Thursday, May 31, 2007

Lorraine Mueller and Ben Vitale at the Prom

Who is this "Guy?" "Man" it looks like me! But this Ben is too skinny! Ha! Ha! And then we have Lorraine Mueller, Probably one of the most congenial females on the planet!
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This is obviously a Prom, but I do not recall if it was my Prom, or Lorraine's Prom? As you know men are "hunters," and are not inclined to remember details, such as these! Hummmm? Isn't that a great excuse!
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To be honest, I do not have a clue as to where this Prom took place!
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ANY IDEAS?
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Lorraine just seemed to vanish, from our Radar Screen. Does anyone have any information as to Lorraine's whereabouts?
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Send Answers to:
davis.park@yahoo.com
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Saturday, May 26, 2007

Judi Belden, Joan Herdmann, Carolyn Fields, And John Thelman, Exchange Students, 1960.

(Left Click on the Photo)


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Hi Ben, Here is one of the articles I told you about. It was from an exchange student program at sachem, I think it was in 1960. Ill be sending some more. Love Camille

(Newspaper Clip complements of Camille Pelliccia)

Reply from Judi Belden Lloyd:
Don't forget Mr Dunham, Miss Lantis, and Mr Berger are in that pic too.

Send Comments to
Davis.park@yahoo.com

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Reunion Photo From Camille Pelliccia's Archives

As I recall Camille did provide a list of names, that went along with this photo; unfortunately, I lost it! I could contact Camille and ask her for the names; but then Camille has already spent a mammoth amount of time, keeping our blog alive. Camille has personally scanned and submitted 75% of the photos in this entire Blog.



So! Classmates! Can you identify the people in this photo! Send your responses to
davis.park@yahoo.com













Friday, May 18, 2007

Arlene Owen, Alwyn Rettinger, and Marylon Giove, 1952

Are you in this photo? We know the three young ladies; who were the three young men? Not Me!




Thank you for including my picture. This is so great. Are you able to add more pictures in case I find the other ones? I do have one more that I am in with Arlene Owen and Alwyn Rettinger from 1952. We were the flowers. So glad to hear that you are well and happy.

Marylin

(Marylon Giove Chion)

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Tentative Sachem Reunion 2007 at Disney in Florida

Please Email both Brenda and Marylin with your preferences:
1. Number of days
2. Is November OK?

Hi Ben,
I just heard back from Marylin and she said in order to get a discount we would have to guarantee the minimum of 10 rooms. She also wants to know if this would be for 3 or 4 days or a week. I told her that the ones in the past were for 3 or 4 days. Also, Marylin is thinking the first or second week in November. I don't have everyone's e-mail so I thought you might post this in your blog with a request to indicate how many days and if November is good for everyone. Let me know. Thanks.

Details:
http://reunion98.blogspot.com/2007/04/sachem-reunion-in-florida-fall-2007-hi_8065.html#links

Brenda Sichenzia

Marylin Giove Chion
marylinc@cfl.rr.com

Brenda Sichenzia
bsichenzia@cgsh.com

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Monteverde Dance School, and John Cassese Perform at 1965 Worlds Fair


Hi to all from Arlene (Owen) Monteverde, class of 1961.

Recently my mother-in-law died after 94 1/2 years of life. She was quite a Lady, Redhead until the day she died. Going through her life long collection of memorabilia I came across
many articles relating to her dance school. In one issue of the "Ronkonkoma Review dated Saturday January 2, l965 there is a picture of John Cassese and Dorothy Monteverde's
School of Dance. Both were in relation to there performance in the "Worlds Fair".

I thought it would be nice to share this history of the "good old days".

Best Wishes to all,
Arlene Monteverde
John Cassese Said:
These articles just bowl me over. They bring back such fond memories. I remember the gig at the New York State Pavilion. Mike Seminara played drums and a female vocalist who we met at the Bridle path (we played there for five years) were invited to play at the Fair. I had forgotten about it until now. It brings back great memories from all of those early days of playing music and the experiences it all brought. Who could have known George Loesch was giving us a lifetime gift when he got the Satin Tones together. Many thanks to Arlene for sharing her photos and good thoughts.
Best, John

Friday, May 04, 2007

Judy Belden Lloyd, Recalls the Legend of Lake Ronkonkoma





As I remember the legend it was two tribes, one on either side of the lake - the young Indian man paddled across the lake to meet the young girl from another tribe - verboten. One night he either fell out of his canoe in the middle of the lake or was killed and thrown out of the canoe. The girl found the canoe and paddled to the middle of the lake, uttered a curse that every year a young man would die in the lake and jumped into the lake - eventually drowning.

Judith Lloyd


Ben Vitale Said:
I do recall the legend! If it did happen, their remains, are probably at the location shown in the photo. Most of the lake is shallow, except for the area directly off of Hollywood Pavilion. The lake contour actually looks like a funnel, converging at the location shown in the photo, at a depth of 90 feet.

Bob Turoff (Contributing Reader) Said:
Funny the way the mind works after all these years. I remember when we were having a party at Cedar Grove and one of the girls had too much to drink. She thought she would try to swim the lake and we went out in a row boat to catch her. When we caught her it was just in time. I know she would have gone under.

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Across from Cedar Grove, was Club Clair. The owner drove a bright pink Cadillac and we always thought she was a madam. I remember going one night to hear the “ink-spots”. Back then, one of the original of the group was still singing with them. I remember being there with Maryann (forgot her last name). Nearly forty years later, after having moved way up to Plattsburgh I had a funny encounter. . . I was stopped at a check point along the highway and the Officer asked for my license. He brought a few feet away to a van and a few seconds later I heard over a loud speaker in the van. . . Are you the Bob Turoff from Lake Ronkonkoma ?????. At the time I could only wonder… boy they sure have quick computers in that van. I replied Yes sir and he came back over the speaker. . . you’re the guy who used to date my wife! It sure is a small world.

John and Karen Hall Said:
Remember when we were young and could walk around the entire lake shore. We spent our summers at Raynor's Beach pavilion, or Duffields's West Park Beach (sold in 1954, now the Town of Islip Beach), or did you spend it at Hollywood Beach (now Brookhaven Town Beach), or Jack Yerk's Beach Pavilion (the last pavilion, which burnt down in 1969), or DeGinerios Lakeview, or the private Turner's Corner, or even the old Jack Brown's Hotel and beach. Which ever one we spent our youth, they're all gone. Today, the lake is the highest it's even been, with no end in sight with the rising waters. Regards John Hall, class of '61.

Reply to John and Karen Hall:

The Lake Ronkonkoma area certainly did change! Almost everything is gone, with a few exceptions! The photo directly below, is a photo of Turners Park, now a playground/ Picnic area! Damn we had a lot more fun when it was a Carnival. The ride with the four cages, was the ride that defined manhood; if you could ride it without getting sick, you were a real man! I patronized the Hollywood Pavilion, and the Cider Grove Pavilion. My friend Bob Turoff (above) also frequented these Pivilions. This is how Bob met many people that attended Sachem! Ben Vitale



The Photo Below is the former site of "The Hollywood Pavilion." As you can see the building is gone, and they are putting up a wall to hold off the rising water.

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And now one of the few things that have not changed; the old Trailer Park, that was next to Turners Park. The dilapidated trailers are still there!




You Must Read This Article About Lake Ronkonkoma!


The author had a few personal experiences, with the "Wicked Bitch from the bottom of the lake!" Unfortunately the author remains anonymous. The author lived on Maple Crest Drive, in Lake Ronkonkoma; is it possible that he too attended Sachem? This is getting more interesting by the minute!




http://www.geocities.com/aardduck/lady.html

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

A Great Idea From Joan Lala Gerson.

Memory and Invitation!

Hi Ben,
Glad you enjoyed your trip to the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area. I live about an hour north of Ft. Lauderdale. My husband is also a Willie Nelson fan and would have enjoyed hearing those songs. As for myself, I just think Willie's music is amusing although I am impressed with him as a person. I was glad that someone finally made contact with Gail Rast. I hope she can join Johnny when the band finally has its reunion again. I have memories of the two of them singing together in the high school gym. Again, thanks for the memories. Looking forward to meeting you one day.
JoanieLake Park, Florida
posted by Ben at
2:17 PM