Groller's Corner

Now that the music stopped, getting the schedules set

Growing up on the East Side of Allentown, I always wondered what it was like to live near The Allentown Fair. Could you hear the shows at the grandstand? I thought that would be neat.

Well, on Tuesday night I visited my parents home near Irving Park on the East Side while the big show was going on at Coca-Cola Park and I finally got to see (and hear) what it was like living near the fairgrounds during a big concert. Sitting on the back porch we could hear -- pretty clearly -- John Mellencamp's performance during the three-star show. Mellencamp was good, but if we could hear the show so clearly about a mile away, I had to wonder how loud it was right there at the ballpark.

Maybe it's my age, but the volume seems turned up much too loud at most concerts I've seen lately. It seems like they bring the sound system equipped for the biggest arenas and stadiums to the smallest of venues.

Looking forward to the next show. Maybe my folks will provide popcorn and drinks next time,

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Before I get to the boys basketball at SportsFest, here are the final matchups in Mike Kopp's Holy Family girls tournament in Nazareth today:

Today's girls basketball semi finals at Holy Family gym are as follows...

1 pm........#4 Voorhees (6-3) vs # 1 Central Catholic (9-0)

2 pm........#3 North Hunterdon (7-2) vs #2 Liberty (7-2)

Finals at approx 3:45pm

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Here is Thursday's boys schedule at SportsFest:

Court 1

5 p.m. -- Emmaus JVs vs. Northampton JVs

6 p.m. -- Boyertown vs. Freedom

7 p.m. --- Liberty vs. Quakertown

8 p.m. -- Allen vs. North Penn

Court 2

5 p.m. -- Whitehall JVs vs. Salisbury JVs

6 p.m. -- Northampton vs. Antietam

7 p.m. -- Faith Christian vs. Lebanon Catholic

8 p.m. -- Becahi vs. Upper Perk

Court 5

6 p.m. -- Allen JVs vs. Boyertown JVs

7 p.m. -- Easton JVs vs. Gov. Mifflin JVs.

Additional Sports TV notes: Blue Mt League, Millen, US Women's Open

RCN4's "Sports Talk Call-In Show" Thursday at 6 p.m. will feature a look at the Blue Mountain League with special guests Eric Charles and Tim Fisher, both former players who are now league officials. Fisher, in particular, will be yapping away.

The show can also be heard on WGPA 1100-AM radio.

More tickets will be given away to the Sept. 3 "Chicago" concert at The Allentown Fair.

Sports fans can email the show questions/opinions at any time at rcnsportstalk@rcn.com and the panelists will respond to viewers comments live.

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Lehigh Valley native Matt Millen will be paired with Sean McDonough on ABC's Saturday afternoon college football coverage.

Millen is going to be a busy, busy man this year, working ABC college games on Saturdays, shifting to ESPN's Monday Night pregame set and then doing The NFL Network's Thursday Night games in the second half of the pro season.

Millen said he's had a similar, hectic schedule before he went to Detroit, but wow, this may be crazy, particularly late in the NFL season.

Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit will continue as ABC's lead announcing team on Saturday nights, while Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge will be the lead ESPN broadcasting tandem on Saturday nights.

The ever-popular Erin Andrews will be working the sidelines for ESPN with the Nessler/Blackledge team and will also brighten up ESPN's Thursday Night package with Chris Fowler, Craig James and Jesse Palmer.

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We made a big deal out of it because it was here in our backyard, but most of the sports world evidently could have cared less about the U.S. Women's Open golf championship.

Final round coverage drew a 1.3/3 overnight rating, which was down 19 percent from last year's final round coverage and down 32 percent from 2007. It was the lowest rated final round since at least 1997.

The third round on Saturday also didn't generate much interest. It was down 21 percent from 2008.

No wonder the LPGA commissioner was forced out. This is a tour and sport in serious trouble in terms of widespread appeal.

Maybe they wouldn't have saved the ratings totally, but you can bet Michelle Wie and Natalie Gulbis would have brought some more viewers to the table had they been playing and in contention Saturday and Sunday.

I got in a quick 90-second interview with Gulbis Sunday as she was whisked away from the Lexus tent at Saucon Valley.

She said she will be on the ESPYs this weekend.

As for "Celebrity Apprentice," a show I watched faithfully on NBC last winter, Gulbis said, "Joan Rivers was wild. But she treated me very well and was real nice to me. Clint Black was a good guy, too, he's really into golf."

You can see pictures of Gulbis in our photo gallery on the Morning Call's web site and you can see why a long line of men of all ages were lined up for her autograph on Sunday at Saucon.

Overshadowed by golf, basketball was still a Stellar attraction

Eun Hee Ji was my hero on Sunday.

By sinking that birdie putt on the 18th hole of the final round at Saucon Valley CC, we were all able to avoid a three-hole playoff and I was able to get done with my stories in time to make it out to Cedar Beach for a good portion of the boys championship game in the Stellar tournament between Parkland and Nazareth.

Usually I am there all Sunday for the hoops and I definitely missed it, but this once-in-a-lifetime experience for me to cover a major women's golf championship prompted a change in plan. Hey, if Easton coach Jim Hutnik could miss basketball for golf (He was the Ecology Chairman at Saucon Valley), so could I.

Thanks to John Heilig for pinch-hitting for me as the writer at the basketball, but I was still happy to see the ending

I don't know how much meaning you can put into any summer tournament result. There's still a lot of time between now and next March when the biggest games of the 2009-10 season will be played, but Parkland and Nazareth making it to the finals, both unbeaten, was quite impressive.

You don't know who was missing key players, but to have three Lehigh Valley Conference teams (Allen was the other) in the final four bodes well for the LVC next season.

One thing that seems certain, the LVC North will be the league's best division next winter with Parkland, Nazareth and Whitehall residing there.

Liberty, depending on who's available and when, will always be a factor as will Easton and Allen, but the three North teams could be the league's best.

Parkland will also be entered in the upcoming SportsFest tournament which begins on Thursday night. It will be interesting if the Trojans can do what their girls teams did a few times and that's when two tournaments back-to-back.

We'll have the SportsFest schedule here on the Groller's Corner blog soon. Unlike the Stellar's double-elimination format, the SportsFest format of using pool play has the games mapped out through Saturday, so if you want to know who you're playing and when, you can mark it down on your calendar now and not have to play wait-and-see.

Here's the major award winners from Sunday's post-championship celebration:

Milo Sewards Memorial Coaching Award: Joe Arndt of Nazareth.

Adam Spengler Referee Award: Kirk Gildner.

Ray Ward Memorial Award for Most Dedicated Non-Participant: Bob "Woody" Wootsick.

Lehigh Valley Lifetime Achievement Award: Rich Sniscak.

First Team All-Tournament:

Anthony Stampone, Nazareth

Dalton Nice, Quakertown

Darrun Hilliard, Liberty

Chuck Dibilio, Nazareth

Paul Pammer, Parkland

Second Team All-Tournament:

Jalen Cannon, Allen

Ordel Goldsen, Warren Hills

Alvin Blount, Becahi

Matt Greene, Whitehall

Bobby Campbell, Emmaus

Tyler Beck, Wilson of Westlawn

6th Man Award: Rob Dvoracek, Parkland

Tourney MVP: Nick Miller, Parkland

Sifting through a soggy Saturday at Stellar

You knew it was too good to be true.

The fantastic stretch of weather we've had was going to end sometime, and wouldn't you know it, it ended at the worst possible time for the Stellar Tournament, right smack dab in the middle of its busiest day.

The staff is getting good at moving things around and the boys varsity contests were moved to Parkland, the girls were moved to Muhlenberg, the adults were moved to East Side Youth Center and the JVs were moved to Parkland and Muhlenberg.

It wasn't the way anyone wanted it to be. This is a summer tournament meant to be played outdoors, but the staff got the games in and the tourney will resume Sunday morning on schedule. I believe Sunday's forecast is super and hopefully, the Stellar staff won't have to worry about more scrambling.

I work in the tent with these people every year, so I know them better than the casual fan and these people amaze me with how hard they work, how they willingly give up a couple of days of their lives for this weekend of basketball every year. Yes, they get paid, but not enough to compensate for these hours. There are many people who worked this thing from early Saturday morning right through late Saturday night. They do it because they love this tournament, not because they want to fatten their wallets.

As for the tournament, there are a bunch of local teams still unbeaten as Sunday begins.

Our five local teams are mixed with some terrific statewide powers like Glen Mills and Harrisburg.

Of the locals, Quakertown and Nazareth have been the most impressive. Allen has benefitted from a good draw, Emmaus has been resilient and Parkland better than expected.

I think Nazareth, led by the irrepressible Chuck Dibilio, and Parkland, led by the rapidly improving Nick Miller, are best equipped to hang around the longest, but I would be surprised if either won the tournament. I think an out-of-towner like Harrisburg will win again.

We'll get more information next week because many of the same teams are in the SportsFest tournament, but right now I'd say that Nazareth, Parkland, Whitehall -- who are all in the same division -- may be the three best teams in the LVC next year along with Liberty, Easton, Allen and Central Catholic. Emmaus, obviously, should be competitive as well and better than last year.

We've got a long way to go before we have to analyze it further.But I see a year of good season of boys basketball coming up with a lot well-rounded teams. It may not have the star power of some other years, but it has a chance to be a lot of fun.

I am back at the US Women's Open on Sunday to finish out this crazy week, but I will be eager to see how it all turns out at Cedar Beach.

Rain interrupts play and forces action indoors at Stellar

Rain has interrupted play at Cedar Beach and sent dozens of basketball teams and players scattering indoors early Saturday night at the Stellar Construction "Catch A Rising Star" Showcase.

The boys tournament will move to Parkland High School, the girls are going to Muhenberg College and the adult men's tournament is moving across town to the East Side Youth Center.

The JV tournament will be divided between Parkland and Muhlenberg.

In boys varsity action, Parkland, Northwestern, Emmaus, Allen, Central Catholic, Quakertown and Nazareth are the local teams still thriving without a loss.

Many of the expected powers -- Chester, Glen Mills, Harrisburg, Reading Central Catholic etc. -- are living up to their billing.

Here are the Saturday night matchups in the winners bracket with the original times, which will now likely be slid back by an hour or 90 minutes.

In Bracket A, you've got Northwestern-Parkland Emmaus-Chambersburg at 6 and Reading CC-Wilson West Lawn and Warren Hills-Harrisburg at 7.

In Bracket B, you've got Quakertown-Bensalem and Allen-CCHS at 6, Hazleton-Nazareth and Chester-Glen Mills at 7.

Here's your complete scoreboard:

STELLAR CONSTRUCTION “CATCH A RISING” STAR BASKETBALL SHOWCASE
VARSITY BOYS
Winners bracket games: Northwestern 57, Phillipsburg 45 (Kevin Oxley 18). … Parkland 52, Notre Dame-GP 45 (Nick Miller 19). … Quakertown 37, Easton 32 (Dalton Nice 15). … Bensalem 53, Daniel Boone 50 (Nick Christian 25). … Emmaus 47, Dieruff 46 (Bobby Campbell 11). … Allen 69, Becahi JVs 31 (Ray Styles 16). … CCHS 45, North Penn 41 (Shane McNeely 11). … Reading CCHS 37, Northampton 32. … Wilson West Lawn 66, York Suburban 36 (Beck 18). … Hazleton 72, Emmaus JVs 46 (Adam Davis 16). … Nazareth 34, Whitehall 29 (Chuck Dibilio 12). … Warren Hills 48, Perk Valley 28 (Ordel Goldson 19). … Harrisburg 51, Faith Christian 13 (Julien Fitzpatrick 10). … Chester 82, Glens Falls 33 (Rhonde Jefferson 15). … Glen Mills 48, Stroudsburg 22 (Raheem Harvey 11).
Elimination bracket games: Allen JVs 40, Wyomissing 39 (Tajmire Flood 12). … Becahi 51, Pleasant Valley 39 (Al Blount 16). … Lancaster Cath. 71, Lehighton 18 (Phil Wenger 13). … Trinity 52, Red Land 33 (Mike Diminic 13). … Northern Lehigh def. Octorara by forfeit. … Wilson advanced by forfeit. … St. Pius X 61, Pen Argyl 28 (Spencer Stratton 16). … Liberty 37, Warrick 27 (Darren Hilliard 9). … P’burg 37, Allen JVs 29 (Kyle Hash 11). … Notre Dame-GP 52, Beth. Catholic 40 (Joe Giangiobbe 18). … Lancaster Catholic 45, Easton 26 (Tyler Purvis 13). … Trinity 80, Daniel Boon 45 (Kevin Agnew 18). … Northern Lehigh 63, Dieruff 36 (Jordan Waylen 16). … Notre Dame-ES 44, Wilson 32 (Tim Mullen 15). … Pius X 76, Becahi JVs 31 (Mike Dinnella 20). … Liberty 56, North Penn 38 (Darrun Hilliard 18).

VARSITY GIRLS
Winners bracket games: Southern Lehigh 42, Emmaus 33 (Bridgette Dougherty 14). … Harrisburg 45, Northern Lehigh 39 (Jazz Poole 18). … Parkland 47, ES South 45 (Katey Mitton).
Elimination bracket games … Pen Argyl 38, Upper Perk 19 (Megan Zanette 12) . … Allen JVs 41, Dieruff 29 (Joy Humphrey 16). … Pen Argyl 48, Notre Dame-ES JVs 14 (Laura Cinelli 11). … Crestwood 42. Saucon Valley 26 (Chelsea Cornelius 17). … Northampton 47, Salisbury 23 (Alesha Marcks 12). … LeighAnn Lively 35, Whitehall 31 (LeighAnn Lively 14). … Allen JVs 39, Bangor 35 (Cassandra Church 11). .. Allen 43, Crestwood 33 (Shateial Styles 15). Northampton 42, Notre Dame-GP 22 (Alyssa Bonenberger 12). Pen Argyl 38, Emmaus 30 (Kirsten Young 16).

JV BOYS
Allen 28, Salisbury 23 (Tyler Rockmore 12). … CCHS 49, Liberty 31 (Dunleavy 8). … Bangor 42, Pleasant Valley 35 (Justin Ringland 13). … So. Lehigh 48, Dieruff 31 (Harmony 12). … Whitehall 46, Holy Name 38 (Mike Melosky 16). … Lancaster Catholic 44, Exeter 28 (Bobby Rowe 13). … Nazareth 29, Becahi 18 (Austin Krupa 12). … Parkland 37, Notre Dame 27 (Sean Bachman, Tyler Delong 8). … Easton 44, Quakertown 34 (Hightower 18).

ADULT MEN’S
Banko 55, St. Luke’s 51 (Phil Hall 17). … Albright 70, Blue Magic 47. … IWS 57, MacIntosh 54 (Tom Toth 15). … Push The Rock 53, Blue Mt. Nursery 40 (D. Letterman 14) … 808’s 47, MacIntosh 41 (Tom Kresge 15). … No Name Nites 45, Banko Buck 37 (Rodney Robinson 16). … KHB Insurance 71, St. Luke’s 51 (Sean Alexander 28). … Alvernia 57, Albright 39 (Nick Rivera 20). … Team Dynasty 68, Blue Magic 29 (Jerry McChristian 26). … LV Knights 51, Push The Rock 32 (Danny Hargrove 15). … Firm AC 78, Serpent South 32. … Delahanty’s 70, VIP Barber Shop 62 (Brandon Zalesky 32). … St. Luke’s 61, Team Dynasty 35 (Kevin Miscevius 14).

Back to lots of familiar faces on Friday night

I enjoyed spending four days at the US Women's Open at Saucon Valley Country Club this week where I saw a lot of familiar faces like Jim Hutnik, Jim Muschlitz, Rich Matus, Jack Kametz and many more people I know from other sports besides golf.

I plan on going back on Sunday for the final round so that I can say I witnessed the end of at least one major golf championship in my career.

But I have to admit, I felt much more at home tonight.

Spent several hours at Cedar Beach (aka Basketball Village) for a smattering of games in the Stellar Construction tournament and was, as usual, impressed by the games and the crowds.

Don't sell the ladies short. Some of the biggest crowds I saw were hanging around the girls courts, particularly the Allen-Emmaus game.

Perhaps the best thing about the Stellar tournament every year is the crowds. I never can understand why summertime basketball outdraws most of the games in the wintertime when the real season is in session, but it's great to see so many people. The difference, I guess, is that an event like this is free -- and let's face it, that's important -- and has the ability to attract fans from a variety of schools at one time.

Obviously in the winter when Emmaus is playing Allen for example, you're not going to get any people from Whitehall or Northampton at the same game.

But here you get a few folks from every community in one spot and that makes for a great atmosphere. It's what happens every night at Coca-Cola Park for an IronPigs game.

As for the basketball, Nazareth and Whitehall were among the most impressive local teams tonight. Lots of out-of-area teams looked good, too, like Chester and Glen Mills. Can't get a feel for who's going to stick around until the end of the weekend, but Nazareth has a chance.

Then it was off to Limeport Stadium, another of my home-away-from-homes to catch the end of the Blue Mountain/Tri-County All-Star Game. The BML folks weren't too happy to see me. Don't think they wanted any publicity for this one. I didn't see much of the game because I was late getting there from Cedar Beach, but my sense in my short time was that the Tri-Co was very excited to play this game and the BML wasn't.

The BML has overshadowed the Tri-Co over the years around here because the Tri-Co's dominant franchise has been Gabelsville, not exactly located in the heart of the Lehigh Valley.

So, to area baseball fans, the BML is more respected and has been more ingrained in the community.

I don't think one night proves anything, but the Tri-Co got what it needed in the respect department -- a convincing win.

Back to Cedar Beach on Saturday.

I hear some rain is in the forecast, and that could mess things up at Cedar and Saucon and elsewhere.

But no one can complain.

The weather has been almost perfect for one of the busiest weeks of the summer. You don't want to get greedy, but two more days of what we've had would be perfect.

Nazareth, Whitehall among early winners at Stellar

Two teams expected to be a factor in Lehigh Valley Conference boys basketball next winter flexed their muscles in first-round games in the Stellar Construction "Catch A Rising Star" Showcase at Cedar Beach on Friday.

The Blue Eagles and Zephyrs, who both return four starters from district playoff teams last year, pulled out narrow wins over tough, non-area foes. Nazareth edged perennial state power Trinity 63-62 and Whitehall nipped Red Land 41-38.

Rising junior Chuck Dibilio scored 25 points in Nazareth's win and hit two key free throws down the stretch.

For Whitehall, Bobby Beldo was a force inside with 16 points and a bunch of rebounds.

In other early boys varsity action. Wilson West Lawn routed Pleasant Valley 60-25 and York Suburban beat Bethlehem Catholic 49-35, Warren Hills beat Northern Lehigh 47-37, Perk Valley beat Octorara 50-41, Glens Falls, coached by Northampton native Tony Hammel, defeated Pen Argyl 51-41, Glen Mills beat Liberty 42-29, Stroudsburg beat Warrick 47-43, Harrisburg routed Wilson 55-22 and Faith Christian of Sellersville advanced by forfeit over Coatesville.

In girls action, Bangor beat Parkland's JV team 32-28 behing Lori McDonald's 17 points and Emmaus knocked off defending champ Allen 26-24 in a defensive struggle.

More scores to come as we go along.

Fitting in some baseball between the birdies and baskets

Off the golf circuit today to see some basketball in the Stellar Tournament tonight and then I'll head over the mountain to catch the last 5-6 innings of the Blue Mountain League and Tri-County League All-Star Game.

The nine-inning game begins at 7:30 and will be hosted by the Blue Mountain League.

In case you didn't see the rosters on today's agate page in the sports section, here they are again:

TRI-COUNTY LEAGUE
1B — Darrin Lenhart (No. Yankees), Robert Hoyle (Sox); 2B — Tim Kay (No.Yankees), Jake DeBoer (Limeport); SS — Chris Tonte (Limeport), Jon Kalejta (Gabelsville); 3B — Shawn Betz (Gabelsville), Justin Godusky (Fleetwings); C — Jeremy Arner (Fleetwings), Joe Bartolacci (Limeport); OF — Matt Cotellese (Gabelsville), Mike Bortz (Limeport), Josh Hinkle (Limeport), Scott Garger (Fleetwings), Pete Spisszak (Cetronia), Brett Umstead (Gabelsville); DH — Adam Sandt (Northern Yankees), Jim Ernst (Jordan Creek); UT — Kevin Heilman (Limeport); P — Justin Konnick (Gabelsville), Scott Bolasky (Fleetwings), Matt Wiltrout (Fleetwings), Paul Smith (Limeport), Charles Swenson (Limeport), Jason Colletti (Limeport), Ryan Schmidt (Cetronia), Caleb Calarco (No. Yankees), Dan Hemberger (Fleetwings) Jake Argue (Northern Yankees); Manager — Brian Polaha (No. Yankees).

BLUE MOUNTAIN LEAGUE
1B — Tom Stoudt (Starters), Jim Fisher (Easton); 2B — Joe Bubba (Martins Creek), Todd Sigafoos (Easton); 3B — Brandon Leslie (Martins Creek), Jim McConologue (Vynecrest); SS — Jim Borton (Martins Creek), Matt Monti (Easton); C — Eric Schmitt (Martins Creek), Doug Malitsch (Limeport); OF — Logan Winchester (Hellertown), Rick Seltzer (Starters), Matt Edwards (Limeport), Brandon Nardella (Martins Creek), Mike Newland (Clippers), Brandon Mazzie (Vynecrest). Brad Weiss (Easton); DH — Jesse Borden (Martins Creek), David Stoudt (Starters); P — Jordan Warncke (Vynecrest), Ryan Amey (Hellertown), Ryan Driscoll (Martins Creek), Ronnie Vail (Easton), Jayson Sigley (Starters), Ryan Quinn (Limeport), Brain Cope (Starters), Robbie Williams (Martins Creek), Nick Bowen (Hellertown), Sam Landis (Vynecrest); Manager — Bob Zerfass (Hellertown).

Surprise behind the wheel on my Saucon shuttle

I could walk it. Should walk it.

But since it was nearly 9 pm and dark when I got out of the media center at Saucon Valley Country Club on Thursday night and my car was about 600 yards away outside the Saucon Valley grounds, I decided to hop in one of the shuttles (a Dodge van) that transports media members from their cars to the media center and vice versa. Two other out-of-town media guys joined me.

And guess who was behind the wheel?

None other than Mimi Griffin, the executive director of the U.S. Women's Open.

She will get a lot of kudos for the job she has done in running this event, which, thanks to a gift from Mother Nature's weather bag, has gone off spectacularly through the first four days.

This gesture, however, impressed me the most.

You just picture the executive director of any event like this sipping a few martinis at the end of a long day tucked inside some posh, secluded suite, and snobbily reviewing the day's profits wihtout regard for anyone else.

Not Mimi Griffin. I couldn't believe she was doing this. Most executive directors couldn't be far enough away from media and here she was helping us get back to our cars.

"This may be the highlight of the whole week for me," I told her.

"If it is, we're in trouble," she said.

I mean it. I was surprised, and indeed, impressed.

She just thought it was a little too late for the younger folks who normally do the driving to hang around and then return early in the morning to start shuttling again. She could have had a few dozen other people do it, I am sure. But she did it herself.

This doesn't make her the greatest person ever; just a very hands-on, down-to-earth person who really does care about much more about getting things done right than getting credit for it.

As I got out of the van and headed to my car, I told Griffin I wouldn't be at the tournament today and Saturday. She knew why.

"Oh, I miss the Stellar tournament, too, and I love being down there for that," she said.

I said I can't stay away from the basketball totally, but I would be back at Saucon for the conclusion of the US Women's Open on Sunday.

"I love my hoops, but I kind of like this, too," I said.

"I'm glad," she said. And then she wheeled around and headed back to the media center to pick up a few more straggling media members.

"Paulie was heart and soul of our athletic department," Schneider says

It's about 9 Thursday morning and before I head back to Saucon Valley CC for the first actual day of competition of the US Women's Open, I wanted to share some comments from Northampton AD Mike Schneider on the sudden passing of athletic trainer Paul Marcinkowski earlier this week.

Schneider called me from Citi Field on Wednesday night where he was watching his nephew Hoops (Brian, officially) play for the Mets against the Dodgers.

Mike, the hurt still evident in his voice even with a large crowd buzzing behind him, said, "Paulie was the heart and soul of our athletic department. He did anything and everything we needed him to do and it didn't matter what day of the week. He'd help with the equipment, drive around vans, whatever we needed done, he did. He was from the Buffalo area and a big Buffalo Bills fan, but he loved Northampton. He really took to our small town, maybe because it was like the area he grew up. He was so dedicated and meant so much to this school that it was like he lived here all of his life."

Schneider said Paulie was great with the athletes, doing what he could to get the injured back on the field but never rushing to risk further injury, and that was no matter how much pressure he received from coaches to get players back.

Marcinkowski had been at Northampton since 1995 and he was only 42.

Because his family is from Buffalo, it took some time to get funeral arrangements made. The obit ran in today's newspaper.

A viewing will be held in Northampton in the Schisler Funeral Home today from 2-7 p.m. and then more services will be held in his hometown of Lackawanna, N.Y.

Even though it's the summer and everybody is scattered, Schneider expected a big crowd.

"Everybody knew and loved Paulie," Schneider said. "He was Northampton. Everyone has been devastated when they've heard the news. He's going to be impossible to replace."