Update 7-20-04


Hi,

To begin with, a fast note from Jerry Bittman, about his health: With today's medical technology I was released the day after my surgery. Am in pain, but the pills do help. The doctors told me this will add years and years onto my life. So I will be around to bother you a while longer. HA-HA.

Then, a note from Booker Gibson: It really looks like the Booker T. Gibson Music Scholarship got off to a great start! I believe Vanessa has some great qualities (even though the competition is huge). If I hear of her in a local production, I'll be there. Perhaps before your 2005 reunion, another former student of mine, Sherry Finkel, Class of about '77, will record the Tampio/Gibson song "Even In A Crowd." She said she'd be glad to. She and a few other good singers loved it, though they'd never known Vince. Sherry lived near the flagpole of South High, right across from the dentist Dr. Atlas and his daughters. I guess they all attended Carbonaro Grade School.
     Did any of you pick up on the odd spelling of the band director Bob Liest's name in the 2004 graduation program? He said he and his family changed it to "Leist" because of the heavy anti-German feelings in both world wars. I don't remember for sure how Ann Clark might have altered her name. She was Italian Catholic and might have been a "first" in 1935.
     By the way, I did take the online political quiz Jerry Bittman mentioned. I'm very worried about the hot feelings there are. We are a very divided country.
     P.S. I also phoned Bob Leist in Sarasota, Florida, to tell him about the scholarship. He's about 85 now. I try to call him every year since he meant a lot to me also.

A couple of short political comments, first from Larry Rugen about Jerry Bittman's remark about Dick Cheney: Jerry, ya'll Never change! You just have to muck up a good thing with your political views.

And from Robert Fiveson about last week's forward from RoseMarie Cassillo: Please replace "Koran" with "Bill of Rights" and see if the spin changes at all -- "What good is it if the teachings in the Koran are good and pure and true, when some of your leaders are teaching fanatical interpretations, terrorism, and intolerance?"

The promised "thank you note" from Paul Ianniello: Dear Class of '65 -- my name is Paul Ianniello, and I was the recipient of the first Annual Vince Tampio Award this past June 9th, 2004. First, before I discuss my efforts on South's stage, I would just like to whole-heartedly thank the Class of '65 for acknowledging theater and the performing arts, and providing it with a scholarship to give it the recognition it deserves and has been somewhat deprived of throughout the years.
     My passion for performing came about when I was Daddy Warbucks in Annie in my fourth grade play. I realized then how much I loved being onstage and that performing was what I wanted to do in my life. My efforts in achieving this reward have varied. I was a constant participant in the musicals at South. My first ever musical at South was in 7th grade when I received the part of Bob Cratchet in Scrooge. Then, in 8th grade, I was Bill in School House Rock. In those shows, I learned how satisfying performing was, not only as a hobby for me, but as a possible future profession. Further shows included: Once on This Island (Daniel), Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye), and my last musical, Hello Dolly! (Cornelius). I also took part in numerous one-act plays and drama productions, the most recent being The Crucible (John Proctor). Performing also helped me strive to be the best student I could be in the classroom. The determination, hard work, and skill I developed on stage were the same attributes I used in the classroom and were what helped me to finish in the top ten percent of my graduating class.
Each time I step foot on the stage, I fall in love with the art of performing all over again. I get a feeling on stage that is unmatchable by anything else I have ever experienced in my life. I love touching people through my interpretations of characters, and the audience is the reason why I plan on pursuing performing as a career. After having to make a tough choice between Wagner College on Staten Island and Nazareth College in Rochester, both having accepted me into their Musical Theater programs, I plan to attend Nazareth College this coming fall. It was hard to turn down a well-known, established program like Wagner's; however, what appealed to me about Nazareth is this is the first year they will be having Musical Theater as a major. It is exciting to know that I can play a role in building Nazareth's program, to help it become a strong one in the future, and one that other students can turn to in order to succeed in the business. In the future, not only will I attend Nazareth College, but I will try to acquire new skills, from dancing to acting, in order to achieve my goal of performing on Broadway.
     This scholarship has helped me to advance further in achieving my goal, and, for that alone, I thank the Class of '65 for its acknowledgment of the Theater Arts at South High School. Your unbreakable bonds and constant communication over the years are truly inspiring for future graduation classes to stay in touch with those they grew up with. Thank you again for this honor. It is one I shall never forget.
     P.S. Your guidance and advice for the future would be much appreciated. If you have any words of wisdom to share, my e-mail address is: Mrlaugh7@aol.com

Paul's awards and scholarships, as listed in South's graduation program: Marist College Music Merit Scholarship and Marist Academic Scholarship, Wagner College Dean's Scholarship and Theater Arts Scholarship, SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music Adirondack Scholarship, Nazareth College Scholarships -- Founders, Regional, and Theater Arts, C.W. Post Academic Excellence Scholarship, Pappas Award -- Scholar/Athlete NCHSBCA, All-County Bowling, All-County NYSSMA, National Honor Roll, Student Council Service award, Excellence in American Sign Language Award, The Vince Tampio Theater Award, South High Faculty Award, The Robert W. Carbonaro Student Council Scholarship Award, Athletic Honor Society, Tri-M National Music Honor Society, National Second Language Honor Society, and National Honor Society.
     Also, the lyrics for "Valiant Falcons," slightly misprinted in the program, still have "our sons" departing from them hallowed halls, I guess leaving the poor women behind for the last forty-seven years.

Finally, a recipe -- we haven't had one of those for a while. From Barbara Blitfield Pech: While the reunion page has evolved into many things..the least expected s/b a swap meet for heart stopping calorie laden gosh darn good sweets. The reference Jerry noted, and again NOT the reason he is in [heart] surgery as we speak...is just too good [and easy] to not include..your choice..btw if you don't have Krispy Kreme nearby...MOVE!

Bill Nicholson's Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with Butter Rum Sauce recipe, courtesy of The Paula Deen Show.
Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Yield: about 12 servings -- 2 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
2 (4.5-ounce) cans fruit cocktail (undrained)
2 eggs, beaten
1 (9-ounce) box raisins
1 pinch salt
1 or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Butter Rum Sauce, recipe follows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cube donuts into a large bowl. Pour other ingredients on top of donuts and let soak
for a few minutes. Mix all ingredients together until donuts have soaked up the
liquid as much as possible.
Bake for about 1 hour until center has jelled. Top with Butter Rum Sauce.

Butter Rum Sauce:
1 stick butter
1 pound box confectioners' sugar
Rum, to taste
Melt butter and slowly stir in confectioners' sugar. Add rum and heat until bubbly.
Pour over each serving of Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding.

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



Rich