Personalities

Dave Kelber

Dave returns to WRNJ after an absence of nearly 10 years.  He began his career upon graduation from college in 1967 working at WRIO-FM, Cape May, NJ.  He was program manager at WVCH, Chester, PA prior to enlisting in the military.  While in the Army he produced motion pictures at the Pictorial Center in Queens, NY.  After military service he worked at WHTG, Eatontown, NJ as Operations Manager and in 1975 he moved to Flemington, NJ as Director of Broadcasting, teacher and General Manager at WCVH-FM at Hunterdon Central Regional High School until his retirement in 2007.  Kelber has worked at WCRV, Washington, NJ WEST and WLEV-FM in Easton, PA.  He is also a professional phototgrapher / videographer and owns his own photography and video business.  He is married and lives in Easton, PA.

The Morning Program:

Weekdays 6AM – 10AM

Talk of the Town:

Fridays 10AM – 11AM

Joyce Estey

As a second career (third if you count motherhood) Joyce Estey really loves her work.  Estey came on-board as the WRNJ News Director in March of 1998.  Since then she’s come to know a lot about the area, the people and their needs.  Besides being the ‘straight-(wo)man’ opposite Dave Kelber on The Morning Program, Joyce is a host for some of the stations community programs.  Twice a year she coordinates political forums, to keep her listeners informed before they head out to the polls.  Prior to joining WRNJ, Estey spent two years as the News Director at WSUS and interned at WNNJ, both in Sussex County.  Estey’s off-air time is filled with family.  She is a wife and mother of 3, an active member of her church, an avid reader and has a daily regimen of exercise to benefit both body and mind.

News:

Weekdays 6AM – 10AM

Newsline:

Thursdays 10AM – 11AM

Inside Centenary:

Every other Thursday 11AM – 12PM

Educationally Speaking:

Third Wednesdays 10AM – 11AM

The Local Impact:

First Wednesdays 10AM – 11AM

Chuck Reiger

WRNJ’s Program Director, Chuck Reiger was born and raised in Phillipsburg, NJ and has been in Warren County radio since the early 70′s.  He began his radio career as a weekend on-air personality at WCRV in Washington, NJ and quickly moved up as Program Director.  He was also Program Director, on two different occasions, at WFMV in Blairstown, NJ.  In between, he spent a few years at WEST & WLEV in Waston, PA.  Finally, he found a comfortable home right here at WRNJ.

Afternoons with Chuck Reiger:

Weekdays 12PM – 3PM

Russ Long

Russ Long’s broadcasting career began while he was in fourth grade at St. John’s School back home in Brunswick, ME.  After college, he hit the road working at radio stations in Lewiston, ME, St. Johnsbury, VT and Fitchburg, MA.  He then made stops in Iceland, Germany and Turkey as a member of the American Forces Radio & Television Service before moving to New Jersey.  Russ was part of the original team that put WRNJ on the air on August 26th, 1976.  Since then he has owned and managed radio stations in Blairstown and in Hazleton, PA.

After twenty years back in Hackettstown hosting The Morning Program on WRNJ, Russ ‘retired’ in 2009 and returned to Maine to enjoy life in the Pine Tree State and to co-anchor Midcoast Maine Mornings on a then soon-to-be-launched radio station in his hometown.  When the launch date encountered a number of lengthy delays and the opportunity to host The Long Way Home became available, he jumped at the chance.

Dozens of local and regional charitable agencies and civic organizations have honored Russ for his dedication to community service during his nearly 35 years on the air.  Russ is married to Sandra and they have one daughter, Michelle, a Sergeant with the Washington DC Metro Police.

Take The Long Way Home

Weekdays 3PM – 7PM

Tom O’Halloren

As Afternoon newscaster at WRNJ, Tom O’Halloren is determined to bring area residents the local news that cannot be found on any other station.  Previously, Tom spent over two years working in social services with foster children and their families before joining the News Team in April 2011.  As an Education Major, he brings his love of learning and teaching with him as it applies to local issues.  Off the air, Tom enjoys backpacking along the trails of Northwest New Jersey, while producing and hosting a comedy podcast catered to Science Fiction fans.

Afternoon News:

Weekdays 12PM – 7PM

Rich Appel

For Rich, what goes around comes around.  After working on-and-off-air at a bunch of stations in New England, he hung up the headphones for a career in Television (ABC, CBS) and music (Sony) research.  In 1996, Rich began writing HzSoGood, a lighthearted monthly e-newsletter about music, radio and music radio.  In 2009, Rich was encouraged to take those headphones and DJ at WGHT in Pompton Lakes, NJ and WRNJ.  Rich is co-writer of Book of Days: 60′s and Book of Days: 70′s, two fun reviews of each decade’s pop culture.  He also writes a weekly column for Billboard.  Don’t forget to check out Rich’s twitter or you can email him directly!

The Rest of the Week:

Saturdays 6AM – 1PM Sundays 10AM – 3PM

Terry Southard

Born in Albany, NY and raised in Arizona, Terry graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1985 and has called New Jersey home for the last 30 years.  He spent most of his career in the retail and customer service fields.  In 2005, he was chosen to receive personalized training from nationally known voice-over professional, Susan Berkley.  It was then that Terry started to pursue his true passion, using his voice, which he has utilized for various services, including telecommunication and narration.  WRNJ is his first radio job and he calls it a true gift.  Terry spends his extra time serving in his church, visiting family across the country and rooting on his beloved New York Yankees.  He currently resides in Washington, NJ.

News:

Sundays 6AM – 10AM

Dr. Frank Fowler

Reverend Dr. Frank Fowler is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Hackettstown and is now in his 23rd year of service there.  He is a native of Hackettstown and he and his wife Karen have 5 daughters.  Rev. Fowler has been hosting “Let’s Talk About It” for more than 10 years.  He views the show as a ‘community outreach service, offering listeners a chance to hear about some of the important human, community, social and personal issues that face us all.’  Each week a different guests talks with him about one of those issues.  Guests include community leaders, national authors, social service professionals, pastors and a variety of other voices that help us think more deeply at what it means to be human.

Let’s Talk About It:

Mondays 10AM – 11AM

Maria Chervenak

Maria has enjoyed hosting ‘Healthier Living” for over 8 years and has been employed by HRMC since 1973.  She has her nursing degree from The College of New Jersey and a Master’s degree in Health Administration.  Maria has been married for 26 years and has 3 children, all in college.  In her spare time she loves to read, mountain bike and relax on the beach

Healthier Living

Alternate Tuesdays: 11AM – 12PM

Sandi Vaessen

Sandi was born in Canada and has traveled the world since her marriage to her husband Gerard in 1972. She has two children, Bryce and Karlin, who were born in Cape Town South Africa and Ascot England respectively. The family has lived in Africa, Aruba, Britain, United Arab Emirates, Bermuda and Florida, before moving to New Jersey in 1989. Her 25 years as a travel consultant began as a flight attendant and flight service manager with Air Canada. Her formal training as a travel agent was begun during the three years she lived in Dubai with a company then called DNATA (Dubai National Air Transport Association), the forerunner to Emirates Airlines. She worked with companies such as Halliburton and other international corporations planning world wide itineraries. In 1995 she started Skyland World Travel with partner Susan Sinclair, and in September 2005 they celebrated their 10th year in business here in Hackettstown. Sandi is on the Board of the Warren County Chamber of Commerce, a former President and a member in good standing with the Hackettstown Rotary Club. In addition, Sandi volunteers her services with several other Warren County non-profit organizations. Since November of 2004, Sandi and her partner Susan Sinclair have hosted “Start Packing” and along with host Dave Kelber, is enjoying the challenges and rewards of becoming an “on-air personality”.

Start Packing

Fridays 11AM – 12PM

Susan Sinclair

Susan Sinclair is a “Jersey Girl”. She has traveled with her husband and son for over thirty years for business and vacations. Her travels have included Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Europe, Canada, USA and most of the Caribbean and Mexico. She also has a special love of cruising, both riverboat and ocean. Susan got her start in travel while working for a manufacturing company. She was involved in arranging incentives and making travel arrangements. For her most successful incentive, she won the Caribbean Award by “Meeting and Incentive Magazine” for promoting products and increasing sales. The trip that won her the award was for 200 distributors from all parts of the world meeting in Bermuda for a long weekend.Susan has been a Travel Agent for over 15 years. She started by planning her husband’s business trips. Sometimes those trips included the whole family. Susan would arrange business time and family time all on a budget. While her husband was attending to business, Susan and her son, Rob would take sightseeing trips in the countries they were visiting. Whether it’s for business or pleasure, Susan’s years of personal, hands-on experience can provide you with an excellent travel experience.

Start Packing

Fridays 11AM – 12PM