Down River – August 22, 2013

By John Lipez

A Community Thank You:

It was a great Saturday in the county seat.

Downtown Lock Haven’s Hometown Heroes banner unveiling was a resounding success, a deserving thank you to those who served the United States and those who, as first responders, serve the local community.

The program at the Corman Amphitheatre was a fitting recognition for the newest edition, some 200 banners in all, in the downtown group’s Hometown Heroes program.

It had to be especially worthwhile for those who were recognized by friends and family and community members.

There were plenty of stories shared, plenty of memories revisited as families gathered to see a loved one recognized for what he or she did for our country or our community.

Lock Haven Mayor Rick Vilello was part of the program and later shared a chance meeting with a Heroes participant at an area store.

Among those honored Saturday, Vilello said, was an 86-year-old Korean Conflict veteran. Vilello learned family members came from diverse points across the country to honor their father, all six children together with their dad for the first time in 12 years. That’s a thank you that vet won’t soon forget.

There were similar stories up and down Main Street and Water Street for much of Saturday.

Two took place at a local restaurant after the ceremony and involved two long-standing community members.

Both, it turns out, served with the U.S. Marine Corps a long time ago, so Saturday’s recognition so many years later had to be appreciated.

One we knew from pretty far back, Renovo’s own little Billy Marino who returned to Clinton County after serving his country in Japan during the cold war half a century ago; he made an immediate positive impact in the local banking industry (but not such a positive impact as a scatter-armed, limited range second baseman for the old Lock Haven Merchants baseball team).

The other Marine veteran we’ve known for a while is Gary Derr. We all remember Gary as the soft-spoken operator of a downtown Lock Haven gift card/stationary shop.

We had no idea until Saturday he had been a Marine during the Korean Conflict.

But there they were after Saturday’s ceremony: Bill Marino and Gary Derr, both surrounded by adoring family members covering a few generations; neither seeking the spotlight for what they had done for their country.

But the Downtown Lock Haven organization gave them and many more a deserved spotlight Saturday.

As Mayor Vilello thanked the banner recipients at the ceremony, “I’m honored to live with you and I’m honored to sit here in front of so many of my heroes. Thank you!”

And we must mention what an outstanding job the Downtown group did in marshalling its volunteer forces to pull off the mounting of the banners and the staging of the Saturday program.

The lead-up to the ceremony was one of transition for Downtown Lock Haven, the former director having departed and her replacement in the process of being hired.

Given that, volunteer Mike Hoy and a host of helpers too numerous to mention pulled off a herculean task without a hitch; they too serve the community.

 

Best Kept Secret:

The Record wanted really badly to do a front page story on a Renovo resident seen on television cavorting about as part of work as Dugout, the mascot at the ongoing Little League World Series in South Williamsport.

But sadly the young person filling the Dugout outfit has chosen to eschew revealing a personal identity so we’ll sadly adhere to those wishes.

We can tell you this person is one of three performing the Dugout function at the World Series, all of whom do a great job involving players, coaches and umpires in a fun-making experience.

We can also tell you this western Clinton County native goes to college in Williamsport and is a senior this year. Whenever this Renovo resident is ready to come out of that Dugout suit, the Record will be ready to do a feature.

 

Just Like Ronnie Sang:

Can it be true, “Be My Baby” is 50 years old?

Yep, it was August of 1963 when Ronnie Spector and her two Ronette friends recorded “Be My Baby” in a Santa Monica studio in front of bizarro ‘60s music impresario Phil Spector.

50 years later the song is still going strong (not so much for Phil Spector, serving 19 years to life in prison for his murder conviction in the 2003 death of actress Lana Clarkson).

A recent New York Times story detailed the song’s history; a ditty it said is “still tingling spines” 50years later.

The song has tremendous staying power and has had a part in a variety of t-v shows and movies since then, including “Mean Streets” and “Dirty Dancing.” And who can forget the 1986 update with Eddie Money and Ronnie Spector, “Take Me Home Tonight”? Not me.

And if you’re wondering, Ronnie Spector is still out there in her stilettos, belting out songs in her theatrical production road show, “Beyond the Beehive.” (Great name for the show, Ronnie).

One song you won’t hear, however, is “Be My Baby.” Ex-hubby Phil Spector owns the publishing rights and won’t let her use that song or “Baby I Love You.”

Anyway, happy birthday, “Be My Baby.”