| ISSUE 37 |
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MARCH 2008 |
| ISSUE 37 |
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MARCH 2008 |
Dear LP-53 Classmates, Spouses, and
Friends,
A greeting with Best Wishes in this new year for all of you, and for all of those who are near and dear to you. The years are passing by too fast for me ... I slow down, but time speeds up. Except during winter ... this past one has been long and cold.
Signs of the Times
What’s the opposite of hobby? I say technology. Since Christmas, my spare time has been used to: update my computer; getting a 35mm slide scanner in operation; making digital files of slides and pictures; and, then, loading the picture files into a digital picture frame. The digital picture frame is very nice - tell your children that you want one, but only if it comes with the pictures already loaded! I did feel a sense of accomplishment having installed a USB2.0 card and another 256Mb RAM card in my computer without causing any smoke.
My other venture into new technology might be one that you have in mind, in case you plan to spend your tax rebate to buy a new, high definition (HD) television. Investigate the technology before you buy. You will find that the new TVs advertise with a term, “1080p,” or “720i. One TV uses progressive scan (“p”) technology and the other uses interlaced scan (“i”) technology. From my research, the progressive scan technology is better for HD broadcasts. However, the FCC now limits HD broadcasts to 720p, so a 1080p TV will not give you better resolution or color than a 720p TV, for a HD broadcast program... save some money. But, if you have a home theater that you use to view HD-DVDs, a 1080p TV might be for you.
Something else to keep in mind - you might also have to buy a new DVD player to be compatible with your new “p” TV. After that, you might have to buy a new “Blu-ray” DVD player, which uses different formatting than a HD-DVD player. There is a format war going on for one technology or the other to become the standard ... it’s akin to the old Betamax and VHS video tape format war (VHS eventually won that one). PS. I recently read that the company that makes the HD-DVDs has surrendered, and the future belongs to “Blu-ray.”
New technology is occupying too much of my fast passing time, and gives me a headache!
Do you keep a lot of paper records ... old tax forms; receipts from purchases made ten years ago; 1995 utility bills; “how to use” instructions for appliances or tools you no longer have? I do, or rather, did. I even have the parts and repair manual for a push lawn mower that I used on our small - little bit bigger than our living room - California lawn 35 years ago. I have been cleaning out my file cabinet. I’m thinking that I might as well trash my resume’... all of my work experience and skills are obsolete. Cleaning out the file cabinet can be depressing.
My Carolyn has taken up scrap booking. It’s a new scam. “Scrap bookers” don’t buy albums, and those little photo corner tabs, to stick pictures and memorabilia into a album. They buy book binding pages (front and back), then buy insert pages in dozens of motifs, and buy letter pages with font varieties, and buy pages of icons and symbols, and then spend hours deciding which combination to use for a picture. Results are very nice. Now, Carolyn wants to “scrap book” my stuff. I warned her, there are some pictures of my old girl friends in my stuff. I can’t wait to see the captions that she puts on those pictures.
What’s New In La Salle-Peru
Kaye (Harl) Arkins sent me a copy of a NewsTribune article titled; “L-P’s Hack breaks ground for Cav’s ground-breaking team.” The article describes the ground-breaking work of LP junior Tony Hack who became the first MALE cheerleader in LP’s long history. Tony found cheerleading a means to exercise his gymnastic and tumbling skills. In her note, Kaye wondered which guy, if any, in our class, would have helped her, Peggy, Sharon, and MJ leading the cheers for the 1953 Cav’s. My answer ... none, because none of us had the gymnastic skills, much less good looking legs!
Another article Kaye sent: “Canal Corridor Association release: Canal boat Half-finished.” The boat is being built by Scarano Boat Builders in Albany, New York. It is to be on the I&M Canal at Lock 16 in La Salle early this summer. Problem now is to find someone with horses or mules to pull the thing! The boat will accommodate 75 people for tours. If sufficient interest is shown in replies to our reunion letter, we will make a I&M Canal boat ride part of our reunion agenda.
The Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC), which evolved from the old LPO has instituted a IVCC-LPO Hall of Fame. “The Hall will honor alumni, employees and friends of the college who have made a significant difference in the lives of others.” The first 25 members were inducted at a ceremony held January 26, 2008. A few of the inductees whose names I recognize are:
I suppose that the large number of inductees in this first class was necessary to “catch up,” if you will. If you look at old Ell Ess Pe’s, you will read reference to Mr. Dolan, and Mr. Wilmot, not Dr. I wonder if they intentionally made a point of modesty that the “Dr.” title not be used? In the 1953 Ell Ess Pe, the only PhD listed is E. G. Marshall, Chemistry..
Memories
It is likely that we don’t remember some of these facts that come from the year 1935, the year that most, but not all (some of our members were born 1934, and 1936), of us were born. Janet Baird Audo sent me a article, “Time Capsule, 1935" from the magazine, Reminisce. Some economy facts for 1935: Average household income $1,115, toilet paper $0.25 for 7 rolls (I remember one of my uncles had catalogs in the privy), ground beef 2 lbs. for $0.25, gasoline $0.19 per gallon, first-class postage $0.03. “The Great Depression continues its grip across the U.S. as millions remain without jobs.”(My dad finally got a job with the Illinois Power Co. in 1938, and we moved from Neponset to La Salle). FDR “expands his New Deal programs,” which included creation of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to provide public works construction jobs (which, by the way, included building the LP football stadium), and the Social Security Act. In industrial technology, the DuPont company introduces a chemical polymer that it calls nylon. The company decides to target one product - hosiery - for the new fiber. In a few years, silk stockings are obsolete, replaced by “nylons.” I bet Dupont did not anticipate that “nylons” would become black market barter during WWII, and that the company would use its entire nylon production capability from 1942-1945 to make parachutes, not stockings.
A few years after 1935, fourteen to be exact, we were entering high school on the first day of September, 1949. I had grown from about 20 inches, 8-plus pounds, to five feet tall and about 105 pounds. Hey, I was smart enough to not think about playing football! Probably 99 per cent of the boys did a lot better than me in the height and weight gain categories by the time of high school. If the girls wore “nylons” in high school, I didn’t see them ... what I saw were “bobby socks.”
Do you remember the great musical movies? I watched a recent public TV program on this subject. A “modus-operandi” evolved. If a musical was a Broadway hit, it would be made into a movie ... good business plan that recognized that all of us Illinois farmers would not get to Broadway. In my opinion, these musical show movies had a positive influence on our lives. Here a few examples:
I tried to find what might be identified as the last great musical movie, to no avail; but, it was near the end of the fabulous ‘50s. I remember these movies, and the hit songs they produced. My mind can conjure up a image and a song.
We enjoyed good movies ... I’m glad to remember “Surrey With The Fringe,” rather than some bad language from Rambo, or Rocky I-IV. Our Times enjoyed good movies.
In recent correspondence with Fred Paulicka, I learned that during his two years at LPO (‘53-‘55), he worked at Pretto’s Cabinet Factory in Oglesby. His co-workers included, Rudy West, Jim Gherardini, Don Rigazio, and Louie Pioli. At the time, the factory was located in the Oglesby business district on Main Street. The main product was cabinets for Sear’s Silvertone B&W television sets. Our Oglesby classmates probably remember the Pretto Cabinet Factory, but I never heard of the place. Just shows you what little I know and remember!
In Memoriam
We sadly note the passing of another classmate, who was also the husband of a classmate. Bob “Eto” Keenan passed away January 9, 2008 after a short illness. He is survived by loving wife, Kay (Constantine), six children, 13 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. Kay wrote in Bob’s obituary, “To know him was to love him.” So true, Kay. Several of our classmates attended St. Patrick’s elementary school with Bob, and we all loved him.
Our In Memoriam list now names 75 of our classmates.
o Marilu Kelly Schultz’s husband, Robert, died in September, 2007 from a heart attack.
o Mary Jean Brennan Stuart’s mother, Carolyn V. Brennan, age 95, died December 19, 2007.
o Gerald “Bears” Gorski, age 72, died January 11, 2008 at his home in McNabb.
o
William “Bill” Hahne, age 70, died February 15,
2008 in Texas.
All those we love are
part of us,
For things of beauty
leave their trace.
And memories of all
we’ve shared,
Are treasures time
cannot erase.
--- Anonymous...
Class (and Family) Information
Congratulations to Kaye (Harl) and Bill Arkins. Leap Year’s Day Feb 29, 2008, brought them a grand daughter, Molly Mae. I wonder how many Feb 29 children or grand children or great grand children we have?
Our classmate, Nancy Tarpley Payne met Bill Olewiler some eight years ago while both were members of a Internet literary discussion group. Since then, Nancy’s husband, Henry, passed away, and a few years later, Bill’s wife, Mary, died. The members of the discussion group were very supportive of Nancy and Bill in their bereavement. Maybe, it was that support that caused Nancy and Bill to meet in person, and to now announce that they will be married April 26, 2008. I wrote Nancy, WOW! Congratulations, and God Bless you.
Joan Rogalla Anderson wrote a note with her Christmas card that included the following: “In November, I attended a meeting of the Illinois Association of Wheat Weavers (artists they are) in Clinton, IL. I was talking to a woman there who had graduated from Clinton high school with Gene Vance. They had their high school reunion this fall (2007) and Gene and his wife attended. She said he was doing well; just has some trouble with his knees.” Thanks, Joan ... glad to learn that Coach (heart throb of many) Vance is doing OK.
Nancy Kibilka Silfies also included a note with her Christmas card, writing that her daughter was inducted into the International College of Dentists, a dental honor society whose members have been active in dental affairs and who have contributed to their community. Nancy’s daughter, Dawn, is a past president of the Illinois Academy of General Dentistry and practices in Elgin.
I don’t know how many of you might be ice hockey fans, but Mary Jean Brennan Stuart and I are. MJ sent me a e-mail reference to a newspaper article dated January 5, 2008, titled; “Colin Stuart makes NHL debut against his brother Mark.” Colin, on the Atlanta Thrashers team, was playing against Mark’s team, the Boston Bruins. Colin, scored a first-period goal. The game marked the first time in 25 years that a NHL player debuted against his brother’s team. The oldest sibling in the family, Mike, plays on a team in Austria, and youngest sibling, Cristin is captain of the Boston College women’s hockey team. These Stuarts are MJ’s grand children.
Speaking of hockey, our Walled Lake Michigan Northern High School senior grandson, Bobby, is a co-captain of his hockey team (this year, the team preferred to have co-captains, rather than a captain and assistant captains). The three co-captains have GPA above 3.7 and are members of the National Honor Society. The team, as a whole, has a GPA above 3.5. They missed playing in the state championship by one game ... damn!!
Most of you do not have e-mail, so I am repeating recent e-mail discussions we have provided one another with medical advice, which included getting the pneumonia (Pneumococcal) vaccination (and booster, if you already had the shot) and the vaccination for shingles (Zoster). Bob Hughett and Jack Turner are experiencing the pain of shingles and they will attest to avoiding this malady at all costs At our age, our immune system degrades, and we become more vulnerable. So, get your shots!
Issue 34 (March, 2007), included the information that Sylvia Starovasnik Davenport’s grandson, Corporal Stephen Shannon, was killed in Iraq, January 31, 2007. On January 31, 2008, the Stephen D. Shannon Athletic Complex was dedicated at Clayton Ridge High School; the community of Guttenberg, Iowa honoring its native son, student athlete, and soldier. February 10, 2008, Shannon Hall was dedicated at the 469 th EN CO (MAC) base, Dodgeville, Wisconsin, Shannon’s home base.
Jim and Aurora Flohr continue to expand their community service horizons. Last fall Jim and Aurora completed the Harlingen (Texas) Police Department Citizen’s Police Academy course, attending evening and Saturday classes, and riding “shotgun” in police cruisers Friday or Saturday nights. I wouldn’t be surprised if Christmas, 2008, Jim sends a note saying that he (or Aurora) is now the mayor of Harlingen.
In early January, 2008, Buzz Byczynski’s secretary (his wife, Gloria) sent me an email stating they were going to warmer climate for a few weeks. In February, I made contact and asked, “Where did you go?” They went on a cruise from Buenos Aires, Argentina, south, around Cape Horn, and then up the west coast of South America to Santiago, Chile. They experienced 30-foot waves, even in the summer time passage around the horn in the southern hemisphere. They did some white-water rafting on a “really cold river fed by a glacier.” Gloria wrote that Buzz always wanted to sail around the horn. All I can say is, “Gloria, Buzz is crazy, and I am starting to have concern for you.”
In early December, 2007, I learned that Fred Paulicka would be gone for a couple of months. I am back in touch with Fred. I shouldn’t have asked him, “Where have you been?” After spending the month of December in Hawaii, on January 2, 2008, Fred and his wife, Carol, left from there to visit friends and business associates in: Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, India, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan, returning to Hawaii on February 6, and back to Berea, Ohio on February 10. Fred wrote that it took two years to plan the itinerary! I believe it, Fred. Now, let me tell you, in 15-minutes you can make all the arrangements to attend our 55th reunion! Just do it!
Golden Anniversaries in 2008:
Congratulations to all of you and God Bless. According to my records, which are surely not 100 per cent correct, the first of our classmates to celebrate a 50th anniversary was Alice Ellerbrock and her husband, Robert Smith, married August 9, 1951. We have had 47 classmates celebrate their Golden Anniversary.
Address Changes:
New E-Mail Address:
MJ’s change is due to Comcast buying out Insightbb. We have 5 or 6 others with “Insightbb” addresses. If you are one of those, let us know when the change applies to you.
July, 2008 Gathering
Although we are having a reunion in September, we will still have our annual July gathering ... we don’t want to break a good habit. It will be a opportune time to review where we stand with reunion plans. And, since we need to do that we might as well play some golf, have a cocktail party, and go out to dinner. You might ask, “What’s the real motivation here ... reunion planning, or golf, drinks, and going out to dinner?” You know the answer!
Dates will probably be July 18 and 19, but I need to do some coordinating before being sure. Final dates will be in the mail.
Marriage Album Project
I lied in the last issue, when I said that I would no longer ask for photos for our marriage album. Please send your then (when married) and now pictures of you and your spouse to Jim or me for scanning. The photos will be returned. Now, this is the last time that I will ask ... I promise.
Photos for 55th Reunion
Please look through old albums (or shoe boxes) for pictures that you have showing yourself, classmates, or places that were part of Our Times during elementary and high school days. Send the pictures to Alan Berry or Jim Brooks (addresses at end of this letter). We will scan the pictures and return them. Our intention is to use the pictures for a photo show, automatically running “in-the-background” at our 55th reunion events. Jim Brooks is going to do all the work to put this together, so send a lot of pictures.
We cannot run the picture show without a computer and digital projector. We need to be in contact with a local resident who has a laptop/notebook computer with CD/DVD drive that can run PowerPoint 2007, who will let us use the computer (under the owner’s supervision) for the picture show. We will also need a projector that connects to a computer ... I’m hoping that Deer Park and the Elks Club have such, but we need to check on this. Please let us know if you have a computer we can use.
55th Reunion Planning
The reunion dates are September 25-27, 2008 ... official ... you can count on it ... make your travel plans. Within a few weeks you will receive a reunion announcement letter with details.
A block of rooms has been reserved at Starved Rock Lodge (Ph. 800-868-7625) under contract for: LP Class of 1953 (the reference you use when making a reservation). We will receive a senior discount, 20 per cent for Thursday night, and 10 per cent for Friday and Saturday nights. Our reserved block includes the following rooms (prices subject to change, before discount, PLUS taxes). The number in parenthesis indicates reservations made as of Jan 31, 2008:
We do not intend to have a “busy” reunion, ushering you from one thing to another. My hope is that we fill all of the reserved block of rooms at Starved Rock, and that, from there, we are impromptu with where we will go for lunch, what to do after lunch. Some of you locals should treat yourselves to a weekend at “The Rock.” Others would know that we are there (at “The Rock”) and could join us and plan the day’s itinerary. We were not able to make dinner reservations at Seneca’s new banquet center, but we can go there for lunch, or to the Igloo to get a pork tenderloin and strawberry milk shake.
We do have to schedule and make reservations for some activities; Tour the high school; boat rides on Belle of the Rock on Illinois River out of Starved Rock (40 passengers), and/or on the new I&M Canal Boat (75 passengers) out of Lock 16 (both charge $10 for one-hour tour ride). And, we will plan to play golf. For any of these, the cost will be paid at the time. We will include a check box on the reunion announcement letter to indicate interest in these events.
Class Account Balance
Deposits have been paid for reservations at Starved Rock Room ($250), the Elks Club ($50), Deer Park ($500), and Lostant Caterers ($100). Our account balance as of Feb 26, 08 is $329.58, which includes $300 of advance payments. It will cost us about $150 just to copy and mail reunion letters. Please consider a contribution to overhead costs when you return your reunion reservations form.
Information & Stories
Please send information, retirement activities, stories, address changes, etc. to:
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Kaye Arkins |
Alan Berry |
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437 N. Woodland Ave.. |
2358 Meadowgreen Dr |
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Oglesby, IL 61348
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Beavercreek, OH 45431 |
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(815) 883-8818
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(937) 429-0092 |
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beansb@woh.rr.com |
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Jim Brooks |
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james.r.brooks@lpths.org |
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