Update 7-18-06

Hi,

First, a time-sensitive note, from Irwin Kocher, forwarded by Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  The soccer team golf outing got rained out.  The new date is Thursday, July 20th.  I was told there was a positive response to your e-mail.  The team received a number of checks from alumni who couldn't make the outing, but wanted to support the soccer teams.
        Again, the contact person is Richard Boyd at:  516-395-5003.  All checks can be made to South High School and can be sent to 150 Jedwood Place, Valley Stream, New York 11581.
   
    Second, a public service announcement, brought to our attention by Barbara Blitfield Pech:  There is now a free directory information number, which works from both home phones and cell phones.  Dial 1-800-FREE-411.
   
    Third, some Valley Stream history for Amy Bentley, from Don Faber:  Regarding the old barn near Harbor Road -- it was owned, I believe, by the Reising family -- one of whom graduated with us in '65.  Actually, the ownership may be a little less straight forward than my memory allows, since there was also another family, the Reiserts, who were somehow related to the Reisings and lived nearby.  But I know I am at least in the ballpark.  The barns were originally part of a large working farm that was sold in the early 1950s.  Harbor Road School (now Carbonaro School), South, and a good many of the houses surrounding them were erected on the property where I can clearly remember corn once grew.
   
    Also about the barn, from Barbara:  If I recall, the old barn was part of June Reising's family property.  The Reising family were early settlers or founders in/of Valley Stream.  Robin  Feit-Baker and I drove by the barn on the way to the South 50th birthday celebration, and I recall noting that the former farm had been transformed into a beautiful, updated, mini-estate with a well-detailed, thriving property. 
   
    Fourth, some responses about the newsletter, pretty much in the order they came:
   
    From Barbara Blitfield Pech:  Good Morning.  As you can see by the early hour of this note, I may not have read the first few paragraphs correctly, but I do want to stick my two cents worth of opinion and thoughts into the mix.  While I never once thought the editing job was easy, nonetheless, you always assured me it was a labor of love, and your efforts, time, and even editing are to be forever appreciated.  You are one of the people who has made a difference to me and to others.  With this said, I would feel lost without the weekly update.  As much as I would like to hear more from our fellow classmates, it is just as comforting and nice to read about people from other classes and about current school events and community doings.  I hope my thoughts and words are echoed by others, and I encourage you to remain on for at least another school year.  And if keeping you updated on even the smallest of my daily events, good, bad, and indifferent, provides filler news for the press, here's a flash.  No, wait, that's not the flash I want to share.  But I will keep in touch more often, and I hope others will, too.  Hugs to all.
   

    From Larry Rugen:  Jerry is mostly correct.  The past year, I more-or-less just stopped writing and not reading much, either.  Partly, because I never was much of a writer, but also because the newsletter seemed to become a forum only for those who wrote in steadily.  Anyway, now that I am writing, here are some old-time memories and upcoming events.

        With all the global warming and terrible storms predicted, who remembers the days when a Nor'easter caused Jedwood Place to turn into a raging river, almost flooding the homes along its path?

        And that reminds me of a not-so-pleasant Jedwood Place memory.  There was a young man whose name I can't remember, who lived on Jedwood and had some mental issues.  He disappeared one New Year's weekend.  I only recall that because the police visited Frank's Deli, on the corner of Cochran, where I was working.  They were asking questions, and I remember seeing the man walking on Mill Road near the creek.  That is where they found him a few days later, and they surmised that he fell through the ice.  That had to be about 1961 or 1962.

        And some pleasant Jedwood Place thoughts:  Since I lived right off Jedwood on Virginia Place, I knew many people in the area.  There were Carol and Jean Bosinius, and Marge and Karen Hahnenberger.  Carol was instrumental in teaching me to play tennis.  All four were from classes other than ours.  Does anyone know where they are now?

        And some upcoming personal events:  My wife Joan and I are planning a September vacation, taking us to places out west where we have not been.  Las Vegas for four days – Joan just has to see Celine.  While there, we're taking a tour of the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.  We know that this is not the best way to see the Grand Canyon, but it's the best we can do on this first trip west.  That Sunday, we pick up a car and drive to the Utah National parks for a week -- Bryce, Zion, and Arches.  We have only five days, and depending on who writes in to say YOU MUST do this or that, we'll make a change or two.  Then we are headed for Lyons, Colorado, which is northwest of Denver in the Rockies, and we plan to spend one night in Vail, which is on the way.

        I have another four-day Air Force reunion -- we've been doing them every two years -- arranged at the Peaceful Valley Ranch.  That's why we'll be in Lyons.  They tell me that the end of September, with all the colorful birches and aspen against the Rocky Mountain sky, is just a sight to behold.  I've also been warned to watch out for the elk, as this is their time for rutting or something like that.  Now if only I can climb onto a horse.  It’s been so many years.

        I did write last year about the Alaska Inside Passage cruise we took out of Seattle, and I just want to say that if any of you now live in the Seattle/Olympic Peninsula area, that this has to be one of the best places to live in the United States.  I just cannot say enough about how much we enjoyed being there.

         Regards to all.
   
    From Joanne Shapiro Polner:  For those of us just getting back to active alumni involvement, the newsletter from the class of '65 is inspiring and interesting.  It has a larger forum than at its inception perhaps, reaching people in more classes than '65, but it may be the only one of its kind for all South graduates.  So while I respect Jerry Bittman's opinion, I'm grateful for the continuing newsletter.
        Also, Jerry, if you have up-to-date contact information for people in other classes from South, please contribute it so those of us in these other classes can have your help in locating classmates who have been "lost" and who are difficult to find.  This is especially true of women, as most have changed their last names since high school.  Your help would be greatly appreciated.
   
    From Les Glasser:  I read all the e-mails and find it interesting to hear what's going on with all the names from the past.  It brings back fond memories, and I really do believe the class of '65 is something special.  I do think however that the e-mails get really wordy and a little off the beaten path.  Maybe a quarterly e-mail would be better, with what's special in people's lives.  That would be like the alumni newsletter I get from my university.  Just a thought.
        All is well in Palm Coast, Florida.
   
    From Fran Bellucci:  Just a short note to tell you how much I appreciate the work you do to put this newsletter together each week.  It is a lot of work.  I also enjoy hearing about
    what everyone is doing, and every once in a while a name comes up, that while not a classmate, is someone I knew or was a friend of one of my sisters.  And rekindling old friendships has been a blessing.  I have wondered sometimes if a biweekly letter wouldn't be better for you, since you do have other obligations.  But that is your decision, and as long as you feel comfortable with things as they are, I will happily read.
    And you are right about participation. I lead what I think is a pretty boring life and figure few people would be interested.  However, a few things have happened in the last six months.  The most exciting, and scary news, is I've bought a small building here in Wamego and am in the process of opening a clay studio and gallery.  I will be offering instruction in hand building and wheel throwing, and I'll be making and selling my own work.  I am almost set up and have been producing work in anticipation of getting my kilns working.  I am also going to a clay conference in South Carolina at the end of July -- I will meet some name-potters I've read about and get ideas to use in my work.  Well, this has become more than a short note, and more will come later.
   
    From Claire (Brush) Reinhardt:  Even though I am a relative newcomer in receiving your class's newsletter, and even though I am an old-timer -- class of '62 -- I thoroughly enjoy
    reading it every week, and I hope you  keep it going.
   
    From Amy Miller, '63:  It seems to me that what your class is doing in the updates is very valuable, and I really treasure the weekly mailing.  I wish that other classes could have similar connections and news updates.  Any interest in leading a workshop on this?  Just kidding.  But seriously, do you have any thoughts about making the newsletter into something for the late fifties- and early sixties- graduates?
   
    [Rich -- There are another half-dozen responses, but I'm running out of space just now.  So I'll pass them on next week, and I'll also get to the notes from the Booker Gibson and Vince Tampio award winners.  And I need to take time to consider these suggestions.  But I can say that it's great to hear from more people.]