Page 22 Thursday, April 19, 2012 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION At 62, Still Shows That He’s The One By FRED T. ROSSI phonist, close Springsteen pal and from 1973’s “The Wild, The Inno- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times audience favorite Clarence cent and the E Street Shuffle.” It was my thirty-second time see- Clemons. The answer: Perfectly. Bruce and the band played a night Joy Fickett And Shuang Guo Wroe ing Bruce Springsteen and The E Jake Clemons, Clarence’s nephew, last month at New York’s Apollo Street Band but with a 25-song was brought in to play the sax, tak- Theater, and last week, they paid setlist dominated by tunes from the ing his place on stage alongside homage to their soul influences with To Chair Tour of Notable Homes 1970s and early 1980s, it was as if several other horn players. And Jake a wonderful two-song medley: “The I had been transported back three proved a worthy successor to his Way You Do The Things You Do” WESTFIELD – The Friends of conferencing facility. She is also a Chinese choruses. “With two young decades to some of my very first beloved uncle and quickly endeared by Smokey Robinson followed by Westfield Symphony Orchestra licensed realtor with Keller Will- children at Franklin School Elemen- Bruce shows. And that was just fine himself to an adoring crowd last Wilson Pickett’s “634-5789,” dur- (WSO), the auxiliary and fund rais- iams in Westfield. A graduate of tary school and the on-going reno- with me and, it seemed, most of the week with well-done solos on “Bad- ing which Springsteen ventured ing arm of the orchestra, has an- California State University, Mrs. vation of our 1882 Westfield home, 20,000 or so others who packed lands,” which opened the show at deep into the floor audience and nounced the selection of Joy Fickett Fickett is also an active artist work- my husband and I are deeply com- Madison Square Garden on April 9 8:30 p.m., and “Promised Land,” then crowd-surfed his way back to of Mountainside and Shuang Guo ing varying mediums including pas- mitted to the Westfield community. for the final show, for now, of a from Springsteen’s career-best the stage. Wroe of Westfield as co-chairs of tel, oil and acrylic. Ten percent of I am therefore honored to co-chair four-night stand in the New York- record, 1978’s “Darkness on the Springsteen’s legendary bound- the 29th Annual Tour of Notable the proceeds from her sales are do- this year’s Tour of Notable Homes,” New Jersey area in support of Edge of Town,” and “She’s The less energy seems to have strength- Homes to be held Saturday, June 2. nated to children’s charities. A commented Mrs. Guo Wroe. Springsteen’s new “Wrecking Ball” One” and “,” from his ened, not waned, with age. The “The tour is a much-anticipated mother of two loving children and a “We are thrilled that Mrs. Fickett record, which he earlier self-depre- career-making 1975 “Born to Run” three-hour show was just that: three local tradition when owners of some lucky grandmother to five wonder- and Mrs. Guo Wroe have agreed to catingly joked had been “the num- record. nonstop hours—not even a short of the area’s finest homes gener- ful grandchildren, a Rotarian and chair this important event,” re- ber-one record in America for one Springsteen saved the emotional break between the 140-minute set ously throw open their doors to the active community advocate, Mrs. marked Friends’ Co-President Lee consecutive week!” peak of the show for the very end, and the 40 minutes of encores. He public,” stated Mrs. Fickett. “There Fickett is an avid supporter of the Corcoran. Their outstanding vision But that one week at the top gave near 11:30 p.m., during a raucous pulled a few audience members up is a wide diversity of outstanding Westfield Symphony Orchestra. and organizational skills will en- Springsteen his tenth number one “10th Avenue Freeze-Out,” the rol- on stage to sing and dance with architecture and stylish décor in Equally excited to be leading this sure the success of this year’s excit- record in the U.S., tying him with licking 1975 sing-a-long that tells him, executed one of his across- our community which must be seen year’s event is Shuang Guo Wroe, ing tour.” Elvis for the third most number one some of the story of the partnering the-stage slides on his knees, to be fully appreciated.” wife of WSO’s Maestro David Mrs. Fickett and Mrs. Guo Wroe records of all time, behind only The of Bruce and “Big Man” Clemons. climbed up to sing on ’s Mrs. Fickett has lived in New Wroe. Mrs. Guo Wroe hails from enthusiastically promise that the Beatles with 19 and, inexplicably In the middle of the song last week, and looked as if he could Jersey for over 34 years. She is a Bejiing, China and lived In Ger- tour will hold “something for ev- and shamefully, Jay-Z with 12. Springsteen wandered into the have gone another hour as he exited successful entrepreneur, business many for 10 years before moving to eryone.” The residences will fea- The seemingly ageless 62-year- middle of the audience on the floor, at 11:30. owner and commercial real estate the United States in 1998. A profes- ture musical interludes, the always- old from Freehold, Asbury Park, sang the line, “When the change A few words about the legendary developer. She built, and currently sional musician and concert pia- popular basket raffle and door prize, Rumson, Colts Neck and various was made uptown, and the Big Man , lacking Clemons and owns, a commercial office building nist, Mrs. Guo Wroe has a piano and refreshments will be served in points in between showed, yet again, joined the band,” and then stopped, organist who died where she runs a successful Execu- studio in Westfield and is also the the garden of one of the homes. how rock and roll is supposed to be giving the crowd a good, long two in 2008, but sounding like a fairly tive Suite business and video music director of two New Jersey Four of the magnificent resi- done—with intensity, joy, bound- minutes to cheer loudly and, per- well-oiled machine: Guitarist dences are located in Westfield and less energy, an appreciation for his haps, shed a tear as a video mon- , who has been one gracious home is in Summit. fans and, with a little help from his tage of Clemons flashed on the big around since the very beginning, This year tourists will also have an friends, namely an expanded E screens above the stage. was his usual “Miami Steve” self, exclusive opportunity to take lun- Street Band that, as it begins its The new “Wrecking Ball” record sharing the mic at times, grinning, cheon at the historic Beacon Hill fifth decade, continues to be the is Springsteen’s most well-received mugging and backing his lifelong Club, conveniently located a stone’s gold standard. since 2002’s “The Rising,” and the friend. stood out on throw from the Summit tour resi- Last week’s three-hour show was Madison Square Garden show was guitar, especially his blistering solo dence. a night to remember fallen idols, the most fun Bruce concert I have on “.” And Max “The Home Tour is a key element vent a little anger at the country’s been to since that tour. Last week Weinberg’s drums sounded like of the funding mix that’s necessary economic misfortunes, go back in featured eight songs from the new booming cannon fire. to operate the orchestra,” said David time to when Springsteen was more record, half the “Born to Run” Afterwards, outside the Garden Wroe, Music Director of the WSO. a cult music figure than a rock icon record including another show high- on a balmy evening, many were “The ‘Friends’ have been true to and, most of all, to experience the light, “,” and seven other talking excitedly about the show. their name in this respect since the unique sense of community and tunes released or written (and Patti Cuozzo, who grew up in the group’s very inception. Supplemen- shared joie de musique that only a unreleased) in the 1970s, including 1970s in Ocean Township, next door tal fund raising is critical because Bruce Springsteen concert provides. “Thundercrack,” a rarely-played to Asbury Park, told The Westfield only about a third of our revenue The tour got underway on March gem from the early ‘70s, “Spirit in Leader and The Scotch Plains- comes from the sale of tickets.” 18, with fans questioning how Bruce the Night” from his debut “Greet- Fanwood Times she and her 14- Mrs. Fickett points out that the and the band would deal with the ings from Asbury Park” record and year-old son Sam drove to the show Westfield area is one of only a few death last June of long-time saxo- long-time fan favorite “Rosalita” from their home in South Carolina. smaller communities nationwide “Bruce never disappoints me and that has a professional symphony his music has helped me through a orchestra. She observes, “It’s truly NJWA Summer Workshop lot of good and bad times.” She said a community treasure adding to the she has seen more than 50 Bruce quality of life here.” concerts, but last week’s was her Tickets for the 2012 Tour of No- Offers Fine Arts Program first at Madison Square Garden. Ms. table Homes are $30 in advance Cuozzo said she and her son “both ($35 on June 2) and will be avail- WESTFIELD — The New Jersey Roosevelt Intermediate School in Workshop for the Arts (NJWA) Westfield, beginning June 27, of- had a wish to hear ‘Backstreets’ to- able on line and at ticket outlets on gether and Bruce made that wish Tuesday, May 1. Summer Workshop is pleased to fers classes for students from pre- TOUR OF NOTABLE HOMES CO-CHAIRS...Shuang Guo Wroe of Westfield, announce the creation of a new Fine kindergarten to grade nine, includ- come true.” Sam Cuozzo said the left, and Joy Fickett of Mountainside will be co-chairs of the 29th Westfield For more information visit show, his second Bruce concert, was www.westfieldsymphony.org. Arts Program specifically designed ing a theater workshop for actors in Symphony Orchestra’s Annual Tour of Notable Homes to be held Saturday, June 2. for serious art students in grades grades six to nine. “the best show I’ve ever seen” be- seven to nine. Visit the website at cause he got to hear “Backstreets” Separate courses in Oil Painting, www.NJWASummerWorkshop.com with his mother. Portraits and the Human Figure in to view, download or print the 2012 João Simões from Hillside was at- Three-Dimensional Media, Stone NJWA Summer Workshop brochure tending his first Springsteen concert. Carving, Textile Design and Stained and application. Completed appli- “I’ve always heard about the energy Glass will be offered by noted artist cations should be mailed or deliv- of his shows, and now I understand educators who bring a wealth of ered to New Jersey Workshop for why that is the first thing people talent and experience to the pro- the Arts at the address indicated on mention,” he told The Leader and gram. In these intensive workshops, the form. The Times. “It has to be experienced Superior students will use professional-grade For additional information, call to really get it.” He said the show materials and equipment as they (908) 518-1551, e-mail “exceeded my expectations and the receive guidance from instructors [email protected] music was seamless,” adding that knowledgeable in each specific or visit the New Jersey Workshop Springsteen “brought a warmth and a field. for the Arts studios at 150-152 East sense of intimacy to the show that I Emergency Care In Oil Painting, the artists will Broad Street, Westfield. haven’t felt at an arena before.” learn essential methods of on-can- The tour will return to the area on vas blending, illusional versus ac- May 2 for a one-night stand at EXPERT. EFFICIENT. EQUIPPED. tual texture, brush–stroke charac- See it on the web! Newark’s Prudential Center, and it teristics and alternate techniques is a good bet he will be back later in for applying paint to a surface. They www.goleader.com the summer after a tour of Europe. will then apply this to a concept of When the unexpected happens, people know to turn to their own choosing. Portraits and the Human Figure the Emergency Department at RWJ Rahway. Join this in Three-Dimensional Media will give students the opportunity to dedicated team of Emergency Care experts at RWJ Rahway, delve into a creative process that takes non-traditional materials to an acute-care community hospital committed to helping create personal sculptural expres- sions that are meaningful to the patients get better … and stay better. artist. The Stone Carving class will take students through a process of using chisels, rasps and other stone carv- POSITIONS AVAILABLE: ing tools to meticulously craft a • RN with 2-3 years experience sculpture from hard stone, experi- encing the complete process from (FT, PT and Per Diem) concept to masterwork. The curriculum also contains a • RN Flow Coordinator (FT) course in Textile Design, which al- lows students to work from design conception to finished product as Part-Time Hours Equal they explore and integrate tradi- tional techniques such as dyeing, printing, painting, stenciling as well Full-Time Benefits!* SINGING ABROAD…Members of the Westfield High School Concert Choir and as three-dimensional techniques. Bella Cora, with teachers John Brzozowski and Sharon Reynolds, are pictured after The final class in the Fine Arts touring and performing in Melk Abbey in Austria. Some of their European perfor- Program is Stained Glass. Here stu- mances can be viewed on the Westfield Public School District’s video page at Our employees provide the superior care that makes dents will learn about materials and www.westfieldnjk12.org. Choose video from the sidebar and then Chorus Europe methods that artists use to create Trip 2012. us great, so we take care of our employees. We’re stained glass artwork. They will use professional-grade tools to create committed to offering extremely competitive salaries the design, cut the glass and solder it into a complete project. and benefits, and flexible hours. In addition to the Fine Arts Pro- gram, the 2012 NJWA Summer Workshop, which will be held at Interested candidates, please apply online: Meet Author of ‘Lighten rwjuhr.com or fax to 732.815.7610 Up!’ at Town Book Store WESTFIELD — The Town Book *See HR representative for details. Store will host Westfield resident Susan Greeley, author of “Cooking with Trader Joe’s: Lighten Up!,” the latest in the Cooking with Trader Joe’s cookbook series on Saturday, April 21, from 2 - 4 p.m. Meet Susan Greeley at The Town Book Store located at 270 East Broad Street in Westfield (corner of East Broad and Elmer Streets). If you are unable to attend this event, feel free to call The Town Book SPRING BREAK…Members of the Westfield High School Concert Choir and Store at (908) 233-3535 to reserve Bella Cora are pictured after a performance in Chiesa Santa Maria Dei Ricci in an autographed copy of her cook- Florence, Italy. The group traveled to Europe during spring break and per- book. formed numerous concerts while enjoying the sights of Austria and Italy.