Update 3-9-04


Hi,

I hate to start the week with sad news, but I have a double batch of it:

From Alison Altman: Please post that Donny Morenstein, class of '68, Martha Morenstein's brother, passed away last week. Thanks.

And from Ray Staley: Just to let you know, so you can pass it on to anyone who may have known him, my brother Marc Staley passed away suddenly on Sunday, February 29th, 2004. I think he was in South's class of '58, but I'm not really sure. Thanks.

[Rich -- I've sent my best both to Martha and Ray, and I'm sure they'd appreciate hearing from their friends.]

To even slightly begin to offset those losses, a note from Rachael Robinson Rizzo, whose name it's a pleasure just to say: Although I've been getting the weekly newsletter via a friend, I thought I'd send you my new e-mail address. It's: nightengale34654@yahoo.com Thanks.

Similarly, from Rob Kelman: Please use the following e-mail address to reach me: RKDesigns@cox.net Also, to let you know what I've been doing, check out this website: www.muralmagicinc.net

Also, some further people listed on Classmates.com, with hints of information about their present lives. If any of you were their particular friends and think a note mentioning your name might lure them into contacting us, please let me know, and I'll send them a blind e-mail through Classmates. Alphabetically:
Ellen Brody (Pilger)
Barbara Button (Married, 2 kids, living in Arizona)
Gary Gray (Divorced and conservative)
Roberta Grodin (Savarick)
Jack Hubbard
Carole LaDuca (Mascarini)
Janice Muller (Savoia) (Married, 3 kids, living in New Jersey)
Deborah Susner (Sack) (Married, 2 kids, living in California)
George Smith (Married, no kids, living in Alabama)
Robert Smith (Cross-referenced with Andersen Air Force base, 1968-70)
Pam Wagner (Sacaridiz) (A new Classmates listing, after we lost track of her -- separated, 3 kids)
Judy Weltner (Romano)
Robert Zelin (Widowed, 2 kids, living in New Jersey)
Linda Ziegler Anthony) (Cross-referenced with SUNY at Stonybrook)
Also, Kathleen and Pete Adamo are listed -- and I think we've had contact with her before, but I can't remember her maiden name (5 kids, living in Blacksburg, Virginia)

The final follow-up I've been waiting for about the Vince Tampio scholarship, from Liz King Giordano, the assistant to South's present principal Stephen Lando: I spoke to Dr. Lando about the plaque, and we can hang it in the main hallway. Do you want to purchase and send it to me, or would you like me to coordinate the purchase from someone we use locally? (We could order something with 10 nameplates on it, and then update the recipients annually.) The committee is meeting the last week in March to discuss all scholarships, and we close for Spring break April 5th through April 13th. I will contact you the week we get back to give you the winner for the check. That will give you plenty of time to mail it to me for our June presentation. Lastly, I will have the recipient write something for your newsletter, and I will be sure you receive it before school ends on June 25th.

[Rich -- I'll be in touch this week with the people who are funding the scholarship, to decide what we want to do about the plaque. I'll also start collecting this year's contributions. Paul DeMartino told me that since it's a relatively small amount annually, and since I'm mainly acting as the messenger, I don't have to do any fancy accounting. And with Martha Stewart as a current negative example, I'm certainly going to be honest.]

Robert Fiveson keeps sending me strange little animations, which he says can be captured by logging onto: www.incredimail.com But I haven't, presently, had the guts.

Additional music notes from Booker Gibson: Thanks for mentioning me and Eva Cassidy's "Somewhere Over The Rainbow." She recorded many, many songs in her boyfriend's studio. That's why more albums are still coming out 8 years after her death. That "Rainbow" song still has the most powerful impact on most people, especially the build-up to the ending. Turn up the volume and enjoy.
If you get a chance to read her biography, Songbird, or read the evacassidy.org website, you'll see so many examples of how well her work is received. I was ambushed the first time I heard "Rainbow," but I can take it most times now.

From Allen Moss in Maine: Hi, Vermont neighbor Jean Cohen Oklan! It's nice to know that us deep freeze die-hards can find beauty amidst the New England "frozen tundra." Thanks for sharing. Saw my first set of chickadees (the Maine State Bird), so Spring is not too far away. Hope all other falcons are well ... in whatever climate you currently reside!

Speaking of which, Barnet Kellman forwards the following from a friend: With all the news on TV lately about the sub zero weather and snow that the East coast and upstate New York areas are experiencing, we shouldn't forget that Southern California has its share of devastating weather also. There is a photo attached illustrating the excessive damage caused to a home from a West coast storm that passed through the Los Angeles area a couple of days ago. It really makes you cherish what you have, and reminds us not to take life for granted!!! (The attached photo shows a picture, on a placid, flower-boxed deck, of a delicately tipped over lawn chair.)

Still, we do have bad weather here -- though not yesterday when I was biking around in my shorts 'cause it was in the mid-80s. But here's a follow-up on the Fall fire damage, from Zelda White Nichols:  Firestorm 2003, this past October, was such a major event that I thought I would bring people up-to-date. Then, I realized this is a very depressing subject and isn't relevant to anyone but myself and others who may live in California. Still, in case you're interested:
     I was in the Cedar Fire -- the largest. The Paradise Fire was occurring simultaneously.
     Paradise Fire -- 56,700 Acres burned; Cedar Fire -- 273,246 Acres burned
     Paradise Fire -- 221 Homes lost; Cedar Fire -- 2,232 Homes lost
     Paradise Fire -- 2 Deaths; Cedar Fire -- 14 Deaths
     Four months have passed since these fires, and this area still looks like a war zone. Only 15% of home owners who were burned out have cleared their properties. Roads are still being repaved where they burned, utilities are still being replaced, and people are still trying to pick up their lives. It's probably why I haven't written in a while. There is so much to be done here, my energies have been going into trying to help friends who are victims, and I'm just not relating to most of what is being discussed otherwise right now. The longer that time passes and land is cleared, the more I'm noticing missing buildings. Just yesterday, I realized another home was gone, as I drove up my mountain and was able to see damage that wasn't noticeable before. This has tremendously affected everyone who lives in East County (our part of San Diego, and the most rural). My husband Dave and I are going to visit Nashville, Tennessee and Charlotte, North Carolina at the end of April to see if we want to consider relocating. Humidity is a factor for Dave -- we are so spoiled here -- and allergies will be a factor for me.

[Rich -- There are still a couple of more backlogged letters, but they'll have to wait till next week.]

The home page: http://hometown.aol.com/vssouth65

Rich