Update 1-22-08

Hi,

A series of notes and some South High business.

From Ira Mitzner to Andy Dolich:  I see that you're still a sinner and will not make amends to me by treating me to 49ers tickets.  Give me a call if you come into Washington.  I'd still like to see you, despite the Visa / MasterCard crack.
   
    History notes from Jerry Bittman:  I was ecstatic today to read about the waterfalls planned for New York City this summer.  The four falls will be anywhere from ninety to one-hundred-and-twenty feet high and will be sponsored by the New York Public Art Fund.  This organization, which is responsible for many other events in the city, was founded over thirty years ago by Doris C. Freedman.
        Doris was a magnificent individual who began this foundation with full support from Mayor Lindsay.  It
    is rewarding to see that her goal of making New York a better place is still being carried on.  Unfortunately, Doris was taken away from us at an early age due to complications from anesthesia during minor surgery.  But I remember, as a teen-ager, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade from her penthouse on Central Park West.  What reminds me of that day was not the parade, but, instead, for the first time in my life, I ate and ate and ate Moo Shu Pork.
        The C in Doris' name stood for Chanin.  Her father Irwin Chanin owned a lot of real estate in New York City including the Chanin Building on East 42nd Street.  Chanin also had the foresight to buy property on Long Island which, as many of you know, he developed into a residential community and shopping center called Green Acres.
        I also know that Doris, her husband Alan, and their nephew Kenny Seelig are up in heaven rooting for their beloved Yankees.
   
    From Shirley Hess Deutsch:  In response to your comment about adding "Shirley" to your mailing list -- yes, I want to be added.  I have actually been getting the newsletter for quite some time now, forwarded from someone from the class of '65.  I am Shirley Hess Deutsch from the class of '66.  I have reconnected with a number of people based on information in the newsletter, including Mrs. Schmidt and Mr. Gibson.  Thanks for including me.
   
    From Ryki Zuckerman:  Instead of "Anslinger," as you wrote last week, do you mean "Arlene Ainbinder,"  class of '66?
   
    [Rich -- Yep, that's what I meant.  Which I wrote Ryki, and then I immediately apologized to Arlene.]
   
    Arlene wrote back:  Yes, it's "Ainbinder."  Thanks.
   
    [Rich -- Arlene, again, sorry.]
   
    From Tom McPartland:  Good update last week, and I concur with Rich Sternhell.  Nice how the weekly newsletter shows how many of our classmates are, and remain, friends over the years.
   
    From Barbara Blitfield Pech:  As some of you know, I am just back from a weekend in New York.  There's no place like home, and the tube steaks at the umbrella cafe -- hot dogs from the corner street vendor's cart -- are just as good as ever.  No... better.  Yum!
   
    Also from Barbara:  I may have sent an earlier version of this information, but this is the best link to keep -- http://www.tropicalglen.com/   As you can see when you sign in, this is a jukebox, but it's no ordinary jukebox.  It will play all of your favorite songs from 1950 through 1984.  Each year has a scroll or drop down box that shows all the great songs for that year.  Most years have over forty songs.  Once you click on a song, it will play, and when it finishes, it automatically plays the next song on the list and continues until it has played all the songs.  It has a volume control which you should use in conjunction with your computer's volume control.
         One of the best features is that it will play in the background.  That means you can be doing other computer work on a different screen.  For those of you who are not too familiar with this, just open the jukebox, start a song list playing, and then open another window in your browser and use that window to surf the net or do whatever you want while the music plays.  I set the link up on my desktop as a favorite, so all I have to do is click on it, and it opens automatically.
   
    From Amy Lieberman, more news about "where that sweet sounding voice of Billy Valentine can yet again be heard in this new year:"
        Friday, February 1 -- Cafe Cordiale, 14015 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, California.  818-789-1985.  With the rock and blues band Off the Hook.  10 PM -- first set.  11:30 PM -- second set
        Wednesday, February 6 -- Casa Del Mar Hotel, 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, California.  310-581-5533.  With the Stuart Elster Trio.  6:30 PM -- 10:30 PM in the lounge
        Friday, February 29 -- Cafe Cordiale.  Same information as February 1.
        See you there if you can make it.  I know it's far for many of you, and we all have our busy lives.  But just so you know what we're up to.
   
    Finally, two business notes from South High, the first from Claire Brush Reinhardt:  Yesterday, I attended a school culture committee meeting at South, representing the Alumni Association.  The committee is charged with carrying on the very fine tradition of "Service to School and Community" that South has become so well known for.  In fact, the rest of the district looks to South's fine example, and I am told that the Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Education would love it if the other schools followed in South's footsteps.
        One of the subjects that came up is that South will be hosting a Career Day on March 19 at the school,
    starting off with a breakfast for all participants and a keynote speaker, still to be determined.  I was asked to contact you to see if there is any interest from alumni to return to South on that day to speak about their careers.  All are welcome.  The committee would truly love to have alumni come and speak to the kids.  I know that many of you have followed some very interesting career paths, and wouldn't it be great to share that at your Alma Mater and return to those hallowed halls?  The new principal Ms. Maureen Henry is wonderful and really reminds me of the spirit that was there in those golden days of South, when we all roamed those halls and wore those silly senior hats.
        If you are interested, please contact either of the following faculty members who are helping to coordinate the day:  Ms. Nell Landman at:  landman@vschsd.org or Mr. Michael Mahler at:  mahlerm@vschsd.org.  Also, if you could please let me know as well, as representative from the Alumni Association, that would be great.  My e-mail address is still:  reino@optonline.net
        The meetings of the Alumni Association are ongoing and are really great fun.  It would be terrific if more of you local alums came out to join us.  We meet at 7:15 PM in the South library, and the dates for the rest of the school year are as follows:  February 7, March 6, April 3, May 1, and June 5.  We are always happy to accept your membership dues and scholarship donations.
        Stay well and keep in touch.  Happy New Year to you and yours.  I hope 2008 finds you all well and happy.
   
    Some further details on Career Day, forwarded by Emily Kleinman Schreiber:
    Valley Stream South High School in partnership with the Valley Stream Central High School District Business Advisory Council is pleased to announce that on March 19, 2008, we will be hosting a “Career Day” for our ninth graders.  The event will take place during periods 1--3 (7:45 AM -- 10:15 AM) and will kick off with a keynote speaker.  The purpose of the “Career Day” is to provide students with an educational opportunity that will inspire them to pursue the skills, knowledge, and experiences that are necessary to succeed in today's constantly evolving world.  To help foster the school-to-work connection we would like your help.  If you are interested in speaking to our students about your occupation and sharing your experiences in today's workplace, please contact Nell Landman, Department Chair, Special Education, or Michael Mahler, Department Head, Career and Tech Education, at 781-0300, so they can give you further details.  We would also like to extend this invitation to anyone you may know who would be eager to speak with our students.  Thank you in advance for your help and cooperation.  We look forward to your assistance in making this “Career Day” a learning experience for all.
   
    Also, directly from Emily:  Please let me know if your class is having a reunion in the near future, or if you hear of any other class from South that is having a reunion.  I need to include that updated information in the Alumni Association Bulletin I'm working on.
   
    [Rich -- And, because I'm going to be in New York briefly to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday on March 20, I sent an e-mail to Nell Landman and Michael Mahler asking if it would be too weird for me to talk about scene design for theater, television, and film to 9th graders.  Nell Landman wrote back, "We certainly have kids who would find that interesting," so I'll probably talk for a couple minutes -- barring snow.]