These fans enjoy a Phillies-style snack

Submitted art.

A few Notre Dame Regional student celebrated the Phillies' Game 1 win with a few Philadelphia pretzels.

Eighth-grade students Zack Fountas and Nina Cirucci savored the first win by enjoying pretzels shaped in the “Phillies’ P” from the Federal Pretzel Co.

The World Series continues tonight at 7:57 p.m.

Love scrapbooking? VHS club hosts 12-hour marathon

The Vineland High School Scrapbook Club will be hosting a "Ladies Day Out" on Saturday, Nov. 14 in the VHS North cafeteria.

It is "a 12-hour marathon of scrapbooking and shopping" to benefit the VHS Scrapbook Club, according to a news release.

Three options have been set up to accommodate those interested in participating.

No. 1: From 2 to 4 p.m., there will be vendor tables set-up for some early holiday shopping. Some of the vendors will include Tastefully Simple, Tupperware, Longaberger, The Pampered Chef, Avon, Mary Kay, Creative Memories, and Creative Crafts.

No. 2: From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., for $25, you can reserve a table for yourself to enjoy some quality scrapbooking time. You can enjoy sharing ideas and tools with other scrapbooking enthusiasts. Perfect for beginners to get started or the advanced to cruise ahead in their album. Breakfast and lunch are included with first shift and dinner is included with the second shift.

No. 3: From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., for just $45, you can reserve a table for yourself to enjoy a whole day of quality scrapbooking time. You can enjoy sharing ideas and tools with other scrapbooking enthusiasts. Perfect for beginners to get started or the advanced to cruise ahead in their album. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is included.

For more information, contact Stacey Musey at smusey@vineland.org or (856) 297-2573.

H1N1 vaccines on hold as county awaits shipment

File photo.

Health officials have immunized 2,500 local school children against swine flu, but the county and Vineland health departments are still waiting on the next shipment of vaccine before setting up clinics for the general population, DJ Staffer Joel Landau reports.

Herb Roeschke, Cumberland County Health Officer, said more than two-thirds of the county's first 3,500 vaccines have been used during clinics throughout the county.

About 500 school children in Vineland were vaccinated earlier this month, city health officer George Sartorio said. The department still has 500 nasal vaccines left, but is waiting for its first shipment of about 2,000 swine flu shots before scheduling clinics for adults.

"Right now we are giving it to our highest priority," Sartorio said.

Local, state and federal health officials have said that young children, healthcare workers, pregnant women and those in regular contact with large groups of young kids should be among the first to receive the H1N1 vaccine.

Roeschke has said the department plans on immunizing every county resident.

"I wish I had that crystal ball," he said. "We're hoping it will come any day now, but we've been expecting it for a month."

Hospital system’s fashion show attracts 500

Millville Mayor Tim Shannon and Vineland Mayor Robert Romano pose during South Jersey Healthcare Foundation's fashion show. Staff photo/Craig Matthews

A few well-known figures strutted the catwalk before a sold out crowd of roughly 500 people during South Jersey Healthcare Foundation's annual fashion show Wednesday evening.

This year, the fashion show models included state Assemblyman Matt Milam, Cumberland County Freeholder Bill Whelan, Vineland Mayor Robert Romano, Millville Mayor Tim Shannon and Deerfield Township Mayor Carol Musso. South Jersey Healthcare staff and community members also participated.

It was the first time in the event's nine-year history the show sold out, said Carolyn Heckman, executive director for the foundation and vice president of communications and government relations.

"It has become a fun thing, a community thing, but it is also to promote the hospital and raise money so we can buy new equipment," she said.

The foundation held its first fashion show in 2001, when the women of South Jersey Healthcare's senior management team decided the female staff needed an event to counter-balance the men's golf tournament, Heckman said.

Now it is held annually at Centerton Country Club as a fundraiser for the hospital, she said.

Thirteen local and regional businesses loaned the clothes used in Wednesday's show.

Before the show, 34 vendors set up booths for attendants to shop at the event.

Ministry plans non-Halloween fun

First it brought the city free hugs. Now the group is offering free candy.

Kingdom Warriors Youth Ministry wanted to offer a fun alternative to Halloween on Saturday. (The church group believes more in the harvest time, than the typically pagan holiday).

The teen members and youth pastors plan to be on the corner of Seventh and Elmer streets from 1 to 7 p.m. to give away candy, prizes and Bibles for young area children, youth pastor Eddie Velez said.

“We wanted to let them know we can enjoy ourselves on that day without trick-or-treating,” he said. “We can also do things that have a meaning behind it.”

The group has pamphlets with information on Jesus and also Halloween for younger children. They also have 300 New Testament Bibles for older kids, he said. Most Bibles are in English, but some are in Spanish, he added.

All kids are welcome to enjoy games and will get candy at the event. A "trunk-or-treat" is also planned for kids to pick candy out of recently cleaned car trunks, Velez said.

Coach gets 500 Ws

VHS tennis coach Harry Silverstein, left center, poses with team captains Natasha Sotnychuk, left, and Rebecca Sheridan, right center, and VHS South Principal Tom McCann. Submitted photo.

After 26 years, Vineland High School tennis coach Harry Silverstein reached a unique milestone Friday.

Silverstein credits “the hard work and commitment of his players” for helping him amass 500 career victories, according to school district spokesman John Sbrana.

Silverstein added the 500th win when the VHS girls tennis team defeated visiting Oakcrest, 3 ½ to 2 ½, Sbrana said.

Silverstein has coached the girls team for his entire career and the boys team for six years. The 500 win mark is a combination of both teams – 413 with the girls team and the other 87 as boys coach, Sbrana said.

“It’s all about longevity," Silverstein said. "If you coach long enough, you'll get a large number of wins, hopefully. It's nice to see our kids getting better.

Ready for Trick or Treat?

Staff photo/Cody Glenn

Area municipalities have announced trick-or-treat times for Saturday. Here's the list in alphabetical order:

Bridgeton, 4 to 7 p.m.

Buena, 2 to 4 p.m.

Buena Vista (except Collings Lakes), 4 to 6 p.m.

Collings Lakes, 6 to 8 p.m.

Commercial, 4 to 7 p.m.

Deerfield, 4 to 7 p.m.

Downe, 4 to 7 p.m.

Fairfield, 4 to 7 p.m.

Franklin, 4 to 7 p.m.

Greenwich, 4 to 7 p.m.

Hopewell, 4 to 7 p.m.

Lawrence, 4 to 7 p.m.

Maurice River, 4 to 7 p.m.

Millville, 2 to 5 p.m.

Shiloh, 4 to 7 p.m.

Stow Creek, 4 to 7 p.m.

Upper Deerfield, 4 to 7 p.m. (limited to children age 12 and younger)

Vineland, 5 to 8 p.m.

...

In Vineland, State Sen. Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam, all D-1; Mayor Robert Romano, City Council and the Mayor's Youth Council will host a "Trick or Treat -- Meet and Greet" on Halloween.

The event is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday on the steps of City Hall, located at 640 E. Wood St.

Residents will be able to speak with their legislators, mayor, and council members about issues or concerns and the children will be able to pick up flashing lights for visibility while going door to door, Halloween bags, coloring books, and candy.

Romano is encouraging all residents to bring non-perishable food items so the Youth Council can make Thanksgiving food baskets for local needy families.

Santa Claus is coming to the mall

Staff photo/Charles Olson

Santa Claus will visit Cumberland Mall to welcome the start of the holiday season.

A Holiday Stage Show is planned in the Boscov’s Wing to welcome Santa on 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.

New this year, the interactive event also includes music, holiday cheer, and family fun.

Women’s Club hosts annual craft fair

The Woman’s Club of Vineland is hosting its 31st annual Antique, Collectible and Craft Show on Nov. 6 and 7.

The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 6 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 7 at the clubhouse, Main Road and Washington Avenue.

Items available will include glass, china, vintage clothing, jewelry, pottery and more.

Refreshments will be available. Admission is free.

Ghost hunters spill secrets at Rotary luncheon

Members of the Rotary Club of Vineland will get their spook on early with a visit from South Jersey Ghost Research at their weekly lunch meeting today.

The Delaware Valley's oldest ghost research group, SJGR has years of experience helping people who are frightened of or just curious about possible ghost activity in their home or business, spokeswoman Mary Jane Kinkade said.

 As part of their presentation, SJGR representatives will show a video that explains the organization and the approach they take when gathering evidence. They will also share photos and audio clips containing electronic voice phenomena, she said.

The Rotary holds its luncheons in the Ramada Inn's grand ballroom on Tuesdays at 12:45 p.m.

Corson Park attracts costumed heroes

Tyler Jones, 4, of Millville a.k.a Robin enjoys his time on the swings during the annual Halloween Pumpkin Extravaganza held at Corson Park in Millville on Saturday. Staff photo/Cody Glenn

Superheroes are the new ghosts. At least that was true at Millville's Halloween Pumpkin Extravaganza, held Saturday at Corson Park, according to DJ Staff Writer Cody Glenn's report.

Millville Parks and Recreation Superintendent Liz Nicke estimated close to 1,000 fun-lovers attended the monster bash Saturday despite foul forecasts and a few morning raindrops. The celebration has been a tradition for at least the past 30 years and is one of the city's most well-attended events, she said.

"They look forward to it," Nicke said. "I'm glad the city offers this opportunity because it's hard for families to go out and have fun for free."

Batman and Batgirl were among the most popular costume ideas, but you can't have the dynamic duo without the trusty sidekick -- and that's where 4-year-old Tyler Jones of Millville came in.

"There's plenty of Batmans. I'm more of a Robin fan," Tyler said while being pushed on the Corson Park swings, adding his favorite part of the day was the hayride. "Candy is the best part of Halloween, though."

Read more about the event and check out Glenn's gallery.

PathStone readies young people for jobs

PathStone offers free educational support, training and employment opportunities through its HYPE, Helping Youth Prepare for Employment, program.

To be eligible, participants must be a Cumberland County resident, high school dropout, unemployed, age 18 to 21 and have low income.

Services available include: GED/basic skills tutoring and referrals; work maturity training; career planning; employment experience; occupational skills training; job placement; and retention services.

For more information, call Oscar Gomez at (856) 696-1000, ext. 20, or e-mail ogomez@pathstone.org.

The business is located at 76 W. Landis Ave., Suite C, in Vineland.

A ‘no show’ retirement dinner

Wade Anastor is retiring as a Vineland Public Schools supervisor of instruction, but instead of holding a retirement dinner, he wants his colleagues to provide dinner for someone else.

To mark his departure from the district, Anastor is asking colleagues and friends to purchase a ticket (or tickets) for $5 each to raise funds for the First United Methodist Church Community Food Bank.

“The money will be used to purchase turkeys this holiday season for area needy families,” Anastor said in a news release.

Those wishing to participate can mail their donations to Marion Ostrowski, “Dinner Chairperson,” at the district administration office, 625 Plum Street, Vineland, NJ 08360.

Checks should be made payable to the First United Methodist Church, with “food bank” noted.

All donations are tax deductible.

History-seekers flock to genealogy fair

City Councilman and Vineland Historical and Antiquarian volunteer Ed Conrow (left) and R.W. Charleson of Vineland leaf through historic newspaper editions to find an obituary from Charleson's relative. Staff photo/Cody Glenn

Vineland residents went hunting for history at the Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society's first Genealogy Fair, held Saturday.

Roughly 50 locals came with family tree curiosity to seek pictures, habits and knowledge of relatives and historical Vinelanders.

The Vineland facility, which is the second-oldest historical society in the state, was established in 1864, just three years after the city of Vineland was founded.

Saturday's event was a team effort, with historical societies from Buena, Mauricetown, Clayton, Salem County and Atlantic County also participating, DJ Staff Writer Cody Glenn said.

"When we have events like this, it's not just about us opening our doors and offering these resources, it becomes a forum for people to come forward and share their own history," Frank P. Amari Jr., board of trustees president of the Historical Society said. "It's not fixed in time. There's an active element to this. It all continues to build upon itself. To see the wide range of ages, from middle school age on up, was really exciting."

Read more about the event and check out Glenn's photo gallery.

Eating crabs, spaghetti will help Vineland keep swimming

The Vineland High School boys swim team will be hosting a Crabs and Spaghetti Dinner as a fundraiser on Wednesday.

The event begins at 6 p.m. at the North Italy Club, located on Virano Lane off East Avenue in Vineland.

Tickets are available from any member of the swim team for $15 each. Tickets will also be sold at the door.