Deal?
I got a lot of response to my Facebook page today when I made this announcement:
“Sad to say I was let go by the Standard Times this week. I was told it was strictly a budget issue and that they were happy with my work.
I want to thank Jack Spillane, Jonathan Comey, and Andy Tomolonis for reaching out to me and giving me this opportunity. Thanks also to Sue Pawlack Seaman for help and guidance.
I met some wonderful people through email because of that column and they helped me get through my rehab. I’ve enjoyed writing and will keep it up on my website and look for other opportunities as well.”
I got some very nice comments but some people took to bashing the paper. I didn’t mean for that. I just wanted to let people know what was up and where I would be and I don’t think I ever thanked Jack, Jonathan, Andy and Susan for all their help and for giving me a chance. They reached out to me within hours of me being fired from the radio station a few years ago.
I’m proud to say that I never missed a week. I wrote from the hospital after my stroke. I needed to, it gave me a purpose. I sent in columns when I was visiting my children in Virginia Beach and I even remember meeting my deadline by sending one in from Disney World.
I had never really written before. I guess you could say my “bits” on the radio were the audio version but actually putting it down on paper or entering it into my tablet were not something I did every day.
It was fun! It was challenging. I had to learn to make my point in 500 words.
It helped me to discover a new joy and I plan to continue writing every day or so. I hope you will enjoy and especially spread the news. My little website here does not have the reach that the newspaper has.
People used to ask me, “What do you write about? Sports? Politics?” I used to just say “Life.” What we all experience and go through together.
It’s true that I met some wonderful people through this experience. While not necessarily in person, I got email from others that could relate to my world. I thank you.
LOCAL NEWS
I know everyone has their own opinion about the newspaper as I’m sure you do about everything but I don’t blame the Standard Times. In fact, I told the man who had to let me go that I felt sorry for him. I’ve been in his shoes where corporate told me I had to achieve -blank- and the only way to do that was to let people go. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do and I hated it.
My concern is for local news. I don’t know what the future holds.
People have complained about the price of the newspaper but what are they supposed to do? Remember when the newspaper was filled with ads? How many pages were filled with car ads? Now, every car dealer has their own web site and sends out email to anyone who has ever been in their dealership.
Politicians always bought multiple ads but now they just have to be a big presence on social media.
The internet has had a huge influence. We all want the news on our apps but we want it for free. Free is good unless you are the reporter who wants to get paid or the manager that has to pay a staff.
I don’t know what the answer is but I’m worried where we are going to get our local news from. I read a very interesting article, through a Facebook link and I didn’t pay anyone for it, about local news. If your local paper goes away, how are you going to know what the local school board is doing or what the city council wants to spend your money on?
New Bedford Guide is a great website but they can’t be everywhere. I havent listened to WBSM since they let me go but I know they dont have a huge news staff either. The Standard Times has fewer reporters so that will mean they cant get to all of the stories.
I miss the days of local owners who cared about their local community.
Where do you get your news? What would you like to see? Are you willing to pay someone to provide that infornation?
NEWS AND NOTES TODAY
The Red Sox’ Triple-A affiliate is officially moving to Worcester.
Pawtucket, Rhode Island will no longer be home to Boston’s top minor league team, as the soon-to-be Worcester Red Sox are set to move into a newly constructed stadium in the city’s Canal District in 2021.
The multi-use ballpark is part of a multi-million dollar redevelopment in the Canal District, which will also include new apartments, two hotels (one of which will overlook the ballpark), along with 65,000 square feet of retail and restaurant spaces. The completion date is expected to be sometime in March 2010.
The PawSox have called McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket their home since their inception in 1970, originally starting as Boston’s Double-A affiliate for their first two years of existence. There is a lot of history surrounding the PawSox, who have won four Governers’ Cups to claim the International League title. Their most recent championship came in 2014.
Will you travel to Worcester? Someone commented on my Facebook about how announcers couldn’t pronounce Pawtucket , how are they going to do with Worcester? “Wor-chester.”
DREAM ON
Aerosmith is the latest act to head to Las Vegas to launch a residency.
The band announced Wednesday that “Aerosmith: Deuces are Wild” would kick off April 6, 2019, at the Park Theater, where Lady Gaga will launch her residency in December.
Aerosmith announced 18 shows for April, June and July. Tickets, priced from $75 to $750, go on sale Aug. 24.
I wonder what the $750 ticket gets you?
WOW!
A baby boom is brewing at a suburban Arizona hospital where 16 intensive care nurses recently discovered they are all pregnant.
The nurses at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa outside Phoenix joked Friday they thought there was something in the water when it became clear they were all expecting babies between October and January.
Nurse Rochelle Sherman, nearly eight months along, said: “I don’t think we realized just how many of us were pregnant until we started a Facebook group.”
Nurse Jolene Garrow joked, “We all formulated this plan to have the holidays off!”
Garrow added that their non-pregnant colleagues have been great at helping with patients they should not be exposed to because of conditions or treatments that are potentially dangerous for expectant women, such as tuberculosis or shingles or chemotherapy because of the radiation.
But Ashley Adkins worried that the other nurses are getting tired of their pregnancy-focused conversations.
“They just roll their eyes!” she laughed. “More baby talk!”
LOOKING FOR A DRESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS?
Bob Mackie-designed outfits worn by Cher, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross and other celebrities are going up for auction.
Nine-time Emmy Award winner Mackie designed the wardrobe for “The Carol Burnett Show” and has been creating outrageous outfits for Cher for decades.
The sale includes a marigold jumpsuit worn by Cher on “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour” and a scarlet satin gown from the “Cher” show. There are also dresses won by Lauren Bacall, Raquel Welch and other celebrities.
Mackie still works with Cher, 51 years after they first met. He says that “even at her most naked, she never looked vulgar.”
The 79-year-old American designer says he doesn’t mind getting rid of some of his creations.
“They can’t throw them in the casket when I go down,” he said. “What am I going to do with all this stuff? So why not let people enjoy them?”
Mackie and the collection are sailing from Britain to New York aboard the Queen Mary 2 starting Sunday. Julien’s Auctions will hold the sale Nov. 17 in Los Angeles and online.
UMM…NEVER SAW THAT BEFORE!
The Roanoke Times reports 57-year-old Debbie L. McCulley is accused of mooning the stands, but a judge Thursday said the indecent exposure charge could be dropped.
McCulley’s husband coaches Glenvar High School junior varsity softball. A sheriff’s deputy’s report says McCulley took the field after a loss to Floyd County High School and mooned people in the stands.
McCulley “stood on or close to the pitcher’s mound and pulled down her pants with her right hand to expose her right butt cheek,” said a statement.
There were reportedly children in the stands.
McCulley said she thought her husband “was going to be attacked so she was trying to get the attention off of him,” the statement said.
Prosecutor Eric Branscom says McCulley has written an apology and will perform community service. Branscom says McCulley will likely have the charge dismissed or receive a suspended sentence at a February administrative hearing.
DATEBOOK
1786 Davy Crockett, American frontiersman, adventurer and politician, born in Greene County, Tennessee. He died in 1836.
1893 Mae West, American actress, born in Brooklyn, New York. She died in 1980.
1903 Joe Pulitzer donates $1 million to Columbia University & begins the Pulitzer Prizes in America.
1945 Korea is divided into North and South Korea along the 38th parallel.
1957 Baseball player Richie Ashburn fouls and hits fan Alice Roth twice in the same game at bat playing for the Philadelphia Phillies. His first foul breaks her nose and the second one hits her while she is on the stretcher.
1979 Monty Python’s “Life of Brian” premieres.
1984 Pete Rose returns to Cincinnati Reds as player-manager (gets 2 hits.)
1988 US Republicans nominate George H. W. Bush for President.
1998 Monica Lewinsky scandal: US President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony he had an “improper physical relationship” with the intern and on the same day admits before the nation he “misled people” about the relationship.
AUGUST 17TH IS………
NATIONAL NON PROFIT DAY
NATIONAL MASSACHUSETTS DAY
NATIONAL I LOVE MY FEET DAY
NATIONAL THRIFT SHOP DAY
BLACK CAT APPRECIATION DAY
TOMORROW
NATIONAL FAJITA DAY
NATIONAL ICE CREAM PIE DAY
WORLD HONEYBEE DAY
SUNDAY
SOFT ICE CREAM DAY
THE THOUGHT FOR TODAY
“I learned the hard way not to vent to others. Write it down. Throw it out. Tell God. Keep it to yourself.”
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