I had heard, when Sidekick disappeared and G came out, that much of the lost stuff was all local. Since papers everywhere are cutting back on editorial and covering the losses with cosmetic changes, I assumed that the Globe was doing the same.

That might be true in any case, but in fact I don’t know, and that bothers me.

So I’ll add a note to this post and ask for facts in a new one.

For what its worth, I lived on Woodland Avenue in Maywood, the east end of which was Borg’s Woods, across from Coles Brook. (Just to the left of the Live.com maps link below.)

Glad they kept the Woods alive. It was a playland for kids, and filled with tall first-growth oaks. I was going to ask if the pond was still there, but I just looked here on Google Maps and here on Live.com maps and see it isn’t. Must have been filled in. Byrne and Brook Streets, both new, surround it. Still, nice that the rest of it is still there.

Do check out Live.com maps, by the way. It’s amazing. Microsoft does do some things right.

Yes it was a Borg. Don Borg appointed his 33 year old son Mac, President & CEO in 1971. I met with Mac in ‘73 or ‘74. Mac is now Chairman and out of day-to-day operations.

In July of this year, The Record announced it would close its Hackensack HQ & operate out of some smaller facility.

The Record has been coming to my home since 1970. I never missed Bill Caldwell’s Pulitzer-winning column among other sections. Today, 5 minutes would be a long read.

BTW I’ve been living about half a mile from Borg’s woods since 1972. Bergen County bought 14 acres for a Nature Preserve in 1994. Some things get better over time.

Steve, I grew up with the Bergen Record when it was a truly great paper. The publisher was the Borg family, which used to let local kids sled in their back yard on Summit Ave in Hackensack. The woods behind was “Borg’s Woods.” I learned to skate on Borg’s Pond. Was a Borg the one who uttered that nonsense?

Gregg, thanks for the link. I can see why the Globe made the changes, but again they’re cosmetic. Worse, I think they’re delusional and misleading. They should have said, honestly, “We have to consolidate sections, and we’re laying off a bunch of people who gave you local coverage. Couldn’t cover it with advertising. Sorry about that.” Dead Trees Walking, indeed.

I used to keep up with papers from places where I used to live, for example with the San Jose Mercury-News. Now I don’t care. The writers I followed there are all long gone.

What’s especially sad in the case of Sidekick is that it really was a part of our lives. I’m sure there are online substitutes, but they won’t be the same. And I can’t help but think that the Globe is cutting wheat while keeping chaff.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003878040

As they cut staff, they lose their local flavor, which, as you have shown, was a major selling point.

The no-clue train was rolling even then.