POTPOURRI

When you have been collecting and compiling as long as I, (50-plus years), you find ujncover "bits and pieces" of un-dated material that is still interesting to read. The above mini collection of miscellaneous and clippings were in the bottom of a carton. They originated from torn, faded, and otherwise damaged pages but are still news worthy.

1934: WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEARS EVE?

"Maybe it's much too early in the game,
ahh, but I thought I'd ask you just the same,
What are you doing New Years, New Years eve?
Wonder whose arms will hold you nice and tight,
when it's exactly 12 o'clock that night,
welcoming in the new year, New Years Eve..."

That's one of the songs I sing in my Christmas sing-along programs, "The Music We Grew Up With." It is quite apropos at this time of year. Above is a directory of many familiar venues from the glorious past of the local area. I would bet that at least a few of the many visitors to this blog will have memories of going to one or more of the establishments in the ad.

This from Ralph Lucarella:

Hi Tom: We were a little too young in 1936, but latter on we sure made a night of New Year's Eve. In the 40s and 50s we really had a ball. We tried them all, Cedar Gardens, Roman Hall, Italian American Sportsman Club, The Elks Clubs and many others. We enjoyed Cedar Gardens the best when we had the Hamilton Bowling Lanes down the road on Rt 33. Joe Damico's band was the greatest and we had most of Hamilton Township employees there. Hugh McGuire, Howard Sutterly and the rest of the gang from the Municipal Blg

ENOUGH ALREADY!!

Are there actually people stupid enough to fall for these idiotic people who send emails to me, and I dare say many others, telling us that we have won the British Lottery through a random selection of my email addresses? Or how about that African guy whose father died and left word that I was to receive his fortune, or some other completely idiotic notice that will render me a very rich man? How about the notice from Bank of America that unless I send them my personal information and my account password, my account will be suspended? Bank of America? Hmmm now that's strange, considering the fact that I don't have a Bank of America account. Since I switched to Yahoo.com, I have been receiving these kindergarten-level emails three and four at a time. Most of the senders are illiterates who have no command over the "King's English." I received this, and another one this morning, but will spare you the agony of the second one. That sender obviously flunked "Recess" in school and had a problem spelling the word "account." Don't miss the parenthetic redundancy in this gem from "Allan Fred" (Fred Allen?) which we have all come to know as "phishing:"

Agent Name: Mr. Allan Fred
Tel: +44 704-571-0545
Email: mr.allanfredclaimsdept@msn.com

This is to inform you that you have been
selected for a cash prize of £1,200,000
(British This is to inform you that you have
been selected for a cash prize of 1,200,000
(British Pounds) held on the 6th of June
2009 in London (United Kingdom). The
selection process was carried out through
random selection in Our computerized email
selection system (ESS) London Uk. Fill the
below:

1.Full Name
2.Full Address
3.Marital Status
4.Occupation
5.Age

1913: I Agree With C.C. Abbott

There was a "battle of historians" back in the early part of the 20th century; a battle over for who founded the city of Trenton. On the one hand, due to his early settlement, Mahlon Stacy was declared by many to be the founder. On the other hand, and much more logically, William Trent established a little village changing the area from "Littleworth" to "Trent's Town."

2008: MEMORIAL DAY-Sgt. Richard Pinter, "THE LONE BUGLER"

THERE WERE AT LEAST 75 PATRIOTIC CITIZENS AT ST. MARY'S CEMETERY MAUSOLEUM THIS MORNING AT 10:30 AM. (MOST OF US WITH GRAY HAIR.)IT WAS A VERY MOVING AND EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE. IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE SUCH A RESPECTABLE STANDING ROOM ONLY TURNOUT. SGT. RICHARD PINTER, THE "LONE BUGLER" PRESENTED THE PROGRAM TO THOSE OF US WHO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF MEMORIAL DAY.

THE SGT. PERFORMED JUST AS A U.S. ARMY "TOP-KICK" DOES, AS HE ADMONISHED YOUNG INDUCTEES ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SOLDIER IN THE U.S. ARMY. AS HE SPOKE, HE REMINDED ME OF SGT. CROCKETT, A "TOP KICK" I REMEMBER FROM MY YEARS IN THE U.S. ARMY. HE EXPLAINED THE COMPLETE MEANING OF MEMORIAL DAY, NOTING THAT EXCEPT FOR THE 28% OF OUR POPULATION WHO HONOR OUR VETERANS ON THIS DAY, TOO MANY OTHERS CONSIDER IT A LONG WEEKEND WITH A VISIT TO THE SHORE OR A BACKYARD BARBECUE.

THE "BIKER" GENTLEMAN WHOM I PHOTOGRAPHED WAS ALSO THERE, ALONG WITH A CONTINGENT OF HIS OTHER BIKER PATRIOTS WHO ALSO REMEMBER. IN THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE EVENT, I NEGLECTED GETTING HIS NAME, BUT HE AND THE LONE BUGLER ARE MY KIND OF AMERICAN PATRIOTS.