J.R. MARTINEZ:HOMETOWN HERO

Did anyone call for a hometown hero? If so, I say it would be J.R. Martinez! Martinez was the winner of Season 13, “ Dancing With The Stars”. He was also chosen to be the Grand Marshall of the 2011 Rose Parade. Martinez has played the role of Brot Monroe on the TV Daytime Soap “All My Children” for the past 8 years. On the show, his character was in the Army, served in Iraq and sustained injuries. The role is perfect for Martinez because he too, served in Iraq.

 In April of 2003, Martinez was serving as a Humvee driver when the wheel of his vehicle ran over a landmine. He suffered from smoke inhalation and was severely burned over 40% of his body. He was sent to Germany for immediate care and then to Texas where he spent 34 months in the hospital undergoing 33 cosmetic and skin graft surgeries.

If that alone didn’t qualify Martinez to be a hero, how about this: While still in the hospital, he began talking to other burn victims, encouraging them and helping them begin the journey to recovery. Presently he serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.  He first attended the Phoenix Society's World Burn Congress in 2008,  and was a featured speaker at the 2010 World Burn Congress. Martinez has had a fellow burn survivor, Jenna Bullen, attend taping of "Dancing with the Stars" as his guest and has taped a public service announcement with her on behalf of the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.

He is called on by a wide range of groups, including large corporations, veterans groups, non-profits and schools, and has shared the stage with the likes of global self-help guru Tony Robbins and Evangelist Dave Roever. In 2008, Martinez was honored as a "Shining Star of Perseverance" by the WillReturn Council of Assurant Employee Benefits. In 2009 Martinez was honored by the non-profit Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) with the Veterans Leadership Award, given in recognition of his dedication to our nation's newest generation of veterans. Martinez has been featured in The Washington Post, People magazine, on CNN's Sunday Morning, on TV show 60 Minutes, and other major national news outlets.

I can’t think of a better role model than J.R. Martinez. His courage, intestinal fortitude, drive and concern for others makes him #1 in my book!

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER!

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

The school year is at an end here in the south, and close to finishing up north as well. As our children pack away their notebooks and school uniforms for the summer in favor of bathing suits and flip flops, let’s take time to remember the gifts their teachers have given to them throughout the year. Teaching isn’t just imparting facts and figures as some people think. Teaching is the gentle molding of a mind and soul, the passing on of knowledge, yes, but of so much more! It’s caring for each child’s physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual growth and development  for 10 month of that child’s life. (And most of the teachers I know never stop caring or thinking of those children even after they’ve moved on to the next grade and beyond.) Any child I’ve ever taught knows that he or she will ALWAYS be my “little chicken” and that I’m still here for them (and many have grown children of their own by now!)

Take a moment to reflect on just what a teacher does, as written in a letter from Abraham Lincoln to his son’s teacher.

He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true.
But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician, there is a dedicated leader...
Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,
Steer him away from envy, if you can,  teach him the secret of
quiet laughter.
Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick...   Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books...
But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside.
In the school teach him it is far honorable to fail than to cheat...
Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him
they are wrong...
Teach him to be gentle with gentle people, and tough with the tough.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd
when everyone is getting on the band wagon...
Teach him to listen to all men... but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good
that comes through.
Teach him if you can , how to laugh when he is sad...
Teach him there is no shame in tears, Teach him to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness...
Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag on his heart and soul.
Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob and to stand and fight
if he thinks he's right.
Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test
of fire makes fine steel.
Let him have the courage to be impatient...
let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have sublime faith in mankind.
This is a big order, but see what you can do...  
He is such a fine fellow, my son!

                                                    

LUNCH TIME POLL

Today's news is flooded with the cancellation of two of its long time running daytime soaps, All My Children (AMC) and One Life to Live (OLTL), this follows other major networks canceling shows in recent years. Is this just not the end of these shows but the end of the genre?

Have you ever been a fan of "LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON"? Please share you guilty pleasure with us.

FISHNETS....

Dawn Boyle

Dawn Boyle as Dottie Thorton - Bottom Right

I am about to write about something I rarely speak of. In fact some of my newer closest friends may not even know this about me - here goes...

So last night I was informed that a part of my life is ending. The final and complete curtain call for the cast and show of the soap opera ALL MY CHILDREN. I gotta tell you, makes me a little sad.

I know some friends of mine are going to be shocked about me having any feelings about this at all but for some reason I am having a hard time with letting Pine Valley go. I literally grew up on set. I saw my "firsts of all first" in the dressing rooms. I experienced my first kiss backstage on Avenue of the America's. I got punched in the face on the dance floor at Studio 54 by a cast member who was so hopped up on coke at the Christmas Party they didn't even realize it.

Dawn Boyle; Bottom picture, last column on the right

I grew up fast in Pine Valley. I killed my father. I had epilepsy. I loved hanging out with Donna and Chuck and then Estelle and Benny, when my "Mother" Edna dumped me with them. I longed for an every lasting love with Charlie (Brian Lima) and could not stand Tad Martin (do not remember the originals name). It all ended for me in a hostage situation with another bad mistake my "Mother" made aka Ray Gardner.

My character returned a few years later, 10 years older and not looking ANYTHING like I did - ALL MY CHILDREN was very good to me. It gave me three day time awards and it made me who I am today. Will I be invited to the Series Ending Party...who knows - but for the record I am kicking it up a notch just in case...I will be ready for my close up!