Monday, January 31, 2011
Dick Latshaw takes a trip down memory lane
Retired printer Dick Latshaw, who lives on Pauleys Island, South Carolina near BJ business department retiree Harold McElroy, provides memories, music and photos of the 1940s. Click on the headline if you're interested.
Gannet revenue is up 30% – BUT
Gannett Co., the owner of 82 newspapers as well as television stations, reported fourth- quarter profit that increased 30 percent on cost cutting and rising TV advertising revenue. BUT newsaper revenue, including advertising and circulation, declined 4.7 percent
Net income advanced to $174.1 million, or 72 cents a share, from $133.6 million, or 56 cents, a year earlier, the McLean, Virginia-based company said today in a statement. Earnings, excluding some items, rose to 83 cents a share. Analysts projected 81 cents on average, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.
Gannett, the first large newspaper publisher to report its results for the quarter, is watched by investors as an indicator of how the industry is faring. The company’s publishing revenue, including advertising and circulation, declined 4.7 percent in the fourth quarter to $1.06 billion. The print decline was offset by a 27 percent gain in broadcast-TV revenue and 5.2 percent increase in digital revenue.
Read the full story.
Net income advanced to $174.1 million, or 72 cents a share, from $133.6 million, or 56 cents, a year earlier, the McLean, Virginia-based company said today in a statement. Earnings, excluding some items, rose to 83 cents a share. Analysts projected 81 cents on average, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.
Gannett, the first large newspaper publisher to report its results for the quarter, is watched by investors as an indicator of how the industry is faring. The company’s publishing revenue, including advertising and circulation, declined 4.7 percent in the fourth quarter to $1.06 billion. The print decline was offset by a 27 percent gain in broadcast-TV revenue and 5.2 percent increase in digital revenue.
Read the full story.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Arthur Becks celebrate 60th anniversary
Arthur Beck and Eleanor Sirota were marred January 27, 1951. They have five children and 11 grandchildren.
Art retired from the Beacon Journal in 1991 with almost 39 years service. He now works in the Autism unit at Schnee Learning Center and at Leisure Time Recreation in the summer. Eleanor dedicates her time and love to her family and loves to crochet. They both lke to travel and fish.
They celebrated by having dinner at Erie Station Grille.
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Sunday, January 30, 2011, page E5, col. 3]
Note: Beck was office manager of circulation department.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Carrie speaks about her needs
Email from John Brack, the husband of Carrie Brack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter who is recovering from meningitis.
The fun may be beginning.
 |
| John and Carrie |
Her family and I met with Sue, her case manager, who briefed us on how they operate, answered a bunch of questions, and traded expectations with us. Basically, they provide specialized nursing care as needed, and Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapies until the patient can tolerate 3 hours total of combined therapy per day. The average length of stay is 22-30 days. They have care team meetings on Wednesdays to review patient status, and will brief us on their findings and plans on Thursdays.
Her next stop depends on her progress, and could run the gamut from skilled nursing to acute rehab to outpatient rehab to home (nothing further needed). I’m hoping for outpatient or home, but we’ll see. They encourage family/friend support, and will suggest things we can do with her in between their therapy sessions. We’ve started a logbook where we (and the therapists) can note what we’ve observed and done.
Hopefully, we can synergize our efforts and improve the outcome. Her family and I will try to dovetail our visits to spread out her face time and not overwhelm anyone. At some point we'll welcome limited phone calls from friends, but we're not there yet.
She was more awake today, and much more interactive than the last several days. They downsized her trach tube this morning, and she tolerated it well. As she can tolerate it, they’ll continue to install smaller tubes, allowing more use of the upper airway and letting the stoma gradually close, until they finally pull the last tube altogether and let the stoma heal.
She was able to speak a little in a guttural voice as there’s apparently enough space around the trach cuff that air can get past into the upper airway. The first thing she said was “I can’t stand this!” She then said that she needed her bottom cleaned, and that she wanted to be positioned on her side. Both needs were taken care of.
It’s encouraging that she can articulate her needs, which will help to make her more comfortable. I expect this to get better as the speech therapist works with her in the coming days. Another step.
Her sister Kathy stopped in this afternoon and did her nails, and her parents were in, reporting that she was awake the whole time they were there, and was much more aware and interactive than in the past. She said she wanted ice cream, and water. (Pretty soon it’ll be Diet Coke and chocolate!) The Physical Therapist was in and had her sitting up.
This evening she was sleeping when I got there, but was awakened when they came in to clean out her mouth. After that, she was kind of back to yesterday, half-awake and not too cooperative. She still wanted me to kiss her, though, which was nice She hasn’t lost that skill!.
John
Carrie has been transferred to Select Speciality Hospital, 200 E. Market, Room 107.
Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie's health situation.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Help Norma Hill get bathroom rehab
With your help, North Canton resident Norma Hill might finally get electrical outlets in her bathroom. Hill is one of 89 finalists in CSN Stores' $10,000 Green and Clean Bathroom Bailout, a contest that will award a bathroom renovation to the person determined by voters to have the worst case of the bathroom blues. She's one of two finalists from Ohio.
Hill, a librarian at the Beacon Journal, was chosen on the basis of her photos and essay about her bathroom, with its chipped and cracked tiles, constantly clogging sink drain, leaking shower and lack of outlets and storage. Her do-it-yourselfer husband usually tackles those kinds of repairs, she wrote, but he often injures himself in the process.
‘‘We have a bathroom on its last legs but I have a husband that I would like to preserve,’’ she wrote.
You can vote for Hill's entry on CSN Stores' Facebook page,
http://www.facebook.com/csnstores. Click on the ‘‘Contest Voting’’ tab and look for Norma H. from Ohio. Voting ends March 15.
Hill, a librarian at the Beacon Journal, was chosen on the basis of her photos and essay about her bathroom, with its chipped and cracked tiles, constantly clogging sink drain, leaking shower and lack of outlets and storage. Her do-it-yourselfer husband usually tackles those kinds of repairs, she wrote, but he often injures himself in the process.
‘‘We have a bathroom on its last legs but I have a husband that I would like to preserve,’’ she wrote.
You can vote for Hill's entry on CSN Stores' Facebook page,
http://www.facebook.com/csnstores. Click on the ‘‘Contest Voting’’ tab and look for Norma H. from Ohio. Voting ends March 15.
Pat Hawk, widow of Don, at Rockynol
This is Pat Hawk, widow of the late Beacon Journal copy editor Donald Hawk. She is now in assisted living at Rockynol. She and Don were active in the Beacon Journal credit union. Don died in September 1984. BJ photographer Paul Tople shot this photo of her at Rockynol.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
1-26-11 report on Carrie, Tom Moore's daughter
Email from the husband of Carrie Brack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter who has meningitis.
The fun hasn't really begun yet. Her mental status hasn't changed much from Monday. She is spending a fair amount of time dozing, and keeps squirming around and moving her arms
and legs, repositioning her body to uncomfortable positions in the bed. She tries to pull on the tubes and wires, so her hands have to be restrained to keep her from pulling them out.She wakes up occasionally and continues to show positive signs, but she's not consistently following enough simple commands yet to get her started on therapy. The speech therapist has been by several times, but Carrie hasn't been very cooperative. She mouths words from time to time, so I expect she might be able to at least whisper when they deflate the trach tube cuff and install a speaking valve, allowing exhaled air to go up through the mouth/nose. She still recognizes people, and wanted a kiss yesterday, which I happily obliged. So we wait, try to keep her comfortable, and tell her positive things. I guess this is all kind of par for the course, but it's hard to see her in this condition.
The nurse did, however, make an encouraging comment today when she said that these patients often go on like this for awhile, then suddenly turn around and want to know where they are, what's going on, etc. This facility deals with lots of patients like this, so I have to trust that they know what they are doing. We'll find out more when we meet with the staff tomorrow to discuss their evaluation and treatment plan.
John
Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie's condition.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Update on Geigers' health & location
Hiya, John,
Much more importantly, Sandy has another cardiac catheterization this morning. The last time this happened, she was kept in the hospital for her bypass surgery.
My leg veinous ablation went fine, it seems. Follow up sonogram is tomorrow.
Penney For Your Thoughts is our community monthly newsletter. Meanwhile, I'm reporting on Penney Farms government and Clay County stuff for Clay Today, a weekly owned by (Milwaukee) Journal Community Publications.
I know you've got us situated in St. Augustine, bro, but we're 38 miles west of there. We're midway between Jacksonville and Gainesville; kind of in the sticks. However, this makes it legitimate for us to be fans of both the Jaguars and the Gators.
Slim Whitman lives up the road, but we cannot hear him warbling "Indian Love Call." Having him nearby might keep us safe should Mars attack.
My best to you.
Pete
Penney Farms, Florida -- on Rt. 16 west of the St. John's River; St. Augustine is east of the river -- is the site of the Penney Farms Christian retirement community.
After Sandy's checkup, Pete emailed this update:
John,
Sandy passed with almost flying colors. One of the five cardiac artery bypasses she received in July, 2007 in Elyria is now blocked. Her cardiologist said 30 percent of bypasses block within five years; we didn't know that. He says Sandy's heart is healthy, however, and fully seerved despite the blockage. He did no angioplasty and installed no stent. Her medication is sufficient, he said.
Yeah, we're west of the St. Johns. I think of this territory as more typical of Old Florida. The Black Creek and woods near our place were the setting for old Tarzan movies with Johnny Weismuller. Slim Whitman has a neighbor who earned fame in prohibition days by distilling rum from sugar cane growing on his farm. The neighbor and the cane are still there; the still isn't. The neighbor throws a community pot-luck every Christmas with country music and demonstrationss of making blackstrap molasses. Slim, however, no longer sings in public.
Y'all come see us, y'heah?
Pete
Click on the headline for an earlier report on the Geigers in Florida.
Thursday calling hours for Jack Patterson
Calling hours for former BJ sports columnist Jack Patterson will be Thursday, January 27th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Redmon Funeral Home in Stow, with a memorial service Friday at 1 p.m. at Northampton United Methodist Church in Cuyahoga Falls. Private burial will be at Silver Springs Cemetery in Stow.
(REDMON, STOW, 330-688-6631)
Click on the headline to read Jack's obituary.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Pete Geiger has leg procedure
Former BJ staff Pete Geiger for the third time had some veins in his legs collapsed so that the remaining veins can provide better circulation. Geiger, once the BJ religion writer, has been 
doing a Penny for Your Thoughts column for folks in his St. Augustine, Florida neighborhood. He also did another column for the St. Augustine paper, which lost its columnist.
Pete and wife Sandy moved to St. Augustine in 2007. They had round trip tickets to return to Mongolia, where they were for 13 years doing church and English teaching work, but Sandy's quintuple bypass open-heart surgery scubbed the return plans.
They have a daughter-in-law who is from Mongolia.
Pete and Sandy have their 50th wedding anniversary coming up this summer. For their 49th anniversary in June 2010 they visited Ireland, looking up the native environs of Pete's maternal grandmother, Florence McCullough, who emigrated from Armagh to Philadelphia at age 12 with her parents in 1898.
They're still discussing how to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
Click on the headline to see photos of the Geigers in Ireland and Mongolia.
doing a Penny for Your Thoughts column for folks in his St. Augustine, Florida neighborhood. He also did another column for the St. Augustine paper, which lost its columnist.Pete and wife Sandy moved to St. Augustine in 2007. They had round trip tickets to return to Mongolia, where they were for 13 years doing church and English teaching work, but Sandy's quintuple bypass open-heart surgery scubbed the return plans.
They have a daughter-in-law who is from Mongolia.
Pete and Sandy have their 50th wedding anniversary coming up this summer. For their 49th anniversary in June 2010 they visited Ireland, looking up the native environs of Pete's maternal grandmother, Florence McCullough, who emigrated from Armagh to Philadelphia at age 12 with her parents in 1898.
They're still discussing how to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
Click on the headline to see photos of the Geigers in Ireland and Mongolia.
Jack Patterson's obituary
Jack Patterson, 81, of Munroe Falls, longtime sportswriter for the Akron Beacon Journal, died peacefully Saturday, January 22, 2011.
Jack, the son of John and Kathlyn Patterson, grew up in Warren, Ohio, and attended Ohio State University. He served in the U.S. Army for two years and was stationed in Germany with
the 28th Division. He started his journalism career at the Warren Tribune, where he was assistant sports editor.
Jack married Barbara Lyntz, his classmate at Warren G. Harding High School, in 1954. The Pattersons moved to Akron and later Munroe Falls, where they raised five children.
Jack joined the Beacon Journal in 1955 and served as a sports reporter, columnist, and editor. Over his 38 years at the Beacon he covered the Ohio State Buckeyes and wrote about countless other sports, including professional football, baseball, golf and bowling. But his real love was horse racing--he wrote the handicapping feature Patterson's Picks and covered numerous Triple Crown races. He and Barbara attended 31 Kentucky Derby events over the years.
Jack was preceded in death by Barbara, whom he still referred to as his bride after 55 years of marriage. He will be dearly missed by sons, Mike (Michelle) of Boca Raton, Florida, and John (Amy) of Cuyahoga Falls; daughters, Kathy of North Canton, Valerie of Tallmadge and Patricia (Scott) of San Jose, California; and grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kassidy; Zane, Jessa and Joy; Mike, Molly and Nick; Amber; and Andrew and Dan.
Calling hours will be held Thursday, January 27th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Redmon Funeral Home in Stow, with a memorial service Friday at 1 p.m. at Northampton United Methodist Church in Cuyahoga Falls. Private burial will be at Silver Springs Cemetery in Stow.
(REDMON, STOW, 330-688-6631)
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Tuesday, January 25, 2011, page B5, col. 4]
Click on the headline for an earlier BJ Alums article on Jack's passing.
Jack, the son of John and Kathlyn Patterson, grew up in Warren, Ohio, and attended Ohio State University. He served in the U.S. Army for two years and was stationed in Germany with
the 28th Division. He started his journalism career at the Warren Tribune, where he was assistant sports editor.Jack married Barbara Lyntz, his classmate at Warren G. Harding High School, in 1954. The Pattersons moved to Akron and later Munroe Falls, where they raised five children.
Jack joined the Beacon Journal in 1955 and served as a sports reporter, columnist, and editor. Over his 38 years at the Beacon he covered the Ohio State Buckeyes and wrote about countless other sports, including professional football, baseball, golf and bowling. But his real love was horse racing--he wrote the handicapping feature Patterson's Picks and covered numerous Triple Crown races. He and Barbara attended 31 Kentucky Derby events over the years.
Jack was preceded in death by Barbara, whom he still referred to as his bride after 55 years of marriage. He will be dearly missed by sons, Mike (Michelle) of Boca Raton, Florida, and John (Amy) of Cuyahoga Falls; daughters, Kathy of North Canton, Valerie of Tallmadge and Patricia (Scott) of San Jose, California; and grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kassidy; Zane, Jessa and Joy; Mike, Molly and Nick; Amber; and Andrew and Dan.
Calling hours will be held Thursday, January 27th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Redmon Funeral Home in Stow, with a memorial service Friday at 1 p.m. at Northampton United Methodist Church in Cuyahoga Falls. Private burial will be at Silver Springs Cemetery in Stow.
(REDMON, STOW, 330-688-6631)
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Tuesday, January 25, 2011, page B5, col. 4]
Click on the headline for an earlier BJ Alums article on Jack's passing.
Carrie moved from ICU to rehab
Email from the husband of Carrie Brack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter who has been in Akron City Hospital with meningitis.
Just a quick note tonight.
They discharged her from the ICU and moved her to the rehab hospital this evening.
Mental status is about the same.
Now the fun begins!
John
Monday, January 24, 2011
"Things looking much better" for Carrie
Jan. 23 status report on Carrie Brack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter who is in Akron City Hospital with meningitis, by Caroline/Carrie's husband, John:
She’s showing more signs of waking up. Yesterday she gave me a couple of “thumbs up” signs, and when I asked her if she was mad at me, she mouthed “NO” and exhaled, trying to
speak. The exhalation, of course, went out through the trach tube and not up through her vocal chords. When I asked if she knew who I was, she nodded, and when I pointed to her dad and asked the same question, she vigorously shook her head “no,” and grinned. I think she has a sense of humor.
This morning she was the most lucid I’ve seen her yet. She seemed to know what was going on around her, and was mouthing words trying to tell me something, but I couldn’t understand. She was motioning with her arms, so I undid one of the wrist restraints and she tried to scratch her nose and mouth area. I asked her if it itched, and she nodded, so I scratched it for her and cleaned off some of the dead skin in that area. I put her glasses on, and she seemed to be able to focus on things. I briefly explained to her what had happened, but I’m not sure how much sank in. Her dad brought in a musical Valentine's card and two kissing stuffed bears, which she seemed to enjoy. She’s definitely moving in the right direction, and I’m anxious for them to try diverting her exhalations out through her larynx and mouth, to see if she can speak.
She’s been breathing quite well on her own for several days, with a 30% O2 flow into her trach mask. This isn’t being done so much for the extra oxygen as it is for the humidity, since she can’t humidify her inhaled air through her mucous membranes in the upper airway. She still has some lung congestion, but she has a strong cough, and is able to expel phlegm through the trach tube. I’ve noticed that she no longer has much of a problem with secretions in her mouth. I’m sure that this is largely due to the removal of the old endotracheal tube, but I asked her today if she could swallow, and she nodded her head “yes.”
Her mother and I stopped in late this afternoon today and she was sleeping. The nurse said she'd been up since 7:30, most of the time in a chair, and went back to her bed around 4. She'd had a full day, so we let her sleep, and she hopefully will sleep well tonight.
I’ll probably find out tomorrow when they’re likely to release her from the ICU and move her to the rehab hospital. She’s really starting to get antsy, and I think it’s important to get her started on rehab as soon as the docs give the OK.
Bottom line: Things are definitely looking much better. Thanks again for your tremendous support, positive energy, cards, prayers, etc.
I’ve added a number of people to the distribution along the way, so I’ll repeat the mailing address, should you like to send a card:
Carrie Krack
c/o Tom Moore
669 Davis St.
Akron, OH 44310
Thanks Again,
John
Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie/Caroline's situation.
She’s showing more signs of waking up. Yesterday she gave me a couple of “thumbs up” signs, and when I asked her if she was mad at me, she mouthed “NO” and exhaled, trying to
speak. The exhalation, of course, went out through the trach tube and not up through her vocal chords. When I asked if she knew who I was, she nodded, and when I pointed to her dad and asked the same question, she vigorously shook her head “no,” and grinned. I think she has a sense of humor.This morning she was the most lucid I’ve seen her yet. She seemed to know what was going on around her, and was mouthing words trying to tell me something, but I couldn’t understand. She was motioning with her arms, so I undid one of the wrist restraints and she tried to scratch her nose and mouth area. I asked her if it itched, and she nodded, so I scratched it for her and cleaned off some of the dead skin in that area. I put her glasses on, and she seemed to be able to focus on things. I briefly explained to her what had happened, but I’m not sure how much sank in. Her dad brought in a musical Valentine's card and two kissing stuffed bears, which she seemed to enjoy. She’s definitely moving in the right direction, and I’m anxious for them to try diverting her exhalations out through her larynx and mouth, to see if she can speak.
She’s been breathing quite well on her own for several days, with a 30% O2 flow into her trach mask. This isn’t being done so much for the extra oxygen as it is for the humidity, since she can’t humidify her inhaled air through her mucous membranes in the upper airway. She still has some lung congestion, but she has a strong cough, and is able to expel phlegm through the trach tube. I’ve noticed that she no longer has much of a problem with secretions in her mouth. I’m sure that this is largely due to the removal of the old endotracheal tube, but I asked her today if she could swallow, and she nodded her head “yes.”
Her mother and I stopped in late this afternoon today and she was sleeping. The nurse said she'd been up since 7:30, most of the time in a chair, and went back to her bed around 4. She'd had a full day, so we let her sleep, and she hopefully will sleep well tonight.
I’ll probably find out tomorrow when they’re likely to release her from the ICU and move her to the rehab hospital. She’s really starting to get antsy, and I think it’s important to get her started on rehab as soon as the docs give the OK.
Bottom line: Things are definitely looking much better. Thanks again for your tremendous support, positive energy, cards, prayers, etc.
I’ve added a number of people to the distribution along the way, so I’ll repeat the mailing address, should you like to send a card:
Carrie Krack
c/o Tom Moore
669 Davis St.
Akron, OH 44310
Thanks Again,
John
Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie/Caroline's situation.
It is bitter cold: Counting the homeless
It is bitter cold out there for the homeless. Volunteers and social service workers will fan out in the city of Akron tomolrrow with a mission to count the homeless population. The counting begins at midnight and ends at 11:59 p.m.
There were 214 last year in Akron and 163 the year before. The total for Ohio was 12,700 or eleven for every 10,000 persons.
The Point-in-Time Count is a national effort to count the number of people who are without homes, according to Sue Pierson, chair of the Akron/Summit County Continuum of Care for the Homeless.
“We don’t even ask people’s names,” Pierson said. “We ask them for their first and last initials and birth date, so if someone is encountered two times, we can take them out.”
Surveyors gather information on individuals’ sex, race and whether they have a long-term disability.
“We want to find out what are the things that are causing people to become homeless,” Pierson said.
This year, there also will be more of an effort to determine the veteran status of the homeless and to determine how many young people are on the streets.
“We know there are lots of kids out there living on the streets, so we want to make sure we can get the training and programs they need,” Pierson said
Don Roese, a retired Beacon Journal photographer, could give us a better idea. He goes out each week among the 214 people living outdoors — in tents, under tarps at camps, under bridges, in doorways or inside abandoned buildings and vehicles.
Roese is among at the Peter Maurin Center volunteers who go out one evenig each week to bring food, clothing and blankets to them. The center at 1096 S. Main St. is a gathering place were the homeless can go to find food, clothing, friendship and respite from the bitter cold. A number of church groups provide food and clothing on a regular basis.
If you have a blanket or clothing in a closet somewhere that you are not using, drop it off.
There were 214 last year in Akron and 163 the year before. The total for Ohio was 12,700 or eleven for every 10,000 persons.
The Point-in-Time Count is a national effort to count the number of people who are without homes, according to Sue Pierson, chair of the Akron/Summit County Continuum of Care for the Homeless.
“We don’t even ask people’s names,” Pierson said. “We ask them for their first and last initials and birth date, so if someone is encountered two times, we can take them out.”
Surveyors gather information on individuals’ sex, race and whether they have a long-term disability.
“We want to find out what are the things that are causing people to become homeless,” Pierson said.
This year, there also will be more of an effort to determine the veteran status of the homeless and to determine how many young people are on the streets.
“We know there are lots of kids out there living on the streets, so we want to make sure we can get the training and programs they need,” Pierson said
Don Roese, a retired Beacon Journal photographer, could give us a better idea. He goes out each week among the 214 people living outdoors — in tents, under tarps at camps, under bridges, in doorways or inside abandoned buildings and vehicles.
Roese is among at the Peter Maurin Center volunteers who go out one evenig each week to bring food, clothing and blankets to them. The center at 1096 S. Main St. is a gathering place were the homeless can go to find food, clothing, friendship and respite from the bitter cold. A number of church groups provide food and clothing on a regular basis.
If you have a blanket or clothing in a closet somewhere that you are not using, drop it off.
Jack Patterson dies at 81
Jack Patterson, 81, on the Beacon Journal sports staff for 38 years and renown for his knowledge, particularly when it came to horse racing, died Saturday of respiratory failure. He lived in Munroe Falls.
The bespectacled Jack was the quiet type who let his intelligence speak for itself.
His wife, Barbara Ann Patterson, 78, who died March 17, 2009, and Jack were classmates at Warren G. Harding High School and dated after Jack returned from military service in 1951. They
were married in 1954 and raised five children -- sons John of Cuyahoga Falls and Mike of Boca Raton, Fla.; daughters Patricia of San Jose, California, Kathy of North Canton and Valerie of Tallmadge -- and had 11 grandchildren.
Barbara and Jack moved to the Akron area in 1955.
After retirement, Jack often would be in Chapel Hill Mall, doing his daily walking. He loved to play golf.
Jack wrote “Inside Bowling” with pro bowler Don Johnson and also co-authored "Sign 'Em Up, Bucky," about sports agent and Akron native Bucky Woy.
Jack and Barbara attended 31 Kentucky Derbys and, once a year, went to Las Vegas to bet on the horses in the casinos.
In Marilyn Miller's BJ story on Jack's passing, former colleagues Ray Yanucci, Sheldon Ocker, Ralph Paulk and Tom Gaffney paid tribute.
Click on the headline to read Marilyn's article about Jack.
The bespectacled Jack was the quiet type who let his intelligence speak for itself.
His wife, Barbara Ann Patterson, 78, who died March 17, 2009, and Jack were classmates at Warren G. Harding High School and dated after Jack returned from military service in 1951. They
were married in 1954 and raised five children -- sons John of Cuyahoga Falls and Mike of Boca Raton, Fla.; daughters Patricia of San Jose, California, Kathy of North Canton and Valerie of Tallmadge -- and had 11 grandchildren.Barbara and Jack moved to the Akron area in 1955.
After retirement, Jack often would be in Chapel Hill Mall, doing his daily walking. He loved to play golf.
Jack wrote “Inside Bowling” with pro bowler Don Johnson and also co-authored "Sign 'Em Up, Bucky," about sports agent and Akron native Bucky Woy.
Jack and Barbara attended 31 Kentucky Derbys and, once a year, went to Las Vegas to bet on the horses in the casinos.
In Marilyn Miller's BJ story on Jack's passing, former colleagues Ray Yanucci, Sheldon Ocker, Ralph Paulk and Tom Gaffney paid tribute.
Click on the headline to read Marilyn's article about Jack.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Sometimes "bad" is good
By John Olesky (BJ 1969-96)
You don't always know whether what is happening to you is good or bad in the long run.
For example, I was fired in 1969 by the Dayton Daily News for union activities (Cox Newspapers hates unions). That seemed bad to me, and it was, with a wife and three children to support and being blackballed by Dayton management when I submitted my resume elsewhere.
After five weeks, I showed up at the Akron Beacon Journal for an interview, and ran into publisher Ben Maidenburg. I told him why I was fired and he said someone who was a good employee for 13 years didn't become a "bad" employee because of union activities. Ben had sympathy for unions since he helped create the Newspaper Guild chapter at the BJ. So he told me: "Pick a side, and stick with it" and had Dan Warner negotiate my pay, which was a $25 weekly increase over the applicable Guild pay level.
So the firing became a great thing. I had greater financial stability than I ever would have had in Dayton, including wages, Knight stock and 401(k), and State Desk, newsroom electronics coordinator and TV Editor roles that I loved so much I ran to work every day. It has enabled me to travel to 34 countries and 45 states since my 1996 retirement, with a 15-day Caribbean cruise coming up in February.
This is a long preamble to an item on former BJ staffer J. Curtis Brown's blog. Curt felt he had it made when a "bad" thing happened to him. Let Curt explain it:
"I had been on fairly pleasant duty at Fort Knox, working for an entertaining and supportive Major who in a sense adopted me and I was a welcomed guest in his home. I even gave his wife and five of
his six children piano lessons and was also organist at the post chapel, playing for two Protestant and two Catholic services in a row each Sunday as an unofficial duty, unrelated to my assignment as a personnel officer at post headquarters."Then came what seemed like a "bad" thing:
"(The Major) took a week of leave in the summer of '68 and, while he was gone, his boss, a curmudgeon of a lieutenant colonel, spotted the need for a lieutenant at the Advisor Group to the W. Va. National Guard and cut the orders to transfer me. My Major was unhappy and most likely would have kept me at Fort Knox for my remaining year of active duty."
But it turned out to be a good thing for Curt.
In Charleston for his West Virginia National Guard assignment, Curt attended a Unitarian Fellowship and was greeted by a woman named Nancy. This meeting led to her husband, Jim, a Charleston Gazette editor who became Curt's mentor. The Gazette job qualified Curt for Akron Beacon Journal employment in 1971, which led to the contacts that Curt made to land a United Rubber Workers public relations job in 1974 (when the URW merged with the Steelworkers union in 1995, Curt kept his PR duties).
Concludes Curt:
"Being 'shipped' to Charleston paved the way for a long and fulfilling career . . . seeming misfortune (leaving the apparent comfort of my situation at Fort Knox) turned into a lifetime of interesting work and relative financial security."
Been there, done that, Curt.
Click on the headline to the full article on Curt Brown's blog.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Carrie's tubes switched from throat to stomach
Husband John Krack emailed this Jan. 19 report on wife Caroline "Carrie" Moore Krack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter, who has been in Akron City Hospital with meningitis all of January:
They did the tracheostomy today and installed a feeding tube through her abdominal wall
into the stomach. The tubes are all out of her mouth and throat, giving her upper airway and vocal chords a chance to heal. This setup should be more comfortable for her.
They had her on ventilator support this evening, but she was initiating her respirations. Given that she has recently done quite well off the ventilator, I expect that once she’s stabilized with the trach tube, they’ll disconnect the ventilator again and have her on a low concentration O2 feed.
The surgeon told me yesterday that the stomach tube (called a PEG) will be in for 6 weeks minimum, even if she doesn’t need it that long. When I asked why, he said “statistics.” Apparently, experience shows that it takes about 6 weeks for things to heal to the point where they can pull it with no complications. The body just heals the wound with no issues. If she can eat regularly before then, they’ll just cap it off, coil it up, and tape it to the belly until the 6 weeks are up.
I was quite concerned yesterday morning because her mental status had regressed to about where she was the middle of last week – wouldn’t respond to commands, wasn’t moving around, fixed stare when she opened her eyes. I think this is why they decided not to do the trach/stomach tubes yesterday. When I visited in late afternoon, the nurse said she woke up about 12:30, and when I got there she was nearly back to her peak at the end of last week. Today she was about the same. I’m hoping that, with the tubes out of her throat, she’ll be more comfortable and will be able to resume improving neurologically.
The physical therapist stopped by when I was there this morning and helped the nurse move Carrie from a chair to her bed in preparation for taking her to surgery. The PT had Carrie stand up, pivot, and sit down on the bed. She was a bit unsteady, but the PT said she stood up and supported most of her weight by herself, and was quite pleased that she was able to do that.
I’m not sure what comes next in terms of tests and evaluation, but it appears that the next major steps are to get her stable with the new airway (shouldn’t take long), make sure other systems are OK so she doesn’t come back to ICU, and send her either to the main hospital for a short time to ensure everything’s OK and get a little stronger, or directly to a rehab hospital to work on regaining mental and physical function. That’ll be up to the doctors, based on her condition. Getting her out of ICU will be a big step. By the way, a doctor told me the other day that their rule of thumb is 3 days of rehab for every 1 day in the ICU. If that holds true, we're looking at around 2 months of rehab.
I’ll keep you posted as things develop. Thanks again to all of you for your continued concern and support.
John
Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie.
They did the tracheostomy today and installed a feeding tube through her abdominal wall
into the stomach. The tubes are all out of her mouth and throat, giving her upper airway and vocal chords a chance to heal. This setup should be more comfortable for her.They had her on ventilator support this evening, but she was initiating her respirations. Given that she has recently done quite well off the ventilator, I expect that once she’s stabilized with the trach tube, they’ll disconnect the ventilator again and have her on a low concentration O2 feed.
The surgeon told me yesterday that the stomach tube (called a PEG) will be in for 6 weeks minimum, even if she doesn’t need it that long. When I asked why, he said “statistics.” Apparently, experience shows that it takes about 6 weeks for things to heal to the point where they can pull it with no complications. The body just heals the wound with no issues. If she can eat regularly before then, they’ll just cap it off, coil it up, and tape it to the belly until the 6 weeks are up.
I was quite concerned yesterday morning because her mental status had regressed to about where she was the middle of last week – wouldn’t respond to commands, wasn’t moving around, fixed stare when she opened her eyes. I think this is why they decided not to do the trach/stomach tubes yesterday. When I visited in late afternoon, the nurse said she woke up about 12:30, and when I got there she was nearly back to her peak at the end of last week. Today she was about the same. I’m hoping that, with the tubes out of her throat, she’ll be more comfortable and will be able to resume improving neurologically.
The physical therapist stopped by when I was there this morning and helped the nurse move Carrie from a chair to her bed in preparation for taking her to surgery. The PT had Carrie stand up, pivot, and sit down on the bed. She was a bit unsteady, but the PT said she stood up and supported most of her weight by herself, and was quite pleased that she was able to do that.
I’m not sure what comes next in terms of tests and evaluation, but it appears that the next major steps are to get her stable with the new airway (shouldn’t take long), make sure other systems are OK so she doesn’t come back to ICU, and send her either to the main hospital for a short time to ensure everything’s OK and get a little stronger, or directly to a rehab hospital to work on regaining mental and physical function. That’ll be up to the doctors, based on her condition. Getting her out of ICU will be a big step. By the way, a doctor told me the other day that their rule of thumb is 3 days of rehab for every 1 day in the ICU. If that holds true, we're looking at around 2 months of rehab.
I’ll keep you posted as things develop. Thanks again to all of you for your continued concern and support.
John
Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Some headlines for you to read
Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter
Is that possible?
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Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
No , really? Ya think?
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Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Now that's taking things a bit far!
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Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
What a guy!
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Miners Refuse to Work after Death
No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so's!
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Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
See if that works any better than a fair trial!
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War Dims Hope for Peace
I can see where it might have that effect!
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If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Ya think?!
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Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Who would have thought!
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Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
They may be on to something!
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Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?
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Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
He probably IS the battery charge!
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New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Weren't they fat enough?!
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Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
That's what he gets for eating those beans!
---------------- ---------------------------------
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Do they taste like chicken? ----------------------------------------------------------------
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Chainsaw Massacre all over again!
***************************************************
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
Boy, are they tall!
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And the winner is....
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Did I read that right?
Fladung named managing editor of Plain Dealer
Thomas J. Fladung, who was managing editor of the Beacon Journal from July 2000 to November 2002, has been named managing editor of The Plain Dealer.
A native of Canton and graduate of the University of Dayton, Fladung has spent the past five years as editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He became editor there
in September 2005. Fladung, 51, had a variety of editing positions at the Detroit Free Press before coming to Akron. He also spent nine years at The State in Columbia, SC and also worked at the Canton Repository, the Columbia Record and The Beavercreek Daily News.
"Thom's depth of experience, passion for excellent journalism and knowledge of Northeast Ohio will serve The Plain Dealer well," Editor Debra Adams Simmons said. Simmons became managing editor of The Plain Dealer in October when former Editor Susan Goldberg left to join Bloomberg News.
Adams Simmons, 45, came to the Plain Dealer in September 2007. She had previously been editor of the Akron Beacon Journal for four years.
"I can't wait for the opportunity to do journalism at The Plain Dealer and try to add to the newspaper's recent run of high-impact breaking news and enterprise," Fladung said. "We're also thrilled to be coming home."
Fladung is married to Jeannette Meyer-Fladung. They have one son, Jimmy, 14, a high school freshman, and a daughter, Kayleigh, 19, a freshman at the University of Dayton.
See an article on Ohio.com
A native of Canton and graduate of the University of Dayton, Fladung has spent the past five years as editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He became editor there
in September 2005. Fladung, 51, had a variety of editing positions at the Detroit Free Press before coming to Akron. He also spent nine years at The State in Columbia, SC and also worked at the Canton Repository, the Columbia Record and The Beavercreek Daily News."Thom's depth of experience, passion for excellent journalism and knowledge of Northeast Ohio will serve The Plain Dealer well," Editor Debra Adams Simmons said. Simmons became managing editor of The Plain Dealer in October when former Editor Susan Goldberg left to join Bloomberg News.
Adams Simmons, 45, came to the Plain Dealer in September 2007. She had previously been editor of the Akron Beacon Journal for four years.
"I can't wait for the opportunity to do journalism at The Plain Dealer and try to add to the newspaper's recent run of high-impact breaking news and enterprise," Fladung said. "We're also thrilled to be coming home."
Fladung is married to Jeannette Meyer-Fladung. They have one son, Jimmy, 14, a high school freshman, and a daughter, Kayleigh, 19, a freshman at the University of Dayton.
See an article on Ohio.com
Scrambling for the scraps
There's a major battle going on for local digital marketing dollars. An outfit called Patch is in the middle of it. BJ Alums reported earlier on a local version in Bath-Fairlawn involving former BJ folks Kymberli Hagelberg, its editor, Dave Wilson, Sarah Vradenburg and David Lee Morgan, Jr.
The problem is pulling in more money than you're spending. AOL acquired Patch for $7 million. Last year AOL said it put $50 million into Patch.
Most newspapers in these days of cutbacks and plummeting revenue can't afford to put reporters in every town in its circulation area. That's where Patch, and others like it, come in. It tries to get a newspaper veteran to run the show, such as Kymberli in Bath-Fairlawn, then line up relative amateurs to scour their town for news tidbits (although the BJ trio with Kymberli certainly are not amateurs). A New York Times story says Patch pays its local editor $38,000 to $45,000 a year. Patch has been concentrating on affluent areas, such as Bath-Fairlawn.
Maybe 100 people see some items, compared to thousands who read newspapers. But these add up. In December, Patch sites combined for more than three million visitors. And sometimes Patch articles are picked up by mainstream media.
The target, of course, is advertisers. Tiny businesses, maybe one-person operations, can afford to advertise in Patch, but not in the BJ. The key, of course, is how many customers they get for each dollar they spend in either. And outfits that have been trying to plumb these tiny, specific markets have been collapsing all over the country as they climb over each other for the crumbs.
Click on the headline to read the New York Times story on this phenonemon.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Leave it to Cal!
Retired printer Calvin Deshong, 92, passes along humor amid the newspaper chaos from an unidentified source that sounds like it may have a Baltimore connection:
WHO READS WHAT NEWSPAPER
1. The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.
2. The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.
3. The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the country and who are very good at crossword puzzles.
4. USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don't really understand The New York Times. They do, however, like their statistics shown in pie charts.
5. The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn't mind running the country, if they could find the time -- and if they didn't have to leave Southern California to do it.
6. The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country and did a poor job of it, thank you very much.
7. The New York Daily News is read by people who aren't too sure who's running the country and don't really care as long as they can get a seat on the train.
8. The New York Post is read by people who don't care who is running the country as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated.
9. The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country, but need the baseball scores.
10. The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren't sure if there is a country or that anyone is running it; but if so, they oppose all that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are handicapped, minority, feminist, atheist dwarfs who also happen to be illegal aliens from any other country or galaxy, provided of course, that they are not Republicans.
11. The National Enquirer is read by people trapped in line at the grocery store.
12. The Baltimore Sun is read by people who have recently caught a fish and need something to wrap it in.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Jan. 15 report on Tom Moore's daughter
Husband John Krack emailed this Jan. 15 report on wife Caroline Moore Krack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter, who is in Akron City Hospital with meningitis:
She's pretty much the same. When she's awake she thrashes and bounces her legs around a lot, and moves her arms, to the point where they've had to put light restraints on her to keep her from
hurting herself or pulling on the breathing tube. She can extend her feet at the ankles with surprising strength, and seems to have pretty fair strength in her arms, but still lacks coordination and fine motor control. The physical therapist is starting to work with her to get her out of bed, stand up, etc.
They removed the breathing tube yesterday, but there was sufficient swelling in her airway to make it difficult for her to breathe. She also had difficulty expelling secretions. They tried some medication to bring down the swelling, but she didn't respond well, so they put the tube back in, and are giving her steroids to try to reduce the swelling. She actually had the tube out for about 1.5 hours and had good O2 saturation, but they deemed it too risky to leave it out given her breathing difficulty. I expect they'll try again Sunday or Monday. With the tube in, she's able to breathe for long periods on her own, without respirator assist.
No report yet on the neurological tests they've done.
It appears that she's in sort of a "half awake" state where she seems to be aware of some things going on around her and can respond to simple commands, but is not fully awake. I expect there's some awfully weird stuff bouncing around in her head right now.
It was 2 weeks ago tonight that this whole thing started. She's made tremendous progress, but still has a ways to go. But as we've been told so often, this whole process takes time. We continue to wait day by day for improvement.
Thanks again for your continued support.
John
Click on the headline to see an earlier report on Carol's situation. The Kracks are from Minnesota, where Carol is a retired teacher's aide.
She's pretty much the same. When she's awake she thrashes and bounces her legs around a lot, and moves her arms, to the point where they've had to put light restraints on her to keep her from
hurting herself or pulling on the breathing tube. She can extend her feet at the ankles with surprising strength, and seems to have pretty fair strength in her arms, but still lacks coordination and fine motor control. The physical therapist is starting to work with her to get her out of bed, stand up, etc.They removed the breathing tube yesterday, but there was sufficient swelling in her airway to make it difficult for her to breathe. She also had difficulty expelling secretions. They tried some medication to bring down the swelling, but she didn't respond well, so they put the tube back in, and are giving her steroids to try to reduce the swelling. She actually had the tube out for about 1.5 hours and had good O2 saturation, but they deemed it too risky to leave it out given her breathing difficulty. I expect they'll try again Sunday or Monday. With the tube in, she's able to breathe for long periods on her own, without respirator assist.
No report yet on the neurological tests they've done.
It appears that she's in sort of a "half awake" state where she seems to be aware of some things going on around her and can respond to simple commands, but is not fully awake. I expect there's some awfully weird stuff bouncing around in her head right now.
It was 2 weeks ago tonight that this whole thing started. She's made tremendous progress, but still has a ways to go. But as we've been told so often, this whole process takes time. We continue to wait day by day for improvement.
Thanks again for your continued support.
John
Click on the headline to see an earlier report on Carol's situation. The Kracks are from Minnesota, where Carol is a retired teacher's aide.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Online advertising $$$ passes newspaper $$$
The gnat has become the 900-pound gorilla. Online advertising exceeded newspaper advertising revenue for the first time in 2010.
The Internet, despite cheaper rates, swallowed $25.8 billion. Newspapers fell a double-digit percentage to $22.8 billion. Magazines, though, rose to $20 billion.
It will get worse. S&P Equity Research says Online advertising will hit $28.4 billion in 2011.
The figures in this posting also come from Reuters, Brand Week and Media Post.
Medical coverage under Obamacare
Unless the Tea Party, Republicans and conservatives scuttle Obamacare, some of the changes in your medical coverage for 2011 include:
Once you hit the donut hole in your prescription coverage, you will pay 50% of the cost for brand-name drugs. Previously, you paid 100%. This year you will hit the donut hole when the total cost of your drugs, no matter who pays for them, reaches $2,840. Since I paid $2,363.74 for my drugs in 2010, most of it after I hit the donut hole, halving that cost appeals to me. Others have paid even more. And my drug costs would have been even higher but I saved nearly $2,000 by going to Canada to get my more expensive drugs once I hit the donut hole.
Medicare deductible waived for colorectal cancer screening tests.
Medicare covers a personalized prevention plan, including a comprehensive health risk assessment.
Over-the-counter drugs not prescribed by a doctor are not deductible under various health accounts.
In 2012, Medicare payments for hospital readmissions will be reduced to discourage "excess" (preventable) hospital readmissions.
In 2013, your prescription co-pay will reduce gradually till you'll pay 25% of what you do now by 2020.
Also in 2013, only itemized deductions for unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 10% of your adjusted gross income can be used, compared to the current 7.5%. Except that, till 2016, those 65 and older keep the 7.5% stipulation.
In 2014, insurance companies no longer will be allowed to put a financial cap on your coverage. Of course, by then we will have had another presidential election and yet another Congress. So who knows?
Click on the headline to check your medical coverage under the health reform law.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Mr. TooGoodWrench?
In this Not-So-Great Depression you know something is out of whack when Mr. Goodwrench will be out of a job Feb. 1 -- for doing his job too well.
A GM release said that General Motors wants to stress individual brands, so will shift to "certified service" with each brand's name to "better connect" with customers. It seems Mr. Goodwrench, who's been around for 37 years, did such a good job that people didn't see or feel loyalty to Chevrolet, Pontiac (RIP), Oldsmobile, GMC, Cadillac.
Among actors who portrayed Mr. Goodwrench in commercials since 1974 was comedian Tim Allen.
GM spends more on advertising online, TV, radio and magazines than it does in newspapers. Only billboards get less of GM's advertising money.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Carney kid cutting up again -- on Colbert
The Black Keys -- Pat Carney and Dan Auerbach -- had a mock showdown Tuesday with Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig on Comedy Central cable network's "Colbert Report." Carney's dad is Beacon Journal reporter Jim Carney, who is married to BJ reporter Katie Byard.
 |
| Carney and Auerbach |
Funny stuff.
Graphic artist Michael Carney, Pat Carney's younger brother, also received a Grammy nomination for best recording package for his artwork on the album. It places him in direct competition with yet another nominated Akronite, artist Andrew Taray, who worked on singer/songwriter Chip Taylor's Yonkers, NY album.
The Black Keys received six Grammy nominations and their first single, "Tighten Up," was No. 1 at Modern Rock radio for eight continuous weeks. iTunes named their album "Brothers" the No. 1 album of the year. It debuted No. 3 on Billboard's Top 200 chart and No. 2 on the Current Albums chart.
Click on the headline to go to the site where you can watch the Colbert show appearance by Carney & friend.
1/12/11 update on Tom Moore's daughter
BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore, whose daughter Carol is at Akron City Hospital with meningitis, sends this update from Carol's husband of 30 years, John Krack:
She continues to make a little progress each day. Yesterday she was moving her eyeballs around, nodding her head more in response to questions, and could squeeze my fingers. I showed her some pictures and cards, and read her some cards, and she seemed to understand. When I asked her if she knew where she was, she nodded.
Both her dad and mom visited her yesterday, and I think it was a big help to her to see them. (They've only been in a few times, since they've both had colds. I've got it now, but always wear a face mask when I’m with her.) The MRI was finally done late yesterday afternoon.
Today her mom and I visited her late this afternoon. They had about 6” of snow here, and we waited to give the snowplows a chance to clear the streets. Carrie was in a chair, and more awake/aware than yesterday, but pretty tired. I asked her to squeeze my finger, and she gave an aggressive squeeze. Her mom did the same thing, with the same result. The nurse said that she asked Carrie earlier if she wanted to go back to her bed, and she indicated no, that she wanted to stay in the chair. Her usual state now is kind of half awake, and generally aware of things going on around her. She was moving her legs and feet pretty steadily today (fidgeting), and her arms occasionally. She’s still pretty weak, and isn’t able to reposition herself to get more comfortable, so she just has to lay there and look around. I read her an email from an old friend that reminisced about exploits in their younger years, and she seemed to comprehend. I asked if she remembered the friend, and she nodded her head.
They’re still working to strengthen her breathing, and she is really uncomfortable with the breathing tube in. It’s particularly difficult because she’s generating a lot of secretions, and can’t swallow or expel them. She coughs, but is fighting the breathing tube. They suction her occasionally, but it doesn’t help for long. She also can’t speak or make noises with the tube in, since it goes in between the vocal chords. It’s hard to see her this way, but it’s necessary to keep her breathing, and it will be a big milestone when she gets it out. So far, she’s been a very good patient.
They gave her some coffee yesterday and today. No milk in it, though, but through a feeding tube you can’t taste it anyway.
I talked to the neurology intern about her MRI. She didn’t have a full report, but said that it indicated no further damage from what they saw last week. Swelling is reduced, and there’s a spot that looks like an abscess, so they will continue the antibiotic treatment. They’re seeing no aneurisms or other blood vessel damage. They’re a bit concerned about apparent weakness in her arms, so will do a test to track the electrical impulses to see whether it’s muscular or neurological. She said the EEG from the weekend hasn’t been processed yet. Overall, the neurology team seems quite pleased with her progress. Also her current nurse, who’s worked ICU her entire career, says she’s doing well.
Her sister donated an old unused IPOD that had a bunch of songs loaded, and I’ve been taking that in for her to listen to. I’m adding some of her favorite songs to give her some familiar music.
So we’re still in “wait and see” mode, but at last we’re getting some “see” along with the “wait”. Getting the breathing tube out will be a biggie, then talking, and waking up completely. There’s still a long road ahead, but I think she’s moving in the right direction. Baby Steps.
Thanks once again for your cards, emails, prayers, and support, and for your nice comments about my reporting. Forwarders, please forward.
John
Click on the headline for an earlier post on Caroline, a Minnesota teacher's aide retiree.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
It's no go in snow at Papa Joe
Attendance at today's monthly BJ Alums lunch at Papa Joe's Restaurant at Akron/Peninsula Road and Portage Trail Extension reached an unbeatable record:ZERO !!!
That's right, no one braved the latest Northeast Ohio snowstorm to show up.
Not even Composing retiree Gene McClellan and Engraving retiree Pat Doughterty, who were the only people who showed up during the February 2010 snowstorm. That was the previous low.
Nothing can beat
ZERO !!!
though.
Only 3 showed up in December 2010 and January 2009. The best January on record, once the women split off into their own lunch group, was 14 in 2007.
The lunch is scheduled for 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Papa Joe's Restaurant, Akron-Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Hopeful signs by Tom Moore's daughter, Carol
BJ Alums got this email from BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore, whose daughter Carol is at Akron City Hospital:
Here's my son-in-law's latest report. We could have used him as a medicial writer, don't you think? I've got a doctor's appointment this morning and I'll be going to the hospital today. But things are definitely looking up thanks to City Hospital folks and all the prayers.
Tom
The report from John Krack, Carol's husband, who calls her Carrie:
She’s still unconscious, but has taken several baby steps in the right direction the last several days. She’s now opening her eyes a lot, usually in response to voice. Her eyeballs are not
tracking movement yet, and I’m not sure if she’s able to focus, but she definitely looks toward me when I talk to her. She’s blinking normally, and sometimes opens her eyes wider than normal. She’s not yet responding to commands like “squeeze my finger” or “raise a finger.”
Today her movements were somewhat subdued because they gave her a little morphine to slow her respirations when testing her ability to breathe on her own. She didn’t last long in the tests yesterday (breathing rate jumped way up) but she went for 2 hours today before they terminated the test on schedule! Her breaths were shallow, but she had good O2 saturation and an acceptable breathing rate. And she was breathing through a tube about 3/8” or 1/2” in diameter, which is like trying to inhale through a large straw. So she did good. They’ll keep the tube in, though, until she awakens enough to maintain her own airway, as unresponsive patients cannot be trusted to do so on their own. Yesterday, without the sedation, she was moving her arms and legs and upper body, stretching and yawning as if trying to wake up.
They put an EEG on her yesterday, and let it run overnight. I could watch the screen as she blinked her eyes and moved, and saw the waveforms get very agitated as they tracked the impulses controlling the muscles. The neurologist told me today that they haven’t had a chance to review the whole thing, but early indications are that she’s not having seizures, which was the main concern. They’ve been trying to do an MRI all day today, but it kept getting pushed back due to other emergencies coming in. I expect they’ll do it this evening. This should give a good picture of swelling and any other damage.
And finally, the best news yet. Just before I left this evening I mentioned something to her, and asked her to nod her head if that was OK. And she nodded! A small nod, but a definite movement nonetheless. I tried it again, and she nodded again. And a third time. So it looks like she’s starting to have some awareness, and we might be able to start some basic communication. And it’s particularly encouraging that she’s showing strong signs of being able to hear, since deafness is the most common impairment from meningitis.
The hospital staff is great, and they’re taking very good care of her. Tomorrow they’re going to give her coffee! (Through the feeding tube, of course.)
Your cards are pouring in. Seven on Saturday and 19 today. I’m showing and reading them to her, and will let her read them all when she wakes up. I think she'll be pretty overwhelmed. Thank you.
Thanks again for all your prayers, well-wishes, support, offers to help, cards, and emails. Hopefully soon we’ll be able to report that she’s awake and talking. I told her today that people need more scrubbies, so she has to get better and get to work.
John
Click on the headline for an earlier post on Caroline Jean Moore Krack, daughter of Tom and Dot Moore, a Minnesota teacher's aide retiree who is in Akron City Hospital with meningitis. John and Caroline Krack have been married for 30 years.
Here's my son-in-law's latest report. We could have used him as a medicial writer, don't you think? I've got a doctor's appointment this morning and I'll be going to the hospital today. But things are definitely looking up thanks to City Hospital folks and all the prayers.
Tom
The report from John Krack, Carol's husband, who calls her Carrie:
She’s still unconscious, but has taken several baby steps in the right direction the last several days. She’s now opening her eyes a lot, usually in response to voice. Her eyeballs are not
tracking movement yet, and I’m not sure if she’s able to focus, but she definitely looks toward me when I talk to her. She’s blinking normally, and sometimes opens her eyes wider than normal. She’s not yet responding to commands like “squeeze my finger” or “raise a finger.”Today her movements were somewhat subdued because they gave her a little morphine to slow her respirations when testing her ability to breathe on her own. She didn’t last long in the tests yesterday (breathing rate jumped way up) but she went for 2 hours today before they terminated the test on schedule! Her breaths were shallow, but she had good O2 saturation and an acceptable breathing rate. And she was breathing through a tube about 3/8” or 1/2” in diameter, which is like trying to inhale through a large straw. So she did good. They’ll keep the tube in, though, until she awakens enough to maintain her own airway, as unresponsive patients cannot be trusted to do so on their own. Yesterday, without the sedation, she was moving her arms and legs and upper body, stretching and yawning as if trying to wake up.
They put an EEG on her yesterday, and let it run overnight. I could watch the screen as she blinked her eyes and moved, and saw the waveforms get very agitated as they tracked the impulses controlling the muscles. The neurologist told me today that they haven’t had a chance to review the whole thing, but early indications are that she’s not having seizures, which was the main concern. They’ve been trying to do an MRI all day today, but it kept getting pushed back due to other emergencies coming in. I expect they’ll do it this evening. This should give a good picture of swelling and any other damage.
And finally, the best news yet. Just before I left this evening I mentioned something to her, and asked her to nod her head if that was OK. And she nodded! A small nod, but a definite movement nonetheless. I tried it again, and she nodded again. And a third time. So it looks like she’s starting to have some awareness, and we might be able to start some basic communication. And it’s particularly encouraging that she’s showing strong signs of being able to hear, since deafness is the most common impairment from meningitis.
The hospital staff is great, and they’re taking very good care of her. Tomorrow they’re going to give her coffee! (Through the feeding tube, of course.)
Your cards are pouring in. Seven on Saturday and 19 today. I’m showing and reading them to her, and will let her read them all when she wakes up. I think she'll be pretty overwhelmed. Thank you.
Thanks again for all your prayers, well-wishes, support, offers to help, cards, and emails. Hopefully soon we’ll be able to report that she’s awake and talking. I told her today that people need more scrubbies, so she has to get better and get to work.
John
Click on the headline for an earlier post on Caroline Jean Moore Krack, daughter of Tom and Dot Moore, a Minnesota teacher's aide retiree who is in Akron City Hospital with meningitis. John and Caroline Krack have been married for 30 years.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Long-ago BJ reporter Marjie Hutson Reese Craig dies
Marjie Hutson Reese Craig, 93, who was a Beacon Journal reporter in the 1930s after her graduation from the University of Akron, died December 26, 2010 in Myrtle Beach, South 
Carolina. She was the widow of another former BJ reporter, James Craig. They met at the BJ and married in Cleveland. They had six children and nine grandchildren, none living in Ohio.
Marjie's parents were William Chauncey Reese and Margaret Cronin Reese of Akron and Winter Haven, Fla. Marjorie's father was head of security at Firestone for many years.
James Barkley Craig was 1953-77 editor of American Forests magazine in Washington, D.C. when the family lived in nearby Bethesda, Maryland. American Forests began in 1895 as The New Jersey Forester and had a half-dozen name changes before settling on its current name in 1931.
Click on the headline for the lengthy obituary in the Beacon Journal.
Carolina. She was the widow of another former BJ reporter, James Craig. They met at the BJ and married in Cleveland. They had six children and nine grandchildren, none living in Ohio. Marjie's parents were William Chauncey Reese and Margaret Cronin Reese of Akron and Winter Haven, Fla. Marjorie's father was head of security at Firestone for many years.
James Barkley Craig was 1953-77 editor of American Forests magazine in Washington, D.C. when the family lived in nearby Bethesda, Maryland. American Forests began in 1895 as The New Jersey Forester and had a half-dozen name changes before settling on its current name in 1931.
Click on the headline for the lengthy obituary in the Beacon Journal.
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Update on Caroline Moore Krack by husband John
No major changes since last report. We're still in "wait and see" mode, but there are some positive indications. She's moving around more, and she seems to respond somewhat to voices by rolling her head and moving her upper body. She's moving her arms and legs, but not in response to any particular stimulus. She does a fair amount of stretching and yawning and facial contortions as if trying to wake up from a sound sleep. This evening when we got there she fully opened her eyes for the first time, and was blinking normally, but didn't show any indication of recognizing anything or following motion. She repeated this later during our visit. I interpret this as a good sign that her neurological function is beginning to return. We're told that she'll be taking baby steps for awhile, and this whole process will likely take some time. There's no typical pattern for people coming out of these situations, so we just go day by day looking for small improvements.
They've had the respirator set to respond to her inhalations with an assist (rather than force breaths into her) for a couple of days, and she's been doing pretty well. They turned off the respirator yesterday to see how she'd do on her own, and she lasted about 15 minutes. They tried today, and she went about 5 minutes. They're going to try again this evening. We're told this behavior is not unusual as they're weaning people off of respirators.
They hooked up a feeding tube yesterday to give her some calories. Prior to that, it had just been IV glucose to support metabolism and keep her from starting to break down fat, which creates toxic by-products.
Her vitals have been stable, but BP runs a bit high so they have to reduce it with drugs to relieve stress on the heart.
They plan to do another MRI Monday or Tuesday to check for any changes since the last one.
Bottom line: They're monitoring, providing support as necessary, and waiting for her to wake up. There's been collateral damage, but we don't know what impact it's going to have. The brain is a complex organ, and each person responds differently. Several people who've had experience with these types of patients have told us that they've seen people in worse condition who have recovered quite well.
Your cards are starting to arrive. Thanks for sending them. I took some in today and showed and read them to her, and I'll continue to do this until she can read them on her own. I also took in an IPOD with a bunch of songs and have been playing them to her through headphones to give her some auditory stimulus.
People have asked how I'm doing. The answer is 'reasonably well, under the circumstances.' I'm at her parents' house (Tom and Dot Moore), about 2 miles from the hospital. I'm sleeping and eating reasonably well, but am not yet ready to turn my attention to much else, and probably won't be until I know she's out of the woods. I'm not used to these waiting games, but don't have much choice on this one. Those of you who've been through anything like this know that it's a gut-wrenching experience, made more so by the uncertainty of the outcome and the timeframe. I greatly appreciate your prayers and support and concern. Please don't be too disappointed if I don't send an update every day. It simply means that nothing much has changed. I'll let you know immediately if she makes a breakthrough.
Thanks to all of you who've offered help. Our next door neighbors are looking after our house (thanks, Jim and Paula), I can pay bills online, papers are stopped, and the PO is holding my mail, so I'm OK for now. Future direction will be decided as Carrie's situation becomes clearer.
Thanks again for all the positive energy you're sending her way. If previous fowarders would do so again, I'd appreciate it. I've added to my distribution those who have sent me emails directly, so you'll get dups, but won't have to wait for forwarding. 'Till next time, (with hopefully GREAT news) .....
John
Caroline Jean Moore Krack, daughter of retired BJ newsroom employee Tom Moore and Tom's wife, Dot, and Minnesota teacher's aide retiree, is in Akron City Hospital with meningitis. John and Caroline Krack have been married for 30 years.
Click on the headline to see the earlier story about Caroline, who at times accompanied Tom to the monthly BJ retirees lunches at Papa Joe's Restaurant on Akron-Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension.
 |
| Caroline and father Tom |
They've had the respirator set to respond to her inhalations with an assist (rather than force breaths into her) for a couple of days, and she's been doing pretty well. They turned off the respirator yesterday to see how she'd do on her own, and she lasted about 15 minutes. They tried today, and she went about 5 minutes. They're going to try again this evening. We're told this behavior is not unusual as they're weaning people off of respirators.
They hooked up a feeding tube yesterday to give her some calories. Prior to that, it had just been IV glucose to support metabolism and keep her from starting to break down fat, which creates toxic by-products.
Her vitals have been stable, but BP runs a bit high so they have to reduce it with drugs to relieve stress on the heart.
They plan to do another MRI Monday or Tuesday to check for any changes since the last one.
Bottom line: They're monitoring, providing support as necessary, and waiting for her to wake up. There's been collateral damage, but we don't know what impact it's going to have. The brain is a complex organ, and each person responds differently. Several people who've had experience with these types of patients have told us that they've seen people in worse condition who have recovered quite well.
Your cards are starting to arrive. Thanks for sending them. I took some in today and showed and read them to her, and I'll continue to do this until she can read them on her own. I also took in an IPOD with a bunch of songs and have been playing them to her through headphones to give her some auditory stimulus.
People have asked how I'm doing. The answer is 'reasonably well, under the circumstances.' I'm at her parents' house (Tom and Dot Moore), about 2 miles from the hospital. I'm sleeping and eating reasonably well, but am not yet ready to turn my attention to much else, and probably won't be until I know she's out of the woods. I'm not used to these waiting games, but don't have much choice on this one. Those of you who've been through anything like this know that it's a gut-wrenching experience, made more so by the uncertainty of the outcome and the timeframe. I greatly appreciate your prayers and support and concern. Please don't be too disappointed if I don't send an update every day. It simply means that nothing much has changed. I'll let you know immediately if she makes a breakthrough.
Thanks to all of you who've offered help. Our next door neighbors are looking after our house (thanks, Jim and Paula), I can pay bills online, papers are stopped, and the PO is holding my mail, so I'm OK for now. Future direction will be decided as Carrie's situation becomes clearer.
Thanks again for all the positive energy you're sending her way. If previous fowarders would do so again, I'd appreciate it. I've added to my distribution those who have sent me emails directly, so you'll get dups, but won't have to wait for forwarding. 'Till next time, (with hopefully GREAT news) .....
John
Caroline Jean Moore Krack, daughter of retired BJ newsroom employee Tom Moore and Tom's wife, Dot, and Minnesota teacher's aide retiree, is in Akron City Hospital with meningitis. John and Caroline Krack have been married for 30 years.
Click on the headline to see the earlier story about Caroline, who at times accompanied Tom to the monthly BJ retirees lunches at Papa Joe's Restaurant on Akron-Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
The pool that Channels built
By John Olesky (BJ 1969-96)
I was looking for something completely different when I came across photos of the Aug. 11, 1985 party at "The Pool That Channels Built," as I called it. That was because Features Editor Jim Nolan, leading up to the initial Channels television guide in 1981, demanded page proofs every time that I changed a comma or moved any element in the mockups I had been working on for months. That resulted in so much overtime for me -- $10,000 in one year in 1980-81 dollars, which would be about $60,000 in buying power today, plus more in the following year -- that it easily covered the cost of the pool.
Anyway, I threw a pool party Aug. 11, 1985 and my favoritee invitees were the old State Desk gang, which was broken up in the 1970s in favor of a Metro Desk:
Pat Englehart, raucous, passionate State Desk editor, and the best editor of my 43-year newspaper career. Pat died in Florida in 2005. His wife, Marge, lives in the Elks National Home in Bedford, Virginia.
Harry Liggett, the assistant State Desk editor who stepped in after the Englehart whirlwinds and brought order and calm. Harry came with his wife, Helen, who died last year.
Frances B. Murphey, Good Afternoon columnist (in those days; later, Good Morning when the BJ switched from PM to AM paper) who got the names and photos of people in the BJ who would never have made it in print otherwise. Fran died in 1998.
I was assistant State Desk editor under Pat Englehart and alongside Harry Liggett. My wife, Monnie, helped organize the 1985 pool party. Monnie died in 2004.
By 1985 management had split up Pat, Harry and I into other roles. This was my thank-you to them for the glorious, marvelous and happy State Desk years.
I sold the house and pool in 2006 after Paula and I moved into our Tallmadge condo. But the pool, built in 1983, provided 23 years of memories. Among my favorites was the 1985 pool party with the old State Desk gang.
Friday, January 07, 2011
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Pat Norman's widower, Ralph, dies
Pat Norman covered Stark County for the Beacon Journal in the 1970s, as a part-timer and later as a full-timer, working through the State Desk. She was a prolific producer of Stark County articles. Pat died about three decades ago. Pat and Ralph had nine children.
The obituary for Pat's husband, Ralph, who remarried:
Ralph E. Norman, age 84, of North Canton, passed away Monday, January 3, 2011.
He was born in Jackson, Michigan, graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and received his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Kent State University. He was employed by McGraw Edison Power Systems Division, retiring in 1990.
Ralph served in the U.S. Army, was active in civic affairs in North Canton as Chairman of the
North Canton Republican Committee, Chairman of the City of North Canton Planning Commission and Member of the Charter Commission for City of North Canton. He was co-founder of the 1976 North Canton Bicentennial Band and Past President of the Canton Regional Society of Professional Engineers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Amanda and Albert Norman; first wife, Patricia (Brownson) Norman; brothers, Paul and Ernie; sister, Anne; stepson, Eric Hirt; and stepgrandson, Troy Schlegel. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Katie (Crock) Hirt Norman; and his children, Ralph E. Norman, Jr. (Mary) of Mason, Ohio, Pamela (Dave) Shoup of Colorado Springs, Colo., Mary (Mike) Bralic of Aurora, Colo., Nancy (Larry) Bunte of Lakewood, Colo., William Norman of Anchorage, Alaska, Janet (William) Fashbaugh of North Canton, Linda (Mark) Johnson of San Jose, Calif., Amy (Mark) Ostwald of Elma, Wash., and Barbara (Dan) Wilby of New York City; 15 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and his stepchildren, Tammy Hirt of Herndon, Va., Sharie (Robert) Sartain of Houston, Texas, Valerie (Brian) Sutter of Winter Park, Fla., Vicki (Dwight) Crawford of Canton and Jennie (Jeffrey) Schlegel of Kettering, Ohio; 11 stepgrandchildren, and one stepgreat-grandchild.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul's Catholic Church of North Canton, 241 S. Main St., North Canton, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 8, 2011, with Msgr. James Clark officiating. Friends will be received 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, January 7th at Karlo-Libby Funeral Home, 5000 Everhard Road N.W. Canton. Interment will be at St. Joseph Calvary Cemetery in Dover, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association , 1815 W. Market St. Ste 301, Akron, OH 44313 or Aultman Hospice, 2821 Woodlawn NW, Canton, OH 44708. Condolences may be made at www.karlofh.com.
(Karlo-Libby Funeral Home, 330-494-9644)
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Wednesday, January 5, 2011, page B5, col. 1]
The obituary for Pat's husband, Ralph, who remarried:
Ralph E. Norman, age 84, of North Canton, passed away Monday, January 3, 2011.
He was born in Jackson, Michigan, graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and received his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Kent State University. He was employed by McGraw Edison Power Systems Division, retiring in 1990.
Ralph served in the U.S. Army, was active in civic affairs in North Canton as Chairman of the
North Canton Republican Committee, Chairman of the City of North Canton Planning Commission and Member of the Charter Commission for City of North Canton. He was co-founder of the 1976 North Canton Bicentennial Band and Past President of the Canton Regional Society of Professional Engineers.He was preceded in death by his parents, Amanda and Albert Norman; first wife, Patricia (Brownson) Norman; brothers, Paul and Ernie; sister, Anne; stepson, Eric Hirt; and stepgrandson, Troy Schlegel. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Katie (Crock) Hirt Norman; and his children, Ralph E. Norman, Jr. (Mary) of Mason, Ohio, Pamela (Dave) Shoup of Colorado Springs, Colo., Mary (Mike) Bralic of Aurora, Colo., Nancy (Larry) Bunte of Lakewood, Colo., William Norman of Anchorage, Alaska, Janet (William) Fashbaugh of North Canton, Linda (Mark) Johnson of San Jose, Calif., Amy (Mark) Ostwald of Elma, Wash., and Barbara (Dan) Wilby of New York City; 15 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and his stepchildren, Tammy Hirt of Herndon, Va., Sharie (Robert) Sartain of Houston, Texas, Valerie (Brian) Sutter of Winter Park, Fla., Vicki (Dwight) Crawford of Canton and Jennie (Jeffrey) Schlegel of Kettering, Ohio; 11 stepgrandchildren, and one stepgreat-grandchild.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul's Catholic Church of North Canton, 241 S. Main St., North Canton, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 8, 2011, with Msgr. James Clark officiating. Friends will be received 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, January 7th at Karlo-Libby Funeral Home, 5000 Everhard Road N.W. Canton. Interment will be at St. Joseph Calvary Cemetery in Dover, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association , 1815 W. Market St. Ste 301, Akron, OH 44313 or Aultman Hospice, 2821 Woodlawn NW, Canton, OH 44708. Condolences may be made at www.karlofh.com.
(Karlo-Libby Funeral Home, 330-494-9644)
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Wednesday, January 5, 2011, page B5, col. 1]
Tom Moore's daughter Caroline in coma
Retired BJ newsroom employee Tom Moore of Akron posted this on his Facebook page:I'm sorry to report that my oldest daughter, Caroline Krack, has started the new year in a coma. She was diagnoised as having meningitis. She's been in City Hospital for five days. Years ago while in North High, she was a weekend copykid and telephone operator at the Akron Beacon Journal.
Caroline Jean Moore Krack retired as a teacher's aide in Minnesota.
Tom and wife Dot have four children:
Tom's son, also named Tom, who with wife Sabrina Naylor are the parents of Amanda Jean, deals in pallets and junk.
Amy Moore, their youngest daughter.
Katherine Ann Moore, who lives in Cuyahoga Falls, after retiring from the Environmental Protection Agency after 34 years with the government.
All of Tom and Dot's daughters were copygirls at the BJ in their younger days.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
David Bianculli takes on Oprah
It's the battle of the Oprahs, former Beacon Journal TV critic David Bianculli says. Oprah's actions in counting down to the end of her 25 years with "The Oprah Winfrey Show" are damaging the start-up of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) cable channel.
The show fadeout and the OWN implentation are stealing the thunder from each other, Bianculli says.
After leaving the BJ, Bianculli was TV critic for a couple of New York City newspapers. Today, Bianculli is founder and editor of tvworthwatching.com. He's TV critic for National Public Radio's "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross, and teaches TV and film history at Rowan University in New Jersey.
To see Bianculli's assessment of the dueling Oprah ventures, click on the headline.
The show fadeout and the OWN implentation are stealing the thunder from each other, Bianculli says.After leaving the BJ, Bianculli was TV critic for a couple of New York City newspapers. Today, Bianculli is founder and editor of tvworthwatching.com. He's TV critic for National Public Radio's "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross, and teaches TV and film history at Rowan University in New Jersey.
To see Bianculli's assessment of the dueling Oprah ventures, click on the headline.
Jane Snow hams it up after Christmas
After pork loining her way through Christmas with sushi restaurant owner and husband Tony, former BJ food writer Jane Snow hams it up for those who read her See Jane Cook
blog.
Jane tells how her post-Christmas meal involved enough ham to satisfy Tony and three teenage boys. That's a lot of ham!
Jane had a good suggestion about leftover holiday ham. Writes Jane:
"The food-safety experts say we have three to five days to use up ham after it has been baked and returned to the refrigerator. Freezing leftover ham is a no-no among gourmands because the texture suffers (it can become mushy). I think mushy ham is better than no ham, though, so go ahead and freeze it. If the texture bothers you, use the thawed ham in soups and casseroles."
Click on the headline to read Jane's holiday cooking exploits. Jane has won national awards for her food articles.
blog.Jane tells how her post-Christmas meal involved enough ham to satisfy Tony and three teenage boys. That's a lot of ham!
Jane had a good suggestion about leftover holiday ham. Writes Jane:
"The food-safety experts say we have three to five days to use up ham after it has been baked and returned to the refrigerator. Freezing leftover ham is a no-no among gourmands because the texture suffers (it can become mushy). I think mushy ham is better than no ham, though, so go ahead and freeze it. If the texture bothers you, use the thawed ham in soups and casseroles."
Click on the headline to read Jane's holiday cooking exploits. Jane has won national awards for her food articles.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Obituary of M. Elaine Schoenleb
M. Elaine Schoenleb passed away December 30, 2010, at age 100, at Sumner on Ridgewood.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Elaine lived most of her life in Cuyahoga Falls. She
graduated from Ohio State University in 1931, was a charter member of Chapter BK, P.E.O. Sisterhood, a former board member of the Akron YWCA and an active member of First United Methodist Church of Cuyahoga Falls.
Preceded in death by husband of 64 years, Edwin Schoenleb (former News Editor of The Akron Beacon Journal) and son-in law, E. Dwight Horr. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Joanne Schoenleb and daughter, Diane Horr. She blessed the lives of her six grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Services will be held 11 a.m. MONDAY at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd. with Rev. Dick Gibson officiating. Burial at Chestnut Hill Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to In-House Hospice, 1530 West Market St., # 1, Akron 44313 or Sumner on Ridgewood, 970 Sumner Parkway, Copley 44321.
[Akron Beacon Journal, Sunday, January 2, 2011, page B5, col. 1]
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Elaine lived most of her life in Cuyahoga Falls. She
graduated from Ohio State University in 1931, was a charter member of Chapter BK, P.E.O. Sisterhood, a former board member of the Akron YWCA and an active member of First United Methodist Church of Cuyahoga Falls.Preceded in death by husband of 64 years, Edwin Schoenleb (former News Editor of The Akron Beacon Journal) and son-in law, E. Dwight Horr. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Joanne Schoenleb and daughter, Diane Horr. She blessed the lives of her six grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Services will be held 11 a.m. MONDAY at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd. with Rev. Dick Gibson officiating. Burial at Chestnut Hill Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to In-House Hospice, 1530 West Market St., # 1, Akron 44313 or Sumner on Ridgewood, 970 Sumner Parkway, Copley 44321.
[Akron Beacon Journal, Sunday, January 2, 2011, page B5, col. 1]
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Those with BJ connection who died in 2010
Those who died in 2010 who worked at the Beacon Journal or were related to those who worked at the BJ:
Joan Morris, 73, retired chief artist Bud Morris' widow, Jan. 22.
Ann Deskovich, 88, maintenance department retiree John Deskovich's widow, Feb. 19.
Mary Elizabeth Swartz, 87, former BJ reporter, March 7.
Charles "Chick" G. Lipford, husband of accounting retiree Martha, March 26.
Ruth Kenny, 85, in the BJ accounting department in the 1970s and 1980s, March 31.
Mary Ohlinger, 90, retail ad retiree and sister of the late retired BJ printer Jerry VanSickle, in March.
Terry Lieberth, husband of Maribeth Lieberth, Accounts Payable (previously Human Resources and the Newsroom), April 11.
Steven Spragg, 38, of Middleburg, Virginia, retired printer Sid Sprague's son, May 4.
Nettie Evans Skeens, 75, retired printer Bob Skeens' widow, June 12.
Helen C. Liggett, 79, wife of newsroom retiree Harry Liggett, June 26.
Michelle LeComte, former BJ enterprise and features editor, Aug. 3.
Carol F. Guregian, mother of BJ staffer Elaine Guregian, Sept. 2.
William "Bill" James Carney, father of BJ staffer Jim Carney, Sept. 7.
BJ Circulation truck driver retiree Raife Woodall, 69, Sept. 12.
Arleen Louise Durst, 88, widow of former BJ printer Gene Durst, Sept. 26.
Carlos ``Carl' Anderson, 85, Nov. 11.
Theresa Ann Osmar, 78, wife of composing retiree Leo Osmar, Nov. 16.
Elizabeth Margaret Harvey, 95, former BJ food editor, Nov. 25.
Dick Shippy, 83, BJ staffer, Dec. 6.
Robert A. Coudriet, 87, retired circulation manager, Dec. 10.
M. Elaine Schoenleb, widow of former BJ News Editor Edwin Schoenleb, Dec. 30.
Those who died in 2009:
Cleveland Phillips, maintenance, Jan. 20.
Barbara Patterson, wife of sports retiree Jack, March 17.
Robert Kamenar, freelance photographer, March 22.
Watson Blanton, printer, March 25.
Robert Cull, father of reporter Mike, April 4.
Nancy (Lile) Wise, May 27.
Bill Kennedy, July 20.
Armand Lear, printer, June 5.
Virginia Berger, wife of promotion's Bill, Aug. 5.
Kevin Jackson, son of Gary, Aug. 6.
Olga O'Neil, Aug. 22.
Stephen Schleis, father of reporter Paula, Oct. 11.
Terry Dray, printer, Oct. 25.
Trammel Hogg, printer, Nov. 15.
Kevin Vest, sports statistician, Nov. 18.
Bob Nold, sports writer, Dec. 20.
Ed Schoenleb's widow Elaine dies
M. Elaine Schoenleb passed away December 30, 2010, at age 100, at Sumner on Ridgewood.
Services will be held 11 a.m. MONDAY at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd. with Rev. Dick Gibson officiating. Burial at Chestnut Hill Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to In-House Hospice, 1530 West Market St., # 1, Akron 44313 or Sumner on Ridgewood, 970 Sumner Parkway, Copley 44321.
FAIRLAWN Chapel
Published in Akron Beacon Journal on January 1, 2011
Elaine was the widow of Edwin Schoenleb, once News Editor of the Beacon Journal. Ed joined the Beacon Journal staff in 1942. He retired as news editor in 1972, when he was 65, but continued as the newspaper's travel writer until 1991, when he retired again.
Friends and family members gathered at Sumner in April 2010 to celebrate Elaine's 100th birthday.
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