The Pinelands Cultural & Historical Preservation Society presents...
WARETOWN, NJ
Pinelands Cultural Society Executive Board & Committee Chairpersons
The Pinelands Cultural Society Board is committed to preserving the music, history, culture, folklore and people of the Jersey Pines.
Meet the board....
President: Danielle Marrone
Hi Friends,
For those who do not know me, I have served the PCS since 2016. Starting with taking the reins of the newsletter from Roy when he decided he wanted to stop, later volunteering in both the snack and gift booths. As the Hall’s archivist, my responsibilities were to organize and digitize the items in our vast archives, also to write the PCS/Albert Hall history book. I have served on the board for the last 7 years, the last three as 1st Vice President. It’s also been a privilege to perform on the stage as Redbird for the last 8 years.
Being able to see all sides of the spectrum has proven to be a blessing and has afforded me the chance to see all sides of the PCS/Albert Hall through different “windows”. I have always felt a connection here and have always been committed to preserving our past, however, it’s the comradery, togetherness, friendship and scene of community that always calls me back. I’ve said a thousand times, Albert Hall is not a building, it cannot be held within four walls, it's the feeling you leave with at the end of the night.
We welcome each and every one of you to be a part of our history and invite you to “Come on down to Waretown” every Saturday night for the best country, bluegrass, folk, americana, old timey and Pinelands music this side of the Mason-Dixon Line, always!
1st Vice President: Brian Hansen
I’ve lived in Waretown all my life, and my family goes back generations.
As a young boy I have fond memories of going to Joe’s cabin, feeding the deer, also playing with Joe’s hounds and listening to the music.
When they started playing at the first Hall, my mother Joan Hansen and Aunt Emily Ahearn started volunteering. After the fire and the new building was built, I started volunteering and have been here ever since.
2nd Vice President / Ways & Means: Helen Exel
I joined Albert Music Hall the last few weeks of our performances being outside. I was new to the area and saw the signs for Albert Hall. I called to see if they needed volunteers and here I am, selling admission tickets, holding a position on the board and making new friends every week.
Aside from Albert Music Hall, I am a member of the Lacey Elks and Lanoka Harbor First Aid Squad and my greatest passion of all is directing in Community Theater. Albert Music Hall is my Zen place. There is no other place I would rather be on a Saturday night!
Treasurer: Melody Lorenzen
My name is Melody Lorenzen and my husband, Hans, and I used to go to concerts in Hunterdon County, where we used to live, and we heard Travis Wetzel play. That was it and we were hooked.
We moved to Toms River in 1999 and someone told us about Albert Hall, we were still following Wetzel and found out he would play there as well. We used to go on Saturday night and we would see Michael Patrick, Elaine & the Cimarron Sky, Basement musician, etc. Some of the singers changed and we would try to go as often as possible. It was something we looked forward to, couldn’t beat those hot dogs and music.
One Saturday they asked for anyone who would like to volunteer and I thought that would be nice and it make us go more often. So, a year ago I volunteered to work the snack booth and then they needed someone to be the treasurer and decided to help there as well.
It is a great place to be, enjoy music, and see so many people each week, volunteering; enjoying music; and helping some students get scholarships what more could you ask for.
Recording Secretary: Karen Hanson
Having come from a family of music teachers and musicians, growing up it was rare that I couldn't hear music somewhere. Since then it seems like life has always had a soundtrack. I appreciate the value of music for connecting people from different walks of life and for providing a feeling of community. I could feel that Albert Music Hall was special in that respect from the first time I set foot there in the early 2000s. As I learned more about its history and mission, I was hooked.
At work I'm a digital archivist - literally an archivist for digital material, so I often think about the integrity of the historical record. It therefore feels apt that I’m taking the role of Recording Secretary. I’m grateful and proud to be a part of the board and to help support the work of the Albert Music Hall.
Corresponding Secretary: Chrissy Marrone
My mom and I discovered Albert Hall in the early 2000s. She was a long time Ocean County Resident and loved live music. For years we would go on Saturday nights to hear our favorite musicians, and we always went to celebrate my son’s birthday every August.
I grew up in Englishtown and for a short time we had a wonderful music hall and we went to every show, this sparked my love for folk and bluegrass. I got to meet Lester Flatt and many other remarkable
musicians.
Now all these years later I never would have thought that I would one day be playing on the Albert Music Hall stage, let alone be part of the board for this amazing, special place.
Public Relations: Deb Russo
I used to bring my kids to visit Albert Music Hall in the old building in the early 90s, when they were young. Back then the Pineconers would play each week, and I even had a few bluegrass pickin' lessons. Life became busy with scouts, sports teams etc. as my kids became older, so I was away a while.
Some friends invited me to see them perform and I found the Hall again. Now that I'm retired and my kids are grown, I have more time and decided to volunteer. I think the hall is a terrific place, I love the history and the sense of community. I'm honored to be in a position to support it's mission and carry on the tradition.
General Welfare: Ruth Ann Knoll
I started going to Albert Hall after getting divorced and searching out music that had a feel-good feel. I needed a place to re-start my social life that wasn't necessarily like a bar (worked in bars as a DJ many years), but had home grown music so to speak.
I was exposed to Bluegrass as a kid in Pa. and that always felt like home. The harmonies, and gospely feel and also a bit of folk and rock to make my experience complete.
Back in the 70’s & 80’s my Mom and her husband used to go to the 'hall" on rt9 and enjoyed all the older performers from then including Merce Ridgeway. It was a regular place/hangout of theirs.
I'm so happy I've kept coming back and now volunteer which provides a "community" for me with a purpose. And the added benefit of meeting great people and making better friends.
Operations: John Rozinski
I first attended a show at AMH in 2016 to listen to some friends play on stage. I was hooked after that. Shortly thereafter, as co-founder of an acoustic duo, we were performing regularly on the AMH stage for the next four years.
For a while I also tended to the needs of the physical building by meeting contractors, inspectors and miscellaneous repair people and really got to see all that is involved in keeping the building in good shape.
Since then, I have switched gears scheduling hosts and sometimes hosting shows. Since our outside shows in 2020 and our post covid return to the Hall, I have been acting as sound board operator, and recently started sharing those duties with two other talented people.
