Update 11-3-09

Hello,

Continued reunion conversations.  And, sorry, these are mainly unedited this week because I'm kind of busy at work:
   
    Moss in Maine again.  If Neil Guberman and Greg Kaplan are reading this, take a moment of silence for our wacky mentor Soupy Sales, who passed away at the young age of 83.
        Neil, Greg, and I would race home to Greg's house after school to catch his show on WNEW.  A DVD came out about a year ago with only his black/white shows from around 1964-65.  It brought back great memories of watching the show.
        By the way, what about Oyster Bay for a possibly ocean-side gathering?  Glad so many people are getting interested in the 45th.
   
    From Zelda White Nichols, about reunion sites – If you are thinking the coast of Maine, which is beautiful, you might want to consider Portsmouth, New Hampshire for your reunion.  I used to live in Haverhill, Massachusetts, which was thirty minutes south.  Instead of going to Boston for shopping and fine dining, I always went to Portsmouth, which is on the Piscataqua River and one minute away from Kittery, Maine.  Portsmouth is a small, historic, walkable city, filled with really fabulous restaurants, craft galleries, and gift shops.  Kittery, Maine is known for its outlet shopping malls:  Ogonquit, is just a few miles away from there, and Freeport, home of LL Bean and a town full of factory outlets, is just about forty minutes north.  Driving in that area is a breeze, and the Sheraton Hotel and the Hilton Garden Inn are right on the river for those who want a water view.  The Sheraton is downtown and right across from all the shops and restaurants.  The Hilton is in what used to be an old time resort called Wentworth By the Sea.
        These are just two suggestions, but there are many other inns and hotels nearby.  Wherever you go for a reunion, don’t just call for room rates; ask to speak with someone who can give you discounted group rates.  If you buddy up and share rooms, you can get a great room for very little cost – especially if it’s the New England Coast in winter months.
   
    From Peggy Cooper Schwartz:  Our 45th reunion sounds wonderful -- please count me in.  Also, I enjoyed the hotel where we held our 37th reunion.  Another suggestion -- what about Orlando?  Of course, being a Floridian, I'm biased!
   
    From Joanne Shapiro Polner:  Some information for your class, if it's considering a Long Island venue for its reunion.
        If you're still looking for a pretty town:  What are you thinkin' of, the Hamptons? There are empty mansions there now. Would be nice if you could rent one for a weekend for all the people coming to the reunion. On the beach, too. Have your meals catered!
        As a person who no longer lives on LI, I have come in to LI maybe twice a year these past years.  It appears to me that on the north shore and the south shore, every town runs right onto the next.  Even Hewlett and Woodmere (once beautiful towns) are not immune, I think.  Merrick Road in Valley Stream and east is one long block extended  from Queens Blvd (in the NYC borough) and runs out far beyond the ocean at Montauk!! (maybe ;-) 
        Terry Gunderson Kaiser researched motels and hotels and we have a list to share, and she selected the Knights of Columbus in Oceanside, a perfect place for our dinner. You will have the web site and my comments before the next update.
        Also, we took pictures of the street in Gibson south of Goldies, ie, down the block where the Casa Tina was.  I just sent two pix to Eric Hilton (who was in LI, I read; in a recent update, he wanted Mill Sweet Shop and Casa Tina to do the catering for a reunion).  I don't know which set of buildings housed the Casa Tina. The stores are, sadly, almost all vacant.
        Mills Sweet shop is gone, too, said the man in Goldies.  We should have also taken a picture of the front of Goldies, but we did not, although we went into the place to ask where the Casa had been.   So, for Ray Staley:  Goldies is still there, attractive, nice bar inside, pleasant gentleman to greet us--also a South High grad.
   
    A suggestion sent by way of Barbara Blitfield Pech -- the class of '66's reunion invitation: 
        Date: October 21, 2009
        To: Graduating Class of 1966 - Valley Stream South High School
        Fr: Eileen (Gunderson) Gelet and Joan (Kass) Lipson
        Re: PLEASE JOIN US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, JANUARY 30, 2010 FOR OUR THIRD mini reunion in South Florida
        It’s time to get the word out and provide detailed information about our third “mini” reunion to be held on Saturday night, January 30, 2010, from 7 to 11 p.m.,
    at The Club at Boca Pointe (previously referred to as the Boca Pointe Country Club),  7144 Boca Pointe Drive, Boca Raton, Florida. 
        At this time we are requesting advance payment for your reservation(s) –
    The $37.50 per person amount includes food (five different passed hors d’oeuvres, a display of imported and domestic cheeses, fresh fruits with crackers and assorted breads, grilled assorted vegetables with focaccia bread, spinach dip and chips), soft drinks, valet parking, tax, and tips. 
        We have arranged for the Club to provide a cash bar for mixed drinks and wine.   
         Monday, December 28, 2009 is the deadline for making your reservation(s). 
    Please make your check payable to Joan Lipson, and send it to her at
    38 High Noon Road, Weston, Connecticut 06883.  Upon receipt of your check, she will send an email confirming its receipt.  Note -- reservations are not refundable.  We signed a contract with the Club and are responsible for paying them for a guaranteed number of guests.     
        Since the “Save the Date” email in July, a number of our classmates have expressed interest in attending.  We will keep you posted with the names of those who will be coming. 
        Thanks to Shirley (Hess) Deutsch who is hosting us at her club, this year’s reunion will be held in a private function room, with more “move-around” space, allowing for more mingling and less sitting down in the same place all night.
        The list of “missing” classmates – for whom we do not have email addresses -- is attached.  Please take a moment to open it and let us know if you can fill in any of the blanks.
        FYI, the class of 1965 will be invited to join us, as well as posting the invitation information in a future VSSHS Alumni Newsletter.  Additionally, please let us know if there is anyone specifically you want us to email about the reunion   
        Feel free to email Eileen at egelet@verizon.net or me at jlipson@optonline.net with any questions or comments.
         As we get closer to the date of the event, we will email driving directions.
        Looking forward to hearing back from you about your plans to join us on Saturday, January 30th!   
       
    Finally, a couple of other notes:
   
    Valerie Nelson Gillen:  I would like to say Hi to Betsy Fels Potruck and YES I remember swimming in "the stream" behind my house and any white on my bathing suit had to be scrubbed clean from the dirt in the water.  But those were fun days!!!   Valerie Nelson Gillen
   
    Two quotes from Robert Fiverson:  “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old Age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light."—Dylan Thomas
        And:  “I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve immortality through not dying.”—Woody Allen
   
    The South '65 e-mail addresses:  reunionclass65.blogspot.com
   
    The South '65 photo site:  picasaweb.google.com/SouthHS65
   
   
    Rich