The Alternative Press

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – In the two months since the Berkeley Heights Communication Committee rolled out its weekly television news show, it’s gained a significant viewership and given residents another inroad into what’s going on in their town.

The 15-minute news show, This Week in Berkeley Heights, is produced and anchored by journalists from The Alternative Press and AOL's Berkeley Heights Patch. On alternating weeks, anchors from each of the news organizations present the highlights of the previous week, including government, sports, business and other notable news.

The first show debuted on Dec. 1 on the local access channel and featured Mayor Joseph Bruno. The mayor now has his own show, “A Cup of Joe with Joe.”

This Week in Berkeley Heights is the brainchild of the Communication Committee, which was officially organized by the township in December 2010. The show is filmed in the television studio at Governor Livingston High School.

“This Week in Berkeley Heights is a perfect example of why the Communications Committee was formed,” said Committee member Nicholas Schiavo. “It’s a way to get the news out to the people in town, to connect them with our local businesses and to keep them informed.”

"As the only locally owned and operated online newspaper in Berkeley Heights, TheAlternativePress.com is delighted to partner with the Township of Berkeley Heights, the Berkeley Heights Communications Committee, students and faculty at Governor Livingston High School, and community and business leaders to provide residents with This Week in Berkeley Heights,” said Michael Shapiro, Publisher and CEO, who anchors the show with assistance from Allison Norlian. “By providing objective local news coupled with interviews with community and business leaders making a difference in our community, This Week in Berkeley Heights is quickly becoming a model for quality public access television in New Jersey."

The show has three segments of five minutes each: weekly news, in which the anchor from the respective news organizations highlight the week’s top stories; Business of the Week; and the Community Corner. Joe Voorhees, who runs the television studios at the high school, directs the show with assistance from his students.

Dr. Patrick Smith, who owns Smith Chiropractic and is an ad hoc member of the Communications Committee and vice president of the Suburban Chamber of Commerce, Berkeley Heights, said he thinks the program is not only going great, but it’s picking up steam.

“Obviously this is a new and bold concept for the town to undertake,” he said. “Much to Nick’s credit, he’s put together a coalition of folks from all walks of life that are Berkeley Heights. I believe the more spokes that are in a wheel, the stronger it is, and that’s what we’re doing now – we’re trying to fill out all the spokes by getting the businesses more involved, by getting the civic organizations involved.”

Local government and the high school are already involved, and when all the spokes are in place, Smith said he believes the show, which is already starting to pick up speed, will take off.

“The only agenda for this show is Berkeley Heights,” he said. “That’s it. It’s a powerful model, and I really see it moving forward.”

The show still needs funding, and Smith said the committee’s hope is to eventually have it completely sponsored-funded so there is no cost to the town. So far it has one sponsor, the annual Berkeley Heights 5K, which Smith organizes.

“This is truly a community effort,” Schiavo said. “The Chamber of Commerce has been helpful, the businesses in town have gotten on board, residents are tuning in to watch. It’s by the community, for the community.”

The feedback from township residents has been terrific.

“One of the great aspects of it is how it connects people,” Schiavo said, citing the example of the upcoming Berkeley Heights alumni weekend that will be part of the Heights Festival in August 2012. One of the Communications Committee members was talking about it recently on This Week in Berkeley Heights, and the director of the Chamber of Commerce saw it and asked to get involved.

“It’s really a good way for us to stay connected as a town,” Schiavo said.

Anyone who would like to volunteer to help with the show or has ideas for it can contact Schiavo at nicholas.schiavobh@gmail.com.

The Communications Committee also has undertaken the township’s new website, www.berkeleyheightstwp.com, and the township’s newsletter, which is being worked on now and will be available through the website.