Sasquatch and I are happy, thank you very much
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Before we begin this week's award-winner (remind me to make fun of "award-winners" in a few moments), let's offer a few well-deserved words of thanks.
Had we known there'd be gifts, flowers and cake delivered to the new HCP digs, we'd have moved a long time ago. Seriously, who knew there'd be cake? (Thanks, Carina May!)
To all of you who were so kind and thoughtful to acknowledge the HCP's new office opening on South High Street, we thank you. Your generosity was much appreciated. You really didn't have to do that.
***
Teresa Wisecup was among the first of our online readers to comment on the now-famous "Sasquatch" video. (Go to www.highlandcountypress.com.) Thanks, Teresa. See ya at the next board meeting!
As many HCP readers know, we also publish the occasional classified ad for SCI (Sasquatch Control, Inc.). SCI field agents come and go, of course, and we're often in need of some "new blood." It's a tough job – almost as stressful as that of Sherpa – but somebody's got to do it.
Somewhere along the way, Sasquatch has become the unofficial mascot of The Highland County Press. Lisa Wharton probably deserves credit – or blame – for this. You'll have that. But she's off to the sunny Gulf Coast on a well-earned vacation and we're all left back in rainy Ohio. Life's not always fair.
***
How about Audrey Bolte being crowned Miss Ohio USA?!
Thanks to our inside source, Darby, The Highland County Press was the first local medium to publish this wonderful story. (We like making assignments elsewhere!)
Audrey's parents, Bill and Shelly Bolte, grew up in Highland County. Bill, of course, owned and operated Bolte's Grocery, a family business in Belfast for many years. Brandy Chandler wrote an interesting and informative feature on the Bolte's store not too long ago.
Bill and I have known one another for at least 30 years. He's a good guy and I'm sure he and Shelly are proud parents.
Congratulations, Audrey!
***
And, a few more "congrats" are in order.
We reported on this earlier this week at the request of my son, Colin, who's a junior at North Adams High School.
Artwork commissioned by American Physical Society for the World Year of Physics has found a new home at North Adams High School in Seaman.
That's almost as cool as the time my oldest daughter and I attended a book signing for New York author (and former Adams County resident) Julie Salamon at the old Seaman Library many years ago.
North Adams asked to house the artwork because many images used in it are of students who attended the school.
The World Year of Physics marked the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein’s “miracle year” when he published three papers that revolutionized much of physics. The work had previously been exhibited at Brookhaven National Lab, at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, and at the APS editorial offices in Ridge, N.Y.
Why is this of local interest? Maybe it's not, to every HCP reader; but it is to me. What do a Baltimore-born newspaper publisher and a New York author have in common with a physics art display? That's easy: Seaman, Ohio.
As the APS told us, "The artwork consists of four tall panels, each containing eight transparent blue glass panes. Each pane features a relief sculpture depicting an aspect of Einstein’s life or an application of his work, such as dice representing the randomness of the universe, or a trio of violins, the instrument he loved to play. Behind each pane is a photo of a child peering through the relief, four of whom are students from North Adams High School."
“It served to be a really great vehicle to communicate to our students that they can reach out to other parts of the country and the world,” said North Adams science teacher Randall Dunkin.
The school first got involved with the artwork when Mr. Dunkin heard about its call for photos and shared it with his wife, Spanish teacher Olga Cruz, an amateur photographer who was excited to participate in a nationally focused project that combined art and science. Four of Cruz’s photos were used on the artwork itself and 88 were used on an accompanying poster.
“I think our students, when they see themselves on the poster, they think that by working hard they can fulfill their dreams,” Ms. Cruz said.
Isn't that what it's all about?
Congrats to Ms. Cruz, Mr. Dunkin and North Adams High School. Once again, you have brought positive recognition to Adams County and southern Ohio. Keep up the great work. (Who knows, maybe higher education officials will take notice of Adams County's accomplishments.)
***
Two years ago, Bob Greene wrote "Late Edition: A Love Story," about his days with the now defunct Columbus Citizen-Journal.
It's a must-read for almost any career newspaperman (person).
One of the more telling passages is on Page 214. "The staff at the Citizen-Journal didn't give a though to entering journalism contests, … and no boss at the C-J was going to enter any reporter's work for a Pulitzer Prize. Who, in a room always short-staffed and always on deadline, had time to sit around dreaming up projects to impress judges or fill out contest-entry forms?"
As we relocated The HCP last week, I thought of Bob Greene, while I tossed a couple of dozen editorial awards in the Rumpke Dumpster. Yes, I did save a few of them. But I tossed most of them out. Why?
It's like Greene said, no one cares. "We do what we do for tomorrow's newspaper – and it's not any more complicated than that."
The HCP staff has earned roughly 100 editorial excellence awards over the past 20+ years. That, and three dollars and a quarter will get you a gallon of gasoline.
***
There are some, in this business, who champion public records. They love to publish what they can and then hide behind the cry of "It's public record."
It sure is.
Lord knows, I have requested tons of it and printed tons of it.
In fact, there's an awful lot of "public record" out there, from people who don't pay their bills to deadbeat dads who don't pay their child support. It's all there. Might make for an interesting column one of these days.
But not today.
Even though the research is complete, I'm too tired from lifting office furniture to tackle it this week.
(Remind me some other time.)
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Had we known there'd be gifts, flowers and cake delivered to the new HCP digs, we'd have moved a long time ago. Seriously, who knew there'd be cake? (Thanks, Carina May!)
To all of you who were so kind and thoughtful to acknowledge the HCP's new office opening on South High Street, we thank you. Your generosity was much appreciated. You really didn't have to do that.
***
Teresa Wisecup was among the first of our online readers to comment on the now-famous "Sasquatch" video. (Go to www.highlandcountypress.com.) Thanks, Teresa. See ya at the next board meeting!
As many HCP readers know, we also publish the occasional classified ad for SCI (Sasquatch Control, Inc.). SCI field agents come and go, of course, and we're often in need of some "new blood." It's a tough job – almost as stressful as that of Sherpa – but somebody's got to do it.
Somewhere along the way, Sasquatch has become the unofficial mascot of The Highland County Press. Lisa Wharton probably deserves credit – or blame – for this. You'll have that. But she's off to the sunny Gulf Coast on a well-earned vacation and we're all left back in rainy Ohio. Life's not always fair.
***
How about Audrey Bolte being crowned Miss Ohio USA?!
Thanks to our inside source, Darby, The Highland County Press was the first local medium to publish this wonderful story. (We like making assignments elsewhere!)
Audrey's parents, Bill and Shelly Bolte, grew up in Highland County. Bill, of course, owned and operated Bolte's Grocery, a family business in Belfast for many years. Brandy Chandler wrote an interesting and informative feature on the Bolte's store not too long ago.
Bill and I have known one another for at least 30 years. He's a good guy and I'm sure he and Shelly are proud parents.
Congratulations, Audrey!
***
And, a few more "congrats" are in order.
We reported on this earlier this week at the request of my son, Colin, who's a junior at North Adams High School.
Artwork commissioned by American Physical Society for the World Year of Physics has found a new home at North Adams High School in Seaman.
That's almost as cool as the time my oldest daughter and I attended a book signing for New York author (and former Adams County resident) Julie Salamon at the old Seaman Library many years ago.
North Adams asked to house the artwork because many images used in it are of students who attended the school.
The World Year of Physics marked the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein’s “miracle year” when he published three papers that revolutionized much of physics. The work had previously been exhibited at Brookhaven National Lab, at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, and at the APS editorial offices in Ridge, N.Y.
Why is this of local interest? Maybe it's not, to every HCP reader; but it is to me. What do a Baltimore-born newspaper publisher and a New York author have in common with a physics art display? That's easy: Seaman, Ohio.
As the APS told us, "The artwork consists of four tall panels, each containing eight transparent blue glass panes. Each pane features a relief sculpture depicting an aspect of Einstein’s life or an application of his work, such as dice representing the randomness of the universe, or a trio of violins, the instrument he loved to play. Behind each pane is a photo of a child peering through the relief, four of whom are students from North Adams High School."
“It served to be a really great vehicle to communicate to our students that they can reach out to other parts of the country and the world,” said North Adams science teacher Randall Dunkin.
The school first got involved with the artwork when Mr. Dunkin heard about its call for photos and shared it with his wife, Spanish teacher Olga Cruz, an amateur photographer who was excited to participate in a nationally focused project that combined art and science. Four of Cruz’s photos were used on the artwork itself and 88 were used on an accompanying poster.
“I think our students, when they see themselves on the poster, they think that by working hard they can fulfill their dreams,” Ms. Cruz said.
Isn't that what it's all about?
Congrats to Ms. Cruz, Mr. Dunkin and North Adams High School. Once again, you have brought positive recognition to Adams County and southern Ohio. Keep up the great work. (Who knows, maybe higher education officials will take notice of Adams County's accomplishments.)
***
Two years ago, Bob Greene wrote "Late Edition: A Love Story," about his days with the now defunct Columbus Citizen-Journal.
It's a must-read for almost any career newspaperman (person).
One of the more telling passages is on Page 214. "The staff at the Citizen-Journal didn't give a though to entering journalism contests, … and no boss at the C-J was going to enter any reporter's work for a Pulitzer Prize. Who, in a room always short-staffed and always on deadline, had time to sit around dreaming up projects to impress judges or fill out contest-entry forms?"
As we relocated The HCP last week, I thought of Bob Greene, while I tossed a couple of dozen editorial awards in the Rumpke Dumpster. Yes, I did save a few of them. But I tossed most of them out. Why?
It's like Greene said, no one cares. "We do what we do for tomorrow's newspaper – and it's not any more complicated than that."
The HCP staff has earned roughly 100 editorial excellence awards over the past 20+ years. That, and three dollars and a quarter will get you a gallon of gasoline.
***
There are some, in this business, who champion public records. They love to publish what they can and then hide behind the cry of "It's public record."
It sure is.
Lord knows, I have requested tons of it and printed tons of it.
In fact, there's an awful lot of "public record" out there, from people who don't pay their bills to deadbeat dads who don't pay their child support. It's all there. Might make for an interesting column one of these days.
But not today.
Even though the research is complete, I'm too tired from lifting office furniture to tackle it this week.
(Remind me some other time.)
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]