May 15, 2015

HAPPY 51515!

IT'S WET OUTSIDE IN PACIFIC BEACH and supposed to get wetter.  Nancy and I may end up in line at McDonald's just so we don't have to get out of the car for breakfast.

As near as I can figure Nancy Taylor '72 is a STEM mentor, and we have a chance to vote on the project her kids produced.  Click HERE to watch the video and vote.  Voting is fairly complicated. You have to click on the Public Choice button, decide whether you want to use Twitter, Facebook or email to vote, make your choice, and then wait for them to send your ballot.  After I voted they wanted me to add them to my contacts list to make sure my ballot would get through their firewall.   Today is the last day ballots can be submitted.

Why am I showing a photo of our hated rival Herbert Hoover High School?  Turns out a whole bunch of Colts fondly recall summer school classes at the OLD three-story building.  Click HERE to watch a YouTube video taken in 1975 just before the old school was demolished.

"Wooly Bully" and "Gloria" occupied the top two spots on KDEO's Top 40 chart for the week of May 8, 1965.  Obviously, the Golden Age of music.

Wanna know what Bob Boone, Jim Cassie, Rod Collier, Bill Gore, Jack Watson and Lyn Upshaw had in common?  If nothing else they were School Representatives for Bob Coffman’s Tuxedo Shop.  Just one of many things I learned in re-reading the 6-page Pacer from May13, 1965.  Click HERE to read it for yourself.

Some of us still recall what used to occupy the site where the Campus Plaza Shopping Center sits today at 62nd and El Cajon Blvd.  Click HERE to read the article I snagged off Greg May's Vintage San Diego Facebook page -- and tried to put together on my web site.

May 8, 2015

THE NEWLY-REMODELED WAFFLE SPOT had its Grand Opening yesterday.  I suspect that Nancy and I will check it out this morning, icky weather permitting.

I have the Class of '66 on a May-May billing cycle for the quarterly newsletter, so regular subscribers from that class should have gotten their reminder.  Click HERE if you've been thinking about subscribing and want more information.

Dave Sleet '61 is looking for annuals from his three years at Crawford.  Email him at dds6@cdc.gov if you have any suggestions.

I think Johnny Downs went by "Johnny Jet" earlier in his career.   Here’s my certificate for being a "Clean Your Plate Club" member from Johnny Jet back in 1954 --  Norm Black ’68

Norm Black '68 attended Marshall Elementary in 3rd Grade when he lived at 5343 Streamview Drive. The family then moved to the Territory of Hawaii for a year and on to Memphis, Tennessee. The Black family returned to San Diego and Norm was part of the first 8th and 9th grade classes at Pershing Junior High. Then it was on to Crawford and, after that, San Diego State.   Click HERE to see an enlargement.

Mike McKittrick '60 shares a couple of postcards from his days working at Mickie Finn's.  You can actually spot him in the middle, left in white sleeves, black vest and straw hat.  Click HERE to go to the Mickie Finn's Page and see both postcards enlarged.

Frequent contributors Sharon Cramer Sceper '68 and Bob Richardson '61 pose for a photo at the Sceper Ranch and Museum in Hayfork, California.  If I understand this correctly, Bob made the trip from Sacramento because they are both interested in genealogy -- and may have had ancestors who lived in the area.

Having worked with many reunions, I think the Class of 1970's choice of Marina Village for its function on July 25th is outstanding.  Committee Members Denise Daniels, Jane De Bolt Blackwell, Rene Hansell Clay, Kris Pruski Wood and John Pacheco pose for a snapshot.

Rick Cohen '66 sends word of the passing, on April 21st, of his classmate and friend of longstanding, Mark Kessler.  You'll want to read Mark's heartfelt memorial on the Class of '66 Obituary Page.

Linda Parker Smith '70 has passed away, according to her friend and classmate Linda Knott.  Private services will be held today.  

May 1, 2015

Didn't folks used to dance around the May Pole on May 1st?  That's probably not going to be happening, but I think I have a an idea for next year involving Pole Dancing.

I'm not sure who Bill Rossi is, but he shared this on the "You Know You Grew Up in San Diego" Facebook page.

If you have the National Geographic Channel, Ron Morse '64 hopes you'll tune in tomorrow at 8 AM and watch "Smart City: San Diego".  "I learned some things -- and I live here," says Ron.  Check your local listings.

Dennis Bishop '61 wants you to know about a benefit recently put on by little brother Stephen Bishop '69.  It took place Thursday last in Beverly Hills, but you can still listen to Stephen being interviewed on the Mo-Kelly Radio Show.

"Don't be surprised if you see Carlos Amezcua '71 doing the news in San Diego again," says Phyllis Schwartz '72.  Phyllis, formerly General Manager of KNSD Channel 7, has read Carlos may be free-lancing on KSWB Fox 5.

You can run but you can't hide.  Bob Richardson '61 always wondered what became of his Horace Mann chum Laurel Gonsalves.  Turns out she moved to La Jolla for high school and now lives in New York.  Did I mention she was one of the first staffers on Rolling Stone Magazine?  Click HERE to read all about it, and help identify some of the members of Mr. Carey's Journalism Class.

Here's a photo taken by my late buddy Howard Rozelle.  All he wrote was "Imig Park - 1945".  Do you recognize it?  Click HERE for the answer.

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.