My new monitor stand is a great addition to my desk!

Here's my view to the left, deskmate/TL court reporter Sheena Delazio.

Today is day two of my blog. How am I doing so far? Just so you know, I hope to update this every weekday.

I woke up this morning with a raspy voice. It might be cool if I had been at a rock concert last night. How do I get rid of it? Several people have told me summer colds are going around.

Good thing my spirits were lifted when I found out my new computer monitor stand arrived. It came in a humongous box and I felt like it was my birthday or Christmas. Better yet, it was already put together.

You should know that for the past several months, I have been using two old phone books to make my monitor high enough for me to see without having to hunch over. The Yellow Books are on their way to be recycled thanks to my green co-worker, Rory Sweeney.

That brings me to my newsroom quadrant. Even though I work for The Dallas Post, I sit among Times Leader reporters in the TL newsroom. To the left of me is Sheena Delazio, the new court reporter, though she has been at the TL for three years. She has put up with me as a deskmate for a whole year, which means she's endured me editing aloud and complaining about life (usually men). She has also witnessed me attempt to take a photo with the lens cap still on the camera.

Behind me is Rory. I’m not entirely sure what his beat is, but he usually writes about ethanol or some other environmental issue. To the right of Rory is Mike McGinley, our obituary clerk and reporter. Delmar Macosky sits in Mike’s place Thursday through Saturday when he is on obits.

I also can’t forget Jennifer Learn-Andes. She sits in the next quadrant, but is close enough to me to provide tremendous support.

These people, and Curry Donuts mocha cappuccino, keep me going every day.

You can check out Sheena and Rory’s blogs on www.timesleader.com.

What would you like to see on my blog? Drop me a line at rbria@timesleader.com and let me know. I love hearing from you.

Beth Carey shoots the ball in January during the annual Lake-Lehman High School donkey basketball game.

Charlotte Bartizek

It was one year ago today when I started as a staff writer for The Dallas Post. Over the past 12 months, I have met many Back Mountain residents. I’ve been inside schools, churches, people’s homes and even flew over Route 309 in Pat Perry’s amateur-built airplane.

And even after a year’s worth of stories, I definitely have a few I still think about often. Maybe you remember them.

In September, I interviewed Maureen Matiska about a fundraiser she was holding in memory of her daughters’ friend, Kelly Pomrinke. Kelly grew up in the Back Mountain and graduated from Dallas High School in 1992. She died at age 32 from breast cancer and left behind a 3-year-old daughter, Kira, and husband, John.

Seconds after pulling out of Matiska’s driveway, the tears began to flow down my face. “Kelly was so young.” “How is her family holding up?” I wondered to myself.

With the story, we ran a photo of Kelly and Kira from the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in Philadelphia just months before Kelly died. That image is still fresh in my mind and I think of little Kira and John often.

Just a month later I interviewed two Lake-Lehman seniors, Beth Carey and Ashlee Swanson, about the mini-THON they were holding at the high school to raise money for childhood cancer. I expected to find just another duo completing their senior project. But to my surprise, Beth is a cancer survivor. I still remember looking at the wall in Beth’s house and seeing a photo of her with no hair.

In January I saw the girls play in the school’s annual donkey basketball game. Beth was named prom queen at last month’s Lake-Lehman prom and both girls are graduating from Lake-Lehman on June 29.

I set out to Lake-Noxen Elementary School in December to see what kids wanted for Christmas in our “Dear Santa” letters to Santa Claus. Many children had lists full of items including the pricey Nintendo Wii. But one little girl asked for a house.

When I became frustrated by holiday shopping traffic or decorative lights that wouldn’t stay around my door, I thought of her.

It’s been a great year and I can’t wait to tell more stories of the people, events and issues in the Back Mountain .

Chances are I’ll bump into you on my way.

About the Author

Rebecca Bria has been reporting for The Dallas Post since June of 2007. She is a 2007 graduate of Wilkes University and previously interned with the company at The Weekender and The Times Leader.

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