Update 1-26-10

Hi,

A note, a warning, a caution, a link, a Broadway success, a reunion reminder, some LA music, and a reunion report.

First, from Zelda White Nichols:  Please thank Barbara Blitfield Pech for the www.vpike.com site.  It was so much fun to look up, not only my old address in Lynbrook, but also my former addresses in Massachusetts, California, and here in North Carolina -- as well as those of good friends.  Not all streets or specific addresses were recognized.  In my present case, the site showed the street and bridge near me but not our particular house.  It was also fun to see how neighborhoods change.  Though in the case of Peninsula Boulevard in Lynbrook, it was as if time had stood still.

Second, from Barbara Blitfield Pech, a forwarded safety advisory:  We're not sure why it's so effective, but try this method out when it next rains heavily.  It's useful, even when driving at night.
    Most motorists would turn on the fastest speed of their windshield wipers during a heavy downpour, yet their visibility is still bad.  Next time you face such a situation, just put on your sunglasses -- any variety will do.  Suddenly, your visibility is perfectly clear -- as if there's no rain.  You still see the raindrops on your windshield, but not the sheet of rain falling.  You can also see where the rain bounces off the road.  Plus, the sunglasses help eliminate the "blindness" from passing semis spraying you.

The caution:  Urban Legend said this piece of advice has been on the Internet since last June, but the researchers on the site are still checking its validity.

From The New York Times, another caution -- a link to a long piece about Facebook security:  http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2010/01/20/20readwriteweb-the-3-facebook-settings-every-user-should-c-29287.html?em

The note from Broadway:  Morgan Spector, the son of Steve Spector, got very good reviews in the just-opened, Liev Schreiber-Scarlett Johansson production of Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge.

A final reminder about next Saturday's Florida reunion:  The class of 66's Third Mini-Reunion will be held on  January 30, 2010, from 7 to 11 PM at The Club at Boca Pointe, 7144 Boca Pointe Drive.
    The RSVP deadline was almost a month ago, but if you're suddenly looking for a party, Joan Kass Lipson might be able to help you.  The cost is $37.50 per person, and there's a cash bar for mixed drinks and wine.  E-mail Joan at:  jlipson@optonline.net.

Notice from Amy Lieberman of some ongoing music in Los Angeles:  Billy Valentine has been asked to sing on Saturday nights at Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica.   So each Saturday night, from 7 to 11, come hear Billy and the Stuart Elster Trio at 1910 Ocean Way.

Finally, the class of ’59’s 50th Reunion report, written by Joanne Shapiro Polner, edited by Evelyn Roedel Read, and first seen in the recent Alumni Association Bulletin:
    The class of '59 had an excellent reunion party to celebrate its 50th year since graduation.  The dinner was held at the catering hall of the Oceanside, Long Island, Knights of Columbus.  Forty-four people attended, including nine spouses and a classmate who'd moved before graduation.
    The lovely hall had soft lighting, a beige-gold ambiance, and dark mirrors in large wall arches.  Tables were set in white, red, and pale gray, with vases with two roses and a sparkly silver bow as centerpieces.  The food was good and nicely presented at a semi-circular buffet.  Entrees included meat, chicken, fish, rice, and a vegetarian dish.  There was one carving station, and a cheese platter, fruit platter, and crudités platter were available all evening.
    The elegant built-in bar was discreetly set back from the main area, near the kitchen doors, which were behind a mirrored partition.  At dessert time, service included a coffee/liqueur cart with coffee-based drinks and a variety of liqueurs to enjoy in one-ounce chocolate cups.  At the beginning of the evening, the maitre d' played decade-appropriate music, which we asked him to turn very low, so we could talk and hear each other.  During dinner, we chose not to have music playing at all, so we enjoyed calm, wonderful hours of conversation during the leisurely meal.
    On a large table, we displayed memory objects and papers, along with a small poster with words written for the occasion.  Terry Gunderson Kaiser chiefly made the reunion happen, and, as her assistant, I brought yearbooks, a Regents' certificate, a diploma, review books, and a 6th grade zippered-autograph album.  Several of us looked over that with great interest.
    The alums had graduated from one of three elementary schools -- Clearstream Avenue, Brooklyn Avenue, or William Buck -- and I had placed a note on the table about the music teacher, Robert Leist, who had moved with us from elementary school to South.  Soon enough in the 50s, Booker Gibson also took our hearts, and, happily, both men are still alive today
    We also displayed a booklet of photos from five decades of yearbooks.  It was provided by Emily Kleinman Schreiber, South's Alumni Association president, and was created for South's 50th birthday party in March 2006.  There was also a memory booklet Emily had compiled, which included stories from former students.  As decoration on the table, red wax candles of a "5" and an "0," each on a six-inch stick, were set with tissue paper in an Alumni Association "South High mug."  On another table, a 1959 class list had names in bold print of alums for whom we still have no information.  Fortunately, we received a few clues at the dinner.
   Before the buffet opened, champagne was poured into small flutes, and Terry offered a very generous welcome.  She and I had spent hours searching for and contacting alums, and for each reunion attendee, Terry had prepared a directory of alums who were at the party or who had responded to the invitation and agreed to be listed.  Consequently, it does not include the whole class.  The cover is a copy of our '59 yearbook cover, with alternating silver and blue horizontal bands and one letter of the word "Legend" in each band.  Terry wrote an introduction inside the cover, and the back cover has the names of our deceased alums.  That number climbed to 14 just before the reunion and 17 after information we received at and just after the party.  As of November 2009, we are still missing information on about 45 of the 168 graduates in our class.
    Terry had also prepared a list of local hotels and motels for alums who wished to stay over in the area, and she had arranged for a Friday night gathering of alums who'd arrived early on Long Island and who wished to meet and chat ahead of the Saturday party.  We'd be happy to share the hotel/motel list and pricing with members of other classes.

The South '65 e-mail addresses:  reunionclass65.blogspot.com

The South '65 photo site:  picasaweb.google.com/SouthHS65 


Rich