Oaklanders Create New Weekly Cable Program to Teach Skills, Share Expertise and Offer Some Respite During Lockdown

By Elizabeth Llorente
"This Week in Oakland"

They say necessity is the mother of invention.

The pandemic has shown that to be true, as the unprecedented lockdown and lack of physical connections have given way to a slew of new ways to engage and be “virtually present” in the outside world.

One of the factors fueling innovative ways of communicating and engaging has been a need for a respite from the constant barrage of devastating news and concerns about this unpredictable virus and our uncertain times.

Families and friends have participated in “get-togethers” via Zoom or Facetime. Musicians have entertained via Instagram videos and YouTube. There are countless ways to exercise following instructors who teach everything from yoga to cardio to weight training. Artists, such as Drew Barrymore and Kaley Cuoco, have taken to inviting us into their home via Instagram and chatting about anything, like an old friend schmoozing over a cup of coffee.

And in Oakland, the idea cropped up to develop a weekly variety program – aired on our cable channel, and also available on YouTube--where our very own neighbors share ideas about organizing closets, gardening, sewing masks, making improvements on your home that usually pay handsomely if you decide to sell, and cooking demonstrations (Hello pumpkin pancakes!) that will leave your mouth watering.

The mastermind of the program, titled “This Week in Oakland,” Ryan Schwertfeger, chairman of the all-volunteer Oakland Communications Commission, tells us how the idea arose and answers some questions about the program.

Andrea Levy shows us how to cook pumpkin pancakes.

Q. How did the idea come up for “This Week in Oakland?”

A. The idea came about when I started working full-time from home [during lockdown]. When I talked to neighbors, family, and friends, the common point that was being mentioned was that all the media and local officials were talking about was the virus -- which all agreed was important, but it just felt like overload.

They expressed that they were starting to watch sports reruns or Hallmark movies instead because it wasn't virus-related and it was something that made them smile and found interesting to watch. At the same time, late night hosts started doing their programs "from home" and fans were reacting very positively to it.

So I immediately thought that this would be a great opportunity to do something on Oakland TV.

Q. So how did it go from being an idea to become reality?

A. The TV Committee, and the entire Commission, is a volunteer-un operation with several members, but finding a time that all members are available to meet or film a program is hard to come by, which is why there have been fewer programs recorded by its members. But with everyone now having to stay home and everyone having a camera or a cell phone, this was an idea that could work.

 A group of interested people on the OCC all started an email discussion which quickly evolved to having a format, standards how to record, methods to submit recordings, and a timeline from filming to editing to airing. The first few episodes were a bit rough as we had to figure out the right formula, but as programs have gone on, I'd say we've gotten it down pretty well and the episodes are some of the most watched videos on the Borough YouTube page.

Q. The program now includes residents submitting segments on hobbies or sharing special skills they have that the rest of us might like to learn. How did that develop? And how can someone who would like to participate go about doing so?

A. We wanted to allow residents to submit videos, but given that media couldn't be transferred in person with Borough Hall and Council Chambers being closed to the public and video files being too big to send over email, we decided that to start, we would keep it to people on the Commission, our committees, or someone who had a connection to a volunteer working with us who could assist and explain the process to them since it can be confusing.

Our Borough Administrator Assistant, Michael Carelli, has been working with me on creating an easy way residents can submit but it is not quite up and running yet so in the meanwhile, residents can email me at occ@oakland-nj.org with their video ideas.

Ryan

The point of the program is that we cover topics that are applicable now, with a positive focus or spin, or we talk about general helpful and handy information that's good to know at any time--so if the program airs two years from now, it is still interesting and applicable to all watching.

Cooking segments, showing off your hobbies, doing a How To program, giving a small talk about an area of expertise, and things like that are all great ideas. I'd encourage residents who are interested to take a look at shows prior to get some ideas.

Q. Is there an end-date for the program, or will it now be an ongoing thing?

A. We are about to air our 7th episode, which means we've done this program for 7 weeks already, but with conditions improving in the world, volunteers wanting a well-deserved break, and schools coming to a close for the year, an end is now in sight.

We currently plan to show residents the behind the scenes of “This Week in Oakland”--in our 10th episode and our 11th episode we have planned to dedicate to our Oakland graduates.

We want to make sure Graduation 2020 is a special one for our Oakland graduating 5th graders, 8th graders, 12th graders, and college students. So parents are encouraged to email a photo of each of their graduates (in graduation or professional attire), their name (as it will appear on diploma), the grade they are graduating from, and the school which they are graduating from to occ@oakland-nj.org by June 20th. This slideshow will be included in Episode 11 of "This Week in Oakland," airing in late June.

Currently we plan to stop after our 12th episode, but if residents contact us with a flurry of content that we can use, we will likely then continue the series until content runs out. 

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Have a graduate you'd like us to honor? Here's what to do.

Graduation 2020 will be the most unique graduation in decades. The Communications Commission and the volunteers behind the new weekly series, This Week in Oakland, want to make it a special one for our Oakland graduating 5th graders, 8th graders, 12th graders, and college students. Parents are encouraged to email a photo of each of your graduates (in graduation or professional attire), their name (as it will appear on diploma), the grade they are graduating from, and the school which they are graduating from to occ@oakland-nj.org by JUNE 20th. This slideshow will be included in an upcoming episode of "This Week in Oakland" airing in late June on Oakland TV and it will also be posted on the Borough’s YouTube channel.