For old school WWF fans only

When I introduced the latest Item earlier this week, I promised readers more on the legacy of Tito Santana and Captain Lou Albano. As T.O. would say, get your popcorn ready for look back at a different time, the 1980s. Of note throughout these videos is the presence of the voice of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, who served as pro-bad guy announcer opposite Gorilla Monsoon.

These matches are from Tito Santana's battle with Randy Macho Man Savage for the Interncontinental championship belt. I remember agonizing over Santana's multiple losses (sorry for the spoilers).

Where have you gone, Bob Barker? And the tales of That's Too Much!

I said there would be behind the scenes and if that includes entering my mind, then here we go.

I stress very much over what the front page will look like. What's going to be the BIG headline? Do I have any pictures, or is this going to be the all-text issue? Are the stories good enough for the front?

So my secret(s) are these: the inspiration for today's larger-than-average headline is not from something anyone said to me while doing research on high gas prices, it's from a deep-rooted obsession: game shows.

That's too much! It's a pricing game on mine and practically everyone's favorite 60-minute, Price. Is. Right! According to the Wiki site on this game (they've got just about everything covered now, apparently), it debuted in 2001, and I remember the show, and the uncomfortable approach its first contestant took to it.

Perhaps it's was Bob Barker's demand that a contestant scream "THAT'S TOO MUCH!" in order for the game to work. He took his rules very seriously, and as you'll see in the clip, Drew Carey (who does a fine job in his own right) makes no such demands. It's a shame.

Now, to say TPiR is No.1 on my list would be inaccurate. I'd say Scrabble (a forthcoming blog on this, soon) with Chuck Woolery is No. 1 for all-time game shows, and I really can't stop watching Lingo when it comes on GSN. During the last sentence, I heard the little inner-voice say, "You're writing too clearly about something of no significance."

When Game Show Network first debuted, we were on the PrimeStar satellite system and got it. I did not want to go back to college without it. Cable/satellite TV has given me the chance relive all my childhood game show memories and create new ones altogether. Yes, I have them. One day I will write a book game shows and decline of them over time. It's not about the game anymore, just big bucks (Oh, no whammys!) Stop!

Please don't take away my iTunes

If there is a time not to make a glaring error, it's when you're doing something for anybody with manager in their title.

Well, guess what happened to Regional manager Nikki Murry's premier column, which appears on page 5 of this week's Item? At the end of the end of the column, I've begun trying to synchronize contact information and extra information or notes. If you have the paper, you'll see it says to contact Nikki regarding her adventures at Disney World with her 3-year old, Riley, but provides no email. Looks like it's hiding under that advertisement. Just don't try peeling.

You can just CLICK HERE to send her a message about the column. And the column is here (with another link to her email below it). It's definitely worth a read ...

I'll preface this "parenting" column by saying I am an expert of no sort - probably making me one of the parental majority.

Aside from those that resemble the famous "Jolie-Pitt" pair, most parents would probably tell you there is no such thing as an expert in the child-rearing vocation. That being said, I am the parent of a strong-willed, seasonally-allergic, sometimes asthmatic, recently turned three-year-old boy named Riley. Sometimes he seems like he's going on 30, but most other times, like on our recent Disney World vacation, he's your "normal" challenging toddler turned preschooler.
Those who know me know I have a handful of loves - my son, my dog (Striker, a papillon), Gwen Stefani and her band No Doubt, the Yankees (don't get me started) and Walt Disney World. The last is certainly not last on the list, it just makes transitioning to my next paragraph easier - alas, I am a writer.
Yes, those who know me know they don't need to ask where my vacation, if planned, is going to be celebrated - it is 98 percent of the time at Walt Disney World. This time around - May 25 through 30, was in celebration of Riley's third birthday on May 28.
Now, many will tell you that at that age, a trip to Walt Disney World is not for the child, it's for the parents. I have to disagree.
I will concede that when he went for the first time, at 19 months old, that was more for the parents. But I guarantee you that his previous trip in December, at 2.5 years old, was pure joy for him.
Many will also tell you that a trip with a child that young is a waste of money as they will not remember it. How many of you vacation soley for the memories? Not me. I vacation to enjoy time off from everyday tasks and to spend leisurely time with my family. To enjoy the experiences as they happen. That being said, my son certainly does have memories of previous trips
to Walt Disney World. Hence, the immediate request to ride It's A Small World and Winnie the Pooh. Both wishes were granted - the Small World one seven times.
In addition to visiting Riley's old favorites, we created new ones as well. The monorail, part of the resort-to-park transportation system at Disney, was a big one. We were granted our request to ride in the front of the vehicle with the driver twice. Trains, airplanes, buses, boats - my son is a boy through and through and loves them all. Also big this year at Disney was the Barnstormer - the kiddie rollercoaster in the Toontown portion of the Magic Kingdom. Riley was so excited to get on it (probably, in part, because it looks like an airplane) that he was in tears because we couldn't get to the ride entry fast enough. Not because there were lines, mind you, but because we darned adults just weren't willing to run there.
Riley's other Disney favorites at three years old were quite tame. The playgrounds were big. Particularly the Animal Kingdom's Boneyard where there are not only slides and climbing systems, but also a sandbox where children can dig through the sand for fossils. He also found a lot of enjoyment in the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area where everything, like ants and a roll of camera film, is blown up to exaggerated proportions. Another hit for him was all of the fountains at EPCOT. From the large
one placed at the center of Future World, to those in Morocco and France in the World Showcase, it seemed like Riley could watch the water for hours. Also on the topic of water, as for most children his age, Riley also loved the pool. Ours wasn't anything fancy, just a separate kiddie pool at our resort - Old Key West.
For those parents looking to vacation at Disney with little ones, yet still wanting to be able to spend some time relaxing alone, I highly recommend the resort. The one bedroom villas and larger, owned by and on Disney property, offer two separate sleeping areas, a jacuzzi tub, full kitchen and Disney bus and boat transportation, ruling out the need for a rental car. They can be booked directly through Disney, but aren't cheap, unless they offer a deal of some sort. A more inexpensive option is to rent
points from a Disney Vacation Club member - Disney's version of the timeshare system. I could write a whole column on that itself and other Disney money-saving options, so if you're interested in those, e-mail me at the below address.
All in all, we did have a wonderful vacation, as always, but it wasn't without those trying toddler moments - like the sudden fear of Mickey Mouse, unexpected crying throughout the Buzz Lightyear ride (previously a favorite of his), not wanting to sit down through some of our table-service meals, and the like.
Rest assured though, we'll be back to Disney World in the near future. After all, we'd rather have a bad day there than anywhere
else.

Again, here is the email I promised to reach Nikki Murry.

End of the Sojourn

In the latest edition of The Item (on newsstands today) we wrap up the coverage of the Tenth Schuylkill River Sojourn. One of our newest correspondents, Sarah Morawczynski, spoke with all the local folks who participated in at least a portion of the trip.

One man, Ed McLaughlin of Schuylkill Haven, spent the entire week on the river. I thought the story turned out great and was a fantastic way for us to cap off our coverage which unbelievably started three weeks ago. I just wish there were a clock in town so I could see the time going by so quickly.

By the way, I found the clock and pool. Thanks to Peggy in our office, here, for the map.


Unfortunately, because of the constraints caused by our Monday deadline, the photos which Steve Billman (one of the sojourners) took and shared with the newspaper didn't make it to press, but luckily we have other media these days. One is posted above.

They are all included in this slide show I put together this morning. Try and count the amount of wipes I used through this presentation ...

Thanks so much to Steve, all the people at Schuylkill Headwaters Association (namely Laura Catalano for dealing with my obsessive emails), Heather Tassmer, Lisa Price and Sarah Morawczynski for their great work in making the coverage as good as it could be.

We need watchdogs!

During production of The Kutztown Patriot yesterday, one of The Item's columnists, Charlie Adams, called to confirm a nagging feeling any editor must carry with them.

"What's this 'Senator brings money for upgrades' all abOT?" he said, me in my best Pennsylvania Dutch accent, which I find to be one of my favorite local dialects.

Oh, no! For the sake of some repetition of style, I often plop another story's headline on top of another while it's being crafted on the pages. The idea is to change those so they suit the article they adorn. And obviously, the editor erred. So I guess that makes me human, officially now. The error is on Page 4. Please, don't stare, but do read Charlie's column.

Hopefully by now you've had a chance to pick up this week's Item and you'll notice we're expanding our municipal coverage. This week we've got stories from Albany and Ontelaunee townships, and Hamburg, of course. I have mentioned early my dedication to small town news and how important it is for people to get involved in their local governments.

I was at two municipalities this past week and noticed public participation fairly low. Though, at Bernville, I was forced to cover it from the stairs at the most unusual meeting hall I've ever seen. My aim is to make our coverage approachable and engaging. I think it's great we're 'out there' and starting to foster relationships with the elected officials in your hometowns.

To that end, I'd really appreciate the public's participation, if you will. The Item needs watchdogs who can report news tips from the most local of levels. We'll take it from there, but I really like to see people passionate about their hometowns. I want to inform any reader how they can get involved in their communities for the common good, and to expose problems where they exist, and solutions to those problems.

And I want to relay to the readers that The Item should serve as your forum for expression, but it can never reach that level without interaction. Please use the numerous ways of contact to get these messages to us, and no matter is too small or too big.

If there are Hockey League sign-ups, or fall soccer tryouts, The Item should know. If there is a persistent, weird smell in your neighborhood, someone should probably look into that, but it won't happen until it gets in the paper. That's when everyone knows about it and people are more compelled to get something done about it.

Is it hot out here or is it just me?

If I had any time to spend this weekend in Schuylkill County, I'm sure I would have heard that line at least once. Another famous heat line is "It's not the heat, it's the humidity."

We've spent too much time swimming in coal holes up there to realize the off-kilter way in which we approach life. And sure enough, at the first break of real, summer heat, you'll hear these lines, and definitely the classic, "Hot enough for ya?"

It was a scorcher outside Saturday and Sunday, and Monday only promises to be the hottest day of the year, yet. I cruised Hamburg today looking for some heat imagery to relay to readers in the most artistic sense, but found not much happening. The streets were pretty much empty, and since I don't know where the pool is, just yet, or if there is even a public pool (Should I be admitting that?), so there wasn't much in the art department from that angle.

Then I asked the question: Do I run the sooo expected and tired shot of a bank thermometer registering at least 10 degrees hotter than it really is? (Schuylks believe it's because it "bakes" in the sun all day) I went past every bank I knew in town and couldn't even find the time, had I needed it (because the 17 other clocks which are standard-issue on everything but a sneaker these days malfunctioned).

Hamburg has no public thermometer? I couldn't even find one that's showing off the progress of a fundraiser. Is this even possible, or am I missing something entirely?

So a Hamburger can't really answer the question: Is it hot out here or is it just me? What's your point of reference for your claim?

Perhaps this all comes back to the coal-hole notion.

In Pottsville, I'd guesstimate there to be at least 25 public thermometers. Someone must have been giving those color message boards away to small businesses because even empty storefronts are getting marquees up there, and now everyone has their own two-cents on what the real temperature is. Tack on the wide array of banks the city features for one of the more economically depressed portions of the Commonwealth, and we've got more outlooks on the weather than Jim Cantore.

So apparently we've got nothing else to talk about but the weather in Schuylkill County, and people in Hamburg are busy doing something else, entirely. Case in point, you've been spared the obligatory bank thermometer shot in the next paper, but I wonder if you even know what that means.

National Weather Service issues heat advisory for Berks

This weekend is a welcome to summer via firing squad.

We got a taste of what today and Sunday will feel like on Friday. But temperatures are forecasted for the mid-90s all weekend. The sun will accompany this heat burst and be sure to stay plenty hydrated when you're out and about.

It seems like the perfect summer day to just relax and do little, if anything. The National Weather Service has issued the following statement through Tuesday of next week for Berks County...

> HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 8 PM SATURDAY
> EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A HEAT
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY. AN
EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED. THIS EXCESSIVE HEAT
WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING.

A LARGE AND STRONG BERMUDA HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL ESTABLISH
ITSELF OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES SATURDAY...AND CONTINUE INTO
NEXT WEEK. AS THIS OCCURS...AN INCREASINGLY HOT AND HUMID AIR
MASS WILL BUILD ACROSS OUR REGION. HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED
TO REACH THE LOWER AND MID 90S DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS
SATURDAY. THESE TEMPERATURES...COUPLED WITH INCREASING
HUMIDITY...WILL ALLOW HEAT INDEX VALUES TO TOP OUT AROUND 100
DEGREES DURING THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY.

ON SUNDAY, MONDAY, AND TUESDAY, TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE IN THE LOWER AND MID 90S WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES AROUND
100 DEGREES. HOWEVER, SINCE SUNDAY, MONDAY, AND TUESDAY ARE A FEW
DAYS AWAY AND CONDITIONS CAN CHANGE...AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH HAS
BEEN ISSUED FOR SUNDAY AND EXTENDED THROUGH TUESDAY. A WEAK COLD
FRONT IS EXPECTED TO SLIP THROUGH THE AREA LATE TUESDAY OR BY
WEDNESDAY, CAUSING A SLIGHT DROP IN TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY FOR
WEDNESDAY.

THIS IS THE FIRST EXTENDED PERIOD OF HOT AND HUMID WEATHER THIS
SEASON. AS A RESULT...AREA RESIDENTS ARE NOT ACCLIMATIZED TO THE
EARLY SEASON HEAT. THE FOLLOWING IS A REVIEW OF SOME HEAT RELATED
SAFETY TIPS. DRINK PLENTY OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FLUIDS...WEAR LIGHT
COLORED AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING...STAY OUT OF THE SUNSHINE AND
SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE IN AIR CONDITIONED FACILITIES.
ALSO...BE SURE TO CHECK ON ELDERLY RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. PLEASE
LEAVE PLENTY OF WATER AND SHADE FOR PETS AND LIVESTOCK.

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS
EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY
WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE
POSSIBLE.

Schuylkill River Sojourn | Day 1 | Launch Party

A long week is being capped off by a truly special event. This is the 10th Schuylkill River Sojourn and on Friday it kicked off, though no one got in the water, with a Launch party held on Schuylkill Haven's Island park in Schuylkill County, just off Route 61. You can read my quick reaction story from the event by visiting the BerksMontNews homepage. Saturday is another busy day on the river, and short of getting in a canoe, we're trying to get to as much of the event as possible. The Schuylkill served an integral role in building the economy to this area and this event truly recognizes its importance in our history and future. There are events throughout the day in Port Clinton (not too far away at all) and you can tack it onto an already busy day in the region. In addition to the Sojourn, the World War II weekend events are happening as well as the Children's Festival in Shoemakersville. I have put together a slideshow of photos from the Sojourn party and here that is ...

New Item hits the streets

The days are truly starting to run together as the pace gets a little more hectic as the amount of time I've been on the job increases.

Today, the fifth paper since I started as Editor of the Item hits the stands, and I am really excited about this issue. This week you'll be introduced to three new writers for the Item.

On the front page, our main story this week focuses on the Schuylkill River Sojourn, now in its tenth year. I remember this event when it just started. There is a first-hand recollection by a good friend and old colleague of mine, Lisa Price, easily the best outdoors writer I've met in my 10-year career.

Lisa has taken the Sojourn in the past and reflects on her experience for you to enjoy.

She seemed to think otherwise, but Lisa's been published in numerous national publications, and it's a real pleasure to be working with her again.

Also, I must thank the people at Schuylkill Headwaters Association for sharing their spectacular photos of Sojourns past with me and our readers.

Competing up until the end with the Sojourn for top of the paper is the incredible story of Hamburg's Vietnam War hero, Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger. If I were to tell his story here, this blog would turn into a big spoiler for the paper.

In summary, though, Etchberger fought in that conflict as a covert operative for the Air Force, working in Laos to secure a radio post so America's Operation Rolling Thunder could pinpoint airstrikes against the North Vietnamese.

Etchberger's position was under constant attack and it eventually fell to the communist enemy, but not before one of the more gallant acts you'll hear about in your lifetime. Now, Etchberger is up for the most prestigious awards given to a serviceman, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Now to the other two newbies at The Item ...

Sarah Morawczynski of Reading joined up here last week and has a story on a local man who's touring with a national choir and will be performing summer in Texas. Sarah's going to be heading to her first municipal meeting this week and is anxious about the opportunity to write.

Sarah also joined me at work on Sunday - yeah, work on a Sunday - to get her feet wet in the deep-end only pool that is our page design program, Quark XPress.

Also, Ethan Hall is going into his sophomore year at Gettysburg College, and in this week's edition he's got a preview of this weekend's Art Stroll in downtown Hamburg. Ethan lives in Kutztown when he's not in school.

Both these newbies did a great job on their first assignments and you can expect to see their names in The Item more in the future so long as I didn't scare them away.

As always, there are the regular features which made their way into the paper this week and as always I look forward to hearing the feedback the paper's readers have, so feel free to unload.

Thanks and happy reading!