Camden divided on fire injuries

A short-staffed city fire department continues to lead South Jersey in firefighter injuries.

And top fire officials there have different opinions on what can be done, if anything, to stop that trend.

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Police training assists cases of mental illness

Officers Jared Bradley and Kristen Cassario-Smith took the call Thursday for a frantic woman standing in the middle of Haddon Avenue in Collingswood.

The duo coaxed and pleaded, trying to calm the hysterical woman. The woman was determined to stop traffic because she thought motorists were driving in the wrong direction.

After three minutes the role play ended and Bradley, a Burlington Township officer, and Cassario-Smith, a Winslow officer, received feedback on how to better respond to the fictional scenario of a woman who was mentally ill.

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H1N1 vaccine offered in Collingswood soon

The H1N1 vaccine will be administered here Nov. 16 to children in certain age and risk groups.

Children who are ages 6 months to 5 years are eligible, as are children ages 6 to 18 years with qualifying medical condition. A note from a doctor must be presented.

Vaccine will be administered from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Collingswood Grand Ballrooom on White House Pike.

-- Courier-Post staff

Police hand out 728 tickets to drivers for failing to yield to pedestrians

Posted via CourierPostOnline.com:

Careless motorists racked up fines and lectures in the past month as area cops went undercover to enforce crosswalk laws.

And while the state's Division of Highway Traffic Safety initiative ended on Monday, some area police departments that participated say they will continue visiting the crosswalks in the future.

"We are going to continue our efforts," said Capt. Richard Sarlow of the Collingswood Police Department.

"We will be putting out additional patrols. We have been enlightened to a big problem and we plan on taking it very seriously here," Sarlow said.

In all, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Pennsauken, Burlington City and Rowan University police handed out 728 tickets for failing to yield to a pedestrian, talking on a cell phone or not wearing a seatbelt.

Police gave warnings to another 1,222 drivers during the initiative from Aug. 13 to Sept. 13. The five tri-county departments were joined by 12 other agencies in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties to participate in the federally funded enforcement effort.

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Band Bash 2009

Marching bands from all over the Delaware Valley will invade Collingswood on Saturday for the high school's 6th annual Band Bash.

Band Bash is a high school marching band competition and it starts at 10 a.m. at the high school.

For more information, contact Karen Hartung, Band Booster President, at karenjean2@hotmail.com

Gear Up for Restaurant Week!

A glazed bluefish dish is displayed at the home of Collingswood cook David Hodges, Friday, June, 5, 2009. Photo by Douglas Bovitt

Restaurant Week starts on Monday, with various participating eateries offering multiple courses for $30.

Restaurants participating in Restaurant Week are Bistro AmericanA, Bistro DiMarino, Blackbird, Cafe Antonio, Casona, IndeBlue, Joe Pesce, LoBianco, Nunzio's, Sapori, Thai Basil, The POP Shop, Tortilla Press, Woksabi and Word of Mouth. Check out Restaurant Week specials below.

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Bank is robbed in Collingswood

For the second time this week, an armed man wearing a fake beard robbed a local bank Friday.

The gunman struck the 1st Colonial Bank on Haddon Avenue around 3:15 p.m., said the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. A man with a fake beard on Tuesday robbed The Bank on Haddonfield-Berlin Road in Voorhees.

"Whether it was the same guy, we're working to determine," said Jason Laughlin, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office. "He does seem to match the description of the previous bank robber."

The robber who struck the Voorhees bank was described as 30 to 35 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a stocky build.

Don’t Miss Pocahontas

UPCOMING EVENT:

Title: Summer Theater - Pocahontas
Location: Middle School Auditorium
Link out: Click here
Description: Collingswood Summer Theatre presents "POCAHONTAS".
The Collingswood Summer Theatre sponsored by the Collingswood Schools will perform the children's musical "Pocahontas".

Performances are on Tuesday, July 28th, Wednesday, July 29th and Thursday, July 30th at 7:30 pm with a matinee on Thursday, July 30th at 1:30 pm at the Collingswood Middle School's air-conditioned auditorium at 414 Collings Avenue.

General Admission tickets are $6.00 each and are available at the door.

The theatre workshop, under the direction of Mrs. Barbara Lefkoe and Mrs. Annemarie Dunn, is in its 15th season.

"Pocahontas" is a story of an Algonquin princess who helps the settlers of Jamestown.

Over 65 student performers in grades 3 through 8 will present this magical tale featuring original songs, lively dances, adventure and suspense. It''s sure to be fun for the whole family!

For more information or group sales, call 856-854-1514.

Nunzio’s In the Running for Top Chef

Nunzio's has advanced to the second round of South Jersey Magazine's Top Chef Contest.

The Haddon Avenue restaurant gathered enough votes in June to move forward in the contest by featuring a dish with blueberries.

Restaurants receiving the most online votes on the magazine's website are invited to the next round until the final two chefs compete for the title of South Jersey Magazine's Top Chef.

In support of our local Jersey produce, South Jersey restaurants feature a dish and recipe showcasing the Jersey ingredient of the month – you can try the dish at Nunzio's or tackle the dessert yourself with the recipe available on the restaurant's website.

Community Garden Meeting

Title: Community Garden Meeting

Location: Library

Link out: Click here

Description: Community Gardens meeting. Master Gardener John Wiberg of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Camden County will give a talk on vegetable gardening which will be followed by a question/answer session. Also get an update on the development existing open spaces into community gardens.

The Community Garden club is a new venture in Collingswood that will focus on the development of borough open space into community gardens.

Start Time: 18:30

Date: 2009-07-14

A Big Collingswood Howdy!

Hi there Collingswood folks.
I'm Lavinia DeCastro and I'm the Courier Post reporter who covers your town!
I'm excited to have one more venue to share what's happening in Collingswood with the public at large.
I've learned from covering this town that Collingswood is a happening place.
On the arts and entertainment realm, there's the community theater, the acts at the Scottish Rite auditorium, a new pops orchestra, a Shakespeare theater company, exhibits at the Perkins Center for the Arts and so much more.
On the green front, Collingswood has a bike-sharing program, as well as rain barrels and composters for residents.
Combine those things with the farmers market, second saturday, a vibrant business community and tons of educational offerings at the borough schools and we'll have plenty to talk about.
Enough to overwhelm a lone journo like me.
That's why I need your help!
Post your news, happenings, opinions or just plain thoughts about your lovely borough right here.
If you need help, just give a call. You can reach me at 856-486-2652 or by e-mail ldecastro@camden.gannett.com
This is your space. Let's make it as vibrant as the borough itself.
Happy posting!