Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Nov. 7th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

This morning we are featuring a couple of new books from some of our favorite characters. There are two new Berenstain Bears books, the first is called "The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks" and it's out just in time for Thanksgiving.

The next book is also perfect as we head into the holidays, and it's called "The Berenstain Bears Christmas Tree".

On this morning's show, we were fortunate to have Michael Berenstain, the author and illustrator of the Berenstain Bears in studio to talk about the new books as well as the legacy of the popular children's books.

Michael was in town for a book signing event Saturday at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at Legacy Village from 1-3 pm. The signing is free and open to the public. For more information on the event CLICK HERE

You can watch the entire segment from this morning's show on the right side of the weekend morning show blog in our video player.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Oct. 31st

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

First up today, if you are looking for a halloween themed children's book before you head out trick or treating. How about "The Berenstain Bears "Trick or Treat".

Next, is the "The Berenstain Bears Go On A Ghost Walk". These books are always fun to read, and full of humor.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Preview: Channel 3 News Today (Halloween edition)

Kim Wheeler brings you a not-so-spooky look at today's Halloween edition of Channel 3 News Today. See you at 9am on air and in the live web chat!

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Oct. 24th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

Our first book today was, "Where's My Mummy?" by Carolyn Crimi and John Manders. This is a favorite in the Kim Wheeler household. It's about a little mummy searching for his Mommy. During his search he meets dracula and a skeleton. It's so much fun and the illustrations are adorable.

Next up, in honor of the new hit movie, is the classic "Where The Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. It's also great for halloween.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Oct. 17th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

Today's featured book is called "Zink the Zebra" written by a 12 year old girl named Kelly Weil who suffered from cancer. The story is about a zebra who was treated differently because of her stripes. The book is about respect, compassion and acceptance.

Today, the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio and the Cleveland Public Library are teaming up for "Girl Scout Zink Day". From 2-5pm today, you can hear the story about Zink and also learn about the Girl Scouts. Zink day is being held at the Memorial Nottingham Library, at both the Addison Branch and the Carnegie West Branch.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Oct. 10th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

Our first book today is "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown. It's a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit. This book is a favorite for many families.

Our next book is "Midnight on the Moon" by Mary Pope Osborne. It's part of the Magic Treehouse Series. In this book, Jack and Annie are whisked forty years into the future and land at a space station on the moon.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, October 3rd

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

Our first book this week is "Stellaluna" by Janell Cannon. It's about a baby fruit bat who is separated from her mother before she can fly, and how they are finally reunited.

Our next featured book is called, "Junie B. Jones and The Stupid Smelly Bus" by Barbara Park. This particular book is about Junie's first day of school, but there is an entire series of Junie B. Jones books that kids will love.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

So Long Summer, Hello School!

Here is an excerpt from Kim's latest blog post about summer vacation...

"It was our last trip before the kids started school again. We decided in honor of Max going to kindergarten that we would visit as many area beaches as we could this summer. And we did! Our family vacation was two days at Geneva-on-the Lake, and then off to Cedar Point and Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky. It was a totally kid vacation!"

To read the rest of Kim's post "So Long Summer, Hello School" CLICK HERE

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Sept. 26th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

Our first book today is a familiar character to many..."Skippyjon Jones, Lost in Spice" by Judy Schachner. The kitty isn't lost in space but in spice, and as usual he gets himself in a lot of trouble.

Next is a newly released book titled "Otis". This is the latest book from the best selling author and illustrator Loren Long, who also wrote, "The Little Engine That Could". Otis is a story about perserverance and friendship.

Next, we had local author Kristen Wygle live in studio to discuss her new book, "Gracelynn Goes To School". It's about a little girl who is nervous about starting kindergarten, and helps parents and their children learn how to get through a big change like going to school.

Kristen Wygle will be holding a book signing on October 24th and 25th at Dragonfly Massage & Bodywork located at 1540 Chagrin River Rd. in Gates Mills. 100% of proceeds of the book go to "A Spark of Hope" for pediatric cancers.

To see the entire segment with Kristen, check out the video player on the right side of your computer screen.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Sept. 19th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

This morning, Theo and Leona from "Between The Lions" on PBS stopped by the Channel 3 studio to share a couple of their favorite books with Kim.

The books they recommended are "Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type" by Doreen Cronin" and "Is Your Mama A Llama?" By Deborah Guarino".

Check out the weekend morning show blog's video player on the right side of your screen to see this morning's segment with Kim, Theo & Leona, and we've also included the segment in which Theo helped AJ do the weather! It was a lot of fun to have them in studio, be sure to check it out.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Sept. 5th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

Kim says, "as the mom of a new kindergartener, I know they need that extra reassurance". so our first book will help then do just that. It's "Kindergarten Rocks" by Katie Davis.

Another fun book for back to school is "How Do Dinosaurs Go To School?" by Jane Yolen.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Aug. 29th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

From the book and movie "Marley and Me" comes a children's version called "Marley Goes To School" by John Grogan. It's the first day of school, and Marley gets in a lot of trouble. This book is the follow up to "Bad Dog, Marley".

The next book is "The Jungle Grapevine" by Alex Beard. It brings to life an African savanna filled with humor and misunderstanding, and provides a lesson in how gossip can stir up all kinds of problems.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Aug. 15th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

The new 39 Clues book is out. It's book number five, called "The Black Circle" by Patrick Carman. Kim says, "my 10 year old loves these books, they are full of mystery."

The next book will be out October 12th, and it's called, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days" by Jeff Kinney. It's the fourth book in a series that kids just seem to love.


To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Aug. 8th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

Two of my favorite authors are Tiki and Ronde Barber. They have a new book called "Wild Card". They write wonderful books about brothers and football.

Speaking of brothers, how about the Jonas Brothers? There is a book out called "Keeping It Real" by Laura Bergen, and the book follows their new show on the Disney Channel.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Kim's "Wheeler Family Beach Tour"

Below is an excerpt from Kim Wheeler's new blog feature. Check it out...

It's a tradition before schools starts...the Wheeler family "tour." One year before Terry Pitak started kindergarten, we decided to visit as many playgrounds as we could. It's a countdown to the beginning of the school year for us.

With my youngest Max starting kindergarten in the fall, we decided to visit as many beaches as we could this time. Perfect timing with the new rating of being among the nation's dirtiest beaches! I do pay close attention to water quality readings...before heading to Lake County's beaches recently I logged onto lakemetroparks.com they have a hotline you can call.

Our beach tour includes stops on the east side of Cleveland, because it's closer to where we live.

To read the rest of Kim's "Wheeler Family Beach Tour" CLICK HERE

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Aug. 1st

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

First this week is "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn." It's about a little raccoon who doesn't want to leave his mom to go to school, but his mom shares a secret with him that keeps him close to her even when he's away at school.

The next book is "Wemberly Worried" by Kevin Henkes. It's about a mouse who worries about everything, including going to school, but then finds out that friends can make it a little less scary.


To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, July 25th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

First this week is "Goldilicious" by Victoria Kann. This book is number two on the New York Times best seller list for children's books. It's the story of a unicorn named Goldie.

The next book is number six on the New York Times best seller list and is called "Elephants Cannot Dance" by Mo Willems. This book stars a lovable pig and an elephant

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

WVVA-TV "Come Home To The Best" Studio Party Promo 1988

We found this video this morning on Facebook and noticed that one of the people tagged in the video was our very own Kim Wheeler. This was at her first job out of college. To tie in with NBC's "Come Home To The Best" fall campaign in 1988, WVVA threw a party in Studio A for the entire station staff.

Click the picture to check out the video on Facebook. Good stuff!!!

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, July 18th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

For today's Bookworm Buzz, we have a photo sent to us from Heritage Middle School in East Cleveland.

The teachers and students there are recommending the author Virginia Hamilton, who is originally from Ohio. They are reading the book..."The Planet of Junior Brown". It's for students in grades 3 to 7.

The book is about two African American children in New York... one is a musical prodigy, the other is homeless. It's a story of survival and how we all depend on each other.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: July 11th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

Our first book today is one that Kim has at home, and the kids will love it....it's called "Dex, The Heart of a Hero" by Caralyn Buehner. The little dog in this book has big dreams, and with the help of his cat sidekick, they save the day.

The next book is a new one, is called "Timothy and The Strong Pajamas" by Viviane Schwarz. It's about an elephant that becomes a super hero after putting on his special pajamas.

These are a couple of really fun books.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, June 13th

Please send us your Bookworm Buzz suggestions at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature them each Saturday morning.

Our first book today is "I Will Never Not Ever Eat A Tomato" by Lauren Child. The book is about Lola, a fussy eater who learns to love her vegetables.

The next book is "The Ugly Vegetables" by Grace Lin. It's about a little girl who makes her ugly vegetables into soup that's so good, it attracts the neighbors.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Cavs Style

This week on Kim Wheeler's "Bookworm Buzz", she asked members of the Cavaliers to share their favorite childhood books with all of you. Here are a couple of their picks.



To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at...
kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, May 23

Please send us your classroom digital photo, and your book suggestion to weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature one or two each Saturday morning.



This picture is of Mrs. Bryan's fourth grade class at Pymatuning Valley Primary School in Andover in Ashtabula County.

They are recommending the book, "James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl. Thank you to Mrs. Bryan's class.



Here's another one. This is Mr. Vance's 7th grade class from Ashland Middle School in Ashland.

Right now they are reading "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton. That is one of my favorite movies by the way.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, May 16th

Please send us your classroom digital photo, and your book suggestion to weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature one or two each Saturday morning.

We're going with a horse theme this week in honor of the Preakness Stakes. The first book is called "Horses" by Kulling. It follows a new horse on the farm through his first two years of life.

The next book is called "I Wonder Why Horses Wear Shoes" by Jackie Gaff. It's a perfect introduction to the world of horses, answering common questions with detailed answers and great illustrations.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, May 9th

Each Saturday we highlight how important early literacy is for children, but we're changing "Bookworm Buzz" a little bit and we need your help! Teachers please send us a digital photo of your class and what book they recommend to weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com here's our first one to start this project.

This is a 7th grade language arts class at McCormick Middle School in Wellington.
They are reading "Rumble Fish" by S.E. Hinton. Thank you to their teacher Becky Young for sending us the photo.

Rumble Fish is about a troubled teenager, similar to "The Outsiders" also written by S.E. Hinton.
Please send us your classroom digital photo, and your book suggestion to weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com and we'll feature one or two each Saturday morning.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Did you miss the Saturday morning promo?

We received a lot of positive comments on our Saturday morning promo for Channel 3 News Today, so in case you missed it, here it is. Enjoy!

Random Team Photo Taken For No Special Reason

Kim wanted a new team photo of the weekend morning crew... so here we are.

From left to right... Production Assistant Bethany Fox, Anchor Kim Wheeler, Editor and Graphics Guru El Edwards, Producer Caitlin Kollar, ?????, Assignment Editor Julie Ocepek, and TD/Director Matt Babb.

Not pictured...Production Assistant Jess Starr. It's Derby Day so Jess was not with us this morning.

To see the rest of Kim's photos from Saturday morning... CLICK HERE.

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, May 2nd

First is "I'm your Peanut Butter Brother" written by Selina Alko. It's a celebration of race, with beautiful illustrations.

Next is a book by Karma Wilson. Her latest is a book of 100 silly poems, it's called, "What's The Weather Inside". Kids will love the fun drawings, too.

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at... kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Weekend Morning Trivia Standings

Today's question... Who was the last Triple Crown winner?

Both Kim and Bruce correctly answered Affirmed, who won the Triple Crown in 1978. Affirmed is the great great grandson of Triple Crown winner, War Admiral.

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, April 25th

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at...kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, April 18th

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at...kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Trivia Trouble?

If you watched this morning's show, you saw that we had a bit of a technical issue at the end and the answer to today's weekend morning trivia question never made the air. What actually happened was that we showed today's question about the Cleveland Indians with tomorrow's answer about chocolate easter bunnies. It resulted in a pretty funny on air moment as Kim and Bruce tried to figure out what the actual answer was. In case you missed it, here it is.



For the record, the question was...

The Cleveland franchise joined the American League in 1901 as the Cleveland Blue... Then they changed to the Cleveland Bronchos, then the Cleveland Naps, what year did they become the Cleveland Indians?

A) 1915
B) 1916
C) 1917
D) 1918

The answer was...
A) 1915

They were the Blues from 1901 to 1902, then the Bronchos from 1902 to 1903, and the Naps from 1903 to 1914. Then in 1915, they changed it to the Indians in honor of Chief Louis Sockalexis, the first american indian to play in Cleveland.

Kim had the correct answer and Bruce did not...Check out their standings below.

Bookworm Buzz: March 21, 2009

Here are Kim's picks for this week's "Bookworm Buzz".




To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories
on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at...kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Channel 3 News Today Weekend: On Demand

Watch the show from this past Saturday (2/28)and Sunday (3/1) whenever you want here on the Channel 3 News Today weekend blog.

Channel 3 News Today - Saturday, February 28th



Channel 3 News Today - Sunday, March 1st

Trivia Results

This morning's question was...
Who invented the first gas powered automobile?

A. Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot
B. Karl Benz
C. Henry Ford
D. Gottlieb Wilhelm Dime-Ler

Any guesses? Both Kim and Bruce again managed to come up with the correct answer to this morning's trivia question so the tie continues at 10 correct answers each! Can one of them finally take the lead next weekend? Tune in to find out.

Here are Kim's picks for this week's "Bookworm Buzz".















To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories
on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at...kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Weekend Morning Trivia Standings

This morning's question was...
What is the most expensive car ever made?

A. Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren
B. Porsche Carrera GT
C. SSC Ultimate Aero
D. Bugatti Veyron

Any guesses? Kim and Bruce managed to come up with the correct answer to this morning's trivia question so they are still knotted up at 9! Can one of them take the lead tomorrow morning? Tune in to find out.

Here are Kim's picks for this week's "Bookworm Buzz".



To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories
on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at...kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here are Kim's picks for this week's "Bookworm Buzz".


To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at...kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, January 31st

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at...kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: January 24th, 2009

To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at...kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Cavs Players Get The "Buzz"

For the past couple of weeks on Kim Wheeler's "Bookworm Buzz", she has been asking members of the Cavaliers to share their favorite childhood books with all of you. Here are a couple of their picks.



To see more "Bookworm Buzz" and education related stories on Kim's blog... CLICK HERE

Email Kim at...
kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, Dec. 6th

It's time for bookworm buzz...We have two more books today from barefoot books publishing...first, The Barefoot Book of Princesses, which also comes with a cd. This is a wonderful multicultural book with stories of princesses from Africa, China and Germany with lots of beautiful pictures.

The other book is Zig Zag Zebra, this is an activity book for children who like to draw.

Check out Kim's Classroom Notes on my blog by going to wkyc.com and then click on the life tab, then click blogs. We also have some photos posted from earlier in the week from a visit to a North Ridgeville School.

Email Kim: kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Bookworm Buzz!

It's Bookworm Buzz time, and our theme is Thanksgiving.

First, Reeve Lindbergh's book is titled: "In Every Tiny Grain Of Sand". It is about giving thanks...For the day, for the night and your home... Each wection aas a different illustrator. The selections are from a variety of authors, cultures, and religions.

Next is a funny book about Thanksgiving..."Thelonius Turkey Lives!" By Lynn Rowe Reed. Every Thanksgiving, a turkey disappears from Felicia Ferguson's farm. And this year, Thelonius Turkey is the only turkey left. So with only a week to go before Thanksgiving, Thelonius won't sit around waiting to be stuffed and roasted...all the animals decided to protect him from the table. And it has a happy ending.


You can find these books on my blog "Kim's Classroom Notes".

UPDATE: West Side Story on the East Side!

I was moved to tears and amazed at how much poise kids from elementary school to high school can have at their young age! I went to see West Side Story Thursday night at Cleveland Heights High School, and loved it. My son Terry Pitak was performing with one of the elementary school choirs, they are the "mini-jets and sharks." Of course, I was a proud mom and that had something to do with all the tears.

But watching these talented young men and women perform such an important story for every generation was very moving for me. The message of working out our differences and how much we really have in common no matter our background--is one that is so important.

You still have time to check it out today (Sunday) at 4pm at Cleveland Heights High School at 13263 Cedar Roard. If you're like me take extra tissues!

Kim

Saturday Preview: Channel 3 News Today (11/8/08)

Channel 3 News Today weekend producer Caitlin Kollar and friends let you know what is coming up on this morning's show.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH on the wkyc.com Facebook page!

Bookworm Buzz: Saturday, October 25th

First we have a local author's book...About her beloved welsh pony...Miss Pearl. It's called "Tee Hee" by Indigo Carmen. The book has a simple message...It's about being a good person...The lessons are taught by the pony, Miss Pearl. If your child loves horses...They'll be delighted by the photos of Miss Pearl wearing hats and glitter on her hooves.


And we love recommendations from you...Jessica our floor director, brought in the book "I Love You So" by Marianne Richmond. It's about how much parents love their children...Even when mom and dad are grouchy or away. Thank you Jessica.




And then in honor of halloween, "The Halloween Play" by Felicia Bond. You'll love the adventures of roger the mouse and what happens at the halloween play. It's a funny book perfect for this time of year.




Send us your favorites, too!
Kim
kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Show Promo: Saturday, October 25th

Bookworm Buzz: Kim's picks of the week

Ghost Hunting...in the newsroom?

Will The Orange Jacket Work?

Bruce brought in his orange jacket on a dare from Kim, but he can't fit into it anymore. During our live chat on wkyc.com...chatters wanted Kim to put it on. She did! Will it bring the Browns good luck today and get their first win? Here's the other question, if they win will she wear it every Sunday? She has loved the Browns since she was a kid in Smithville, so probably!

Down on the Farm

Education can come in many different forms and experiences. For "city kids" sometimes a visit to the country is quite a lesson. There is a great opportunity to learn about farming and rural Ohio at Ramseyer Farm near Wooster. They are celebrating Wooster's bicentennial with a giant ten acre corn maze.

I grew up a couple miles away in Smithville, and have watched this fall festival grow each year. You can pick out a perfect pumpkin, go for a hayride and even go pumpkin bowling! While my two boys have benefitted greatly from living in a city and having so much culture at their fingertips, there's also much to learn at a place like Ramseyer's.

For more information go to www.ramseyerfarms.com

Happy Pumpking Hunting! Kim

Kim's Book Picks

We're starting a new segment on Saturday mornings, I've wanted to do this for a long time...one of the best parts of being a parent for me is finding great children's books.. so every Saturday, we'll have some suggestions for parents and grandparents. We'll also have some celebrity book picks and suggestions from you.

So first, in honor of this lovable bear's 40th birthday...My favorite book as a child... "Corduroy" by Don Freeman. The story of a bear no one wanted but finally found a home.

Next, Jamie Lee Curtis' book "I'm Gonna Like Me"...A silly but great book about self esteem...Jamie Lee Curtis has become one of my favorite authors.

Then, "Elmer" by David McKee...The patchwork elephant...who wants to fit in but decides it's better to be yourself.

Finally, "Leo The Late Bloomer" by Robert Kraus...A great book that talks about how kids develop at their own pace.

If you have any children's books picks to suggest...
Email me at kimwheeler@wkyc.com

New Saturday Segment Coming: Bookworm Buzz

One of my favorite things as a mom and education reporter is reading children's books to my boys at home or to a class when I visit a local school.

So, every Saturday morning between 9am and 10:30 on Channel 3 News Today, I'll highlight some of the wonderful children's books for parents, grandparents and teachers to share with their favorite kids. Some old and some new...

The Today Show will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Don Freeman's classic "Corduroy" on October 2. On that day, Jumpstart's Read for the Record will encourage hundreds of thousands of children and adults to read, "Corduroy" across the country. This book is very special to me, it was my favorite book as a child. Both of my boys have loved the little bear's adventures through the years, too.

We want your help, give us your suggestions for favorite books for children. We'll even bring you some celebrity book picks.

Email us at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com
See you Saturday, Kim

Kim's Road Trip: Bobcats vs. Buckeyes Game

Kim Wheeler attended the Ohio University/Ohio State football game this past weekend in Columbus. Check out our media player to the right to see the fun time that Kim had with her family at the game.

Behind The Scenes: Saturday, August 30th

Behind The Scenes: Jeff and Kim and other stuff

Here are Jeff and Kim having a discussion during one of the breaks during this morning's show.

My jacket looks like what!

In our 12 years together on weekend mornings, Jeff has said a lot of crazy things to me over the years. But today was a first. I wore this green striped jacket, and I told him I wasn't sure if I liked it. So, I guess I set myself up. He went on to say it looked like an awning! Then added, "a nice awning..not just a regular awning but a nice awning." Like that makes it better.


Believe me, this is so Jeff. It made me laugh, too. It sounded like something my husband would say. When I wear a toile coat that I have, my husband says it looks like a couch. Maybe it's guys and prints...

We were chatting live again on our blog...and someone chimed in that my green jacket looked like "a chair cover."

It's funny the jacket prompted so much discussion. It was a jacket that a station consultant wanted me to buy when I was on the weekday morning show. I kept saying that it looked a "good humor man" jacket...but she loved it. So I got it. I've really hated it ever since! It was at the end of a shopping spree with this consultant, when I spent way too much money on clothes. My credit card company thought somone had stolen my card because of all the charges! When I went to charge this jacket, the store said...my card had been frozen because fraud was detected!!! Truth is when the consultant left, I took back some of the clothes because I felt so guilty spending the money...with two little ones at home. But I kept the crazy green jacket!

So, I just may retire my green...chair cover....awning....whatever it is! It was doomed from the start.


For the Google search results of "Awnings"... CLICK HERE

For the Google search results of "Chair Covers"... CLICK HERE

Starr Sightings: Inside Studio A - "A Somber Sunday"

Following the unfortunate fatal shooting of an officer over night, we decided to send Jeff out to cover a press conference to find out more details. Kim held down the fort in Studio A. With Dawn directing the last hour of the show, director Matt was able to post video to the web and stream the press conference live with the help of Julie at the desk. Producer Caitlin did a nice job of pulling together the changes for the show at the last minute. Great job to the weekend morning show team for pulling together to get the coverage on the air and web so our viewers were able to find out the latest information.

During the show, we had our live webchat up and running, as well as a live stream of the press conference. Jeff and Kim did a great job with covering the story in a respectful and professional way, as WKYC always does. The mood in Studio A was somber and serious today. Some of you may have been watching the live video from Studio A and could see all was calm here. Anytime we have a fallen officer, the newsroom is aware of the impact on the community and the atmosphere here shows this. We stay busy and bring you the latest coverage, but we all keeping the situation in perspective.

Although we didn't have too much time to chat here at WKYC with all of the breaking coverage, we appreciate all of you who logged on to share your thoughts and feelings on this tragedy, especially the family and friends of this fallen hero.

Stay Tuned,

Jess Starr
jstarr@wkyc.com

Twinsburg Officer Web Chat

Kim Wheeler took a moment during a commercial break today to comment on the use of the live webchat as a venue for folks to express their feelings and share their memories of Officer Joshua Miktarian. Take a look below...

Show Promo: Sunday, July 13th

Oreo Licking Contest..what??

So this may be the strangest segment ever on our morning show! Caitlin booked our local finalists for the first ever Oreo Lick Race...we had three local ladies on the show who were selected because they enter sweepstakes contests and entered one for the Oreo contest.

I might even enter if I could meet Peyton and Eli Manning, who started this contest! They had to lick the frosting out of the middle of the Oreos, then dip the cookies in milk and eat them. The ladies didn't win the finals but did really well. They even showed us their technique...Producer Caitlin asked if I would like to take part in our live Oreo contest...I passed on that chance.

Jeff and I both agree, we will never look at an Oreo the same again. The ladies were adorable and it was a fun way to end the newscast.

To check out the "Double Stuf Racing League" website... CLICK HERE

It was great that we were all back today together. Director Matt was back with us after welcoming his adorable little girl into the world. I think he may feel what many of us do, as we head back to work with little ones at home...that separation is so hard! His wife even sent him a photo on his cellphone during the newscast of little Mackenzie sleeping (but listening to our show!)

See you tomorrow...our live webcat will be up again, Kim (hopefully Jeff will figure out how to sign on)

Weekend Morning Blog "Spinoffs"

It is very common for a television show, sitcom or drama, to spinoff one of the main characters into their own show. Happy Days led to Laverne & Shirley and Joanie Loves Chachi. Cheers spunoff Frasier, and most recently Grey's Anatomy spunoff Private Practice.

Well, in that same vein, the crew of the Weekend Morning Show blog is proud to announce that we have managed to spinoff a couple of brand new blogs for you to enjoy.

"Knot Lines" features views from the deck of the sailboat
"Adagio" as reporter Mike O'Mara sets sail from Sandusky Bay.
Read Mike's blog by clicking here.

Also, Kim Wheeler is writing "Kim's Classroom Notes" featuring news from our schools and our kids.
Read Kim's blog by clicking here.

The "Re-Birth" of the Webchat

Hey Folks! Sorry for the lack of content on the blog, but I have been off for the last couple of weeks welcoming my new daughter into the world. Mackenzie Grace was born just over 2 weeks ago and since then I've been adjusting to life at home as "Dad".

This weekend however, I return to the weekend morning show for the first time in a long time and I'm hoping for a large turnout for our live webchat. I heard that over the last couple of weeks the live chat numbers have been down across the board. That's not what we're striving for. We need more chatters! Tell your friends, family, and anyone you can think who might be interested in participating in this rare opportunity to speak directly with the anchors during a live broadcast.

We will also once again have the live streaming camera up and running so that you never lose sight of what is going on in Studio A.

Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning starting at 9am right here on WKYC.com and the Weekend Morning Show blog for Live Webchatting and a live streaming camera while you enjoy the show with Jeff, Kim and Bruce.

I'll talk to you in the chat on Saturday!
Matt

Our debut live web chat was a success. I hope you had a chance to log on and chat it up with Kim, Jeff, Bruce and the rest of our crew this past weekend.

If you didn't however, you will have plenty of chances. We are planning on keeping the live chat up and running during the weekend morning show for the foreseeable future. We also plan to keep up the live studio camera stream so you can keep your eyes on what's going on behind the scenes.

If you have any questions or comments about our live web chat, live studio stream, or whatever... feel free to email them to us at weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com

When there are more guests than people in the newsroom!

It was a great concept, Dworken & Bernstein presented four checks adding up to nearly $500,000 to four local charities. It was all supposed to be a surprise, so we had to try to keep the groups away from the TV, so they wouldn't hear any of our stories about it before.

The real issue was how many people we had!! When you have more than one interview guest and huge cardboard checks to hand to the groups it gets complicated. It all worked just fine, but leading up to it...I was nervous.

In the end, what was great was that Clothe-a-Child, St. Herman's Hunger Center, DARE and Coats for Kids each received over $100,000 dollars each. This all came from unclaimed class action lawsuit awards....the groups said they can do so much good in our community with that money. It was wonderful to be part of it.

Here is some behind the scenes footage of the group getting set up in Studio B and after they received their checks.

For more information, go to...
http://www.dworken-bernstein.com/
http://www.dare.com
http://www.clothe-a-child.org/
http://www.coats-for-kids.org/

So this is how people spend their weekends!

The best part of having a weekend off was being able to sleep in! Instead of waking up at 4 AM and trying not to wake the family, I slept in until 10! What I really enjoyed was being able to walk to our favorite neighborhood and have breakfast with my guys. Saturday is game day at our house. 9 year old Terry plays kid pitch baseball this summer. He had been in a hitting slump lately, so he was thrilled to get a RBI. He even got the game ball. Unfortunately, his team the Dodgers lost to the Reds. I can't say I'm too worried about their record, I just want them to have fun.

Sunday, it was another late morning. Once we finally got up and around, we decided to go for a hike at North Chagrin Reservation in Mayfield Heights. The kids wore their bathing suits because there is a creek they love to play in. They spent hours moving rocks around, so the water would move faster and splashing each other and us. We even saw a Blue Heron dive down and spear a fish. The kids loved seeing it eat the fish!

Once we got home and realized how hot the house was, the kids played in the sprinkler most of the day. We have a century home, so we don't have AC. I love our house, but on these hot days it is brutal. Our big weekend adventure ended with the kids having a "camp out" in my 3 year old's room. As you might expect, it was very late before they settled down to go to sleep. Eventhough, they bicker like most siblings, seeing them in their sleeping bags on the floor after reading and talking until the wee hours..is so precious. Now, back to the real world! I'll be back up at 4AM this Saturday. See you then! Kim

Wednesday on the blog...

Kim Wheeler interviews A.J. Colby to find out how he's been since leaving the weekend morning show. For those of you who don't know, A.J. is now on at 6pm and 11pm on weekends after spending several years with Kim and Jeff. Does he miss Jeff & Kim and the weekend morning shift? Does he watch the show when he's off? And what does he really think about blogs? Kim will get to the bottom of these and other topics with A.J. tomorrow on the "Weekend Morning Show" blog here on WKYC.com.

Kids who care!

One of the best parts of my job is meeting children and teenagers who really are making a difference. When I hear people say "what's wrong with kids today," I just shake my head. Yes, there are terrible incidents that involve young people...but that's not representative of most kids. Too many times we only remember the bad...but believe me I have seen the good. I feel very lucky to be able to share those stories with our viewers.

Here are just a couple of those GOOD stories:

I was so excited to receive a t-shirt and photo from the HELP Malawi organization based right here in the Cleveland area in the mail this week. I did a story several weeks ago on the HELP Malawi project and Students With A Purpose. They are building a medical clinic in Africa and have already built a school for the children in Malawi. The children are in desperate need of medical care...many have lost their parents to AIDS...many have never been to school. So, the Wolstein family is involved with the project along with other high school students in area private and public schools.

There was a recent fundraiser at the Rock Hall that was very successful. Illana Wolstein, a Hathaway Brown student, took photos on a recent trip that she is selling to raise money. They are beautiful photos, she is very talented...but beyond that she doesn't have to do what she is doing...and is.
Here is a link on how you can help, too.
http://www.helpmalawichildren.org/about_help_malawi.php

Elementary students have big hearts too..let's not forget them. I saw this project up close several years ago...it's called "Chairs that Care." The auction is next Saturday, June 7th at 10:30 at Lincoln School in Lakewood. The children were inspired by famous painters like Monet and VanGogh, and then they painted chairs that were found on tree lawns. The chairs will be auctioned off and the proceeds benefit the Cleveland Food Bank. The food bank has told us that they are seeing so many families in need this year. In the past the auction has raised $18,000. Great work for 2nd to 5th graders.

The kids were here early to set up their "masterpieces"...here is video of them setting up and getting ready to talk to me live.



Here is behind the scenes video as I head over during to show to get in position for the segment.



Take a look at this talent! What wonderful artists these elementary students are.










So when people say "what's wrong with kids today"....we can all point to what's RIGHT with kids.
Happy Sunday, Kim
Email: kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Gadget Guy vs. Jeff

I am writing this, because my buddy Jeff is still recovering from his live interview with Mr. Gadget. Timing is so critical in live interviews, and Jeff had to wrap up the interview...they were out of time. But, Gadget Guy being passionate about what he does, wanted to show another item for Father's Day. I think Jeff simmered about it most of the show. It all turned out fine, but sometimes guests would like extra time for interviews and we can't always do that. Jeff has now had a doughnut...and I think he'll be fine tomorrow.

As usual, some other unexpected things happened...Bruce's mic fell off as he was doing weather. It was down around his feet! You never know, when you'll have to adjust to technical problems...and we usually recover just fine.

Tomorrow, should be interesting to see what happened in Washington with Michigan and Florida delegates and the Democratic candidates. It's been quite a primary season. I've loved watching politics since I was in 7th grade, so this is so exciting for me.
We'll have the Teddy Bear Ride Sunday, motorcycle riders take stuffed animals to area children in the hospital. We have such giving people in our community. Have a great Saturday, Kim

"Post Chesney" Show Promo: Sunday, May 25th

When Butch and Dave Take Over!

So, live TV is always fun and never predictable. Jeff is off this weekend, so that means juggling all the interviews, live shots and scripts. When you're by yourself you have to be even more prepared for anything unexpected...

I did all my homework, knew who I was interviewing and what I wanted to ask...from stroke awareness, to a benefit walk, to kids designing shoes for me at Newton D. Baker...but what I did not count on was Butch and Dave!

We did several live "talk backs" at the Rib Cook-off....by their nature you never know how they are going to go. Sometimes our interview subjects have never been on TV and then we stick them on LIVE with an earpiece to hear what we ask them! It's not easy for sure.


Today, I interviewed Butch about his famous ribs..and he's a veteran...a real character. We also talked with Dave Amstutz who is also a griller. At the end of the show, I talked live with Debra who is competing at noon today in an amateur grilling contest. I'm not sure she could hear anything I asked her because BUTCH was standing next to her with DAVE. All through the interview, they kept talking to her! It was very cute...but Dave and Butch clearly had the upper hand. What characters...by the end I just decided to try to talk over Butch...but that's not easy to do!

What was great was "Stepping into Greatness!" Newton D. Baker School of the Arts in Cleveland asked local city leaders and celebrities to give them their shoe sizes...and then based on your job, background, hobbies...they design shoes for you. Mine are still being designed, but I got to see them today. A student is drawing my two little boys on the shoes and then will put globes on them for Thailand. AJ Colby also has shoes that the students designed...by the way he has 10 1/2 wide shoes! Mine if you care...are size 6...I can wear my 9 year old's shoes.

Below the students from Newton D. Baker School of Arts are getting ready for their live studio interview!Adorable Kids!



I'll be back solo again tomorrow....let's hope Butch and his friends are little better behaved! Ha! Kim
Email: kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Show Promo for Saturday, May 24th

Kim's Garden: Part 2

As Max says....Welcome to our garden! You'll hear him throughout...my little 3 year old loves to talk!



Our Dogwood tree in full bloom, with creeping phlox around the base. And yes, Max is now growing impatient asking to play frisbee. He's my little shadow.



More of our front flower beds. My husband designed all of our flower beds, and then I plant.



As you can see, phlox is my favorite flower, but our hostas and catmint are starting to fill out.



Here, Max is telling everyone we now have a Robin nesting on one of our downspouts.



Our backyard is now making a lot of progress, I love the colors of this time of year. I seem to like purple and pink the best.



The creeping myrtle and Hydrangea tree are looking nice.



My favorite tree! Our Lilac tree smells wonderful and the scent comes into the house, too. A few years it had mildew and we cut it back. But now a couple years later, it's doing just great.

In the forefront you can see my roses....the buds will be there soon I should have dozens of roses. Can't wait! Our picket fence is lined with climbing roses, my grandmother always loved roses on her farm in Illinois, so I have to carry on the tradition. For Mother's Day, my Mother-in-Law gave me a gift certificate for flowers at my favorite spot in Wayne County, Quailcrest Farm...so I have some new carnations(another favorite), sweet woodruff and ornamental grass to plant. I'll be doing a lot of digging in the coming weeks and painting our picket fence...but it's the best time of the year. Come back to Kim's Garden soon.

Kim's Promo for Saturday, May 17th

OK, so the promo is a little dark. That is definitely Kim Wheeler and Jess Starr that you see, or don't see, but keep in mind it's early in the morning for us too. We like to keep the control room nice and dark until it's show time, and even then we don't like it too much brighter. We call it our control room "mood" lighting. Anyhow, here's what is coming up on today's show.



Email Kim: kimwheeler@wkyc.com
Email Jess: jstarr@wkyc.com

Laptops: No problems...today

Well, as you can see, Jeff and Kim were finally able to log on to the laptops today, after a few minor hiccups, but we failed to really tie them into the show today. Tomorrow we will again pose a question to you, the viewer and blog reader, like we did last weekend to try and better incorporate your input into our broadcast. We'll probably ask something about your favorite Mother's Day memory, what you're doing for Mother's Day, that sort of thing, and then share some of them on the air with you tomorrow morning starting at 9am.

You can send your comments now to... weekendmorningshow@wkyc.com

Glasses or no glasses??

So, lots of viewers have emailed me since I started wearing glasses back in February about why I started wearing glasses. Most have said they really like them, some wanted to know where I got them...others said I reminded them of their former English teacher.

Here's the deal--for about a year maybe two, I've noticed that I have a hard time focusing on print in magazines or newspaper or my computer screen. I started holding things farther away from my face. So after years of no eye exam...and always have 20/20 eyesight...I went for an exam. I have one eye that is stronger than the other. My prescription is not very strong, but it helps me with reading so much. I need my glasses when I am reading a script but not as much when I am looking at the TelePrompter in the studio. So, I wear them at my desk a lot now when I am writing a story....but only wear them sometimes on the set. It's also fun to change your look sometimes! Let me know, what you think...Glasses or no glasses?

Kim
Email: kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Promo for Sunday, May 4th

The "May 3rd Shoe Incident"

To the right, you can see the shoe in question that was causing Kim all of the problems on this morning's show.

Below you can watch the aftermath that took place in the studio immediately after Jeff exposed that Kim was in fact NOT wearing shoes during today's show.



Below you can watch an exclusive follow up with Kim after the show went off the air.



It's never boring behind the scenes at any television station, but only here on the new WKYC Weekend Morning Show Blog will we bring you this kind of in depth behind the scenes coverage of such a ridiculous event.

It's Sunday Morning

Today, we have a terrible accident that happened overnight to report. Two fatalities from a "wrong way" incident on I-480. Every time we have a death to report, whether it's an accident or shooting or fire, I just can't imagine what those families are going through. After more than 20 years of being a TV reporter and anchor, reporting tragedies never gets any easier.

On a more positive note, we will be going live to one of our most treasured neighborhoods in the city...Little Italy. They are having a street fair and encouraging residents to buy locally. In this economy, so many neighborhood businesses are struggling.

And how about those Indians!! We will have highlights from their game with the Yankees, always love when they beat the Yankees. Eric Wedge was also thrown out in the 8th, so can't wait to hear what he says. This is the Indians 5th consecutive win.
See you at 9am! Kim

Email: kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Here he goes again!

This is why Jeff is so much fun to work with, you never know what he's going to say or do for that matter! We did a story on a guy in West Virginia riding his horse to work, instead of driving a car. I thought we might talk about the latest gas prices we saw on the way to work, but no....Jeff got hung up on the plural of hoof! So, we had to discuss it on the show. I thought it was "hooves." So, I had to look it up after the show, and here's the answer...for anyone who cares! You can either say "hoofs" or "hooves." It is kind of a running joke with him. For instance, every year we have parachutists probably in Nashville, dressed up like Elvis. So....after 12 years sitting next to Jeff...every time he ponders...the plural of Elvis!!! That one I don't think I can find in the dictionary. Have a great weekend, Kim

Email: kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Looking ahead to the weekend

How can we top this past weekend?? Jeff is back this weekend, which always means expect the unexpected! He is back from visiting his grandchildren in Arizona, so I'm sure we will have some new photos and interesting vacation ideas from Jeff if you are planning a visit.

Those who know me know I love to garden, and I will take a digital video camera home with me this week and show you how my garden is doing. Gardening is my escape, for me there is nothing more peaceful or relaxing. My mother-in-law taught me all about gardening and we have done all of our landscaping.

My husband is very handy and he built a playhouse for the boys that looks just like our house! One thing is different this year, my little 3 year old Max has discovered worms and a shovel...so my flowers may not last for long this year!

More updates to come and happy planting, Kim

Email Kim: kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Welcome Message from Kim!

Meet The Team: Kim Wheeler and Jeff Maynor

Kim Wheeler joined WKYC in 1995. She is currently the weekend morning anchor and education reporter for Channel 3 News. In 2006, she received an Emmy for her anchoring.

Kim came to WKYC from WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia where she served as reporter and anchor for six years. Prior to that, she was an anchor/reporter in Bluefield, West Virginia. Kim is a native of Smithville, Ohio. She graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor's degree in Journalism.

During Kim's years at WKYC, she received a first place award from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists in 2000 for her series on Ritalin and children. She was named one of Cleveland Magazine's "most interesting people" in 1999. Kim was also featured in Cleveland Magazine as one of Cleveland's working moms in the media.

Channel 3 News followed Kim and her husband, Tracy on their journey to Thailand to adopt their two sons. They brought Terry Pitak home in February of 2000 and Max Arun in October of 2005. Kim and Tracy worked with Holt International Children's Services in Eugene, Oregon. For more information on adoption contact Holt at http://www.holtinternational.org/

Kim has volunteered in the Cleveland Schools and at her son's school. In addition, through her news stories, she worked with John Carroll University students to build a new playground for Margaret Ireland Elementary students.She also stays involved with education and adoption issues.

E-mail: kimwheeler@wkyc.com

Channel 3 Weekend News Anchor Jeff Maynor joined WKYC-TV3 in February of 1993 as weekend morning and noon co-anchor. Maynor also serves as general assignment reporter contributing to Channel 3 News throughout the week.

Previously, Maynor worked as a news anchor for seven years at WEWS-TV in Cleveland and in a similar capacity at WJW for eight years. Prior to joining Channel 3 News, Maynor did communications work for several years at Lakeland Community College. During that time, he also served as a spokesman for corporate industrial video projects.

A native of Warren, Ohio, Maynor attended Ohio University. He resides in Concord with his wife, Patricia.

E-mail: jeffmaynor@wkyc.com