Hicksville High School Hicksville, New York
| The Editors: | |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Bob Casale '61 | Linda (Piccerelli) Hayden '60 |
| Pat (Koziuk) Driscoll '56 | Bob (Gleason) Wesley '61 |
To contact the editors, email
Each of us brings something wonderful and unique to the table ...
and that is what makes life a feast.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear Readers,
I'd like to take a moment to thank you all for sending cards and letters of strength and support during the three months I spent in the hospital here in Plattsburgh, NY. After my quadruple bypass surgery, I was admitted an additional 6 times over the past few months with one complication after another.
While I've only been out for three days now, I feel stronger than I have since the beginning of the ordeal. I'm looking forward to a safe and timely recovery now and should start cardiac rehabilitation within a week or so.
It will still be a while before I can once again participate in HixNews, and I want to thank everyone for filling in for me while I was gone. I think our Newsletter looks GREAT and I know it's growing all the time.
Once again, thank you all for your card and prayers.
Sincerely,
Bob (Gleason) Wesley '61
THIS PLACE IS A CLASS ACT THRU & THRU!! LARGE DANCE FLOOR,
SEPARATE BAR AREA,AND REAR DINING (QUIET) IF YOU'RE HUNGRY!!
SHOW STARTS 9:45 & GOES ON & ON...
$5/ADM (PLEASE MENTION US AT DOOR)
WANTAGH PKWY TO OLD CNTRY RD EAST-GO 100 FEET!!
VISIT http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MIDLIFECRISISLONGISLAND
The Newsletter
PEOPLE LOOKIN' FOR PEOPLE
- Robert Uhlich,'57 is looking for Richard Cabble,'59, Larry Knieter and Robert Hilderbrand
- Ralph Powell, 57 is looking for James Bruce,'57
- Arline Barna,'56 is looking for Edward H. Kasten,'56
- Bob Gerrets,'66 is looking for Belle Miller,'66
- Pat (Thompson) Dumas,'75 is looking for Crystal Demas,'75
- Karen Kelly,'69 is looking for Fran Barber,'69
- John Connelly is looking for Jennifer James,'90
- Bob (Gleason) Wesley,'61 is looking for Jeff Foster,'61
- Carol (Kiever) Ohliger,'57 is looking for Betty Kenny,'57
- Linda (Zuckerman) Rausch,'60 is looking for Richie Bizzaro,'60
- Susan Spector,'62 is looking for Loretta Noce,'62
- Ann (Krex) Friedman,'65 is looking for Laura Krakoff,'65 & Lynne Cohen,'65
- Mike Linihan,'65 is looking for Terry Sheehan,'64 & Charles Dohrenwend,'65
- Beth (Halper) McFall,'65 is looking for Judith Lapiner,'65
- Ron Smith,'73 is looking for Peggy Levins (69-70), Bonnie Fuchs'73, Denise Bonsang,'73 & Paul Cecery,'73
- Marty Winkel,'62 is looking for Cathy Sorrentino,'64
- Frank Scarangella,'55 is looking for Jim Tweedle
- Mike Cucci,'64 is looking for Phil Hearon,'64
- Cheryl (Woods) Newell,'69 is looking for Penny Thompson,'69
- Walter (Butch) Allen, '60 is looking for Richie McKenna
- Josie (Dzieniezewski) Bacchi, '76 is looking for Evangeline Econ
- Joe Carfora, '62 is looking for Eddy Kramer, '63
If there's someone you're looking for, just send your request and we'll be happy to add it to the list.
If anyone knows these folks, send an email to:
Here I am performing with The Turtles on Saturday.......sort of......along with an escapee from an Alice Cooper Concert.
Mark Virgilio, 1967
Anyone remember the Dynamics? We played at many of the school functions and a lot of Friday night parties. This is our promo picture taken at Bond Clothes, Mid Island Plaza.
From left to right: Jim Rosica, Ken Arnold, Vic Olsen, me, John Barcelona
I stay in touch with Johnny B. I spoke to Jim about 8 years ago. I've never been able to track down anyone else.
Rick Weick '65
Thank you for putting my luncheon show in the monthly paper. That was so nice of all of you. I hope to see some of you for the show, if not I will see you at the upcoming events. One of my best friends will be at my show as usual, Anita Foster. We have been friends for over 50 years. It just doesn't seem possible that so much time has gone by. When I look at my old graduation picture it reminds me that time does fly!!
Talk soon, and thanks again.
Best Regards,
Ann Fisher (Colascione) 61'
I'm in your latest newsletter and thanks--great photo!
Thanks ever so much and if anyone is interested, I am not far from my hometown, just a bit upstate NY in Rosendale. I have a web site http://www.photosbyrochelle.com as I am a photojournalist and commercial photographer now.
Much appreciation for all that you do to keep our brain cells full of wonderful memories.
Rochelle Riservato '67
Hello to all the our friends in the class of 1963.
As you could see in the October news letter, Janet (Stietz) and I, Tony Masi, were married in 1967 and celebrated our 40th wedding Anv. As a gift to each other, we treated ourselves to a Caribbean cruise on the worlds largest cruise ship, "Liberty of the Sea". We stopped at several Caribbean countries. We were not a lone as we met Janet's cousin and her husband Ray and two other couples on board and had a great time and lots of laughs. Below are some pictures from that adventure.
We had lots of fun and met so many people from around the world. As a ham radio operator, this was a chance of a life time. If any one would want to see our cruise pictures, e-mail your e-mail address to
Janet & Tony Masi Class of 63
Hi,
8 Cedar StreetI have really enjoyed reading all the stories. My name is (are you ready) Josie (Dzieniezewski) Bacchi, DOB: 05/22/you can do the math!) I graduated HHS in 1976. I used to live at 8 Cedar Street and I went to East Street School. It flipped me out when I read Mrs. Schaaf's name. I had her as a teacher at East Street. She was great! Also, Mr Hilsky (Oh my gosh! does he still have a crew cut?) I have been married since 10/13/84 to Joe and we have lived in Farmingdale, NY since 1985. I really enjoyed the stories about Mid Island Plaza. FYI, the parfaits at Gertz were the best and I think they only cost 25 cents. I especially remember all the candy stores like Baracinis, Lofts etc. You don't see those any more and what about the famous hang out, the pizza place in the back of the mall. Of course there was Calda Pizza where everyone in the High School went for lunch every day does anyone remember Maria?
I had some really good friends at HHS and I have long since wondered what happened to Evangeline Econ. If anyone knows where she is, please let me know. I know MaryEllen Talento (Class of 75) passed away. She was another good school friend and if it wasn't for her, my sister Terry ('75) would never have met her husband Mike Spronck ('74).
Please keep all the issues coming. I am only living 6 miles from where I grew up and Hicksville is sooo different now I really can't stand it but of course, that's the way it is. If anyone of you out there remembers me (fondly of course LOL!), please email me. I would love to hear from you. I was a BOCES kids back then I went to Westbury BOCES.
Josie (Dzieniezewski) Bacchi
Farmingdale, NY
FYI I am currently working at New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury Campus Admissions you can email me at:
Would you believe a cousin I never knew I had, saw my name in the article I wrote about Roy Schaaf? She wrote to HIXNEWS wanting to know if I could be her cousin and did I live on East John St. HIXNEWS FWD me her e-mail and I e-mailed her.
It turns out she is the daughter of my mother's oldest brother's son. She would be a grand neice to my mother and a second cousin to me. She is doing a history on my mother's side of the family. We have been e-mailing and I, being a lot older, have been providing her with family info and pictures. The sad part is, last year I threw out a lot of old family pictures that my children didn't want.
Marilyn Bowles is a 1966 HHS graduate. I would guess a lot of HIXNEWS members would know her.
Thanks HIXNEWS for bringing us together.
Art Lembke, '49
As I have stated in past newsletter's, Joe Ryan (science teacher) is one of the true hero's of our time. Sure he was beyond his time with his teaching methods which made you want to go to class...but he was so much more outside the classroom. Without his support(and his wife's), I never would have made it thru my life threatening illness. Let's stop waiting to acknowledge a great man. Let's vote and induct Joe Ryan now.
Bob Goldmacher '73
Is there 30 year reunion planned for the class of 1978?
Christopher Melluso
I like to tell my kids that when I got to High School, I was confronted by Mr. Jaworski, Mr. Munch (Physics Teacher) and Coach Grant and warned that if I was anything like my big brother Vic (his nickname was Skip at that time), I would be expelled in a heartbeat. Vic was five years older than me and had a reputation I guess, and to be honest, I idealized him. But I didn't want to get "expelled", so it was join the football team, like he did. (promptly got injured). But through the football team, in my senior year, we had to be part of the variety show with Ms. Day (Art Dept.). Everyone loved this woman. I loved the Variety show so much, I signed up for the Musical Comedy play, 76 Trombones, and then the Senior Play, a Shakespeare thing called "She Stoops to Conquer". I have to admit, some of us guys did it because the girls in the Thespian Club were gorgeous. In fact, I think hormones drove most of our actions back then, but it was fun. With my friends George Revis, Paul Tava (who owned the neatest car, could fit maybe nine guys for going to drive-ins) and a couple others from our "Fraternity" Phi Epsilon, we were elected to Student Government, became "Hall Cops" and got involved in just about everything there was with the school. I freely admit, the guys I hung with were the doers, but I figured it would behoove me to hang with them, than incur the wrath of the staff. So, I was the opposite of my brother in school, and you know what? We both think on those days as the happiest times of our lives. As an aside, does anyone else remember Mr. Munch wiring the doorknob to his classroom, so that when new kids to his class would arrive, they would get electric shocks?
Joe Platania ' 63
Hi guys,
In the Hicksville newsletter, they asked can you name the two bakeries ? Well there were three according to my brother Lenny. Do either of you recall their names?
The answer is Baronburgs (Barenberg's) Just Right, and the Broadway Bakery, 83 N Broadway, which happened to be the Cheese Cake King of Long Island.
What answer did you guys have?
Thanks
Ray Feierstein class of '63
Hard to believe, but it's nearly that time again. The Glass Menagerie's Winter concert is nearly here. We've been working real hard and the program is really beginning to shape up. Selections by Rossini, Mendelssohn, Gounod as well as a medley from "Porgie and Bess" will be featured plus much, much more. And don't forget our world famous holiday sing-a-long. It should be a great show and I hope to see you all there.
Here are the particulars:
The Glass Menagerie's Winter Concert
Saturday, December 8, 2007
St. Joseph's Church
371 6th Ave. (Corner of Washington Pl. 1 block North of W. 4th St. or 2 blocks South of W. 8th St.)
A $15.00 admission is suggested with senior discounts available.
David Teitel, '68
S E N I O R M E D I C A L N O T E S
A great deal of us are senior citizens now. Many follow a regimen of seeing doctors, filling prescriptions, watching what we eat very carefully and exercising diligently, but conservatively. Exams, medications and procedures have certainly prolonged our existence, but the longevity is based on the known...the high blood pressure; high cholesterol; diabetes; and a multitude of other treatable maladies. But what does one do about the hidden dilemma?
I had been experiencing shortness of breath for awhile back in 2003. Went to my primary and was checked for simple things. No asthma; no emphysema; no pneumonia...so further testing was considered. I was directed to a cardiologist who would perform additional testing in an attempt to discover why I was having shortness of breath.
The cardiologist ordered a stress test. For those who have not had the pleasure of a stress test an explanation about what is involved is in order. Prior to testing, an intravenous device is inserted into a vein. This is for the introduction of a dye into your system prior to the taking of pictures of the heart. After the first injection, pictures of the heart are taken at rest.
After the initial pictures are taken, you wail awhile until the second part of the test is started. This is to capture pictures of the heart after exercise. Those who are able to use a treadmill are required to walk until a target heart rate is achieved...then they are injected. Some cannot walk so another injection is used to raise the heart rate without exercise. A second series of pictures is taken.
The results often show little change in the way a heart functions at rest and while in exercise. There are times when the doctor wants to look more closely at the heart and will ask for an angiogram to be performed. This is when the doctor introduces a tiny camera into the heart through a catheter inserted into an artery in the groin so he can view the cardiovascular structures that carry blood throughout the body.
This brings us back to my statement about the hidden dilemma.
After an angiogram, I was in recovery where you are required to lie still for several hours until the wound in the groin closes. I was having difficulty catching good breaths of air. The nurse noticed my stress and asked what was wrong. After explaining, she went directly to a doctor and he recommended a cat scan to see if they could analyze my problem.
I went for the scan and returned to cardiac recovery and felt a lot better than I did before. They weren't able to determine why I felt the shortness of breath...but they did make a remarkable discovery...I had an AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm). If the scan was not done, I would not have known about the aneurysm.
At the time, the size was about 3.4 centimeters. They do nothing until the size exceeds 5.0 centimeters. This is when they do surgery to repair the problem.
We monitored the aneurysm for several years...last September, I went for a scan and the size had grown to 5.7. We scheduled surgery for November 9, 2006. There are two methods of correcting the aneurysm. Radical surgery where they crack you open or the relatively new less invasive catheter based technology using endovascular grafting. I opted for the second choice. I had the surgery on the ninth and was discharged on the tenth.
The point I am making here is there are many people walking around with a time bomb ticking inside and they have no way of knowing that a burst aneurysm is usually deadly. Next time you schedule a doctor appointment for an annual physical or routine testing, ask that they check you for an aneurysm.
My sister, Eileen Casale Mahan, class of '59, lives in Las Vegas and has been there since 1972. Also, living in Las Vegas, from your class of 1959, is Irene Hyman. I forgot...also Chris Heidt... My sister is married to Federal Judge James Mahan who sits on the court, Las Vegas district.
Regards,
Bob Casale
I would love to be on your mailing list. I was sent this month's newsletter from Mike Puccio (59) and found pictures of my Brother in law Tommy D'Amato in several of them. Very interesting!
Murry Dalaimo
Las Vegas, Nevada
The 1967 reunion was absolutely fantastic and we got some great class pictures of the various elementary schools in attendance. Hopefully we will have them ready on time, though my wife is busy working on them in Photoshop. It was really hard to believe all those people were 58....incidentally; we are considering a mass 60th birthday celebration in 2 years, if everyone can make it. We did have some last minute arrivals and probably had somewhere between 80 and 90 people in attendance. I had the time of my life and felt 18 again.
Mark Virgilio
Late Update.. News from the Class of 1967 40th Year Reunion.
The HHS Class of '67 reunion was held on October 20, 2007 at the Huntington Hilton in Melville. About 80-90, mostly grads, attended. The reunion was organized via email by a Committee of Ken Marcus (West Bloomfield, Michigan), Jim Rubins (Napa, California), and Mark Virgilio (Acre Lane, Hicksville). To say that the Committee, which had been out of touch for 40 years, "bonded" over three months and hundreds of emails would be an understatement.
Special kudos went out to Peggy Gill, who copied and pasted yearbook photos on name tags, and who retired from her job on the administrative staff at HHS just the day before the reunion!
A reunion organizing company was hired to care of sending invitations, booking the facility and other logistical considerations. Creativity was the sole responsibility of the Committee, which went into high gear to assure an entertaining evening. After initial cocktails, a retrospective slide show edited by Ken Marcus, featuring current and 1967 photos of HHS, Hicksville and members of the class, with a 1966-67 soundtrack, put the audience in a nostalgic mood. Current photos were the work of Mark Virgilio and his wife HHS grad Alice Hayden, while principal Comet yearbook photographer Tom Hoffman generously contributed yearbook "out takes." A number of other grads also contributed material, notably Jim Rubins provided a short film of the rained out graduation ceremony on the HHS football field. The nostalgia was followed by humor when Ken Marcus presented his power point assisted "Evening Homeroom Announcements," which included a bogus message from the Hicksvill Board of Education notifying the class that, because the graduation ceremony was rained out, in fact Bill Joel was the only official graduate of the Class of '67, as recognized at the 1992 HHS graduation ceremony.
Later, as the party picked up steam, an even greater number of Tom Hoffman's "not ready for yearbook photos" were projected during music and dancing and reminiscing.
The final element of the "official program" was a series of then and now slides (yearbook photo and current photo) prepared and MC'd by Jim Rubins, who passed the mike around so that grads could bring everybody up to date on their lives post-Division avenue. Notably, a number of couples who met at HHS (or earlier!) have been married these four decades.
Plans are underway to post the program material and photos taken that night on a web site.
While the Committee was pleased that the logistics and the formal presentations worked out well, undoubtedly the best part of the evening was people in attendance, In addition to Metro NY and Long Islanders (and a few still residing in Hicksville), grads came from California, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Connecticut and Massachusetts. In many respects, the evening had the feeling of an extended family get together. The mix of the "who's who" of the class and "the rest of us,"many of whom hadn't been in touch with one another for 40 years, represented a cross section of the class. (A number of "the rest of us" group have since become "who's who," proving that there indeed is life after high school!)
Some might debate whether we HHS grads have anything in common other than the accident of fate that we attended public school during a certain time and at a particular place. People that take the time, trouble and expense to go to a high school reunion, however, are evidence that ties established in our youth contine to resonate with meaning a lifetime later.
Ken Marcus
Sorry I was unable to attend our Class of '67 Reunion, due to a previous photo assignment, but to all who attended I'd like tip my hat to you and wish you a happy holidays.
Check out my web site at http://www.photosbyrochelle.com
Sincerely,
Rochelle Riservato Class of '67
Hi!
Thought you might like to know I'm shooting a commercial for the Virginia Millionaire Holiday Lottery that will air in December. Additionally, if you get Discovery Times channel, you can catch me on Sat., Nov. 3 at 8pm & 11pm and Sun. Nov 4 at 3am in a re-enactment of serial killer, Dorothea Puente in "Most Evil" (Greed). Also, if you're an insomniac, beginning December 28, catch me in the infomercial, "It All Started with Doo Wop," with Dion of Dion and the Belmonts on late night/early am network and cable channels. Only proves we "seniors" still got it and can do whatever we put our mind to!!!
Hari (Harriet) Molese, '56
Just came across your newsletter. I can't believe I missed it all this time. My Mom still lives in Hicksville and I have lived in Rhode Island, Bob Smith- class of '63 with my Hicksville High sweetheart and bride for the past 40 years, Leslie Worley Smith class of '64. I recently retired from MetLife and we have opened a Del Sol clothing store in Mystic Village, in Mystic CT next to the aquarium. If anyone is traveling to Foxwoods or Boston, take exit 90 off Route 95 and we are right there. It would be great to see some old Hicksville friends.
Keep up the great work,
Bob Smith '63
Photo Gallery
Hi Hixnews,
Hope you can use these photos. We had a great time at our reunion. We wish more folks had attended, but all of us that did had a wonderful time. We enjoyed the home coming game on Saturday and had special seating, a huge banner, along with an official photo for the paper. The School Principal and faculty could not have been nicer. The weather was super too.
On Friday nite we ate and Danced to live 50's and 60's music at Madisons...a cozy delightfu Restaurant just off the LIE
Saturday Nite we had Cocktails in the Beautiful Hilton Hotel Lobby and Later we had a wonderful dinner and DJ in the banquet room ..
I hope you have more photos of the reunion coming in to share in the news letter .... alot of pictures were taken ..
Thanks again for all the hard work you put into this news letter every single month ...it's much appreciated by all.
Sincerely
Lizz Munkel Lester class of '57
Class of 1938 pictures
Pictures from the Class of '67 Reunion
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays
- 1: Pat (Montalbano) Frattini, 1962 (FL); Ken Doris, 1963; Joan Komar Langlois, 1961 (L.I.); Christopher (Chris) Williams, 1968 (L.I.)
- 5: Lorraine Tully, 1967 (HX); David Rubin, 1982 (FL)
- 6: Bea (Eisemann) Baldwin, 1946
- 7: Dawn Casale (GA)
- 9: Penny (Creegan) Lomas, 1960 (FL)
- 12: George Ritzler, 1957 (PA)
- 13: Les Coles, 1965 (FL); Tommy Ofenloch, 1970
- 14: Madeline (Bianco) DeLouisa, 1960 (NY); Hank Chupka, 1955 (FL)
- 15: Tony Genovese, 1961 (FL); Danny Mangialomini, 1972 (L.I.)
- 16: Chet Nichols, 1958; Katie (Kennedy) Weidig, 1962 (L.I.)
- 18: Ellen (Boos) Bruwer, 1954 (L.I.); Bob Gerrets, 1966 (OH)
- 19: Linda (Frimmer) Whitlock, 1958 (FL)
- 21: Bonnie (Kiernan) Fogelberg, 1961 (VA); Patricia (Stephenson) Jordan, 1962 (GA); Pat (Appleman) Levitin, 1962
- 22: Joan (Perduto) Koudakis, 1957
- 23: Caroline (Kolff VanOosterwyk) Kelly (need new email address)
- 24: Noel (Horowitz) Heinz, 1958 (IL)
- 26: Bill Stahley, 1946 (FL); Valerie (Herold) Chavez, 1977 (NM); Paul L. Korman, 1968
- 27: Evelyn (Ulmer) Schaaf, 1938 (FL)
- 29: Sal DeStefano, 1974 (NJ)
- 30: Cecelia (Schwarz) Horn, 1944 (CA); Barbara (Allan) DiPetrillo, 1961 (FL)
- Belated wishes to Joe Varecha, 1973 (L.I.) Oct. 22nd
Anniversaries
- 11/1/1958: Phil and Diane Anselmo (MD)
- 11/2/1980: James and Angela Carpinone (NY)
- 11/5/1966: Joanne (Picari) and Tom Skelly (SC)
- 11/5/1988: Ron and Heather Smith (CO)
- 11/8/????: Judy (Topliffe) and Sam Brumit (CA)
- 11/11/1973: Virginia (Barricelli) and Carmine Rossi (FL)
- 11/11/2002: Vicky (Penner) and Roger Whitaker (IL)
- 11/18/2000: Alison (Swanton) and Stanley Mason (ME)
- 11/23/1973 -Anne (Kappel) and Frank Byrne (GA)
- 11/23/????: Sandy (Sandler) and Jerry Wolfe (FL)
- 11/24/????: Chas and Lorrie Brooks (L.I.)
New Readers & Returns
New Readers
A Note From The Editors: To all, a hearty welcome to HixNews.Com. We hope you will all feel free to participate with memories and thoughts that you may have about Hicksville High, and your times growing up on the Island. If you are a new member (or know of one), please send the name, year of graduation, date of birth, anniversary date, name of spouse, and the state where you live. Send it to:
- Josie (Dzieniewski) Bacchi, 1976 (L.I.)
- Joan (Claudy) Berger, 1979
- Carolee (Stumpf) Bruckner, 1971 (HX)
- Debbie (Moffitan) DeStafano, 1968 (MD)
- Louis DeStefano, (MD) friend of HHS
- Christopher Melluso, 1978
- Rochelle Riservato, 1967 (NY)
- Barry Rosenzweig, 1967
- Leslie (Worley) Smith, 1964 (CT)
- Bob Smith, 1963 (CT)
- Joe Varecha, 1973, (L.I.)
- Welcome back John and Lorraine Sholl (FL)
Returns
- Josie (Dzieniewski) Bacchi, 1976 (L.I.)
- Joan (Claudy) Berger, 1979
- Carolee (Stumpf) Bruckner, 1971 (HX)
- Debbie (Moffitan) DeStafano, 1968 (MD)
- Louis DeStefano, (MD) friend of HHS
- Christopher Melluso, 1978
- Rochelle Riservato, 1967 (NY)
- Barry Rosenzweig, 1967
- Leslie (Worley) Smith, 1964 (CT)
- Bob Smith, 1963 (CT)
- Joe Varecha, 1973, (L.I.)
- Welcome back John and Lorraine Sholl (FL)
Honoring our Veterans
Restaurants Offer Vets Free Dining
Week of October 22, 2007Golden Corral Restaurants are conducting their seventh annual Military Appreciation Monday on Nov. 12, 2007. On this day, all 485 restaurants across the country will offer a free "thank you" dinner buffet and beverage from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. to any person who has served in the U.S. military. A new component of this year's event is an essay contest open to anyone who has served or has a parent who has served in the military. Essays of 1,000 words or less should explain why the entrant is proud of their service or that of their parents. Three prizes, starting at $1,000, will be awarded to further the winners' educations. For more information, visit the Golden Corral Restaurants website.
Note that the validity of this offer has been checked with Golden Corral by Hixnews editors.
Race for Heroes
Hi folks,
The father of a young man who went to Our Lady of Mercy, Hicksville, when I was there sent this email to me today. After "Little Mercy Mike" attended Chaminade, a year at Holy Cross, he went to West Point.
The father, Mike Keilty had two daughters, Suzanne and Katie, attended OLMA, so I kept up with them there.
His youngest son, Timmy, is now a 2nd year student at West Point.
The son, Michael, has already completed two tours - once in Afghanistan, then in Iraq. He had been discharged and applied for law school and I do believe he had begun school when he was called back to active duty and now is serving again in Iraq.
I guess I am sending this along because the family normally attends 7 p.m. Mass here at St. Edwards. The last time I saw the whole family was Christmas '06 - midnight Mass and Michael was getting ready to be redeployed. I always promise the parents, Lorraine and Mike, that I will keep Michael in my prayers.
When you see the attachment, at the very least, it is an inspiring story.
Peace - Sr. Jackie
Hi Sister Jackie,
Hope all is well with you. I thought you might be interested in what Michael is up to. Please see below and forward to anyone you think is appropriate. He is running for 2 great charities. The Wounded Warrior Project and a fund set up for the 3 Chaminade boys killed in action in Iraq. When you go on www.takepride.com and go to Special Edition check out the meaning of the shirt.
Thanks
Mike Keilty Sr.
5:15 am. Lap 2, mile 6 around Camp Darulaman outside Kabul. The stray dogs have finally tired of chasing him; Captain Mike Keilty, a class of 2000 West Point graduate, now runs alone in the cool, dark Afghan morning. In all, he'll fight his mind and body to run another 5 laps; 21 miles total. All before his real day begins and he heads out into the field to train Afghan soldiers on warfare tactics that will enable them to defend their own country against Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists.
The obvious question is why anyone who's fighting a war would get out of bed at 4:30 am to run 21 miles? The answer is as inspiring as it unbelievable: Mike is training to run the Philadelphia Marathon this November 18th while home on an 8-day leave to raise money for Americans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan and to honor the memories of soldiers killed in action.
Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission ("VDBC") Report 10/03/2007
Honoring The Call To Duty: Veterans' Disability Benefits
In The 21st Century It took two and a half years, and at first glance it reads veterans-favorable... IF the funding for the recommendations can be found.
And that is a BIG IF!
That said...
The VDBC
The VDBC was established by Public Law 108-136, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2004. Between May 2005 and October 2007, the Commission conducted an in-depth analysis of the benefits and services available to veterans, service members, their survivors, and their families to compensate and provide assistance for the effects of disabilities and deaths attributable to military service. The Department of Veterans Affairs expended $40.5 billion on the wide array of these benefits and services in fiscal year 2006. The Commission addressed the appropriateness and purpose of benefits, benefit levels and payment rates, and the processes and procedures used to determine eligibility. The Commission reviewed past studies on these subjects, the legislative history of the benefit programs, and related issues that have been debated repeatedly over many decades.
Congress created the Commission out of concern for a variety of issues pertinent to disabled veterans, disabled service members, their survivors, and their families. Those matters included care for severely injured service members, treatment and compensation for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the concurrent receipt of military retired pay and disability compensation, the timeliness of processing disabled veterans' claims for benefits, and the size of the backlog of those claims. Another area of concern was the program known as Individual Unemployability, which allows veterans with severe service-connected disabilities to receive benefits at the highest possible rate if their disabilities prevent them from working. The Commission gave these issues special attention.
Guiding Principles
The Commission wrestled with philosophical and moral questions about how a nation cares for disabled veterans and their survivors and how it expresses its gratitude for their sacrifices. The Commission agreed that the United States has a solemn obligation, expressed so eloquently by President Lincoln, "to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan...."
In going about its work, the Commission has been mindful of the 1956 Bradley Commission principles, which have provided a valuable and historic baseline. This Commission's report addresses what has changed and what has endured over those five decades and throughout our nation's wars and conflicts since the Bradley report. Many of the changes—social, technological, cultural, medical, and economic—that have taken place during that time span are significant and must be carefully considered as our nation renews its compact with our disabled veterans and their families. This long-term context, a history of both significant change and key elements of constancy from the 1950s to the 21st century, provides the solid basis for this Commission's principles, conclusions, and recommendations.
This Commission identified eight principles that it believes should guide the development and delivery of future benefits for veterans and their families:
- Benefits should recognize the often enormous sacrifices of military service as a continuing cost of war, and commend military service as the highest obligation of citizenship.
- The goal of disability benefits should be rehabilitation and reintegration into civilian life to the maximum extent possible and preservation of the veterans' dignity.
- Benefits should be uniformly based on severity of service-connected disability without regard to the circumstances of the disability (wartime v. peacetime, combat v. training, or geographical location.)
- Benefits and services should be provided that collectively compensate for the consequence of service-connected disability on the average impairment of earnings capacity, the ability to engage in usual life activities, and quality of life.
- Benefits and standards for determining benefits should be updated or adapted frequently based on changes in the economic and social impact of disability and impairment, advances in medical knowledge and technology, and the evolving nature of warfare and military service.
- Benefits should include access to a full range of health care provided at no cost to service-disabled veterans. Priority for care must be based on service connection and degree of disability.
- Funding and resources to adequately meet the needs of service-disabled veterans and their families must be fully provided while being aware of the burden on current and future generations.
- Benefits to our nation's service-disabled veterans must be delivered in a consistent, fair, equitable, and timely manner.
With these principles clearly in mind, the nation must set the firm foundation upon which to shape and evolve a system of appropriate, and generous, benefits for the disabled veterans of tomorrow.
The Commission believes that just as citizens have a duty to serve in the military, the Federal government has a duty to preserve the well-being and dignity of disabled veterans by facilitating their rehabilitation and reintegration into civilian life. The Commission believes that compensation should be based on the nature and severity of disability, not whether the disability occurred during wartime, combat, training, or overseas. It is virtually impossible to accurately determine a disease's origin or to differentiate the value of sacrifice among veterans whose disabilities are of similar type and severity. Setting different rates of compensation for the same degree of severity would be both impractical and inequitable.
Disabled veterans require a range of services and benefits, including compensation, health care, specially adapted housing and vehicles, insurance, and other services tailored to their special needs. Compensation must help service-disabled veterans achieve parity in earnings with nonservice-disabled veterans. Compensation must also address the impact of disability on quality of life. Money alone is a poor substitute for the consequences of the injuries and disabilities faced by veterans, but it is essential to ease the burdens they experience.
It is the duty of Congress and VA to ensure that the benefits and services for disabled veterans and survivors are adequate and meet their intended outcomes. IOM concluded that the VA Rating Schedule has not been adequately revised since 1945.
This situation should not be allowed to continue. Systematic updates to the Rating Schedule and assessments of the appropriateness of the level of benefits should be made on a frequent basis.
Excellent health care should be provided in a timely manner at no cost to veterans with service-connected disabilities (i.e., service-disabled veterans) and, in the case of severely injured veterans, to their families and caregivers.
The funding and resources necessary to fully support programs for service-disabled veterans must be sufficient while ensuring that the burden on the nation is reasonable.
Care and benefits for service-disabled veterans are a cost of maintaining a military force during peacetime and of fighting wars. Benefits and services must be provided promptly and equitably.
Results of the Commission's Analysis
The analyses conducted by the Commission provide a consistent and complementary picture of many aspects of veterans' disability compensation.
The Commission made 113 recommendations. All are important and should receive attention from Congress, DoD, and VA. The Commission suggests that the following recommendations receive immediate consideration. Congress should establish an executive oversight group to ensure timely and effective implementation of the Commission recommendations.
For those so inclined, the VDBC Report summary can be found here (in PDF, 18 pages - http://www.vetscommission.org/pdf/ExecutiveSummary_eV_9-27.pdf). The full Report here (in PDF, 562-pages - http://www.vetscommission.org/pdf/eReport_prepub_9-27.pdf)
Hicksville Trivia
During the Senior Trip of '65, one group of seniors got left at the motel the morning after the first night. This group included Gerry Baldwin, and yours truly. Funny thing, when we showed up at the third stop of the day -- we took a public bus to catch up -- the school's bus teacher/chaperon had not missed us?!?Lest We Forget: Currently there are (at least) 4,659 Veterans of Modern Warfare who no longer will be "asking" our government for a dime . . . Till next month be well... and remember, "Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"
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--- --- Walt Schmidt Veteran Services Officer
- - --- TOBay's Veteran Services Division
- - - - "Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"
--- --- WorkDayTime: 516.733.8414 & 24/7 Voice Mail
- - --- Anytime: 24/7 Voice Mail 516.799.8300
- - - - Website: http://www.waltsdorsai.net/
Ken Sun - Weekly Column: http://experts.longisland.com/veterans
"To know yet to think that one does not know is best;
Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty."
- Lao-Tzu 71:1
Vietnam Era Update-October 2007
You know, people can read and listen and that is great. What am I talking about? Email responses to our call for information on people who served in the uniformed military services from Hicksville during the Vietnam Era which are on an upswing. That is from 1960 to 1973 anywhere in the world; anywhere folks!
Why and excited? We went above 125 names and we know of more names out there and just need someone to verify them and send it to the project email. Now 125 is not a lot of names, but the pace picked up in September with some folks sending in three and four names to us; that's great.
Please search your minds and see if you can recall someone you know being drafted or signing up for the military service. Please also consider finding a contact for some of the private schools in the area like Chaminade High School or other private schools as long as the person lived in Hicksville.
Please keep those cards, letters, and emails coming. I'd like to report more than 200 by January 2008.
Memory Lane
Hi, Hope you enjoy these "tidbits" from the November 1959 issue of The Comet. Once again I'd like to thank John Mirro for sending the issues he had saved to me.
But for right now put yourself back to another time. It's 1959.
We started school in September, all bright eyed and full of wonder. Sophomores Can you imagine....... we finally made it-we're in High School. It's now November. The excitement of the Holiday season is approaching. Hear the clicking of your shoes as you race down the hall to class. You're late 'cause you stopped to pick up the latest edition of The Comet.
There on the front page is a picture of Mr. Galloway, Mr.Feigin, Mrs. Calame, and Mrs. Daly attending the PTA Fashion Show on Nov. 9th. Both men are attired in tuxedos.
Sally Gavil, Margaret Tashiro, Darlene Sochurek, Cheryl Proffe and Sandra Kamen were models.
The Science Dept. had a trip to tour Brookhaven National Laboratory and Leaders Club is sponsoring the Annual Winter Carnival planned for Dec. 19th (semi-formal dress).
A Sophomore orientation assembly was held Oct. 21st to introduce us to the clubs and extra curricular activities of HHS.
The assembly opened with a salute to the flag and a Bible reading. Boy's sports, National Honor Society, Leaders Club, Chess Club, Future Teachers of America, Music, the German Club, Phi-Chem-Bi, the news staff, Hi-Y, Student Council, Booster Club, Key Club, Round Table, Citizenship Education Club, Variety Club and PTA are all available for us to join.
Also on the front page, "Startime '59," The Variety Show is being planned for December. Charlene Iller is going to dance in the show.
Joan Maynard is a reporter for The Comet.
The Sophomore Hop Committee held its 1st meeting Nov. 10th. The theme "Mardi Gras" was picked, and committees formed.
Refreshments Chairman -Jim Szymanski-Kevin O'Neil, Carol Christensen, Helen Hildebrand, Marjorie Diepold, Arthur Sackmann, and Sharon Levy.
Publicity Chairman - Marie Turetto-Ricki Pollak, Linda Sheil, Ellen Levin, Sandy Mentneck, Carol Lilienthal, and Vivian Lowy.
Decorating Chairman - Camille Gully-Linda DiMonoco, Diane La Punto, MaryAnn Malberba, Linda Scaperatti, Ronny Traidman, Steve Glibowski, Catherine Buckner, Joy Edelstein, Joan Englert, Denise Sepanski, Sue Faver, Jessica Sanders, Joan Brandt, Dana Hayden, Sue Hodges, Lee Hatch , Steve Backman, Linda Carmine, Sharon Wyer, Arthur Schmidt, Sue Goodman, Judy Barmann, Mike Clair,and Eileen Eckenrode.
Ticket Chairman - Kathy Caesar-Gail Katala, Eileen O'Brien, Marylyn Simmons, Larry Pyle, and Bernard Palka.
Entertainment Chairman - Pat Nave- Sue Johnson, Vivian Lowy, Sandy Beck, Angele Giovaniello and Ricki Pollak.
Invitation Chairman - Barbara DiBella, Gene Burke.
The Sophomore Cafeteria Committee held it's 3rd meeting Oct. 26th. The loan system for forgotten lunch money is working well, because we're honest enough to pay back what we borrow.
Mrs. Wetteraur's World Problems class started a stay-at-home world tour.
Alumni accomplishments are listed in Alumni News and the Radio Club elects new officers. The Future Teachers of America club is inaugurating a teacher aid program.
Phi-Chem- Bi elects Barbara Brewer as Historian I and Recording Secretary, Karen Anderson as Historian II and Corresponding Secretary. and June Burke as Treasurer.
The Supervisor of the Citizenship Education Dept. of the State of NY visited HHS on Oct. 30th to observe our new three track curriculum.
The Student Council met to plan Clean-up Week for Nov. 30th to Dec. 4th. A list of the "Litterbug of the Week" will be posted on the bulletin board in the main lobby.
Kim Allen and Francis Schnapper auditioned and were selected for the Nassau County Music Sectional on Nov. 21st.
The Italian Club will travel to the Metropolitan Opera in NY on Jan. 21st.
The Magazine Drive ended Oct. 26th and raised $14,700. One of the top 4 salesmen was Renee Abromowitz. The top 21 were treated to dinner at The Moorings in Cold Spring Harbor on Nov.17th.
There is a 2 cents a day fine for late library books, and a 2 minute warning bell for class.
Bernice Cavalluzzo, Angela De Matteo, Linda Otten, and June Burke are among the Sophomores playing Girls Field Hockey, and there's a team picture with the story.
Homecoming was Oct.31st.
The J.V. Football team had its 5th straight win on Oct 25th with Chris Coletta, Joe Carfora, Paul Cavalluzzo, Mike Clair, Jimmy Clark, and Pete Lambert. This assures them the Division I Championship.
Mike Heney, Tom DeBrocke, and Howie Shack are all starters on the Varsity Soccer team sidelined with injuries. Roy Garman and John Mirro are playing without them.
The tennis team won the Division II League Championship. Artie Schaeffer and Steve Lack play.
J.V. Soccer with Vince and Frank Coletta and Steve Backman, Howie Cohen, Ken Strafer, and Pete Anselmo played Oct. 27th. It's November 1959 Thanksgiving is coming and we're in the 3rd month of our Sophomore year at Hicksville High School.
IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE SAME WITHOUT YOU!!!!!
The article on Nunley's brought back memories. In January of 1952 while home on leave from the Navy , I met the girl who was to become my wife. She was a Senior at Baldwin High School. We were married June 28th 1953. We lived a few blocks from Nunley's. Our son and daughter had a great time at Nunley's. I don't know if they still do it, but the kids would try and grab a ring as they went around. If they got a brass one, they were really excited, that meant they could stay on for a free ride.
FOND MEMORIES! WAS THAT OVER 50 YEARS AGO?
Art Lembke, '49
In Memoria
Dear HixNews Editors,
It is with deepest sorrow that I report the death of my brother, Jeffrey Schlegel, HHS Class of '70. He died of a heart attack at 55 years of age. Thanks to the music programs in the Hicksville public schools back in 1957-1970 and especially his elementary school band director, Gerald Burakoff, Jeff had a great career as a classical french horn player. His last 24 years were spent in Argentina where he became well-loved in his profession. He leaves twin sons, age 24, a daughter, age 14, two sisters, Sully Bonn of Newton, MA, and Stephanie Manning of Davis, CA, 2 nephews, Jesse & George Manning of Berkeley, CA, and his best friend, Howard Heller of NYC. Jeffrey was a large and magnanimous person. His sense of humor knew no bounds. He and I shared a love for the late NYC comic & racconteur Jean Shepherd. Besides music, his greatest loves were his children, food & smoking, the latter of which probably killed him. Our father also died young, at 45, from a heart attack, so I guess heart problems were in his genes. If anyone would like to call or write to me about this wonderful brother of mine, please do so. I live in California and my email address is
Thank you,
Stephanie Manning
(c)(510)295-8498
