Cranford Radio

Cranford's TV-35 has been broadcasting for over three and a half decades. Don Smith is coming up on his one-year anniversary as the station's manager and he joins me on this week's podcast to talk about the changes that have happened at TV-35 during the past year.

TV-35 today is available in far more ways that it once was. A live stream makes it available to viewers around the world. Previous shows can be viewed on demand via a YouTube channel and Verizon FiOS subscribers can watch the channel in HD on channel 2147. 

Savor Snack Shop hopes to be opening at 18 North Union Avenue in early August. On this episode of Cranford Radio I speak with Jason Sanchez who, along with his wife Michele Santo, is a co-owner of the business.

We talk about some of the products the store will carry, his previous retail experience and why he picked Downtown Cranford.

We like to think of childhood as a time of growing, learning and exploring. For some kids, however, they need adults outside their family to advocate for them when they are impacted by, or in danger of, abuse and neglect.

Child Focus, formerly known as CASA of Passaic and Union Counties, provides professionals and volunteers to look out for the best interests of these children as they move through the legal and child welfare systems.

On this episode I speak with Erica Fischer-Kaslander, Executive Director of Child Focus, and Phyllis Dunlop, a Child Focus volunteer and Cranford resident.

An art form which has drawn fans from around the world will be featured at the Cranford Community Center on Saturday, July 20. Tosho-con brings together not just manga and anime but cosplay, workshops, special guests and more.

Joining me this week on the podcast is Marissa Lieberman, the head of reference services for the Cranford Public Library. We talk about the event and, for those unfamiliar with what anime, cosplay and manga are, we give you a quick lesson in the terms.

Folks who have been around Cranford for a while will remember Builders General Supply Company. The business had its start in 1931 on Centennial Avenue. The store was founded, and is still owned, by the Shaheen Family.

In this episode of Cranford Radio I speak with TJ Shaheen, the executive vice president of Builders General. We talk not only about the firm, but about his family which once owned a silk mill in town and was responsible for building over 200 homes in the community.

Click this link to watch a film of Builders General in 1941.

Liz Cavallaro and Bree Fram know something about leadership. Liz teaches military leaders at the US Naval War College and Bree is a colonel in the US Space Force.  The two combined to write a newly published book, Forging Queer Leaders. In June I had the opportunity to chat with both of them during an author talk sponsored by the Cranford Public Library and the Cranford Unity Project.

Thanks to Cranford's TV 35 for recording the session.

A veteran finds herself torn between oaths she took for her country and her family. That's the premise of Bloodoath of the Patriots, a book published this year by Cranford resident Ben Chewey.

On this week's episode we talk about the book, his time in Cranford schools, both as a student and a substitute teacher, and his plans for future literary endeavors. 

On this week's episode I'm revisiting an 1891 murder case in Lower Manhattan. Over 133 years later, the case still draws interest. A Cranford resident, George Damon, played a role in this unsolved crime.

How Brown is the co-author, along with his wife Nina, of a book about the homicide, East Side Story: 1891 Murder Case of Carrie Brown and he's my guest on this week's podcast.

Following the retirement of Rev. Carol Lindsay, who served the church for many years, Calvary Lutheran Church has called Rev. Kathryn Irwin to be pastor. Cranford Radio chatted with Pastor Kat about her growing up years in rural Pennsylvania, why she decided to become a pastor and about her personal journey identifying as queer.

The newest member of the Cranford Township Committee is Paul A. Gallo. In this episode of Cranford Radio we get to know a bit about Paul, including his work life, why he decided to serve on the committee and some of what he hopes to accomplish.