Update 9-9-08

Hi,

To begin with, a  very nice thank you note I've been holding on my desk, waiting for its companion.  But I guess Booker got personally thanked in June, at the awards assembly, from the student who received the scholarship given in his honor.
   
    From Rebecca Topol:  To the kind donors of the Vince Tampio Theater Award:  I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to you.  To have my work in theater recognized in this way is extremely flattering and a great honor.  Thank you so much.
   
    [Rich -- When we originally decided on these scholarships, the only thing we asked in return was a thank you note from the two recipients, indicating what they'd done in school to earn the scholarship and where they were going to college.  We've gotten that for the last four years, especially with the help of Liz King Giordano, South's principal's secretary.  But this year that information seems to have slipped.  I hope it's only a temporary lapse.]
   
    In other notes, from Barbara Blitfield Pech:  To answer Barnet Kellman's question, I am on Facebook.  Some of my office people were doing it, and I went along.  In all honesty, I have no idea why the site exists or what its purpose is as I've gotten along quite well with simple e-mails and jpegs.  Then again, if we are mentioning records, why have an iPod when my 45s are still good to go?  Welcome back to 1965.
   
    The first of several notes from Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  It was necessary to change the September Alumni Association meeting date from September 4th to September 11th.  I'm sorry if this presents a problem for anyone.  I try to keep the meetings on the first Thursday of each month, but sometimes it just doesn't work out.
   
    Another message from Emily, later in the week:  In this week's newsletter, you still have the Alumni Association meeting on the 4th.  How about you indicate, in the midst of the Wetson's Hamburgers, that the meeting will be on September 11th?  Thanks.   
        By the way, way back in 1960, my friend Marlene Jacobson and I used to head for Wetson's every lunch period.  We loved their milk shakes!
        Also, could you please stop referring to the Alumni Association minutes as "backlogged."
   
    [Rich -- As I wrote Emily, she didn't have the minutes backlogged.  I did.  There's already a built-in delay as the minutes wait for the following month's meeting to be approved and distributed.  But, as I've already mentioned, I didn't notice that I hadn't gotten two months' of minutes last spring, and, when I realized that and asked for duplicates, I was kind of casual about slipping them into the newsletters.  Sorry.]
   
    From Danny Stellabotte:  In response to Eric Hilton's reference to a deli on Rockaway Avenue, the address was 413 Rockaway Avenue.  I don't know why I would remember that after all these years.  Eric and I did deliver groceries for that deli in the early 60s, and we did get fired plenty of times.  The owner's name was Dominick DePalma, and he was crazy.  He got me so annoyed one day that I went into the back room and did some not-so-good things to the contents in the olive barrel and frying pan where meatballs were cooking.  Can't say what I did though!
   
    From Linda Cohen Greenseid:  After reading Betsy Fels Pottruck's memory of Miss Patterson's negative and cruel words to her, I was reminded of a kindergarten memory I had and may have already mentioned here.
        I was standing at an easel with my paintbrush in hand when my teacher asked, "What's that supposed to be?"  I told her what I had painted, and she said, "That's terrible.  It doesn't look anything like it.  You shouldn't participate in art anymore."
        That was in 1952, at PS 202 in Brooklyn.  I never told my mother the story because I was embarrassed and thought I might get in trouble for not doing well in school.  I did listen to the teacher though, and I never drew again.  To this day, my drawings of stick figure people and square houses with a triangle roof on top are indistinguishable from those of my six-year-old grandson.  Fortunately, I do have many good memories of warm and encouraging teachers who actually liked children.
        Also, Happy Almost Birthday -- September 13th -- to Jean Cohen Oklan, in case I don't get a card to you on time.
   
    From Janet Hernandez:  I was an neighbor of the Sisco family, who owned Ed's Tropical Fish store.  My brothers and I were friends with the kids -- Ed, Jr., Tom, Kathy, and Carol -- so we played with each other.  They were such an nice family.
        The fish store was on the border of Scranton Avenue and Sunrise Highway, but it was still in Lynbrook. Even though I lived in Valley Stream, I could just walk or climb over the fence, and I'd be in  Lynbrook.  I even remember when they knocked down the house next door to Ed's Tropical Fish store and put up Gem Electronics.
   
    From Peter Rosen:  I'm loving the dialogue on Wetson's and all the other history.  My daughter Sarah, who went to American University and played soccer there, is involved with an up-coming, all-sports reunion at American.  Can you pass this note on to Andy Dolich to get his new contact information?  I don't have it since he left Memphis.  I'm sure he would be interested if he doesn't yet know about the event.  Thanks.
   
    [Rich -- Just a reminder that the most recent e-mail addresses are listed on the class home page, in case you need one while I'm busy playing with my Wetson's memorabilia.]

    From Ryki Zuckerman:  For your information, take a gander at this -- the Wikipedia link to South High School.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Stream_South_High_School   Here's the initial entry.
        Valley Stream South High School (VSSHS) is a combined public junior and senior high school in the village of Valley Stream, New York, more specifically, the hamlet of South Valley Stream, New York in southwest Nassau County on Long Island.  The school was established in 1955.
        The high school is one of three high schools in the Valley Stream Central High School District as well as one of two combined junior-senior high schools which educate grades seventh through twelfth.  Students who attend Valley Stream South High School are mainly graduates of the local South Valley Stream elementary schools, including William L. Buck Elementary School, Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School, Forest Road Elementary School, and Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School, which is approximately 100 feet from the junior-senior high school complex.  Valley Stream South High School is known to the local population simply as "South".
        Valley Stream North High School was built at the same time as Valley Stream South High School.  Both schools were originally quite similar in architecture and were arch rivals with regard to sporting events, though during the 2007-2008 school year, South's athletics division was changed to Division 3, due to the size of the student body.  The school is composed of three floors and was originally designed in the shape of a cube with a landscaped courtyard in the center.  Approximately 1,350 students attend VSSHS.  The school's official colors are red and white, and the school's mascot is the falcon.  According to recent published statistics, VSSHS is a top school that spends more on its students than any other high school in the nation.
   
    [Rich -- Uh, when did we lose the red and gray?  Or was that in my imagination?]
   
    Finally, another note from Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  I'd appreciate it if you would let your readership know that they can visit the Alumni Association web site.  Most of it is up-and-running, even though some parts of it are still under construction.  The link is:  <http://www.vsshs-alumni.org/>;  It would also be great if you'd pass along to your people the thought that we could sure use their monetary support.  Thanks again.
   
    [Rich -- The next Alumni Association meeting is this Thursday, September 11th, at 7:15 in the school library.  And it's hard to believe that it's been seven years since that September 11th, and life just keeps going on.  But I guess that can be said of many dates.
        And no joke from Robert Fiveson this week.  I guess he didn't like his placement last week.]