Update 8-14-07

Hi,

All kinds of mail.

First, from Toni Rea:  Just wanted to send warm, albeit-belated, birthday wishes to Ira Mitzner from an old -- very old -- English teacher.
        By the way, I have been reading your class's newsletter ever since the reunion I attended in -- was it 2005? -- and I always enjoy hearing about students and faculty members I knew and loved so well.  I may try to respond more often now that Lorraine and I are finally starting to get settled in our new home in Naples, Florida.  We left our East Hampton home in November 2005 and are now in a lovely little community here called Foxfire.  We have wonderful neighbors, many of whom are still 'snow birds' from the Northeast and the Midwest, so we're looking forward to welcoming them back here between September and October.
        Thanks for all the work you do in getting the newsletter out to those of us who hold South High as a special place and time in our lives.
   
    [Rich -- Always happy to hear from everyone, but especially happy to hear from former teachers.]
   
    Next, a second view of Ira Mitzner's birthday party, from the host himself:  Here is another account in addition to Bob Fiveson's recollection of my 60th birthday boxing party.
        I took up boxing at age fifty -- if you remember, there were no boxing gyms in Valley Stream -- and have been sparring twice a week for ten years.  When I enter the ring, I immediately lose forty years -- in my mind.  Boxing has been an important part of my life, and I wanted my friends to experience it.  So I had my party at the gym, and each of my guests had the opportunity to get in the ring with Laurence -- sparring partner, owner of the gym, and professional boxer.  The guest would get to hit Laurence, and he would merely cuff his opponent.
        From the time Fiveson came into the gym with his wife -- I thought lovely Monica was his granddaughter, but I was informed otherwise -- he kept saying, "You're going to hit me, aren't you?"  I really had not even thought of it, but he inspired me.  When we were lined up taking boxing lessons, I kept giving him an occasional whack.  He seemed to enjoy it.
        My brother also boxes for exercise, and I had arranged for him to be the first in the ring.  When I turned around, Fiveson had put on the gloves and was entering the ring.  I knew that he had had a vodka immediately upon arriving at the party.  The bell rang, and Bob was very spirited, moving around the ring and throwing punches.  He even stepped on Laurence's foot so Bob could land a punch.  Suddenly, Bob hit the canvas and literally rolled out of the ring under the ropes, panting heavily.  The whole thing was over in about forty-five seconds.
        I didn't have a drink before I boxed, and I put in two solid rounds.  When I finished, Laurence presented me with a huge championship belt, which said, "Ira 'the Body Snatcher' Mitzner."
        Upstairs, we had sushi, Chinese finger food, and a generous amount of alcohol.  Of the nineteen invitees, there we seven from South -- Rachael, Fiveson, my brother Rick, Rachael's sister Carol, her husband George Monaghan, and me.  Robin Seader Cottmeyer had to scratch at the last minute, but we all missed her.
        It always livens up a party when you have someone there who is totally insane, like Fiveson.  We told stories of our band "The Fabulars."  The best story, which I know some people have heard before, was when the band had a gig, but I had to go to a college interview.  My brother Rick, who then was fourteen-years-old, stood in for me until I arrived.  When I did, I saw that Rick had a ridiculous grin on his face and was playing the wrong chords.  Fiveson and Tuerk had gotten my little brother drunk, and they thought it was very funny.
        Now you know the whole truth about the party.
   
    News of other parties, from Andrea Schwartz Neenan:  Several things.  First, our 40th reunion was a huge success.  Thanks for promoting it in your class's newsletter.
   
    A link to pictures of the class of 67's 40th reunion, generously provided by Barbara Dorin Hayden, who added:  I posted photos from the Valley Stream South High School 40th Reunion of the class of '67.  The link is:  http://40threunion.myphotoalbum.com/
        I had a great time visiting with everyone -- and growing dendrites remembering the good ole days.  Many thanks to Andrea Schwartz and Alicia Spivak for the hard work and planning that made our reunion a wonderful success.
   
    More from Andrea:  Second, the evening with Booker Gibson was like a mini-reunion.  Lots of familiar faces from the classes of ’66 to ’69, and, of course, seeing some favorite teachers was an added plus.  Bob Parry, Adrian Biagoli, and Bernie O’Brien were there, to name a few.  It was a great night
   
    More details about this party, from Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  The Evening with Booker Gibson at the piano was wonderful.  We will definitely do it again.  There were around one hundred people at the Irish Coffee Pub -- a couple from the '50s, most from the '60s, a few from the '70s, even a couple from the '80s -- and lots of former South High School teachers.  Thanks to all who helped make this the best.
        I have only around eight shots from my digital camera because of a mistake, but I did take my video camera, and I captured some special moments on it -- like when a group got up to sing our song, Valiant Falcons, accompanied, of course, by our Booker Gibson.  If anyone else took pictures, please share them with me.
         All reunion-type gatherings should happen like this one:  Everyone in charge of making his or her own reservations.  Everyone paying his or her own bill.  No worries about meeting the minimum amount of people.  As a reunion planner, I can tell you this is the way to do it.  So many people thanked me, but the truth was that I only wrote about it in the Alumni Association Bulletin, and Rich wrote about it in this newsletter.  That was it.  And there were absolutely no problems.  Plus, four people joined the Alumni Association that evening, and many others gave me their data so that I can let them know about upcoming events and send them membership applications.       
         How did Booker feel?  He was all smiles, so I'm sure he had a very happy night -- he even accompanied Linda Tobin Kettering while she sang.  As I said, it was a wonderful evening.
   
    News of a coming party, from Jean Cohen Oklan:  To all former Brooklyn Avenue School kids:  An e-mail was forwarded to me concerning the 100th anniversary celebration of Brooklyn Avenue School.  That will be held in September 2007.  I was so happy to get this information because now all the 50th anniversary paraphernalia I have been saving for the past fifty years can be sent onward.  This included newspaper articles, a souvenir program, and the "Valley Stream March" our teacher Mrs. Ward had us write lyrics to as an assignment.  The program stated that our fifth grade class presented the song, but I don't remember the celebration.  Could that be because I'll be sixty next month?  Nah!
        As I sit here with the mildewed smell coming from this fragile, yellowed souvenir program, I'm reading the names of Valley Stream merchants who helped sponsor the celebration, and it certainly brings back memories of our area -- especially since I just got news that my Mom's house in Gibson sold today, and a new family will now enjoy that home.  Some of the 1957 advertisers:  Barry Music Company, Coral Inn, Dibble Realty, Dreyer Pharmacy, Giancola Brothers, Lantern (who doesn't remember the yarn?), La Marr's Cleaners. Lucille's Beauty Shop, The Mills-Muller Corporation, The Marjorie Shoppe, Mr. Peter Hair Stylist, Sportel, Tulsa Diner, Waldman's Curtain Shop, Jess White, and Wolff's Bake Shoppe.
   
    Again, further details from Emily:  I just received a letter asking me to inform everyone that Brooklyn Avenue School will be celebrating its 100th year anniversary this school year.  Numerous activities are being planned throughout the year.
         One of the events that will probably interest people will be the dedication the first week of school.  That's Wednesday, September 12th at 8:45 AM.  The rain date will be Monday, September, 17th.  The dedication will take place on the front lawn of the school, and former students, present students, parents, and local dignitaries will participate.  If you have any questions about this or any of the other anniversary events planned, please call Jean Scarmozzino at:  516-256-0152 or e-mail her at: jscarmozzino@vs24.org
            On another subject, yesterday, I met with Dennis Shapiro, our Alumni Association treasurer, and he gave me a small pile of membership applications to file in the members binder.  I said to him, "I hope that our present members will continue to send in their dues."  So, I'm again asking people to contact me for the latest membership application.  My e-mail address is:  cre8em@aol.com.  If you have trouble opening a PDF file, I'll send the application as a Word document -- just let me know.  Also, please note the new member categories.
         One frustration that you can help me with is please let me know if or when you change your e-mail address.  If we lose track of you electronically, it's hard to trace you again.
         I'm working on the late summer Alumni Association Bulletin.  Members should get it by the end of the month.  Also, advance notice for this year's meetings of the Alumni Association.  They will be held on the first Thursday of each month.  Please mark your calendars:  September 6th.  October 4th.  November 1st.  December 6th.  January 3rd.  February 7th.  March 6th.  April 3rd.  May 1st.  June 5th.  I hope to see more of you at our meetings.
        Finally, South now has a new principal -- Ms. Maureen Henry.  More about her in the coming Bulletin.