Follow-up to yesterday’s segment on our family history with putting up and decorating live Christmas trees. First I want to thank those who told me hearing about the problems we’ve had with tree stands and trees falling over reminded them of their own woes. Kristine from Point Pleasant said their solution was to screw a hook into the wall and wrap heavy-duty line around the tree and tie it to the hook which now stays in the wall all year long. By the way we did decorate the tree last night and it looks marvelous.
Central Regional High School wrestling Coach Mike Bischoff announced this week that the school’s annual JV Wrestling Tournament will be re-named in honor of Jerry Golembeski, who was the school’s first wrestling coach and also long time Athletic Director. The tournament will be held on Saturday, December 20th and Golembeski will be honored at the event. It’s a fitting tribute to a man who gave much of his adult life to the Golden Eagles.
Southern Regional High School has announced plans for its 21st annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony which will be held on Sunday, February 21st at the Holiday Inn of Manahawkin. This year’s inductees are Dan Rodman, Stephanie Rieser, Neil McCallum, Lauren Lewis, Anthony Campanile and Coach Tony Sermarini. The 2002 Group 4 State champion Golf Team will also be honored. For ticket information you can contact Sue Sharkey at the high school or via email at ssharkey@srsd.net.
Our friends at Wallach’s Farms on Route 9 in Toms River will be getting a visit from Santa, Mrs. Claus and some of their friends on Saturday from 9am to noon. Kids are invited to enjoy free pancakes and drinks while dining with Santa at Wallach’s.
The Shore Sports Network officially ends its coverage of the high school football season tonight with the final “Thursday Night Football Show” at Boston’s Restaurant in Toms River. The show can be heard on 1160 WOBM AM from 6-8pm and also on line at shoresportsnetwork.com. Tonight’s finale will center on the announcement of our All Ocean and All Monmouth County Football Teams as well as players and coaches of the year.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Real Vs. Fake
Nothing against artificial Christmas trees but in our house it’s real or it’s not a tree. I’m sure just about everyone at one time or another has had a live tree but you may have forgotten the challenge that sometimes comes with putting one up. We in the Williams Family have had a somewhat checkered past when it comes to the real deal but continue to write new chapters as opposed to taking the easy way out and going artificial.
For quite a while the problem was always the tree stand. You might remember that years ago they pretty much made only lightweight ones which were fine for a tree with a small or average base. However we would usually end up with Douglas-firs in which the base did not fit into the stand and often I would have to chop away at the bottom with a saw or even an axe to make it smaller. We would then squeeze it into the stand but usually there was simply too much weight and alternative measures were needed. The height of what seemed like annual adventure came in 1992 when our children were 7 and 1. We finally got the tree up and decorated but in the wee hours my wife Jane awoke to the sound of the tree crashing to the floor. It was utter chaos as we first had to clean the mess and then try and get it back up and re-decorated. We managed to do this without waking the kids and everything seemed in control. I showered, dressed and left for work but just as I was backing the car out of the driveway Jane opened the door and screamed to me “it fell again.” I could go on and on but my eventual solution was to nail the tree stand right into the floor through the carpet.
Things have improved dramatically because they now make these heavy duty stands which can hold a redwood. The last few years have been smooth sailing but this year we ran into a different obstacle. We put our tree up last week but usually wait a day before decorating. Jane was concerned that the tree was not taking any water so after 4-5 days and fearing a fire hazard she insisted we return the tree which we did last night to the place where we’ve purchased them for about 20 years. The owner explained that because the Douglas-fir she purchased had been cut that day and came right off the truck it would not need or take any water for a week or two but it didn’t matter. We now have a Fraser fir standing in our living room which will be decorated tonight…I think. Artificial may be easy but it comes without any adventure plus it doesn’t smell like a Christmas tree. Maybe next year we should try for the Festivus Pole.
For quite a while the problem was always the tree stand. You might remember that years ago they pretty much made only lightweight ones which were fine for a tree with a small or average base. However we would usually end up with Douglas-firs in which the base did not fit into the stand and often I would have to chop away at the bottom with a saw or even an axe to make it smaller. We would then squeeze it into the stand but usually there was simply too much weight and alternative measures were needed. The height of what seemed like annual adventure came in 1992 when our children were 7 and 1. We finally got the tree up and decorated but in the wee hours my wife Jane awoke to the sound of the tree crashing to the floor. It was utter chaos as we first had to clean the mess and then try and get it back up and re-decorated. We managed to do this without waking the kids and everything seemed in control. I showered, dressed and left for work but just as I was backing the car out of the driveway Jane opened the door and screamed to me “it fell again.” I could go on and on but my eventual solution was to nail the tree stand right into the floor through the carpet.
Things have improved dramatically because they now make these heavy duty stands which can hold a redwood. The last few years have been smooth sailing but this year we ran into a different obstacle. We put our tree up last week but usually wait a day before decorating. Jane was concerned that the tree was not taking any water so after 4-5 days and fearing a fire hazard she insisted we return the tree which we did last night to the place where we’ve purchased them for about 20 years. The owner explained that because the Douglas-fir she purchased had been cut that day and came right off the truck it would not need or take any water for a week or two but it didn’t matter. We now have a Fraser fir standing in our living room which will be decorated tonight…I think. Artificial may be easy but it comes without any adventure plus it doesn’t smell like a Christmas tree. Maybe next year we should try for the Festivus Pole.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Comfort Of Routine
Have you ever given serious thought to how much of our daily life is based on a routine that rarely changes except during holidays, vacations and the like? This certainly applies to anyone who wakes up in the morning to an alarm clock because that’s the start of the routine and sets off a series of events that are pretty much the same all the time. Assuming you have a job that forces you to leave home or have a job that centers around getting everyone else out of the house your morning time often depends on you performing a certain function at a certain time. Its amazing how your entire day can get thrown off if something develops which alters your routine by even just a few minutes. We have become conditioned to this routine and can become frazzled, especially when outside forces throw everything off.
It can be something like cutting yourself while shaving, a button popping on the shirt you were going to wear or the dreaded car not starting. Just a few minutes delay and your internal clock is a mess because again we depend
and are stuck in this routine.
Those who commute in the morning could miss their bus or carpool or just as bad get stuck in traffic that they usually avoid by leaving early. Parents getting children off to school may have to scramble to get them to the bus on time. There are countless examples of where just a few minutes can throw you out of balance and it could have an impact for the rest of the day.
I can’t tell you how many people have said to me that listening to the Hometown View is a reminder of where they need to be in terms of their morning routine. Some say it’s their own version of an alarm clock as they get out of bed when I’m finished or walk out the door to work. They also blame me when I’m not here and there is no segment to serve as their reminder.
Anyway I’m locked in to a routine that gets me to my Dunkin Donuts pretty much within five minutes of the same time every weekday morning. Heck I don’t even have to order my large coffee with cream and two splendas because when I pull up to the drive-thru my regular guy simply says, “pull around boss.” He knows and I know and you know….routines may sound boring but they are a part of our life.
It can be something like cutting yourself while shaving, a button popping on the shirt you were going to wear or the dreaded car not starting. Just a few minutes delay and your internal clock is a mess because again we depend
and are stuck in this routine.
Those who commute in the morning could miss their bus or carpool or just as bad get stuck in traffic that they usually avoid by leaving early. Parents getting children off to school may have to scramble to get them to the bus on time. There are countless examples of where just a few minutes can throw you out of balance and it could have an impact for the rest of the day.
I can’t tell you how many people have said to me that listening to the Hometown View is a reminder of where they need to be in terms of their morning routine. Some say it’s their own version of an alarm clock as they get out of bed when I’m finished or walk out the door to work. They also blame me when I’m not here and there is no segment to serve as their reminder.
Anyway I’m locked in to a routine that gets me to my Dunkin Donuts pretty much within five minutes of the same time every weekday morning. Heck I don’t even have to order my large coffee with cream and two splendas because when I pull up to the drive-thru my regular guy simply says, “pull around boss.” He knows and I know and you know….routines may sound boring but they are a part of our life.
Monday, December 7, 2009
A Day That Will Live In Infamy
For most of us the two dates that will forever remain etched in our minds are September 11th and December 7th although the younger generation may need a reminder on the later date. Today is the 68th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which claimed the lives of 2,400 and the next day led President Franklin Roosevelt to declare war on Japan as he proclaimed “December 7th, 1941, a day which will live in infamy.” Today is a bitter reminder for those that survived the attack on the US naval base in Hawaii and the anniversary is traditionally marked by the return of some of them although sadly that number is dwindling. There will be a day in the not-to-all distant future in which there are no survivors still alive but December 7th will indeed always hold historical meaning and purpose and should not be forgotten.
While it may have looked pretty it was a shame that the final game of the high school football season was played in conditions that were more suited for snow angels than football. Brick Memorial, who had scored 37 points just four weeks earlier in a win over East Brunswick, could not get anything going on a field covered by snow and lost the rematch to the Bears 9-0 Saturday. Neither team completed a pass during the Central Jersey Group 4 championship game at The College of New Jersey as heavy snow and high winds made even the simplest task very challenging. However as the saying goes…both teams had to play in it and Mustangs coach Walt Currie did not use the weather as an excuse. Our coverage of high school football on the Shore Sports Network culminates this week on our final “Thursday Night Football” broadcast at Boston’s Restaurant & Sports Bar in Toms River when we announce our All Ocean and All Monmouth County teams.
Lacey Township High School will host a free College Showcase of High School Football this Saturday from 9am-3pm. The day-long event features a morning combine for high school players in grades 9-12 which is limited to the first 250 athletes and following that there will be a College Day presented by the Shore Coaches Football Foundation. Some 30 Division 2 and Division 3 colleges are expected to have representatives on hand to meet with athletes and parents between 1-3pm and talk about their programs, admissions, financial aid and more.
While it may have looked pretty it was a shame that the final game of the high school football season was played in conditions that were more suited for snow angels than football. Brick Memorial, who had scored 37 points just four weeks earlier in a win over East Brunswick, could not get anything going on a field covered by snow and lost the rematch to the Bears 9-0 Saturday. Neither team completed a pass during the Central Jersey Group 4 championship game at The College of New Jersey as heavy snow and high winds made even the simplest task very challenging. However as the saying goes…both teams had to play in it and Mustangs coach Walt Currie did not use the weather as an excuse. Our coverage of high school football on the Shore Sports Network culminates this week on our final “Thursday Night Football” broadcast at Boston’s Restaurant & Sports Bar in Toms River when we announce our All Ocean and All Monmouth County teams.
Lacey Township High School will host a free College Showcase of High School Football this Saturday from 9am-3pm. The day-long event features a morning combine for high school players in grades 9-12 which is limited to the first 250 athletes and following that there will be a College Day presented by the Shore Coaches Football Foundation. Some 30 Division 2 and Division 3 colleges are expected to have representatives on hand to meet with athletes and parents between 1-3pm and talk about their programs, admissions, financial aid and more.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
How An "Average Guy" Celebrates The Holidays
In the current issue of Men’s Health magazine their “Average Guy” feature
centers on men and our thoughts on holiday spirit. Among the findings:
• 76% of us deck our halls
• 64% are not particularly religious
• About 40% of us hang the same stocking we did as young boys
• 1 in every 5 guys hang mistletoe
• About 2 in 5 put that burning Yule log on our TV screens at some point
• 40% of us would rather decorate than exchange gifts
• For about 25% of us it means something to have the best decorated house on the block
• At the same time 1 in every 10 guys bust their neighbors about stepping up to the plate and improving their decorations
• The average guys electrical bill goes up about $113 during the holiday season…if he switched to LED lights the increase would only be $1.30
• Thomas Edison in 1880 was the first man to string Christmas lights outside
• There were more than 28 million live Christmas trees sold in 2008 but 64% of men prefer artificial trees. Bah Humbug to that
• Almost 8 of every 10 men add some additive to their live tree in the hope of making it last longer.
• Over 3200 guys are hospitalized each year with injuries suffered during decorating with falling from a ladder the most common cause of those injuries
• 85% of men claim they will decorate more than ever this year, despite economic woes.
• Finally if I were the Sherriff in town 8% of guys would be subject to fines. That’s the number who plan to keep their holiday decorations up until February.
centers on men and our thoughts on holiday spirit. Among the findings:
• 76% of us deck our halls
• 64% are not particularly religious
• About 40% of us hang the same stocking we did as young boys
• 1 in every 5 guys hang mistletoe
• About 2 in 5 put that burning Yule log on our TV screens at some point
• 40% of us would rather decorate than exchange gifts
• For about 25% of us it means something to have the best decorated house on the block
• At the same time 1 in every 10 guys bust their neighbors about stepping up to the plate and improving their decorations
• The average guys electrical bill goes up about $113 during the holiday season…if he switched to LED lights the increase would only be $1.30
• Thomas Edison in 1880 was the first man to string Christmas lights outside
• There were more than 28 million live Christmas trees sold in 2008 but 64% of men prefer artificial trees. Bah Humbug to that
• Almost 8 of every 10 men add some additive to their live tree in the hope of making it last longer.
• Over 3200 guys are hospitalized each year with injuries suffered during decorating with falling from a ladder the most common cause of those injuries
• 85% of men claim they will decorate more than ever this year, despite economic woes.
• Finally if I were the Sherriff in town 8% of guys would be subject to fines. That’s the number who plan to keep their holiday decorations up until February.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Stormwatch Season
WOBM is many things to many people and while the world of radio has changed greatly since we first went on the air in 1968 one thing that remains is Ocean County will likely turn to us first during bad weather for storm-related information, including closings and cancellations. As we approach the winter season I am as a public service spending a moment this morning to alert you to changes in our Stormwatch program. This is especially important for those who are enrolled in the program as well as those wanting to find out how to get the word out during inclement weather.
If you have listened to this station during winter mornings with bad weather you know what it’s like…well you know somewhat what it’s like. Shawn and Sue will often spend a good portion of their time telling you what’s closed, cancelled and delayed. In the old days this was done after we fielded hundreds of phone calls and as Ocean County grew this was no longer a practical way for us and you the listener. We have now gone to a web-based program which had glitches in the past but has been updated to what’s now a great 24/7 service to all.
Let me break this down for three distinct groups. First if you are already a participant in our Stormwatch program you should have recently received an email with instructions on how to verify your account on our new page. This requires your organization to change your log-in information in order to access your account. Obviously this is important because if you fail to update the information you will not be able to get on and report your status when we get out first winter storm. Second for those organizations that are not part of our program then all you need to do is visit wobm.com. On our home page about half way down you will see Ocean County Stormwatch and go to where it says “click here for full information.”
As for listeners seeking information there of course will be two ways for you to know whether schools and others are closed or delayed. You can visit our web site www.wobm.com 24/7 as once cancellations are reported they are posted. Or of course you can tune in to Shawn & Sue starting at 5am with the information updated throughout the day. I will tell you that not every detail of every cancellation will make it to the air but on line you can give a bit more information. Either way we’ll be there for you this winter like we have for more than 40 years.
If you have listened to this station during winter mornings with bad weather you know what it’s like…well you know somewhat what it’s like. Shawn and Sue will often spend a good portion of their time telling you what’s closed, cancelled and delayed. In the old days this was done after we fielded hundreds of phone calls and as Ocean County grew this was no longer a practical way for us and you the listener. We have now gone to a web-based program which had glitches in the past but has been updated to what’s now a great 24/7 service to all.
Let me break this down for three distinct groups. First if you are already a participant in our Stormwatch program you should have recently received an email with instructions on how to verify your account on our new page. This requires your organization to change your log-in information in order to access your account. Obviously this is important because if you fail to update the information you will not be able to get on and report your status when we get out first winter storm. Second for those organizations that are not part of our program then all you need to do is visit wobm.com. On our home page about half way down you will see Ocean County Stormwatch and go to where it says “click here for full information.”
As for listeners seeking information there of course will be two ways for you to know whether schools and others are closed or delayed. You can visit our web site www.wobm.com 24/7 as once cancellations are reported they are posted. Or of course you can tune in to Shawn & Sue starting at 5am with the information updated throughout the day. I will tell you that not every detail of every cancellation will make it to the air but on line you can give a bit more information. Either way we’ll be there for you this winter like we have for more than 40 years.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Tiger Woods Story
The recent story involving golf mega-star Tiger Woods brings up the issue of what separates public life from private life. Since the story first broke just about everyone has drawn some kind of conclusion as speculation has grown that Woods might have had an affair which led to domestic violence with Tiger himself on the receiving end. Who can’t picture in their mind Woods’ wife Elin with golf club in hand chasing him down the driveway. Tiger gets in his Cadillac Escalade and just as he begins backing up she smashes the club into the backseat window on the driver’s side. He floors it and moments later crashes into a fire hydrant and you know the rest of the story. Or do you?
Tiger, who is a very private person even in the best of times, says this is very much a private family matter. He didn’t exactly say that in public but rather in a release that was posted on his web site that nobody believes he wrote but rather approved. He is now holed-up in his palatial estate in a very exclusive gated community just outside Orlando, Florida. Woods was to host his own tournament this coming weekend in California but Monday it was announced he would skip the event while he recovers from cuts and bruises from the accident. Of course most believe that was just his way to avoid the cameras and numerous questions that would have come with a public appearance. So far Tiger has also refused requests from Florida State Troopers to answer their questions but at some point he may have no choice.
Of course this story has been on page one and all over the TV and radio not because there was a minor car accident but rather reports of another woman, infidelity and possible domestic violence. That’s the kind of stuff the golfing great has managed to avoid while building a bullet-proof image but the crows are circling and looking to feast on an ailing Tiger. You can be sure he’s been talking with those in his inner-circle and he can try to insist it’s all private but unfortunately he’s not only a public figure but it’s an adoring public that has helped make him a billionaire.
The truth is we love flawed athletes and we’re anxious to give them second chances, i.e. Alex Rodriguez, Michael Phelps, and Michael Vick. Yet we have disdain for those who don’t beg for our forgiveness but rather hide behind a story nobody believes like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire. Which category will Tiger end up in…only time will tell?
Tiger, who is a very private person even in the best of times, says this is very much a private family matter. He didn’t exactly say that in public but rather in a release that was posted on his web site that nobody believes he wrote but rather approved. He is now holed-up in his palatial estate in a very exclusive gated community just outside Orlando, Florida. Woods was to host his own tournament this coming weekend in California but Monday it was announced he would skip the event while he recovers from cuts and bruises from the accident. Of course most believe that was just his way to avoid the cameras and numerous questions that would have come with a public appearance. So far Tiger has also refused requests from Florida State Troopers to answer their questions but at some point he may have no choice.
Of course this story has been on page one and all over the TV and radio not because there was a minor car accident but rather reports of another woman, infidelity and possible domestic violence. That’s the kind of stuff the golfing great has managed to avoid while building a bullet-proof image but the crows are circling and looking to feast on an ailing Tiger. You can be sure he’s been talking with those in his inner-circle and he can try to insist it’s all private but unfortunately he’s not only a public figure but it’s an adoring public that has helped make him a billionaire.
The truth is we love flawed athletes and we’re anxious to give them second chances, i.e. Alex Rodriguez, Michael Phelps, and Michael Vick. Yet we have disdain for those who don’t beg for our forgiveness but rather hide behind a story nobody believes like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire. Which category will Tiger end up in…only time will tell?
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