Avechat: I ramble, therefore I am

By Howie LevitzPrint Story | Email Story
I grew up in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, N.Y., just a short bus or subway ride from the old Dodger Stadium, Ebbets Field. I attended very few games, however, as I was absent the day “sport” genes were doled out. To this day, when the Sunday night (or Monday night or Friday night) game is on the tube, you won’t find me out with the guys drinking beer and cheering. Friends know better than to start a conversation with, “How ’bout those (name of team here) last night! What a game!” I have no idea what they’re talking about. Hey, I’m baring my soul here, cut me some slack. It was just a matter of time before well-intentioned friends wanted to drag me to a SteepleCats game in North Adams. “Okay,” I thought, “this isn’t a threat to my health like, say, bungee jumping or alligator wrestling.” And I went. And had the time of my life! I didn’t have a clue who any of the players were, and to tell you the truth, it didn’t matter. Root, root, root for the Home Team, I always say! The wind-up, the pitch, he swings, he connects! We see the foul ball flying high into the air and then a fraction of a second later, we hear the delayed “crack” of the bat (the speed of sound is only 1,129 feet per second, soooo much slower than the speed of light at 186,355 miles per second). Necks crane as the ball flies backwards over the stadium … and crashes through some poor guy’s windshield in the parking lot! When I wasn’t sure whether it was time to jump up and cheer, yell or stomp my feet, I just watched the team mascot Slider and it was all good. The hot dogs, hamburgers and popcorn were excellent, and watching kids spin themselves around bats or trying to put on frozen uniforms had me choking with laughter. Joe Wolfe Field was full of faces that I was delighted to see outside of normal business and social situations. The sense of community; the no-stress feeling of belonging, is something I had never before experienced. Wow, what have I been missing! There’s only one more home game to catch this season, Saturday, July 31. Try to be there! ..My one and only citation for exceeding the speed limit, in Williamstown, was at the curve (dare I say speed-trap) on Route 7 North between " and pring Rd" (a few letters have fallen off the sign) and the Chef’s Hat. My internal radar always beeps there, but since the stretch is now officially one lane, we’ll all have to slow down, watch the signals and allow an extra minute or two of patience. ..In addition to scads of acting credits, Richard Dreyfuss is a spokesvoice for the Honda Civic on television commercials. Patrick Stewart convinces us to trust Goodyear tires and Williamstown Theater Festival favorite James Naughton has lent his debonair tones to informing us about Cialis. Do you think if we ask nicely he might have some pull with the folks that fill our e-mailboxes with unremitting offers for the stuff? Nah, didn’t think so. ..Every neighborhood has a youngster cruising the street in his car, listening to a pumped up radio at $2 per gallon. To the thumpers who regularly subwoof my avenue, "Yes, I hear you now!" But I’m still not impressed. Okay kids — time for the serious stuff. Is this how Jay Leno felt when the baton was passed to him by Johnny Carson? Nobody has been able to tell me, definitively, how Ralph Renzi came upon all the news, gossip and tidbits that appeared in this space. I hope for an audience with him soon, at which time I will hypnotize him into revealing his secrets. Meanwhile, I’m not a morning person, so don’t expect to find me sipping coffee at a local java joint, where you can conveniently stuff my pockets with press releases. I will, however, check the Advocate office frequently for your offerings. By the way, items attached to fresh chocolate-chip or oatmeal-raisin cookies will always be given preference. I spend more time online than I should, so feel free to send items of interest to AdvocateAveChat@aol.com Thanks, Glenn and The Advocate staff for this opportunity. …You liked me, you really liked me! Go figure. Howie Levitz runs TGL/Traits by day and composes, plays and tunes pianos by night. In either case, he spends too much time in the dark, talking to himself.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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