Vacations

By Susie Rempfer

Vacations are the perfect time to sit back, relax, and smell the roses. While vacations can be soothing to the senses, they can also be damaging to the checkbook, credit cards, and wallet.

Vacations don’t have to be expensive. Whether its spending a day at Six Flags or the Baltimore Aquarium, spending a few days visiting loved ones in California, or spending a week in Europe or Mexico there are simple ways to eliminate the amount of money spent.

When planning a vacation, research is essential to cutting back on cost. Researching things such as the locations of the cheapest gas stations and the airlines with the cheapest airfare can start saving you money right away. Another quick trick to budgeting for a vacation is to go on the Internet and look up prices for hotels and restaurants you want to visit. By doing so you will be able to estimate how much money to set aside each day for meals, and you will be able to relax about finding a four-star hotel without ridiculous pricing.

 Another key thing to remember when planning a vacation is to spend what money you do bring wisely.

Although it may be the kids’ first trip to Disneyland, spending hundreds of dollars on souvenirs that will soon be forgotten at the bottom of a toy box is unnecessary. And although you may see something and say to yourself, “I have to buy this,” remember to shop around first. Some stores offer the same merchandise for less, or may offer something else that will make the first spontaneous purchase seem asinine. One tip for shopping for souvenirs is to pick an amount you’re willing to spend in total on every souvenir you buy. After each purchase of a shot glass or stuffed animal subtract that from the initial souvenir fund and budgeting money for trinkets will be worry free for the remainder of the vacation.

Another thing to think about when buying souvenirs is to stop buying something for everyone. Although a co-worker might have sent you a post card and key-chain from Hawaii, that doesn’t mean you have to buy him a twenty-dollar Mickey Mouse paperweight. Buy souvenirs for yourself and forget about everyone else; let pictures show off all the places you visited to interested friends and family members.

 VacationBy considering these few things, planning that dream vacation is no longer out of reach. Spend an evening researching where you want to go, and get estimates on everything you can think of; it may surprise you to realize that you could already have enough money saved up for that trip to Bermuda you’ve been dying to go on.

Vineland’s very own Bring the Music festival ’09

By AARON RILEY

Staff Writer

The music is being brought on June 24th, 2009 at Vineland, New Jersey, courtesy of the 2nd Annual Bring the Music festival. Boasting moderately unknown bands, many from the tri-state area, infixed into the smaller and more intimate (at least relative to most venues) setting of the U-Sell Flea Market, the Bring the Music festival has been a successful new concert. Beginning in 2008, the Bring the Music festival has spotlighted lesser-known bands with strong local and online followings, many of which you wouldn’t see at Coachella or the Pitchfork Music festival.

These bands’ vital lifelines of fan support have been achieved primarily though the Internet. In the age of Myspace and Facebook, a striking portion of the problems facing local and regional bands has been thankfully eradicated, leading, for many of them, to record deals. There are still however, bands that continue to be independent, either by choice or by as of yet remaining undiscovered. With that information in mind, festivals like this are important for establishing fanbases for many unrecognized talents.

Bands performing at the festival this year are You, Me, and Everyone We Know, The Morning Of, Go Crash Audio, The Lives of Famous Men, Raccoon Fighter, Where the Ocean Meets the Sky, Losing Ground, A’s Rage, Liam and Me, Eyes on the Prize, Van Atta High, I Know the Struggle, The Crosstown Rivalry, Cheezy and the Crackers, and Cassonova Brown. Expect to see more bands perform that will be announced in the coming weeks. Last year’s Bring the Music festival was held on June 25th, 2008, and included headliners Houston Calls, Person L, and Socratic.

The Bring the Music festival is being held on June 24th, 12:00 PM Noon, at the U-Sell Flea Market, 2896 S. Delsea Dr., Vineland, N.J. 08360. The tickets cost $15 presale and $20 at the door.

What’s the tweet about Twitter

By MELISSA PILEIRO

Editor-in-Chief

A few years ago, the Internet buzzword was “Myspace.” Not long after, it seemed like every college kid in America was getting a Facebook page. Today, the website of the moment is Twitter, and it’s spreading faster than many of its competitors. The secret might be that while social networking sites like Myspace and Facebook tend to attract only young students, Twitter is intriguing just about everyone. Huge media corporations like the BBC and CNN have it, as do many popular celebrities and even politicians.

The sudden incredible popularity of Twitter has left many people on the outside asking one question: what is it, anyway? Put simply, Twitter’s purpose is to answer the simple question “what are you doing?” in 140 characters or less, about the same amount of space allowed for text messages.

Yup, that’s all there is to it.

So what’s the appeal? For most, it’s a way to keep in touch with family, friends, or colleagues without the clutter and busyness of other social networking sites. The length of individual messages, called “tweets,” is short enough for readers to get all the information they need without having to dig through photos, quizzes, and other friends.

For the media, Twitter adds an interesting new dimension to the way news is exchanged. When the Internet first started to gain momentum in the 90s, journalism was revolutionized as the day’s news no longer needed to wait for evening. Twitter is a step up from this almost-immediate gratification that news websites provide. Twitter can be used to post breaking news headlines long before a story is written.

Naysayers believe that Twitter does little more than support personal narcissism. Using the site might leave your friends wondering why you felt the need to tweet “having my morning cup of coffee” or “going to class.” However, those that use it typically have very specific reasons for tweeting, and are thankful that they can keep others informed in a quick, concise way.

You can follow The Voice on Twitter, too! Check us out at http://www.twitter.com/cccvoice. 

Rowan innovates use of robots for programming

By AARON RILEY

Staff Writer

Rowan University offers an Introduction to Programming Using Robots course taught by Dr. Jennifer Kay. She also teaches various other classes concerning programming.

Essentially, the class begins with students receiving a functional robot known as the Scribbler. The Scribbler can be controlled with the Python programming language via a Bluetooth connection between the computer, where the user is inputting the commands with a keyboard, and the robot.

 According to student Stephen Smith, some of the projects they’ve done include using special conditions to make the robots exhibit certain behaviors over time such as following a light and crossing a specific number of black lines drawn on the floor.

The goal of the class is to gain a better understanding of how robots can be programmed in order to achieve certain physical goals; through this process, the student learns how to program in the Python language. Students are not responsible for learning anything more technical about the robot than its basic functions and what commands it responds to using Python, and they are not required to learn the schematic of the Scribbler. The class is not about building, maintaining, or designing robots, though a brief history of robotics is explained in the introduction of the course. The robots’ response to the code students run gives the students the ability to see how their programs work in a very tangible manner as opposed to simply seeing data output on a computer screen.

Once a basic understanding of the robot and the Python syntax is gained, students are encouraged to experiment with the various functions of the robot. However, there are some weeks when the robot is not used in the classroom. During these weeks, the lessons focus only on specific Python capabilities and functions. The students take the robots home for the entire semester, and so they are free to work with the robots whenever they want until the end of the semester.

Discussing the highlights of the course, Smith said, “I created a dance video with six robots running identical code (which can be found HERE). It’s my code, choreography and music selection…simplistic yet cool. The robots aren’t in complete unison because the code was executed by six different people on six different computers attempting to press Enter at the same time. I also designed a tic-tac-toe game that can be played by two robots. That project hasn’t been completed as of this time, and it’s finals week, so it’s not going to be finished as an assignment.”

The forgotten allure of Jersey foods

 

By MELISSA PILEIRO
Editor-in-Chief

 

Summer is fast approaching, and most of us will readily admit to daydreaming during class about our upcoming summer plans. For me, though, there’s one thing about summer in South Jersey that stands out the most: the food.

The Vineland area is well known for its ethnic diversity, and the Greek Festival sponsored by St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox church always draws a crowd. It will be held this year the weekend of May 21 next to the church on Wheat Rd.

  New Jersey didn’t get its Garden State nickname for just anything—this half of the state is famous for its produce. Parts of Vineland are more rural and agricultural than even some sections of the South, and that only works as an advantage to us, whether you’re trying your luck at your own garden or just enjoying the spoils of someone else’s. Jersey tomatoes are a particular favorite, along with summer fruits like blueberries, raspberries and peaches. The 23rd annual Red, White and Blueberry Festival will be held in Hammonton, the blueberry capital of the world, on June 28.

  If you’re looking for summer flavors with something sweet, your best bet is ice cream. The Royal Crown on Rt. 30 is well known for homemade custard and ice cream that’s mixed with whatever fruit is in season at the time. You can also get a twist of more than one flavor, like strawberry and blueberry or peach and black cherry.

  Of course, if you aren’t willing to travel that far for a treat, there are countless ice cream stands in the area to satisfy your sweet tooth. One such place that is both extremely popular and unique to this region is Rita’s Water Ice. Those of us born and raised in the Mid-Atlantic United States might be surprised to learn that water ice isn’t a universal dessert; in fact, people not from this area have been known to mistake water ice for snow cones. Ice cream fans should also be warned that ordering custard in any other geographic region will earn you a sweet, egg based confection, and not the soft serve you’d expect. Don’t ask for rainbow or chocolate jimmies, either—they’re sprinkles.

  The majority of South Jerseyans can’t imagine a summer without at least one trip to the Boardwalk, be it in Ocean City or Wildwood. No matter where your favorite location is, though, most don’t deny that eating your way through is often the most fun. Mack & Manco’s pizza is usually a resounding favorite, and if you don’t live down the Shore, there’s still hope—most of their locations will deliver. For dessert, there’s always the infamous salt water taffy—not made with salt water, ironically—fudge, or even deep fried Oreos. The latter might sound a bit sketchy, but go ahead and take a risk; it’s like eating chocolate flavored funnel cake.

  Some people might feel like South Jersey is boring and offers very little. This summer, I’d like to challenge you to expand your horizons—you’ll be amazed at how many interesting things to see (and taste!) you’ll find.

 

Mack & Manco’s pizza is a favorite of the Wildwood Boardwalk.

 

Tomatoes are a staple of Jersey foods, and provide for a number of cool, tasty dishes.

Summer fun is closer than you think

 

The Boardwalk is one of Jersey’s famous attractions and is an incredible way to enjoy the summer with family and friends.

 

 

By KRISTEN TANTILLO
Staff Writer

 

Now that the sun is setting later and the weather is getting warmer, it is time to start having the summer fun we have all waited for.  There are many entertaining adventures to discover right here in South Jersey.

Take the Shore, for instance. Not only is catching up on that long anticipated tan an option, but parasailing and jet skiing is also something to look into. Those thrilling rides are reasonably priced. For family fun, there are water parks in Ocean City and Wildwood that are priced less than those at Six Flags or Dorney Park. The drive is a lot shorter too. They have rollercoasters and goofy little games that will light up anyone’s face. Prices vary according to the amount of tickets purchased. Go to www.wildwoodsnj.com for information. To make sure these memories last, there are picture booths along the boardwalk, so pile as many loved ones possible in for the snapshot.

If romance is what you are looking for, try walking shoeless along the water with only the lights from the old rollercoasters and the Ferris wheel guiding your steps. Taking a walk in a nearby park at sunset while feeding the ducks will always spark summer love. Barbequing is also a spicy option. Eating outside in the warm air will also be refreshing. Ice cream is the way to any person’s heart. A cheap dessert can turn into one of the most fun things to do this summer.

Town festivals are pretty prominent here. Vineland has many festivals throughout the summer where great food and amusing rides are found. Millville and Hammonton always have some gatherings to check out. This is a plus since there is a chance friends and maybe even family will show up. Signs will be posted around these towns, so keep an eye open.

Millville has recently opened up a Motor Sports Race Track where anyone is able to arrive and drive. A day or seasonal license is required

and the cost starts at $25.00. Celebrities are always arriving in Millville to race their cars when they have free time. The Motor Sports Park is close and not too costly. Go to www.NJMP.com for more information.

If all else fails and you find the urge to escape the confines of the state, baseball games are also exciting and enjoyable at any age. The Philadelphia Phillies have home games quite frequently and the drive is only a little less than an hour. Game tickets are also under $20.00 at www.stubhub.com.

Summer is the season where everything is possible. It is the time of year where memories are made and the days as well as nights will never be forgotten.

Actor Spotlight on Amanda Padro

Cumberland County College actor Amanda Padro

 

By AARON RILEY

Staff Writer

Aaron: I’d like to welcome actress and CCC student Amanda Padro.

Amanda: You know my major isn’t theatre, right?

Aaron: What is it?

Amanda: It’s Liberal Arts/Humanities.

Aaron: What about those who haven’t seen Beauty and the Beast and didn’t see how you were as Belle?

Amanda: I believe they’ll be releasing DVDs of the opening show. So for anybody who didn’t see it, you could see the opening night show on DVD.

Aaron: Ok, can you tell us about your acting style?

Amanda: With Belle, I had the Disney movie to go off of. I studied her movements, how she spoke, and the characteristics of a princess. I had to study and develop the characteristics very early so I could almost become the character. I tried not to watch too much of the movie because I didn’t want to become the character completely. I wanted to retain some of myself in the performance. It takes a lot of observation. Also, when reading the script and the songs, I find that you have to look at the context as much as the lines so you can portray the emotion of the words. And then the rest will follow. It’s observing when you have something to observe. When it’s something like The Crucible, when you obviously can’t observe the characters, or when it’s based off of a nonfiction event, I studied history. I looked to see how Puritan women acted, how quiet they were, I looked at paintings to see how they would sit or walk. It’s research and observation. I haven’t taken any acting classes yet. I’m taking my first class next semester with Deborah Bradshaw. But I’ve been able to come and sit in on a few of her classes. You want the audience to feel something, whether it’s happiness or sadness or even pity. You want to touch their souls. And you don’t ever want to let them know that what you’re doing is acting. You always want them to see you as the character you’re playing. Never act, feel.

Aaron: What are your favorite performances from other actors? I mean, both “celebrity” or “famous” actors and Cumberland County College actors.

Amanda: Goodness. Give me a moment to think. The man who played John Proctor in The Crucible here at CCC. The Crucible was a very good show. It was my first show here. It being such a serious play, we had a responsibility to portray events in Puritan times accurately. The witch trials did happen and hangings did take place. The actor who played John Proctor was Mark Yecco. I played his wife and we had to play off each other’s energy. And I think my performance was better because of his performance. A specific performance I like is Natalie Portman in V for Vendetta. I loved her performance and I thought it was wonderful. There are so many movies I like. Man, I can’t even think of them right now. I’ll get back to you on that.

Aaron: Did you act at all in high school?

Amanda: Yes. In 9th grade I was in a funny play. It was called A Midsummer Night’s Teen, a spin on the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was my first lead role. In 10th grade I had a lead role in a play called Robin Hood: The Next Generation in the 9-10 building [at Vineland High School]. It wasn’t a musical, it was a street show. I played the daughter of Robin Hood. It wasn’t serious at all. In 12th grade I was in the chorus in Singing in the Rain. I got a callback for one of the leads but I didn’t get the part. So The Crucible was my fourth show. Actually it was my fifth show because I did a show in middle school but that doesn’t count. So Elizabeth Proctor was my first dramatic role ever, and I was very blessed to get a lead. So I haven’t been in theatre for my whole life. It’s just something I love to do. 

Aaron: Are you acting right now?

Amanda: I’m going to audition for Bye Bye Birdie.

Aaron: Right now?

Amanda: Well, within the next two weeks.

Aaron: Were you in the “Night of Scenes” last semester?

Amanda: I was not. I believe only people in the Acting class can do Scene Night. Since I’m not, I can’t be in Scene Night. I would have liked to though. But in the Scene Night coming up I’m going to be an extra in one of my friend’s scenes. Hopefully.

Aaron: What are your favorite memories?

Amanda: First of all, when you and a bunch of actors are together almost everybody has that passion for it. And this is something I’ve just experienced now in college. I think these shows are Grade A quality while high school shows are like…B minus. Even though they were good shows, in college you’re usually working with people who want to pursue this as a profession. Everybody has that energy that is just like “wow.” During The Crucible, it was coming up on stage and being able to perform something that was adult and having that feeling of serving a purpose. It was being able to show to the audience what happened: something that was such a tragedy and something that was so sad. There were people in the audience crying or commenting that they felt as if they were eavesdropping on a conversation between a husband and his wife. Knowing that the audience felt like they were watching living history was incredible. Acting is not just entertainment. It’s a message you’re trying to evoke for the public. It was an amazing experience. Curtain calls are great too. Coming out, bowing and taking in the applause is a high that can’t be explained. I was talking to one of the women who was working with me during Beauty and the Beast. Since I was the last to come out I told her that it was like an incredible high that can’t be duplicated. She said, “I know. They should put addicts on stage and see if it’d give them applause addictions that’d break their drug addictions.”

Aaron: Out of all the roles in the world, in history, in all the plays in existence, what do you want to do?

Amanda: I’m a very young actor and I don’t even know if I want to pursue this as a profession. I’m wading the waters. But I guess I’m good at it. I’ve played such diverse roles I don’t even know who I’d want to play. Elizabeth Proctor and Belle are two completely opposing sides of the spectrum. I don’t know. If I continue to study and continue to practice and experience more shows, I know in my heart I can play even more diverse roles. I can’t tell you what I’d like to do next until I saw a script and saw it performed. I think any role is possible. Maybe not a man.

Beauty and the Beast: A beloved story takes the stage

Amanda Padro as Belle in the beloved classic "Beauty and the Beast."

 

 

By MELISSA PILEIRO
Editor-in-Chief

 

 Disney classics have always had a way of giving both children and adults a taste of magic. A few weeks ago, that magic came to life on the CCC stage as the Theatre Department presented the well-loved family musical, Beauty and the Beast.

The show is based on the extremely successful 1991 animated movie about Belle (played in the CCC production by Amanda Padro), the beautiful and odd young woman that just doesn’t fit in. An unexpected series of events leaves Belle the prisoner in an enchanted castle, whose master has been turned into a terrible beast (Richard T. Smith). Only mutual love can save Beast and the attendants of his castle, and Belle may just be the one they’ve all been waiting for.

 Under the direction of Broadway veteran and CCC theatre professor Debbie Bradshaw, the cast of students, faculty and community members committed to months of rigorous rehearsals. Their work had appeared to have paid off long before the curtain rose. By the morning of the first show on April 23rd, tickets for all five performances had sold out.

For the cast of B&B, however, being a part of the show means a lot more than the number of seats filled or amount of money raised. Several cast members expressed their joy in being a part of a show that is a fond childhood memory for so many. Matt Kent calls Beauty and the Beast his favorite Disney classic. “What I love about it is that there are so many layers in the show that also exist in the real world,” he said. These layers of love, acceptance and personal identity can be appreciated by any age group, and is likely the reason for the show’s widespread popularity. Kent played the role of Gaston, the ridiculously good-looking and wildly vain man who could have had any woman he wanted–that is, except for classy Belle. Regarding his character, Kent said, “The Beast is hideous, yet changes into someone good. Gaston, on the other hand, is well-loved but is really a beast deep down.”

Tori Moratelli was cast in a comparatively minor role, and that was just the way she wanted it. “I really wanted to play Babette,” she said of her character, the castle’s ditzy and flirtatious feather duster. “At auditions there were so many girls trying out for Belle, but I wanted Babette. She’s the comic relief—funny and ditzy.” Having previous experience with the role helped as well; Moratelli also played Babette in a production of Beauty and the Beast with The Gabriel Project.

Both Matt and Tori said that having Bradshaw as a director was invaluable. “Shows with Deb go so much deeper,” Moratelli said, then explained, “Babette needed a French accent, sure, but what kind?” These little details end up becoming a huge contribution to the show. Matt added, “Deb is a wonderful director. She’s taught me so much.”

Stage Manager Kelsey Austin glams up Tori Moratelli for the role of Babette.

The impact that Bradshaw has had on her cast members extends far beyond the lead and supporting role; even the members of the ensemble have attested to her skill as a director and mentor. Samantha Williams said that “I did shows here before, and I really like working with Deb. All the shows that she’s done are phenomenal.”

After so many weeks of grueling rehearsals, it isn’t surprising that the cast members are no longer just colleagues, but very close friends.  “I knew some of the people beforehand, and I knew how talented they were, so I was really excited to collaborate with them,” said ensemble member Noel Gomez. ““When you walk into it you might not know anyone, but by the time it’s over you have a whole second family.”

Williams agreed with this sentiment, explaining that the cast would often spend time together after rehearsals, whether going out to lunch as a group or simply enjoying one another’s company. She also said that being around them has had a positive effect on her acting skills.  “With anyone you work with, just watching them and incorporating that into who you want to become is a learning experience.”        

Beyond the weekend of performances, this cast has done a lot more than just please crowds. Bradshaw wrote, “When I mentioned that just the costumes alone would far exceed any show we’ve ever done, the students in the Drama Club announced, ‘We can raise the money!’” From selling snacks in character at the shows, to bake sales and even a character breakfast, the cast went beyond the call of duty to ensure their audiences get the most out of the show.

All of the cast members spoken to agree that impacting their audience members is one of the highlights of being a part of the show. Like watching a good movie or curling with a book, drama has the ability to take audiences out of the present moment and transport them somewhere else, if only temporarily.

Samantha Williams said that coming into the lobby following the shows allowed her to interact with audience members, many of whom were in tears. She said that causing those sorts of reactions is both surprising and humbling for the cast. “To know that you really touch people—to know that you caused them to be so moved—that’s the best part.”

Amnesty International Club to hold film festival

 

By LENNY DESERIO

Staff Writer

The Amnesty International Club of Cumberland County College will be holding a film festival starting on Wednesday, March 25th and concluding on Wednesday, April 8th. Amnesty will be holding the film festival in the Conference Center here at CCC and will show the following films: The Devil Came on Horseback, Blood Diamond and Hotel Rwanda. The films will be shown at 2 p.m. each Wednesday of the festival (3/25, 4/4 and 4/8)  in their entirety.

The Devil Came on Horseback is a documentary about the ongoing crisis in Darfur, Sudan, Blood Diamond deals with control of the diamond fields in Sierra Leone (a country in West Africa), and Hotel Rwanda deals with the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.  

According to Amnesty International Club member Mike Lorenzo, the club is focusing on these films since each of these deal with genocide, a major issue that the group works to put an end to. “Even though this is happening far away there is hope we can make a difference,” said Lorenzo.  “Students sometimes feel there isn’t anything that can be done to stop the brutality of genocide, but there is hope. That’s why we decided to show these films.”  

There will be no admission fee for the film festival. All students are invited and are encouraged to come out and attend. Students are also encouraged to ask their instructors whether or not they’ll receive extra credit. Since the films are about genocide, they are rated ‘R’ and are graphic in nature; students are asked to use their discretion when bringing children to the event.

Bob Dylan: The greatest poet a musician?

 

Admirers catch a glimpse of Bob Dylan through his window

 

By KRISTEN TANTILLO

Staff Writer

“I consider myself a poet first and a musician second. I live like a poet and I’ll die like a poet.”

- Bob Dylan

This is the man who has single handedly impacted the past few generations while influencing aspiring musicians. Bob Dylan is one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed songwriters and musicians, having sold more than 110 million albums, written more than 550 songs and performed thousands of shows around the world. According to BobDylan.com, Dylan’s songs have been covered more than three thousand times in the past forty-six years. 

He began a new folk-rock genre influenced by the likes of Woody Guthrie and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Bob Dylan’s lyrics are poetic and every song he writes is meaningful and lyrically poignant. This legendary songwriter was called the greatest poet of the second half of the 20th century by Allen Ginsberg and was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature from 1997 to 2002. 

In April 2008 he was awarded a special Pulitzer Prize for “his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions  of extraordinary poetic power.” Being able to express his thoughts while having such an  influence on millions for forty-six years and going strong is quite an accomplishment.

“May your hands always be busy,


 May your feet always be swift,


 May you have a strong foundation


 When the winds of changes shift.


 May your heart always be joyful,


 May your song always be sung,


 May you stay forever young.” 

Those lyrics are from his famous song, “Forever Young.” That is just one example of Dylan’s musical poetry. 

It is undeniable that Bob Dylan set the standards for musicians everywhere. He took folk music and added the social consciousness of the protest era, bridging the gap between the 20th century and the electric era pioneered by groups like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. 

Dylan’s latest  release, Tell Tale Signs, is a compilation album made up of unreleased songs recorded between 1989 and 2006. “Tell Tale Signs is often stunning in the subtle beauty of its musicality and heart-rending in the delivery of its lyric poetry,” said AVRev.com reviewer Charles Andrews.

Bob Dylan has been on the scene for nearly five decades, and it’s unlikely the next five decades will see another Bob Dylan.