The College of New Jersey’s annual celebration of Black History Month will begin on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 11 a.m. with the raising of the Pan-African flag outside of Trenton Hall and an opening ceremony featuring representatives from TCNJ’s Black Student Union, TCNJ’s NAACP chapter, and more.
The ceremony signifies the start of a monthlong celebration of education and social events on campus. This year’s theme, “Evolution of Black Generations,” will celebrate, educate about, and reflect upon the impact of Black and African American culture through the past, into the present, and towards the future.
Wednesday’s flag raising event will include remarks from Naia Moore ’25, BSU president; Tara Richardson ’25, BSU vice president; and Tacquice Wiggan Davis, interim vice president for inclusive excellence. The ceremony will also feature Sy’Maya Summiel ’26, president of TCNJ NAACP, and a performance of “Life Every Voice and Sing” — often referred to as the Black National Anthem — by Robert Scott ’28, BSU freshman representative.
The heritage month will feature events held by TCNJ’s BSU and numerous other student groups, campus offices, and academic departments, including a teach-in with African American Studies and English Professor Piper Kendrix Williams; a BSU and TCNJ Dining event with specially prepared foods in Eickhoff Hall and the 1855 Room; and a guest lecture by Sahar Aziz, Distinguished Professor of Law and Chancellor’s Social Justice Scholar at Rutgers University.
All campus community members are invited to participate in the scheduled events. See the full calendar of events for more details and registration information (where applicable).
The series is organized by the Black History Month Planning Committee and coordinated by the Division of Inclusive Excellence, TCNJ BSU, and African American Studies. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
Mark Stauder, chief operating officer of Hackensack Meridian Health, was installed today as the 2025 board chair of the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA).
Stauder, who also serves as president of the Hospitals and Health Services Divisions at HMH, was celebrated during the NJHA Annual Meeting held at the NJHA Conference Center in Princeton.
In his acceptance remarks, Stauder highlighted the invaluable contributions of NJHA’s members including $31.4 billion in economic impact that creates opportunity for businesses and communities across New Jersey; $3.5 billion invested in healthy communities; and 158,000 hospital employees that serve patients in 18 million occasions annually.
“With our employees’ expertise and dedication, New Jersey stands among the best in the nation for patient safety and the quality of the care and services we deliver,” said Stauder. “They truly are the lifeblood of what we do.”
Stauder also described a time of great uncertainty for the healthcare system, but expressed gratitude and confidence in the provider community’s united commitment.
“Each of us are fighting for a foothold in these difficult times,” said Stauder. “But we also share a commitment to a greater good – access to high quality, equitable care for every person in every community.”
Stauder succeeds 2024 Chair Bill Arnold, CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and executive vice president and president of the Southern Region of RWJBarnabas Health.
In her remarks to members, NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett discussed seismic shifts in healthcare policy under the Trump Administration and potential changes in Trenton under a new governor. The impact could extend to consumers’ insurance coverage and access to care, the healthcare workforce, payments to providers under Medicaid and Medicare, the healthcare supply chain, community health and social determinants and more.
“Healthcare organizations are on the frontlines. We witness the impact on the lives of New Jerseyans. And all too often we are the last line of defense for those at risk,” said Bennett. “There is no industry that can match us for the bedrock commitment we make to New Jersey’s well-being.”
Under Stauder as board chair, the full slate of NJHA Board officers for 2025 includes:
Vice Chair Deborah D. Visconi, president and CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Treasurer Robert W. Brenner, MD, president and CEO, Valley Health System
Secretary Patricia O’Keefe, president of Morristown Medical Center, Atlantic Health System, and Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for AHS.
The following healthcare leaders also were appointed as new trustees serving on the NJHA Board: Aaron Chang, president of Jefferson Health East Region; David Hughes, president of Shore Medical Center; Dustin Riccio, MD, president and CEO, St. Joseph’s Health; John Doll, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, RWJBarnabas Health; Alan Sickles, MD, CEO of Saint Michael’s Medical Center; Mark Sparta, President of the North Region, Hackensack Meridian Health; and associate board member Kenneth M. Esser Jr., executive vice president, behavioral health and president, Carrier Clinic, Hackensack Meridian Health.
NJHA, founded in 1918, has 400 members spanning New Jersey’s healthcare community including hospitals, health systems and post-acute care providers. Together, they pursue the NJHA mission of improving the health of New Jerseyans.
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The 2025 NHL trade deadline is over a month away, with plenty of time for big moves, yet we’ve already seen a splash that can’t be topped. The Colorado Avalanche traded superstar winger Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes for Martin Necas in a move that will have massive ramifications this season and for years to come.
A handful of teams could make a run this season. With sixteen teams heading to the postseason, only 11 are built to win the Cup. The big question is what they should target at the trade deadline to round out their rosters.
Carolina Hurricanes: Bottom Six Playmaking
The Hurricanes look like they have a complete roster, especially after adding Rantanen. They now have star power with size in their forward unit to play with Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov in the top six. On top of that, the defensive unit is great from the top down while goaltending, with Pyotr Kotchetkov emerging as a reliable starter, is no longer a weakness. That said, they’ll want to round out the lineup.
Mikko Rantanen, Carolina Hurricanes (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
The way to do that is by adding a bottom-six forward, specifically, one who can set up scoring chances. The Hurricanes defend with their third and fourth line while Jack Roslovic has stepped up as a scorer with 18 goals, but they need someone who can get him the puck.
Florida Panthers: Second Pair Defense
The defending Cup champion Florida Panthers will look to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since the other Florida team did it in 2020 and 2021. Despite their highs and lows this season, they have proven that the Eastern Conference and the Cup go through them.
They have a complete roster with arguably the best top six in the NHL leading the way. The Panthers also know what it takes to make a deep playoff run after reaching the Final in 2023 and winning it all in 2024. That said, they have a glaring weakness. The Panthers lost Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the offseason, and it shows, with their defense allowing nearly three goals per game.
With Gustav Forsling, Aaron Ekblad, and Niko Mikkola leading the top two pairings, the Panthers need another second-pairing option to shore up any weakness. Whether it’s a puck-moving defenseman or a stay-at-home blueliner, the team must add depth to their defense to make another playoff run.
New Jersey Devils: Middle Six Scoring
The New Jersey Devils are always trying to balance out their roster, which is a tough assignment with their speed and skill up front but not a lot of size or physicality. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt are exceptional talents, but they both weigh only 175 pounds, and in the playoffs, teams can push them around. It’s why the Devils added bigger forwards like Paul Cotter and Stefan Noesen to the bottom six in the offseason.
However, they lack a scoring presence in the bottom six. The offense averages only 3.06 goals per game while only eight skaters have 10 goals or more, and only seven skaters have 20 points or more, a testament to the top-heavy group. So, they’ll want to add a scorer who can play on the third line to give them that extra boost in the playoffs.
The Devils might also want to add a forechecking forward with skill to the top six, especially since they will face the Hurricanes – the team that defeated them in the 2023 Second-Round series – in the First Round or possibly the Second Round. However, the goal is for Erik Haula to return from injury to fill that role while Timo Meier steps up as the power forward on the wing.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Physicality
This season looks like it could be the one when the Toronto Maple Leafs make a Cup run and snap the longest title drought in league history. They check all the boxes of a contender with a great offense, great defense, and a team that can win in multiple ways. Better yet, they have a coach (Craig Berube) who can get them over the hump.
The catch is if the game slows down and becomes physical, they’ll need players who can win that type of game. The Maple Leafs, assuming they win their First Round matchup (a big if, considering they’ve only done it once since 2004), will most likely play the Panthers in the Second Round. They need skaters who can go toe-to-toe with Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov. Sure, Auston Matthews can adapt, but they need another skater who can help fill that void.
The Maple Leafs also don’t have Anthony Stolarz in the lineup, and goaltending has become an issue. It’s why they might make a move for a backup, but the assumption is Stolarz will return for the playoffs. If not, the Maple Leafs might put their confidence in Joseph Woll, which isn’t the worst thing since he’s having a great season.
Washington Capitals: Forechecking
The Washington Capitals have been a pleasant surprise this season, looking like the best team in the Metropolitan Division. Everything has gone right, with the forward unit, defense, and goaltending playing well, while veterans have turned back the clock, and prospects are starting to make an impact. Things are going well for them now, but they must think ahead to win the Cup.
The easy target is a scorer – to make a good offense even better – but they’ll want to add a forechecking presence to the forward unit. They need a skater who can create turnovers in the offensive zone to allow the team to maintain possession and provide more scoring chances for Alexander Ovechkin and Dylan Strome.
Colorado Avalanche: Second Pair Defense
By trading Rantanen, the Avalanche have already started to pivot from being a top-heavy team to a roster with stars and depth. In recent seasons, they had glaring weaknesses across the board, but it didn’t matter when Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Rantanen led the way. The trade gave them Necas and Jack Drury to bolster the forward unit, and now, they must add depth to their defense.
Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
The defense falls off after Makar, Devon Toews, and Samuel Girard, giving their goaltending no breaks and their forwards no scoring presence at the point. Yes, Makar’s ice time goes up in the playoffs, and he impacts the game across the board, but he can only do so much. They traded Bowen Byram last season to upgrade the forward unit, but they could use another Byram in their lineup or at least a stay-at-home option to play the second or third pair.
Dallas Stars: Middle Six Forward
The Dallas Stars are a super team, but they’ve lost an edge with two players out of their lineup who were key to their success last season. Chris Tanev rounded out the defense, making it one of the best in the NHL after the trade deadline, but he’s no longer on the team. Then there’s the Tyler Seguin injury, which has forced the Stars to play the season without a perennial 20-goal scorer.
The defense is a strength, with Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley, and Esa Lindell leading the unit while Jake Oettinger is playing lights out in net. So, it’s not a pressing issue like it was last season. Adding a forward to the lineup is, and it’s why the Stars should make a significant trade to add to a forward group that already has Jason Robertson, Matt Duchene, and Wyatt Johnston.
Edmonton Oilers: Forward Depth
After coming up one goal short of a Stanley Cup title last season, the Edmonton Oilers are on a mission and again look like the team to beat in the Western Conference. They have two of the best players in the game, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the way, but as they’ve proven in recent seasons, they are a team beyond just their two stars. Zach Hyman is an elite scorer, and the defense, with Evan Bouchard continuing to improve, can shut down opponents.
The only lingering question (aside from whether Stuart Skinner can replicate his success from last season) is how their depth will hold up. Last season, the Oilers saw Ryan McLeod and Dylan Holloway step up in the middle, but they lost both of them in the offseason. The hope was that Jeff Skinner and Vasily Podkolzin would fill that void, but the Oilers will again be on the hunt for forwards to help out the third and fourth lines.
Minnesota Wild: Top-Six Playmaking
Like the Maple Leafs, the Wild are always in the playoffs but never seem to make it out of the First Round. Barring any moves, they’re on track for that result again. The Wild have a good team, good enough for the third or fourth-best record in the Central Division, but they’ll meet a complete team like the Stars or Winnipeg Jets in the postseason and get run over.
The Wild need a playmaker to get them over the hump. The offense goes with Kirill Kaprizov, who is out of the lineup with an injury, which should be a reminder that they need a dynamic forward who can create scoring chances. Sure, Kaprizov will likely return for the playoffs, but they need another great passer and possibly one who plays the center position as well.
Vegas Golden Knights: Depth
The Vegas Golden Knights are quietly putting together a great season. They are neck and neck with the Oilers for the best record in the Pacific Division and have elite talent leading them. Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, and Mark Stone anchor the forward unit, while Shea Theodore, Alex Pietrangelo, and Noah Hanifin lead the defense.
Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
That said, the team needs depth. Outside of the top six, the offense takes a nosedive, and the defense doesn’t have a great third pair. The Golden Knights are known for making a splash, but ironically, their biggest successes have been depth additions. In the 2022-23 season, they added Ivan Barbashev, Michael Amadio, and Paul Cotter, none of whom were big moves at the time, yet all three skaters played key roles in helping them win the Stanley Cup.
Winnipeg Jets: Scoring
The Winnipeg Jets are led by great defense and world-class goaltending. Connor Hellebuyck is the best goaltender in the NHL, and it’s not particularly close. They also have a deep forward unit, with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele leading the top six, while Cole Perfetti, Alex Iaffalo, and Mason Appleton round things out. What do they need? Like the Capitals, they must think ahead and set themselves up for a playoff run.
That means adding another scorer. The playoff exit against the Avalanche in the First Round last season is fresh on their minds, and they need an offense that can keep up with a team that runs up the score. If they can add more offense, even with plenty of scoring in the lineup, they’ll do it.
Which Players Can Be Moved To Cup Contenders
JT Miller is the player everyone wants. If not him, it’s Elias Pettersson. With Rantanen off the board, the Vancouver Canucks have the two biggest stars to move and will likely trade one of them. However, other players will likely make a bigger impact, considering they can fill a specific need for a contender.
The New York Islanders have turned a corner this season, but if they decide to sell, they could move Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, a center and a winger who can score. The Nashville Predators don’t have a lot of players they can trade, but keep an eye on Gustav Nyquist, who heads to free agency at the end of the season and is middle-six forward. If the Canucks trade Miller, Brock Boeser can be moved as well, and any team that needs a scorer on the wing will look to add him.
On defense, the player to watch is pending unrestricted free agent Marcus Pettersson, one of the bright spots on a Pittsburgh Penguins team going nowhere. Likewise, Mike Matheson is having an excellent season, and the Montreal Canadiens might look to move him, considering the young defensemen they have waiting in the wings.
Is there a move you see a contending team making? Let us know in the comments section below.
(HOLMDEL, NJ) — Bell Theater at Bell Works is pleased to present three classic rock concerts, bringing a little musical heat to the cold spring months. Whether it’s the memorable melodies, nostalgia for a misspent youth or solidarity with the social and cultural movements of the time, all agree that the music of the ’60s,’70s, and ’80s was pretty good! The tunes of the past are presented at Bell Theater by some of the most exciting local musicians, bringing today’s energy to yesterday’s classics.
The series starts with CSNY & Beyond on Friday, February 21. It’s a deep and glorious dive into the timeless songs of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Neil Young’s solo years, Buffalo Springfield, and more. The show features music director Marc Ribler (Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul, Darlene Love); Arne Wendt (Jon Bon Jovi’s Kings of Suburbia); Muddy Shews (Rick Derringer, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes); Dave Moore (Rick Danko, Popa Chubby) and Mike McKernan (NJ All Stars).
“Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was formed out of three of the biggest bands of the time, The Byrds, The Hollies and Buffalo Springfield,” said Ribler. “Their music still resonates as deeply today as it did when it was introduced because it has all the key elements: timeless songs, great arrangements, striking vocal harmonies, a great rhythm section and Stills and Young’s incredible lead guitar chemistry. In our current age of ‘disposable everything,’ their music will live on for as long as any life form is capable of listening and appreciating greatness.”
On Friday, March 28, Back to the Garden 1969 returns to Bell Theater after a sold-out show in 2024. Back to the Garden celebrates the bands from the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival, a celebration of peace, love, and music. Re-live the Woodstock experience with this full multi-media theatrical event including video, lighting and costumes.
These talented musicians recreate the classic sounds of CSNY, Jimi Hendrix, Sly & the Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin, The Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Canned Heat, Ten Years After, The Who, Mountain, Richie Havens, Melanie, Arlo Guthrie, Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Grateful Dead, Country Joe & the Fish, and more!
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On Saturday, May 17, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and ex-Meat Loaf band member Ray Andersen heads up Bowie & Beyond. It’s an exciting celebration of the music of David Bowie, plus songs he co-wrote and/or produced, including “Walk on the Wild Side” (Lou Reed), “Under Pressure” (Queen), “All the Young Dudes” (Mott the Hoople), plus some glam-rock gems from the 1970s. Andersen will be joined by some of NJ’s most talented and sought-after musicians: Reagan Richards, Layonne Holmes, Arne Wendt, Ralph Notaro, David Anthony, Tommy Labella and Mike Doktorski.
“We welcome you to come celebrate David Bowie’s timeless music, which never seems to go out of style,” said Andersen. “Generation after generation continue to seek out, discover and be inspired by the unique artistic music and visual world he left all of us.”
Bell Theater at Bell Works is located at 101 Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel, New Jersey, inside the iconic Bell Works complex with plenty of free parking. Additional upcoming concerts include rock, jazz, country, soul, theatrical productions and more. For tickets and a full lineup of performances, call 732-531-9106 ext. 14 or visit www.belltheater.org
In 2024, the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal Park opened a second venue, Bell Theater, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to providing exceptional cultural programming to the community. Bell Theater offers a platform for emerging artists while showcasing established acts, all within a space designed to create an immersive and accessible experience for all guests.
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The New Jersey Devils hosted the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. After a 4-2 loss to the Flyers on Jan. 27, the Devils were looking for vengeance and managed a 5-0 shutout victory on home ice.
Jake Allen Shutout
With goaltender Jacob Markstrom out with an injury, Jake Allen has had to step up. Last night, he stopped all 24 shots, recording his third shutout in 18 games this season – his last shutout was on Nov. 4 against the Edmonton Oilers. In Monday’s game against the Flyers, Allen allowed three goals on 28 shots for a save percentage of .880%. After last night’s win, he now has eight on the season with an overall save percentage of .908%.
A shutout win was just what the team needed since they will not have Markstrom to rely on for the next few weeks. The Devils recalled Isaac Poulter from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Utica Comets, to back up Allen, but he has yet to see any NHL ice time. Nico Daws, the other Comets goalie, has also been called up a few times this season, but without back-to-back games on the schedule, it’s unclear if either of them will earn any starts, especially after Allen’s performance against the Flyers.
Devils Bring Physicality
The Devils played a very physical game against Philadelphia. At the seven-minute mark of the second period, the Devils had three players in the box while the Flyers had two, all for roughing. Still, the Devils managed to score two power-play goals on three opportunities, while the Flyers were 0 for 4 on the night. The face-off wins were relatively evenly split, with the Devils winning 50.9% to the Flyers’ 49.1%.
New Jersey had 22 hits, including two from their hit leader, Paul Cotter. Their physical game allowed the Devils to regain possession, take control of the game, and limit the Flyers’ chances to make plays. This is what the Devils needed to get back on track. They can thank their physicality for this win.
Hughes Brothers Each Score an Incredible Goal
Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes scored goals in this game. Luke scored early while Jack closed out the game for the Devils. Off a flubbed Flyers pass, Luke skated from one end of the ice to the other with Jack. Despite his brother being open, Luke took the shot, scoring the second goal of the night for the home team. This was Luke’s first goal since Dec. 27 against the Carolina Hurricanes and his fourth of the season.
Luke Hughes, New Jersey Devils (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
Jack’s goal came at the beginning of the third period. Brett Pesce got the puck out of the Flyers zone, sending a pass to Jack. With Jesper Bratt on his side, he made a break for the net. He passed to Bratt, who sent the puck back to Jack, who let it fly for the fifth and final goal of the night.
Jack’s goal was his 20th of the season, making it the fourth season in a row he’s scored 20 goals – he also has 40 assists and his 60 points lead the team. He trails only Nico Hischier for most goals; Hischier has scored 24 goals this season. Hughes last scored on Jan. 25 against the Montreal Canadiens, for a two-game gap between goals.
Let’s Do That Again
The Devils have a few days to rest before their next game on Sunday, Feb. 2, when they visit the Buffalo Sabres in KeyBank Center and then they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 4.
Lucrecia Pays Homage to Former Bergen County Resident and Reigning Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz
By Gina Marie Rodriguez, JerseyArts.com
originally published: 01/30/2025
“Life is a carnival! It’s much more beautiful to live it singing.” If you’re unfamiliar with my life’s mantra, perhaps you’d recognize it if I were instead to say “la vida es un carnaval, es más bello vivir cantando.” Now put a salsa beat under it and add the iconic voice of the Queen herself, Celia Cruz. Sound familiar? One would hope.
We may be living in the winter of our disco de Bad Bunny but, before the King of Latin Trap, came the Queen of Salsa. There was a time that much like Benito [Bad Bunny’s given name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio], Celia’s music was hard to escape, not that one would want to. The two share certain similarities, both are royalty in the world of music, beloved by Latin audiences, thrust into the global narrative, and respected by those who can and cannot understand their lyrics yet are moved by the music.
Thanks to El Conejo Malo’s latest album, “Old School” salsa is experiencing a resurgence. New rhythms pay homage to the Fania Records of the past. This is the record company that gave birth to La Fania All Stars, bringing together salsa greats like Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, Pete Rodriguez, and who else but Celia Cruz. The lone woman in a sea of men.
These dated rhythms have been given new life thanks to some young blood. I grew up listening to my father’s Fania albums and to see my worlds collide has been breathtaking, to say the least. Imagine my excitement when I learned that the Bergen Performing Arts Center will be celebrating old-school salsa to honor the centennial of Celia’s birth with “Celia Vive! A Celia Cruz Tribute.” Immediately I demanded my Alexa stop playing Bad Bunny’s album that I’ve had on repeat, and switched over to the Queen of Salsa.
Now it’s Celia on repeat.
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I make these parallels between icons, not just because I have a healthy obsession with each, but to insist that music is intergenerational when it is accessible. Celia was no stranger to a cultural movement in response to her artistry and I would be remiss were I not to mention the connection between Puerto Rican and Cuban cultures. The global response to Debí tirar Más Fotos is not new. Celia was to Cubans what Benito has become to Puerto Ricans. She was “that girl.”
I had the pleasure of interviewing Celia’s former manager and friend, Omer Pardillo Cid, who is responsible for maintaining her estate. When asked what it means to hold her legacy in his hands, he remarks, “It is an honor to carry her legacy the way she deserves. I am always looking for ways to pass Celia’s legacy on to the next generation.”
She may have been the Queen of Salsa but she wasn’t afraid to try new genres. Her most famous foray into reggaeton resulted in the classic, “La Negra Tiene Tumbao” which I still sing to myself whenever the mood strikes. It’s one of my favorite earworms, should you care to know. Perhaps one day, if we are lucky, Benito will sample Celia’s music and re-introduce her to the younger generations doing what “Stranger Things” did for Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill.” Perhaps this article will reach the masses and do the same. Better still, perhaps this will give Mr. Pardillo Cid some ideas. Let this half-Boricua dream, will you? (Boricua is a colloquial term referring to those of Puerto Rican heritage).
Honestly, I just want the younger generations to know what a badass Celia was.
Credited as one of the pioneers of the genre, making her mark was no small feat considering she was an Afro-Latina in an industry dominated by her lighter-skinned male peers. Performing through the years of legalized segregation, her complexion remained a point of contention, and pride. Knowing this, it makes sense that she chose to sing uplifting, “happy,” music because while art is a reflection of life, it is also a welcome escape.
“Toda la vida, yo he cantado musica alegre; . . . no me gusta cantar nada triste. Pues debo tener mis momentos de tristeza … pero eso es para mi, para mi interior. . . no quiero transmitir al público.” – Celia Cruz
[All my life, I’ve sung happy music; I don’t like to sing anything sad. Of course, I have unhappy moments, but they are just for me, for my inner life. I don’t want to bring that to the public.] – Celia Cruz por “Me llamo Celia Cruz,” BBC Documentary (1988)
While Celia’s centennial birthday is being celebrated worldwide, the performance at Bergen PAC is especially meaningful as Celia called Bergen County home, having lived in Fort Lee, NJ for over forty years. Honoring her and bringing her music to life at the Bergen PAC will be her cherished friend, Cuban songstress, Lucrecia. The two met in 1998 in Marbella, Spain during a press conference for a performance organized by Bacardi Rum. While Lucrecia recalls being nervous upon that first meeting, Cruz went on to deem the singer her “successor” during that very presentation. The honor did not go unrecognized as Lucrecia in turn wrote a song in Cruz’s honor, “Agua con Azúcar y Ron.”
Lucrecia explains, “That song was inspired by Celia, and the inspiration came in the studio because I say ‘agua!’ and Celia used to say ‘azúcar!’ All Cubans drink rum, and so it occurred to me to write that song with both. ‘Agua con azúcar y ron.'”
Azúcar was more than a catchphrase, it was a rallying cry for Celia Cruz, one which her fans came to expect of her. She would joyously insert it into each performance and while it simply translates to sugar, the act of shouting “azúcar! with her unmistakable gravelly tone would send audiences into hysterics. The birth of the phrase came from a chance interaction in a restaurant. Celia would go on to share the story on a talk show, explaining that a waiter in Miami once asked her if she’d like sugar or none in her coffee and as a Cuban, she was shocked. “Azúcar! Azúcar! Azúcar!” She shouted playfully. “I’m Cuban, of course, I want sugar in my coffee.” Those around her loved this reaction, applauding her response and she decided she liked the way it was received.
Combining their catchphrases into a memorable song became a clever tribute to a special friendship. When it comes to Celia, the inclusion of azúcar is a declaration of love. “I was fortunate to count her as a friend and to have the opportunity to tour with her in Spain,” says Lucrecia.
This won’t be the first time that Lucrecia steps into Celia’s shoes as she originated the role of Celia in “Celia Cruz, El Musical” which had its premiere in Marbella, Spain in 2018 and eventually made its way to New York the following year. She reiterates, “It’s always a pleasure to interpret Celia’s music because of the energy and rhythm of Celia.”
As Bergen PAC shares, “With the flavor and rhythm of her unmatched style, [Lucrecia] will help us relive the great musical hits of the immortal ‘Guarachera de Cuba,’ like: La Negra Tiene Tumbao, Tu Voz, Bemba Colorá, La Vida Es Un Carnaval, among others.”
You can see the talented Lucrecia bring Celia Cruz to life on February 6th at 8 PM at the Bergen County Performing Arts Center in Englewood and on February 8 at 8 PM at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick.
About the author: Gina Marie Rodriguez is an award-winning screenwriter, director, and actress. Her foray into filmmaking began at a young age as a way to avoid public speaking in school. From there, it grew into a love of telling stories and creating new worlds. Gina Marie boasts a Bronze Remi win from Worldfest Houston, Best Female Filmmaker from the Cosmic Film Festival, and a Best Actress in a Comedy from the Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festival alongside nominations from the Golden Door International Film Festival, Official Latino Film and Arts Festival and Los Angeles Cinefest among others.
Content provided by Discover Jersey Arts, a project of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
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The New Jersey Devils returned home on Wednesday night in an attempt to salvage their season series against the Philadelphia Flyers, having dropped their first two against them. In a pretty intense affair, the Devils got their wish and routed the Flyers by a score of 5-0. Jake Allen stopped all 24 in the contest for his third shutout of the season. The Devils improve to 29-18-6; the Flyers fall to 23-23-6.
Right off the bat, the Flyers seemed to get the better of the chances. They peppered Jake Allen with shots, but he stopped all 10 in the opening frame to keep it scoreless.
The Devils opened the second with a power play and got rewarded as Ondrej Palat shoveled one through Sam Ersson. About six minutes later, the Devils doubled their lead as Luke Hughes was in on a 2-on-1 with his brother, Jack. Luke looked him off the whole way and fired one home to give the Devils a 2-0 lead.
After the game, Devils’ head coach Sheldon Keefe told The Hockey Writers, “I love that he looked off his brother and just shot it in the net. That was great…that’s an important goal for us there too, a long list of really positive things (from Luke).”
From there, things got hectic. There were a total of 26 penalty minutes in the next nine minutes…without a single fight. But all the physicality only sparked the Devils even more. Nathan Bastian scored his first goal since October 22nd, poking one through on the power play. Then Timo Meier set up Dawson Mercer for a pretty looking goal to make it 4-0. At that point, Ersson was pulled for Ivan Fedotov.
Just 1:58 into the third, the Devils continued to pour it on. Jack Hughes finished a 2-on-1 with Bratt to make it 5-0. That’s where the score stood as Allen made every necessary stop to preserve his 24-save shutout.
The Devils will get back in action on Sunday in Buffalo; the Flyers will return home to face the New York Islanders tomorrow night (Thursday).
As players report to the 4 Nations Face-Off in less than a week and a half, excitement is building by the day. Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander and New Jersey Devils forward Jesper Bratt are both in the top three of Swedish point producers, notching 51 and 58 so far, respectively.
The two have only donned the Swedish “three crowns” jerseys as teammates once, during the 2019 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships. Now, they will get to do so on a massive stage. In a recent interview with NHL.com, Bratt talked about his relationship with Nylander and his hopes to become linemates with him: “I don’t really play with him too much in the summer when we scrimmage because we’re usually against each other,” he said. “He’s an amazing player, so dynamic. He reminds me a lot of [Jack Hughes] with his skating, shot, shiftiness and puck control. It would be really special to get on a line with him.”
William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
Similarly, Nylander shared some praise for Bratt: “I skated with Jesper a little bit in the summer. He’s a tremendous player. And obviously, there’s a lot of great guys but he’d be a fun guy to play with, that’s for sure.” (via Sportsnet)
Upon being asked if players have discussed amongst themselves, Nylander said, “So far, someone set up a team chat, but nobody has said anything,” and then laughed.
In addition to these two, Detroit’s Lucas Raymond and Nashville’s Filip Forsberg are also point-per-game players who come from Sweden. It will certainly be interesting to see how their lines shake up with so much talent.
Furthermore, Sweden’s rivalry with Finland is going to be on its’ biggest stage since the 2014 Olympics. After the rosters were announced, Finnish forward and Bratt’s Devils teammate, Erik Haula, joked that he’d “run Bratt through the boards”. When The Hockey Writers asked Bratt for his response to that, he laughed and said, “I guess I’ll have to (do the same), or I’ll do it my way and try to dangle him or something. But we’ll have some battles out there. It will be exciting.”
Make sure to stay tuned to The Hockey Writers for all of your 4 Nations Face-Off coverage.
