Cranford Radio

Skybreak, aka Jack Ramsay, is a Cranford musician who released his album, Half Blood, this month. As a relatively new artist, Jack does it all with his music; writing, recording, and promotion, to name just a few responsibilities. Shows this year have included Tokyo, Southern California, Detroit and Portland, Oregon.On this week's podcast we chat about what led him to into music, and electronic dance music in particular. We also discuss the business side of music, from selling your creations to selling merch to fans.

The Declaration of Independence was passed by the Second Continental Congress 249 years ago today. New Jersey is filled with a number of sites connected to the American Revolution, including here in Union County. It's not only historic locations that have a connection with the past, but there are people who can trace their ancestry to that time period. Cranford resident Chris Sands is the president of the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.  The SAR is active with a number of events connecting New Jersey to its revolutionary past. After a career in the US Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, Chris became involved in the SAR. We talk about the organization, his involvement and his connections to the birth of the United States.

In 2024 a new organization made its debut in town. PFLAG Cranford-Union wrote that it "hopes to be a beacon of support, advocacy, and education across Union County." As you might imagine, June, as Pride Month, has been a busy season for the organization. Katie Webber, who serves as the non-profit's president, joins me on the podcast to talk about why the chapter was created, what it's doing and its goals.

During school days you'll find Sean W. Bagan in a CHS classroom teaching French. Outside of school hours he's working on a dystopian trilogy that takes place in a new world. The title of the first book, which was published this year, is "On Ravens & Riddles: From the Shelves of the Noktern." Sean joins me on the podcast to not only discuss the book but why he was drawn to being an author and a bit of what he has planned.

There are many reasons a person will seek out a therapist. It might be due to a major life event or a long-brewing issue a person is trying to cope with. In other cases, someone may view therapy in the same way others go to the gym. They want to maintain or improve their health.Serenium Therapy & Wellness opened their office in Cranford at 25 Commerce Drive in January. It joins offices in Brick and Manalapan. Joining me on the podcast are Allison Devlin, Serenium's clinical director, and Keri Roberts, the marketing director.

From its Depression Era beginnings, the school now known as Union College of Union County, NJ, has sought to provide a path for students who might not be able to afford a four-year college education. That mission continues today and the Union County College Foundation is the means to assist students who need financial assistance. Its role today is more than just traditional scholarship help. For example, it also provides food assistance to students who are hungry.Doug Rouse is UCNJ's Vice President for Institutional Advancement. He talks about the work of the foundation and how it serves students.

Christine Del Negro is a certified EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) practitioner and a mindfulness coach. One of the techniques she uses is a process called tapping. On this episode Christine talks about what tapping is and how it can be a useful practice in releasing stress and helping users.Christine's business is School4joy and she talks about other aspects of her work and how people can use the techniques she teaches anytime on their own.

It's difficult to think of a tragedy more difficult to deal with as a child than the death of a parent or sibling. Kids don't deal with grief in the same way as adults and don't have the same tools to help them through the process.Imagine is an organization formed to help children deal with their suffering. The non-profit offers a number of services and turns to the community to help support its work. One way is through Greta's Run, taking place on May 18.This week on the podcast I talk with Imagine's executive director, Lindsay Schambach, and Bob Kelly, a Cranford resident who serves on the organization's board of trustees as treasurer.

Legally Blonde: The Musical closes out the 2024/2025 season of the Cranford Dramatic Club with a run from May 2 to May 18. Three principles involved with the show are my guests this week on the podcast. They are Edgar Hildago, the director, Jaimie Bass, the choreographer and Melissa Calicchio, who plays Elle Woods, the lead of the show.

For the fifth year, the Cranford Film Festival will take place at the Cranford Theater. The festival is just one part of Arts Day, which will also feature, weather permitting, performances at Eastman Clock Plaza. Money raised through the day's activities benefits the Cranford Schools Friends of Performing Arts. My guests on this week's episode are Stephanie Levine Ashinoff, Anne Marie Bornstad and Kristine Gaffney.

Often when I do an interview on the podcast I feel as if I'm introducing a person to the Cranford community. In this week's episode, I don't feel that's necessary. Matt Nazzaro grew up in town and has spent his career as a Cranford police officer. In December Matt was sworn-in as the Cranford Police Department's 12th police chief.While Matt is well known by the Cranford community I hope you'll still learn a few things about him and his plans as police chief.

John Patterson grew up in Cranford. After high school he worked for about eight years at the Cranford Public Library. More recently, he's lived in Brooklyn. On Thursday, April 17, his latest play, The Last Supper, will debut in the Gene Frankel Theater at 24 Bond Street in Manhattan.John is my guest on this episode. We talk about the creative process, the play and his growing up years in Cranford. 

Many fields have pinnacle awards. Of course there's the Tony Award on Broadway and the Pulitizer for journalism. Among community colleges, the Aspen Prize is considered by many as the top award. This year, UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ is one of ten finalists for the prize. The announcement of the winner comes April 17 in Washington, DC.This week on the podcast I speak with Dr. Bernard Polnariev, the Vice President for Administrative Services at UCNJ. We chat not only about the Aspen Prize but about how both community colleges and their students are evolving.

In October 2024 Cranford Radio featured its first AI-hosted podcast. It was amazing and scary. As the technology continues to evolve, there's a new experimental program by a company called Sesame. In a demo available online you can chat live with one of two voices; Maya and Miles. Both have distinct personalities. In this week's episode I have Maya as my guest. I wanted to not only demonstrate the technology but to show what this particular AI program knows about Cranford. We talk about topics such as the Rahway River, Downtown Cranford and CHS. The interview is only lightly edited to show some of the challenges of talking to a computer in real time. 

Emilio DiFabio's first line in a performance was "Chop the tree." Since that inauspicious beginning, Emilio's roles have become much more noteworthy. Most recently, he plays the role of the coroner in American Trash. While being an actor is his latest adventure, he continues working at his company, DiFabio Construction.On this week's podcast he talks about how he became involved in acting but also about his Cranford-based firm.

When you stop to think about it we're pitching all the time. It might be something informal, such as telling a friend about a great restaurant they should try. Sometimes the stakes are higher. You want a potential customer to buy your product or service or you're hoping to convince investors to finance your business idea. Lori Stahl Liegeois has spent a career crafting pitches. Now she and her business, The Pitch Collective, are helping others refine their abilities to create effective pitches for their own businesses. Lori is my guest on this week's Cranford Radio podcast.

It's been less than a year that Cranford Neighbors has been published. In that time, the magazine has featured a number of families in town. They come from a variety of backgrounds but they all have wonderful stories to tell.The man behind the publication is Pete Coates. The periodical also includes day trips, recipes and more and it's made possible by area businesses which advertise in the monthly.This week I turn the tables on Pete and showcase his story and how Cranford Neighbors came to be. 

In the 1980s Karen Coburn was attending Cranford High School. Some of her friends and their families had become involved with The People of Hope, a Catholic covenant community. Many years later, after moving to Los Angeles, Karen became interested in what happened to the group and those from Cranford who became a part of it. That interest led to an eight-episode podcast series called Shadow of Hope. Karen is my guest on this week's episode to discuss the group and her podcast. 

Given the many Cranford residents who claim some Irish heritage, it might be surprising to learn that there's never been a St. Patrick's Day parade in town. That changes on March 16 when the community's first such parade will kickoff at 1 pm at the Community Center and wind it way down Walnut and North Union avenues. Two of the people behind the march are Mayor Terrance Curran and Barry O'Donovan. Barry is the former owner of Kilkenny House. I interviewed Barry in 2014.A number of businesses and individuals are sponsoring the festivities. Cougar Headquarters is selling merchandise to help deck you out.I speak with Barry and Terry on this week's Cranford Radio podcast.

July will mark the second anniversary of the start of the Rev. Marc Vicari's pastorate at St. Michael Church. The Cranford assignment is just one of a number of roles Father Marc has had during his ministry. These include campus ministry, working for the Newark Archdiocese, and teaching.On today's episode I speak with Father Marc to learn more about his background, including his years growing up in New Jersey, his time as a student at Seton Hall University and a return to campus to study for the priesthood at the Immaculate Conception Seminary.