John Montone
You never know where John Montone will spend his morning.
It may be in midtown interviewing irate cabbies and truckers about the latest ticket blitz. Or at a noisy diner chatting up patrons about taxes, Bloomberg or baseball. Or in the bowels of the subways shouting to strap-hangers as the A-train roars by.
Montone is 1010 WINS morning street reporter. His tape recorder is like a giant stethoscope taking the pulse of the city and its suburbs. Too much snow? Not enough sex? The President is coming to town? The LIRR can’t make it into town? Trump said what? Excuse me sir, do you use Viagra?
When buildings burn, Montone is there. When a serial rapist is on the loose, Montone is there. When editor Maloney barks, “Bed-sty,” Montone doesn’t ask why.
At 4 A.M. when the wind-chill is 30-below he’s talking to homeless men around a trash can fire. When the snow drifts across the BQE he’s in the 1010 WINS Mobile Unit jumping out to get the sound of cars spinning their wheels and drivers cursing their fate.
He can be sarcastic or outrageous, solemn or angry. His tongue is never far from his cheek and he pours his heart into his notebook. To Montone news and life are one and the same. He writes movies to play in the listener’s mind.
And once in a while Montone even wails on his harmonica.
But as a blues man, he’s a pretty good news man.
Wonder where he’ll be tomorrow morning?
You can send John tips and story ideas at: montone@wins.com.
Want to Mouth Off? E-mail mouth@wins.com to share your opinion.
Stories Of Fatherhood: 1010 WINS’ John Montone
He grew up in what was called a cold water flat in West New York, N.J., and like a lot of other first generation immigrants, my father, John Louis Montone, had a lot of brothers and sisters – about half of whom survived infancy.
Expert: Elmo, Mickey, T-Pain Mic Are Must-Have Toys Of The Season
December will be here before you know it and the must-have toy list for kids is already here.
Maspeth Residents, Business Owners Say New Traffic Pattern Is Creating A Bigger Mess
It’s called the Maspeth Bypass but some locals are calling the traffic scheme the “Maspeth Mess.”
Tattoo Convention Coming To The Meadowlands
Celebrity tattoo artist Mario Barth is bringing “Inked Out New Jersey” to Secaucus from Sept. 23 through Sept. 25.
Activists Say Rotting Trees In Prospect Park Pose ‘Immediate Danger’
Activists say the Parks Department is ignoring the “immediate danger” of giant, rotted out trees that surround the lake at Prospect Park.
Grab Your Jacket! Fall Temperatures Usher Into New York Early
Fall may officially be one week away but with temperatures dropping nearly 40 degrees since Wednesday it feels like the seasons have already changed.
South Shore Of Long Island Preparing For Irene’s Best Punch
Westhampton Beach mayor Conrad Teller was in the third grade during the Great New England Hurricane in 1938. Recalling the storm, which left 50 people dead, Teller says, unlike Hurricane Irene, no one knew what was about to hit.
Tourist Recounts ‘Traumatic’ Experience After Carriage Horse Takes A Tumble
Theresa Shaver told 1010 WINS’ John Montone that her husband and son were sitting on the horse when it tripped over a curb and collapsed.
Morning Commute Snarled For LIRR Customers After Weather-Related Signal Problems
It was another rough morning for some commuters on the Long Island Rail Road following lightning strikes that zapped signal equipment Monday.
Newark Mayor Cory Booker Vetoes Measure Calling For Armed Guards At Late-Night Eateries
Mayor Cory Booker knocked down a measure approved by the City Council that would require fast food restaurants to post armed guards after 9 p.m. till closing saying that the eateries are only linked to 2 percent of all violent crime in Newark.
With More Than 200 People Shot This Year, Newark Residents Say City Crime Is Getting Worse
While Newark’s acting police director Samuel DeMaio claims the Safe City campaign is working, many residents say the streets don’t seem any safer.
Subway Series: NY Bragging Rights On The Line For Mets, Yankees
Two wins would secure Subway Series bragging rights to the Bronx. But not so fast, Yankees fans. Despite Thursday afternoon’s loss to Detroit, the Mets have been on a tear.
High School Athlete From Harlem Stabbed To Death After Graduation
19-year-old Isayah Muller led his Truman High School team to a victory in the PSAL Bowl Championship last fall, but his promising career came to an end Tuesday night.
Chicken Coops Popping Up In Backyards Across Brooklyn
Some folks in Brooklyn would make Frank Purdue proud. They’ve been raising chickens in their own backyards discovering the joys of freshly produced eggs.
Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery Serving As Stage For ‘The Spoon River Project’
Performers in The Spoon River Project aren’t planning on dancing on anyone’s grave—only acting.
VIDEO ON DEMAND 
