Visiting Sandy Hook Lighthouse in the winter proves to be a moment of beauty and awe for photographer Alan Leckner of NJ.

LecknerDesign Associates/mor4you

732-290-2900

www.lecknerdesign.com

creative – intuitive – focused – disciplined

NJ Discover always fulfills its name. Today in Seaside Heights, 30,000 spectators gathered on the boardwalk (two weeks ago, when we were there scouting the location, it was deserted) along with 6000 brave, dedicated polar bear plunge participants from all over the country including California, in an event which grows every year to raise money for Special Olympics New Jersey.

While Big Joe Henry from Jersey 101.5 FM broadcasted live from the Aztec Hotel, NJ Discover TV provided complete video coverage and interviews from an amazing event in an amazing state. Who else but NJ Discover? The event today raised over $1.4 million. Donations can still be made at http://www.njpolarplunge.org/

Japan visits Marlboro, NJ

Malboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik and Mayor of Nanto City Japan Mikio Tanaka shared their enthusiasm and commitment to a tremendous program that has developed into a friendship and bond between 2 cities going back to the 1990’s.
The Marlboro-Nanto Youth Exchange Program gives Japanese and American students an opportunity to experience and appreciate their different cultures.

Students travel from Japan to spend time with host families living in Marlboro. For one week they enjoy typical daily activities in New Jersey and some sight-seeing in New York and Philadelphia.

 This non for profit organization is funded entirely by community donations. For more information go to www.marlboro-nanto.org.

Frank Dicopoulos from NJ Discover visits Sickles Market in Little Silver. Founded in 1908, Sickles Market is a great place to find delicious high quality foods, produce, cheeses and more. Nj Discover filmed hours of footage! Take a look at all the exquisite flowers and unique gifts.

Candle Light Vigil for the Long Branch victims.

Mayor Adam Schneider and community volunteer Krysta-Lynn Landolfi are interviewed by NJ Discover Reporter Tara-Jean Vitale during the Candle Light Vigil for the victims of the February 13th West End Fire in Long Branch.

A week ago I discovered, with the help of Virginia Amend from Amend Publishing, that a 102nd birthday party was being held for Emily Cook at Regal Pointe in Middletown. So I got myself invited and was thrilled. Notwithstanding that I frequently write about living to 150 years, but when I found out that a neighbor just down a Jersey road was celebrating such a wondrous occasion and was already 2/3 of the way to my personal goal, I couldn’t wait. As they say it was worth the wait.

Regal Pointe is a rather unique retirement concept where seniors rent apartments on a very affordable monthly basis. Services are provided with meals, housekeeping and social events. The executive director took me on a tour (as a journalist); the remodeled building was a bright, clean upbeat environment. The more I learned about their facility and residents, with many in their mid to upper nineties, and of course Emily at 102, I began to wonder if this unique way of senior living doesn’t somehow translate to longevity.

Now to Emily. She was charming, ebullient, impeccably dressed with a smile that radiated clear across the great room where many of her friends had gathered to sing happy birthday. I noticed her the minute I walked in. After introductions, I asked if we could take some still photos and when Eric, NJ Discover’s cameraman said we needed to move into favorable light, Emily jumped-up and changed seats. As we were about to pose, she asked, “Would you like me to sit on your lap?” Her comment actually sailed over my head for a few moments. When the TV camera rolled, we talked about President Herbert Hoover and the Depression and how hard it was living in those days. She had several factory jobs throughout her life and retired at 62. Shoulders shrugged and her smile lingered; I told her about my goal of living to 150. “I have a lot of fun here. Bingo. My nieces visit. I love knitting. 150? I don’t think so.” Meanwhile she looked thirty years younger. A little button said “Another year younger.” We talked on and discovered commonality; we were both born in Newark. Her nieces arrived. She couldn’t wait to tell them a TV crew was filming her party. I couldn’t wait to ask her if I could come to the 103rd party. So I will. – Calvin Schwartz

Alan photographed the 16-by-10-foot  mural of Tillie’s image in Asbury Park.  Although the original Palace Amusements no longer exists, Tillie still barely hangs on to the cinderblock wall where a portion of it was saved, by volunteers,  before demolition crews could tear it down.

Tillie looks weathered. He’s been through troubled times. But he still survives. And he is still smiling. His character cannot be broken. Tillie represents the beach town of Asbury Park:  awesome, exciting and everlasting!

Thanks for the great photograph Alan!

Your NJ Discover TV Host and Producer, Tara-Jean.

LecknerDesign Associates/mor4you

732-290-2900
732-290-2965 fax

www.lecknerdesign.com

creative – intuitive – focused – disciplined

Reporter Stephan Chin takes a trip to Hot Sand, in Asbury Park, NJ to get some tips on glass blowing. Produced and edited by Karen Heyson

In mid October, Calvin Schwartz, writer, reporter for NJ Discover interviewed Linda Chorney, long before any Grammy buzz or nominations (which were announced on November 30th). So Calvin and NJ Discover therefore scooped the journalistic world and major media outlets. Perhaps good old fashioned NJ journalistic instincts but a great appreciation for the enormous talent of Linda Chorney. In the months since then, Linda has become the darling of the Grammy nominations and NJ Discover was commissioned by hooplaha.com ( a dynamic new site for smiles, thinking and upbeat motivational stories with daily updates)to do a video with Linda. And thanks to hooplaha.com for allowing NJ Discover to share this wonderful story about Linda’s journey.

By Calvin Schwartz:
A few weeks ago my personal blog was a copy of my interview with an amazingly voiced singer, Linda Chorney, who was just beginning the process of submitting her album ‘Emotional Jukebox’ for Grammy nomination consideration.

I consider that interview my finest hour and journalistic achievement since my whole ‘Woodward and Bernstein'(remember them?) shtick began on July 30, 2011; my first day as a journalist when I covered Old Freehold Day and heard this vibrant feisty singer (of course Linda) do a set before a crowd of people more intent that hot day of getting free rides on a hay tractor, back and forth to a suburban New Jersey parking lot. As Humphrey Bogart (Rick) said to Claude Rains (Louis) in ‘Casablanca’ it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

I’ve observed the process as Indie (no major record label) Linda Chorney has suited up with determination, drive, depth and spirit and presented herself to the establishment called Grammy Awards. I’m a visual literary guy: I see Joan of Arc, Althea Gibson (one of my life’s heroes. Go Google if you don’t know her), Annie Oakley, Susan B. Anthony, Marian Anderson, Molly Pitcher (Revolutionary War heroine. There’s a hotel near Linda in Red Bank named after her). You see, I like rugged individualists like Linda Chorney. She went out and used the extant tools to bring her musical message to the Grammy voters.

She’s an Indie. I look at her fellow nominees for Best Americana Album, most of them loaded with Grammy awards already. Linda has now been called the darling of the Grammy awards by many reporters and observers because of the fire of determination to bring awareness to her music far from the maddening crowd of big record labels and money. There’s always a Benedict Arnold, a Dathan (played by Edward G. Robinson in ‘Ten Commandments’) or just another political party on the other side of midnight or an aisle. So I smile sardonically and read the words of some ‘Bob,’ ‘Baker’ or ‘Houston’ guy who are upset because they don’t know her music and don’t think she belongs where she is. Then I look at the United Nations and its inability to reach agreement in ‘Kyoto Protocol’ and I know since the time my distant relatives, the Cro Magnons’ played a rendition of soccer right here in Jersey across the street from me, that there will always be towers of babble, ignorance and jealousy as some ‘Bob, ‘Baker’ or ‘Houston’ guys recently demonstrated and restored my faith in the old adage, “some folks never get it.” As I see it, as objectively as I can be, Linda’s music is wonderful, moving and passionate and deserves to be right in front of all of us with Grammy recognition. I do believe George Washington would’ve loved it too, especially her song from ‘Emotional Jukebox’ called ‘Cherries.’ George did chop down the cherry tree and was honest about it. That’s what I like about Linda Chorney.

 “A Father’s Love: One Man’s Unrelenting Battle to Bring His Abducted Son Home” by David Goldman

The Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce  hosted a special event on Thursday February 2, 2012 honoring David Goldman  at Sterling Gardens in Matawan. David Goldman’s son was abducted by his wife to Brazil and his book documents a 5 year long international struggle to get his son back.  He is now an advocate against trafficking and international kidnapping.

NJ Discover team reporters Tara-Jean Vitale and Calvin Schwartz attend.

Goldman fought an inspiring international five year battle to be reunited with his son Sean who was abducted to Brazil in 2004. Increased awareness globally to human trafficking and international kidnapping eventually led to key U.S. government officials including President Obama, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg and Congressman Christopher Smith of New Jersey to get involved with the Goldman case. David Goldman recently wrote ‘A Father’s Love: One Man’s Unrelenting Battle to Bring His Abducted Son Home (Viking/Penguin) and is a co-founder of the ‘Bring Sean Home Foundation (BringSeanHome.org). We found David Goldman to be warm, caring, committed and incredibly accessible. He looked at me and said, “I’m simply a father who cares.”
Calvin Schwartz for NJ Discover TV