Update 2-17-09

Hi,

Some notes, first from the sister of a former classmate who some other people have been wondering about:
   
    From Jeanie DeGennaro, now Georgene DeGennaro Utter:  I would like to receive the Class of '65 newsletter for my sister, JoAnne DeGennaro Phidd, at my e-mail address.  Thanks.

    [Rich -- I wrote Georgene back saying I was glad to hear from both her and JoAnne, as I'm sure some other people will be.  If you want to write either JoAnne or Georgene, please ask me for the e-mail address.]
    Next, from Paul Zegler:  Hi, everyone.  I am opening in The Threepenny Opera on Friday, February 20th at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center in California.  Previews are February 17th, 18th and 19th at 8:00 PM, and I can get comps for these days.  So please let me know if you can see the show then, and what night would be good for you.  Unfortunately, I cannot get comps for the run of the show.
        I'm playing Jackie Brown, also known as Tiger Brown in other versions of the script.  He's the sheriff of London.  This should be a very good show.  The cast is excellent.  It's the Michael Feingold version of the script which was originally done in 1989 with Sting playing Mackie.  It didn't do as well as the traditional Marc Blitzstein adaptation, but our director, Jules Aaron, liked the grittiness of the script.  I guess Feingold is also a friend of Aaron's, so they talk back and forth.  This script is indeed more gritty, but it's also kind of convoluted, so it's been hard to learn.  But great actors can overcome tricky scripts... I think.
        Hope some of you can make it, if possible.  The show runs from February 20th to March 22nd, and the phone number for tickets for the run is:  562-436-4610.
   
    From Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  Again, a note to say that I hope some of our alumni will participate in Valley Stream South High School's Career Day.  It will take place on Wednesday, March 24, 2009, from 7:50 AM to 10:12 AM.  The purpose of Career Day is to provide ninth grade 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.  If you are able to participate in the event or know anyone who would be eager to speak with our students regarding their occupation and experiences, please contact Michael Mahler at:  516-791-0373.  You can also e-mail him at:  mahlerm@vschsd.org  for further details.
   
    Speaking of South, we just received our annual scholarship note from South's principal, Maureen Henry:
        Thank you for your continued support of the Valley Stream South High School Senior High Awards program.  The students at South continue to shine in their academic performance and service to both school and community.  Your generous support allows us to recognize these students and reinforce the value of good citizenship as we shape our youth to become the leaders of tomorrow.
        This year, our evening awards presentation will be held at 7:30 on Wednesday, June 10, 2009.  Please mark your calendar for this important event.  If anything has changed in regard to your scholarships, please contact Liz King Giordano by March 1st.
        I wish you all a healthy and happy new year and look forward to seeing some of you on June 10th.
   
    [Rich -- it's a little early to start fundraising, and I realize this year might be a bit trickier than earlier years because of the economy.  But we're heading into our sixth year of a promised ten-year support of the Vince Tampio and Booker Gibson scholarships, and it would be nice to honor those promises.  I'll start actually collecting money in about a month, around mid-March, and I expect it will go as quickly and smoothly as ever.  Meanwhile, I just wanted to pass along Maureen Henry's note.]
   
    A series of notes between Peter Rosen and Eric Hilton:
   
    First, from Peter:  I will be in Sarasota this week to take the second shift -- my wife Phyllis took the first one -- with my Mom, who is undergoing a second unrelated surgery in six weeks, and I'm hoping to get together with Eric Hilton.  We will report back if we do.  We are coming armed with our yearbooks, '65 and '66.  Stay tuned.
   
    From Eric:  Hi, Peter, I just wanted to say how nice it was to see you and to share our Valley Stream South memories and the memories of the girls we both lusted after.  Ahhhhhhhhhh.  See photo attached.  Most of these people were in your graduating class.  The fifth from the right, Pam Stamph, unfortunately died not too long ago, as did Grace Dibble, second row from the top.  See if you can identify these people, or call me and we can name them together.  I'm sure you know most of the ones who are in your yearbook.  I am also attaching Hy Rosov’s e-mail address, so you can contact him.
        Again, it was truly wonderful reuniting after forty-five years, and I'm glad that woman in the restaurant enjoyed our bonding.  I hope your mother is doing okay.  Be well.
   
    From Peter:  Eric, it was so much fun catching up.  Time just flew by.  I'm sure the drinks helped.  Let's not wait another forty-five years.
   
    And a related note from Eric to Arlene Ainbinder:  Hi, Arlene.  Again, it was great seeing everyone in Boca.  For some reason, I couldn’t find your reunion pictures online, but I did find pictures of about sixty-eight thousand other people.  Perhaps I have no idea what I am doing.  Please tell me where your photos are again.
        Last night, I had dinner and a wonderful time with Peter Rosen, who is visiting his mother here in Sarasota.  We ate at my favorite pub, which was formally the place Pee Wee Herman was busted for very indecent exposure.  But we did ask for a different table and clean napkins.  As with some of the South graduates from your class's reunion in Boca, I only knew Peter casually as a classmate, but Peter and I brought our '65 and '66 yearbooks and reminded each other of great times we had in Valley Stream.  We even discovered that we both liked the same girl, and generally agreed on how hot the South High girls were and still are as women.  At the end of the evening, a woman approached our table with a huge smile.  She just wanted to tell us how impressed she was, seeing two friends enjoying themselves so much.  Perhaps, it was the three drinks we each had.  It’s amazing after forty-three years to re-connect with people who were such a big part of growing up in such a great town as Valley Stream.  I feel truly blessed, and I'm looking forward to another gathering.
   
    Speaking of former South students:  someone just asked if anyone knows where Sandy Tarter from the class of '67 is.  Last heard, he was living in New Jersey.
   
    From David Mekelburg, class of '69, following my request to update our class link on his class' web site:  Good to hear from you.  I have made the change.
        Dave can be reached at:  dave@iknow8.com
   
    From Claire Brush Reinhardt on behalf of the Valley Stream South High Alumni Association:  Claire has invited you to join the Facebook group "Valley Stream South High Alumni".  Claire says, "South's Alumni Association is up and running as a Face Book Group.  I hope you'll join.  To see more details and confirm this group invitation, follow the link.  Thanks.
    http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=50769387366&aref=5052102
   
    [Rich -- Finally, when I heard about the plane crash in Buffalo, the first thing I thought of was Ryki Zuckerman, so I wrote her saying:  Buffalo is big, and you are small.  But I just wanted to make sure that you and everyone you know in your area are okay.]
   
    Ryki wrote back assuring me that she was fine and adding:  it would be nice if poor Buffalo could someday be in the news for something positive.
   
    The South '65 blog:  reunionclass65.blogspot.com
   
   
    Rich