Update 4-20-04


Hi,

Predictably, notes from folks about reunion sites. Less predictably: rats in Valley Stream. First, more immediate news:

From Liz King Giordano, South's secretary to principal Stephen Lando: Just got your message about Booker Gibson. I typed a note to the principal today and will let you know tomorrow how fast we can move on this. It sounds very exciting, and it's such an honor for Booker to know how everyone feels about him while he is alive to hear it!

The next day, from Liz King Giordano: Dr. Lando thinks it's a great idea and wants to get it on the Board agenda of next week (4/20). Can you e-mail me a note detailing the scholarship name and criteria, and confirm the award amount, so I can forward your note with a cover memo to the Board of Education, requesting approval?

[Rich -- I sent the following: First, thanks to both you and Stephen Lando for trying to make this second scholarship happen so quickly.
     Next, the guidelines for the Booker Gibson Music award would parallel those for the Vince Tampio Theater award: We'd like to recognize the outstanding work of a (preferably) graduating Music student each year. But if no senior is available, then a junior could be considered. The award would be 500 dollars each year, and the Class of '65 would guarantee it being continued for at least 10 years. All we'd like in return is a letter from the chosen student telling our class of his or her plans, so we can circulate the information in our weekly newsletter. We'd have someone from our class who was one of Booker's students -- or someone from another class who was one of his students -- present the award each year, and, I suppose we'd want to put up a plaque somewhere in the halls, too (not being too greedy, are we?) Also, though we haven't addressed it specifically in Vince's case, I guess we'd leave it to your awards committee to decide whether a student could win the award two years in a row, if it was first won as a junior. In any case, we sure would like to offer more money, but, just presently, some of our classmates are still putting their own kids through college.
     There's also the chance, if he's willing, that Booker would do us the honor of presenting the award -- or, at least, be present at the assembly. That's something we haven't asked him yet.]

(Booker, I guess this is one way of asking you.)

On to the reunion notes, in the order received:

From Zelda White Nichols: Due to a trip to North Carolina this coming Friday, things will be pretty hectic. Once I return home, however, I would be happy to look into a reunion package here in San Diego. Until just two-or-three years ago, our main industry was tourism and conventions. I would think some hotels would have packages. We might also get a good rate on a charter flight. Hope everyone had a good holiday week.

From Larry Rugen: Reunion out of town? It just so happens that I do have some details for an out-of-town reunion, as I just completed the arrangements for the second reunion of our Army "Hahn Flugplatz" group. Our gathering is going to be for 4 days and 3 nights in Branson, Missouri, in October, 2004. It includes hotel ($185 for a room sleeping up to 4 people, and that's for all 3 nights, not per night). Plus, $132 per person covers 3 buffet breakfasts, 2 catered dinners, and 3 shows (Branson is like Las Vegas, but with no gambling). One of the 3 shows is also a dinner cruise/show on an old-time paddle wheeler. With 30 booked rooms, we get the hospitality suite for 3 days at no charge. We chose the Honeysuckle Inn and Conference Center, but there are over 100 places to choose from; of course, prices will be different. We chose Branson because it is central in the United States, it caters to groups and reunions, and it has a lot to offer.
     Interested is seeing more on Branson? Go to: www.bransontourismcenter.com/index.php Interested in seeing what we set up? Go to: www.flugplatz-hahn.org/

From Allen Moss: Hi, Everyone. Moss in Maine here. First, thanks to the recently-convened members of the 40th reunion team for all their efforts to make our next get-together as great as the first one was! Can't believe we are close already. I was cyberchatting with Linda Iaquinto a little bit ago, and we both were amazed that the time had passed so quickly. If I can put my "two-cents" in early in the game, I would absolutely vote to return to the same hotel and the same time of year (this month) as last time. Please correct me if my recollections are wrong. I felt, with the exception of the problem with the hospitality suite, everything seemed pretty nice. The rooms were comfortable, the dinner food seemed fine, the hotel was close to other restaurants, so we could get out, it was close to a wooded area where a bunch of us got out to get some fresh air, the health club facilities were great, and for the Sunday morning "night of the sleepless dead" final event, I remember the breakfast buffet being really tasty and nicely laid out. Plus, there seemed to be plenty of "schmoozing areas" in the lobby and surrounds where groups of us chatted informally and caught up during the whole weekend. Is it possible that the hotel might give us a rate break if we returned. Or ... would they just simply tell us to "take a hike" after last time?! Can't remember how people felt that came by air, but I don't believe I heard anyone complaining about how poorly located the hotel was from connecting trans-links. Will look forward to hearing other comments and opinions.
     Hope everyone is well! It is not too late to taste some great New England seafood this summer! The Moss welcoming committee is ready when you are.

A possibly useful link for California residents, also from Zelda White Nichols: I was at work this AM when the big rig rolled, spilling fuel, and blocking I-8 for about 3 hours. I watched the ongoing dispatches via this site. Also, when the Cedar fire began, I watched the progress from work and was able to know which roads were closed in order to get home safely. Anyway, it's a good site to put in your "favorites." http://cad.chp.ca.gov/

And a possibly less useful link, from Robert Fiveson: In my ongoing, highly motivated, and well-honed concern for the happiness of my former classmates and their intellectual and sexual well being, I refer you to the following website, wherein one can command a subservient chicken ... oh, heart be still! http://www.subservientchicken.com

On the international front, from Terri Donohue Calamari's daughter Trish (who probably gets tired of being introduced that way): Thankfully, it's been a quiet week in Uzbekistan, and I've primarily been focusing on getting settled. Samarkand is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the country, if not the world. I remember learning about the Silk Road in middle school, but never in a million years did I ever imagine living along it.
     I really like my NGO assignment, working for an organization that specializes in women's health and rights. My director and counterpart are incredible, and I look forward to working on some projects soon. Their website, if you're interested, is: http://ayol.freenet.uz
     My new host family is nice and well-intentioned, but, diplomatically speaking, they drive me nuts. The other day, we nearly got into a fight because the mother insisted that I couldn't go to sleep without watching El Clon (It's a telenovella -- they're huge in Uzbekistan. I think, in the United States, they air it on either Telemundo or Univision). Ultimately, I pretended not to understand what she was saying, said "Good night," and beelined it to my bedroom. Fortunately, I only have to stay until summer.

Finally, those rats, forwarded from Barbara Blitfield Pech, from a forward from Robin Feit Baker, who first spotted the piece in the April 11th Newsday: A Valley Stream home was the site of an incident in which 20 palm crosses with rodents attached were strewn across the front yard, Nassau police said yesterday. A Benson Place homeowner found the palm crosses and attached dead mice and rats early yesterday. The homeowner called police who found a live rat sitting on a window sill outside the home's basement. The Emergency Service Unit removed the animals, and the family who live in the home declined to comment. But neighbor Jennifer Rodreguez said the family is Catholic and has lived in the house for more than eight years. She also said that she saw the crosses early yesterday morning, thrown around the yard, on the windowsills, and on the family car. "I thought it was a crazy incident -- that it might have been neighborhood kids or something."

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


Rich