The Pinelands Cultural & Historical Preservation Society presents...
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 6 years, the last
three as 1st Vice President. It’s also been a privilege to
perform on the stage as Redbird for the last 7 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 kitchen and then they needed someone to do the
bookkeeping 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- Barbara Paskin
When I became active in our local music community, it was
always my dream to be able to play at Albert Music Hall. My
first time playing there was in 2017, and I have been
fortunate enough to play there every year since then, with
different groups of musicians. It is absolutely one of the most
exciting, special places to play in the area, with the most
fantastic audience. I became a member of the executive board
of Albert Music Hall in 2020 as recording secretary, a position
that I hold now. I am also the chairman of Scholarship
Committee, a job that I truly enjoy since I was a school
counselor at Asbury Park High School for many years.
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- Kelly Kehr
Back in 2013 I was led to Albert music hall by what I like to
call "Divine intervention." Once I stepped on the property I
knew I was home. I volunteered right away in the gift booth
50-50, and was recording secretary on the board for a year.
However, My heart for Albert musical hall goes back to when
I was 10 and my dad took me to see Eddie Conners, now
ln 2023, I again returned to serve, and I'm committed to
helping insure the Legacy, culture and music continue into
the future.
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 misc. 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.
