Southern Scene
Strangers on a Train
December 9, 2011
Recently, a friend of mine who lives in California posted a video to his Facebook page with a caption that read, “Stay classy New Jersey.” Oh boy, I thought. Now what?...
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The Sad Case of the Blue Undies
November 3, 2011
Peering into a shop window on Main Street in Medford last week, I was taken aback by a blown-up photograph of what appeared to be my town’s mayor, Chris Myers, lounging in nothing but a pair of blue Calvin Klein briefs. The photo is at the heart of the latest sex scandal to bubble up in New Jersey politics....
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Another Issue Crops Up for Medical Marijuana
October 21, 2011
As you may have read, medicinal marijuana is finally going to be available in New Jersey this winter. But apparently not in the South Jersey town of Maple Shade....
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Cowtown Rides Again (for Two More Weeks)
September 16, 2011
As we pulled onto the dirt path leading to the grass parking lots, the mooing of steers filled the late-summer air. Men and women in cowboy boots and hats strolled through the glow of another setting sun. It’s another warm Saturday night in South Jersey, where the Cowtown Rodeo is an annual tradition....
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A Borough Transformed
September 8, 2011
Let’s hear it for Collingswood. In just over a decade, the borough has transformed itself from a rather forgettable neighbor of Camden’s to one of the most enviable locales in the Garden State, and this month Forbes magazine decided to tip its hat to this inspiring rebirth....
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Hurricane Irene: From Hype to Havoc
September 2, 2011
Twenty-four hours before last weekend’s hurricane hit, I called a friend to suggest we postpone our Saturday-night plans, given the predictions about Irene. He laughed and declared: “Don’t believe the hype.”...
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Jersey Shore’ Good for Us? No Way
August 4, 2011
You’ve probably seen the recent stories claiming that MTV’s “Jersey Shore” may actually be helping the real Jersey Shore’s reputation. I don’t buy it....
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Farm Photo Archive Sprouts in South Jersey
July 11, 2011
Agriculture is still a big deal down in South Jersey. My own grandfather used to raise Black Angus cattle on the acreage that is now Medford Memorial Middle School. That’s just one of the reasons why I think it’s really cool that the New Jersey Department of Agriculture has recently made more than 2,000 vintage farm photos available through its online archives....
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A Tragic Death, An Ongoing Debate
July 1, 2011
A month has passed since 11-year-old Abiah Jones fatally fell more than 100 feet from the Giant Wheel at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, and the sad tale seems more divisive than ever....
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The Southern Shore Made Easy
June 20, 2011
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the southern end of the Jersey Shore or a newbie, I’ve got a great guidebook to recommend....
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AC Casino Ignites Cocktail Waitress Kerfuffle
June 13, 2011
My South Jersey Facebook friends have been all aflutter lately with opinions about those Atlantic City cocktail waitresses who were fired by Resorts Casino when newer, sexier uniforms were introduced in the spring. There’s plenty of contention to go around....
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Homework on Weekends? Of course!
June 2, 2011
There’s a report out of Atlantic County that the Galloway Township Public School District is considering a troubling change to its homework policy for next year. According to the Press of Atlantic City, Galloway’s Board of Education will vote this summer on a proposal that would bar teachers from assigning homework to students over weekends or holiday breaks....
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A Simple Trip, A Global Lesson
May 20, 2011
As a freelance writer I’ve taken on assignments that range from the extremely fascinating to the maddeningly banal. However, no any article I’ve written had gained international attention—until now....
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Good News/Bad News on College Kids
May 13, 2011
For almost three years now I have taught magazine writing as an adjunct instructor at Rowan University in Glassboro. As my fifth semester comes to a close this month, I am at once more encouraged and more discouraged about the future of education than ever before....
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For the Love of the Game
May 10, 2011
I’m obsessed with baseball right now. It’s not a newfound obsession—just a deeper one. Luckily, the Camden Riversharks opened their season last week to help satisfy my baseball hunger....
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Getting to Know John McPhee
May 4, 2011
I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to discover the genius of John McPhee, but now that I’ve had a taste of his literary nonfiction, there’s no turning back....
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For the Love of Vinyl
April 25, 2011
In this digital age, it seems a strange thing to admit, but here goes: I am obsessed with vinyl records. ...
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To Hunt or Not to Hunt?
April 11, 2011
Earlier this month I turned 30—and received the most shocking and surreal gift of my life. Now I need to figure out whether I’m going to keep it....
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A Jeep Driver, and a Recycler, Too
April 7, 2011
When I bought a Jeep Wrangler in September, I knew my vehicle of choice might engender the occasional finger wag from the hybrid-electric crowd. I just never expected it to happen here on Southern Scene....
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Apocalypse Now? Well, in May, Anyway
April 5, 2011
You might want to think twice before making that down payment on this summer’s shore house. Why? Because—duh—the world is going to end on May 21. At least that’s what one South Jersey resident claims, and he wants everyone to know about it....
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