Hopewell Valley Arts Council Hosts Inaugural Event featuring Pulitzer and JAM Award Honorees

A quick note. There are events all over our Garden State. You can’t be everywhere. We know that. I do like to share special events, poignant times and varied venues with the NJ Discover readers. This Thursday at the Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington New Jersey is one of those special times. I love ambiance. and wine. and Pulitzer prize poets and JAM award winning singers. Therefore you’ve got it all and quite an interesting evening. Even the weather is looking good.       Calvin Schwartz    June 10, 2013

COMING ATTRACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: WonderBar Asbury Park USA Friday June 14: Dana Fuchs Band, Gedeon Luke & the People, Christine Martucci.   “A Rocket Launch” By Calvin Schwartz      June 10, 2013

Often to motivate myself, I think of an old Saturn rocket ship sitting on the launching pad at Cape Canaveral (Cape Kennedy) in Florida. Steam is rising from the hookups of fueling and life support. The countdown begins. Countdown stops. Then it begins again. There’s a small window when they must launch the manned mission or else scrap the launch. Then the launch. With limited rocketry background, I do know the most amount of energy is needed to just lift the rocket those first few feet off the launch pad (sofa).  Then it gathers speed. Then the rocket disappears from visual and audio range. Then the exhaust trail in the upper atmosphere disappears.

So why do I talk about rockets and energy and visible trails in the atmosphere introducing a very special  concert on Friday June 14^th at the WonderBar?  I suppose I’m drifting into the world of music metaphors. A tremendous amount of energy is going to be released this Friday at the WonderBar with three ‘rockets of musical energy’ not to be missed.  I mean it. Metaphors aside, it’s going to be one amazing night. Dana Fuchs Band, Gedeon Luke & the People and an acoustic performance by Christine Martucci; All three will be  there with the ocean across the street and each possessing more musical energy and dynamism then you can imagine. Here’s the thing. If you miss this Friday night, the vapor of energy expenditure in the upper atmosphere will be gone and you would’ve passed on one incredible night.  Hopefully, I’ve expended enough verbosity here to lift you off your launch pad(sofa).

Calvin Schwartz   6-10-13

“Like an old school Tent Revival this will be a funky, sweaty, insane night of hand clapping, foot stomping and body shaking music when each of these amazing talents takes the stage and spreads the gospel of Rock & Roll.”  Sammy Boyd Productions

Dana Fuchs Band: Star of Sony Pictures ‘Across the Universe’   From her role as “Sadie” in the blockbuster hit “Across the Universe”, to the lead off-Broadway in “Love, Janis”  and now her new album “Bliss Avenue”, Dana is bringing her soul rock sound to Asbury Park.  Imagine a sultry, more emotive Janis Joplin backed by a higher-energy version of the late-’60s Rolling Stones…Rock & Roll doesn’t get any better than Dana Fuchs.

Dana Fuchs – vocals   Jon Diamond – guitar, Jack Daley – bass, Rich Monica – drums, Pete Levin – keys

http://danafuchs.com/

Gedeon Luke & the People:  American Idol Semi-Finalist

“At just 23, his music possesses a maturity that belies his age. Boundless in its energy and message of peace, love and hope it is music that only an ‘old soul’ with an untempered spirit could create with such captivating brilliance.”  Bill Hurley

http://gedeonluke.com/

Christine Martucci:  “Christine Martucci is renowned for her soulful tenacity, kind-hearted interaction and emotional songwriting, pulling heart strings and opening minds all across the country. Raised in a musical family, Christine has music in her soul. She has her own grass-roots following dubbing themselves the “Tucci Train”. Martucci’s bunch literally made it possible for her to outdraw headlining national acts by showing up in droves to cheer her on and support her newest projects.”

http://www.christinemartucci.com/index.php

COMING ATTRACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Wonder Bar. Asbury Park. Sat June 1st 8 pm “The Cat’s Out of the Bag” Chris Daniels and the Proof with Lance Larson and more.  To Benefit the Asbury Boardwalk  Cat Sanctuary

I’m always a fan of great music, Asbury Park, the ocean when it’s 444 feet away and a particularly meaningful cause. So this coming Saturday’s concert fulfills the energy requirement to get thee to the Wonder Bar. Looking forward!!       Cal Schwartz

COMING ATTRACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: “The God-Box, a daughter’s story” A One Woman Performance. Freehold, New Jersey Saturday May 25^th  2 PM. “A Must to Attend”   By Calvin Schwartz

When you get the rare opportunity to interact with and absorb the energies of a New York Times bestselling author, like Mary Lou Quinlan, I like to use my son’s favorite expression, “Hey Dad, it’s a no-brainer.” Ms. Quinlan’s book ‘The God Box, a daughter’s story,’ is brought to the stage in a riveting one woman performance this coming Saturday afternoon May 25th at 2 PM. Even better, Saturday afternoon becomes a chance to meet Ms. Quinlan at the ‘talk back’ and reception and book signing opportunities. For me this all becomes a personal event with the recent loss of my wife’s father. My wife’s deep connection with her father, even now a few weeks after his passing, should really hit home with Ms. Quinlan’s words and emotions. So I’m thinking this event on Saturday becomes something for many to absorb and relate with as we journey through inevitable personal familial loss.

Cal Schwartz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:

Mary Lou Quinlan, actress and New York Times bestselling author of The God Box is coming to Freehold to the stage of Applewood Estate’s Performing Arts Center on Saturday, May 25, 2 pm. This professionally mounted multi- media production is being produced by Toby Shylit Mack as a fund Raiser for GIERS: Grief Information Education& Recovery Services, a 501c3 no profit that helps people of all ages survive and thrive after a loss. “When I first read The God Box I identified with Mary Lou’s profound experience in losing her mother but also with her strong mother daughter connection that defied death. After seeing her amazing one woman show, I knew immediately that I had to bring this production to our community to benefit this important local charity. The arts offer a window into our emotions and often provide uplifting and cathartic experiences,” states Toby Shylit Mack, The God Box Event Producer, and Trustee: Monmouth County Arts Council, Two River Theater and Axelrod Performing Arts Center.

After Mary Lou’s mother dies, she discovers a God Box, actually many boxes, filled with her mother’s notes to God on tiny scrapes of paper revealing her deep love, concern and spirituality relating to each member of her family and her life”, says Bernice Garfield-Szita, MS, LPC, TEP, Co-Director of GIERS. “This warm engaging one act play filled with wisdom, laughter and some tears will delight audience members whether they are mothers or family members wishing to celebrate the amazing power of the gifts a mother can bring to all she touches”, states Bob Szita, MS, LPC, TEP, Co-Director, GIERS. “After the performance, there will be an audience talk back with Mary Lou Quinlan, personal book signing and a reception with light refreshments”, adds Toby Shylit Mack. Ticket prices: $20 (General Admission), $27 (admission and book), The cost of the book is $10 on the day of the performance. To purchase tickets and book in advance, go to www.GIERS.org or call 732-577-1076

LECTURE:  Kenneth T. Jackson : Newark’s Decline and Resurgence in the 20th Century as Lessons for Urban America. Rutgers Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. April 25^th  A REVIEW by Calvin Schwartz

The moment I saw Newark as the subject of a lecture, I knew the winds of relevance would take me there. I was born and lived in Newark for 20 years and stay relatively active in the alumni association of Weequahic High School where I graduated in the early sixties. I marvel at the good fortune of living 14 traffic lights from a major university, Rutgers, which affords the curious searching mind a never ending source of stimulation and knowledge via its academic offerings to the community.

The lecture was called “Newark’s Decline and Resurgence in the 20th Century as Lessons for Urban America: The Rise, Fall, and Recovery of a Great Metropolis, 1916-2016.” Kenneth T. Jackson, Professor of History at Columbia University spoke and mesmerized. The lecture was sponsored by the Allen and Joan Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life and Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and was held at Special Events Forum at the Civic Square Building in New Brunswick. And it was completely booked and the overflow was sent to a third floor video feed. Professor Jackson asked for a show of hands who graduated from Weequahic High in Newark; I was one of many who raised hands. And to my surprise and purist joy, the woman sitting directly behind asked at lecture’s end if I really went to Weequahic. I remembered Roz instantly; we were classmates right through the Cuban missile crisis and we hugged at our random chance meeting. My night and month and beyond were made.

Professor Jackson journeyed the lecture through world city’s histories. Venice was a major commerce and shipping center; then not.  Athens was a major city; then not; same with Vienna, Liverpool and Glasgow and our Detroit. But Newark had everything going for it; at the 250th (1666 to 1916) commemorative it was thought Newark could become a global leading city with major centers of manufacturing, a port that could’ve been the busiest in the world, an airport that was the busiest in the country at one time and even a minor league baseball team in 1937, the Newark Bears, that is considered the best of all time.

Throughout its history, there was a failure of leadership and vision. Newark was small; 21 square miles of which five miles was swamp. Newark was so small compared to Los Angeles with its 400 square miles. And when opportunities existed to annex local towns like Harrison, Kearny or Nutley, Newark’s leaders faltered and never acted. Newark is still small and those other places became cities of their own. But there have been effective leaders too; Charles Cummings, Bob Curvin and Cory Booker.

Newark had the perfect storm of contributing factors of urban decline including the riots back in 1967. There have been notable examples of cities coming back and reinventing like Hoboken did. Professor Jackson was optimistic that Newark could come back despite former Mayor Ken Gibson’s dire statement, that wherever America was going, Newark would get there first. Jackson eloquently discussed his four ingredients to bring back an urban city from decline.

Firstly, reduce crime. Secondly, attract more immigrants. Thirdly, welcome the Gay community and artists. Finally, promote outdoor restaurants. People sitting on the street dining sends a message that people are not afraid to walk around. He cited the explosion of outdoor restaurants on New York City’s Columbus Avenue and its concomitant resurgence.

Everything Professor Jackson talked about fascinated me. I’m a big fan of pinching my arm unobtrusively as a satisfying realization of “look where I am.” A question and answer period followed; the mostly older audience (I felt on the younger side of the scale) peppered comments, praises and questions mostly about their home Weequahic section. A bountiful reception followed. What really impressed me was the availability of the faculty of the Bildner Center and Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. I had a chance to talk at length to Professor Yael Zerubavel, Donald S.Sutton, Assistant Dean for External Affairs, Stuart Meck, Associate Research Professor and Director, Center for Planning Practice and Karyn Olsen, Director of Communications. You have to know me; I love engaging academia and the Rutgers faculty was accommodating and hugely generous with their time.  The moderately dry Riesling wine satisfied. The lights were dimming in the atrium and doors were locked and I was still chatting with Stuart Meck. Therefore it was a magical night at Rutgers and my exhortation to readers about future programs here; “get off your sedentary sofa.”

http://bildnercenter.rutgers.edu/

Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy:  http://policy.rutgers.edu/

Calvin Schwartz:  http://vichywater.net      Facebook:  Cal Schwartz

The 4th Annual Jersey Acoustic Music Awards (JAM Awards) were held on Sunday, April 07, 2013 at the historic Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove, NJ. The awards ceremony included performances by 50 original acts from all corners of the state while awards were presented in 32 categories.

JAM Award Honorees:

TOP MALE PERFORMER: James Dalton
TOP MALE VOCALIST: Zak Smith
TOP MALE LISTENING ROOM ACT: Arlan Feiles
TOP MALE SONGWRITER: Joe Cerisano
TOP NEW MALE ACT: Paul Lombardo
TOP FEMALE PERFORMER: Jerzy Jung
TOP FEMALE VOCALIST: Lo Kloza
TOP FEMALE LISTENING ROOM ACT: Samantha Aurelio
TOP FEMALE SONGWRITER: Loretta Hagen
TOP NEW FEMALE ACT: Chelsea Carlson
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Full Fathom 5 by Tony Tedesco and Full Fathom 5
SONG OF THE YEAR: Power and Virtue by Frank Lombardi
TOP INDIE ACT: Michaela McClain
TOP INDIE BAND: The Porchistas
TOP INDIE ALBUM: Fossil of Girl by Sarah Donner
TOP INDIE EP/SINGLE: Ready for Takeoff EP by Lauren Marsh
TOP NASHVILLE/MODERN COUNTRY ACT: Corey Wagar
TOP FOLK/AMERICANA ACT: Peter Myers
TOP UNDER 21 BAND/DUO: The New Royalty
TOP UNDER 21 ALBUM/EP: Garden of Music by Zuketunes
TOP 18&UNDER SONG: My Sweet Anonymous by Justin and Alina
TOP 18&UNDER MALE ACT: Matt Roy
TOP 18&UNDER FEMALE ACT: Rachel Miller
TOP 18&UNDER VOCALIST: Sofia Nicole
TOP 18&UNDER SONGWRITER: Victoria Quartararo
TOP 18&UNDER INSTRUMENTALIST: Michael Arrom
TOP BAND: Thomas Wesley Stern
TOP NEW BAND: Bog Iron Bloom
MUSICIANS ON A MISSION AWARD: Outpost in the Burbs
TOP BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY ACT: (2) Cindy Giejda; Kevin John Allen
TOP INSTRUMENTALIST: (5) Brian Mowery; Bob Grado; David Cohen; Michael Ghegan; Mike Klemash
JAM APPRECIATION AWARD: (4) Café Improv Princeton; The Folk Project; Music At The Mission; The Living Room at The Record Collector

COMING ATTRACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Friday April 5, 2013  9 PM Wonder Bar : Chris Daniels and the Proof  with Special guest Lance Larson

We always like to highlight and feature special musical events and Friday night’s Chris Daniels and the Proof with Lance Larson is just that. We already checked the weather forecast and it’s fair and mild. The ocean is across the street. So is the boardwalk and beach so have fun in Asbury Park, USA

Asbury Angels Induction Ceremony: Asbury Park NJ Sunday September 23rd.  Calvin Schwartz (writer) Tara-Jean Vitale (video)

By Calvin Schwartz

Twenty minutes before the Asbury Angels ceremony. Shooting down Asbury Avenue for the 78^th time this year; that’s an approximation but probably close. I’ve developed a love affair to remember with Asbury Park and find myself there three or four times a week; hey, I’m a music, art, environmental and evolving cerebral journalist and Asbury has morphed into a renaissance/ re-birth. I’ve been saying for some time now in my writings that part of this dynamic is the celestial descending of particulates of molecular energy from the living and past musical history of this town; I’m saying that the world knows about Springsteen, Southside Johnny, Vini Lopez, and the vast array of current performers whose roots came from Asbury.

Yes, for me this energy  is absolutely palpable. Last summer I remember walking down Cookman Avenue and looking across the street at several houses. One had a pastel green back porch; a young teenage boy was playing a guitar and gyrating. I was certain he was pretending /dreaming ‘Springsteen.’  I thought to myself; it’s the sprinkled particle energy of the living legends. I also thought while heading down Asbury Avenue, adhering to the speed limit, passed an Italian restaurant and beautiful red brick church, that I was heading to an emotional poignant ceremony honoring particulate energy of Asbury music history of those who have passed on.

Iconic Tony Pallagrosi, so deeply involved in the musical and philanthropic composition of Asbury Park founded the Asbury Angels.  “The mission of the Asbury Angels is to honor and memorialize the lives and history of members of the Asbury Park musical community, including but not limited to, musicians, tech support persons, DJs, journalists, club owners, record company personnel, managers and promoters.”

NJ Discover’s team, Tara-Jean Vitale (editor, producer) and I quickly slammed car doors in front of the Stone Pony, and joined the hundreds assembling on the boardwalk for the induction of the 2012 class (first one) of the Asbury Angels. Jackie Pappas from the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce introduced Tony Pallagrosi who read brief biographies of the inductees. Families and friends applauded each reading; the ocean glistened in the background; the sky was perfectly blue and the weather Gods cooperated. The night before, Pallagrosi hinted, Springsteen’s concert at Met Life stadium was rain delayed until 10:30pm.

I listened to every word of each bio. These were legends and icons that did so much for Asbury music. I kept thinking in the midst of the throngs consuming the whole width of the boardwalk, that someday these Angels would’ve contributed to making Asbury Park one of the world’s music destinations. I want to think everyone thought like me. After all, look at the depth, range and impact of these Angels. Its two days later as I write this. I’m still intestinally queasy. I was so moved being there.

As each name was read, a plaque on a boardwalk bench was unveiled with the bio of the Angel.  Huge scissors were summoned to cut the yellow ribbon to share the memorial for the ages. It was Asbury Park’s walk of fame.  The 2012 Asbury Angels are: Arthur Willard Pryor, Bobby Alfano, Larry ‘Bozo’ Blasco, Bill Chinnock, Clarence Clemons, Danny Federici, John Luraschi, Joe Arthur Major, Arthur Morris, Tom and Margaret Potter, and Moe Septee.  When the ceremony was over, I watched people hugging and shaking hands, photographers capturing plaques, old friends seeing one another after decades, smiles and bittersweet  teary eyes; a panoply of emotions.  I did my joyous deep inhalation/exhalation. “Hey Mah, look where I am,” and thought ten thousand people should’ve been here to experience this. (Or more)

You can find the biographies and information on the Asbury Angels here:

http://asburyangels.com/default/index/

Renault Winery’s Italian Festival!

Frank Holmgren will never forget the roar of the water when his Navy ship sank beneath him in the early days of World War II. He won’t forget the sharks circling around his raft as he waited nearly seven days for rescue either.

Holmgren, 79, was just a 19-year-old captain’s orderly, not quite eight months into active duty on the USS Juneau, when it was hit and sunk by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine in the Pacific Ocean 59 years ago this week.

He said the torpedo was fired at another ship in their group, the San Francisco, but slipped passed its bow. The San Francisco had all its communications knocked out in a battle both ships had been in with the Japanese earlier that morning, and could not message the Juneau that a torpedo was on a trajectory toward it. Holmgren was on deck on the fantail when the torpedo hit.

“We went down in a minute,” the resident of Byrnes Lane said.

“I went up in the air, and when I came down my hand hit a life jacket,” he said. He quickly put it on, he recalled. “I heard the roar of the water and I thought I was going to die. I did go down with the ship — I don’t know how far — but the next thing I knew, I came back up. That life jacket saved my life.”

Holmgren also kept his mouth closed when he went under and didn’t swallow much salt water, which he feels helped him survive. He also did not drink any salt water while drifting in his raft, relying instead on rain for sustenance.

“Once you drink that salt water, you are finished,” he said.

Holmgren is the last remaining survivor from the sinking of the Juneau, which is best known for having been the graveyard of the five Sullivan brothers of Iowa. He said there were 10 survivors from the crew of approximately 725, five of whom were from the life raft he called home for a week.

With the exception of his military service, Holmgren has lived his entire life in Eatontown, beginning on what is now Throckmorton Avenue, formerly Railroad Avenue. He went into the Navy in March 1942, after graduation from Long Branch High School.

Holmgren went through boot camp at Newport, R.I., and was assigned with his buddy from Eatontown, Charlie Hayes, to the Juneau, a fairly new ship.

Hayes survived the sinking of the Juneau but was not among those finally rescued, he said.

Holmgren said he and Hayes boarded the Juneau together in New York City after completing basic training, and initially worked the Atlantic Ocean side of the war, escorting ships to Africa.

Eventually, he said, they were called to the Pacific Theater of the war and went to Guadalcanal to supply the Marines there. While in the area, he saw the Wasp, an aircraft carrier, get hit by torpedoes and sink, and he became engaged in the battle of Santa Cruz, in which the Hornet, another aircraft carrier was hit.

His ship returned to Guadalcanal to take troops to land

SURVIVOR OF THE U.S.S. JUNEAU