Back in Black Ink: the Return of Kris Meltzer
Editor's note: The following article was originally posted in 2015, before the launch of the print edition.
After a 15 year hiatus, Kris Meltzer's A View From My Schwinn returns. Included in the Shelby County Public Library's Wowbrary e-newsletter, Saturday Shelby will publish the column each Sunday. In advance of our first post this weekend, we wanted a Q & A that would cover the past 15 years. It took just 7 questions. Saturday Shelby: The 15 years you spent away from the column have been dubbed The Shelby Silent Years by the press. What have you been up to? Meltzer: Mostly watching old movies on the Turner Classic Movie channel and whittling. Saturday Shelby: Loyal readers want to know if you still have the Schwinn Heavy Duty or any (quote-unquote) new additions to the collection.
Meltzer: I do still have my Schwinn collection and the only new addition is a seat to give grandchildren, June and Rose, rides. Saturday Shelby: Schwinning into the Millennium got us through Y2K and 15 years into this century. Will you ever complete the trilogy? Meltzer: Yes, but maybe only on the information superhighway. Saturday Shelby: Dee Bonner kindly touched up the old A View From My Schwinn logo. Can we expect to see work from Steve Marcopulos re-appear or is he refusing to come out of retirement? Meltzer: I talked to Steve last week and he told me that he is working on something for the column. Saturday Shelby: Where can readers' letters be sent? Meltzer: info@saturdayshelby.com (Editor's note: In the pre-Gmail days, Mayor Tom DeBaun fooled Kris for awhile by changing his fax settings to "From Graceland" and faxing over letters to the columnist.) Saturday Shelby: Rumor has it that you're on Facebook now. How do you update it with your flip phone? Meltzer: I actually have one of the old flip phones that runs on kerosene, so I have been having problems updating my Facebook page. However, this weekend I’m going to a yard sale in search of a Palm Pilot. Saturday Shelby: Could we expect another Schwinn entry into the inaugural Downtown Shelby Days parade? Meltzer: Yes, if I can locate the Schwinnettes. Tune in Sunday for the next column: "All right Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up" or Advice from a guy with a flip phone.
It's gearing up to be a fun ride!