Selected WorksAnthology
"Although its rock-and-roll legacy is well known around the world, other music forms - gospel and blues, jazz and even classical - have an Asbury Park address that contribute to the American music treasury." - Bob Santelli, author of Greetings from E Street: The Story of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
American Studies
“The new edition contains rare photographs and an insightful foreword by the author’s daughter.”
-Dr. Barbara Tomlinson, Princeton, N.J.
This is basic history, geography, psychology, economics, and folklore all
rolled into one top-quality volume.
-The New York Times
"The collapse of American towns and cities is now so complete that our collective memory of why they existed and how they came to be is nearly lost. Helen-Chantal Pike's history of Asbury Park is a worthy, lively, and well-researched effort to correct this cultural amnesia."
- James Howard Kunstler, author of "Geography of Nowhere".
“a Jerseyana journalist”
-The New York Times Business
Tracks the evolution of leading industries across a 300-year span.
Local History
Four volumes of illustrated history about New Jersey's North Shore communities.
Historical Fiction
"In the swish of a flapper dress, the smell of the potato mash or the shape of looks-just-like-it liquor bottle, the period details are superb." - Pamela Waterman, Mesa, AZ |
Alpha look @ what i'm working on
The Problem: Exactly what is Asbury Park's music heritage? Who were the pioneers? How do the traditions continue?
The Solution: Write and publish this history. The Back Story: A couple of entries below and also in Prose & Pix you'll find my dispatches about the traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute that's coming to Asbury Park in late March 2011. It is curated by Robert Santelli, executive director of the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. Priot to that, he directed the Experience Music Project in Seattle. Bob is a quintessential Jersey guy and American Studies enthusiast who made his mark covering the nascent rock and roll scene in Asbury Park about the time that Bruce Springsteen was limbering up to storm the national stage. Before landing in Seattle, Bob was in charge of educational programming at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Before that, and while still in the Garden State, he had curated the insanely popular exhibit "Teenage New Jersey" at the New Jersey Historical Society in Newark. The Take Away as of September 20, 2010: I agreed to join the steering committee of Asbury Park's 2011 Musical Heritage Celebration ~ a year-long calendar of events that will frame the six-week exhibit to be housed at the Asbury Park Public Library on 1st and Grand Avenues. I will write, solicit and edit contributions, plus disperse honoraria, and oversee the print production of this monograph. Possible pub date: March 2011. Suggested retail price: $10. Projected Budget: TBD and based on the steering committee's fund raising efforts. Follow up below as of January 1, 2011. ********************************************** The Problem: How to design an anthology that's a switch-hitter?
It must tell the near-forgotten stories of how music built a city across three centuries and the narrative must help market Asbury Park as a music destination on a par with Austin, Memphis and New Orleans. This is not a typical history book. Not by a long shot. Read on. The Solution(s): First, identify the mainstream music genres: sacred/gospel blues ragtime symphony jazz opera/musical theater old-school rock/post-Springsteen rock plus Caribbean and Latin and the quirky sub-genre known as S.O.A.P. Second, find performers whose experiences will resonate with the public: rocker Sonny Kenn church organist Gladstone Trott Haitian vocalist Cassandra Momplaisir jazz musician Dorian Parreott classical theater singer Brett Colby bluesman Willie Mitchell Paragon Ragtime Orchestra conductor Rick Benjamin Latin rocker Gee Guillen S.O.A.P. alumnus Patsy Siciliano gosepl singer Tyron McAllister classical trombonist Tom Avakian plus rock blogger Jean Mikle and Asbury Park Historical Society president Don Stine. Third, use the music festival tagline as anthology title for branding consistency Asbury Park: Where Music Lives Fourth, write letters of engagement and set deadlines. Fifth, locate photos to help illustrate the central points, including book cover. Sixth, find a printer. Seven, do all for under the pre-determined figure of $30,000. The Story So Far: Serious deadline challenges as musicians headed into the lucrative holiday performance season of 2010. Post-Chrismas blizzard of December 26, 2010 (record 30 inches) also brought writing to a halt as pens were traded for shovels. Meetings with printer, program committee to ensure all contributors get stage time, and with WYGG radio station which celebrates its 20th anniversary serving the Haitian committee all had to be rescheduled. Found value in using Facebook to stay in touch with some contributors, for posting updates that double as a curtain raiser on festival events, and for testing public reaction to music quotes. Meantime, back in my hometown of Eatontown... 
Eatontown: Gateway to the Jersey Shore
The Solution: Make New Year's Resolutions in December. The Back Story: On December 18, 2010, the Eatontown Economic Development Advisory Committee laid out its initiatives for 2011: 1) changing post-war business zones to meet the 21st century's new economy. Greater flexibility for those who want a location that IS the crossroads of Jersey Shore commerce. 2) step up the green initiative with incentives. 3) schedule guest speaker to explain status of Fort Monmouth's closing. 4) plan event around state DOT's completion of the Routes 35/36 intersection in August. Next mtg: Jan. 13, 3 p.m. Boro Hall. ********************************************
Your Stories Told
This is my introductory memoir-writing workshop created for 4 consecutive sessions. Designed for those writers seeking to identify the a-ha moment in a memory. Writing topics: * It's about place * What's that aroma? * What I remember best about him * And then she said, "..." Writers receive a syllabus and reading list. Want to book a workshop for your group? Send e-mail to Helen@HelenPike.com. Thanks! ************************************************ 
Your Stories Told
People want to leave a legacy about the lives they lived, the values they hold dear, and life lessons they want to give the next generation. But they don't know how to tell those stories. Solution: Offer my services as a career journalist, photographer, and author to those who want assistance. My three services are available in the following formats: Your Stories Told ...In Print • For executives or families interested in getting a memoir written. Also suitable for turning life lessons into a literary fund raiser for your favorite charity. ...In Video • Ideal for capturing the voices, music, and images that define a family, business, sports team, or social club. ...By You • With my help as a writing coach. On line. In person. On the phone. Fee negotiable. ************************************************ PROBLEM: Overshadowed by the presence of rock star Bruce Springsteen, Asbury Park, NJ, lacks a recognizable public narrative about the significant scope of its musical heritage.
SOLUTION: Encourage disparate groups within the community to unite and apply for a New Jersey State Council for the Humanities grant that would fund a 3-month traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute titled New Harmonies. After an e-mail blitz by me to find an organization which wanted to sponsor this opportunity, on 11-13-09 UEZ director Tom Gilmour convened a meeting to which were invited: the Chamber of Commerce, ArtsCAP (the city's arts advocacy group), Asbury Park Public Library, oceanfront redeveloper Madison Marquette, the Asbury Park Historical Society, independent filmmaker Susan Pelligrini, and yours truly. ArtsCAP took the lead in applying for the grant thanks to the efforts of president Dennis Carroll, an accomplished photographer. What follows is the letter of support I wrote (in addition to my TriCityNews column which can be found under Prose & Pix): November 16, 2009 New Jersey Council for the Humanities 28 West State Street Trenton, NJ 08608 To Whom It May Concern: I’m writing this letter in support of bringing the Smithsonian’s New Harmonies traveling exhibit to Asbury Park in the late winter/early spring of 2011. There is no other coastal destination north of Atlantic City that can lay claim to a diverse musical heritage going back to the 1870s. From the sacred music sung in both the black and white churches to ragtime to the blues roots of jazz and rock-and-roll, Asbury Park has participated in the birth of America’s unique musical genres for more than 100 years. The Smithsonian’s New Harmonies exhibit would complement this small urban center’s long-range plan to strengthen its year-round economy. There is a vibrant civic, arts, and business scene and testimony to that can be found in other letters of support that accompany this application. Moreover, the Asbury Park Public Library is an ideal civic and geographic venue. It is equidistant to the Boardwalk and to the downtown. One of the city’s three elementary schools is within four blocks’ walking distance, as are two daycare facilities and one charter school. A senior residence built by the Civil Service Foundation is nearby. Over the years, the library’s spacious Reading Room has been used for a variety of exhibits, including one I mounted in 1998, a year after my first book, Images of America: Asbury Park, was published. I have agreed to loan music-related artifacts from my second book, Asbury Park’s Glory Days: The Story of an American Resort for the glass-enclosed display case to accompany the Smithsonian narrative. Lastly, I am encouraged by the interest in bringing back the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra to perform at the Paramount Theatre after its successful debut during Asbury Park’s 110th anniversary celebration in 2007. Founder Richard Benjamin is recognized as the nation’s foremost interpreter of Arthur Pryor’s music. In the early 20th century, the noted ragtime composer chose Asbury Park for a permanent performance home for his hugely popular band and, in doing so, ensured the public would have another reason to come to the Shore. New Harmonies would have a comparable impact. May the New Jersey Council for the Humanities agree and select Asbury Park an ideal host site. Respectfully, Helen Chantal Pike NOTE: I returned from Southeast Asia and found this in my e-mail January 20, 2010: Tom, Helen, Johna, Bob. Ginny: I just head from Chris Sheerer of the Humanities Council who has informed me that we have won the Harmonies Exhibit for next Feb-Apr. We are the first of 6 NJ cities to receive the exhibit, so it will premiere here and we will set the bar. I will receive some information and some paperwork to sign in the next few days and then there will be meeting scheduled with the Humanities Council, us and the other cities about marketing, support and logistics. Once I have the paper work, I would like us to meet to set things in motion. After that we could form a larger committee including reps from the school system, Chamber, music and arts groups and other civic organizations so we can develop a broad base of contributors and supporters. Looking forward to working with all of you. Dennis 
Your Business Future After Fort Monmouth Closes in 2011
SOLUTION: Convene an economic summit with guest speakers from Trenton and resources from banks and the utility companies. DRAFT LETTER SCHEDULED TO BE SENT December 1, 2009 Dear : Eatontown businesses have enjoyed a long and profitable tenure from their association with Fort Monmouth. Such diverse sectors as communications, retail, and health care have progressed with solid growth into the 21st century. Even complementary industries in hospitality, higher education, and entertainment have benefited from the presence of the electronics command. In two years that will change. What does Fort Monmouth’s closure mean for you and your business? Please join me as we examine what the future holds at 8 a.m. January 21, 2010 when we convene the Eatontown Economic Conference at the Sheraton Hotel. Caren Franzini, CEO of the state’s Economic Development Authority, will discuss Trenton initiatives for Monmouth County, especially its eastern trade hub and Shore gateway, Eatontown. The county’s Planning & Economic Development Office will host a resource table. A representative will be available to answer your questions about retention and retraining programs, new-market incentives, and energy grants. Ron Wollner, president of Eatontown’s Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC), will explain how it supports businesses. To date, EDAC has opened the channels of communication in Borough Hall, addressed traffic and zoning issues, and helped improve the effectiveness of the town website. Check out EDAC’s webpage: eatontownnj.com/committee/com.asp?com_id=13. Let’s work together to plan the next generation of profitable growth in Eatontown. Sincerely, Mayor Gerry Tarantolo ******************************************************************************************** Yes! I plan to attend the Eatontown Economic Conference on January 21, 2010. Enclosed is my check for ____ number of reservations at $25/per. Total_________. Here is my contact info: Name:___________________________ Company:___________________________ Phone: _______________ e-mail: __________________________________________ NOTE: I returned from 2 months in Australia, Singapore, and Indonesia to learn there was a SRO attendance at this event. ************************************************ Problem:
The Eatontown Chamber of Commerce had ceased to exist in the early 1990s, and business owners had no collective voice or presence in the community. Solution: On 12.15.08 I wrote the text for the Borough of Eatontown's website in my civic role as EDAC secretary. Copied here [with a photo added], the page represents the first time Eatontown businesses ~ current and prospective ~ have ever had an on-line resource. John Carbin, the boro's IT go-to guy posted it 12.18.08.
Welcome to the Economic Development Advisory Committee web page!
********************************************* EDAC is dedicated to promoting healthy economic growth throughout Eatontown. We are a robust committee with representatives from nationally recognized corporations as well as entrepreneurs from the fields of finance, high tech, retail, hospitality, health care, automotive, real estate, plus municipal officials and residents. We monitor the fiscal climate in Eatontown: * Looking to relocate to the economic and transportation hub of eastern Monmouth County? * Want a gateway presence on the Jersey Shore? * Seeking advice about your current business? Consider us a resource. EDAC provides first-hand analysis of planning and zoning initiatives, traffic patterns, and employment conditions. We are alert to the on-going discussions for the redevelopment of the electronics command at Fort Monmouth located along Eatontown's northeastern perimeter. A copy of the ordinance that created EDAC in September 2008 may be obtained from the borough clerk. Information about local, state, and federal programs that will help you grow your business in Eatontown may be found by clicking the link here. We meet at 1 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month, except legal holidays. The location is the Council Chamber on the second floor of Borough Hall. It is handicap-accessible. All are invited to attend these open public meetings and to suggest action items for our agenda. Periodic updates to this page and quarterly profiles of Eatontown's entrepreneurs are in the planning stages for a 2009 roll out. We welcome hearing from you! We are: Mayor Gerry Tarantolo; mayor@eatontownnj.com Officers: Ron Wollner, president/president, Computer Data Source, Inc.; ron@cds.net Anna Mayer, vice president/leasing & marketing director, The Donato Group; amayer@TheDonatoGroup.com Bob Stroebel, treasurer/vice president, TD Bank; robert.stroebel@yesbank.com Helen Pike, secretary/resident; Helen@HelenPike.com Members: Dennis Connelly, Council liaison/co-owner, CJ Montana's Pub & Grille; DennisConnelly@cjmontanas.com George Destafney, regional vice president, TD Bank, destafney@yesbank.com Corbett Donato, vice president, The Donato Group; cdonato@TheDonatoGroup.com Kevin Gonzalez, vice president, Eatontown Board of Education; activityfirstPT@verizon.net Dan Ingenbrandt, senior vice president, Pacific Concord Investment Corp.; dani@pacificconcordgroup.com Mark Lefkandinos, general manager, Houlihan's Restaurant; mlefkandinos@aol.com Ben Levine, manager, Monmouth Mall; blevine@vno.com Barry Morman, manager, JC Penney; bmorman@jcpenney.com Jamie Pavlis, president, Pavlis Realty; jpavlis732@aol.com David Portman, owner, Aspen Court office building; slvfx69@aol.com Tom Riccardi, general manager, Sheraton Hotel; triccardi@sheratoneatontown.com George Rodriguez, general manager, DCH Honda; grodriguez@dchusa.com Dr. Randy Rosen, dentist and Eatontown Historic District representative; djrosen@comcast.net George Jackson, Borough Administrator; admin@eatontownnj.com ************************************************************************************************** Problem: People want to leave a legacy about the lives they lived, the values they hold dear, and life lessons they want to give the next generation. But they don't know how to tell those stories. Solution: On October 23, 2008 I became a member of the Association of Personal Historians. My three services are: Your Stories Told ...In Print • For executives or families interested in getting a memoir written. Also suitable for turning life lessons into a literary fund raiser for your favorite charity. ...In Video • Ideal for capturing the voices, music, and images that define a family, business, sports team, or social club. ...By You • With my help as a writing coach. On line. In person. On the phone. Sliding fee. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Manasquan bungalows, circa 1920.
Pat Dodd wanted a written account about his indomitable grandmother, a Prohibition bootlegger, but didn't know how to go about it. Solution: In July 2008 Pat came to me with notes, maps, pictures, and stories he had grown up with. After considerable historical research, I'm now turning these tales into what we both hope will be a page-turning narrative that anyone can enjoy. Here are some teasers: * What happens in these summer cottages as Prohibition settles in for the long haul? * Where did Kitty Dodd and her boys come from? * Who knew them back in Ireland? * What's the West Orange connection? And most important of all: * Who wants to put them out of business? Estimated deadline: March 2009.
More Asbury Park Stories:
Ticket to Ride Pitch Men Movie Mystery Something About Mary Dark City/Light City Asbury Park Back Story and Sand In Our Shorts Jersey Shore Sketches Sleeping With George No Daddy, Not Today Resort or Residential: What are we? Whose Daughter Am I? Is your PTA or church youth group interested in sponsoring a printing of this workbook for a fund raiser? Greetings From New Jersey: A Workbook for Young Adventurers is my second stint writing with families in mind. For three years I produced a weekly column for "The Boston Herald" titled "Kids' Trips". This fun-filled learning activities book is 68 pages. Among the features in all 6 chapters: * reading about history * math word problems based on the state's most popular assets * journal writing * puzzle pieces for the 21 counties * drawing * projects -- for independent or group work -- from designing a model city using Paterson to writing a restaurant menu using Jersey Fresh produce and a nutrition chart * a resource page for on-site discoveries Retail price: $14.95. I'm fielding inquiries about my publishing plan that details how to adapt the New Jersey template to the other 49 states. If you want more info, please send e-mail to Helen@HelenPike.com. ****************************************************** |
|
