Gardening at home is a great way to connect with Mother Nature. But the planet-friendly hobby is also fantastic for maintaining a healthy lifestyle – even if your crop comes from containers on the fire escape. Don’t believe us? Read on for five big reasons to get in the garden this season. http://bit.ly/10heJIi

vaccineBecause the flu season has hit hard and early, the Camden County Freeholders have scheduled an additional flu shot clinic for those residents who haven’t received them. Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Health Department, announced that the clinic will be held: Tuesday, February 5th at the Homestead Community Center, 4771 Willow Avenue, Pennsauken, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Read more: Last call for Flu Shot

Nuts are nature's way of showing us that good things come in small packages. These bite-size nutritional powerhouses are packed with heart-healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. Here's a look at the pros and cons of different nuts, as well as the best and worst products on supermarket shelves today.

Read more: Best Nuts: Almonds, Cashews, Pistachios

Wrinkles are directly linked to eating sugar, said the Japanese vegan chef. Chef Ayumi Hashimoto, of Nashville, Tenn., informed workshop guests that sugar in the bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful molecules called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs. Hashimoto said the more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop, and the more wrinkles you acquire. The bitter news for those with a sweet tooth was one of many facts Hashimoto shared at an anti-aging workshop and vegan cooking class Sunday. http://bit.ly/FQDz6d

Over 100 reigning indoor and outdoor world masters champions and Olympians are among over 800 athletes 35 to 95+ years old in the USA Track and Field Masters Championships in Bloomington, Indiana. Renee Henderson-Shepherd , a Pitt grad from Merchantville, is entered in the 60, 200, and 400 for women 45-49 and should do very well, as she is the American indoor record holder for her age group in each event. Follow her events next weekend!

Pegasus Tower has entered into a lease agreement with Merchantville Country Club to build a 150 foot Cell Phone Tower on the club grounds. Merchantville resident, Dorothy Foley, is rallying others to join her in speaking out about how the plan will affect our community with her FB group "Citizen Power. No Cell Tower". The proposed site is approximately two blocks from the intersection of Spruce Street, Woodlawn Avenue and Prospect Street in Merchantville and in close proximity to the Community Center property. The request for a variance to erect the 150’ tower and 60’x60’ base station will be heard at the Cherry Hill Zoning Board meeting on Thursday, March 1st at 7:30 p.m. at the Cherry Hill Municipal building, 820 Mercer St Cherry Hill, NJ.

The first in a long series of steps toward healthcare reform was taken yesterday, when a bill that will introduce sweeping changes to the way insurance is sold in New Jersey was voted out of an Assembly committee. It defines a health insurance exchange, an online marketplace where individuals and small businesses will buy coverage starting in 2014, when federal healthcare regulations will make insurance mandatory for most Americans. The bill was moved over the objections of health insurers and business trade groups, but with strong support from consumer advocates. http://bit.ly/yyoF2K

More Articles ...