Philbin: Still the Excitable Boy.(Regis Philbin)(Interview)

By P.J. Bednarski

A Q&A with the host and his producer, Michael Gelman

Regis Philbin, at 76, still makes doing a live talk show look easy. And as Live begins its 20th season, Philbin and his executive producer, Michael Gelman, chatted with B&C 's P.J. Bednarski about longevity and why Live works so well.

Obviously, a lot of what you are today is based on what you learned a long time ago, when you were in L.A., as a sidekick on The Joey Bishop Show and even had your own failed late night talk show that you did for Westinghouse.

Philbin : The Westinghouse show. Boy, this is unusual to me to find a reporter who remembers that show.

I watched it. I remember watching the last show-

Philbin : Two-week tape delay [between when it taped and when it aired].

There was?

Philbin : Yeah. I came out of San Diego, where I had a live TV show on Saturday nights, and everything was great. And then they take me up to Hollywood [for the Westinghouse show] and then they tell me, you know, it's going to be a two-week tape delay. A two-week delay!

So how the hell can I talk about the Academy Awards or …

DAVID J. MERRILLS, 55.(CAPITAL REGION)

PETERSBURGH David J. Merrills Sr., 55, of North Petersburgh died Friday in St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, after a brief illness.

Mr. Merrills was born and educated in Berlin. At the time of his death, he was employed by the Columbia Box Corp. in Walloomsac.

He was a Marine Corps veteran and a member of the Towne 'n Country Rod and Reel Club, Berlin.

Survivors include his wife, Gisele Matte Merrills; two daughters, Jackie Y. Wheeler of Wilmington, Vt., and Lisa M. Merrills of …

Promoter: Tribute shows for Jackson likely

The promoter who booked Michael Jackson for a sold-out comeback tour says a tribute show based on his canceled concerts is likely.

Randy Phillips, chief executive of promoter AEG Live, told Britain's Sky News television on Tuesday that the "world needs to see" the production Jackson had been working on.

He says members of the Jackson family, and other world …

Navarro cools off Tigers // White Sox end streak, avoid sweep

Sox 5 Tigers 3

Neither rain nor snow nor roaring winds could stop the White Soxon Sunday.

Thanks to Jaime Navarro, that is.After two woeful days of weather and futility against theDetroit Tigers, Navarro (1-0) delivered on the pitching mound andmade the difference in a 5-3 Sox victory, their first of the seasonat Comiskey Park. The Sox ended a three-game losing streak.Navarro threw seven innings of no-run, five-hit ball and struckout a career-best 11."I was just trying to concentrate and keep my ball down," hesaid. "The wind (gusting to 43 m.p.h.) was helping my slider, andTony (Pena) kept calling for it. When you have help from MotherNature, you take it."But it …

Whatcom's open markets: veggies just a few miles from the farm.(OFF THE CLOCK)

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The high-noon sun shines down on an array of colors on the corner of James and Carolina streets. Youngstock's Country Farms sits on a small patch of dirt and hay on a busy Bellingham arterial. A few employees bustle in shaded aisles of seasonal fruits and vegetables from red, ripe strawberries to local, fresh, green asparagus. Joe Chartier said business always gets better when the weather gets brighter.

"We know each piece of product and that's what we pride ourselves in," Joe said. "We want to teach customers how to pick the best pieces out."

Youngstock's, the Sundance Market in Custer, and the Ferndale Farmer's Market are three examples of open markets in Whatcom County. Each relies heavily on a "buy local" emphasis for their business. These local markets have provided, an outlet for vendors all over Whatcom County to sell their goods and also provide quality produce at a good price.

The Sundance Market has recently come under new management, while the Ferndale market is going into its second season in the area. Youngstock's has been a family-run business in Bellingham for the past 38 years.

Youngstock's Country Farms: Born into the business

John …

40 ATTEND FUNERAL FOR CRASHED PILOT.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: -- Associated Press

FARMINGDALE -- An Air Force pilot whose body was found in the wreckage of his A-10 warplane in the Colorado Rockies was buried Friday in a private service at the Long Island National Cemetery.

About 40 relatives and friends of Capt. Craig Button met at the James Funeral Home in Massapequa for a brief prayer and then proceeded to the nearby cemetery for another prayer before burial.

Button disappeared on April 2 during a routine …

European car makers seek EU help

European automakers have appealed to the European Union for a euro40 billion ($55 billion) package of low-cost loans.

The request comes amid an economic downturn and pressure from new rules aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association says it's concerned about shrinking consumer confidence.

It has urged the EU to help "reinforce the …