TV psychic passes message from 'Boomer' Cleary

John P. Cleary

Kelly Emanuel, the sister of late Corning restaurateur Fran "Boomer" Cleary, will appear on tonight's episode of "John Edward Cross Country."

The show, which features purported psychic John Edward putting audience members in contact with their deceased loved ones, airs tonight on the WE network.

Boomer died in 2001 while undergoing surgery. He operated two Corning restaurants and a catering business and was well known as a gregarious, community-minded guy.

According to a letter from Kelly's husband, Rick Emanuel, Kelly, Rick and his daughter, Alex, attended a taping of the program in February.

Rick reports that Boomer passed a message along to Kelly via Edward, saying he was OK.

"I swear it would make a hardcore skeptic believe -- the stuff that was coming out of his mouth was right on," Rick wrote.

Regardless of what you think about television psychics (and I'm a skeptic), Rick wrote that the session had a positive impact on his family. Kelly feels better about Boomer's unexpected death and about the other deaths the family has dealt with in the past few years.

Rick wrote that the show's producers visited their home months later to shoot additional footage and learn more about Boomer.

The program will air at 10 p.m. and again at 2 p.m. Oct. 25. For more information about the show, see www.wetv.com/shows/ johnedward.

•SHERIFF RECEIVES DONATION: The Steuben County Sheriff's Deputies carry automated external defibrillators, those tools that can shock a stopped heart into beating again.

According to a press release from the sheriff's office, deputies on patrol have twice used the devices to save lives, including that of a 12-year-old Prattsburgh boy earlier this year.

But in 2005, the American Heart Association issued new guidelines for the use of the defibrillators that require some updates in the devices.

Ever since, Denis Oliver, who is past Exalted Ruler of the Bath Elks Club and a service officer with the Steuben County Veterans Service Agency, has been working to help the Sheriff's Department update its equipment.

Recently, he presented Undersheriff David V. Cole with a $500 check to that end.

Cole wrote that Oliver continues to work with community organizations to raise more money for the defibrillator upgrades.