Today’s Saturday Stumper

Today’s Newsday  Saturday Stumper is by Steve Mossberg, whose last Stumper (June 4) left me defeated. I found today’s puzzle much more cooperative. It plays well with others, at least if the others are me. I started in the northeast corner with 11-A, three letters, “Call the Midwife airer.” That could be one of two answers, right? I tried one of them and moved to 15-A, four letters, “Shed thing.” Aha: those two answers gave me 11-D, ten letters, “Amateur group for many a sport,” which in turn yielded 15-D, five letters, “‘Few know ____ own strength’: Swift” and 29-A, five letters, “Put up.” This puzzle and I seemed to understand each other well. I got the right and left edges first. The northwest corner: that was the toughest.

Some clue-and-answer pairs of note:

1-D, four letters, “Exit sign regulator.” My guess was correct, but it took a while for me to have any reason to think it was.

8-D, four letters, “Performance composition.” ARIA? No.

14-A, ten letters, “Stellar saga.” I thought it had to be a movie title.

16-A, ten letters, “Seven-foot construction.” Is there a name for a massive hero sandwich?

19-A, six letters, “Mentor in uniform.” Surprising.

24-D, ten letters, “Novel numbers.” Nifty! I don’t think I’ve ever seen this answer in a puzzle.

25-D, ten letters, “Not to be answered.” As with 24-D.

32-D, nine letters, “Apt to blow you away.” Literally, or figuratively?

41-D, five letters, “What nearly half a billion call you.” A great clue.

48-A, six letters, “Name close to Washington’s in reference books.” I was not fooled.

My favorite in this puzzle: 45-D, five letters, “Pharmacy figure.” Very clever.

No spoilers; the answers are in the comments.