Update 4-28-09

Hi,

Several notes from our class, then a series of notes cribbed from Steve Cahn's class of '70 blog.
   
    First, from Robert Fiveson:  I know Bettmann/Corbis archive because they are a source of images for many documentaries.  By the way, the "Fair Use" doctrine allows us to use the Nudelman girls' image.  We are not profiting. nor are we detracting in any way from the commercial viability of the copyright holders through its usage.  We are using it for educational/informational purposes.  How do I know this?  I produced documentary series for television for three years as an employee of and from within The Library Of Congress, which houses the (dreaded) Copyright Office.  Believe me when I say that I am well-versed and thoroughly reamed and vetted when it comes to "Fair Use."
   
    A note on our behalf from Barbara Blitfield Pech to the Millbrook Civic Association (millbrookcivic@aol.com)  -- Millbrook, for those of you who are just tuning in, is the present name of the former Green Acres:
        Hello,
        I would love to receive your newsletter via e-mail, but I was not able to open the form on your home page.
    I have also passed your home page link and information on to the South '65 reunion blog, our former class' weekly newsletter, which updates our graduating class and extended graduates from Forest Road School, Valley Stream South and other Valley Stream elementary schools
        I am sure we would all love to hear from you and share any Green Acres memories, as many of us were early residents of original owner families and the first "kids" to attend Forest Road School.
        Thank you and best regards,
        Barbara Blitfield Pech
        formally of 16 Jasmine Lane 1958-1973
   
    Barnet Zinger sent Stu Borman two new photos for the class photo site.  The first is titled "Final Game for the Class of 1965" and the second is called "Celebrating Andy Dolich's Win Over Jerry Bittman for the Biggest Ears."  Now how would you want to miss those?
   
    From Mary Sipp Green:  Thank you so much for helping in the Joe Jochnowitz search.  Would you please send me an e-mail if you hear back from Kean University?  I would appreciate it -- a lot.  I don't know what else I could do to find him.  Does anyone else have any ideas?
   
    [Rich -- Nothing back from Kean yet.  Maybe, I'll try again.  Or anyone else can.  Maybe a number of people writing them will help.
        The contact information:  Department Chair Jennifer Crupi, jcrupi@kean.edu, 908-737-4400,  Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey 07083]
   
    From Joanne Shapiro Polner '59.  For those who know and love Shakespeare works, the following is a very clever, brief rendition of Hamlet on Facebook.    angelfire.com/art2/antwerplettuce/hamlet.html
        I am interested in the Memory Lane of Candy from our school years. I can't believe I remember so many candy names and that we ate what little we did eat in our family.  At least, I have the comfort of thinking that we weren't getting artificial flavors and colors at the time (yes, no?).  But oh, all that sugar!
        About the candy that you remember -- please tell the name and the main contents (example:  colored sugar; coconut and chocolate).
        I'll start off with:
        Good and Plenty (licorice with pink or white covering; oldest branded candy 1893) 
        Necco wafers (sugar and coloring and a few other things; company says it's the oldest multi-line candy company, established in 1847)
        They also made Clark Bars and Nonpareils "with real chocolate."
        How about Milky Way Bars (chocolate-malt nougat and caramel) from England 1923!
        What do you remember? 
        South High buddies:  May the sweetness of spring be yours to savor.  Sweeter are the memories of our youth at school and all the friends we still have and are meeting anew. 
   
    Finally, from Steve Cahn, by way of the Class of '70 blog:
        I have some pretty distinct memories about Molly's on Mill Road. (In the photo, I think it was where the Pizza place is now -- the third store from the right.)  I used to go there as a kid to get the Sunday paper for my dad and would drool over the baseball cards, Frisbees, toy pocket knives, key-chain rabbits feet, balsa wood gliders, water-pump rockets, and the other items that hung on the rack behind the register.
        When we got into high school, we'd get sodas there after school, especially after Cross Country practice. We'd go with Gordon Kaye, Dave Melnick, Ralph Manna, and Joe Vissichelli and get Egg Creams, Vanilla Cokes, and Tony Poteete's favorite, the "Lime Ricky" (a cherry soda with the juice from a lime, freshly squeezed and stirred-in at the last minute).  Molly's husband (whose name I can't recall) used to make sandwiches for lunch and used to yell out "10 minutes before 5th period begins" to give us just enough time to get back to school.  The place had a distinct smell that was just like all the other candy stores/soda fountains of that era... the same way dry cleaners or hardware stores tended to smell the same.  I hate to sound like an old fart -- but candy bars were a nickel and chocolate "Ice Cubes" were two cents.  Sigh.
        I remember somehow feeling like I was an interloper there... like the place really belonged to the "older kids" that came before us -- Betsy Fels, Chuck Drimal, Barbara Greenberg, Peter Blumenthal, Carolann Rohsiepe, Mark Silver, Gene Barkin, Bernie Portnoy, Sherry Gordon, Fred Cagan, Josh Tolkoff, and so many more... Maybe it was because they were so much older and seemed so cool.  I was often intimidated by the upper classmen at South.  When you think about it... having ages 12 through 18 in one school is really quite a spread -- and at that age, every year is a big deal.
   
    Steve Lockwood added:  Molly's husband was Leo.  I never could get him to talk much since Molly seemed to run the whole place.  I used to think he was ancient since he was losing his hair.
        I remember sitting on a torn leather swivel stool at the long counter ordering a root beer soda for 10 cents. It came in a white paper pyramid cup in a silver holder.  Molly would squirt the root beer syrup into the cup and add seltzer water.  I can picture myself now sitting at the counter like Jerry Mathers making small talk with Molly.  When the big guys showed up, they all seemed like Eddie Haskell knocking my baseball cap off my head.
   
    Steve Cahn replied:  Wow, Steve, I forgot all about the cone-shaped paper cups in the silver holders.  I used to get Leo to give me extra soda, one squirt at a time, by complaining that he put too much syrup in.  He'd put some seltzer in to balance it out, and I'd complain he put in too much seltzer, and then there was too much syrup...  He always knew what I was up to, but didn't mind playing this little game with me.
   
    Peggy Fallace said:  I remember going to Molly's on the way to school, after getting off the bus on Roosevelt Avenue.  I would get a cherry or vanilla coke and a buttered roll.  I think it was only about 35 cents.  If I didn't have enough money, I'd skip the bus and walk just to stop and get my morning fix.  I would also stock up on gum.  I ruined my teeth at Molly's!
   
    Jonathan Kassak added:  For years, Molly’s seemed like the only game in town, at least in my small universe.  I do remember the pretzel rods (they had to be a penny) and my father taking me for an egg cream after completion of most Little League games.
        I feel with good certainty that it was at Molly’s that I bought my first pack of baseball cards.  Price: a nickel, with the best damn wad of bubble gum enclosed.  I still recall the faint scent of bubble gum remaining on the “Topps” 1959 rookie card of some Washington Senator (or was it Milwaukee Brave) second baseman. Was Molly’s my source for the cards I placed on my bicycle spokes to generate those wonderful (well, we thought wonderful) noises of the 1950s.
        Of course, there were other important venues too – the candy store in the “Daitch” shopping center, California Pizza (15 cents a slice) in the Green Acres Mall, or, dare I say, Walt Itkens chocolate chip ice cream, thank you very much.
        What were the other stores on that strip next to Molly’s.  Someone help me, my memory fades.  Was there ever a dry cleaner on that block, a beauty parlor?
   
    Suzanne Sessano said:  Jon, in answer to yours questions, I remember the infamous strip as having, yes, a beauty parlor, a Chinese take-out, and the Rendezvous bar, where I spent many an evening.  Like Peggy, I recall stopping at Molly's for a fix, either on my way to school or on that long walk home. ,I would either get chips or a chocolate bar fix.  Steve, once again, thanks for bringing us together and the walk down memory lane!
   
    Charlie Galvagni said:  There was a liquor store in that strip as well. ,One of those places where a 14-year- old could buy a bottle of "Tango" in order to throw up an hour-or-so later.  The store at the South end was an Italian style deli, where I spent many a lunch period.  I remember Mel Bernstein driving his Harley in through the front door once and not being able to stop until he hit the refrigerator in the back.  Strange memories to have about such a nice and otherwise peaceful place in time.  Oh, yes, I also remember meeting Sheila Cohen there for the first time.  Now that is a very sweet, warm, and innocent bit of time travel.
   
    Fred Lorey said:  The hair salon on "Molly's block" was Bart's "Beauty Salon."  My mother used to go there weekly to get "Jackie O" hairdo.  This was the early 60s... Years later, I ended up working with Bart's son, and it took us months before we realized the relation between my mother and his father.  By the way, Bart's wife still does hair in another location and my mom (at 86) is still a loyal customer.
        As far as Molly's, I remember the soda fountain, but my main interest was the comic book rack.
    There was many a Sunday afternoon that I buried myself in the tales of Batman or Superman.  I can also remember being sent to Molly's on "cigarette runs" for family members... 25 cents a pack at that time, and you always got an extra 10 cents for a comic book.
   
    Anne Marie Longo Lauharn said:  OK, since there is no Class of '69 blog, I am jumping in.  What about the Woodrow deli?  Whenever I am on Long Island, I try to go in for one of their to-die-for garlic pickles!  As for Molly's, I started a life-long love affair with Heath Bars there!
   
    The South '65 e-mail addresses:  reunionclass65.blogspot.com
   
   
    Rich