October 13, 2018

The Crawford football team met its match last Friday when it lost to University City 47-7.  They play Clairemont at Clairemont tonight at 6:30. 

Have you seen the television ads for the Apple Watch that let you know you can access 40 million tunes?  I multiplied that by 3 to get the total number of minutes, divided by 24 to get the total number of hours, divided by 7 to get the total number of weeks, and 52 to get the total number of years.  If my math is right -- and it rarely is -- that's 298 years worth of tunes.  I better get started.

Do you remember the Heritage Coffee House in Mission Beach?  Me neither.  I guess I wasn't as "happenin'" as I thought -- and I lived a few blocks away.  Anyway, Union Tribune writer Logan Jenkins devoted his Wednesday column to a reunion being held this Saturday at the Single Fin Surf Grill, 3842 Mission Blvd, where the Heritage used to be.  I mention this only because the column contains some familiar names -- Jack Tempchin, Upper Cellar and Circe's Cup.  Click HERE if you'd like to peruse the piece.

Here are a couple of photos that recently surfaced on Facebook.  The stunning shot above is the Tower Bar, on University near Euclid.  It looks a lot like the photo below of Belmont Park.  I wonder if they're using  a drone to get these shots.  

Phyllis Schwartz '72 says 90-year old Mickie Geiger was the highlight of their 45-year reunion.  Pictured above are Phyllis Schwartz, Olivia Nava, Debi Soper, Carol Dana, Bernie Torretto, Roberta (Myles) Markey-- standing, Lynn Ziegenfuss.  Below are Missy Moss, Phyllis Naiman, Phyllis Schwartz, and Abbe Marlin

October 6, 2017

The undefeated Colts have a game versus University City at Hoover at 3:30 this afternoon

Click HERE to read the football program from October 2, 1959, when Kearny met Crawford -- also at Hoover.

Bill Center '63 writes a nice article on MLB.com about the relocation of the Breitbard Hall of Fame from Balboa Park to Petco Park.  Bryce Miller, in the Union-Tribune also covers the story, but gives Bill credit for the idea.  Click HERE to read Bill's story.   Click HERE to read Bryce's.

Gary Juleen '64 says he's checked off another box on his bucket list with this photo of him and Jerry Mathers.  They are both pictured below in earlier years.  Best wishes to Jerry Mathers.  The last photo I posted of Gary and an aging star featured Adam "Bat Man" West, who died shortly thereafter.

Dianne Clasen Huckaby '62 passed away September 5th at her home in Suntree, Florida.  She is survived by, among others, brothers Dick Clasen '60 and John Jones '69.  Click HERE to read a complete obituary and/or send condolences.

September 29, 2017

I'VE BEEN UNABLE TO SEND EMAILS FOR TWO DAYS.  SPECTRUM SAYS IT'S A SYSTEM-WIDE ISSUE.  I STILL CAN'T RESCUE MY WEB SITE.  THE ROBOTS ARE TAKING OVER.

My apologies to anyone who drove to Pine Valley for the Crawford-Mountain Empire football game.  Turns out it was held at Hoover and the unbeaten Colts prevailed 38-21.  The next game will take place on Friday, October 6th versus University City.  I'm going out on a limb and guessing it will take place at University City.

Word of the Susan G. Komen mobile mammogram service took me way back to the time a fellow, armed with a lab coat, stethoscope and clip board, started knocking on doors at Nimitz Navy Housing next to the Loma Theater.  I gather he covered much of the project before one woman put in a call and learned that Navy Hospital did NOT have an outcall breast examiner on its staff.

Have you been watching the Ken Burns/Lynn Novick series on Vietnam?  Pretty powerful.  I only brought it up so I could feature the stunning artwork above that opens each episode.

Ernie Cowan '62 interviews Obi Kaufman, author of California Field Atlas, in his Outdoors column in Thursday's Union-Tribune.  That's Obi, not Ernie, pictured above.  Click HERE to read the article.  Ernie also notes that love is in the air -- if you're a tarantula.

The Once-A-Month Lunch Bunch hasn't met in quite a while.  We did get together at Oggi's in Mission Valley last Thursday.  Here's a nice photo of Coach Dick Draz, Doug Kvandal '66 and George Fogelman '63.  Coach Draz looks forward to the Fry Day emails, but doesn't like the obituaries.  Take a number, coach -- and buckle up.

Gayle Kirby Price shares the sad news that Karen Johnson Pfeiffer '62 died last Friday, September 22nd.  “She had cancer and passed away in a rest home in New York,” writes Gayle.  “Karen had the best sense of humor and if you knew her you wanted to be around this funny and warm lady.  I will miss her very much.”  Click HERE if you'd like to send condolences.

David Allsbrook '62 confirmed the passing of his sister Linda Allsbrook Slycord '60 on August 31st.  Says David, "She died peacefully in her sleep after a five-month battle with pancreatic cancer.  At 6'1" tall, Linda was the tallest female in her graduating class."

Jack Watson sends word that Mike Ratliff '66 passed away September 26th of a heart attack while in the hospital with pulmonary issues.

September 22, 2017

As many of you know, my thoughts on Rosh Hashanah always harken back to 1959 at Horace Mann when I told folks I wouldn't be at school the next day because it was a Jewish Holiday.  After school I managed to break my arm and, at the old Medico-Dental Building downtown, acquired a plaster cast. So I WASN'T at school the next day even though I'm not Jewish.  Happy New Year!!

The Colt football team continues to steamroll the opposition.  They beat El Cajon Valley last Friday 35-0.  They travel to Pine Valley to meet Mountain Empire this afternoon at 4PM.

Everything Old Is New Again.  I tucked my iPhone under my pillow and listened to the last two innings of Monday's Padres-Diamondbacks game (we won!!).  Took me back 65 years when I wore a Bakelite headset to bed and listened to Al Schuss announce the PCL Padres on my crystal set.  My mother was certain I was going to strangle myself with all the wires.  

I LOVE the Ig Nobel Awards!!  This year's winners include research papers on "Why Do Old Men Have Big Ears?", "Can Playing The Didgeridoo Cure Sleep Apnea?," and "Can A Cat Be Both A Solid And A Liquid?"  Click HERE for more information.

Colin Fort tells me his classmate Linda Allsbrook Slycord '60 passed away September 7th.  I have not been able to gather additional information.

Randy Borden sends word that his close friend and classmate Kurtis Pulliam ’69 died while snorkeling in Bermuda on August 29th.  Kurtis changed his last name back to Kyser -- his biological father’s name -- after graduation.  He graduated from UCSD, got his PhD at Berkeley and was a professor at Queen’s College in Canada.  Click HERE for an obituary published by the college.  Randy says Kurt was NOT 62 when he died.

September 15, 2017

Crawford's non-conference football game against Calvary Murrieta ended in a 52-27 victory for the Colts.  Must have been a happy bus ride home. The team meets El Cajon Valley this afternoon at Hoover.  Kickoff is at 4 PM

The Crawford Football Team got front-page coverage in Wednesday's UT Sports Section.  Click HERE to check it out.  

Your donations were a Godsend to the Colt Cross Country team.  Now they need help getting their grades up.  Tutors will meet on Wednesdays from 5:8:30.  Email Kenia Rendon at keniaren38@gmail.com if you can help.

The September issue of the quarterly 12-page Alumni Newsletter is in the mail.  If you're a subscriber you should have your copy.  Click HERE if you'd like information on how to subscribe.

If you went to Webster Elementary, and graduated in 1968 with Beverly Robbins Lachman, you might be in the photos below.  I'm still unable to add photos to my web site.  I've placed these on Facebook, which should allow you to enlarge them.

Mrs. Lange • Grade 2 • March 1958

Mrs. Hill • Fifth Grade • March 1961

I trust you can read the information above:  Celebration of Life for Susan Vreeland, next Thursday, September 21st, 12:30 PM at the SPRECKELS Organ Pavilion.  It's often misspelled Spreckles.  In this case both options are incorrect.  I know what it's like to make these kinds of errors.

September 7, 2017

Services for Marc Friedman will be held tomorrow September 8th, 9:30 AM, at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive.  Those attending should arrive 20 minutes early, in lane #2 of the staging area, to be escorted to the location of the graveside service.  The service is open to anyone wishing to attend.

Heavens to Betsy!!  Crawford's football team easily handled Southwest SD 42-15.  They travel north tomorrow afternoon to play Calvary Murrietta at 7 PM.

Deborah Saunders '68, Maria Navarro '67, Kathy Keeyes '68 and Anita Navarro '64 pose for a portrait in Huntsville, Alabama in honor of the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Maria and Marshall Coyle. Kathy was Maid of Honor at the original nuptials.

Here's the KGB "Boss 30" for this week in 1965.  "Liar, Liar" by the Castaways was #1.  Click HERE to check out the list.  Click HERE to see a YouTube video of the song.

Sue Vreeland '63 passed away August 23rd after heart surgery.  She taught at Madison and University City High School and was the author of several best-selling novels about artists.  Click HERE to read an obituary.

September 1, 2017

What were the chances?  August 26th was proclaimed "Nathan East Day"AND Nathan East performed at the Imperial Avenue Street Festival, also on August 26th.  "I am humbled beyond words," said the 1973 Colt at the presentation.  

Betty Greenwood Houbion (she's the one with feathers in her hair) shared this photo of the Class of 1964's "Roaring Twenties" Party on Facebook.  Bill Graham is wearing the derby and Bob Mitchell is holding a rifle.  Who is the girl on the left?

The score was 31-0 at end of last Friday's football game between Hoover and Crawford -- and Hoover was the team with zero points.  Kudos to Coach Wright and the team.   They host Southwest SD tonight at 7 PM at Lincoln.

August 25, 2017

Whatcha doin' tonight?  If you're still a San Diego County resident . . . 

You could attend the first game of the Crawford football season.  Coach Michael Wright extends a personal invitation.  The Colts play Hoover at Hoover, just as they did on September 27, 1958.  This time the game starts at 6:30.   Click HERE if you'd like to take a look at the entire program from the 1958 game.

Or you could head up north to Lou's Records, 434 N Coast Highway 101, in Encinitas.  Lou is hosting a release party for the new album by Jack Tempchin '65.  It's a tribute to the Eagles' Glen Frey, with whom Jack wrote a couple of songs.  The title of the album will give you a hint as to one of them -- "Peaceful Easy Feeling -- The Songs of Jack Tempchin."  Click HERE if you'd like to read the article penned by George Varga in last week's Union-Tribune.

I'm hoping other Crawford grads were able to make it to the total solar eclipse.  I see on Facebook that classmate Edward Pease saw it from Madras, OR.  This was eclipse #4 for me!   When we were scouting some possible viewing sites in eastern Oregon, driving off-road on BLM land, we met the Crawford family (no relation to our high school) doing some fencing on their adjoining cattle ranch.  They invited my wife and I, plus daughter and 2 of our grandkids, to view the eclipse from a hilltop on their property.  The old buildings are from an abandoned homestead.   I have a video at https://youtu.be/iQ_2RTs-8GU  -- John McGuigan '64

This aerial of the Chollas Heights Naval Transmitting Station popped up on Facebook last week.  Click HERE -- and wait patiently -- to see an enlarged version.  Even enlarged, I can only spot two of the three towers.  Click HERE to take a look at the photos I took when they demolished the towers on November 10, 1995.

The Celebration of Life for Jeff Lee, who died July 3rd while mountain biking, will be held this Sunday, August 27th, from 2-4 PM at Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Road.   Click HERE to read some nice things in Troubadour Magazine.