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News Update - March 6, 2023

The weekly news update featuring Telephone Patent and First Transmitted Words on Telephone

To all North Pole City Elves, those in Santa's Village, in the Lower 48 and all around the world, this is your weekly update for the week of March 6, 2023. I'm your host Walter "Mistletoe" Livingstone and I'm your co-host, Becky "Marshmallow" Livingstone, Let's go to press.

Sponsor

For the week of March 6, 2023 your sponsor will be the Peppermint Post Newspaper. Serving news to elves all over the world since the early 1500s, the Peppermint Post Newspaper is now digital. Anyone can subscribe to receive the news publication for FREE right in their email each week by going to the Peppermint Post webpage on TAOLF.com. That’s the Peppermint Post Newspaper, bringing you all of North Pole City News.

Santa's Village Update

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting our very own Walter "Mistletoe" Livingstone who is still in the hospital after he broke the record during the "Polar Bear Plunge" last week. Since Walter now holds the record, his photograph will be posted in the Workshop with a special plaque that reads his name, the date of the polar bear plunge, and his lengthy record of 15 minutes and 35 seconds. Santa and Mrs. Claus have been waiting to visit Walter until he was feeling much better and word from the hospital is that he should be discharged sometime this week. We are expecting him to return next week for the news.

Department of Elfland Security

Edward Hinklemyer has sent out the order to the Department of Elfland Security's security division to be prepared to escort Lucky the Leprechaun up to North Pole City on the morning of March 18. Lucky will be spending the week at the North Pole City Hotel and will have some special events planned from the citizens of North Pole City after St. Patrick's Day. Stay tuned for more details next week.

TAOLF.com Updates

The division of WWW/PR are back at work this week picking up where they have stopped working on those special databases behind the website to document some history and information from North Pole City and Santa's Village. The division was able to get all of the links for the worksheets for last week and this week's Peppermint post linked in the online newspaper editor, so make sure that you are subscribed to the Peppermint Post to get those updates.

NPC Weather Update

This week we have snow in the forecast! Temperatures will be between -20 and -25 throughout the week with snow expected Wednesday through Friday. Accumulations are predicted to be between 1 and 2 inches each day with Thursday being the heaviest snowfall coming in at just over 2 inches.

WELF-NPC North Pole City Radio

WELF-NPC would like to send out a big "Get Well Soon" to our very own Walter "Mistletoe" Livingstone as he recovers from his Polar Bear Plunge experience. Walter was able to beat the record and now holds the NPC Polar Plunge record of 15 minutes and 35 seconds. He was however soon hospitalized and is still currently under the care of Dr. Twinklestein.

Due to Walter's being out recouperating, Becky "Marshmallow" Livingstone will be holding down the Newsroom fort. She will also be sending out teams to cover the semifinals of the snowball games and will be part of the "Ballroom Dancing Lessons" on the 11th. Stop out and see her.

This Week in Elf History

On March 7, 1876, 29-year-old Alexander Graham Bell receives a patent for his revolutionary new invention: the telephone. Three days later, the first words are officially transmitted.

Alexander Graham Bell, born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1847, was the son of Alexander Melville Bell, a leading authority in public speaking and speech correction. In the 1870s, the Bell family moved to Boston, Massachusetts. While in Boston, Alexander Bell became very interested in the possibility of transmitting speech over wires. Bell wanted to improve on Samuel Morris' telegraph by creating a “harmonic telegraph,” a device that combined aspects of the telegraph and record player to allow individuals to speak to each other from a distance.

In 1875, while working on his multiple harmonic telegraph, Bell developed the basic ideas for the telephone. He designed a device to transmit speech vibrations electrically between two receivers and with the help of Thomas A. Watson, Bell developed a prototype. In June 1875, Bell tested his invention. No intelligible words were transmitted, but sounds resembling human speech were heard at the receiving end.

On February 14, 1876, he filed a U.S. patent application for his telephone. His was stamped the 5th applicant that day. Just a few hours later, Elisha Gray, filed a caveat (intent to file a patent) with the U.S. Patent Office to seek a similar patent on a telephone transmitter and receiver. Gray was the 39thstamped document that day. Bell filed first and had a working model, so on March 7 he was awarded U.S. patent 174,465, which granted him ownership over both his telephone instruments and the concept of a telephone system.

Three days later, on March 10, Bell successfully tested his telephone for the first time in his Boston home. The telephone carried its first intelligible message—the famous “Mr. Watson, come here, I need you”—from Bell to his assistant.

Alexander Graham Bell continued his experiments in communication, inventing the photophone and the graphophone. He continued to work with the deaf, including Helen Keller, and used the royalties from his inventions to finance several organizations dedicated to the oral education of the deaf (his wife and his parents were all deaf). He later served as president of the National Geographic Society. In 1895, he experimented with the possibility of flight and built giant man-carrying kites and a hydrofoil craft. He died in 1922 at his summer home and laboratory on Cape Breton Island, Canada.

North Pole City Commerce

The NPC Commerce Association is planning a "Your Lucky Day" event for next week. They will be having a 20% off sale from all merchant member stores on the 17th and 18th in conjunction with Lucky the Leprechaun's visit. Stop by any of member locations for 20% off purchases from sunup to sundown.

They will also be offering free rainbow cupcakes at the NPC Commerce Association building all day on the 17th and 18th as well.

North Pole City Council

The North Pole City Council will be holding a Town Meeting for "National Town Meeting Day" on the 7th at 7 pm. The meeting will be held in NPC Council Chambers. Join us with any good news you have to share, ideas you have, or concerns that worry you.

Snacks will be provided by Mrs. Claus' Kitchen.

We hope to see you there!

NPC Sports League

Snowball Games Update! With the fifth and final week of the regular season snowball games completed, we now know which teams will be headed to the semifinal competitions.

In a season upset, the Love at First Snowflake team that has been in the lead for the last couple of weeks was taken completely out of the competition with their rough low scoring week. Those moving on are: Noel's Cozy Corner with 164 points, Jolly Elf with 158 points, Elfin Wonderland with 157 points, and The Cocoa House with 154 points.

This week we will hold the semifinals competitions where all 15 events will be held with the winners (high point holding teams) moving on to the finals. There will be 5 events per night and events will be held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening. Teams were randomly paired in the semifinals bracket. Group A will be: Elfin Wonderland and Noel's Cozy Corner. Group B is: The Cocoa House and Jolly Elf.

Since this is an odd numbered year, the semifinal locations will be:

  • Monday Night:

    Hinklemyer Cocoa Pub-Group A

    Candy Cane Lounge-Group B

  • Wednesday Night:

    The Sparkling Snowflake-Group A

    Yule Love It-Group B

  • Friday Night:

    The Sugar Bowl-Group A

    The Red Bow-Group B

As it turns out, this year, none of the teams will have home cocoa pub advantage for any of the event dates so this should be an exciting set of events. Remember also that all points are reset to begin the semifinals so... it truely is anyone's game.

Good luck to all the teams in the semifinals matchups!

Community Events

This week in community events we have Cereal Day, National Town Meeting Day, and Sock Monkey Day all on March 7th. Visit your favorite breakfast spot for some cereal to start your day and then stop by the Tailor and Seamstress Shop to make sock monkeys with the tailors and seamstresses and several of the doll making elves from Santa's Workshop. Finish your day by joining your fellow elves at the Town Meeting at 7 pm in NPC council chambers.

The 9th is National Meatball Day. Be sure to stop by the NPC Hotel for their Meatball Bar.

On the 10th it is International Bagpipe Day. The NPC Bagpipers will be having a midday concert in City Center in the auditorium so stop out for a bagpipe serenade on your lunch.

Then on the 11th it is National Urban Ballroom Dancing Day. There will be Balroom Dancing Lessons all day in the Ballroom at the NPC Hotel. Put on your dancing shoes and come join in the fun.

Elf Birthdays

WELF-NPC would like to wish Alan "Cookie" Scarbough a very happy 600th birthday. Alan works in the Division of Coal and Mining and is responsible for transfer of the coal from the Dark Mountains where it is mined, to the local warehouses. We wish him a very happy birthday and many more.


This is Walter "Mistletoe" Livingstone and Becky "Marshmallow" Livingstone with the reminder: To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved that's everything. ~T. Tolis.

Have a good evening, and be sure to tune in next week for another WELF-NPC North Pole Radio News Update.

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Friday Night Mysteries Friday Night Mysteries
It is Friday Night. Get yourself a fresh cup of cocoa, a warm blanket, and snuggle up in a chair next to the fireplaced. Then tune into WELF-NPC North Pole City Radio for the Friday Night Mysteries Night.
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News Update - March 6, 2023


Show Pages

WELF-NPC News Updates WELF-NPC News
Find out more about the weekly WELF-NPC news show / podcast with Walter "Mistletoe" Livingstone and Becky "Marshmallow" Livingstone.
Morning Show with Corby Snow Morning Show with Corby Snow
Tune in each morning to the Morning Show with Corby Snow. The show will begin promptly at 9 a.m. with the ringing of the workshop bells, the reciting of the Craftsman Workers Oath, and the Going to Work March.
Matinee Theater Matinee Theater
You can now listen to rebroadcasts of the Matinee Theater from the 1940's every Sunday at 2 p.m. on WELF-NPC North Pole City Radio.
The Birds Eye Open House The Birds Eye Open House
The Birds Eye Open House was hosted by Dinah Shore and will be rebroadcasted on WELF-NPC North Pole City Radio with a different show each week.
The Charles Dickens Hour The Charles Dickens Hour
The Charles Dickens Hour is made up of many different old radio shows that had something related to Charles Dickens. Each week WELF-NPC North Pole City Radio will feature a different show on the station.
Little Orphan Annie Little Orphan Annie
Part of the WELF-NPC North Pole City Radio's Kids Saturday Morning Show block, we will be rebroadcasting shows from the Little Orphan Annie Show.
Christmas on the Moon Christmas on the Moon
There can be no Christmas without Santa Claus, so when our hero finds out that he has been kidnapped and taken to the moon there is no time to spare.
The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger
Who Was That Masked Man? The Lone Ranger is one of the iconic characters in American folklore, and he got his start on Mutual, airing from 1933 through 1954.
Standard School Broadcast Standard School Broadcast
The Standard School Broadcast began airing in 1928 under the sponsorship of Standard Oil of California, making it one of the earliest educational radio programs.
Superman Radio Show Superman Radio Show
From 1939 right up into the atomic 1950's, Superman was on call in Metropolis. Now Superman is broadcasted on WELF-NPC North Pole City Radio every Saturday morning.
Dick Tracy Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy came from the comic strips to the radio in this great serial. He still fights bizarre villains and the 15 minute shows are filled with cliff-hangers. Tune In.
Howdy Doody Time Howdy Doody Time
What time is it, kids? Take your seat in the Peanut Gallery, It's Howdy Doody Time! Rebroadcasted on WELF-NPC North Pole City Radio every Saturday morning.
Land of the Lost Land of the Lost
The Land of the Lost is a children's deep-sea adventure program about two children who travel in that wonderful kingdom at the bottom of the sea. Lead by Red Lantern, the wisest fish in the sea, Billy and Isabel discover lost objects on the ocean floor.
Flash Gordon Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon first appeared on the comic pages in 1934, following the success of Buck Rogers. Flash soon made the move to radio before the classic film serial starring Buster Crabbe.
Jungle Jim Jungle Jim
Jungle Jim was a long-running jungle adventure show, feet planted firmly in the footsteps of Tarzan, but with the hardware and politics of the modern great white hunter.
Mark Trail Mark Trail
When Mark Trail made his way to the radio from the Sunday Funnies, he picked up a greater sense of adventure, but he still had time to teach kids about life in the Great Outdoors.
Comic Weekly Man Comic Weekly Man
Based on what is published in the weekly paper, The Comic Weekly Man entertains us with a dramatized reading of the Sunday comics, complete with sound effects and music. Young and old alike would follow along with the print copy in hand.
Christmas Mystery Christmas Mystery
Grab yourself a warm cup of cocoa and curl up by the fire. Tune into WELF-NPC on Friday nights for another episode of Christmas Mystery
Christmas Crime Christmas Crime
Crime still happens during the Holidays and Joe Friday, Johnny Dollar, Texas Ranger Jayce Pearson, Richard Diamond, and Paladin will make sure that the grinches don't steal Christmas, St Nick, furs, or a statue of Baby Jesus.
Christmas Detectives Christmas Detectives
Crime does not stop for Christmas, luckily the gumshoes are here with holiday gumdrops.
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes
One of Santa's and Mrs. Claus' favorite Old Time Radio show is Sherlock Holmes. The game is afoot! as radio listeners get wrapped up in the twists and turns of their favorite consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes.
Untold History Revealed Untold History Revealed
No, this is not Christmas related, but Santa and the elves love history and this podcast is surely history related.
Suspense Suspense
Billed as Radio's Outstanding Theater of Thrills, Suspense offers the of the best of Old Time Radio. The series is the premier mystery-horror radio show with top name talent.
It's a Fibber Christmas It's a Fibber Christmas
Join the resident at 79 Wistful Vista for this jolly collection of Fibber McGee and Molly Christmas shows.
Classical Music Hour Classical Music Hour
The North Pole City Elves love all kinds of music, and classical music is one of their favorites. This hour is dedicated to classical music.
Rock Music Hour Rock Music Hour
The elves that work deep in the mountains mining all of the coal for Santa love rock music. This show is dedicated to them and all of their hard work.
Christmas Music Hour Christmas Music Hour
The Christmas Music Hour is one solid hour dedicated to Christmas Music.
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