Cranford Radio

In the early 1980s a new, little understood disease was primarily affecting two marginalized groups of people; gay men and intravenous drug users. The deadly ailment which, at the time, had no known treatment, sparked widely varying reactions.Angels in America looks at the AIDS crisis in New York City in the mid 1980s. Cranford Radio spoke with five people involved in the Cranford Dramatic Club production; Michael Kidney (director), Richard J. Colonna (Roy Cohn), Molly Reinhardt (Harper Pitt), Corey Chichizola (Prior Walter) and Aaron Hancock (Belize).The play will run weekends from February 14 through March 1. Tickets are available online and at the box office on performance days.

Lori Talbot grew up in Cranford and shortly after graduating college returned to town to start a 33-year career as a teacher at Hillside Avenue School.Since retiring she's found new opportunities to use her creative skills as a columnist and content creator. She writes a monthly column for Cranford Neighbors and also has a presence on Facebook and Instagram under Life with Lori. She also works for New Jersey Blood Services, something that grew out of two deeply personal life experiences where her late husband and her daughter received blood transfusions as they battled health issues. On January 30, there is a blood drive in Garwood in honor of her husband, Bob Talbot.

You know that voice. That thought you just can't shake or the one you know is there but you just can't quite hear what it's saying. Cranford resident Carly Berger Nguyen decided to listen to that voice after the birth of her children and leaving her job in the fashion industry. It led to her starting her life coaching and mindset business, Little Voice Big Matter.Many of her clients are mothers such as herself. She helps them find that place in their lives that brings balance and fulfillment. In addition, she writes a blog which addresses many issues people confront.On this Cranford Radio episode I chat with Carly about her business, the issues she often hears from clients, and a bit about her own journey.

For most of Richard Brown's adult life he has had a passion for repairing the world. In his case, that has largely involved addressing homelessness. In recognition of his work, the Cranford Clergy Council and the Cranford Interfaith Human Relations Committee has decided to present this year's Martin Luther King Jr. Award to Richard.In this week's episode I chat with Richard about his efforts and how he and his late wife, Jan, have made a difference. The award will be presented at the community's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Commemoration. It takes place at Calvary Tabernacle at 69 Myrtle Street at 7 pm on Thursday, January 16.

Many people in Cranford have attended a play or musical in New York City. While you see the performers on stage there's a lot you don't see that makes the show possible. Cranford resident Christy Ney has worked extensively in theater including stints with the Tony Award-winning Side Man, the first national tour of The Lion King and 14 years in the New York City production of Wicked.Today, she teaches, does free lance work as a stage manager (and more), and is involved with the arts community in Cranford.

Calvary Lutheran Church will host this annual event the evening of Thursday, December 19. The event is organized by the Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council. One of the leaders of the organization, Rev. Carmine Pernini, the pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Rahway, spoke with me about the event.

As sung in one of the signature songs from the musical, the next Cranford Dramatic Club production is a "tale as old as time." However familiar this story may be, there will still be some surprises as the CDC presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast in December.Cranford Radio spoke with three of the cast members, Avamichelina Hodgens (Belle), Zach Love (Beast) and Sean Lynch-Littlejohn (Lumier) to get a sneak peak at the musical.

The Cranford Public Library's current building opened in 1962. While the main library has expanded over the years, the children's room has basically maintained the same footprint. That's going to be changing. Starting in the new year, construction will begin on an expansion of the children's room. Joining me on this week's podcast is Kathy Cannarozzi, the director of the Cranford Public Library. We talk about how the library will change, the funding and the schedule.Additional information on library expansion

If you're old enough to remember the late 1990s you may recall the hype and excitement about the dawning of the internet age. Some predictions came true, other promises fizzled. Today, artificial intelligence is having a similar moment. For this week's episode I turned to Google's NotebookLM. I uploaded articles about me from The New York Times and The Washington Post, as well as a piece I wrote and presented on CBS Mornings. The results are amazing and scary. You have to listen carefully to realize these are AI-generated hosts.

Narcan, generically known as naloxone, is a medication that can reverse or reduce the effects of an opioid overdose. You do not need to be a medical professional to administer Narcan.The Cranford Prevention & Wellness Alliance, together with the Cranford Police Department, is sponsoring a free Narcan training and distribution event at the Cranford Community Center.  It will be on Tuesday, October 15 between 7 and 8:30 pm.On this week's episode I speak with Karen Bennett from the Alliance and Captain Matt Nazzaro from the Cranford Police Department about the event and how Narcan is used.

Community Access Unlimited has provided training, housing and employment services to those with developmental disabilities since its founding in 1979. One of CAU's newest ventures is the T.eat.ch Café, where members can learn and practice various aspects of running a restaurant. On this week's episode I speak with Sandie Lynch, CAU's associate executive director, and Joshua Moreines, a Cranford resident and graduate of the program.

In some ways the story of Rev. Dr. Deborah Brooks is the story of returning. First, there was her returning to live in Cranford after spending the first ten years of her life in town. There was also returning to St. Mark AME church, first as a member and then as the pastor. In this week's episode hear about Rev. Brooks journey, a bit about the congregation and an upcoming Family & Friends Day to which the community is invited.

Fans of anime are likely familiar with Yu-Gi-Oh!. Two of the main characters on the series are Marik Ishtar and Yami Marik. Both were voice by Cranford resident Jonathan Todd Ross. Today, Jonathan is a prolific audiobook narrator, having narrated nearly 500 books.On this week's Cranford Radio episode we talk about both roles, including getting an inside look at what goes into voicing an audiobook and how technology has and continues to change the business.  

On Monday, August 12, the bloodmobile will be at the Community Center between 1 and 7 pm. Donors on Monday will be get a voucher for tickets to a Mets game. This week's guest on the podcast is Genevieve Toscano, an account manager with New Jersey Blood Services, a division of the New York Blood Center. We chat about why the need for blood increases during the summer, the different types blood donations that can be made and some of the misconceptions about donating blood.

Cranford's TV-35 has been broadcasting for over three and a half decades. Don Smith is coming up on his one-year anniversary as the station's manager and he joins me on this week's podcast to talk about the changes that have happened at TV-35 during the past year.TV-35 today is available in far more ways that it once was. A live stream makes it available to viewers around the world. Previous shows can be viewed on demand via a YouTube channel and Verizon FiOS subscribers can watch the channel in HD on channel 2147. 

Savor Snack Shop hopes to be opening at 18 North Union Avenue in early August. On this episode of Cranford Radio I speak with Jason Sanchez who, along with his wife Michele Santo, is a co-owner of the business.We talk about some of the products the store will carry, his previous retail experience and why he picked Downtown Cranford.

We like to think of childhood as a time of growing, learning and exploring. For some kids, however, they need adults outside their family to advocate for them when they are impacted by, or in danger of, abuse and neglect.Child Focus, formerly known as CASA of Passaic and Union Counties, provides professionals and volunteers to look out for the best interests of these children as they move through the legal and child welfare systems.On this episode I speak with Erica Fischer-Kaslander, Executive Director of Child Focus, and Phyllis Dunlop, a Child Focus volunteer and Cranford resident.

An art form which has drawn fans from around the world will be featured at the Cranford Community Center on Saturday, July 20. Tosho-con brings together not just manga and anime but cosplay, workshops, special guests and more. Joining me this week on the podcast is Marissa Lieberman, the head of reference services for the Cranford Public Library. We talk about the event and, for those unfamiliar with what anime, cosplay and manga are, we give you a quick lesson in the terms.

Folks who have been around Cranford for a while will remember Builders General Supply Company. The business had its start in 1931 on Centennial Avenue. The store was founded, and is still owned, by the Shaheen Family. In this episode of Cranford Radio I speak with TJ Shaheen, the executive vice president of Builders General. We talk not only about the firm, but about his family which once owned a silk mill in town and was responsible for building over 200 homes in the community. Click this link to watch a film of Builders General in 1941.

Liz Cavallaro and Bree Fram know something about leadership. Liz teaches military leaders at the US Naval War College and Bree is a colonel in the US Space Force.  The two combined to write a newly published book, Forging Queer Leaders. In June I had the opportunity to chat with both of them during an author talk sponsored by the Cranford Public Library and the Cranford Unity Project.Thanks to Cranford's TV 35 for recording the session.