Update 5-17-05

Hi,

All kinds of stuff, beginning with a very nice note:

From Alan Finder to Dennis Shapiro: I've been reading in recent weeks in Rich Eisbrouch's letters of the problems with the reunion. Like many people, I'm sure, I feel terrible about this. I probably can't attend, as I'm scheduled to be on vacation that week and have limited ability to rearrange my schedule, but I decided I'll sign up anyway and send my check in to you later this week. If I turn out to be able to go, fine. And if I can't, please consider it a donation. I hope the news of distress coaxes many classmates to commit to attending or to helping deal with the financial issues. Thanks for all your efforts on behalf of the event.

[Rich -- That made my week.]

From Liz King Giordano, who probably gets tired of being introduced as the assistant to South's current principal, Stephen Lando: The recipient of the Vince Tampio Theater Scholarship this year is Jeffrey Leshansky. The recipient of the Booker Gibson Music Scholarship this year is Anderson Lee.

[Rich -- I thanked Liz, told her the checks would be in the mail by the end of this week, and passed the news on to Booker Gibson and Linda Tobin Kettering, class of '69, who will be presenting this year's awards. Linda promptly wrote back.]

From Linda Tobin Kettering: Thanks for the update. If I remember from a few years ago, South High School prints up the scholarship certificates, right? Do you send the scholarship checks directly to the school?
   Also, I have a copy of the post that you wrote on Vince after he passed away, so I can use some of that in the introduction, unless Bob Fiveson has his speech from last year! If there is anything specific you want mentioned, please let me know. Also, what were the exact years Vince taught at South? Any information anyone has that I can use is appreciated. Thanks.

[Rich -- So please send any information you have to me, and I'll pass it on to Linda.]

From Barbara Blitfield Pech: Just a few random thoughts. I am more surprised at the question about "Sen-Jun Hall," rather than one about the apple machine. Also, I will assume that Mr. Sykes stayed on long after we did, or that his memory is just legendary (no pun intended, Mr. Rosov). And speaking of Molly's: has anyone ever successfully duplicated Molly's egg salad? I watched Leo make it for years, and as simple as it was -- eggs and mayonnaise -- I have never gotten the taste to match. Any suggestions (and please don't anyone suggest that it was Miracle Whip).
From a fan who prefers to remain anonymous: The Allen Moss part of last week's letter was so funny!

[Rich -- Ya got groupies, Al]

From a different anonymous reader: Who is Ira Levy?

[Rich -- Ira, either you can explain yourself, of if Robert Fiveson would be so gracious?]

Also from Linda Tobin Kettering, a more detailed account of "The Recent Unpleasantness on the Bridge," written by N. Falco and forwarded from the online Long Island Herald: A confrontation between two Queens teens on the footbridge behind South High School last Wednesday afternoon turned violent, leaving one in critical but stable condition with multiple stab wounds and landing the other behind bars.
   According to police, the 17-year-old victim, a Jamaica resident, tried to collect a $2 "toll" from suspect Michael Reed, 19, and three friends as they were crossing the bridge at about 3:15 PM. When neither the suspect nor his friends complied, police said the victim reached into Reed's pockets and tried to take his headphones and skateboard. Reed, a Rosedale resident, responded by taking out a pocket knife and allegedly stabbing the victim about five times in his back, left thigh, and chest.
The suspect fled to nearby Green Acres Mall, where he was later arrested based on witnesses' descriptions. "Police found [Reed] near the food court with blood on his hands," said Detective Lt. Robert Cuerbo of the Fifth Precinct.
   Meanwhile, a few South High School students acted quickly to get the victim medical attention. They brought him into South, and school officials called 911. The victim was airlifted to Nassau University Medical Center, where he was where he was treated for multiple stab wounds and listed in critical but stable condition.
   "Some of our students acted extremely well by helping the person who was stabbed into South High School to get treated, because he was bleeding badly," Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marc Bernstein said, offering an explanation to residents gathered for a budget hearing that night. "The person was brought into South High School and given emergency treatment by some members of our staff."
   Neither the victim nor the suspect is a student at South, which is located on Jedwood Place, but they were near the school because each has friends who attend it, police said. "The only reason why South High School was filmed by some of the TV helicopters is because the incident occurred near the school, and because the person was brought into our school," Bernstein said.
   The incident did cause confusion in the community as to who was involved, where the altercation actually occurred, and what sparked it. "It's very confusing," said Terry Gardner, who lives near the school. "Everybody's got a different story."
   Immediately after the incident, the school went into lockdown mode, meaning that no one could enter or exit the building. Though the school day had ended at 2:48 PM, students were still in the building for extracurricular activities. The nearby Forest Road and Robert W. Carbonaro schools were also locked down as a precaution until the suspect was apprehended.
Reed, of 143-10 243rd Street, was charged with first-degree assault and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
   As a result of the incident, some South parents are calling for the footbridge, which is Town of Hempstead property, to be closed. The bridge serves as an easement between the school and the Mill Brook community. There is a similar bridge near North High School.
   "We'll be looking into the history of the two easements," said Bernstein. "I'm also asking the administrators at each building how those two easements are used. We'll collect facts first."

Finally, OK, it's a lot easier to get a letter published in The New York Times than to get a short story published in The New Yorker. But I'd never tried the Times before. This letter was very specific, and it isn't going to change the world. It was published on May 11th. If you didn't see the May 4th article it was responding to, it was written by Michael Winerip and titled "SAT Essay Test Rewards Length and Ignores Errors." I can send you a copy.
   To the Editor:
   I teach SAT writing prep in Los Angeles. I don’t grade on length, but I do teach very formulaic writing, the old tech writing formula: First you tell your readers what you’re going to tell 'em; then you tell 'em; then you tell him what you told 'em.
   I warn students that this is very formulaic, English-teacher writing. We hold tight to thesis sentence and five-paragraph structure. I explain that this is a lesson in logic and structure and is closer to answering a quick essay question on a test rather than to actual essay writing.
   I also tell students that they’re being graded holistically, not for small, individual errors, but for the strength of their overall argument. But I don’t let them get away with errors. If they start the American Revolution in 1842, I flat out tell them that they’re wrong and drop their grades.
   Strangely, I think that the SAT essay is a good writing exercise. It’s like haiku. It forces you to work fast and in a tight structure. Every student should know how to write this kind of essay. It’s the basis of all essay tests.
   Rich Eisbrouch
   Los Angeles, May 5, 2005

And 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
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
Former teachers comped for both parties, and we're trying to attract as many of
our former teachers as possible.
NOTE: If you just want to come to the Friday night party, a $25 contribution per person is
requested.
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 hotel's Phone Number is: 631-845-1000. Ask for the Reservations Desk and mention our class reunion discount. Hotel rooms should be $129/night.
The home page: http://hometown.aol.com/vssouth65

Rich