Connie Bloom in First Night Akron

Former BJ staffer Connie Bloom will be participating in Friday's First Night Akron, the 15th annual welcoming of the New Year at various downtown Akron venues. Connie's Quilting Arts Studio and Gallery will be open 5-11 p.m. Friday on the third floor of Summit Artspace, which is next to the Akron Art Museum, 140 E. Market Street.

Connie moved in autumn 2010 from her Red Light Galleries, 111 N. Main Street, next door to Luigi’s, to Summit Artspace. She left the BJ in 2008 after 34 years with the newspaper.

She is publisher/editor of QSDS (Quilt Service Design Symposium), a quarterly online magazine about fabric art, which she dived into with a passion after taking her BJ buyout.

First Night buttons cost $10.

Click on the headline to read Kerry Clawson's First Night story in the BJ.

Photos from Nov 10, 2004 lunch

Calvin Deshong found these photos from a November 11, 2004 BJ Retirees lunch. They had been sent to him by Bob Pell.

Harry Liggett, Don Bandy and Tim Hayes / Carl Nelson and John Olesky

Gene McClellan, Al Hunsicker, Robert Pell and Calvin Deshong

BJ batch in Fairlawn-Bath patch

There's a batch of former Beacon Journal employees working for the Fairlawn-Bath Patch, one of the hundreds of local news outlets that are springing up all over the country. Each Patch provides extensive news about its area via the Internet, a job that cash-strapped newspapers no longer can handle.

Former BJ reporter Kymberli Hagelberg is editor of the Fairlawn-Bath Patch.

Another former BJ staffer, Dave Wilson, who has lived in the Akron area since 1996, is a contributor.

So is former BJ editorial page staffer Sarah Vradenburg, who is working on a history of Metro Parks, Serving Summit County that will be published in the fall of 2011 in time for the park district's 90th anniversary.

Fifteen-year BJ sportswriter David Lee Morgan, Jr., who covered and wrote books about LeBron James, former Cleveland Cavaliers superstar, is another contributor.

Former Plain Dealer talent is involved, too. Rich Fletcher, who created, designed, and edited graphics/results for the Sports department at the Plain Dealer, is editor. So is his wife, Eneida Morales Fletcher, involved for 23 years with getting photos into the PD.

Denise Ritter, who has been a reporter, copy editor, news editor and page designer during her career at the PD, San Jose Mercury News and Miami Herald, is contributor, editor.

Alana Baranick, who wrote PD news obituaries from 1992-2008, also is a contributor.

Another contributor is Kit Kelly, a New York native who worked for the Montrose Sun, the West Akron Sun and the Barberton Herald.

Contributor Bruce F. Griffin has reported for the Wooster Daily Record and Warren Tribune Chronicle.

Contributor Sean Dougherty once was Summit County Director of Administration for Planning and Building.

BJ Alums had an Oct. 19, 2010 article about Patch.com looking for editors in communities around the country. It's part of the Internet-fueled new journalism, which allows even small areas to get news about the little things that traditional newspapers don't have the staff or space to handle.

To read more about the staff and what the Fairlawn-Bath Patch does, click on the headline.

The Nile, delightful; Egypt, fascinating

Paula and I did the usual stuff during our 12-day tour of Egypt -- pyramids, spinx, temples, tombs, Nile River cruise, 20-mile dune buggy ride throught the desert, boarding camels, sailing on a felucca, seeing as many of the 110,000 King Tut artifacts as possible in the Museum of Egypt in Cairo. There were donkeys everywhere -- plowing the fields, pulling carts to market. And goats herded within inches of heavy Cairo traffic.

It was my 34th country to visit since my 1996 retirement from the Beacon Journal. Only China was on the same plane when it came to being a fascinating country.

Click on the headline if you want to see the photos.

What about you? If you have details, with photos of family at your destinations, of recent trips, email them to John Olesky at Jo4wvu@sbcglobal.net

Retired KR VP Jerry Marshall dies

Jerry Marshall, 72, of LaGrange, died Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at Hospice LaGrange.

Mr. Marshall was born July 2, 1938 in Akron, Ohio, son of the late Clyde William and Edna Marshall. He graduated from Kent State University with a degree in Accounting. He was a retired Assistant Vice President of Finance with Knight-Ridder Newspapers. Mr. Marshall was a member of the First Baptist Church on the Square in LaGrange.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, June Marshall; a son, Stu (Wendy) Marshall; a daughter, Tara (Laurence) Kaplan; and his grandchildren, Analissa Marshall, Mason Marshall, Caitlin Kaplan, Morgan Kaplan, and Shannon Kaplan.

Service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at the First Baptist Church on the Square with Dr. Paul R. Baxter and Rev. Paul Blair Officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday (12/27) evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and immediately following the service at the church. Flowers will be accepted or those desiring may contribute to Hospice LaGrange (1514 Vernon Road, LaGrange, GA 30240) in memory of Jerry Marshall. Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, (706) 884-8636. www.shlagrange.com

Published in Akron Beacon Journal on December 23, 2010

Harvarti, ham and Hallelujah

Shoppers at the historic West Side Market in Cleveland got more than rutabagas and ribs Dec 18. The West Shore Chorale and local choral friends, scattered among the customers, broke out into the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah." The same Random Act of Culture of the Hallelujah Chorus by the Opera Company of Philadelphia delighted shoppers at Philadelphia's Macy's Department Store a few weeks earlier, financed by the Knight Foundation.

Click on the headline to watch and hear the Cleveland "mob flash," as it also is called.

New email address for Dick Latshaw

BJ Alums blog got this email from retired printer Dick Latshaw, who lives on Pauleys Island, South Carolina near another BJ retiree, Harold McElroy:

TO EVERYONE

I WAS GETTING TOO MUCH SPAM IN MY OLD ADDRESS.

PLEASE CHANGE MY ADDRESS TO

latshawrichard1940@gmail.com

THE CHANGE IS 1940 IN THE ADDRESS

THANKS DICK LATSHAW

Black Keys to perform on SNL

SNL Kicks Off the New Year with Jim Carrey and The Black Keys

New York "Saturday Night Live" celebrates the new year starting January 8 with actor Jim Carrey and musical guest The Black Keys.

Jim Carrey will take his second turn at hosting on January 8. The two-time Golden Globe winner is receiving critical acclaim for his starring role in the recently released film "I Love You Phillip Morris," which was nominated in the category of "Best Comedy" for the 16th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards.

The Black Keys will perform as musical guest for their first SNL appearance. The duo recently received six Grammy nominations and their first single, "Tighten Up," remains number one at Modern Rock radio after eight continuous weeks. Additionally, iTunes named their album "Brothers" the number one album of the year while it debuted at number three on Billboard's Top 200 chart and number two on the Current Albums chart.

Carney is the son of BJ reporter Jim Carney and stepson of B?J reporter Katie Byard.

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So you want to be a journalist?

There's a blog for Times-Reporter Alums

There is now a blog -- Times-Reporter Alums--for the Times-Reporter in New Philadelphia.

The masthead calls it:

A meeting place for those who have toiled in the various Times-Reporter departments over the years and who'd like to stay in touch. The Times-Reporter is a daily newspaper serving Tuscarawas, Holmes, Harrison, Carroll, Stark and Coshocton counties. Its owners over the last four decades include Horvitz Newspapers, Ingersoll Publications, Journal Register Co., Copley Press and Gatehouse Media.

Click on the headline to go there and then bookmark it if you are interested.

Ex-BJ circulation mananger Coudriet dies

TALLMADGE -- Robert A. Coudriet, 87, passed away December 10, 2010.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, based in Oahu, Hawaii. He retired in 1985 from the Akron Beacon Journal, where he worked for 45 years as a Circulation Manager. He was a member of Our Lady of Victory Church, K of C, Mogadore VFW Post #8487, Holy Name Society, and Associates of St. Joseph at Archbishop Hoban High School.

For the last twenty-eight years, his favorite pastime has been spending time with his grandchildren. Grandpa enjoyed watching his grandchildren in developing skills in numerous sporting events with the Archbishop Hoban Knights, New York and International Broadway performances, and was always there for their special occasions. Holding a special place in grandpa's heart was his best buddy Danny. All of his grandchildren thank him for all of the years of love and dedicated support he gave them. Robert was an avid sports fan and athlete. He also had a passion for Notre Dame football. As a young man he played minor league baseball with the Akron Orphans. Prior to being drafted into World War II, he was offered a professional baseball contract.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Edith Coudriet; and daughter-in-law, Sharon Coudriet.

Robert is survived by his wife, Betty; sons, Michael Coudriet of Bath, John (Maryann) Coudriet of Sevierville, Tenn., Stephen (MaryAnn) Coudriet of Akron, and James (MaryAnn) Coudriet of Tallmadge; sisters, Betty Pavlin of Akron, Jewell Brightbill of Camp Hill, Pa., and Marcella (Tom) Judy of Cary, N.C.; brother, Bernard (Joanne) Coudriet; grandchildren, Chad, Todd, Tana, Emily, Ben, and Dan Coudriet. Many nieces and nephews also survive him.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at Our Lady of Victory Church, 73 North Ave., Tallmadge with Father John Hengle and Father Norm Douglas officiating. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery where military rites will be conducted by Mogadore VFW Post #8487.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Donovan Funeral Home, 17 Southwest Ave., (On the Historic Tallmadge Circle). Memorial donations may be made to The Coudriet Memorial Scholarship, c/o Archbishop Hoban High School, 1 Holy Cross Blvd., Akron, Ohio 44306.

Donovan Funeral Home, 330-633-3350
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Monday, December 13, 2010, page B5, col.3]

Editor emeritus Loris Troyer dies

KENT - Veteran Portage County journalist, community leader, historian and author Loris C. Troyer, 96, died early Thursday morning, Dec., 9, at Gardens of Western Reserve in Cuyahoga Falls, where he had lived since mid-October.

Mr. Troyer retired in 1982, as executive editor of the Record-Courier, the Portage County daily newspaper he joined in 1936 to cover news of Kent State University for $10 a week. After retiring, he began writing a weekly Portage Pathways column about area history. His association with the Record-Courier spanned more than 65 years.

He had been in declining health for several years. He broke his hip in a fall on Thanksgiving night and had hip replacement surgery the following morning. After a week's stay at Akron City Hospital, he returned to Gardens of Western Reserve a week ago.

Born Oct. 11, 1914, in Walnut Creek, Ohio, he came to Kent State University in 1932, where he became a journalism student. He joined what was then the Kent Courier-Tribune in August 1936, giving up a part-time summer job of selling Singer sewing machines to do so. In 1939, he moved to the paper's Ravenna office to cover local news there. He became Kent editor of the Record-Courier in 1949, and executive editor in 1963.

As a young journalist, Mr. Troyer was credited with uncovering the news that the United States government was acquiring large parcels of land for what became the Ravenna Arsenal for arms production during World War II.

During his long career, he also was instrumental in coverage of the effects of World War II and post-war prosperity on Portage County residents, the dramatic growth of Kent State University and the tragedy of the campus shootings on May 4, 1970.

While his professional career enabled him to be in the presence of seven U.S. Presidents and countless entertainment and sports celebrities, he most enjoyed telling the stories of local newsmakers and everyday citizens.

A collection from his hundreds of history columns was published by the Kent State University Press in a 1998 book entitled Portage Pathways.

Mr. Troyer was involved for decades in community leadership, including serving 12 years on the Kent City Schools board of education beginning in 1958 and as director of the Portage County Soap Box Derby from 1947 through 1972. Over the years, he served as a director of the Portage County Red Cross, Camp Fire Girls, Boy Scouts, United Way, Kent Citizens for Progress, Portage County Heart Association and the City Bank of Kent. He was president of Kiwanis Club of Kent, Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, Ravenna Jaycees, Kentway, Inc., Kent Historical Society and Twin Lakes Country Club. He was a long-time member of the United Church of Christ of Kent, where he served as chairman of the board of trustees.

He was a charter member of the Akron Press Club and the Akron chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He received the John S. Knight Award for lifetime achievement in journalism, the Kent State University Distinguished Service Award and the Kent State School of Journalism Distinguished Alumni Award. He was a member of the Halls of Fame of the All-American Soap Box Derby and the Kent City Schools.

In 1939, he married Lucile Gallaway of Kent. She died in 1991. He married Laura Walters of Ravenna, who survives him, in 1992. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Jesse Troyer; sisters, Mellanie Arnold, Marjorie Hummel and Nellie Hecker; brothers, Dey Troyer and Tom Troyer; and son-in-law, Marvin Canupp. He also is survived by daughter, Sandy Canupp of Kent; son, Bob of Chicago; grandson, Scott Canupp of Broadview Heights, Ohio; granddaughter, Teri Peasley of Heath, Ohio, and great-grandchildren, Kyle and Kelsey Katz and Abigayle and Alexander Troyer Canupp.

Calling hours will be Sunday, Dec. 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home, 624 W. Main Street, Kent, Ohio 44240. Service will be Monday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. at United Church of Christ of Kent, 1400 E. Main Street. Memorials may be made to the Loris Troyer Journalism Scholarship Fund, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5910, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001, or the Kent Historical Society, 234 S. Water Street, Kent, Ohio 44240-3526.

Bissler & Sons Funeral Home, Kent,OH
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Friday, December 10, 2010, page B5, col. 4]

Here's the BJ Retiree Lunch "Bunch"

This is the photo of the monthly luncheon of Beacon Journal Retirees at Papa Joe's in the Valley. From left are Tom Moore, Gene McClellan and Al Hunsicker. Next month perhaps they will meet in a phone booth -- if they can find a phone booth, Moore writes.

Changes made for posting comments

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McClatchy says 18.2% of revenue is online

The McClatchy Company management today provided an update of business trends for 2010 and an outlook for 2011. Management noted that it saw a continuation of improving advertising revenue trends in October and November 2010. Advertising revenues were down 5.8% in October and November 2010 combined, compared to declines of 6.4% in the third quarter, 8.2% in the second quarter and 11.2% in the first quarter of 2010. Year-to-date advertising revenues through November 2010 were down 8.0%. Total revenues for October and November 2010 combined were down 5.1% and were down 6.2% year-to-date through November 2010.

Management noted the improving advertising trends in 2010 have been led by classified advertising, and in particular, improving trends in employment classified advertising. Employment advertising at McClatchy turned positive in May 2010 and has grown 2.1% over the last seven months.

Click on the headline dto read the PR Newswire news release.

Calling hours for Shippy are Thursday

Richard W. (Dick) Shippy died December 6, 2010, at Akron City Hospital following a long and brave battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was 83.

Dick was a talented writer and longtime reporter and columnist for the Akron Beacon Journal, where he covered film, radio, television and theater before returning to the sports department for the final decade of his career. He was fiercely proud of his profession, his newspaper and those with whom he worked over a nearly 40-year period. He had a quick, biting wit and was particularly outspoken about what he believed was the death of ``literate' journalism. He was once ordered by an editor to discard a written interview with author Norman Mailer because ``no one in Akron knows who Norman Mailer is.'

Dick's acerbic wit charmed some (readers) and alienated others (editors and publishers). He was hired by organizers of Akron's sesquicentennial celebration to write a stage play about the history of Akron and instead delivered a musical comedy featuring televangelists, would-be rubber barons and a lady of the evening named ``Claire of Perkins Park Square.' One reviewer wrote, ``I laughed 'til I bounced off my `bippy.'

Dick was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., but spent most of his childhood in Marion, Ind., where he graduated from high school as a National Merit Scholar. He studied engineering and mathematics at the University of Kentucky before serving in Italy during World War II. Following the war, he enrolled in Northwestern University, where he met the woman he would marry, Joanne L. Griffin. On their first date, they attended a Chicago Cubs doubleheader at Wrigley Field. On that day and throughout their 60-year marriage, she endured countless hours of boredom watching bad baseball to be at his side.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Emma G., aunt Rhoda, sister, Lois A., and beloved son, Brian G. He is survived by his wife, Joanne; daughter, Kathleen T., of Akron; sons, Kevin S. (Linda), New York, N.Y., and Richard A. ``Drew' (Wanda), Akron; and grandchildren, Emily, Colin, Alison, Rachel, Dylan and Graham.

Dick was a lifelong Democrat and generous supporter of liberal causes.

Dick's family wishes to thank friends who have stayed in contact throughout his extended illness, as well as the caregivers of Comfort Keepers, Cuyahoga Falls.

Family will receive friends on Thursday, December 9, 2010, at Hummel Funeral Home, 500 E. Exchange St., Akron, from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the adult literacy programs of Project Learn, 60 South High Street, Akron, Ohio 44326, (330) 434-9461.

Hummel Funeral Homes (330) 253-6126 www.hummelfh.com
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Wednesday, December 8, 2010, page B5, col. 3]

Retiree Dick Shippy dies at 83

Indiana native wrote in sports, arts sections during 35-year career

By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer

Former Beacon Journal reporter Richard W. ''Dick'' Shippy died Monday afternoon after a long illness. He was 83.

Mr. Shippy, who worked at the Beacon Journal for 35 years, died at Akron City Hospital.

He was best-known as a longtime movie, drama and television critic at the newspaper. He also worked for the Beacon Journal Sunday magazine and spent both his early and final years at the Beacon as a sports writer.

''Dick was a very outspoken guy who always let you know where you stood with him,'' said longtime friend Abe Zaidan, also a former Beacon Journal newsroom employee. ''He worked hard and was a very good writer. They got their money's worth from him.''

Mr. Shippy was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., on May 7, 1927. He went to high school in Marion, Ind., and graduated in 21/2 years, as a National Merit Scholar.

After serving in the U.S. Army and being stationed in Italy in the 1940s, he enrolled at Northwestern University in 1947 and graduated in 1951.

He worked at three smaller newspapers before joining the Beacon Journal in 1956.

From 1980 until retiring in 1991, he wrote about the Cleveland Force indoor soccer team, local and professional golf, Notre Dame football, and boxing, among other assignments.

Both during his working days and in retirement, Mr. Shippy was an avid baseball fan, especially of the Boston Red Sox and their hall of fame outfielder, Ted Williams.

Mr. Shippy was an athlete himself, playing basketball, football and baseball at various levels.

Calling hours and funeral information will be announced later.

[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Tuesday, December 7, 2010, page B4, col. 1] ]

Dick Shippy dies at City Hospital

Beacon Journal retiree Dick Shippy died about 4 p.m. today at Akron City Hospital.  He had been ill for sometime with a number of problems including Parkinson's. 

Shippy was a veteran craftsman on Sunday magazine, sports, television and drama.  A Beacon Journal reporter is pulling  together his obituary.

Leo Osmar now at Heather Knoll

Composing room retiree Leo V Osmar is now living at Heather Knoll, 1134 North Avenue, Tallmadge. (Phone 330.688.8600)


“When I moved here it was for life,” Osmar said. “but I moved because wife Theresa was destined to a life away from home with her alzhiemers diagnosis. Six weeks into my taking residence here she developed the eventual imminent fatal illness. She spent her last days at the Hospice in Fairlawn surrounded by her children and grandchildren, fairly conscious until the end.”

Theresa Ann Osmar, 78, died November 16, 2010.

You can email Leo at donuthour@sbcglobal.net

Leo’s unusual address apparently was composed during the many hours he spent at St. Bernard parish and the Peter Maurin Center helping to care for the homeless.

Merry Christmas Leo