Even More Past Program Content
Program Guests
...PROGRAM LISTINGS: CRANBERRY COUNTRY JOURNAL...
2021...
-JULY 24 Charlie Moss, Magazine, Newspaper Writer
On today’s program we will be joined by Charlie Moss whose Saturday Evening Post article “The Rise and Fall of Saturday Morning Cartoons” focuses on how for almost four decades watching Saturday morning cartoons was a beloved ritual for millions of American kids.
But today? it is a ritual that no longer applies to the current generation of kids
Charlie Moss comes to the program with extensive experience writing about all aspects of pop culture, whether they be comic books, music, literature and movies. He started off in the pop culture journalism field initially as a writer for the Chattanooga-based alternative newsweekly The Pulse, writing album reviews and pieces on local music history.
He worked as Editor for CUEpoint, while his resume includes work as a freelance writer for the well-known news website Slate.com, as a contributing writer at the New York Times, a columnist for Chattanooga-based news site, NOOGA Today as well as a writer for PopMatters, The Atlantic, Paste, Tablet, The Washington Post, and more.
-JULY 17 George MacDonald, Actor, Writer, Stand-up Comedian
Boston native George Macdonald, accomplished writer, actor, playwright and a stand-up comedian who was part of a distinguished group of comics who headed the early Boston scene of comedians that sprang up and put Boston on the map for many who went on to national prominence but paid their dues and performed at the famous Ding Ho in Cambridge as well the Comedy connection in Boston.
George has performed with such stars as Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Dane Cook, Dennis Miller and Sam Kinison. And he transformed from standup comedian to TV appearances on Mad TV, A & E Comedy Tour, the Michael Richards show and HBO, while his list of movie appearances saw him in Monument Ave., Celtic Pride, and When Stand-up Stood Out.
Today, he has concentrated on writing, and is currently about 100 or so pages deep in a rewrite of his play Waiting for Whitey
George is a member of The Dramatist Guild of America, Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild and The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
-JULY 1 PEG HOLZMER Actress, Producer, Director Theatre One Productions
If you live in the Cranberry Country Journal chances are very good that you have seen our guest in local theatre productions, or have taken in one of her directorial productions or readings via her Theatre One Productions company.
Oh, and we’ll be sure to ask her about her audition with director Martin Scorsese for the movie The Departed.
JULY 3 KATE ”The Ace” FINEGAN Professional Pinball Competitor
A life-long New Englander, Kate Finegan has been playing competitive pinball for four years and says that she stumbled into the hobby after a friend suggested visiting The Sanctum, a pinball co-op in Meriden, CT. where you can catch her among the 53 pinball machines all set up with the oldest being a 1936 machine!
Kate has competed in three seasons of the New England Pinball League, that includes two seasons of the Connecticut Rhode Island Area Pinball League (CRAP) and occasional ladies tournaments with the Boston Belles.
Her last "big pinball score" before the pandemic was a 2nd place in the CRAP League's Fall 2019 Division C season.
She is also a member of the world’s largest pinball league, the New England Pinball League – through which Kate and its members play at over 18 locations spread throughout New England.
A dedicated player and fan of the game, she says she hopes to fix her pinball machine at home by the end of the year (A Gottlieb machine called The Raven).
-JUNE 19 KERRY MICHEL Middleboro Travel Agent
You know, with the pandemic – and now with almost all of its restrictions just about lifted and behind us, and especially with summer travel season here, many folks are feeling the need to get away, go on vacation or head out on a cruise– and just head out on an adventure.
And if you are a wise person looking for adventure, you too will join those folks who will turn to a travel agent who can guide you to the best locations, come up with travel plans and the best prices- whether you are looking for a journey on Cape Cod, the excitement of Vegas or Orlando with the kids or Europe and wherever the road takes you.
Today, joining us is Kerry Michel, a native Cranberry Country travel agent was we discuss post pandemic travel.
As she notes in her travel bio, she loves to travel. In fact, adventure, she says is her passion. Even if it's just a long drive to someplace she may have never been to, or a journey that calls for an airplane flight or packing for a cruise, she loves going on – and especially helping others plan and enjoy their adventure.
As a youngster, she got the travel bug, jumping in her boat during the summer months and spent large portions of her time traveling over coastal Cape Cod as well as the islands. While during the winter months, it was the adventure of taking in mountain country or snowmobiling in the Northern Maine, NH, Vermont & New York terrains.
And now as an empty nester – and a proud grandma to four beautiful little ones - she and her husband will travel whenever they find the time and the urge. And that included spending 2 months in an RV adventuring across the United States.
- JUNE 12 Kat Jones – Executive Director, Onset Bay Association
Gonna be a great, fun show about something you, your friends and family will enjoy hearing about as we talk about what’s going on in Onset and the Onset Bay Village Association this summer.
And if it’s summer, that means it's time for their summer of Love Music Fest. They have got a great line-up and you must stay tuned to hear about its new location and the list of great bands scheduled for this summer as we speak with Kat Jones – the Executive Director of the Onset Bay Association,
She’s a pretty cool woman and if it’s happening in Onset – Kat Jones knows about it!
- JUNE 5 Andrew Hoag, Moonrise Cinema Drive In Cinema
Andrew Hoag the General Manager of a brand-new Drive In Movie venue opening in North Plymouth will be joining us this Saturday.
But lest you think this is your grandparents idea of a Drive In – you have GOT to pack everyone in the car and head over to Moonrise Cinemas for what they describe as an Elevated experience!
In addition to showing movies on their big screen they have games, craft beers, awesome foods you would never expect to see at a drive in snack bar, while after the show activities continue with Car-aoke Night. You can perform your favorite hits LIVE on their 52′ screen and FM radio channel. Bring props, costumes, and choreography for your own epic performance as one of the students at Rydell High!
And if you if you are thinking that they’ll only be serving hot dogs and pizza, check out their menu
Charcuterie & Cheese Platter
Moonrise Ahi Tuna Pizza
Umami Tots
Plymouth Nachos
Bavarian Pretzel
Foot Long Grilled Cheese
Wagyu Siracha Dog
Moonrise Lobster Roll
Fried Chicken Drummies
Baby Back Ribs
-MAY 29 Amy and Jim Kirkcalsy. South Shore Family Adventures
And another great show is in store for you as I am delighted to have with us sister and brother educators, Amy and Jim Kirkcalsy. They are the co-founders of the South Shore Family Adventures that you and your family must check out if you are looking for free and fun outdoor activities occurring in the South Shore area.
Their videos of hiking trails and interesting trips are sure to please you and your family members.
- MAY 22 Amanda Filman
Our guest on today's CCJ is Amanda Gilman of Pembroke. Amanda is the founder and owner of AMG Snacks who will inform us of her line of healthy snacks. Amanda notes that her energy bites snacks are for those wanting to keep up with a healthy lifestyle and especially for those looking to simply break away from the usual cookies, donuts and pretzel snacks to help keep them going throughout their day.
-MAY 15 Peter Czymbor, Boston Boxing Promotions
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has proclaimed Sunday, May 23 as Marvelous Marvin Hagler Day – a day of celebration and remembrances of Brockton's undisputed world middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987.
The high school Stadium will be the site for a day of celebration in memory of one of the world’s greatest boxer – and home town hero - Marvelous Marvin Hagler who passed away at the young age of 67 this past March.
To learn more about the event we are fortunate to have with us the Master of Ceremonies and the President of the Boston Boxing Promotions who is also a family friend of the Haglers, Peter Czymbor
Peter, talk about Marvelous Marvin Hagler and this wonderful celebration that is free and open to the public.
-MAY 8 Kenny Garcia, Kenny’s Karate School
We are going to speak with a young man who faced some difficult decisions in his early years growing up in the South End neighborhood of Boston. But nothing was a terrifying when he was face-first, staring down the barrel of a gun, held by a confused and dazed man who took part in a home invasion of our guest’s apartment.
That person is Kenny Garcia who was recently featured in a newspaper article about the home invasion where the man who had invaded his home didn’t realize that Kenny’s siblings were there with him. And who shot Kenny – striking him in the temple. Where the bullet still remains today.
Life has changed for the better for Kenny. He found Karate as a way to escape his lifestyle and today he is the sensei and owner of a very successful Karate studio in Brockton - Kenny’s Karate School is were you now find Kenny teaching Karate and other valuable life lessons to area kids and adult.
-MAY 1 Matt Hacunda, Disney Corporation
Today on the Journal we will be visited by a Cranberry Country native who has journeyed to the West coast in pursuit of his long-time dream and aspirations to work in the film industry – as a director and writer. You will meet Matt Hacunda, Apponequet High School and Emerson College grad who took on a position with not just any movie and television company, but today works for Disney!
Matt and I will discuss his work and particularly his films and especially his Community Chaos TV series in which yours truly had a small – but nevertheless inspirational, at least to me – role as The Bog Father!
- APRIL 3 Abby Burke, CAKE ART BY ABBY
In this morning’s edition of Cranberry Country Journal we are going to meet a delightful East Bridgewater young woman who left the business and finance world and – initially as a hobby - started baking cakes just a few months before the Coronavirus quarantine .
Now keep in mind this was just a little over a year ago because very quickly - via social media - her Cake Art By Abby became a successful business due to its popularity on the video, social media app TikTok – that soon exploded with – listen to this - over 3 million likes and 350,000 followers on the video app.
That’s 3 million likes and over 350,000 followers! Incredible.
That person that I am delighted to share her story with you today, is Abby Burke. Abby only quit her full-time finance job in November to pursue her passion and love for designing and making cakes - showing and selling them through her CakeArtByAbby site.
Abby Burke’s tale is a remarkable one of someone who only created her on line business CakeArtByAbbyin January 2020 and with her first video received over 169,000 views, with the most-watched video of hers having over 16.4 million views.
And If you visit her website www.cakeartbyabby.com you will be blown away by her beautiful, creative - and sometimes sky-high cakes - with colors and designs you probably have never seen the likes of before!
APRIL 10 Katie Cooke, Music Loft
Talented musician and performer is the owner and founder of the Music Loft, located at 50 Central Square in Bridgewater. Katie's Music Loft opened in October 2018 with a mission to “not just provide lessons” but to provide creative opportunities for people to learn, share and perform music, regardless of their age and abilities.
Katie Cooke who says “I can be myself here' as she describes her Bridgewater music studio as a place where she lets students march to their own beat as they undertake the study of
various instruments taught tin their 30, 45 or 60-minute lessons.
-APRIL 17 DIRECTOR AARON CAMIEUX
Perhaps you have viewed his documentaries, including the one now playing for free on PRIME for you to watch as a PRIME member.
But I may have to warn you. His documentary just may frighten you a bit. It deals with such things as UFOs and big foot type creatures, mysterious sounds and occurrences, even the occult and murder!
The documentary is The Bridgewater Triangle and our guest this morning is Aaron Camieux the award-winning producer and Dartmouth Mass native.
Let’s find about some of the mysteries featured in his documentary, and we will also touch upon another one of his locally sourced documentaries. It’s called The Highway Murders and it deals with the murders of women that took place in the Southcoast area during which bodies were found along the area highways along the Southcoast
That’s Aaron Camieux our special guest today.
-APRIL 24 SUSAN ROOK - "THE GRAMMAR GODDESS"
Hey, got a super show for you this morning. But you got to promise to listen to the todays show in its entirety because when I mention the topic, well, many folks just may turn off the program. But here it is. It's - ready? You Still there?
Today's topic will be. Get ready. Grammar.
And I assure you that I didn’t place a call back to your high school to speak with your old English teacher who drilled grammar learning into you as part of your English classes. Having you memorize prepositions, rules for the use of the semicolon, and what the heck split infinitives are.
We are going to speak with a woman and a Cranberry Country resident who makes grammar – dare I say it? Fun. That’s FUN!.
And that is Susan Rook who runs her training and seminar organization called The Grammar Goddess.
I must admit that I have never, ever had a chance to interview and speak with - a real life Goddess. But for today’s Cranberry Country Journal I will speak with and provide you with the pleasure to hear from a real-life goddess - The Grammar Goddess that is. Susan Rook.
-MARCH 13 Michael Collins “The Sugar Free Man”
Do you have an addiction. Are you an addict? Dealing with an addiction- to SUGAR! And regardless of what you tell yourself – you just can’t quit it?
If this sounds like you then you should tune in as we are joined by Michael Collins. Known as The Sugar Free Man with over 31 years of happily living without sugar, flour, and caffeine, and as a successful trainer and author of the Amazon best-selling book “The Last Resort Sugar Detox,” we will learn how to break the sugar addiction.at includes what they do, how long they’ve been at it, and what got them to where they are.