Fall 2021 08108 Collingswood Magazine

COLLINGSWOOD

08108 FALL 2021

fall in love WITH COLLINGSWOOD

IN THIS ISSUE:

Local playwright, singer and actor John Smitherman Bike Rodeo Borough Bites ...and more!

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Letter from the

PUBLISHER: Greetings 08108!

It may be hard to believe that the summer days are behind us, and autumn, or as I call it “sweater weather”, is moving in. The warm days are leaving us, but what’s not to love about fall, especially in Collingswood? The streets are lined with cornstalks, colorful mums, gourds of all shapes and sizes, and an endless gallery of festive window displays.

This year there is even more to love about fall in Collingswood!

In-person fall festivals are making their return including the beloved Collingswood Book Festival. We explore the local history of this highly anticipated event in this season’s issue of 08108 (Page 14).

Take a closer look at the borough’s Annual Bike Rodeo returning for its third year. Join us as we take a look at an interactive outdoor

FALL 2021 ISSUE

community event dedicated to the education of children’s bike safety (Page 18).

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PERRY CORSETTI VP OF SALES

With the start of fall so begins the season for decorating! We pose the question to residents of 08108 “Fall or Halloween decor?” (Page 22) Which do you prefer?

BRITTANY ROUGHT

Be sure to check out Keeping up with Collingswood (Page 20) for more fall fun!

MACKENZIE FITCHETT

Remember to follow us on Instagram at 08108_Collingswood and visit us online at www.08108collingswood.com See you for the holidays!

Brittany Rought Publisher

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08108 is a publication of Newspaper Media Group, 130 Twinbridge Drive Pennsauken, NJ 08110 (856)779-3800 x6920 08108@newspapermediagroup.com

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In this Issue:

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The Phantom of Collingswood Borough Bites Bookshop on horsback A Look at Local History Bike Rodeo Keeping up with Collingswood 08108 contributors Photos around town

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The

PHANTOM of Collingswood Well-traveled playwright, singer, actor John Smitherman proudly settled down in Collingswood

BY ANTHONY J. MAZZIOTTI III

E

xcept for the kidnapping and living underneath the Historic Collingswood Theatre or the Scottish Rite Auditorium, the borough has the next closest thing to the Phantom of the Opera in town.

In the 1909 novel of the same name, written by Gaston Leroux, it was learned the Phantom traveled to multiple countries including France, Russia, Persia and even Vietnam. In the musical, the Phantom is known to be an “Angel of Music.”

A talented singer, actor and playwright residing within the 08108, has been seen wearing a mask covering part of his face and has traveled the world from Spain to Germany to Peru. He had been up and down the east coast from Florida to Baltimore and Washington D.C. before moving to Philadelphia and settling down in Collingswood.

Coincidence? I think not.

Though the Phantom’s name is never revealed in the musical, but written as Erik in the novel, John Smitherman is proud to share his name whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Smitherman is a native of Neptune Beach, FL and originally planned to study criminology at Jacksonville University. After some discussion with his parents, he decided to major in commercial art. Then, after a family friend told him he sounded similar to Mario Lanza and gifted him a pair of opera records, coupled with learning one could study music in college, he changed his major one final time in an effort to pursue his passion.

His parents were silently supportive of his decision as they were unaware of how one could make a career in music even though he found work in local theatres upon graduation.

“I knew they were there if I needed them but they stayed out of the way so much they didn’t know how I was making money after college,” Smitherman recalled. “I remember telling them I was buying a house in Venice, Florida and they didn’t know I was making money doing theatre.

Smitherman found work in theatres up and down the east coast, on Broadway, off Broadway and on cruise ships. He’s been cast as Jean Valjean in a production of “Les Miserables”, Lt. Joseph Cable in “South Pacific” , and even was, you guessed it, the Phantom in a semi-staged production of “Phantom of the Opera” in Germany.

“I’ve been really lucky, there’s so many ridiculously talented people out there,” he said of his conquests. “It’s about being in the right place at the right time. I’ve been very straight with myself – there’s a bunch of people like me, I just happen to be lucky.” please see SMITHERMAN, page 25 FALL 2021

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FALL 2021

PHOTOS BY JAMIE GIAMBRONE

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Restaurant provides ‘Oasis’ for those seeking homemade Mexican food

BY JENNIFER AMATO

R

ogelio Garcia is originally from Puebla, one of Mexico’s foremost foodie destinations.

“I came to America with big dreams of opening my own restaurant and started working at the Westmont Diner as a busboy.

The customers were impressed by the way I treated them and called me ‘Rios.’ They were like family to me,” he shares in his story on the website for Oasis Mexican Grill, his newest restaurant located on Haddon Avenue.

“The Westmont Diner was the beginning of my long journey. From there, I went to work at Adelphia, Barone’s Tuscan Grill and Villa Barone in Collingswood, where I gained invaluable experience in Greek and Italian cuisine.

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Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant in Haddon Township. Five years later, we moved to our current location on Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, where we opened Oasis to rave reviews,” he said.

The road that has led them to Oasis “has been full of blood, sweat and tears, as they have continued to push and work hard every day to build something they can be proud of,” their son Alberto Garcia said.

Oasis opened in February 2015. It is Paulina and Rogelio’s third business, previ-

ously owning Fiesta Mexicana as well as Universal Deli & Grocery in Collingswood.

Oasis is family-run and operated with Rogelio and Paulina working side-by-side with their two children, Alberto and Merced, along with Rogelio’s brother, Emidio.

Over the past 6 years, Oasis has become well known in the Collingswood community.

“We participate in the annual Dining Out for Life and donate to different local events and causes,” Alberto Garcia said.

Alberto Garcia said the family is honored to be a part of the Collingswood community.

“We always say we are one of the smaller businesses because our operation is quite

small, but we are mighty. We continue to do the best we can each day – take pride in,” he said. “Love is expressed through food in many ways in our family. By feeding everyone – by perfecting our restaurant dishes – by taking the time and patience to make one simple sauce, that’s all love. Be it for our family, or business, food seems to be the thing that brings people together.” ■ Oasis Mexican Grill 498 Haddon Ave. Collingswood Owners: Rogelio and Paulina Garcia www.oasismexicangrill.com 856-858-1807

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FALL 2021

Bookshop tells the story of

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J

eannine A. Cook recently did a photoshoot with the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club, which required getting on horseback for the first time.

The club is known for the movie “Concrete Cowboy” inspired by a teen who forms a friendship with a group of Black cowboys in Philadelphia.

Next up, Cook is looking forward to riding with Kareem Rosser – his own version of the sort.

What will make that ride so special?

Rosser is the man who eventually became part of the first all-Black national interscholastic polo championship team – something unique and special, since polo is tradition-

ally a White-dominated sport.

In his 20s, Rosser wrote his memoir “Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Them Forever.” His childhood in West Philadelphia was tumultuous; while riding through Fairmount Park he came across a barn of horses and wound up working at The Work to Ride stables. It changed his life.

And hoping to change others’ lives, Cook is trying to schedule an opportunity with the Fletcher Club so she and her youth conductors (interns) can ride horseback to distribute books to neighborhoods in Philadelphia and Camden.

“Imagine being a child and some person comes by on horse and gives you a book – you’ll never forget that book,” she said.

Cook hopes to increase the love of reading and increase the value of it.

As such, she will be taking part in the

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Collingswood Book Festival on Oct. 2, facilitating a discussion with Rosser.

Cook mentioned the dialogue will include understanding the history of horse riding, especially in the Black community. Coincidentally, she recently learned that Harriet Tubman would take a master’s horse as she helped people escape slavery. So, Cook decided she wanted to know more about the deep relationships horses have had with communities, and Rosser is the perfect person to explain.

Those relationships are extremely important to Cook, who opened Ida’s Bookshop on Haddon Avenue earlier this year. The shop name was inspired by journalist, activist and researcher Ida B. Wells; which follows in the opening of Harriett’s Bookshop (yes, two “T”s) in Philadelphia last year, inspired

by Harriet Tubman, who saved dozens of slaves from captivity.

As an educator and artist, Cook said her mission is to celebrate female artists, authors and activists.

“I have been all three, to some degree,” she said.

Cook described opening a bookstore as a “calling” and also part of her lineage, as her mother was a librarian. In college, Cook created a club that would go out into neighborhoods and storytell with families on the blocks.

“So I don’t think it’s so far off to end up in a bookshop,” she said.

On Feb. 1, 2020, Cook opened Harriett’s – and the shop was open just six weeks before the pandemic closed the doors of the business.

She recalled having thousands of visitors to the Philadelphia location, including a Community Circle, music and poetry – and yet it has been “quite the rollercoaster since”.

While shut down for six months, Cook said she took the furniture out of the bookstore, brought books down to the corner, and through an honor system, made the books grab-and-go.

“People were needing, I believe, an outlet.

And they needed a way to read. … Reading is a means of self-care and wellness,” she said.

According to Cook, there was an influx of orders because of societal issues. She said people recognized a level of ignorance on please see BOOKSHOP, page 13 08108

continued from page 12

BOOKSHOP

certain topics dealing with history and the context of race relations.

Cook described literature as serving a means of information so people can be better citizens.

Last fall, she recalled making a post hypothesizing about needing a bookshop named Ida’s in 2021.

She doesn’t quite know why she made that statement, but said after that, she “got a feeling” and felt she should look into it. She thought, why not?

Cook then traveled to Mississippi to learn about Wells.

“I needed to walk her footsteps and learn what it was like for her,” she said, noting that coincidentally, Wells’s parents were killed during a pandemic in the 1800s.

“My hope is her walk, her legacy, can be one people can be inspired by,” Cook said.

Ida’s Bookshop opened at 734 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, with a soft launch on July 4, though Cook has not been able to hold a true grand opening yet.

“It’s almost like visiting an aunt, when you come into the shop,” she described.

She said there are few bookshelves and a minimalist collection curated for the month, plus she co-curates with a specific artist each month.

Cook said she constantly changes how the interior looks, which is something she realized she did as a young child with her own bedroom.

“It makes for a very unique experience,” Cook said, “and a reason to come back.”

She also created a Think Tank wall for children; kids can look at the aquatic wallpaper or browse through the books and tell her what they are thinking.

She said she wants to engage everyone in dialogue, and see what questions arise.

“I’m thinking of ways to use the space to engage beyond,” Cook said.

A lover of all literature, Cook said her favorite authors are Zora Neale Hurston, Octavia Butler, Alice Walker and Toni Morrison, who are featured on her favorite piece of “merch”: a T-shirt with the names “Zora Octavia Alice Toni.”

She said visitors are intrigued by the shirt and are then inspired to read their collections.

“Those authors engage who I truly am,” Cook said. “My foundational literary mothers.”

A resident of Philly since she was 17 years old, Cook said she loves hometown authors, too, such as poet Sonia Sanchez, third Poet Laureate of Philadelphia Yolanda Wisher and Ursula Rucker.

“They have done work on a local level, and now Collingswood is meeting the local literary needs,” she said.

Cook said this kind of action creates informed citizenry.

“You can’t do a good job running the country if you’re not informed,” she said, citing the essential need of having a dia08108

logue-based democracy. Cook believes people can be informed by fiction, through which they meet a new character or learn about why people make decisions; or by non-fiction, where they learn about new topics.

“There’s much work to be done … and if there’s a world you’d like to create, maybe you can create it,” she said. “Bookshops provide a home base, but they also do a lot outside of the four walls.”

Harriett’s Bookshop is located at 258 E. Girard Ave., Philadelphia. For more information, visit https://www.harriettsbookshop. com/ Ida’s Bookshop is located at 734 Haddon Ave., Collingswood. For more information, visit https://www.idasbookshop.com/ ■

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LOCAL HISTORY Collingswood Book Festival board is read-y to celebrate 19th year

BY JENNIFER AMATO

J

ean Brennan attended a book festival in New York City in 2002.

As a longtime Collingswood resident, she thought to herself, “Why can’t we do this here?”

Brennan presented her idea to then-Mayor Jim Malley, gathered some of her teacher friends and organized a few authors to visit the library.

Fast-forward 19 years later and the Collingswood Book Festival is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to a sixblock stretch of Haddon Avenue on Oct. 2. Visitors can browse used books, meet up-and-coming authors, stop by tables of 120 exhibitors and run into friends and neighbors.

Since the first Collingswood Book Festival in 2003, the event has grown exponentially and has become the town’s favorite festival, according to an unofficial poll taken during a Nov. 16 virtual community forum. Out of the five festivals listed, the book festival received the highest percentage of votes, not including the 28.9% who said they weren’t able to choose because they love them all, according to Sharon Hackett, chairperson of the festival.

“Out of the exhibitors who come, a lot are self-published or indie authors. People love to come and discover a new story and a person with an interesting story,” Hackett said. “People love to wander and meet the authors” As of publication, there were five adult authors, 27 children’s authors, 20 young adult authors and 50 poets from New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. – even please see HISTORY, page 15 FALL 2021

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– and necessary. The Book Festival does not have its own space, so the library serves as its physical hub.

Library Director Carissa Schanely said the library houses materials used for the book festival, is involved with marketing, staffs the Loompaland for children during the festival, offers a make-and-take craft and oversees the discussion for the Town Book on the Wednesday prior to the festival.

The Town Book this year is home-picked, suggested to the author selection committee by resident Ellen Rosenholtz. “Outlawed” by Anna North is the story of Ada, a scrappy 17-year-old bride who is cast from her home in an alternative 1894, where female infertility is against the law. North explores the setting of an alternate-history old west as a site for gender exploration and fluidity, and collective survival in the face of an oppressive government.

The Town Book is chosen for Karen Tanier’s Senior AP English Class at Collingswood High School. After reading the novel, the class and the whole town are invited to a discussion at the Collingswood Public Library on Sept. 29. North will be

presenting at the book fest as well.

The library will also host a Leonard DaVinci book course for children on Oct. 2.

“There are little bits and pieces where we connect,” Schanely said.

“It’s unique, particularly in South Jersey, to have a fairly small town that has an event this big, where we shut down the main street and have a celebration of books and literature,” she said. “It’s something unique and remarkable and people love it.”

Hackett, herself, is excited to meet Kareem Rosser, who will appear at the Collingswood Book Festival for the first time.

In his 20s, Rosser wrote his memoir “Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Them Forever.”

His childhood in West Philadelphia, known as “The Bottom,” was marred by a mother on drugs and a brother who was murdered; while riding through Fairmount Park he came across a barn of horses and wound up working at The Work to Ride stables. please see HISTORY, page 16

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Los Angeles – planning to descend upon Camden County from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the in-person event.

Los Angeles journalist Sasha Issenberg, author of “The Engagement: America’s QuarterCentury Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage,” will discuss the story of the battles over gay marriage in the United States.

He is also the author of three previous books on topics ranging from the global sushi business to medical tourism and the science of political campaigns. He covered the 2008 election as a national political reporter in the Washington bureau of The Boston Globe, the 2012 election for Slate, the 2016 election for Bloomberg Politics and Businessweek and 2020 for The Recount.

Also this year will include a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) workshop with Jeff Cunningham, also from Los Angeles. He is an Emmy-nominated writer who worked on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Cunningham is the author of “Leo: Inventor Extraordinaire,” a novel for middle school and tween readers. Leo is a 13-yearold orphan with a gift for invention. The only home he has ever known is a boarding school in Florence, Italy. Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, and with near future technology in his arsenal of tools, Leo solves a range of problems, from escaping detention and building robotic pets to searching for connection with his real family.

The STEAM workshop will be upstairs in the Youth Services Area of the Collingswood Library from 10 a.m. to noon on Book Fest Day, Oct. 2. It will include creative, STEAMrelated fun, and time with Cunningham.

Having a hands-on activity is a “natural connection” for students, Hackett said. The connection with the library is in fact natural

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HISTORY

continued from page 15

He event u a l l y became part of the first all-Black national interscholastic polo championship team.

He is currently a financial analyst at a Philadelphia asset management firm.

Also, he serves as the executive director of a non-profit fundraising arm called Friends of Work to Ride.

Jeannine A. Cook, owner of her new bookstore, Ida’s Bookshop, will be involved with Rosser’s presentation.

“I’m glad I’m in a community that celebrates books and celebrates authors,” she said. “It’s the responsibility of people who appreciate literature and the sharing of knowledge to celebrate these people.”

The day kicks off with the winners of the annual Walt Howat Youth Poetry contest winners, followed by a full bill of readings and programs by poets in the region.

This year’s tent will feature young Camden Mighty Writers, Nick Virgilio Haiku Association artists, writers from the Murphy Writing Center of Stockton University, poets featured in the journal Night Heron Barks, new and favorite works by Mickleton poet Shawn Jones and a tribute to the late PaulVictor Winters, hosted by BJ Ward.

The festival keynote will be Collingswood’s Cynthia Dewi Oka, a Bryn Mawr professor of creative writing and author of the forthcoming “Fire is Not a Country,” “Salvage” and “Nomad of Salt and Hard Water.”

Born in Bali, she has fought on behalf of social movements for gender, racial, economic and migrant justice for many years.

Hackett said the appeal of a book festival is its roots in reading and writing. There is still something to be said about holding a book in your hand. Plus, a lot of people are inspired to be writers, so they enjoy speaking with authors.

She said in past years she has seen people carrying bags of books written by people they’ve never heard of – mostly because they strike conversations with the authors and realize they have a shared interest.

That’s why the three board members and fellow volunteers on the Book Festival committee began planning the October event in the beginning of January.

“We all start reading books and we share our suggestions on who we want to invite,” she said.

As part of the festival, several contests will be held. The 2021 Retrospect Best of the Fest FALL 2021

selfie contest challenges contestants to snap a selfie with a book they are taking or giving and upload it to the book festival’s page with the hashtag #GetOutandRead. One winner will be chosen at random out of submissions uploaded to win a $100 prize funded by The Retrospect newspaper.

Visit www.collingswoodbookfestival.com/ news/the-retrospect-best-of-the-fest for rules.

Poets aged 7-13 are invited to submit to the Walt Howat Youth Poetry Competition, a tribute to the late longtime volunteer and Poetry Tent founder Walt Howat. The theme is: Memories. Memories can be happy, sad, scary and funny.

Visit www.collingswoodbookfestival.com/ news/the-walt-howat-youth-poetry-competition-memories for more.

Ray Didinger opens his memoir, “Finished Business,” with the Philadelphia Eagles’ upset win in Super Bowl LII. When the Eagles finally hoist the Lombardi Trophy, Didinger does his best to straddle the emotions of a working reporter and a long-suffering Philly fan.

Didinger has been covering the Eagles as a newspaper columnist and TV analyst since 1970. Over the years, he wrote sports for the Philadelphia Bulletin and the Philadelphia Daily News. He later produced Emmy Award–winning documentaries for NFL Films before transitioning to sports talk radio and TV analysis.

For the young ones, more than 20 children’s authors will be participating in the festival.

“Wishes, Dares and How to Stand up to a Bully” by Darlene Beck-Johnson, is told in verse about Jack, who worries about his father who is MIA in Vietnam. His family, new best friend and a bully unexpectedly help Jack find the courage to do the right thing, not the easy thing.

Another popular book, “Henry the Green Zebra Pig” by Christine Daly, is a picture 16

book that explores how hard it is to fit in when you are different.

Mothers may enjoy a book by Steph Ox, “Don’t Draw on Mommy’s Wall.” This story teaches kids how to follow directions, but bigger lessons for grown ups on how to give them.

And Amanda Rowe will share her book “If There Never Was a You,” which reassures children that the place they hold in their parents’ hearts can never be filled with anything else.

“It’s the foundation of continued learning,” Hackett said of the need for children to develop a love of reading. “I find kids who are exposed to books at a younger age, especially if there is diverse reading, learn apathy and understanding.”

Plus, she said, children think authors are “rockstars.”

The day will also include interactive fun: a Wall of Haiku, Town Poem, and an open mic sponsored by the Painted Bride Quarterly’s Slushpile podcast. And, a children’s music group is set to perform.

The Collingswood Friends of the Library, an organization dedicated to supporting the financial needs of the Collingswood Public Library and encouraging education and cultural development within the community, are very much involved with the day as well, Schanely said.

“The Friends donate both labor and funding to the festival. They sponsor the purchase of books given to the schools in support of the book festival, they support the hospitality team for the festival, they conduct school visits to advertise the Book Festival at the local elementary schools (along with the Children’s Department staff from the library), and they work in the Loompaland area on the day of the festival,” she said.

The Collingswood Book Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 2 along Haddon Ave. All events are free. please see HISTORY, page 17 08108

HISTORY

continued from page 16

region are invited to join the organization. Planning meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month, from April through September, at 7:30 p.m. in the Collingswood Library, 771 Haddon Ave. The Collingswood Book Festival is a 501(c)3 organization.

For more information, visit www.collingswoodbookfestival. com, and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. ■

Although 2020’s event was mostly virtual, with videos created by the authors and a few Zoom events, with an in-person, outside poetry event, Hackett said she is “doing a clear skies dance” so that the festival can go off without a hitch this year.

She said plans are still being made in the event of rain.

“It’s very exciting,” she said of the upcoming 19th annual celebration of the

Collingswood Book Festival.

As for the society trend toward digital media, Schanely said “the library does not judge about formats.”

“There’s not one way to read, and not one way to have a book,” she said. “People obviously still read and have a thirst for stories and information and escape. … The written word isn’t going anywhere.”

The book festival is run entirely by volunteers and community members from the

• Editor’s note: Jean Brennan could not be reached by time of publication.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF COLLINSGWOOD BOOK FESTIVAL

Patrons enjoy the Collingswood Book Festival in 2019. The event last year was held mostly virtual. This year, on Oct. 2, tens of thousands of people are expected to line Haddon Avenue to meet authors, listen to presentations and browse books.

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FALL 2021

CHILDREN FIND THE ROAD TO

Positive Community Interactions with Police Collingswood Borough will hold annual Bike Rodeo on Oct. 16

PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA CALLOWAY

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Children attend the 2020 Collingswood Bike Rodeo.

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C

ollingswood is known for its downtown area, but the real draw is its small-town feel.

“We want everybody in the borough to know each other …” said Rebecca Calloway, the director of Community and Business Development for the municipality. “In order to cultivate a small-town feel, it’s important to cultivate these relationships.”

What contributes to that “one big happy family” feeling, according to Calloway, is community programs such as the upcoming bike rodeo on Oct. 16.

This third annual event invites children up to age 12 to participate in an obstacle course where they can learn to maneuver and brake, have a helmet fitted, get their bicycles repaired if needed, learn bike safety education and meet the borough’s police officers.

“It’s put together as a way to help our local kids learn bike safety and build relationships with our local police,” said Calloway.

Children and their parents can stop by the Scottish Rite Auditorium on White Horse Pike any time from 9 a.m. to noon; they can ride around the parking lot for as long as they would like.

Children will be separated into groups by age and skill level.

Young children using training wheels will have time to play.

Police officers will talk to other children about safety when crossing streets or when riding around with their friends.

For the bike rodeo, the borough partners with Cross County Connection, which focuses on bicycle and pedestrian safety throughout the state.

Cross County Connection is a transportation management association designated for Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Atlantic, Cumberland and Cape May counties. They promote outdoor activities to combat obesity and traffic congestion, try to improve air quality and encourage sustainable modes of transportation, according to Joseph Wilson, director of marketing.

Cross County Connection has worked with Collingswood for 10 years, offering presentations in schools about bike and pedestrian safety, such as walking safely in a crosswalk, rules of the intersection, what side of the road to stay on, how to dress at night, helmet laws, how to check a bicycle and rules of the road, according to Michele Geiger, marketing outreach specialist and SRTS education specialist.

Cross County Connection partners with the Collingswood Police Department for the bike rodeo event. Cross County representatives check helmets and bicycles while police officers set up and run the obstacle course.

Safety protocols will be followed, much as they were in 2020, when the event was held with masks and social distancing. Around 50 children participated, assisted by five to 08108

Collingswood’s Third Annual Bike Rodeo Saturday, Oct. 16 9 a.m. to noon Scottish Rite Auditorium, parking lot, 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood Activities include bike riding, an obstacle course, helmet fitting, bike repairs, bike safety information.

Children should bring their own bicycles and gear, but helmets will be provided, if needed.

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10 officers.

“It was a nice event,” Calloway recalled. “It was something we could bring kids and families safely outside” and an opportunity to do something social, which people hadn’t been able to do for so long due to the pandemic.”

Plus, she said the children learn who the police officers are and the officers learn the children’s names. She said, afterward children are not afraid to say “hi” or show an officer their bike when they are out and about.

“What builds a strong community is when everybody feels comfortable with one another,” Calloway said. ■

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FALL 2021

Keeping up with

Collingswood It’s all in the details

When it comes to your social calendar, change is … not always good. But sometimes it’s inevitable. In the event of cancelations and postponements, be sure to double check the status of the following events before attending.

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Collingswood Restaurant Week: The Root of it All October 10 - 15, 2021

PTA Fall Festival and Haunted Hayride Collingswood Elementary PTA hosts the

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October 2, 2021 10a.m. - 4p.m.. Stroll more than six blocks of Haddon Avenue filled with authors/speakers for adults and children, as well as booksellers, storytellers, poetry readings, workshops, exhibitors, kidfriendly activities, and entertainment for all ages. This award-winning festival is the longest-running, largest literary event in the Delaware Valley. Visit www.collingswoodbookfestival.com for more information.

This fall, Collingswood chefs get to the Root of it All, with farm-focused menus packed with exquisite flavor in original dishes that showcase the very best of New Jersey farms.

Participating Collingswood restaurants offer exclusive prix fixe menus to their guests throughout Restaurant Week. Guests should RSVP to participating restaurants directly.

Reservations are limited! Check out www. collingswood.com for participating restaurants and menus.

“Liz was professional from beginning to end. She was extremely easy to work with and very responsive to any issue that arose. I was very happy that I chose her to sell my home & would recommend her to anyone looking to sell or purchase a home.”

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Let’s talk if you’re thinking about making a move.

Collingswood Book Festival Book Lovers of all ages: Join us Saturday,

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annual Fall Festival in Knight Park on Saturday, October 23, 2021 from noon 4p.m. with the Haunted Hayride returning from 5:30p.m. to 8:30p.m.. The festival will include face painting, food, beverages, shirts and glow sticks for sale. A fun selfie station will be set up for fa.m.ily photos! Volunteer groups will be setting up scenes around the gazebo loop at the park where the tractor goes around. Vote for your favorite group at the end of the ride. Rain or Shine. $5 admission (children 2 and under free). Any questions or learn more on how to be involved contact CollsHauntedHayride@gmail.com. please see CALENDAR, page 21 08108

CALENDAT

continued from page 20

Children’s

Programs at the Collingswood Library Check out some of our programs

for the fall! Building Blocks Storytime for ages 18-35 months takes place on Fridays from 10-10:30 a.m. at the Scottish Rite pergola.

Ready to Read Storytime for ages 3-5 will be in the community room on Thursdays from 2-3 p.m. Other progra.m.s include our Magic Tree House Book Club on September 20, October 18 and November 15 from 4-5 p.m. in the community room and our brand new STEA.m. Creation Station weekly in the library! Check out our website www.collingswoodlib.org for information and registration links.

Tween and Teen Progra.m.s at the Collingswood Library

Calling all tweens ages 8-12 and teens 13-18! Check out our Getting Crafty tween crafts on biweekly Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m. and Roll for Adventure: Tween RPGs on Wednesdays from 3-5 p.m. in the community room. Teens can take part in Teen Crafternoons on second Tuesdays from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Teen area and Teen Ga.m.ing on Fridays from 3-5 p.m. in the community room. We also offer monthly D&D on select Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m. in the community room. Check out our website www.collingswoodlib.org for information and registration links.

Collingswood Reads Book Club

Join fellow book lovers as we discuss our monthly book picks! Discussions take place one Wednesday per month from 7-8 p.m.. On September 29th we discuss “Outlawed” by Anna North in the community room at the Collingswood Library.

Our October 20th pick is “Interior Chinatown” by Charles Yu; we plan to meet on the porch of the Scottish Rite, weather depending. Learn more at www. collingswoodlib.org. ■

Send us your calendar listings!

Please include all critical information: Who, what, where, when, and how to register or get tickets (if applicable), as well as a few lines of description.

Email your listings to 08108@ newspapermediagroup.com.

08108

Fall 2021 Issue Contributers:

Jamie Giambrone

Anthony Mazziotti

Jennifer Amato

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Do you prefer fall or Halloween decorations?

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PHOTOS BY JAMIE GIAMBRONE

PHOTO 1: The Darabos family: Mom and dad, Katie and John with 4 year old Jack and baby Ben. They prefer “Halloween decorations and the spiders are great toys!”

PHOTO 2: Shain Gabin, 2 1/2 years old with her parents, Joseph Gabin and Jackie Bernstein. “Fall because it catches more of the season.”

PHOTO 3: (L-R) Tessa McKenna and Julian Conner. Tessa - “Halloween because of nostalgia.” Julian - “Fall decorations because there are more options.”

PHOTO 4: Jeanine Pescatore walks a friend’s dog named Loki. “Fall decorations because it’s my favorite season because it marks something new is happening. Like a new school year.”

PHOTO 5: Kirstin Powell and her daughter, Laurelei Powell, 7 years old. They prefer “Halloween decorations because they light up.”

PHOTO 6: (L-R) Donna Welsh and June McAleer with dog Dexter.

Donna says” Halloween because it’s fun and evokes the child in you.”

PHOTO 7: Mary and Paul Dressel.

Mary says, “ I usually go with fall decorations because you can use them the whole season.” Paul says he “likes the Fall color palette.”

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SMITHERMAN

continued from page 6

Smitherman is happily married to Jessica Edwards whom he met while performing on the aforementioned cruise ship.

“We were cast together in a duet for a world cruise,” he said. “We got to see the world together,” The duo have a pair of boys, Asher and Roman, who are products of the Collingswood School system.

Before the marriage and the children, Smitherman and Edwards were trying to figure out where to settle down – they eventually settled on Philadelphia as it has a robust theatrical scene of its own in addition to its proximity to New York City, so either of the two could commute for auditions.

Eventually, Edwards pursued a career in nursing while Smitherman continued performing locally and focusing on playwriting.

The couple traded in the city streets for suburban bliss in the 08108.

“Collingswood has been wonderful for us, we live right across from Knight Park,” he said. “We love it. It’s perfect for bringing up our two boys.”

He cited the city-esque downtown area and the restaurants as things he loves about the borough though he added, “There’s always stuff to do in Collingswood.”

So what’s next for the man who traveled the world with his future wife while doing what he loves? The man who performed in

countless theatres around the globe?

This past summer he traveled to Utah, where he was the integral piece in performing and directing a production of “Holy Stromboli,” a play written by Smitherman himself, which is the sequel to “Holy Cannoli” a play written a few years prior. The family flew to Utah for a couple of weeks and performed the play a handful of times.

That’s about it for the performing – his days of long running productions and consistent singing and acting are behind him.

He’ll do the occasional concert, but he doesn’t want to be away from his family for an extended period of time.

Take all the good from the Phantom – a life in blissful anonymity. A legend that grows larger with each passing story, those who’ve heard him sing know he’s truly a God amongst men – that’s Smitherman.

Collingswood’s “Casper the Friendly Ghost” version of the Phantom. A jolly man who has an appreciation for the arts and a great singing voice and a knack for writing plays. Sure, he might wear a mask from time to time, but that’s strictly for safety reasons. ■

FALL 2021

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