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My best friend: Remembering Thomas Edwin Loughridge By Tom Vrhovnik Special to the Times A rather formal sounding name. For me, he shall always be wise ol Tom, which he humbly was. Our deep friendship spanning the past four years, so blessed in the time God gave us. Is one ever too old to make new friends? Tom and I, both approaching the age of dirt, proved otherwise. Sadly he passed away Nov. 14, 2020. Here are some memories of Tom s life as he shared with me. Thomas Edwin Loughridge, born Dec. 23, 1934 in Willoughby, Ohio as the only child of Charles and Lucie Loughridge. Charles a photographer, Lucie an accomplished pianist, who spent more time with their professional interests than with their son. ....
Panhandle Players returns with delightful Departed By Mel Kelly and David Adlerstein With the exception of Ben Turpin, who died suddenly at the breakfast table, first on Friday and Saturday night, and then again on Sunday afternoon, the Panhandle Players are alive. They have returned, local theatre has resumed, ensemble acting that elicits in person laughter is now back among the living. What I saw last weekend at Apalachicola’s Chapman Theatre, staging area for the comedy Dearly Departed, by playwrights David Bottrell and Jessie Jones, was a sight for sore eyes. First the show was supposed to come off a year ago, but COVID-19 scratched that, and then director Steve Allen worked to have it in October, but the stage lights stayed dimmed yet again. ....
Panhandle Players to resume live shows in February The shows are back on for the Panhandle Players, beginning the first week of February. The comedy “Dearly Departed,” which was supposed to grace the stage last March, and then perhaps in October, is happening at the Chapman Auditorium Feb. 5 to 7. It will be the same show as what was planned for a year ago, and hopefully the same laughs, but that’s pretty much the only thing that will be the same, Seating is limited, masks are required, protocols are in place, temperature will be taken. And the show will go on. ....