CivicStory Podcast Library

Training More Eyes on Water Quality

January 21, 2020 16:32 - 20 minutes - 27.8 MB

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 prog...

Dam Removal in NJ

November 18, 2019 21:33 - 31 minutes - 43.8 MB

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 ...

Delaware River Watershed Coalition

October 21, 2019 03:33 - 12 minutes - 17.8 MB

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.

2019 Sustainable Jersey Summit

June 21, 2019 18:44 - 13 minutes - 18.8 MB

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.”

Newark Call to Collaboration

June 11, 2019 18:52 - 14 minutes - 20 MB

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.

Ecology and Economy: Resolving Our Climate Crisis

May 15, 2019 16:02 - 38 minutes - 18.1 MB

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 environm...

News & Democracy

January 09, 2019 21:43 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MB

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

Trenton Education Dance Institute (TEDI) - Dancing for Life

January 14, 2015 09:14 - 2 minutes - 3.12 MB

(Uploaded on Nov 2, 2010) The Trenton Education Dance Institute (TEDI) inspires and transforms hundreds of students from the Trenton schools. (May 2009)

JFK School Choir & Jazz House Kids Vocal Residency

January 14, 2015 09:12 - 2 minutes - 2.94 MB

(Uploaded on Nov 4, 2010) Newark's John F. Kennedy School Choir builds verbal skills and confidence through vocal residency. (April 2010)

Princeton Ballet School & American Repertory Ballet's Dance Power

January 14, 2015 09:10 - 2 minutes - 2.83 MB

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)

Shakespeare Theatre of NJ's Twelfth Night

January 14, 2015 09:07 - 2 minutes - 3.27 MB

(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)

Trenton Children's Chorus - Partners in Singing

January 14, 2015 09:04 - 2 minutes - 2.97 MB

(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)

Brick City 07101 at the Visual Arts Center of NJ

January 14, 2015 09:02 - 2 minutes - 2.91 MB

(Uploaded on Jan 9, 2011) The 'Brick City' Exhibition at the Visual Arts Center of NJ in Summit showcases Newark artists. (August 2009)

Scheide Birthday Concert Benefits Arts Council of Princeton

January 14, 2015 08:58 - 1 minute - 1.78 MB

(Uploaded on May 7, 2011) William Scheide's Birthday Concert benefits the Arts Council of Princeton and celebrates generous living. (January 2010)

GlassRoots in Newark

January 14, 2015 08:56 - 2 minutes - 2.95 MB

(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)

Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments at the Morris Museum

January 14, 2015 08:55 - 2 minutes - 3.96 MB

(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)

Rotary Family Festival - Madison & Florham Park

January 14, 2015 08:53 - 2 minutes - 3.09 MB

(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)

NJ Youth Chorus & Drakensberg Boys' Choir at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown

January 14, 2015 08:51 - 3 minutes - 4.39 MB

(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)

New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) of 350 at Jersey Gardens Mall

January 14, 2015 08:48 - 2 minutes - 3.68 MB

(Uploaded on Oct 13, 2011) Footage from the 2011 NJYS Play-a-Thon Concert. (March 2011)

NJSO Early Strings Program - FiddleFest at NJPAC

January 14, 2015 08:46 - 4 minutes - 5.67 MB

(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)

PATCHWORK: 30 Unique Quilts at the Newark Museum

January 14, 2015 08:44 - 2 minutes - 4.1 MB

(Uploaded on Oct 25, 2011) The Newark Museum's PATCHWORK Exhibit featured 30 quilts with a variety of design topics. (September 2011)

Luna Stage Premieres "Edison" Play in Valley Arts District

January 14, 2015 08:40 - 3 minutes - 4.5 MB

(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)

Rutgers Students Take Over Zimmerli Art Museum with Masquerade Ball

January 14, 2015 08:39 - 2 minutes - 3.25 MB

(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)

WheatonArts: A Cultural and Fine Crafts Village in Millville, NJ

January 14, 2015 08:35 - 3 minutes - 4.44 MB

(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)

Atlantic City Arts District & Stockton College

January 14, 2015 08:33 - 3 minutes - 4.33 MB

(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)

Joshua Bell as Seton Hall Humanitarian

January 14, 2015 08:31 - 3 minutes - 4.21 MB

(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)

Herbie Hancock and Lang Lang with NJSO at NJPAC

January 14, 2015 08:28 - 2 minutes - 2.99 MB

(Uploaded on Feb 13, 2012) Herbie Hancock and Lang Lang with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, redefining American concert music at NJPAC. (August 2009)

NJ Symphony Orchestra Family Concerts at NJPAC

January 14, 2015 08:26 - 1 minute - 2.6 MB

(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)

Young People's Chorus of NYC Creates New Repertoire

January 14, 2015 08:24 - 3 minutes - 4.86 MB

(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)

Bass Drum Concerto Premiere by Princeton Symphony Orchestra

January 14, 2015 07:52 - 3 minutes - 4.88 MB

(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.

Appel Farm Arts Camp

January 14, 2015 07:49 - 2 minutes - 2.99 MB

(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)

Improvised Piano Concerto by Lee Pui Ming with the Bay-Atlantic Symphony

January 14, 2015 07:44 - 3 minutes - 4.78 MB

(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.

Marc-Andre Hamelin: Profile of a Pianist & Composer

January 14, 2015 07:42 - 2 minutes - 3.04 MB

(Published on May 8, 2012) Virtuoso pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin shares his thoughts as a performer and composer at (le) poisson rouge.

Pushkin / Prokofiev Eugene Onegin Staged at Princeton

January 14, 2015 07:38 - 3 minutes - 4.63 MB

(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.

Creative Monmouth: Cross-Sector Convening Spurs Partnerships in Monmouth County

January 14, 2015 07:37 - 3 minutes - 4.14 MB

(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.

Oboe World

January 14, 2015 07:35 - 2 minutes - 3.78 MB

(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!

Young Artists Rehearse Brahms With Pros at Foulger Music Festival

January 14, 2015 07:34 - 3 minutes - 4.95 MB

(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 Qu...

Bell Labs Innovation: Physicists Celebrate Telstar Satellite's "50th" - NJ Arts News - NewsWorks

January 14, 2015 07:31 - 3 minutes - 5.26 MB

(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.

Organist Nathan Laube Powers 'One-Man Orchestra' at Ocean Grove, NJ

January 14, 2015 07:28 - 3 minutes - 4.44 MB

(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 a...

Fertile Crescent - Women Artists & the Middle Eastern Diaspora

January 14, 2015 07:26 - 3 minutes - 4.72 MB

(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 exp...

Humanities Thriving at Richard Stockton College, near Atlantic City, NJ

January 14, 2015 07:23 - 2 minutes - 2.77 MB

(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 ...

Passage Theatre Celebrates the Land: Dance, Music, Poetry in Cadwalader Park, Trenton

January 14, 2015 07:21 - 3 minutes - 4.39 MB

(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 m...

Grounds for Sculpture Lights Up in Winter

January 14, 2015 07:18 - 3 minutes - 5.01 MB

(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. T...

Humanities Hit: Montclair State University

January 14, 2015 07:14 - 2 minutes - 3.72 MB

(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...

Humanities Hit: Seton Hall University

January 14, 2015 07:09 - 2 minutes - 3.7 MB

(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, ...

Seton Hall Campus Garden Links Sustainability, Ethics

January 14, 2015 07:07 - 2 minutes - 3.65 MB

(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 sustainabilit...

Former NJ Governor Says Protecting Our Environment Requires Responsible Citizens

January 14, 2015 07:02 - 3 minutes - 4.35 MB

(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 responsibi...

Adopt-A-Lot Program Converts Newark's Vacant Lots into Gardens

January 14, 2015 06:57 - 2 minutes - 3.29 MB

(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.

Drew U. Faculty Discuss Computer Science, Art History & Society

January 14, 2015 06:53 - 2 minutes - 3.74 MB

(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...

Drew U. Students Discuss Humanities, Environmental Writing, Philosophy

January 14, 2015 06:51 - 2 minutes - 3.72 MB

(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.

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