Hollywood Boulevard Welcomes WNRM by Mort Laitner

Today, Blake and “We Need Rent Money” got some good news out of Hollywood.

Ya, I wish I could say that one of L.A.’s major distributors had picked up the film but that wasn’t to be.

But the good news came from the Hollywood Boulevard Film Fest.

Yes, WNRM won another award.

For those of you who are counting, this makes seven.

You remember Hollywood Boulevard one of the most famous streets in America, with its Grauman’s Chinese Theatre with that huge Chinese dragon across its front, the Klieg lights in old Hollywood film footage, Madame Tussauds, The Walk of Fame and the Academy Awards.

Well in the 1980’s, I recall walking down Hollywood Boulevard and seeing all these characters dressed as Super Heroes or in Disney outfits.

 The family and I were looking for stars and stepping on them.

I remember placing my hands into famous movie star’s cement handprints and touching their signatures.

But on that warm Hollywood day I got lucky.

Why? Because my family and I witnessed the Captain of the Minnow, Alan Hale, being awarded his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Yup, you got it right, “Gilligan’s Island.”

One of my favorite TV shows.

Who could forget Tina Louise?

Not me.

Sad to say she wasn’t there.

Who could forget the lyrics to the show’s theme song (Please feel free to sing along):

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale
a tale of a fateful trip,
that started from this tropic port,
aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailin’ man,
the Skipper brave and sure,
five passengers set sail that day,
for a three hour tour,
a three hour tour.

The weather started getting rough,
the tiny ship was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
the Minnow would be lost.
The Minnow would be lost.

The ship aground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle
with Gilligan,
the Skipper too.
A millionaire and his wife,
a movie star,
the professor and Mary Ann,
here on Gilligan’s Isle.

Written by Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle

Well thanks to the Hollywood Boulevard Film Fest, WNRM has not run aground on the shore of some uncharted desert isle but keeps sailing forward into the fresh wind of awards and accolades.

And I can’t wait to see Blake’s name on one of those stars.

Author, Rita Dorn, asks her readers in “Monica’s Chanukah & More” to write a Chanukah poem.

Rita’s book even gives the kids a blank page to write the poem on.

Well here’s my review in verse.

“Monica’s Chanukah, & More” will make you kvell

So why don’t you buy it and sit for a spell

It’s a book as sweet as donut jelly

dripping off your fingers onto your belly

It’s a book chock-full-of recipes

But it wasn’t written by the Maccabees.

Rather a college professor wrote this story

about Monica and all her glory

As Monica celebrates the Festival of Lights

Rita takes this tale to new heights

Joyous illustrations by Hafsa Pinar

Are great to view after dinner

As mothers in the kitchen do toil

I smell lotsa latkes frying in oil

In the dining room the children devour their gelt

I take the time to loosen my belt

Rita your book is a joy and a delight

So I’m going to read it again tonight

“Monica’s Chanukah, & More” is available in paperback or on Kindle and can be bought on Amazon and Google Books

19 thumbs up on TOI

20. Thumbs up.—Ritch

21. Thumbs up.—Aimee

22. Thumbs up.—Pete

I’m standing in the Hilton lobby, and on a table, I spy a copy of Marquis Who’s Who Insight Magazine.

And who do I see on its cover but Connie Goodman-Milone.

Yes, SFWA’s own past president, Connie Goodman-Milone.

So I pick up the mag and think, “Wow, that’s a great photo of Connie. Look at her smile.”

Then under the photo, I read Connie’s quote, “Passion is a part of my work as an activist on social justice. environmental, animal welfare, wildlife and human rights issues.”

“Wow, that’s a plate full of activities.”

And as a member of SFWA, I’ve known about Connie’s passions for over 12 years.

I’ve known her passion and talent for writing poetry and reading her haikus aloud.

I’ve known her passion for speaking out on social issues from her letters to the editor of the Miami Herald.

 I’ve known her passion for the dying and their families as a hospice volunteer.

I’m hooked and now I’ve got to read the whole story.

So I turn to page 8 of Insight, where Connie tells the magazine’s readers what makes her tick and why she is so effective in her role,  “I have compassion and I care.”

Wow, my two favorite “C” words.

Yes, Connie demonstrates her compassion for our organization when sheis our community relations director or when she directs the Junior Orange Bowl Creative Writing Contest or when she acts as a judging coordinator for the Miami Veterans Creative Writing Contest.

Connie truly cares about the SFWA.

And then I realize what Connie is.

She’s a true believer in “Tikkun Olam“, repairing the world.

She understands that it’s her duty to make the world more just, peaceful, tolerant, and equal through acts of charity, kindness, and political action.

And she does it all that with a smile on her face.

So, Connie Goodman-Milone, thanks for making SFWA and the world a better place.

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