I spent my grammar school years living in a one-mile square town on the Jersey Shore where my father also grew up. In front of Sea Girt’s Borough Hall there was a World War II Veterans Memorial. One of my early reading memories was perusing that monument listing all the men and women who had served in the armed forces from our town.


Borough Hall hosted the town offices, the volunteer fire department (my dad and his brother Jay were volunteers), a bowling alley for the firemen, the police department, town court and my kindergarten...

CATEGORY: General Society

TAGS: Sea Girt’s Borough Hall,Frank Leahy,Jay Leahy,Ed McLaughlin,Robert Oberst ,Ellen Leahy is the editor of the City Eagle,New Jersey Veteran Affairs Syracuse Parks Conservancy,Mike BehnkeWorld War II Veterans Memorial NJ,John “Jack” Leahy, JP Morgan’s sailing yacht), William Leahy

Permalink Comments (View)

My father’s twin married into a Kennedy-esque family who summered on the Jersey Shore. Although, this family’s sibling ratio was the opposite of the famous Cape Codders, as there were seven sisters and two brothers. Each of the elegant, resourceful daughters married well: men who sat on the New York Stock Exchange, quarterbacked for Navy, taught at Georgetown and owned their own companies. The second son was the youngest. He was a war hero, only the kind you’ll never read about – he disappeared into Southeast Asia for several years - even his wife didn’t know his whereabouts during his service.


My mother said Jack, the eldest son, must have had too much pressure in that role, as when he came of age, he had a breakdown...

CATEGORY: General Society

TAGS: jack,ellen leahy,life on the street,schizophrenic

Permalink Comments (View)

Ask any friend of mine and you’ll find that I’m the go-to-girl if someone needs a road trip buddy. Just call, I‘m in.

So when Red called to say she had an audition lined up for Who Wants to be a Millionaire, I didn’t hesitate to accompany her on a one day roundtrip to Manhattan as her navigator. Seems I’m a little rusty, as at one point we were in downtown Scranton, then I forgot to remind her that one needs gas before they enter the island of Manhattan, as gas stations aren‘t that easy to come by.

We finally found our way to ABC’s studios in Lincoln Center noting a line of umbrellas running down the city block as our destination with 10 minutes to spare. We accessed parking right across the street, but didn’t have time to freshen up...

CATEGORY: General Society

TAGS: No hope ... hope ... hopeless,Who Wants to be a Millionaire,Hitchcock’s North by Northwest,City Eagle

Permalink Comments (View)