Update 10-31-06

Hi,

Uh, Happy Halloween.

Also, AOL and Yahoo seemed to be fighting each other last week, because the fifteen newsletters I sent to Yahoo e-mail addresses were all returned.  Twice.  So I'm not really sure who finally got them, and I'll have to see if it happens again this week.  But some people did let me know that the second or third try got through, and other people asked their friends to forward a copy or wrote me asking if I'd skipped the newsletter.  Just thought you all ought to know.
   
    Some other news, first from Paul DeMartino:  Just a quick catch-up to let you know that Dennis Shapiro, Robin Feit, and I attended the reunion held by the classes of '61, '62 and '63 this past Saturday.  It was well attended, and there were several people from other classes there as well.  Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Gibson, and Mr. Saffrin were there.  They looked to be in good health and were all enjoying themselves.  I met Eileen Gunderson from the Class of '66.  Her family lived behind mine on Woodlawn Avenue, when we lived on Miriam Street.  She looked great and now lives in Pittsburgh.  Her two sisters also were there and had been in the earlier classes.  Arlene Ainbinder Lynn from the Class of '66 also sat with us, and we all had a nice time listening to the DJ play oldies.
   
    From Denise Frango Baxter:  Robert Carbonaro was the superintendent of district 24 when he died of a heart attack.  I was certain that he had also been the principal at William Buck Elementary School.  He was our neighbor on Bixley Health in Lynbrook and was a wonderful man who knew the names of all the children at Buck and in the neighborhood.
   
    From Barbara Blitfield Pech:  Far be it from me to correct a teacher, but I entered the new Harbor Road School in the second grade, after my kindergarten and first grade tenure at Brooklyn Avenue while Harbor was under construction.  If I recall, and I should as I was certainly in her office enough, the principal was Sarah Rumpleton, a lovely and dear grandmotherly appearing woman who certainly did not fit her, to a second grader, scary name or her title.  Also, if I am not further mistaken, Robert Carbonaro was on the school board, but I could be mistaken about his position.
        Also, I truly appreciated, enjoyed, and heartily laughed at the footnote prose -- pun
    intended -- that Joanne Shapiro Polner included.  I'm just wondering if she remembers ever writing anything with reference to...senior moments -- sorry, again, pun intended.
   
    A quick correction from Linda Cohen Greenseid:  My son Jamie Kelman is Kelman as in Rob (Bob), not Kellman as in Barnet, who is not the father of my child.
   
    [Rich -- Damn.  I didn't know that.  Sorry, Linda, Rob, Barnet, and Jamie.]
   
    From Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  Instead of the floats we used to make for the North-South game parade, the students at South now make banners.  They parade them around the football field shortly before the game starts, just before the homecoming king and queen are crowned.

    A question that came up in conversation:  Do we have any former class members in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area of Florida?  If you live there, please let me know, 'cause I've kinda lost track.  Thanks.
   
    Finally, highlights from the Alumni Association minutes from their meeting on September 28, 2006.  As always, respectfully submitted by Roberta Brill Birnel, secretary.
        There were seventeen people in attendance:  Joseph Anfora, Roberta Brill Birnel, Paul DeMartino, Booker Gibson, Karen Grimm, Eileen Howell, Linda Tobin Kettering, Irwin Kotcher, Barbara Peres Napolitano, Claire Brush Reinhardt, Ray Richford, Emily Kleinman Schreiber, Dennis Shapiro, Eric Spinner, Ken Ulric, Laura Waxman Ulric, and Frank Lauro.
        Emily began by relating principal Stephen Lando’s request that we survey Alumni Association members to share special expertise with students as part of the Alumni Speakers’ Bureau (Shared Decision Making Team).  Dr. Lando will send us forms with guidelines.  On this topic, Booker Gibson told us about a woman lawyer who has volunteered to speak to Valley Stream girls about opportunities for women.
        The beautification project for the courtyard has just been approved by the Board of Education.  We decided that we do not want commemorative bricks to be placed in the courtyard.  We prefer using the front walkway, where they will be more visible.  Irwin Kotcher brought in a sample brick.  Stephen Lando joined our meeting and said that the Valley Stream Central High School District board requires that we submit an architectural drawing showing both the top and side views of the plot and measurements of the area to be covered.  Irwin said that he would look into ordering bricks from the local business recommended by Stephen Lando.
        The Board also approved our Association's gift of $200, to be used towards the beautification project.  Dr. Lando expressed his wishes that the Association be involved in the courtyard project.  We will be paying for a tree, or trees, and a bench.  He also mentioned a time capsule, which has been buried in the courtyard, though it is not certain when it was placed there and when it should be opened.
        Other notes:
        The DVD of the 50th Anniversary Celebration on March 11th, created from videotaping during that day, is still in production.
        Mr. Peddle, Assistant Principal, is handling the Acts of Kindness project.  Dr. Bernstein, District Superintendent, wants each group participating from South, North, and Central high schools, to involve students in their committees.  Each group should carry out a project and be a model for students.  Thank you to Claire Brush Reinhardt, Laura Ulric, and Enid Koss Parness for holding a meeting of the Acts of Kindness Committee.
        The Association thanked Stephen Lando for approving the printing of the revised Memory Journals.
        American Education Week Open House is Friday, November 17.
        Emily reported that letters were sent to the Class of 2006 graduates, and that two new members joined the Association as a result.
        Events attended by members were:
        •  A group attended the Peter, Paul, and Mary concert at Westbury Music Fair after dining at the Milleridge Inn.  The theater party was organized by Ken and Laura Ulric.
        •  The Lido Beach Party for Classes of ’74, ’75, and ’76.
        •  Laughter on the 23rd Floor at the Stage, featuring Association member Joe Anfora.
        Barbara Peres Napolitano suggested that the Association send a “Wish-List” to Association members, to elicit expert advice in various fields, for example, law, architecture, and insurance.  The list would be included in the Autumn Newsletter.
        Dennis Shapiro presented the Treasurer’s report.  We have $4,476.14 and 288 members.
        Members began a discussion of the by-laws presented by Emily Kleinman Schreiber, Dennis Shapiro, and Roberta Brill Birnel.  But it was suggested that a copy of the draft be e-mailed to members, so that they could familiarize themselves with the lengthy document at their convenience.  Then we could discuss and vote on the by-laws at our next meeting.  There was some concern expressed that some members of the Board of Trustees have not been attending recent meetings.
        Before adjourning the meeting, Ken Ulric suggested that we, as our Act of Kindness, collect supplies for RotaCare, "a nonprofit corporation formed to bring free medical care for the relief of pain and suffering to those who have the most need and the least access to medical care" -- as their Mission Statement states on their website.  The members present were very enthusiastic about this idea.  It will be investigated, and we hope to have a representative from that charity at a future meeting.
        Our meetings for the upcoming year are all on Thursdays.  They are as follows:  November 16, January 18, February 15, March 15, April 19, May 17, and June 28.  Please
    note that there is no meeting scheduled in December.

    Two other reminders:
   
    Class of '86 reunion:  Saturday, November 4.  HR Singletons, Bethpage, New York.
                For information contact Barbara Kirby Miller at:  516-797-1121
   
    Class of '66 reunion:  Friday and Saturday, November 10 and 11.  Long Island Marriott,
        Uniondale.  Two nights -- $125.00.  Saturday night only -- $100.00
        Friday Night -- Get Together
        Saturday Night -- Dinner Dance
        For information contact Michael Schimmel at:  mdschimmel@gmail.com
   
    And happy birthday Judy Schulman, if I'm remembering correctly.  Maybe Judy Hartstone, too?