10/12/04 - NNHS Newsletter - I Wanna Be Where the People Are

Dear Friends and Schoolmates,

   And in ten more days, I'll be where many of y'all will be, because it's almost time for the Super-Duper Reunion!!!
I'm so excited!!!

From Brownie Shaffer Haracivet ('62) of the Virgin Islands - 10/07/04:

Carol,
Sadly I am reporting another loss.
Frances Rich Greene, NNHS class of 1933 passed away on the 5th and she was the mother
of William (Billy) Greene, NNHS class of '61. Billy is married to Sallie Gay Greene,
NNHS class of '62.
You know we are all proud of our school when over and over it is listed in the obituary.
Take care,
Brownie

Frances Lee Rich Greene

NEWPORT NEWS - Frances Lee Rich Greene, 88, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004. She was a lifelong Peninsula resident and
a 1933 graduate of Newport News High School. She dedicated her life to her husband and son. Frances was employed for 26 years as
a floral designer for Greene's Florist, an occupation that she thoroughly enjoyed. She was a member of Parkview Baptist Church. Mrs.
Greene was preceded in death by her husband, Lennie E. Greene; her parents, James E. and Katie Darden Rich; brother, James E.
Rich Jr. and sister, Margaret R. Holland. Survivors include her son, William E. Greene and his wife, Sallie, of Newport News and two
sisters, Judy R. Bryant of Newport News and Evelyn R. Stacy of Richmond. She enjoyed a close relationship with her nephew, Robert E. Holland Jr. and his family of Chesapeake. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, at Peninsula Funeral Home.
A graveside service will be conducted at noon on Saturday in Peninsula Memorial Park, officiated by Rev. Lawrence J. Biermann.
Memorial donations may be made to Parkview Baptist Church, 604 Hilton Blvd., Newport News, VA 23605.

Published in the Daily Press from 10/6/2004 - 10/8/2004.

   Oh, my goodness.  I lived around the corner from The Greene's in Stuart Gardens from 1954 to 1960.  I'm so sorry to hear this news. 
Please extend our deepest sympathy to Billy and Sally, Brownie, and thanks for the alert.

From Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 10/07/04:

Hi, Carol:
As one of your "Conduit Correspondents" tucked away in Florida, that is, unless it moved to the Canadian Border without my
knowing it, I am enjoying reading the exchange by Dave Arnold ('65) of VA and Craig Miller ('63) of FL regarding the threat
of a nuclear attack upon the military complex on the Virginia lower peninsula.
Craig got it right when he listed Norfolk Naval Shipyard, which is located on the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River
in Portsmouth, VA. Dave later refers to the complex as Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (which is how most locals referred to this
complex frequently because of the location) but the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is located in Portsmouth, NH.


 

This complex was almost destroyed while under attack, but not by the Soviets. It was ransacked during the Civil War, (see photo
attached) and was known as Gosport Naval Shipyard. When the name was later changed to Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the Portsmouth
Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, NH already carried that name, hence Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
To add to the Soviet target list that put us at risk:
BOMARC Missile Site, designed to defend the area, located off Jefferson Avenue and Harpersville Road.
Reserve Fleet, James River. Some of these old vessels were used in the Gulf War during 1990.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Langley Research Center (NASA, formerly known as NACA).
US Naval Station, Dam Neck, VA  and Fort Story, VA adjacent to Virginia Beach, and Camp Elmore in Norfolk. I hope that brings us
to the total of 18 military installations mentioned at the beginning of this discussion.
Being in a major target area during the nuclear standoff with the Soviets made everyone a bit paranoid, because of the reality posed
by those destructive weapons.
While these memories are certainly among the less fond memories, they nevertheless were a part of our lives in good old Newport
News.
Always,
Joe

   As usual, Joe, the breadth of your knowledge and phenomenal memory astounds me!  I have a page in mind to house this whole
collection of Cold War memories coming soon - as soon as I catch up to myself.  Thanks, Adonis!

From Eric Huffstutler (BHS - '75) of VA - 10/07/04:

To Craig Miller ('63) of FL:

Your list looks pretty complete as plausible targets within the Peninsula area. Don't forget the missile silos that ran (or could still
be there) along Jefferson Avenue behind the chain fence marked with Government Property signs.

Also don't forget that when dealing with "nuclear" disasters that the radius of a blast and its fallout can reach many miles out. Here
in Richmond we have Fort Lee nearby, and in that area is another nuclear armament depot and who knows what else in-between
here and there or here and Washington? We too are in a precarious geographic position when you think about it.

Just in recent years concerning terrorist has brought several tense moments. I work in a high-rise building (actually twin towers)
in which one of our conference rooms overlooks the Federal Reserve Building, another 24-floor high-rise. It houses money for banks covering from New Jersey to South Carolina and includes DC. That building was on the "strike list" at one point and you should see
the perimeter security now. Layer upon layers of both high tech and low tech barriers and alterations. What is weird was coming
back to work after 9-11 and seeing that building next door. The same architect that designed the World Trade Center also designed
that building and both have some similarities in looks... was an unsettling feeling!

The missile crisis did happen in 1962 and there was a 13 day stretch in October in which several incidents nearly prompted a strike
within 24 hours but was turned off the last minute on October 28th. An excellent movie to watch concerning this is "Thirteen Days" (2000) which stars Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Steven Culp, Dylan Baker, and many others and is available on DVD.

Eric

   Thanks, Eric!   You've raised some unsettling thoughts, but it's better to know than not to know.

From Wayne Stokes ('65) of VA - 10/07/04:

Dear Carol,
I know you won't get this until next week, but thanks for the birthday wishes. I really do appreciate it!
TC!
RWS

   Absolutely, Wayne!  I hope your day was a happy one!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html

From Steve Pullen ('65) of VA - 10/07/04:

Carol,
I will be attending the reunion on Friday night. Hope you have a safe trip and the wedding goes well and as planned.

   Hi, Stevie!  We're looking forward to seeing you again!  The flights and wedding all went off quite smoothly - thanks!

From Renee Helterbran Benton ('59) of VA - 10/08/04:

Carol
 
This is the sister of Jesse Kersey ('58).

Margaret Jean Kersey Martin

 
NEWPORT NEWS - Margaret Jean Martin, 59, went home to be with Jesus on Monday, Oct. 4, 2004, after a long illness. She was
always on the go and ready to plant her garden, take care of her yard or cook a wonderful meal up until a stroke in January 2003.
She demanded little, but she always gave a lot. Jean was a native of Newport News and preceded in death by her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey 'Cooper' Kersey Jr., and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Kersey Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Wilson.
Surviving are her daughter, Debbie Kersey of Newport News and one brother, Jesse Ray Kersey of Williamsburg. The family will
receive friends Saturday, Oct. 9, beginning at 1 p.m. at World Outreach Worship Center, where Jean attended. A funeral service
will be held there at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Russell Evenson officiating. Interment will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park. Peninsula
Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Published in the Daily Press on 10/8/2004.
 
Renee

   Oh, MY!  I was thinking of Jean just the other day, and wondering whatever became of her.  We went to Walter Reed School
together, but lost touch after that.  I'm so sorry to learn of her death.  Thanks for telling us, Renee.  Please pass our deepest
sympathies along to Jesse and the family.

From Eric Huffstutler (BHS - '75) of VA - 10/09/04:

To Bruce Korusek (JMHS - '66) of VA:

 
Bruce, every time I visit the CRT Bus section I am beside myself, a flurry of emotions.  That may seem silly talking about city
buses but they were a very important part of my childhood.  For me there is a mystique about them probably because as a child
boarding and riding one meant a new adventure.  My mother use to take me onboard them many...many...many times and as I
entered junior high and high school, the city leased the older ones to the school systems as school buses so the memory continued
into the early 70s.  I also remembered that first ride on the new GM buses and when Pentran took things over ending an era.   As
the Mack buses were being sold off I remembered how sad I felt knowing I would not see them again and not having the means to buy
one for myself.  There was nothing like waiting on a corner seeing that red and white widow's peak coming at you and watching
your token drop down in the box.
Eric

   I'm glad you enjoy that page, Eric!  I was beginning to wonder if Bruce and I were the only ones who got all mushy at the thought
of those old Mack buses.

   By the way, it wouldn't matter in regards to the web site itself if only one person found the subject matter fascinating.  We are
compiling an archive, and if something is important to you, please let us know so that it may be included.  The memories thus become
important to all of us.  Thanks, Eric!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/old-stomping.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/crt.html

From Tom Norris (HHS - '73) of VA - 10/09/04:

Hampton's win last night over Kecoughtan (44-3) was the 700th for HHS. Kecoughtan
scored first, then Hampton put 44 unanswered points on the board. The Kecoughtan
coach did not come on the field to shake Mike Smith's hand after the game. He was
quoted in the paper as saying "I have a lot of respect for the program .... but when
you run up the score and rub our noses in it, that is classless and horse crap, and
you can print that!"

Career limiting move perhaps on the part of the KHS coach???  That should really go
over well with the school board on Monday morning :-)

   Thanks for the football report, Tom.  That WAS an interesting response from the coach.  Keep us posted...

From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 10/09/04:

Hi Carol,

On a Saturday morning, I was headed to the Peninsula on errands, so I thought I would see if I had some "Then" images for which
I had not yet taken the "Now" shot.  Among them was this one:

I had looked at it many times and wondered just what ferry they were talking about. I had never heard of a ferry landing
on Chesapeake Boulevard (Avenue), but it had to be east of Peterson's Yacht Basin and the Hampton City line. So I cruised
along at 10 MPH looking for the distinctive masonry at the sidewalk, but could not find it as I crossed the line into Hampton.  I
decided to continue past the area where there are homes on both sides of the road.

And then I saw the home, located at the corner of Hampton Roads Avenue, which does not exist in the old image. The masonry
columns had survived and were easily recognizable. I parked and tried to set up the shot, but there were just too many trees still
in bloom, so I resolved to return in the winter. However, I did see a lady in the yard, so I walked over with my printed copy of the
image and told her that she might be interested in an old image of her home. Indeed she was, and we spoke for 20 minutes about
my addiction to "Then & Now" images and her love for her old home.  She also said that she had heard from the old-timers that a
ferry had indeed once docked at the point of land, roughly where the photographer stood in the old image. 

As it came time to leave, I gave her the image, and we exchanged names. She said her name was Judy Credle, although I only
heard it phonetically. I asked if it was C-r-e-d-l-e ... Credle, and she said it was. I said that this was a monumental coincidence as
I had attended NNHS with a Marty Credle, whose name is now Dabbs and lives in TN. She replied, "Oh, you mean my husband,
Harvey's sister."  I said, "NO-O-O WAY-Y-Y-Y!!!", and she replied, "HU-WAYYYY!!"  It seems that Harvey is 4 years younger
than Marty and attended NNHS before transferring to Ferguson, where he graduated. Well, we spoke for another 15 minutes.  I
told her that Harvey was eligible to attend the Reunion, if he wished.

As I departed, I decided to take the shot anyway:

   I can’t get over this story, Dave!  I know how that postcard has bugged you for so long!  And what a surprise ending!!  Incredible!!! 

Also from Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 10/12/04: 


DON'T YOU MEAN .... "INCREDLE-IBLE???

   Why, yes!  I do indeed!  WILD GIGGLES!!!

   Find the whole story here:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/old-stomping.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/east-end.html

Also from Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 10/09/04:

I was nosing around Olde Hampton today and shot this digital. Thought you might enjoy it:

Amory's Seafood

   Cool!  And it calls for a new page!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/old-stomping.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/amorys-seafood.html - I seem to be having trouble with the great wav file you found, Dave. 
Y'all stay tuned, and I'll keep plugging away.

   Thanks, Dave!

From Ron Miller ('59) of NC - 10/11/04:

Hi Carol
'm a little late reading the 10/3 & 4 issues, since we just got back from 10 days at the beach, which was about
20 days too few! Eric Huffstutler (BHS - '75) asked about cold war memories, and mentioned missile silos off
Jefferson Ave. I'm not aware of any silos, which normally are thought of as holding ICBM's. However, there were
several Nike Anti-Missile batteries installed in Oyster Point, off Jefferson in the 50's. I lived about a half mile
from there when I left NNHS in '58. At that time, Oyster Point "officially" was a military ammunition storage area. 
Truth be known now, the Nikes had VERY low effectiveness. At that time, though, not knowing any better, they 
at least they made us feel fairly secure.
Ron

    Thanks, Ron!  Stay tuned - I'll be building that page very soon.....

   Your ten days at the beach sound heavenly!
 

From Kathy Pilgrim Clark ('63) of VA - 10/11/04:

... I also hope you had a great long weekend. Weddings are wonderful things because they hold such promise for things to come.
I hope you have some pix to show of the wedding and the baby. They're pretty wonderful too. I don't have any yet so I live
(and love) vicariously through the grandchildren of friends.

   Ah, well, since you draggggged it out of me, Kathy, I'll tell you - wild giggles!  The wedding was wonderful and delightful and quite
small, with just the 19 of us, three close friends, and the bishop who performed the ceremony.  A cool surprise was the prelude music. 
Aside from being an attorney, a linguist, a quilter, a cross-stitcher, an unparalleled cook, a former artist's model, and a few other things,
the bride, Brandy, is quite a singer, musician, and composer.  While she wasn't looking, Randolph placed a CD of her playing some
of her original compositions on the piano on the sound system.  It was beautiful!

   We had just seen Lewis and Mary's' (our oldest son's) four children in May, but naturally they had all grown, especially 13-year old
Andrew.  As they're all quite tall, they thought it was funny how even ten-year old Elizabeth is about to overtake me in height, and
eight-year old Rachel and five-year old Becca are probably not that far behind.  We had great fun visiting with them on Friday before
Brent and Bethany (our second son and his wife) arrived with their four children.  They drove up in their van while we were outside saying goodbye to the first set (Old Harty Family Tradition: spend ten minutes inside saying goodbye, and another thirty minutes outside
saying goodbye).  The four grandchildren inside the van were all asleep.  Bethany put 14-month old Joe in my arms and he looked up
with his big blue eyes and just smiled and snuggled down - an amazingly cuddly child!  As I was passing him off to the next pair of waiting
arms, I felt a tug on my skirt and looked down into Eme's big brown eyes and up-stretched arms.  As I lifted up this adorable little child
(who will turn three on Thursday), she kissed me sweetly, hugged me tightly, and said, "I love you, Grammy!"  Then she took me by the
hand and said, "Let's go, Grammy", and led me inside.

   There is something about meeting a very young child for the very first time, knowing she is flesh of your flesh, who demonstrates that
much unconditional love, which does something quite unexpected to your heart in places you didn't know existed.

   Seven-year old Jacob had changed beyond recognition in the last four years, but Tommy (who will turn five on November 5) had the
same happy disposition and ever-present smile.

   One of the funniest moments of the weekend came Sunday night, about 30 minutes before Brent and Bethany were heading back
to Joliet.  Tommy was playing with Becca, and suddenly forgot her name momentarily, so he asked her.  She said, "Rebecca Marie
Harty".  His eyes filled with wonder, and he exclaimed, "Your last name is HARTY?!?"  Everyone laughed and said, "Everyone HERE
has the last name of Harty."  Becca said, "Of course!  My dad is your dad's brother.  We're cousins."

   Tommy couldn't have been more excited had it been Christmas morning!  He ran to his mother and said, "Mommy, guess what?  Her
last name is Harty, and her dad is my dad's brother, and we're COUSIN'S!!!"

   We have no idea what had been going through his head all weekend, nor what he was thinking a couple of weeks back when they all
met at New Salem State Park.

   See the dangers of asking a grandmother to tell you about her grandchildren?!?  WILD GIGGLES!!! 


From Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 10/12/04:

Hi, Carol:

Nice to hear from you, and know that you are back in Fayetteville safely. Can't wait to see those special photos and hear the news.
Always,
Adonis

   Thanks, Joe!  Beware - the pictures are coming soon!  EVEN WILDER GIGGLES!!!

From Kathy Pilgrim Clark ('63) of VA - 10/12/04:

Carol, here's another Columbus Day ditty:

Christopher Columbus
Didn't have a compass
Didn't have a measure
As he sailed along.

Though the day was windy
Swore he'd reach the Indies
But he reached America
As he sailed along.

My grandparents (in Omaha) sent us a record series when we were small.
Some of the records were of Disney movie songs but there was one about the holidays and an appropriate song for each.
Yes, the brain that can't remember many new things these days remembers all those inane lyrics from oh, too many years
ago. Glad you had a great trip. KC

   Thanks, Kathy!  I kept almost remembering a song we learned about the three ships when I was a Magruder School student
("...the Pinta, the Nina, the Santa Maria.")  But I didn't see it and could remember no more words or tune myself, so I took what I
could.  Your song is a cute one!  Thanks for sharing it with us!

From Frank Blechman ('65) of Northern VA - 10/12/04:

I'm not sure I ever wanted you to feel that you had to observe Columbus Day at MY behest.  But, I commend your effort. Valiant, mostly politically correct. Really, not a trace of the Dixie Cup world.

By the way, I'm sure you remember that the explorer honored with the big statue at the Mariners Museum was not
Columbus but Leif Ericsson, who reportedly got to the New World some 350 years before Chris.

   Ahhh, Frank!  No, I realize you were not touting Columbus Day any more than you were Canada Day sometime back when I habitually bombarded you with Canada Day cards.  Giggles!  I simply meant that I've always had holidays rather divided up in my mind - my three favorites, a few others, and everything else.  Labor Day has always ranked near the bottom through no fault of its own, simply because I
equated it with an end to summer vacation.  When I warned you of what might happen to Columbus Day, it was merely the next available
holiday!

   And you'll be so proud of me - I DID remember Leif Ericsson!  I'm descended from a few Vikings myself, and he's always been one
of my heroes, just as that statue has always been one of my favorites.  One of my elementary school teachers (it would have had to have
been Mrs. Leyland) so brought him to life that I always found him a fascinating character.

   This card, by the way, is actually from my personal collection (as opposed to the hundreds of images I have pilfered for the site!), and
dates to shortly after we moved to the Peninsula in January of 1954.

   Thanks, Frank!

From Judy Phillips Allen ('66) of VA - 10/12/04:

Carol, thanks for the Birthday Wish.  Where has time gone?   

Today is Charlotte Spade Wilkins' birthday. We celebrated many together growing up in Seven Oaks.

 http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html                      

 
Reunion Question:   Jerry and I signed up for Oct. 22 and are having second thoughts about Saturday instead.  Can it be changed?
Who do we talk to?

   Yes, by all means, if you’re only able to come one night, DO make it Saturday night!  That’s when the really Super-Duper, wonderful, exciting, unbelievable, unstoppable goodies will be found.  Dave Spriggs is the man to contact: spriggs@att.net.

   Thanks, Judy!  I’m really looking forward to seeing you and Jerry again!

From Steve Pullen ('65) of VA - 10/07/04 (referring to the fact that yesterday's Newsletter went out at 11:48 PM!):

A little late to be up, isn’t it?

   WILDEST GIGGLES!!!  You're telling me!  I deliberately left the computer running, with that Newsletter all ready to push the button
and send off.  It should have taken a maximum of six minutes.  We arrived home at about 11:00 PM, and I expected easy work of it. 
Instead, my computer locked up and had to be rebooted, Outlook refused to reopen, Cute FTP wouldn't cooperate, and on and on
and on!  One-third of y'all received the letter from my cluckmeat address instead of this NNHS65 addy, and by then I was just too
exhausted to care!

   Thanks, Steve!  See ya soon!

From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 10/12/04:

On behalf of the NNHS 64/40 Reunion Committee, I am pleased to report to the Class
of 1964 that former NNHS Faculty Member, Mr. Donald Harvey, has accepted our
invitation to attend our Reunion on Saturday, October 23rd, 2004.

   WOWZERS, Dave!  It just keeps getting better and better!!!

Y'all take care of each other.

                                   Love to all, Carol
 

==============================================

NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com
PERSONAL WEB SITE: http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat

"I only have two kinds of days: happy and hysterically happy."

==============================================


 

Part of Your World

Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman
 

Look at this stuff
Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the girl
The girl who has ev'rything?
Look at this trove
Treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Lookin' around here you'd think
(Sure) she's got everything

I've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty
I've got whozits and whatzits galore
(You want thingamabobs?
I got twenty)
But who cares?
No big deal
I want more

 I wanna be where the people are
I wanna see
Wanna see 'em dancin'
Walkin' around on those
(Whad'ya call 'em?) oh - feet
Flippin' your fins you don't get too far
Legs are required for jumpin', dancin'
Strollin' along down a
(What's that word again?) street

Up where they walk
Up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Wanderin' free
Wish I could be
Part of that world

What would I give
If I could live
Outta these waters?
What would I pay
To spend a day
Warm on the sand?
Betcha on land
They understand
Bet they don't reprimand their daughters
Bright young women
Sick o' swimmin'
Ready to stand

And ready to know what the people know
Ask 'em my questions
And get some answers
What's a fire and why does it
(What's the word?) burn?

When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love
Love to explore that shore up above?
Out of the sea
Wish I could be
Part of that world

"Part of Your World, Ariel, and Sebastian" theme and midi suggested by my 16-year-old student, Karie, of NC - 09/29/04
Thanks, Karie!

"Part of Your World" midi courtesy of http://www.disgalaxy.com/Stories/Ltlmermaid/partofyw/part.htm - 10/02/04

"Part of Your World" lyrics courtesy of http://www.disneysites.com/shows/song.php?songID=180 - 10/02/04

Disney's Little Mermaid clip art courtesy of http://clipart.disneysites.com/display.php?catID=148 - 10/02/04

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