News desk nuggets

I've tried sharing the top of mind stories and happenings as they've unfolded up here on the News Assignment Desk over the last number of weeks.

It's been a bit more of a challenge, but I've done a pretty good job of hardly 'skipping a beat' with the death of Mom--both here at work and in my home life.

Honestly, I've done a much better job at work (my house is a mess, I'm not ready for Christmas and ......my 'to-do' list is endless!!) as I've stayed on top of my game, continue cranking out story idea after story idea (my Pee Wee kids from Shaker, Vermilion grinch, Lakemore folks coping with Thanksgiving under a boil alert, LeBron's new book...), contributing to our daily product, as well as handling website work on a daily basis.

Last Saturday I worked the night shift, and if I say so myself, kicked some booty. It was fun working with the weekend crew. A different perspective, an expanded way to experience my little 'slice of heaven!' I did my thing of running the desk and keeping on top of what was happening in Cleveland and the surrounding burbs including a wall collapse at East 99th and St. Catherine.

Working on the desk is a crap shoot day in and day out. Some days are so busy you do not have time to breathe. It's rare when there is a slow day, but thankfully Saturday was very low key. I told producer Carrie I almost showed up in my pink plaid doggie pajamas!!! (Just kidding!) It gave me the opportunity to prepare for the week ahead as well as taking the reins of wkyc.com. I take great pride in all of my work, including my contributions to wkyc.com.

We were a cut above the rest Saturday with fresh content and tons of local and national stories throughout the evening.

Though I have shared my experiences on Swing by and spray, there are some tales I've yet to tell during this challenging personal time for me. I thought I'd whip up another edition of News desk nuggets to catch you all up over the last few weeks.

A few changes of scenery. We were lucky enough to get flat screen computer monitors up here on the news desk. We are gradually getting up to speed. Baby steps go a long way!!!!

The videographers are into the holiday spirit as they started decorating the photog lounge. It's quite soothing. If the day gets hectic, it's worth taking a quick jaunt into the 'ready room' to get back to the peaceful zone!

It's the holidays, and more so than ever, we have to be smart utilizing the crews we have to the fullest. I guess the saying is "get more bang for your buck." There was a great story we wanted to cover but we were down a reporter so I sent Videographer Dan Medsker to shoot a photo essay on the AIDS Quilt which was wrapping up at MetroHealth Medical Center and heading back out on the road. Medsker did a fabulous job! It's great to think out of the box and let our co-workers use all of their amazing talents!

AND, it would not be a Browns-Pittsburgh Game if we did not pull out a 'special edition' Thursday Night Fever. Editor Pat Woodside, a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan, actually took the initiative to call on his day off and volunteer to make his famous Con Queso. That alone can sustain any newsroom party. The rest of it fell together quite nicely INCLUDING a Browns win!!!

Finally, I'd love to end my News desk nuggets with the story attached to the lead picture on this edition. That rainbow is the gift my Mother sent me on Thanksgiving morning. Our Pastor took the picture as he was heading to Thanksgiving Mass. My family knows it's for us because the rainbow was directly over our house. Now, I am just looking for that pesky pot of gold that accompanied the rainbow. I'm sure it is not far behind!!!! Thanks Mom!

Thanks for the beautiful flowers!

Words can not describe what I have gone through and will continue to live out for the rest of my life.

I understand this is all part of the chapters and cycles that one must go through in a lifetime.

However, I also know that no two people ever have the same experience.

People can say "I know what you're going through honey..." but they really don't know.

And honestly, someone upstairs is really testing me. To go through what happened to me and my car back on March 25, 2009 and then what transpired on October 26, 2009. Mom was really the only person who gave me the strength and support back in March and ironically, she and her 'posse' up in Heaven are guiding me through this second life altering occurrence.

I've learned ever since Mom started dealing with various ailments 4-5 years ago that everyone reacts differently to adversity, sickness, and death. We had friends & family who continued supporting Mom and I. We had those who said they'd come visit and never showed. We had those who totally ignored us. And then others who kept at a distance but did not want to shun us. Mom and I even had someone do something shocking back in May of, I believe, 2006 --when we really needed her most.

You just have to keep plugging along. I had the best role model for survival, compassion through adversity, faith, and never giving up --My Mom.

I thank my fellow co-workers and former co-workers from around the Country who have sent their well-wishes and prayers over the last number of weeks. I've really worked with some terrific people. I can't mention everyone and don't want to slight anyone but I must thank some former co-workers who went above and beyond --thank you Tommy, Wilma, Lou, Katie, Jane, Bill, Kate, and Allison! Hearing your voice Wilma and seeing the rest of you was a God send. But again, there are soooo many others --a big THANK YOU to all!

The night we thought my Mom was going to pass away, my 11pm producer and dear friend Dan actually came up to the hospital to support my family. I will never forget that moment. And a dear friend of mine and former wkyc weekend anchor, Lydia Esparra, has been helping me the entire time.

I sang my Mom's entire funeral Mass and Lydia and videotape editor Pat Woodside graciously said they'd sit in and back up my singing....take over if I lost it...or just be there for moral support.

Well, through the grace of God (and Mom), I was able to sing every single song. It was so nice having them their for moral support, though.

I just want to thank everyone who has left calls on my home phone, my cell phone, greeted me in person, sent a beautiful card, email, or even a Facebook or Twitter message.

And finally, I'd love to thank WKYC for sending a lovely floral arrangement as well as a delicious food and pastry tray to the Funeral Home during calling hours. Both gestures are greatly appreciated from not only me but my entire family.

Thank You.

As I've said before, we all have another guardian angel watching out for all of us from a better place! And she is also watching over my Cleveland Indians! Mark my words!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: Friday Night Fever

A long standing tradition with a rich history: Friday Night Fever.

Friday Night Fever has many differing connotations.

First and foremost, FNF consists of wkyc's high school football coverage every Friday night during high school football season.

It usually kicks off in the end of August and goes deep into October with high school football playoffs and championships.

Our zany cast of "Predictors" share their choices during our 6pm news show.

Back in the day before television news and sports began changing, FNF was in its hey-day!

A time when you had to tune into the television sports shows each weekend to get your sports highlights and final scores.

Well, even with cell phones and video cameras, each school having their own multi-media department or television station, skype, highlights on Facebook or even Twitter, wkyc's Friday Night Fever reigns supreme.

The Channel 3 News crews shoot the clearest, crispest video in town.....shoot from down in the mix with the action, and oftentimes becoming part of the action when the teams barrel into their close proximity.

The sports department works closely with the news assignment desk and the crews in order to efficiently cover as many games as possible and offer our viewers multiple highlights from around Northeast Ohio and sometimes beyond!

At the end of the evening, each crew sends all of their highlights to wkyc.com so our customers can view highlights over and over again....as well as Donovan or Chudowsky's entire Friday Night Fever show.

But, wait. There's more.

The 2nd half of FNF consists of the fun, frivolity, and feeling of family back in the newsroom. It has become tradition on this end as well.

Regardless of how many people are working or how many games we are able to shoot, we do it up right.

Pizza, Chicken, Pasta or Sub Sandwiches....coupled with chips and pretzels, cheese and crackers, soda pop and juice, caramel apples, fruit or salads....whatever people dream up, we'll take it!

The star of FNF--drum roll please--Pat Woodside's con queso dip and any cookie he chooses to whip up!

In the olden days, we had the "Chuckie Doll" out covering the Big Game...we had high school bands live on set....we had huge blow up characters outside the station and Mr. Fever covering Akron Sports.

We've managed to adapt to the changing times as we continue putting our superior sports stamp on Friday Night Fever lead by Sports Anchor Jim Donovan, Dave Chudowsky, and Lynn Olszowy....and then wrap it up with a nice bow chomping on a Pat Woodside Reese's Peanut Butter cookie!

Tune into Friday Night Fever every Friday evening during High School Football, and you too, will see why it is this week's Hidden Gem!!

FNF famine to feast

Literally from famine to feast!

I have to share this. I was off last Friday. When I came back I had numerous people come up to me welcoming me back. I thought that was nice. Little did I know they had ulterior motives. It was not me or my expertise or my hard work and dedication they missed.

It was the fact that I know who to call and where to get our Friday Night Fever Pizza!

From what I am gathering, me being off on a Friday Night Fever night threw everyone for a loop and they could not rebound!

I never even thought it would be an issue. How hard is it to pick up a phone and call for a few pizzas, some chips and pop!?!??!

Thank God for editor Pat Woodside. He took the reins. He made his world famous Conqueso and homemade cookies! That's the extent of last week's FNF Feast.


Fast forward to this week. Young sports reporter and weekend anchor Dave Chudowsky really came through this week, to help make up for last week. His friend was gonna send over some stuff for Dave and wound up sending enough for everyone! The chicken tenders and brownies were DELICIOUS! I'm sorry. I don't know your name but a thousand thank yous to the owner of the Chick-fil-A in Rocky River. You are the greatest! Your kindness and generosity and delicious fares were a HUGE HIT! Unfortunately, we could get used to this!!?!??!

Friday Night Fever!

Friday Night Fever officially kicked off two weeks ago.

It was more like a Friday Night Fever 'lite' because we were in the midst of the Beijing Olympics.

The Fever is always a great night to work. We have crews hustling and bustling all over Northeast Ohio trying to cover as many of your games as we can to air during our 11pm sports show...

I'm proud to say that Channel 3 Sports started the whole "Friday Night Fever" craze. We were pioneers back in our old East 6th studios. We would cover and air more games than any other station. During our FNF show, we had live high school marching bands in front of the station, big blowups, cheerleaders, Mickey the Ref, 'Chucky,' and the best highlights in town!

We still put on a great FNF show! We have crews covering games east, west, north, south and way down south in the Akron-Canton area.

The whole day starts first thing in the morning with Channel 3 News Today. They have started a new segment called School Spirit Spotlight which will spotlight a different school each week but go BEYOND what is happening on the field. They hope to highlight standout teachers, students, athletes, the bands and even different clubs, organizations or causes special to that school.


Then we have a wonderful segment which airs during our 6pm show previewing the games called The Predictors! Each week, a group of 3 or 4 sports beat reporters and coaches give us their spin on who should win and who they think will win!!!




Not only do we have crews out in the field, but we have employees deployed to various games passing out FNF fliers, making contact with our fans, and gathering up scores from the area games.


Always a crazy night on the news assignment desk starting around 915pm when the phones start lighting up from coaches, parents, and students calling in sports scores. Fortunately, I currently have an intern until about 10pm but then I am on my own!! I know that between 10pm and 1120pm or so, I will do nothing else but answer the telephone.



The best part of our Friday Night Fever celebration is our Newsroom Feast! It's become tradition. There is food galore. Many folks make homemade tasty treats for the occasion or contribute in some way. One of our editors, Pat Woodside, wows the newsroom with his WORLD FAMOUS cookies (tonight peanut butter)....and folks request Pat's Con Queso! When Pat is off, it's a sad FNF!!








Make sure you log onto wkyc.com for all of our Friday Night Fever highlights from your favorite games. And take a look at something new we've started this year: HighSchoolSports.Net. Join in on all the fun!!!!!!