Update 2-8-05

Hi,

So two nuns and Jerry Bittman walked into a bar and asked about a Valley Stream stand-up comic:

From Andy Dolich: Larry Miller, the actor/comedian is from Valley Stream.

From Donald Faber: I didn't see the Comedy Channel show, but one stand-up comic I know from Valley Stream, who has also had some success as a writer and actor, is named J.J. Wall. Don't know if this is who Jerry had in mind, but I know that J.J. was definitely a schoolyard stickball player.

From Amy Bentley: You can ask Jerry Bittman if the comedian he saw on TV was possibly younger than himself, bald, and in a lot of TV and movies. That would be Larry Miller. He's from Hungry Harbor Road, South class of '71.

From Steve Cahn: The only professional comedian I am aware of from Valley Stream is Larry Miller. I don't know if he is the comedian Jerry saw on TV. I was good friends with Larry -- whose nickname at South was "House" due to his large size -- and I've followed his career. He started in stand-up about 20 years ago and has gone on to play in nearly 50 movies (Pretty Woman, Princess Diaries, Raising Helen, Glory Days) and many TV series (Fame, Boston Legal, Law & Order, Seinfeld, Single Guy). Larry was also the subject of a big Internet hoax, when an article he wrote on Israeli/Palestinian relations was attributed to stand-up comic and talk show host Dennis Miller. It was one of those popular e-mails that was forwarded around and around. Larry ended up appearing on Dennis Miller's show to talk about the popularity of the essay and the mix up of the two Millers. Larry is a member of the class of '71. His filmography appears at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0588777/

From Ryki Zuckerman: Did we already "talk" about a somewhat famous Valley Streamer in Hollywood -- Steve Buscemi? And, of course, Les Moonves (CBS president) is a Valley Stream alumni, but both he and Buscemi were at Central High. My sister, who sometimes writes for The Hollywood Reporter and Premiere magazine, asked Buscemi if he would do a phone interview with her, but I don't think he even answered. She graduated from South in 1960, a few months before I started there.

From Barnet Kellman: Well, I didn’t see the Comedy Central show Jerry saw, but if the guy is bald with a craggy face, it’s Larry Miller, who went to none other than South High. He’s a hugely funny guy and a very outspoken political columnist as well. The tiny role that first brought him notice was as the supercilious Rodeo Drive salesman that Richard Gere gives his Amex Card to in Pretty Woman and says, "Now I want some real sucking up."
   Also, not to show any disrespect to Johnny Carson, but do any of you remember the two-week period when we were about 14, just before Carson took over The Tonight Show? They were trying out replacement hosts for Jack Paar, and Jerry Lewis was on every night. Now THAT was funny!

Something else that got lost during the Johnny Carson week tribute, from Zelda White Nichols -- who should now be comfortably settled in North Carolina: We have been in southern California for 6 1/2 years and have come to the conclusion that Alpine is a town of extremes. Extreme fires, extreme heat in the summer, and extreme winds. In six years, we have been in three major fires and have seen smoke from at least one hundred other brush fires that pop up here and in Mexico (we aren't too far from the border). This last wind storm between Christmas and New Year's uprooted trees more than any hurricane I had ever been in while living on the East Coast. We lost four trees ourselves. Many of our roads have been closed on-and-off during the last month due to flooding and mudslides (fortunately none so severe as to be newsworthy). Whenever the Santa Anas winds blow, we know to prepare for a messy yard and fire weather. Living in a high desert area, it gets HOT in the summer. I don't care how dry it is, after the first year, when your body adjusts, hot is just plain hot. I never would have dreamed I would actually say I miss winter, but it has happened this year, and we are looking forward to heading east again with our three cats.

Some other mail, first from Grace Dibble Kincade: We had some computer trouble a while ago, lost some things, and then went with DSL. We tried to send our new address to everyone, but apparently it didn't always get through. It's now: glkincade@sbcglobal.net

Also from Grace: At the moment, my husband Larry and I are getting ready for a trip to Abilene, Texas to visit Travis and family -- which will be growing by another son in mid-May. They are also moving to the Dallas area in a few weeks, which means I will be able to visit with Ellen Epstein Silver.

From Barbara Blitfield Pech: I keep forgetting about it, but I did happen to visit the reunion home page a few weeks back and found new pictures. I must remember to "stop by" more often.
Also, my son Evan's wedding is in just a few weeks -- March 19th. I'm getting mother-of-the-groom antsy, so, as I mentioned to Grace Dibble Kincade, it's a good time for her to give me her best "Been there, done that, mom talk." It's going to be a big old Saturday night black tie affair. I'm quite sure Evan is ready for this, but the question, of course, is ... "Am I?"

From Allen Moss: Who are the teachers that are invited to the reunion, and did we make sure to invite Mr. Saffrin this time? We invited him at the last minute for our 37th, and he was not able to come.

[Rich -- as I wrote Allen: I think Paul DeMartino plans to invite any teachers we can track down. The biggest problem is finding them. Though we have plenty of planning time for this reunion, so everyone should get invited well in advance. Still, if there are any teachers you're interested in finding, and if you have any clues as to where they might have gone, send them along. I'll ask in the newsletter, too.]

Allen wrote back: The only other teacher I can think of is Janet Porter, who we tried to locate last time. She married another Valley Stream South teacher with the last name of Van-something. I believe he was a history teacher.

[Rich -- I think it's Van Tassel. But knowing that didn't help us last time, either.]

Further travel notes from my friend Melody Eckhart in Singapore: We learned about the tsunami the same way most of you did, on television. Singapore was not affected at all, as it's a charmed little country which sits in a protected area at the base of Malaysia. It faces the South China Sea, but has the buffer of Indonesia to its west and south and Malaysia to its north. The tsunami was two land masses to our west, so didn't even raise the water level here. However, the Singaporean armed forces provided some of the first rescue teams to arrive in Banda Aceh, and they have been lauded by all of the Asian communities for being supremely organized and being able to aid the stricken people when they most needed it.
   Right now, most of the volunteers going to help are health workers, though some people are going with churches to aid children and help identify what will be needed for the future. At present, Ken and I have been able to do nothing more than donate money, but we're hoping that, in the future, there will be house-building trips available where people with no medical skills can make a contribution.
   On a happier thought, one of the more enjoyable parts about living here is that we celebrate all the holidays of all the religions and ethnic groups. Gong xi fa cai means "Wishing you great prosperity," and it's the greeting used for the new year in China, which this year falls on February 9th. This holiday is the largest and most important to the Chinese people, wherever they live. Everyone is expected to return to his or her home, to be with and celebrate with family, so many shops and businesses are closed for the entire week. Chinatown is especially ablaze with lights and hung with streamers. People also gather in the streets to eat and play, and there are numerous lion dancers. The rest of Singapore also dresses up, with festive-looking lanterns hung from trees and posts and red banners flowing from doorways (red is the color of good luck). Another colorful and symbolic decoration is the miniature orange tree, about four-to five feet tall and packed with tiny oranges. They represent good luck and money. Oranges are also a good gift to your neighbors, and red packets called ang mos are filled with small amounts of money and generally given to children. But they may also be given to people who've helped you throughout the year.
   This new year is the Year of the Rooster, so anyone born in this year is a taskmaster, a seeker of perfection who strives for precision. In this year, all things will be restored to their rightful places, which sounds pretty good to me. Next Tuesday, we are off to Phuket, Thailand, for five days, to celebrate. There may be some travel and hotel problems due to the tsunami, but it's important for the economy that people don't stay away. As one web site for tours says, "We don't want your handouts -- we want your business."

Finally, the repeating reunion information:
When: August 5th, 6th, 7th (Friday night through Sunday noon)
Where: Hilton Long Island/Huntington, 598 Broadhollow Road, Melville, New York, 11747
Cost: $100 per person
Phone Number: 631-845-1000, during daytime business hours. Ask for the Reservations Desk and mention our class reunion discount. Hotel rooms should be $129/night.
Reunion Package Includes:
Friday night cocktail party with snacks and cash bar (7:00 PM -- Midnight)
Saturday night buffet with open bar & DJ (7:00 PM -- Midnight; Dinner at 8:00)
Lobby area with cash bar available both nights to continue parties
Teachers comped for both parties
SEND: Checks to Dennis Shapiro. 495 Wateredge Avenue, Baldwin, New York, 11510. Please make them out to: VSS 40th Reunion.
Also: Since there are a limited number of Friday night hotel rooms being held, please e-mail Dennis Shapiro when you've made your reservations so he can lobby for more. His e-mail address is: dshapiro@optonline.net
The home page: http://hometown.aol.com/vssouth65

Rich