Former Philly newscasters: Where are they now? July 11, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Larry Mendte, Fox29, Angela Russell, Billy Vargus, Don Tollefson, Gerald Kolpan, Etta, Sally Ann Mosey, Paul Deanno
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Philly loves its newscasters. Philly loves it more when its newscasters have drama. Stations have seen many come and go, so here’s a look at where some of them went.
Alycia Lane
Lane was last seen on the air in December 2007 after the now-infamous incident involving an NYPD cop and a few choice words. She was no stranger to making news in Philly, not necessarily for good reason.
Lane has sued CBS3 for wrongful termination. But she is leaving Philadelphia behind and following her beau, radio host Chris Booker, to Los Angeles. She says she hopes to get a job in TV, although rumors of a future in real estate are also swirling.
Larry Mendte (larrymendte)
Mendte is a household name in the Philadelphia area — a local guy who people trusted. However, he was convicted last August of illegally accessing former co-anchor Alycia Lane’s e-mail account hundreds of times. He recently got off his sentence of six-months’ house arrest.
He has kept himself under the radar lately. He has started a blog in which he shares stories, poetry and other writings. Mendte’s wife, Dawn Stensland (dawnstensland), anchors the 10 p.m. newscast on Fox 29. Other TV projects may be in the future.
Gerald Kolpan (geraldkolpan)
Kolpan was a 21-year veteran of Fox 29, the most tenured member of its on-air staff. Kolpan was the go-to features reporter, known for his quirky stories and quirky delivery. He was released from the station earlier this year.
His release came just months before the release of his book, Etta, which is a fictional tale of the Sundance Kid’s companion. Kolpan is also keeping busy with an age discrimination lawsuit with Fox 29.
Don Tollefson and Billy Vargus
Within a year, Fox 29 canned two of its three sports anchors. Don Tollefson, a well-known broadcaster in Philly, was released last year (literally days after returning to the air after recuperating from a car accident). Billy Vargus was released this spring after 12 years at the station. No word on any future in the Philadelphia sports scene, though. Vargus still has a link to Fox 29 — his wife, Sue Serio (sue_serio), is the meteorologist for Good Day Philadelphia.
Joe Staszak is now the lead sports anchor/reporter, occasionally getting help from former Eagle Hugh Douglas and 610 WIP’s Anthony Gargano. Senior sports producer Tom Sredenschek has also taken up anchoring duties.
Angela Russell (thenewslady)
Russell was an anchor/reporter at CBS3. She co-anchored the 4 p.m. newscast with local news legend Marc Howard and reported for the 11 p.m. newscast. Known for her conversational tone and engaging reports, she was released from the station in January.
However, she quickly landed on her feet. She picked up the lead anchor job at KIRO in Seattle, Wash. She anchors the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts.
Paul Deanno (pauldeannoKOMO)
Deanno was a popular morning meteorologist for CBS3. He was one of the few reporters to (reportedly) leave on his own terms to become chief meteorologist at WTVJ in Miami a few years back.
Miami must not be like Philadelphia. There were no reports on why Deanno quietly left Miami in the fall of 2008, but he is reunited with former CBS3 colleague Angela Russell in Seattle. He is the morning meteorologist at KOMO.
Sally Ann Mosey
SAM, as she was known by colleagues, was a popular, cheerful meteorologist at 6ABC. Like Deanno, she (reportedly) left on her own terms, making a name for herself at WNBC in New York City.
However, WNBC announced some hefty layoffs beginning in December 2008. The station released many of its big name personalities, likely to cost cut. Mosey was among the cuts.
Rumors quickly swirled in Philadelphia about a possible return to the area, much like Fox 29 meteorologist John Bolaris after his stint in NYC. Mosey has followed his example. She is now a freelance meteorologist for WTXF, and her first appearance back on air in Philadelphia will be on July 19.
Alycia goes Hollywood July 11, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Chris Booker
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Former CBS3 anchor Alycia Lane has left PHL en route to LAX.
Lane is moving to the Hollywood Hills to follow her boyfriend, former Q102 DJ Chris Booker, who is working at KAMP in Los Angeles. She reportedly has a house in the Hollywood Hills.
Not familiar with the Lane name? You will after reading a few posts. She’s been absent from here for a while.
Her future plans — Lane said she hopes to land a TV job. Just no more trips to New York City this time.
Can’t wake up with Wakeup News June 3, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: CBS3, CW Philly, Natasha Brown
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Following the news of the Philadelphia Bulletin’s folding yesterday, the CW Philly followed it up with the announcement that the station is halting its morning newscast.
The CW Philly Wake Up News, which airs from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., will broadcast its last show on June 26. Eyewitness News This Morning, anchored by Ukee Washington and Liz Keptner, will continue to air its normal time — 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. — but will add two hours, which will air on the CW.

CBS3's Natasha Brown
This means the three-person crew who hosted Wake Up News — anchor Natasha Brown, traffic guy Sean Murphy and meteorologist Christa Quinn — will be somewhat displaced. Brown, who also reports for CBS3, will move to the field for the morning show. Murphy and Quinn will serve as back-ups.
CBS3 began consolidating the CW a few months ago, adding the aforementioned personalities to the CBS3 bios page and making the CW Philly’s Web site a Web page hosted on cbs3.com.
Britney and SEPTA don’t mix… May 28, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia.Tags: Anthology Project, Britney Spears, SEPTA
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…except with this guy.
Thomas Choinacky has danced around Philly as part of a project called Dance: 31, a series of moves by the Anthology Project theater group leading up to a show at the Philly Fringe Festival. Unfortunately, no one on the El joined in.
Check out Choinacky’s other dance steps here, or visit the Anthology Project’s site.
Don’t love the Phillies too much May 27, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia.Tags: 2008 World Series, Charlie Manuel, Philadelphia Phillies
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It’s your fault, Philadelphia, that the Phillies have been disappointing you lately.
That’s the thought of Daily News columnist Sam Donnellon and Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. Because the team brought a championship title back to Philadelphia for the first time in 25 years, the city has become like the brown-nosing suckup in the office, continually thanking and praising the team.
As Manuel said yesterday:
I notice sometimes when they’re talking to us around the dugout, they’re always talking about last year and thanking us for winning and all that. Of course, they’re enjoying the game and they love us, but . . . well, maybe they should get on us a little bit.
So go ahead, Philly. Tell your team it’s making careless mistakes. You owe it to them, especially after the ballpark inflated ticket prices following the wind. Consider it payback.
Dawn Stensland doesn’t shower every day … and other tidbits May 26, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Dawn Stensland, Fox29, Kerri-Lee Halkett
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On today’s 5 Spot on Fox 29 News at 5, the women of the newsroom — anchors Dawn Stensland, Kerri-Lee Halkett and traffic anchor Jamie Shupak — dish about their healthy habits.
This is all about a Glamour Magazine poll that polled 1,000 women on hygiene habits. Interestingly, the only Google News result about this story is from Fox 29.
We get to know our news deliverers just a little bit better. And yes, Dawn admits she does not shower every day. Worth the three minutes. I actually kind of wish it was more.
Swine flu may have entered Philly April 29, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia.Tags: Philadelphia, Swine Flu
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A sick 2-year-old has health officials wondering if swine flu, the latest nationwide epidemic, could be in Philadelphia.
The boy was sick at the end of March, long before the flu was known to break out, but officials are waiting on test results to confirm it. As of now, the child is no longer ill.
There are approximately 90 cases of swine flu in 10 states.
One of those states is Delaware. Students at the University of Delaware wore masks today after news broke that as many as 10 students are infected with the virus.
Despite controvery, editor upholds story April 7, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Clips & Videos, Philadelphia.Tags: MURL, Philadelphia Police, Shannon McDonald
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Original post from The Temple News.
CHRIS STOVER
Editor in Chief

Shannon McDonald stands by the 22nd Police District headquarters. A story she wrote on an officer recently garnered media attention (Julia Wilkinson/TTN).
Shannon McDonald thought a ride-along with a Philadelphia Police officer would make a good story for her capstone journalism class.
Though she received an ‘A’ on the report, she is now embroiled in a controversy that might not have been worth the grade.
“I just wanted to get some crime specifics and information on [the neighborhood] and … to see how the officer interacts with the community,” said McDonald, a senior magazine journalism major and managing editor of The Temple News.
McDonald wrote the article, titled “Black and Blue,” for the Multimedia Urban Reporting Lab, the capstone course for journalism seniors. The article was published to MURL’s Web site in early February.
In it, she quotes Officer William Thrasher, 24, as using derogatory terms and expletives in describing the district he patrols, which has a large African-American population.
“These people are f—— disgusting,” Thrasher reportedly said per McDonald’s article. “It’s like they’re animals.”
Philly partnership with KFC? April 4, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia, Random Rubbish.Tags: KFC, Philadelphia, Potholes
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I hope so.
As a promotional campaign, KFC is offering to fix the country’s potholes for free. Not a bad deal.
In exchange, KFC will simply put a logo over the patch — “Re-Freshed by KFC.”
From car drivers to SEPTA bus operators, I think many Philadelphians would be happy to see some more Colonel Sanders on the streets.
A bed for a buck March 12, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia.Tags: Alexander Inn, Philadelphia
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This room could be yours at the low price of — $1.
It’s a seemingly twisted plan by the Alexander Inn in at 12th and Spruce streets. Management says it hopes to bring more revenue to the city by allowing guests to stay over for only a buck while they spend their money elsewhere.
After all, Philly’s more fun when you sleep over.
They need a month’s notice. Get your room by calling 215.923.3535 or 877.ALEX.INN. It only works for one night — extended stays will cost you the same amount.
