The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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November 18, 2009

Mike Pound: In homage to PBS classic ‘Sesame Street’

By Mike Pound

mpound@joplinglobe.com

Today’s column is brought to you by the letter “M.”

As in Mike. Or moron. Take your pick.

I normally don’t offer my column up for sponsorships, but I decided to make an exception to help mark the 40th anniversary of the PBS classic “Sesame Street.” I love “Sesame Street.” The show had been around only a few years when I started watching it with my little sister, Chris. When Chris was about 4 years old, someone gave her the book “The Monster at the End of This Book.” The story centers on “Sesame Street” cast member Grover and his desperate attempts to prevent the reader from turning the pages of the book so as to avoid meeting the monster. I think it is established early in the story that the monster lives at the end of the book. In fact, the phrase “DO NOT TURN THE PAGE” is central to the plot.

If you’re 4 years old, the story is a nail-biter. It’s such a nail-biter that most 4-year-old kids need to have the story read to them over and over and over again. And then they have to have the story read to them again.

I read “The Monster at the End of This Book” a lot when Chris was young. Years later, Chris gave a new copy of the book to my daughter, Emma. My sister has sort of a sick sense of humor.

I started thinking about “Sesame Street” the other day when I received an e-mail from my friends Dot and Robert Willcoxon reminding me about KOZJ WineFeast 2009. The annual event, now in its 20th year, is a fundraiser for our local PBS station. Although Ozarks Public Television is based in Springfield, it has a Joplin office headed up by Norma Scott, allowing KOZJ to have a strong Joplin connection.

I’m a big fan of PBS. I don’t think there is any question that shows like “Sesame Street,” “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” “The Electric Company” or any of the many other children’s shows have had a positive impact on early education. When I was in high school, I discovered “Masterpiece Theatre” and, through the show’s presentation of “Henry VIII”, I developed an interest in world history.

Nearly two decades ago, I joined an entire country, it seemed, and sat down and watched Ken Burns’ great series on the Civil War. Burns also would get me hooked on his baseball series, and more recently his epics on World War II and the history of the national parks. And long before the Food Network came along, folks like Julia Child and Justin Wilson opened up their kitchens to cooking fans across the country.

There’s a lot to like with PBS, is what I’m saying.

KOZJ WineFeast 2009 will be held Sunday at the Joplin Holiday Inn, 3615 S. Range Line Road. In addition to WineFeast, those looking for a bit more may attend the “spotlight tasting” beforehand. The “spotlight” gets under way at 12:15 p.m. Tickets are $60 and must be purchased in advance. The spotlight session will allow wine enthusiasts to sit down and sample a variety of quality wine and food pairings. Spotlight participants also will receive a commemorative wine glass and admission to WineFeast, which gets under way at 2:30 p.m. and runs until 5 p.m. Samples of more than 100 varieties of international and local wines will be available. Tickets to WineFeast are $25 in advance and $35 at the door.

For advance tickets, you can dial up the folks at KOZJ at 417-782-2266, or you can pick tickets up at Community Bank and Trust locations in Joplin or at The Vinery at 120 S. Main St.

On another note, if you would still like to share a Thanksgiving recipe with Globe readers, you can e-mail it to me at mpound@joplinglobe.com or mail it to me at 117 E. Fourth St., Joplin, MO 64801.

I would like to thank Sheri Wheelen for the turkey recipe she e-mailed to me on Wednesday. Everyone in the newsroom found your recipe to be very funny. We can’t use it, of course, but it was very funny.

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