DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Oct. 28 article about Roselle Coury and WCOU really started something, as Roselle’s fans and friends, like me, are poking our heads out of the woodwork. A mutual friend who worked with Roselle at the same time I did sent me the article along with a copy of the Nov. 2 Sun Spots letter from “No name, no town.” Unfortunately, “No Name” joined WCOU shortly after my friend and I left, so we never met him.
For about six years, from 1960 to 1966, I worked at WCOU with Roselle. While she prepared her scripts for “Morning Toast,” I typed the logs for the local and network commercials aired by the station. It was a tedious job, which I tried to enliven by offering to write copy for the local clients, thus relieving the salesmen from a task they hated. The best part, though, was getting to know Roselle, sharing her rollicking wit, and occasionally dreaming up mischievous ideas together. We persuaded one of our clients to sponsor a five-minute comedy show called “Why Not?” which I wrote and she performed. We established a “Gourmet Club,” getting everyone, including Faust Couture and John Libby, to contribute 25 cents a week so that we could all go to lunch at Steckino’s every two months. Needless to say, Roselle was the life of the party.
Along with the fun, Roselle was the consummate professional. Like any great performer, she was a perfectionist, setting towering high standards for herself and was a nervous wreck before every broadcast, flawless as they turned out to be. Ironically, the fact that she was a heavy smoker enhanced the deep, husky quality of her lovely speaking voice, although it no doubt ruined her health. Our friendship lasted for many years after I left the station and continued until her tragic death in 1975.
— Janet, Pennsylvania
DEAR SUN SPOTS: I want to share some helpful tips to add to the October Sun Spots columns about unwanted phone calls. If you allow the call to go to voicemail, all it does is show you have a working number. Try answering with silence. When you say hello, automated voice-activated calls launch the robocall recording. By saying nothing, these calls usually disconnect. If it’s a live caller, wait for that person to speak to break the silence then hang up.
Smartphone users have plenty of app options that flag and block fraudulent calls. Some services are free; others cost just a few dollars per month.
Customers of AT&T can use Call Protect, Verizon Wireless provides Caller Name ID, Sprint offers Premium Caller ID, and T-Mobile has Scam ID and Scam Block. You can also get apps like RoboKiller to filter calls.
With a landline, press *77 to block “anonymous” and “private” numbers then deactivate it anytime with *87.
Know which calls to avoid. The most common calling cons are pitches that promise to reduce debt and credit card rates or get you preapproved loans; offer free or low-cost vacations, timeshares, home security systems and medical supplies; or government and utility company impostors.
Hope this helps!
— Henry, no town
This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
