When I was growing up, a newspaper was suppose to print news. The Framingham News was careful not to hurt the feelings of the people in town, as they printed stories,and news. Everyone in the neighborhood got the paper.My younger brother was a paper boy, he made a small amount of money each week for delivering the paper by bike. When he was sick, I had to do the delivery for him. The paper had to be delivered just as the mail had to be delivered.
The postman for our neighborhood, though I can't rember his name, was a daily fixture, alive in my mind, as he walks down Hollis Street, and Waushakum Blvd, where I lived on the corner. Somehow in my mind the news paper and the mail were interlinked., they both connected us to the world. Air Mail brought news of my uncles fighting in the war, news that they were okay! Mornings the paper would arrive in a stack outside our door, while the dew was still on the grass. Frank, my brother, would put them in a special bag used to fold them for delivery then he would jump on his bike pedalling off as fast as he could, and I would read the paper!
It was important that I got the paper first. It was full of so much "stuff", not only the "funnies", but what was happening in the world. The war was ending, and peace was coming to us forever and ever! I was so glad that we would never have another war,(I thought). I learned so many important things in the paper, I learned patriotism, from reading about the difficulties and dangers of war. I wanted to become a double agent and help our country win the war. After looking up in our newspaper, the latest movies playing in our town, I was off to the movies, to the Hollis Theater, the St George, or the Gorman. Yes, we had three theaters in our small town.
Tears come to my eyes now, writing this , as I watch out of the corner of my eye, a televised movie of my childhood, The Halls of Montezuma, yes, those days of war as a child protected in this country, still cause a great pain in my heart.
In my book , Secrets of the Heart, the character Meggie talks about growing up in Framingham , about the newspaper and the war. It was a period that no one can forget! The newspaper was our link to the world, along with the mail and radio, news commentator, Gabriel Heater that Mom and Dad listened to nightly and our President Franklin Roosevelt. Yes, I heard the words, "This is a day that will live in infamy", as President Roosevelt announced the attack on Pearl Harbor.
We depended on these links, to help us overcome our broken hearts. My uncles, went to war, they came home all of them, bringing ribbons of valor, a few were wounded, our family experienced many of the terrors, yet, we survived while clinging to our major link to the outside world, The Framingham News.
In my opinion the local newspaper can become important again, because there is a gap in the news. International news is not important anymore in the local papers, that is available on television, and internet. The gap in news is what is happening locally. People are naturally interested in what is going to reduce or increase their taxes. What is going on and how deep can you penetrate to find out that unnecessary burdens are being imposed on new ventures, costing jobs, loss of expansion . Towns and their representatives need accountability and journalists can bring that to the attention of the local newspaper readers.
Maybe it will come to be, who knows? Will our children hurry to read the newspaper before we get it, at the end of the day? I would like to hope so, maybe we can make them important in the local news, not just as athletes but as students., volunteers, and government trainees?
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Obituaries
George Ralph DiCenzo, of Washington Crossing
Published: Thursday, August 12, 2010
George Ralph DiCenzo of Washington Crossing, died Monday, Aug. 9, 2010 at St. Mary Medical Center, Middletown Township. He was 70.
He was the beloved husband of 11 years to Donna Artz-DiCenzo.
Born in New Haven, Conn., he was the son of the late George and Lucy Rourke DiCenzo.
Mr. DiCenzo was in show business for more than 30 years with extensive film, TV, stage and commercial credits. He was a graduate of Union College in New York and the Yale Drama School.
Mr. DiCenzo was an acting teacher in Philadelphia and New York City for many years. He appeared in many feature films, guest-starred in a wide variety of TV shows and appeared on Broadway. His voice was heard on many commercials, cartoon series and books on tape. He enjoyed Culinary Expression, watching football and was an avid reader. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and admiring fans and respected colleagues.
In addition to his beloved wife Donna, he is survived by his dearest son George DiCenzo Riedel and his wife Suzanne of Ruxton, Md., his sister Margherita Jelinek of Henderson, Nev., and his three grandchildren, Megan, Sarah and Madison Riedel.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing Thursday, August 12 from 2 p.m. until his funeral service at 4 p.m. at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, Richboro.. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to A Women’s Place, P.O. Box 299, Doylestown 18901.
George Ralph DiCenzo, of Washington Crossing
Published: Thursday, August 12, 2010
George Ralph DiCenzo of Washington Crossing, died Monday, Aug. 9, 2010 at St. Mary Medical Center, Middletown Township. He was 70.
He was the beloved husband of 11 years to Donna Artz-DiCenzo.
Born in New Haven, Conn., he was the son of the late George and Lucy Rourke DiCenzo.
Mr. DiCenzo was in show business for more than 30 years with extensive film, TV, stage and commercial credits. He was a graduate of Union College in New York and the Yale Drama School.
Mr. DiCenzo was an acting teacher in Philadelphia and New York City for many years. He appeared in many feature films, guest-starred in a wide variety of TV shows and appeared on Broadway. His voice was heard on many commercials, cartoon series and books on tape. He enjoyed Culinary Expression, watching football and was an avid reader. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and admiring fans and respected colleagues.
In addition to his beloved wife Donna, he is survived by his dearest son George DiCenzo Riedel and his wife Suzanne of Ruxton, Md., his sister Margherita Jelinek of Henderson, Nev., and his three grandchildren, Megan, Sarah and Madison Riedel.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing Thursday, August 12 from 2 p.m. until his funeral service at 4 p.m. at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, Richboro.. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to A Women’s Place, P.O. Box 299, Doylestown 18901.
Click here: George Ralph DiCenzo, of Washington Crossing - Obituaries - Bucks Local News
Click here: George Ralph DiCenzo, of Washington Crossing - Obituaries - Bucks Local News
It was with sadness, that I learned today that George DiCenzo had passed on. He was cheerful and full of life and excitement. His acting classes loved him . I will send the link to his acting studio , so you can read the commernts. Dark Shadows will always be associated with George as will the movie Helter Skelter
It was with sadness, that I learned today that George DiCenzo had passed on. He was cheerful and full of life and excitement. His acting classes loved him . I will send the link to his acting studio , so you can read the commernts. Dark Shadows will always be associated with George as will the movie Helter Skelter
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Lenny Breau_On Green Dolphin Street
I love this song by Mel Torme, but Lenny Breau has a great recording...
Lenny Breau_Chet Atkins_Taking a Chance On Love
I always loved this song by Ella Fitzgerald, so here is Lenny B and Ella is next
And The Angels Sing,Ziggy Elman with Tommy Dorsey
\bet you don't know this one....he played with Tommy Dorsey and it was a major hit!
Django Reinhardt - J'attendrai Swing 1939
I can not resist this song, it has been blogged before by me, but I could listen to it over and over
Django Reinhardt - Nuages one more time, could not resist
I could not resist one more by Django....you got to love him!
Monday, August 9, 2010
100 Year Mortgage: A Modest Proposal
100 Year Mortgage: A Modest Proposal
About two years ago, as we drove along the Gulf Coast of Florida, we were appalled at the number of foreclosures, green slimy swimming pools and derelict neighborhoods because of abandonment of homes. It occurred to me then that this could have been avoided by extending mortgages, probably to 40 years. I still think that extending mortgages, is better than asking for abandonment of houses. Even the bank is not going to do well in foreclosures in this market. So? Why not?
Yesterday, my son Jeff, mentioned that the Japanese were using a one hundred year mortgage, so I thought I would look it up! My thoughts go deeper than the need for a longer mortgage, like why we have rising costs, and why we do not run government like our home. This country is our home! Lets start with stopping foreclosures, lets review finances and see if they folks can survive with a longer mortgage, with a review in 5 years to see if the house can be sold or refinanced for a shorter term. There are so many ways to handle this!
About two years ago, as we drove along the Gulf Coast of Florida, we were appalled at the number of foreclosures, green slimy swimming pools and derelict neighborhoods because of abandonment of homes. It occurred to me then that this could have been avoided by extending mortgages, probably to 40 years. I still think that extending mortgages, is better than asking for abandonment of houses. Even the bank is not going to do well in foreclosures in this market. So? Why not?
Yesterday, my son Jeff, mentioned that the Japanese were using a one hundred year mortgage, so I thought I would look it up! My thoughts go deeper than the need for a longer mortgage, like why we have rising costs, and why we do not run government like our home. This country is our home! Lets start with stopping foreclosures, lets review finances and see if they folks can survive with a longer mortgage, with a review in 5 years to see if the house can be sold or refinanced for a shorter term. There are so many ways to handle this!