Your Morning Matters: Reliving “Groundhog Day!”
Good morning and welcome to Your Morning Matters.
It's Friday, Jan.31, 2020, and on Sunday we'll wonder about a rodent's winter prognostication and enjoy the San Francisco 49ers' latest Super Bowl. Which reminds me of a story.
In the spring of 1992, I was hired as editor of the Northwest Herald newspaper in far suburban Chicago. On an April morning, I put on a jacket and a tie to head downstairs from my hotel room to meet my new publisher, Bob Shaw, prior to my introduction to my new staff.
As I stepped into the elevator, the other occupant wearing a long coat made way for me. While my mind was on a million things, I eventually noticed during the short ride that he looked familiar. We hit the first floor and Bob was there to meet me. Nodding his way I said, "That guy in the elevator looked just like Bill Murray."
He laughed. "You know, they're filming a movie around here. He's in the penthouse."
You see, it was Woodstock, Ill., in the northwest suburbs where director Harold Ramis shot the classic Murray comedy "Groundhog Day." Sorry, Punxsutawney, Pa. The Crystal Lake Holiday Inn was probably the best area hotel and just 10 miles down the road. He also stayed in some area homes, as local legend has it.
I lived there for two weeks and had this fantasy about running into Murray and closing out the hotel bar. It never happened. That memory was jogged this week with news that Murray was back in Woodstock filming a Jeep commercial, apparently reprising his role as cynical weather forecaster Phil Connors. I'm calling that now as the BEST Super Bowl commercial.
Have a great weekend! Go Niners! Go Bill! Go you large squirrel predicting the weather!
And now, more of the things you need to know about what's happening in the Mahoning Valley:
Speaking of the big game: Sunday night, someone with Mahoning Valley roots will have access to the 54th Lombardi Trophy. The San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs — the combatants in the Super Bowl — have local ties. Who's going to win? Opinions vary among local media veterans, coaches and athletes.
Joe Scalzo, a sportswriter with the Canton Repository, thinks the 49ers will defeat the Chiefs, 38-35. Chaney head coach Chris Amill, a Cardinal Mooney assistant for 16 seasons, thinks the Chiefs will prevail in a shootout, 35-31. What do you think?
Other matters
Today's the big day: One subscriber to our newsletter will be chosen to receive a $150 gift card for Giant Eagle to help put together that big party for the big game Sunday featuring the great team from San Francisco and that other team that will suffer a crushing defeat. You'll be contacted by us via email if you are selected! Stay tuned!
Among the newsmakers in today's Business Update are Akron Children's Hospital, Youngstown Business Incubator, Blue Wolf Events, Mercy Health Foundation, 898 Marketing, Farmers National Bank, WRTA and the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber. If you have a business announcement you'd like to share, email news@mahoningmatters.com. Mahoning Matters
The Ohio Senate approved a last-minute amendment to the state's EdChoice legislation Wednesday, HB 9, that would allow the academic distress commission now governing Lorain City Schools to dissolve — but would leave the Youngstown and East Cleveland schools under the control of their commissions. The Vindicator
Warren City Council is discussing a police department proposal to operate a city-owned impound lot to increase revenue without increasing taxes. Mays' Towing LLC currently handles all of the city's impounded vehicles and tows. WFMJ
In case you missed it
Cardinal Mooney High School President Mark Oles and Principal Mark Vollmer have resigned from their positions, effective immediately, according to a release from the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. The release did not offer a reason for the resignations. Mahoning Matters
Your comments matter
"Really a shame he can't come speak again in the evening so the folks who work day jobs could have the opportunity to listen to him speak."
Paula L. Hendricks-Richards, on Cmdr. Kirk Lippold, commander of the USS Cole during a suicide bombing by al Qaeda in October 2000, speaking at Canfield Public Library.
Registered readers can comment on a selection of our stories, and all readers can comment on stories on our Facebook page. Opinions published here do not reflect the views of Mahoning Matters.
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This story was originally published January 31, 2020 at 6:55 AM with the headline "Your Morning Matters: Reliving “Groundhog Day!”."