Classmates

2015 will be my 50th year since my high school graduation.
I was thinking about the many students that were in my class from 1st to 12th grade. I decided to try to remember the names of as many classmates as possible. I left the Ashby school system for my 9th, 10th and 11th years but returned for my senior year.    * (Class of 65)

Dennis Stone            *Linda Koski           * Walter Koski         Jerry Stevenson
*John Mickola          *Al Perry                 * Diane Clay             Bobby Gaudreau
*Linda Bennett          Ray Vachon              Larry Shattuck         Pat Dunshee
*Harry Laaksonen       Mike Nievala           Bill  Atherton          Bill Green
Cynthia Ojala             Maryellen Lajoie     *Veijo Kopsala       *Sharon Haavisto
*Doreen Poudrier       Kandice Walton      Calvin Hopkins         David Crock
Patty Menken            *Tuula Kainu         *Sandra Wiswell      *Sandra Tyler
Bill Tracy                   Harold Flagg            Paul Gerry             *Patty McMurray
*Janice Ouellette        *Janet Ouellette     *Donna Dodge        *Patty Kelly
*Joyce Carney         * Arlene Boudreau  *Linda Peterson       *Cassandra Lawrence
*David Hay                Jane Woodruff        David Docekel        Perry Arujo
Steven Honkala           Larry Bennett.     * Sharon Wilkinson    Albert Chalke
*Donna Weeks.          Sandra Terho         Terry Harrington      Robert Goff
*Larry Bancroft           R. Donnell              P Meredith              M. Gove
Doug Dolan                 C. Burns                 Nancy Boutotte      J. Coleman

Stamford and Norwalk sweep Lone Pine awards - Thehour.com: Elementary

Stamford and Norwalk sweep Lone Pine awards - Thehour.com: Elementary: STAMFORD -- Two Stamford schools and two Norwalk schools were honored by the Lone Pine Foundation at their Fairfield County Academic Gain Awar…

Red Sox 2013

Last year was a total waste in that the Red Sox placed last in their division with 93 losses. The pass two weeks the Red Sox have been picking up new players that hopefully will be positive in the clubhouse. Chemistry in all working situations is critical for success. There were several players on last year's team that were toxic. The choice of Bobby V. did not help the situation. Looking forward to Spring training and the new year. Pitching as always will be the key. Several pitchers from last year had their worst performance of their career.

Lone Pine Foundation Award

Brookside again was chosen by the Lone Pine Foundation (Greenwich)  as one of the top schools in Fairfield County for academic gain. In 2008 and now in 2012 Brookside was in the top four schools chosen. The school received a check for $1,000 to be used to support school goals.

Linda's Recovery

Linda had her left knee replaced November 13th at Leominster Hospital. Dr. Jones did the surgery and it was a success. Linda's recovery has been coming along very well. She works extremely hard in doing her exercises to strength and stretch her muscles and other parts to her knee. Linda's sister Merri has helped out during the week while I work. Linda has now had both knees replaced and hopefully the pain will be gone.

RAISING RAISINS

My father planted several grape vines about 30 years ago. I believe they are Concord Grapes. This past weekend I cut a bowls worth of grapes. I decided to make raisins. On the internet I found my information. There are three basic ways of making grapes into raisins.
Here's How:


1.Spread the grapes out to dry on a grassy area for 15 days.

2.Remove stems and wash well under running water to remove any chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides.

3.Spread to dry again. Timing will depend on the weather and the grape.

4.When the raisins are dry enough (taste), pack in glass jars or plastic bags or containers layered with bay leaves.

5.Seal well and store in a cool, dry place.

Tips:

1.Home-dried raisins tend to be drier than commercial raisins. Before using, soak in hot water for 15 minutes.

 I tried for three days and then went to a second option:

Oven Raisins

Not everyone can afford a convenient new appliance just for drying food and not everyone has sufficient sun year round to make raisins. Or, some people just want raisins Fast! And, there is no problem with that. For these people, oven drying is the best method.

Set your oven on the "Warm" setting, it should be 150-200 degrees. Bake them this way for 17-24 hours, slowly they dry out and evenly dry to make sweet delicious raisins.

Special Note: Seedless grapes make seedless raisins. However, Grape Seeds are very Healthy and are also suitable for making "crunchy raisins".

My grapes have seeds

You can also use a food dehydrator.

Bridgeport Bluefish Game

Yesterday was 9/11/12 and many memories of 11 years ago. A friend Ron Berler and myself attended a Bridgeport Bluefish baseball game. The Bluefish got down four zip in the first but came back and scored 11 runs to win 11 to 4. The night was a beautiful night for baseball. The league is an independent league with a mixture of players old and young. Some players were former major leaguers but most were college or low minor league players. The one thing that was very noticeable was the lack of hustle by many players after hitting a ground ball. Most of the players simply trotted to first with very little effort if they thought they were going to be out. "There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time, I owe him my best." Source: The Sporting News (April 4, 1951) This is quote from Joe DiMaggio and the players should take a page from Joe's life in regards to playing the game the correct way.

Visiting Wheeler Road. Today

Went to Richie and Ashley's house today. The three of us took a walk into the back fields and woods. Ashley wanted me to show them where the cranberry bog was located. We found it but not sure if there are cranberry bushes there. Will have to check it out in the Fall. We then walked the many wooded trails. We found a hunter's blind that was deep in the woods. I located the site of a large fallen tree that we use to play around when I was young. There are many stone walls (boundary markers) that were built hundred years ago. After we went down to the pond and watched the four ducks. Later while in the back yard the four ducks walked up looking for food. Ceddy and Evi came out but the ducks and two dogs seem to get along.

Favorites

The other night at the house we were asking questions about our favorite songs, movies, etc. I thought I would like to list a few.
Favorite singer - Neil Diamond
Favorite song - Sweet Caroline
Favorite movie - Bridge Over The River Kwai
Favorite Sport - Baseball
Favorite Baseball Player - Ted Williams
Favorite Author- Kurt Vonagut
Favorite book- Catch 22
Favorite Comic -Lewis Black
Favorite Meal-Chicken Parm
Favorite Drink- Diet Pepsi
Favorite Pastime -Sudoko
Favorite TV Show - Law and Order
Favorite Basketball player-Larry Bird
Favorite Hockey Player -Bobby Orr
Favorite Football Player -Tom Brady

World's Fair 1964

My father in 1939 had the opportunity to go to New York World's Fair when he was 17 years old. In 1964 he wanted my brother Bobby and myself to go to the 1964 World's Fair in New York. We stayed in a YMCA and spent about 5 days in New York. We finally had to go home because we were running out of money. My favorite memory was the exhibition by the state of Illinois. Walt Disney built a talking and moving Abe Lincoln that was truly lifelike. Today if you go to Disney World you can see the model version in the President's Hall.

Abe Lincoln Exhibit

The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City.^[1] Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding", dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe"; although American corporations dominated the exposition as exhibitors. The theme was symbolized by a 12-story high, stainless-steel model of the earth called the Unisphere.^[2] The fair ran for two six-month seasons, April 22–October 18, 1964 and April 21–October 17, 1965. Admission price for adults (13 and older) was $2.00 in 1964 but $2.50 in 1965, and $1.00 for children (2–12) both years.^[3]
The site, Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the borough of Queens, had also held the 1939/1940 New York World’s Fair. It was one of the largest world's fairs to be held in the United States, occupying nearly a square mile (2.6 km²) of land. The only larger fair was the 1939 fair, which occupied space that was filled in for the 1964/1965 exposition. Preceding these fairs was the 1853-54 New York’s World’s Fair, called the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, located on the site of Bryant Park in the borough of Manhattan, New York City.
The fair is best remembered as a showcase of mid-20th century American culture and technology. The nascent Space Age, with its vista of promise, was well-represented. More than 51 million people attended the fair, less than the hoped-for 70 million. It remains a touchstone for New York–area Baby Boomers, who visited the optimistic fair as children before the turbulent years of the Vietnam War, cultural changes, and increasing struggles for civil rights
In many ways the fair symbolized a grand consumer show covering many products produced in America at the time for transportation, living, and consumer electronic needs in a way that would never be repeated at future world's fairs in North America. Most American companies from pen manufacturers to auto companies had a major presence. While this fair wasn't officially a BIE sanctioned world's fair, it should be recognized in history as the first exhibition of any classification that gave the attendee interaction with computer equipment. Many corporations demonstrated the use of mainframe computers, computer terminals with keyboards and CRT displays, Teletype machines, punch cards, and telephone modems in an era when computer equipment was kept in back offices away from the public, decades before the Internet and home computers were at everyone's disposal.

In Memory of Aaron

Last night Linda and myself went up to Richie and Ashley's house for dinner and a brief ceremony to pray for Aaron. Richie had cooked up a pork loin with tomatoes and a special sauce on white rice. Tasted great. After dinner we offered up some food and lit candles in Aaron's memory.Aaron died July 19, 2009. Each anniversity Ashley and Richie have had a small service to remember Aaron. Three years have passed and each day I have a moment or two where Aaron is in my thoughts.
Love you always!
Dad

Being at Home

Just got back to my apartment in Norwalk. I spent the last 10 days or so in Fitchburg with my wife. It was great to be with her. We did little things but I enjoyed her company and our conversations. It was great seeing Gene and Linda Henry one night and then Don and Joyce the next night.I also enjoyed going to Kelley's and Ashley's homes for a day. Looking forward to the end of the week and my going back home.

July 14th and I am back in Fitchburg for 5 days. Picked up the four grandchildren and they will be sleeping over. I marvel at how old they are getting. Four wonderful kids who make Linda and myself proud. Going to Ashley's house in Ashby tonight. The northern lights might show if the night sky is clear. Anyway, we will have an outside fire going and we will be putting marshmallows to the fire test. The kids will also enjoy seeing the four ducks that are enjoying the pond.

Bucket List

Visit Grand Canyon
Visit Scotland
Go to an Olympic event
To get healthier
Go to a major tennis or golfing event
To read a minimum of 12 books each year -finished Erik Larson's "IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS" a true story of love, terror and an American family in Hitler's Berlin. Have also read "How They Croaked" a book about how some famous people died. Recently completed "blink" by Malcolm Gladwell which is a story about the power of thinking without thinking. Completed "GREAT BATTLES Decisive Conflicts that have Shaped History". Presently 1/29/13 reading "The Journal of Ben Uchida" who as a teenager was Citizen 13559 at Mirror Lake Internment Camp in California 1942 for Japanese Americans. Read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult which I would recommend. Completed Raising the Curve by Ron Berler. This book is about my school (Brookside) and the attempt to improve our test scores. Interesting and fast paced read. Just finished :Ted Williams the Kid" by Ben Bradlee Jr. Listened to APRIL 1865 on tape - a 12 part story about one of the greatest months in America's history. Reading "Parcells" at this time. Half way to my minimum goal.
Visit San Diego again
To be continued

School 2012-13

It may be summer but the coming year is full of questions. The system has had a major budget issue that still has not been solved. At this point there will not be an asst principal, a librarian, intervention specialist as well as a half time utility aide. We will also we losing 3 classroom teachers that will increase classroom size. All summer work - schedules and student assignments are on hold. I have made a decision to continue to work in Norwalk for two more years and I hope the above will look better at the begining of the school year. The lost of my asst Jenna is a major blow to the school. The loss of our librarian Paula also another major blow.
Update - Latest news - Brookside is scheduled to receive a 1/2 time asst principal and a full time intervention aide. We will also get a 1/2 time librarian. Looking a little better but we will be losing teachers as well as the services of Jenna and Paula.
Latest update - Dr. Marks, Norwalk's Superintendent has resigned. She will be leaving around August 17th.
More updates - Jenna has taken a job in Darien. It is a great move for her. We have lost four teaching positions, a half time librarian will be in place. We have new people in the following positions: half time asst principal, nurse, librarian, intervention aide, ESL teacher,  half time ESL teacher, and we will be hiring 5 to 6 new paraprofessionals.

Raising The Curve

Ron Berler was a mentor at Brookside and he also married a Brookside teacher. Ron is a professional writer by trade. He has written numerous newspaper articles as well as stories for different magazines. He also has written two books with a sports theme for children. Ron came to me about two years ago and suggested an idea about writing about Brookside School. He said he would like to spend time at the school and his basic idea was to discover why a school fails or succeeds. During the 2010-11 school year Ron spend nearly every day in the fifth grades listening and writing notes about what he was seeing and hearing. Ron also did many hours of video and audio taping myself as well as a few teachers, students and the Superintendent of Schools. This past year Ron has spent his time in reviewing his notes and writing his story. Ron completed the book and sent it to his publisher. Ron has indicated that the book company editor enjoyed the story and is very excited about the book. Ron has just finished the final editing and it is scheduled to be out on March 5, 2013. The title of the book is Raising The Curve. It will be exciting and interesting to finally see what Ron thought about his year at Brookside.

Going Yankee

Tonight I am going to see the Yankees with my friend Ron Berler. We will be taking the train into NY. This will be my first trip to the new Yankee Stadium.   Cleveland Indians are in NY to take on the Yankees. Update - Last night the Yankees won 6 to 4 on Derek Jetter's birthday. Stadium looks great and we met a passionate Yankee fan (Ray) who was 72 years old . Enjoyed the night! The Red Sox also gained a victory over Toronto.  

Honoring Aaron

Yesterday one of my teachers Melania Smith came to me to ask a question. It seems that she wanted to do a scholarship for a young person in college and she would like to honor our son Aaron. I told her if was a wonderful thing that she was doing to help someone else as well as to honor the name of our son. A $500 scholarship will be presented to Randall Austin. Randall is a great young man who works with our after school program. Randall is in college and he did some observations in our art room and fifth grade this past school year. I noticed that Randall came in early quite often and he would be helping in the afternoon art classes. A great choice for the scholarship!

Some Final Valentine’s Day Resources

Some Final Valentine’s Day Resources

Someday Isle!

I want to lose weight!
I want to complete my evaluations!
I want to be happy in retirement!
I want to spend more time with family and friends!
Each of the above are things that I promise myself that I will do. However, I always seem to have some excuse or reason for not accomplishing these objectives.
I need to answer the following riddle: Three frogs are sitting on a lily pad. One decides to jump off. How many frogs remain on the lily pad?
Answer: three - Deciding to jump off and actually doing it are two completely different things. One must have the desire to action.

Falcon Video

To watch the falcons live go to: http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/news.php


If you're interested in the peregrine falcon, scientists are studying peregrines that nest on a skyscraper .
Falcons like to return to the same nest every year, and there has been a nest on the 12th floor ledge of a skyscraper in downtown Cleveland, Ohio since 1991. This year the female bird is "SW" and the male is "Boomer". If they keep control of their nestsite (peregrines are fierce and will fight for their territory), they will raise a family during the spring. Thanks to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, there are "FalconCams" that broadcast live from the nestsite.
Female perches on the "FalconCam"

Nestbox is on the right in the background
"Home sweet home"

The nestbox is located on the 12th floor ledge of "Tower City"
in downtown Cleveland, Ohio (see red label)
The first photo is courtesy of Scott Wright, who monitors the Terminal Tower nestsite. The photo of Tower City is courtesy of falcon fan Tony Rinicella.
There is a lot to learn about these rare birds, and as young scientists, you can study their behavior right along with the wildlife biologists.

Surgery

Linda ,had a right knee replacement on Tuesday. She came home today and is resting in our livingroom. The first two days were very hard on her because of the pain medicine did not agreed with her stomach. She is much better but it is a long and slow recovery. I am staying with her until January 17th to help her in her rehab as well as being her legs for things she needs. Linda previously (about two years ago) had a partial on her left knee but sadly she will have to have that knee replaced probably next year. Linda is very tough and she will push herself in strengthening her knee.
Update: January 15th - Linda is doing very well in her recovery. She does her exercises and she is walking with the help of a cane. She will have her stitches out in two days. I will be going back to CT tomorrow and Linda will be getting help from friends and family but will also be on her own.
Update -Linda worked extremely hard to get flexibility in her knee. She is doing very well and is thinking about having the other knee done within the coming year.