Running for Office

I'm running for public office.
I've given a lot of thought to why I’m running for Newcastle City Council. It goes back a few decades to when my father Tony Ventrella Sr. ran for an office called “Constable” in my home town of Wilton, Conn. Dad was a barber with less than a high school education but a vast knowledge not only of national and local issues but of the wants and needs of people in his own community. My town was so small we had one police officer and he was on loan from the state of Connecticut. To fill the gap the town council created positions for four “constables” who would serve the public in various ways. My Dad performed such duties as serving subpoenas, directing traffic in construction zones and parking cars for town sponsored events. He loved people and was proud to work for the town. I feel the same way. “As Newcastle grows and welcomes new residents and businesses I want to be involved in its vision for the future.” To succeed as an individual, a family, a business or a small city you need a vision, a plan of action, a step by step climb into the future. I believe that “real political leadership can only emerge in a crisis.” I also believe that with every crisis comes opportunity. We are in a fiscal crisis in America that effects every one of us in big cities and small towns. We can only emerge from it by working together, unselfishly and without ego. I look forward to meeting every voter in Newcastle and because I have two ears and one mouth, I’ll listen twice as much as I talk. I look forward to serving my community.

Twitter or Not

I admit it, I'm a baby boomer, born in the 1940s. My life was fine before lap tops, cell phones and GPS systems and it was certainly fine before Face Book and Twitter. I don't need Face Book or Twitter so why did I sign up for both? I'll answer that. I don't need a talking JFK doll or a 1968 rookie Tom Seaver card either but I have both.

At least I get some enjoyment out of pushing the button on JFKs lapel and hearing him say, "Ask not what your country can do for you," over and over again. I'm not sure if I get any enjoyment out of Face Book or Twitter. I really don't care what concert my friends went to last weekend. Unless it was a Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons reunion it was a waste of time and money anyway.

I've been on Face Book for a month and Twitter for a week and I'm on the verge of leaving both. If I really want to send a message out to all my friends I'll call them or type a letter on my manual Royal typewriter to each one of them, spend $20 on stamps and drop them in a mail box. What a concept.

I have to go now. Just got Tweeted from someone who's interested in buying my talking JFK doll.

News about News

Thursday May 7 was a painful day if you follow sports media. Not painful from the stand point of the actual news stories but painful because of the relentless repetition of those stories by endless numbers of talking heads.

Shut up already. That's enough about Bret's retirement, Manny's suspension and A-Rods hip. Whatever happened to the good old days when we were all scared to get Swine Flu.

I'm pleased that Bret Favre is staying retired, so is my cousin Jack who taught high school for 30 years. I'm happy for both of them.

Manny Ramirez finally got caught juicing and was suspended for 50 games. Lot's of guys at the local gym juice all the time and wish they were Manny Ramirez yet they're the first ones to call talk radio and denounce the former Red Sox and now Dodgers star.

Sometimes I long for the old days when you had to wait for your local newspaper or television sports cast to see and hear what was happening. In those days you actually had time to digest the story before beating it into the ground among your own friends. Now it gets beaten into the ground even before half the public hears about it.

Thank God we live in a country that recognizes the value of free speech. It's just that sometimes I long for silence and that's just as free.

Rookies, Red Cards & Seagals

What a whirlwind weekend it was in Seattle sports. Seahawks rookies and veterans soent three days at the team facilities in Renton at the first full mini camp. Led by top draft pick Aaron Curry, the linebacker out of Wake Forest the Seahawks went through their paces under the upbeat direction of head coach Jim Mora.

This week veterans will work on red zone and two minute drills before the rookies return in two weeks for another mini camp. Full training camp begins in late July with the first pre-season game set for August 15th at San Diego.

On Saturday in Bridgeview, Illinois the Sounders FC struggled to a 1-1 tie with the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park. A red card on Fredy Montero in the 49th minutes gave Chicago a man advantage situation which they exploited for the go ahead goal late in the half. The Sounders salvaged a tie when Freddie Ljundberg set up Tyrone Marshall for his first goal in two years. Seattle has a 4-2-1 record with 13 points so far this season. They host Los Angeles on Mother's Day at 12 noon at Qwest field.

Sunday night at Qwest 61 perspective Seagals went through final auditions for the 2009 squad. Director Sheri Thompson chose 28 girls for the new squad excluding a couple of popular veterans Georgia and Kat from the new team.

It was emotional for the girls who didn't make the team as well as for Thompson who told all the auditioners after the event, "I wish I could take 40 of you but we're limited to 28."

The Mariners rounded out a big weekend in Seattle sports with a 15inning 8-7 victory over Oakland at Safeco field.