Category: Notable Locals

Episode 90: The Asbury Park Arts & Culture Plan

This week we discuss updates to the Asbury Park Arts and Culture Plan and welcome back Carrie Turner from the Asbury Park Arts Council.  We also welcome Eric Galipo from Francis Cauffman Architects who did the hard work of designing the Arts & Culture plan which will now be presented to the City Council.  Welcome Carrie and Eric!

AsburyPod also gratefully acknowledges the support of Jenn Hampton from the Parlor Gallery on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park who let us record this episode in her lovely space. Thanks Jenn!

PS: You can see Eric Galipo’s presentation of the A&C plan at this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnCWRLzLlFE&t=29s

Episode 89: Local Poet Cord Moreski

In honor of National Poetry Month, we welcome local poet Cord Moreski, who is the host, curator and driving force behind the wildly popular “Coffee and Words” poetry series held at Asbury Park Roastery—a series that is in turn just a small part of the New Jersey Poetry Renaissance which is bringing poetry readings to spaces all over the State of New Jersey.

Special thanks to Tom Chesek for letting us record this episode at the historic Stephen Crane House here in Asbury Park.

One Note, we have added a recording to Cord reading several of his poems to the end of this episode, so stay tuned and give them a listen! 

Poems:

  1. Aubrey
  2. Night Swimming
  3. Angel
  4. Won’t You Be My Neighbor
  5. Apartment Karaoke

Episode 88: Part II of our Talk With Reverend David Parreott Jr.

Welcome to part two of our conversation with long-time Asbury Park Police Officer, former member of the Asbury Park City Council, former state champion tennis player from Asbury Park High School, and local Pastor—the Reverend David Parreott Jr. He reminisces about being a police officer during the 1970 riots in Asbury Park, being a neighborhood kid when Asbury Park had dirt roads and a synagogue on Cookman Ave, and what it was like to run for office in Asbury Park back in the 1980s. Welcome Reverend!
Reverend Perreott shows Amy & Joe the pool table he bought from Danny Devito.

Episode 87: Reverend David Parreott Jr.

When Amy & Joe sit down to interview guests, we try to keep our conversations somewhere near the 45-minute mark just to keep things simple. But this week’s guest, who has been a resident of Asbury Park since the 1930s, was such an engaging storyteller that they ended up with over 90 minutes of conversation before we knew it—enough for two full episodes. So welcome to part one of our conversation with long-time Asbury Park Police Officer, former member of the Asbury Park City Council, former state champion tennis player from Asbury Park High School, and local Pastor—the Reverend David Parreott Jr. Welcome Reverend!

Episode 86: The Coaster’s Editor Ellen Carroll

Recording at the historic Stephen Crane House here in Asbury Park, this week Amy & Joe return to the local news scene and talk to Ellen Carroll, editor of The Coaster, one of the last remaining family-owned, hyper-local newspapers on the Jersey shore–which is also celebrating its 40 anniversary this year.

Episode 85: Singer-songwriter Lisa Bouchelle

This past week, Asbury Park was once again hosting the Light of Day Foundation’s series of concerts, which raise money to fund research into possible cures, improved treatments and support for patients with Parkinson’s Disease and its related illnesses, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy). We were lucky enough to talk to one of this year’s performers.  Joining Amy & Joe, with the help of Ming Chen of A Shared Universe, is New Jersey singer-songwriter, Lisa Bouchelle, who opened and closed the Light of Day series.  We talk to Lisa about her music, touring and what it’s like to cook with the great Chubby Checker.  Hint, keep the fire extinguisher handy.

Episode 84: Tom Chesek

Recording at the historic Stephen Crane House here in Asbury Park, this week Amy & Joe talk to Tom Chesek, writer in residence and docent of the Stephen Crane House. We learn a little bit about the time young Stephen Crane spent here with his family,  as well as what Tom was doing before he came to Asbury Park and what does Clifford the Big Red Dog have to do with it.

Episode 83: Michelle Grezner & Celia Cattani talk about the Asbury Park Holiday Toy Drive

This week Amy & Joe, with the help of Ming Chen of A Shared Universe, talk all things Christmas and the Asbury Park Holiday Toy Drive with repeat guest Michelle Grezner of the Asbury Park Kiwanis Club and new guest Celia Cattani from Community Karma. They discuss what’s been happening with the Asbury Park Toy Drive since Connie Breech retired to its current incarnation, plus their plans for the future. Welcome, Michelle and Celia!

Episode 82: TAPInto Asbury Park’s Matt Doherty & Alissa Deleo

This week Amy & Joe recorded in the comfort of Asbury Park Roastery‘s Second Ave shop thanks to an assist from the extremely community-minded Alli Kennedy. We welcomed the team behind Asbury Park’s newest media outlet, TAPInto Asbury Park—owner and former mayor of Belmar Matt Doherty and reporter Alissa Deleo. We talked to Matt and Alissa about the state of local journalism and news reporting. and what they hope TapInto Asbury can bring to the table.

Episode 81: Henry Vaccaro

This week Amy & Joe welcome Henry Vaccaro, a fixture here in Asbury Park. We talk to Henry about growing up in and around Asbury Park and the many careers he has had in life, first as a builder, then the unlikely owner of the world-famous Kramer guitar company and then how he became close friends with Bob Wootton and Johnny Cash and restored the Berkeley Carteret Hotel.
A new guitar that Vaccaro just got a patent on. His plan is to restart his guitar company in Asbury Park.