February 2009 : Volume 9 - Issue 5

Happy Valentine's Day!Dear Readers,

Please make sure that  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. are on your safe list. Announcements and welcome letters are being returned with 'not accepting' as the explanation by several ISP's; most notably AOL.com.

Thank you,
Your Editors

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Dear readers,

We still have hundreds of names without a state of residence. No we don't mean nursing homes, just HX, L.I. (other towns besides Hicksville), NYC, NY (places other than L.I.), FL, Germany - you get the idea. We don't need your snail mail address because we can't afford the postage. ;)This is used when compiling annual statistics.Thanks for your cooperation.

HixNews Editors
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What is the significance of this license plate? Notice the year the plate was issued? So??!!

Well, this is to announce the Reunion of the Class of 1959.

Plans are well underway for a 50 Year Reunion to be held later this year. The time and place will be determined.

The reunion committee, consisting of Mickey and Joyce Anglim, Gene Yetter, Mike Sherin, Ghyll Owen Simoneschi, Joan Gabriel, Tony and Eileen Toscano and Carl Probst, is presently updating the class address list. Many former students have already been contacted.

We ask the help of all alumni in notifying any members of the class of '59. Let them know a reunion is ongoing.

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People Looking for People

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: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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A note from the webmaster about changing email addresses.

Each month we get notices from some readers who are changing their email addresses due to having changed their Internet Service Provider (ISP). All that hassle is completely unnecessary. There is no requirement that you use the email service provided by your ISP. There are a number of places where you can get very good email service for free that is not tied to your ISP. If you get an account there, you'll never have to notify everyone about a change again. It's bad enough that you have to notify everyone in your address book, but there are always a few places where you've registered for something that get forgotten. The worst case is a site where you've registered with a login and password and then later need to recover the password and can't because the email address they send the new password to no longer exists.My personal favorite ISP-independent free email provider is Gmail.com. My wife and I have been using it almost since it started. It's got excellent spam filtering and a plethora of very useful features including the ability to have it read your other email accounts so as to aggregate all your email in one place. Further, if you are using an email program like OutLook or Thunderbird, you can set it to read your gmail with that, if that's what you're used to doing.. Other free email providers include, but are not limited to, Yahoo and Hotmail which I don't like as well since they are lacking some of the features of Gmail, but a lot of people use them and are satisfied with them, too.If you have questions about this, please let me know and I'll try to answer them, perhaps as a Q&A formatted article so the answers will help others.

Roger Whitaker, Webmaster

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NO MATTER WHAT TEAM YOU LIKED FOR THE SUPER BOWL,WE SHOULD ALL GET TOGETHER THE FOLLOWING SAT (FEB 7TH) TO CELEBRATE IT !!! DRINKS FLOW,MUSIC PLAYS, AND WE ALL GET A NITE OUT !!! SHOW STARTS AROUND 9:30, & GOES ON & ON ! LOCATED ON S. SIDE HEMP TPKE 1 MI E. OF MEADOWBROOK,OR, 1 MI W. OF WANTAGH IN MODELL'S STRIP...AS ALWAYS FREE ADM!

CALL 516-542-0723 FOR DETAILS OR VISIT: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MIDLIFECRISISLONGISLAND

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HIXNEWS.COM SITE STATISTICS FOR 2008

Active readers = 1104

TOP 5 PLACES WHERE WE LIVE NOW:

• Long Island = 177 (Nassau & Suffolk Counties)
• Florida = 78 (Includes snowbirds)
• New York State = 66
• Hicksville = 65
• California = 28
• 13 alumni living in foreign countries
• There are still 349 people who have not told us where they live.

The web site received 994,229 hits last year, which averages out to 2,716 per day or 82,852 per month. There were 74,473 visitors spending an average of 7.15 minutes per visit.

The Newsletter

Greetings, editors, Thanks for presenting my message about allpar.com in the December newsletter. I'm figuring I'll have more cars to write about than I can manage! All the best to you in the New Year. Gene Yetter, '59

Wow! I can't believe I made the newsletter. Jeff Rowohlt lived down the block from me while we were growing up! I still have a few great memories of times "our group" had when we were very young. I was in his kindergarten class at East Street School and still have my class picture also. I would love to get in touch with him. Could you give him my e-mail address?

Thanks.
Jeannie (Kaplan) Toplin - Class of '69

Jeannie's note has been forwarded to Jeff.
Ed.

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Jack DeVaul, '56 plays the Glockenspiel in the Brentwood F.D. percussion band. He sent a link to a video of the band:Wanderers video: YouTube

(From a note to Gene Yetter)

I remember the car and the tire store across the street. They also sold Continental tires, one of the few in the area. I drove a Jaguar which was a C competition model that had a Supercharger on it, aahhhh the memories.... If you get in touch with Mike Carter tell him I said HI and hope he is doing well....A Happy New Year to you, keep up the fun and the memories... And the people that owned the tire store wasn't Fierstein but it will come to me. They were related in the family but a different name.

Jim Armstrong

Hopefully by this time Jim and Mike have reconnected. Ed.

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Dear Editors,

Hope you might include this response (Below) to Joe Platania's kind letter to myself & the 3Rd Marine Division in this month's (January) issue of HixNews in your next issue (February)...

Hopes & prayers will remain that all of you and your families enjoy: "The Happiest New Year Ever...!"

Sincerest regards,
Mike Regan
Class of '66
"Go Comets...!"
A belated, but heartfelt... "Merry Christmas...!"

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Hi Joe,

The editors over at Hix News forwarded your e-mail to me and just want to express my "Thanks" for the kind words you directed at the 3Rd Marine Division... Must've been some tense days within the MACV compound during the battle for Hue and glad that all turned out OK... And that you got home safe & sound... A belated "Welcome Home.' And another "Thanks" to you Army guys for both the helicopter & troop support you provided us screw-ball Leathernecks a few weeks later as we launched the offensive across Route 9 to relieve the siege of the 26TH Marines at Khe Sahn ("Operation Pegasus"). Turned out to be not such the brawl we had expected... Giap's 325TH NVA had dissipated... Rumor has it that communist intelligence reported to Giap that some Long Island boys, not to mention a few from Hicksville, were among that offensive heading north. Hearing that, he quickly had all his clowns pack up their gear and high-tailed it into Laos... My hopes & prayers will remain that yourself & family enjoy the "Merriest Christmas" & "Happiest New Year" ever... catch ya' later

Semper Fi',
Mike

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Subject: Broadway

Does anyone remember the produce store one block north of the Catholic Church? I forget the church's name. The produce store was Demonico's. I worked there in the back nailing together flats for holding plants.

Denis Rossi '53

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You must be referring to St. Ignatius, to the south of Nicholai St. But I do not remember a produce stand. Maybe other readers can refresh my memory.

Pat (Koziuk) Driscoll, '56

Thanks Pat. After sending my question I saw the church's name in the photo section of Hixnews. For all the years I went to Mass there you would think I could remember the name.

While I have your attention let me ask one other question, the answer for which you probably won't have. Why is it that I never see anything from the class of 1953? Occasionally there is something from '56 but that seems to be the cutoff point. Are they all dead or merely computer challenged?

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Dear Editors:

I was only just today alerted to the existence of your newsletter/website!! I have been linking up with a lot of friends from HHS through Classmates over the past 7 years, but had no idea about the existence of your site!

Please could you register me as a new member: Lois A Chaber, [same name!], class of 1960, married, 1 child, former member of HHS concert band, I live in London, in the UK (have been here over 22 years after a more than 9 years sojourn in the Middle East).

I don't know how much info you want on record or habitually publish, but in case it's helpful or relevant, I'll mention that I earned a PhD in English Literature at the University of Virginia in 1973, taught at SUNY-Albany for 5 years, then went off to Iran (during the years of the Revolution!!), and then Qatar, where I brought up two little girls. I arrived in London 1986 and never left, teaching here at a branch of a private American university, American Intercontinental University. I recently retired from teaching, but am actively researching an early 19th-century woman writer of children's books for an edition of one of her works to be published in the future by the British company Pickering & Chatto. I also spend my time attending Quaker meetings, campaigning for mental health improvements and organizing activities for a feminist scholarship network. I'd be happy to have members of class of 59, 60 & 61 who knew me get in touch if they happen to be passing through London! My phone # is: 0208 449 9491 from anywhere in England. (From the USA 01144 208-449-9491)

Could you please put this request in for me to your 'Looking For...' section?

Lois Chaber, '60, is looking for Nancy Sherman, Patricia Brindley and Elaine Boos.

If you already have the email addresses of any of these women above, please enable me to get in touch with them by whatever method you deem appropriate.

About 4 years ago, through my friend Kim Allen (class of 62, I believe), who lives in California, I discovered that my old saxophone teacher & eventual band conductor for HHS, Mr. Gerald Pellerin was also living in California not too far from my sister Madelyn (another HHS graduate). Kim & I attended an open air concert in which 'Gerry' was playing away on his clarinet--delightful!! We were invited round to his home in a retirement community, where we spent a lovely evening.

We stayed a bit in touch, and then I learned the sad news about 2 or 3 years later that, after several strokes, he had passed away and left his wife, a lovely musician in her own right, a widow. And further in the music line, I well remember Mr. Buttice--who was my teacher for music theory.

Also, a possible item for your newsletter (if appropriate):

Lois Chaber, class of 60, has recently published a family memoir/cum advice book called 'The thing inside My Head: A Family's Journey through Mental Illness', available on Amazon.com under the author or title name. The book describes in detail the family's ups and downs in the turbulent Middle East and 1990s England, and how these impacted on Lois's (sadly) deceased daughter, Sybil, who suffered from anorexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and mutism. There is a lot of information in the book about the development and treatment of OCD, especially with insights provided by ample selections from Sybil's raw and honest diaries. It also attempts to demonstrate the effect of family dysfunction on a mentally ill child, and vice versa, and was aimed at sufferers, carers, professionals, and anyone interested in mental illness or issues of 'mothering'.

I hope you accept my membership and these items; if I need to send any of them to a different department, please let me know. Thanks,

Lois A Chaber

PS--Let me add that I recognised and remembered so many of the people in the Dec newsletter--Bob Casale, Ronni Gardner (who used to be a near neighbour in Hicksville!), Steve Alfieri and a lot of the others!! Very exciting!!

Lois's book about our daughter Sybil and Obssessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is reviewed and available in paperback at :
UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thing-Inside-My-Head/dp/1847474012/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224790350&sr=1-2
 http://chipmunkapublishing.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=1079 USA:  http://www.amazon.com/Thing-Inside-My-Head/dp/1847474012/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224790350&sr=1-2 FACEBOOK:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56175975402

All author royalties go to a UK charity, OCDAction, and the publisher, Chipmunka, channel a portion of their profits into mental health charity work.

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As I watched the people shiver in the cold while waiting for the Times Square New Year's Ball to drop....sure am glad I don't live in that cold weather any more!I remember the "plight of the Long Island skier....and sledder...." The place was sooooo flat we had to make our own hills....in the front yard!Here's my brother and I in elementary school struggling to build a pile high enough to get a least a little ride until we could get our parents to take us to Bethpage or Salisbury Park to find a "real Hill".

Jim Rubins

Thanks for posting the Photo Album on Classmates.com of "Downtown Hicksville 1966".....I hadn't looked at it before! Sure brings back memories!

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO ON HIX NEWS
Jim Rubins '67

editor note: Jim...Glad you enjoyed the pictures. Most of those posted were originally submitted by Pat Koziuk. I added some after I had made a tour of "our town!"

Buffalo Bob Casale

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Thought you may enjoy this forwarded e-mail. Thanks for putting together the HixNews. I enjoy reading it each month.

Happy New Year.
Terry (Madden) Best, '65

---------- Forwarded Message ----------

Pictures that go along with Billy Joel's 'Didn't Start the Fire' http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.html

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I just heard that the class of 1969 will have a 40th. Any information?

Patrick J. Dowling

There is a blurb on classmates.com.

Event Type: 40 YEAR REUNION
When: Oct 10 2009 7:00 PM - Oct 11 2009 12:00 AM
Where: PROBABLY Huntington Hilton, Route 110, Melville, NY USA
Organizer: Diana D'Antuono

Hi Patricia,

Thanks for the interest in our reunion. As of right now we're still in the planning stages. We have chosen the date of October 10, 2009 but not the place. If you can ask people to get in touch with me at the following address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. it would really help to get addresses.

Thanks so much!

Diana (D'Antuono) DePalma-Henne
Co-chairs:
William P. (Bill) Henne, Jr. '69
Mary (Mansfield) Mollineaux '69

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1969 REUNION

I had received a postcard in the mail in either September or October regarding the 40th reunion. I called Reunions of America and gave them my mailing information. Here is the website http://www.reunionsinc.com/ . They haven't indicated a date but at least you can get on the list.

Denise Eisele-Felipe.

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Dear Editors,

Thank you very much for electing me to your Hall of Fame. My election was certainly a great way to kick off the New Year. I enjoy the newsletter and look forward to it each month.

Bob Thurer '63
Robert L. Thurer, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School

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Here I am sitting here on a Sunday night reading the January HixNews again......each time I read it, I find something that I must have overlooked the first time I read it.

As a point of information, in the "Links" section.....the www.fromtheflightdeck.com is no longer available. I viewed this video many months ago and it is unfortunate that it is no longer available as it was very nicely done.

I wanted to mention that someone recently wanted a copy of the Class of '56 Comet Yearbook. I had a soft cover copy and it was taken to KINKO's and they did a very nice job of copying the cover, each page and even put a Spiral Binder on it. It was surprisingly affordable so I was able to send it to the person who had asked if a Class of '56 yearbook could be located. Just an idea in case you have a year that someone is looking for and would like to share.

Re: Fundraising for Multiple SclerosisA note to Matt Brucker and Chet Nichols - I, too, have MS and did the MS Walk here in So Florida for a few years. I am now unable to do the Walk but have friends here and in CA that walk in my name, for which I am grateful. Thank you both for the time and effort you give for all, such as ourselves, who have been affected by MS. We know that each day may present a new obstacle for us but with determination, we can surmount it, right guys?? May you both be blessed with years of peaceful and productive days.

Patty Bryan Carstons

Now, I'd like to comment on a situation that was strangely amusing here in the Carston's household. I was checking out the "Links" section again and decided to click on "group,classmates.com" and guess what came up.........my husband's Profile page of Classmates.....can't help but wonder why........there are many Hicksville HS Alumni that are on Classmates.......my husband graduated from an Automotive High School in good 'ole Brooklyn NY. In his bio, he made reference to his wife (me) going to both Hicksville HS and Levittown HS and apparently he was linked to all three schools. Well, anyway......we still can't figure out why he is used as an example for looking up friends from Hicksville on Classmates.

That's it for now. May you all have a terrific week.

Patty Bryan Carstons

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Photo of us at New Year'sBob....We are just on our way out of the house. We are cruising tomorrow on the MSC Lirica for eleven days to seven different ports. This is our third cruise in three months - a cruise a month. I'll be happy to stay put for awhile, altho Tony will be shopping for the next deal, I'm sure. Your goals sound great. We love to camp and had a great time in the motor home after our son's wedding this summer at Fire Island Lighthouse. We stayed at many state parks in NY, PA, VA, WVA, TN and AL as well as did the casino circuit in MS. We used a new book called camping friendly casinos and stayed at various pari-mutuels with horse racing and dog tracks. Your fifth wheel will have a lot more room than our 20' motor home (we sleep over the cab). The advantage I like is that I can climb back to get a snack or even use the bathroom while we're stuck on the interstate someplace. It would be great to see you at the reunion in FL this year if you can. Happy New Year!

Carolyn (Clem) Baldwin Moors class of '61

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Dear Bob and the HixNews Staff,

Thanks for taking the time to remember our 41st anniversary.' With all the great work that you do with the newsletter, it's a wonder you can find time to keep up with us this way.
Sharon and I enjoyed the card very much and are looking forward to celebrating with a nice dinner at our favorite restaurant, just the two of us!

With warm regards,
Joe & Sharon Carfora

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Hi Guys

Back in November, I hosted an event at the Hicksville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. After the event, I asked Linda (the misses) if she wanted to stop for a bite to eat. I suggested Applebee's on South Broadway, across from Grumann's since it is on the way home. As we entered, Linda was taken to a booth along the back west wall, while I stopped at the bar to get a Jet's score. As I headed to the booth, I noticed a black and white grainy Hicksville Little League team picture hanging on the wall. It was a blown up picture from, I would guess the middle to late fifties. The team posing for the picture had "Gilison's Knitwear" on their uniforms, which if I remember correctly was located on P. L. Andrews Road. I mentioned the picture to Linda and told her I played for Hicksville Firestone and Gilison's when I was involved with little league. After we ate, I had to take another look at the picture. Linda came over with me and as soon as she looked at the picture, she said "There you are, the first little boy kneeling on the left side". My eight year old grandson looks exactly like me when I was his age, so it was easy for Linda to spot me in the picture. In my defense, I didn't have my glasses on. She tried to get a copy of the picture for me for Christmas, but Applebee's couldn't do it. Attached is a picture of the photograph.

The whole staff continues to do a great job with the newsletter. Continue the great work. I'm sure many of the Hicksville crowd is enjoying all the pictures everyone has been sending in.

Semper Fi
Bill Walden

P.S. - Linda and I would like to thank the staff for the Anniversary card. 40 great years and counting.

Note from editor Pat ' I remember Gilison's Knitware because it was owned by my classmate Bob Arthofer's family at the time. They lived in the big brick house on the NW corner of 2nd Street.

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Through an email I received from Stan Bryer (1960) I have just become familiar with the HixNews web site. I would like to be added to your mailing list. I graduated from HHS in 1960. I graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia in 1964 and taught music education (band director) in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and Winchester, Virginia until I retired in 2004. If you need or want any additional information about me or my career, please let me know.

Thanks.
Daniel J. Schoemmell

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I would like to get information about the March 7th reunion please. My name was Rosenwasser (it is now Goldhirsch). I graduated in 1970.

Thank you!
Nancy Rosenwasser Goldhirsch
West Palm Beach, Florida

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Hi,

My name is Donna Alu. I have lived in Tucson since 1970. I am an RN at Tucson Medical Center in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I have one son who is 36, a US Army Vet, and is a contract worker with the government.

I've been very involved in the Arizona Republican Party. I'm a Legislative District Chair and have worked on many local campaigns.

Thank you for such a great newsletter.
Donna

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Dear Editors,

I was absolutely shocked and extremely saddened to read of the passing of Bob Dierker, '62 in the January 2009 edition of HixNews.

I "met" Bob via eBay. He was selling some unusual Hicksville item, and we struck up an acquaintance. It turned out that we both graduated from Stony Brook, and we both participated in the organization of HHS class reunions that took place on the same night, although at two different locations (October 20, 2007). He lived close to Mid Island Shopping Plaza, now known as Broadway Mall. I told him that if I was ever in the vicinity I would give him a call and joked that we could meet at The Brown Cow, the Plaza Deli, or Pizza D'Amour (none of which have existed for years). In fact I was in the vicinity in July of 2007 while shopping at Ikea with one of my daughters who had moved to NYC to attend grad school, but Bob was not available when I called. I regret that we never had the chance to meet, but appreciated our periodic correspondence regarding all things Hicksville; past and present .He sold me a black and orange stocking cap with the word "Hicksville" on it, the entire stock of which he purchased from Goldman's Sporting Goods. Its significance to me has increased greatly. I offer my sincere condolences to Bob's family and friends.

Ken Marcus '67

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Hi Bob,

Happy New Year! All the best for a Happy, Healthy one. Thank you for keeping us all posted on what's going on and keeping our memories alive in Hixnews. I have been telling everyone that I reconnect with about it. Just recently I have had Elaine Krauss and Patricia Robb over for dinner. I hadn't seen Elaine since graduation, but after we reconnected we e-mail or talk to each other quite a bit......Patricia Robb I've been in contact with also. She is also living on Long Island again. Pat is married to Tom Haupt. I've also been in touch with Patricia Hunchick, Doris Gajewski, Arleen DeCesario, Lois Levy and a few others.

I really look forward to the Hixnews newsletter every month. You are doing a great job. Thank you to you and your staff.

My husband and I still live in Hicksville. We have 3 children, 6 grand-children. My youngest son just recently got married, he also graduated from HHS, as a matter of fact, he graduated with a tennis scholarship to Manhattan College in Riverdale. He really worked hard for it. Thankfully, he is doing good in work world. He graduated from HS in 1995, he is 30 years old. Boy, does time fly.....How many children do you have? Did you marry anyone that we went to school with?

It's really a shame, that so many years have gone by and we lose connect with HS friends, but it's great with computers and people who devote their times to keep friends connected.
My husband Jim and I used to do all occasion photography, weddings, birthdays, etc: we did it for quite awhile, but clients want everything for nothing, it was really fun, meeting people and going to caterering halls, you would never think you would go to. Jim really loves doing photography. Jim went to HHS also. Instead of going into printing after HS, he should have into Photography, but when your young.. You don't realize it. He was into printing for a long time; worked in some big printing corp. Oh, well if we only knew then what e know now. Oh well.

I saw you name on my guestbook, I'm not working today and I wanted to get caught up on my e-mails.

Well, I better go, I talked your ear off enough. Again, Happy New Year to you and your family. Keep up the good work.

Your Classmate from 1961
Linda Mastrosanti (Aragoncillo)

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Hi Bob,

I just received your e-mail....Yes, you can use my note in the next issue of Hixnews. Thank you.

I'm sorry to hear about you and Joyce, she was always so sweet and kind to all our H.S. classmates. I'm also sorry to hear about what she is going through now, with the Alzheimer's. That's a terrible thing to be going through, All the best to her..

But it sounds like you really keep yourself busy. You must devote a lot of your time to HixNews..But it sounds like you really enjoy doing it. I just came across some pictures from East Street School; I'll have to send them to you to put in the newsletter. Do you remember the autograph books we had gotten in Grammar School, I just found mine. I started in East Street School in 1950. I can't believe that I still have it. Memories are great to hold on to.

Like we said in the Photography business, Photos stop time and created many good memories.

Well, Warm regards. Take care,
Linda Mastrosanti (Aragoncillo) '61

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Editors @ Hixnews,

As a new subscriber I would like to give you some information on us. I am Edward [Ed] E. Giannelli class of 61 and I married Angela [Angel Anselmo] Giannelli also class of 61. d's birthday is January 25th and Angel's is May 27th. Our anniversary is August 29th.This year we will be married 45 year. We now live in South Carolina. I will send a full update soon.

Best regards, Ed & Angel

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My wife and I had a delightful lunch with Mr. Naso on January 5, 2009. He is doing very well but does have a heart problem. He sounds just like he did in his class room back when he started teaching, (1949-?) As the pictures show he does not show his age, will be 89 this spring.

Stephen Moddle class of 1953

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Are there any plans for a 50th reunion for the class of 59? If so, where and when? Does anyone remember Ms. DeCarlo? She taught typing in 58 and 59.

Alberta (Hunt) Bolettieri

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Hi Bob

Just looked at the pics of your family; you all look great. If you ever get down the Memphis TN way give us a call. Bob and I are both dancing on the senior dance team for the NBA basketball team called the Memphis Grizzlies and we love it. We have 4 sons and 1 daughter and 8 grandchildren ranging from 17 down to 3 years old. They are all great; let us hear from you sometime

Dian Crothers Harman, 1960

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As a realtor I get so many emails in a day, that I sometimes overlook or forget to respond to some. I just want you to know how thoughtful your card was and what a huge undertaking that must be. As always, you are there for us ole HHS grads. Thankful and sorry it took so long.

Sandi (Olsen) Trenka '55

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Hello, the person who called me last week and left a number, well it was deleted. I hit the wrong button, so please call again. I live in Cape Coral, Florida #239 282 5354. I am upset I missed my 50th high school reunion. Whoever it was, I believe the name was Mike, please call back.

Thanks,
Rosemary O'Rourke/Woytowitz, 1958

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Hi Pat,

I lived on Smith Street off Woodbury Rd. Paled around with Tony Laino, Johnny Auer (I think that's the right spelling on his last name not sure - too many years) also Pop, Howie Northen, there were a bunch of kids on Hicks Circle, Twin Lawn Ave. I wasn't a jock so when school was done for the day; I was gone - hung out at Beekman Beach. Did you ever go to the dances at the parking lot on Marie Street or the teen center on Burns Ave?I live in Remsenburg, that's the town before Westhampton Beach. I married Louise Laino; one girl, three boys, we spit. I remarried about six years later, have son named James. He will be going to Stony Brook next year. I picked up ALS three years ago. So far it's only in my legs. Most of the time I am in a wheel chair, but I go to PT 2 to 3 times a week. Who knows they may find a cure some day. I still work as a salesman for 4 different contractors; it keeps me busy and pays bills. Did you go to the 50th?Do you know Alice Sitler, she was a year in back of us? Alice lived on Derby Lane, not far from the new school.

Bob Monette, 1956

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After graduating HHS, I worked on Long Island for the Long Island Lighting Company for a couple of years. Following this, I worked in various secretarial and admin jobs on Wall Street, CBS, and Madison Ave. My good friend Betsy and I took a 3 month sabbatical from our positions and traveled the entire US in my Chevy II and a 7X7 tent. Following this, life in NYC was unbearable to me. We both moved to Connecticut where I became employed to a mad physicist who was one of three people who invented the laser. He was spending more and more time in Japan, so I went in search of a less boring and better paying position which I obtained for the Pres. of a computer leasing company. After a couple of years, family problems required my presence in Florida with my mother. After several months, I signed up at the Ocala Jr. College and after a year, moved up to Gainesville, where I completed my BS in Speech Pathology.

As time would have it, at this time, I met my future husband on the beach and several months later we were married. We lived in several exciting places with his occupation of erecting large cement plants. My favorites were Taiwan and Colombia, S.A. When my first daughter was about to be born, we limited ourselves to domestic positions in the U.S. Heather became the joy of both our lives as we spent the first couple years of her life in Charlevoix, MI. Fifteen months following Heather's birth, little Bonnie was born. With two children in tow and our wonderful Siamese cat in his box under the seat of the airplane, we returned to Spokane to spend some time renovating our little gallery house in Spokane. We got to spend lots of time with Ric's family: mother, father, sister and numerous cousins. After four months, and a beautifully remodeled home complete, we moved to Iowa for two years, following this North Dakota for three years. With the children ready for school, we came back to Spokane and settled in a little college town 16 miles SW of Spokane. We found a wonderful home only ' mile from the main street and only 1 mile from Eastern Washington University. I completed my masters and worked for a while, but found that I was needed at home so much since my husband had taken over the family business and needed my help. We spend many happy years raising our children in our country home with their animals of every type and description. Our schedules were full with horse events every weekend. When the girls graduated high school in Cheney, we sold all our horse equipment and the horses. It was time for a change for us. We were now officially empty nesters. Somehow or other, on one Sunday afternoon drive we stumbled upon an adorable town in Idaho at the foot of Lake Pondereillei.. It is quite a large lake of 45 miles in length and quite deep right up to the mountains at the shoreline in most places. We sailed for 10 years and then moved to motor boating out on the coast of Washington. We had fun doing that for a few years and now we are quite busy building our retirement home on the back of our property. I'm quite excited to move in as it is much smaller and therefore more manageable for me.

Well, nineteen years later with our children married and living in different parts of the US we are still running the business at home. It allows us to do some modest traveling such as seeing the children and our first grandson who is just 21 months old. Since Heather and Bonnie live in great places: San Diego and Denver respectively, it isn't too hard to imagine that we like to get to see them often (aside from the joy of being with family). This is probably more detail than anyone cares about or needs to know, but here it is.

Carol (Bianchi) Hubbard, 1960 (WA)

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Jan. 27, 2008
Hi,

I love the web site since I have a computer and I am now on line.I graduated in 1958; I was born on June 29. My wedding date is the same day except that it is on June 29 1963. My wife's name is Carol (Murgola) from the class of 1961. We live in West Babylon, New York since 1963.

I really love the Web-Site and visit it many times. Keep up the good work.

John (Jack) Cisler

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Where can we get info re: 1959 Reunion? Jack Flynn and Ray Sitler

BTW, thank you very much for the great birthday card. It was much appreciated and the artist is quite good. This is my 60th!

All the best,
Ira Woods '67

 

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Dear Friends,

I ran across the "hixnews.com" web site in one of my web searches. What a nice surprise! I would like to be added to the newsletter e-mailings Following is a brief summary of the past 37+ years. We can provide more detail and pictures if you'd like.Wayne Sternberger ('71) and Shari Stockinger ('71) were married on August 2, 1975.Shari attended Winthrop College and earned a BS in Food and Nutrition in '75. Wayne earned a BS in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science in '74 from University of Michigan and an MS ('76) and PhD ('79) in Ocean Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. We moved to Maryland in '79, and we currently live in Highland, MD. Wayne is an engineer with Johns Hopkins University (Applied Physics Lab and School of Medicine) and Shari operates her own practice, Elements of Energy, as a hands-on healer (www.elementsofenergy.com).We are very active in volunteer programs in the area--especially those that involve human-animal interaction. In '90, we were two of the three founders of a non-profit organization (National Capital Therapy Dogs) that facilitates bringing animals to visit and work with patients in a variety of facilities. NCTD started with 6 charter human-animal teams, and has grown to where it now has over 150 teams.We are interested in re-connecting with friends from HHS, and would like to know if there are other alums in the B'more-DC area. Our contact info is:

Shari Sternberger -  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wayne Sternberger -  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Best Regards,
Shari & Wayne

Photo Gallery

These photos were found in a scrapbook from the good 'ole 50's.
From left to right starting at top are: Frank Gajewski, Artie Petie, Andy Esposito & Jerry Janicky, Ray Babinski & Jimmy Sherry, Barbara Sidorsky & Frank Estrada, Jackie Reeder, Patty Bryan & Ronny Townson, Patty with Eddie Daley & Barbara Sidorski, Ray Babinski, Mickey Mastrosimone, Ronnie Esposito, Eddie Daley & Bubby Estrada. Rose Mastrosimone,

Most of the people shown here "hung out" at the Greeks on B'way & Nicholai St. Sure would like to know where they are now and where are these guys: Jimmy LaSala, Dick Lambertson, Elaine Cianciulli, Maryann ?, Elaine Grassi,, Billy Turkel, Pete Catalano, Liz McCoy, Phyllis DiMonaco, Andy Grimes and John Gajewski. Mickey and Rose, where are you gals?????????

Sadly, we have learned of the passing of Bill Stump, Dottie Stark, Gloria, McDonough (nee ?) and Michael Burnside.

Patty Bryan Carstons 

 1959 Mary's Luncheonette

My Mom and Dad, Mary and Larry O'Shaughnessy owned a store on Broadway, just north of Old Country Road. Although the awning read Bea's Luncheonette, it was known as Mary's Luncheonette.

We served coffee and Danish and rolls in the a.m., homemade sandwiches for lunch, ice cream, candy, cigarettes, newspapers etc. LILCO, Grumman and insurance companies made up a great portion of our clientele. Also, the high school guys that worked at Goldman's would come in for stuff. Jim Feeney (?) and the Fenigstein brothers worked there...I think it was Ira who worked there.

However, my Mom did not want to make it a "high school hang out", so they were encouraged to take care of business quickly, in a very timely fashion. I would love to hear from Louie or Ira if they are online with HixNews.

Just next door was a house owned by Peter and Beatrice, but I don't remember their last name. They were actually brother and sister. Just next is a strip store with Goldman's, Purcell's Florist, a Chinese Laundry, Photographer and a paint store on end. In one of the photos you can see a big beautiful house across the street that was torn down when Broadway was widened. Goldman Bros now occupies that space.

I worked in the store after school and on Saturdays for most of my school years but in my senior year I made the JV Cheering squad. I was allowed to take off for practices and games.

Usually, after home games, everyone would head to the Sweet Shop. It was there I spent much of my hard earned money from working the family business. It sounds odd, spending my money at the sweet shop. But then it didn't seem odd at all. It was a chance for me to relax with my friends, away from Mary's Luncheonette.

There was a furniture store on the other side of Broadway. I don't remember the name; but I do remember the salesman Saul who would notoriously come in just before our dinner time. He would guilt my Mom into sharing our dinner with him. Mom always made extra for him for as long as I can remember. It was strange, too, because he didn't eat with us. He preferred to take the plate with him to the furniture store and returned it the next day.
I mastered the art of making the best "malts" (now know as shakes) in Nassau County... and the greatest egg cream sodas, too.

And, might I add, I never weighed more than 98 lbs. Once I hit 40 all of those goodies I ate attacked me and I'm no longer less than 100 lbs.

Mary O'Shaughnessy Cleary 

Editor note...the furniture store across the street could have been T. Pagano Furniture...Billy Holton and Buffalo Bob Casale played on that team. See picture on the left.

More neat pictures sent to us by Mary O'Shaughnessy Cleary, Class of '61.

Mary said...

"Thank you so much for the card. I have been meaning to email you as my sister sent me pictures from about 1960 taken in front of my Mom's store. My father and I are in one picture and my brother and father in another. The big thing is the background. It shows Broadway before the take down." 

Some memories from Jim Rubin, Class of '67

 

 

 

 

 

Birthdays & Anniversaries

New Readers & Returns

Honoring our Veterans

And a Happy Valentine's Day for all of us!

--- Regards, Walt

From El Paso Wise Words: The Local Paper's Staff Comment

So much is written across our country that while a worthy read, goes unnoticed. And when the staff of a local newspaper feel strongly enough about a veterans issue that they author an op-ed piece (and I find it) I just have to share.

PUT FOCUS ON VETERANS, NOT POLITICS -- El Paso Times: "When the VA figures out its primary duty is taking care of people, not paperwork, that will be a good first step." More Veterans Affairs Department problems: Put focus on veterans, not politics - El Paso Times Staff. Bad news keeps coming from the offices of the Veterans Affairs Department. Many veterans and their families have endured ill treatment from the VA for a long time. Incidents and problems have been widely reported, usually followed by a volley of promises to fix the problems. Those promises don't necessarily become reality. Now, in a report released Friday, the Government Accountability Office says VA is lowballing budget estimates it gives to Congress to keep its spending down. While that might be a nice sentiment, it does little more than endanger health care for veterans. According to an Associated Press story, the report shows that the VA failed to account for tens of thousands of patients and understated costs by millions of dollars when it came to the rehabilitation of veterans in nursing homes, community centers and hospices. America's engagement in a couple of wars has created a desperate need for vets' care, and the rehabilitative area is a huge part of that. Veterans have made huge sacrifices for their country and deserve no less than the best care. Sadly, it appears that the VA has been playing political and budgetary games that put the vets last in consideration rather than first. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said, "The problems at the VA have been caused by years of mismanagement and putting the bottom line above the needs of our veterans. While we won't fix everything overnight, Secretary (Eric) Shinseki has pledged honesty and accurate accounting which are key to realistic budgets and providing the services our veterans have earned." When the VA figures out its primary duty is taking care of people, not paperwork, that will be a good first step. Our veterans deserve better.

This Month's Almost Not Commented on Story -- It's About Time!

VA MAKES IT OFFICIAL: WILL OPEN SYSTEM TO SOME GROUP 8 VETERANS BY JUNE 30 -- The change affects veterans whose incomes exceed the current VA means test and geographic means test income thresholds by 10% or less. This is a good start at getting Priority Group 8 veterans back into the VA healthcare system. Let's hope the new Congress can get more funding so we can open the doors to all Group 8 veterans. In 1996, Congress established a priority-based enrollment system for VA and a uniform package of medical benefits for all enrollees. The legislation opened enrollment in VA's health care system to all eligible veterans and required that each year the Secretary of Veterans Affairs assess veterans' demand for services and determine if the necessary resources are available to provide timely, quality care to all enrollees. Enrollment for the lowest priority of the eight groups -- veterans who are not being compensated for a military-related disability and who have incomes above a set threshold -- was suspended on January 18, 2003, although veterans in that priority group who were already enrolled for care were permitted to remain enrolled, and, even though all veterans who served prior to 1981 where promised life-time availability to VA health care albeit perhaps for a fee.

This Month's 'Life's View:'

Korean War veteran and frostbite victim Private John Baldridge recovering at Percy Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, MI; taken 1951, by Thomas D. Mcavoy.

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My Hicksville Trivia

 

It was spring of '65. We (Class of '65) were short-timers, ready to leave high school for whatever lied ahead for each of us. But we hadn't left yet. Among other things that meant how do we 'minimize' our remaining classroom time; a daily challenge. I don't remember who found out, but we learned of a Latin Club event at the Hicksville train station. While I also don't remember much about that day, I do remember that as we arrived at the train station with the legitimate club members; they zig'd - we zag'd and spent the rest of the day elsewhere. What all the fuss was about was one of Manhattan's Pennsylvania Station's Eagles was coming to Hicksville!

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My Toon's Talk Part II

As I mentioned last month, it's called Toonlet and can be found at ( http://toonlet.com/ ). Here's some words good for any day:

Yes... K.I.S.S. not C.A.T.S.

Lest We Forget: Currently there are (at least) 5,260 (29 more since last month) 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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Taking Chance: February 21, 2009

I had difficulties deciding how to organize this. Uncertainty in what order I should use to share with you what is/will be a powerful performance about two soldier's journey. As a decision was called for... I decided. The HBO synopsis, followed by a short 'making' clip, followed by a short trailer, followed by the 2007 CBS article about an excerpt from the PBS documentary 'Operation Homecoming' and the writings of Lieutenant Colonel Strobl. But regardless of my decision, you will decide to set the twenty-first aside, won't you.

Taking Chance

When one falls, another brings him home. Kevin Bacon stars in Taking Chance, a new movie from HBO Films and an official selection of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Based on a true story, 'Taking Chance' premieres Saturday, February 21 at 8 pm.

In April 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl, USMC, came across the name of 19-year-old Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, a young Marine who had been killed by hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Strobl, a Desert Storm veteran with 17 years of military service, requested that he be assigned for military escort duty to accompany Chance's remains to his family in Dubois, Wyo.

Witnessing the spontaneous outpouring of support and respect for the fallen Marine - from the groundskeepers he passed along the road to the cargo handlers at the airport - Strobl was moved to capture the experience in his personal journal. His first-person account, which began as an official trip report, gives an insight into the military's policy of providing a uniformed escort for all casualties. The story became an Internet phenomenon when it was widely circulated throughout the military community and eventually reached the mainstream media.

'Taking Chance' chronicles one of the silent, virtually unseen journeys that takes place every day across the country, bearing witness to the fallen and all those who, literally and figuratively, carry them home. A uniquely non-political film about the war in Iraq, the film pays tribute to all of the men and women who have given their lives in military service as well as their families.

An HBO Films presentation of a Motion Picture Corporation of America and Civil Dawn Pictures production, Taking Chance marks the directorial debut of two-time Oscar-nominated producer Ross Katz ('Lost in Translation'). The screenplay is by Lt. Col Michael R. Strobl, USMC (Ret.) and Ross Katz, based on the journal of the same name by Strobl, who also serves as military consultant. Strobl, who recently retired after serving 24 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, developed the original story with the strong support of Phelps' parents, John Phelps and Gretchen Mack. The executive producers are Brad Krevoy ('A Love Song for Bobby Long'), Cathy Wischner-Sola and Ross Katz; the co-executive producer is William Teitler (HBO's 'Empire Falls'); and the producer is Lori Keith Douglas ('The Notorious Bettie Page'). HBO Films vice president Jenni Sherwood is the executive in charge of the production.

A Soldier's Story: "Taking Chance"

After they are brought to Dover Air Force Base, all fallen soldiers, Marines, airmen, and sailors are escorted home to their families and loved ones by a uniformed member of the U.S. armed forces. In mid-April 2004, 38-year-old U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl, a manpower analyst assigned to the Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va., accompanied the body of a young Marine killed in Iraq to his final resting place in Wyoming. Strobl wrote the following description of his journey to Wyoming in a small, spiral notebook on his way back to Virginia.

A Personal Narrative By Lieutenant Colonel Michael R. Strobl

Chance Phelps was wearing his Saint Christopher medal when he was killed on Good Friday. Eight days later, I handed the medallion to his mother. I didn't know Chance before he died. Today, I miss him.

Over a year ago, I volunteered to escort the remains of Marines killed in Iraq should the need arise. Thankfully, I hadn't been called on to be an escort since Operation Iraqi Freedom began. The first few weeks of April, however, had been tough ones for the Marines. On the Monday after Easter, I was reviewing Department of Defense press releases when I saw that a Private First Class Chance Phelps was killed in action outside of Baghdad. The press release listed his hometown as Clifton, Colorado which is near where I'm from. I notified our battalion adjutant and told him that, should the duty to escort PFC Phelps fall to our battalion, I would take him.

I didn't hear back the rest of Monday and all day Tuesday until 1800. The battalion duty NCO called my cell phone and said I needed to be ready to leave for Dover Air Force Base at 1900 in order to escort the remains of PFC Phelps. I called the major who had the task of informing Phelps' parents of his death. The major said that the funeral was going to be in Dubois, Wyoming. (It turned out that PFC Phelps only lived near my hometown during his senior year of high school.) I had never been to Wyoming and had never heard of Dubois.

With two other escorts from Quantico, I got to Dover AFB at 2330 on Tuesday night. First thing on Wednesday we reported to the mortuary at the base. In the escort lounge there were about half a dozen Army soldiers and about an equal number of Marines waiting to meet up with "their" remains for departure. PFC Phelps was not ready, however, and I was told to come back on Thursday. Now at Dover with nothing to do and a solemn mission ahead, I began to get depressed.

I didn't know anything about Chance Phelps; not even what he looked like. I wondered about his family and what it would be like to meet them. I did push-ups in my room until I couldn't do any more. On Thursday morning I reported back to the mortuary. This time there was a new group of Army escorts and a couple of the Marines who had been there Wednesday. There was also an Air Force captain there to escort his brother home to San Diego.

We received a brief covering our duties and the proper handling of the remains, and we were shown pictures of the shipping container and told that each one contained, in addition to the casket, a flag. I was given an extra flag since PFC Phelps' parents were divorced.

It turned out that I was the last escort to leave on Thursday. This meant that I repeatedly got to participate in the small ceremonies that mark all departures from the Dover AFB mortuary.

Most of the remains are taken from Dover AFB by hearse to the airport in Philadelphia for air transport to their final destination. When the remains of a service member are loaded onto a hearse and ready to leave the Dover mortuary, there is an announcement made over the building's intercom system. With the announcement, all service members working at the mortuary, regardless of branch, stop work and form up along the driveway to render a slow ceremonial salute as the hearse departs. On this day, there were also some civilian workers doing construction on the mortuary grounds. As each hearse passed, they would stop working and place their hard hats over their hearts. This was my first sign that my mission with PFC Phelps was larger than the Marine Corps and that his family and friends were not grieving alone.

Eventually I was the last escort remaining in the lounge. The master gunnery sergeant in charge of the Marine liaison there came to see me. He had a pouch with Chance Phelps' personal effects. He removed each item: a large watch, a wooden cross with a lanyard, two loose dog tags, two dog tags on a chain, and the Saint Christopher medal, which was on a silver chain. Although we had been briefed that we might be carrying some personal effects of the deceased, I was taken aback. Holding his personal effects, I was starting to get to know Chance Phelps.

Finally we were ready. I grabbed my bags and went outside. I was somewhat startled when I saw the shipping container, loaded three quarters of the way into the back of a black Chevy Suburban that had been modified to carry such cargo. This was the first time I saw my "cargo," and I was surprised at how large the shipping container was. The master gunnery sergeant and I verified that the name on the container was Phelps', and then they pushed him the rest of the way in and we left. Now it was PFC Chance Phelps' turn to receive the military and construction workers'  honors. He was finally moving towards home.

As I chatted with the driver on the hour-long trip to Philadelphia, it became clear that he considered it an honor to contribute to getting Chance home. He offered his sympathy to the family. I was glad finally to be moving, yet I was apprehensive about what things would be like at the airport. I didn't want this container to be treated like ordinary cargo, but I knew that the simple logistics of moving around something this large would be difficult.

When we got to the Northwest Airlines cargo terminal at the Philadelphia airport, the cargo handler and hearse driver pulled the shipping container onto a loading bay while I stood to the side and executed a slow salute. Once Chance was safely in the cargo area, and I was satisfied that he would be treated with due care and respect, the hearse driver drove me over to the passenger terminal and dropped me off.

As I walked up to the ticketing counter in my uniform, a Northwest employee started to ask me if I knew how to use the automated boarding-pass dispenser. Before she could finish, another ticketing agent interrupted her. He told me to go straight to the counter, then explained to the woman that I was a military escort. She seemed embarrassed. The woman behind the counter already had tears in her eyes as I was pulling out my government travel voucher. She struggled to find words but managed to express her sympathy for the family and thanked me for my service. She upgraded my ticket to first class.

After clearing security, I was met by another Northwest Airlines employee at the gate. She told me a representative from cargo would be arriving to take me down to the tarmac to observe the movement and loading of PFC Phelps. I hadn't really told any of them what my mission was, but they all knew. When the man from the cargo crew met me, he, too, struggled for words. On the tarmac, he told me stories of his childhood as a military brat and repeatedly said that he was sorry for my loss. Even here in Philadelphia, far away from Chance's hometown, people were mourning with his family.

On the tarmac, the cargo crew was silent except for when they gave occasional instructions to each other. I stood to the side and saluted as the conveyor moved Chance to the aircraft. I was relieved when he was finally settled into place. The rest of the bags were loaded and I watched them shut the cargo-bay door before heading back up to board the aircraft. One of the pilots had taken my carry-on bag himself and had it stored next to the cockpit door so he could watch it while I was on the tarmac. As I boarded the plane, I could tell immediately that the flight attendants had already been informed of my mission. They seemed a little choked up as they led me to my seat.

About forty-five minutes into our flight, I still hadn't spoken to anyone except to tell the first-class flight attendant that I would prefer water. I was surprised when the flight attendant from the back of the plane suddenly appeared and leaned down to grab my hands. She said, "I want you to have this," as she pushed a small gold cruci?x, with a relief of Jesus, into my hand. It was her lapel pin and it looked somewhat worn. I suspected it had been hers for quite some time. That was the only thing she said to me the entire flight.

When we landed in Minneapolis, I was the first one off the plane. The pilot himself escorted me straight down the side stairs of the exit tunnel to the tarmac. The cargo crew there already knew what was on this plane. They were unloading some of the luggage when an Army sergeant, a fellow escort who had left Dover earlier that day, appeared next to me. His "cargo" was going to be loaded onto my plane for its continuing leg. We stood side by side in the dark and executed a slow salute as Chance was removed from the plane. I then waited with the soldier and we saluted together as his fallen comrade was loaded onto the plane.

My trip with Chance was going to be somewhat unusual in that I had an overnight stopover. We had a late start out of Dover and there was just too much traveling ahead of us to continue on that day. (We still had a flight from Minneapolis to Billings, Montana, then a five-hour drive to the funeral home. That was to be followed by a 90-minute drive to Chance's hometown.)

I was concerned about leaving him overnight in the Minneapolis cargo area. My 10-minute ride from the tarmac to the cargo holding area eased my apprehension; just as in Philadelphia, the cargo guys in Minneapolis were extremely respectful and seemed honored to do their part. While talking with them, I learned that the cargo supervisor for Northwest Airlines at the airport is a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. They called him for me and let me talk to him.

Once I was satisfied that all would be okay for the night, I asked one of the cargo crew if he would take me back to the terminal so that I could catch my hotel's shuttle. Instead, he drove me straight to the hotel himself. At the hotel, the lieutenant colonel called me and said he would personally pick me up in the morning and bring me back to the cargo area. Before leaving the airport, I had told the cargo crew that I wanted to come back to the cargo area in the morning rather than go straight to the passenger terminal. I felt bad for leaving Chance and wanted to see the shipping container where I had left it for the night.

The next morning, the lieutenant colonel drove me to the airport, and I was met again by a man from the cargo crew and escorted down to the tarmac. The pilot of the plane joined me as I waited for them to bring Chance from the cargo area. The pilot and I talked about his service in the Air Force and how he missed it.

I saluted as Chance was moved up the conveyor and onto the plane. It would be a while before the luggage was loaded, so the pilot took me up to board the plane where I could watch the tarmac from a window. With no other passengers yet on board, I talked with the flight attendants and one of the cargo guys. He had been in the Navy and one of the attendants had been in the Air Force. Everywhere I went, people were telling me about their relationship to the military. After all the baggage was aboard, I went back down to the tarmac, inspected the cargo bay, and watched them secure the door.

When we arrived at Billings, I was again the first off the plane. The funeral director had driven five hours up from Riverton, Wyoming, to meet us. He shook my hand as if I had personally lost a brother.

We moved Chance to a secluded cargo area, and it was now time for me to remove the shipping container and drape the flag over the casket. I had predicted that this would choke me up, but I found I was more concerned with proper flag etiquette than the solemnity of the moment. Once the flag was in place, I stood by and saluted as Chance was loaded onto the van from the funeral home. I picked up my rental car and followed Chance for five hours until we reached Riverton. During the long trip I imagined how my meeting with Chance's parents would go. I was very nervous about that.

When we finally arrived at the funeral home, I had my first face-to-face meeting with the casualty assistance call officer (CACO). It had been his duty to inform the family of Chance's death, and I knew he had been through a difficult week.

Inside I gave the funeral director some of the paperwork from Dover and discussed the plan for the next day. The service was to be at 1400 in the high school gymnasium up in Dubois, population about 900, some 90 miles away. Eventually, we had covered everything. The CACO had some items that the family wanted inserted into the casket, and I felt I needed to inspect Chance's uniform to ensure everything was proper. Although it was going to be a closed-casket funeral, I still wanted to make certain his uniform was squared away.

Earlier in the day I wasn't sure how I'd handle this moment. Suddenly, the casket was open and I got my first look at Chance Phelps. His uniform was immaculate. a tribute to the professionalism of the Marines at Dover. I noticed that he wore six ribbons over his marksmanship badge; the senior one was his Purple Heart. I had been in the Corps for more than 17 years, including a combat tour, and was wearing eight ribbons. This private first class, with less than a year in the Corps, had already earned six.

The next morning, I wore my dress blues and followed the hearse for the trip up to Dubois. This was the most difficult leg of our trip for me. I was bracing for the moment when I would meet his parents and hoping I would find the right words as I presented them with Chance's personal effects. We got to the high school gym about four hours before the service was to begin. The gym floor was covered with folding chairs neatly lined in rows.

There were a few townspeople making final preparations when I stood next to the hearse and saluted as Chance was moved out of the hearse and into the gym. A Marine sergeant, the command representative from Chance's battalion, met me inside. His eyes were watery as he relieved me of watching Chance so that I could go eat lunch and find my hotel.

At the restaurant, the table had a flyer announcing Chance's service. Dubois High School gym, two o'clock. It also said that the family would be accepting donations so that they could buy flak vests to send to troops in Iraq.

I drove back to the gym at a quarter after one. I could have walked; you could walk to just about anywhere in Dubois in 10 minutes. I wanted to find a quiet room where I could take Chance's things out of their pouch and untangle the chain of the Saint Christopher medal from the dog-tag chains and arrange everything before his parents came in. I had twice before removed the items from the pouch to ensure they were all there even though there was no possibility anything could have fallen out. Each time, the two chains had been quite intertwined. I didn't want to be fumbling around trying to separate them in front of his parents. Our meeting, however, didn't go as expected.

I practically bumped into Chance's stepmom accidentally and our introductions began in the noisy hallway outside the gym. In short order I met Chance's stepmom and father, followed by his stepdad and, at last, his mom. I didn't know how to express to these people my sympathy for their loss and my gratitude for their sacrifice. Now, however, they were repeatedly thanking me for bringing their son home and for my service. I was humbled beyond words.

I told them that I had some of Chance's things and asked if we could try to find a quiet place. The five of us ended up in what appeared to be a computer lab not what I had envisioned for this occasion. After we had arranged five chairs around a small table, I told them about our trip. I told them how, at every step, Chance was treated with respect, dignity, and honor. I told them about the staff at Dover and all the folks at Northwest Airlines. I tried to convey how the entire nation, from Dover to Philadelphia, to Minneapolis, to Billings and Riverton expressed grief and sympathy over their loss.

Finally, it was time to open the pouch. The first item I happened to pull out was Chance's large watch. It was still set to Baghdad time. Next were the lanyard and the wooden cross. Then the dog tags and the Saint Christopher medal. This time the chains were not tangled. Once all of his items were laid out on the table, I told his mom that I had one other item to give them. I retrieved the flight attendant's crucifix from my pocket and told its story. I set that on the table and excused myself. When I next saw Chance's mom, she was wearing the crucifix on her lapel.

By 1400 most of the seats on the gym floor were filled and people were finding seats in the fixed bleachers high above the gym floor. There were a surprising number of people in military uniform. Many Marines had come up from Salt Lake City. Men from various VFW posts and the Marine Corps League occupied multiple rows of folding chairs. It turned out that Chance's sister, a petty officer in the Navy, worked for a rear admiral. the chief of naval intelligence at the Pentagon. The admiral had brought many of the sailors on his staff with him to Dubois to pay respects to Chance and to support his sister. After a few songs and some words from a Navy chaplain, the admiral took the microphone and told us how Chance had died.

Chance was an artillery cannoneer and his unit was acting as provisional military police outside of Baghdad. Chance had volunteered to man a .50caliber machine gun in the turret of the leading vehicle in a convoy. The convoy came under intense fie but Chance stayed true to his post and returned fie with the big gun, covering the rest of the convoy, until he was fatally wounded.

After the admiral spoke, the commander of the local VFW post read some of the letters Chance had written home. In letters to his mom, he talked of the mosquitoes and the heat. In letters to his stepfather, he told of the dangers of convoy operations and of receiving fire.

The service was a fitting tribute to this hero. When it was over, we stood as the casket was wheeled out with the family following. The casket was placed onto a horse-drawn carriage for the mile-long trip from the gym, down the main street, then up the steep hill to the cemetery. I stood alone and saluted as the carriage departed the high school. I found my car and joined Chance's convoy.

All along the route, people had lined the street and were waving small American flags. The flags that were otherwise posted were all at half-staff. For the last quarter-mile up the hill, local Boy Scouts, spaced about 20 feet apart, all in uniform, held large flags. At the foot of the hill, I could look up and back and see how enormous the procession was. I wondered how many people would be at this funeral if it were in, say, Detroit or Los Angeles , probably not as many as were here in little Dubois, Wyoming.

The carriage stopped about 15 yards from the grave, and the military pallbearers and the family waited until the men of the VFW and Marine Corps league were formed up and the school buses had arrived, carrying many of the people from the procession route. Once the entire crowd was in place, the pallbearers came to attention and began to remove the casket from the caisson. As I had done all week, I came to attention and executed a slow ceremonial salute as Chance was being transferred from one mode of transport to another.

From Dover to Philadelphia, Philadelphia to Minneapolis, Minneapolis to Billings, Billings to Riverton, and Riverton to Dubois, we had been together. Now, as I watched them carry him the final 15 yards, I was choking up. I felt that, as long as he was still moving, he was somehow still alive. Then they placed him at his grave. He had stopped moving.

Although my mission had been officially complete once I turned him over to the funeral director at the Billings airport, it was his placement at his grave that really concluded the mission in my mind. Now he was home to stay and I suddenly felt at once sad, relieved, and useless.

The chaplain said some words that I couldn't hear and two Marines removed the flag from the casket and slowly folded it for presentation to his mother. When the ceremony was over, Chance's father placed a ribbon from his service in Vietnam on Chance's casket. His mother removed something from her blouse and put it on the casket. I later saw that it was the flight attendant's crucifix. Eventually friends of Chance's moved closer to the grave. A young man put a can of Copenhagen on the casket and many others left flowers.

Finally, we all went back to the gym for a reception. There was enough food to feed the entire population for a few days. In one corner of the gym there was a table set up with lots of pictures of Chance and some of his sports awards. People were continually approaching me and the other Marines to thank us for our service. Almost all of them had some story to tell about their connection to the military. About an hour into the reception, I had the impression that every man in Wyoming had, at one time or another, been in the service.

It seemed like every time I saw Chance's mom, she was hugging a different well-wisher. After a few hours at the gym, I went back to the hotel to change out of my dress blues. The local VFW post had invited everyone over to "celebrate Chance's life." The post was on the other end of town from my hotel, and the drive took less than two minutes. The crowd was somewhat smaller than earlier at the gym but the place was packed.

The largest room in the post was a banquet/dining/dancing area and it was now being renamed "The Chance Phelps Room." Above the entry were two items: a large portrait of Chance in his dress blues and a wooden carving of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, the Marine Corps emblem. In one corner of the room there was another memorial to Chance. There were candles burning around another picture of him in his blues. On the table surrounding his photo were his Purple Heart citation and his Purple Heart medal. Above it all was a television that was playing a photomontage of Chance's life from small boy to proud Marine.

As had been happening all day, indeed all week, people were thanking me for bringing Chance home. I talked with the men who had handled the horses and horse-drawn carriage and learned that they had worked through the night to groom and prepare the horses for Chance's last ride. They were all very grateful that they were able to contribute.

After a while we all gathered in the Chance Phelps Room for the formal dedication. The post commander told us of how Chance had been so looking forward to becoming a life member of the VFW. Now, in the Chance Phelps Room of the Dubois, Wyoming, post, he would be an eternal member. We all raised our beers and the room was christened.

Later, a staff sergeant from the reserve unit in Salt Lake grabbed me and said, "Sir, you gotta hear this." There were two other Marines with him and he told the younger one, a lance corporal, to tell me his story. The staff sergeant said the lance corporal was normally too shy to tell it, but now he'd had enough beer to overcome his usual modesty. As the lance corporal started to talk, an older man joined our circle. He wore a baseball cap that indicated that he had been with the 1st Marine Division in Korea. Earlier in the evening, he had told me about one of his former commanding officers, a Colonel Puller.

So, there I was, standing in a circle with three Marines recently returned from fighting with the 1st Marine Division in Iraq and one not-so-recently returned from fighting with the 1st Marine Division in Korea. I, who had fought with the 1st Marine Division in Kuwait, was about to gain a new insight into our Corps. At that moment, in this circle of current and former Marines, the differences in our ages and ranks dissipated, we were all simply Marines. The young lance corporal began to tell us his story.

His squad had been on a patrol through a city street. They had taken small-arms fire and had literally dodged a rocket-propelled grenade that sailed between two Marines. At one point they received fire from behind a wall and had neutralized the sniper with a SMAW (shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon) round. The back blast of the SMAW, however, kicked up a substantial rock that hammered the lance corporal in the thigh, missing his groin only because he had reflexively turned his body sideways at the shot.

Their squad had suffered some wounded and was receiving more sniper fire when suddenly he was hit in the head by an AK-47 round. I was stunned as he told us how he felt like a baseball bat had been slammed into his head.

He had spun around and fallen unconscious. When he came to, he had a severe scalp wound but his Kevlar helmet had saved his life. He continued with his unit for a few days before realizing he was suffering the effects of a severe concussion.

The staff sergeant finished the story. He told how this lance corporal had begged and pleaded with the battalion surgeon to let him stay with his unit. In the end, the doctor said there was just no way; he had suffered a severe and traumatic head wound and would have to be medevac'd.

The Marine Corps is a special fraternity. There are moments when we are reminded of this. Interestingly, those moments don't always happen at awards ceremonies or in dress blues at Birthday Balls. I have found, rather, that they occur at unexpected times and places  next to a loaded moving van at Camp Lejeune's base housing, in a dirty tent in northern Saudi Arabia, and in a smoky VFW post in western Wyoming.

After the story was done, the lance corporal stepped over to the old man, put his arm over the man's shoulder, and told him that he, the Korean War vet, was his hero. The two of them stood there with their arms over each other's shoulders, and we were all silent for a moment. When they let go, I told the lance corporal that there were recruits down on the yellow footprints tonight who would soon be learning his story.

I was finished drinking beer and telling stories. I found Chance's father and shook his hand one more time. Chance's mom had already left, and I deeply regretted not being able to tell her goodbye.

I left Dubois in the morning before sunrise for my long drive back to Billings. It had been my honor to take Chance Phelps to his final post. Now he is on the high ground overlooking his town.

I miss him.

Memory Lane

The Clothes Line

The clothes line; a dead give away. Do the kids today even know what a clothes line is? For all of us who are older, this will bring back the memories.

THE BASIC RULES

1. You had to wash the clothes line before hanging any clothes. Walk the length of each line with a damp cloth around the line.
2. You had to hang the clothes in a certain order and always hang whites with whites and hang them first.
3. You never hung a shirt by the shoulders, always by the tail. What would the neighbors think?
4. Wash day on a Monday. Never hang clothes on the weekend or Sunday for heaven's sake!
5. Hang the sheets and towels on the outside lines so you could hide our 'unmentionables' in the middle.
6. It didn't matter if it was sub zero weather; clothes would 'freeze dry.'
7. Always gather the clothes pins when taking down dry clothes. Pins left on the line was 'tacky'.
8. If you were efficient, you would line the clothes up so that each item did not need two clothes pins, but shared one of the clothes pins with the next washed item.
9. Clothes off of the line before dinner time, neatly folded in the clothes basket and ready to be ironed.
10. IRONED? Well, that's a whole other subject.

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A POEM

A clothes line was a news forecast
To neighbors passing by 
There were no secrets you could keep 
When clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link 
For neighbors always knew 
If company had stopped on by 
To spend a night or two. 

For then you'd see the 'fancy sheets' 
And towels upon the line; 
You'd see the 'company table cloths' 
With intricate design. 

The line announced a baby's birth 
To folks who lived inside 
As brand new infant clothes were hung 
So carefully with pride. 

The ages of the 2 children could 
So readily be known 
By watching how the sizes changed 
You'd know how much they'd grown. 

It also told when illness struck, 
As extra sheets were hung; 
Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too, 
Haphazardly were strung. 

It said, 'Gone on vacation now' 
When lines hung limp and bare. 
It told, 'We're back!' when full lines sagged with clothes. 
With not an inch to spare. 

New folks in town were scorned upon 
If wash was dingy gray, 
As neighbors carefully raised their brows, 
And looked the other way.

But clotheslines now are of the past 
For dryers make work less. 
Now what goes on inside a home 
Is anybody's guess. 

I really miss that way of life. 
It was a friendly sign 
When neighbors knew each other best 
By what hung on the line!

- Contributed by Olga (Yarish) Jordan, '51

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Brings back a memory for me as well!

It was a very cold, very blustery January evening in the late 60's, and we were living in Levittown, just off Wantagh Ave. There was about 10 inches of snow on the ground, with heavy snow coming down, and the wind was howling. The temperature was about 18 or 19, and we had some sheets and towels hanging on our umbrella clothes line, but they would hang for several more days!

With the wind blowing, the sheets flapping in the wind and the squeaks from the clothes line as it moved around, all adding to the sounds of natures Wintry symphony outside our cozy house!

I was suddenly made aware of an off key note in this natural masterpiece! It was the squeaking of the clothesline, which was now a constant chirping as though it was spinning around rather than a back and forth rocking sound which is what it had been doing most of the evening. I peered out through the snowy window, and couldn't believe the sight!

A stray dog, a medium sized nondescript mutt had come into the yard and had somehow gotten his foot caught in one of the sheets, twisting it around his foot, and locking him into a two footed dance around and around the clothes line!
I put my coat on, and as soon as he saw me, he panicked and fought harder to free himself from his frozen bonds, actually bobbing into the air in futile leaps to escape!

I, having previously worked in a kennel as teen, and fearing few dogs, commanded him to be still! He stopped his thrashing, and allowed me to untangle his foot from the grasp of the sheet! When he got free, he was so happy that he couldn't stop jumping and licking my face that it actually brought tears to my eyes! He knew how dire his circumstance was, and he held back nothing in appreciation of his release!

- Bob Gillette

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I remember a cold day in November. I was living in Commack in a brand new house. The landscaping was not done but I had one of those umbrella clothes dryers in the back yard. I was close to term with my first child and I went outside to hang clothes wearing my ankle high, red boots. Well, the boots got stuck in the mud and I couldn't get my feet out of them. Some construction workers in the lot next door saw my plight and rescued me. Talk about embarrassing!

- Pat (Koziuk) Driscoll

In Memoria

George E. Smith Jr. (class of 1960) 

SMITH - George E. Jr., age 66 of Manorville, formerly of Hicksville, passed on December 11, 2008. Survived by loving mother Mary, adored children Dawn McLeod and Kevin, beloved brother Stephen, cherished granddaughter Kaylen McLeod, and companion Camille. Friends are welcomed Sunday December 14th from 2-4 and 7-9pm at Sinnicksons Moriches Funeral Home, 203 Main St. (County Rd. 80), Center Moriches. Religious Services 9:00am December 15th at the funeral home. Interment to follow, Calverton National Cemetery. 

Published in Newsday on 12/13/2008

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Published January 28, 2009 in Las Vegas Review-Journal

POMA, WILLIAM Class of 1962

William A. Poma, 64, died suddenly, Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, while vacationing in Florida. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., June 20, 1944, he was a 31-year resident of the Las Vegas valley. William is survived by his wife, of 43 years, Kathleen; his daughter and son-in-law, Trish and Matt Taylor; and his two grandchildren, Max and Maci. An electrician for 45 years, he was a proud member of IBEW Local #357, where he served as an organizer for the last years of his career. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 130 N. Pecos Road, Henderson, NV 89074.

Donations can be made to IBEW Local 357 Brotherhood and Welfare Fund at 4322 E. Bonanza, Las Vegas, NV 89110.

Cards can be sent to his'widow who is also an HHS grad - Kathy Posey:

KATHLEEN POMA
2113 FOUNTAIN SPRINGS DR
HENDERSON NV 89074-1555

Billy and Kathy were in Florida for a mini-reunion with other Class of 1962 friends Mike Clair, John Valenti, John 'Bingo' Korothy and Jimmy Szymanski and their spouses. Billy was playing golf with Mike Clair at the time of his sudden and unexpected death. Kathy said that Billy would have been pleased to know that his last days were spent with loved ones and good friends, on his feet and having fun.I will always remember Billy as a stand out tackle on our 1961 Division Championship football team. He had a great sense of humor and was always fun to be around. He will be missed. Special note from John 'Bingo' Korothy: Billy and I have been friends since we were classmates in the third grade, 55 years ago. Time and distance have, sometimes, kept us apart. We have never been without each others friendship; good times and bad. Time and distance have, once again, separated us, but when we see each other again, we'll tee it up, play some golf and continue our never-ending friendship for each other. He was, and is, my friend for life.

Submitted with Sincere Sympathy for Kathleen Posey Poma and Family by some of Billy's many friends

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Zinkhan, Jane (Huttle), Class of 1962ZINKHAN - Jane, of Hicksville on January 17, 2009. Beloved wife of Donald J. (Co # 1 Hicksville F.D.). Dear sister of Judith Proffe (Richard), James Huttle Sr., Jack Huttle Sr. (Arlene) and Lawrence Huttle (Karen). Beloved sister-in-law of Patricia Morabito. Dear aunt of many nieces and nephews. Friends may call Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9pm at the Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Homes, Hicksville Chapel, 47 Jerusalem Avenue (Corner of West Marie St.). Hicksville Fire Dept Service Tuesday 8pm. Mass Wednesday 9:45am at St. Ignatius R.C. Church. Interment Holy Rood Cemetery.

 

Published in Newsday on 1/20/2009

Casale's Corner

HICKSVILLE TIDBITS FEBRUARY 2009

January Was National Self-Defense Awareness Month

Hicksville Martial Arts School Among Those Offering Free Workshops

Martial Arts America in Hicksville, in affiliation with Black Belt School International - a leader in martial arts training schools with over 800 locations across the country, took action in January (National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month). They hosted free martial arts workshops every Saturday last month for children and adults.

In addition to helping participants become better able to defend themselves and get in better shape along the way, Martial Arts America is committed to help fight the growing problem of child abductions. According to www.lostchildren.org, 1,000 children are missing or abducted every day. Martial Arts America is showing kids and adults there is a fun alternative way to stay safe, be alert, and how to conduct themselves in any threatening situation.

Through physical discipline not only will individuals feel better, they will learn how to take care of their bodies.

"We want to teach people to be aware of their surroundings and show them how to protect themselves to get away from potentially dangerous conditions," stated Mike Donohue, owner and senior instructor of the Hicksville-based Martial Arts America. "Our workshop was a great way for beginners to learn the basics of self-defense." In the free workshops, participants learned the basic moves from the four effective disciplines in self-defense that Martial Arts America teaches:

• Tae Kwon Do (traditional Martial Arts)
• Kickboxing (techniques used in all ranges of self-defense)
• Hapkido Grappling (defensive moves from the ground)
• Fitness (to keep the students healthy)

Each student left the workshop with increased strength, conditioning and confidence. Students of martial arts programs typically improve their self-confidence, attitude, and self-esteem, giving them a better outlook on life.

By teaching children how to protect themselves, Martial Arts America hopes to help significantly decrease the number of abductions each year.

Anyone looking for additional information should call Martial Arts America in Hicksville at 932-5275.

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Police: Drug bust at noted Long Island magic shop

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. - Police say a Long Island magic shop that helped inspire a young Criss Angel has recently been peddling drugs along with illusions.

Nassau County police searched The Magic Shop in Hicksville Saturday and arrested owner Philip Piacentini and a woman who lives with him, Danielle Lazaroff.

Police say the two repeatedly sold cocaine and marijuana to undercover officers at the store in the last five weeks.

The 58-year-old Piacentini and 39-year-old Lazaroff were arrested on drug sale and other charges. Information on their arraignments and legal representation was not immediately available Sunday evening.

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Sarandrea Turns 80 Years Young

Congratulations to 47 year Hicksville resident Dorothy Sarandrea who turned 80. Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Rose Marie Walker attended the birthday celebration. Walker extended congratulations by issuing a citation on behalf of the town board.

Dorothy and her late husband have four children, seven grandchildren and Dorothy is anxiously awaiting her first great grandchild.

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West John Street Improvement Project

Nassau County Legislator Ed Mangano announced recently that West John Street in Hicksville had been rehabilitated. The improvement project included the removal and replacement of deteriorated pavement and the installation of new pavement markings.

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Hicksville School Officials Cut Ribbon on Woodland Addition

We reported previously about the renovation under construction at Woodland Avenue School. Superintendent Maureen Bright was at the ribbon cutting ceremony held in December. This was the largest capital project that took place last summer.

The second floor addition features two sizeable new classrooms, and two smaller instructional classrooms.

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St. Ignatius Loyola Parish Gears Up For 150th Anniversary Celebration

The cornerstone for St. Ignatius Church came from a German community. Laid on August 21, 1859, the stone was the beginning of the foundation for the 25 by 50 foot church with the capacity to hold 100 parishioners. The current church was built in 1891. A full year of celebrations is planned starting with an Opening Mass celebrated by Bishop William Murphy in January.

Social events also planned each month include a cocktail party in February, the annual parish picnic in September, a dinner dance in November, and a closing Mass and reception in December. The church is located at 129 Broadway in Hicksville. For more information call 931-0056 or visit www.st.ignatius-parish.org.

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Hicksville Student Designs Holiday Card

Each year, the Hicksville Public Schools Board of Education sends out a holiday card to community leaders and district employees. What makes the card so unique and special is the fact that Hicksville students design them.

This year, the invitation was extended to elementary level students, and the district is happy to announce that Riley Ward's design was selected. Riley Ward is a fourth grade student from Diana Germinaro's class at Dutch Lane Elementary School.

The design was replicated and colorized to create the beautiful holiday card the district sent to the community. Riley was presented with a commerative plaque bearing her holiday card design.

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Read to the end . . . a new twist.....

1. The bandage was wound around the wound.
2. The farm was used to produce produce .
3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4. We must polish the Polish furniture.
5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present .
8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10. I did not object to the object.
11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13. They were too close to the door to close it.
14. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
19. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

PS. - Why doesn't 'Buick' rhyme with 'quick'?