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Friday, April 19, 2013

Goodfellows52: And justice for all in Watertown tonight

Goodfellows52: And justice for all in Watertown tonight: “The problem with living outside the law is that you no longer have its protection.” ― Truman Capote AUBURN, Maine — Hey, good  ...

And justice for all in Watertown tonight


“The problem with living outside the law is that you no longer have its protection.”

AUBURN, Maine Hey, good residents of Watertown and Boston, you can rest easy tonight.

And that goes for the rest of the nation, too.

You can sleep soundly knowing the nation's various law enforcement agencies and National Guard banded together and captured or killed the suspects allegedly responsible for the Boston Marathon bombings in just five days.

This was a week of sadness and triumph for a state that confronted King George and told the hoity-toity British to shove off.

This posse of experienced lawmen proudly rode into Watertown and liberated it from terror and anxiety.

Say what you will about this country's failings, and we have all said plenty, but tonight, we have nothing to bitch about, but plenty of reason to celebrate thanks to law enforcement and citizens who kept a sharp eye out when harm and terror disrupted the lives of Bay Staters.

This nation has obviously learned a great deal after the 9/11 attacks. What terrorists don't understand is that their nefarious acts have only strengthen this nation's resolve.

For nearly 24 hours, Watertown was awash with police and FBI agents combing through backyards and streets for a suspect who slipped away from authorities after a late-night shootout that left one suspect dead.

Watertown and Boston residents became shut-ins after suspects shot it out with police, forcing the good citizens of these two cities to wait out the siege in their homes.

But a patient battalion of law enforcement officers kept a vigil before finally tracking down a wounded suspect.

A Watertown resident discovered the suspect hiding in a boat and did the smart thing — he alerted authorities who eventually took the suspect into custody after a hail of bullets whizzed through the night air again.

Watching Watertown residents celebrate and give police a big pat on the back as authorities left town was something to behold. Just remember their heroics and dedication the next time the guys in blue give you a speeding ticket. 

Don't ever give these peace officers a hard time. Remember, they are just doing their job, and they did it oh so well this week.

We will all sleep well knowing they are on duty tonight.

The investigation is just the beginning, and an endless stream of questions remain unanswered, but the swift hand of justice is forthcoming, and it will prevail for the victims of the bombings and the murdered MIT officer.

So, Boston, Watertown and the rest of the nation, get a good night's sleep.

I think all Americans have earned it tonight.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Goodfellows52: Oh, Boston, you're still my home, and my heart goe...

Goodfellows52: Oh, Boston, you're still my home, and my heart goe...: “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, an...

Oh, Boston, you're still my home, and my heart goes out to you


“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it — always.” 


AUBURN, Maine — All that anxiety and fear that slowly faded away after the attacks on the Twin Towers 13 years ago resurfaced as my family watched the aftermath of two bombs that exploded at the Boston Marathon finish line on Patriots Day.

I thought I had safely tucked away those memories of that awful day in September until I saw all those injured souls lying on the street.

And I thought this was going to be a good day. 

I got the yard in shape for summer, my son had track practice and the sun was bright — just like that the frightful Tuesday morning when New York City was brought to its knees when the towers crumbled, killing nearly 3,000 people.

My wife learned about the bombings on the computer, and then our afternoon was spent watching the injured being rushed to hospitals and endless replays of the blast, which killed three people.

My son and I watched the horror and pandemonium that unfolded in Beantown on Monday afternoon. Turn back the clock 13 years ago, and my five year old and I were watching "Barney" when I decided to flip through the channels and suddenly witnessed the second plane rip through one of towers, killing Bates College All-American Peter Goodrich.

And now, three people have been murdered and dozens injured at an event that celebrates fitness and athleticism. It is a goodwill competition that features runners from around the globe.

The panic in Boston has spread across the nation as major cities have buttoned up and tightened their security, too. The bombings have put the White House on high alert, and the country is looking over its shoulder again.

Forget why or who did this, because when it comes to terrorism, there is no reasoning.

What happened in the Hub isn't on the same level of horror as 9-11, but the terrorists did what they set out to do — trigger fear and anxiety that makes us all feel vulnerable and helpless.

Watching Boston instantly become a city of mass confusion certainly reminded me of New York City. This was just another assault on an American city rich in history. Bostonians, who live for Patriots Day, are now being told to remain indoors.

I grew up five miles from Fenway Park in Boston. I am a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston.

My wife and I have visited the Boston Commons and the pub know as Cheers — where everyone knows your name. I accompanied my father when he received a coaching award in Boston.

I watched my father pace the aisles as he griped about Carlton Fisk taking his sweet old time at the plate at Fenway Park in Boston. My father smiled when his son yelled from the top his lungs, "Cheevers, please don't leave the nets" during a Bruins game at the old Boston Garden.

I have watched Larry Bird mess up several NBA teams at the old Boston Garden. The Beatles played just two miles from my home at Suffolk Downs in East Boston.

In 1987, I witnessed Toshihiko Seko win the Boston Marathon.

Boston was my playground as a young man, and I still believe it is the greatest city in the world.

The Hub is know for its groundbreaking hospitals and renowned universities, but whoever committed this nefarious act should be taken out for a walk.

Somewhere in eternity, a humble Peter Goodrich, and his beloved late mother, Sally, are probably shaking their heads over another absurd act of violence.

But I am shaking my fists today.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Goodfellows52: Spring has not sprung

Goodfellows52: Spring has not sprung: AUBURN, Maine — Despite a miserable, fu$% spring that might be responsible for triggering a wave of manic depression across the ...

Spring has not sprung





AUBURN, Maine — Despite a miserable, fu$% spring that might be responsible for triggering a wave of manic depression across the Pine Tree State, life is finding a way to poke through the cold, waterlogged ground and offer us hope that summer is waiting in the wings to make a grand entrance.

A sea of compost has been resting atop my garden all winter, protecting it from wind erosion. Every other day, Anthony or I have trudged out to the snow-packed garden and tossed peels, wood ash from our woodstove, coffee grinds, egg shells, and anything else that benefits our soil. Throw in mulched leaves and grass, rotten apples and pears from a final fall cleanup, and we have dirt that you could eat.

The snow is gone, but cool temperatures, intermittent snow flurries and hail have been unkind to plants that bloom in early spring.

Still, there are signs of life in this frozen tundra we call Maine. My chives and scallions are bursting forth and will be edible in a couple of weeks long before I plant my garden at the very end of May.

Right now, the garden looks like throw-up. It's as if Mother Nature heaved all over the land. In fact, the entire landscape of this beautiful state has been barfed on by a winter that just won't let us alone. It is still gray and any grass that wants to green up is gun shy.

But underneath this mushy, gooey compost, lies soil that makes a gardener's mouth water. The worms have been busy all winter turning this crap into pristine soil, and these guys work for free. I can't wait to take an industrial-strength tiller and churn this soil into a garden of delicious vegetables.

At this point, I am playing the waiting game, hoping April will suddenly resemble spring. I could go on and on about the weather, but shaking my fists at Mother Nature is like bitching about congress's inability to make one simple frigging decision without taking the "what's in it for me" attitude.

So I bide my time until the weather clears, but my patience is just about gone.

Mother Nature apparently forgot to tell Old Man Winter to scat!

Keeping track of my son


When any kid decides to play a sport, he should be applauded by his parents. Participating in any high school sport requires dedication and teaches students how to manage their time.

Colleges also like to see it on a prospective student's application.

My son has decided to give track the old college try, and I find it encouraging that athletes on the Edward Little track team encourage him to go the distance. There is a lot of camaraderie and goodwill going on in this squad, and that is a credit to a coaching staff who continues to inspire high school athletes.

My son has become good skier when he became a member of the Lost Valley Ski Patrol Team. This dedicated bunch taught him how to become a fine skier.

But when Anthony became aware of the rigorous, physical training at Maine Maritime Academy, he decided track would get him in tip-top condition.

But Anthony has opted to become a thrower. Running is definitely not his forte. Look, whatever he does, I will be there to root him on because that's what involved parents do.

Bitching in the rain




LISBON, Maine — We had enough of cowering inside our home, hoping the weather would warm up to take a short hike.

So we ignored threatening clouds, the of-and-on drizzle, and cold, and headed to the Papermill trail just off Route 196 in Lisbon.

It is about a two-mile walk along the Sabattus River. The slow, steady climb to the top ends near an elementary school. It is a great way to enjoy nature and the soothing sounds of a meandering river.

Showers drifted over the area and made for a damp hike, but we wouldn't let a nasty spring spoil our short journey.

We are still holding out for summer.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Goodfellows52: A tale of educators and music that soothes the res...

Goodfellows52: A tale of educators and music that soothes the res...: "If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes real good, you did it. That’s all it takes ...

A tale of educators and music that soothes the restless soul


"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes real good, you did it. That’s all it takes to get people to win football games.”




LEWISTON, Maine —There are fringe benefits that come with being a print journalist, but the best perk of all is meeting kind and dedicated people who make a difference in people's lives on a daily basis.

I had the privilege speaking with one of those human beings last week. He is a teacher and high school football coach who has been in the trenches on the football field and in the classroom — for 42 fruitful years. He is an extraordinary person who served a tour in Vietnam. But instead of allowing himself to be tainted or haunted by a war that frustrated an entire nation for over a decade, Mechanic Falls native Chuck Lenahan chose to become a teacher and a football coach.

Lenahan is like Vince Lombardi and Bear Bryant all rolled into one, but his compassion for his athletes and students is beyond reproach. Like his principal, Bruce Parson, my former coach at Revere High School, these two educators share a common bond and believe in the greater good for all of their students at Plymouth Regional High School.

I could go on and on about the both them and their heroic efforts to prepare each student for the world outside the classroom, but I already have in an article I have written for the Lewiston Sun Journal sports section.

What you will find is one remarkable coach and a principal doing wonderful things for children somewhere in the woods of New Hampshire. These guys don't come along often in life, but when they appear in our public schools, students' chances for a better way of life improve dramatically.

If you want to know more about an incredibly successful high school football coach and dedicated principal, check out this link: 
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/local-sports/2013/04/06/plymouth-rock-football-all-about-pride-and-traditi/1343883


Music to my ears

What to do on a chilly, blustery April afternoon?

Well, things move fast in the big city, and all of sudden, I won a pair of tickets to listen to George Frederic Handel's "Messiah." Sure, it is often considered Christmas music, but who gives a damn what season it is when 80 extremely talented singers and musicians get together at the Franco American Heritage in Lewiston.

For two glorious hours, we listened to this ensemble perform one of the finest pieces in classical music in a grand cathedral – the former St. Mary's Church, which is now the Franco Center.

The architecture alone is something to behold when such wonderful music is performed in these hallowed halls, which also provides the perfect acoustics to accommodate such a lovely performance.

The three of us usually sit in the back of the church to allow the music to wash over us like gentle, soothing waves at Popham Beach.

I was a stay-at-home dad who would often play the "Messiah" to help my son sleep through an afternoon nap. Of course, that worked both ways.

Artistic director John Carrie produced another masterful performance thanks to the angelic voices of soloists Susan Strickland, Shannon Rolbiecki, Martin Lescault and Leon Griesbach, the Maine Music Society Orchestra and the rest of the remarkable voices of the Androscoggin Chorale 

The church was nearly filled with an appreciative audience who spent two and half hours drifting away in a sea of glorious voices and soothing music.

Bravo, bravo!

Out and about

Take a walk on the wild side around New England's outdoors. Come walk with my son and I as we explore state parks, historic sites, and creepy cemeteries. This is the good stuff in life, and there is nothing worth watching on television, anyway. Join us as we take advantage of Maine's beaches and pristine forests. In between our sojourns through the Pine Tree State, look for political insight and a few well-written opinion pieces as well.