Thank you faithful followers and Facebook fans!

I am 22 days shy of my one year anniversary of writing 'Swing by and spray.'

I can not wait for that milestone to arrive. I must thank all of my faithful readers, regular followers, periodic visitors or those just stumblin' by on their travels elsewhere --NOW!

Thank you, thank you, thank you all from the bottom of my heart, right now!

I've said this before. I created my two blogs (Swing by and spray & Grand Slam kinda day) for many reasons, the top two being:

• To share details from an interesting job in a crazy business with those willing to listen


• To fine tune my 'English major' creative writing skills because of my love of writing (you just never know when a 'fall back' profession will be needed later in life)

Though just short of my anniversary, I have reached another milestone--50 Facebook NetworkedBlogs followers! Unbelievable!

Sometimes I over-analyze situations. However, the way I see it, this scenario is a perfect example of a few 'lessons learned.' It takes one person at a time to make something happen. Each person is just as important as the next. And none of us can accomplish anything alone. We need each other. The next lesson I've learned is you never know who is watching you or reading your compositions. Sometimes a scary thought I guess, but a motivation to be the best always! And some of the bloggers have quite interesting blogs themselves which are great reads on my part enlightening my world about something I may have not known before!

I have to be honest, I've been blown away time and time again, not only by the folks who have signed up to follow my blog on Facebook, but by numerous comments I've received from readers.

I recently received a wonderful comment on the story I wrote about Lydia Esparra's departure. When I read through the entire comment and saw that it came from the Chairman and Co-Founder of the Puerto Rican Culture Committee, I was humbled and felt as if I had done something right that day!

I've received comments from current and former co-workers to people I've never even met.

One such entry came from a stranger who reinforced that anyone can stumble upon your creations. The man, though I had never met him, was familiar. I had seen his name before and read HIS stuff! He's a Cleveland based writer/editor who has had his works in over 70 publications. And for him to say I can write, I am on his 'A List' and he will come back to my site--quite an honor!

When thinking about who in the cyberworld may be visiting my little portion and the effect my words may have on someone else, I'm reminded of the life-altering letter I received from the daughter of a former Cleveland Indian. Whether that young woman knows it or not, she changed my world forever and I will always be indebted to her.

So, for those of you who don't think you make a difference, you do! For those of you who have lofty dreams, go for them! Anything is possible, as I have seen with my own eyes in my Facebook followers and upcoming blog anniversary milestone!

If you are on Facebook, pop onto the Channel 3 page and become a fan! We're nearing a milestone there as well approaching 1,000 fans!! If you have not 'stumbled' upon my blog pages, take a minute to look them over! I'd love to hear what you think and get your feedback. It will only make me better!!!!!!

Video sharing partnership announced

Though the Video Sharing Partnership just announced between WKYC and WOIO does not take full effect for a few days, there was a slight glimmer and 'tease' if you will of things to come last Friday as WOIO, WKYC, and WGRZ banded together in coverage of the Buffalo, New York plane crash.

WOIO's chopper flew to Buffalo to assist WGRZ as well as a number of other agencies including WKYC in the most comprehensive coverage of this tragedy.

WKYC sent its Satellite Truck to assist in WGRZ's coverage of this immense storyline, which will continue for many days to come.

Then, management from both WKYC and WOIO made the announcement on the Video Sharing Partnership plan which is being introduced this week between both stations.

For more details on this venture, PLEASE CLICK HERE!!!


Stay with Channel 3 News and wkyc.com as we continue new undertakings to bring you the most comprehensive newscasts, more local news, sports and weather, up-to-the-minute information and video on stories affecting you and your family, and the latest multi-media platforms allowing you to get your news of the day pretty much anyway and anywhere you can! (computer, cell, blackberry, facebook, you name it!).

As always, however you get your news from us, we will continue to 'Report the Facts and Respect the Truth!'

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: The Busy Bookmobile

I drove by a most interesting site the other day which peaked my curiosity: An ornately decorated school bus parked outside of A Cultural Exchange on Larchmere near Shaker Square. I've actually driven by it a handful of times, each time, wanting for more information.

I did some digging, looked up A Cultural Exchange on the internet, and made contact.

A Cultural Exchange Vice President, Lloyd "Punch" McHamm, says the Busy Bookmobile is alive and well, and 'definitely in service and on the move!'

McHamm went on to say that 'the Busy Bookmobile was the brainchild of our President and Chief Executive Officer, Deborah McHamm. It was her vision and is in support of our mission to provide access to literature for all of Greater Cleveland's Children.'

It appears to be quite a success as they have trips planned throughout the 2008-2009 school year.

The Busy Bookmobile came to fruition during former Mayor Jane Campbell's tenure in office. The concept came to life back in 2003 in conjunction with the Leadership Cleveland class. From there, the Cuyahoga County Commissioners and Mayor Jane Campbell made the leap of faith and launched this program.

The Busy Bookmobile travels around to area schools, various community events, churches, parks, recreation centers, and basically ANYWHERE they have a very captive audience of young ones!

McHamm said, 'We especially like to go where children have the least access to books, i.e. neighborhoods where libraries are not present, children's hospitals, transitional housing, etc.'

The program catapults past the traditional traveling bookmobile programs by giving the children access not only to books but also to other multimedia equipment and activities. Artists and teachers travel with the bus to educate children, allow them to participate in workshops, and even perform for the kids. They want to show the young ones that learning and reading CAN BE FUN!!!!

When kids and their parents board the bus, it is as if they are transformed into another world. Once inside, the adventurers' unlock their imaginations and travel to places they've always wanted to visit!

In today's times, where the common goal is to give our children the best education possible and easy access to learning, the Busy Bookmobile is forging ahead at this mission.

A Cultural Exchange welcomes support from anyone willing and able to lend a helping hand. They are always looking for interested donors willing to make contributions which go toward administrative costs, staffing issues, today's high cost of fuel, and just keeping this program alive!

If you'd like to learn more about this program or how YOU can help, you can call A Cultural Exchange at 216.229.8300 for more details.

Hop on their website or give them a call, and you too, will see why I have chosen the Busy Bookmobile as this week's Hidden Gem!

One monkey off my back, one more to go

Awards. A pain in the butt.

I love awards and the thought of being recognized for a job well done--just like the next guy. Getting to that place is a bit more complex than you would imagine.

In baseball, for instance, a player leading his league in home runs, batting average, and runs batted in wins the Triple Crown Award. They don't have to do a thing, except play their butts off!

In basketball, a player who, during a game, hits double digits in three of the following: points, rebounds, assists, steals, or shots blocked is awarded the honor of having a Triple Double.

In news, if you want to have the chance to win an award, not only do you have to fork over a boatload of money, but you have to do a lot of prep work to submit the stories to even have a chance. If no stories are submitted, there is absolutely NO chance of winning anything.

The deadline for the 2009 Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards has come and gone. 5pm Tuesday was the deadline. I usually do submit entries for this awards program. Being the organized person I am, I have entries submitted way in advance.

This year, it was quite the cluster.

Life has become so complex taking up any glimmer of what we once knew as free time.

Work, as well, leaves no time for anything out of the ordinary, including award preps.

But there are so many other outside conditions that make it a nuisance to pursue that lofty pipe dream...road blocks that are completely out of my control.

The $$$$ involved can be absolutely impossible to come up with (for those of us working pay check to pay check). The Press Club fees are reasonable. The membership fees range from $25 to $90 a year. If you are a member, then it only costs $20.00 per entry to submit. If you are not a member, the fee per entry raises up to $30.00.

Because of these fees, oftentimes, everyone involved does NOT want to participate. Sometimes it's hard to remember those who had a hand in the story....God forbid, if you forget to include someone, you could hear about it for the rest of your life if you win (trust me, I'm still living in that hell from many years ago!!!).

Because we were up against the wall running out of time and there were people on vacation and off, I put the names down of everyone I could remember for the stories we submitted (hoping I got everyone) and paid for everyone, in hopes that I'd get reimbursed?!?!?!? Time will tell!!!!!!

Another stumbling block--oftentimes during my shift, we only have one editor. I, in good conscience, can not find myself asking for help making dubs in a department of one. I would never put a show in jeopardy or our product at risk for an award!

There is yet another problem which heavily hinders this process. Finding the video. With a stellar show or story, it's better to have a copy of the actual show tape to submit. The show tape includes segments of the show with the anchor lead in, reporter live shot, anchor-reporter interaction, and then possibly a reporter live tag. You get the idea. The whole story! These show tapes, ideally, are recycled weekly meaning you have one week to make your dubs.

Good luck! These show tapes FLY off the shelves like they were going out of style. I can never find them. And on occasion, the show is not even recorded or rolled on which means you got 'nothin.'

This year, I started out with a list of thirteen possible story submissions. I had ONE copy from an actual show tape which I had dubbed off. No luck on any of the other ones throughout the year.

After going back into the archive bank and trying to find the stories on tape --a possible package or vo-sot, I narrowed down the possible submissions to 4 stories.

I never knew we had access to the 4th one until it was too late for the Press Club Awards. So we managed to scrape together in less than 24 hours, 3 submissions.

Honestly, I was about to give up totally on entering anything...but that underlying drive gets you every time. I am not as gung ho as some on this whole award phenomenon. There are some addicted and totally consumed. Thank goodness that is not me. That said, IF I believe I initiated great story coverage and there is a good chance of that story winning, I like taking a stab at the opportunity.

So, being the 'over achiever' I've been called, I was able to get a few dubs made....and then worked at my home computer until 530am the morning of the deadline filling out the paperwork...getting all of our ducks in a row! Thankfully, these awards needed to be dropped off right down the street from my office. I came in a few minutes early, walked down, and dropped them off with a few hours to spare!!!!

The deadline to get the second monkey off my back is fastly approaching.

Emmy entries are due in about a week. Because the fees for Emmy Awards are quite steep, I have to be honest, I have no idea if I can swing it.

You have to become a member, which costs money. If you are NOT a member of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences --Lower Great Lakes Chapter, the fee to enter anything is $145.00 per name on the entry.

As you can see, much more expensive. There will be a few more days of mulling over whether it is really worth it and whether the few stories we have are worth making the investment.

Once the decision is made, then the whole process begins--finding people to make a few dubs....filling out all of the paperwork and submitting the stories! These have to be done in advance because they must be sent through the mail.

Usually, with Emmy Awards, fewer people enter due to the high fees.....but again, you try not to omit anyone and afford each person involved the opportunity.

As I said at the beginning....awards can be very satisfying acknowledgements of a job well done.....yet at the same time, a HUGE PAIN IN THE BUTT!!!!!!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: Cedar Lee Theatre

You don't have to be a film critic or movie aficionado to have had the great pleasure of seeing a movie at the Cedar Lee Theatre.

In fact, most people I've spoken to have seen a flick there at one time or another, yours truly included!

Believe it or not, the Cedar Lee opened back in 1926 and has taken Cleveland by storm ever since.

I'm told it started out with one screen back in the day...through the years, numerous renovations transformed this landmark movie theatre into the state-of-the-art 6 screen entertainment center it has become today.

The Cedar Lee has always been in the forefront trying to engage its captive audience from its cutting edge concession stand which offered treats and libations no other theatre contained at the time to its unique movie selection.

The master mind behind the Cedar Lee, Jon Forman, has a long, revered history not only in the Cleveland Movie business but the Creative Arts world in general.

The Cedar Lee prides itself on its choice collection of movies. It does not matter how big or small, how much or how little money was spent on making the movie, how big the star or unknown the protagonist. Each selection a true winner.

If you want to see the best Foreign Films, Independent creations, even Hollywood movies, check no further than the Cedar Lee. They've had and continue to have their share of Cleveland Movie Premieres as well as interesting Film Festivals.

Quite unassuming on Lee Road near the corner of Cedar in Cleveland Heights, it continues drawing in movie fans of all ages.

The Cedar Lee Theatre Cult Film Series presents the hilarious thriller, 'Clue' all weekend long (February 7th and 8th). However, Sunday's performance adds a genius twist. First, to get in you pay $1.00 and then roll one die to give you the rest of your total admission fee. Then, once in, during the movie, LIVE interactive actors will be mingling with the movie-goers throughout the entire Sunday performance, which kicks off at 9:30pm.

And talking about Cult Films, as far as I know, the Cedar Lee continues running the great Cult Film, 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' at midnight on the first Saturday of each month.

We all know Cleveland excels in the Arts and Entertainment department. We have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum--which this year kicks off a week long celebration beginning with the Moondog Coronation Ball ending with the Rock Hall Induction Ceremony. We have dozens of venues bringing the hottest bands and acts into town each year. We have the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra and Youth Orchestra. Many movies have already been filmed right here in our own backyard and, I'm hearing there are many more to come! And Cleveland's Theatre Row on Euclid Avenue and East 14th Street ranks in the top 5 of the greatest Theatre Districts in the whole world!

I've only touched the surface. I could drone on and on for pages mentioning the influence Northeast Ohio has had on the overall landscape of the World Arts' Stage.

Suffice it to say, Cleveland's at the top!

And one of those venues shooting Cleveland straight to the top is the Cedar Lee Theatre. If you have not indulged yourself in the Cedar Lee experience, please take a swing by soon, and you too, will see why I have chosen the Cedar Lee Theatre as this week's Hidden Gem!

Lovely Lydia

You don't know what you have 'til it's gone

I'm going for the Daily Double! Ironically, I posted a story on my personal blog, Grand Slam Kinda Day, earlier in the day with this same exact title, so be it totally different topic.


It's finally hit home. I have to spring out of 'denial.'


The holidays are over which means vacations have come to an abrupt end and everyone is back at work.

We are gearing up for March Sweeps --that's right, March Sweeps. The way my News Director explained it is that March has become a sweeps month this year instead of February due to the changeover. With talk of a changeover delay, what does that do for the rest of the Sweeps seasons???? Regardless, gearing up for Sweeps, everyone is back at work.


And with everyone back at work, there is one quality piece of the puzzle absent.


I finally have to admit that my former co-worker and friend, Lydia Esparra, is gone and not coming back.


Lydia, a vibrant force, could always cause quite a stir with her outgoing compassion and energy.


Lydia and wkyc parted ways at the end of December.


When a co-worker leaves for whatever reason, there is a great void, especially amongst a very tight, cohesive team, which characterized our crew. A missing piece leaves quite a hole, even though everyone must plunge ahead.


It's unfortunate that oftentimes the tightness of a group, tremendous talent, teamwork, and titanic contributions to the whole are not always recognized by those not constantly present.


Let me tell you about Lydia. She was an anchor, reporter, and researcher all rolled into one who NEVER put on airs. What I mean is, she was the REAL deal, totally underrated.


She spoke from her heart. She said what was on her mind. She never spoke behind any one's back, always went to the source...and always had your back! She also had her endearing 'scatter brain' moments, especially when it came to directions, but really, don't we all!!! That made her even more endearing --she admitted her flaws and foibles!


I just loved when Lydia worked because she knew she was expected to bird dog multiple stories each night...there were nights she got us 3 or 4 and knew that was all part of her job. There were nights she stumbled on a great story and shot it as a HFR (hold for release). She was also very cognizant that crews were/are a hot commodity, especially on nights, overnights and weekends, and her crew may be needed for another assignment so she got them back as quickly as she could--no wasting time, no stopping for long dinners, nothing like that!


Along with getting the stories covered, she completed the tasks associated with her main job which entailed putting her stories on the web....leaving a slice of her story for the morning show....and leaving updates, if necessary, in the computer.


Lydia, I believe, was the senior Puerto Rican reporter/anchor in Cleveland. She was highly regarded in her ethnic community and had contacts like you would not believe, not just here but all over the U.S. Her heritage helped in obtaining her exclusive with Bartolo Colon (with just a little help from my Pastor, Father Gary, who was Bartolo's spiritual advisor), as well as so many other stories related to her community. She was extremely competitive and always wanted to WIN the big story, beat the competition. She'd stop at nothing less.


Her enthusiasm for politics was well known in the newsroom, partially because of her husband's profession I would imagine. But really, if there is a reporter who excels at something, you should let them run with their passions. On a number of occasions, Lydia and her contacts bailed us out or got the 'big get' when dealing with 'Presidential Protocol.'


Lydia was down to earth. She would walk around the newsroom with her hair up, no make-up, talk to absolutely EVERYONE in the building from the cleaning crew to the GM. She answered all her viewer email and phone calls. And when it was a rough night up at the News Desk or we were getting slammed with phone calls, she was the first to come up and help rather than walk on by.


Our team is so in sync, it's oftentimes scary. There were times when Lydia and Producer Dan knew I had something going on before I even verbalized the situation. I'd crank the scanner, set perched facing the scanner, and be totally silent. It was then when Lydia would quickly finish the current story she was working on, sometimes even RUN (literally run) back to EJ and track it so that she could go out on the breaking news story. She kicked major booty at the Carbon Monoxide incident at a Hispanic church on the near west side a few years ago.....as well as the Burke Plane Crash (with Paul Thomas) last year...and numerous storm coverage incidents --just to name a few!



She was always willing to help her fellow anchors and reporters. Romona scored an exclusive interview with the wife of fallen officer Derek Owens. Romona got back to the station quite late after her interview. Lydia knew she'd have to help Romona get the story ready for air so she made sure she had all of her assignments complete. Lydia worked closely with Romona when she got back and finished up the story so Romona could prep for the 11pm news.




AND as a parting gift for her crew, she and her family cooked a genuine Puerto Rican Feast fit for a king and queen which she catered for the night crew--consisted of beans and rice, chicken, collard greens, plantains, and so much more! She did not have to do that but she wanted to thank her co-workers and show them how much she appreciated them! Classy lady!



Lydia, as all of us do, has had many hardships and tragedies in her life over the years. Through them all, including the death of her sister, she gave her best, she gave her all, and even tried to teach the viewer something new or helpful. If her situation was health related, she'd offer useful information to our customers....and so forth.



She listened and had an amazing memory. Stories I told her about my family did not go on deaf ears. 'Surprise guest' at my last birthday party--she went around the room asking my family members questions about their lives stemming from the stories I told her. She was on the money with each question asked. My jaw dropped to the ground in disbelief that she remembered the smallest of details.



I really could go on and on and on......however, a few zany thoughts which will always be a part of Lydia's Legacy: her 'candid & blunt verbiage'....her wild hair when she just let it go......the amazing cookouts she and Scott Newell would throw for their weekend crews....and the infamous Popcorn Machine!


Thank you Lydia, for giving your all and being an exemplary co-worker and human being. It did not go unnoticed by your fellow colleagues and friends.