Cranford Radio

The Cranford Chamber of Commerce has some changes planned for the year ahead. The president of the chamber, Kurt Petschow, Jr., and the interim executive director, Dottie Baniewicz told Cranford Radio's Bernie Wagenblast some of what's new.

While Cranford's elected officials set policy and direction for the municipality, the township administrator is charged with carrying that out. Since November 2013 Terence Wall has served in that position. Cranford Radio spoke with Wall to learn a little more about the man and his role in the township government.

The annual township committee reorganization meeting was held January 1. A number of appointments were made and among the most significant were the unanimous selection of Andis Kalnins to serve a second consecutive term as mayor and Lisa Adubato to continue as deputy mayor. After the meeting ended, I spoke with Mayor Kalnins about the year just past and the year ahead.

TAP into Cranford made its debut this fall and the neighborhood news site is already busy covering the town and presenting information in a new way. Jennifer LoBianco talked to Cranford Radio about the service.

The holidays are a great time to see a play with the family and the Cranford Dramatic Club has just the ticket with their performance of Aladdin the first week of December.

For over 150 years Cranford United Methodist Church has been a part of the town. Many pastors have served the congregation over that time and the latest is Rev. Cameron Overbey.

Union County is just the second county in the US to offer an app that provides voter information. Union County Votes was introduced at Union County College's Cranford campus by County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi.

The Mayor's Wellness, Fitness and Fun Festival was the inaugural event for the Mayor's Wellness Campaign, held on Sunday at the Centennial Avenue Pool Complex and Memorial Field. Two of the leaders of the event, Jackie Carr and Mary O'Connor, told Cranford Radio a little more about what was happening.

Volunteers are spending their Saturday in front of the Cranford Municipal Building installing a rain garden. Nelson Dittmar, Jr., the chairman of the Cranford Environmental Commission, and Don Jones, an associate member, took some time out from their work to tell Cranford Radio a bit about the project.

It's become a Cranford fall tradition. The Feast of St. Michael is taking place at the school on the corner of Alden & Miln Streets. The festivities run through Sunday and Pete Coates is serving as the co-chair and he tells Cranford Radio what to look forward to.

The demon barber won't be found on Fleet Street this fall, but instead will be cutting hair, and other things, on Winans Avenue. Alan Van Antwerp is the director of the CDC production and he talked with Cranford Radio about the show.

The Union County Arts Center in Rahway opened as the Rahway Theatre in 1928. There on opening night was a Wurlitzer theatre organ. The organ has stayed with the theatre through the years and on Tuesday, September 23, the grand unveiling of the restored instrument took place. Listen to a little of the music from the organ as it accompanies a 1928 Felix the Cat cartoon, Woos Whoopee. The organist is Bernie Anderson, Jr.

For the eighth year in a row, the Centennial Village Music Fest was held at Lincoln School. As in past years a mix of musical genres were performed. The first act was Cranford's own, Splittree.

It's been four decades since over 500 seniors from the Cranford High School Class of 1974 received their diplomas on a hot June evening. For the first time in twenty years classmates will have a chance to reunite. The reunion will be held at The Gran Centurions in Clark the evening of November 29. Kathy Clark has been leading the effort to pull everything together and she talked about what will be happening.

The Cranford Dramatic Club will open its season with two benefit performances of The Normal Heart. The play is being directed by Alan Van Antwerp and Jeff Fiorello. Cranford Radio talked with the two co-directors about the play.

Don't be surprised if a few years from now you hear someone from Cranford announcing the next Triple Crown winner. John Piassek just graduated from Cranford High this year but he's already had the opportunity to guest call a race at Monmouth Park. You don't find too many teenagers who have an interest in horse racing, to say nothing of having an interest in calling horse races. I asked John how that interest developed.