EAST BRUNSWICK — A series produced by EBTV has won a tristate award given out for the best public television programming.
The series, “On the History Trail,” won a 2009 JAG (Jersey Access Group) award for “Best Series Programming” for its episode on family burial grounds. The show’s producer is township resident Mark Nonestied, who also runs the East Brunswick Museum in the Historic Village of Old Bridge. Dave Ambrosy handles production, shooting, directing and editing for the show.
Now in its third year, “On the History Trail” has been one of the most popular series ever produced by EBTV. It focuses on local history, with topics such as East Brunswick’s Chestnut Hill Cemetery and a walking tour of the historic district.
Seventeen editions have been produced since the series was created in 2006. Most are shot on location and feature unusual and intriguing events such as climbing into an old bell tower, trekking through overgrown and hard-to-find burial grounds, and a hands-on demonstration of old machinery.
Cindy O’Connor, station manager for EBTV, said the half-hour show is produced once a month and televised four times a week — Sundays at 10 a.m., Mondays at noon, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. and Thursdays at 7 p.m.
“We’re trying to give people a real opportunity to see it,” she said.
A few years ago, EBTV representatives approached Nonestied, who has long been affiliated with the station, about producing a show that could make use of his expertise in local history.
“It turned out to be a natural,” O’Connor said. “I get stopped all over by people who say they really like the show. If we don’t get a new one out each month, we get calls looking for one.”
Nonestied said he has always been interested in local history and has known Ambrosy and O’Connor for years due to their work covering events at the East Brunswick Museum.
“I thought the show was a great idea. I wanted to give the public a behind-the-scenes look,” he said.
Nonestied and Ambrosy work together on concepts. “They discuss ideas, schedule, and go out to the sites,” O’Connor said.
One of the first shows included a visit to the East Brunswick Museum where antiques were pulled out of boxes that had not been opened for years. Another visit is to local burial grounds to clean off gravestones.
The award came in May from JAG, a nonprofit group of public, education and government TV stations in the tristate area. EBTV shows were finalists in three of seven JAG categories, but “On the History Trail” was the only winner. The contest was judged by professionals in film and television.
Nonestied said he was pleased to win the JAG award.
“I was very happy not just for myself but for Cindy and Dave, who put a lot of work into it,” he said.