Update 9-2-08

Hi,

First, from Andy Dolich:  To my good friend and international man of mystery, Robert Fiveson.  We are all grateful that Panama doesn't recognize US extradition laws.
   
    From Robert Fiveson, on another subject:  To Steve et al.  I can't get enough of the Wetson's stories, so here's mine.  Right after high school, I briefly went to live at my aunt and uncle's house in Hicksville because things at home were intolerable (great name).  Somewhere near there was a Wetson's, and I, too, got a job there.  The Greek manager told me to mop the floor.  Eager to please and impress him, I decided I would make this the cleanest floor he had ever seen, so I mixed a good amount of bleach with ammonia.  I was mopping, and my eyes were watering like crazy, and I could hardly breath.  "Wow," I thought, "this stuff has to clean really well because it sure is strong."  Then the manager came running over to me as though his hair was on fire, yelling, "What did you do!  What did you do!"  I had no idea what the big deal was, and I innocently said, "I mixed ammonia and bleach to make the floor really clean."  He screamed at me, "You idiot, that makes poison!" whereupon, he called the fire department, closed the store, and waited outside till they brought in fans.  No, I didn't get fired, because I think he gave me points for trying.
   
    From Eric Hilton, on an overlapping subject:  The last reunion update was a learning experience.  I don’t remember Wetson’s having a spot on Rockaway Avenue, but I do remember the Wetson's on Sunrise Highway near the Dunkin' Donuts because my sister got fired there for smashing a fly on the counter in front of a customer.  That really sucked because, before that happened, I got all my donuts for free.
        I even remember drooling over Earl’s car, though I thought his name was Errol.  It was the first baby blue Jaguar I'd ever seen .
        In 1964 or so, my then-girl friend’s uncle bought a Wetson’s franchise instead of a McDonald’s because Wetsons was doing more advertising.  A couple of years later, McDonald’s moved down the street and put him out of business.  He said it was the biggest mistake in his life.
        Steve, I never flipped burgers, but Danny Stellabotte and I delivered groceries for an Italian deli on Rockaway and Roosevelt Avenues.  I don’t remember its name, but we were both fired many times -- I think the guy was crazy -- then called back the next day to deliver again.  The guy’s name might have been Dominick.  Dan, help me out here.
        Ronnie, yes, Ed’s Tropical Fish was in Lynbrook on Sunrise Highway.  I am online everyday with Tom Sisco, Ed’s son, who kept a large fish tank in the store with a sign advertising, “Invisible fish -- $1.75 each.  What kind of idiot would actually believe something so stupid?  After my fourth fish died, I knew Tom was full of it.
        Since I went to Brooklyn Ave School, I never heard of Miss Patterson, but I did have the largest crush on Miss Arvantides, my math teacher.  Even thought she failed me in seventh grade, she still made me tingle all over.  I’ve matured since then -- somewhat.
   
    More overlap, from Claire Brush Reinhardt:  For everyone's information, if they're interested, and this should come as no surprise.  But that the fast food restaurant on the corner of Rockaway Avenue and Sunrise Highway is currently a McDonald's.
   
    From Betsy Fels Pottruck in respnse to Jerry Bittman's comment that Nancy Patterson only kept boys after school:  I was one on the lucky female students to be on her torture list.  She made my life miserable and kept me after school plenty of times.  She actually told me I would always be a disappointment to my parents and never amount to anything.  Interesting that after all these forty-something years, I still remember those words.  Do you think I might need a little therapy?  Anyhow, Stu Borman was right:  great legs but bad hair.  And Happy Labor Day, everyone.
   
    From Mike (Flomp) Floyd:  That photo of Miss Patterson's sixth grade class brought back some memories.   Nancy Paterson, who became Mrs. Stalb, was the object of much attention from us guys about to enter puberty.  When I met her at the Forest Road 50th reunion a few years ago, she was still a very attractive woman who remembered me and rattled off a bunch of names from the ole days at Forest.
        Getting back to the photo, that is Stu Borman, not me.  And in regards to the other discussion about Wetson's:  I worked there as well, for the lofty salary of $1.25 an hour.  After six months, I quit and could not even be in the same room with a hamburger for several years afterward.
        Donald Faber is absolutely correct about the Wetinson family running the chain and Earl Wetinson marrying Margaux Hemingway.  Earl used to drive a Ferrari into the parking lot at the Astor Place and Sunrise Highway location, and the restaurant did move to the  Sunrise and Rockaway location later.
        Regards to all.
   
    An unintentional summation from Barnet Kellman:  I’ve really been enjoying the recollections in the newsletter recently, and I can’t believe the memories on these guys.  I went to the web site and looked at some of the photos posted.  I think I can fill in some of the blanks on Forest Road School class pictures. Also, looking at the pix I recently sent in, I am sure that the kid in the back is Mike Flomp Floyd, and that the girl in the foreground is not Roberta Grodin.
        I have a question I’d like to pose to the people who read this:  Who, if anybody, is on Facebook?
        Best regards to all.
   
    [Rich -- Mike thinks it's Stu, and Stu thinks it's Stu, so it's probably be Stu.  And I don't think that girl is Roberta, either.  It may be someone who was in fifth grade when we were in sixth, who just happened to be caught in the photo.  And please send on the names of people you recognize in the old class photos.  I'll update the home page.]
   
    Travel news from Terri Donohue Calamari:  More notes from Panama.  I had a wonderful time with tour guide Roberto Fiveson, who, by the way, is fluent in Spanish, so let's hear it for Martin Solomon.  Robert's beautiful wife Monica is also the hostess with the mostest.  While I was there, we traveled to Valle, an area where our own Jay Tuerk is developing land for residential and vacation homes.  The vistas are spectacular, ideal for retirement or snowbird getaways.  I met Jay's handsome and charming son, who is helping supervise the project, though Senor Tuerk was in the States getting his pilot's license.  This was my second trip to Panama, but it will not be my last.
   
    Highlights of the last of the backlogged Alumni Association meeting minutes, these from May 1, 2008, respectively submitted by Roberta Brill Birnel: 
        President Emily Kleinman Schreiber called tonight’s meeting to order at 7:20 PM.  Present:  Roberta Brill Birnel, Paul DeMartino, Booker Gibson, Karen Grimm, Eileen Howell, Terry Gunderson Kaiser, Irwin Kotcher, Arlene Ainbinder Lynn, Edie Mandel, Claire Brush Reinhardt, Emily Kleinman Schreiber, Eric Spinner, Irene Sundal, Ken Ulric, and Laura Waxman Ulric.  Regrets were received from Dennis Shapiro and Ray Richford.  After the meeting, we learned that Ray was taken ill tonight.  We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him soon at our meetings.  We also extend our sincere condolences to Barbara Peres on the loss of her mother and wish Happy Birthday -- on May 14th -- to Emily Kleinman Schreiber.
        Treasurer's Report:  We have five new life members, and three new annual members.
        New Business:  The South High School Scholarship Committee met, but we do not know who was selected.  There was a discussion about revisiting our criteria for our award.
        Eric Spinner has made some progress with our web site and hopes to have it fully operational soon.
        After some discussion, Irwin Kotcher made a motion to buy two $25 coupons for Bed, Bath, and
    Beyond, and three $15 gift certificates for iTunes, for a total of $95.  These are to be given away at the Pre-Prom party.  The motion was seconded by Arlene Ainbinder Lynn and accepted by the members present. Eileen Howell will purchase the gifts for the Association.
        We discussed the meeting schedule for next year -- 2008 - 2009 -- and decided to keep the meetings on the first Thursday of every month.
        Acts of Kindness:
        Thanks again to Arlene Ainbinder Lynn -  and Happy Birthday to her, too -- for her work in packing and mailing all the items she bought to be sent to Corporal Thomas Cahill in Afghanistan. With the special rate from the Post Office, our final cost was $169.55.
        Old business:
        The paperwork for our 501C3 has been mailed out.  The IRS has cashed our $300 check, and now we
    have to wait for them to finalize. Paul DeMartino said this “takes a long time.”
        With donations from two classes, the school has established the Wall of Service.  Two teachers -- Jennifer Schultz and Regina Marinis Cunningham -- will decide the criteria for eligibility.
        Irwin Kotcher spoke to Victor Susman about printing our newsletter so that it can be sent to non-e-mail
    members in August or September of this year.  The cost is 250 2-color copies for $75.  The newsletter of 4 pages costs $1.00 each.  Ken Uric questioned the expense.  Edie Mandel suggested printing copies at Staples instead.  Emily said it is hard to count how many people are not receiving e-mail.  Baldwin sends out its newsletter every fall and has a greater response with snail mail.  Emily also said that we need to
    alphabetize our list of members and non-members so that we can eliminate duplicates
        Events:
        Matthew Katz, class of 1995, sent Emily a beautiful, special copy of the Southern Bell, which included
    stories from 1955 through 1995.  It had been given out in '95 for South's 40th anniversary.
        Laura and Ken Urich attended a performance at the Engleman Equity Theater in Northport and said it
    was “Very nice.”
        Eric Spinner had a successful trip to Vienna, Austria, with twenty-two students and four adults who stayed with host families for six days.
        On May 18, Emily will participate in the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) walk.  Several
    members donated money to sponsor her.
        South’s Homecoming festivities will be held on October 18.  We will recognize the Class of 1958 and
    all alumni attending.  Terry Gunderson Kaiser said that, as of now, we do not know of any formal
    plans for a reunion of ‘58.  We discussed hosting a lunch for guests.
        Friday, June 6th, from 5 to 7 PM, Nell Landman, Director of Student Activities at South, hopes that
    many of us will attend this year’s Pre-Prom party.  Usually attended by 800 – 1000 people, the party was
    started to avoid cocktail parties.  It is held outside in the Gladys Street parking lot.  This year’s theme is
    Masquerade, and decorations will be burgundy, gold, and black.  Giveaways include gift certificates and
    cash.  All seniors can attend, and they do not have to be attending the prom to do so.  There is lots of food, and money is collected from all classes to fund this event.  Kids going to the prom must attend a meeting
    with their parents and principal.
        The Alumni Association will have a letter distributed to all seniors during the last week of school – on
    the day of their yearbook party.  The letter will congratulate them on their graduation and invite to join
    our organization.
    The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.
   
    A reminder than the first Alumni Association meeting of this school year is on this Thursday, September 4th, at South, in the library, around 7:15 PM.
   
    Finally, buried where no one might see it, another joke from Robert Fiveson's vintage collection.  "This one," he writes, "is for all the girls in high school who made all of us boys so blue when it came to winning your love.  Things change."
        An old guy loves to fish.  He's sitting in his boat when he hears a sexy voice say,"Pick me up, and you won't be disappointed."  Looking around, the old guy can't see anyone and thinks he must have been dreaming.  Then he hears the voice again.
        "Pick me up," it whispers
        The old guy looks in the water and there, floating, is a frog.  "Are you talking to me?" the old guy asks.
        "Yes," says the frog.  "Pick me up.  Kiss me.  And I'll turn into the most beautiful woman you've ever seen.  And I'll marry, you and stay with you forever.
        The old guy looks at the frog for a moment, then reaches over, carefully picks it up, and, as gently, places it in his front breast pocket.
        The frog says, "What are you, nuts?  Didn't you hear what I said?  Kiss me, and I'll be your beautiful bride forever."
        The old guy opens his pocket, looks at the frog, and says, "Nah, at my age, I'd rather have a talking frog."