It has been almost a month since Norwood lost one of the great ones, Mitch Pentowski. I knew Mr. Pentowski from when I moved to Norwood at the age of six. One might say I shared a particular bond with the man from Vermont, the man devoted to his wife and nine children and who always had a smile on his face and a reassuring word to the children in my neighborhood, as we were both “carpetbaggers.” At six, I did not know what "carpetbagger" meant. It was not until a recent conversation with Mr. Pentowski’s longtime friends Mr. Kief and Mr. Savage that I began to understand the term - someone …
We have all secretly dreamed of that one moment, a chance to shine in the spotlight, exceeding all personal expectations while maybe even conquering a fear or two. What would you do if the opportunity presented itself? Would you run away? I probably would. In the dream we have the courage to take center stage or stand before a crowd, but this is real and you have moments to say yes or no. The catch is that your two minutes of fame will require countless hours learning something new, or if not entirely new, something many of us reserve for a group setting sans audience. I can write a letter or…
Sunday, Feb. 26 marked the beginning of the 25th National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) educates, inspires recovery, and provides comfort to those suffering from eating disorders, and also to the millions of family members and friends who have lost loved ones to a disease that currently affects 90 million Americans. A disease also clouded with misconceptions and societal shame. With the united goal to remove the stigmas, the shame and false perceptions associated with eating disorders, NEDA is making a bold statement with three simple words …
What is Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day is a day associated with love dating back to the Middle Ages. Venus, the Greek goddess of love, asked her son Cupid, the little cherub with the infamous arrow of love, to use his power to ensure her beautiful younger sister, Psyche, fell in love with an ugly, evil monster. When little Cupid saw how beautiful Psyche was he instantly dropped the arrow and pricked himself. With love sometimes comes heartbreak, and revenge. In short, over time the beautiful Psyche remained unwed and without a suitor, as the village people learned she was destined to marry …
I will admit, I am so glad it is over. Frankly, I did not care if Tom Brady or Eli Manning was heading to Disney World. I was so fed up with the hype, watching grown men turn into infantile creatures for the past few months, making the most ridiculous comments and gestures at a television set. Tapping away at cell phones to get “those picks” in just in time and wasting away entire Sundays that could have been spent enjoying this very unseasonable winter we have been fortunate to experience here in the Northeast. It is a game, people, and I was ready for it to be over before it began. In case …
"There is an angel at every corner to be the wind beneath your wings." -Tanisha Gaines I believe unquestionably in the innate power of faith, fate, and karma. I believe there is an unidentified equation determined by someone, some place encompassing the three tenants of basic human kindness. I also believe the human spirit is fueled, and further enriched, by the power connection and our lives are molded by simple acts of kindness, each time we do something without expectation. I believe good will towards men is necessary in order to fully appreciate life. I believe all of this because I have …
As the clock ticks on and Christmas nears, while Santa and his elves are busy preparing for the big night and children eagerly await his arrival, I decided to put my own spin on a Christmas classic. This little ditty is dedicated to a few of the things I am grateful for this season, and some, well... I could have done without. But oh well, Merry Christmas to all and to all... I'm sorry for getting the song stuck in your head. On the first day of Christmas, my Norwood gave to me, a Common full of luminaries. On the second day of Christmas, my Norwood gave to me, two Perks gift cards, and a …
The people of this town never cease to amaze me, but I couldn't have realized it more than I did last week. I have heard the stories of exceptional generosity. I have donated money, spare change in canisters, purchased tickets to fundraisers I knew I could not attend. Along with the rest of the town, I stood in line years ago and donated blood when it was needed, and later with many of those same people I was tested to donate my bone marrow. I donate what I can without hesitation simply because I grew up in this town and witnessed the town’s generosity; the way people give anything they can …
Rather than the traditional column for Norwood Patch's birthday, here's a visual version with some of what the last year has been for me and this publication.
A funny thing happens the moment we become parents: we become superheroes whether we want to or not. Scary as that may sound, as much as we may not believe it, it is true. Our lives are no longer our own, our job is multi-faceted. Without a degree or formal training we become teacher, bodyguard, therapist, and nurse. But parental intuition kicks in and before long we “just know” when something is wrong, or right. The little people who call us “mommy” and “daddy” become our highest priority, and protecting them is our biggest responsibility. For as much as I worry about my own child, try to …
October is drawing to a close, all too fast in my opinion. Little ones around town will take to the streets disguised in costumes in search of Halloween treats. For one day every year children have the power to become someone else - a magical fairy, a beautiful Disney Princess, or perhaps a superhero with the power to save the world. Some of those costumes are more significant than we may realize. For thousands of children the act of simply donning a costume on a day representative of ghouls, ghosts and goblins may in fact bring a momentary escape from a horror they live with all year. …
Someday... I’ll eat breakfast. I’ll keep a job for more than 3 weeks. I’ll have a boyfriend for more than 10 days. I’ll love someone. I’ll travel wherever I want. I’ll make my family proud. I’ll make a movie that will change lives. Before you read any further I ask that you please go back and read the above, seemingly simple, sentences again. I ask that you read the words aloud. I also strongly advise you do so with your eyes closed as you repeat each sentence. Try your best to hear the words you are speaking coming from the voice of a child rather than your own voice. The voice may be your …
I heard myself saying out loud yesterday, "Whoa, stop this technology speed train! I want to get off!" Technology moves so fast we can't possibly keep up with every little change and alteration, but if we don’t stop and take inventory, and make a conscious effort to incorporate a very important, very basic balance we are going to lose something much more important than high speed internet, smart phones and all of the other little gadgets people are as connected to as oxygen these days. Special moments, those small unstructured seconds that suddenly become lasting memories - the sound of a …
Bobby (aka "Griff") Griffin, is one of many people, part of a dedicated unspoken "team" that makes Norwood, so incredibly special. Bobby works at the Norwood Light Department along side fabulous, dedicated men and women who work tirelessly around the clock, in all kinds of weather, to ensure our town and our homes are never without power. These men and women put on their jackets and boots in the middle of the night and leave their famlies, and newborn babies, even during natural disasters. Anybody who has the privilege of knowing “Griff,” and the man behind the scenes at the light …
Norwood Day. For some reason those two words induced chuckles from family and friends (I should clarify these people don't live in Norwood) particularly when I said attending the ninth annual event, but I was excited for Norwood Day and rightfully so. Yes, we have a day to celebrate our town, as we should. I’ll admit it may seem out of the ordinary to some people, and I have heard my fair share of jokes about Norwood - we all have. But, as I tell Joey, if someone teases you it is likely because they don’t feel very good about themselves and in this case the same holds true for those who mock …
“Power is not about exerting our will over others, it is about being in complete truth with yourself.” If only those words were so simple. If only we could teach our children, while reinforcing ABC’s and 123’s, that power over others, whether direct or indirect, is never, ever right. Just as one plus two will never equal four, those who dominate and control the playground and pick on friends will never, no matter how “cool” they seem now, measure up in the end. I hope everyone, young and old, goes to bed at night with that little Jiminy Cricket in the back of their head, reminding them that …
It’s September and unfortunately we can no longer deny the inevitable, the paradise we call summer is, alas, officially over. We had it easy for two months. Our days were laid back and hassle free, glorious moments and memories in the making were only further enhanced by the glow of the warm summer sun. The laughter of the children I know, including my own son, was all the more authentic, and their smiles brighter because it was summer and everything (even broccoli) is just that much better during the one time of year when our days are longer, nights are shorter and we are “forced” to relax …
Notebooks. Spiral, leather bound, college or wide-ruled, plain paper, I love them all and hold no discrepancy. I always have. Those who know me best are never taken aback if I spontaneously pull a notebook out of my purse or if they notice the binding of a journal nestled between the driver’s seat and gear shift of my car. Notebooks and pens are always within my reach at any given moment, it is just a given. A beautiful handmade journal, a gift from a friend, is tucked under my pillow and a green suede notebook, small enough to fit in the back pocket of my favorite pair of jeans (and the …
“It’s a Norwood thing.” I’ll admit I was not quite as prepared for the arrival of Irene as I thought. Yes I made a quick trip to the grocery store Friday afternoon to pick up a few necessities. I made sure Joey’s pitch-back, his bicycle and scooter were safely put in the cellar Saturday morning and the soccer balls and wiffle ball bats that took up residence on our back deck all summer were placed back in their respective bins in the back hall so as to not become an airborne arsenal - potentially breaking an innocent neighbor's window. Patio chairs were folded and tucked away and the hanging …
Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not. - Oprah Winfrey As you drive through Norwood, particularly through the neighborhoods of the Cleveland School district, you may notice small bursts of vibrant yellow, orange and fiery red out of the corner of your eye. Fear not, the colors you see, if you notice them, are not dying leaves and early signs of autumn, but rather an indicator of happiness, warmth and the longevity of summer. These subtle pops of color may go unnoticed, as they are only now taking shape. Small, colorful blossoms …
