BJ Advertising reunion Saturday, May 18
Cheri Raymond posted on Beacon Buddies Facebook site:
To all my Akron Beacon Journal colleagues on Facebook.
John Hink, Craig Bender and James Child are putting together an Advertising,
Sales department picnic reunion on May 18th. It will be at Wingfoot State Park
at the Buckeye Pavillion. 9:00 am to 11:00 pm. Bring a side dish. Water will be
provided along with Chipotle.
Let Ann Hartman know if you
are interested in coming.
We would love to see you all.
On top of the fantastic fun that rekindled great memories the
September 15 BJ Newsroom Alumni picnic at Wingfoot Lake Park brought $281.14 to
the JSK Scholarship Fund!
The amazing Roger Mezger provided this ultra-detailed report:
Here's the final financial
report on last month's newsroom alumni picnic at Wingfoot Lake State Park:
“In all, 116 people either
pre-registered or paid the $10 per person fee at the door (that includes BJ
people and guests) for a total of $1,160. In addition, some people paid more
than $10 or made separate donations. That added $305 to the picnic fund, bringing
total income to $1,465.
“Expenses were $1,183.86.
That included everything from rental fees for the shelter and the chill tables
that kept food cold (a BRILLIANT idea, Roger!), a liquor license so people
could bring alcoholic beverages if they wished, sandwiches, pizza, water, ice
and all the usual supplies you need for a picnic.
“That left a surplus of
$281.14 that this week will be donated to the JSK scholarship fund in the name
of Beacon Journal Newsroom Alumni.
“In 2019, 146 people
registered for that year's picnic at $10 a person, bringing in a shade under
$1,460 because PayPal charged transaction fees on two payments. But to keep it
simple we'll go with $1,460 for comparison. The bank we used in 2019 paid us a
$100 bonus for opening an account and we received about $238 in donations,
pushing total income to a few cents over $1,798. Expenses three years ago were
$1,291, even though we were planning for a much larger group. That left a
surplus of a little over $507 that we donated to the JSK scholarship fund.
“The effects of inflation
were evident this year. Though we bought less, we paid more for it. Whereas
three years ago the $10 registration fee was more than enough to cover
expenses, this year we would have come up about $25 short if the same $10 fee
had been the only source of income. So special thanks to those who kicked in a
little extra to get us over the hump.
“I have detailed reports on
income and expenses if anyone cares to see them. Just DM me and I'll send them
your way. Thanks for attending and making this year's picnic another success!”
And thank you, Roger and
your wife Ann Sheldon Mezger, Andrea Louie for the fantastic centerpiece, Katie
Byard for helping organize the reunion. And everyone who showed up to remind me
why I enjoyed being with them at 44 E. Exchange Street during the Glory Days!
 |
| Mark Dawidziak, John Olesky |
 |
| Sarah Vradenburg |
 |
| Sandy Bee Lynn |
 |
| Sharon with sons Mark, Ben, Chris and Jonathan |
 |
| Hugh at first job in Galion, Ohio newspaper |
 |
| Sharon Downing, John Olesky, Paula Tucker reunite in Florida
Another BJ reunion
Sharon Downing, widow of former BJ printer Hugh Downing, had a reunion
in The Villages, Florida with former Ol’ Blue Walls staffers John Olesky and
Paula Tucker.
Hugh passed away in 2016. Sharon lives permanently in her home in
The Villages. Paula, a 1970s State Desk reporter, has a home in The Villages.
Paula and John co-own a residence in Tallmadge.
Sharon will be getting visits in March from some of her children.
Sharon and Hugh have four sons:
Hugh and Sharon’s children are Mark Downing, who lives in
Erie, Pennsylvania; Chris, who lives in Hudson; and Ben and Jonathan, who live
in Toledo and Vienna, Virginia.
Sharon and Hugh both attended Galion High School, but didn’t get
together until Sharon’s mom retired and
moved to Florida.
Four guys from the Galion factory, who called Sharon’s mother
“Mom,” showed up at the Florida home.
That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship and marriage.
They were wed in 1960.
Hugh and Sharon moved to The Villages in 2000. The
Downings lived in the city of Medina during Hugh’s BJ days.
Hugh worked at Ol’ Blue Walls for 37 years, retiring in
2000, four years after John retired from the 44 E. Exchange Street domain of
John S. Knight.
John and his late wife, Monnie Turkette Olesky of
Cinderella, West Virginia, got together with Hugh and Sharon on Siesta Key,
adjacent to Sarasota, Florida, when Hugh and Sharon were staying in the late
printer Bill Gorrell’s former Poor Bill’s rentals just across the street from
the beach and the Gulf of Mexico.
|
