Dick’s

Dick’s Sporting Goods announced earlier in the week that they will no longer sell assault-style rifles and large ammunition clips. They will also require gun purchasers to be at least 21 years old. Several other retailers have since followed suit, but Dick’s was the first.

I have appreciated seeing their president, Ed Stack, in the media, explaining the move. Dick’s, while now being a large company, started as a single local store opened by Dick Stack. Ed and his siblings expanded the business from two stores to over 700 today. While it is publicly traded, the Stack family still leads the company.

The family is very committed to community involvement. Dick’s stepped in to sponsor a golf tournament on the Champions tour that is an important fundraiser for local charities. They serve on boards and contribute to charitable and civic causes. They try to uphold civic values in their business decisions.

I know all of this because one of the Stack children lives in my town and has been an important part of the civic and charitable landscape. Having served on school board and in our county legislature, she even ran for Congress, a bid that was, unfortunately, unsuccessful.

The original Dick’s store in Binghamton is still open. I remember shopping there not too long after I moved to the area in 1982. The large, modern Dick’s is located just a couple of miles away from my home. The Dick’s Sporting Goods Open takes place at a public golf course just across the river.

Thank you, Stack family, for leading the way in trying to reduce military-style weapons and ammunition in the hands of civilians. I am glad others are following your lead.

Florence Foster Jenkins

A family friend when I was a child often said, “Well, bless her heart,” whenever someone did something well-meaning or wholeheartedly.

Meryl Streep discussing Florence Foster Jenkins, whom she portrays in the new film of the same name, says that people at the time had one of two reactions to hearing Florence sing, either “bless her” or laughter.

Both of these are shown in the film.

Florence was a piano prodigy as a child, who lost her ability to play due to a physical condition. She continued to love music and, in adulthood. became an important musical philanthropist in New York City.

Florence liked to sing with heart and emotion. What she didn’t realize was that her physical malady had adversely affected both her ability to sing on pitch and her recognition that she was not singing on pitch. In order not to hurt her, her husband and her friends protected her from finding out the truth.

I love Meryl Streep’s work. She always brings depth into her portrayals as she does here. As a singer myself, although a choral soprano rather than a coloratura who can toss off the “Queen of the Night” aria at the drop of a hat, I was amazed at Streep’s ability to sing as Florence did – almost, but not quite up to the pitch.

On Fandango, the movie is listed as both a comedy and a drama. While there are moments of laughter, I can’t think of the film as a comedy. I think it is better characterized as a reflection on the power of music, service, friendship, and love in the face of adversity.

Florence, bless your heart. Meryl, thank you for bringing this powerful story to us.