Cranford Radio

Cranford resident Dr. Daniela Shebitz has had an interest in the environment going back to seventh grade. She's a professor at Kean University as well as the chair of the Department of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences. In addition, she serves as a board member for the Hanson Park Conservancy.On this week's podcast we talk about global environmental issues and how they impact Cranford. We also get into the town's ecology including the Rahway River and how the indigenous people who lived in what is now Cranford used the land we now live on. 

Marine, cop, surgeon. Just a few of the roles that Terry Curran has performed during his career. On this week's episode of the Cranford Radio podcast we learn a bit more about Cranford's new deputy mayor.

To drive past the Cranford Elks lodge there's nothing remarkable about the building, but what happens inside and what its members do is what makes it special.  On this week's Cranford Radio podcast, I speak with Kevin Carney, the Exalted Ruler of the lodge, and Mike Tona, the Chairman of Charity for the Community to learn more about the organization and to get more specifics about their various projects and charities.

While Union County is still criss-crossed by multiple active rail lines, there are several that haven't seen a train in years and have been slowly returning to nature. Three of them converge near the Cranford/Roselle Park line.Union County Connects was created to turn these assets into recreational and active transportation pathways. On this week's Cranford Radio podcast I speak with Michael Dury, the group's president, to learn more about what they hope to do and what is already happening. 

Max Galindo is the owner of Inklightened Tattoo & Piercing on Miln Street in Cranford. He's been in town only since 2020 but has been a tattoo artist since the turn of the century. On this week's Cranford Radio episode he talks about how he discovered his love of inking and some of his experiences creating art on people's bodies.

The last production put on at the Cranford Dramatic Club was the popular In the Heights. This show, which will have a much different feel, is a two-act production.  The first show is Mercy Killing, described as a dark comedy. The second act is Rock, Paper, Scissors and a Simple Twisted Fate, a comedy farce.The creator of the show, Mike Burdick, is my guest on this week's episode.Purchase tickets

There are few moments in life as transformative as giving birth and becoming a parent. However, the process takes a physical and emotional toll. Kendra Fitzgerald and Nicole Coons are sisters and the women behind Devoted Mamas. Their business offers trauma-informed movement and healing for all stages of motherhood.On this week's episode we learn how the business came about and how they help new mothers and their partners move through this time in their lives.Being in Motherhood podcast

This season of graduations is one of celebration. While great pride and excitement comes with the awarding of diplomas, there's also the financial reality of paying for tuition or student loans. On today's Cranford Radio podcast I speak with Robert Nabel about paying for colleges or trade schooling. He's a certified financial planner with The Fortis Agency. He also has created The Parent Advisor to provide financial advice to young families.

May is Mental Health Month and on June 10 Cranford will be the site of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey's Walk for Wellness  at Nomahegan Park. Mental health, of course, is about much more than a month or a walk, but these events help to highlight the importance of the issue and providing resources to address it.On this week's Cranford Radio podcast, we talk with Robert Kley, the vice president and COO of the association and Jill Schlossberg, the director for Hudson and Union counties, about the organization and the June walk.

Washington Heights isn't very far from Cranford as far as distance is concerned. A trip over the George Washington Bridge or taking a train to New York and then an uptown subway will get you there in about an hour. Culturally, however, it's far removed.This month, the Cranford Dramatic Club will be presenting the musical that first brought Lin-Manuel Miranda to the attention of many. Several cast members (Jose Figueroa/Kevin Rosario, Dania Agüero Davie/Camila Rosario, Gail Cevallos/Nina Rosario, and Karina Muñoz/Abuela Claudia) along with director Edgar Hidalgo, chatted with Cranford Radio about the show and how the story and characters resonate with them.Purchase tickets

Typically, spring and autumn see the downtown streets closed for Cranford's street fairs. This year's first event will take place on Sunday, April 30 between 11 and 5. The man behind Cranford's festival is Darryl Walker. He's the event organizer for StreetFairs.org. He chatted with Cranford Radio about what goes into putting the street fairs on, what the newest hot product is, and the enduring popularity of kettle corn and Italian sausage sandwiches.

Gina Black is serving her first term on the Cranford Township Committee. As with most folks who are elected to the committee, it comes after years of volunteer work around town. In addition, their elected responsibilities need to be balanced with their career and families. In this week's episode we find out more about Gina's life outside of sitting on the dais in the municipal building.

There are many places you may know Don Smith from. It could be as a neighbor. Perhaps it's from his years on News 12 and TV35. More recently you might see his morning Tri-State Traffic Show or hear his voice doing traffic updates on WCBS Newsradio 880. On this week's Cranford Radio podcast, we learn how he made the journey from volunteering at Cranford's hometown channel to being seen on TV sets across the state.

When Nutan Rubinson reads books she makes it a point to read that page where the author thanks those who helped make the work possible. She wondered if others also were curious about that glimpse into who was behind what was written.This year she debuted a new podcast, The Acknowledgements, to bring a unique take to the crowded field of book podcasts. On this week's Cranford Radio podcast, the Cranford resident discusses why she finds the acknowledgements so interesting, the types of books she most enjoys, and what she's discovered about podcasting.

You've likely seen their work as you travel around town. It might be at the gazebo in February or in front of the Cranford Public Library. I'm talking about the knit and crocheted public art that the Cranford YarnStormers install.Teresa Murray is the founder and yarn boss for the YarnStormers and she tells us about how the group came about and how they do their work. While they get permission to decorate public spaces they want their projects to be a surprise.YarnStormers Instagram page

With spring here outdoor activities are on the increase. On any sunny weekend day you'll find the walking path through Nomahegan Park crowded with folks getting exercise and enjoying the outdoors. Did you know that if you continued north on the pathway, you'd eventually end up at the Canadian border and if you continued south your final destination would be Key West? The East Coast Greenway connects urban areas along the Atlantic coast. Dennis Markatos-Soriano is the executive director of the East Coast Greenway Alliance and he's my guest on this week's Cranford Radio podcast.

The members of BreakTime have been performing together a little over a year but they've already released one EP with a second on the way. The four member group features Cranford resident and Cranford High School grad Peter Roefaro (Peter Matthew) on drums. Cranford Radio sat down with the group to learn a bit more about their music, how they came together and what they hope to accomplish. We also learned from Peter how the CHS marching band played a big role in his musical life and the role of jazz in not just BreakTime but other areas, as well.Links to BreakTime's music and more

Cori Ardente grew up in Cranford so when she wanted to open a business Downtown Cranford was a natural choice. Not only did she open ANTHEM style + gift, but in 2020 she opened a second store, Max & Luna.In this week's episode you'll hear Cori describe her first retail experience, why she decided to take the leap into opening a second store, and who Max and Luna are.

Under Cranford's form of government, the chairperson of the township committee is selected by the township commissioners. At the January reorganization meeting, they unanimously approved Brian Andrews to serve as mayor.As I've done with a variety of elected officials over the years, I did a "getting to know you" interview with Brian to learn about his background and what prompted him to run for elective office.