Cranford Radio

Early February is the when the refurbished Centennial Avenue indoor pool and fitness center is expected to open. The facility will now be operated as the Cranford YMCA.In anticipation of the opening, Cranford Radio spoke with Greg Hatzisavvas, Vice President of Operations for the Westfield Area Y. We talk about physical changes that have been made and what programs the Y will be offering.

A great way to spend a winter evening is enjoying a production by the Cranford Dramatic Club. In February, the community theater will be presenting the play, "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940."Cranford Radio had an opportunity to catch up with three of the folks involved with the production, director Zach Mazouat, stage manager Dana Dispoto and Shannon Ludlum, who plays Helsa Wenzel, to learn a bit about the show.

Many of us have things like junk drawers, piles on tables and a garage so crowded with stuff that we can't park our car inside. How do you get away from the mess and get your space better organized?Our guest on this week's episode is Cranford resident Trish Johnson. She owns This Organized Chaos and we chat about things you can do to put your living space in better order and how she can help you do it.

Each year the Cranford Clergy Council and the Interfaith Human Relations Committee recognize someone with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award to honor his legacy. This year's recipient is Monsignor Timothy Shugrue. Father Tim served as the pastor of St. Michael Church for a dozen years before retiring from the parish last year.In this week's episode we discuss the award and some of this memories of Dr. King while growing up.

This month voters have an opportunity to decide if they will approve a $75 million bond referendum. The bond includes funding for construction of full-day kindergarten classes in the district and facility enhancements. State aid will cover approximately 26% of the costs. Cranford Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Scott Rubin joins the podcast this week to discuss the referendum in greater detail. Additional information can be found online in a website about the bonding question. 

As the weather turns colder, the need to address homelessness becomes more urgent. Bridges, a non-profit organization based in Summit, does more than just provide clothing and food for those dealing with homelessness. They also work with those who are without permanent housing to find long-term solutions and to provide a safe place to live.In this week's podcast I speak with Richard Uniacke, the president of Bridges, and Cranford resident Scott Waldman who is on the board of directors. We talk about how the organization has evolved and their recent expansion into Union County. We also note how listeners can help.

As a child Paul Kerbel moved around quite a bit, but for the past five+ years his home is Cranford as he serves as the spiritual leader of Temple Beth El Mekor Chayim. Rabbi Kerbel talks about his childhood, why he was drawn to becoming a rabbi and his impressions of Cranford.We also talk about recent events in the Middle East and how that has affected him and his congregation.

Chris Battiloro was officially appointed as Westfield's police chief in December 2018. While he grew up in Westfield and has spent his entire law enforcement career in our neighboring town, Cranford is the town Chris and his family call home.On this week's episode we chat about his life as a police officer and how technology and world events impact his profession. We also note how an infamous crime still impacts the department and its officers. Stick around to see which team Chris roots for when Cranford and Westfield meet on the playing fields.

If you're not Roman Catholic you might not be too familiar with the Knights of Columbus and the work they do. Cranford Council 6226 is associated with the Parish of St. Michael but their members come from more than just St. Michael's and Cranford. The current leader of the council is Kevin Cumiskey. He's served as Grand Knight since July 2023.On this week's episode he tells me about the organization, the work they do and how he became involved.

As a Cranford High student, John Fedorchak stood out as a football player and wrestler. He was recruited by the Rutgers football program and, as a junior, was part of the 1976 undefeated team that was inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame.John, who is also in the Cranford Sports Hall of Fame, is now retired. He chatted with Cranford Radio about his experiences as a player on one of only two Rutgers teams to go undefeated.

The Jumble Store is probably the most visible part of the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield, but it is far from the only activity run by the organization. Among its other projects are scholarships, a service which provides free career-dressing services to women who are struggling financially and behind-the-scenes help for those in need.My guest on this week's episode is Marge Szymona, a sustaining member for over 40 years and the former long-time manager of the Jumble Store. She shares more information about the group and tells how the Jumble Store got its name 90 years ago.

It's been 45 years since the members of the Cranford High School Class of '78 walked the halls of CHS. On Saturday, October 21 the class will be gathering at the Cranford Elks Lodge for a reunion.One member of the class, Joe Attanasi, Jr. chatted with Cranford Radio about what's planned and some of his memories from the 1970s.

If I told you to I was at the purple building on North Avenue, you'd probably be able to guess where I was. For nearly a quarter century, Stefanie Lalor has been a part of Downtown Cranford with her shop, The Artist Framer. On this week's podcast I visit Stefanie in her store to learn what inspired her to become part of the art world, both as a practitioner and  an entrepreneur.

A 16th century story filled with music from the 1980s female rock band, The Go-Go's, is the first offering of the Cranford Dramatic Club's new season. The musical takes to the stage weekends starting October 13 and running through the 28th.On this week's podcast my guests are Sean Lough (director), Jannette Fisher (Mopsa), Sean Lynch-Littlejohn (Basilius) and Hannah Elarmo (music director).Purchase tickets

Throughout this summer labor unions have been in the news; writers on strike, actors walking picket lines, and autoworkers shutting down production, are three of the more prominent examples. Here in Cranford, most public school employees are represented by the Cranford Education Association. It's not just teachers, but support staff, nurses, para-professional and others who are part of the membership. In this week's podcast I speak with CEA President Kevin Jala and Recording Secretary Colleen McDonald to learn more about the organization as well as the two teachers themselves. 

When nearly everything shutdown in March 2020 at the start of COVID, some organizations stayed open. FLAG of Cranford was created with a duel purpose of providing for those front-line providers and supporting Cranford restaurants which were hard hit by the pandemic. The organization has pivoted with a slightly new name, FLAG for Cranford, and an adjusted mission. On this week's podcast I speak with the two women who started the volunteer group, Rebecca Tantillo and Caren Demyen. They discuss the group's origins, what it's doing today and how Cranford residents and businesses can help support their work.

From Day 1 of TV35's existence the one constant presence was Ed Davenport. After 37 years at the Cranford channel, both as a volunteer and as the station's manager, Ed retired at the start of August. Before exiting, Ed chatted with me about his experiences and recounted some of the highlights and lowlights of his years working at TV35.

The New Jersey Bankers Association represents financial institutions throughout the state.  The guest on this week's episode of the Cranford Radio podcast is Jenn Zorn, the executive vice president for education and business development for NJBankers.  She tells us the organization's primary role is to represent its members' interests in Trenton and Washington, DC. The Cranford resident also notes the association's role in attracting new talent into the industry as well as educating current bankers and we touch on how NJBankers and its members help support Cranford non-profits.

Chelsea Selby, along with her husband Joe Randazza, is the owner of Witch Baby Soap and Magick Manor. Witch Baby came to Cranford in 2019 at 11 Eastman Street and Magick Manor opened this spring at 11 North Union Avenue.Guest host Sofia Little, who worked at Witch Baby and Magick Manor, talks with the Cranford resident about what the stores offer and why she started the businesses.

It was January of this year when Rev. Jin Bae was installed as the senior pastor at Cranford's First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Bae's journey to Cranford had a number of interesting twists and turns starting with his birth and early childhood in South Korea, a degree in electrical engineering and his first preaching in an Assemblies of God congregation in California.In this week's podcast, we hear more about what led him to become a minister and how an early visit prompted him to compare Cranford to a Hallmark Channel movie.