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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Hicksville Vietnam War Era Memorial Project Update

34 new names were added in May, bringing our current total to 1,446 names! May's contribution again came largely from the work of one of our alumni in collaboration with the Hicksville Public Library Historian. With the continuation of this effort and the additional contributions of the entire alumni readership of HixNews, we expect the list will continue to grow in the months ahead.

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

Excellent progress has been made in filling in missing data for our list of names, but, it continues to be important (even if you don't have new names to send us) to review the list for missing information or information shown in red that needs correction or clarification. Please send me an email if you can help us fill in the blanks. High school class year has been specifically noted, where we have it, to make this review easier for you to scan the list for people you may know. We made good progress in filling in the blank information once again in April, so let's all pitch in to continue this effort!

As we celebrate Memorial Day 2011, we should remember all those who have paid the ultimate price to serve and defend our country, a number of them coming from Hicksville, our home town.

On behalf of the Project Team,
Joe Carfora, HHS '62

The Newsletter

Photo Gallery

Midwest Flooding

The flooding in the mid-west and south is catastrophic and there have been more fatalities related to these floodwaters than there was from Hurricane Katrina. We watch in awe as the flooding continues and many more are placed in harms way. Thank heaven for advance warning because that allowed those in jeopardy early removal from threatened areas.

Nature is strange but this same scenario seems to occur in the same areas on a continuing basis. You would think that over the years, there might have been something done that would lessen the probability. What about spillways to let the water drain to areas where it's really needed! Didn't they build a trans Alaska pipeline to move oil to the mainland?

What about building a tremendous reservoir that can absorb millions of gallons of water that we can forward to California , or Nevada or somewhere that is in jeopardy of having no water reserves. Dah!!! I just don't get it!

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Honoring our Veterans

Vietnam Touched Many Lives

• 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the official Vietnam era from August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975.
• 2,709,918 Americans served in uniform in Vietnam .
• Vietnam veterans represented 9.7% of their generation.

The state with the most deaths was California with 5,573 killed.  The next four were New York with 4,121; Texas 3,415; Pennsylvania 3,144 and Illinois 2,934.  And the total number of 19, 20 and 21 year old casualties totaled over 32,000.

The pictures posted below will bring back many memories of that time in our lives when our country was divided.  So many came home to angry people who bombarded them with insults.  Many of our returning veterans still suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Memory Lane

Hello, HixNews,

Can you help me get in contact with singers from Hicksville ?  My wife Kathy and I are coming east from Colorado  for the last weekend of August. It would be great to see them again. Do you have any ideas? I taught in Hicksville Music Department from 1962 - 1988.

Thanks,
Chuck Arnold,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 Hi, Bob. I sent Uncle Chuckie (that's what we girls in Chorus used to call him) a note, and posted his letter on Facebook to reach the most Hicksvillians. Hope all is well with you!

Thanks!
Robin Kriss Rhea 1972

Editor note...thanks, Robin!

Hey Bob

I remember him. Since I graduated in 1962, if he didn't join the staff in mid-year, he must have been teaching in 1961.
Don't get old.

Sandy Moos 1962

Thanks for forwarding the note from Mr. Arnold. Most of my memories are from being in chorus in '63 and '64. The friends I made because of him are still with me today. Mr. Arnold you made a difference in my life. You touched many of us in ways that guided our lives. God bless you and thank you.

Mike Linihan 1965

Bob:
My wife, Gene (Paesani) Poller sang with Chuck throughout her high school days and would love to see him again.
Please keep us advised of his plans.

NEVRBTTR,

Jerry Poller 1965

I had Mr. Arnold for music. He was a really great teacher. Never forgot him.

Debbie Patelas Kister, Class of 1976

I sang in chorus from 1961 to 1964.  Mr Arnold was the best music teacher I ever had. I'd love to join in.

Myra  Rosen Fox 1965

Not being flippant, but it would be nice if anyone can contact Billy Joel. Chuck was fairly influential in pushing him to pursue his music. Billy mentioned him in his dedication on his first album, " Cold Spring Harbor ." Had Billy graduated, he would have been in my brother, Don's, graduating class of 1967...but everyone probably already knows that.
A lot of my fellow HHS singer/musicians are on Facebook.  That'd be a good place to put this as well.  I'm trying to think... I believe all of the honors choir, the HHS Madrigal Singers, for my high school years are on Facebook... Chris Darnowski, Crystal Demas, Ken Shepski to name a few.  The Madrigals were Chuck Arnold's stars.

Pat Thompson Dumas 1975

I live in Miller Place , a small town east of Port Jefferson. Had the pleasure of seeing Tommy Sullivan(from the original Brooklyn Bridge ) perform at my local library. He was great and lives in Rocky Point. Is this info helpful?? Thanks for lovely write up and anniversary card for Tony and I.

Eileen Walter Toscano 1959

The only singers from Hicksville that I know of were the Twins Tones

Herb Pearce 1962

As I recall, Chuck Arnold's first year was my senior year, 1961-62. I remember him well -- for his keen interest in his students, his musical gifts as a choral director and at the keyboard, and his sense of humor. Working with him in the advanced chorus and in the musical productions that year was the capstone of my musical experience through junior and senior high school in Hicksville . With almost 50 years of choral work since HHS, I still appreciate the training and love of choral music that he nurtured in me.

Dick Osborne 1962
Reston VA

Bob
I had Chuck for Boy's Chorus at HHS in the '61-'62 school year (I graduated in '62).  Please add my name if you're compiling a list.  As a side note, should we contact Chuck directly?

Bob Masone 1962

Hi Bob,
As I live in Los Angeles I don't get out to New York very often anymore, but I would ask that you please send Mr. Arnold my warmest regards.  I was in his chorus class back in  the mid-1970's, and will never forget his incredible dedication to teaching.  Once, I remember he and his wife came over to my house and spent an evening with my parents.  Wish I could see him in person. 

Cheers,
David Gaudio 1977

Hi Bob,

I sent the notice to my sister now living in Eugene , OR , who absolutely remembers him and sent it on to others.  She was younger than I, but I definitely remember him.  He must have been teaching in Hicksville before 61, since that's our graduation year.  Perhaps he was the junior high choral director?  I'm not sure, but it's too familiar a name for our class not to have had contact with him.  I know that the main choral director that I remember was Mr. Goleeke, but Mr. Arnold had to have been around.  Do you have more info?

Nancy Sherman 1961

Hi Bob,

I remember Mr. Arnold.  I was always in the Chorus and loved to sing.  I still do.  I remember when my son Joseph was a few months old, I took him to HHS and went to see Mr. Arnold.  I wish I could see him again, but as you know, I live in Texas and probably won't be in New York at that time.  Please give him my best regards and many, many thanks for bringing such beautiful songs into my life. 

Thanks,
Diane McGuinness 1963

Mr Arnold,

I don't know if you remember me. I had classes with you in my Senior year "67 & also helped to have Billy Joel there for your retirement assembly.

Joyce Thorburn Jurgensen 1967

Please keep me informed about the possibility of seeing you in September.

OMG, my wonderful Mr. Arnold. Now I have to find a way to get home to NY this summer! I may be in Colorado for business sometime in the next few months so might be able to get in touch with him. Thanks Bob!

Tina ( Gardner ) Kwiatkowski 1969

Dear Buffalo Bob,

Thanks for your help in getting the chorus reunion started. Thanks, too, for the invitation to your class of 1961 reunion in September. Unfortunately we won't be able to make it. My former students will be meeting on the 28th of August at Steve Goldstein's house in Centerport. Steve's Facebook entry has the address and other information.

Good luck with your reunion.

Chuck Arnold

Casale's Corner

Better than paper towels and a lot less expensive...

Coffee filters.... Who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing even the large ones.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliquéing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies...Saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.
24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.
25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.

OH YEAH, THEY ARE GREAT TO USE IN YOUR COFFEE MAKERS!
Sure saves washing dishes too.