Update from Kathy Lally

When our e-mail address list to Kathy Lally bounced, we started looking around and found that she had left the Baltimore Sun and was now working on temporary assignment with the Washington Post. Finally it dawned on us to try an old e-mail address for Kathy and her Pulitzer-prize winning husband Will Englund. They spent a couple of tours of duty reporting for the Sun in Russia. Now it appears Kathy may be teaching Russians some reporting. Here’s e-mail received September 28 from her:

“I left The Sun at the end of July. After 29 years there, I decided it was time to try something else. I've been filling in on the Outlook section of the Washington Post, for someone who is on leave, working as an editor on the section. (It's the Sunday opinion section.) Next, I'm thinking about taking on an assignment to teach reporting and writing to reporters in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. I'll keep you posted.”

A good e-mail address for Kathy is will.kathy@starpower.net

Click on the headline above to read one of Kathy’s recent articles for the Washington Post. This one is headlined “Stuff a Ton of Stuff Into 80 Square Feet, and Say Goodbye” It provides a ton of interesting statistics about the annual migration of students to campus. Her daughter is a freshman this year.

Retired and tired in Florida

Terry and Cecily Dray and Dave and Gina White are both retired and tired in Florida after four hurricanes. Here are their latest reports secured by John Olesky:

From Terry & Cecily Dray, who live in Avon Park, FL:
We made it thru another one. This one went right thru Avon Park...kind of came right up Highway 27. We didn't leave town...nowhere to go. By the time we knew for sure it was coming, it was too late. The only routes considered safe were going West and we wanted to go North. But, again, we were blessed with no damage. Power just came back on (about 1:00 p.m. Tuesday. It went out at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday. About half of Avon Park is still without power. It seems that the power companies sent most of their people to the Panhandle to help with Ivan, leaving us with...well, not much. The reports on damage in this area are 6 times the combined damage of Charlie and Frances. We are still under a mandatory curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Thanks for thinking of us. Terry & Cecily

From Dave & Gina White who live in Venice, FL:
Hey John,
Enough is enough! Four hurricanes in six weeks. You can't believe how it takes a toll on your nerves. Again we were very lucky, no damage, gusts at 47 miles an hour and steady wind between 25 to 30 mph and no flooding. Poor Punta Gorda got 3 of the 4 hurricanes. It's only 20 miles from us. I see that WVA is in 6th place, is that the same WVA I Know. They must of made the field level this year!
Your Friends, Dave & Gina

Cullison interviews Gable in 1958

Recalled Stories from the Beacon Journal:

Mark J. Price wrote an insightful article on Clark Gable in the Beacon Journal on Monday, September 20, 2004 (page E1) which mentioned a piece by Art Cullison on April 4, 1958. Cullison interviewed Gable and his wife, Kay (wife No. 5) at Cleveland where Gable was making a personal appearance tour to promote his movie, “The Teacher’s Pet.”

Price’s article prompted me to check the 1958 piece by Cullison. Click on the headline above to read the story.

To read the article by Price, go to Ohio.com at

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/living 710633.htm

You may have to register (free) to access it.

Beacon Journal honored

Associated Press

COLUMBUS - The Akron Beacon Journal won first place in business and arts coverage for 2003 from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, while a staff reporter and photographer each won best of show.

More than 900 entries were submitted by 120 news organizations. In the print category for circulation of 100,000 or more, the newspaper won the following awards:

Best business coverage: first place, ``Legacy of Decline,'' by John Russell.

Best arts reporting: first place, ``Arts Recession,'' staff.

Best coverage of children's issues: second place, ``Kenmore Abuse Case,'' John Higgins, Andale Gross, Keith McKnight, Carl Chancellor, Phil Trexler, Kymberli Hagelberg, Stephen Dyer, and David Knox and staff.

Best explanatory journalism: second place, ``Focus on: Independent Inventors,'' by Paula Schleis.

Best sports coverage: second place, ``Boys of Spring,'' by Keith McKnight and Ed Meyer.

In best of show, Lew Stamp won as best photographer, and Cheryl Powell won as best reporter (as did reporter Kelly Lecker of the Toledo Blade).

The Beacon Journal's online partner, Ohio.com, won first place for best web site.

A T-shirt for Monia

The WVU 1100 Club at West Viriginia University presented retiree John Olesky and his granddaughter Beth, 14, with a T-shirt with the name of Olesky'’s late wife, Monia, on it at the East Carolina game on September 4. The club raised $3,700 in memory of Monia and another WVU fan who also died this year. Combined with $4,300 raised by the FanNet WVU message board, that'’s $8,000 donated to WVU in Monia'’s memory. John and Monia have been such ardent fans that they have the flying WV logo on their grave marker. The 1100 club raises money to be used for coaches’ recruiting expenses.

Maxine Lozier on the hurricanes

“Charley" wasn't good to us, without electric for a week and weather in the nineties. That's a lot better than Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte - those poor people are still recovering. One of our son-in-laws is in Port Charlotte, with FEMA and says they still have a long way to go, he's working 12 hours a day. In other words we were very, very lucky.

"Frances" gave us forty to fifty mile winds-no damage. The electric was off and on but not for any long period of time. Again we were lucky.

"Ivan," I'm worried about, a category five hurricane could crumble this house of ours, I'm sure. Especially after looking at the pictures coming through my computer.
All of this isn't enough, our son-in-law passed away in Holland Michigan (my daughter, Pam's husband). When this is over, I'm thinking about writing a book -- there's a lot that I haven't put in writing that would make a good story at least for a smile, after the worst is over and forgotten.

Thanks for listening, I feel better now. Maxine Lozier lozimax@aol.com

Dodging Hurricanes

Dave & Gina White and Terry & Cecily Dray are dodging hurricanes about every other week, it seems. The Drays have been in the path twice, but only have one downed orange tree and another damaged orange tree out of all of that. Miraculous, actually. Here are e-mails sent to John Olesky:

>From Terry & Cecily Dray:

We are doing fine. Yes, once again we were ground zero. The eye came right thru Avon Park. Winds were not as bad but storm lasted well over 12 hours. We were without power ab out 36 hours this time (which is better than 5 days). We are now watching Ivan and have decided to go north if he turns this way. We don't fear for our safety, and are becoming old hands at this hurricane stuff, but going without power in the aftermath is just too much to go thru a third time. Thanks for your concern,
Terry & Cecily

>From Dave & Gina White:

Well John we were missed again! Hope Ivan will do the same. We had wind gusts at 46 mph, steady wind 20-26 mph. Only 2" of rain, just a normal Florida weekend. We hope the Drays lucked out also. But by the weather maps it looked like Frances was going right over Avon Lake, Sebring area. Charley was to the left of us and Frances was to the right, hope Ivan doesn't go in the middle!
Dave & Gina

Browser, the BJ mascot

Readers sent in suggestions for mascot

Marilyn Geewax earns master's

Marilyn Geewax earned master's at
Georgetown University in May, 2004

She's not Dr. Geewax yet

I'm not Dr. Geewax yet, but I recently nailed down a master's degree!

In winter 2000, I began taking evening classes at Georgetown University through the Liberal Studies Department, specializing international economic affairs. On May 22, 2004 they handed me the sheepskin.

My studies took me to Europe twice to learn more about trade and globalization. I chose classes that would help me here in the Cox Washington bureau, where I am the national economics reporter.

Here's a quick recap of my professional adventures since leaving Akron in 1985:

I moved to Atlanta to work as a business reporter for the Journal-Constitution, the flagship paper for Cox Newspapers. In 1989, I joined the editorial board, where I wrote daily editorials and a weekly
column (which the ABJ's op-ed page often ran).

In 1994-95, I took a break to enjoy -- and I do mean ENJOY -- a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard.

In 1999, I was offered a job in the Cox Washington Bureau. It's a hoot up here -- I cover public-policy issues related to business. So I race around from Capitol Hill to the White House to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, etc. , writing about taxes, trade, wages, deficits and
regulation. (I often interact with former ABJer Mark Braykovich, who is biz editor for the Journal-Constitution).

Most of my stories get posted at:
http://coxnews.com/cox/news//static/cwb/Marilyn_Geewax.html

Each fall semester, I also work as an adjunct professor at George Washington University, teaching business journalism. I'll have 17 students this year (which is at least seven too many for a writing class). I also serve on Kent State University's journalism school advisory board. Last
year, I hosted a KSU j-board meeting here in our bureau office. (I went to OSU, but the journalism program there isn't as interesting as KSU's).

My parents are alive and well in Campbell, Ohio, (on the east side of Youngstown) and my younger brother and his wife live in northern Summit County (in Reminderville), so I get back to NE Ohio several times a year. Whenever I'm at my brother's house, I get a copy of the BJ and keep up with
the Akron news via Harry's emails and blog.

As we business writers and former Ohioans always say: Go Bucks!

-- Marilyn Geewax (ABJ 1978-85) E-mail: mgeewax@coxnews.com
Click on the headline to read Marilyn Geewax's stories.

Snippits lifted from Hot Topics

Here are snippits lifted from Hot Topics, the BJ employe newsletter:

Three scholars to receive $2,500 from newspaper
Three children of staff have received John and Peggy Dotson Scholarships for higher education this fall: They are Katherine Berta, daughter of Steve Berta, newsroom; Jillian Fullerton, daughter of John Fullerton, community relations and marketing; and Brandon White, son of Phil White, community relations and marketing.
Katherine Berta graduated from Woodridge High School, where she was the editorials editor for the school newspaper and a chorus member and dancer in school plays. She plans to study journalism, communications and English at Denison University. Her goal is to be a newspaper film critic.
Jillian Fullerton graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School, where she was a Rotary Scholar and on the high honor roll, student council and leadership board. Jillian plans to study secondary education at Walsh University.
Brandon White graduated from Buchtel High School, where he received the Manhood Award and was on the football, basketball and track teams. He plans to major in business administration at Tiffin University.
Katie, Jillian and Brandon each will receive $2,500 from the Akron Beacon Journal.
Named for its founders, the John and Peggy Dotson Scholarship was established in 1997. With this yearÆs grants, the program has awarded $60,000 to dependent children of staff. John Dotson is publisher emeritus of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Open House draws 386 visitors over three days
By the time the last session ended on Friday, Aug. 20, 2004 386 people -- from youngsters to senior citizens -- had toured the the Beacon Journal and shared refreshments with a rotating group of newsroom staff. Visitors had the option of coming at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. on three different days this week.
Rita Stapleton, community relations and marketing, coordinated the nine-session, three-day event. She recruited staff as tour guides, speakers, greeters and servers. She organized a cadre of back-up volunteers in case the group of guests grew too large for core volunteers to handle.
Visitors’ questions to newsroom staff ran the gamut. Where do you get your ideas? Do you read other newspapers? How do you pick stories from readers’ tips? Do you get your own private showing for movie reviews?
Although movie critic George Thomas seemed to like the idea of attending a private showing of movies, he told visitors that his reviews started with him slogging through the ticket lines with everyone else.
Columnist David Giffels said tips from readers were his :”secret weapon.” Of the three columns he writes each week, usually one is planned, another comes from readers’ ideas, and a third is driven completely by panic, he said. He admitted spending a lot of time looking out the window, a pastime he tried to pass off as a writer hard at work.
Jane Snow, food writer, balanced the glamorous appeal of her job by informing readers about the time she had to eat fried ants.
Speakers from the newsroom included Chip Bok, M ary Beth Breckenridge, Jewell Cardwell, Bob Dyer, Mary Ethridge, David Giffels, Kymberli Hagelberg, Betty Lin-Fisher, Mike Needs, Terry Pluto, Jane Snow, George Thomas and Stephanie Warsmith,

Browser will be mascot
Following suggestions from readers, a vote by staff and input from senior managers, Rita Madick, director of community relations and marketing, selected “Browser” as the name of the Akron Beacon Journal mascot. The moniker works well in reference to the newspaper’s print, online and digital formats -- any of which may be browsed. A life-size costume for the mascot is in the works now. The next question is: Who gets to wear it?

John von Rhein on the Star Spangled Banner at the Olympics

Excerpt from an article on the Olympics and Star Spangled Banner by John von Rhein, former Beacon Journal music critic now at the Chicago Tribune

“Why do those national anthems, ours included, have so little to do with the true culture of the countries they are supposed to represent? I listened to the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" last weekend as Michael Phelps, the U.S. swimming star, appeared to struggle with the words to the national anthem as he was awarded his first gold medal. As I did, I had to remind myself that the tune began as a British drinking song that had nothing to do with the Stars and Stripes or the infant Republic. It was only after Francis Scott Key outfitted it with patriotic words, in 1814, that it became as indelible a symbol of American patriotic pride as the flag, the Fourth of July and Donald Trump.”

“Do we really need, on top of that, some stodgy march from the Old World whose words nobody can get right (is it "through the perilous fight" or "perilous night"?), and whose vocal line is almost impossible for ordinary folks to sing? How much better it would be if we adopted the late Ray Charles version of "America the Beautiful" or James Brown's "Living in America," as the nation's celebratory hymn. Wouldn't that or some other pop classic be a better, politically and culturally hipper reflection of today's American society to send around the world? Sadly, other countries haven't done much better. With few exceptions, none of their national anthems contains indigenous musical elements, and most of those are mired in the bloated pomp of the 19th Century. Listening to most of them is as much of a snooze as watching synchronized swimming."

[The article appeared in the August 20, 2004 issue of the Chicago Tribune and was reprinted Monday, August 23 in the Beacon Journal. The link above will take you to the Tribune article.]

Where Did Dick McBane go?

Dick McBane writes from Georgia to answer that question:

Here is a brief up-date as you requested.

My wife (Marilynn) and I moved from Akron to Lilburn, GA, in May. Lilburn is a suburb of Atlanta, northeast of the city and outside the beltway. Geographically, our house is about four or five miles from the Stone Mountain State Park, a landmark which a few people may recognize.

We made an offer on this house on the Monday after Thanksgiving and actually took physical possession of it on Dec. 31. We did not move here, however, until May 5. After 37 years in the same house in Akron, it took us five months to reduce our accumulation of stuff to a size that could be moved. The advantage of this location is that it is within a quarter-mile of our oldest son, Lachlan, his wife, Cheryl, and four grandchildren, Sean, 10, Huell, 7, Liam, 4, and Dorothy, 2. Our younger son, Roderick, resides in Galveston, TX. Lachlan is a violist (viola not violin) with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Roderick is an actuary with American National Insurance Co. in Galveston.

Our moving preparations were made a bit more hectic for me because I'd also signed a book contract with McFarland & Co. with a completion date of May 15 for the manuscript. I actually got it off to them before we moved and it is supposed to be on their spring publication list for release around the opening of baseball season, although I haven't seen any proofs yet. "A Fine-Looking Lot of Ball Tossers" focuses on the Akron professional team of 1881. Most of the players on the 1881 team subsequently played in the major leagues, many of them as early as 1882. I enjoy the research greatly and was particularly delighted with the discovery of a drawing of the 1881 ballpark.

Dick     RLMcBane@aol.com

Note from Susan Zimmerman

I will be teaching a section of "Media Writing" (formerly called
Newswriting) at Kent State, Tuesday and Thursday mornings, in the fall
semester as
an "adjunct" (which sounds to me as if it might be one of the parts of
speech).
I am really looking forward to it. Apparently, schools don't teach much
grammar nowadays, so teaching basic grammar will be a big part of my
assigned task.
I have been reviewing gerunds and their ilk in one of the textbooks, "When
Words Collide." I like it.

Susan Zimmerman
216-281-8527
fax 216-651-3513
e-mail zimwrite1@aol.com

How do I post? Tim Smith asks

Harry:
How do I post to the blog? Or do I do it through you? I don't think I qualify as a retireee, more likely a refugee. But, after reading about Reiff's grandfather status, I thought I should add mine: first grandchild, Zebediah Timothy Smith, born to Bryan (youngest of our three) and Wendy Smith, Oct. 7, 2003. He's 10 months old, almost walking and into everything. Truly God's reward for not strangling your teenagers. I'm still teaching at Kent State University, helping negotiate the union contract (I'm first vice president of the AAUP -- take that, Mary Grace), and working part-time as a criminal defense lawyer. I took a sabbatical last fall and worked for the public defender's office. It was so much fun, I opened my own practice. Jane (another BJ refugee) is still teaching Work & Family at Litchfield Middle School (where she has had many children of BJ staffers). Both of us are thinking about retirement, but not too hard. Eldest son Randy, married to a lawyer, is a research scientist for NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, and middle child Rachel, seriously entwined but not married, is teaching gifted 4th & 5th graders in Hilliard schools in suburban Columbus. We're living on Sandy Lake, where we've been for nearly 10 years after leaving Stow.
Best,
Tim
p.s. How did Tom Moore and Tim Hayes get to be so old? Cathy Strong still looks great!

Answer to Tim:
There are two ways:
1. Just e-mail what you want to post to hliggett@ald.net and I will post it for you.
2. Ask me for an invitation so you can become a contributore and post your own stuff.

Reports from BJ retirees on Hurricane Charley

Reports received by John Olesky from former BJ newsroom folks on Hurricane Charley.

Dave & Gina White moved from Sarasota to Venice last year.
Terry & Cecily Dray live in Avon Park, in the path of the hurricane and at least 7 tornadoes that swept up the middle of Florida on its way to Orlando and Daytona Beach.
My late wife Monia and I had reunions with all four on the deck of our Sea Castle rental on Siesta Key every February, and talked about the old days at the BJ and our lives today.

Terry & Cecily's email:
John, We made it thru the damage OK. Yes, we took a direct hit, but thank God all we lost was one orange tree and part of another...not even one shingle. But we had no power which meant no gasoline, no AC, no ice, no food. All we could do was sit on the porch in 90 degree plus weather and listen to the battery operated radio. When they said we would be without power for 6-8 days, we packed up the dog and drove (Terry had the foresight to fill our tank about 3 hours before the storm hit) to my sister in Charlotte, NC. We got back last night and the power came on about 5 minutes after we walked in. The damage down here is incredible. Driving North we saw huge convoys of big power trucks from several states, some as far as NY and they were joined by equal numbers of tree cutting equipment trucks. Thanks for worrying about us and take care. Terry & Cecily

Dave & Gina's email:
John -- we got by pretty easy. Average wind was 45 mph but we did have some wind gusts over 60 mph. And about 4 1/2" of rain. No damage to speak of so we were real lucky.
Port Charlotte is just about 20 minutes south of us and it was decimated. We do a lot of our shopping there, so that will probably not happen for a while. You're right. I think Cecily and Terry probably got a lot more of the hurricane than we did. But we haven't heard anything from them. I don't know if they have our email address or not.
Did the Guild settle their contract problems with the BJ?
Hope you're doing OK.
Gina and Dave

Bob Pell Pavilion dedicated

Bob Pell Pavilion at Wadsworth. Bob stands next to dedication stone

Bob Pell Pavilion dedicated

The Bob Pell Pavilion was dedicated July 18 by the Wadsworth Aerie #2117 Fraternal Order of Eagles. More than 200 members attended the dedication. The pavilion was named for Pell, a Beacon Journal composing room retiree, for his more than 30 years of service as treasurer of the Aerie before he resigned because of a health problem. He also is publisher of a four-page nesletter for the lodge which he has been putting together six times a year for eleven years.
Bob and his wife, Peg, who just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, and their son, Bob, and his wife stood proudly in front of the dedication stone (shown in photo) while Worthy President Lou Workmandelivered his address of recognition. Bob then took the microphone to thank officers and members for the honor.
There was a crowd of more than 500 for the picnie after the dedication.
The pavilion at 9953 Rittman Road, Wadsowrtdh, is open for rental to members and the public.
Bob and Peggy Sizemore were married August 20, 1949 in Clay, WV, and have lived in Wadsworth for 52 years. Bob retired from the Beacon Journal in 1991 after nearly 35 years of service. In addition to his service to the lodge, he has done volunteer work for Handcapped Citizens of Medina County. Peggy in her earlier years was a school teacher and until recently was a volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program.
They have four children, Cathy, Robert Jr., Steve and John; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
(Our thanks to newsletter editor John Kernan for information on the ceremony.)

Update on Larnie Green, composing retiree

Larnie Green, at age 57 is one of the younger BJ retirees from the composing room. He is now secretary-treasurer of the Akron Typographical Union #182 which means he also keeps the books for the Printers Club and is at the club a couple of days a week. "It is unbelievable what a small club pays out in taxes," he says.
Larnie retired from the Beacon Journal with nearly 30 years of service on September 20, 2001. He and his wife, Stephanie Balabowich, have been married 36 years and have two sons, Andrew. 26. who just received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice this year from Kent State University and Tim, 22, who has been working at Little Tykes for the past five years.
Larnie lived in Wadsworth during the early years of his life, but later moved to Hartville. The brief update on Larnie includes some information lifted from the newsletter of Wadsworth Aerie 2117 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Larnie joined the lodge at age 22 and is a 35-year member. Publisher of the newsletter is BJ retiree Bob Pell. The newsletter, of course, carries a union logo.

E-Mail from Rick Reiff

great idea, harry. Here's something about me:

Last week I became a grandfather, as daughter Jennie Reiff, with help from hubbie Orange County Fire Capt. Stephen Miller, gave birth to Elias Stephen Miller. The Little E checked in at the same birth weight as his grandfather, seven pounds and 11 ounces. It remains to be seen whether Lil' Eli will be an Angels or an Indians fan, but he already looks like a baseball prospect.

I'm still the executive editor and columnist ("The OC Insider") for the Orange County Business Journal. I'm also a part-time professor of media at Chapman University. Last month I launched a weekly half-hour show on Southern California public television station KOCE. The show is called "Inside OC" and airs Wednesdays
at 7 p.m.

Life is good. I'm busy, I'm engaged and I am two strokes off of a single-digit handicap.
My best to the ABJ family.
Rick Reiff
Executive Editor
Orange County Business Journal
phone (949) 833-8373 fax (949) 833-8751
e-mail: reiff@ocbj.com
Host and Producer, "Inside OC" KOCE-TV
phone (949) 683-2414