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January 2003
Volume 3 Number 4

SEASONS GREETINGS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL, FROM THE GANG AT THE NEWSLETTER.

In Memory
Trivia Quiz
News and Notes
A Few December Facts

In Memory

• Chris Calma (1976) wrote to tell us of the passing of Jeff Schuck (1973) on November 17,2002. Jeff was an active member of the Hicksville Fire Department for the last 15 years. He will be sorely missed.

• Phil Fulco (1957) sent the following:

  I got a note from Bob Nolan (class of '57) the other day. He mentioned going to St Ignatius church last week and seeing an item in the bulletin about a mass for Emil Orlando. We had an Emil in the class of '57. We were wondering if the item was about him or possibly his father. Maybe you could put something in the newsletter and see if anyone can confirm this one way or the other.
  
  Phil

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Trivia Quiz

Trivia One
In April 1956, Heartbreak Hotel reached number one on the U.S. charts. What was the next Presley disc to reach number one?

Don't Be Cruel
All Shook Up
Love Me Tender
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You

Trivia Two
Which popular vocalist of the 50's and 60's once sang in a high school band called The Wink Westerners?

Ricky Nelson
Buddy Holly
Roy Orbison
Mickey Gilley

Trivia Three
Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On and Great Balls of Fire were number one hits for this wild singer pianist during the late fifties.

Larry Haggart
Carl Perkins
Jerry Lee Lewis
Elvis Presley

Trivia Four
What was the origin of Ritchie Valens song La Bamba?

Ritchie's school friends at Pacoima High School wrote it.
It was written especially for Ritchie by Buddy Holly
It was adapted from an old Mexican wedding song
Ritchie wrote it about his mother's birthday

Trivia Five
Which black singer with an unmistakably distinctive voice, who was at first destined for a career as a boxer, had a million selling hit in 1958 with Lonely Teardrops

Sam Cooke
Jackie Wilson
Bill Withers
Clyde McPhatter

Trivia Six
Which one of these people were not an occupant of the plane that Buddy Holly died on?

Eddie Chochran
Ritchie Valens
Roger Pederson
The Big Bopper

Trivia Seven
Who was the best-known teacher in the U.S.A. in July 1957?

Mr. Connington
Mr. Dreyfus
Mr. Lee
Mr. O'Halloran

Answers

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News and Notes

• COMETS BLAZE ALONG THE POTOMAC
  By Ken Strafer, 1962

  It was a chapter right out of a Tom Clancy novel set along the Potomac River. President George W. Bush arriving at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland on Air Force One. The dark smoke colored windowed Cadillac SUV passes through the main base gate. An airman salutes and waves the vehicle on to the base. A light rain begins to fall as a second vehicle, a "Bill Blass" blue European convertible speeds through the gate and turns down a secondary street heading toward the base headquarters
  building. It's a Friday and a heavy armed sergeant is manning an interior security checkpoint. After passing the black SUV on with the VVIP inside, he notes the speeding sports sedan. With a sign of recognition, the driver lowers the window, flashes his government badge and yells, "We're heading for the O'Club"! Looking into the now dark of the evening, the sergeant points into the black rain filled abyss. "That way," he says with confidence.

  A thriller about to be published, you might ask? No, just a typical social gathering along the Potomac River for Admiral Phil Anselmo (HHS 1958) and BG Ken Strafer (HHS 1962) recently at Andrews Air Force Base. This time there was a true twist: Pete Anselmo (HHS 1962), the younger brother of Phil and classmate of Ken's traveled south to attend the National Society of Illustrators presentation of some 200 pieces of aviation art to the United States Air Force.

  During the evening, the trio met with NASCAR famed Wood brothers, the Secretary of the Air Force, Dr. James Roche (Former of Bethpage's legacy corporation, Grumman!) and many of the nationally known artists and illustrators.

  The HHS trio was joined by their wives, Diane Anselmo (The admiral's rudder), Donna Anselmo (The main bulb in Pete's real garden) and Laura B. (the nose art on Ken's plane). All declared the evening a fantastic celebration of friendship and comradery through the years. Ken's comment to the Anselmo's, "We have to do this more often than every 30 years!" Enough said!

  Photo at: http://group.classmates.com/user/photoalbum/photo.tf?photo_id=1890796

• It's amazing when I read the newsletter there is always something I pick up. George Howard was my husband's cousin.... who died on 9/11 in line of duty. I never knew there was a web site...a thanks.
  
  Eileen (Kessler) Lee class of 63

• One of our newest readers, Joan Siegl Rudolph, 1961, who now lives in
  Florida kindly shares a bit of her life with us:

  "... My mother lives on Edison Street, I have two sisters that live here too, one lives in Beverly Hills and the other in Dunnellon. My brother lives in Michigan, he used to work with the Sheriffs Department but now is semi retired.
  
  My husband, Fred, is five years older than I so he remembers more people than I do. He used to hang out with John Donavan, Bob Henfling and Dave Sailor and others which I forgot their names right now. I have two children, a daughter, Dawn, who still lives in Bay Shore, Long Island with her two children; a son who is seven and a daughter who just turned nine; I miss my grandchildren so much. My other daughter, Debbie, moved down to Clermont, an hour away from me, and she visits us every other week."

• G'day again from the Aussie connection!
  
  Hope this finds you all well & safe!
  
  I just wanted to pop this 1st grade photo I had of me with my classmates into the newsletter & see if it sparks any memories with anyone! I am still wanting to find some of my old (ok, maybe not so old) classmates from way back when, before I left Hicksville to move to Australia (OZ). I am sitting in the back far right corner with the white dress on. I'm wondering if anyone recognizes themselves? It would be really great to find out what some of you guys have gotten up to over the past 35 years!!!!
  
  I am currently living in Florida & have been up to NYC 4 times already! I've been in the states now for almost 3 years. If anyone would like to contact me, my email address is aussiepatti@msn.com OR ozi_patti@yahoo.com . Hope to hear from some of you!
  
  Best wishes to everyone!
  From
  Patti (the girl from OZ) Hickey Rees, 1975

  Photo can be viewed at:
  http://group.classmates.com/user/photoalbum/photo.tf?photo_id=1834973
  

• Kay Iller Byrne wonders if anyone knows the whereabouts of her classmates Jimmy Kelly and Frank Scarangella, class of 1956.

• Arline Barna is looking for Ed Kasten, also class of 1956.

• Mary O'Shaughnessey Korothy Cleary (Class of 1961) sent this for inclusion in the newsletter.

  "I was at that concert. [The concert at the paramount when Alan Freed was emcee and he invited the boys to perform. See Photo at: http://group.classmates.com/user/photoalbum/photo.tf?album_id=113425;offs
  et=0 ] Front about six rows back on the left hand side facing the stage. It was amazing but I was so surprised by everyone screaming at Johnny & Jimmy. I used to live around the corner from them on Kraemer Street and they always picked on me. I just didn't see what everyone else saw, I guess.
  
  Anyway I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you a story about Hicksville about 1967-68. As some of you know my Mom
  and Dad owned a store next to Goldman Bros. on Broadway. It was luncheonette and I worked there after school and on Saturdays. I never felt sorry for myself having to work as many of my schoolmates came in from Goldman Bros. where they also worked part time jobs. A few faces I remember are the Fenigstein Brothers and Jimmy Faichney (I am not sure of
  the spelling). Anyway, I married, moved out and was not too concerned that the powers that be in Hicksville decided to widen Broadway. As I look back now I remember my beautiful home. It had stained glass windows and was a turn of the century building with many collectables. Since I was married and had my own home when the time came to move out my Mom said to come and get our stuff in the attic. She said if we wanted it we had to move it or it was being left behind. As most people do, I left it too late and the wrecking ball came in and took my prom dresses, photo albums and most importantly the largest record collection of my class. I am sure I had at least one if not two copies of the Twin Tones.

  I recently read I book that touched me for many reasons. The name of the book is "Walking in the Rainbow" by Fannie Flagg. Except for the setting it was written about Hicksville in my memory. There was something about growing up in Hicksville in our era. My children also grew up in Hicksville but they do not seem to have the closeness we still have. If you like to read treat yourself to this story. It surely touched my soul."

• Harriet (Harri) Molese, 1956 shares the following with us:

  "Arlene Andrade clued me in re the above newsletter. Is it possible to send it to me? I would really appreciate it. I've just taken a new and exciting job as the Activities Director of Carnegie East House (a Senior residence) on Manhattan's Eastside. I'll be setting up parties, health & fitness seminars, and trips to Atlantic City, etc., for the residents. I'm really looking forward to working in this area after 30 stress filled years in Public Relations!"

• Reunion.com and PlanetAlumni.com recently joined together.
  The new address: http://www.Reunion.com
  

• Reprinted With Permission From The Hicksville Illustrated News

  November 1, 2002
  Tribute To Hicksville's Unsung Hero

  Being a teenager growing up in Hicksville in the '60s was truly an unforgettable experience. The sound of the neighborhood basement bands was on every corner. Most of us were teenage wannabe rock and roll stars. There was a band called the Commandoes which led the pack. This was Howie Blauvelt's band.
  
  This group of young, teenage musicians was way ahead of the rest of the area bands at the time. They won the Nassau County Battle of the Bands and also appeared at the New York World's Fair. Howie had a style of bass playing that was all his own. Listening and watching him play was infectious. Howie graced many a stage during his musical career.
  
  In 1966, Howie joined an established group who called themselves The Hassles. This group played all of the New York area hot spots such as The Eye in the Hamptons and Steve Paul's Scene in New York City. The Hassles also toured other parts of the country and had two albums and two hit singles.
  
  In 1968, The Hassles disbanded. Howie persevered and went on to play with many other top-notch musicians and performers such as Billy Joel, Ram Jam and Uncle Son until his untimely death on October 25, 1993. Each time I drive past the Hicksville Middle School, I can still hear Howie's percussive bass riffs pounding through the gymnasium doors. That's where it all started - playing there on Friday nights for the junior high dances in the '60s. Anyone who ever had the pleasure of watching Howie perform surely understands what I mean. He will certainly be missed but never forgotten. He had all the notes of life.

  Paul L. Korman, 1969

  SEE A PHOTO OF HOWIE AT:
  http://group.classmates.com/user/photoalbum/photo.tf?album_id=113425;offs
  et=2

  (Howard A. Blauvelt, FEB 24, 1949 - OCT 25, 1993)
  

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Trivia Answers

Trivia One - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
Trivia Two - Roy Orbison
Trivia Three - Jerry Lee Lewis
Trivia Four - It was adapted from an old Mexican wedding song
Trivia Five - Jackie Wilson
Trivia Six - Eddie Chochran
Trivia Seven - Mr. Lee

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A Few December Facts

• Christmas became a national holiday in the US in 1890.

• In 1947, Toys for Tots started making the holidays a little happier for children by organizing its first Christmas toy drive for needy youngsters.

• On Dec. 10th 1901 the 1st Nobel prizes were awarded. Literature - Rene Sully-Prudhomme; Physiology - Emil von Behring; Chemistly - Jacobus van't Hoff; Physics - Wilhelm Roentgen; Peace - Jean Henri Dunant Frederic Passy.

• On December 20, 1860, South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union.

• Both Frank Capra and the studio considered the annual Christmas classis "It's a Wonderful Life" a failure.
  

Pat Koziuk Driscoll, 1956, FL
Linda Piccerelli Hayden, 1960, NJ
Bob Casale, 1961, HX and PA

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