June
2002
Trenton
high profile: Calvin O. Iszard
By
Joe Emanski
Where
do you live?
I
live in the oldest residential structure still standing in the
Mill Hill Historic District. The Saltbox House of Livingston street
remains a testament to the 40 or so colonials that surrounded
that area and were lost to the wrecking ball in the 70s. Mine
is the only one left in the constantly improving neighborhood
of Federal and Victorian homes.
It
has three fireplaces on three different floors and a gourmet kitchen,
totally outfitted with professional appliances and black marble
counters. I now do my TV dinners in the oven instead of the microwave-it's
the right thing to do! I will celebrate my first year in Trenton
on May 22.
What
do you do?
I
am a director of external affairs for Verizon Communications and
oversee our community relations and contributions from the Verizon
Foundation in the counties of Mercer, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester.
Verizon pays me to do what most people have to take days off to
do. I sit on a dozen boards including the State Library Advisory
Council, the South Jersey Transit Advisory Commission and I'm
currently the president of Magnet Theatre-one of the professional
theatrical groups that work out of the Mill Hill Theater, which
is across the block from my house.
And
what have you done before?
From
1984 to 1996 I was an executive producer for the former Bell Atlantic
Corporate Television department and managed our major production
facility in Philadelphia. I worked in broadcast television for
15 years before being recruited to the industrial part of the
business.
I
started as a newscaster at WHYY in the late 60s and then was hired
as one of the first staff members of the then-new New Jersey Network
in 1970. I worked my way from producer-director to become executive
producer of cultural programming for the network, leaving in 1980
for a stint in commercial television. In the early 80s I was president
of the Original Video Company and produced many award wining home
video programs.
One
of my best-remembered programs was "Shepherd's Pie"
with Jean Shepherd, which aired nationally on PBS for two seasons.
Jean is noted for his "instant classic," The Christmas
Story, seen around the clock during the holiday season. I had
the privilege to produce 26 programs with him and several specials.
His estate still gets fan mail from the Trenton area, 25 years
after the show ended.
You're
not a native of Trenton, but you're well known as one of the city's
biggest boosters. What makes Trenton so great?
Beyond
my work life, I have always been involved in the community. I
was the first president of the N.J. Cable User Association and
later elected East Windsor Township councilman, serving as deputy
mayor in the late 80s. I ran unsuccessfully for the State Assembly
and successfully for the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders
in 1991. I served as the board president in the last year of my
term.
I
am most proud to show my name on the dedication plaque of Mercer
County Waterfront Park. On that project I worked closely with
the Prunetti administration. I definitely feel a part of the renaissance
of Trenton. I voted to fund the new courthouse and was in on the
beginning of the Sovereign Bank Arena, which has been the anchor
for a great renewal of Trenton.
Matter
of fact, I spent so much time in the city that I finally decided
to move here after 25 years in the 'burbs. I am very proud to
say that I was the sixth person to register at the new Lafayette
Yard Marriott Conference Hotel and spent opening night there.
And I love the city environment-the restaurants, the events, the
entertainment available.
Where
do you go in Trenton when you want to relax?
My
son (Jonathan) and I live together and are constantly exploring
places that we've never visited before. From Café Olé
for lunch to a fine dinner in the 'Burg, we delight in trying
new tastes and old favorites. Jonathan saw his first opera last
week at Boheme Opera Company's opening night and I even ventured
with him to the Conduit club afterward for some late night dancing!
And that's what downtown living is all about. We can walk to a
dozen great places just around the corner.
And
there's more to come, as the city once again becomes the "Capital
of N.J." I feel honored that I had a small part in jump-starting
its turnaround and hope to continue to serve my new hometown.
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