I made a gross error in judgment earlier this week. In my zeal to get as many photos of the Sherburne Pageant of Bands in on Monday as I could, I didn’t leave enough room for the list of scoring results. Instead, I put a refer to our website on the front page, and posted the complete results there, for free.

Oops. Not everyone has a computer, Jeff. I’d say I’m pretty plugged in, gadget-wise, so sometimes I forget that there are still homes in Chenango County with nary a computer, cell phone, PDA or iPod to be found. 

And I think as of today, I’ve heard from all seven of them.

See, the way I figured it, if you’ve got a kid (or grandkid) in band, you already knew who won. I assumed that only the most ardent of marching band fans would want to see the extensive (I’m pretty sure every band got at least five awards, thanks for coming!) list of scores and awards, and that Evening Sun readers would be more entertained by the pictures. Trust me, I won’t make that mistake again. Next year, all the results, in print (and online, so there). 

The last lady who called, and I can kvetch about her here because she obviously won’t be reading my blog, wouldn’t take my sincerest apology for an answer. She challenged my assumption that our readers needed to see pictures at all. “If they wanted to see the bands, they could have gone to the goddamn parade!” she wailed. When I countered with, “If you were so interested in the results, you could have stayed for the awards ceremony!” that really ticked her off. Even when I offered to read her the results over the phone, or print them out and mail them to her, free of charge, she wouldn’t have any of it. No, she wouldn’t be happy until I apologized on behalf of all 21st century humanity for relying on any sort of “modern” technology whatsoever. 

Frankly, I’m surprised she had a phone. It bet it was rotary.

Man’s best friend (and kitties, too) lost a longtime supporter and staunch advocate recently with the death of Rosalyn ‘Roz’ Scheuerman at age 70.

Although she’d left Chenango County in her later years, Roz had served as director of the local SPCA for a decade and a half, retiring in 1998. Her legacy? Turning the East River Road animal shelter from a depressing, dilapidated halfway house into a clean, efficient, friendly and well-run facility with an excellent adoption rate. 

Though her physical work on the old shelter was demolished a few years ago to expand Rt. 32, her contribution to furthering the cause of animal rights in Chenango County will live on forever. Countless school children in and around Norwich will no doubt remember Roz entering their classrooms with longtime SPCA mascot Shelby to teach them about animal safety. Her love of animals and enthusiasm for their proper treatment and care was infectious and no doubt inspired scores of those kids to walk their dog or play with their cat a little more often.

Roz was always a good friend to The Evening Sun and to me personally. She’ll be missed.

In case you haven’t run across the numerous other print and online references, I’ve been on vacation for the past two weeks.

Under normal circumstances, I generally don’t leave The Evening Sun (or Norwich, for that matter) for more than a day at a time. Once or twice a year, I’ll take off five days in a row. But it’s been over a decade since I vacated the captain’s chair for two whole weeks. Jessica Lewis, with the help of her noble comrades, manned the store in my absence — and again for the first time in decades, I did absolutely no checking in on them while I was gone.

That’s right. Even in this digital age (and my brand new iPhone), I remained completely disconnected from all things newspaper for 14 days. It was a much-needed respite, but as I sat down last night with two weeks worth of newspapers, I was amazed by just how out of touch I’d been.

My colleagues toiling at larger metropolitan dailies often wonder in jest just what we find to write about every day in sleepy Chenango County, but I can tell you for certain that if you miss an issue – or 14 – you miss a hell of a lot.

Of course, I’m a self-proclaimed news geek, entrenched in the political and social soap opera that is the Land of the Bullthistle, so I find everything that went on since April 6th fascinating. But even for those who’d prefer to live under a rock, there was still a lot to take notice of in that time frame – accidents, fires, resignations, budgets, verdicts, political maneuverings and even an apparently highly controversial Easter Egg hunt! 

(Insert shameless plug for why everyone should subscribe to The Evening Sun to keep on top of local news here).

One of the toughest lessons I have to teach my reporters is that you can’t be all things to all people – and you can’t be everyone’s friend.

I think we all have an innate desire to be universally liked and respected, but reality is usually quite different. That’s a tough life lesson in general, but in the journalism business, it goes with the trade. I grew enormous shoulders many years ago, and am fully aware that I am both loved and hated in this community, sometimes by the same people.

What I try to instill in the minds of the reporters is that while it’s necessary to develop healthy relationships with the sources you depend on for information, you shouldn’t make the mistake of trying to be their friend. Ultimately, we publish the newspaper for the reading public – not for the ‘powers that be’ who certainly would rather us slant the news their way, or not print it at all. 

That’s why I was proud that Jessica Lewis put the mayor on the hotseat in her column Wednesday. When she discovered that Mr. Maiurano’s 2009 “State of the City” address was a nearly a word-for-word regurgitation of his 2007 address, I told her, “You can’t let him get away with that.” And she didn’t.

Joe’s a nice guy. Busy, too, I’m sure. And while I’m still not clear on whether you can plagiarize yourself, I do know that putting out a piece like that for public consumption is lazy, at best. As Jessica pointed out, the repeat didn’t do the city justice – there’s more going on than what is indicated by a rote retelling of something written two years ago.  It was dumb, and she called him on it. Sometimes, that’s just what we gotta do.

Of course, the mayor’s not too happy about being called out on that one. But, as I told Jessica, sometimes our job doesn’t make us very popular – and with good reason.  All of my reporters are pretty good at making both friends and enemies, and that’s exactly how it should be. And here’s where I trot out a journalistic gem I heard long ago: “A journalist whose writing does not stir up either a duel or a lawsuit is a bad journalist.” – Hippolyte de Villemessant.

As we kick off the new year, it’s a scary time for the newspaper industry. Maybe not quite as messed up as the auto or banking sectors, but still interesting times, to say the least.

Today’s my first day back from a week-long vacation (here’s why I always vainly remind readers that anything that was messed up in last week’s papers wasn’t my fault!), and since I try desperately to stay unplugged from mass media while I’m out of the office, suffice it to say I was genuinely surprised to see that Monday’s Binghamton Press is a mere two pages bigger than our own Evening Sun. It took me a while to get caught up on our southerly neighbor’s corporate rationale in downsizing, but given the current state of affairs in my chosen profession, it’s not much of a surprise.

A depressed economy isn’t good for anyone’s business, obviously. In our industry, it leads to decreased advertising from retailers and merchants – and that’s where we make the majority of our money. Combine that with an ever-increasing reliance on the Internet for its immediacy (if not accuracy), and you’ll see why many newspapers are in trouble. Binghamton’s not the only one to shrink – several large metro dailies are giving up print entirely a couple days a week and moving to web-only delivery. Others are lopping off staff, entering into cooperative news agreements and decreasing page counts. All are trying desperately to remain relevant – and survive.

How are things in Norwich, you ask? You know how we often complain that Chenango County is behind the curve on just about every trend imaginable? Well here’s an instance where that’s a good thing, for us at least. Print media is still viable in the land of the Bullthistle, if not as profitable as it once was. While larger newspapers strain their reporters to produce what they call “hyper-local” news … well, that’s what we’ve always done. Like my favorite tagline says, The Evening Sun has always been “the only newspaper in the world that gives a damn about Chenango County.” But that’s not to say we’re immune to economic struggle. In December, we had our first-in-a-decade price increase; revenue from that will go a long way toward helping us keep our heads above water – and I’m pleased to report that while we’ve lost a few subscribers, we’ve managed to keep newsstand sales comparable with last year, even gain, depending on the headlines. 

Of course the business picture isn’t all rosy here. We’ve made cutbacks where we could – tightening our corporate belts and taking a harder look at expenses – but our enduring goal is to ensure that you won’t see that reflected in the product. We’re not laying off reporters or reducing the size of the paper, and you’ll still get it five days a week, like always. And while we’re always looking at ways to innovate and stay competitive in the marketplace, we’re mindful of the fact that our bread and butter is, was, and always shall be local news, sports, opinion and entertainment. Do that well, and the rest will follow.

And if it doesn’t, I will take the corporate jet down to D.C. and ask for a bailout.

Something major happened in Norwich recently that I’m sad to say my intrepid reporters missed. I only discovered it moments ago myself, on my way back from Price Chopper. 

The Norwich Motor Lodge is under new management.

That’s not the story, though. Well I guess it probably should be a story too, and we’ll get to that, but the real news here is that for the first time in probably 20 years, they’ve actually changed the changeable copy sign out in front.  

For years, and I’m quite certain I’m not exaggerating when I say decades, the signboard under the Norwich Motor Lodge logo as you come into the city  read “Comfy Clean Cable.” 

Now, the letters have been removed, the familiar phrase obliterated, replaced by a shiny banner announcing the “under new management” thing. I’m sure the new owners, whoever they are, have many changes in store for the venerable Norwich inn – but to take down “Comfy Clean Cable” so abruptly and without fanfare? I wept.  

I’ve often suggested that the City of Norwich should adopt “Comfy Clean Cable” as its official slogan. To me, it summarizes everything that’s good about Norwich in three simple, beautiful words. We’ve got all the basics of life wrapped up here in Norwich, folks. Who could want more than the comforts of home, the cleanliness of your environment and the wonders of cable television? 

I wish the new managers of the Norwich Motor Lodge every bit of success in their new enterprise. I’d humbly suggest not taking “Comfy Clean Cable” for granted, though. They’re the very precepts upon which our Chenango society is founded.  But now it’s gone. Lost to progress, I suppose. The sign that welcomed me back to the shining County Seat whenever I left it is no more. I feel as though the Statue of Liberty has been stripped of Emma Lazarus’ “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free …” 

My goodness! People come and go so quickly around here …

Sometimes when I think about my staff here at The Evening Sun, I share in Dorothy’s marvel about the denizens of Oz. Much like the Emerald City, characters here seem to pop in and out with amazing regularity.

Astute readers who made it to the end of Mike McGuire’s column in Thursday’s edition know that he’s come to the end of his tenure with Chenango County’s Hometown Daily. In fact, like the song says, he’s already gone.

Mike cleverly avoided saying where he was going in that column … I’ll not divulge the details here as I’ve agreed to the terms set forth by the Witness Protection Program. 

This, however, is not a eulogy for my boy Mike. He’s not the first to leave my little journalistic nest … in fact I’d dare say he’s somewhere in the upper 30s. 

It’s a transient business, being a reporter – and even more so at a small newspaper in a small market. We work ‘em like dogs while we can, write them a letter of recommendation and send them on their merry way when it comes time to try greener pastures. (Mike would appreciate the pasture reference, I’m sure).

Still, it’s hard sometimes to watch the door revolve. Believe it or not, I do sometimes get attached to my underlings. The good news is, I’ll have that opportunity again. Today was Melissa Stagnaro’s first day at The Evening Sun. An Oxford Academy grad like myself, I’m sure she’s destined for greatness. You’ll be reading more about her (and by her) in the days to come. 

In my column in the print edition last week, I lamented the foolishness of siting a Walgreens drug store (again, purely speculation on my part) at an intersection which already had two. 

Apparently, much like Rite-Aid seemed to make a habit of tearing down historic structures to build new stores (the Green House wasn’t the only victim), it seems Walgreens has got a thing for planting stores next to the competition.

Witness this little interesting tidbit a reader sent me from the Times-Union in Albany:

Walgreens proposes store close to rival

Plan for Schenectady highlights issue of clustering pharmacies

By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer 

First published: Friday, February 22, 2008

SCHENECTADY — A new Walgreens has been proposed at Brandywine Avenue and State Street, across the street from a Rite Aid and an empty Eckerd building.

Such clusters are happening across the Capital Region as drugstore chains expand, often locating next to each other.

It’s unknown whether Walgreens would be interested in, or would consider, taking the corner occupied by the empty Eckerd. A representative from the Deerfield, Ill.-based company couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday.

Many Eckerd stores were closed after the company was bought last year by Rite Aid.

“It seems like overkill to me. One drugstore is plenty right in that neighborhood,” said Catherine Greene, president of the Vale Community Organization.

Walgreens is asking for a special use permit to allow a drive-through at the location, 1101-1115 State St. The zoning board will consider the request on March 5. The vacant property is zoned for business use. However, a new zoning code expected to win approval in March might mean greater restrictions on footprint size and design for that site, said zoning officer Steve Strichman.

City Council member Barbara Blanchard said any business can locate in the city if it meets city standards and the zoning code. But she said it’s unfortunate that the proposal involves another chain drugstore.

“It’s too bad we can’t attract more unique businesses,” Blanchard said.

Controversy has swirled around other drugstore sites recently. An online petition asks Troy officials to reject a plan for a new Rite Aid on Hoosick Street. Delaware Avenue residents in Albany have sued to prevent a Walgreens from moving to a vacant lot on Holland Avenue.

The Brandywine Avenue and State Street Walgreens would be the company’s first store in Schenectady. The company has said it wants to add 550 stores, mostly in California and the Northeast, by year’s end.

Amen, Barbara!

After a particularly harrowing day of work, it’s always nice to have that one defining moment that serves as an exclamation point on the entire day. 

I experienced that moment after work Monday, as I stopped by the P&C to pick up something I could un-freeze for dinner. Stepping up to the automatic doors, a gentleman (and I use that term loosely) breezed past me carrying a 12-pack of Bud Lite in one hand, and a copy of Monday’s Evening Sun in the other.

Seems just about right.

Those of you who picked up the print edition of today’s Evening Sun probably noticed a subtle change in the paper’s layout. At least I hope you did, ‘cuz I spent a whole lot of time putting it all together.

I’ve redesigned the look of The Evening Sun quite a few times over the past couple decades, some representing more wholesale changes than others. Sometimes the change is born of a physical or technological need; other times it’s simply because I’m easily bored.

The biggest change you’ll notice is right at the top … our Evening Sun “flag.” That’s what has changed the least in the past few redesigns, the last time being about ‘95, I think, when we switched to the Stoneprint Roman font and added the striated setting sun motif behind.

After a dozen years, I got a little tired of that, so the Venetian blinds are gone, replaced by the full-version sun seen on this very website for the past year.

Not too many other changes typographically – most of what you see different inside is in terms of page order and content.

• Page 5 is now “Viewpoints,” a second editorial page or reader’s forum. We’ve added a new daily column from NEA, “Frugal Living,” and a daily sidebar that refers to content found exclusively on evesun.com, in addition to more room for letters to the editor, guest columns and other local content.

• Page 7 is now Calendar, a full page of The Evening Sun’s events column, with a special feature photo each day.

• Page 10 is now “Hot Topics,” a colorful page of entertainment news, celebrity gossip, news of the weird and the weirdest of all – the new home of “30 Seconds.”

We’ve shuffled around the state and international news pages, and moved comics and the TV grid pages to the second section. And, perhaps the most sweeping change of all – we ditched “Peanuts” for a new comic strip called “Cow and Boy.” It sounded pretty Chenango County to me. We’ll see how it goes. For those who lament the loss of Charlie Brown and company … well, folks, Charles Schulz died a long time ago. It’s time to let go.

So that’s a quick overview of the cosmetic nip/tuck The Evening Sun went through over the weekend. More changes and new features will be popping up in the coming weeks. Let me know what you think.