Know Thy Neighbors

In this episode we're talking with Anna Drago, who has made a Cranbury Victorian her home base for the last 50 years of family, career and travel. She's a singer from Italy who doesn't like opera but does have a French film recommendation... She's pictured in her living room with an Italian artist's rendering of her sister at age 10.

Want to meet the Cranbury School PTO Co-Presidents? Allow me to introduce them to you on this episode of Know Thy Neighbors! I'm asking all the questions about the PTO...

Sally & Pat O'Grady are best know for their epic yard sales and ever-evolving Secret Garden off of Heritage Park. Yes, we're gonna learn a thing or two about yard sales...but also how they ended up in Cranbury, and what they have to do with cargo ships and the IRS.

We're pivoting between marathons, race relations, Italy and open space in part 2 of our conversation with 92-year-old local artist Charlie Amend.

92-year-old Charlie Amend was lured by a fellow artist to make his home in Cranbury, and has lived her for over 60 years while spending his working hours in NYC as a successful scenic designer for TV and theater. Active in both communities, he has lots of stories to tell. This is part 1 of 2 of our conversation with Charlie.

Szilvia bought the Pawz & Clawz business in 2019 and has been grooming my very angry mini-schnauzer ever since. Of course she wasn't always a dog groomer - she tells us how she got here. And maybe more interesting, what's up with Roller Derby in New Jersey these days? Little shout out - she'd like to thank her grooming staff for all their hard work during a very busy pandemic...

Denise Valdes is the owner of Zenergy Wellness Center on Main Street Cranbury. Four themes consistently come up in our conversation: spirituality, religion, awareness, gratitude. Find out how she got here (hint: it involved a career 180) and how she has experienced being an Asian-American in Cranbury.

Eman found Cranbury the way many newer residents seem to have found it: she drove through town on a happenstance trip and it felt like home. Her family of 5 has grown to a family of 7 while living in the home they had custom built on Cranbury Neck Road. And yes, that's a sheep farm. How does a biologist by training and mother of 6 find her way to running a sheep farm and 'filling in the gaps' she sees in the local community and the broader world by volunteering here, there and everywhere?

Audrey Smith was best known to me as the Co-President of the Cranbury Historical & Preservation Society. You won't be surprised to hear there is a lot more to learn about her! I caught up with Audrey in April and we discussed her favorite trip (Newfoundland), favorite book (gonna make you listen to find out what it is!), 3 grown kids, and the many things she's been involved with in Cranbury over the years.

I've lived next door to Jane for 11 years, and turns out there's a lot she didn't get the chance to share in chats over the backyard fence. She's lived in Cranbury off and on for over 60 years, is a TWIN, a PILOT, and can surely beat me in a tennis match...I headed to Jane's backyard for a little get-to-know-you time. The title of the favorite book she doesn't remember at the time we spoke: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn Got a guest suggestion? Email us at knowthyneighborpodcast@gmail.com.

You know your neighbors, but how much do you really know about your neighbors? Gale Scott & I (Heather Keltz Scott) are on a mission to find out more, starting with the people who live and work in our own town, Cranbury, NJ. We welcome guest suggestions! Email knowthyneighborpodcast@gmail.com.

Andrew Harrison has been the single designated journalist covering Cranbury (and 4 other communities...welcome to the state of local journalism) for The Cranbury Press / Centraljersey.com for 2 years. Maybe you've seen him at a township meeting; maybe you met him on Cranbury Day. Pretty sure you know next to nothing about him...we spend 30 minutes finding out what it's like to be our local reporter in 2021. Got a guest suggestion? Email knowthyneighborpodcast@gmail.com.