March 2009 : Volume 9 - Issue 6

Newsletter for the Alumni and Friends of
Hicksville High School Hicksville, New York

The Editors:
Buffalo Bob Casale '61	Linda (Piccerelli) Hayden '60
Pat (Koziuk) Driscoll '56	Bob (Gleason) Wesley '61

Contributing Editors: Bob Gillette & Walter Schmidt

Webmaster: Roger Whitaker

To contact the editors, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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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

The Hicksville Historical Society, along with the Hicksville Public Library, are both proud to present a program on Tuesday, March 31st at 7:00 p.m. A documentary by a local filmmaker. Jennifer Uihlein, a Hicksville resident, produced a film titled Hicksville, 11801. Come and see the film and meet the director/producer/editor in person. The Society will have a brief business meeting before the viewing. Refreshments served. For more information, call (516) 796-3826 or write This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

CLASS OF 1967

Are you game for attending a 60th "Birthday Party" in 2009? The Class of 1967 from Hicksville High ALL turn 60 during the year 2009. Who else would it be better to share the joy/agony of turning 60 than with 200 of your classmates who are in the same situation and time line? We realize that many of the women aren't interested in "celebrating" the 60th birthday but we could pitch it as allowing them to be "spectators" while we watch the boys try to make the best of the new decade of the "60s" that we are about to enter. After all we grew up during the 1960s so now we will grow old during our 60s decade! [I am working on a catchy sound byte.] Rather than calling it a "reunion" we would have the theme of "celebration" as we push on into our sixth decade.... Barbara Hicks points out that we shouldn't be sexist: I have no problem turning 60. I am happy to be alive every day. I am running my first (and last) marathon at 58 1/2. My Mom and mother-in-law never made it to that age! I celebrate every day!!! So the question remains: Would you be interested in attending a 60th birthday celebration? Aug. 8-9, 2009 on Long Island?

I have completed the reservation at the Plainview Holiday Inn for Aug.8th, 2009 from 5pm to 10pm for the "60th Birthday Party Bash" for theClass of 1967 from Hicksville High. For those who want to stay longer than 10pm there is a bar in the complex.Plans for a pre-party picnic with softball or volleyball game at Cantiague Park and post party picnic at either Bethpage Park or Jones Beach will depend upon expressed interest from classmates who say they are going to attend the Saturday evening affair.Jim Rubins '67 Chief Sexagenarian for this event.....

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

Attention HixNews Subscribers!We are pleased to announce that we now have the ability to quickly scan your own newsletter related photos into digital files for publication into the newsletter. If you have old or current photos that you would like to submit, we urge you to send them in for publication!We are especially interested in photos that show people and Hicksville area sites from way back when!Photos must be B&W or color prints in the following
Sizes only! 3X5, 4X6, or 5X7!
The equipment cannot handle odd sized photos.If submitting photos, please describe the scene or place, and identify the people involved, if possible!If you wish for your photos to be returned, please include a stamped, self addressed envelope with sufficient postage!Send your photos to:

BoB Gillette
HixNews Photos
3734 E. North Corner Rd.
Lancaster, SC 29720-9456

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.

MIDLIFE CRISIS BAND @ CALLAHAN'S E.MEADOW SAT MAR 7TH

HAD ANY FUN LATELY? DANCED? ISN'T IT THAT TIME AGAIN??? JOIN THE CROWD THIS SAT,MAR 7TH @ CALLAHAN'S FOR A GREAT NITE OUT !!!! MID LIFE CRISIS BAND WILL DOLE OUT HEFTY PORTIONS OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC TIL THE WEE HOURS !! SHOW STARTS AROUND 9:30 @ AS ALWAYS FREE ADMISSION! LOCATED ON HEMP TPKE 1 MI. E. OF MEADOWBROOK ,OR 1 MI. W. OF WANTAGH PKWY, IN THE MODELL'S STRIP !!! CALL 4 INFO:

516-542-0723 OR VISIT US BELOW !!!!!! BE THERE!!!!!

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MIDLIFECRISISLONGISLAND

Ted Swedalla (class of '64) and Bob Casale (class of '61) are starting their memorable trip from Key West, Florida to Bar Harbor, Maine on April 1^st.

This trip is memorable. Ted is dedicating this trip to the returning veterans from the conflicts in both Iraq and Afghanistan. So many of our veterans are returning to friends, family and loved ones with injuries and disabilities. We are concerned for those Heroes. Our government does many wonderful things to accommodate returning veterans. Unfortunately, they cannot fully address the emotional needs of those returning veterans. So many organizations pick up the slack after our government has fulfilled their obligation. Our hope, Ted's and mine, is to try to raise some funds to support the organizations that help our returning veterans. Anyone interested in helping, please contact Ted and Bob by sending a note to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We, Ted and Bob are starting in Key West and going up the East Coast. We are very interested in alumni who live in the alley we will travel from Key West to Bar Harbor. Let us know where you live and we will try to stop and see you on our trip. This is an alumni adventure and an alumni venture to help support our troops.

Love Yah,
Ted Swedalla and Bob Casale

p.s. what makes this unique is that Ted is riding his bicycle'a bicycle that you pedal from point to point. We are shooting for about 50 miles per day. Bob will take the motor home from point to point'.a 50 mile ride for Ted will result in catching up with Bob at the next Campground.. Easy for Bob'hard for Ted'sounds like our business adventure. Hey, we love it and hope for some help from our friends'and we love you all!!!

Bob's ride Bob's ride Ted's ride

The Newsletter

Walter: I am the former Stephanie Rozos (class of '65)...I do believe we had been in several classes together over the years while attending HHS. I moved to Florida in 1970....lived in the Ft. Lauderdale area until 1985 when I relocated to Orange Park, Fl which is a suburb of Jacksonville. You have no idea how much I enjoy receiving and reading the HIX Newsletter each month. I am forwarding to you a story which appeared on You Tube not too long ago. I thought it might be something you would be interested in seeing. Although Jax is a big city, we are a small town at heart. My home town, Jacksonville, does it right. In today's world, where so much idiocy reins supreme, its good to know that there are some places that still have their priorities in proper order: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhQFwEj8O2c Keep up the good work!!

Wishing you well,
Stephanie (Rozos) Masters

Hi Pat,

My wife Adele (65) and I live in the Phoenix AZ area. We're married since 1966, and we're doing fine. Thanks for asking. John Ziegler (63)Hi, just to let you know that I love the Hicksville Newsletter...also I thought I was registered with your site but my birthday was not listed...could you add it for next year? My name is Dorothy (Green) Kenny, birthday is February 21, Hicksville High School Class of 1976...

Thanks so much!
aka Dee Kenny

Hi,

Elaine Boos Whittendale lives on L.I. during the summer and in Bonita Springs, FL in the winter.Elaine and Penny (Creegan) Lomas are still dancing together on weekends ' no more shimmying.

Elaine has recently become a widow, so many of us 'old' friends keep in touch with her; Virginia Farrugia Posillico, Rita Giannelli Grell and Pat Dowling Walsh.

Penny (Creegan) Lomas, '60

On January 25, 2009, the Hicksville Historical Society hosted a Winter Social at the Gregory Museum. The Museum was kind enough to offer free admission for the day, and lots of people took up the offer on a cold winter's afternoon. The afternoon event was an "open mic" talk for Hicksville residents to discuss their history within the town. We listened to lots of exciting tidbits: Ruth Schrieber moved to Hicksville in 1925. Mary Colgan has had Hicksville roots since 1858! Jean Surtala had family here in 1886, and her family had a butcher shop on Broadway. Jessie Doyle had family with a general store on Broadway 1936 to 1956! Denward Collins remembers when there were only five traffic lights in all of Hicksville! Lois Calame, a 'newer' resident, moved to a Levitt house in 1950. And we couldn't have a historical discussion without our own Dick Evers discussing how he has seen the community transform. President and Vice president Bob Koenig and Rich Althaus and the board welcomed this memorable event. For information on next meeting, contact (516) 796-3826 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Mary Alfano and Nancy (Alfano) O'Geary-Smith were looking for Richie Zoddar, '63. Chuck Zodda (Richie's brother) sent an e-mail and put my sister Mary in touch with Richie. She was going to send him an e-mail. She isn't all that with computers but is interested in finding out what has gone on for 50 years.

Thanks to Hicksville High News Letter.
Nancy O'Geary-Smith (Nee: Alfano)

Out of the blue, I was contacted last night by Mickey Anglim regarding a 50th reunion. In the process, I inquired about Nancy Johnsen. He also told me about this website. There I discovered I was at the top of the list of inquiries by Nancy Johnsen Kaye. Mickey gave me Nancy's email address and I have sent her a message. I hope to hear from her. My "correct" name is (and always has been) Jeanne, not Jean. Do you keep any other information on file?

Jeanne (Saeger) Powell, '59

Hello just would like to say hello to Cheryl Woods; was friends with her and Julie many, many years.Phil Hearon, '64

Is there going to be a reunion for the class of 1974? Where and when?

Kathie (Caddigan) Siracusa

I would also be interested in any 35th reunion plans.

Sheila Klein, '74

As best as I can recall Gilison's was two or three blocks up W John St. Not too terribly far from the old police booth on the corner of John St and Broadway. Don't recall if Gilison's moved to a new location later.

Carl Probst, 1959

Ron Landau sent us a new email address and some info:

I graduated in 1969, my date of birth is September 22, I live in Nesconset (Suffolk), I'm married to Kerry, a graduate of Division in Levittown, and we were married January 7, 1984. My new e-mail address is in Syosset.

June (Olsen) Cullen sends along an announcement about an exhibit at:

Long Island Museum of American Art, History & Carriages
1200 Rte. 25A
Stony Brook, NY 11790-1931

http://www.exploreli.com/entertainment/localguide/events/769742,0,5286794.event

Growing Up on Long Island

more than 140 paintings, photographs and artifacts (christening gowns, a prom dress, school ephemera, games and toys, including Jerry Seinfeld's report card, Walt Whitman's school-teaching desk, and a Quinceanera dress from Riverhead) exploring 200 years of childhood of Long Island, from 19th century rural childhoods to the suburban baby boom and beyond

When: Feb. 14 - Oct. 25
Price: $9, $7 seniors, $4 ages 6-17, children under age 6 admitted free
Information: 631-751-0066

1965-Graduated From Hicksville High School

1965-1966 Attended SUNY at Albany

1966-end of 1967 I attended Nassau Community College, part-time while I worked in Gertz. I worked in Gertz Record Department, which was right by the front entrance, across from Newberry's. To put it into context-"Winchester Cathedral" and "I'm a Believer" were the top hits at the time. During 1967, I worked as a "floater" in Gertz. Like our former Vice-President, I too had 5 physicals for the army. I had 3 complete ones, and I had 2 spot checks. The presence of a pilonidal cyst made me ineligible for the Army. The military even asked me if I would like them to operate on it to make me eligible, but I thanked them and instead went on to pursue a college diploma in the area of teaching.

Beginning the spring semester of 1968, I started attending Nassau Community College full time, and I began taking things a little more seriously. I considered the course list for an associate's degree in liberal arts to be a checklist. I proceeded to take a full plate of courses in the spring semester; I then attended back to back summer sessions and took 14 credits Chemistry 1 and 2 (whatever the course numbers were) along with Economics 1 and 2. In the fall of 1968, 'Hey Jude', "The Beatles"(the White Album) and "Those Were the Days" filled the airwaves. I completed my associate's degree in January of 1969. I was not accepted at Cortland State because Albany's transcript never arrived - I hadn't paid my phone bill!! Therefore, my friend, David Berger helped get me a job in Record World-which was inside Time Square Store on Hempstead Turnpike. I worked there from January of 1969 until August of 1969. I had been accepted at SUNY at Cortland. While I worked in Record World, the first Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, and Blind Faith (studio) albums came out. Also, the Who released "Tommy". The Beatle's singles 'Get Back' and the 'Ballad of John and Yoko' were released. It was also a period where everyone was doing a cover version of some song from the musical "Hair".

I attended Cortland from September of 1969 until May of 1971 when I graduated. I had done my student teaching my last semester of my senior year, and I had a job before I had graduated. In the summer of 1971, with my brand new Ford Pinto, I began my master's degree and had 9 credits before I started my career as an elementary school teacher in the suburbs of Binghamton, NY. I taught in a relatively small school district (compared to Hicksville) Chenango Valley Central Schools. I was assigned to 5th grade in the Port Dickinson Elementary School. For me, it was like a step into the past. Relative to Long Island-or even Cortland State, the district seemed somewhat of an anachronism. The custodians were upset it you put the kids' desks into groups of 4 instead of them being left in rows. Rows were easier to sweep. However, after a while, I adjusted to the district and they adjusted to me. I taught 31 years in that district, and only in that district. During my first year of teaching, I continued to work on my master's, and I completed it by the end of July 1972. I believe I was the only teacher in the district to complete his entire master's degree during his first year of teaching. My goal was to jump salary columns and also make up for time I had wasted as a 19 and 20 year old.

I was placed on the proper column at the beginning of my second year of teaching-thus receiving a raise of 14 percent while everyone else-unless they also moved horizontally across the salary schedule-received a raise of 7percent. During my years of teaching, I taught in 3 different buildings and I taught 3 different grades; 5th, 6th, and 4th.

What I am most proud of from my career is the fact that I was given parental permission to take 3 pairs -different years- of students across the country-camping mainly at KOA's and taking tons of slides. The first trip in 1975 was not well thought-out, and it only lasted 19 days. Didn't bring enough credit-and didn't familiarize myself with the land head well enough. The second trip was the best. We traveled in my 1975 Pinto 34 days-seeing everything. This was with one student just out of 6th and one just out of 7th. I was friends with their parents. The kids were very bright, and we saw everything. We even went to lovely Nogales, Mexico, across the border from Arizona. In 1979, I figured some states of the US were skippable from the point of view of a student-so we flew directly to Los Angeles at Easter time. What was cool was the fact that area schools in LA had had their Easter vacation the week before. When you go into Space Mountain 7 times in a row, your eyes become acclimated to the lighting. There were 2 more trips to Los Angeles with students....and then in 1988-being a Beatle fan, flying to the UK in the summer was my next "accomplishment".

The years from 1989 until 1997 were somewhat consumed with being a caregiver of sorts to my mom, who had moved to the area in 1975-after my Dad had passed away in 1974. She worked in this area-for the county, she retired in 1986, but she developed a lot of illnesses-with a touch of Alzheimer's near the end. A lot of time was spent with her being hospitalized-and juggling my teaching job. She passed away in 1997.

On my own, in 1998, I did the summer of 4 T's. It was a way for me to relax my mind somewhat-and also catch up with people who had left this area. So, I ended up traveling to Arlington, TX, Knoxville, TN, Toronto, Canada and Tucson, AZ. I took 18 airplanes that summer. In the summer of '99, I flew to Arlington again and after staying there a few days, took the student whose family I had visited in '98 to Valencia, CA. We stayed right across from Six Flags at Magic Mountain, which readers would recognize as Wally World, or they'd recognize the roller coaster from the beginning of Step-by-Step, which has water drawn in, to make it look more attractive. If the show ever returns, notice that the water looks unstable (shaky) in the intro to the show. It's placed over a parking lot, which wouldn't look as attractive.

I retired from teaching in 2002. A friend from Hicksville, Frank DiMaio, who had lived around the corner from me found my website on line and contacted me. He and his wife lived in Beaufort, NC. That fall, at first I took a week's retirement vacation on St. Thomas. Then I traveled to Beaufort, NC. It seemed nice. Going out on Frank's boat seemed nice. When I returned, I thought about spending the winter in Binghamton-not working-with snow all around, along with uncomfortable temperatures. I made and impulsive decision to move to NC. I moved there in January of 2003, and I lived there until February of 2008. After 2 years, the novelty had worn off. Where I lived was considered part of the "Crystal Coast" of North Carolina, rents were high, the beaches were nice; they taxed my NY pension. The closest mall was 45 miles away in Jacksonville, where Camp Lejeune is. That was also the closest theater with stadium seating. Eventually, I realized I belonged back here in Binghamton. If it's cold out - stay home. I live in a nice apartment complex with a pool. The rent is substantially less. I don't have to get the whole baseball package to get the YES channel. And the majority of my friends live in this area. I still keep in touch with David Berger, Charlie Brooks, Elaine Villazon and most recently, Francine Phon. I turn 62 in May, meaning I start collecting Social Security in June. I bought 2009 dark metallic blue Cobalt that looks sporty. It actually looks almost as good as my 1994 black Camaro. It's much more relaxing for me here. The South may work out for some people. It depends what you're looking for.

Considering this is beginning of my second year back, and I'm all settled down, I'm looking at this as starting my retirement over. I keep in touch with former students, on Facebook mainly. I'll most likely be at the reunion in 2010. That would be the first one I've attended.

Thanks for reading this...somewhat verbose synopsis of how I spent the last 43 1/2 years. I left out racing my Dad's 67 GTO (Burgundy) in 1966 and 67. I've left out a lot of friends' names, who I miss, but by listing them, I'll leave a bunch out and I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

Philip McCrea

My husband, Jim, along with our Golden Retriever, Lily, and I left on our Nordic Tug 42 trawler, Golden Lily, June 25 from Westbrook, CT on our 'Great Loop' boat adventure which is taking us around the eastern half of the country, cruising the lakes, inland rivers, intra coastal waterways, and open waters. We have traveled over 4,000 miles so far and have about 2,000 more to go.

On February 18 we left Charlotte Harbor, Punta Gorda, FL after spending 2 months resting up after our long travel since we left home, and headed across the Okeechobee Waterway to the east coast of Florida where we will visit various towns along the ICW to finally spend a month at Halifax Marina in Daytona Beach. We will then resume our travels north to New York City, stopping at various cities and towns, and finally Westbrook. We hope to be home by June 20th.

The parts we enjoyed the most were visiting the towns in the Trent-Severn Canal in Canada, the peaceful quiet of the Georgian Bay and North Channel, watching the skyline grow before us as we approached Chicago from the east on our 60 mile crossing from the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, and the beauty of the hills along the Tennessee River during our side trip to Chattanooga.

The most difficult parts were being stuck in Alton, Illinois after Hurricane Ike and dealing with flooding water as we headed south, traveling 200 miles of the desolate Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway with ice on our bow and fog in the morning, crossing the 80 mile run from Carrabelle to Steinhatchee on the Gulf of Mexico with 5+ foot seas, and being stuck in the mud in Crystal River at low tide. I'm told it's all part of the adventure!

We have met so many people along the way, met up with friends, and have seen a part of America only seen from the deck of a boat! You can read about our trip on our website: www.goldenlilytug.com

We'd love to hear from any Hicksville alumni in the area are we continue our journey.
Barbara (Jones) Benjamin '66

When Robert Casale contacted me to do a bio sketch of my life after graduating Hicksville High School, I was flattered, but perplexed as to where to begin, and why he picked me. Then I realized that the picture of me posted on classmates.com that he referred to had two vertebrae hanging on the wall behind me and that they might have stirred up some curiosity. For those who might be wondering' 'No, I'm not a doctor, or a physical therapist, or a forensic scientist.' I've been working for the Athletic Training Education and Adapted Aquatics Programs under the Rehabilitation Science Division in the School of Health Technology and Management at Stony Brook University (quite a mouthful), since the Fall semester of 2000. The picture was pulled from a group shot of all the staff/faculty/students in the Athletic Training Education Program Laboratory. In my capacity as Program Assistant, I serve as initial contact in student recruitment and assist in the areas of application, admissions, orientation and graduation. Along with my business/administrative duties, I have tutored ESL (English as a Second Language) students and staff on campus, and I am proud to say that I have helped families pass their exams to obtain citizenship.

As far as my education, I have a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from New York University and a Masters of Science in Education from Long Island University. While taking courses for my BA, I served as an Office Manager in the Graduate Tax Program in the School of Law at NYU and lived off Washington Square Park on Washington Place. That was a very exciting time for me in my life and it came during what I like to call 'my prime'- in my 40's. Prior to that, I had lived in Maryland, about 25 miles out of Washington D.C., where I raised my family. I have a lovely daughter, who is married, and two wonderful grandchildren. They live in Michigan and I visit them as often as possible.

When I moved from Manhattan to Long Island in 1994, I reconnected with my roots. I now attend Trinity Lutheran Church in Hicksville, where I went to Sunday school, received confirmation, and met a few of my lifelong friends. In February of 2006, I had the privilege of joining 18 volunteers, from two Lutheran churches, who went to New Orleans to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We were to provide aid and comfort to those families who had experienced tremendous loss. We were housed in a parochial school and slept in two classrooms that had to be vacated each morning by 7:00 a.m., so teachers could prepare for their day. Our group had various assignments each day; some did electrical work, some carpentry, but, in the majority of cases, we participated in a process called 'mucking'. This entailed the removal of all the contents of the home, items covered in mud and debris, soaked from weeks of being underwater. We hauled all items to the curb. We then proceeded to strip the house of all walls and floor covering. While the families were resigned to the fact that these tasks had to be done, it was hard to watch, as men and women picked through their belongings, looking for some traces of their lives as it was before. Many just wanted to sit and talk. We listened.

I experienced many physical challenges during our mission, but, I believe, in my heart, that the hope we were able to provide these grief-stricken families, more than made up for a sore back or a skinned knee. I still am an active participant in community outreach. Not many people know this, and nor did I realize it myself, but looking back, being active in the community has been a constant in my life. Through my job, my church and other organizations, I hope to continue to do more, for as long as I can, whenever I can.

Carol (Fred) Silwokosi, 1965

Hello Bob,

I recall that you are taking a motor trip this year. When you get to Maine please give me a call. I live on an island near the city of Portland. It is a cool and unique community. We have the best lobster and seafood.

I take the ferry each morning and night (10 minute ride) to commute to work in Yarmouth. I hope to retire this fall.

I lost my husband last year after 46 years of marriage. He had dementia for 4 years prior. I am glad I kept busy with work.

Thank you for your work on the HIX news. It is an interesting read. I was curious if anyone came out for the homecoming game and who won?

Carol (Makowski) Kinney
Director of Business Services
Yarmouth School Department
101 McCartney Street
Yarmouth, Maine 04096

Carol...
Yes, my partner, Ted Swedalla, and I are making a trip from Key West to Bar Harbor, Maine. We're starting out on April 1st and should be close to Maine toward the end of June. Nothing is cast in stone. We have the option of playing it by ear, so to speak.

Warm Regards
Bob (Casale)

p.s. Dennis Naso made it to the homecoming and he was the only one from those we thought might show up. He did bump into Fran Decabia from class of '60. Who won...I have no idea.

I am taking a writing class and may get up my courage to send in musings from Maine. You can see my contact information at the end of this email and I put my island phone number in (email and phone number removed).

Our island has a very interesting history and a small civil war museum and WWII history. It is a great place to bike. I remember your wife Joyce. She was a very attractive and classy girl. Have a great trip. I am sure you will be keeping us abreast of things through the newsletter.

Carol

Perhaps you could give the class of 1959 a plug for its upcoming 50th year reunion.

The committee is presently updating the class address list. The date and location will be worked out soon so as to give everyone plenty of lead time. Contact any of the committee members for information. The members are Mickey and Joyce Anglim, Mike Anselmo, Gene Yetter, Mike Sherin, Ghyll Owen Simoneschi, Joan Gabriel, Tony and Eileen Toscano and Carl Probst. See http://59.hixreunion.com

Thanks
Carl Probst

We have a collection of pictures from the Class of 1959. See if you can help identify some of these people..

P.S. Remember this? 'see below

I just found this website and would love to be included in old and new news. We winter in Florida and may be able to get to the Everglades in March.
Actually I do not have a birthday this year as I'm a 2-29 leap year person.

Barbara Weber Knueppel, class of 1961 (MI)

Lisa Sachs, class of 1968, birthday-June 09, now living in lovely Media, PA, "Everybody's Hometown" and America's first Fair Trade Town!Divorced from Dr. Douglas Evans in 2002Two wonderful girls; Sarah, age 20, attending Vassar andHannah, age 18, attending Ithaca College.

Lisa

Thank you so much! Both Janet (McMenamin) and I enjoyed the anniversary e-card very much. February 20, it will be 44 years of marriage.

We have 4 grown children and 7 grandchildren. Our oldest son is an insurance company exec, he has 3 children. Our middle son is a principal of an elementary school, and has twin boys. Both of these reside near us in Georgia. Our youngest son is an architect and runs a small firm in Seattle WA, no children. Our daughter; has 2 daughters, is a Marketing Director for an organization that develops health care programs for the elderly in the Netherlands (Europe).

With 40 years of service, mostly in middle management positions, I took early retirement from Avon Products Inc in March of 2006, but have been doing part-time consulting for them since in Japan. A corporate move with them took us to Atlanta in 1978. Janet is still working and is the Vice President of Administration for Jackson Healthcare, a $400+ million dollar healthcare company in Atlanta. She has been with them since their start in the late 70's.

We spend most of our free time taking nice trips and as many cruises as our schedules and pocket book allow. Usually, once a year we try to take a trip to Europe and tie in a visit with our daughter. We also try a visit to the west coast of the US to visit our youngest son. On occasion we have also squeezed in a visit to San Diego to visit Bill Dylewski (he will not make a trip back to the east coast). We also host a family reunion every three years in Florida; this coming July being one of the events. I also do some volunteer work around the local town. For exercise, I do daily walks around the neighborhood, mall or treadmill and enjoy doing all the yard work myself. We also enjoy going out to dinner and to the movies on a regular basis.

Enjoy what you guys are doing with the Hix News. THANK YOU and keep up the good work!

Harry Butcher (class of 62)

Dear Editors, I stopped getting HixNews last fall due to a job change. Please send me the HixNews at my home email. My wife and I miss seeing it every month. My Mom, Carol (Ptacek) Kerwin, 1954, also enjoys the stories and pictures. We all live in Arizona and don't get to visit Hicksville too often. When we do go back, we stay with my brother Dan, 1982, at his home in Bethpage.

Thank you.
Ken Kerwin 1974
Pat (Wagner) Kerwin 1973

2008 Hicksville High School "Turkey Bowl"

Hi Editors : )

In response to Ms. Gross' February request to hear from Class of '64 graduates, please consider this item for publication in your next issue of the Hix News.

Thank you.
Dennis Listort '64

To ClaraMae Gross:

Yes, Clara, I do remember you, although I can't quite recall from which class or classes. Was it Mr. David's English class, Mr. Palguta's Social Studies, Mr. Danna's Journalism, or Mr. Haviland's math? Anyway, I also remember Sid Weiss and his infectious laugh, whom you mentioned in your comments in the last issue of HixNews. Do you recall the sadness when Bruce Sollod passed? John Leach, Richie Lee, Jimmy Kansas and I were with Bruce when he was struck by a train as we crossed the tracks in the northeastern (?) section of Hicksville near Broadway, way before they were elevated. That incident haunts me to this day. I also recall Dennis Diaz (later the guitarist for Steely Dan), Tony Licata and I discussing some of the girls in our classes and I believe you were one of them. I have retired from a career in education as teacher, assistant principal, and principal in upstate New York, and now am a freelance writer, having written an adult contemporary novel, The Writing Box, in which I mention our high school, the Gertz Shopping Plaza, and the neighborhood adjacent to the intersection of Old Country Road and Newbridge Road, maybe three blocks from the rear of the high school. It's available at Xlibris.com, amazon.com, and barnes and noble.com as well. I had been E-mailing with Judy Marcus for a while, but we seem to have lost contact when I moved from the Hudson Valley to Florida about eighteen months ago. I also attended Old Country Road School from third to sixth grade, and vividly remember Valerie Clemenz, Tony D'Amato, Jackie Uvino, Bob Chasse, Linda Pozzuoli, and Stephen O'Brien, and also that my first student-teacher crush was with Mrs. Suffern in Grade 4! It was a pleasure to read your comments in last month's issue. (P.S.: I'm on page 76 of our Yearbook.)

- Dennis Listort '64

Since I did not save any email that I sent, I wasn't sure if I was one of those for whom you had no address.

I live in Merrimack, New Hampshire. The organizers of the Class of '59 reunion contacted me already. I was given contact information for Nancy Johnsen Kaye and already received a response from her. I was also looking for information on Alberta Hunt Bolettieri and received that as well from Mickey Anglim.

Jeanne Saeger Powell, class of 1959

Hi,

Please put us on your mailing list.

Tony Prete, Class of 59.

Sue (Birosh) (class of 60) and I were married at 'Our Lady of Mercy' on South Oyster Bay Rd. in 1962. We have 2 beautiful daughters that have given us 3 grandsons. We moved to San Diego in 1975 and I retired April 2007.

Thanks,
Tony & Sue

MICROSOFT WORD SHORTCUTS

You probably have a few favorite keyboard shortcuts for formatting text - like Ctrl + B for applying boldface, Ctrl + I for applying italics, Ctrl + U for underlining, and maybe Ctrl + L to left-align text. But Word provides buttons for those tasks on the Formatting toolbar, so any efficiency gains are kind of a toss-up.

The real convenience lies in knowing some more obscure keyboard shortcuts - ones that have no default button equivalents and that can save users from having to scrounge around dialog boxes looking for the appropriate options. Here are some shortcuts that are especially good for users to have under their belt.

Keystroke : Function

• Ctrl + Shift + D : Double underline the selected text
• Ctrl + ] : Increase the size of selected text by 1 point
• Ctrl + [ : Decrease the size of selected text by 1 point
• Ctrl + Shift + A : Make selected text all caps
• Ctrl + = : Toggle subscripting for selected text
• Ctrl + + : Toggle superscripting for selected text
• Ctrl + Shift + Q : Apply Symbol font to selected text
• Ctrl + Shift + N : Apply Normal style to current paragraph
• Ctrl + Alt + 1 : Apply Heading 1 style to current paragraph
• Ctrl + Alt + 2 : Apply Heading 2 style to current paragraph
• Ctrl + Alt + 3 : Apply Heading 3 style to current paragraph
• Ctrl + Shift + L : Apply List Bullet style
• Ctrl + 0 (zero) : Apply or remove space above current paragraph

Submitted by editor Bob Wesley

Photo Gallery

Hi All, Another page from my 50's Album. Have a great weekend.

Patty Bryan

2009 construction in Hicksville

1959 Class Officers

1967 senior trip to DC

Sobering images of veterans KIA during Iraqi Freedom

Birthdays & Anniversaries

New Readers & Returns

Honoring our Veterans

There is a time for words; there is a time for a few words only, and; there is a time for pictures.

Homecomings Of America's War Dead

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 the true story of Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl, USMC and Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, a young Marine who had been killed by hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

The Tomb Of The Unknowns

"Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God"

--- --- Walt Schmidt Veteran Services Officer
- - --- TOBay's Veteran Services Division
- - - - "Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"
--- --- WorkDayTime: 516.797.7875 & 24/7 Voice Mail
- - --- Anytime: 24/7 Voice Mail 516.799.8300
- - - - Website: http://www.waltsdorsai.net/
Ken Sun - Weekly Column: http://experts.longisland.com/veterans

"To know yet to think that one does not know is best;
Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty."
- Lao-Tzu 71:1

Memory Lane

Last month we discussed the clothesline and mentioned ironing. For a great history lesson on ironing see: http://www.oldandinteresting.com/antique-irons-smoothers-mangles.aspx Because of the length and the fact that it may be copyrighted, the newsletter will not reprint the article.

Hi Bob...

Thanks for taking the pictures. I have been collecting license plates for years and thought our alumni might be interested in some earlier versions of New York plates,

In the December 2008 issue, the first picture in the Photo Gallery was a wall mural that was in Commerce Bank. In that photo was an automobile that had a plate on it that looked like this...

New York issued its first official state plate in 1910. The plate is white on dark blue and the numbers are riveted on.

I thought some might like to see the only porcelain on steel plate issued by NY state. The plate is a white on vermilion and was issued in 1912.

Hope you enjoy the plates.

Carl Probst class of '59

This has been around before and brings back a real blast from the past. We sure had fun, worked hard, reaped the rewards and all was so simple and understandable. Our kids and grandchildren may have all the technology at their fingertips, but they missed out just the same, Enjoy!

How's This For Nostalgia?

All the girls had ugly gym uniforms?

It took five minutes for the TV to warm up?

Nearly everyone' s Mom was at home when the kids got home from school?

Nobody owned a purebred dog?

When a quarter was a decent allowance?You'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny?
Your Mom wore nylons that came in two pieces?All your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers had their hair done every day and wore high heels?You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, all for free, every time? And you didn't pay for air? And, you got trading stamps to boot?
Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box?

It was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents?

They threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed. . . And they did it!

When a 57 Chevy was everyone's dream car...to cruise, peel out, lay rubber or watch submarine races, and people went steady?No one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the doors were never locked?
Lying on your back in the grass with your friends? And saying things like, 'That cloud looks like a... '?Playing baseball with no adults to help kids with the rules of the game?

Stuff from the store came without safety caps and hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger?

And with all our progress, don't you just wish, just once, you could slip back in time and savor the slower pace, and share it with the children of today.When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited the student at home?

Basically we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc. Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! But we survived because their love was greater than the threat.. ..as well as summers filled with bike rides, baseball games, Hula Hoops, bowling and visits to the pool, frozen Snickers on a stick, and eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar.

Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, 'Yeah, I remember that'?

Remember that the perfect age is somewhere between old enough to know better and too young to care.

Who can still remember Nancy Drew,the Hardy Boys, Laurel and Hardy, Howdy Doody and The Peanut Gallery, the Lone Ranger, The Shadow Knows, Nellie Bell, Roy and Dale,Trigger and Buttermilk?

How Many Of These Do You Remember?

Candy cigarettes

Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside

Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles

Coffee shops with Table Side Jukeboxes

Blackjack, Clove and Teaberry chewing gum

Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers

Newsreels before the movie

P.F. Fliers

Telephone numbers with a word prefix...(Raymond 4-601). Party lines

Peashooters

Howdy Dowdy

Hi-Fi's & 45 RPM records

78 RPM records!

Green Stamps

Mimeograph paper

The Fort Apache Play Set

Tinker Toys & Erector Sets

Lincoln Logs

---

Do You Remember a Time When...

Decisions were made by going 'eeny-meeny-miney-moe'?Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, 'Do Over!'?'Race issue'meant arguing about who ran the fastest?

Catching The Fireflies Could Happily Occupy An Entire Evening?

It wasn't odd to have two or three 'Best Friends'?

The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was'cooties'?

Having a Weapon in School meant being caught with a Slingshot?

Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute commercials for action figures?

'Oly-oly-oxen-free' made perfect sense?Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down was cause for giggles?The Worst Embarrassment was being picked last for a team?

War was a card game?

Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle?

Taking drugs meant orange - flavored chewable aspirin?

Water balloons were the ultimate weapon?

If you can remember most or all of these, then You Have Lived!!!!!!!

Anyone who may need a break from their 'Grown-Up' life should enjoy this!!

In Memoria

This is in response to Nancy Johnson Kaye, people looking for people. Flo Ziegler passed away in 2000, from complications for treatment for MS.

John Ziegler (63)

Chris Andersen informs the newsletter that Bernie Rogan, class of '68, passed away from liver cancer. He was living in PA with his wife Debbie Huber, an HHS 1970 graduate.

Bruce S. Duncan, Class of 1962

DUNCAN - Bruce S., of Hicksville, on February 20, 2009. Beloved brother of Neil F. and Ellen (John) Sireci. Loving uncle of Alex, Leah, Chelsea, Aubrey. Family and friends may visit the Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Home, 125 Old Country Road, Hicksville, on Thursday 2-4 and 7-9pm. Funeral Mass Friday 10:00am at Holy Family RC Church. Interment at Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations made to Holy Trinity Development Fund, 98 Cherry Lane, Hicksville, NY.

Published in Newsday on 2/25/2009

Before I get busy again (I do the Ministry of Consolation at Holy Family Church and they have kept me busy with funerals) I did a funeral today for a man who was a guidance counselor at Holy Trinity High School for over 30 yrs.

So beloved, they closed the school for the day so the kids could come to the funeral. An Honor Guard of Students lined both sides of the walkway from the street into the church. After the mass I was helping a gentleman call for a cab, when I realized the man I was helping was our own Mr. Evers from Hicksville Jr. High. Then it suddenly struck me, the man who had passed away was 64 yrs. old, same as me.  I asked his brother Neil if they had grown up in Hicksville and he said yes, he was Class of '67 and his brother had been Class of '62.
As soon as I got home I dug out the yearbook, and sure enough, I am sorry to say the deceased was Class of '62 Bruce Duncan. There had been an obit in Newsday Monday or Tuesday. I just feel bad I didn't make the connection so I could have let people know.

Karen Hubner Jenkins

Casale's Corner

HICKSVILLE TIDBITS MARCH 2009

Boiler Fire, Fuel Spill At High School

The Hicksville Fire Department received an automatic alarm at 6:30pm on February 16th for a fire at the high school. According to Chief Edward Korona, when the department arrived, heavy smoke was pushing from the base of the chimney. Further investigation revealed a fire in the boiler room. The fire caused a fuel tank to rupture and about 500 gallons of diesel fuel was spilled.

The fire was contained within 20 minutes thanks to help from surrounding community departments; Bethpage, Farmingdale, Westbury, Plainview and East Meadow.

There was extensive damage to the building's electrical, heating and plumbing systems as well as minor damage to the roof. The classrooms were not damaged.

School was in recess at the time. The district anticipates the building to be open when classes resume on February 23rd.

TOB Residents Encouraged to Donate Blood at March 5 Drive

In the face of a critical shortage of blood on Long Island, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto and councilmembers Joe Muscarella and Rose Marie Walker urge residents to participate in the town's semi annual blood drive scheduled for Thursday, March 5th.

There is an almost constant shortage of blood in our area due to an increase in the number of medical procedures that require blood transfusions. The United States can no longer depend on blood shipped in from Europe because of concerns about Mad Cow Disease and other diseases.

Locations for the blood drive on March 5th: Town Hall South Conference Room, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa (10am to 3:30pm); Town Hall North at the Blood Mobile, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay (9am to 2:30pm) and the Department of Public Works War Room (Highway), 150 Miller Place (11am to 3:30pm.

All blood types are needed, especially "O" Positive and "O" Negative.

"Please help make this blood drive a huge success," Venditto stated.

For more information, please call Maryann Hughes at 624-6493.

Sarah Grace Memorial Blood Drive

Another blood drive to benefit the Sarah Grace Foundation for Children with Cancer, Inc. will be held on Saturday, March 28 from 10:30am until 2:30pm in the Hicksville Public Library's Kenneth Barnes Community Room.

For more info, contact Matthew or Marissa Weippert at 433-9745 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You can also call the New York Blood Center at 1-800-688-0900.

19th Annual Flower and Garden Show

Hicks Nurseries' 19th annual Flower and Garden show will be held at the Westbury location starting on Friday, March 13th and will run through Sunday March 22nd.

This is a free, 10 day event. Featured will be beautiful indoor display gardens in bloom, gardening seminars, cooking demos and many activities for children.

Parking and admission is free and hours during the show are 8am to 6pm daily, and Friday until 8pm.

For more info, call 334-0066 or visit http://www.hicksnurseries.com

Hicks Nurseries is located on Jericho Turnpike.

Help Girl Scouts Send Cookies to Troops

Operation Cookie will be held again this year.

Purchase a box or a case and donate the cookies to be shipped directly to our troops overseas. This could not be possible were it not for the generosity of DHL who donates their shipping services to the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. Last year, 30,000 boxes of cookies were sent to our soldiers.

Don't forget the Cooke Military Weekend on March 14-15 and be sure to make your donation to remind our military troops of home.

For more info, visit http://www.gsnc.org or call 741-2550 or contact a Girl Scout in your neighborhood.

Night At The Races March 7th

Holy Family Council, Knights of Columbus, will host a Night at the Races on Saturday, March 7th at 7pm. The event will be held at the Holy Family School Cafeteria, 25 Fordham Avenue, Hicksville.

Admission for this fundraiser is $10.00. The pre-registration fee of $8.00 can be made at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call for further info at 796-2039.

Hofstra Continuing Education Hosts Sportscasting Information Session

Veteran sports broadcaster Ed Ingles is the director of the Sportscasting Institute at Hofstra University. The Continuing Education program will present a free entry into the Sportscasting world with an information session at Dempster Hall, South Campus on Wednesday February 11th from 6 to 7:30pm.

If you've ever dreamed about being a sportscaster, join the session to learn more about the workshops.

The Teen Sportscasting Workshop is offered July 20th to the 24th. The Adult Sportscasting Workshop is offered August 3rd through the 8th.

Other well-known sportscasters are on the teaching staff including Len Berman, Samantha Ryan, Sam Rosen, Mike Breen, John Discepolo, Kenny Albert and others to be announced.

Computer Resource Center To Be Closed

The Computer Resource Center (CRC) located at 101 Jerusalem Avenue (across Old Country Road near the library) was opened in the fall of 2006. There was a need to provide patrons computer and Internet access at the time and the main library could not handle the task.

After more than a year monitoring usage, it was determined that the CRC is no longer a viable entity. The patronage was not sufficient to support continuation. So, the library board recently announced the facility has been put up for sale and is listed with the Hicksville based Montana Agency, Inc. for $2.5 million. The building is approximately 8,000 square feet.

Should the building be sold successfully, the proceeds will be used to provide much needed changes to the main library.

The Hicksville Public Library Computer Resource Center will remain open until sold.

New Parking Garage Will Be Built at Current Site

The on again, off again parking garage is on again. Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto announced that a new, state of the art, parking garage will be back again at the corner of Duffy Avenue and Newbridge Road.

There were many residents that didn't want anything built again because of aesthetic consideration. No one really wants to look out their window and see a building -- a park, maybe -- a building, no.

So, serious consideration is being given to building a significant portion of the garage underground. This would reduce the traumatic visual impact tremendously.

The town will bid this proposal and others considered previously.

Your guess is as good as mine as to the outcome??!!

The Hicksville train station is at a critical location, right in the heart of the Town of Oyster Bay, Venditto said. "We recognize that commuters rely on obtaining a parking space to get to work. This alternative, if feasible, meets their needs while balancing the concerns of nearby residents."

Little Shelter Animal Adoption Center

The state of the economy has everyone wondering what catastrophe will happen next to screw up their life. Losing jobs, losing homes, watching life savings disappear is not what we want, of course. We want the best for our families, our kids, our friends. We can only pray for a huge turnaround.

Another catastrophe that has a dramatic effect is the treatment of our pets. Hey, if it comes down to feeding my kids, I have to then make a serious decision. It isn't fair to punish a pet by not feeding him or her. So many people are doing the right thing by offering their pet for adoption. However, many are just abandoning their pets and that just ain't right.

I remember years ago when my wife, Joyce moved to Pennsylvania. I would travel and spend weekends relaxing at our home. One night I heard a noise and opened the curtain in the living room and saw a wild animal standing on our upstairs deck. We had the lights on but on a dimmer. I turned the dimmer up, but the animal took off. It looked like a dog but I couldn't be sure.

Joyce said, "what if it is a dog, and it has no place to live?"

So, being the wonderful person she was, she put out food, and the creature did return. We watched the animal eat and got to take a good look at what it was.

It turns out it was a she and she was a mixture of husky and shepherd. A beautiful dog.

She would return every day, then magically disappear. When I talked to Joyce during the week, she said that she named the dog "Magic" because she would appear then disappear.

Joyce and I liked to walk the mountains and Magic would appear and walk with us, always keeping her distance.

She got brave and started to get closer to us, sometimes nudging us with her muzzle, then running away. This went on for awhile.

Joyce talked to security and they said that dog had been dumped in the community weeks prior and just went around looking for food. Several people were feeding her, including us.

She got pretty comfortable sometimes taking a nap near the deck. We don't know where she slept at night, but she was not in anyone's house.

Joyce had the notion to capture her and make her a pet. She worked with security and they said if we captured her, she would have to be taken to the shelter. They would keep her there for awhile and if no one claimed her, then we could have her.

To make a long story short, we would up with Magic and she became a wonderful pet. She is alive an living with Joyce in Augusta.

So, if you have an inclination to adopt, go to Little Shelter Animal Adoption Center at 33 Warner Road, Huntington, NY 11743 or call 631-368-8770, Ext 206 or visit the web at http://www.littleshelter.com

You can also check the local shelters in your area to adopt a pet.

Thanks,
Buffalo Bob Casale

Class of 1958 visits HHS in September 2008