Old School Radio Shack in Bedford and Woburn, Mass.

It's a shame that Radio Shack recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but comes as no surprise as online and big-box brick and mortar electronics retailers have a virtual monopoly on the industry.

I can't help but think, however, that a little bit of good old fashioned customer service might have tipped the scales in a more positive direction for the once giant electronics retailer.

Case in point: back in the 1970s, a young man named Peter Reed worked at the Bedford and Woburn, Mass., Radio Shacks, and made our trips there worthwhile every time. Peter loved his job, truly enjoyed helping customers, and had this great mind that always made me wonder why he wasn't at MIT instead of Radio Shack. Most importantly, Peter came across as human and one who could talk with anyone from a nine-year-old kid like me that loved radios to the grown-up technically savvy egghead looking to challenge his knowledge.  While the revolving door of eggheads always thought they were the smartest men in the room, it was almost always Peter who came across with the greatest know-how -- and he didn't even know it, given his humble nature.

During the "me decade," Peter with his glasses, wide smile and plain short haircut came across somewhat old-fashioned and out-of-place -- even at his very young age -- but that was a good thing.  He knew his stuff, always exhibited "consideration of others" before it became a mandatory class at some private and public sectors, and generally became the face of those two Radio Shacks. When was the last time we could say that about a Radio Shack employee?

Sure, I have run across some good employees at Radio Shack through the years but, unfortunately, not at a uniform level -- that is, where the majority of workers adhered to the highest standard possible. I remember inquiring about a certain air purifier at a local Rado Shack, and the surfer dude-like employee said, "Yes, like that a real good brand." He could not go beyond that initial statement when pressed with my questions that sought detailed answers.

In all fairness, however, I am not so sure that any type of high-standard uniformity existed back in the day -- and that perhaps Peter Reed was just a stellar exception rather than the rule. Who really knows?

Here it is nearly 45 years later and I still remember this great Radio Shack employee. I always wondered what happened to Peter, and if he stayed with Radio Shack or went onto another career. Whatever the case, Peter made the Bedford and Woburn Radio Shacks special places.

Radio Shack will sell as many as 2,400 stores to Sprint and an affiliate of hedge fund Standard General.   Hopefully, the powers that be can hire a lot of Peter Reeds to make the next chapter of business operation stay strong for the long run.

Great Meteorologists on Channel 7 WNAC and WNEV TV in the 1970s

As a family, we almost always watched WBZ-TV Channel 4 for weather forecasts back in the 1970s -- it was almost as automatic as going to the Howard Johnson's restaurant chain on long road trips and Child World in Medford for the best toys.

With meteorologists like the old-fashioned, cerebral Don Kent and the energetic, smiling Bruce Schwoegler getting us through the legendary Blizzard of 1978 while giving accurate every day forecasts, our parents felt no real need to tune in anywhere else. Yes, we would occasionally watch Bob Copeland and Bob Ryan on WHDH and starting in 1972, WCVB Channel 5 -- tremendous weathermen, also -- but Channel 4 won the Nielsen ratings in our home.

Thinking back on meteorologists way back when, however, WNAC Channel 7 (which became WNEV in the late 70s) wasn't too shabby, either, and  in fact, looks better now than it did then. Harvey Leonard, with a full head of hair, started his career on Channel 7 in 1977. He was every bit as thorough then as he is now as chief meteorologist on WCVB, Channel 5. From 1971 to 1979,  Fred Ward, a PhD and MIT grad, brought a more mature, formal and somewhat dry approach to weather forecasting on television, although he was capable of fun moments like posting the word "COLLLDD!" on the weather map to emphasis the low temperatures. The late Stuart Saroka might have come across as sort of a modified hippie and on-air goofball, but make no mistake about it: he knew how to get a forecast right.

Why do the former Channel 7 meteorologists look better now than they did back in the 1970s? Well, it really had nothing to do with the meteorologists. Channels 4 and 5 offered more established news anchor, sports and reporting staffs along with high ratings and little turnover, so the whole packages led to more trust in who we were watching for the news. Yes, Channel 7 had some incredibly talented journalists like Chuck Scarborough, who went onto fame as a New York City and national anchor and reporter but the station just couldn't get any momentum going -- at least until the late 1970s when anchors Tom Ellis and Robin Young brought a viable alternative to TV news watching in Boston. For the record, WNAC did have high rankings briefly in the mid-70s when the Candlepins for Cash bowling show led into the 6 p.m. news, but they just couldn't sustain that energy.

So, you see, the Channel 7 meteorologists were ultimately fine weathermen that did their jobs as well as any in the area, but were associated with a less popular television station. Looking back on it, though, I wish I had given those meteorologists more of a chance. One wishes the forecast for a consistent Channel 7 newscast in the 1970s was as rock solid as the forecasts given by its meteorologists!

Dignitary Sighting at the Osaka Japanese Restaurant in Cambridge, Mass.

Many years ago, my dad took a lunch break with some teacher friends at Osaka Japanese restaurant on Concord Ave. in Cambridge, and came back home with a story that he could virtually call his own.

Just as about he was about to be seated, a man that looked like an older version of Dennis the Menace's father almost ran right into him. It wasn't Dennis the Menace's father, however (fictional character!). It was Henry Kissinger, our 56th United States of America Secretary of State!  He joined my dad and friends for lunch and they shared some delightful, intellectually based conversations.

In my young mind, I was very happy for my dad that he met such an esteemed, accomplished figure, but was also jealous that I wasn't there. At seven years-old, I had learned to memorize every president's name and could recite them, in order, backward and forward. I wanted to show off to Mr. Kissinger this knowledge.  I also wanted to meet a celebrity like him. Heck, my only celebrity interactions, at that point, were with Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Lee Stange and comedian Soupy Sales!

As I matured and started to appreciate Japanese food, I recognized Osaka as a wonderful little Japanese restaurant that prided itself on chef-inspired cuisine, friendly and humble service and a living room-like atmosphere -- too bad it's not around anymore.  It was a bit of a hidden restaurant, so I found it quite interesting that Dr. Kissinger found this place!

Do you have any memories of celebrity/dignitary sightings back in the day? If so please feel free to comment below!

Elsie's Sandwich Shop, Cambridge, Mass.

Our readers greatly miss Elsie's Sandwich Shops that were once located in Cambridge and Falmouth on Cape Cod.

Steve wrote, "The best deli sandwiches around ... I liked them better than Jack and Marion's. Especially "the Fresser's delight."

Evan from London, England, sent us a message stating, "that landmark that marked the beginning of any vacation on the Cape for decades. I still remind my family of how much I miss those turkey sandwiches with the thinnest slices of turkey I have seen anywhere. Melted in your mouth-no chewing required."

Stuart wrote us a while back saying, "Can you add Elsie's in Harvard Square to your list?  I was just back for my 35th Harvard reunion and everyone is still talking about it!"

Stuart, sorry we are a little late with this but we'd be more than honored to mention Elsie's!

Elsie's was simply one of the best sandwich shops ever in this region. I don't know much about the Falmouth location, but can tell you a little about the Cambridge spot by saying this was the place to meet whether you were a student, professor, townie or out-of-towner.  Elsie's trumped other local sandwich shops and certainly offered a superior alternative to college dining hall food. Plus, it was open late at night!

I remember the roast beef sandwiches tasting so much better than any other places -- including those famous places on the North Shore -- and no competitor could match the delicious turkey club. The Fresser's Delight that Steve mentioned consisted of turkey, roast beef, and corned beef on three slices of sissel bread. Elsie's also served a juicy, oversized burger that would give any of those trendy burger chain a good run for the money Yum!

The Cambridge location closed in 1995, staying in business for about 30 years. We miss you, Elsie's!

Old School Burlington Memories on Route 3A

I recently had a chance to drive Route 3A in Burlington, Mass., and, sadly, everything is gone that I remember from growing up there my first seven years, as well as when working in the area early in my career.

Gone are Almy's Department Store, Dale Pharmacy, Gianelli's family restaurant, Barbo's Furniture, Captain Pizza, IGA supermarket, Kemps hamburger stand, the Fish House seafood market and restaurant, Mister Donut and Sun Luck Chinese restaurant.

Most of these businesses were situated in a plaza that, to this, day remains nearly fully occupied. That's a good thing, but I do miss the older stores at the plaza, particularly Dale Pharmacy where my dad and I would walk from our small red ranch home to buy baseball cards and candy bars.

Sweet Ginger Asian restaurant is now located in the former Sun Luck spot and is admittedly a better restaurant than its distant predecessor.  Dunkin' Donuts took over from Mister Donut, the latter which I always liked better. Dale Pharmacy is now an Indian supermarket and looks like a quality business -- nice to see the old tile floors remaining intact there! The Almy's area is now a Shaw's Supermarket.

Old Schoolhouse Ice Cream and Yogurt is one of the current cornerstones of the plaza, serving excellent ice cream, sandwiches and soups. They would have fit in well with the family-oriented mix back in the day -- great to see them thriving in their mix of modern and old-fashioned ice cream parlor ways.

Does anyone remember this older version of Route 3A in Burlington? What are your favorite memories there? What do you like about the new Burlington on Route 3A?

Joan and Ed's Deli, Natick, Mass.

Joan and Ed's Deli in Natick, Mass., always satisfied.

Pretty much everyone loved Joan and Ed's except for a few malcontents including the proverbial whiners complaining about Boston having no delis comparable to New York City,

First located at Shopper's World in Framingham and then at the Sherwood Plaza in Natick, Joan and Ed's represented everything good about dining out: large portions of food, reasonable prices, an upbeat atmosphere, and long-time staff -- including Joan and Ed-- that took every effort to get to know their customers. Joan and Ed's made a fine pastrami sandwich, awesome chicken soup and matzoh ball soups, potato pancakes that would make grandma proud, and desserts out of huge display cases that were not only delicious but huge. I will always remember the Devil Dog cake!

Joan and Ed's also served as a general restaurant, offering excellent chicken, steak and seafood dishes.

Remember the pony-tailed man working the front counter?  He always seemed slightly gruff and intimidating, but ultimately was a very nice person that has a place in our unofficial customer service hall of fame. The guy never made a mistake.

Joan and Ed's sadly closed in 2010. The location is now occupied by Zaftig's Deli, another fine deli that has a great local reputation. I would still take Joan and Ed's, though. In its 33 years, Joan and Ed's hit a home run with virtually everything they did -- what a great run! We miss it very much, though.

Remember Rick's Cafe, Newton, Mass.,Located in a Former Church?

Does anyone remember Rick's Cafe, a Newton, Mass., restaurant that was located in a former church?

Owned by Weylu's -- the huge Chinese restaurant in Saugus, Mass., that is also no longer with us -- Rick's Cafe featured, as expected, a most unusual atmosphere, with dining rooms located on several floors of this tall church. Dimly-lit and quiet, the atmosphere worked as a cozy destination but also somewhat unsettling as many felt a church should not change into a commercial endeavor.

Rick's Cafe gained a lot of attention when open in, as best I remember, the early 1980s, but do a Google search today and nothing comes up. The steak, chicken and seafood offerings were done better at other local restaurants, and the church setting novelty wore off quickly.  Plus the large size of the restaurant demanded crowds to stay financially viable.. As a result, Rick's Cafe was not in it for the long run but, nevertheless, remains a fascinating piece of Boston area restaurant history.

King's Grant Restaurant, Danvers, Mass.: Sunday Morning Brunch, Tudor Dynasty Decor

King's Grant photo source: CSI, Danvers Massachusetts.

The King's Grant restaurant at the King's Grant Inn in Danvers, Mass., reigned as one of the best Sunday morning brunch spots in the Boston area.  Not your cookie cutter, sterile function hall destination, the King's Grant restaurant featured a modified 14th Century Tudor Dynasty design. Made sense to me, with the restaurant being located right off the eternally outdated Route 128.

The King's Grant restaurant seemed wonderfully cartoonish with waiters and waitresses with thick Boston accents dressing up in psuedo 14th century apparel over two levels of carpeted dining rooms, and, in the later years, hiring actors and actresses to perform medieval songs and magic tricks for your dining pleasure and entertainment.

The bottom line is that for most of its years in operation, the King's Grant restaurant hired some darn good chefs to create some wonderful breakfast and lunch items. I do wonder, though, if bacon and eggs were a breakfast staple of the 14th century?

The former King's Grant site now houses a biotech company. Alas, much sorrow has been often on the North Shore of Massachusetts since this dining monarchy left, but yet it is well for a man to know both the dining bliss of the past and the high tech of the future. Sorry, thought I'd try out my 14th century dialect there.

Remembering Arlington's Paul Tavilla, the World's Greatest Grape Catcher

The late Paul Tavilla, an Arlington, Mass., native and an owner of the P. Tavilla Company at the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, Mass., gained much attention back in the day as the Guinness Book of World Record's champ for catching grapes in his mouth.

In the early 1980s as a reporter at the Arlington Advocate in Arlington, Mass., I once had the honor of talking with this friendly, funny, caring man. The first topic of conversation centered, of course, on "Grapes thrown by hand and caught in mouth on level ground and high-rise buildings." I was truly impressed by this unusual feat, which led to Mr. Tavilla gaining national attention with guest appearances on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Dinah Shore Show, Geraldo Rivera, Maury Povich and Live with Regis and Katie Lee. More importantly, his unique talent brought many smiles to charity events and hospital visits.

Paul landed in the record books several times including catching a grape in 1979 at ground level from 327 ft., 6 inches at Breeds Hill Rd. in East Boston, Mass., and, at the high rise level in 1988 from 788 ft. at the John Hancock Tower in Boston, Mass.

Mr. Tavilla died on Nov. 6, 2014. He seemed like a very nice man and although I only chatted with him once, I heard from so many "Arlingtonians" about his greatness as a person.  If you have any stories about Mr. Tavilla, please feel free to comment in the box below.

You can also read his fascinating, entertaining Grape Catcher web site for a detailed account of his accomplishments.

Bowens Toyland, Bedford, Mass.

For some reason, kids always seemed to behave at Bowens Toyland in Bedford, Mass.

I never saw anyone break a toy here, talk fresh to their parents or the owners, draw inappropriate things on the Etch A Sketch, send the water powered toy space rocket ship through the ceiling, or create bad words on any of the word-oriented board games.

I think I know why. First, parents, back then, generally had the temerity to say "no" to their kids, as needed, and that Bowens Toyland owners Ruth and John Bowen made everyone feel at home. Unlike the many disinterested, cell phone-addicted chain toy store employees of today, Ruth and John also came across like caring parents, prioritized customer service, spoke softly and thoughtfully, and clearly loved their career business choice. In another words, they were great role models themselves. They also lived in Bedford for a very long time, thus confirming their commitment to the community.

Having stopped playing with toys after graduating college (just kidding), I can't tell you exactly when Bowens closed as I went onto bigger and better things (Radio Shack became my new "toy store"). I do know, however, that Bowens opened in 1955 and stayed in business a very long time.

Bowens Toyland also had the best toy selection of any area toy store -- not the usual junk but a thoughtfully laid out display of popular and hard-to-find toys also an incredible selection of model kits. They sure jam-packed a lot of toys into a modest-sized, unassuming storefront.

Ruth and John are no longer with us. I wish I had a chance to say "Thank-you" to them for all the joyful years they brought us in the form of a toy store. They just don't make toy stores like this as much anymore, as well as store owners with such grace and goodness.

Remembering The Sizzleboard in Boston and the Mean Hippie Waitress

I remember the scene so well at the Sizzleboard in Boston's Kenmore Square. In awe of the selection of sandwiches, we couldn't make up our minds on what to eat.  That brief delay prompted this hippie waitress to yell at us for not moving the line. So much for the summer of love, man!

To her credit, she did apologize and I guess I should have, too, after walking around with one of the worst wiffles ( a buzz cut) in American history. That haircut made Johnny Unitas look like John Stamos.

Looking back at the Sizzleboard now that the emotional scar of a verbal lashing has left 45-plus years later, this was actually an excellent fast food stop -- especially for a ravenous appetite like mine that wanted to eat something before ordering more food at a Fenway Park Boston Red Sox game. The Sizzleboard really knew how to turn out a generously serving in the form of a sandwich without a hint of corporate fast food blandness.

The Sizzleboard definitely had some sizzle, including that waitress that sizzled after our indecisive moment!

Kemps Hamburger Stand in Burlington, Mass.

Before fast food and trendy burger chains took control, places like Kemps in Burlington, Mass., reigned supreme in pleasing those with a love for that all-American favorite, the hamburger.

This colorful, brightly lit 1950s-style hamburger stand brought in crowds that loved the idea of dining on a tasty burger along with fries and a shake for under $1. Located on Route 3A right by the former IGA supermarket that eventually became the former Building 19 discount store, Kemps looked like something out of a Happy Days episode.

While Burlington has just about every store and restaurant one would ever need today, I miss the innocence and simplicity of businesses like Kemps.  Nothing fancy, no gourmet tendencies, but just a place that everyone seemed to enjoy before so many online reviewers spoiled our fun by becoming  critical, cynical and condescending.

Kemps would probably not do well on Yelp today, but who cares? We never asked for much then, and were just grateful for an inexpensive night out amongst good people. Even a six-year-old could see that, like me, in the 1960s!

Does anyone remember Kemps?

Remembering Dale Dorman

Dale Dorman recently died, and suddenly all those WRKO AM 680 memories from the late 1960s and 1970s came rushing back from the transistor radio side of my brain.

Hearing that happy, sunny, one-of-a-kind rapid fire voice and the way he led into a top 40 song (like "Midnight Confessions" by The Grass Roots or "Rock the Boat" by the Hues Corporation) resulted in Dorman, almost immediately, becoming an instant radio legend. The way he could come up with an impromptu joke suggested a future in comedy. His friendly interaction with other on-air staff encouraged my own personal growth in conversation with family and friends. Sure, I sounded a little wacky at times but starting to communicate more was a good thing!

Known as Uncle Dale, his authentic love for rock and roll and working for a living as a disc jockey shone through while many others were getting by on just voice, or style. He made me want to become a disc jockey as I was so impressed that someone with an untypical announcer voice could find ways to connect with the audience and ultimately carve his own career path without following the norm. WRKO had a knack for this type of hire with Harry Nelson, Joel Cash, JJ Wright, Mike Addams and other hugely talented DJs gracing and amping the airwaves, simultaneously.

Few think of rock and roll disc jockeys as masters of the English language, but Mr. Dale Dorman proved otherwise. With an incredible verbal dexterity and the correct use of grammar to back it up, Dale approached Johnny Carson's innate talent for wonderfully employing the English language. What a joy to a little kid like me in the 60s and 70s, writing one short story after another and using the dictionary on a daily basis to explore the vast possibilities of the English language!

Dale in his later radio days

Dale was something of a visionary, too. Even though AM radio contributed to flourish, Dorman recommended to management to bring WRKO radio to FM, and start talk radio on the AM side.  “The music sounded great in stereo on FM,” said Dorman.  File that one under Boston's version of Nostradamus!

All this radio greatness and vision earned Dale a 2010 spot in the Massachusetts Broadcasters Radio Hall of Fame. To me, it was kind of like the radio version of Babe Ruth being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.! Although my fondest memories of Dale were on WRKO, his long-time presence on Kiss 108, and final radio days on Oldies 103.3 equally contributed to his Hall of Fame induction. He also had a tremendous run on Channel 56 as the affable voice over in between shows like the Creature Double Feature,  The Monkees, and Gilligan's Island.

I always made it a point to look at the WRKO radio antenna tower when driving up Route 3 north in Burlington, Mass., en route to a family beach day at Silver Lake State Park in Hollis, N.H. Thinking of that proverbial powerhouse 50,000 watt blowtorch and the great things that came out of it during top 40 radio's apex, my mind always came around to focusing on Dale Dorman. That one person with a love and talent for his work could use that metal blowtorch to reach out to hundreds of thousands of local kids -- and many adults, too (even though they didn't always admit it!) -- is true testimony to what makes radio great.

Unfortunately, today, it's more "what 'made' radio great as cookie cutter programming and favoring syndication over local talent impedes, and disrespects, the innate greatness of radio. Fortunately, memories of Uncle Dale can never be taken away. Our radio dreams, therefore, can live on, forever. Thank-you so much, Mr. Dorman, you were so much appreciated for your contributions to Boston radio, and forever shall be. In my radio "Midnight Confessions," you will always be number one!

Let's close this post with some of those fun Dale Dorman memories on WRKO...

Perly Burrill Gas Station, Lynnfield, Mass.

Photo credit: John Phelan.

I let the gas in my car tank run down to almost nothing on purpose recently after a day trip to Salem, Mass.? Why would I do something so asinine, you ask?

Well, I wanted to spend some time filling the tank at Perly Burrill iin Lynnfield. As a kid, my dad would fuel up there on the way back from visiting my grandparents in Lynn -- or after eating at the Prince Pizzeria in Saugus. You know, the place with the Leaning Tower of Pizza structure outside.

Perly Burrill was unlike any other gas station on the planet. With the lowest prices, neon multi-colored lights and pennants, bright pigments saturating the little building,  whirligigs, and various other doodads almost creating a cartoon-like presence, Perly Burrill lit up otherwise peaceful Salem St. at night in such a welcoming but tacky way.

Approaching Perly Burrill in 2013, my jaw dropped open and my soul sank into oblivion when I saw this...

Why do all the fun things as a kid have to be taken away? I exited Perly Burrill with my heart broken and proceeded to a cookie cutter, "Anytown" USA gas station, and never looked back.

For the record, Perly Burrill is a fuel oil supplier, and we are glad they service North Shore residents. That doesn't take away the sadness, however, of not seeing my favorite gas station in the world with its Las Vegas-like lights that made filling up on gas a fun experience.

Boston Area Malls of Yesteryear

Photo credit: Framingham History Center (Facebook)

Malls have sure taken on a sophisticated, super sized, rather sterile-looking appearance these days.  I like to look back at some of the Boston area malls of the past that had a modest, imperfect look -- and with some added "fun factors." Here are some examples:

How about the amusement park rides located at the south side of the then open-air North Shore Shopping center in Peabody? The fast-moving "POW" ride scared the heck out of me!

Anyone recall when the Burlington Mall was just one story?

Do you remember the Methuen Mall? It's not there anymore, demolished in 1999 -- amazing, given the impressive mix of stores and overall size of this shopping area. They had a Jordan Marsh, Sears and about 70 other stores.

What about the older version of Shoppers World in Framingham? This two-story, open courtyard mall was one of the first malls in the country and featured a Jordan Marsh with a dome, Kennedy's Clothing Store, a movie theater, a water fountain with colored lights and some heartwarming Christmas designs during the holiday season. I loved Shoppers World's beautifully landscaped village green look, surrounded by the 40 or so stores. Sadly today, Shoppers World looks like any other retail shopping center in our country.

What memories do you have of area malls that differ greatly from the malls of today? Please comment below!

Remembering Shakey's Pizza in Nashua, N.H.

With its corporate chain restaurant status, Shakey's Pizza Parlor, on the Daniel Webster Highway, in Nashua, N.H., might not have been your classic New England dining spot, but it sure was classic in the sense of fond local dining childhood memories.

The dark, cavernous room with a player piano and Laurel and Hardy movies playing made the hand-tossed fresh pizza even that much better. Add some full-bodied root beer and Shakey's became one of our our favortite "cheap eats" places within radar of our Arlington, Mass., home. Going to Shakey's usually occurred after a day of beach fun at Silver Lake State Park in nearby Hollis, N.H.

Shakey's is long gone, a victim of Pheasant Lane Mall area development. I often wonder if Shakey's would have the same favorable effect on us today. The answer is probably "yes," as you can never go wrong with good pizza, a rollicking player piano and Laurel and Hardy getting into mishap after mishap!

For more on Shakey's and other New England restaurants that are no longer with us, we encourage you to read our "Great memories of New England restaurants that are no longer with us" article.

Remembering Pediatrician Dr. Perry in Lexington MA

Dr. Mary Perry lived in a modest old gray-blue home near Lexington (MA) center in which she held her business as a pediatrician. The waiting area had toys and books all over the place and the small doctor's office -- it probably would have been a den in a residential home -- was made special by a warm and friendly doctor that totally dedicated her life to taking care of kids. If, in fact, we were too sick to make the trek from Arlington to Lexington, Dr. Perry would bring herself with little doctor's bag to our home -- even in the dead of a snowy winter -- and come upstairs to our bedroom to provide medical support.

What seems like a scene from the 19th century actually happened only 43 years ago-- you know, the time of watching Gilligan's Island on television, listening to the top 40 WRKO on the radio, playing a game of street hockey in the neighborhood (translated: getting fresh air), and almost always being respectful of our parents.

I know it seems like another place and time that a doctor would include a house visit as part of her practice, but quite fascinating considering this falls into a time of contemporary history, just a few generations ago.

While we have some amazing doctors out there today -- and tremendous advances in the field of medicine and emergency care, to name a few -- doesn't it seem incredible and wonderful that a doctor like Dr. Mary Perry would come to one's home as part of her medical practice? That personal touch is long-gone, but the specific memory is part of the fabric that made our childhoods special -- just another memorable facet of the neighborhood feeling of our communities where people came together to help each other out.

Did you have a childhood pediatrician like Mary Perry back in the day? Please feel free to share your story!

Green Plastic Dinosaur Banks from Boston Sinclair Gas Stations

Does anyone remember those green plastic dinosaur banks that were given away with each fill up at the Boston area Sinclair gas stations? At 28 cents a gallon, my dad would fill up his Pontiac at the station at the corner of Brighton and Concord Avenues on the Belmont-Cambridge line and we would tag along for those one-of-a-kind dinosaur banks.

The green dinosaur banks were sturdily built and able to hold a good amount of earned allowance -- which, we spent, of course, on baseball cards, Wacky Packages and Mad Magazines from Mrs. Mooney at the former Hoffman News in Arlington Heights.

Eventually the dinosaur banks became extinct, as well as the Sinclair stations in the Boston area.

Is there anyone in the world that remembers these green dinosaur banks? Please let me know!

Green Ridge Turkey Farm Remembrances

Ahhhh, the Green Ridge Turkey Farm. Just the mention of this restaurant brings up memories of... hmmmm...wait a minute... let's see... TURKEY!

 Located on the overly commercial Daniel Webster Highway in Nashua, N.H., dining at the Green Ridge Turkey Farm was like celebrating Thanksgiving every day with its succulent roast turkey, homemade stuffing and gravy, mashed potatoes and some guy dressed up in a John Alden outfit looking for Plymouth Rock. Just kidding on the last one.

I remember seeing from a distance that giant turkey perched on top of the restaurant sign out front, and that is when my mouth would usually start to water in anticipation of the turkey dinner, as well as a slice of homemade blueberry pie. The Green Ridge also made a terrific salad with homemade dressing. I also remember the elderly waitresses were so sweet and took the time to socialize with the families dining there. While the turkey at the Green Ridge was tremendous, I think the pleasant nature of the waitresses is what made us like the Green Ridge so much. It was almost like going to a close relative's house. The atmosphere was quite agreeable, too, with a large, carpeted dining room and historic section of the restaurant known as the Manor House.

 I shed more than a few tears when the Green Ridge Turkey Farm went out of business in the mid-90s. Seeing that building razed for a Barnes and Noble took away a New England restaurant icon, and one we happened to love. With its origins dating back to 1931, the Green Ridge Turkey farm surely was one of the region's great dining traditions.

Pleasure Island Amusement Park Memories

Today, Pleasure Island might be the name of a future TV reality show starring sassy, shallow people, but I remember the name best as a wonderful amusement park located in Wakefield, Mass.

Pleasure Island had a short life -- only in business from 1959 to 1969 -- but the memories can never be taken away.  This lively 100-acre park had all the amusement park bells and whistles that were requisite for finicky kids like me with enough rides, attractions, events and overall visual appeal to create those lifetime of memories. I loved the hokey actors that staged mock gunfights in the Western City, the Space Rocket, Moby Dick and Pirate Rides, the picnic area, the Animal Barn, reliving the frontier days on the Chisholm Trail, the merry-go-round, various boat and car rides, and the locomotive steaming through the premises. I recall a few good places to eat there. They had an entertainment center, too, and I read that performers like Ricky Nelson, the Three Stooges and Caesar Romero performed at the "Show Bowl," We never got to see them, as our bed time was something like right after supper.

I bring up Pleasure Island in conversation whenever I can, and people look at me like I'm nuts. No one seems to remember this place, except my brother-in-law, Bill. It's nice to know there's someone in this world that remembers Pleasure Island and was equally enthusiastic about this amazing amusement park.

A business park eventually replaced Pleasure Island. That's fine -- we need people working in our country -- but perhaps some day an entrepreneur familiar with the glory days of Pleasure Island can find some open space and bring back this wonderful amusement park for the younger generations.  Wouldn't that be nice?