Cranford TV35 Wins 14 JAG Awards, Including Four First Place

When the Jersey Access Group called out Cranford's name for the fourth first-place award of the night, it was clear this was not a typical year for TV35.

The station's producers, hosts, camera operators, and at least one intern made the trip to Edison on May 13, 2026, and came home with 14 awards from JAG's annual statewide competition. Union County Life covers local media and civic storytelling across all 21 Union County municipalities, and a haul this size from a single community station is worth the full story.

"We are proud to have represented Cranford so well," said Station Manager Don Smith. "We all work hard to shed light on Cranford's stories and its people so we can grow as a community."

Four Productions That Took First Place

The station earned top honors across four categories: public parade, community award presentation, community development, and concerts.

Don Smith led or contributed to two of those wins. His crew covered Cranford's St. Patrick's Day parade, with Chris Hoffman, Mike Brown, intern Olivia Burtryn, announcers Mary Kate Santulli and Lori Talbot, and crew member Erik Hastrup sharing the credit. Smith also teamed with Hoffman and host Lori Talbot for coverage of the American Trash Open, an annual comedy and variety event at Cranford Theater, featuring a Rob Lasardo interview.

Michael Vastano claimed the other two first-place awards, one for the Dead Aire concert and one for the Father's Day Fishing Derby.

Second and Third Place: A Deeper Bench

The station's second-place finishes went to the Life with Lori premiere, the Johnstone ribbon cutting, and the TV35 bulletin board.

Third-place honors covered seven productions. Four of them were the On Call series featuring a day with the Cranford First Aid Squad, a HealthWatch stroke awareness segment with Dr. Curran, Cranford Football versus Summit, and a February 4 Township Committee meeting. The remaining three were Life With Lori Celebrates the Season, the Chopped premiere, and NJ In Focus with Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter.

What the Township Said

Township Administrator Lavona Patterson credited the station's consistency. "TV35 works incredibly hard, all year long, to bring meaningful programming to the Cranford community and beyond," she said. "We are thrilled that their work is being recognized."

Township Commissioner Gina Black put the number in context. "Fourteen awards is no small accomplishment, and it speaks to the team's commitment to producing high quality, meaningful programming for our residents," she said. "Cranford relies on TV35 to tell our stories and keep people engaged, and this recognition highlights just how well they do it."

About TV35 and the JAG Awards

TV35 operates out of the first floor of Cranford's municipal building and produces more than 300 videos a year. The station airs on Channel 35 on Comcast and Verizon, and in HD on Channel 2147 on Verizon. Programming is also available on the Cranford TV35 channels on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit.

The Jersey Access Group is a New Jersey nonprofit that advocates for public access to local news through public, education, and government media. It serves municipalities, schools, and independent producers across the state, and its annual awards are the primary statewide benchmark for community television production.

Find more Cranford events, arts coverage, and community news on Union County Life.

FAQ Section

What is Cranford TV35 and what does it produce?
TV35 is Cranford's local access television channel, operated out of the municipal building. It covers government meetings, township events, and community programming, producing more than 300 videos each year.

Where can I watch Cranford TV35?
TV35 airs on Channel 35 on both Comcast and Verizon cable, and in HD on Channel 2147 on Verizon. Content is also available on the station's YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit pages.

What is the Jersey Access Group and why do the JAG Awards matter?
The Jersey Access Group is a New Jersey nonprofit supporting public, education, and government access media. Its annual awards are the primary statewide competition for community television, making a first-place win a meaningful benchmark for any local station.

Which TV35 productions won first place at the 2026 JAG Awards?
Four productions took first place: the St. Patrick's Day parade coverage, the Dead Aire concert, the Father's Day Fishing Derby, and coverage of the American Trash Open at Cranford Theater featuring a Rob Lasardo interview.

Photo source: https://www.cranfordnj.org/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/92