CivicStory Podcast Library: Recent Episodes
CivicStory
CivicStory is a cultural news site and producer of short-form videos about humanities, civics, and sustainability in New Jersey and beyond. Our mission is to increase the breadth of news through videos and dialogue about civic growth and constructive change. We bring stories of human achievement and community-building to public attention, report stories that motivate us to contribute to community life, and bring civic involvement to the fore as an essential quality of living a full life.
Careful sampling and analysis is crucial to maintaining clean water sources and cleaning up polluted ones, but keeping constant track of water quality across thousands of miles of rivers and streams in New Jersey is a daunting task - one that would be almost impossible to do properly without crowdsourcing the work to a largely volunteer network.
CivicStory spoke with Erin Stretz, assistant director of science and stewardship at the Watershed Institute, and Nancy Lawler, water quality program coordinator at the Musconetcong Watershed Association, about what it takes to implement and coordinate these ambitious volunteer efforts in New Jersey.
Over the centuries, tens of thousands of dams have been built across the U.S. to control water for consumption, storage, energy, and recreation. Rarely was any thought given to the effect these dams had on the ecosystem - until recently. Now there is a growing recognition that many dams do more harm than good, and a growing movement to restore the health of our waterways by taking down the dams that we no longer need.
In New Jersey, a partnership has been formed to consolidate information and best practices, and to address the daunting task of dam removal across the state. The partnership recently unveiled NJdams.org, an encyclopedic resource that pulls together the locations, histories, and frequently asked questions about the impact of dams on the environmental wellbeing of the Garden State.
The New Jersey Statewide Dam Removal Partnership (SDRP) holds regular meetings and workshops to advance its work, most recently at The Watershed Institute, where Executive Director Jim Waltman spoke with CivicStory about the work to be done.
CDRW Director Sandra Meola spoke with CivicStory about the coalition's priorities for protecting and restoring the Delaware River. The interview was conducted by CivicStory's Media Manager Donna Liu at the 2019 Delaware River Watershed Forum, held Oct 16-17 in Allentown, PA.
Sustainable Jersey - the feisty nonprofit that spurs environmental action across New Jersey’s towns and schools - marked a bittersweet moment at its annual summit on June 14th in Holmdel: while celebrating ten years of remarkable growth and collaboration, Executive Director Randall Solomon pointed out that by the latest scientific projections, “we have the next ten years to avoid global catastrophe.”
What happens when over 300 people take part in more than 50 different conversations about how to improve life in their communities? That’s what happened June 6-7, 2019 in Newark, when Creative New Jersey convened its largest-ever Call to Collaboration.
In this CivicStory forum, five panelists from fields of economics, communications, engineering, biology, and law explore such questions as: what is an ethical response to climate change, can news help us live better, and is “growth” always good?
Panelists include:
- Dr. Michael Taylor, environmental economist at Seton Hall University;
- Patricia Canning, member of the South Orange Environmental Commission;
- Allan Chernoff, CEO of Chernoff Communications;
- Edward Lloyd, professor of environmental law at Columbia University,
- Zahavah Rojer, AP Biology student and Co-Chair of the Horticultural Club at Columbia High School.
- The forum is moderated by Susan Haig, CivicStory founder and creative director.
The forum was held in South Orange NJ on March 11, 2019.
Forum explores mediating role of news. Panelists include:
- Michael Hill: NJTV news anchor and correspondent
- Joseph Lichterman: Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Philadelphia
- Stefanie Murray: Director, Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University
Paula Saha: Dir. of Communications, NJ State Bar Association
(Uploaded on Nov 2, 2010) The Trenton Education Dance Institute (TEDI) inspires and transforms hundreds of students from the Trenton schools. (May 2009)
(Uploaded on Nov 4, 2010) Newark's John F. Kennedy School Choir builds verbal skills and confidence through vocal residency. (April 2010)
Uploaded on Nov 4, 2010
The Princeton Ballet School and the American Repertory Ballet's Dance Power (New Brunswick) develop kids' strength and flexibility. (May 2010)
(Uploaded on Nov 29, 2010) The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is currently in its 50th season on the campus of Drew University. (December 2009)
(Uploaded on Dec 6, 2010) The Trenton Children's Chorus and adults of Hopewell Valley Chorus share a love for music and build lasting friendships. (May 2009)
(Uploaded on Jan 9, 2011) The 'Brick City' Exhibition at the Visual Arts Center of NJ in Summit showcases Newark artists. (August 2009)
(Uploaded on May 7, 2011) William Scheide's Birthday Concert benefits the Arts Council of Princeton and celebrates generous living. (January 2010)
(Uploaded on May 7, 2011) GlassRoots at 10 Bleeker Street, Newark, is the leading nonprofit hot shop for youth in the NYC region. Students learn glass art, glass safety, and the thrill of original design. (April 2010)
(Uploaded on May 7, 2011) The Morris Museum's permanent "Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments" features over 700 pieces, including whimsical, hand-crafted figures called "automata" and a 9 1/2 foot tall Popper's Rex Orchestrion. (March 2010)
(Uploaded on Jul 28, 2011) The Rotary Clubs of Madison and Florham Park team up for a 4-day festival to build better and stronger communities, with help from the arts. (September 2010)
(Published on Oct 7, 2011) Friends across continents, the NJ Youth Chorus and the South African Drakensberg Boys' Choir sing in harmony at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, NJ. (June 2011)
(Uploaded on Oct 13, 2011) Footage from the 2011 NJYS Play-a-Thon Concert. (March 2011)
(Uploaded on Oct 15, 2011) It's the culmination of three years of practice and rehearsals. NJSO's Fiddlefest features graduating fourth graders from the Newark Early Strings Program, performing in the spacious lobby of NJPAC. (May 2011)
(Uploaded on Oct 25, 2011) The Newark Museum's PATCHWORK Exhibit featured 30 quilts with a variety of design topics. (September 2011)
(Uploaded on Nov 9, 2011) 26-year-old playwright Ben Clawson's "The Dangers of Electric Lighting" about Thomas Edison and "The War of the Currents" premiered at Luna Stage in West Orange, NJ. (October 2011)
(Uploaded on Nov 17, 2011) Last November, more than 550 students filled the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University for the 2nd Annual Masquerade Ball and were wowed by the art amidst music, colorful masks, food and dancing. (November 2010)
(Uploaded on Dec 27, 2011) WheatonArts and Cultural Center, home to the most comprehensive collection of American-made glass in the world, hosts the Festival of Fine Craft which gives over 130 artists a place to present their work, live. (October 2011)
(Uploaded on Jan 12, 2012) Atlantic City is planning an "arts district" along Mississippi Avenue from Dante Hall to the Boardwalk. Key players are the Bay-Atlantic Symphony, Richard Stockton College, and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). (October 2011)
(Uploaded on Jan 16, 2012) Joshua Bell was honored as Seton Hall's Humanitarian of the Year at the South Orange Performing Arts Center in April 2010. His performance honored Sister Rose Thering, a nun and educator devoted to fostering respect and understanding, and ending persecution. (April 2010)
(Uploaded on Feb 13, 2012) Herbie Hancock and Lang Lang with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, redefining American concert music at NJPAC. (August 2009)
(Uploaded on Feb 13, 2012) The NJ Symphony Orchestra 'Family Concerts' welcomes kids to the concert hall, combining music-making and education to inspire young citizens. (May 2011)
(Uploaded on Feb 15, 2012) The Young People's Chorus of New York City celebrates 10 years of commissioning new works for young voices and reflects a passion for innovative music. (May 2011)
(Published on Mar 21, 2012) Percussionist Joby Burgess and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (Rossen Milanov, conductor) perform the world premiere of Gabriel Prokofiev's Concerto for Bass Drum, February 9, 2012, Richardson Auditorium.
(Uploaded on Nov 4, 2010) Arts Down on the Farm: At Appel Farm in Elmer, NJ, kids explore all the arts and discover their full potential. (August 2009)
(Published on Apr 24, 2012) Pianist/Composer Lee Pui Ming and the Bay-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (Jed Gaylin, Music Director) perform "she comes to shore" for improvised piano and orchestra, March 24, 2012, Cumberland County College.
(Published on May 8, 2012) Virtuoso pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin shares his thoughts as a performer and composer at (le) poisson rouge.
(Published on May 31, 2012) A unique performance at Princeton University marks the first 'staging' of Eugene Onegin with music by Prokofiev, interpreted through ballroom dance. This innovative collaboration combines the forces of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (conductor Rossen Milanov), the Princeton University Glee Club, and Princeton University Ballroom Dance Club. Dancer and choreographer Sydney Schiff, a 2010 graduate of Princeton, plays the lead role of Tatyana.
(Published on Jun 12, 2012) 90 citizens envision a dynamic future for Monmouth County and share diverse perspectives during a conference at Monmouth University, May 21-22, 2012. Creative NJ fosters "creativity, innovation and sustainability through cross-sector partnerships" throughout New Jersey.
(Published on Jul 6, 2012) 17 oboe students of Chatham, NJ-based teacher Lynne Cohen navigate the challenges of playing the oboe, which include making the instrument 'sound,' and learning to make reeds. They're performing in a recital at Elefante Music, New Providence. (Jun 1, 2011) 1,000 oboists and bassoonists head to Ohio this weekend for the International Double Reed Society Convention (IDRS), Jul 8-12, at Miami University, so the oboe is popular everywhere!
(Published on Jul 27, 2012) A new month-long chamber music festival on the campus of Kean University (Union, NJ) winds up this weekend with student and faculty recitals at Enlow Hall and at Lincoln Center. Foulger Fellows - Alex Beyer (18), Janny Joo (21), and Jeremy Jordan (23) - rehearse with faculty and reveal their interests in history, environmental science, and access to audiences through new technologies. July 7, 2012. Music by Johannes Brahms: Piano Quartet no. 1 in G minor, Piano Quartet no. 3 in C minor
(Published on Aug 8, 2012) The beginning of modern communications: 50 years ago, the first tele-communications satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral into orbit, relaying TV and phone signals between the US and Europe. 'Telstar' was designed and built at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ. Scientists Walter Brown, Lou Lanzerotti, Carol Maclennan, and Tod Sizer recount the excitement and cross-disciplinary culture of innovation at Bell Labs.
(Published on Aug 22, 2012) 24-year old concert organist, Nathan Laube, has played many of the world's largest pipe organs. He recently 'pulled out all the stops' on the great symphonic organ in Ocean Grove, NJ - the 17th largest in the world. The organ has five keyboards (or manuals), a pedal board (or 'keyboard for the feet'), hundreds of stops, and over 11,000 pipes. As Laube explains, "You have this incredible machine you're driving. It's like the cockpit of an airplane." Laube studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and assisted on the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia. He is currently Artist-in-Residence at the American Cathedral in Paris. Musical excerpts from the Ocean Grove concert include Widor's Symphony no. 5, Durufle's Suite for Organ, Mendelssohn's Variations Serieuses, and Liszt's Les Preludes. (August 8, 2012)
(Published on Oct 2, 2012) An ambitious 5-month project entitled "The Fertile Crescent: Gender, Art, and Society" features 24 women artists from 11 Middle Eastern nations: Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Palestine, Lebanon, Israel, Turkey, Syria, Pakistan, and Nigeria. The massive program includes over 50 free events in New Brunswick, Princeton, and at the College of NJ. Artists Negar Ahkami (American/Iranian), Zeina Barakeh (Lebanese/Palestian), and Ayana Friedman (Israeli) speak about their experiences in the cultural diaspora, challenging Western stereotypes and exploring issues of gender and homeland. Organized by Judith K. Brodsky and Ferris Olin, Co-Directors of the Institute for Women and Art at Rutgers University, the Fertile Crescent project includes art exhibitions, lectures, symposia, film screenings and musical performances, and continues through mid-January. For more information, visit http://www.fertile-crescent.org
(Published on Oct 16, 2012) Three professors describe the humanities and their value to citizenship and democracy. The goal? "To try to describe what it is to be human," says Kenneth Tomkins, Professor of Literature Emeritus. "It makes us whole as human beings," says choral director Beverly Vaughan. "Literature, history, philosophy, the arts, the languages... revolve around the idea of the human story," says Wendel White, Photographer, Professor of Fine Arts, and Chair of the NJ Council for the Humanities. Visit http://www.njch.org
(Published on Oct 26, 2012) Cadwalader Park, Trenton. 100-acres of urban landscape came alive with dance and music through a creative collaboration called DanceScapes NJ, presented by Passage Theatre, a Trenton based company. Key partners were DanceSpora dance troupe, and the D&R Greenway Land Trust. (Oct. 6, 2012) "I spent a lot of time as a child in this park," says Jay Watson, VP of D&R Greenway. "This park really shaped me and turned me into an environmentalist." The centerpiece of the multi-arts event was a dance piece, Rapture For a Season, choreographed by Heidi Cruz-Austin. The work featured eight dancers accompanied by the young jazz quintet, ReBop, lead by 16-year-old trumpeter Alonzo Ryan. Passage Theatre producer Kacy O'Brien called the event an opportunity to "get to know Cadwalader Park in a different way."
(Published on Jan 10, 2013) Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ (40 minutes from Philadelphia) is home to two-hundred-and-seventy sculptures spread out across forty-two acres of parkland. With the recent opening of a new performance space called the East Gallery, the sculpture park offers a variety of performance events throughout the winter months. "The East Gallery is a fantastic acoustical venue, besides being gorgeous to look at," says Sandra Pucciatti, co-founder of Boheme Opera NJ. The Trenton-based opera troupe featured 7 singers in a variety program attended by 200 listeners. A whimsical nature-inspired installation called Canutopia, by artist Ming Fay, populates the gallery's walls and ceiling with seeds, branches and leaves, bringing sculpture indoors. Grounds for Sculpture's founder, Seward Johnson (grandson of Johnson & Johnson founder Robert Wood Johnson) wanted to make a place for contemporary sculpture that would engage the general public. Throughout the park, visitors encounter his life-size bronze figures that pay homage to paintings by Monet, Renoir, and Manet, in addition to towering abstract works by Isaac Witkin and Strong-Cuevas. Through April, the Museum Building houses Robert Taplin's series of giant fiberglass figures suspended in mid-air entitled The Five Outer Planets. Taplin himself will offer a guest lecture at Grounds on Saturday, January 12 at 1pm.
(Published on Jan 18, 2013) Students, Faculty share passion for languages, philosophy, civics at MSU. What are the humanities, why are they important, and how do they relate to a robust democracy? The above questions are being answered through a series of six short videos called "Humanities Hits," produced by New Jersey Arts News in partnership with Drew University, and filmed on three New Jersey university and college campuses. The video project is funded in part by a $3,000 mini-grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
(Published on Feb 28, 2013) What are the humanities and how do they relate to communication and diplomacy? Two faculty and six undergraduates from such diverse fields as Medicine, Modern Languages, International Relations, and Archaeology, respond to these questions following an Honors seminar on Conrad's Heart of Darkness at Seton Hall University. The mission of New Jersey Arts News is to produce lively, high-quality video segments that convey the transforming power of arts and humanities, engage general audiences and news broadcasters, and foster a creatively engaged citizenry.
(Published on Apr 8, 2013) A garden at the center of the Seton Hall University campus functions as a teaching tool, and a food source for the university's dining services. Julianne Aiello (Director of Marketing and Sustainable Development) describes sustainability as 'thinking about our actions and what we're doing in relation to the environment - every day.' Dr. Marian Glenn (Professor of Biology) and Dr. Judith Stark (Professor of Philosophy) explore the relationships between sustainability, ethics, humanities and science. (Filmed February 7, 2013.)
(Published on Apr 25, 2013) It's refreshing to hear a civic leader clarify the essential responsibilities of citizens. Former Governor Christine Todd Whitman made these pointed remarks at a Citizens' Forum on Environmental Literacy at the Newark Museum, April 25, 2011. "There is a cumulative impact of individual behavior. We've got to get citizens to recognize that individual actions add up to a lot over time. We have to remind them that protecting [our resources] is part of their responsibility." Christine Todd Whitman, 50th Governor of New Jersey.
(Published on Jun 5, 2013) Newark residents are taking advantage of a municipal urban gardening program. They can develop vacant lots for purposes of beautification, gardening, and recreation. Gardening materials and training are provided by the Greater Newark Conservancy. Newark residents interested in "adopting a lot" should contact the City of Newark at 973-733-3631.
(Published on Jun 11, 2013) Shannon Bradshaw, Professor of Computer Science, and Margaret Kuntz, Professor of Art History, share their love for the humanities at Drew University. This Drew University "Humanities Hit" is one of six produced by New Jersey Arts News in partnership with Drew University, and filmed on three New Jersey university and college campuses. The video project is funded in part by a mini-grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The mission of New Jersey Arts News is to produce lively, high-quality video segments that convey the transforming power of arts and humanities, engage general audiences and news broadcasters, and foster a creatively engaged citizenry.
(Published on Jun 26, 2013) Three students from Drew University discuss what they love about the humanities -- environmental writing, theatre, and philosophy. NJ Arts News "Humanities Hits" are funded in part by a mini-grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Drew University facilitated the mini-grant.
(Published on Jul 10, 2013) How do digital technologies affect Medieval scholarship? Medievalist Martin Foys and Computer Scientist Shannon Bradshaw discuss digital mapping, Chaucer as innovator, and humanities as key for developing a bigger picture of the world - beyond ourselves. NJ Arts News "Humanities Hits" are funded in part by a mini-grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Drew University facilitated the mini-grant.
(Published on Oct 3, 2013) Hillsborough, NJ, September 18, 2013. A standing-room-only forum presented by Sustainable Jersey, a nonprofit certification program, convenes 200 civic and environmental activists to redefine sustainability in the 21st century. Nearly 400 New Jersey municipalities participate in Sustainable Jersey's conservation strategies that foster energy efficiency and savings, waste reduction, water conservation, cost sharing, and other sustainable practices. These municipalities comprise 82% of the state's population. Keynote speaker Mathis Wackernagel, President of Global Footprint Network and an environmental engineer by training, suggests that living "within the means of nature is the most productive economic proposition." Margaret Waldock of the Geraldine R. Dodge foundation notes that despite community recycling, the amount of garbage that we're generating is still "higher than it's ever been." Other speakers included Randy Solomon and Donna Drewes, co-directors of Sustainable Jersey, and Andrew Bowman of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The forum's venue was Duke Farms, a 2700-acre reserve that is free and open to the public every day except Wednesdays, from 8:30 am to 6 pm.
(Published on Oct 9, 2013) September 18, 2013, Hillsborough, NJ - Educators call for action and 'thinking forward' during a Sustainability Summit at Duke Farms in central New Jersey. "Something needs to be addressed right now," says Dr. Nicky Sheats, Director of the Center for Urban Environment, Thomas Edison State College. Jaimie Cloud of the Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education defines sustainable living as when "a society is far-seeing enough, wise enough, and flexible enough to actually contribute to the health of the systems upon which we depend." Shana Weber, Sustainability Director at Princeton University, notes that today's students are better prepared to resolve environmental issues. Keynote speaker Mathis Wackernagel, President of the Global Footprint Network, acknowledges that "a 'true' sustainable future is possible, but we must choose it." The Summit was presented by Sustainable Jersey (sustainablejersey.org), at the 2700-acre Duke Farms in Hillsborough, NJ, and attended by more than 200 educators, civic leaders and conservation activists.
(Published on Oct 22, 2013) Newark, August 15, 2013 - For hundreds of Newark teens, Summer 2013 brought life-changing opportunities to develop confidence, discipline, and flexibility in the workplace. The Greater Newark Conservancy and GlassRoots are among the more than one hundred businesses and nonprofits that hired youth for 20 hours per week over 6 weeks, through the City of Newark's Summer Youth Work Experience program.
(Published on Nov 26, 2013) 'Super Bowl XLVIII (48) - to be played on February 2 in the NJ Meadowlands - is called the first 'Public Transportation' Super Bowl. It may also be the world's first 'Ecology' Super Bowl. MetLife Stadium's unique surroundings include 8,400 acres of environmentally significant waterways and wetlands - a vast natural home to diverse species of birds and amphibians that covers a larger area than Manhattan. Nine members of the Bergen Grass Roots Task Force on Flooding set out on a Hackensack Riverkeeper pontoon boat to discover how these marshes and wetlands impact their communities. The group includes Charles Powers, Professor of Engineering from Vanderbilt University, and the mayors of Little Ferry, New Milford, and Secaucus.
(Published on Dec 18, 2013) Amanda Nesheiwat, a Bergen Community College graduate, is one of seven environmental coordinators working at the county or municipal levels in NJ. Sustainability managers are also employed by numerous NJ universities, colleges, businesses and schools.
(Published on Jan 8, 2014) "Dance in New Jersey is blossoming!" says Keith Thompson, Founder of danceTactics contemporary ensemble. Six Jersey dance groups perform in NJPAC's Jersey Moves! and reveal what dancers think about while onstage. What is dance? How do dancers convey emotion and narrative through movement and gesture? Jersey Moves! Festival of Dance at NJPAC explores a range of dance styles exemplified by: Timothy Kochka and the Davis Academy of Irish Dance (Fedelmia Mullan Davis, Academy Director), Indian dancer Bani Ray, the NJ Tap Ensemble, Nimbus Dance Works, danceTactics performance group, and the American Repertory Ballet.
(Published on Jan 21, 2014) The historic Roebling industrial building in Trenton pulses with art and music during a 24-hour extravaganza called Art All Night, run by the Trenton-based nonprofit, Artworks. The annual festival exemplifies the 'creative place' movement that is revitalizing communities across the US. Roebling Wire Works supplied cables for some of the largest suspension bridges in the United States, including the Brooklyn, George Washington, and Golden Gate Bridge. On January 23-24th, 2014, Trenton will be home to another convening called "Creative Trenton: Call to Collaboration," bringing together business, technology, arts, and education leaders.
(Published on Jan 30, 2014) Historic, turn-of-the-century buildings in downtown Newark are being restored and re-purposed into rental housing. "There's a billion dollars worth of development activity currently going on in Newark," says housing and real estate consultant Michael Meyer. Developers appreciate the building's unique architecture and aesthetics, and are helping to create a new residential neighborhood near Broad & Market. Josh Sternberg, VP of the Fidelco Realty Group, notes: "For investors, Newark is phenomenal. ...you have a lower cost to rent than you might in some of the comparable areas."
(Published on Mar 24, 2014) Green Building Technologies at NJIT: Architects and Chemical Engineers are developing smart building materials that harvest and store solar energy while limiting heat gain. Flexible building skins and batteries point to future efficiencies. Environmental chemist Som Mitra is focusing on batteries that are as thin and flexible as film - built from the carbon nanotube. "I think the future is flexible electronics." Architect Martina Decker focuses on flexible building materials, skins, and shades that respond to heat and light. "I think we have to realize where the energy that we consume every day is coming from. We have to be very aware of what we use it for," she says.
(Published on Apr 23, 2014) A municipal curbside composting program in Princeton, and abundant produce from Mercer County's many local farms are showcased in the 2014 "Living Local Expo" at the Lawrence Armories, attended by more than 2,000. The Expo included 80 venders, demonstrations, food and live music, and was sponsored by five organizations: the Green Teams of Ewing, Lawrence and Hopewell; Sustainable Lawrence; and the Mercer County Department of sustainability. Princeton Recycling Coordinator Janet Pellichero describes the start-up of the city's curbside composting, initiated by the Mercer County Improvement Authority and Central Jersey Waste. Chair of Sustainable Jersey and Terhune Orchards owner Pam Mount explains the long-term economics of buying local when factoring in the costs of transporting produce from California by air or by ground transport.
(Published on Sep 16, 2014) NJ farmers and food producers not only provide us healthy, fresh food. They're educating the public about eco-friendly and environmentally-sustainable food production. Chocolate-maker Ann-Marie Macarthur (Lumberton, NJ) discusses the benefits of raw chocolate, and what it means to be “organic.” Megan Dewalt (Fulper Family Farmstead) describes environmentally sustainable farming practices, and beekeeper Beatrice Tassot (Milford, NJ) explains the link between pesticide use and the decline in bee populations.
(Published on Sep 24, 2014) NJ environmental researchers and students know the dangers of toxins in conventional household cleaners, and the benefits of using natural cleaners such as baking soda and vinegar. "Lemon juice, soap and water, elbow grease, can solve most of your problems,” says Neil Chambers, green building designer and member of the South Orange Environmental Commission. "You don't want neurotoxins around growing children,” warns Princeton resident Tineke Thio. Rider University student and radio co-host Katie Lassiter claims that using just a small amount of vinegar "works wonders.”
(Published on Oct 7, 2014) The Village Green in Summit, NJ is home to "10,000 Reasons," a 14-foot-high sculpture created by internationally renowned contemporary artist Willie Cole. The sculpture took two days to install, and is made up of thousands of used water bottles. "I often use recycled objects. Water and life are so related to recycling," explains Willie Cole, a NJ resident whose works are in museums around the world. "I think it brings a whole lot of discussion to the community," says Estelle Fournier, co-chair of the Selection Committee for Summit Public Art, a volunteer organization that commissioned Cole to create the sculpture. "10,000 Reasons" will be on display in Summit through May 2015.
(Published on Oct 22, 2014) The Princeton Girlchoir's annual Children Making a Difference concert teaches young girls about service and community while raising funds for a local nonprofit. The Princeton choir is joined by the newly- formed Philadelphia Girls Choir. "Singing has the mission of creating great citizens," says Philadelphia Girls Choir director Nathan Wadley. Melissa Malvar-Keylock, Associate Director of the Princeton Girlchoir, explains, “Learning perseverance, learning discipline, all these things are above and beyond just singing beautiful music.”
(Published on Nov 11, 2014) Restaurant owners on Halsey Street in Newark are witnessing change and development in the downtown cultural district. Surrounded by three colleges and universities (Rutgers-Newark, NJIT, and Essex County College), and within walking distance of the Newark Museum, NJPAC, and the newly-restored 6-acre Military Park, the Halsey Street district is attracting students and business professionals. “I’ve never seen development happen as quickly as it’s happening now,” says Newark writer Felicia Walker Benson. “I like to walk the long way to Penn station, just to be energized by the environment.” Cathy Scalera, Assistant Manager of 27 Mix, explains how the area’s restaurants form a supportive community. “We have wonderful neighbors. If one of us runs out of something and we can help each other out, we sure do.”
(Published on Dec 22, 2014) Industrial arts, gallery exhibitions, photo shoots, special events. These are typical activities at Paterson's Art Factory. Once a busy manufacturing site for textiles and ship rigging, this 400,000 square foot complex houses studios and work spaces for a growing number of artists and builders. Architectural designer and artist Matt Gosser curates an exhibit entitled "The Big Show," featuring art works of "found" and recycled materials.