Five Guys

Five Guys Burger and Fries has opened a store in Audubon. The street address is 130 Black Horse Pike but the store from doesn't face the street. If you turn in at Audubon Crossing (or Commons?), it is in that group of stores.

It is a large space, room for plenty of tables; they may just have opened and perhaps not all the decor is in yet.

The food is good. The menu lists the standard burgers, hot dog, drilled cheese, friends, and drinks. One note -- the little hamburger or little cheeseburger and fries will satisfy most appetites. Only those with a heartier hunger would need the regular burger.

A little hamburger, fries, and a drink is a little over $7.00. Go with a friend, split the fries, and spend around $7.00.

There are also boxes of peanuts by the door that you can take, shell, and eat. Those with allergies should take note of this.

It's about a ten minute drive from campus, twenty if you miss the turn, and take a scenic tour of the Walt Whitman Bridge.

Crossroads Cafe

A week or so ago a friend and I walked down to the Crossroads Cafe for lunch; it is across the street from the Camden Children's Garden. It is a friendly place and you can count on a smile from the staff. Every day there are lunch specials, most very reasonably priced. You can chose from soups, salads, something hot off the grill, a freshly made sandwich or a slice of pizza.

April Flowers

The campus is looking very springy these days. The grounds crew has been busy planting flowers, hyacinths, pansies, tulips, daffodils, and others. Walk through and take a look and a sniff.

Button's Birthday Bash

Yes, it's that time again. Button the Hippo is turning 12 (next up: the teen years!!!). Here's some info from the Adventure Aquarium:

From April 4 through April 19, we're transforming Adventure Aquarium into party central...HIPPO PARTY CENTRAL, that is! We're pulling out all the stops for Button's 12th birthday to throw one HIPPO-sized birthday party, and we cordially invite YOU to attend!

Here's a preview of what's offered during Button's BIGGER Birthday Bash:

Meet characters from Nickelodeon's The Backyardigans™
Enjoy LIVE kids musical performances by father/daughter duo Secret Agent 23 Skidoo on April 4th & 5th
Boogie down to the fun-loving family music of Ernie & Neal on April 18th and 19th
Get crafty with the Party Maniacs on April 11th & 12th and April 18th &19th
Watch Button devour gourmet hippo treats on weekends!
Doodle on The Crayola Factory's giant birthday wall
Boogie down at Button's dance party
Help Sing "Happy Birthday" to Button and pose with her larger-than-life birthday cake!
Kids get their very own hippo party hat (while supplies last)!

Camden has the only aquarium in the U.S. where you can see Hippos in a land and water setting.

Friends Cafe

The Friends Cafe at 319 Friends St, right behind the parking lot by the business and science building, has a full menu. You can eat in or take out. The dining area has a big screen tv if you want to catch the news or your favorite tv show while you eat.

There are breakfast items for the morning crowd, all under $5.00 For the noon and evening meals there are a variety of options, cheese fries, chicken fingers, buffalo wings, salads, hoagies and sandwiches, burgers, wraps, and Asian noodles. Hours are Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. They will deliver, but only for lunch.

Is Your Idea MMM Good?

Campbell Soup has set up a new website to let people who don't work for Campbell submit ideas. The introduction on http://www.campbellsoupcompany.com/ideas/ states:

Dear Friend of Campbell,

Campbell Soup Company has a passion for innovation. We continually seek to improve the quality, convenience, and value of our products. We are always interested in ideas for new products, packaging, marketing, and production technologies that will help us meet the needs of our consumers and customers better, faster and more completely.

At Campbell, we recognize that valuable ideas for innovation may come to us from many sources, both inside and outside the Company. Consumers, customers, suppliers, contractors, inventors and friends often have suggestions that they would like to share with us, and we welcome their interest in doing so.

We have created this Web site to provide a convenient method for people who are not employed by Campbell to submit ideas for innovation to us. If you have an idea that you think may interest us, we hope you will submit it for our consideration.

Thank you for your interest – we look forward to hearing from you!

Douglas R. Conant
President and CEO

So if you've always thought the company should create a "cream of shrimp" soup or have any other productive ideas for Campbell, check out the site for guidelines, terms, and how to send in your thoughts. Keep it clean, keep it positive.

Camden Historian Researches Baby Books

As you always suspected, first children have completed baby books, subsequent children tend to have their milestones scribbled in the margins.

This was one of many conclusions historian Janet Golden came to when studying collections of baby books dating back to the early 1900's; this was part of a larger study on babies in American history. She also studied the use of babies in advertisements. For more information see "Camden historian researches babies across the decades," by Coleen Dee Berry in the 3/25 Rutgers Focus.

One of Golden's other finds:

“I was surprised to see how, throughout the 20th century, parents have been extremely focused on the costs of childrearing and on saving for education,” Golden said. “I always cringe when I read baby books from the 1920s and see that parents have opened bank accounts for their babies, because I know they'll be wiped out in the Great Depression.”

Matthew Henson Statue at Maritime Museum

Yesterday Michael Lang, John Giannotti, both emeritus professors at Rutgers Camden, and Father Doyle of Sacred Heart, gave a presentation on the Camden Shipyard & Maritime Museum. On April 6th, the 100th anniversary of Peary and Henson reaching the North Pole, Giannotti's statue of Matthew Henson is slated to be unveiled. To honor the contribution of the expedition's canine contingent a husky has been added to the statue; it is not in the sketch on the museum's website.

The museum is housed in the former Church of Our Savior. The parrish house was build from stones brought back from North Pole expeditions sponsored by Philadelphia area institutions. There were ballast stones from ships used on the expeditions. The parrish house was built in 1891. Matthew Henson and Robert Peary also worked in Philadelphia for awhile. Several of the stained glass windows in the church have nautical themes.

Giannotti, who created the wonderful statue of Walt Whitman which stands in front of the Campus Center, has made an impressive 8' tall statue of Henson. It is the first life-sized statue of this explorer. NJN's show "State of the Arts" will be film the statue's unveiling as part of an episode on Gianotti.

Riverwalking Notes

The Adventure Aquarium is landscaping the area along the river. Hopefully the plants will survive this week's colder weather. The greenery will really perk up the view.

Riverwalking Notes

It is still a little chilly along the river but the fisherman are out, school groups are taking field trips to the Aquarium, and the Battleship is open for business again. Spring has arrived.

Brian Dennehy in Camden

Actor Brian Dennehy will be in town to do a benefit performance for the Camden Creative Arts High School. Friday, March 20th, 7:30 (another report said 7:00) at the Haddonfield Memorial High School.

Trivia: Dennehy was in Camden around this time last year also.

New Eagle is Camden Native

According to Fox News, Rashad Baker, newly signed to the Eagles, is a Camden native.

Roller Girls Redux

The 2009 Roller Derby season is underway. On March 14th hometown team, the Murder Beach Militia battles it out with the Right Coast Rollers at the Convention Hall is Asbury Park.

For more information see the Jersey Shore Roller Girls site (http://www.jerseyshorerollergirls.net/)

March on the Battleship

The Battleship New Jersey sent around a list of upcoming events (info theirs, headings mine). For your perusal:

Tours
Battleship Open for Guided and Self-Guided Tours on Weekends;
Opens Daily on March 13th!

Spring is in the air! As we enter March, the Battleship is preparing herself to open everyday from 9:30 am to 3 pm, which begins Friday, March 13th. Our volunteers and staff have had a busy winter painting, maintaining and upgrading the tours throughout the Big J!

The Battleship is currently open for tours on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 10 am to 3 pm.

Come on aboard and relive history this March on our nation's largest and most decorated battleship.

Live Irish Music
Guests touring the Battleship on Sunday, March 15th can enjoy live Irish music on the Fantail , presented by AmeriHealth. The Hamilton Celtic Pipes and Drums Band will perform during the afternoon at 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm. Irish beer and refreshments will be available for purchase. These performances are free with any tour, or for a $10 donation that allows fantail access only.

Tickets can be purchased at the Battleship Ticket Office or online at www.battleshipnewjersey.org.

Driver's Ed on the Big J
The Battleship will host a special driving behavior modification course on Sunday, Mar. 15th from 9:30 am through 3:30 pm. New Jersey drivers who participate in the course can get 5% off insurance rates and a reduction of
2 points off their driving record.

Further, there has been a marked decrease in violations after the course is taken. Learn how to handle road rage, new challenges from weather conditions, the seriousness of Blood Alcohol ratios, fatigue issues, the physics of stopping a
vehicle, the margin of safety, and perhaps most importantly the need to minimize distractions of all kinds such as cell phones and even cell phone discussions.

For more information or to register, visit www.VoiceBehindTheCurtain.com.

Travel Expo '09
Visit with many popular travel professionals and plan your dream vacation while on the Battleship! The 2009 South Jersey Travel Expo will take place on the Fantail, presented by AmeriHealth, on Sunday, March 29th from 10 am to 5 pm.

Representatives from Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Grand Canyon Railway, Star Clippers, Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, the Philadelphia Zoo and more will be on hand to answer questions about their venues. 92.5 WXTU will also be distributing tickets to their upcoming anniversary show and playing music.

Admission to the expo is free. And guests can get a special $8 ticket to take a self-guided tour of the Battleship that day.

Battleship New Jersey Institute
Attention Teachers and the General Public! Come and earn professional credits while exploring parts of the ship not yet open to the general public.

DATE: March 20 OR 21, 2009, 9:30AM to 3:30PM

COST: $45 per person (Lunch Included)

PLACE: Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial
Camden Waterfront, NJ

DETAILS: The Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial is hosting Battleship Institute 2009 on The Big J! Experience demonstrations in the machine shop and the radio room. Guests will also visit the Engine Room, an area not yet open to the general public. The focus of the seminar will be MATH and SCIENCE and will contain two lessons that Teacher’s could use in their classrooms! New Jersey Teachers can earn five professional development credits.


Odyssey Experience
The Battleship will host the McCarter Theatre's Odyssey Experience on Saturday, April 4th. This interactive show, based on the literature epic of the Odysseus voyage, will take place ont he Battleship's Fantail at 11 am. Prior to the show, guests can experience a self-guided tour of the ship and then some activities and games on the fantail.

Tickets are $20 per person and includes the self-guided tour, or $10 per person to see and participate in the show only. Tickets can be purchased at the Battleship Ticket Office or online at www.battleshipnewjersey.org.

Children and War Conference

Mark your calendars:

The Department of Childhood Studies at Rutgers University–Camden is sponsoring an international conference on the topic of “Children and War” to be held April 3-5, 2009. Rutgers–Camden is a leader in the national and international discourse on the state of children and childhood both at home and internationally.

The impact of war and armed conflict on children, and the various roles they play during wartime, is a timely subject of keen interest that cries out for historicizing and in-depth investigation. Scholars from around the world in fields such as sociology, anthropology, psychology, history and religion have accepted invitations to speak at the conference. They will be joined by human rights lawyers and NGO officials.

The “Children and War” conference will be held in Philadelphia and on the Rutgers–Camden campus. The conference is free and open to the public.

For conference registration and schedule, please visit http://childhood.camden.rutgers.edu

Miscellaneous Restaurant Notes

A few notes on lunch over the past few weeks:

The soup at the Victor Pub is good.

Deep dish pizza and turkey wraps at the Market Street Pizzeria are also worth a trip out in cold weather.

Tax Assistance

Students at the Rutgers Law School in Camden are part of the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. Those needing help filling out tax forms can take advantage of this program:

The Rutgers–Camden law school VITA program is offered on the Rutgers–Camden Campus on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:30 to 7 p.m. through April 8, and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 21, Feb. 28, March 7, March 21, and March 28. Each session will be held in West Conference Room A on the lower level of the Campus Center, located on Third Street, between Cooper Street and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge on the Rutgers–Camden Campus.

This for federal and New Jersey state forms. In 2008 students help over 400 people with their tax forms which led to a total of over $400,000 in returns. More information available here.

Rutgers Camden Closed Tomorrow

The Camden campus of Rutgers will be closed tomorrow (Monday, March 2nd) due to an expected snow storm.

PATCO History

PATCO is celebrating it's 40th anniversary this year. There is a slide show on www.ridepatco.org if you would like to see how some of the stations and railways looked in earlier years. On the same website you can register to win ten free trips on PATCO. No word on whether or not there will be cake.

Pinelands Birding and Wildlife Trails

In the Delaware Valley, we are lucky to be located close to the unique Pine Barrens of South Jersey. A place where one can find birds, reptiles and plants that do not exist anywhere else in the state and in very few places in the country lies just a short drive from the area. If you have already explored some of these places, or are even just interested in taking part in the creation of mapping and sharing information about these places, then keep Tuesday, March 3rd free.

The New Jersey Birding and Wildlife Trails (sponsored by NJ Audubon Society) program has extensive information on wildlife trails throughout the state and now they are working on the Pinelands Region...and they want your input.

Please join the Clementon Environmental Comission for an informative and entertaining presentation on the Pinelands Region. Representatives are asking people from the county to share their wisdom of the best places to view wildlife.

The meeting is Tuesday, March 3rd, 7:30 pm at the Clementon Community Center, 195 Gibbsboro Rd, Clementon NJ 08021

Gas Leak Near Patco Station

PATCO is/was running shuttle buses between Broadway and Ferry Ave. because of a gas leak (you don't want a spark anywhere near one of those). Hopefully all will be well soon, if it isn't already.

Day Notes

It was a little warmer today, which may have accounted for the longer than usual line at Jordan's hot dog cart around 11:30.

Rowan Univ. Expanding Its Camden Presence

According to a new article on Philly.com (the Inquirer's website), Rowan University plans to expand it's campus in Camden. The university wants to triple the size of its enrollment in Camden and increase classroom space:

The college wants to purchase the First Camden National Bank & Trust building, at Cooper Street and Broadway, catty-corner to its current building — which it co-owns with Camden County College.

For more details see "Rowan U to expand in Camden," by Susan Snyder

WCCR Rutgers Radio

Who knew? Rutgers Camden has a radio station, WCCR. No further information available but you can follow them on twitter

www.twitter.com/WCCRcamden

Other RU-C twitter addresses, although not actively tweeting at the moment:

www.twitter.com/rutgerscamden
www.twitter.com/RCCA (Rutgers Camden Arts)
http://twitter.com/CamdenIDT

Other Camden twitters:

http://twitter.com/hopeworkscamden

Victor Building Business Updates

A few updates on the businesses at or coming soon to the Victor Building.

The Susquehanna Bank branch is open.

Rita's Water Ice will open this summer in a spot next to the Victor Pub.

The Market Street Pizzeria was doing good business at the lunch hour.

Miss G's is expanding their offerings. In the next few days they will open a deli counter with Boar's Head meats and Del Buono's Italian Bakery breads. Soup, salad, and wraps will follow. They will also be offering breakfast wraps and breakfast sandwiches. There will be some space set aside for seating also. The store is open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Riverwalking Notes

It was such a beautiful day today that I went out for a walk. Seems a lot of other people had the same idea. The Cooper Grant Commons townhouses look really nice, with appropriate but varied colors of paint on the trim. The metal fence around the statuary in front of the Walt Whitman Center is amazing, with carved alligators, herons and other water birds on it. Along the river I saw three joggers and one walker. Back at the campus, a class was meeting on the grass by a tree in front of the library and in the green space between the library and the admissions building a group of students were playing a game of scrimmage. A nice breath of spring before another snow.

Women's History Month

Here is a list of events scheduled for Women's History Month (March) on the Rutgers Camden campus; the public is welcome to attend:

Tuesday, March 3 at 12:20 pm in Armitage Faculty Lounge, Dr. Antoinette Pole, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and Law, Montclair State University: "Women: Blogging the Political"

Thursday, March 5 at 1:30 pm in FA110 -- Dr. Jennifer Fisher, Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, Temple University: "How Much Is Enough? Portion Size and Satiation in Young Children"

Tuesday, March 10 at 4:30 pm in Penn 401 -- Dr. Lorrin Reed Thomas, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Rutgers: "What Happened to History in the Seventies? Beyond 'The Personal is Political'"

Monday, March 23 at 12:10 pm in Armitage Faculty Lounge, Dr. Margaret Marsh, Interim Chancellor and Professor II, Department of History, Rutgers: "The 'Mothers' of the Pill: Margaret Sanger, Katharine McCormick, and Oral Contraception"

Thursday, March 26 at 12:20 pm in Armitage Faculty Lounge, Dr. Martin Rosenberg, Professor, Department of Fine Arts, Rutgers: "A Complex Weave: Women and Identity in Contemporary Art"

Noon Concerts

The schedule for this year's noon concerts, sponsored by the Rutgers Camden School of Fine Arts Music Program has been released:

Feb 11 - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Mallery Room
Milo Morris, Bass-Baritone, will perform Spirituals in celebration of Black History Month, with Mathew Wright (CCAS ’07), piano accompanist

Feb 18 - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Mallery Room
2 clarinet & bassoon
Yao Guang Zhai, clarinet
William Amsel, clarinet
William Short, bassoon
Mostly Mozart: Divertimenti

Feb 25 - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Mallery Room
Heidi Jacob, cello – performing works with Haverford College students Simon Linn-Gerstein, cello, and Michal Schmidt, piano, cello

Mar 25 – 12:00 pm – 1:00 | Mallery Room
Youngjoo An, soprano - Heroines of Puccini and Mozart Operas

Apr 8 - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Mallery Room
Charlie Abramovic, piano

Apr 22 - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Mallery Room
Asst. Professor of Electroacoustic Composition Mark Zaki

Apr 29 - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Mallery Room
Distinguished Professor Julianne Baird – Madrigal Ensemble

All concerts are held in the Mallery Room (unless otherwise indicated), which is located on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building. Admission is free. The concerts are under the direction of Prof. Emeritus W. Davis Jerome.

The public is welcome to attend.

PATCO Food Drive

Feb. 9-13 marks PATCO's 18th annual Valentine Food Drive.

On those days bring any non-perishable food item (no glass bottles or soda cans please) to any of PATCO's nine New Jersey stations. Look for large red barrels inside the fare gates. The food will reach those in need through the Food Bank of South Jersey, a United Way agency.

Among the most needed items:

canned meats, beans, fruits, and vegetables
peanut butter
100% fruit and vegetable juices
dried fruit
soups / stews
sauces
condiments
evaporated and powdered milk
non-refrigerable puddings and custards
plastic containers of infant formula
rice and pasta
breakfast cereals
muffin and bread mixes

If you live or work near a station, maybe you would offer to be a point person in your office or neighborhood to collect items from those who don't take the train?

Camden Student Activism, 1960-1985

The Paul Robeson Library is hosting an exhibit in the library lobby on Rutgers Camden Student Activism, 1960-1985. Those who were in Camden during those years may want to take a stroll down memory lane. Those who were not might want to come just to look at the fringe vests and bell bottoms in the pictures.

PATCO Turns 40

While riding home yesterday, I found a flier on the seat announcing that PATCO turns 40 this year. There are going to upcoming events to mark the years of service and they would like to hear from people about their thoughts and experiences riding PATCO. They are looking for vintage photos and are particularly interested in stories from people who were among the first to use the service.

If you have some stories or photos or know someone who would like to share their stories and photos, PATCO would like to hear from you by Feb 6th.

Email them at info@lists.drpa.org.

Camden in Winter 2009 Rutgers Magazine

Camden has several points of pride in the latest issue of Rutgers Magazine:

"The Shipping News," (p. 17) on Newark alumnae Beverly Grissom, who is a co-founder of the Camden Shipping Corporation.

"The Sister Act," (p. 31-32) on interim chancellor Margaret Marsh and her sister Dr. Wanda Ronner, who co-authored a book on fertility expert John Rock.

"And Justice for All (p. 38-43) on law school professors who work at the Urban Law Clinic and the Children's Justice Clinic. Profs Laura A. Cohen and Sandra Simkins are profiled.

Mark Your Calendar: Aquarium Events for 2009

For those who like to plan ahead, here is a list of Adventure Aquarium events for the year:

BRIDAL EVENT
February 25, 2009, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
All brides-to-be (and one additional guest) are invited to attend this one-day event FREE OF CHARGE! Want to bring the entire bridal party? Not a problem...additional guests are invited to attend for just $10 each. Even event parking is free!
Guests of the Bridal Open House in CURRENTS will be invited to sample signature hors d'oeuvres and cocktails and will be introduced to Adventure Aquarium's preferred partners offering services for everything from entertainment, floral and stationary to photography/videography, fashion, transportation and more. CURRENTS Event Specialists will also be available throughout the evening to answer questions and discuss the details of your very special day. Special pricing incentives will be offered to those who book that evening!

BUTTON'S BIRTHDAY BASH
April 4 - April 19
Celebrate Button the hippo's 12th birthday with live music, games, hippo birthday cake, and more!

A SPECIAL "MOTHER'S DAY" NBC 10 DAY!
May 10
Guests pay only $10 admission, compliments of NBC 10! Members of the NBC 10 team will greet guests and sign autographs.

DISCOVERY CHANNEL'S SHARK WEEK
July 25 - August 2
Celebrity shark experts, shark shows, giveaways and more! Come with a shark fin on your head (creativity encouraged!) and get $2 off admission.

NBC 10 DAY!
October 10
Guests pay only $10 admission on NBC 10 Day, compliments of NBC 10! Members of the NBC 10 team will greet guests and sign autographs.

CREEP IN THE DEEP
October 24th - 25th
Creepy fun for the whole family!
*Special hours offered for Passport holders.

COAT DRIVE
November 1 - November 31
Bring a new coat with the tags still attached and receive $2 off your ticket purchase!

FISHMAS WITH RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
November 26 - January 3
Meet Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and watch as Scuba Santa dives into our 760,000-gallon Ocean Realm exhibit!


DEEP SEA SPLASH NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY
December 31
Welcome the New Year at Adventure Aquarium! Enjoy dinner, drinks, dancing, and a flawless view of the fireworks celebration at midnight!

Breakfast and a Smile

One morning last week was one of those mornings when things do not go well. A casualty of this was breakfast. A quick stop at Jordan's Hot Dog Cart, which is set up between the Business & Science Building and the Student Center, put things to right. Jordan offered up a bacon & egg sandwich and a bottle of orange juice, at a reasonable price, and a big smile, which was free.

Stormin' Norman: Jersey Boy

Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf, commander of the Coalition Forces in the 1991 Gulf War, was born in Trenton and lived for part of his childhood in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. (See his autobiography for details.)

Vergilio Ceremony Sunday

A ceremony in honor of Camden haiku poet Nick Vergilio will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Rutgers University Campus Center, 326 Penn St., Camden, $10. The event is a fundraiser.

Vergilio, a Camden resident, who died in 1988, is considered a haiku master.

For more information see "A salute to Camden's haiku master," by Chuck Darrow, in today's Philadelphia Daily News.

Special Price on Aquarium Passports

A note from our friends at the Adventure Aquarium:

For a limited time only...when you buy an Adventure Aquarium Annual Passport, you'll receive $10 off the Family Explorer package (2 adults & 4 children) and $15 off a Family Explorer Plus package (2 adults, 4 children and 2 guests)! Annual Passports offer year-round access to thrilling exhibits, creative events and special programming through exploration of the world above and below the ocean's surface!

Enjoy Exclusive Passport Benefits:
FREE Admission to Adventure Aquarium for One Year!
Fast Track Entry - Skip the ticketing lines and scan your membership card at our entrance to begin your adventure!
Special Passport Holder-Only Events - Participate in signature events like our Passport Holder-only Creep in the Deep Trick-or-Treat Celebration!
Exclusive Discounts - Receive discounts on birthday party packages, Aquarium Adventures and purchases in our café and gift shop!
Insider Information - Be the first to learn about new exhibits and exclusive events and receive regular updates on animal arrivals, births and more!
Special Benefits - Receive FREE 4D Theater tickets and more!

Rutgers Assistant Dean Wins Drinan Award

Eve Biskind Klothen, assistant dean of the Rutgers-Camden Law School, has been recognized by the Association of American Law Schools with 2009 Father Robert Drinan Award for outstanding contributions to pro bono and public service. "Priceless work marks Rutgers Law," by Cynthia Henry in the Jan. 19th Philadelphia Inquirer notes:

Though Rutgers-Camden doesn't require pro bono work, as law schools such as the University of Pennsylvania do, more than two-thirds of its 750 students participate. It's a credit to the program, pro bono coordinator Pamela Mertsock-Wolfe said.

Volunteers are involved in death-penalty appeals, bankruptcy, immigration, domestic violence, financial literacy, disability benefits, mediation, legal research and voters' rights.

Klothen took over the pro bono program in 2002.

New Jersey Public Libraries at Risk?

This is circulating around some email lists. Those who value public libraries may wish to check on the situation in their own area:

On January 8, 2009 the League of Municipalities distributed a draft resolution to its members requesting that local municipalities support the League's efforts to slash public library funding by 50%. The resolution is available online at:

http://www.njslom.org/ml010809-library.html

Some municipalities are acting very quickly on this resolution -- allowing little time for debate or discussion. What can you do? Call your mayor or council people and let them know you strongly oppose this attempt to cut minimum funding for public libraries. Make sure library supporters know about any attempts in your community to support this draconian measure proposed by the League. Review all agendas prepared by the municipality. Some municipalities are trying to act on this resolution quickly, even this week. Don't let this happen. Speak out against this resolution.

It is now more important than ever that NJLA members reach out to local library boards and municipalities requesting that they reject this attempt to devastate public library funding in the state. NJLA has prepared a draft resolution that library boards and municipalities can use to show their support for the existing minimum funding level for public libraries. This resolution is available at:

http://njla.pbwiki.com/Public+Policy

Central and South Jersey Sports Blog

Those who enjoy Central and South Jersey sports might enjoy reading New Jerzey Sports (http://www.newjerzeysports.blogspot.com/). It covers college and pro teams and has some feature articles on selected athletes.

A View from the Bridge

Tonight on the way home, as the train was heading up towards the bridge, a large flock of birds swooped in and out of sight, circling the city. Their black silhouettes against a sky just starting to darken but still blue was beautiful.

Brass Rail Now Taking RU Express Cards

The Brass Rail Restaurant (425 Market St) in Camden is now accepting RU Express cards.

Their breakfast menu features, omlettes and eggs, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches and other items. The lunch menu includes wraps, soup, salads, hot and cold sandwiches and assorted other items. I am a big fan of the egg salad sandwich on whole wheat toast.

A Few Other Victor Building Updates

While out walking yesterday and testing out the new pizzeria I noticed a few other things that have changed recently in the Victor Building. The Susquehanna Bank branch is open. Also, the Victor has a children's menu now. No details on either at present.

Market Street Pizzeria Open

Great news!! The Market Street Pizzeria is now open, in the Victor Building, where La Riviera used to be. The menu is similar. I had a large slice of pepperoni and sausage on thin crust, and a bottle of soda (the soda fountain isn't up yet but will be soon) for $5.08. It was good. The preliminary menu has pizza, stromboli, appetizers (the garlic knots looked delicious through the window), chicken, a variety of salads, wraps, burgers, sandwiches, and assorted other items. There is also a soup of the day, with bread. Hours are Monday through Friday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Saturdays noon to 6. I'm not sure they are open all hours yet so you might want to give them a week or so before going for dinner, but those working late at L3 or students heading for the riverside parking lot will surely enjoy the opportunity to get something to eat before heading home, not to mention the residents of the Victor who might appreciate having a pizzeria so close to home again.

A New Year

Apologies for the lack of posts for the past few months. I was away. Now it's a new year and a new start. I look forward to seeing what has changed while I was gone and what new and exciting things are happening in the city. It is nice to be back.