jp-jptest3: January 2008

George Greenfield

George Greenfield’s music probes LIFE — “You got to slow down, take a look around, life’s not as bad as it seems. So I reach in my soul for a prayer I can hold, and hope I wake up from this dream... LOVE — “The light of the dark shows the way from our fear to our heart where our love is still yearning. The light of the dark shows the way to the place where the fire of our love is still burning...” LOSS — “Good-bye so long, so hard to say, when heartache’s just a word away...” and, SELF — “Painting life I’m colorblind. Loving red’s a state of mind. Walking I can’t feel my feet. Somehow I make it down the street.” His songs speak of the search for basic honesty in personal relationships, the evolution of self, intimacy and life’s journey.

George first began playing guitar at the age of 13 and began
writing songs while at the University of Buffalo. At the university, he
also founded and managed a successful coffeehouse supporting up-and-coming
singer-songwriters including Don McLean and Bruce Cockburn. After
graduating with a degree in Arts Management, George moved into concert
promotion featuring such artists as Elton John, Eric Clapton, and James
Taylor. He subsequently was Assistant Director of New York’s Town Hall,
Orchestra Manager of the Baltimore Symphony, Director of New Line
Presentations (the former lecture and literary division of New Line Cinema). In 2003, after many years as president of Lecture Literary Management, Inc., he founded and is president of CreativeWell, Inc. - the Montclair based lecture and literary agency (www.creativewell.com).

Living parallel lives, he continued writing and pursuing his music while building a company that is consistent with his ideals with a dedication to issues of social justice, the environment and political awareness. With the forthcoming release of his debut CD “Light of the Dark,” George’s commitment to share his music with a wider audience enters a new phase of dominance in his life.

He lives with his wife and five year old son in Montclair where he has performed with Parents Who Rock. He listens to a wide range of music (like the rest of us) with favorites including: Batacato, Annie Lenox and Mika (all among his 5 year old’s favorites), assorted Bach, Telemann & Mozart, Chet Baker in Paris and Cesaria Evora. Most influential band: The Beatles.

Angels Garage

With respect for rock’s past and a view to its future, Angels Garage churns out a snappy set of covers and originals that make you want to shake the floorboards.

Since 2004 the band has entertained at Montclair fundraisers, parties and beerhalls.

Featuring Christine Kelly, vocals; Fabio Giron, guitar; John Whipple, trumpet; Angel Kenney, percussion; John Poglinco, bass; and Dave Cushing, drums.

Felt

Started in 2005 after (Alma convinced Richard to dust off his guitar for her first “parents who rock” show)- eventually and he joined Tarquin and Jim- who picked the name.

Felt began like any other “Dad Band” But there must have been some magic in that old drum set they found, cause pretty soon they found their groove.

http://www.myspace.com/feltband

From left : Ian Smit (guitar, seated), Richard Eigen (second fiddle), Tarquin Learned (guitar and vocals) Matt Hauser (drums), Jim Robertson (bass), Steve Feldman (percussion)

Megan Lewis

Megan Lewis is a mother of two girls, Sarah and Elana, and a lawyer as well.

I'm Not the Only One Asking is her debut recording.

Big Mamou

Big Mamou plays an original mix of traditional based Cajun and Country music, from infectious two steps to drunken waltzes to soulful ballads to rocking Zydeco.

John Sherman has fronted former New York bands Jole Blonde and The Zephyrs, and toured with Richard Thompson.

Jim and Julianne have had their songs used in both film and TV - Julianne has toured with Walter Egan and performed with Travis Tritt.

Billy Loos played drums with the Hydraulic Mosquitos, Sex Pod, and Bay of Pigs, and is currently also performing with Her Vanished Grace.

Larry Buksbaum played lead guitar with Killer Fish, and produced both The Smithereens and Kid Creole and the Cocoanuts.

John Sherman, accordion, vocals
Julianne Fenhagen, vocals
Jim Fenhagen, bass, vocals
Billy Loos, drums
Larry Buksbaum, guitar

Paul Ruderman

Lyrical ingenuity, and deep grooves, define Ruderman's “thing” and create an infectious, original sound that has been appealing to metropolitan New Yorkers and college audiences for more than 15 years. Formerly on Atlantic Records' subsidiary Q Records, Ruderman toured nationally throughout the 90's and into the new millennium before moving on to raise a family with his wife Jacquie.

Lots of Ruderman nuggets can be found at Ruderman.com, and you can hear him now at annual reunion concerts in Manhattan, or at Parents Who Rock in Montclair, New Jersey, where he currently resides.

Meryl McCusker

Singer/songwriter Meryl McCusker began in the arts with a high stepping career in musical theatre. She landed lead roles in US and European companies of Cats, Annie and A Chorus Line as well as credits in film and television.

Full time motherhood did not curtail her passion for music and Meryl is currently in her ninth year as a teacher for Music Together, a nationally known early childhood music program.

At the same time, working with her guitar Meryl has built a catalog of original material that she performs ofen with covers of other artists' songs and jazz standards.

www.merylmccusker.com

El Kabong

El Kabong consists of Carrie Cantor (rhythm guitar, vocals), Rob Halper (bass), Jim Kvoriak (lead guitar, vocals), and Michael Trullinger (drums, vocals), who have been getting together since the spring of 2007.

The band plays covers of energetic alt-country artists such as Ryan Adams, Kathleen Edwards, the Old 97s, and the Drive-By Truckers, with some straight-on, good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll via Sheryl Crow or Blondie thrown into the mix.

Though new on the scene, El Kabong has played twice at the Church Street Kitchen and will play at the Diva Lounge as part of Parents Who Rock on Jan. 26.

...

Rob Halper is not quitting his day job as Director of Video Communications at Johnson & Johnson, where he has written music for corporate videos. While at Oberlin College, Rob played guitar and sang in a band named after a carton of milk, "Heritage House", and attended classes when time permitted. He now plays guitar and bass with Carrie Cantor at the Church Street Kitchen, and bass in El Kabong.

...

Carrie Cantor is a free-lance book editor and mother of an MHS graduate, Nathaniel, and a soon-to-be graduate, Ethan.

Besides playing rhythm guitar and singing in El Kabong, she performs every other Thursday at the Church Street Kitchen (formerly Church Street Cafe) doing covers of Joni Mitchell, Sheryl Crow, Neil Young, The Grateful Dead, and many other artists.

Jessica Henry

Jessica Henry is an assistant professor in the Justice Studies Department at Montclair State University and a former public defender.

She has lived in Montclair for the past six years with her husband, Ken, and her two children, Jack and Max.

Aviva Patz

By day, Aviva Patz is a Montclair mom of two daughters, 6, and 3, and a freelance magazine writer and editor. By night, she's a swinging, singing mama with the amp turned up to 11.

Aviva has been singing for many years; in college, she was a mezzo-soprano with the Columbia Notes & Keys, a co-ed a cappella group, and has sung in numerous bands over the years including Mama Joy, The Scrapings and Queen Bassi.

All-time favorite bands: Liz Phair, Joan Armatrading, X, Ani Difranco,The Ramones, The Replacements

Listening to right now: KT Tunstall, Amy Winehouse, Jack Johnson, The New Pornographers, and The Shins

Spill Trouble (aka Bob Carr)

Spill Trouble, formally Bob Carr, recorded, performed and toured with his band, "Swales" for most of the Nineties. Their second album, "What's His Name" is still available on I-tunes or by contacting Bar None Records.

Currently listening to: "Hangin' Downtown" by the Replacements; "The last Time I Saw Richard" by Joni Mitchell and "One Times Got No Case" By Mac Daddy.

Just finished My first album "Hard Times". I will send a completely home-made version of this CD to anyone who makes a $10.00 (or more) donation to PWR

Michael de Leeuw

Michael de Leeuw grew up in Montclair, lives in Bloomfield and is about to move to Glen Ridge -- he really gets around! He hopes to retire in Verona or, perhaps, Caldwell.

His greatest works so far are his daughters, the Fabulous Rita and the Remarkable Josephine, credit for which he shares with his wife Claire.

Oh, and he's a lawyer or something.

Jo McElroy Senecal

Jo McElroy Senecal is a professional actress and clown whose resume includes being Kathleen Turner's index finger's body double in VI Warshawski to Dr. Sneezenpee with the Big Apple Circus Clown Care.

A proud member of The Hole in the Walll Gang Camp, where she was encouraged by Paul Newman to "raise hell" as Toe, she is inspired daily by the voices of the kids from this magical place.

When not singing, she is usually doing something else.

Grateful mom of Connor and Katie, kids who rock.

Ed Carine

Parents Who Rock bass player and soundman Ed Carine. Full bio coming soon!

Geezer

Geezer was formed in 1767 just as the gas guitars were giving over to the steam powered ones. We could only dream of the portability of electric. Steve said to Steve, "Wanna be in a band?" "Yes," he replied. And they did. Playing mostly what we used to call "Old Timey" music and attracting police attention. Later on some other people joined in and the noise (from the gas) was overwhelming. Today, of course, nothing has changed except the power supply.

Zara Phillips

Zara Phillips
www.zaramusic.com

From her auspicious debut, singer-songwriter Zara Phillips has led a charmed musical life. Her engaging and confident style combines strong lyrical themes with powerful melodies to create music that is both thought-provoking and entertaining.

Zara Phillips began her professional career working as a backing vocalist for Bob Geldof. Live-Aid creator Geldof recruited Phillips for his first solo projects after he departed the chart-topping UK band The Boomtown Rats. She worked on Geldof’s album “Deep in the Heart of Nowhere,” music videos and television appearances on some of the U.K.’s most highly-rated programs. She also toured extensively throughout Europe, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

Born and raised in London, Zara loved to sing and dance from a young age and enjoyed spending hours in her room writing all the lyrics to musicals and performing each part. She auditioned for school shows but was told her voice was too deep and never got the leads. A boyfriend persuaded her to join a band and soon started playing gigs around London. She also started tinkering with the guitar, asking any musician she knew (including Geldof and Illsley) to teach her a chord.

Zara is currently directing and producing a documentary film entitled “ROOTS: UNKNOWN” due for release in the Spring of 2008. This educational and informative film will focus on the emotional influence adoption has on the adoptee and their families. Interviews and sound bites with adult adoptees, their families and children will be mixed with artistic images of their art and creative expression.

In addition, Zara is also an author. Her book, ‘Mother Me’ is about Zara’s personal journey to motherhood from an adoptee's point of view. ‘Mother Me’ is being published by BAAF (British Adoption and Fostering) in the UK and will be released on March 3rd 2008. She regularly talks and facilitates workshops and events related to adoption issues, along with performing her music at clubs in NYC and New Jersey.

Zara currently resides outside New York City with her husband, Jonathan, and three children.

Brian Saltzman

Brian Saltzman is a lifelong shower singer, who after 12 years of badgering by his wife (Parents Who Rock founder Alma Schneider), first performed in public at the age of 41.

In his other life, Brian is a sales performance consultant to large corporations, dreams of playing poker professionally, and raises four kids with Alma.

Alisa Harmon

Alisa Harmon, mother of 3, is the director of HARMONIZE, LLC, which offers music classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers as a licensee of Music for Aardvarks & Other Mammals - http://www.njaardvarks.com/.

She also provides music therapy support for the Developmental Learning Center - Montclair's pre-school for children with special needs. Alisa also performs at various venues around North Jersey.

music:
ANTIGONE RISING
K T TUNSTALL
TOBY LIGHTMAN
PAULO NUTINI
KERRY ANDERSON
LOTS OF INDIE ARTISTS - check out my MySpaceMusic page!

Ellen Paretti

Bloomfield mom-of-two, singer/guitarist Ellen Paretti is proud to be a PWR regular appearing on the "Go Play Outside" cd. This folk singer likes to pretend to be a rocker by singing with local Glen Ridge band "Chronic Pain."

She is also a board member of Goals for Life, a non-profit organization which raises money for breast cancer by holding a women's-only soccer tournament.

music favs: James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Dave Matthews.

Today's playlist: Jeffrey Steele's "Gone" and Antje Duvekot's "Pearls" (thanks, jo)

Brian DeLaite

Singer/songwriter Brian DeLaite began performing in the late-80's on the Boston music scene. Moved to NYC and fronted alt-rock band Postponing the Inevitable for most of the 90's.

Currently performs in the spare bedroom when the kids aren't sleeping.

Fave Bands - Elvis Costello, The Clash, The Pixies, The Pogues and Pavement

Current Heavy Rotation - Dropkick Murphys, Kings of Leon, Kanye West & Frank Black

Scott E. Moore

Scott E. Moore is a respected indie singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for his unique blend of soul, modern folk, jazzy-blues and Americana. He has been featured on public radio and toured throughout the US, earning a reputation as a "musician's musician and a "songwriter's songwriter." He has performed venues large and small, alongside a wide variety of genre-bending artists such as Patty Larkin, Kelly Joe Phelps, Toshi Reagon, Richard Buckner, Melissa Ferrick, Cowboy Mouth, The Smothers Brothers (yes, you read that right), among many others (see 'Writer's Hang' below).

Scott is also founder and host of The Writer's Hang performance series out of Hoboken, NJ. This residency has single-handedly created a high-quality listening room scene and has earned national recognition. Among numerous accolades, Scott and The Writer's Hang were featured in the acclaimed Sundance Channel documentary, "Keeping Time: New Music from America's Roots," along with Gillian Welch, Nickel Creek, Robert Randolph and others.

The Writer's Hang has been running successfully for nearly 10 years (out of Hoboken's Goldhawk Lounge), and has solidified Scott's reputation as a songwriter, guitarist and presenter. The community of artists and colleagues that have played with Scott at "The Hang" is over 175 strong, and includes: Freedy Johnston, Richard Julian, Amos Lee, Dayna Kurtz, Phil Roy, Amy Rigby, Keren Ann, David Mead, Phil Roy, Mike Viola, Antje Duvekot, Jesse Harris, Rebecca Martin, Mike Errico, Malcolm Holcombe, Jonah Smith, Jim Boggia and many, many others.

An understated and true renaissance man, Scott is also a seasoned filmmaker and television producer/director. He won two CableAce Awards (merged with Emmys in '97) for his music documentaries on VH1, and has worked with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Daniel Lanois, Gloria Estefan, Melissa Etheridge, Take 6, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, and many others. His television work has also appeared on A&E, MTV, ESPN, E!, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, PBS, Japanese television and many other outlets.

His most recent project has blended his music and film worlds. He recently composed the score to "A View From Below" - a riveting documentary about a single-minded explorer who has built his own submarine and taken it to staggering depths no non-commercial sub has gone before. The film will hit the festival circuit in 2008.

His latest record, "Home Bittersweet Home" was recorded in Nashville, TN with producer-on-the-rise Neilson Hubbard (Garrison Starr, Strays Don't Sleep, Glen Phillips of Toad The Wet Sprocket). With a top notch batch of songs and an intimate soulful croon, the record is a lush and spacious journey, weaving moody pop textures & sultry grooves with classic Americana and R&B instrumentation, drawing comparisons to Joe Henry, Daniel Lanois and Los Lobos.

Lee Haberman

By day, husband, father, son and ad agency president.

At night, Lee works on new material while secretly hoping that someone other than himself realizes that only Robert Plant can wail the last stanza's lyrics to'Stairway to Heaven' better than him.

Lee is a regular performer in his living room despite the fact that his own family retreats to the den to watch, ironically, The Biggest Loser.

Lee is the Parents Who Rock official emcee.

Lauren Kaiser

Art Director/Graphic Designer

As one of those people who is lucky enough to love their work, Lauren has established herself as a freelance designer in the New Jersey/New York area, with seventeen years of award-winning experience in the design industry. Lucky also to have a fabulous and funny husband, she hit the freelance road when her first child was born, and has picked up the pace since her second one started school. Portfolio includes marketing and promotional print design, corporate identity, brochures, newsletters, packaging, direct mail, advertising and invitations.

She is the designer of the Parents Who Rock "Go Play Outside" cd. Lauren can be contacted at laurenmkaiser@aol.com.

Featured Charity - Covenant House New Jersey

Covenant House New Jersey (CHNJ) is the largest provider in the state of services to homeless and at-risk adolescents between the ages of 16 and 21. Last year, we served over 2,000 young people. Tonight alone, we will give 120 homeless adolescents and 19 babies in North and South Jersey a safe and caring place to sleep. Another dozen will walk through the doors of our Crisis Centers in Newark and Atlantic City for the first time, at all hours of the day and night, looking for a way off the street and someone to help them, to care for them. We will help over most of them to stabilize their crises and leave the streets.

Thanks to the kindness and genersoity of friends like Parents Who Rock,we are able to further our mission to get homeless and as-risk youth off the streets and on the path to a better life. We hope you will continue to keep our kids here at Covenant House in mind for future benefits.

If you are interested in making a donation to help Open Doors for Homeless Youth, please contact Jennifer Tunnicliffe, Development Director, at 973-286-3410 or via email at jtunnicliffe@covenanthouse.org. For more information about how you can help go to www.covenanthousenj.org.

Background
Our kids come in many shapes and sizes, each with their own story. Many are running from abuse, violence or gangs. Some were kicked out of their homes with their infants because no one wanted a baby in the house. Far too many aged out of foster care and showed up on our doorstep on the eighteenth birthdays. Others simply do not have any place to be and no other connections to adults who can help them.

As we trace their journey to our front door, we almost always find a dysfunctional family at the root of their crises. Although there is no standard profile of the Covenant House kid, most, if not all, face a combination of many risk factors, including a history of childhood neglect, sexual and physical abuse, mental illness, poor physical health, poverty, drug use, low educational achievement, involvement in street activity, and prostitution.

Our work has shown us the many factors that contribute to a young person’s homelessness. Therefore, we offer shelter that is enriched with a comprehensive array of supportive services that help our young people to not only stabilize their crises, but to also transition to a stable living environment where they can continue to progress in their life’s goals.

To accomplish this, we have a team of Outreach staff on the streets each night finding and connecting with homeless young people. We then provide them with a Service Manager who helps them to develop and implement a plan for their future, as well as link them with our doctor, nurse practitioner, lawyers, addictions specialists, pastor, and career and educational counselors. These caring and competent professionals help our kids to address the many health concerns they bring to the door, after years of medical neglect. They help them to stop using drugs, manage their mental illnesses, and resolve their legal issues. They work with them to get jobs, go back to school, learn independent living skills and move into their own apartments.

Most importantly, they love our kids unconditionally, perhaps for the first time in their lives.

Jennifer Tunnicliffe
Development Director
Covenant House New Jersey

Featured Charity - The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp

It's one thing to perform or make a donation to a worthy cause. It's a wholly 'nuther experience to do so with the support of strangers and friends who come together as a team to make a difference in others lives.

In my case I had the joy of singing with AWESOME musicians and instead of focusing on my own nerves and insecurities I was buoyed by many talents and support of Parents Who Rock and Parents Who Heard. I've been both a clown and volunteer counselor for The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp, founded by Paul Newman 20 years ago.

In the ten years since working there, I have watched and loved hundreds of seriously ill kids. They are phenomenal children and they come away healed in more ways than one. As one little camper said yelled out last year, "THIS CAMP ROCKS!" I can't thank all the musicians enough for their generosity. I can't thank those who whipped out their dollar bills without hesitating.

Thanks to our lightening-fast night, a kid is going to this magical Camp for free and believe me, he/she will never be the same. It didn't take a major corporation, the major, the president to make this happen. It took little ole US.

If you'd have any questions about this place or make a donation, email Jo at senecal@comcast.net and check the site: www.holeinthewallgang.org

THANK YOU TO PARENTS WHO ROCK FOR MAKING THIS GROOVY THING HAPPEN!

With love, Jo

Featured Charity - Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

About Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

Mission Statement: Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) seeks to improve the lives of economically disadvantaged adults, children and families in New Jersey by empowering them with tools, advice and pro bono representation with the goal of securing fair and equal treatment within the legal system.

VLJ recruits and trains volunteers to provide free civil legal assistance to low income clients throughout New Jersey. Volunteers include: solo practitioners; administrative staff, associates and partners from small, mid-sized and large law firms in New Jersey and New York City; corporate in-house legal departments; as well as students from a number of area law schools. VLJ operates seven distinct projects, all providing free services to financially eligible clients referred from community organizations. VLJ is supported entirely by gifts, grants and fundraising events. VLJ was established in 2001 by a small group of attorneys in New Jersey concerned about the limited availability of free legal resources to the poor. Since its inception, VLJ has grown from a program of 30 volunteers to an organization boasting over 1,000 volunteer lawyers, paralegals, law students and others who have donated their time and expertise to thousands of clients with almost every civil legal issue.

VLJ has won numerous awards for its programs including the 2007 New Jersey State Bar Association’s Pro Bono Award which it shares with all of its dedicated volunteers, funders and community partners working toward equal justice for all.

To learn more about VLJ, please visit our website at www.vljnj.org

Funds from PWR

In 2007, PWR held a concert to benefit Volunteer Lawyers for Justice at the Diva Lounge. The concert raised $2,500 to benefit VLJ’s programs. Those funds were used by VLJ to support its Children’s Special Education Law Project through which VLJ volunteers represent special needs children being denied services to which they are entitled in their schools. The funds from PWR went a long way to paying expenses of experts, and other costs incurred by VLJ clients and required in these matters. Without the funds from PWR, these clients would have been unable to proceed with their cases and their children would have withered in educational setting inappropriate to meeting their special needs. VLJ is indebted to all those involved with PWR for their generous support and their dedication to serving those in need in the community.

Benefit concert for the Edgemont Park Universal Access Playground

Benefit concert for the Edgemont Park Universal Access Playground
Saturday, April 5th, 2008
Universalist Church in Montclair
$50.00 per person
More details to come...

Zoë Lou

Zoë Lou was thrilled to design the logo for "Parents Who Rock."

Zoë Lou's playful designs for babies and kids are handmade by native New York City gal, Zoë Louise Schneider. Zoë began making clothes in elementary school, and as a teenager perused NYC's garment district in search of interesting and unusual fabrics to make her own threads; she wanted unique clothes that told a story. With 12 nieces and nephews, a new daughter, and countless friends popping out little ones, Zoë miniaturized her ideas and began making one-of-a-kind baby gifts using her collection of vintage fabrics and her love of NYC. A published historian, Zoë incorporates bygone NYC into many of her garments, adding fascinating lore to the tags to create pieces of wearable history. Her creations are jolly and sweet. Her philosophy is that kids be cute, not cutesy. Zoë Lou designs are printed and stitched on comfy, superior quality American made (and sweatshop free) cotton garments, and packaged in a beautiful and reusable organza bag.

And here's some other stuff about her:
Zoë is a published travel writer and New York City historian, former Alaskan archaeologist, television writer, and Central Park ranger. She lives in NYC with her husband and daughter.

Zoë Lou is dedicated to NYC and education. A portion of the proceeds from Zoë Lou's sales will go towards arts education programs in NYC public schools.

Visit Zoë Lou at www.zoelou.com

Featured Charity - Family Service League

The Essex County Rape Care Center is delighted to have been the benficiary of a Parents That Rock concert.

The Essex County Rape Care Center of Family Service League is the State of New Jersey’s “designated” Rape Care Center for Essex County. The Center provides direct services to survivors of sexual violence and their families, and works to prevent sexual violence through education and advocacy. Programs include a free and confidential 24-hour Rape Care Hotline at 1-877-733-CARE (2273), “Accompaniment” services to callers choosing to go to hospital emergency departments or police precincts, free, unlimited professional counseling for survivors and their significant others, and outreach and education services in schools, hotpitals and professional settings throughout Essex County.

The Essex County Rape Care Center is a program of Family Service League. To find out more about the Center, about volunteering, or about supporting the Center's work, please call the Director Ursula Liebowitz at 973-746-0800. Whether it was 10 minutes ago or 10 years ago, help is available.

The Center and its staff and volunteers are so grateful to the Parents That Rock team for helping to raise awareness about sexual violence in our area by selecting the program as a recipient of proceeds from one of its wonderful fundrasiing concerts. These additional funds were used to help print Hotline cards and flyers that are placed in bathrooms, nightclubs and other locations to make the Hotline and other services known and available to people who have survived sexual violence. We are also grateful to the Diva Lounge for hosting this terrific event and for its own contribution to our work. Thank you!

-- Sarah B. Wolman, Esq., Executive Director, Family Service League

Parents Who Rock roll in support for playground

Friday, January 18, 2008
By MARK S. PORTER
of The Montclair Times

On the Spinal Tap scale of 1 to 10, Alma Schneider’s commitment to get a special playground built is “11.”

Schneider is the founder of Parents Who Rock, a wide-ranging organization inspiring Montclair dads and moms to excavate their closeted electric guitars and shoebox-entombed microphones and again take the stage.

She’s leading many PWR members to participate in fundraising efforts to construct a universal playground in Edgemont Memorial Park that will enable children and adults who have physical limitations to have fun alongside non-disabled kids and grownups.

As envisioned, the playground will cost approximately $350,000, of which $200,000 in public funding is available. Parents Who Rock is in the forefront of a Montclair-and-beyond effort to raise $150,000 in donations to get the outdoor facility built.

“There’s a reason for building a universal-access playground,” Schneider said. “These parks are few and far between. People or their kids who have disabilities really need the opportunity to play together.

“This is a veterans’ cause as well, for returning vets. We’re trying to get veterans’ groups involved. There are a lot of adults in wheelchairs who can use this playground and play with their children.”

Schneider has assembled her own playground of aspirations to raise the money. She organized the recording of a CD, “Go Play Outside,” by an assemblage of PWR players. The CD is being sold for $10 in numerous Montclair businesses, with all profits slated for creating the all-children’s playground.

“We have sold between 950 and 1,000 CDs,” Schneider said. “And we’ve already received over $3,100 in extra donations in addition to the CD sales.”

She’s connecting with local public and private schools. Schneider foresees the Montclair School District this spring sponsoring a workshop “where every single class in Montclair will be discussing differences and disabilities.

“We want to do this to raise awareness about people who are different, and how kids can make a difference with people who are struggling due to their differences.”

Schneider’s reached out to the Junior League of Montclair-Newark. In March, Montclair Kids in Action intends to conduct a walkathon/bike-a-thon/skate-a-thon in Edgemont Memorial Park “to raise awareness” about the physical limitations affecting many people and the need to be understanding, Schneider said.

As a member of the Montclair-based culinary/social organization Cooking With Friends, created by Alison J. Bermack, Schneider intends to gently entwine Bermack’s wide-ranging community of members into generating funds for the playground.

In March, PWR and several local businesses will sponsor “bake sales all over town.” Three local bakeries — Gimmee Jimmy’s Cookie Bar on Church Street, Flour Patch Bakery on Greenwood Avenue, and Baking Fiend, bakingfiend@fmail.com — will donate delicious delights.

She has reached out to professional musicians to gain their backing for upcoming endeavors or simple plugs of support. Radio stations such as WFMU have broadcast cuts from “Go Play Outside” with the requisite mention of its fundraising focus.

“Parents Who Rock is starting a Parents Who Rock Fan Club, hopefully run by kids,” Schneider said. “To be in the fan club, it will have a community-service component.”

Schneider has even ordered PWR “Rock Montclair” T-shirts, with the profits going to the playground fund.

She promises that other fundraising efforts are in the works.

“Our empire of good will is expanding,” Schneider said. “It’s going to be fun.”

Go Play Outside - radio debut!

Our Go Play Outside album had its radio debut Sunday afternoon when Bill Kelly played three PWR tracks early in his time-tested Teenage Wasteland show. Of course, WFMU broadcasts at 91.1 on the FM dial, and the weekend’s radio waves are already in deep space. Fortunately, the station archives all of its shows for on-demand listening. Sunday’s program is available to stream into your computer if you click here: http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/25924.

This link takes you to show’s playlist; to listen, click on the “Pop-up player!” link on the upper right. After a few moments you’ll be able to drag the slider to whatever part of the show you want to hear. (Hint: PWR tracks begin at approx. 17:10, 22:15 and 56:39.)

Kelly is completing his 30th year of the show he calls “the black hole of rock and roll.” It’s filled with garage rock and music history from the 1950s until now. Besides this program, Kelly hosts a Saturday night shift on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Underground Garage channel.

PWR to the parents

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

By MARK S. PORTER
of The Montclair Times

“Go Play Outside” is on its way for people to play.

The debut CD by the Parents Who Rock assemblage is packed with tunes performed by local musicians. Profits from the CD’s $10 price will be donated to the construction of a playground being developed in Montclair for all children, including kids who need some extra help when playing outside.

“It’s a huge musical bang for the buck because it’s only $10,” said Alma Schneider, a Montclair resident who founded Parents Who Rock.

The nearly two dozen tracks include rock and folk tunes, love ballads and blues, Brazilian jazz and pop. “We are an open-opportunity association,” Schneider said. “Half the songs are originals, half are covers.”

Several years ago, Schneider had the vision to initiate a lineup of musicians who, as with herself, had put aside their instruments or relinquished live performances. Many of them had shelved their youthful rock-music lifestyles and, instead, became wage earners, spouses and parents.

She perceived that creating Parents Who Rock would be a catalyst for reinvigorating the Dr. Rocker sequestered within Mr. or Mrs. Homebody.

“These are all people who put their music aside to do other things in their lives,” Schneider said of the many Montclair members.

Parents Who Rock performs live several times each year, most recently in the Diva Lounge on Bloomfield Avenue and the Commonwealth Club on Northview Avenue.

After establishing the organization, Schneider realized that just as getting together made members feel good, they also possessed the power to do good.

She and her fellow rocking parents decided to donate the ticket prices for their performances to local, national and international charitable efforts, such as financial relief for tsunami victims.

“It’s all these different people doing what they love to do, all for a great cause.”

As a mom, Schneider focused on the playground in Edgemont Memorial Park, which is slated to be reconfigured, as the next beneficiary of Parents Who Rock.

“We want to raise money and raise awareness for this playground,” Schneider said. “It’s going to be an awesome playground for everybody. Not to be corny, but this is a place where everybody will be on the same playing field.”

The special, or full-access, playground, will be built in spring 2008 and will feature a play-stations, surfaces and entrances “all designed to accommodate children with disabilities and special needs,” according to Township Manager Joseph Hartnett.

“Unfortunately,” Hartnett explained in a release, “playgrounds of this nature are extremely expensive, costing as much as four times or more what a standard playground costs.”

The Township Council has committed $200,000 to this project and Montclair has obtained a $50,000 state grant towards the endeavor.

“But the playground is going to cost $400,000,” Hartnett stated, “which is why we have a fundraising goal of $150,000 to seek from private donations and foun-dation grants.”

Hartnett has formed the For All Children Committee to raise private donations to construct the full-access playground in Edgemont Memorial Park.

Herself a committee member, Schneider, through Parents Who Rock, intends to raise money for the full-access playground. Along with proceeds from “Go Play Outside,” she expects Parents Who Rock to perform a fundraiser in spring 2008, and she may even organize bake sales in town.

She’s reached out to several businesses, schools and the YMCA to purvey the CD, and Schneider intends to get local synagogues and churches to spread the musical sales.

Joining the many musicians who have donated songs and performances to the CD are Dave Cushing of Snowdome Studios in Montclair, who recorded, mixed and produced “Go Play Outside,” along with playing drums on two tracks, and graphic designer Lauren Kaiser, who created the CD cover. Stephen Chukumba of Marksmen Productions is constructing a Web site for Parents Who Rock.

“It’s a serious recording. Everybody sounds professional,” Schneider said of “Go Play Outside.” “Dave Cushing is the man behind the music. This wouldn’t be happening if it wasn’t for him. He’s definitely a parent who rocks.”

Schneider’s ambitious goals for “Go Play Outside” are limitless. She cited “the ‘no teacher left behind’ mission of Parents Who Rock: We want every single teacher, assistant, therapist, nurse and other school staff to receive a copy of the CD for the holidays. Go out and buy one for your kids’ school staff for the holiday.”

The group has created a Web site, www.myspace.com/parentswhorock, featuring samples of music on the CD.

“The more you buy, the better you will feel,” Schneider whimsically stated to The Times. “Great music, supporting your neighbor’s musical endeavors, supporting a charity and giving someone or yourself a unique gift.

“This is a perfect example of the community spirit of Montclair and the holiday spirit of ‘gift giving,’ with all the performers donating their time and talents,” Schneider observed.

“It really shows the spirit of the holidays.”

Contact Mark S. Porter at porterm@montclairtimes.com.

Rocking out with Parents Who Rock 'Go Play Outside' CD to help fund new playground

Thursday, December 06, 2007

By MARK S. PORTER
The Montclair Times

They care about their music.

And now, their recorded music is about caring.

The Parents Who Rock assemblage of Montclair-area moms and dads have released a CD of tunes recorded by lineups of members. The $10 CD is available in 19 locations throughout Montclair, with proceeds being donated to help construct a "universal" playground in Edgemont Memorial Park.

"It's more and more community involvement," said Parents Who Rock founder Alma Schneider of her colleagues and the businesses that have joined in the effort to distribute the CDs.

"We are going to be having a competition among the 19 (businesses), and the winner gets a private Parents Who Rock performance," Schneider said.

Right now, Schneider told The Times, the shops in the lead are Whole Foods, Toast, Watchung Booksellers and Learning Express.

The owners of Toast are having their wait staff compete for who sells the most CDs each day, she said.

"ToryJanes will be donating $10 for a CD to every person spending $100 or more this weekend," noted Schneider.

And, this weekend, there will be a live Parents Who Rock show on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Walnut Street near ToryJanes, at 94 Walnut St.

Inspired by a design offered by C.V. Harquail, a resident near Edgemont Memorial Park, Parents Who Rock will be selling a limited edition"Play Montclair" T-shirt at its show on Saturday. As with its CD, the ensemble will be donating proceeds from sales of the $15 T-shirt, in kids' and adult sizes, to the playground fund.

Sales of the"Go Play Outside" recording are good, Schneider said."We have sold more than 400 CDs and have ordered more that will be in by Dec. 14, she stated.

According to Schneider,"A Huge PWR fundraiser is planned for April as well as town-wide bake sales in February, with help from 'Cooking with Friends.'"

A fellow Montclairite, Alison Bermack, created the Cooking with Friends Club,"an interactive, online cooking community" located at cookingwithfriends.com. The Web site describes the founding of the club, which has many Montclair members:"Alison believes women need a practical, at-home solution to the age-old dilemma of what to feed their families. Cooking with a friend (or two) provides the solution. Within this community, Alison urges women to use their friendships as an ingredient with which to cook."

Schneider, the founder of Parents Who Rock, is a member of Cooking with Friends who said she loves to cook.

She described the groups' possible collaboration in February 2008 as "joining the super-powers to form an empire of good will."

Good will is motivating many people to establish a full-access playground in Edgemont Memorial Park.

The Township Council has allocated $200,000 for the project, and Montclair has received a $50,000 state grant. However, the estimated cost of a universal, or full-access, playground is $400,000.

Last month, the municipal government created a For All Children Committee to raise $150,000 in private donations. Co-chairs of the committee are Mayor Ed Remsen and Township Manager Joseph Hartnett, with 2nd Ward Councilwoman Robin Schlager chairing a subcommittee, and municipal Community Services Director Steve Wood also involved in the effort.

Susan Irby, a committee member and chairperson of the municipal People With Disabilities Advisory Committee, helped spearhead this playground mission 7 years ago.

"We've been exploring this for years," Irby told The Times, citing fellow residents such as Dorothy Schattner and her daughter-in-law Helaine Schattner; John Cronogue of the Friends of Edgemont community group and the municipal Parks Advisory Committee; Steve Rooney; and the two co-chairs of the Playground Subcommittee, Liza Cohn and Lina Panza, several of whom interacted with then-Parks Superintendent Kevin Ward.

"Mayor Remsen was behind this the whole time, and Joseph Hartnett, too," Irby said.

Citing the proposed playground, Irby said,"It would definitely benefit individuals with disabilities and their families, and provide the opportunity for typical people to participate. It's very important [for all children and adults] to realize that people have different abilities and disabilities."

She said of many people with disabilities:"A lot of their life evolves around their daily needs.

"Play is important," Irby said."When you are three or five feet off the ground, you get a totally different perspective of the world, as a child. There's a whole psychology to it."

In an e-mail to The Times buttressing her observation, Irby stated:"The concept of inclusion and integration is something the Montclair Township People with Disabilities Advisory Committee has been working on for many years, for all spheres of public life à unstructured play is one way children can learn about others with all sorts of differences. Our kids are our future and if they have exposure to others with differing needs and abilities - the hope in this investment is that barriers will be broken down and finally stigma will fade and become a thing of the past.

"The design for this playground has been developed with everyone in mind. It has double wide ramps that will provide opportunities for typical children to be on that ramp and play structure side by side with a child in a wheelchair, using a walker, etc. The ramps also will provide access to a parent with a sleeping child in a stroller to get on the play structure with another child playing.

"The placement of the equipment is in a circular pattern which is in keeping with how kids like to play - we know this because the playground equipment vendors do studies and calculate what works (play is a science for these guys)!," Irby stated.

Contact Mark S. Porter at porterm@montclairtimes.com.

'Go Play Outside' CD availability

The"Go Play Outside" CD is priced at $10. All proceeds will be donated to the construction of a"universal playground" in Edgemont Memorial Park.

The CD is available in these Montclair businesses:

Whole Foods

ToryJanes

Toast

Watchung Booksellers

Learning Express

Milk Money

Montclair Community Pre-K School

Aunt Jean's Toys and Treats

Chelsea Square

The Family YMCA on Glenridge Avenue

The Flour Patch Bakery

The Little Gym

Grove Pharmacy

The Children's Center at MSU

Nest and Co.

Rabbit Rabbit

2nd Floor Haircutters

The Banyon Tree

Valley Road Guitars

Fundraising committee formed for full-access playground

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

By ERICA ZARRA
of The Montclair Times

The municipality is forming a “For All Children Committee” to raise private donations for a planned full-access playground in Edgemont Memorial Park.

The playground will have play stations, a playground surface and entrances that are designed to accommodate children with disabilities and special needs, according to a municipal release.

Township Manager Joseph Hartnett and Mayor Ed Remsen will co-chair the fundraising committee and 2nd Ward Township Councilwoman Robin Schlager will chair a subcommittee for the project, according to a release. Director of Community Services Steve Wood will be involved in the park.

Susan Irby, former chairperson of Montclair’s People with Disabilities Advisory Committee, will be a committee member. Hartnett also cited John Cronogue of the Friends of Edgemont Park Committee as a contributor to the project.

“Unfortunately, playgrounds of this nature are extremely expensive, costing as much as four times or more what a standard playground costs,” Hartnett stated.

The Township Council has committed $200,000 to the project and the township has obtained a $50,000 state grant toward it, according to the release.

Hartnett stated that “the playground is going to cost $400,000, which is why we have a fundraising goal of $150,000 to seek from private donations and foundation grants.”

Committee member Alma Schneider aims to contribute to the fundraising.

Schneider is the founder of Parents Who Rock, a locally based organization of people who had performed rock music professionally or as amateurs, but then put aside their instruments to become taxpaying, yard-raking, diaper-changing parents. Her club inspires the former rockers to rekindle their talents in a spirit of fun — and community assistance. Once or twice each year, Parents Who Rock rocks out in a local venue such as the Diva Lounge. Ticket prices are then donated to a nonprofit entity or to a cause, such as addressing the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Later this month, Parents Who Rock will release a debut CD with 21 tracks. The $10 cost will be donated to the “All Children’s Playground” in Edgemont Memorial Park.

“We want to raise money and raise awareness for this playground,” Schneider told The Times.

“Parents Who Rock is about getting together musicians who want to get back out there and get back into music,” Schneider said. “But we should use our power for good. We can do two things at the same time. Have fun, but be aware of our neighbors.

“I’m always trying to maximize a good thing,” said Schneider, who is a social worker.

The upcoming CD will feature many local artists who participate in Parents Who Rock.

Schneider is accepting pre-orders for the CD, and readers interested in ordering a disc or inquiring about Parents Who Rock can e-mail: alma@parentswhorock.com.

The disc includes one track of Schneider on guitar accompanying her daughter, Ilah, 7, who sings “Stepping Stone,” the tune by Neil Diamond that was a resounding hit for The Monkees.

“It’s going to be an awesome playground for everyone,” said Schneider, who expects that kids with disabilities will share the rides and equipment with kids who don’t have special needs.

“Not to be corny, but this is a place where everybody will be on the same playing field,” she said of the playground.

The municipality intends to have the special playground constructed in the spring 2008.

The manager stated “in all likelihood the fundraising effort would offer people the opportunity to contribute toward individual play stations as well as other components of the playground.”

The committee will have an organizational meeting this month and will have regular public announcements afterward.

Anyone interested in helping with this cause, or in working with the committee contact Hartnett at 973-509-4926 or emailforallchildren@montclairnjusa.org .

Staff Writer Mark S. Porter contributed to this article. Contact Erica Zarra at zarra@montclairtimes.com.

Parents Who Rock fundraiser a success

The Montclair Times
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Parents Who Rock and the Developmental Learning Center would like to thank every one of our musicians, volunteers and donors in Montclair for our hugely successful fundraiser on June 2 for the Developmental Learning Center (DLC) Special Needs Pre-K.

We raised over $25,000, more than twice what we anticipated and generous donations are still coming in!

If anyone would like more info about Parents Who Rock’s upcoming shows, would still like to donate to the DLC or would like to purchase Parents Who Rock T-shirts with all the profits going to the DLC, please e-mail Alma at alma@parentswhorock.com.

Thank you again for a wonderful night!

ALMA SCHNEIDER

Montclair

PARENTS WHO ROCK PERFORM LIVE AT KICKOFF TO SUMMER DLC FUNDRAISER

The Monthclair Times
Worthy 052407
Thursday, May 24, 2007

(extract)

...Parents Who Rock, a group of Montclair parents who perform to raise money for various causes, will perform live at a Kick Off to Summer DLC Fundraiser on Saturday, June 2, 7:30 p.m., in the Commonwealth Club, 26 Northview Ave. Highlights include hors d’oeuvres, desserts, beer, wine and cocktails, dancing, and a silent auction and raffles. All proceeds go to The Developmental Learning Center, Montclair’s public preschool program for chil-dren with special needs.

For several years, the DLC’s occupational therapist has employed a program known as Vital Sounds Therapeutic Listening to assist children with sensory challenges. The specialized headphones and CDs required for this program are quite expensive, but the benefits to the children include improved attention spans and speech and language gains. Funds will go toward specialized headphones, modulated CDs, training for those administering the program and scholarships for children aging out of the DLC so that they may continue with the listening program.

Funds raised will also be used to benefit the autism program by improving parent training and professional devel-opment and to secure teacher materials for educational programs.

Opportunities are available for volunteers, and donations of alcoholic beverages, soda, bottled water, silent auction/raffle baskets and items and food are needed.

Tickets are $50; reservations can be made by e-mailing aschneider68@yahoo.com. Tickets are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about the DLC, visit montclair.k12.nj.us/schools/dlc.

...

Parents Who Rock

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

By MARK S. PORTER
of The Montclair Times

Alma Schneider was certain she was right. She knew there were plenty of local parents similar to her — adults with children and jobs and plenty of household tasks. But these middle-aged folks still retained the love of rock music, occasionally playing riffs and rollicking to rhythms in their basements, in their dens or in their memories.

Schneider grew up in a musical family whose members sang together. She attended school for voice in New York City. In 1997, she wrote and recorded “UPS Man,” a melodic paean to parcel deliverers that, similar to delivery-truck routes, made the rounds.

A Montclair resident, Schneider decided in 2005 to corral a group of parents who had once been professional or semi-pro musicians and have them perform at a now-defunct coffeehouse on Valley Road. As an incentive for attendees, she announced the proceeds would be given to a charity. “The first show we charged $5, and we donated it for tsunami relief.”

Naming her organization “Parents Who Rock,” Schneider began organizing musical shows at the Diva Lounge on Bloomfield Avenue. “We typically charge $10 and we do it at the Diva Lounge every four months,” she noted. “They’ve been very good to us. The Diva Lounge has been very accommodating.”

Schneider has been the catalyst for eight Parents Who Rock shows, with a ninth slated for Saturday, June 2.

“For better or worse, I am relentless,” Schneider gleefully acknowledged to The Times. “When I first stated, the bulk of my work was finding people. Now, I find myself in the awkward position of having a serious waiting list.”

One of the Montclair musicians who is on the “play” list is vocalist Janet Donofrio. She and her guitarist/singer husband, David Reith, front The Blooming Fields, which includes lead guitarist Andy Day and drummer John Packel, both of Montclair, and bassist Brendan Mee of South Orange. Mee has long played with the couple, going back to their East Village days when they led a band “that was so many name-changes ago.”

“When we were young, we didn’t fall into an easy niche,” said Donofrio, a Montclair resident. “Now that we’re middle-aged suburbanites, we seem to go over better. It’s nice to have a venue — and we didn’t even have to try hard to get it!”

Schneider’s requisite for all bandleaders in Parents Who Rock is to be parents. She and her husband, Brian Saltzman, have four young children. “My husband has been very supportive. He always comes to the shows. He actually has a very good voice that he didn’t know about.”

Saltzman — with a “little bitty extra part” for Schneider and one child — was slated last night to be featured in a segment of “The Colbert Report,” a satirical show on the Comedy Channel starring Montclair resident Steven Col-bert. “It’s a reenactment of a barbecue we had in our backyard,” Schneider said, in which her husband arrives late to find only veggie burgers remain for the eating. It’s a parody of survivor shows and, she proclaimed, “It’s very funny.”

Good humor pervades Parents Who Rock. As Schneider notes, the group fosters good will toward charitable endeavors. “The other service we’re providing is a night out for parents.”

“This provides a great outlet for parents to dig back into their pasts,” said Lee Haberman, who has been the performer longest associated with Schneider. Haberman is the emcee, introducing the performers and entertaining the audience between sets.

“The talent pool in town is just ridiculous,” he said. “These people are really talented. That’s what makes these shows: The Dylan covers, rock’n’roll, folk singing.”

Recipients of donations raised by Parents Who Rock include the Mountainside Hospital Foundation, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, the Essex County Rape Crisis Center, the Montclair State University Child Center, relief for tsunami victims and a young boy in Montclair afflicted with a serious illness — “The most emotional show for me,” Schneider said. “It showed me how much people wanted to help.”

Parents Who Rock’s upcoming show will its biggest yet. Occurring Saturday, June 2, in the Commonwealth Club on Northview Avenue, the evening event will benefit the Developmental Learning Center, a special-needs pre-school program operated by the Montclair School District in the Montclair Community Pre-K facility located be-tween Valley and Orange roads.

The donations raised will help fund a therapeutic listening program for the young students enrolled in the Developmental Learning Center.

“It’s a great place that has given our children a good running start to going through the school system,” said Debbie Santiago, president of the Developmental Learning Center Parent Organization. “There are more children with special needs than anyone really knows about. A lot of people are moving to this town because it’s a special program.”

Along with the minimum $50 donation for admission to the show, there will be a silent auction and raffles to generate revenue. The flier for the “Kick Off To Summer” DLC fundraiser promises “amazing hors d’oeuvres,” deserts and, Santiago noted, an open bar.

“Parents are cooking the food. Volunteers will be serving the food. It’s a whole grassroots effort. This is not your mother’s fundraising event,” Santiago vowed. “It should be fun!”

“I wanted this to be more about the music than the fundraising,” Schneider said. “But now we realize we can raise a lot of money for causes. People want to donate.

“It’s the catalyst for good deeds.”

Contact Mark S. Porter at porterm@montclairtimes.com.

Art in the Park

The Montclair Times
Wednesday, April 18, 2007

The Montclair Cooperative School is hosting its 38th annual “Art in the Park” fair on Friday, May 4, Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6, in the Clary Anderson Arena, 41 Chestnut St.

The 38th annual “Art in the Park” returns to its roots as a juried fine arts and crafts event. Newly reformatted, this now indoor event will feature the sale of contemporary artwork, by more than 100 nationally recognized artisans including glass blowers, jewelers, photographers, and fine artists. Patterson Sims, director of the Montclair Art Museum, Sanford Smith and MIT’s Media Lab Open Studio were this year’s jurors.

Profits benefit the Montclair Cooperative School, one of the nation’s few cooperative elementary programs, providing students with a progressive education since 1963.

Friday, May 4: (7 to 9 p.m.) will feature a benefit preview party with wine and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $60 per person, to be purchased in advance.

Saturday, May 5: (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) the exhibits open; a family barbecue gets under way at 11 a.m., and a children’s rock concert, featuring Elizabeth Mitchell, follows at 2 p.m.

Sunday, May 6: (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) the exhibits open; Montclair’s Time Out: Parents who Rock concert begins at 2 p.m. Children can take a turn at Nandi’s pottery wheel, make arts and crafts, or enjoy playground activities during the rest of the fair. Admission is free on Saturday and Sunday. For details, call 973-783-4955.

Parents Who Rock host benefit

The Montclair Times
Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Montclair’s Time Out: Parents Who Rock, will provide an evening of rousing musical performances by Montclair parents performing original and cover tunes in a benefit on Saturday, Jan. 21, 8 p.m., at the Diva Lounge, 369 Bloomfield Ave. Proceeds from the quarterly event will go to the Essex County Rape Crisis Center.

This is the fourth “Parents Who Rock” Benefit. Alma Schneider, social worker and mother of three, stated “I’m especially interested in supporting programs that provide critical services to women and children, particularly those in need.”

Previous events have raised money for the Tsunami Relief Effort, breast cancer programs offered through The Mountainside Hospital Foundation, and early intervention services provided by The Children’s Center at Montclair State University.

The parents are happy to jam for a worthy cause. Plus, the performing may have a therapeutic effect. “It’s fun and exciting to see that life in music goes on after the children are born,” stated Ed Daingerfield, a guitarist and father of three. Other parent-performers include Max Polaner, pianist; Bob Carino, aka Bob Carr, singer-songwriter who recorded and toured with his band, Swales, in the 1990s; Schneider, a singer-songwriter; Michael Alltop, singer-songwriter; John Fotiadis, a multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter; Jessica Henry, vocalist; Ivan Max, guitarist; and Michael de Leeuw and Brian Howard performing as the B-Bed Reddy Experience.

Rounding out the program is Big Mamou, who will perform an original mix of traditional Cajun and country music, spiced with rocking Zydeco, featuring John Sherman on accordion and vocals; Julianne Ausum, vocals; Jim Fenhagen, bass and vocals; Billy Loos on drums; and Larry Buksbaum on guitar.

There is a $10 per person donation, and reservations are required. Call (973) 746-0800.

Church Street Café kicks off first anniversary celebration

The Montclair Times
Thursday, August 18, 2005

Defying the wilting heat, Church Street Café owners Cheryl and Greg Spinelli have having a whirlwind summer. They’ve appointed a new executive chef, Kevin Peterson, and are about to launch a monthlong celebration of the Café’s first anniversary.

On Friday, Sept. 9, at 8 p.m., the festivities begin with Montclair Time Out — Parents Who Rock. There will be eight performers that evening (rumor has it that Church Street’s Greg Spinelli is one). All are local parents with a variety of musical talents. Montclair Time Out is a music event that takes place every three months for a different charity. This time the beneficiary will be the local Early Intervention Program. Donation is $10. Reservations are required and may be obtained by calling (973) 233-0216.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, Church Street Café’s Anniversary Gala will rock the downtown scene with live entertainment.

Chef Peterson, 28, was appointed executive chef on July 5. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland and New York City’s Institute of Culinary Education. Just before joining the culinary team at the Church Street Café in late 2004, he worked at the Union Square Café.

“I’m thrilled at the opportunity to practice my craft in such a sophisticated dining community as Montclair,” stated Peterson in an e-mail to The Times. “This town has so many terrific restaurants. It’s a lot of fun, as well as a professional challenge to work in this environment. The open kitchen at the café is an added bonus because I get to see people’s reactions to the food as they dine.”

“Kevin’s promotion was the direct result of his hard work, commitment and creativity,” stated Greg Spinelli in the press release. “Kevin, Cheryl and I spent most of the spring deconstructing the dinner menu and looked for ways to refine our offerings. The process usually started with one of us saying, ‘How can we improve this dish?’ or ‘What if we added that new item?’ or ‘Does this item deserve to stay on the menu?’ By the time the process was completed in late June, the new dinner menu featured eight new items and four reworked dishes.”

“With our backgrounds in luxury hotels and restaurants, we have always loved the idea of serving a wide variety of great fresh food,” stated Cheryl Spinelli in the press release. “But we didn’t want the fussiness and ritual that just seemed to make it extra work for the guests. Our concept is great food in a comfortable environment without the charade.”

Prior to developing and opening the Church Street Café, Greg Spinelli had a successful career as a catering director at such notable venues as the Tavern on the Green, The Russian Tea Room, Essex House/Hotel Nikko New York, and the Four Season Hotels and Resorts.

Cheryl Spinelli’s hospitality industry experience includes F&B management positions with the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Hyatt Hotels, Stouffer’s and Hotels of Distinction.

Music

Now Available Online!
Click Here to Purchase our debut CD
Go Play Outside, at CDBaby!

Parents Who Rock is an association of musicians with eclectic musical tastes and talents. The musical performances at Parents Who Rock concerts range from rock to blues, Brazilian Jazz to folk, punk to country. The musicians come from various backgrounds, and as such, offer musical perspectives that are as diverse as the artists themselves.

The music of Parents Who Rock artists are both original works and covers of songs from established acts and artists. But each song is infused with the unique personality of the artists and groups performing it.

Check out our Parents Who Rock player to sample songs from our latest CD, and tune in frequently for upcoming releases.

Parents Who Rock - Diva Lounge - 1/26/08

When: Saturday, Jan. 26th, 2008

Where: Diva Lounge, 369 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042

Time: 7PM (note time change!)

$10.00 cover to benefit The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp , a fully funded sleepaway camp for children with cancer and disorders of the blood

Reservations at 973-509-3000. Leave a message with
Your Name
Phone Number
Number of seats you would like

Remember, first calls, first serve for seating

Please check us out on my space www.myspace.com/parentswhorock and sample our new CD which will be sold at the show (as well as Whole Foods , Tory Janes, Learning Express , Watchung Booksellers and many more locations found on our page).

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