Cranford Radio

While Patrick Giblin is at the start of his second three-year term on the Cranford Township Committee, Cranford Radio looks to learn a little more about those people who volunteer their time to serve the town in elective office beyond their public role. Continuing a series where we previously interviewed Mayor Tom Hannen and Commissioner Mary O'Connor, we sat down with Commissioner Giblin to...

Dancing, singing and acting all come together in the Cranford High School spring musical, Legally Blonde. The play will be presented on March 16 and 17 at 7:30 pm and on Sunday, March 18 at 2 pm. Several members of the cast, Katrina Wischusen, Daniel Klimko, Pria McNeil, Nora Sullivan, Noah Wohlsen, Max Kopla and Haley Baranowski took time out after a rehearsal to talk to Cranford Radio about the...

If we can make it through some rough weather Friday and early Saturday morning, it looks like a pretty good weekend. In the headlines from the past week, Gabe Bailer has assumed the role of Downtown Director from the retired Kathleen Miller Prunty. The survey for the draft downtown strategic plan is now available for your comments. There will be extended hours for the Cranford Public Library start...

Residents received an update on a draft of the Downtown Cranford strategic plan Thursday evening and the superintendent of schools sent a letter to parents following the mass murder at a Florida high school. These stories top Cranford Radio headlines for the week of February 23. The CHS wrestlers and the Union County College Owls are in tournaments this weekend and rain dominates the weekend forec...

A number of township residents, business owners and downtown property owners gathered Thursday evening at the Community Center to hear a presentation on a strategic plan that's being developed for Downtown Cranford. Following the presentation, they were given the opportunity to rate the goals and objectives in the draft plan. The presentation was given by Anthony Durante, the chairman of the...

The third production of the Cranford Dramatic Club's season is now playing at the Winans Avenue playhouse. Crimes of the Heart is being performed the weekends of February 16 and 22. Cranford Radio spoke with director Maurice Moran and Cranford resident Maeve Brady, who plays Lenny.

This weekend's update brings you news from the Downtown Management Corporation and the Cranford Police Department. It's tournament time for Cranford High School sports and it looks like winter weather will make a messy return to the area Saturday night. Get all the news, sports, weather and weekend events in this Presidents' Day Weekend edition of Cranford Radio Headlines.

Buffalo wings are seemingly available in almost every restaurant these days. A native of the Buffalo area recently opened a restaurant in Downtown Cranford that lets area residents not only see how the originals taste but also offers some other favorites from Western New York. Michael Maggio is the owner of Little Buffalo and we sat down in the restaurant after the lunch rush to talk about it and...

You might not see the Cesar-Kai Academy or The MAX Challenge as you drive past 777 Walnut Avenue, but tucked in the rear of the building are two Cranford businesses that will help anyone from three to 93 get and stay in shape. Mario Cesario has made his passion for fitness a business that's continuing to grow with a new center in Watchung and, coming soon, an after-school program in Cranford....

An attempted child-luring incident and a Cranford connection to the Winter Olympics top this week's Cranford Headlines. The CHS boys basketball team begins their run in the Union County Tournament while other teams keep busy this weekend with contests home and away. You'll find some warmer temperatures this weekend but the price is rain Saturday and Sunday. As always, there are events ar...

Craft stores have supplies for a variety of projects. Most can be done at home. But for something a bit more imaginative and elaborate you need tools you likely won't find in your basement. Kick Glass Art Studio at 536 South Avenue East is coming up on their first anniversary in Cranford and they not only will teach you how to work with many different types of glass, but they supply the mater...

Geri Livelli's, 'The Cameo,' was published last year. It's a story that spans portions of the 19th and 20th centuries and can be described as a work of historical fiction. While this is Geri's first book she certainly is not unknown to Cranford and its residents. She was one of the founding members of the Hanson Park Conservancy and is a long-time member of Cranford's...

The Cranford Public Schools are in the news this week as they begin a strategic planning initiative looking ahead to 2023. Also, a Cranford woman is among those being honored with a Women of Excellence Award from the Union County Commission on the Status of Women. In CHS varsity sports, both the bowling and track teams are involved in state sectionals. Other teams are also active over the weekend....

If you've had kids in Cranford schools or you attended them yourself, you know Cranford's teams are called the Cougars. A big part of school pride is wearing the school colors of blue and gold and letting folks know you're a Cranford Cougar. For nearly seven years Cougar Headquarters has been providing not just hometown clothing, but all sorts of local items as well as custom produc...

The Cranford Township Committee has made changes to the North Avenue Redevelopment Study concerning the properties that are a part of the study and the use of eminent domain.  The Trinitas School of Nursing held their graduation ceremony in Cranford on Sunday and the Knights of Columbus have made a donation to the Cranford Municipal Alliance. Lots of sports action taking place at both CHS and Unio...

On Sunday, February 4, many Cranford residents will be sitting in front of their TVs watching the New England Patriots take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII. Of course, what would the game be without some food? For a number of years, Cranford resident Rich Pierce, his family and some friends have cooked up over 100 trays of chicken wings that are enjoyed during the game. While the wing...

On Sundays you'll likely find Charlie Cacici at Calvary Tabernacle on Myrtle Street in Cranford. He's an evangelical minister for the church. At other times, though, he's often at work at GEC Communities. There, the work he and his partner Joe Battiato do focuses on saving a portion of the rainforest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Joe and Charlie joined Cranford Radio for...

The past week was marked by remembrances of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Two highlights were Cranford's sixth annual Day of Service which took place at the First Presbyterian Church on Monday and Thursday's interfaith service at Trinity Episcopal Church. At that gathering, Kevin Mahoney was recognized with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for his work with the homeless....

Cranford clergy members, township officials and members of the community gathered Thursday evening at Trinity Episcopal Church for the annual Cranford Community Interfaith Service. A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award to Kevin Mahoney of St. Michael Church. Kevin was recognized by the Cranford Clergy Council for his volunteer work with the Eli...

It's one thing to read history in a book. It's a whole other thing to have lived it. Rabbi Sidney Shanken served as the rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Cranford from 1957 until 1980 and he took part in two of the biggest historic events of the 20th century; World War II and the civil rights movement. Shanken flew 54 combat missions over Europe as part of the US Army Air Corps. After being wou...

Dozens of volunteers turned out to assemble personal care kits and other items for the homeless on Martin Luther King Day at the First Presbyterian Church. Two of the organizers of the event, Janice Grevious and Cindy Hannen, spoke with Cranford Radio about the event what else will be happening this week.

A draft report on potential redevelopment of a section of North Avenue East in Downtown Cranford is the top story on Cranford Radio headlines this week. You'll also hear about the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. It's a busy weekend for Cranford sports and the forecast shows early spring-like temperatures on Friday followed by a quick return of winter weather.  Among the events...

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders have elected Elizabeth resident Sergio Granados to serve as their chairman for 2018. At Sunday's reorganization meeting, Granados outlined his initiatives for the coming year. On Thursday, he spoke with Cranford Radio to discuss them further.

One new member joins the Cranford Township Committee and Cranford digs out and tries to stay warm following a storm. I doubt anyone will feel any warmth listening to the weekend forecast, but you can keep you mind off the weather by taking in a CHS or Union County College sporting event.

The annual township reorganization meeting took place Tuesday evening at the municipal building. Jean-Albert Maisonneuve was sworn into office for his first term on the township committee. Patrick Giblin took the oath of office to begin his second term. Additionally, a number of appointments were made to various township boards and committees. The township committee elected Ann Dooley as Deputy Ma...