March 8, 2024

Looks like cartoonist Harry Bliss has a new twist on the Grim Reaper theme.  It appears that Father Time is waiting at the curb for Grandma and Grandpa.  

I always enjoy that first photo of the Carlsbad Flower Fields published in the Union-Tribune.  This one was in Monday's UT.  Click HERE to see a larger version.

Five Fabulous Fillies from the Class of '64 had lunch last Friday at True Foods in Fashion Valley.  Click HERE for an enlargement with names.

Scott Shaw found another photo of the Sombrero Taco Shop on El Cajon and Montezuma.  Click HERE to check it out.  Maybe YOU can figure out if this is newer or older than the one I first posted.

Here's the March 1, 1973 Pacer, courtesy of Tracy Gantz.  I should have shared it LAST Fry Day, but it fell through the cracks.  Click HERE to peruse all four pages.

I found some Horace Mann school papers in the Dietra Anderson memorabilia.  Her copy from November 14, 1958 was better than the one I'd already posted so I made the change.  Click HERE to go WAY back.

 

March 1, 2024

Everybody needs an 8-year old to help them with the new technology

Alvarado Estates had an airstrip AND a Cave?  Click HERE to hear from some Colts, read an article from the San Diego Union, and watch a Ken Kramer video about Young's Cave and the Kensington Cave.

Jan Goldsmith's Someone You Should Know column in the San Diego Union this past week featured Beth Bond Sczempka '77, who has done wonderful work establishing an academy in Tijuana to train youngsters to become beauticians.  Click HERE to read all about it.

I've added a 1965 photo to the Santa Fe train page.  Click HERE for the enlarged version

A recent Channel 8 Throwback Edition features video of San Diego State, starting in 1959.  Get out your steno pad to take notes on the enrollment figures, number of parking places and Channel 8 reporters you've forgotten about.  I didn't watch the whole thing, but it might be 30 minutes long, so make sure you go potty before you begin.  Click HERE and enjoy.

My brother Robert Zucker '66 passed away early on Valentine's Day after a very brief illness.  After living in Santee for many years, he and his wife Julie moved to Brimfield, MA in 2021 to be closer to their son Ryan.  Bob and Julie -- as well as Ryan and his longtime girlfriend Danielle -- breed and show Saluki dogs, which somewhat resemble greyhounds.   Most of their many dogs are champions.  In addition to Julie and Ryan, Bob is survived by his cousin Robbi Mintz Campbell '71 and myself -- Wayne Zucker ’70

February 23, 2024

 

Apparently these guys were stranded on a Dessert Isle

Retired Sacramento State Geography professor Bob Richardson found a 1953 aerial photo that showed the landing strip at Alvarado Estates.  Click HERE to revisit the page, and read one person's recollection of Alvarado Estates.

Here's a thumbnail shot of the entire photo Bob Richardson found.  Can you see Horace Mann Junior High?  Click HERE for a large version of the image.

Char Krebsbach Clark says the Class of 1964's 60th Anniversary Reunion is scheduled for August 21st at the Bali Hai.  I've posted the details on the Reunion Page.  If that doesn't work for you, press reply to this email and ask me to email you the flyer.

Here's Dietra Anderson's Stir-Ups card for 1961-1962.  Click HERE if you'd like to see a larger version.

Click HERE to read the February 20, 1969 Pacer

February 16, 2024

 

I guess mothers have been the same throughout history

The post office returned a newsletter with the above sticker over the address.  I get these every mailing.  Sometimes folks have moved without letting me know.  Sometimes they send me their new address and I type it in wrong.  This sticker was attached to the newsletter I mail to myself -- and I've been at this address since 1972.  Having said that, I have no complaints.  The post office does a really good job for me.

Last week's invite to a party in Alvarado Estates got me thinking about the rumor that the subdivision once boasted an airport.  Turns out not to be a rumor, although it was more like a landing strip, or airpark.  Click HERE to read all about it!

We mentioned the closing of the Santee Drive-In a few weeks back, and took a look at the Campus Drive-In page.  This week we can take a look at the Rancho Drive-In page.  Click HERE to check it out.

Click HERE to read the February 17, 1959 Pacer from 65 years ago.

And HERE to peruse the February 13, 1964 paper from 60 years ago.

My brother Bryan Lanois ’68 had a heart attack February 3, 2024 in Murrieta, California and passed peacefully.  In his honor, please grab your nearest loved one and give them a hug -- Joel Lanois ’74

February 9, 2024

 

Dietra Anderson was definitely on the A-list.  Click HERE to see her invitation to a graduation party on June 19, 1959.  She would have been in 9th Grade.  Wait a minute!  Maybe it was a Horace Mann graduation party.

Click HERE to peruse the Pacer from February 6, 1969 -- 55 years ago.

And click HERE to take a look at the never-before-posted Pacer from February 9, 1973

Howard Nott ’61 passed away December 14. 2023.  I waited in vain for additional details.

It's Groundhog Day!  I'm not sure it's a Federal Holiday, however.

 

Here's the last Joe Courtney color shot from 1954 that I have in my files.  Click HERE to see it enlarged, paired with a current view.  Spoiler Alert!  It hasn't changed a lot.

 I'm not sure why this menu from Pine Valley's Hobart House was in the box of goodies Dietra Anderson sent me, but I've scanned it for your perusal.  Click HERE for a fond look back.

Click HERE to read the 4-page February 3, 1959 Pacer.  Gee, that was 65 years ago and I was in 9th Grade.

January 26, 2024

 

My childhood pal Ken Ptack visited this week.  He graduated from Hoover in 1960, joined the Marine Corps the next day, went on to the Naval Academy, flew A-6 Intruders in Vietnam and eventually retired with his lovely wife Jo Ann to a farm in Southern Maryland.  This is what it looked like last week.

I snagged this photo of the last dairy in Mission Valley off of Facebook, added some historical newspaper snippets, and posted it on my web site  Click HERE to take a look.

 

Ernie Cowan has set up some high-resolution motion-detection cameras around his place in North County.  His current Outdoors column has photos and stories about foxes.  Click HERE to join the hunt.

I've also added some comments and advertisements to last week's Sombrero Taco Shop page.  Click HERE to check them out.

We've got a Trifecta of Pacers from 65, 60 and 55 years ago.

January 20, 1959

January 16, 1964

January 23, 1969

January 19, 2024

I didn't realize how much Bali Hai had changed until I compared this 1963 shot with a current one.  Click HERE to check out both images.

Anyone recall the Sombrero Taco Stand on El Cajon Blvd where it merges with Montezuma.  Click HERE to look at an enlargement of this 1976 photo and a view of what's there now.

I'm getting down to the bottom of the box of goodies Dietra Anderson Davis sent me.  Click HERE to check out the Fillies Follies program from 1961.

Click HERE to peruse the January 19, 1973 Pacer from Tracy Gantz.  

IN MEMORIAM

William Dalbey ’62 died from Alzheimer’s Disease on December 28, 2023.  He left school early to join the Navy.  In later years he lived in Escondido and had his own barber shop in Vista.