In our series Jersey Benefits, Cal & TaraJean travel across New Jersey discovering the amazing people who give back to their community.

This segment called “Take What You Need” is filmed in Union Beach and Belmar.

Amongst the rubble of Union Beach, we discovered a family who has opened up their home to help those in need.

The O’Hea Family and their three children, along with many volunteers, work tirelessly to create a place where neighbors can come for coffee, to charge their phones and find something warm to wear. They have stocked donated supplies in their front yard making it accessible to anyone who stops by.

In Belmar the town’s volunteers band together to help gut homes, replenish needed home goods, and provide meals to families who are still struggling with rebuilding their homes.

Singer Michael Grant had written and song called “Our Town”. Michael says it is “a tribute to all my friends on the Jersey Shore. 100% of all proceeds received from downloads of this song will go toward helping those affected by Hurricane Sandy!”

All proceeds from the sale of his song “Our Town” go to “Hurricane Sandy Helping Hands”, A grass-roots organization dedicated to helping the residents of NJ repair, rebuild, and restore their lives. Visit his website for more information www.michaeltgrant.com.

Please contact tarajean@njdiscover.com if you have a story you would like us to share.

All Sponsors for the Jersey Benefits TV Show please contact tarajean@njdiscover.com

NJDiscover – We are a Production Company, Website Magazine and Cable Television Show. We specialize in TV commercials, Website Commercials, Events and Reality Shows.

COMING ATTRACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The 10th Year Anniversary Monmouth-Ocean County Food Bank Benefit Concert sponsored by the Ocean Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and Classical Guitarist David Cohen Saturday January 26th 2013   By Calvin Schwartz

Classical Guitarist David Cohen is into his 10th year of benefit concerts for the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties; a cause which NJ Discover was become involved in as we’ve spent several days documenting and filming the amazing work they do (after Sandy) and all year long; every day.  The Monmouth & Ocean Counties Food Bank distributes around 7 million pounds of food annually through a network of 265 meal programs . Since  Sandy, the Monmouth -Ocean County Food Bank has provided hot meals to displaced families and delivered critically needed items to some of the regions hardest hit areas. But it’s what they do all year long that is unsung and quite amazing.  So this concert on Saturday is a must for the cause and the music of David Cohen and guests in a atmosphere setting a few blocks from our Atlantic Ocean in Ocean Grove.

In addition to David Cohen on classical & flamenco guitar, Chinese pipa and bagpipes will include area favorite’s Jo Wymer vocalist and guitarist, M’Zume Carnival percussion ensemble and the Pipes & Drums of the Jersey Shore Shillelagh’s.  This becomes one of those magical Jersey evenings along the Jersey shore.

MOC Food Bank Concert

Saturday January 26, 2013

Jersey Shore Arts Center|

92 Lawrence Avenue, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756

7:30 PM (doors open at 6:45PM)

Tickets: $12 advance $15 door

available: Chamber of Commerce Office 45 Pilgrim Pathway, Ocean Grove or

online www.foodbankconcert.org   Online ticket purchases automatically entered into Ocean Grove Get A Way weekend drawing.

At the concert there will be Raffles & Silent Auctions. Items available for preview @www.foodbankconcert.org

Performers:

David Cohen classical guitar, flamenco guitar, Chinese pipa, bagpipes

Jo Wymer   guitar, vocals

M’zume Carnival   percussion

Special Guests: The Pipes and Drums of the Jersey Shore Shillelaghs

The Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties

Mission-To alleviate hunger and build food security in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

Contact: Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce 732-7741391 www.oceangrovenj.com

David Cohen 732-213-8111 http://www.guitarpoint.net

Calvin Schwartz

COMING ATTRACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Coming Together “A Hometown Heroes Benefit for Seaside” Strand Theater, Lakewood. Saturday January 26th 2013

I’m always selective on this segment for NJ Discover before I recommend. I look at venues/performers and in this case one of my favorite historic theaters replete with ambiance and ghosts of The Great Gatsby; the Strand was built in 1922. What a wonderful venue to listen to rock, dream, drift back to the future for a few moments. Yes I love the Strand. I also love when the message gets out to the world embraced by NJ Discover to get off your sedentary sofas and take full advantage of all that New Jersey has to offer. And the offerings these days come with reasons to believe;  doing something for our home state and benefiting Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. There used to be a New Jersey tourism commercial, “New Jersey and You, Perfect Together.” Same deal here at the Strand. I love LOVE this line up of hometown Jersey rock bands and opportunities to meet and greet actors and band members before hand. It’s all a perfect night. And there is NO football this weekend. Perfect. Music. Food. Drink. People. Strand Theater. and Rock and Roll. and a great cause: To benefit Seaside with some of Jersey’s Greatest Hometown Heroes. See you at the Strand.

Calvin Schwartz

Event: Coming Together! Benefit Fundraiser for Families Struck by Hurricane Sandy

January 26, 2013

Strand Theater – Lakewood NJ

Meet & Greet –

Tentatively: 5:00 to 6:30PM

Includes food and beverages and DJ

Cake from Cake Boss

On Hand for Meet and Greet:

Joe Sernio ( All My Children )

Warren Bub ( No One Lives Forever)

Garry Pastore (Law and Order, Hudson Film Studio)

Artie Pasquale ( Sopranos )

Rick Zahn ( Its Always sunny in Philadelphia)

Others to be announced…

Main Show: 7:00PM – 11:30PM

Shorty Long Band

International recording artist New Jersey’s Chris Leone

Eddie Testa Band

Nick Clemons Band  

Gary Rupenian (The Bangs

Surrender Darcy Band

a little surprise by Vin-Taze

Edison’s Children

Gary Rupenian (The Bangs

Surrender Darcy Band

Also, there will be blind auctions and a 50/50 drawing

100% ALL FUNDS RAISED GOES DIRECTLY TO THE FAMILIES!!!

website: www.heroescomingtogether.org

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT http://strand.org/

Cost for Tix:

$40.00 for show w/meet and greet – limited tickets!

$25.00 for Main Event

Goal: To help as many families as possible!

Families being helped will also be present

Calvin Schwartz

Grand Opening Press Conference  ‘Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation.’ An Amazing Historic Place!

January 14, 2013    By Calvin Schwartz

As a journalist who gravitates to music these days, there are events to cover and then every once in a while, I alight from my Conestoga wagon of discovery ( I wish I was around  when the first Conestoga wagons were coming off the assembly line in Detroit) and walk into a magic world of music history and relevance. Such was yesterday at the opening press conference for the Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation headquarters on Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park’s hip business address. I started my love affair to remember with Asbury Park exactly a year ago when I hooked up with NJ Discover TV and some unknown universal energy dispatched me to Asbury and the rest is a personal history and words you’re reading now.

Asbury’s music past, present and future swirl around my soul; I know that Asbury Park will one day find itself as an international music presence and destination much like Memphis or Nashville. Asbury Park belongs on the global stage; so many of us who frequent the diverse, rich cultural heritage of this evolving city know this; the music is so good and plenty here.

At the beginning of last summer, I was walking down Cookman Avenue; the sun was setting surreally on a pastel blue house across the street. A young boy was standing in his backyard, with a guitar and an amp, playing incredibly well. He couldn’t have been more than twelve; I dream; maybe I found a way back to the future; it was Bruce Springsteen, no, Vini Lopez, no, Southside Johnny or Clarence Clemons or a hundred other angels who contributed to the rich history of this music town.

Tom Gilmour (director of Economic Development for Asbury Park) opened the press conference and introduced Susan Pellegrini  as the new Executive Director of Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation. “We were not ready to take the leap to open this yet for another year, but Sandy made us pick up the pace,” Susan said. They plan to have exhibitions, lectures, live broadcasts and to be that special international destination for people. She continued, “The focus is for us to be a connector for different aspects of music in Asbury Park.”  The inaugural exhibit will be a Light of Day retrospective tour with four photographer’s work.

Next Saturday (January 19^th) they’re showing a film ‘Asbury Park Musical Memories,’ with 1930’s through 1970’s dealing with what is was like to be in Asbury during that time. There’s a three year plan and the ultimate goal is to move to a 30,000 square foot “architecturally significant building, at the Crossroads on Lake Avenue.”

I like the notion that Asbury Park has a sister city in Italy, Casalgrande, giving it even more of an international flavor. The mayor of Casalgrande, Andrea Rossi was here in September and is coming back in May. Indeed the Asbury Park connections grow. So does the dream for global musical relevance and awareness.  John Cavanaugh, official photographer of the Stone Pony since 2000 and Light of Day since 1998 spoke about his contributions of photography and memorabilia on display which constitute phase one. The Heritage Foundation is looking for financial and materials donations and loans of art, photography and memorabilia.  More phase one activity includes an Asbury Park Musical Story Teller series where there are live performances as well. Soon Black History Month, Jazz month and a new artist’s series.

The hours are Friday 12-7  Saturday 12-8 (except 12-10pm during First Saturday events)  Sunday 12-6pm.

Of course during the summer they’ll expand to seven days.

And then Kimmee Masi, operator of Confections of a Rock Star, on Cookman Avenue  invited guests to a feast of cupcakes and confections. I grabbed (inconspicuously, I assumed) a chocolate cup cake.  She saw me. I exclaimed as I consumed in one festive satisfying bite, “wow, wow, wow.”  She said, “Only three wows?”  I brought one more “wow” to auditory channels.

I timed myself. I walked around gazing and reminiscing for 44.4 minutes. It was magic to be there. It was only the first day. Oh and the front door is only 44 feet away from the historic Upstage Club. I like that too.

Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation   708 Cookman Avenue Asbury Park   732-775-8900

http://asburyparkmusiclives.org/

Calvin Schwartz

Aidan’s Voice is a non-profit organization created by a young boy, Aidan Benavides, 14, of Marlboro, who was a victim of bullying in Middle School.

After many years of being bullied for his interests in music and the theater, Aidan finally reached a point of no return. After a heartbreaking incident at his school, Aidan recognized that without the support of his family and close friends he would not have been able to handle it.  Realizing that there are many people who might not be as fortunate to have a shoulder to lean on, Aidan decided to create a website and Facebook page for kids of all ages to come for help. He offered his time and his support to all who reached out to him in their pain and crisis.

If you visit his website www.aidansvoice.com , you can read his mission statement. Creating a place on the Internet where kids can feel comfortable sharing was just the foundation for Aidan’s task. This undertaking led to the discovery that there are so many schools that do not have the funds to provide support programs that will help create positive changes with their students. Thus began the many fundraisers Aidan has organized this past year.

NJDiscover joined a group of students and families at Thompson Park in Monroe for a walk-a-thon organized to raise funds for Aidan’s Voice.

In this video, we gave Aidan and his High School peers the opportunity to talk and express their opinions about the changes they hope to make in their world.

Produced by TaraJean Vitale, NJDiscover

Hurricane Sandy may have been strong but New Jersey proves it is stronger!

NJDiscover Team TaraJean Vitale and Calvin Schwartz attend local benefits organized by many to help raise funds for the devastated communities of the Jersey Shore.

Homes and businesses were hit with the power of Hurricane Sandy. Many lost much more than they could ever imagine. The response to help the victims has been enormous.

At the American Hotel in Freehold Synergy Event Planners Wendy and John Bruzzese along with the American Red Cross rallied their friends, colleagues and local business together to support a toy drive that would be “the biggest toy drive ever!”

In West Windsor the volunteer Fire Department and First Aid Units along with SandAid created a coffeehouse cabaret style benefit to help raise funds. Bands performed throughout the day while kindhearted strangers from all over the East Coast dropped off supplies for those suffering from the terrible storms after effects.

The overwhelming response has been emotional for volunteers. United and Jersey strong, the community is rebuilding thanks to the help of so many.

This is the first of a Series: Jersey Benefits for NJDiscover.com, and NJ Discover TV

Produced by TaraJean Vitale

Song: “Because I Love You” Written by Kevin John Allen, Performed by Brianna Eve

Celebrating Clarence: The Big Man’s Birthday Benefit

The “Official Clemons Family Event” – to celebrate New Jersey’s newly declared “Clarence Clemons Day”.

On Jan 12th we will be celebrating the birthday of the Big Man – Clarence Clemons at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. This is a benefit to raise money for area school district music departments that have lost instruments and various supplies in the storm. We urge all of you to attend it will be a great event and for a great cause that will see immediate results for our local communities!

The Bands lined up to play are……

The Nick Clemons Band

Jobonanno & The Godsons

Steve Smith and the Nakeds

with special guest JT Bowen and MANY MORE!

 AND THIS IS JUST IN: (1-9-13   7 pm) A BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR CLARENCE

We will be singing Happy Birthday and will have a cake from non other than Carlos Bakery in Hoboken. They are creating a saxophone masterpiece.  Carlo’s Bakery IS the setting of the hit TLC show “Cake Boss”

The State of New Jersey has made an official declaration….January 11th is now “Clarence Clemons Day” and although there will be many events in the following weeks; this is the official “Clemons Family Event”.  We hope that you will put this special birthday benefit show on your calendar as friends, fans and loved ones of the Big Man to celebrate his birthday.

Proceeds to benefit Jersey Shore school music departments affected by Hurricane Sandy!  There will be a Silent Auction to further raise money for the school music departments.  All support is appreciated for this event by musician to support the arts and up and coming musicians in our schools.

Facebook event page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/180868898725836

Doors 6pm.  Tickets $15 advance $20 at the door.

Tickets on sale now at Ticketmaster and the Stone Pony Box Office.

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0000498B85C46699

INGREDIENTS OF A MAJOR MUSICAL EVENT:

Historic ingredients (alignment of celestial forces of relevancy) of a special day/musical concert: There have been Hurricane Sandy events throughout our state. We’ve all come to understand what ‘Jersey Strong’ means. We live it every day; always have; just so much more pronounced these days. You take this awareness and add the late great Clarence Clemon’s Birthday on January 11^th and the historic resolution by the New Jersey Senate to annually honor one of the Jersey Shore’s (and worlds) most iconic musicians with a day named after him. Every Jan. 11 will now be Clarence Clemons Day. Last week the NJ Senate passed a resolution sponsored by Senator Jennifer Beck (R-11) that memorializes the legendary saxophonist from Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.

More ingredients. The Clemons Family and Nick Clemons (Clarence Clemons III) chose to celebrate Clarence’s birthday with “Celebrating Clarence: The Big Man’s Birthday Benefit” at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park  January 12^th.

Even More ingredients. Nick Clemons has a sensitive and caring soul tuned to the pulse of what’s relevant, happening and charitable (pay it forward) in our Jersey world. Last summer, he produced the Asbury Comedy and Music Festival to benefit the Lenny Bruce Foundation and Lenny’s House.  With this benefit on January 12^th, Nick and the Clemons Family decided to raise money for area school district music departments that have lost instruments and various supplies in Hurricane Sandy; how relevant and meaningful to give to the dramatically impacted world of music education in the name of iconic musician Clarence Clemons.

I just talked to Emma Fretz, instrument, choral and general music instructor at both Point Pleasant Beach High and Bay Head Schools which suffered heavy damage to their music resources. Things you never realize: In Bay Head School, they had seven feet of water in the music room. And “because the room is two feet below sea level, content insurance does not cover this and the insurance is null and void,” Emma explained. So their music program resources were completely destroyed. “You don’t realize how expensive even the little things are, like sheet music or hand bells,” Emma continued.  Along comes Clarence’s birthday, Nick Clemons and his energy and we’ve got a special night of music and birthday celebrations ; as I say, “Get off the sedentary sofa and come for music, celebration, a poignant cause and history.”

I think the perfect celestial alignment of stars, moon and Big Man.

Calvin Schwartz

December 26th 2012

WHY is this story here at NJ Discover? Because the song was born right here in New Jersey, USA.  All New Jersey musicians. And the song was re-discovered right here in NJ.

A long time ago in another state, in another city (which has alternate side of the street parking), I was aimlessly flicking television channels with an antiquated remote when I caught the black and white beginning of a movie that I’d never seen, “It’s A Wonderful Life.”  It was early autumn. Within a few minutes, I was drawn into the mystique and charm of this movie; throw an angel into storyline and I’m hooked for the long haul. I loved the movie’s message; about friends, family and dreams. The movie became a Christmas classic but not for many years after it was made in 1946. It was actually released in the summer that year and bombed at the box office.

When I finished watching the movie, I wondered why this wasn’t a classic with its timeless message of Christmas spirit, incredible cast and storytelling. Over the next few years, Ronald Reagan became President and the movie began surfacing on television during the holiday season with uncanny frequency. I said to myself, “I knew it would find itself holiday time;” and did it ever. Back in the Garden State, in the early eighties, a few weeks before Christmas on a Saturday afternoon, I was flicking channels again with a more modern remote and stumbled upon “It’s A Wonderful Life” on  six different channels at the same time, staggered so that you could see the ending if you were so moved; six times. “Atta boy Clarence,” Jimmy Stewart (George Bailey) says near the end; witness to the multi decade birth of a Christmas classic movie. Television stations today conspire to only do one showing per season; but it’s still a certifiable classic. Segue to the title of this article, ‘Eyewitness to a new classic Christmas song.’  By the way, I find it particularly haunting in my microcosmic synchronistic world that the angel in this movie is a  Clarence, and I’m writing about Clarence(Clemons). Hmmm!!

I told the story of the movie because in our crazy mixed-up, digital, smart-phone, fast food world, we’re likely to be witnessing the birth of yet another classic; this time an incredible Christmas song with such a moving emotional voice, the late ‘Big Man,’ Clarence Clemons. If you want to get in the mood before reading on, here’s the You Tube link to ‘There’s Still Christmas.’ Go listen and come back here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NZ__QNFP5U&playnext=1&list=PLB17BACDC89FDA3CD&feature=results_video

I love angels and synchronicity. Six weeks ago, I came to know Jim Nuzzo and Dennis Bourke who created this song with Clarence Clemons back in 1981. I’m a story teller so here goes.

Back in 1981, Stevie Betts (lyricist) and Dennis Bourke (melody) wrote this song, ‘There’s Still Christmas’ and teamed up with Jim Nuzzo (arranger, producer) and got manager Natty Bruer (assistant tour manager for Springsteen back then) to approach Clarence Clemons. They all met at Clarence’s Sea Bright, New Jersey home, had some wine and presented the words of the song to the ‘Big Man.’ Being on hiatus from touring with Springsteen, Clarence wanted to do it. He loved the message of the song; when things look down, there’s still Christmas; simple yet poignant. And Clarence’s rich baritone voice that is silenced now; propels this to classic status.  At the first recording session in October 1981, Clarence arrived wearing a cowboy hat. The next day he was wearing a Santa Claus hat and red vest exposing a chubby belly. He had Christmas lights put on the music stand; he was so in the mood to do this song. They rehearsed the song at ‘Big Man’s West’ in Red Bank; Clarence’s club. Jim and Dennis both told me about getting chills being in the same room with him when he performed. “He was a gentle down to earth guy,” Jim said.  To relax during the recording sessions, they played video games. To prepare for record company submission, Clarence recorded the other side on solo sax another Christmas classic “The Christmas Song.” The record company never picked up the song so it’s been sleeping all these years waiting for classic beams of particulate historic energy. Last year the song was released(thanks Terry Camp) but like the movie, so few of us knew it existed. I listened and was blown away; his voice and persona holds me in a suspended state; like I’ve known him all these years; like it’s a special legacy to all of us to have him back in our lives at Christmas this year.

But there’s more to the legacy of Clarence and this song. Jim Nuzzo and Dennis Bourke (A Viet Nam vet) have affiliated with this amazing charity ‘Give an Hour’ http://www.giveanhour.org/Home.aspx     a non-profit organization providing free mental health services to US Military personnel and their families affected by current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

All of which means as we move to make this wonderful song a Christmas mainstay and classic, proceeds from the sale of this song on iTunes, CD Baby will help our military. Imagine, after all these years that this song comes to us from Clarence at the holiday time of year; part of his enduring legacy.

Here’s some links to this wonderful life song/info:

http://www.oceangaterecords.com/

A percentage of cd sales from “There’s Still Christmas” by the legendary Clarence Clemons will be donated to Give an Hour, a non-profit organization that provides free mental health services to military personnel, their loved ones and hometown communities affected by conflicts abroad.

Please open up your hearts, honor Clarence and support our veterans by purchasing your copy for this holiday season.

Available for purchase on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, and Backstreets.com http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/theres-still-christmas-single/id474038459?uo=4http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/clarenceclemons

You can also find ‘There’s Still Christmas’ on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Theres-Still-Christmas-Clarence-Clemons/286246628066619?fref=ts

Bottom line. Please go listen and fall in love with the song. Purchase it. Sit by the fire place with a glass of wine or egg nog. Enjoy the Happy Holidays. Listen to his wondrous voice.

Thanks to Jim Nuzzo and Dennis Bourke for their passion and time.

And CLARENCE.

                  By  Calvin Schwartz

                  Also at:      http://www.vichywater.net/blog/

NJ Discover produced  PriceRite TV commercial with Della Femina Advertising

PriceRite is a sister company to ShopRite and has over 40 stores from Maryland to Massachusetts. Big savings in every store!

www.priceritesupermarkets.com

NJ Discover Filmed a demo for ShopRite.

Featuring wine opener Legacy & VinOair Wine Aerator – Purchase at any ShopRite Stores.

Perfect Gift for the Holidays!