Idiot of the Week - The man who flipped off a female astronaut after instant fact check him

You have to wonder if he thinks people don't notice the disrespect he shows for everyone. This week a female astronaut was conversing with the President after an all-female space walk.  When gently corrected by one of the astronauts about how many other women have spacewalked, the president uses his middle finger to "fix" his hair.
  This behavior is appalling.
VIDEO: ">https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4823553/trump-flips-women-astronauts&fbclid=IwAR1HBerS5PAH8fa0cFwNxihHz56WQ5he-_obR-97Wc7iYcd9aI2bci09FIs#

WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU: Warmer Alaska in 2019, Warming Sea Surface Temps

The world is warming and fossil fuels have exacerbated the process. If you didn't know, Alaska has experienced record warmth this year, 2019. Not only that, here's a look at warming sea surface temperatures and WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU:  >>>

1)  On October 8, 2019, the International Arctic Research Center or IARC at the University of Alaska noted "Over the last 12 months, the average Alaska statewide temperature is 32.7°F. This is the highest value for the 1925-present time period using NOAA/NCEI statewide values."

WHAT IT MEANS - Drier conditions, Higher wildfire danger - and Alaska has had one of the worst wildfire seasons ever in 2019.

Wildfire near Talkeenta, Alaska July 3, 2019 Cr: Getty Images

ALASKA'S WILDFIRE SEASONS ARE GETTING WORSE- TIME magazine:  Aug 21, 2019 - About 2.5 Million Acres in Alaska Have Burned. The State's Wildfire Seasons Are Getting Worse, Experts Say. A helicopter passes by as smoke rises from a wildfire on July 3, 2019 south of Talkeetna, Alaska near the George Parks Highway. Wildfires are a normal part of life in Alaskan forests.


2)   "Alaska’s exceptional heat wave delivers state’s hottest days on record"
By Ian Livingston, Washington Post
July 9
  A heat wave for the record books has roasted our 49th state, sending temperatures into uncharted territory.  Over the weekend [July 6 and 7, 2019], boosted by historic heat in the southern part of the state, Alaska’s average temperature surged to its highest level ever recorded on back-to-back days. “It is likely that Saturday, July 6, 2019, was the warmest day on record statewide (at least in the last 100 years)," tweeted Alaska climatologist Brian Brettschneider. But, he continued, “this distinction only lasted 1 day as Sunday was even warmer!”
As of July 8, 2019: Anchorage has logged eight days of 80 degrees or higher this year, doubling the old record of four from 2015.

*******************************************
Sea Surface Temperatures Continue to Warm 
Global sea surface temperatures in September were above the 20th Century

average for the 520th consecutive month. Also, it's not sunspots.
 [Source: ERSST v.5]. 

 WHAT THAT MEANS? - 
1) Fish and other sea life will be stressed and die off or migrate further north. 
2) Corals will die off with warmer temperatures, too. 

warmer temperatures can kill fish

3) The fishing industry will suffer from smaller harvests, which affect YOU around the world.  
4) Tropical Cyclones have more fuel to strengthen in warmer sea surface temperatures (from 80F and higher) 
5)  Deadly Algal Blooms - Scientists predict that climate change will have many effects on freshwater and marine environments. These effects, along with nutrient pollution, might cause harmful algal blooms to occur more often, in more waterbodies and to be more intense.  Algal blooms endanger human health, the environment and economies across the United States. Source; U.S. EPA
 

AZ Trip #22: Back to the Bird Cage - and a Ghostly Prostitute

Rob and Dan back at the Bird Cage Theatre

In the previous blog, we took you to Tombstone, Arizona's famous Boot Hill Cemetery, where many of the outlaws were buried. After visiting there, Dan and I went back to the town and met my friends Amy and Billy. After a tasty lunch of coffee and Tombstone's best sweet coffee rolls (yes, that was lunch), we went back to the Bird Cage and I met another ghost. Here's the story:

The Bird Cage Theatre is owned by Billy's dad and Billy manages it. So, after lunch we went back to the old theatre to see Billy's office. Billy told us that he often feels as if he's being watched in the office, so as a medium, I was curious and wanted to see if I encountered (another) a ghost that liked to dwell there. As you've read in early chapters (blogs), I met quite a few ghosts already from the Bird Cage Theatre! So, Dan and I followed Billy and Amy back to his office. His office is located behind a door to the right of the bar (if you're looking at the bar).

Employee dressed as an 1880s "worker" with Rob

THE GHOST WALKS IN - As soon as we walked into Billy's office, I immediately got a headache, indicating that we were in the presence of a ghost. I knew it was a woman, and she told me that she worked at the theatre as a prostitute back in the early 1880s. She told me her name began with an "Na..." and I couldn't make out the rest of it, because she whispered it.

GHOST SHARES HER FEELINGS AND LIFE STORY- Suddenly, she decided to share her feelings (ghosts often do that to prove their identity) with me. So, I suddenly felt anxious. She then told me "I always get anxious before working." Meaning before she meets a man and takes him to her bed for sex. She also told me that she didn't want to be a prostitute, but she had no other means of support. She told me all of this as I was standing in Billy's office!

Amy and Billy in front of the stage

  I asked why she was in the office (which wasn't an office when she worked there in the 1880s), and she told me that she would sometimes go in there to hide from men she wasn't attracted to, and who paid for her services. 

BILLY'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE GHOST -
    When I shared all of her information with Billy, Amy and Dan, Billy said that "One day a female ghost looked over my shoulder while I was working on the computer. I could smell her perfume and body odor," he said. He also told us that the female ghost pulled his hair!
  I knew that this was the same ghost that was talking with me at that moment!!

The theatre

SHOT IN THE THROAT AGAIN -   After we left the office, we walked back into the area where the stage is located and once again, the ghost who made me feel as if I were shot by a gun in the throat gave me the same feelings again! I couldn't breathe and felt blood rushing up to my throat again as it felt the previous night when I first encountered him. I had to tell him to stop it and he finally did.

NEXT: A WALK DOWN TOMBSTONE'S MAIN STREET  

LATER: SHOOTOUT AT THE OK CORRAL

AZ Trip #21: Tombstone's Boot Hill

In today's blog about my (Rob) trip with our friend Dan, we visited the famous Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone, Arizona. Interestingly enough, many old westerns referred to a "Boot Hill cemetery" but this is the original. In today's blog you'll learn it's original name, famous outlaws interred there, and why some bodies were removed from it!  Read on! 

ABOUT BOOT HILL -Boothill Graveyard was originally called "The Old Cemetery." It is a small graveyard of at least 250 interments located in Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona. After 1883, the graveyard was used only to bury outlaws and a few others. It had a separate Jewish cemetery, which is nearby. 

WHAT FAMOUS OUTLAWS ARE BURIED THERE?
The "Cowboys" were known as cattle rustlers, robbers and murderers. Some of these outlaws fortunately met their end at the famous "Shootout (near) the O.K. Corral" on Oct. 26, 1881 in Tombstone and are buried here. They include:Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury and Old Man Clanton (Billy's father). 

Ike and Billy Clanton and the McLaury's participated fought the Earps and Doc Holliday, who represented the law in the town. Billy and the McLaury brothers were killed during the gunfight with Tombstone, Arizona Territory Marshall Virgil Earp, his brothers Morgan Earp and Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday. (Ike ran away from the fight and lived only to be shot dead on May 31, 1887 by Jonas "Jake" V. Brighton a constable in Springerville and a range detective.)

AN ODD MARKER - "Here lies Lester Moore, four slugs from a 44. No Les. No More."  Someone had a punny sense of humor! 

NAMED BOOT HILL 40 YEARS LATER - It was Tombstone’s first City Cemetery, established in 1879 and called the "Old City Cemetery." It wasn’t called Boothill until the 1920’s, probably as a result of Hollywood westerns or dime novels.

WHERE IS IT LOCATED?    408 AZ-80, Tombstone, AZ 85638 

NEW CEMETERY - A new City Cemetery was established in 1884 at the end of Allen Street. Most Tombstone citizens wanted their loved ones buried in the New Cemetery, so there were few burials at Boothill after 1884.



EXHUMED FROM BOOT HILL - After the New Cemetery was established, many locals had the bodies of their loved ones disinterred and moved to the New Cemetery. They likely didn’t feel comfortable with their deceased family members spending eternity next to thieves, murderers, rustlers, prostitutes, and Chinese citizens (yes, the 1880s was a racist time).

VIDEO TOUR -DiTuroProductions created this 3:53 minute video tour of the Boothill Cemetery to give you a good sense of what's there.   VIDEO: https://youtu.be/xYix5ENvBac 

NEXT: RETURN TO THE BIRD CAGE, AND ANOTHER GHOST EXPERIENCE! 

AZ Trip #20- A Dead Truck Battery in Tombstone, AZ

Dan after installing a new battery in his truck at Walmart at 11:30pm!

After the ghost tour of the very haunted Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone, Arizona, we walked back to Dan's orange Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck. We got inside the truck and it wouldn't turn over. The battery was dead... just like a lot of the people that still dwelled in the Bird Cage!  That's when our adventure of the night began with AAA, and a Marshall. Read on!

LACKING AAA NIGHT-TIME SERVICE IN TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA - I have always had AAA service and have relied on it to get us out of a jam before with dead car batteries. So, it was 11pm and we were confronted with a dead truck battery. I called AAA. 
  I learned 2 things. One, when you're in Tombstone, you're far away from service. AAA said that it would be about 90 minutes to get a truck to us. I assume it was coming from Tucson, which is 1 hr and 15 minutes drive at 72 miles.Two, they didn't offer replacement battery service out there in the desert. So, they would jump the truck and we would have to drive it to the hotel, and call them again in the morning so we could drive around looking for an auto mechanic shop or auto parts store. 
  I said okay, and they promised to text me updates. 


LOOKING FOR OTHER HELP - Dan and I decided to check back in town (it's a small, walkable town) so we saw an open saloon, but opted not to ask anyone in there because it was loud, rowdy and there were several people who appeared loopy. We did find a variety store closing up, so we asked the young man who worked there for help. He directed us to the Marshall's office, 3 blocks away. So, we went there.

I'm sure this Marshall helped us

A BIG MARSHALL HELPS US - We knocked on the door of the Marshall's office (yes, it was locked) and a huge guy in uniform came out asking what we needed. He had to be about 6 foot 4 inches and built like Dolph Lundgren (the tall , muscular actor from the Rocky films of the 1980s). The Marshall told us to walk to the truck and he would meet us there (why he didn't ask us to get in his car and drive us all together, I don't know).. He met us and used a portable battery jumper. He told us to drive 16 miles to the nearest 24 hour Walmart (the only thing open) and get a replacement battery. We did.Of course I called and canceled AAA service (it only took 30 minutes to get the Marshall's help).  I found a picture of the officer from the Marshall's Office whom I believe is the guy who helped us. He was awesome. Thank you, Tombstone Marshall's Office!

WALMART IN THE DARK - Nothing like driving through back roads in a desert area in the dark... that's basically where the road went that led us to Walmart. I stayed in the truck and kept it running while Dan checked for a battery. I was relieved when he came out with one. He said it was the last one left. We changed the battery in the parking lot and headed back to the hotel, relieved!

SO, if you get stuck in Tombstone, Arizona, only Walmart is open, and it's 16 miles away. And AAA service will be there in 90 minutes. Or, you could opt to ask a good looking, but intimidating, towering mass of muscle who works at the Marshall's office! 

NEXT: Boot Hill


.

Wish Happy Birthday to Ed's Spirit - my "Kindred Spirits"

For those of you who know me, you're aware of my new book "Kindred Spirits" about how the spirit of Ed, Tom's late partner has given me messages from the afterlife for the last 14 years. Today would have been his 59th birthday. I know he's around, and he's been really excited since I published the book about all of his communications. Ed has proven that spirits are very, very much alive and with us long after their physical selves are gone. 

Ed

   Check out my book at amazon.com and get to know Ed! After all, it's his birthday! 
What a nice way to wish him a happy birthday. And get an understanding of how spirits of your loved ones communicate. 
- Rob

Visit to Capitol Theatre - Ghost #2 The Stocky Man

My sketch of the male ghost I encountered

Yesterday I told you about my Sept 27-28, participation in the Spirits Through Time Paranormal Fair, in Chambersburg, PA where I spoke about 2 of my books, "Pets and the Afterlife" and signed books. I introduced you to a female ghost I encountered in the last blog. Today, you'll meet the male ghost I ran into in the 1920's Capitol Theatre during a paranormal investigation.

THE MALE GHOST - As I entered the 800 seat theatre, I immediately felt foggy headed. I sensed that there was a male ghost there. I immediately saw a man in his late 40s/early 50s. He said he was an actor, but he didn't seem like he was being honest... I think he wanted to be an actor. He was stocky and bearded. He said he "performed" here. I think he meant that he was working here (he loved theatre and film). 

SKETCHING HIM  - Whenever I go on paranormal investigations, sometimes ghosts will show me what they look like, in my mind. In the case of this ghost, he did show me! So, I took out my sketch book and put together a quick sketch. 

The 800 seat theatre

 SHARING PAIN -    Sometimes ghosts will convey pain they experienced to help prove their identity. This ghost made me feel a sharp pain in my heart and told me that he died of a heart attack. He also suddenly made me feel pain in my right leg and said that he had fallen off the stage once when he was walking across it.
 A NAME - The male ghost didn't tell me his name but he did say the name "Leslie." 

outside the Capitol Theatre

I know that can be both a man's or woman's name, but I didn't get the sense it was his name. It could be his wife, girlfriend, mother, or some other female or a male he knew in life. Why he conveyed that name is a mystery I couldn't solve.  


WHERE HE GREW UP -  Other things he mentioned was that he was originally from Carlisle, Pennsylvania. I looked it up on a map when I returned home and learned that Carlisle is west of Harrisburg, and only about 33 miles from Chambersburg, so that would be feasible for someone to find work in a theatre that distance away from where they grew up. What's interesting here is that I don't know anything about the geography of Pennsylvania and I had no idea where Carlisle was located in terms of Chambersburg. 

Inside the front doors of the Capitol Theatre (my table was to the left)

Visit to the Capitol Theatre, Chambersburg, PA and Ghost #1

1930s hairstyle of female ghost

On Sept 27-28, I participated in the Spirits Through Time Paranormal Fair, in Chambersburg, PA where I spoke about 2 of my books, "Pets and the Afterlife" and signed books. The location was an amazing theatre called the Capitol Theatre, and it's haunted. On the first night, my friend Bill and I joined the local "Ghost Pit" group for a Paranormal Investigation of the theatre (both co-sponsored the event). I encountered 2 ghosts. In today's blog you'll read about the first ghost, learn about the theatre and when YOU can also investigate it's ghosts! 

THE FEMALE GHOST - There were about 30 people on the paranormal investigation of the theatre. The lights were turned out and we were split into two groups. 
  As Bill and I neared the stage I heard a woman's voice in my head. She told me she worked at the theatre in 1937. When she gave me the date, I didn't know when the theatre was opened. It opened in 1920. She made me feel a choking feeling, anxious.  She told me that she was assaulted when she left work at the theatre one night. She said she went out the back exit (where the parking lot is today) and walked down the narrow street behind the theatre. It was there where she was jumped by a man in the dark (it was night-time). She told me she ran back to the theatre afterward and apparently when she died, she came back to the theatre because it was a safe place.  She was distressed in her communications so when she said her name it sounded like an "L" sound. Perhaps Eloise, Elise, Lise, or even Liz. It was difficult to hear her. She was distressed and fearful of going outside... or apparently into the light to cross over.


WHERE IS IT LOCATED? Capitol Theatre is at 159 S Main St, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17201- midway between Gettysburg, PA and Hagerstown, MD.


THEATRE HISTORY -Opened on February 3, 1927 with Norma Shearer in “The Waning Sex,” The theater didn't close since then except for brief periods in 1945 and 2992 for redecorating and renovations. There's an orchestra pit with a Moller Theater Pipe Organ. In 1985 it was privately purchased and went from showing films to live theatre. 

YOU CAN INVESTIGATE THE THEATRE! - The next regular paranormal investigation will take place on… Sunday, January 27, 2019 | Investigation: 4pm – 7pm 
PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION w/ THE GHOST PIT - Participate in an actual investigation of the Capitol Theater led by The Ghost Pit. See if you can make contact with Wilfred or catch a performance by the Lady in White. Small group sizes with each lead-investigator. Includes an onsite evidence review. Investigation is limited to 30 people: https://www.thecapitoltheatre.org/paranormal-investigation/

PART 2: THE MALE GHOST OF THE CAPITOL THEATRE

Idiot of the Week - Man accused of faking slip and fall at New Jersey business

57-year-old Alexander Goldinsky, of Randolph, NJ fakes an Injury to get insurance money

This week's idiot is a 57 year old man who decided to fake an injury in a cafe back in January 2019, not knowing that he was on video tape.    Let that be a lesson to other idiots. You're most likely on camera so don't try anything stupid.
  People like this IDIOT are the reason that insurance costs are so high. He needs to retire in PRISON. 



WOODBRIDGE, New Jersey (WABC) -- Nice try.

A New Jersey man was arrested and charged after he purposely threw ice on a business's floor and faked a slip and fall.
    The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said 57-year-old Alexander Goldinsky, of Randolph, was subcontracted to work at a company in Woodbridge and allegedly orchestrated the scam in its break room.
    Surveillance video from 2018 shows the suspect fill a cup with ice and use the cup to toss the ice on the floor. He then shuffles toward the ice and uses a nearby counter to help him "slip and fall" onto the floor.
     Officials said Goldinsky waited on the ground until he was discovered. They said he then filed a false insurance claim for the ambulance service and treatment he received at a local hospital for injuries he claimed.
    Goldinsky was arrested on January 15 and charged with insurance fraud and theft by deception. His court appearance is scheduled for next Thursday in New Brunswick Superior Court.
    The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sean Sullivan of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at (732) 745-4060.

ARTICLE: CBD Oil For Dogs: A Veterinarian Explains The Pros And Cons

Tyler says "Read everything you can about it first."

Several people we know have talked about giving dogs CBD oil for various ailments. Here's an article that was just published last week. 


CBD Oil For Dogs: A Veterinarian Explains The Pros And Cons
"Does it actually help with pain, or does it just make them not care?"

By Tanya Edwards, Yahoo LifestyleYahoo Lifestyle logo
09/10/2019 10:54am EDT | Updated September 10, 2019

 CBD products for dogs – whether oil or in a treat – have been shown to anecdotally help with some issues like pain and anxiety.
CBD oil is everywhere, and seemingly in everything. You’ve probably heard someone mention CBD, especially if you live with a chronic condition like pain or anxiety, or if you follow Kim Kardashian, who had a relaxing CBD-themed baby shower to celebrate her fourth child with husband Kanye West.

As some states have begun to legalize both medical and recreational cannabis, the market has enjoyed an influx of readily available CBD, including CBD oil for dogs to treat pain, anxiety, to control seizures and more in the family dog.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the many active compounds found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is another active compound and the most well-known, due to its psychoactive properties — it’s the compound that gets you “high.”

But, much like the use of CBD in humans, not a lot is known about how CBD oil for dogs works – and if it actually works. According to the American Kennel Club, there have been no formal studies in how it affects dogs, and our expert backed that up.

“Does it actually help with pain, or does it just make them not care? We don’t know, but they seem to be less reactive to low level pain stimuli, for example arthritis and things like that, when they take the product,” explains Mark Verdino, MD, senior vice president and chief of veterinary staff at North Shore Animal League America. “And certain anxieties, they seem less reactive to certain things.”

Essentially, CBD is non-psychoactive but has a number of the same medical benefits as THC. This means you can take advantage of the therapeutic benefits for your pet without being concerned they will have the “stoned” feeling that goes with THC – which obviously would be very upsetting for a dog.

“The psychotic ingredient in it that makes people high is not present at CBD oil, and they’re not entirely sure how the CBD, the Cannabidiol, actually works to do the things that they’re claiming that it does,” says Verdino. “We don’t know, but they seem to be less reactive to low level pain stimuli, so like arthritis and things like that, when they take the product. And certain anxieties, they seem less reactive to certain things.”

The doctor shared that he uses CBD for his own dog, a senior who gets jumpy in the evenings, and it seems to relax the animal.

“At night time when the lights are dimmed down, it’s dark out, they don’t see it well in the dark, and he gets a little spooked. And when I give him the CBD, he seems to just go to sleep.”

The question is, of course, how is it working. Verdino says, “So is it helping with the anxiety, or is it just making him drowsy? I don’t know, but it seems to help. So we have a symptom, and it helps with that symptom.”

Could there be risks? At the moment, we don’t know. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved CBD for use in dogs (or humans) and has not issued dosing recommendations, and any medication or supplement carries the potential risk of reaction, so it’s important to try a small dose first and monitor how your dog reacts to it.

Verdino had some words of advice if you choose to give your dog CBD, saying, “I recommend people use a pet-specific product just so that they know that the concentration is appropriate, that there’s nothing else in it to... because look, this is a fairly unregulated industry.” Products include tinctures with a dropper that are easy to use to fill a pill pouch, such as Elevate for dogs. There are also treats available like MediPets CBD Treats, Hemp My Pet biscuits and King Kalm Crunch CBD treats.

And with good reason, as many human friendly CBD products are in gummy form. “There’s really nothing to prevent a CBD company from making it flavored with an artificial sweetener like Xylitol, which is toxic for animals. So I would definitely choose a veterinary-specific product, and I would choose one that seems to be from a more reputable manufacturer,” according to the doctor.

Bottom line? CBD products for dogs – whether oil or in a treat – have been shown to anecdotally help with some issues like pain and anxiety, but too few studies are available to conclusively say they will help. It’s best to talk with your vet about your dog’s specific issues and heed the doctor’s recommendations.

In Memory of my friend: Mary (Peduzzi) Lenzen of Lakes Region Humane Society

On Sept. 25th, my friend Mary passed away and joined those she loves on the other side. I was fortunate to meet Mary a  couple of years ago, when she contacted me to do a lecture on how pets communicate from the afterlife, based on 2 of my books. In addition to many things she did, she also managed the Lakes Region Humane Society in Ossipee, New Hampshire. She loved animals with all her heart, and of course, she is surrounded by them now.
    I'm publishing this today, October 11, because it's also her BIRTHDAY. I know she'll be around her loved ones giving them signs. She already gave me one.

A MESSAGE FROM MARY -  As a medium, its a gift that spirits are able to communicate with me and Mary already came through to me. She was as short as I am, so it was no surprise that she showed me she was safely and happy on the other side in the light, and surrounded by so many, many dogs and cats in spirit that she was actually jumping up and down and waving like crazy so I could see her!  I conveyed this message and image to Mary's friend (and mine), Celeste, who understood it was a perfect sign from Mary.

Below is Mary's obituary, so you can learn about this really wonderful person, who is now a spirit looking over so many people and animals from the other side.
Rob 

Mary (Peduzzi) Lenzen of Lakes Region Humane Society

Mary peacefully passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 while residing in East Wakefield, NH. She was born to Claire Turco Peduzzi and the late Everett O. Peduzzi in Westerly, RI. She began her education at Immaculate Conception School and later transitioned to the Westerly Public School System graduating from Westerly High School in 1973. Mary graduated from the University of Rhode Island earning a Bachelor of Arts, High Distinction. She completed her post-graduate work at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earning a Master of Science in Computer Science.

She married Kurt, the love of her life, on May 2, 1981. Mary was dedicated to her profession and established lifelong friendships on a global spectrum. She had a long and productive career at Pfizer, lnc. beginning as a chemist and continuing in Clinical Research as Head of Database Administration and Clinical Data Standards. She was a pioneer and leader in establishing clinical data standards throughout the pharmaceutical industry as well as a charter member of CDISC (Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium, a nonprofit organization that develops and supports global data standards to improve the quality and interoperability of medical research and healthcare). She was also employed at BBN as part of her journey. After retiring from Pfizer, Mary worked for Octagon Research Solutions where she led CDISC training initiatives worldwide.

LRHS

Mary was instrumental in assuring that family events were memorable. She organized several Turco/Federico family reunions and Peduzzi gatherings. She was known as the "Queen" of holiday pitch card games and it didn't matter if she was on a losing team, as long as laughter was pervasive. She insured the success of family ventures by providing financial support including Kathy Turco's film documentary "Spirit of the Arctic". In addition, Mary was an active fundraiser for various causes such as the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation even while experiencing this disease herself. Mary was determined to help others despite her own pain. She was a volunteer and past board member of this nonprofit organization which directs 100% of gross fundraising dollars directly to breast cancer research.

Mary enjoyed her retirement in East Wakefield and she frequently volunteered, especially concerning the care of animals and education of the watershed ecology. She often applied her technical knowledge of computers to various organizations such as The Food Pantry GED program and The Lakes Region Humane Society of which she was President.

Lakes Region Human Society

She was predeceased by her sister, Geraldyn Peduzzi. She is survived by her husband, Kurt; mother, Claire; brothers, Peter (Linda) and Everett; sisters, Judy O'Connell (Michael) and Claudia; nephews, Andrew O'Connell, David and Nathan Peduzzi; nieces, Elizabeth Ziniti (Tom), Jackie O'Connell and Jenna Peduzzi; and great nephews, Noah and Luke Ziniti.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Saturday, October 12 from 11:00 to 1:00 at Avery-Storti Funeral Home located at 88 Columbia Street, Wakefield, RI 02879 followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made in Mary's name to The Lakes Region Humane Society, P.O. Box 655, Ossipee, NH O3864, Attn: Megan Williams, Managing Director.


 For guest book and condolences, averystortifuneralhome.com.

Published in The Westerly Sun from Oct. 4 to Oct. 5, 2019

AZ Trip #19: Dan's 2nd Encounter with a Ghost at the Bird Cage Theatre

Rob and Dan waiting for the lights to go out!

In the last couple of blogs we've been taking you with us on the ghost tour through the Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone, Arizona. Before Dan came to the Bird Cage he had never had a paranormal experience. I've already told you about the ghost of the miner in the mirror. This time, we'll talk about the ghost who was walking away from Dan.

In the previous blog, we were in the basement at the site of the "World's longest poker game." After hearing the history (and my sensing a ghost), we returned upstairs and sat at a huge table behind the stage curtain.

Picture in your mind 24 people sitting around a giant table (actually several tables pushed together). Two groups of about 12 were on two sides. The docent then said she would turn the lights out for 30 minutes and we could communicate with any ghosts. It didn't take long before we experienced them!

Dan saw a shadow (ghost) of a man descending a staircase from the stage.

As we sat in the dark for 30 minutes, some of us asked questions to the ghosts haunting the theatre. There were some odd noises after questions were asked.

DAN'S 2ND EXPERIENCE - After the 20 minutes, Karen, the tour guide, said that we could take pictures. So Dan, turned to his right, toward the stage curtain (remember we were sitting backstage). To the right of the curtain, there was a stairway that led from the stage down into the first floor seating area. Dan hit his cell phone camera and a flash lit the staircase. It was then he saw a man in a cowboy hat descending the stairway from the stage to the seating area. The flash ended and the picture was captured, but nothing was there. 
   Dan thought that the living man wearing a cowboy hat, who was sitting at the end of our side of the table, and closest to the curtain, had stood up and walked down the stairs. But he didn't. He was still sitting there! 
  So, Dan actually saw the shadow of a male ghost in a cowboy hat walking down the staircase!