The Cranford Fund for Educational Excellence – Supporting Innovative Educational Initiatives in the Cranford Schools

For nearly 20 years, a group of Cranford residents and educators have served as a resource for teachers throughout the district to provide funding for initiatives that haven’t been funded through traditional budgeting.

The CFEE raises money through a variety of methods, including an annual Trivia Night, which will return in February after a two-year absence. Tara O’Connor serves as a co-president of the organization and she joined me in one of the projects funded by the CFEE.

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To donate to CFEE click here

Tara O’Connor, Nikki Savino Mulcahy, Bernie Wagenblast (left to right) in the new Cranford High School podcast studio

New Wind Sculpture in Hanson Park Honors the Life of the Late Jan Lilien

Jan Lilien’s life touched many. When she died in 2021, her husband Richard Brown wanted to continue her legacy through the creation of the Jan Lilien Education Fund. The fund has worked with the Hanson Park Conservancy to provide educational programs on sustainability and environmental awareness.

Richard also wanted to memorialize Jan with something permanent in Hanson Park which might give comfort to others suffering from grief. That dream became a wind sculpture which was installed this month in the park.

On this episode of Cranford Radio we hear from Richard, as well as Ellen McHenry, the president of the Hanson Park Conservancy and Rabbi Renee Edelman of Temple Sha’arey Shalom in Springfield.

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Richard Brown & Jan Lilien

Rabbi Renee Edelman

Ellen McHenry

Section of Lincoln Park to Become Dr. Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe Reading Garden

Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe was born and raised in Cranford before becoming a nationally-recognized educator. Dr. Wolfe will be recognized with a reading garden that is being constructed in a corner of Lincoln Park where Old Peppy once stood.

TV35 and Cranford Radio spoke with Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty, Pat Pavlak and Betty Crawley about the project and Dr. Wolfe’s legacy.

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Pat Pavlak, Bernie Wagenblast, Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty, Betty Crawley (left to right)

Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe

Trinity Episcopal Church Closes Out 150th Anniversary Year

Since 1875, Trinity Episcopal Church has been a landmark on the corner of North and Forest avenues in Cranford. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the parish. Tom Kaercher is the junior warden of the church and its unofficial historian. He joins me to talk about the church’s history and some of the interesting stories from its century and a half existence.

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Tom Kaercher

1875

1906

1922

Current Building

Cranford Toy Inventor Gets Ready To Roll Out His Latest Creation

When you’re a kid, there are few things more exciting than getting a new toy. When you’re an adult, the toys get to be a bit more sophisticated and expensive. But what if you’re an adult who creates new toys for kids to play with?

Robert Schott is just such a person and he joins Cranford Radio to talk about SprawlyWalls. Learn about the toy and how it came to be in this week’s episode.

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Robert Schott

What’s Happening at the Cranford Recreation & Parks Department

Commissioner Gina Black and Steve Robertazzi, Director of Recreation and Parks, join us on a joint production of TV35 and Cranford Radio. We take a look back at the summer playground season and a look ahead at the fall plans. We’ll also chat about the new recreation building at 375 Centennial Avenue and how residents can get involved.

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Gina Black

Steve Robertazzi

Cranford Dramatic Club Kicks Off New Season with Once on This Island

This is opening weekend for the musical, Once on This Island at the Cranford Dramatic Club. The show is based on The Little Mermaid but takes place on a Caribbean island.

We’re joined on this episode by Roxie Billups (TiMoune), Karen Carratura (Asaka), Jordan Owens (Agwe), Tiffany Johnson (Erzulie), David Rivera, Jr. (Papa Ge) and the director, Howard Whitmore.

The show runs on weekends through October 22 and tickets can be purchased online.

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Marketspace Vendor Events: Bringing Makers, Venues and Customers Together

While there have always been independent businesspeople who create unique products, it’s sometimes been difficult for them to connect with potential customers. A Cranford-based company, Marketspace Vendor Events, not only helps to bridge that gap, it also finds fun venues for both to come together. Kim and Kevin Kraemer join Cranford Radio this week to talk about their business and how it came to be.

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Kim & Kevin Kraemer

Ghosts from Cranford’s Past Visiting October 1st

Meet some personalities from Cranford’s past next month when the Haunted Cranford History Tour takes place downtown. This is a rare opportunity because all of these visitors departed this earthly realm long ago.

The woman responsible for gathering this cast of ghostly characters is Jane McLaughlin, the owner of Haunted History Productions. She’s been organizing these tours for 14 years and this will be the first time the event is held in town. We talk about what visitors will see and how she brings the spirits back to life.

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Jane McLaughlin

Former Cranford Resident Looks at Ethics From a Police Perspective

Robert D’Ambola worked as a cop for 28 years in Summit. He later served on the Cranford Township Committee. During much of this time he also was an instructor at the Union County Police Academy and taught recruits about ethics. In his latest book, The True Test Is When No One Sees, D’Ambola gives numerous real-life examples of ethical quandaries that law enforcement officers, and others, faced. In this week’s podcast we talk about his experiences in police work and how the book came to be.

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Robert D’Ambola