Update 3-4-08

Hi,

This just in:  Rich Sternhell is still not dead.

Why would you think he was?  Because this came from Amy Miller:  Word of Rich Sternhell's demise must still be circulating as Caryl Snapperman Avery, who I just had lunch with, had heard this rumor, too.
   
    [Rich -- And I wrote Rich, concerned:  Are you still well?
   
    And Rich wrote back:  Still kicking.
   
    [Rich -- And I asked:  I don't know why people keep thinking you're dead.  Was there someone with a similar name at South before you?]
   
    And Rich answered:  My older sister Susan passed away about twenty years ago.  I'm assuming that's where it comes from.
   
    [Rich -- I was sorry to be reminded about Rich's sister.  But I still don't get how people can mistake her for him.]
   
    In other, less confusing, news, this from Lynn Nudelman Villagran:  Check out the trailer for the upcoming movie Young At Heart.  It's a blast!   http://www.foxsearchlight.com/youngatheart/
   
    [Rich -- This Young At Heart is not a remake of the 1950s Young at Heart, which was a remake of something I think called Five Daughters from the 30s.  (Nope -- Four Daughters.  I just looked it up. 1938.)  This new film is a documentary about a chorus of senior citizens from Massachusetts, which travels the world singing covers of hit songs, one of which, presumably, is "Young At Heart."]
   
    A non-musical exchange of notes with Barbara Blitfield Pech:  There are over three million people without power across the state of Florida today, and locally -- and strangely --  I'm not one of them.
    [Rich -- And I wrote Barbara:  I hadn't heard about the power outage.  I'll have to check on it.  By the way, did you go to the class of '67 party?]
   
    And Barbara answered:  I thought I sent you a note after the reunion.  I missed it but hooked up with Ryki Zuckerman the next day.  She was in town unexpectedly to see her mom through a bout of pneumonia.  Ryki said she wasn't sure what to expect from the party, but she wound up getting home at 2:00 AM.
        By the way,  Ryki and I hadn't seen each other since high school, but time had just stopped for a brief forty years, and within five minutes, we were back over coffee, bagels, french fries, and diet cokes.  Ryki read some of her recent poetry, and we visited between bites and poems.  She's coming back in March, and I can't wait.
        Also, earlier, I visited with Carol Ewig, who will be in Florida again in March for her mom's birthday.  All I can say is I am doubly blessed.
   
    [Rich -- And I wrote Barbara:  I'll write Ryki.]
   
    And Barbara replied:  Just a quick update to let everyone know about the outage.  At 1:09 PM today, Florida was hit by a massive, multiple-county relay power outage.  As noted on the news channels, three million homes, people, or businesses were affected.  My office closed immediately, and everyone was sent home as the length of time the power could be off seemed considerable.  As I drove home listening to car radio updates, they confirmed the increasing stretch of lights out in the lower state.  My concern, of course, was traffic navigation without lights as most Florida drivers can't drive under normal circumstances.  By something of a miracle, I early on Mapquested all the least-traveled, lightless, back roads to drive the 7.5 miles to my office in less than an hour during rush hour, so I easily found my way homebound via the reverse route.  Upon arrival, I button-holed a neighbor to gab about the electric situation.  She assumed I had lost my mind as she'd been at her computer all day, working without interruption, and had no clue as to any loss of power anyplace, let alone over more than half the state.  Somehow, the blackout by-passed my street.  All was still right in our little world, but don't ever speak too loudly of  it, or the wrath of nature will descend upon me.  After all, hurricane season is just weeks away.
   
    [Rich -- As promised, I wrote Ryki, mentioning:  Barbara Blitfield Pech said you went to the Florida reunion.  Can you give me any details to share with people who wish they'd been there?
   
    And Ryki wrote back:  Pinched for time now.  Will send some information soon.
   
    [Rich -- So if anyone else would like to report on the '67 party while we wait news from Ryki, there are people who are curious.]
   
    Meanwhile, interesting news from Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  Hello, everyone.  Have you received the following e-mail from a person named Otter?  His message is right below.  Most importantly, he makes it sound like he's connected to South and that he knows if you've checked out the Alumni Association's new web site.
        If you have heard from him and want to respond to him, that's up to you.  But know that the Alumni Association has not given him any information.  I have no idea how he got South's alumni e-mail addresses.  Of course, he could have gotten them the Classmate.com's web site.
        I've been in contact with him, and I've told him that he's misrepresenting his venture and that he's not to claim connection with South in a formal way.  I've asked him to identify himself, but he hasn't done that yet.  There is never a dull moment.
        Now this is what he wrote.  It was sent an e-mail address called Valley Stream South HS.
        Thanks for stopping by to check out The VS South Alumni website.  It's what you make of it so please contribute.  If your not on your Class List send us an email and let us know what year and we'll add you to it!  If there's news or other information you would like to add to the site let us know also.  We will help you add, Photos from past Alumni events, Link to videos posted to most video sites like Revver, YouTube, Google or just about any other.  It's easy to do and we'll help you get started.  We are also looking for people who would like to volunteer to be Publishers, Authors and Editors for different areas of the site.  If you know anyone who's interested let them/us know!  Otter

    [Rich -- And I wrote Emily:  I got something from Otter a while back, I thought from Classmates.com.  But I just deleted it, figuring it was spam.
        As follow-up, I just went on to Classmates.com, for the first time in maybe a year-or-so.  There were several dozen additional names on the class of '65 list, though some were people who were already listed who probably forgot what password they'd previously used and were trying to check out the list again.  Other names were unrecognizable and connected to other high schools and, sometimes, other states.  The names were largely of women and might belong to women who were at South or one of its feeder elementary schools and then moved before graduation.  The names might be unrecognizable because they're married names.  So if anyone else wants to check them out, sign on to Classmates.com.  It's still free to look.]
   
    And, yes, there is an Alumni Association meeting this Thursday, March 6th, around 7:15 in South's library.
   
    Finally, a note from a teacher colleague:  Funny thing, I spoke with Zak's mom two weeks ago, about how disappointed he was with his semester grades, and she told me that Mercury was in retrograde and affecting all the water signs, so I should wait to do anything concerning Zak until at least the 23rd of February.