20 Minute Radius: An Afternoon in Mullica Hill

Serendipity shop clothing display.

An afternoon in nearby Mullica Hill is a great way to spend a spring day off campus. This local town offers great shops and places to eat. Here are some of our suggestions!

The parsonage in Mullica Hill.

Start your afternoon off at The Parsonage. This shop is two stories and has eight rooms filled with different antiques and items. Each room has a different theme that showcases different styles of antiques. From old magazines to antique toys and interesting knickknacks, this spot is a great place to explore to find a cool hidden treasure to take home as a souvenir. 

Glassboro state flag at the Parsonage.

After The Parsonage, stop at Serendipity XIX. This shop has everything from decor to small gifts and clothes/accessories. This shop is split up into two buildings and offers a wide range of items. Stop into Serendipity XIX for some decor for your residence hall room

Exterior shot of Serendipity.

After an afternoon of shopping, end your trip to Mullica Hill at David & Son’s 322 Barbeque. This local gem serves delicious barbeque pork, chicken and ribs. If you visit David & Son’s 322 Barbeque, be sure to get a side of mac and cheese: you won’t regret it. Each table has a game of tic tac toe for customers to play while you wait for your food.

322 BBQ in Mullica Hill.

Spending an afternoon in Mullica Hill is a great way to get off campus and adventure into some local shops. Only 13 minutes from campus, this is a great town to explore in the springtime and spend an afternoon unplugged.

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Story and photos by:
Loredonna Fiore, senior public relations and advertising major

20 Minute Radius: Citizens Bank Park

Citizens Bank Park image from the outfield.

Whether you’re a Phillies fan or not, Citizens Bank Park is an awesome spot 20 minutes from campus to visit. Watch a baseball game, enjoy the concessions and indulge in some great ballpark food. 

Citizens Bank Park is home to the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. This year’s Phillies baseball season has just begun, so there is plenty of time to catch a game or two before the semester ends. 

Phillies game photo provided by Loredonna Fiore

At Citizen Bank Park, visitors can enjoy a wide range of food selections. Chickie’s & Pete’s®, P.J. Whelihan’s, Shake Shack and Boardwalk Eats are some classic restaurants that offer a mix of Philadelphia cheesesteaks, sausage, and peppers sandwiches, crab fries and hot dogs.

If you have any more room for dessert, a classic Citizens Bank Park staple is to get ice cream served in a plastic Phillies baseball cap. 

Thomas Cardona at a Phillies game with an ice cream cup in the foreground.

Rowan University student Thomas Cardona at a Phillies game

Aside from the great food, Citizens Bank Park has shops that carry a ton of Phillies memorabilia and merchandise. Some items available include jerseys, hats, t-shirts and stuffed animals available for purchase to commemorate your day at the ballpark. 

Citizens bank photo provided by Loredonna Fiore

Rowan University’s location allows students to travel to Philadelphia easily. A quick 20-minute drive or train ride away will take you directly into the city and allow you to see all of the great sites it has to offer.

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Story and photos by:
Loredonna Fiore, senior public relations and advertising major

20 Minute Radius: Washington Lake Park

Pavilion and covered picnic space at Washington Lake Park.

Whether it’s to exercise, get some fresh air or be in nature, parks are a great place to visit during the school year for some self-care. Washington Lake Park is a great local spot to unwind and return to form when dealing with a busy semester. 

Washington Lake Park is a local park only six minutes away from campus. Located in Washington Township, this hidden gem is New Jersey’s largest municipal park and is home to some amazing walking trails. Covering 330 acres, Washington Lake Park has something for everyone. 

Gazebo at Washington lake park
The park at springtime

If you’re looking for some friendly neighborhood competition, you can definitely find it here. The park has basketball courts, tennis courts, and volleyball courts where members of the local community come to play. If you have some free time after classes, this is a great way to get active and meet new people.

Another fun activity to try is fishing in Cedar Pond. If you bring your own gear, visitors of the park are welcome to catch fish (and release them after they’re caught). 

Fish at washington lake park
Cedar Pond at spring in Washington Lake Park

Washington Lake Park is also home to an amphitheater, a large outdoor stage area where events are held. Throughout the year, local bands are invited to Washington Lake Park to perform on stage for the community. There are also events where food and drinks are served from local businesses in the area. Visitors are welcome to bring lawn chairs and enjoy the festivities. 

Theater at washington lake park
Washington Lake Park amphitheather

The events and amenities at Washington Lake Park make this local spot a great place to visit, especially during the warmer months. The scenic trails make this spot a great place to get out into nature and take a break from the hustle and bustle of classes. 

paved trail path at Washington Lake Park.
Follow the paved walking paths (above) or the nine scenic nature trails located around the park.

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Story and photos by:
Loredonna Fiore, senior public relations and advertising major

Information provided by the Township of Washington

Volunteering with the Glassboro Food Bank

Just a stone’s throw away from Rowan University sits the Samaritan Center, a shining pillar of light in the community. Rowan Blog contributor Bianca Gray shares: “As a Rowan student, many of us are volunteering in many different places around the state, but maybe we should take the time to learn more about how we can volunteer our time to the community we all call home.”

The Samaritan Center, also known as the Glassboro Food Bank, is a nonprofit organization located on 123A East High Street. For years, they have been dedicated to providing food and clothes for the low income residents of Glassboro, and Rowan students are starting to get involved in a major way. The Samaritan Center is happy to accept help and donations from any Rowan student looking to make a difference; here are some ways that you can get involved. 

Inside the Glassboro Food Bank, shelves stocked with cans and bags stuffed with food
A look inside the Samaritan Center

Volunteering is a must for any Rowan student. It’s a great way to get involved around the community and help a good cause at the same time. Students looking to volunteer with the organization could be given a couple of different tasks. They could help with distributing and packaging food, organizing food and clothing within the center, or help to maintain the center’s garden. Senior Writing Arts and Marketing major Melanie Kosick volunteered with the organization during the fall Thanksgiving Turkey Drive. 

“We mainly just packaged bags with cranberry sauce, stuffing mix and other Thanksgiving foods for families, handing out a turkey and a gallon of milk with each bag,” Melanie tells us. “Honestly, I really enjoyed the entire experience. Not only did I enjoy working with the staff, but it was a nice way to give back for the holidays.” 

Ingres Simpson stocking the shelves of the Glassboro Food bank
Ingres restocking the shelves!

Melanie’s not the only Prof lending a helping hand though. The organization’s president, Ingres Simpson, is an adjunct professor at Rowan in the Elementary Education program. Simpson first joined the organization back into 2014 after retiring from her previous job as a Supervisor of Instruction at a local public school. She works alongside other retirees to help achieve the Samaritan Center’s primary goal: providing food and clothing to Glassboro residents in need. 

“I am totally committed to our work at the Samaritan Center,” Simpson shares. “It is especially rewarding to be able to help people within my community who struggle to feed themselves and their families.” 

Along with helping those in need feed their families, the Samaritan Center also provides clothing through their Clothing Closet. The clothing is priced anywhere from 25 cents to $3.00. As stated earlier, volunteers could be asked to help organize the clothing, but for those who don’t have the time to spare and would still like to give back, the organization is always accepting clothing donations. 

The Samaritan Center's Clothing Closet
The Clothing Closet

The Samaritan Center is open from Monday – Thursday from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. On Mondays and Wednesdays, volunteers may help with distributing government-issued food to families and individuals who meet the federal guidelines for low income status. From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Center provides gently used clothing for men, women, and children, which is especially necessary this time of year.

Anyone interested in working with the Samaritan Center should visit the Center’s website where they can not only express their interest in volunteering with the organization but donate anything they have to offer. 

A picture of the Samaritan Center
The Samaritan Center is located at 123A East High Street in Glassboro.

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Story By:
Bianca Gray, senior English major

Photos By:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major