Craig Garner participates in Irvington's first Cultural Series at the Servicemen's Club

The Hon. Mayor Smith implemented his first "Mayor's Cultural Series" on Monday, August 15, 2011 from 5 - 8 p.m. The event was held at the Servicemen's Clubhouse, 1113 Springfield Avenue, Irvington, N.J.  The purpose of the event was to highlight artist and poets in the Irvington community as well as others. The featured guest artist was a young lady named Indigo Hill who had numerous interesting paintings. However, there were also other poets who contributed to the successful evening including Irvington's own Poet Laureate, Craig A. Garner, East Orange Poet Mentor and author, Elijah Brown, Keith Middleton, an Irvington resident and a few of Elijah Browns students. However, the feature book author was Attorney Lauren Raysor, who just recently published a booked entitled "Living The Wealthy Life" which was endorsed by Mayor Smith.

Ms. Raysor said that every person has the ability to transform their current situation into something truly magnificent, regardless of their social or economic background. The transformation starts from within as people learn to take responsibility for their own actions rather than blame others. As an example, Ms. Raysor describes how she rose from poverty to become Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York under then-Governor Eliot Spitzer, Deputy Chief and later Senior Trial Counsel for New York City and before starting her own practice.

"Living The Wealthy Life" is an up-close and personal examination of what it takes to make your life great. Ms. Raysor lists and explains the "18 Principles of Wealthy Living" and reveals what those decisions are, what you need to know when you're making them and how to capitalize on each success to propel yourself closer to greatness.

Craig Garner read a few of his poem from three of the seven books that he has published. He also donated a beautiful Black History month painting to the township that can be used to decorate the Service Center-Cultural building.

The evening started a little late but once it got going, it was a truly wonderful evening.  Refreshments were available for all and the admission was free.  One thing the Mayor continued to harp on is that he wanted people to buy some of the wares of the artist since they cost money to produce.  At the end of the presentations everyone began socializing and purchasing books just like the Mayor had asked them to do.  The Mayor stated that he hopes to do something like this every month.