FAYETTEVILLE-MANLIUS HIGH SCHOOL

Okay gang, THIS is THE year…..what else can I say? How long have some of us waited for those words? Me? …Well, ever since Dave Cook called me on the phone several years ago and asked “Is this the Stewart Evans that graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School in 1956?” and I asked him ”Who wants to know?”, that’s how long. I’ll miss seeing Dave come this June, as I’m sure we all will, along with the rest of them that can’t (or won’t) be there for whatever reason. But for those of us that WILL be there, for (hopefully) all the events, or only some of them, we’re going to have the time of our lives and I, for one, am going to savor every day. Remember guys and gals, some of you see each other during the year but for many of us, we may not pass this way again!

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Karl Lowenberg: First of all, I'm a leftie for a while, had hand surgery yesterday (Aug. 8^th) for Dupuytren's Contracture, so this is all in lower case. (was prior to editing)

Did the Lake Michigan swim on the 23^rd (July). This time, as opposed to last year when I froze out in below 60 degree water after about 1/3 of the distance; the water was about 72 degrees this year. The swim, sponsored by the Grand Haven YMCA, is parallel to the beach from a County park south to the north pier of the Grand River, 1-3/4 miles as the crow flies. Unfortunately, I do not swim as straight as a crow flies. I had to get new goggles the week before the swim and they partially filled with water so I could only see a vague tree line along the shore (none of the houses and cottages) and the sun was just coming over the trees. They had kayaks and small motorboats as escorts but I couldn’t see them as I breathe left and they, for the most part, stay to the lake side. A few times a small wave would wash over me so, thinking I was near the innermost sand bar, I corrected to the west. After I'd been going what seemed to be an awful long time, a small motorboat pulled to the shore side of me and pointed toward the shore. Seems I had over-corrected and was going past the end of the pier perhaps 1/3 mile off-shore (heading to Milwaukee I guess). I turned in and finally got to the finish taking just short of 1-1/2 hours so I know I swam over two miles. Some of the young wet-suited swimmers did it in less than 40 minutes, the fastest being about 35 minutes. They did very well; however, what’s important to me is that I finished and wasn’t last. Hooray for the old guy!

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Keep Our Roster Data UPDATED !!!!!

Has anyone changed their mailing address, email address, telephone number or just hooked onto the Internet recently???? If so, please let us know ASAP so we can get your information up-to-date and ensure that you can be contacted whenever class information is disseminated or if information is needed. Contact Jay Hern at jrhern@aol.com or Stew Evans at pncstew@hotmail.com to get your information updated.

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A Syracuse couple decided to go to Florida to thaw out during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of hectic business plans, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules so; the husband left Hancock and flew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife flying down the following day. The husband checked into the hotel and there was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an email to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her email address, and without realizing his error, sent the email. Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister who was called home to glory following a heart attack. The widow decided to check her email expecting messages from relatives and friends and after reading the first message, she screamed and fainted. The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:

I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send emails to your loved ones. I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow.

Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was. P.S. Sure is freaking hot down here!

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Bob & Ingrid Stillman: (August) Bet you didn’t know that there is a Philadelphia in Germany. It is just outside of Berlin in what was once East Germany. There is also a New Boston. All is well here, nothing new to report. Went to a place called Schloss Dracula and to the Babelsberg Film Park, which is something like Universal Studios. Might be fun to check the places out on the net. Use www.schlossdracula.de. It may be in English if you use .com. Should be able to get Babelsberg in English using www.babelsberg.com . That’s it for now, getting ready for our trip to Switzerland next month.(September); the flooding should be over by then. (see photo)

(October) Ingrid and I spent the last week in September touring the Swiss Alps; enjoyed the scenery and food. One night the hotel where we stayed had a folk music evening with a small combo including a woman who sang and yodeled. After hearing an alphorn being played, one of the band members wanted volunteers to try to play one. Seeing as how I had a couple of beers in me I went on stage and played. I knew that you had to blow it like a trumpet and I knew some runs from watching TV. I won a prize for the best alphorn blower and got some tasty chocolate and a small alphorn for my efforts. Anyone thinking about a European vacation should include Switzerland in their visit. All is well here and we are in good health and having a ball. ‘Til next time !! (see photo)

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The “Headquarters” for the reunion will be the Craftsman Inn located at 7300 E. Genesee St. in Fayetteville (Ph: 637-8000 or 800-797-4464). Although 30 rooms were blocked and prices negotiated, many have already been reserved. Some are standard kings ($114) and some are suites ($145) plus 13% tax. Five rooms have been blocked for the nights of 6/13 and 6/18 for those coming in a day earlier and/or staying an extra day for the same rates. Many of you will probably be staying with friends or relatives in the area as well and won’t need this information; however, we hope this helps those who have not as yet made plans. Just for your information, Nottingham’s class of ’56 is also staying here for their 50^th reunion during the same period..

You can stay anywhere you wish, but for all hotels/motels it's a busy time of the year in the area, with many graduations and reunions all being held during the same period of time so don’t procrastinate (Miss Conklin, do I get extra credit for using that word?)

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There will be “Memorabilia Table” at the reception and banquet where we hope to have lots of “stuff” that we can all gaze at with wonder and remember some things that we had totally forgotten about. In order to do this we need for all of you to dig through your old boxes and albums and look for these forgotten items, brush off the dust and bring them with you when you register at the reunion desk. Don’t leave it up to the next guy/gal to bring something in – start diggin’!! (you know that you have some of these treasures, don’t you?)

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You will shortly receive sign-up sheets for reunion activities. It is very important that these be completed and returned by mid-February 2006 with the required funds or deposit for each event. Timely submission of the sign-up sheets and funds would be appreciated to make the wheels turn smoothly. Thanks (in advance) for helping to make this a really smooooooooooth operation.

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Boy, after having lived on the west coast since ’67, have I missed going to a clambake!! I hope you all are going to make it to this one because I am really looking forward to it. Although we originally said it was for the class, FM grads and relatives of class members, we are now stretching it to “close friends” as well. We want to make sure that we have a good crowd and we think that close friends should be included, especially if you live a long distance away (like me) and have some very close friends that still live in the area. I’m not talking dozens, I’m saying “close” friends – you know what I mean? (We’d really like to see a good turnout!!!)

Please let us know if you’ll be willing to “lend a hand” during the reunion if we need someone to assist during check-in or at the various areas along the way where we’ll need someone to just guide people along. There will be times when assistance will be needed and we’d like to know who we can call upon to help out so won’t you please let us know who you are ahead of time. Just drop us an email so we can put your name on our volunteer list. The first thing that comes to mind will be the registration desk at the Craftsman Inn which will require someone beginning on Wednesday about noon. Naturally, one of us will be on hand; however, we’ll have other duties to attend to as time goes on so we’d like to turn it over to a volunteer as soon as possible. Thanks!!

THE PREZ’s CORNER

It’s TIME!! Time to get fired up about our 50^th reunion!! Although we had to move it back a week and shuffle the activities a bit, overall it will still be as originally planned: Reception, Clambake, Banquet/Dinner Dance and Lake Cruise in that order. Make your hotel reservations NOW, because when the 30 blocked rooms for the main nights are gone, they are gone. More rooms MAY be available after April 15, but do not count on it. Singles, make an effort to find a “roomie” to save some money. Be assured that hotel and event prices have been negotiated to get the best deal for the class. You will be receiving a form shortly that must be returned to me with applicable checks by Feb 15. You pay only for what you attend, but because of minimums for the clambake and cruise I need to know early as to who is going to what event and with money up front. The banquet will be the highlight of the reunion since we plan to have the current Principal of FMHS and his wife in attendance as well as any of OUR senior year faculty (still around) that we can convince to come; more on this later. A classmate (only) picture will be taken at the banquet and a 5x7 provided to all attendees at no cost. A second picture of all attendees will be available for $6 ea. Put on your dancin’ shoes since we will be having a DJ “qued” as to what we would like to hear. The clambake, with a bunch of other FMer’s and friends should be a blast and the cruise will be an enjoyable and restful end to four days of fun and resurrecting memories. Two things will be addressed at the banquet: the class gift (not the explicit amount, but the purpose; secondly, the continuity/leadership of the Alumni Association going forward from June ‘06. Give these items some thought NOW – your vote will be requested. Enough for the Newsletter, see the form noted above and our website, www.fm56.org for further details and if you have any further questions please call or email me soonest….

Jay R. Hern, 8709 Litwalton Ct., Vienna VA 22182, 703-560-5273, jrhern@aol.com

Well, by now you all pretty much know what I’m all about, my life, my family, my cats, etc. Personally, it’s been a rather hectic year what with my son and stepson each having serious operations and (thankfully) both coming through with flying colors. The one with the new liver just totaled my pickup (11/22), was airlifted to the ICU in Phoenix, had back surgery and will be in rehab for a long time but at least his liver is okay (it’s been a rough year for him). My stepdaughter just returned from China where she adopted a baby girl through Hope International, as her two daughters are just about through with high school and she is ready for a new challenge (“empty nest” syndrome I guess). Peggie and I are ready to start the tax season with H&R again (maybe for the last time) and I’m just counting down the last few months before the big event in June. Believe me when I say I am ready for R2006. I will be getting there a couple of days early and staying a couple of days later so I can see some old friends and old haunts, probably for the last time as I doubt that I will be returning to CNY again. I’ll be at the Inn for the days of the reunion; however, I don’t know where I’ll be staying for the other nights that I’ll be in the area; however, I’m open to suggestions. The newsletter has been a lot of fun for me and it has allowed me to informally communicate with all of you during the past several years as editor and VP of the AA. Once again, thank you so much for this privilege and I am proud to be a part of the greatest high school class in the world. Be the good Lord willing, I look forward to seeing you ALL at the reunion. Stay healthy!!

Keep Our Roster Data UPDATED !!!!!

THE VEEP’s NICHE (and bringing up the rear)