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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A Tribute to Holly Horton

The untimely death of Holly Horton in 2000 saddened our hearts. She was a very spirited person who enjoyed life and enriched those she touched with unselfish commitment. Holly was instrumental in bringing Hicksville High School together again just prior to a mega reunion, organized by Anton Mure and Rich Delia that was attended by a wide variety of alumni in September of 2000. Holly authored a mailing list that she put onto a website. Her updates of names and addresses were eagerly anticipated and were augmented with tidbits of trivia that was the result of feedback from others. She put up special photographs that we all enjoyed. That effort united a wide bracket of HHS students. She did this because she wanted to give back special moments to others by providing a source that could be accessed by all of us. The only thing missing from that reunion was Holly herself who looked forward, with obvious anticipation, at the prospect of seeing some old friends and sharing remembrances of times past. It was several days prior to the reunion when an uncontrollable asthma attack ended her life; a tragedy in itself for a person who battled this malady all her life just to survive.

A fitting way to pay respect to Holly was to continue what she started. That challenge was accepted by Pat Koziuk Driscoll (Class of 1956) and Linda Piccerelli Hayden (Class of 1960). They have done this out of respect for Holly but also because they see the enjoyment others realize from their effort. It's a way to introduce coming events; such as reunions for various classes. It's an avenue for contacting friends and sharing information that we all treasure. We have the capacity to put up pictures at various web sites for all of us to enjoy. In other words, the newsletter is a perfect vehicle for keeping people apprised of "what's happening!"

I want to personally say 'THANKS" to Pat and Linda for all that you do for me and for the alumni of Hicksville High School.

Bob Casale, Class of 1961

Happy Birthday to US! Hixnews.com starts its eleventh year with this issue.

Attention All HixNews Readers!!
Hicksville Vietnam War Era Memorial Project Update

Thirty-nine (39) names were added in September, putting us on a roll as we enter the Fall Season with a new total of 592 names!!

Please see the Veteran's Section of this issue for the latest information on the project and what you can continue to do to help its success.

Even if you don't have new names to send us, please review the list for missing information or information shown in red that needs correction or clarification and send me an email if you can help us with it.

Thank you,
Joe Carfora, HHS '62 for the Project Team

Mid Life Crisis Band is Back

SAVE THE DATE - Saturday November 6^th

We rock and will entertain you with classic rock tunes everyone loves!!!

Come to Callahan's located on Hempstead Turnpike in the Modell's Strip a mile West of Wantagh Parkway or a mile East of Meadowbrook Parkway. Admission is free & there is ample parking available. Come on down for a fun evening. Call 516-542-0723 for details.

I'm back at the Casa Rustica on Thursdays from 6:30-9:30. The wedding went great and we are now trying to get back to normal (whatever that is). There are also some new trio dates coming up: On Oct 16 and 23 we will be at Willy Parkers at 71 Hillside Avenue in Williston Park. The number there is 516 750-8125. Our playtime is from 9pm until 1am, so, for those night owls who like coming out late, we finally have a gig for you. On November 2, we will be back at Qustzalcoatl on Main Street in Huntington. Those hours are 6:00 - 9:00. Many choices we hope to see you at some. Help support live music on Long Island.

Art Romeo '60

p.s. We just picked up another one. Oct. 27 7-10 at Fork and Wine in Glenhead. A great place you should check it out.
Artie

The Newsletter

Photo Gallery

BRUSSELS IN BLOOM

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Honoring our Veterans

Memory Lane

THE CLASS OF 1961

Casale's Corner

Boy Singing to His Little Sister

You are My Sunshine, My only Sunshine,
You Make Me Happy, When Skies Are Gray

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling.

They found out that the new baby was going be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in mommy's tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her.

The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee.

In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor. Would a C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition.

With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee . The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents there is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst.

Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral. Michael however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. I want to sing to her, he kept saying.

Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not. If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket.

The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, "Get that kid out of here now. No children are allowed!"

The mother rose up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. He is not leaving until he sings to his sister' she stated. Then Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, Michael began to sing in the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
you make me happy when skies are gray."

Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate began to calm down and become steady.

"Keep on singing, Michael," encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes.

"You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away."

As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr.

"Keep on singing, sweetheart."

"The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms."

Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her.

"Keep on singing, Michael."

Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't take my sunshine away."

The next day...the very next day. the little girl was well enough to get out of ICU. She went home two weeks later.

Woman's Day Magazine called it The Miracle of a Brother's Song. The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love.

NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE. LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

Life is good.
Have a Wonderful Day!