Update 12-16-08

Hi,

Some notes and then some Alumni Association minutes.

First, from Robert Fiveson:  Happy Chanukah.  (This was accompanied by a photo of a rather Semitic-looking deer.)
   
    Next, from Marc Fishman:  Last week an F/A-18D crashed into some homes in San Diego, destroying the homes and killing four people.  The pilot ejected safely.  About fifty years ago, Jimmy Lorry's dad, a test pilot, experienced catastrophic structural failure of his airplane.  He was ordered to eject but radioed back that he was flying over a populated area and would try to guide his plane to a safer location.  No one on the ground was injured.
   
    Joanne Polner wrote saying her newsletter hadn't arrived on Tuesday.  I sent another copy, which got through.  I try not to go long in the newsletters, and I try not to include links, but AOL puts one in automatically at the end of  each note.  That may be what shifts the newsletter to people's spam folders, or, sometimes, simply the fact that the note is part of a mass mailing snags it.  So this is a seasonal reminder to check your spam folders if you're missing expected annual holiday greetings from friends.
   
    As a follow-up to his note last week, Marc Jonas reports that:  From the web -- "The interior was designed for installation of the Climatizer, Studebaker's heater/defroster system that put the heating unit below the driver's seat so as not to reduce leg room."
   
    A note from Helen David:  Robert Rossi was a darling little boy in my seventh grade general science class.  I didn't particularly see him again until he turned up as a twelfth grader in my biology class.  Naturally, he had matured in the intervening years, and I always thought of him as a second Robert Rossi.  I mourn for him doubly.
   
    From Eric Hilton:  First of all, I wanted to send my congratulations to one of my best friends growing up, Danny Stellebotte, who still calls to remind me of some wonderful times and things we did as children.
        Next, to Robert Rossi’s family, I want to send my sincerest condolences as I truly liked Bob very much and am saddened by the news.
        Third, to Jerry Bittman’s cousin, Mark:  I don’t want him or anyone to think I'm jealous of his fame or culinary skills because he's a famous New York Times food columnist capable of making a five-star meal. But, unlike me, I’d bet he never made chip beef, pancakes, cornbread, and lime Kool-Aid for 5,000 sailors on a nuclear ship in a typhoon off the coast of Vietnam while being seasick and trying to sharpen a very large knife.  Those are all traits of a fine Navy chef.
        Finally, I just built my first web site and would like feedback from my South High schoolmates.  The address is:  www.ericmhilton.com
   
    [Rich -- Eric's web page is neat, which I wrote him, saying:  Nice, clean photography.  I envy your knowledge and skill.  You also have a comfortingly casual way with people.  I liked the series of photos of the family dressed in white and off-whites.  There's never the sense you're going to show people at anything less than their best, without forcing it, and that's what people want to remember about themselves.]
   
    Eric wrote back:  Thanks.  This is my first web site, and it’s generic, to give potential clients a sample of my work.  But, eventually, I’d just like to do fine art stuff, like landscapes, seascapes, and panoramic images.
        I just added some panoramic images, which are not very easy to take but which offer a unique perspective.  They sell online, for calendars and perhaps postcards.  I'm not sure, but I’d like to make a living from photography again.  I've been doing it since I was in the Navy.
        Also, as I've mentioned before, since moving down here to Sarasota, I've become the official photographer for Sarasota Pride.  This is a very artsy area, and the job has been a lot of fun, but it's not a paying gig.
        Thanks again for the nice words.  They're greatly appreciated.
   
    The start of a New York Times article on the community Jeff Levin has retired to:  "A River Town With Restoration in Its Bones," by Lisa A Phillips, December 11, 2008.
        Ashton Hawkins and Johnnie Moore had been living part-time in the second-home hot spot of Hudson, New York, for five years before the right house lured them across the Hudson River to the smaller and less-known village of Athens.  It was the Haight-Van Loan House, a 7,000-square-foot Federal mansion that has panoramic views of the Hudson River and looms over eight acres on a hill at the south end of the village.  And they were able to buy it for just $925,000.  “I feel like we made the bargain of the century,” said Mr. Moore, a theater actor and producer who lives in Manhattan.
        The link to the complete article, which, of course, never mentions Jeff.  And be warned, the Times links don't stay free forever:  http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/greathomesanddestinations/12havens.html?_r=1&emc=eta1&pagewanted=all
   
    Steve Cahn asked:  Is there any way to get a hold of that Green Acres house brochure from Marc Jonas?
   
    [Rich -- I sent the file to Steve.  Also, as quickly, Emily Kleinman Schreiber graciously had Eric Spinner correct the Alumni Association minutes link.  So here are highlights from the June meeting.  For a complete copy of the minutes, as always, check the Alumni Association web site:  www.vsshs-alumni.org/ ]
   
    Alumni Association minutes, June 5, 2008, respectfully submitted by Roberta Brill Birnel.
        Present:  Roberta Brill Birnel, Karen Grimm, Eileen Howell, Arlene Ainbinder Lynn, Edie Mandel, Claire Brush Reinhardt, Ray Richford, Emily Kleinman Schreiber, Eric Spinner, and Irene Sundal.  Regrets received from:  Linda Tobin Kettering, Dennis Shapiro, Paul DeMartino, Laura and Ken Ulric, Edie Mandel, Nancy Russo-Rumore, and Booker Gibson.
        Emily opened the meeting by letting us know how well she did with the National Alliance on Mental
    Illness walk, raising about $2000.  She said she also received an e-mail from Nancy Russo-Rumore saying that she loved seeing South alum Joe Anfora in the production of Fools.
        New Business:
        South's School Culture committee met.  Claire Brush Reinhardt was our representative.  The only
    other people present were two teachers and Laurie Tintella.  They discussed the Wall of Service and mentioned that they would like something up by the end of next year.  Money for the Wall was collected from two recently graduated classes.  The committee did not schedule another meeting.
        Homecoming 2008 is in the planning stage.  The Association discussed presenting a lunch for all
    attending alumni.  We will try to have a blitz of publicity about this October 18th event in the fall, in order
    to make it as successful as possible.
        Eileen Howell raised the issue of revisiting our scholarship application and rubric.  We would like to
    make it more student friendly.  We discussed changing the criteria because sorting through this year's
    applications was quite difficult.
        Acts of Kindness Report:
        Arlene Ainbinder Lynn, who worked so hard to purchase, pack, and mail all the items to Corporal Thomas Cahill in Afghanistan, has not yet heard if the gift has been received.  Hopefully, we will have an update on this in September.
        Old business:
        In August, Eric Spinner will be working on getting our web site running for Mac users.  He expects to
    take a "Dream Weaver" course this summer.  We will hear from him at our first meeting in the fall.
        We got confirmation from the IRS that our application for tax-free status has been received.  The process
    can take up to six months.
        Events:
        July 26 is the reunion date for the Class of 1973 at Pappas.  Carole Liebowitz Kagan is planning the
    event.
        July 26 is also the reunion date for the Class of 1998 at McArthur Park restaurant.
        The Class of 1977 will hold their Polynesian-themed reunion on June 28th and 29th at Jerry Mackay in
    Rockville Centre.
        The Class of 1968 reunion is still waiting for someone to plan an event.
        We received an e-mail from Richard Boyd, South High teacher and coach, about collecting the money for a fundraiser for the school's basketball team.  We told him we would be happy to notify people about the
    event but not to serve as the bankers for it.
        Karin Schade Sofarelli notified the Association of the film, The Remembered by Eliot Levine.  It's being
    shown in Hicksville on Saturday and Sunday, June 7th and 8th to pay homage to the Vietnam veterans.  A traveling replica of the Washington, D.C. memorial wall will also be displayed.  Karin and Mike's son, Michael, wrote the related book Letters on the Wall, which honored his father's military service.  At this event, there will be a reading of the soldiers' names, and there will be a 21-gun salute.
        We reminded members of our plans to get together at the Irish Coffee Pub, at a party featuring our own Booker Gibson at the keyboard.  This will be on Wednesday, August 6th.
        Arlene Ainbinder Lynn informed us that there would be a dinner for alumni in Florida on February 7th,
    2009.  More details will follow.
        Meetings for the next school year:
        Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend.  Your participation is needed.  Our first meeting is on Thursday, September 4th.  Meetings thereafter will be held on the first Thursday of each month, with the exception being next January's meeting,  That will be on the 8th.