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By Tony Rizzo

Remember “The Addams Family,” the creepy, kooky sitcom that ran for 64

episodes in the mid-1960s, starring John Astin and Carolyn Jones as Gomez and

Morticia Addams? It was revived for two films with Raul Julia and Anjelica

Huston in the starring roles in ‘91 and ‘93. With Raul Julia’s death, a ‘98 film reboot

starred Tim Curry as Gomez and Daryl Hannah as Morticia. That year, ABC

Family revived the series, again with John Astin as Gomez, which ran 65 episodes.

This summer I saw “The Addams Family” (the musical) on Broadway with

Brooke Shields and Roger Rees (of “Cheers”) as Morticia and Gomez. Now,

Tim Burton plans to write, produce and possibly direct a stop-action animated film

of “The Addams Family” along the lines of his “Nightmare Before Xmas” film.

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by: Roger Zotti

In his highly acclaimed book The Arc of Boxing: The Rise and Decline of the Sweet Science (McFarland), noted boxing historian Mike Silver’s key point is that “the quality of today’s top professional boxers, the training they receive, the level of their experience and the competition they are exposed to is inferior when compared to the champions and contenders of past decades, especially those who were active from the 1920s to the 1950s” – the Golden Age of boxing.

Mike wrote his book – which is fast becoming a classic of boxing literature – because I “wanted to set the record straight and expose the revisionist history taking hold in the public’s mind.” Specifically, today’s revisionists believe fighters like Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr., and Floyd Mayweather should be ranked among the all-time greats of boxing. Not true, according to Mike. Thought they’re fine athletes, Mike said, “and have acquired some boxing skills that place them above their competition,” the competition they’ve faced “does not compare to the competition of decades earlier.” During the Golden Age of boxing, “they would not be considered all-time greats.”

Asked about today’s boxing scene, Mike’s response was: “I never saw a sport deteriorate in every way that boxing has.” He went on to cite the decrease in boxers, gyms, arenas, trainers, and managers. Then, too, making matters worse are the ostensible “sanctioning organizations that recognize over 100 ‘world champions’ and hundreds of contenders in seventeen weight classes.” He considers “the whole situation sad and absurd.”

As for the sweet science returning to its past glory, it’s “very unlikely.” For one thing, “the entire sport would have to be restructured.” Also, there are no “competent trainers to teach the finer points of the art of boxing.” In the 1970s and early 1980s the sport “was able to spin off a few great fighters, but since then we’ve had nothing at that level.”

Sugar Ray Robinson, Harry Greb, and Benny Leonard are Mike’s picks for the best fighters for pound-to-pound ever. He considers Robinson “a genius and the ultimate in speed, power, grace ad durability.” Of Robinson, whose career began in 1940, Mike writes that “as great as he was in his 33rd fight, he was even better six years later after having fought an additional 56 fights… What made him better was the seasoning he acquired by consistently fighting top-caliber competition.” Greb “was capable of outfighting everyone.” Leonard’s approach “was scientific. His mind was his best weapon.” Mike’s choice of the best heavyweight of all time is Jack Johnson. He was “too smart for his opponents and the semester defensive heavyweight of all time.”

That anyone who reads “The Arc of Boxing” won’t ever, in Mike’s words, “look at another boxing match the same way again” is true. But the test for boxing fans is to judge for themselves. So Mike is offering “readers of this interview a signed copy at a steep discount.” Contact him at www.MikeSilverBoxing.com for more information. The book, which has over fifty photos, is also available on Amazon.com for the retail price.

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by: Anna Maria Trusky

In her 36-year career as a nurse, Christine Watkins loved giving her patients extra-special care. However, eight years ago, Christine was forced to give up nursing because of the need for knee surgery; she just couldn’t spend so much time on her feet anymore. However, she soon found a way to resume helping others when she donated some clothing to The Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut. “I was asked to help sort some clothing and I stayed,” she says.

Christine has volunteered at the center for seven years now; as Donations Coordinator, she’s there from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. She and her team accept donations, organize the extensive area where clothing, toiletries, and household items are neatly stored and displayed. They help women who have escaped abusive situations to find the items they need for themselves and their children. “The Women’s Center is where women can come to get clothes, toothpaste, and hugs,” she says.

According to Emma Palzere-Rae, Director of Development, Christine is the embodiment of a dedicated, loyal, compassionate volunteer, which is why she has been nominated for Volunteer of the Year. Last year, Christine and her team provided clothing and toiletries to more than 800 women and their children.

This time of year, in addition to providing women and children with basic needs, Christine and The Women’s Center help clients have a happier holiday season. Through its Adopt-a-Family program, the Center accepts contributions to help fulfill the holiday wishes of more than 40 families in our community who are in crisis or in transition, Emma explains. Donors can purchase items from a wish list provided by each “adopted” family. The Center also accepts donations of new, unwrapped gifts to be distributed to women and children fleeing from violence, experiencing homelessness due to domestic violence, or dealing with the trauma of domestic abuse. The Center accepts donations of gift cards, too. “The gift cards empower our clients to choose items for themselves for the children, as well as use the cards for groceries if needed,” Emma points out. “Women who have recently left and abuser do not have the resources to but holiday gifts for their children.”

Christine adds, “We take the donations from the generous people in our community and our volunteers put them in boxes. We provide wrapping paper so the women can wrap their children’s gifts, we give the children fun things to do, like making reindeer out of pipe cleaners, or making ornaments, to keep their minds occupied while their mothers are wrapping their gifts.” The Center happily accepts donations of wrapping paper, tape, gift tags, bags and bows, as well as, table-top Christmas trees to brighten up traditional housing.

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