Published Mostly Weekly by the
Bangor Area Breakfast Rotary Club
www.bangorbreakfastrotary.org
January 24, 2008
Media and the message
Facchini and Matuszewski shine even without cameras
J
udy Horan, January’s program chairman, turned her Channel 2 evening news
team loose at this morning’s meeting, and we learned about their backgrounds,
their love for Bangor and how they dare not drop their pencils prior to going on
the air.
After graduating fro Syracuse University in 2000, Kara Matuszewski landed in
Presque Isle. Although she grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire, she absorbed the
shock of “small town” by falling in love with Presque
Isle.
She came to Bangor, worked for WLBZ for 2 ½
years, and then went to the really big city of Portland,
where she anchored weekend news programs and did
reporting.
Chris Facchini, likewise, worked in Portland for
ten years, and then moved to Lewiston where he
reported the news for eight years before coming to
Bangor. “It is unusual for news people to go from a larger city to a smaller one,” he said.
“We got our start in Bangor, then went to Portland and returned.”
Collaboration is key. The news teams of WCSH in Portland and WLBZ see Maine as
one state, not two, Mr. Facchini said. “There are universal stories that affect everyone.”
Two editorial meetings each day determine what stories should be aired. Broadcast
airtime is limited- about twelve minutes in the half hour- and the station presents more
news and longer stories on their website (www.wlbz2.com).
Mr. Facchini and Ms. Matuszewski read each script as carefully as time allows. They
write their own stories, and review copy submitted by reporters. The minutes before each
newscast are filled with checking copy, hair and smiles.
They each told of an embarrassing moment. Ms. Matuszewski described a story she
reported while in Presque Isle of a child who was killed. “I was so upset that I couldn’t
say the word ‘asphyxiated’. I stumbled several times and finally said ‘smothered.’” Mr.
Facchini’s moment of fame was more light-hearted, but colder. He tried to create a clever
shot behind a snow bank, but fell off the mound as the cameraman caught the graceless
act on tape.
This just in…
Various and sundry announcements:
Princess Mischelle announced that the district conference is scheduled for May16-18
in Bar Harbor. Contact her if you’re interested in attending. She circulated an
announcement from the University of Maine Business School inviting business people to
become a Business Mentor on the school’s MBA trip to China this May. Maxine
Ewankow will answer your questions about the trip at 581-1973.
Lisa Wahlstrom promoted the business card ads for the “All That Jazz” program
book. Make sure she knows if you are
NOT going to submit a card. You won’t
have to take as many harassment pills if
you let her know you will not be using a
card.
Steve Harrison stocked up with
news about the topsy-turvy stock
market. “Buy low, sell high,” he
advised. Nat “Frosty” Bond used the
“C” word too often: cold today, cold
tonight, colder tomorrow, but by next
Wednesday the temperature may hit 40.
“Females have more problems with
high blood pressure than do men,” said
Dr. Lew Phillips, who referred to the
Rev. Bob explains his brief invocation
Birmingham Heart Study on prehypertension published in the Annals of
Internal Medicine. Smoking, weight and family history are factors contributing to
hypertension.
Jay Muth is now a vice president at Camden National Bank. The announcement,
published with Jay’s photo in the Bangor Daily News, cost the banker a fine. Sergeant-atArms Ivan McPike used his arms to collect a cellphone fine from Greg Urban, whose
phone rang during the meeting. He also fined Ron Landry and the newly-40-year-old
Jodi Steele. The 4-Way sang Happy Birthday serenades to them.
We heard good news from Dr. Erik Mitchell who announced Concentra Bangor, of
which he is director, was #1 in the nation last month (out of 340 Concentra centers) and
#2 overall. Rev. Bob Carlson’s brief invocation drew an “Opportunity Dollar” from
Dick Cattelle, who quoted a “corrected” version of the blessing that he learned when he
was a child. The two men exchanged “blessing dollars” that elevated the meeting to a
new spiritual level.
The travelers amongst us include Mr. Cattelle, who goes to Chile and Bolivia for a
month. Trev Hooper will go to the jungles of Pittsburgh, then to Ashville, Savanna and
finally Florida for two months. Greg Jamison pitched the “Super Suppah” scheduled for
this Sunday night at the university. Steve Andrew is happy about his Husson College
class schedule that has changed so he can attend the Thursday morning Rotary meetings.
Judy Horan gave a correction to her information last week about the set-top
converter boxes for digital broadcast reception. The price range is $40-$70, and the
coupon from the government will cover $40 of the cost. She also mentioned her digital
conversion “Show and Tell” at the Millinocket Rotary Club. She described the Breakfast
Rotary’s “younger” demographics. Dr. Lew responded, “I give a Happy Dollar for being
a part of a ‘younger club’.”
Les Myers- January 24, 2008
Next week: Alan Hutchinson, from the Forest Society of
Maine. He'll speak about the Plum Creek development
project, fresh from hearings on that subject in Augusta this
week.
Judy Horan and Chris Facchini
Kara Matuszewski