feature story / 15 is that the station will be able to be monetized in the not so distant future. “One of our ultimate goals is to be syndicated,” says Lomuscio. So how did this local station get its intriguing name? Lomuscio ex- plains that she often takes her dog to Preferred Pet Care, a dog daycare, boarding, and grooming busi- ness on Rut- gers Street in Ma p l e - wood. T h e out- door a r e a boasts a bone-shaped pool during the warm weather – often sur- rounded by a mélange of dogs. “I don’t know if they fully understand what’s happening to them, says Lomuscio. “All they know is that they feel cool in the pool.” It doesn’t take much to get Lomus- cio talking about her musical tastes and influences. While Blondie was her first deep dive into the music world, she explains that her world was influ- enced by WLIR, an independent radio station emanating from Long Island. “I was trying to tune into [the now defunct] WPLJ so finding [W]LIR was by accident,” she says. “The whole New York City punk rock scene, the Ramones, the Talking Heads – that was the music they were playing. And then they started playing the Smiths and the Cure. I remember hearing these bands and I just wanted to sit home all day and listen to the radio.” However, she’s well aware that put- ting together a radio station takes a lot more than assembling killer playlists and programs. She believes that her 16 years in the book publishing business – at both HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster – provided her with the nec- essary skill set to create a radio station from scratch. “I worked with the ed- iting department, the art department, the design department, copy editing, managing editing, and publicity. Ev- erything came to my desk,” she says. “With BPR, I’m dealing with all facets of promotion, content and design. It’s just a different product. So I’m beam- ing it out via a different platform. Back then, I was beaming it out through bookshops. This is just a different end product. I think that it’s a natural fit for me.” Take a listen at any point during the day, and you’ll hear another ele- ment that the team views as a top pri- ority for BPR’s programming. Lomus- cio is a proponent of local New Jersey bands. “I’d always known that there was a scene here in Maplewood and South Orange, and I heard some of the bands and they’re good. I want to hear them more,” she says. “And we’ve rip- pled out to Springfield, Montclair, and Union. And we’re getting more out of central Jersey. New Brunswick has a big music scene and they’re starting to get on board.” Lo- muscio estimates that for ev- ery six songs played on the station, one is by a local band. “We promote them, broadcast live shows, and love to spon- sor local shows. And people are coming and just packing the places,” she says. Lomuscio has partnered with local busi- nesses and organizations such as General Store, Maplewood Mercantile, and Rent Party. “I spent a majority of the 80s making mixtapes in- stead of studying algebra,” says Smith, who grew up on Prospect Street in South Orange as the young- est of seven siblings. He refers to his older brothers as “his professors” who Bone Pool Radio supports local bands like Thrill Ride: Will Kramer - Drums, Paul Haley - Vocals/Guitars, John Ramsburg - Bass/ Vocals. Non-band members L-R: Diana Tynan, Michelle Lomuscio and Peter Sampson, Ska Nation DJ. “May your thirst for life never run dry” Authentic Irish Cuisine, Irish Coffee, Fine Wines and Irish Whiskey worthy of Celtic Kings LOBSTER ROLLS ARE BACK! Summer Draft Beers are here! Stop by for our FAMOUS RAW BAR on Fridays 4–7 p.m. Experience the best of Ireland’s Pub traditions Family Friendly • Good Cheer ST. JAMES’S GATE APPAREL AND GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE www.stjamesgatepublickhouse.com Join us fireside for lunch and dinner 167 Maplewood Avenue Maplewood Village 973-378-2222 Check out our Summer Menu! Buy Your Raffle Tickets for the ROBERT J. MILLER OYSTERFEST GALWAY GIVEAWAY 2019 You could win a 4 day/3 night trip to Ireland for 2 to attend the Galway Oyster Festival! WINNER WILL RECEIVE • Airfare & Hotel Accommodations • 2 Free VIP tickets to the Robert J. Miller Oysterfest Approximate value: $5000.00 Join Us for the Drawing of 2 Lucky Winners! St. James’s Gate in Maplewood, Pub Nite, June 26th 7-11 p.m. bobmilleroysterfest.com/galway-giveaway Live Music!  Guest bartenders!  Swag for sale! Raffle Prizes 55 inch TV  Bike  3 Golf Foursomes  Yankee Tickets and much more! Mark your calendars – Robert J. Miller Oysterfest September 14, 2019 Tickets Available at Only 100 Tickets Available! $100 each (1 in 100 chances to win).