April 24, 2015

I HAVEN'T MENTIONED the weather and Fry Day breakfast plans for Nancy and I lately, mostly because the weather's always nice and we nearly always go to the Waffle Spot.  The weather's iffy this morning but we'll still probably end up at the Waffle Spot.

Guy Gonzale '69 will be filling in for Doug Kvandal '66 tomorrow night with Live Jazz at the Amigo Spot.  Kick off is at 7 PM

Remember the Silverado Ballroom on University and Euclid?  Greg May has a couple of pictures of it in the Silverado Ballroom Album of his Vintage San Diego Facebook page.  He also has a photo of a streetcar out in front, which I couldn't resist.  I had not seen this photo before.  You might also enjoy the History of the Tower Bar from my web site.

Stan Keniston '66 shares a Voice of San Diego link to a article about the San Diego schools who have trouble enrolling the kids in their neighborhood.  Very interesting charts.  The article was really about a meeting held Tuesday night to address the problem.  I'm not sure if they came up with any solutions.

Joe Dyke '65 and Ron Dixon '64 pose for a snapshot at the 2015 opening of the Southwest Yacht Club on April 19th.  Joe showed up as a member of the Grand Pacific Band, which provided the ceremonial music.  Ron, as both Chaplain and cannoneer, gave the invocation and provided the booms.

Barry Penn '64 shows off his 1950 Ford Woodie in an interview with KUSI's Dan Plante on April 19th.  The car once belonged to Floyd Smith, of Gordon and Smith Surfboards.

Con Davis' '40 Ford was Heap of the Week, Diana Loss was Girl of the Month, and Senior Sketches featured Jim Calkins and Ann Mitchell in the April 29, 1964 Golden Anniversary Pacer.

John McGuigan '64 sends word of the passing, on April 15th, of his cousin Jerome Drilling '62. Jerry's brother Greg put together a nice remembrance, which I have posted on the Class of '62 Obituary Page  You'll enjoy the "Who's On First" routine of Three Drillings and Ocean Beach.

April 17, 2015

Not much happening in Coltville this week

Stan Keniston '66 forwards a KPBS piece about Crawford's Farm to Table Program.

Willie Skinner (Mission Bay '67) stopped by with a copy of the August 26, 1963 San Diego Union.  Click HERE if you'd like to check out the Drive-In Theater listings.  I hope you wanted to see "Donovan's Reef".

Bob White '68 shares a photo of the White family dressed up in Fiesta del Pacifico finery in the middle of the street at 4th and Broadway around 1957.  Click HERE to bask in the details of this gorgeous color photo.

April 10, 2015

Don Ball '59 and Sharon Bentley '60 were joined in Holy Matrimony on April 9, 1965 at the Wesley Methodist Church at 54th and El Cajon Blvd.  Recalls Don, "During the ceremony it rained and hailed a lot.   Afterwords my best man, the late John Whaley, drove Sharon's 1963 Mercury Comet to the Town and Country in Mission Valley.  However, the San Diego River had flooded most of Mission Valley and some guests could not get into the parking lot.  Next day we flew from the old Lindbergh Airport to San Francisco."  If you'd like to send congratulations, Don's email address is gardenlife65@gmail.com

Anybody have any ideas on what to do with 1,000 Ramona's Marriage Place postcards?  I published the cards 35 years ago, using -- I believe -- a 1928 Walter Averett photo from the San Diego Historical Society.  Unlike some of the other cards in the series, they never sold. I thought maybe I would donate them to the gift shop of the Estudillo House (there never was a Ramona and she didn't get married here) but I don't think there IS a gift shop in the Estudillo House.  It's part of the State Park System I believe.

I'm giving Ron "The Cannon Man" Dixon '64 the final word on how to blow up night crawlers.  "Any old Dynamite Fisherman knows either BP, C4, or Gel Max works wonders," says Ron

That's Diana Loss pictured in the 1965 Spring Fashion Issue of the Pacer, published on April 8, 1965.  Shirley Strum was Girl of Month, while Robert Malcolm Kaplan and Lois Jean Olson were Senior Sketches

Dennis Burns says he's no longer missing.  He's living in El Cajon and is now on the Class of '65 Email Page.


Scott Silverman '72 got a nice write up in Diane Bell's column this week.

The U-T San Diego, on April 3, reported the passing of Danny Griggs.  He was born October 3, 1954 and died February 23, 2015.  We think he was the Danny Griggs in Crawford's Class of '72.  Does anyone know if Danny had sisters or brothers who went to Crawford?

April 3, 2015

IT'S DARK AND COOL IN PACIFIC BEACH, but supposed to get toasty warm and bright.  I've got my fingers crossed that there will be parking at Seaforth's Landing Grille so Nancy and I can split the Jig Strike Special -- with boysenberry syrup for my pancake.

Happy Passover, Happy Easter, Go Padres

 -- Not necessarily in that order!!

Last week I reported that the largest trout ever caught in Lake Cuyamaca had been landed by a fellow who used a ball of inflated night crawlers.  I wondered how one inflated a night crawler.  Turns out several Colts had the answer.

You use a syringe to blow him up.  And you are correct, he doesn’t like having it done -- Steve Swank ’64

Us old fishermen take a hypodermic syringe and inject air into the body of a night crawler.  It works -- Bill Frost ’66

To inflate a night crawler, most anglers use what is known as a “Worm Blower”.  I know where you went immediately with this one and I also know what your next question will be and the answer is,  “Yes, John, I have blown a worm”.   My preference, to get the best results and have more control while you’re blowing your worm, is to use a hypodermic needle.  It takes some practice, so, you have to blow a lot of worms before you get real good at it!  In fact, you’ve got me in the mood so, I think I’ll go out right now and blow a few worms -- Dave Gray ‘63

All of this has got me thinking about the Big Bang Theory episode in which Howard gets some pointers from Penny on how to bait a hook.  Click HERE to check it out on YouTube.

The Classes of 1960. 1965, 1970, and 1975 are planning reunions this year.  (Actually, later classes are too, but my records don't go beyond 1976).  I've added contact information to the Reunions Page.

Greg May has posted a couple of 1950s' aerials on the San Diego State album of his Vintage San Diego Facebook.  Click HERE to see the enlargements I've uploaded, or click on the other link to check out Greg's album.

The greatest April Fool's Joke ever!!  Click HERE to read the April 1, 1960 Pacer

Rick Combs '59 once asked if anyone else had gone to Adams Elementary.  Turns out Dana Carr '64 attended in 4th Grade at least.  That's him in the Second Row, third from the right.  Click HERE if you'd like an enlargement.  (In 2nd Grade I attended Adams, and Brooklyn, and Dewey, and -- in Guam -- Washington Elementary.)

Class of ’64 pals Barry Penn, Mark McClaren, Tom Peterson and Earl Asbury had their photo taken March 27th at the Ringside Professional Boxing Match at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.  Click HERE to see a larger photo.

Fay Brown Carlin '68 checks in from Grand Ronde, Oregon and would love to hear from old friends.  Her email address is faycarlin@hotmail.com

Linda Glaser Pomplun '69 passed away March 22, 2015.  Click HERE to read the obituary published in the U-T San Diego.

Ralph Jungk '66 just realized that his wife Lynne Snyder Jungk, who died in 1993, was not on the Class of '70 Obituary Page.  She is now.  Lynne gave him two sons and -- now -- three grand children.

March 27, 2015

BOY OH BOY!!  Summer's here again, and it's only a week into Spring.  When Nancy gets down from Escondido I'll bet we head to the Waffle Spot.  I got to have my Jig Strike Special last Tuesday at the Landing Grille, next to Seaforth Landing, so it'll be her choice today.  Then it'll be Nothing To Do -- and All Day to Do It!!

From Wednesday's U-T San Diego: "Lukasz Szcedanek landed a 17-pound, 8-ounce rainbow trout on Sunday to smash the lake record of 15-4. He used a ball of inflated night crawlers."  My question is, "How do you inflate a night crawler -- and how to they feel about it?  (I'm going with a basketball pump.)

In yesterday's U-T Diane Bell had a feel-good story of a fireman who found a wallet with $4200 in it atop a gas pump.  He turned it in at a police station and the owner's wife sent money for the fireman to take his wife to dinner.  I remember a similar story 30 years ago at T. D. Hays Restaurant.  My question remains the same:  How do you even FOLD a wallet with $4200 in it?  I guess that's why it was on top of a gas pump.  I also wonder why anyone would carry that much cash, but I have some ideas I won't share.

Greg May added an Oscar's matchbook to his Vintage San Diego matchbook album.  As good an excuse as any to remind you about the Oscar's links on the Memories Page of this web site.   Scroll down to "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives".

Click HERE to look at five night shots I took on Hotel Circle in August 1982.   I don't think any of the establishments still exist, at least not under the same name

Last Saturday's U-T San Diego held articles featuring at least two Colts.

Sandy Shapery '61 is converting an 1869 downtown hotel into a 98-bed memory care facility.  Click HERE to read the article

Nature photographer and bird expert Ernie Cowan '62 tells us about the Yellow Warbler. Chirp HERE to learn more.

The Class of ’60 Reunion Committee met last week at the home of Vickie Heramb Lareau.  The reunion will take place Saturday evening, October 24th, at Old Town Mexican Cafe.   Click HERE for a bigger picture and names.

Class of ’64 grads who met for lunch on March 19, 2015 at True Foods Kitchen in Fashion Valley included: Meri Pierce Knight, Kris Gjerde Flynn, Janis Irvine Ricards, Bev Bachman Fritschner, Jane Newberry Smith, Jacque Donaldson Doyle, and Laurie Koosed Ratner. Click HERE if you'd like to see an enlargement.  Trust me, they still look good.

The May 25, 1965 Golden Anniversary Pacer features an article on the Crawford Surfing Club.  Coach Malcolm is referred to as a "Great Old Surfer".  Wonder what that makes him now?  He's still hitting the waves at Tourmaline most weekday mornings.  Click HERE to read all four pages.

Next Thursday is First Thursday at the Amigo Spot.  It'll still be light in the parking lot for those of you who leave at 7.  That would be the folks who arrive before 5.

March 20, 2015

Spring begins at 3:45 Pacific Daylight Saving Time.  Joe Dyke corrected me last week, as Mr. Billings once corrected him.  Daylight SAVING Time, not Daylight SAVINGS Time.

About three hours into Spring, the Aztec Men's Basketball Team will meet St. John's in the NCAA tournament Round of 64.  It will be broadcast on CBS at 6:40 PM Eastern Time.

The baseball season is upon us and Coach Cedric Neeley could use some gloves, mitts, bases, masks, certified bats, helmets and uniform items.   If you have any of the above items in the garage, perhaps you can drop them off at school.  A certified bat, I am told, is an aluminum bat that is certified.  In addition the Crawford Foundation has set up a GoFundMe account.  I'm hoping it will be as successful as what we did for soccer.  Get out your credit card and click HERE to contribute.

Greg May's Vintage San Diego Facebook page now has an album devoted to University Lanes and a Google street view link so you can see what's there now.  Those of you have been reluctant to join Facebook might want to think about it.  Click HERE to check out the album.  It's a slide show, so click on the first photo to get started.

I've decided to start cataloging the thousands of slides I've taken around San Diego over the last 35 years.  I'll scan the good ones and share them with you.  Here's one of two photos I took on February 20, 1980 showing the flooding in Mission Valley.  I'm now more interested in the fact that I captured a photo of the old Mission Valley Circle Theater and, nearby, Caesar's Restaurant.  Click HERE to see photos enlarged.

Ron and Heather Meyer Jagodinski have forwarded Jon Proctor's web site featuring airplane photos he's taken at Lindbergh Field over the years.  Click HERE to check it out.

Lew Fay has made a cut from the Nomads album available to the public.  Click HERE to listen to it on YouTube.  It's accompanied by a nice slide show, with a photo of what I think might be the Pacific Highway Oscar's Drive-in.

Kris Pruski Wood tells me the Class of ’70 is having a 45th Anniversary Reunion in the Baja Room at Marina Village on Saturday, July 25th from 6-11 PM.   Call Kris at 619-246-3777 or email her at kriswood@cox.net

Karen Lozier, a popular PE teacher died March 6th in Lakeside.  My tennis partner Teresa O’Malley and I kept in touch with her after high school and, Teresa more than I, knew her family.  I believe she died from a lung related disease and had been fighting it for some time.  There is no service planned and her brother from Phoenix is handling her estate -- Linda Dederman ’69

Al Marko ’63 passed away peacefully from malignant melanoma on March 2, 2015.  He was born in St. Paul, MN and moved to San Diego in 1957.  He served in the Coast Guard from 1965 to 1971.  He was a proud member of Sheet Metal Union 206 for 46 years and retired in 2002. He leaves behind, among others, his brother Tom ’70.  His sister Susan Marko McArdle ’75 preceded him in death.  Click HERE to read more and view the Guest Book.

March 13, 2015

IT'S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH but I'm OK with that because -- thanks to Daylight Savings Time -- it's staying light in the evenings.

Friday the 13th AGAIN??  I thought we just had one.  Oh, wait -- if February has 28 days I guess that's the way it works.

I thought some of you might enjoy this image posted by artist Tom Rogo yesterday on Facebook.  It's an oil on canvas painting of his titled "Linda at Pacific Beach".  It shows famous surfer Linda Benson waxing her surfboard in the 1950s at Law Street.  Of interest is the fact that Crystal Pier is shown as it looks today, having been rebuilt after the destructive 1983 storm.

Suzi Karel won the San Diego City Schools speech contest, Jane Peters was named March Girl of the Month, and Rod Collier and Peggy Thomas were featured in Senior Sketches.  Click HERE to read all four pages of the March 11, 1965 Golden Anniversary Pacer.

David Weim ’59 passed away unexpectedly at Kaiser Zion Hospital of heart problems on March 1st. He was a San Diego native whose parents were first generation Americans from Norway and Sweden. He was very proud of his Viking heritage. After graduation, he went into the Army for a brief stint that included Korea, and then returned to San Diego, graduating from San Diego State University with a degree in Accounting. He worked for Advanced Rehabilitation Technologies for over 30 years, and had his own income tax business that he just gave up a few years ago.   Survivors include brother Donald Weim ’63.  Click HERE to view the Guest Book.

I received word on Wednesday of the passing of Don Tineo '63 on February 18th in Roswell, New Mexico.  There will be a memorial service in San Diego, but I don't know when.  Click HERE to read more and sign the Guest Book.