Update 2-16-10

Hi,

Starting with a great thought:

From Valerie Nelson Gillen:  Regarding the reunion plans, I would be happy to host a pool party/barbeque at my home on Saturday afternoon.  I live in West Sayville, New York, which is Suffolk County, close to MacArthur Airport in Islip.  Also, I am close to the Irish Coffee Pub, where Booker plays, if people want to leave from my home to party that evening with Booker.  Just a thought for you all to consider.

[Rich -- This sounds generous and terrific.  That would make a possible weekend line up:
    Friday night gathering at a restaurant in Rockville Centre. 
    Saturday afternoon gathering at Valerie's poolside. 
    Saturday evening gathering at the Irish Coffee Pub to hear Booker Gibson play.]

On a related topic, a clarification from Donna Chirico Mungo.  Hi.  If Eric Hilton is talking about the pizza place in Lynbrook, not Rockville Center, it is too small for twenty-or-so people.

[Rich -- As I wrote Donna:  I had a feeling I was mixing up a place in Rockville Centre, where I met Robin Feit Baker, Paul DeMartino, and Dennis Shapiro the last time I was in New York, with the place in Lynbrook Eric Hilton has been praising.  In any case, it's the larger place in Rockville Centre I've been thinking might be convenient for the initial Friday night gathering, especially if people seem to be interested in staying at a nearby hotel or motel.]

From Mary Sipp-Green:  I hope you counted me in the list for the next reunion.  I think once a plan is made,  we'll get a larger turn out -- at least, I hope so.  Meanwhile, best regards to everyone, and I hope all is well.  P.S. I am working on a project with Paulinda Schimmel.  Details to follow.

Carol Duran sent this, similar, thought in mid-December:  It might be helpful to have a list of attendees, as it might influence others to attend.

[Rich -- As I think I've already mentioned, the reason I've been holding off compiling a list is I didn't want to invade anyone's privacy.  I've unintentionally done that in the past, and it doesn't make for encouraging people to gather.  But I just went back through the newsletters from late November and early December, and I counted 25 people who said they were interested in getting together.  If no one objects, next week, I'll start to run that list.]

From Barbara Blitfield Pech:  Should we be asking one of our good-hearted, fellow grads who still lives on Long Island to scout out the Rockville Centre motels and report back?  That way, we can start to book rooms.  We probably don't want to go on talking about this until it's too late.
    Also, we can spread further word about the reunion on the Facebook site via a message to everyone we all know from South.  So the word will go out even further.

[Rich -- Again, a great idea, if someone near Rockville Centre would like to be a volunteer inspector.
    Also, the matter of booking rooms brought a question about how soon we'd need to put down a deposit for the party and how much that would cost per person.  One of the big things we learned from the 40th reunion was that we're trying to avoid setting an individual cost and reaching the minimum number of people required to pay for a deposit.  That's why we want to keep things inexpensive and casual.  This thought is echoed by one from my sister Marilyn, whose class -- '68 -- is planning a late July reunion.]

From Marilyn:  Our reunion will be in Plainfield, at one of the big chain hotels.  It will cost $120 a person, which includes an open bar.  Even though this money is probably nothing to a lot of people our age, to another group, it's probably not the choice way to spend money, particularly in these times.  Imagine if you wanted to bring your husband, wife, or partner.

[Rich -- I think Larry Rugen mentioned something similar about either one of our earlier reunion plans or about another class's party he was thinking to attend.  We'd like to gather as many people as possible and especially attract those who already live in the metropolitan area.  Gathering in restaurants lets each person decide how much he or she wants to spend and lets us avoid high catering fees and deposits.]

Zelda White Nichols mentioned that there's a new CPR method called Continuous Chest Compression, and you can find details about it by searching for the Mayo Clinic presentation.

Finally, some possible information on the Cagan Brothers, from Joanne Shapiro Polner.  She encourages other interested people to follow this up: 
    From a Switchboard search:  Fredric [sic] R. -- a Long Beach listing
    From a Veromi search:  Fred C. Cagan, 62 years old, listed in Rochester, New York and possibly associated with Greystone International Distributors
    Also from Veromi:  Fred R., age 65, listed both in Long Beach and Valley Stream
    There doesn't seem to be an Andrew Cagan listed in South's class of 1960.  I have the yearbook, and I looked there.  He could be in a slightly later class.  Does anybody know?
    From a Zaba search:  Andrew M. Cagan, born August/September 1942 
    From a Veromi search associated with cities, there are Andrew Cagans listed in:  New York City; Parkland, Florida; Deerfield Beach, Florida; Pompano Beach, Florida; and Miami, Florida.
    From a similar Switchboard search associated with cities, there are Andrew Cagans listed in:
Boca Raton, Florida and Parkland, Florida.

End of virtual sleuthing.  Back to the house on the cliff.

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

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


Rich