Poughkeepsie Journal from Poughkeepsie, New York • Page 1D

Iktf tfMMMrfb tV fbtfMrt. lHQSPRCCfMIC vWIMr a k. aourc A i CMassifieds insl Tf iff Poucihkeepsie 3oumal LIFE Advice TV listings Comics 2 3 4 RAY FASHONA, LIFE EDITOR (845) 437 4883 iiashonapoughkee.gannett.com SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2003 RODERICK BOONE LuSM OUR TURN Trip home more fim than return Since my very first days on this Earth, I've been a traveling fool. While many of my acquaintances never got the same opportunity to venture out of the New York metropolitan area, trips to such places as Cincinnati, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio; Emporia, Augusta, Whiteville, N.C.; and Evergreen, were the norm for me as I was growing up. The Eisenhower Interstate System? Sometimes I feel as though I've seen every inch of it during the first 28 years of my life.

Recently, I took a trip down South, traveling the same route I did as a kid. It's a route I travel usually at least once a year, if not more. Still, no matter how many times I head down the New Jersey Turnpike, make my way to 1 95 and later 1 85, it always seems to bring back those great memories. And I get excited at least on the way down there. As a kid, I remember getting excited every time we'd pass an 18 wheeler, especially those fancy ones with the great paint schemes and tons of lights.

And we would always stop at the 76 Truck Stop in Ashland, and eat. Man, was that great! Now, although I'm older, I still get excited journeying along the countless miles of interstate to see relatives in my generation and beyond. But instead of heading to my dad's hometown and the tobacco fields of Hallsboro, N.C., or my mom's old stomping grounds in Evergreen, my destination of choice is usually Charlotte, N.C. The city has grown by leaps and bounds since my youthful days. Every time I venture to the Queen City, I always have a good time, no matter what I do.

This time, my biggest thrill was spending time with my great niece (yes, I do have a great and seeing her eyes light up when I gave her a birthday present two days early because I had to return back to the Empire State. It's always fun spending time with her. Of course, it was also fun beating up on friends and family. No, I don't mean physically, so get those thoughts out of your head. I'm talking about, video games.

You know, PlayStation2 battles. Dont get 'skunked' In all honesty, though, I got embarrassed during my first game on the 'sticks, getting blown away 21 0 in John Madden Football 2004. Hey, the game just came out and I hadn't played in awhile, OK? By the way, for those who aren't avid gamers, there's an unwritten rule that if you are trailing by 21 points at any point during the game, you're done. It's called the skunk rule, meaning you've been skunked. I later got beat by one of my friends whom I grew up with, before correcting my mistakes and making amends.

I finished with a 2 2 record against him, and later pounded the both of them together in NCAA Football 2004 with Hofs tra, of all teams. Sure, they were playing as Doug Williams' Grarnbling Tigers, but the Pride isn't exactly a behemoth, either. Anyway, that made my trip back home a little easier, though it never truly is. As a kid, I never liked the trip back home. This time wasn't any different.

Our Turn appears Saturdays in Life. It's meant to capture the lifestyles of twenty and thirty somethings. This edition of Our Turn is by Journal sports reporter Roderick Boone. He can be reached at rboonepoughkee.gannett, com. Filmmaker finds catharsis in 'Ashes Michael Berz Pat Oleszko performs "Rubble Without Pause" in the documentary "From the Ashes." Upstate Films hosts director By Rebecca Rothbaunt Poughkeepsia Journal Within days of Sept.

11, 2001, Deborah Shaffer received a call from an old friend, a producer for Austrian public television, who asked her to film a news see ment about StaffM downtown New York artists as they reassembled their lives. Shaffer, an Academy Award winning filmmaker who herself lives only a dozen blocks from ground zero, was eager to do something creative and relevant and immediately agreed. She interviewed nine artists friends or friends of friends who had been living and working in the shadow of the Twin Towers. "Because everything was so new for people and so raw," Shaffer said, "the material was very emotional." It wasn't long before she realized she had much more than a short news story, and after she sent her footage to her friend, continued filming. The result was a 2002 55 minute documentary titled "From the Ashes: 10 Artists," and "Epilogue," a 35 minute follow up made a year later.

The films, which have aired on cable television and been included in the Sundance and Tribeca film festivals, will be screened at Upstate Films in Rhinebeck on Sunday, to mark the third anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Shaffer will answer questions from the audience after the screening. "From the Ashes" was made in a feverish two months. Shaffer, who 'Put him down as one of the greats of 20th century music' Pet seeger, legendarytoiksinger Man in Black will be missed Johnny Cash left legacy of country music By Rebecca Rothbaum Poughkeepsle Journal It was 1969 and Pete Seeger, who had been labeled a communist during the redbaiting of the 1950s, was still ah uneasy presence on national television. But Johnny Cash, then host of his own ABC variety show, was determined to put Seeger on the air anyway, successfully fighting producers to bring the folk singer and activist to Nashville's legendary Ryman Auditorium for the broadcast.

"Hei was basically a very thoughtful guy," Beacon resident Seeger said of Cash, "always thinking about our country and how to bring it together, facing up to the bad things we've done and saying hurrah to the good things.1' Stellar career Seeger Joined musicians and fans around the world Friday in remembering the country music legend, whose death early that morning at the age of 71 ended a career spanning four decades. Said Seeger, "Put him down'aTone of the greats of 20th century music." Please see Cash, 2D HHHpHk 1 BMUJllJHHMH I HIGHLIGHTS JOHNNY CASH Johnny Cash logged 14 No. 1 Billboard country hits, listed here by song and date first charted: "I Walk The Line," June 9, 1956 'There You Go," Dec. 22, 1956 "Ballad of a Teenage Queen," Jan. 20.

1958 "Guess Things Happen That Way," May 26, 1956 "Don't Take Your Guns To Town," Jan. 19. 1959 "Ring of Fire," June 8,1963 "Understand Your Man," Feb. 22, 1964 "Folsom Prison Blues" (live version), June 1,1968 "Daddy Sang Bass," Dec. 7, 1968 "A Boy Named Sue," July 26, 1969 "Sunday Morning Coming Down," Sept.

5,1970 "Flesh and Blood," Dec. 19, 1970 "One Piece At A 1976 "Highwayman" (by The Highwaymen, with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson), May 18, 1985 Source: Joel Whitburn's Top Country Singles Singer rosefirom farm to international status Logging on Gannett News Service Johnny Cash, the rumblerumble voiced "Man in Black" who served for six decades as country music's gentle giant, has died from respiratory failure due to complications from diabetes. He was 71. The singer had been released from the hospital Wednesday after a two week stay for an undisclosed stomach illness. He died at 3 am.

Friday in Bap tist Hospital in Nashville, according to his manager, Lou Robin. "I hope that friends and fans of Johnny will pray for the Cash family to find comfort during this very difficult time," Robin said in a statement. Cash had been diagnosed with Shy Drager syndrome (a nervous system disorder) in 1997 and had undergone a heart bypass operation eight years earlier. In recent years, he suffered from autonomic neuropathy (also a disease of the nervous system) and pneumonia. His second wife, singer Tune Carter Cash, died in May.

Distinctive sound The singer's storied life and career carried him from a dirt farmer's shack to the international spotlight and folk hero status. Cash was regarded as a true original in American music. His rockabilly origins gave rise to rock 'n' roll and his plaintive songs gave him international acclaim as a folk singer. In a statement, the Dixie Chicks declared Friday "a sad day in country music Johnny Cash's voice was arguably one of the most recognizable and influential in country music. It's devastating to lose two great For more coverage' and photographs on the life of Johnny" Cash, visit The Ten nessean, a Gannett newspaper, at www.

tennessean.com. f' country artists in the same year. Johnnv Cash and his wife, June Carter Cash, were truly a dynamic force in shaping the music industry. Our thoughts and Please see Status, 2D 'Ml RKter throughout her 30 year career has focused on human rights issues she won her Oscar for the documentary "Nicaragua: Report From the Front" said she threw herself into the project in away that was almost therapeutic. "It gave me the opportunity to be legitimately obsessed with Sept 11," she said, half joking, in a phone interview from New York.

Turning more serious, she added, "It was a productive place to put my energies. (Otherwise) I probably would have just wound up upset." Please see Filmmaker, 2D John Ritter dead at 54 Aorta tear rare medical disaster The Associated Press John Ritter, whose portrayal of the bumbling but lovable Jack Trip per helped i make the mad cap comedy series "Three's company a smash hit in the 1970s, has died ofaheartprob I lem, his publi cist said Friday. He was 54. Ritter fell ill Thursday on the set of his ABC sitcom "8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter," said Susan Wilcox, his assistant of 22 years. The cause of death was a dissection of the aorta, the result of an unrecognized flaw in his heart, said his publicist," Iisa Kasteler.

The condition is a rare medical disaster that can strike without warning. Ritter died at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday. Ritter, a Southern California native who lived in Beverly Hills, came to prominence for his role in "Three's Company" and had appeared in more than 25 television movies and a number of films.

Ritter, who would have turned 55 on Wednesday, made a successful return to sitcom acting with "8 Simple Rules" last year, and the ABC show was scheduled to begin second season on Sept. 23. At the Burbank hospital where he died, Ritter was accompanied by producers and co workers, his wife, Amy Yasbeck, and 23 year old son Jason, Wilcox said. He is survived by three other children, Carly, Tyler and Stella. Emmy winner Ritter was the youngest son of Western film star and country musician Tex Ritter.

Ritter appeared in more than 50 plays nationwide and won critical acclaim for his recent nine month role in the Broadway premiere of Neil Simon's "The Dinner Party." He received an Emmy and other awards for his "Three's Company" role and was honored by the Los Angeles Music Center in June with a lifetime achievement award. WUiHiWiliUhMiM Learn backpack safety Zammjello Family Chiropractic in Wappingers Falls hosts a workshop on backpack safety for children today from 1130 a.m. to 1 p.m. Topics in the free workshop will include how overweight backpacks can cause spinal stress in children, the signs and symptoms of overweight backpacks and how to choose the proper backpack. Zammiello Family Chiropractic is at 1093 Route 376 in the Town of Wap pinger.

For Information, call (845) 298 2104. WeH dressed cat In need of a home This girl is dressed for success! And in this case, success would be a new home and a new family. Affectionate female black and white tuxedo cat is eager to share her love with many people as This cutie new shelter. possible the larger the family the better. If you would like to adopt this kitty, call the folks at the shelter in Hyde Park at (845) 452 SPCA For a look at the many other cats and dogs that call the shelter home, turn to page 2D.

Bike ride benefits McQuade McQuade Children's Services holds its Fall Foliage Bike Tour on Oct. 5. The annual benefit for McQuade, being held for the 14th time, features rides of 15, 25, 40 and 50 miles and starts at Brotherhood Winery in Wash ingtonville. Registration fee is $20; $10 for children. Fee includes a shirt, barbecue, refreshments and live music at the post ride picnic, The 50 mile ride travels along scenic Route 218 In Cornwall.

The other rides trace quiet roads at the foot of the Schunnemunk Mountains, McQuade Children's Services, Nancy Bast black and white is ready for a life outside the based in New Windsor, is a nonprofit organization that provides programs for special needs children. For information or to register, call (845) 561 0436. Good Life is a collection of observations about life in the mid Hudson Valley. Your input is welcome. Call (845) 437 4883.

This Good Life by Journal staff. Concert series begins The Howland Chamber Music Circle kicks off its 11th season on Sunday with violinist Soovin Kim and pianist Jeremy Denk. The'series this year Is being expanded from six to eight concerts, There also will be music for kids along with a piano festival. For more on the series, turn to 2D, Kim mm if Stan Miller lllustrationPoughkeepsle Journal Escaping typecasting Women's literature has come a long way since the days of Mary Ann Evans, who hid her gender under the pen name George Eliot. But there is still a stigma surrounding works by female authors, "Chick lit" has come to be a term that Is difficult to define, It's scope is much more than women in search of love In their lives to make them feel whole.

Books, 5D.