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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Host Stephen Colbert challenged the two alternative music groups to prove which one had its music in more commercials. It ended with numbchucks, chains, broken bottles and tire iron for the "combat" by competing Grammy nominees.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

NY Post alerts mayor:

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]

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.

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.

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.

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]

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.

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

Changes to register to post comments on www.TimesReporter.com (online site of the TimesReporter in New Philadelphia) go into effect today.

To comment on either www.TimesReporter.com or our sister papers the Canton Repository or the Massillon Independent's websites, you will now need to supply your real name, phone number, physical address, e-mail address, age and sex. Because of the changes, current registered users will have to re-register their accounts. Information will not be used for commerical purposes or for any other reason other than to manage comments.

Once registered, your account will need to be approved first by a Times-Reporter employee before you are able to comment. We ask for your paitence as we approve them. Accounts that supply obvious false information or are incomplete will not be approved.

We cannot guarantee that you will be able to keep your current user/screen name. If you would like to keep it, it is advised that commenters register early.

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

Black Keys win Grammy nominations

The Black Keys, Pat Carney and Dan Auerbach, got Grsmmy nominations
wedenesday night for their sixth album.

Brothers, garnered nominations for Best Alternative Album; Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for the song Tighten Up; and Best Rock Instrumental for Black Mud.

The multiple Grammy nods make a gold-plated bookend to what has been the biggest year in the Firestone High graduates' near decade-long career.

Brothers debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Rock Album, Alternative and Tastemaker charts, as well as being their fastest-selling album with 73,000 sales in its first week. Additionally, the lead single Tighten Up also topped the Rock Songs chart (where it is still number 2) and is in its sixth week atop the Alternative Songs chart.

The band's songs have also been featured in the wildly popular game Rock Band, as well as commercials and films, including the soundtrack to The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (which is also Grammy-nominated). Their current world tour has been selling out many of its dates in the United States, Europe and Australia.

Graphic artist Michael Carney, Pat Carney's younger brother, also received a nomination for best recording package for his uncluttered, plainspoken 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 Carneys are sons of BJ reporter Jim Carney and stepsons of Jim's wife, Katie Byard, also a BJ reporter.

Connie Bloom has opening at new digs

BJ Alums got this email from former BJ staffer Connie Bloom:

Hi --

You are invited to the opening of my new quilting art studio in downtown Akron this weekend.

Enjoy a giant cookie and share in animated conversation in my studio on the third floor of Summit Artspace Saturday (5-9 p.m.) and Sunday (noon-4 p.m.), Dec. 4-5.

My studio is sweetly tucked into an array of other studios and galleries, so there is plenty to see and lots of shopping options. Saturday is also Artwalk night, which means you can hop Lolly the Trolley for free and take her to visit other nearby artist studios in the downtown art district.

Parking is free behind the building, which is next to the Akron Art Museum, 140 E. Market St., Akron.

Please feel free to call me at 330-472-0161 if you need anything.

Hope to see you there,

Connie Bloom

Connie announced her move as resident quiltmaker at Summit Art Space in September. The fabric art star has a 350 square foot studio.

Connie moved from her Red Light Galleries, 111 N. Main Street, next door to Luigi’s.

She is publisher/editor of QSDS (Quilt Service Design Symposium), a quarterly online magazine abut fabric art. Click on the headline to see samples of her quilt magazine.

Connie took a BJ buyout in 2008, ending 34 years in its newsroom which included writing a pets column and being among many graduates of the late Craig Wilson's Action Line staff.

Recognize this elf?

Don't know if he is an elf or what.

But this is Tom Moore, once a venerable Beacon Journal news editor, now apparently hard at work on the Polar Express of the Cuyahoga Valley railroad line.

Is Christmas time
so near?

Marchione wins science reporting award

Reprinted from Windy.com, the Youngstown Vindicator site

By Elise Franco
efranco@vindy.com

Marilynn Marchione entered Kent State University in 1972 with an undeclared major.

Nearly 40 years and four professional news outlets later, Marchione, 56, is a successful reporter honored with one of the most prestigious awards in medical-science journalism.

Marchione, an Associated Press reporter and a 1972 graduate of Ursuline High School, recently was awarded the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting.

“The award means a great deal to me because it comes from my peers,” she said. “Victor Cohn did so much to stamp out junk-science reporting, and he brought a rigor to science writing that the field sorely needed.”

Marchione lives in Milwaukee, where she is one the AP’s senior medical writers.

Before starting at the AP in 2004, she had a string of coveted reporting jobs at well-known newspapers across the country, including 10 years at the Akron Beacon Journal, a year at the Chicago Sun-Times and 18 years at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Marchione really found her reporting niche in 1983 when her daughter, now 27, was 6 months old and very sick in the hospital.

The medical process “riveted me. I went from reading parent magazines to reading scientific literature,” she said. “I found it life changing. It seemed to me from then on that nothing else was worth writing about.”

Driven by her newfound passion, Marchione sought spillover stories on the medical beat that the health reporter couldn’t get to. She said she worked hard to learn all she could about medical reporting and took advice from reporters with more experience.

“A lot of people come to it with a strong interest and not necessarily a medical background,” she said.

Milwaukee is where her medical-science writing really began to take shape.

“Once I came to the Milwaukee newspaper, the long-time medical writer was just a very gracious person, and he shared stories,” she said. “He mentored me, and that made a very big difference.”

The skills she acquired during this time and while working for the AP helped earn her the Victor Cohn Prize.

Marchione, the 11th recipient, was given the award and $3,000 on Nov. 7 in New Haven, Conn.

“Marchione’s wide-ranging daily and in-depth consumer health coverage has sought to bring medical science findings to readers in a way that is relevant to their own health choices,” a news release from the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing said.

Marchione’s mother, Alice Marchione, of Boardman, said she thinks her daughter is so talented in the field because of the way she expresses herself.

“She expresses herself well, both orally and written,” she said. “As you can tell she’s more of a news reporter, and she’s excellent.”

But unlike many aspiring writers, journalism wasn’t always something Marchione knew she wanted to do.

After taking a literature final exam in one of her first semesters at KSU, Marchione said the professor pulled her aside and suggested she look into the university’s journalism program.

“I didn’t know much about journalism, but after I turned in my final exam [my professor] said, ‘You really belong in that program,’” she said. “It seemed to combine the things I found most interesting.”

Alice Marchione said she’s proud of all her daughter has accomplished and continues to look for her byline.

“I’ve followed her journalism career as it progressed from her first reporting job at the Akron Beacon Journal ... I still look for her AP byline to keep abreast of her health-related articles,” she said. “That’s my girl. I have a tremendous amount of pride. It makes me feel like I’ve done my job well.”

Getting-it-straight button for web sites

A Report an Error Alliance has been launched to get every news page on the Internet to have a clearly labeled button for reporting errors. The Beacon Journal puts its corrections under Getting It Straight. Why not web sites?

It's too difficult for readers to let web sites know when they make mistakes, the ad hoc group contends. So make it easy. Provide a button, just as web sites do for Email and Print.

Click on the headline to read the story.