The COFFEY BLOGR.I.P. DICK DALE, FATHER OF SURF GUITAR
I was saddened to hear about the passing of Dick Dale, the “King of Surf Guitar,” on March 16. My son Colin posted something about it on social media, and my mind flashed back to a show we attended in Columbus around 2002. Dick was a master showman and had the audience in the palm of his hand. He had a very percussive style, developed partly because Dick first played drums and had a great sense of rhythm. At one point in the show, Dick took a walk through the audience and had everyone cheering. This may have been before the days of wireless guitar systems, or he had a very long cord -- can’t remember which. And when he broke a string (he attacked the strings with a lot of gusto), he simply stopped and changed the string while maintaining a connection with the audience. After the show, Colin and I hung around to meet Dick Dale and we got our photos taken with him. He loved entertaining and hanging out with his fans. Colin saw him on several other occasions, and left this comment on his Facebook page: “I was fortunate enough to see him in concert multiple times. The first of which, Dale dropped his guitar pick mid song, so I reached in my pocket and handed him a heavy gauge pick I had on me. He reached down from the stage, took the pick from my hand and proceeded to finish the song. When it was over he walked back over and gave it back to me along with some of his own guitar picks. The pick I had given him was brand new and he had completely worn the point of it down with his intense, lighting fast picking technique against his ultra heavy gauge guitar strings. Dick was a joy to talk with after each show and a wonderful guy. He will be missed.” Born Richard Anthony Monsour in May 1937, the guitarist developed his distinctive sound by adding to instrumental rock influences from his Middle Eastern heritage, along with a “wet” reverb sound and his rapid alternate picking style. In 2011, he told the Miami New Times that the hectic drumming of Gene Krupa, along with the “screams” of wild animals and the sound and sensation of being in the ocean inspired his sound. Dale’s fifth single, 1961’s “Let’s Go Trippin’,” is considered the first surf rock instrumental and has been credited with launching the early 1960s craze. The Beach Boys’ “vocal” surf pioneered the sound’s second wave. On the track “Misirlou,” Dale transformed the traditional Greek folk song into a sped-up, one-string performance, which became a national sensation after Dale performed it on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1962. In 1994, Quentin Tarantino used it as the opening music for the movie “Pulp Fiction.” For more about the life and times of Dick Dale, check out the links below: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/mar/17/dick-dale-dies-aged-81-misirlou-pulp-fiction https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-dick-dale-obit-20190317-story.html 
SOUL’D OUT QUARTET SETS FREE CONCERT FOR APRIL 19
Soul'd Out Quartet's annual Good Friday Concert will be held at the McClain High School Auditorium on April 19 at 7:00 p.m. The concert is FREE! A love offering will be taken. Concert presented by the Greenfield Church of Christ and also the Greenfield Area Ministerial Association. WCH NATIVE TO APPEAR ON ‘HAWAII FIVE-O’ EPISODE AIRING FEB. 22 AT 10 P.M. Washington C.H. native and Michael Camp will be on national television Friday, Feb. 22 in an episode of “Hawaii Five-O.” The Wilmington College graduate plays a bad guy alongside Michael Ironside (“Top Gun” and “Total Recall”) and Ultimate Fighting Champion Tyron Woodley in the second of two shows that will appear back-to-back on Friday night. Camp’s appearance is scheduled on the 10 p.m. show. To learn more about Camp’s career and how this came about, click the link below: https://www.recordherald.com/news/36580/book-em-wch-native-to-be-on-hawaii-five-o SKY DIVING FROM OUTER SPACE! The subject of the most-watched YouTube video came up the other day, and I wondered if it was a funny cat video... Turns out, I was told that the most-watched video was of Australian Felix Baumgartner jumping from a balloon at the edge of space, free falling faster than the speed of sound, and eventually parachuting safely back to earth. Of course, I had to Google the subject and learned that the historic event took place Oct. 14, 2012. There are a number of videos of the historic jump ranging from about 1.5 minutes to around 20 minutes. Here's a link to one that takes about 4 minutes so that you can add to the number of viewers of this amazing stunt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9oKEJ1pXPw P.S. After looking a little more, I found other lists of most-watched videos and Felix Baumgartner wasn't on them. He may fall into a different category, as most of the top YouTube videos seem to be of pop music stars doing their thing. So here's another list from Billboard for those still needing to watch videos: www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7709247/youtube-most-watched-videos AENEAS COFFEY & THE COFFEY STILL By accident over the holidays, I discovered a possible ancestor who is known in some circles as a “whiskey hero.” While researching a particular brand of Irish whiskey I ran across mention of a “Coffey still” patented by an Irishman named Aeneas Coffey. A few clicks later, I found several interesting articles about Aeneas Coffey and his contributions to the distilling industry. The glowing tribute below appears on Wikipedia: “It is impossible to overestimate Aeneas Coffey's importance in the history of distilling. Analogies between industries are hard to make, but one can safely call him the 'Henry Ford of distilling', the 'father of Irish whiskey' or the 'man who put the 'e' into whiskey'. Just as Ford came from Irish stock but made his name, fame and fortune in America, so Aeneas Coffey was an Irishman whose invention changed the world. “Aeneas Coffey's contribution to the mechanisation of alcohol production is immense and his invention can be found today in almost every country on earth.” After reading the above words, how could I NOT claim Aeneas Coffey as a relative? If you would like to know more about this interesting character, click on the links below: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeneas_Coffey https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/whisky-heroes/20740/aeneas-coffey/ NEW JUST THINKING FROM GREG ROBERTS Occasional columnist Greg Roberts has been thinking about "panem et circenses." If you're not familiar with that Latin term, neither was I -- despite two years of Latin from Miss Adelade Shull back in the day. Visit the JUST THINKING page to learn more! CLUB ARMOR SETS EVENT FOR JANUARY 26 Greenfield Rotary Club announced that Club Armor Teen Night Club will host a Winter Dance Party on January 26 from 8 p.m. to midnight for ages 13-19. Games will include Cup Pong, Corn Hole, and a Twister Competition. DJ Blaze will be playing all of your favorites and requests all night. There will be a concession area with drinks and snacks (pizza after 9 o’clock). Club Armor is located at 156 Jefferson St. in Greenfield. For more info, check out the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ClubArmor/ McCLAIN CADET CORPS IN FIRST YEAR John Wilson, leader of the McClain Cadet Corps, issued an update recently on Facebook talking about the organization’s first semester at McClain High School. I have worked on some projects with John and like what he’s doing with Cadet Corps. Here’s what he posted: “A semester has passed for the McClain Cadet Corps! This was not just any semester, as it was the first in our history, so an update is in order. During the semester, the Corps was represented by 65 cadets in grades 8-12 organized into five flights and a drill team. Thus far, the cadets have provided over 820 hours of service to the local and surrounding communities!!! This includes in school, after school, weekend and holiday service. To date, 100% of the cadets have performed a measurable amount of community service! Several cadets have served in flight, squadron and group level leadership positions and many have been recognized for their outstanding efforts during the first quarter and several more will be recognized for the second quarter during our group formation next week. To the Greenfield community, your new Corps is performing at full throttle, sit back and enjoy the ride, we have much more in store!” HOMEMADE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER A year or two ago I made some spray that quickly melts ice from my windshield when I don’t have time to let the car warm up, or don’t feel like scraping the windshield. It works well, but I forgot the recipe, so did an Internet search on the subject and found recipes and a video. I think what I made was from this recipe: Mix one part water to two parts rubbing alcohol. Apply to the window and watch it peel right off! Recipe #2: Use a bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol (50% works, too, but not as well) with a few drops of dish soap. You can spray this stuff on your windshield the night before and it helps prevent icy buildup. According to the video link below, you can also spray the bottom of your garage door and make it easier to open on icy mornings. Here’s the video link showing how to make your own. https://www.google.com/search?q=homemade+defrosting+spray&oq=homemade+defrost&aqs=chrome.3.0j69i57j0l4.10655j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=1 I’m told that three parts vinegar with one part water also works. PUBLIC INPUT SOUGHT JANUARY 17 RE: DEVELOPMENT OF FELSON PARK The public is invited to a meeting about development of Felson Park on Thursday, January 17, 2019 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the McClain High School cafeteria. School personnel also will be presenting information about the redevelopment of their playground at this meeting. Greenfield City Manager Todd Wilkin said the village has been looking at ways to develop Felson Park and take advantage of its proximity to Paint Creek. “We are extremely excited about the development of Felson Park and we need to get the word out in regards to this event.” Wilkin said public input is important and encouraged all interested people to attend the meeting and bring their ideas on how Felson Park might best be utilized. NATHAN COCKERILL HONORED BY CLEVELAND COMEDY FESTIVAL Greenfield native Nathan Cockerill was posthumously honored Nov. 17 with the creation of an award in his name at the Cleveland Comedy Festival at Playhouse Square in the Lincoln Theatre. The “Nate Cockerill Best Improv or Sketch Performer” Grant Award was chosen by judges of the Cleveland Comedy Festival. The judges are Shawn Eckert of Helium Comedy Club in Buffalo, Chris Ripetta from the Punchline in Atlanta, Ga. and Kate Sidley from the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Cockerill was an integral member of the improv community in Cleveland. He studied at the Second City Conservatory and later taught improv for the Second City of Cleveland. He was a mainstage performer for Second City Cleveland from 2002-04. Cockerill was also a founding member of the Ground Floor Comedy Club in the Coventry neighborhood, teaching and performing improv. After moving to Chicago to pursue his career, Cockerill passed away from cancer in 2016. This award honors his passion for making people laugh and his legacy as a comedian. It did my heart good to learn of this honor for Nathan. He was a close friend of our son Colin, and when they were younger they spent a lot of evenings at our house playing games and just hanging out together. Later they formed a fantasy football league, now named after Nathan. For more about the Cleveland Comedy Festival, here’s the link: https://www.clevelandcomedyfestival.com/ HANK GARLAND AND CHRISTMAS CLASSICS Through the miracle of the Internet I asked who played guitar on two Christmas classics that I enjoy a lot, “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee and “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms. There are some nice guitar flourishes on both songs that seemed similar, and I wondered if the same guitarist played on both sessions. Turns out I was right: it was Hank Garland, a big time player and studio musician who appeared on hits by Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, Mel Tillis, Marty Robbins, the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty and many others. Garland’s guitar skills are showcased on Bobby Helms’ 1957 hit, “Jingle Bell Rock,” and the following year he played guitar on Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Both of those songs are all-time favorites and in the top ten of seasonal download lists. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” has sold more than 25 million copies. Hank Garland was known as one of the top guitarists in Nashville, and played jazz as well as country and rock. One of the best known songs recorded under his own name was “Sugarfoot Rag.” Sadly, he was injured in a 1961 automobile accident and comatose for a time. After regaining consciousness he recovered somewhat but was unable to return to the recording studio. Garland passed away in 2004. According to Wikipedia, when noted Nashville journalist Peter Cooper asked Chet Atkins a number of years ago who he thought the best guitar player to ever come to Nashville was, Atkins stated without hesitation, "Hank Garland." "Chet wasn't wrong," said Harold Bradley, an A-Teamer who followed Garland as the most recorded guitarist in Nashville. "I am very humble about my playing because Hank Garland is the standard." "I can't even imagine what he would have become had he not been in that accident," said Brad Paisley, a guitarist and contemporary country hit-maker who received a Grammy nomination for his own version of "Sugarfoot Rag". "You're talking about 40 years of lost innovation that could have come only from him." For more about Hank Garland check out the following link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Garland 
CLUB ARMOR TEEN NIGHTCLUB TO DEBUT DEC. 15
Greenfield Rotary Club is launching a teen nightclub at the Ralph W. Phillips Civic and Recreation Center, 156 Jefferson St., Greenfield, Ohio. The inaugural event will be Saturday, Dec. 15 from 7 p.m. to midnight and will feature a DJ, stunning sound and marvelous lighting. Club Armor is open to teens ages 13-18. There will be a $5 cover charge and concessions will be available. Greenfield Rotary President Andrew Surritt said this project came about following a discussion of club members who wish to provide a safe and wholesome environment for local teens. The result is Club Armor, which according to its Facebook page, “creates the best and safest dance music atmosphere for youth.” For more information about Club Armor, including dress code and safety rules, visit the Facebook page at the link below: https://www.facebook.com/ClubArmor/ RALPH MAY CHRISTMAS SHOW 1969 Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to turn back the clock to 1969 and imagine that we’re in the Ohio Theatre for the Ralph May Christmas Show. The show was directed by Robert Anderson and featured the Columbus Pops Orchestra. The recorded version still sounds great! Just click on the link below, close your eyes and enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TDZuwhO0R8&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3UpZJjecLI9e3d2CAGe-pPW82WDkj6dXkM8EaY94LexH_WsAXkxs4RGhM MACK SAUER, THE WILL ROGERS OF HIGHLAND COUNTY I never met Mack Sauer, but I heard a lot about him when I was a young journalist from Chuck Mowrey, former owner of the Leesburg Citizen where Mack once had a respected platform for his writings and his special sense of humor. I also got to read one or two of the books that Mack Sauer had written and enjoyed his stories, his style and his humorous outlook on life. I think Mack was pals with Lowell “Fizz” Wilkin of Greenfield, as both men were involved in local radio shows back in the day. Mack and Fizz were involved in local service organizations, were gifted speakers and always seemed to find the humorous aspect of any subject. Recently Steve Roush, columnist for the Highland County Press, posted an interesting piece about Mack Sauer with help from his cousin Ellen Roush, who had written a profile of the humorist in the 1990s. If you ever heard of Mack Sauer or are curious to learn more, click on the link below and enjoy: https://highlandcountypress.com/Content/Opinions/Opinion/Article/Mack-Sauer-The-Will-Rogers-of-Highland-County/4/22/47488 Other columns that mentions Mack Sauer: https://highlandcountypress.com/Content/Opinions/Steve-Roush/Article/Two-well-known-Highland-Countians-pass-away-the-very-same-day/4/400/47261 https://highlandcountypress.com/Content/Opinions/Opinion/Article/Mack-Sauer-left-his-mark-on-the-world/4/22/47741 McNEIL FLYING TURKEY RUN/WALK IS NOVEMBER 22! The seventh annual Flying Turkey Run/Walk 5K is scheduled Thanksgiving Day at the Felson Park bike bath. Start time is 8:30 a.m. It’s free and just for fun. Thanks to the McNeil family for their faithful sponsorship of this event, which seems to grow each year. There is a Flying Turkey Facebook page, and the McNeils say they would like to see more “flyers” this year than ever before. “Layer up and come fly with us!” THANKSGIVING TIDBITS I received the following in an email, so can’t take credit for writing it. Hope you find this slightly edited version as witty as I did... I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving; bringing people of all races and religions together to fight over discounted electronics. Count your blessings. And, if your live in Florida, recount them. As you hopefully enjoy the holiday with friends and family, here are some often forgotten Thanksgiving facts to ponder: Thanksgiving History: In 1939, Franklin Roosevelt declared Thanksgiving would take place on the third Thursday of November instead of the traditional last Thursday. FDR’s move outraged Congress who then got into the act by officially declaring that Thanksgiving would thenceforward fall on the fourth Thursday of November. Two weeks later FDR declared World War II. And you thought NIXON was a sore loser. Thanksgiving Editorial: Every year I like to remind everyone that the first Thanksgiving was a celebration of gratitude by a group of early English settlers known as the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims were Separatists who came to the New World to practice their religion without government interference, and since the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms did not exist at that time they were allowed to do so. Thanksgiving Question: Francis, I am going to my grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving. What should I take with me? Answer: A wireless router. Thanksgiving Factoid: The first Thanksgiving was adopted as an annual holiday by New York State in 1817, marking the first official celebration of Thanksgiving as a regular event and the last time a New Yorker ever said thank you for anything. Thanksgiving Question: Francis, what did the Indians say to the Pilgrims after the first Thanksgiving dinner? Answer: “This has been fun, but we should leave now; we know you have a long voyage back to England.” Thanksgiving Op-ed: Men love deep-frying turkeys on Thanksgiving because it allows us to spend the day outside drinking beer and messing around with a device that could potentially destroy an entire neighborhood. In fact, I am now working on a recipe for mashed potatoes that will somehow involves a grenade launcher. Thanksgiving History: The Pilgrims found themselves in a harsh world and would have starved to death if not for the help of a friendly Native American named Squanto who told them to plant corn and when it was ripe to boil it and eat it, which they did. When Squanto returned to see how they were doing, he advised them that in the future, they should shuck the corn first. Thanksgiving History: The Pilgrims, being novice seamen, had a very difficult voyage to reach the New World. But finally, one morning after 18 weeks at sea, the fog lifted, and the lookout shouted the fateful words: “'Hey! We forgot to put up the sails!'” Thanksgiving FYI: Thawing your turkey correctly is very important. For best results you should have started thawing your turkey about three weeks ago, because your modern supermarket turkey is frozen to the hardness of state-capitol floors. In fact, thanks to genetic engineering, many modern turkeys are actually grown frozen. Thanksgiving Traditions: There is no Thanksgiving tradition more meaningful than the annual U.S. Department of Agriculture warning us not to cook your stuffing inside the turkey. I am frankly wondering if stuffing should be regulated like assault rifles, to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Thanksgiving Reminder: If you are a vegetarian, Tofu can be used as a high-protein meat substitute, as well as a denture adhesive or tile grout. If you form it into a turkey-shaped lump, season it well, add gravy and bake it for two hours in a shallow pan at 350 degrees and you can also use it for minor driveway repairs. My Thanksgiving Thoughts: 1. Bambi started stuffing her turkey a week ago. It takes a lot of time because she stuffs it through the beak. 2. I am thankful I did not go through with my plans to invest in a new Internet soft drink called E-Cola. 3. I am thankful that my friends and family have never seen my Internet search history. 4. I am thankful my home address does not contain the words “Gaza” or “Strip.” 5. I am thankful for Facebook. Without it I would not have visual proof my friends are eating well. Thanksgiving Quote of the Year: “Hello Butterball help line? This is Tom Turkey. They’re gonna shove me in the oven! GET ME OUT OF HERE…. Yes, I'll hold.” CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN OPEN THANKSGIVING EVENING Christmas at the Cabin near Bainbridge has been attracting shoppers for 37 years, and once again the Cabin will be open on Thanksgiving evening from 4-9 p.m. Proprietor Janny Brizius has a great selection of hand-crafted items that make great Christmas gifts. The Winter 2018 edition of “Happenings in the Hills” is also available at Janny’s Magic Waters Theatre website that can be found at: http://www.magicwaterstheatre.com/ REST IN PEACE ROY CLARK Roy Clark, the legendary co-host of “Hee-Haw,” was a gifted entertainer and amazing guitarist. He passed away Nov. 15 at age 85. Here are some links showing Roy Clark in action: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/roy-clark-jerry-reed-hee-haw-757610/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8YUwn27mjQ&list=RDQhiKgeJV3k0&index=2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxDQQDF6j0Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqSXLBqjHUw CONGRATULATIONS TO WELLER'S AND GREENFIELD RESEARCH! The year 2018 has been a big one for a pair of longtime Greenfield businesses, Weller's Plumbing and Heating and Greenfield Research. Weller's celebrated 75 years in business and remains in the same family after all those years of providing jobs and quality service. A nice story about Weller's celebration can be found at the link below: https://www.timesgazette.com/news/29876/wellers-heating-plumbing-celebrates-75-years Greenfield Research, Inc. also had a reason to celebrate as the company that was founded by Joseph Priests in 1968 observed its 50th year in business. Congrats to Mike Penn and staff for keeping the company going in the highly competitive automobile industry. Read more at the link below: https://highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/In-The-News/Article/Greenfield-Research-celebrates-50th-anniversary-in-business/2/20/46876 GREENFIELD LEAF PICKUP ANNOUNCED The Village of Greenfield will begin collecting leaves the week of November 4, 2018 and end approximately December 31, 2018. Holidays, weather, equipment breakdowns and day to day operations will cause delays. Leaf pickup will begin on Mirabeau Street and continue on the south side of town going east to west first, then north to south. Once the south side is complete, leaf pickup will begin on the north side of Mirabeau Street, again with east to west streets done first, followed by north to south. The leaf pickup crew is scheduled to make two passes through town. To ensure efficient collection, please comply with the follow:
LIONS CLUB CHRISTMAS SHOW SET FOR DEC. 8-9 Recently a nice article appeared in the Highland County Press about Susan and Danny Long, longtime fixtures in the Greenfield community for many reasons, including involvement in the Greenfield Lions Club, which is sponsoring a Christmas show called “A Night of Peace” on Dec. 8 and 9 in the McClain High School auditorium. So check out Cindi Pearce’s article about “The Methodist and the Quaker” at the link below: https://highlandcountypress.com/Content/Default/Rotator-Articles-/Article/The-Methodist-and-the-Quaker-make-beautiful-music-together/-3/546/46953 END OF AN ERA: WILLARD PARR SIGNS OFF AFTER 62 YEARS WITH WSRW Another Highland County icon, WSRW Radio’s Willard Parr, did his last remote broadcast this month after 62 years or service. I’ve known Will since my days with the Greenfield Times, and was occasionally interviewed by him over the past five years when I served as Greenfield city manager. Best wishes to you, Will. You have been a fixture in the media and I’ll miss hearing your voice on my radio. Here’s a link to a nice story about Will Parr: https://www.timesgazette.com/news/32035/the-end-of-a-radio-era AUTUMN 2018 ‘HAPPENINGS’ AVAILABLE ONLINE The latest issue of “Happenings in the Hills” is available in print form at many businesses in the area, and also by pdf for you computer-savvy readers. The Autumn 2018 issue has tips from Dave Shoemaker on how to dress your little ones for Halloween as well as information on the Fall Festival of Leaves in Bainbridge, the local football scene, and of course news about Christmas at the Cabin, the popular holiday shopping destination on Cave Road near Bainbridge. For more information visit the MAGIC WATERS THEATRE website, or click HERE for the pdf version of Happenings. THE BEGINNING OF LED ZEPPELIN There are lots of books about Led Zeppelin, and I’ve read at least one and a bunch of magazine articles, but I didn’t know their first recording was made while backing up P.J. Proby until I read the following piece: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/how-led-zeppelin-formed-718697/ CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN OPENS OCTOBER 19 - SOME SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR NEW ARTISANS For the 37th year, Christmas at the Cabin is returning to Cave Road near Bainbridge! Janny Brizius reports that there are a few spaces available for new artisans, and said the dates of Christmas at the Cabin this year will be October 19 through December 9, daily except Mondays. For more information visit the website at: http://www.magicwaterstheatre.com/ FAREWELL BURT REYNOLDS Just last week my wife and I chanced to stumble across an airing of “Smokey and the Bandit” on TV and enjoyed watching part of this rather lightweight romp about some thirsty young guys smuggling Coors beer across country, with the law in hot pursuit. We found it to be an entertaining blast from the past. Today (Sept. 6, 2018) I was saddened to see a news report that Burt Reynolds had passed away at the age of 82. Here’s a look back at the movie and TV star, his life and times: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/burt-reynolds-dead-deliverance-boogie-nights-star-was-82-831093 CONGRATS TO TIMES-GAZETTE ON 200 YEARS OF PUBLISHING LOCAL NEWS The Times-Gazette did a bang-up job of celebrating the bicentennial of the paper and various successors that date back to 1818. A chance meeting with Publisher Gary Abernathy resulted in his inviting me to write about my years in the 1970s and early ‘80s with three weekly newspapers and the Greenfield Daily Times. I had fun writing it because it brought back some nice memories from those long-ago days with folks like C.C. Hartley, Jack Schluep, Chuck Mowrey, Jeff Pollard, Ron Bellar, Susan Winchell, Roger Ross and Cindi Pearce. In writing the piece, I could not help but reflect on how much the newspaper business has changed. Much of that is due to technology and changing reading habits. Still, we are fortunate to have some excellent newspapers in Highland County, reporting on and recording the ongoing history of our communities. Here’s a link to my little contribution: https://www.timesgazette.com/news/28363/newspaper-memories-ron-coffey-remembers-the-frenzy-and-fun-of-writing-editing-multiple-newspapers GREENFIELD OFFERS HELP WITH YARD WASTE The Village of Greenfield is sponsoring a Yard Waste Compost Site for citizens that want to take pride in their home and neighborhoods. The Yard Waste Compost Site location is at 187 Lost Bridge Road, just south of Thrifton turn right off of Rapid Forge Road toward the Greenfield Wastewater Treatment Plant facility. Bring compost items as listed above and employees will direct you to the area and help you to unload. If needed, employees will utilize the wood chipper to mulch down brush and tree trimmings in order to store the waste in a compost manner. The Village plans to open the Yard Waste Compost Site beginning Friday, June 29 from noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday, June 30 from 8 a.m. to noon, and thereafter the last Friday and Saturday of each month with the same hours. GREENFIELD CHANNEL 3 HAS A NEW HOME If you are one of the many folks who likes to listen to WVNU Lite 97.5 FM while watching local ads and announcements on local cable Channel 3, you may have wondered what happened to Channel 3. My mother mentioned it to me the other day that it was "gone" and replaced by something different, and a discussion subsequently ensued with some ladies of our church who are in the know on these matters. One offered the solution: Instead of going to Channel 3, use your digital tuner to go to Channel 1021. I was a bit skeptical, having grown up in an age when we basically had just three channels (4, 6 and 10), but we tried it at Mom’s house -- and it works! So if you want to watch the Greenfield Village Council meetings (7:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month), the next McClain High School graduation or check up on community events and bargains, set your Spectrum cable dial to 1021! HELEN BLACKBURN HOOVER TABBED FOR COUNTY HALL OF FAME Helen Blackburn Hoover, a native of Greenfield, achieved some fame in the 1950s and ‘60s after she and her husband moved to Minnesota to get away from it all and she wrote books and magazine articles about their lives in the wilderness. She authored seven books about their experiences, with her husband creating graphic art for those books. In recognition of her achievements as a writer and one who inspired future generations to appreciate the natural beauty of our world, on May 27 Helen Blackburn Hoover and several other accomplished Highland Countians will be inducted into the Highland County Historical Society Hall of Fame. I have read several of Mrs. Hoover’s books, including “The Long-Shadowed Forest” and “The Gift of the Deer,” and I can remember discussing with then-Superintendent of Schools Ronald E. Vaughan the possibility that she might be invited to speak at a McClain High School commencement. However, Mrs. Hoover was not in good health at the time, and she passed away in 1984. The other inductees into the Hall of Fame on May 27 will include Judge Richard Davis, the late Edwin Billingham Ayres, Moses Carothers and Wesley T. Roush. If you are curious to learn more about this interesting lady, click on the links below: http://www.timesgazette.com/news/27404/mcclain-graduate-wrote-about-outdoor-experiences http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/Opinions/Steve-Roush/Article/Helen-Hoover-and-the-great-outdoors/4/400/44273 THESE ROBOTS WILL BLOW YOUR MIND Robots keep making the news, and have the potential to make our lives much easier -- or perhaps to take over the world… I have no idea what lies ahead on the subject, but I found a link showcasing robots that already exist, and it’s fascinating. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ_-yb-TN9M CHARLES MANSON SPENT TIME IN CHILLICOTHE PRISON
The infamous cult leader Charles Manson, who died Nov. 19 at the age of 83, was born in the Cincinnati/Greater Kentucky area and spent most of his life in prison. In 2012, I had the opportunity to take a tour of CCI in Chillicothe, including Death Row, which was quite interesting. During the visit, the staff mentioned that some of the more well-known inmates who had spent time at CCI included Charles Manson and Johnny Paycheck. Everyone from Greenfield knows about Paycheck’s brushes with the law, but I was unfamiliar with Manson’s connection to the area. He was born in Cincinnati in 1934 and given the name Charles Maddox, later taking the last name of his then-stepfather William Manson. The young Manson spent much of his early years in reform schools, jails and prison before bursting on the national scene in 1969 as the mastermind of the Tate/LaBianca murders in California. For more about Charles Manson, click on the link below: http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/20/us/charles-manson-dead/index.html EXPERIMENTAL THERAPY ALLOWS GENE EDITING Scientists in the United States have attempted to edit a person’s DNA inside his own body -- permanently altering his genetic code -- according to the Associated Press. Genetic edits have been done outside of the body, but this is a first and could lead to the development of gene therapies to treat or prevent diseases. More info: https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/15/16656140/gene-editing-therapy-hunter-syndrome-sangamo-clinical-trials-zinc-finger-nucleases SCI-FI FILMMAKER ONCE LIVED IN GREENFIELD
A movie written and directed by a former Greenfield resident will premier Saturday, Oct. 21 at the Murphy Theatre in Wilmington. “From Gettysburg to Baghdad” was written by Artie Knapp, who was a young child when his father coached football and taught English at McClain High School for three years beginning in the fall of 1972. Knapp, a 1991 graduate of Wilmington High School currently living in Cincinnati, loves science fiction and his film is about how a time machine leads to the intersection of two soldiers from different periods of history. The film features a cameo appearance by former world heavyweight boxing champion Buster Douglas, best known for his stunning defeat of then-undefeated Mike Tyson on Feb. 11, 1990. Prior to the premiere of “From Gettysburg to Baghdad,” Douglas will hold a meet and greet session with fans from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. when Knapp said Douglas will be signing autographs. Knapp will introduce the film at 3 p.m. and it will start at 3:15 p.m. More info: http://www.timesgazette.com/news/20470/author-of-science-fiction-film-lived-in-greenfield 'TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS' PREMIERES WITH LOOK AT PAYCHECK Episode 1 of Mike Judge’s “Tales from the Tour Bus” has aired on Cinemax and can be viewed at the link below. The subject of the first show in the animated series is none other than Greenfield’s Johnny Paycheck, with former band mates Don, Gary and Arnie Adams sharing their memories of some of Paycheck’s wilder moments. The show is animated in the style of “Beavis and Butt-head,” another Mike Judge production, and airs at 10 p.m. on Fridays on Cinemax. Here’s the link: https://www.cinemax.com/mike-judge-presents-tales-from-the-tour-bus RIP, WALTER BECKER One of the founders of Steely Dan has passed away at age 67. Steely Dan gave us amazing guitar playing, clever lyrics and a host of great songs. One of their early hits from my college days, “Reelin’ in the Years,” is still among my all-time favorites. More info from Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/walter-becker-steely-dan-co-founder-dead-at-67-w500956 FORTY-ONE YEARS AGO, JOHNNY PAYCHECK RECORDED ‘SHOVE IT’ Greenfield native Johnny Paycheck hit paydirt, and connected with frustrated workers, with the 1978 hit “Take This Job and Shove It” -- recorded 40 years ago on August 24, 1977. The song, penned by David Allan Coe, touched something in the hearts of hard-working men and women and became a huge hit for Paycheck. Rolling Stone noted the anniversary of the recording in the story at the link below: http://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/johnny-paycheck-records-take-this-job-and-shove-it-w499402 GREENFIELD’S INDUSTRIAL PARK FEATURED ON APEG SITE Greenfield’s South Central Ohio Industrial Park is featured on a website about commercial sites for industrial parks that is maintained by the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth (APEG) and provides many details of interest to companies looking to expand or relocate. Our industrial park offers approximately 180 acres of land located near a four-lane highway and a railroad, and features high-speed fiber optics, electricity via Dayton Power & Light, natural gas from Vectren, plus excess water and sewer capacity thanks to the Village of Greenfield. A link to that website can be found at www.greenfieldohio.net on the “Industry” page. STORY OF SGT. PEPPER, SONG BY SONG
In 1967, the Beatles released what is considered by many to be their masterpiece, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Thanks to 21st century technology, the album has been reissued with a new stereo mix and a selection of unreleased session recordings. I listened to it on Spotify recently and must say it’s holding up well! Maybe that explains why the box set of “Sgt. Pepper’s” is a top seller even at nearly $130! In commemoration of the golden anniversary, there are lots of articles about the making of “Sgt. Pepper’s” and how the songs came to be. One such link can be found below: http://ultimateclassicrock.com/tags/the-beatles/ HEAR BOB DYLAN’S NOBEL PRIZE LECTURE ABOUT LITERATURE As most of you know, Bob Dylan is the most recent Nobel Prize winner in literature, and though he did not attend the ceremony, he sent a speech that was read by the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden. However, in order to receive the $900,000 award, Dylan also had to deliver a lecture about literature to the Swedish Academy, and he did just that on a tour stop in Sweden. I listened to it the other evening and thought it was pretty interesting. Dylan weaves stories of Buddy Holly and Leadbelly into his talk and references three books he greatly admires: “Moby Dick,” “All Quiet on the Western Front” and Homer’s “The Odyssey.” If you would care to listen, check out the link below: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-bob-dylan-recite-his-nobel-prize-in-literature-lecture-w485839 GREENFIELD’S PRESIDENTIAL DOG
From Larry Chapman’s website, an interesting tale about President Harry S. Truman’s dog, Feller, who through a chain of events, ended up living out his golden years just outside of Greenfield: http://www.lechap.com/2017/03/greenfields-presidential-dog/ HIGHEST POINT IN HIGHLAND COUNTY? During a recent car ride with friends, someone pointed out a hillside between Hillsboro and Greenfield and asked me if this was the highest point in Highland County. I had to confess I had no idea. I always kind of assumed that the highest point might be near the village of Highland, where I used to live (and where lightning once struck so close by that our electric furnace caught on fire!). That was in the days before the Internet, which research was much harder to do. Once in front of my computer, I typed in the query “highest point in Highland County” and several web links came up. According to a site called PeakBagger, the highest point in Highland County is known as Washburn Hill, and it’s the 19th highest spot in Ohio, apparently 1,343 feet above sea level. Washburn Hill is located in the southern part of Highland County, sort of on the way to Fort Hill. You can click on that listing, or 87 others indicating the highest points in every Ohio county, by visiting the link below: http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=13401 Some other high points of note include: No. 1, Campbell Hill (1,549 feet above sea level), Logan County. No. 17, Farrell Hill (1,358), Ross County. No. 54, Dumpling Hill (1,134), Fayette County. HEE HAW MEMORIES
Rory Ryan waxes poetic about that groundbreaking TV show “Hee Haw” in the Highland County Press and you can read it HERE. Or, watch and listen to Archie Campbell’s tongue-twisting story of Cinderella told backwards in “Rindercella” by clicking HERE. INVENTOR OF THE BIG MAC LIVED TO AGE 98 I saw on the news where the inventor of the Big Mac sandwich died in 2016 at the age of 98. Jim Delligatti came up with the idea in 1965 and produced the first Big Mac in 1967 at his McDonald’s franchise in Uniontown, PA at a price of 45 cents. The jazzed up double decker sandwich with sesame seeds and special sauce was a hit, and McDonald’s put the item on its national menu in 1968. For more on this historic milepost in the annals of hamburger making, check out the link below: http://www.wsj.com/articles/jim-delligatti-who-invented-the-big-mac-dies-at-age-98-1480522190 WILBUR WRIGHT AND THE HOCKEY STICK
Here’s a fascinating account of an incident that changed the life of aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright, and a look at the bully who wielded the hockey stick. Oliver Crook Haugh also became a well-known figure for a time — but for all the wrong reasons: http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/Opinions/Opinion/Article/Wilbur-Wright-and-the-hockey-stick/4/22/34122 ‘HOOSIERS,’ SHEB WOOLEY AND THE WILHELM SCREAM Recently my wife and I found ourselves with a rare free evening together and nothing to watch on TV. Our Netflix allocation for the month was used up, and I suggested we put in “Hoosiers,” one of my all-time favorite movies that I had not seen in quite a long time. Dianna found the DVD and we watched this great account of Indiana basketball that’s loosely based on a true story. Aside from the obvious enjoyment of watching a bunch of kids from a small town win the state title, I discovered some new things in watching the closing credits. I saw that Sheb Wooley played the part of the principal that brought the coach (played by Gene Hackman) to Hickory High School. I told Dianna that Sheb Wooley was a singer or songwriter, too. So I consulted Wikipedia and was rewarded with the information that Sheb Wooley had a big hit record in 1958 called “Purple People Eater,” a song I remember well from my youth. He also recorded some humorous songs under the name Ben Colder, and I was familiar with a few of them too. Then, Sheb’s bio got a little murky. It said that in addition to appearing in such classic films as “High Noon” and “The Outlaw Josey Wales,” the actor did some voice work, including what has become known the Wilhelm Scream in a 1951 “Florida Western” called "Distant Drums". Wooley's scream was used in a scene where a man is torn apart by an alligator. Sheb’s brief vocalization of the victim’s agony has become a stock sound effect used in some 225 films and TV episodes. Apparently the Wilhelm Scream (so named because one of the characters killed off in the 1953 film “The Charge at Feather River” was Private Wilhelm) has quite a following and has become kind of an in-joke among the sound effects/filmmaking community. It surely must have resonated with George Lucas — If you have seen the “Star Wars” or “Indiana Jones” series you have definitely heard the Wilhelm Scream! The scream is featured in lots of Disney cartoons and shows up on television shows and in video games. I found the history of the Wilhelm Scream somewhat fascinating, if difficult to describe. Fortunately there’s no need to describe it. You can watch a brief history of the scream (2:58) and after that should be able to recognize it next time it shows up on your big or small screen. A compilation showcasing the Wilhelm Scream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdbYsoEasio Sheb Wooley info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheb_Wooley
IF DONALD TRUMP GRACED EVERY NFL TEAM’S LOGO…
In an interesting exercise, some creative folks have incorporated Donald Trump’s likeness into all 32 NFL team logos. I had to check this out to see how he would look in Bengals’ stripes…(not too inspiring in my opinion). However, there are some pretty good ones, created in good fun: http://uproxx.com/sports/2015/12/donald-trump-nfl-logos/9/ SOME GREENFIELD HISTORY BY WAY OF VIRGINIA
I am always amazed at the reach of Greenfield and her people through the years. Products from our community turn up in a lot of places, and the latest evidence of this happened in September while we were in Harrisonburg, VA. There in the municipal building can be found the Harrisonburg Fire Department Museum, which features a rich display of historic firefighting apparatus, uniforms and memorabilia. As we explored the museum, my wife Dianna noticed one of the nets that people used to jump into as a group of firemen held the net in place. The net was in pristine condition, and Dianna noted that it might have been made in Greenfield. I dutifully got down on my hands and knees and looked up, finding the words that provided one of the highlights of our trip: Browder Life Saving Machine Mfd by Cory-Patterson Mfg. Co. Greenfield Ohio USA We were pumped up at this discovery, and as luck would have it soon ran into the Fire Chief, Larry Shifflett and told him about the connection between our towns. The chief, who looked to be roughly my age, said he had jumped from a third story window into that net as part of his training around the late 1970s, and indicated that it had come to Harrisonburg in 1954 with a new fire truck. He estimated that the net was manufactured in 1953, probably because that was the year the order was placed for the new fire truck. Chief Shifflett mentioned that his father had also been fire chief in Harrisonburg, and it was evident that he was pretty enthusiastic about firefighting and the museum. There were several large bells on display, and I did my best to look for a Bell’s Foundry inscription on them but to no avail. Nevertheless we enjoyed our journey through the history of firefighting, and Chief Shifflett explained a little about the workings of early fire extinguishers. Some of them were filled with carbon tetrachloride, which did a pretty good job of snuffing out flames but also gave off poisonous fumes. The substance was stored in glass balls which could be thrown at the fire by hurlers who made a hasty retreat when the glass broke. Other devices had heat-triggered devices that released the carbon tetrachloride. Later, soda-acid extinguishers replaced their older counterparts and were much safer to operate. So, if you’re ever in Harrisonburg, VA you may want to stop by the Public Safety Building at 101 North Main Street, 3rd Floor and check out the museum. Admission is free, and you might even get to meet Chief Shifflett. To see more photos from the museum, click the link below for a nice slideshow: http://www.harrisonburgva.gov/hfd-museum I saw Harold Schmidt, president of the Greenfield Historical Society, soon after returning to Greenfield and told him about our encounter with the Browder Life Saving Machine. Harold was glad to receive the news and said other communities sometimes contact the Greenfield Historical Society to learn more about the fire nets which were once so popular with fire departments. He mentioned several places GHS has heard from, including Maryland and California. The local Historical Society does have one of the Browder Life Saving Machines and it can be seen at events such as the History Day that just took place on Oct. 3. I’m glad to see how much effort GHS puts into preserving our rich and amazing history. More info about the Browder Life Saving Machine can be found at these links: Why they went away: http://my.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/fire-department-safety-nets-did-they-go-away-and-why?id=889755%3ATopic%3A5984841&page=3 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_net This Facebook page includes a video of a demo from the 1960s: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=160648347314270&story_fbid=843373795708385 Memories from Larry Chapman: http://www.highland-ohio.com/browder%20life%20saving%20net.htm Patent info: https://www.google.com/patents/US952871 Listing from ebay (sorry, it’s been sold): http://www.ebay.com/itm/321044431463 And more… http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/browder-firemans-firefighter-life-430858076 LIVE FROM DARYL’S HOUSE!
John Adams told me about this interesting website featuring top entertainers in a relaxed setting, which happens to be Daryl Hall’s house. Daryl is the Hall of the singing duo Hall & Oates. Daryl Hall started Live From Daryl's House, the free monthly web show in late 2007, after having the idea of "playing with my friends and putting it up on the Internet," and the show has since garnered acclaim from Rolling Stone, SPIN, Daily Variety, CNN, BBC, Yahoo! Music and influential blogger Bob Lefsetz, who cited Live From Daryl's House as a perfect example of a veteran artist reinventing himself in the digital age by collaborating with both established colleagues and newer performers. Check it out here: http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/ GREENFIELD SLIDE SHOW
I’ve been dabbling trying to create a slide show about the village of Greenfield that captures some of the history, character and enjoyable aspects of living here. It’s taken far too much time but I’ve had fun learning, and the latest draft can be found by clicking on the YouTube image above. |
CALENDARSaturday, March 23: Join the Dumbfounded band at the Fur Ball! This is a fundraiser for the Fayette Regional Humane Society at Mahan Building on Fayette County Fairgrounds, 5:30-10 p.m. This Fur Ball features amazing auction items and should make for a fun evening!
Wednesday, March 27: 47th annual radio-telethon to benefit the Highland County Society for Children and Adults, sponsored by Greenfield and Hillsboro Rotary Clubs. The Greenfield event will take place from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at MHS Media Room. Saturday, May 4: Denim & Diamonds fundraiser to fight cancer, 5:00-10:00 p.m. at Mahan Building in Washington C.H. Join Dumbfounded in this important battle against cancer. Saturday, July 27: Pelotonia fundraiser to fight cancer, Streetside 62. We are happy to be back on schedule for this event. Dumbfounded's Mark Fisher is a driving force behind the annual event in WCH. July 19-20-21: Greene Countrie Towne Festival sponsored by Greenfield Rotary Club. Saturday, July 27: Pelotonia fundraiser to fight cancer at Streetside 62 featuring classic rock band Dumbfounded. Saturday, Oct. 5: History Day sponsored by Greenfield Historical Society. Events kick off with 5K run at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:00 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7: Annual Ghost Walk sponsored by Greenfield Historical Society, 3:00 p.m. at Old Burying Ground. Sunday, Dec. 8: Greenfield Historical Society annual Tour of Homes, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the tour at the Grain & Hay building on McArthur Way or at the homes on the tour. A dinner will also be held that day at the Grain & Hay building on McArthur Way. Serving time is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Click on the button for more area events from the Visitors Bureau of Highland County Facebook feed.
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AMISH/MENNONITE TRAIL
Larry Chapman has been busy, as always. His latest project is a map of Amish and Mennonite business locations in greater Highland County. By visiting the Google map below and clicking on one of the business names, you will activate a pointer showing just where the business is located. Pretty cool! Good work Larry!
http://mapalist.com/Public/pm.aspx?mapid=378317
ABBEY ROAD: THE HISTORY OF AN ICONIC ALBUM COVER
Even if you are a not a Beatles fan, you are probably familiar with the iconic cover photo of their final studio album, “Abbey Road,” considered one of their best albums. The cover photo has sparked countless parodies, but considering all the rumors and buzz from back in the day about Paul McCartney being dead, probably the best is his use of the same background for his “live” album decades later. Here’s the link to an interesting article for trivia buffs, Beatles fans and curiosity seekers:
http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/abbey-road-cover-art-strolling-back-rock-most-190720943.html
WIT & WISDOM
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. - Thomas Aquinas
We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics. - Bill Vaughan
An army of deer led by a lion is more feared than an army of lions led by a deer. - Philip of Macedonia
Larry Chapman has been busy, as always. His latest project is a map of Amish and Mennonite business locations in greater Highland County. By visiting the Google map below and clicking on one of the business names, you will activate a pointer showing just where the business is located. Pretty cool! Good work Larry!
http://mapalist.com/Public/pm.aspx?mapid=378317
ABBEY ROAD: THE HISTORY OF AN ICONIC ALBUM COVER
Even if you are a not a Beatles fan, you are probably familiar with the iconic cover photo of their final studio album, “Abbey Road,” considered one of their best albums. The cover photo has sparked countless parodies, but considering all the rumors and buzz from back in the day about Paul McCartney being dead, probably the best is his use of the same background for his “live” album decades later. Here’s the link to an interesting article for trivia buffs, Beatles fans and curiosity seekers:
http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/abbey-road-cover-art-strolling-back-rock-most-190720943.html
WIT & WISDOM
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. - Thomas Aquinas
We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics. - Bill Vaughan
An army of deer led by a lion is more feared than an army of lions led by a deer. - Philip of Macedonia