(Note: An Internet
radio interview on this subject may be found in the
archives at Rocklandworldradio.com)
The Column Rule
Rockland
People, Rockland Places
(Book now
available at Barnes & Noble and Borders and via address
at end of this piece.)
You
define life by its moments, and as the years pass, you have
many memories, enough for story telling and even chapters
in a book of life — your book, yes, but more so
thoughts, even essays on the many people, places and themes
that an individual comes upon and relates to during our
time on earth.
Some of us tell our life stories to children or
grandchildren, friends and younger people who are building
their own time line. A very few put the thoughts,
observations, recollections, soap box stances, anecdotes,
this and that, in a diary or journal or family book kept in
a drawer somewhere. Even fewer move on to an actual
published book — which is part ego trip, part strong
feeling that some thoughts should be noted and part hope
that anyone is interested.
The hope of such a book is that readers will have their own
reactions to what the author notes, and in the reading
there will be personal meaning.
For better or worse, I am headed down the book path
courtesy of The Historical Society of Rockland, which has
published a 100-piece, 260-page selection of my essays that
have appeared in The Journal News under The Column Rule
signature since 1981. They were culled from about 2,600
columns and represent a selection of Rockland people,
places and history. Those are the themes explored in my
42-plus years with the newspaper.
There also some photographs since that is my second
creative love, having been a staff lensman here for seven
years and one who continues to click the shutter and to
exhibit.
The book’s material has been approved for release by
the owners of this newspaper, since the columns were
written by their employee. I am most grateful for that, as
I am to The Historical Society and its dedicated
volunteers. Many hours are going into preparation for
publication, orchestrated by the demanding genius of Albon
Man, Jules Loh and Thomas F.X. Casey, county historian and
president of the Society, whose idea was to publish this
collection.
The book sells for the smallest amount, and any profit
benefits the awfully good workings of the Historical
Society. I take no personal profit, save the enormous
satisfaction of being able to see a collection in print.
If you would like a copy of “The Column Rule/Rockland
People, Rockland Places,” an attempt at defining life
in this New York State county but also offering parallels
to other people, times and places, you can order from The
Historical Society of Rockland, 20 Zukor Road, New City,
N.Y. 10956 (email:
info@rocklandhistory.org).
Each hardcover copy is $29.28 (price with postage and sales
tax) or $21.18 for the paperback edition. You can use a
charge card, giving the usual details. If you pick up a
copy at the Historical Society, the total prices will be
$27.04 and $19.45, respectively.