Cranford Radio

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 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.

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.

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.