Letter of Thanks

This was posted on a LinkedIn profile for Rusty Bradshaw, Sun City and Peoria Independent News Editor in the Arizona West Valley.

 

"I really like and enjoy Rusty's news articles. Keep up the good work.”

- Tom Loegering, owner of Sun City Country Club

East Valley Team Wins

Congratulations to the East Valley’s Scott Taylor, advertising representative, and Deb Crotzer, advertising services. Our talented team won first place last month for Best Paid Ad Series (Black & White) in the Arizona Newspapers Association Excellence in Advertising non-daily circulation greater than 10,000 category competition.

The Mountain View Funeral Home ads run in the Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, East Mesa, Queen Creek/San Tan Valley and Gilbert Independent newspapers. This year, 37 newspapers entered in the ANA Excellence in Advertising competition for a total of 534 entries.

The ANA Excellence in Advertising competition consisted of 12 categories that measured the overall quality of advertising created by the newspaper staff, according to http://ananews.com/wordpress.

Glenn Rolfe Honored with VIP Award

On Oct. 15 at the 3rd Annual Sussex Outdoors summit, held at the Stockley Center, Sussex County news editor Glenn Rolfe received a VIP Award.  John Hollis, emcee for the summit, told the audience, which included Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, state, county and local officials, Delaware State Parks staff, and others involved in organizations linked to biking, hiking, etc., -- that Glenn was the first reporter who came on board when the state announced its healthy living initiative many years ago in Sussex County.  That got the ball rolling and the movement has now spread statewide, and progress is being made in the effort to get people, kids in particular, to be more physically active. Mr. Hollis described Glenn, because of his coverage of summits and events, his features on obesity and weight loss, trails and biking, the efforts of schools, nutritionists, as a “pivotal cog” in the effort to spread the word and make Delaware the healthiest state in America, with Sussex County leading the way. In the photo, Glenn stands between   Dr. Karyl Rattay, Delaware’s Public Health Director, left, and Rita Landgraf, right, the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services.

C. T. Heyman Stands A Chance In Contest

Meet C.T. Heyman of Somerset, the official scarecrow of the Crisfield-Somerset County Times. Crisfield Ad Manager Karen Riggin put her artistic talents to the test in creating this rather jolly fellow. He is the newspaper’s official entry in a town-wide contest, to see who has the best scarecrow. A winner will be selected at the annual Harvest Festival at month’s end. Notice that old C.T. is holding an official Newshound mask, which neighborhood children don when they want their picture taken with the strawman.

November Birthdays

11/1, Arcide Donatiu-Perez,  Delaware Printing Company

11/1, Ernesto Galindo,  Valley Newspaper Printing
11/1, Anna Hines,  Okeechobee News
11/1, Katrina Sullivan,  Delaware State News
11/4, Jaclyn Fuller,  Delaware Printing Company
11/4, Michael Whaley,  Sussex Post
11/5, David Hughes,  Delaware State News
11/5, Raul Valenzuela,  Valley Newspaper Printing
11/8, Joel Smyth,  Chairman Office
11/12, Marie Gaudin,  Okeechobee News
11/13, Timothy Spong,  Delaware State News
11/15, Terry Webb,  Valley Newspaper Printing
11/17, Christopher Martinez,  Valley Newspaper Printing
11/18, Tyler Caime,  Valley Newspaper Printing
11/21, Samuel Marmolejo,  Valley Newspaper Printing
11/21, Diana Orozco,  Valley Newspaper Printing
11/24, Barbara Bryan,  Delaware State News
11/24, Andrew West, Delaware State News
11/27, Lisa Bryner,  Corporate
11/28, Antoinette Hewes, Delaware Printing Company
11/28, Manuel Martinez,  Delaware Printing Company

November Anniversaries

11/1, 1 YR, Wendy Miller,  Apache Junction Independent

11/4, 37 YRS, James Daisey, Delaware Printing Company
11/4, 1 YR, Maria NidoDeVaca,  Valley Newspaper Printing
11/5, 1 YR, Tedejane Griffith,  Milford The Journal
11/5, 34 YRS, Michael Jacobs, Valley Newspaper Printing
11/11, 1 YR, Ernesto Galindo,  Valley Newspaper Printing
11/11, 11 YRS, Victoria Meades-Brown,  Delaware State News
11/13, 2 YRS, Ashley Smith,  Clewiston News
11/15, 2 YRS, Marcus Bolden,  Delaware Printing Company
11/15, 3 YRS, Gary Lastoskie,  Corporate
11/16, 22 YRS, David Rehkamp,  Delaware Printing Company
11/18, 4 YRS, Bonnie Mankin,  Delaware State News
11/20, 7 YRS, Toni Ayers,  Corporate
11/20, 8 YRS, Heath Michael,  Valley Newspaper Printing
11/21, 35 YRS, Deborah Devlin,  Delaware State News
11/26, 1 YR, Frank Dias, Sun City Independent
11/29, 3 YRS, Christopher Flood,  Delaware State News
11/29, 9 YRS, Debra Luke,  Corporate
11/30, 3 YRS, Jamie Fritchman,  Delaware State News

 

Newspapers Are Still The Cornerstone of Democracy

The article below is reprinted from the Newspaper Association of America website at the request of Joe Smyth.


By Caroline Little, NAA President & CEO

We’ve been calling it the end of an era for a long time now.

It’s supposed to be the end of newspapers, according to naysayers who have been predicting their ultimate demise for years. But the facts prove the newspaper industry is growing and transforming rather than dying. Of course, there are always bumps in the road to innovation, but as it turns out, we’re actually in the midst of a promising and exciting time.

Top businessmen and investors such as Warren Buffet, John Henry and Jeff Bezos are demonstrating that newspapers are still lucrative investments. And despite gloomy predictions, our circulation revenue is actually rising.

We’re experimenting and transforming to match the pace of our innovative and digitally-driven world. Digital and bundled subscriptions accounted for a five percent uptick in circulation revenue in 2012 – the first national rise in circulation revenue since 2003.

Newspaper content is now ubiquitous, available and accessed on every platform and device. Recent Scarborough research also shows that across all print, digital and mobile platforms, a full 70 percent of U.S. adults read newspaper content each week. That’s more than 164 million adults – 144 million of whom, still pick up the print copy.

And despite the common perception that the younger, digitally-native generation has abandoned newspapers, this study shows quite the opposite. Some 57 percent of young adults, ranging in age from 18 to 34, read newspaper content in a given week. This is a strong indication that the industry is still a relevant and vital source of information, even to Millennials, who coincidentally also contribute heavily to the growth of mobile readership, which jumped 58 percent over the last year.

The reason for this is simple. With the deluge of information available on the Internet, people of all ages rely heavily on sources they trust to provide accurate content and quickly sift fact from fiction.

Newspapers consistently and reliably provide the most up-to-date, accurate and important news. And our audiences recognize this, rating newspapers as the most trusted of all media forms in a recent Nielsen study. While 56 percent say they trust newspapers, 52 percent trust local television and only 37 percent trust social media.  

Today’s technology has only proven how valuable this content is by providing a platform to widen the audience for each story, which can now be taken and repeated, shared, tweeted, condensed and emailed countless times a day.

Newspapers have always been the cornerstone of our society, and that did not change with the digital revolution. Ever since the Philadelphia Evening Post first published the Declaration of Independence, our newspapers have continued to unite us as communities and as a nation. News media connects us through stories, keeping us informed on school board decisions, local heroes, national budgets and international conflict.

The public’s right to know is essential to preserving our unique American democracy, and newspapers serve the vital role of independent watchdogs – keeping governments, businesses and other institutions in check. Without a free press that can protect its sources, American democracy will suffer.

The newspaper industry will continue to innovate and transform with the times, just like any other industry. But one thing will never change: Our historic promise to connect, inform, investigate and foster an educated society. 

First Published: October 7, 2013

 

 

Thank You

I would like to thank everyone for all of your kind words and concern during the passing of my cousin Richard. We have a very close-knit family and to lose one of my first and best friends has been tough. It was a very unexpected shock to our family and to see the outpouring of love and support from those that knew him and even those that didn’t but knew someone in our family has truly warmed our heart and helped us get through this very hard time. You never really realize how much someone means to you until this time comes. Thanks again to everyone!!  

Sarah Donze Sadlowski

Editor Reaches Out To Residents

Sun City and Peoria News Editor Rusty Bradshaw occasionally sends e-mail requests of residents to comment for community stories he is working on. The following item was sent along with a response from a Sun City resident regarding a story about medical marijuana dispensaries in the age-restricted community:

 It's always a pleasure to hear from you. Your correspondence indicates to me you are actually asking for public opinion.

Jean Baker

Sun City

Pops Feature Really Popped

You published an article, “Get to know your Pops,” (Sun City Independent, Oct. 2, 2013), featuring a picture and a biography of Mr. Larry Swanson, conductor of the West Valley Pops Band.

I understand “Get to know your Pops” will be running weekly as a community service. The article mentioned our e-mail address, popsband@cox.net asking your readers if they wanted a schedule of concerts and reminders for the coming season. Eighty-five people responded, asking for the concert schedule. That in itself was a tremendous number of responses. It adds an extra 85 people to come to our free concerts and donate something to the Valley View Community Food Bank, which is now our sponsor. Of course, that means more food for the needy here in the West Valley.

The response from the Independent Newspaper was very impressive. If we were a business in the area, we certainly would be happy with those kinds of results. 

 

Len Shykind

Pops Band publicity coordinator
Surprise

It's Time For Your Annual Flu Shot

It is that time of the year when we begin getting our flu shots.  This year, flu shots in the Highmark Delaware area has changed.  While members of the health plan can still go to their local pharmacy (i.e. Walgreens, Rite Aid), they will be required to pay out of pocket & then submit the receipt with a claim form for reimbursement. However, members who go to their physician’s office and receive the flu shot will continue to pay the office visit copay.  The claim form can be downloaded through Self Service>BENEFITS>Medical Claim Form @  https://sourceselfservice2.ceridian.com/en-us/empowerment.asp?FormID=FrmFormData&CompanyName=independentnewspapers&NtFlxID=36287307

Or the form can be downloaded from the Highmark DE member portal at www.highmarkbcbsde.com.  Completed claim forms and receipts must be mailed to the following address for reimbursement:

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware

P.O. Box 8831
Wilmington, DE 19899-8831.

Please contact inipayroll@newszap.com should you have any questions.

 

Thank You

On behalf of our family; my sister Cyndi Eldred and I would like to thank the INI family for all the kindness sand compassion shown to us during our fathers’ illness and eventual passing. Whether you sent a card or flowers, a supportive message or gave us a call….it was all very much appreciated. Special thanks to Dianna Sellers and the classified team for the delightful gift you sent to the family. Much love- Yvonne Kirksey

What's Black and White and Red All Over?

A reprint of From The Editor in the DSN Sunday, October 6, 2013

By Andrew West
Delaware State News
DOVER — Let’s start with a rid­dle, one best read aloud.

What’s black and white and red all over?
❑❑❑
Pardon the homophone above. This classic needs the word play that editors so enjoy.
Given the riddle’s age, it’s like­ly you already know the answer: a newspaper.
❑❑❑
Maybe this is just a sermon for the choir this morning. But, given the occasion, this editor wants to preach a little on the connec­tion a commu­nity has with its newspaper. To­day marks the start of Nation­al Newspaper Week. This year’s theme, touted by the Newspa­per Association of America, is “ Your Commu­nity, Your News­paper, Your Life.”
It is fitting for the Delaware State News and its loyal readers.
We have been offering a newspa­per that is “of, by and for” our com­munity daily since Sept. 14, 1953.
As you peel through the pages of today’s edition, you find value and enjoyment in all the stories and news tidbits, shopping information and classic features such as the cross­word, Dear Abby and Sunday com­ics.
Our top story brings a national issue home. How is the standoff in Washington impacting Delawareans’ lives and what are our elected lead­ers doing about it?
Our Public Forum page offers a discussion on an important local is­sue.
Our staff members were out cov­ering events such as Wesley College’s homecoming and local college foot­ball games.
The People cover today recog­nizes a local business, Merle Norman Cosmetics, on its 60th anniversary.
Names of friends and neighbors appear throughout the paper.
It is here that we celebrate en­gagements and accomplishments. It is here that we invite the community to take part in events.
With today’s paper, you can shop for fall clothes, look at your career options and maybe find your dream home.
With communities as vibrant as the ones we serve, it is a joy to put out newspapers that offer so much information and opportunities for participation. Really, in this age of media choices, it’s better said that it’s a joy to produce quality content that can be read on paper, a comput­er or a smartphone.
❑❑❑
For those of you new to the Del­aware State News and those who have been readers for years, we want to remind you about what makes our newspaper unique.
Our Public Forum page is yours.
There is no staff-written opinion.
We believe our role is to provide you with all the information we can for you to make your own intelligent decisions. The voices on the page represent the public.
We encourage a full discussion, of­fering views from all sides.
Your opinion, not ours, is what matters here. We’re here to facilitate and uphold the ideals of the First Amendment.
So, if you want to share your point of view, it’s as easy as writing a letter to the editor or posting a comment at delaware.newszap.com.

In times like these, everyone is talking about the politics that have brought headlines on “Obamacare,” the debt ceiling and a government shutdown to Page 1.

❑❑❑
A lot you holding the paper right now likely gained your appreciation of the newspaper early on by reading “Peanuts” or “Family Circus” or an­other comic strip.
If you have a child in your home or one next door, share those funny pages with him or her.
Challenge them with the riddle, too.
Andrew West is managing editor of the Delaware State News. Email comments to awest@newszap.com.

 

 

Okeechobee News Sponsors Boat Race Team

(Katrina Elsken and the Okeechobee News staff pulled together to help us play a  highly visible role in one of the biggest (and ‘wettest’) community events of the year, the Kiwanis “Minimal Regatta”.  Katrina was able to also harness youth volunteers from the 4-H Picture Perfect Photo Club (a group she founded)  to participate in the event and represent the Okeechobee News in a fun way.  Kudos to Katrina for her initiative and leadership, as well as the creativity and effort the Okeechobee team showed in making this happen.    Next year, we hope to springboard our involvement in this wildly popular new event into a special section with S.S. Newshound figuring prominently!  --Tom Byrd Florida President)

 

By Katrina Elsken

Editor, Okeechobee News

Okeechobee County 4H Picture Perfect Photography Club represented the Okeechobee News in the Third Annual Adam Bryant Minimal Regatta boat races on Oct. 5.

The Adam Bryant Minimal Regatta is a homemade boat race. Teams are given one piece of plywood, three 2" by 4"s, a pound of screws and a roll of duct tape and build their own boats. Paint may be used for decoration, but not for water proofing.

The event honors Adam, a young volunteer firefighter who dreamed of becoming a firefighter/EMT.  Before Adam could complete firefighter/EMT training he broke his neck in an accident and was paralyzed. He died a few years later. His friends organized the first regatta to honor him by raising money to fund a scholarship for other young people who want to go to firefighter/EMT training. Each year, they award a $5,000 scholarship to a a local graduating high school senior. This year, they also hoped to raise money for equipment for a playground for disabled children.

This year the regatta attracted 88 entries, who donated a minimum of $200 each for the honor of competing (gold level sponsors gave at least $1,000; platinum level gave at least $5,000.)

The Okeechobee News made an "in kind" donation of advertising to the community event.

With our small staff, we couldn't manage to handle the boat and the event booth ourselves, but we wanted to participate in this very public event.

So we offered our spot to the Okeechobee 4H Photo Club, Picture Perfect. I am the adult leader for the club and the members serve as  "cub reporters"  with their own press passes provided by the newspaper.

The club photographed the regatta last year, but did not have the resources to enter a boat. It looked like so much fun, they wanted to have their own boat this year.

Using materials provided by the regatta, the club members built their own boat. They also decorated it, with some help from a member's very artistic older sister. The theme of the regatta was "beach life" so the boat featured a scene with Newshound on a surf board.

Since teams were expected to dress for the event, we opted for making our own T-Shirts. Kristina Schwartz at the Okeechobee News helped turn a club member's photo into a T-shirt design. Okeechobee News' Ann Hines used an ink jet printer to printed the design on special  transfer paper which the club ironed onto t-shirts. The finished shirts were  inexpensive but very professional looking.

For the booth, we used the basic set up the club used at the Top of the Lake Art Festival, which was decorated with photos club members had taken, along with the banner proclaiming the "Okeechobee News" as an event sponsor. An alligator cutout, borrowed from the Okeechobee County Extension Office, added to the booth decorations.

The team had a great time at the regatta, entering races in two age categories. The team did not win, but were happy to chant about success at boat building: "We didn't sink! We didn't sink!"

The regatta attracted about 3,500 spectators. Our boat was even one of the ones featured on the Channel 12 news coverage Saturday night.

In addition to representing the newspaper, the club members were invited to be official regatta event photographers -- earning community service hours.

The young photographers  took more than 600 photos at the regatta ... which can be found on their facebook page. (A link to the page is on the Okeechobee News facebook page.) These photos will be used by the regatta organizers to promote future events.

 

4H Picture Perfect Photography Club Logo  Sponsored by Okeechobee News

4H Picture Perfect Photography Club members include (left to right) Emilee Yeates, Michael Muros, Katie Muldoon and Andrew Smiley.  They set up and manned the Okeechobee News booth at the regatta. The club's adult leader is Okeechobee News editor Katrina Elsken. 

The boat decorations included Newshound on a surfboard.

S.S. Newshound underway with Michael Muros as rower.

 

Welcome To Lilly Grace Kircher

Lori Kircher presents her newest granddaughter Lilly Grace Kircher.  She was born September 29, 2013; 19 inches long and she weighed in at 6 lbs. 6 oz.

 

 

Think Pink

Delaware State News staffers Yvonne Kirksey and Jamie Fritchman were dressed in pink Wednesday, Oct. 2,  in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Delaware State News published a special section, “Hope,” in the Oct. 2 edition. Photo by Dave Chambers

Breast Cancer Awareness

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Breast Cancer Awareness special section in the Delaware State News the Classified/Customer Service and Telemarketing teams showed off their support in the efforts to fight against breast cancer on Wednesday, Oct 2nd by wearing pink shirts and pink streaks in their hair.

A special thank you to Vicki Rosado and Bonnie Mankin and to all who made this section a success.  Check it out in the Oct 2nd edition of the Delaware State News.  Includes stories of inspiration and articles on raising awareness on this disease that has touched so many of our lives in one way or another.

From the left:  Janet Levy, Dianna Sellers, Bonnie Mankin, Yvonne Kirksey, Vicki Rosado, Karla Akmentins, Courtney Hartline, Vicki Brown.  Photo by Jen Rini.

October Anniversaries

10/1, 1 YR, Cathy DiMaio,  Delaware State News

10/1, 1 YR, Michael Martinez, Valley Newspaper Printing
10/1, 40 YRS, Linda Sabo,  Corporate
10/3, 1 YR, Lisa Robinson,  Corporate
10/4, 3 YRS, Louise Dowling,  Okeechobee News
10/4, 1 YR, Richard Sullivan,  Delaware Printing Company
10/4, 3 YRS, Farshid Yousefi,  Delaware Printing Company
10/5, 2 YRS, Maria Orozco,  Valley Newspaper Printing
10/11, 15 YRS, Kimberly Lewis,  Delaware Printing Company
10/11, 33 YRS, Sheryle Sussman,  Delaware State News
10/12, 14 YRS, Christopher Williams,  Sun City Independent
10/16, 13 YRS, Thomas Bugbee,  Delaware Printing Company
10/17, 2 YRS, Anthony Crawford,  Delaware Printing Company
10/17, 2 YRS, Kenneth Parks,  Delaware Printing Company
10/23, 12 YRS, Armando Ramirez,  Valley Newspaper Printing
10/23, 2 YRS, Terry Webb,  Valley Newspaper Printing
10/25, 2 YRS, Debra Crotzer,  Apache Junction Independent
10/31, 11 YRS, Cynthia Eldred,  Delaware State News

October Birthdays

10/2, Anthony Crawford,  Delaware Printing Company

10/4, Terrance Thornton,  Northeast Group Independent
10/9, Glenn Rolfe,  Sussex Post
10/10, Kelsie Knight,  Corporate
10/13, Jennifer Rini,  Delaware State News
10/14, Sylvia Windsor,  Daily Banner
10/16, Leroy Kline,  Delaware State News
10/19, Jeffrey Grant,  Sun City Independent
10/22, Brandon Carpenter, Valley Newspaper Printing
10/23, Jennifer Summers,  Valley Newspaper Printing
10/25, Heather Cregar, Independent of Delmarva
10/27, Frances Callaway,  Delaware Printing Company
10/27, Darel Laprade, Sussex Post
10/31, Timothy Mastro,  Delaware State News

 

Tech Team Celebration

Tech team enjoyed an Olive Garden lunch to celebrate Kelsie Knight's 35 years of service and Linda Sabo's 40 years of service. Congratulations Kelsie and Linda!!!

 

Linda Sabo

Kelsie Knight