Retired BJ printer Lloyd Leadbetter dies

Composing retiree Carl Nelson brought a Canton Repository clipping of an obituary for retired BJ printer Lloyd Leadbetter. It wasn't in the BJ. Here it is:


Lloyd S. Leadbetter
Age 87 of Canton died Saturday evening (Feb. 12, 2011) in Aultman Hospital. Born in Thorburn, Nova Scotia to the late John H. and Margaret C. (Chambers) Leadbetter.

Lloyd was a veteran, having served with the Royal Canadian Army during World War II. He came to the United States in 1957 when he accepted a job with the Canton Repository, and retired in 1986 from the Akron Beacon Journal.

He also was a driver with Davis Tours. Lloyd was a member of Christ Presbyterian Church where he had been active with the food bank for over 30 years; he was also a founding member and a member of Canton-Akron Scottish Association.

Survivors include his wife, Harriet (Swartz) Leadbetter, to whom he would have been married 51 years; two daughters, Heather Leadbetter of the residence and Karin and her husband, Jason Swick of Minnesota; three grandchildren, Camille, Lily and Hawthorne; brothers and sisters-in-law, Charlie and Jeanne Swartz, and Tom and Ellie Jackson; numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Christ Presbyterian Church with Rev. David deVries officiating. A private interment will be in St. Jacob's Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Spiker-Foster- Shriver Funeral Home, 710 Tuscarawas St. W. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Memorial Fund of Christ Presbyterian Church, 530 Tuscarawas St. W., Canton, OH 44702. You may sign our guestbook at:
www.shriverfuneralhomes.com

Spiker-Foster-Shriver Funeral Homes & Cremation Service
330-455-0349 www.shriverfuneralhomes.com

[Published in The Canton Repository from February 14 to February 15, 2011]

Lloyd was a legend for loading BJ folks onto a bus and driving them to sites that were a reasonable distance from Akron.

Scintillating Seven at monthly BJ lunch

Seven showed up today at the monthly gathering of BJ Alums for Papa Joe's food and conversation. You have to go back to March 2010, when 12 showed up, for a larger crowd.

Composing retiree Cal Deshong, at 92, is the dean of the BJ lunch bunch. Composing retiree Gene McClellan, at 71, is the "baby" of the group, although engraving retiree Pat Dougherty is close at 72. Others who showed up today were Composing retirees Al Hunsicker and Carl Nelson and newsroom retirees Tom Moore and John Olesky. By the way, that's not a smudge on the photo or on Pat D.'s forehead. Today is Ash Wednesday. Catholics know the connection.

Five showed up in February -- Composing retirees Denzil Parker and Ed Hantzel, Hunsicker, McClellan and Nelson.

No one showed up in a January snowstorm, breaking the low of 2 in February 2010 when only Dougherty and McClellan showed up in THAT snowstorm.

The highest attendance in the past 3+ years was 23 in July 2008 for the Bob Pell/Sandy Levenson memorial lunch.

It's open to anyone who works or worked at the BJ in any department. It happens at 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month at Papa Joe's Restaurant, 1561 Akron-Peninsula Road, where A-P Road and Portage Trail meet.

Visit BJ artists AND Connie Bloom at same time

By John Olesky (BJ 1969-96)

If you go to Summit Artspace, 140 E. Market Street in Akron, April 29-June 5 to see the works of past and current Akron Beacon Journal artists Chuck Ayers, John Backderf, Art Krummel, Dennis Balogh, Kathy Hagedorn and Brian Shellito, you also can go to the third floor and see former BJ staffer Connie Bloom's quilt artwork.

Connie has become quite a quilt art guru in Akron and Ohio. She is publisher/editor of QSDS (Quilt Surface Design Symposium), a quarterly online magazine about fabric art. Her Connie's Quilting Arts Studio and Gallery is next to the Akron Art Museum.

Responding to my inquiry, Connie -- my former co-worker in the BJ Features Department -- sent this email:


John,

My studio is upstairs on the 3rd floor of Summit Artspace and I will be open, as always, during the opening of Fresh Air and all other exhibitions. I have become the resident quilt artist of SA and, indeed, downtown Akron, and moved in in September.

I am one of five independent artists juried into private studios by the Akron Area Arts Alliance.

There are also two arts organizations housed on the 3rd floor so there is plenty for visitors to see and tons of quality shopping.

I have lots of people coming through so I won't be doing any (maybe one) festivals this summer since quilts are selling where I am. I am very happy.

Warmly,
Connie Bloom

Come pet the art quilts in my new digs at Summit Art Space, 140 E. Market St. in downtown Akron. (330-472-0161).

Join in the monthly Artwalk, which is 5-10 p.m. the first Saturday of each month -- year-round. Doors also are open by appointment and on the first Sunday of the month from noon-4 p.m.

Click on the headline to read the BJ Alums article on the exhibition, including meeting the BJ artists in person at the 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 29 opening reception.

Dick Latshaw finds photos of U.S. military in Pacific during World War II

BJ Composing retiree Dick Latshaw, who lives on Pawleys Island, South Carolina, sent the URL for 110 fantastic photos of U.S. military in the Pacific in World War II collected by the Denver Post. It begins with the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. The U.S. command, by clustering the ships and planes for easier maintenance, made it easier for the Japanese to damage and sink a huge chunk of the American fleet and to destroy most of the Honolulu-based planes.

The 110 photos, mostly Associated Press pictures, wind up with Gen. Douglas MacArthur signing the Japanese surrender agreement on the USS Missouri.

To see the photos, click on the headline.

Northeast Ohio quartet crosses paths at sea

By John Olesky (BJ 1969-96)

Paula and I were enjoying the evening show on the Grand Princess during our Feb. 14-28 Caribbean cruise. Somewhere between Curacao and Grenada, an illusionist – we used to call them magicians – came on stage and did a routine involving a newspaper, the Medina Gazette!

The illusionist was Peter Gossamer, who was Peter Gensemer as a 1976 Medina High School graduate on his way to a marketing degree from Kent State University. His on-stage assistant was Carol Maccri. They met in New Jersey about a decade ago and will wed May 15, 2011.

The next night a comedian walked on stage. He was Kevin Hughes, the 11th of 12 children in a Cleveland home. His schooling included St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, the University of Texas, North Carolina-Charlotte and California Coast University, where he got another undergraduate degree and a masters in psychology.

And three tours with the U.S. Army.

It was my 11th cruise among the 62 trips that I have taken since my 1996 retirement from the Beacon Journal, where I was, in order, assistant State Desk editor, newsroom electronics coordinator, copy desk makeup man and television editor.

If you want to see our photos of the Caribbean cruise, click on the headline.

If you want to see how our battle with Orbitz over an unwanted open-jaw round trip flight turned out, go to Orbitz

Brown to perform mid-Lent organ recital

Akron Organist J. Curtis Brown, a former Beacon Journal reporter who lives in Highland Square, will present an organ recital for Mid-Lent meditation at 4 p.m., Sunday, April 3, 2011 (Mid-Lent) at New Life Episcopal Church, 13118 Church Ave. NW, Uniontown, Ohio. (330) 699-3554.

The program includes quieter organ works by Antonio Vivaldi, J. S. Bach, Franz Liszt, Cesar Franck, Jean Langlais, George Oldroyd, Healey Willan, Gordon Young and Dale Wood. A reception will follow the recital. Brown will perform on the church's Rodgers Organ in the historic country church setting of New Life Episcopal.

In addition to duties as organist/choirmaster at New Life, Brown, one of the senior organists in the region, is a teacher of piano and organ and studied at Oberlin and Baldwin-Wallace conservatories as well as with the faculty from the University of Akron in his high school years.

Convenient directions may be found on the church's web page

Denny O'Neil, former BJ Circulation, dies

Dennis ``Denny' O'Neil died unexpectedly March 1, 2011 at the young age of 64.

Denny was born in Akron to the late Charles and Margaret (Flowers) O'Neil. He spent many years working for the Akron Beacon Journal and currently worked for the Youngstown Vindicator. He was a hard worker and a wonderful father and grandfather who was incredibly involved with his family and friends. He loved boasting about his children and grandchildren and when he wasn't spending time with those whom he loved most, he could be found coaching CYO basketball, running or competing. He loved his family and was loved very much; he was a good friend and protector.

Along with his parents, Denny was preceded in death by his brother, Mike. He is survived by his daughters, Jennifer (James) Lewis, Meghan (John) Lovaty and Heather (Randy) Clevenger; grandchildren, Lauren, Sara, Logan, Zac, Joe, Maggie (Margaret) and Jack; significant other, Kelli Maughan; sister, Charlene (Jack) Kilway; and many other loving family and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, 10 a.m. at Queen of Heaven Church, 1800 Steese Rd., Uniontown. Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at HENNESSY-BAGNOLI FUNERAL HOME, 936 N. MAIN STREET, AKRON. Denny's final resting place will be Holy Cross Cemetery.


Published in Akron Beacon Journal from March 3 to March 4, 2011

Denny worked in the BJ Circulation Department for 20 years, business department retiree Harold McElroy of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, emailed, adding "He started as a District Manager. Ended in charge of telemarketing."

Former BJ employee Al Frattura described Denny as "a great guy and one who always had a smile."

Dennis was sales marketing manager for the Youngstown Vindicator at the time of his death.

BJ artists on display: April 29-June 5

Upcoming Exhibition at Summit Artspace

140 E. Market St. Akron, Ohio

April 29-June 5 , 2011

Opening reception will be Friday, April 29th 5pm-7pm.

Get a chance to see and meet past and current artists of the Akron Beacon Journal including Chuck Ayers (Crankshaft), John Backderf (Derfcity), Brian Shellito, Art Krummel, Dennis Balogh and Kathy Hagedorn.

Carrie moved to Edwin Shaw Hospital

BJ Alums got this email from BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore about his daughter, Caroline "Carrie" Moore Krack, who was hospitalized in January with meningitis.

folks:

daughter carol is being moved to edwin shaw hospital for her rehab, so
looks like she's out of the woods.

thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers. i'm sure they were a
big part of her recovery.

daddy tom

Click on the headline for previous posts on Carrie's situation.

Phjl Meyer: Who Needs Newspapers

When discussing the future of newspapers, there is no better-qualified person to enlist than our own Phil Meyer who was Washington correspondent for the Akron Beacon Journal from 1962-1966 and since 1993 has been the Knight Chair in Journalism Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Here is the latest from Meyer on Who Needs Newspapers.

Update on Carrie Moore Krack

John Krack, husband of Carrie Moore Krack, daughter of BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore, sent updates to BJ Alums blog. The main, encouraging elements:

She’s wide awake, very alert, and oriented. She remembers minute details from the past. She doesn’t remember the first trip to the ER on Jan. 1, or the last two months, except maybe some bits and pieces.

She remembers hospital people she talked with recently, even remembering some names.

We went through about 20 of the cards you’ve sent to her. Some she was able to read, and others (particularly those with longer messages in cursive handwriting) she wanted me to read to her. She commented on the beautiful cards, chuckled at the humorous ones, understood the messages, recognized the senders, and really appreciated your thoughtfulness.


Click on the headline for previous updates on Tom's daughter, who was hospitalized with meningitis.

$10,000 prize offered for news ideas

Detroit Media Partnership announced today IdeaQuest 2011, a contest with $10,000 in prize money for the two best ideas that help the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News better serve the community and help grow their audiences. 

Ideas might include improving news coverage (in print, digitally and other ways), helping others in our communities, ways to save people time and money or about doing business more effectively.  Ideas can be submitted in two categories -- employee and non-employee – at http://ideaquest.michigan.com.  The deadline for entries is midnight, March 31 and is open to anyone 18 years or older. 

Once submitted, ideas will be voted on from April 1 through April 14 by the public, and the top five vote-getters in each category will have the opportunity to pitch to the judging panel on April 29, why their idea should win.  The judges are:

    * Patrick Doyle, CEO/Domino's Pizza
    * Susie Ellwood, CEO/Detroit Media Partnership
    * Myron Maslowsky, Sr. VP Group Finance & Administration/ USA TODAY


"We are committed to getting as many ideas from as many sources as possible," said Susie Ellwood, CEO, Detroit Media Partnership.  "The best way for us to serve our community is to solicit feedback and understand what they want and need in this ever-changing media environment," she said.  

Click on the headline to read the full news release.

Ex-Rocky Mountain News staff still working

People who were on the editorial staff of the Rocky Mountain News on its last day February 27, 2009 are working as journalists across the country and across the globe.


In Cincinnati, Nairobi, Los Angeles, Gilroy, Colorado Springs, Raleigh, Chicago, Louisville, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Albuquerque, Corpus Christi, Toronto, Pueblo, Las Vegas, New York, Salt Lake, Lincoln, Australia, Korea and Guadalupe County, N.M., too.


Of the 146 former staff members who responded to a survey about their lives two years after the paper closed, 92 said they're still working as journalists.

Read more on a survey by former Rocky Editor John Temple

Michael Holley is talk of Boston sports airwaves

Michael Holley’s star power continues to get brighter in Boston.

On Tuesday, the Akron native and former Beacon Journal sports writer was named the co-host of sports talk radio station WEEI’s afternoon drive-time show, after a successful 6-year run as a co-host on WEEI’s mid-day show.

The move is seen as an attempt by WEEI (850-AM) to turn around its lagging afternoon ratings. Long the rating leader in sports-crazed Boston, WEEI’s ratings have slipped of late behind an upstart FM sports talk station, 98.5 The Sports Hub.

“I thought it was a brilliant move. I think Michael is one of the most talented people I've ever worked with,” said Dale Arnold, Holley’s mid-day partner and a 20-year veteran of the station.

Boston Globe sports media columnist Chadd Finn wrote: “Holley, a former Globe columnist, a best-selling author, and the host of Comcast SportsNet New England’s “Celtics Now,’’ is the big winner in the move. His contract with WEEI ran out in March; now he not only has a higher-profile role, but a new multiyear deal as well. (Terms were not disclosed by WEEI, but a raise is a certainty in a move from midday to afternoon drive.)”

Holley starts his new job on Feb. 28.

Click on the headline to read the Globe article.

Glenn Guzzo still rolling the dice

Former Beacon Journal managing editor Glenn Guzzo was quoted in a New York Times article Monday about a weekend gathering of Strat-O-Matic Baseball devotees in celebration of the table-top game's 50th anniversary.

Guzzo, the Beacon Journal M.E. for six years in the 1990s, is an authority on the dice-and-card game, having played it for almost all of its existence, and even writing a book on the pastime, "Strat-O-Matic Fantatics." He also writes a column and answers questions on a Strat-O-Matic website.

“Like Othello or chess, you can learn the game swiftly, but you’ll never tire of the strategies,” Guzzo said in the Times.

Guzzo left the Beacon Journal in 1999 to become editor of the Denver Post, a job he held until 2002. He later was an adjunct journalism professor at the University of North Florida and co-authored a college textbook, "Writing and Reporting the News as a Story."

Click on the headline to read the New York Times article.

Black Keys take home Grammys

Carney (right),  Auerbach accept award

The Black Keys, the blues-rock duo from Akron, are officially ”the Grammy-winning” blues-rock duo as their album won four awards on Sunday evening.
Drummer Patrick Carney and singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach took the stage twice in dark matching suits during the Grammy pre-telecast show streamed online at Grammy.com to thank friends, family and the city of Akron.

The band took home its first two Grammys for best alternative music album for Brothers and best rock performance by a duo or group with vocals for the single Tighten Up. Carney’s brother, Michael Carney, also won his first Grammy in best recording package for his art direction on Brothers.

Click on the headline to read the Beacon Journal story by Malcolm X Abram

Jolene Limbacher's former husband dies

Guy F. Limbacher died Saturday in a Dover nursing home of Agent Orange poisoning. He was 66.

Guy was born Feb. 4, 1945, in the kitchen of the family's dairy farm near Baltic. He graduated from the former Baltic High School in 1963. He served with the Army in Vietnam in 1966-1967.

He and his wife, the former Jolene Delbert of Dover, now of Plain Township in Stark County, were married for 38 years before divorcing. They have two children; and five grandsons, Christopher Limbacher of Dublin and Dr. Kellie Zaylor of Rocky River.

Guy was diagnosed with prostate cancer and a rare brain disease - progressive supra nuclear palsy - both of which are caused by the toxin, Agent Orange. By the time Guy arrived in Vietnam, millions of gallons of Agent Orange and other toxins had been dumped on Vietnam to rid the jungle of its thick foliage. Guy fought the brain disease for many years, constantly trying to keep his mobility. Hundreds of times he fell, and hundreds of times he got back up. Over the years, the disease robbed him of his ability to walk, move, see, speak and swallow. Even death was an elusive and monumental struggle.

Calling are Monday, Feb. 14, 4:30 to 8 p.m., in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover. A service honoring Guy will be held Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 11:30 a.m. in the funeral home. Guy's ashes then will be interred in Dover Burial Park, where military rites will be presented by the Dover post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. TOLAND-HERZIG, DOVER,

330-343-6132

www.tolandherzig.com


Published in Akron Beacon Journal on February 13, 2011


Jolene Delbert Limbacher, Dover High and Ohio State graduate, was a reporter for the Dover Times-Reporter before joining the Beacon Journal as a reporter. She was at the BJ from 1986 till 1996.

Her stories about Thomas Lee Dillon, Stark County serial sniper from 1989 to 1993, who called Jolene day and night for five months, got Jolene on a "Connie Chung Tonight" broadcast of the situation and on CNN's Wolf Blitzer airing. Dillon's friend, Richard Fry, tipped authorities off about Dillon. Dillon is serving five consecutive 30 years to life sentences in the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville.

Jolene also covered Stark County rapist William E. Griffith Jr., who got 20 to 50 years in prison for 50 rapes, including 20 in other counties.

Jolene lives in Plain Township.

Jim Carney: Proud in triplicate

Beacon Journal reporter Jim Carney, in today's BJ, writes about how he is proud of all three of his sons, not just Patrick, who is up for music's Grammy Awards tonight as part of the Black Keys band.

There's oldest son, Will, 33, who turned his childhood obsession with railroads and trains into a career as a railroad engineer and, today, as superintendent of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

And youngest son, Michael, 29, whose passion for art led to a Columbus College of Art and Design degree and a Grammy nomination for his Black Keys "Brothers" album art.

And Patrick, 30, who played guitar in a multitude of bands with his friends before switching to drums and joining guitarist Dan Auerbach to form the Black Keys.

The Carney boys are all Firestone High graduates, as is Auerbach.

Jim's wife, BJ reporter Katie Byard, is their stepmom.

For an Oct. 20, 2010 BJ Alums article on Jim's reaction to being a rock star's dad, click on proud dad

David Giffels in rock band

Former Beacon Journal columnist David Giffels will perform Friday, Jan. 11, at Thursday’s Lounge, 306 E. Exchange Street in Akron, as a member of the local May Company band. The evolved from Giffels and Dave "Doc" Rich trading songs in Giffels' basement.

Giffels is on guitar and vocals, Pat McNulty on drums, keyboards and vocals, Rich on guitar, keys and vocals. "Friday" Mike Wilkinson is the other band member.

Thursday's Lounge in 1983 took over the Zips Varsity Club space. Fred Nemr came from Lebanon -- the country, not the Ohio city -- and, after unsuccessful bars in Barberton and North Akron, found the right combination adjacent to the University of Akron campus. Fred and wife Barbara's children, Monique, Mark and Mario, were involved with the business over the years. Fred died in 2005.

Click on the headline for Malcolm X Abram's BJ story on the band.

Catching up with . . . Don Bandy

BJ Alums blog received this letter from Ruth Burton, niece of retired Beacon Journal rewrite expert Don Bandy, who moved from Aqueduct Street in Akron to Bradenton, Florida in 2006.

To all the many friends of Don Bandy:

Don has been in and out of the hospital at Blake Medical Center since November 2nd. At that time he was admitted for dehydration and depression. He was released on November 5th to my care for four days, then went to live in his condo.

On November 19th he fell in the parking lot while taking out trash and old newspapers. At this point he was taken to the hospital and the X-rays revealed that he had a broken left hip. He had surgery the following day at Blake Medical Center. He received physical and occupational therapy.

Later, he was moved to Heritage Park to receive more services. In the middle of January, Don’s days for the insurance to pay were up. He found an assisted living care facility where he is currently living. He has a few of his favorite things – chair, TV, bed, Ohio State shirts, lamps, pillows, bookcases and pictures of family and friends. (Rather cozy, I might say.)

Don needs your support through cards and letters. Postcards are a good source of communication. He likes to re-read them. He has a cellphone. Please be patient as he must find the phone and then push the right button.

Enclosed is his card with address and phone number.

He wants to hear from you.

Many thanks for your help.

Ruth Burton, a niece
4350 Beckman Place
Sarasota, FL 34235-2286

Address for cards to Don's assisted living facility:

Don Bandy
Emeritus at Bradenton
450 67th St. W Apt. 229
Bradenton, FL 34209

Don's cellphone (in his apartment):

(941) 545-1528

Blake Medical Center is in Bradenton. Heritage Center is a Bradenton rehabilitation facility.


Don, who left Washington Court House for Ohio State and his newspaper career, moved from Akron into the same Bradenton, Florida condo complex with his sister. Their brother and sister-in-law lived in Naples, 130 miles south of Bradenton. Another brother also lived in Florida.

Don threw parties at his Aqueduct home in Akron for his leaf-raking friends. He had an inexhaustible supply.

Don took part in the 2005 BJ reunion in Columbus that included Jim Ricci, who came up with the idea; Mike Cull, who made it happen; Mike Clary, Bill Hershey, John and Georgia MacDonald, Jim and Karen Toms and Larry Froelich. Ricci came from Los Angeles, Clary from Miami, Froelich from Lexington, Kentucky, Bandy from Akron, the MacDonalds from the Washington, D.C. area. The Tomses and Hershey live in Columbus.

Don visited Akron in 2006 when his grand niece was married in Hudson.

Click on the headline to see photos of Don during his BJ reunions in Akron, Columbus and Florida.

Carrie Moore Krack update

BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter, Caroline "Carrie" Moore Krack, had a setback Monday. A problem with her tracheal tube caused cardiac arrest till it was solved. She has been returned to her previous facility, Select Speciality Hospital, 200 E. Market.

Carrie began the year battling meningitis at Akron City Hospital.

Click on the headline for an earlier post on Carrie's situation.

Paula Schleis' mother dies

Beacon Journal reporter Paula Schleis' mother, RoseAnn Schleis, died Sunday. Paula's dad, Stephen, died in 2009.

Here's her obituary, which sounds like it was written by Paula:

She was only ours to borrow, but how blessed we were to have qualified for such a loan. RoseAnn Schleis was 82, when heaven called that loan on Sunday, February 6, 2011, and her family returned her to the waiting arms of her loving husband, Stephen.

RoseAnn never graduated from high school, yet she was the first person people turned to when they needed advice. Whether it was a grandchild crying about being picked on by a sibling or a son or daughter with financial or marital problems, RoseAnn's comforting words and wisdom soothed all manner of ills.

She also expressed her love in the kitchen. Many were the summer days she'd stand over a pan of hot oil, funnel and palachinta batter in hand, as her family begged for repeated servings of her ``snakes.' If she made beef stew and dumplings, the telephone lines would light up till stragglers were coming through the door, and no gathering was complete without her stuffed cabbage.

RoseAnn was an avid Facebook user, posting daily status updates, sharing songs she found on YouTube, and staying connected with relatives around the country. At the age of 80, she scoured the Internet for polymer clay designs and started making beads, leaving every friend, relative and acquaintance who crossed her path with beautiful hand-made necklaces and earrings.

She also loved music. In her younger days, she would polka with passion to her father's accordion. When her legs no longer cooperated, she found reason to sing every day. When her voice was silenced, her children sang for her. It was in the midst of the love song RoseAnn and Steve used to sing to each other that she took her last breath.

In the final days of RoseAnn's life, a grandson asked her children, ``What did she teach you?' The answers came swiftly: ``Respect, compassion and forgiveness.'

RoseAnn was born in Barberton to Balthasar and Rose Seigfried. She was an active member of the former Holy Trinity Church and made military fuel tanks at Seiberling as one of many ``Rosie the Riveters' during World War II. But most of her attention was focused at home, where she carried on a 62-year love affair with Steve and raised five children.

She is survived by those children: Susanna (Jerry) Freeman of Bath Township, Thomas Schleis of Barberton, Barbara (Dave) Yoder of Barberton, Paula Schleis of Barberton and Michael (Loretta) Schleis of Akron. She leaves 33 grand and great-grandchildren; brothers, Steve (Betty) Seigfried and Paul (Cathy) Seigfried; sisters-in-law, Clara Schleis and Rosie Seigfried; and too many admiring nieces, nephews, cousins and friends to list. She also leaves her card-playing buddies of more than 40 years: Barb, Barb, Sandy, Eleanor and Ann.

Calling hours will be noon to 2 p.m. on Thursday at Cox Funeral Home, 222 Norton Ave., Barberton, with services beginning at 2 p.m. RoseAnn and Steve used to spend hours tossing peanuts to the blue jays, crows, squirrels and chipmunks in their backyard, identifying what birds came to their feeders, and waiting for the deer to amble by. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the National Wildlife Foundation or any other wildlife organization would be welcomed.



[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Tuesday, February 8, 2011, page B5, col. 2]

Click on the headline for the obituary on Paula's father, which Paula also probably wrote.

Orange County Register put up for sale

The Orange County Register and other newspapers and TV stations have heen put up for auction by Freedom Communicatuions.

Leading contenders to buy the Register appear to be MediaNews, with nine dailies in the area, and the companies that own the L.A. Times and the Union-Tribune.

Executives in the thick of the deal expect bids to be submitted by early next month and a decision made not long after that. But there are many complications. A deal for the whole company is possible, but it's more likely Freedom will be sold in chunks, according to those involved, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the situation.

The Irvine-based company has 32 other dailies, 70 weekly newspapers and eight TV stations. Different suitors are likely to be attracted to each of those segments. Returns from TV have been the best, presumably making the stations an easier sale. The papers are a mixed bag and would likely draw most interest from regional players.

Publishing executives and financial managers who own parts of the region's dominant newspaper companies believe that the sale of the Register will be just the first in a series of consolidations. They predict that eventually could result in what once would have been unthinkable — a single owner for most of Southern California's substantial daily newspapers.

Beware of using Orbitz for trip

Bob Dyer, BJ columnist and my former Blue Room lunch partner, details the problems that I had when Orbitz, without my knowledge and consent, switched my planned flight from Akron to Fort Lauderdale to Akron to an open-jaw flight -- Pittsburgh to Fort Lauderdale, then back to Akron. It cost me $231.40 extra to cancel and get the Akron-Fort Lauderdale flight I put in for originally -- and a lot of time dealing with Orbitz, the Ohio Attorney General and online travel ombudsmen.

The flight was needed so that Paula and I could board the Grand Princess in Fort Lauderdale for a 15-day cruise.

-- John Olesky

Click on the headline to read Dyer's story, and let it be a lesson for you if you're thinking of using Orbitz to book a flight.


After a month of exchanging emails with Orbitz and finally threatening to withhold our business from Orbitz -- we have spent about $20,000 on flights, car rentals and lodging, all areas where Orbitz makes money -- Orbitz relented and sent me a travel voucher for $231.40, the extra cost to us when we "re-booked" the flight with only Akron and Fort Lauderdale as the airports. Since AirTran also waived the $150 "re-booking" fee, we got every penny of our potential $381.40 extra cost back.

Marilyn Marchione information request

Former BJ staffer Diane Paparone Evans is seeking information about former BJ staffer Marilyn Marchione.

Diane's email:

BJ Friends,
Do any of you have current contact information for Marilyn Marchione?
Please let me know if you do.
Thanks,
Diane

Marilyn lives in Milwaukee, where she is one the AP’s senior medical writers. Husband Ernie is photo editor for Birders World, a bird-watching magazine for Kalmbach Publishing in suburban Milwaukee. Their children are Melissa and Mike.

Before starting at the AP in 2004, Marilyn's reporting jobs included 10 years at the Beacon Journal, a year at the Chicago Sun-Times and 18 years at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Kent State University and Youngstown Ursuline High School graduate last year won the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting. Her mother, Alice Marchione, lives in Boardman, Ohio.

The email address we have for Marilyn is:

mmarchione@ap.org

Later, BJ Alums got this email from Diane:

John,
Thanks – and I did reach her. How are you doing?
I miss my BJ alums.
Diane

Click on the headline for BJ Alums articles on Marilyn winning the Cohn award.

Wadsworth's TV dog lady dies

Jan Sponsler, host of "Animal Crackers" on Wadsworth's cable system for 381 episodes, passed away Monday. Jan was famous in the Wadsworth community for her love of dogs, as attested by many who signed her funeral home guest book. Her obituary:


Jannis Pauline Sponsler, 81, of Wadsworth, passed away Monday, January 31, 2011.

She was born July 23, 1929 in Everett, Pa. to the late Blair and Mildred Clark. She was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, a member of Wadsworth Eagles #2117 and the Medina County SPCA. Jannis was the host of Animal Crackers on WCTV having hosted 381 episodes and received numerous Clapper Awards.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Helen Karns and one brother, Joe Clark. Mrs. Sponsler is survived by her husband, Dick, with whom she would have celebrated 60 years of marriage in April 2011. There are three sons and daughters-in-law, Jeff and Diane Sponsler, Scot Sponsler, and Rich and Donna Sponsler, all of Wadsworth; her grandchildren, Katie (Gregg) Conley, Kevin, Jennifer (Dan) Knechtel, Amanda, Jessica and Steven; her great-grandchildren, Grace and Cal Conley, Mason and Riley Knechtel; and her sisters and brothers, Betty Cornell and Lillian Bennett, both of Clearville, Pa., Elsie (John) Mellot of State College, Pa., John Clark of Everett, Pa., and Jim (Joyce) Clark of New Jersey.

The family will receive friends 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home, 174 N. Lyman St., Wadsworth. Funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday at Trinity United Church of Christ, 215 High St., Wadsworth, with Rev. Daniel Doty officiating. Interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Medina, 797 N. Court St., Medina, OH 44256 or Medina County SPCA, 245 S. Medina St., Medina, OH 44256. Hilliard-Rospert

(330-334-1501)

www.HilliardRospert.com


Published in Akron Beacon Journal from February 2 to February 3, 2011

Black Keys get 2 Woodie nominations

Add two mtvU Woodie Awards nominations to the Black Keys' credits. Pat Carney and Dan Auerbach form the Black Keys. Carney's dad is Beacon Journal reporter Jim Carney; BJ reporter Katie Byard is Pat's stepmom. The article on News.Yahoo.com:

NEW YORK – The Black Keys have hit the right note with the mtvU Woodie Awards.

The Keys are the only act nominated for two awards for the college network's awards show.

They are up for Woodie of the Year, which goes to the top artist. Their competition includes B.o.B and Arcade Fire. B.o.B called the nomination "an honor and a pleasure."

The Black Keys also are up for best video for "Tighten Up." Others nominated in that category include Duck Sauce for "Barbra Streisand" and Vampire Weekend for "Giving Up the Gun."

Other Woodie nominees include LCD Soundsystem, Kanye West and Das Racist.

The Woodies will be March 16 from the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. They will be aired live on mtvU as well as MTV and MTV2.

The Black Keys also have received six Grammy nominations. Pat and Dan live in Nashville. They were classmates at Firestone High when they lived around the corner from each other.

Pat's brother, Michael, also got a Grammy nomination for his artwork on one of the Black Keys' six albums. Michael is a Firestone High grad who is a graphic designer for American Eagle Outfitter in NYC. He lives in Brooklyn.

Jim's oldest son, Will, 33, lives in Peninsula and is Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway superintendent.

Click on the headline to hear the Black Keys' interview on National Public Radio's "Fresh Air," hosted by Terry Gross. Thanks for the tip, Ken Krause (see Comments).

Dick Latshaw takes a trip down memory lane

Retired printer Dick Latshaw, who lives on Pauleys Island, South Carolina near BJ business department retiree Harold McElroy, provides memories, music and photos of the 1940s. Click on the headline if you're interested.

Gannet revenue is up 30% – BUT

Gannett Co., the owner of 82 newspapers as well as television stations, reported fourth- quarter profit that increased 30 percent on cost cutting and rising TV advertising revenue.  BUT newsaper revenue, including advertising and circulation, declined 4.7 percent

Net income advanced to $174.1 million, or 72 cents a share, from $133.6 million, or 56 cents, a year earlier, the McLean, Virginia-based company said today in a statement. Earnings, excluding some items, rose to 83 cents a share. Analysts projected 81 cents on average, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Gannett, the first large newspaper publisher to report its results for the quarter, is watched by investors as an indicator of how the industry is faring. The company’s publishing revenue, including advertising and circulation, declined 4.7 percent in the fourth quarter to $1.06 billion. The print decline was offset by a 27 percent gain in broadcast-TV revenue and 5.2 percent increase in digital revenue.

Read the full story.

Arthur Becks celebrate 60th anniversary

Arthur Beck and Eleanor Sirota were marred January 27, 1951. They have five children and 11 grandchildren.

Art retired from the Beacon Journal in 1991 with almost 39 years service. He now works in the Autism unit at Schnee Learning Center and at Leisure Time Recreation in the summer. Eleanor dedicates her time and love to her family and loves to crochet. They both lke to travel and fish.

They celebrated by having dinner at Erie Station Grille.

[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Sunday, January 30, 2011, page E5, col. 3]


Note:  Beck was office manager of circulation department.

Carrie speaks about her needs

Email from John Brack, the husband of Carrie Brack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter who is recovering from meningitis.

The fun may be beginning.

John and Carrie

Yesterday she was still pretty “out of it,” opening her eyes occasionally but not interacting or following commands much, trying to pull at her tubes and wires, and working herself into uncomfortable positions in the bed. I was pretty disappointed that she wasn’t coming around, but the staff said that wasn’t unusual after transfer to a new facility.

Her family and I met with Sue, her case manager, who briefed us on how they operate, answered a bunch of questions, and traded expectations with us. Basically, they provide specialized nursing care as needed, and Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapies until the patient can tolerate 3 hours total of combined therapy per day. The average length of stay is 22-30 days. They have care team meetings on Wednesdays to review patient status, and will brief us on their findings and plans on Thursdays.

Her next stop depends on her progress, and could run the gamut from skilled nursing to acute rehab to outpatient rehab to home (nothing further needed). I’m hoping for outpatient or home, but we’ll see. They encourage family/friend support, and will suggest things we can do with her in between their therapy sessions. We’ve started a logbook where we (and the therapists) can note what we’ve observed and done.

Hopefully, we can synergize our efforts and improve the outcome. Her family and I will try to dovetail our visits to spread out her face time and not overwhelm anyone. At some point we'll welcome limited phone calls from friends, but we're not there yet.

She was more awake today, and much more interactive than the last several days. They downsized her trach tube this morning, and she tolerated it well. As she can tolerate it, they’ll continue to install smaller tubes, allowing more use of the upper airway and letting the stoma gradually close, until they finally pull the last tube altogether and let the stoma heal.

She was able to speak a little in a guttural voice as there’s apparently enough space around the trach cuff that air can get past into the upper airway. The first thing she said was “I can’t stand this!” She then said that she needed her bottom cleaned, and that she wanted to be positioned on her side. Both needs were taken care of.

It’s encouraging that she can articulate her needs, which will help to make her more comfortable. I expect this to get better as the speech therapist works with her in the coming days. Another step.

Her sister Kathy stopped in this afternoon and did her nails, and her parents were in, reporting that she was awake the whole time they were there, and was much more aware and interactive than in the past. She said she wanted ice cream, and water. (Pretty soon it’ll be Diet Coke and chocolate!) The Physical Therapist was in and had her sitting up.

This evening she was sleeping when I got there, but was awakened when they came in to clean out her mouth. After that, she was kind of back to yesterday, half-awake and not too cooperative. She still wanted me to kiss her, though, which was nice She hasn’t lost that skill!.

John

Carrie has been transferred to Select Speciality Hospital, 200 E. Market, Room 107.

Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie's health situation.

Help Norma Hill get bathroom rehab

With your help, North Canton resident Norma Hill might finally get electrical outlets in her bathroom. Hill is one of 89 finalists in CSN Stores' $10,000 Green and Clean Bathroom Bailout, a contest that will award a bathroom renovation to the person determined by voters to have the worst case of the bathroom blues. She's one of two finalists from Ohio.

Hill, a librarian at the Beacon Journal, was chosen on the basis of her photos and essay about her bathroom, with its chipped and cracked tiles, constantly clogging sink drain, leaking shower and lack of outlets and storage. Her do-it-yourselfer husband usually tackles those kinds of repairs, she wrote, but he often injures himself in the process.

‘‘We have a bathroom on its last legs but I have a husband that I would like to preserve,’’ she wrote.

You can vote for Hill's entry on CSN Stores' Facebook page,
http://www.facebook.com/csnstores. Click on the ‘‘Contest Voting’’ tab and look for Norma H. from Ohio. Voting ends March 15.

Pat Hawk, widow of Don, at Rockynol

This is Pat Hawk, widow of the late Beacon Journal copy editor Donald Hawk. She is now in assisted living at Rockynol. She and Don were active in the Beacon Journal credit union. Don died in September 1984. BJ photographer Paul Tople shot this photo of her at Rockynol.

1-26-11 report on Carrie, Tom Moore's daughter

Email from the husband of Carrie Brack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter who has meningitis.

The fun hasn't really begun yet. Her mental status hasn't changed much from Monday. She is spending a fair amount of time dozing, and keeps squirming around and moving her arms and legs, repositioning her body to uncomfortable positions in the bed. She tries to pull on the tubes and wires, so her hands have to be restrained to keep her from pulling them out.

She wakes up occasionally and continues to show positive signs, but she's not consistently following enough simple commands yet to get her started on therapy. The speech therapist has been by several times, but Carrie hasn't been very cooperative. She mouths words from time to time, so I expect she might be able to at least whisper when they deflate the trach tube cuff and install a speaking valve, allowing exhaled air to go up through the mouth/nose. She still recognizes people, and wanted a kiss yesterday, which I happily obliged. So we wait, try to keep her comfortable, and tell her positive things. I guess this is all kind of par for the course, but it's hard to see her in this condition.

The nurse did, however, make an encouraging comment today when she said that these patients often go on like this for awhile, then suddenly turn around and want to know where they are, what's going on, etc. This facility deals with lots of patients like this, so I have to trust that they know what they are doing. We'll find out more when we meet with the staff tomorrow to discuss their evaluation and treatment plan.

John


Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie's condition.

Update on Geigers' health & location

Hiya, John,

Much more importantly, Sandy has another cardiac catheterization this morning. The last time this happened, she was kept in the hospital for her bypass surgery.

My leg veinous ablation went fine, it seems. Follow up sonogram is tomorrow.

Penney For Your Thoughts is our community monthly newsletter. Meanwhile, I'm reporting on Penney Farms government and Clay County stuff for Clay Today, a weekly owned by (Milwaukee) Journal Community Publications.

I know you've got us situated in St. Augustine, bro, but we're 38 miles west of there. We're midway between Jacksonville and Gainesville; kind of in the sticks. However, this makes it legitimate for us to be fans of both the Jaguars and the Gators.

Slim Whitman lives up the road, but we cannot hear him warbling "Indian Love Call." Having him nearby might keep us safe should Mars attack.

My best to you.

Pete

Penney Farms, Florida -- on Rt. 16 west of the St. John's River; St. Augustine is east of the river -- is the site of the Penney Farms Christian retirement community.

After Sandy's checkup, Pete emailed this update:

John,

Sandy passed with almost flying colors. One of the five cardiac artery bypasses she received in July, 2007 in Elyria is now blocked. Her cardiologist said 30 percent of bypasses block within five years; we didn't know that. He says Sandy's heart is healthy, however, and fully seerved despite the blockage. He did no angioplasty and installed no stent. Her medication is sufficient, he said.

Yeah, we're west of the St. Johns. I think of this territory as more typical of Old Florida. The Black Creek and woods near our place were the setting for old Tarzan movies with Johnny Weismuller. Slim Whitman has a neighbor who earned fame in prohibition days by distilling rum from sugar cane growing on his farm. The neighbor and the cane are still there; the still isn't. The neighbor throws a community pot-luck every Christmas with country music and demonstrationss of making blackstrap molasses. Slim, however, no longer sings in public.

Y'all come see us, y'heah?

Pete


Click on the headline for an earlier report on the Geigers in Florida.

Thursday calling hours for Jack Patterson

Calling hours for former BJ sports columnist Jack Patterson will be Thursday, January 27th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Redmon Funeral Home in Stow, with a memorial service Friday at 1 p.m. at Northampton United Methodist Church in Cuyahoga Falls. Private burial will be at Silver Springs Cemetery in Stow.

(REDMON, STOW, 330-688-6631)


Click on the headline to read Jack's obituary.

Pete Geiger has leg procedure

Former BJ staff Pete Geiger for the third time had some veins in his legs collapsed so that the remaining veins can provide better circulation. Geiger, once the BJ religion writer, has been doing a Penny for Your Thoughts column for folks in his St. Augustine, Florida neighborhood. He also did another column for the St. Augustine paper, which lost its columnist.

Pete and wife Sandy moved to St. Augustine in 2007. They had round trip tickets to return to Mongolia, where they were for 13 years doing church and English teaching work, but Sandy's quintuple bypass open-heart surgery scubbed the return plans.

They have a daughter-in-law who is from Mongolia.

Pete and Sandy have their 50th wedding anniversary coming up this summer. For their 49th anniversary in June 2010 they visited Ireland, looking up the native environs of Pete's maternal grandmother, Florence McCullough, who emigrated from Armagh to Philadelphia at age 12 with her parents in 1898.

They're still discussing how to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Click on the headline to see photos of the Geigers in Ireland and Mongolia.

Jack Patterson's obituary

Jack Patterson, 81, of Munroe Falls, longtime sportswriter for the Akron Beacon Journal, died peacefully Saturday, January 22, 2011.

Jack, the son of John and Kathlyn Patterson, grew up in Warren, Ohio, and attended Ohio State University. He served in the U.S. Army for two years and was stationed in Germany with the 28th Division. He started his journalism career at the Warren Tribune, where he was assistant sports editor.

Jack married Barbara Lyntz, his classmate at Warren G. Harding High School, in 1954. The Pattersons moved to Akron and later Munroe Falls, where they raised five children.

Jack joined the Beacon Journal in 1955 and served as a sports reporter, columnist, and editor. Over his 38 years at the Beacon he covered the Ohio State Buckeyes and wrote about countless other sports, including professional football, baseball, golf and bowling. But his real love was horse racing--he wrote the handicapping feature Patterson's Picks and covered numerous Triple Crown races. He and Barbara attended 31 Kentucky Derby events over the years.

Jack was preceded in death by Barbara, whom he still referred to as his bride after 55 years of marriage. He will be dearly missed by sons, Mike (Michelle) of Boca Raton, Florida, and John (Amy) of Cuyahoga Falls; daughters, Kathy of North Canton, Valerie of Tallmadge and Patricia (Scott) of San Jose, California; and grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kassidy; Zane, Jessa and Joy; Mike, Molly and Nick; Amber; and Andrew and Dan.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, January 27th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Redmon Funeral Home in Stow, with a memorial service Friday at 1 p.m. at Northampton United Methodist Church in Cuyahoga Falls. Private burial will be at Silver Springs Cemetery in Stow.

(REDMON, STOW, 330-688-6631)

[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Tuesday, January 25, 2011, page B5, col. 4]

Click on the headline for an earlier BJ Alums article on Jack's passing.

Carrie moved from ICU to rehab

Email from the husband of Carrie Brack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter who has been in Akron City Hospital with meningitis.

Just a quick note tonight.

They discharged her from the ICU and moved her to the rehab hospital this evening.

Mental status is about the same.

Now the fun begins!

John

"Things looking much better" for Carrie

Jan. 23 status report on Carrie Brack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter who is in Akron City Hospital with meningitis, by Caroline/Carrie's husband, John:

She’s showing more signs of waking up. Yesterday she gave me a couple of “thumbs up” signs, and when I asked her if she was mad at me, she mouthed “NO” and exhaled, trying to speak. The exhalation, of course, went out through the trach tube and not up through her vocal chords. When I asked if she knew who I was, she nodded, and when I pointed to her dad and asked the same question, she vigorously shook her head “no,” and grinned. I think she has a sense of humor.

This morning she was the most lucid I’ve seen her yet. She seemed to know what was going on around her, and was mouthing words trying to tell me something, but I couldn’t understand. She was motioning with her arms, so I undid one of the wrist restraints and she tried to scratch her nose and mouth area. I asked her if it itched, and she nodded, so I scratched it for her and cleaned off some of the dead skin in that area. I put her glasses on, and she seemed to be able to focus on things. I briefly explained to her what had happened, but I’m not sure how much sank in. Her dad brought in a musical Valentine's card and two kissing stuffed bears, which she seemed to enjoy. She’s definitely moving in the right direction, and I’m anxious for them to try diverting her exhalations out through her larynx and mouth, to see if she can speak.

She’s been breathing quite well on her own for several days, with a 30% O2 flow into her trach mask. This isn’t being done so much for the extra oxygen as it is for the humidity, since she can’t humidify her inhaled air through her mucous membranes in the upper airway. She still has some lung congestion, but she has a strong cough, and is able to expel phlegm through the trach tube. I’ve noticed that she no longer has much of a problem with secretions in her mouth. I’m sure that this is largely due to the removal of the old endotracheal tube, but I asked her today if she could swallow, and she nodded her head “yes.”

Her mother and I stopped in late this afternoon today and she was sleeping. The nurse said she'd been up since 7:30, most of the time in a chair, and went back to her bed around 4. She'd had a full day, so we let her sleep, and she hopefully will sleep well tonight.

I’ll probably find out tomorrow when they’re likely to release her from the ICU and move her to the rehab hospital. She’s really starting to get antsy, and I think it’s important to get her started on rehab as soon as the docs give the OK.

Bottom line: Things are definitely looking much better. Thanks again for your tremendous support, positive energy, cards, prayers, etc.

I’ve added a number of people to the distribution along the way, so I’ll repeat the mailing address, should you like to send a card:

Carrie Krack
c/o Tom Moore
669 Davis St.
Akron, OH 44310

Thanks Again,

John

Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie/Caroline's situation.

It is bitter cold: Counting the homeless

It is bitter cold out there for the homeless. Volunteers and social service workers will fan out in the city of Akron tomolrrow with a mission to count the homeless population. The counting begins at midnight and ends at 11:59 p.m.

There were 214 last year in Akron and 163 the year before. The total for Ohio was 12,700 or eleven for every 10,000 persons.

The Point-in-Time Count is a national effort to count the number of people who are without homes, according to Sue Pierson, chair of the Akron/Summit County Continuum of Care for the Homeless.

“We don’t even ask people’s names,” Pierson said. “We ask them for their first and last initials and birth date, so if someone is encountered two times, we can take them out.”

Surveyors gather information on individuals’ sex, race and whether they have a long-term disability.

“We want to find out what are the things that are causing people to become homeless,” Pierson said.

This year, there also will be more of an effort to determine the veteran status of the homeless and to determine how many young people are on the streets.

“We know there are lots of kids out there living on the streets, so we want to make sure we can get the training and programs they need,” Pierson said

Don Roese, a retired Beacon Journal photographer, could give us a better idea. He goes out each week among the 214 people living outdoors — in tents, under tarps at camps, under bridges, in doorways or inside abandoned buildings and vehicles.

Roese is among at the Peter Maurin Center volunteers who go out one evenig each week to bring food, clothing and blankets to them. The center at 1096 S. Main St. is a gathering place were the homeless can go to find food, clothing, friendship and respite from the bitter cold. A number of church groups provide food and clothing on a regular basis.

If you have a blanket or clothing in a closet somewhere that you are not using, drop it off.

Jack Patterson dies at 81

Jack Patterson, 81, on the Beacon Journal sports staff for 38 years and renown for his knowledge, particularly when it came to horse racing, died Saturday of respiratory failure. He lived in Munroe Falls.

The bespectacled Jack was the quiet type who let his intelligence speak for itself.

His wife, Barbara Ann Patterson, 78, who died March 17, 2009, and Jack were classmates at Warren G. Harding High School and dated after Jack returned from military service in 1951. They were married in 1954 and raised five children -- sons John of Cuyahoga Falls and Mike of Boca Raton, Fla.; daughters Patricia of San Jose, California, Kathy of North Canton and Valerie of Tallmadge -- and had 11 grandchildren.

Barbara and Jack moved to the Akron area in 1955.

After retirement, Jack often would be in Chapel Hill Mall, doing his daily walking. He loved to play golf.

Jack wrote “Inside Bowling” with pro bowler Don Johnson and also co-authored "Sign 'Em Up, Bucky," about sports agent and Akron native Bucky Woy.

Jack and Barbara attended 31 Kentucky Derbys and, once a year, went to Las Vegas to bet on the horses in the casinos.

In Marilyn Miller's BJ story on Jack's passing, former colleagues Ray Yanucci, Sheldon Ocker, Ralph Paulk and Tom Gaffney paid tribute.

Click on the headline to read Marilyn's article about Jack.

Sometimes "bad" is good

By John Olesky (BJ 1969-96)

You don't always know whether what is happening to you is good or bad in the long run.

For example, I was fired in 1969 by the Dayton Daily News for union activities (Cox Newspapers hates unions). That seemed bad to me, and it was, with a wife and three children to support and being blackballed by Dayton management when I submitted my resume elsewhere.

After five weeks, I showed up at the Akron Beacon Journal for an interview, and ran into publisher Ben Maidenburg. I told him why I was fired and he said someone who was a good employee for 13 years didn't become a "bad" employee because of union activities. Ben had sympathy for unions since he helped create the Newspaper Guild chapter at the BJ. So he told me: "Pick a side, and stick with it" and had Dan Warner negotiate my pay, which was a $25 weekly increase over the applicable Guild pay level.

So the firing became a great thing. I had greater financial stability than I ever would have had in Dayton, including wages, Knight stock and 401(k), and State Desk, newsroom electronics coordinator and TV Editor roles that I loved so much I ran to work every day. It has enabled me to travel to 34 countries and 45 states since my 1996 retirement, with a 15-day Caribbean cruise coming up in February.

This is a long preamble to an item on former BJ staffer J. Curtis Brown's blog. Curt felt he had it made when a "bad" thing happened to him. Let Curt explain it:

"I had been on fairly pleasant duty at Fort Knox, working for an entertaining and supportive Major who in a sense adopted me and I was a welcomed guest in his home. I even gave his wife and five of his six children piano lessons and was also organist at the post chapel, playing for two Protestant and two Catholic services in a row each Sunday as an unofficial duty, unrelated to my assignment as a personnel officer at post headquarters."

Then came what seemed like a "bad" thing:

"(The Major) took a week of leave in the summer of '68 and, while he was gone, his boss, a curmudgeon of a lieutenant colonel, spotted the need for a lieutenant at the Advisor Group to the W. Va. National Guard and cut the orders to transfer me. My Major was unhappy and most likely would have kept me at Fort Knox for my remaining year of active duty."

But it turned out to be a good thing for Curt.

In Charleston for his West Virginia National Guard assignment, Curt attended a Unitarian Fellowship and was greeted by a woman named Nancy. This meeting led to her husband, Jim, a Charleston Gazette editor who became Curt's mentor. The Gazette job qualified Curt for Akron Beacon Journal employment in 1971, which led to the contacts that Curt made to land a United Rubber Workers public relations job in 1974 (when the URW merged with the Steelworkers union in 1995, Curt kept his PR duties).

Concludes Curt:

"Being 'shipped' to Charleston paved the way for a long and fulfilling career . . . seeming misfortune (leaving the apparent comfort of my situation at Fort Knox) turned into a lifetime of interesting work and relative financial security."

Been there, done that, Curt.

Click on the headline to the full article on Curt Brown's blog.

Carrie's tubes switched from throat to stomach

Husband John Krack emailed this Jan. 19 report on wife Caroline "Carrie" Moore Krack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter, who has been in Akron City Hospital with meningitis all of January:

They did the tracheostomy today and installed a feeding tube through her abdominal wall into the stomach. The tubes are all out of her mouth and throat, giving her upper airway and vocal chords a chance to heal. This setup should be more comfortable for her.

They had her on ventilator support this evening, but she was initiating her respirations. Given that she has recently done quite well off the ventilator, I expect that once she’s stabilized with the trach tube, they’ll disconnect the ventilator again and have her on a low concentration O2 feed.

The surgeon told me yesterday that the stomach tube (called a PEG) will be in for 6 weeks minimum, even if she doesn’t need it that long. When I asked why, he said “statistics.” Apparently, experience shows that it takes about 6 weeks for things to heal to the point where they can pull it with no complications. The body just heals the wound with no issues. If she can eat regularly before then, they’ll just cap it off, coil it up, and tape it to the belly until the 6 weeks are up.

I was quite concerned yesterday morning because her mental status had regressed to about where she was the middle of last week – wouldn’t respond to commands, wasn’t moving around, fixed stare when she opened her eyes. I think this is why they decided not to do the trach/stomach tubes yesterday. When I visited in late afternoon, the nurse said she woke up about 12:30, and when I got there she was nearly back to her peak at the end of last week. Today she was about the same. I’m hoping that, with the tubes out of her throat, she’ll be more comfortable and will be able to resume improving neurologically.

The physical therapist stopped by when I was there this morning and helped the nurse move Carrie from a chair to her bed in preparation for taking her to surgery. The PT had Carrie stand up, pivot, and sit down on the bed. She was a bit unsteady, but the PT said she stood up and supported most of her weight by herself, and was quite pleased that she was able to do that.

I’m not sure what comes next in terms of tests and evaluation, but it appears that the next major steps are to get her stable with the new airway (shouldn’t take long), make sure other systems are OK so she doesn’t come back to ICU, and send her either to the main hospital for a short time to ensure everything’s OK and get a little stronger, or directly to a rehab hospital to work on regaining mental and physical function. That’ll be up to the doctors, based on her condition. Getting her out of ICU will be a big step. By the way, a doctor told me the other day that their rule of thumb is 3 days of rehab for every 1 day in the ICU. If that holds true, we're looking at around 2 months of rehab.

I’ll keep you posted as things develop. Thanks again to all of you for your continued concern and support.

John

Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie.

Some headlines for you to read

       
Man  Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and  Daughter  
Is that possible?      
 ----------------------------------------------------------------    
Something  Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert  Says  
      No  , really? Ya think?  
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Police  Begin Campaign to Run Down  Jaywalkers  
       Now that's taking things a bit  far!  

  ----------------------------------------------------------- 
  Panda  Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes  Over  
       What a guy!  
---------------------------------------------------------------    
Miners  Refuse to Work after Death  
No-good-for-nothing'  lazy so-and-so's!  
------------------------------------------------------    

Juvenile  Court to Try Shooting  Defendant  
See  if that works any better than a fair  trial!  
  ----------------------------------------------------------  
War  Dims Hope for Peace  
I  can see where it might have that  effect!  
----------------------------------------------------------------  
If  Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last  Awhile  
   Ya think?!  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------    
Cold  Wave Linked to  Temperatures  
      Who would have thought!  
----------------------------------------------------------------  
Enfield  ( London ) Couple  Slain; Police Suspect  Homicide     
They  may be on to something!  
------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Red  Tape Holds Up New  Bridges  
      You mean there's something stronger than duct  tape? 
  ----------------------------------------------------------  
Man  Struck By Lightning: Faces  Battery  Charge  
     He probably IS the battery  charge!  
----------------------------------------------    
New  Study of Obesity Looks for  Larger Test  Group  
Weren't  they fat enough?!  
-----------------------------------------------     

Astronaut  Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft    
That's  what he gets for eating those  beans!  
----------------  ---------------------------------  

Kids  Make Nutritious Snacks  
       Do they taste like chicken?  ----------------------------------------------------------------    

 Local   High  School Dropouts Cut  in Half  
       Chainsaw Massacre all over  again!  
***************************************************  

Hospitals  are Sued by 7 Foot  Doctors  
       Boy, are they tall!  
----------------------------------------------------------------     

And  the winner is....  
Typhoon  Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds  Dead 
    
     Did I read that right?  

Fladung named managing editor of Plain Dealer

Thomas J. Fladung, who was managing editor of the Beacon Journal from July 2000 to November 2002, has been named managing editor of The Plain Dealer.

A native of Canton and graduate of the University of Dayton, Fladung has spent the past five years as editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He became editor there in September 2005. Fladung, 51, had a variety of editing positions at the Detroit Free Press before coming to Akron. He also spent nine years at The State in Columbia, SC and also worked at the Canton Repository, the Columbia Record and The Beavercreek Daily News.

"Thom's depth of experience, passion for excellent journalism and knowledge of Northeast Ohio will serve The Plain Dealer well," Editor Debra Adams Simmons said. Simmons became managing editor of The Plain Dealer in October when former Editor Susan Goldberg left to join Bloomberg News.

Adams Simmons, 45, came to the Plain Dealer in September 2007. She had previously been editor of the Akron Beacon Journal for four years.

"I can't wait for the opportunity to do journalism at The Plain Dealer and try to add to the newspaper's recent run of high-impact breaking news and enterprise," Fladung said. "We're also thrilled to be coming home."

Fladung is married to Jeannette Meyer-Fladung. They have one son, Jimmy, 14, a high school freshman, and a daughter, Kayleigh, 19, a freshman at the University of Dayton.

See an article on Ohio.com