Cranford Radio

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.

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

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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.