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Martin Brodsky's avatar

I read The Silence is the Noise years ago after randomly picking it up at Trident. Pretty cool reading the backstory here. Having moved away from my hometown, as well, I feel what you're saying about going back to who you used to be, whether you like it or not.

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Bart Schaneman's avatar

Ah, that's cool. Thanks for reading. Silence is sort of about that time, but also in a way about when I lived there several years earlier and worked as a reporter. Of course, that book is fiction, and I used some of my experiences as a foundation to write from, but none of it should be taken as fact. This essay, though, is as close to true as I could make it.

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Dan Keane's avatar

This was great! I love that about unbidden memories. The long pull of small-town history, your own and the familial deep beyond. I love that country out there. Bet those years at the paper were trip!

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Bart Schaneman's avatar

It was!

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Bill Frakes's avatar

You know I greatly appreciated what you brought to the Valley through your work at the Star-Herald. We still need to find a chance to spend some time catching up—I know a few places.

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Bart Schaneman's avatar

I’d love that, Bill. Our trips home are usually focused on time with family, but let’s try to make it happen.

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Steve Frederick's avatar

I’m Steve. If I knew then what I know now I’d have tried to spare you the wrath of the ignorant imbeciles. These days I call it Dumbassistan, and it’s killing what’s left of the America we knew. You’re made of good stuff. Keep fighting.

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Bart Schaneman's avatar

Wouldn't change those three years for anything. I loved learning from you and working there. I consider you one of my best mentors and models for hard work and courage in journalism. We made a good newspaper together.

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