Happy New Year Everyone!

Wow, it's like a broken record,"Another year gone already?", but here we are about to wrap up 2007. I'd like to think that I speak for everyone in that I want time slow down just a little bit. I'm in no hurry to enter my senior years.

For some, 2007 has been a tumultuous year, for others a year of change and beginning anew, for others still...the same old, same old. However this year went for you, I wish you a safe and prosperous New Year. May your troubles be few and your friends many.

Speaking of friends (heh-heh, you know where this is going,) you'll have, in 2008, a grand opportunity to get reacquainted with old friends and make new ones with those that you didn't during high school. That's right...the REUNION! Rest assured your planning committee will be hot on the trail of those we haven't found yet, and we'll be after those we have found but have not heard back from.

As of this writing folks, there are only 186 days left, which in the broad scheme of things, isn't that far away...remember how the years keep flying by? So drop us a line via email or via the guest book. We want to hear from you. You'll be hearing from us!

More updates to come...

Happy New Year!

We probably won't have stories like this till our 50th Reunion.

At least I hope none of us have stories like this to tell yet.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

On behalf of myself and the entire reunion committee, I would like to wish everyone a safe and joyous Christmas. Be sure to say a prayer for world peace and remember those less fortunate.

God bless.

Run TURKEY, RUN!

Whoa! Where did the year go? I can't believe the holidays are upon us!

I wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a very blessed Thanksgiving. May peace, love and gratitude fill you this holiday; may your table be bountiful and your worries few. Take care.

Happy Halloween!

We skipped our committee meeting this month due to schedule conflicts and such. Consequently, we don't have a progress report for you other than David Ramirez has been found and is coming to the party; and we have a line on Craig Delahoussaye, who as word has it, is interested in attending the reunion.

So please, please, please keep up the good work in helping us find our classmates! It's much appreciated.

Have a happy Halloween!

SA Homecoming 2008!

This is short notice, but we just got word from Jose Martinez that this coming Friday, October 5th, is ST. ANTHONY'S HOMECOMING 2007!

Jose, whose son attends SA and plays on the football team, has put together a pre-game party at the field and would like to invite everyone to come enjoy an: All-You-Can-Eat Tacos and bar for $10. Check the SAHS website at http://www.longbeachsaints.org/index.htm for more information.

It sounds like a good time and we hope you can make it!

Get ready, Get Set...

Think Mardi Gras. Think color. Think excitement and FUN! That's all we're giving away for now. For the rest, you'll just have to attend the festivities to find out more!

We promise you won't be disappointed.

Just so you know...

...the poll at right is completely anonymous. I won't know who said they ditched 10+ times their senior year, nor do I know who has between 7-9 body piercings. Though these admissions do cause one to speculate!

The trivia gleaned from these questions are for fun only, so don't be shy, participate! (In fact, if you have a provocative question, do send me your idea!) Yes, I am recording the results to share with everyone reunion night. Think of them as little ice breakers!

enjoy your day!

Slowly whittling down the Missing Saints List...

..but we still need your help! Take a minute to look the list over ( there's a quick link on the right) and help us find our classmates!

Thanks!

A plea from our Committee Secretary, Catherine McWilliams

Dear Fellow Class of 1978 Friends,

The preparation for next year’s reunion is progressing at a fast and furious pace. We have a fabulous venue, the Betty Reckas Community Center (BRCC,) a beautiful courtyard and room at the Greek Orthodox Church on Pacific Coast Hwy in Long Beach. The selected caterer, TGIS (Thank Goodness It’s Sophia) is anxiously awaiting our decision regarding what to serve. Everything they prepare is delicious, so the decision will be tough. But your committee will do their best to select a great menu for the evening.

We have booked a great DJ, John Godin, SA Class of 1980, who will play all your old favorites as well as current selections for your enjoyment and dancing pleasure. There will be other surprise entertainment happening the evening of Saturday, August 2, 2008. There is also a golf tournament planned for Friday, August 1, 2008, a casual get together on Friday night, and possibly a picnic or beach party on Sunday. So, if you haven’t already written the date on your calendar, do it now so you won’t forget.

Now, on to business. We need your help. I know you think there is a lot of time before the reunion, but before you know it, we will be ready to make final preparations. That includes payments. We have been receiving some deposits, but we need more. With that, we are offering you a special incentive. Ticket prices are currently at $135.00 per person for this wonderful event. If you send a deposit before April 30, 2008, you can lock in that ticket price. Any deposit amount will lock in that price. After that date, the price goes to $140.00 per person. So, get your deposit to us today. You can send a check or use Paypal. We even take cash.

Go to the class photo page at http://mysite.verizon.net/resqirh5/ for more information. And don’t forget to check in regularly at our blog, www.classof78.blogspot.com. It is constantly being updated with new information.

We are also still in need of information regarding missing classmates. The list is located on the blog page, and with your help, we can reduce the number to zero. If you know where someone is or how to get in touch with him or her, please do so and tell them to contact us at LBSAHS1978@aol.com so we can add them to our list.

Thanks everyone.
Catherine

Change in Venue

Hello everyone,

Due to a scheduling glitch with the Hyatt Regency and a problem with their ballroom, we have changed venues. We are now confirmed with the Betty Reckas Cultural Center, at 5761 East Colorado Street, Long Beach.


This photo is taken from their parking lot which doesn't show the dazzling courtyard where our cocktail reception will spill out on to.


Here is an interior of their very large and elegant ballroom. Imagine white tables with lovely purple and white centerpieces.


This photo gives some idea of scale. That's Joy way at the back of the room behind the good sized dance floor.

We're very excited to be planning our event at this venue. It's going to be an excellent reunion party; one to be remembered.

Stay tuned.

maria

We're halfway there!

Thank you everyone who has either sent in a their ticket deposit or purchased their tickets in full. Your prompt attention to this matter of money has increased our coffers to approx. $1500 as of this writing.

We're halfway to our goal of $3000 for the Hyatt deposit. For those of you who are attending the reunion party, and have not sent in the minimum $50 deposit, please do so. Don't delay, do it today!

Remember, we have set up a PayPal payment option for your convenience.

Thank you!

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We're going to party at the HYATT!!

Hi everyone,

Your reunion committee has made some headway in getting our event in order. Specifically, we have identified the per ticket price at $135, and we have picked a venue (The Hyatt Regency, Long Beach,) which we need to book a.s.a.p. What that requires is MONEY. Yep, about $3000; currently the Reunion coffers stand at about $700. This means that if you plan on going to the reunion, or better stated, if you want to have the reunion party at a nice hotel (and not Motel 6) then we need you to send in a minimum $50 deposit, preferably a deposit per ticket to be purchased. (Click here for the official, we need money letter.)

For your convenience, we have set up a PayPal account that will allow you to use your credit card to make your deposit or purchase. However, this convenience charges fees which, unfortunately, the budget dictates we pass on to you. Each $50 deposit has a $2 surcharge, and the full ticket price carries a surcharge of $4.50. Click here to go directly to the payment page.

If you want to skip the surcharges, then please send your check or money order, payable to St. Anthony Reunion 1978 to: Paul Vohsing, 11712 Martha Ann Dr, Los Alamitos, CA 90720.

Whichever method of payment you choose, please send in your remittance soon, today! The Hyatt has a wonderful reunion package that suits our needs and budget. It would be a shame to lose the venue due to lack of funds.

Thank you!

Your help is needed in locating our Missing Saints!

Dear fellow classmates,

While we are doing pretty darn well in locating most of you, there are still some for whom we have no contact information, or unconfirmed contact info. So please look the list over, see if there is someone for which you might have a lead. Maybe you know where that person's parents live, or you know where they work. Any lead is better than none. Too, feel free to get in contact with those individuals that you know, direct them to this blog. Please help us get the word out!

1. Acosta, Laura
2. Alfaro, Janice
3. Altamirano, Carmen
4. Anderson, Antonio
5. Aroz, Patricia
6. Baeza, David
7. Barnes, Warren
8. Bailey, Donald
9. Brenna, Troy
10. Cockrell, Robert
11. COTE Zigeler, Denise
12. Courtis, Mark
13. Cureton, Eric
    
14. Daw, Margaret
15. Delahoussaye, Craig
16. DESIMAS Ludwig, Diane
17. DIENER Hampton, Denise
18. Downs, David
19. Duffy, Julie
20. ENDOSO Rossi, Cherina
21. Fryan, Michael
    
22. Gomez, Robert
23. GUADAGNO Hankinson, Lorine
24. Gurule, David
25. Hood, Sabrina
26. Jimenez, Gary
27. Jimenez, Hugo
28. Jones, Mike
29. Kelley, Carolyn
30. Kenyon, Steve
31. Leiterman, Timothy
32. Long, Mary
    
33. Lopez, Danny
34. Loya, Sally Renee
35. Marapese, Ken
36. Mayfield, Pam
37. Mealy, Matt
38. Montes, Irene
39. Mooring, Debra
40. Morales, John
41. Payton, Shawnee
42. Peterson, Daniel
43. Plesmid, Ron
44. PUGH Billingsley, Cynthia
45. Richard, Joe
46. Robinson, Robbie
47. Rodriguez, Christine
48. Romero, Linda
49. ROSENBERGER King, Donna
50. Smith, Chester
51. Smith, Liz
52. Sykes, Janedra
53. TERRIS Harrison, Cathy
54. Todd, Norma
55. VERALDI Decker, Linda
56. Wade, Donna
57. Walker, Scott
58. Williams, Dawn

ALSO....we welcome (Lt. Colonel,) Danny O'Connell to our committee! Danny will be an asset to our planning efforts and we are so glad to have him on board.
Thanks everyone!

Save the Date in 2008!

Hello friends!

Mark your calendars, we have a date for our reunion. August 2, 2008.

And....sadly, that's all we have to share with you right now. Why? Because the response to our questionnaires has been low, Low, LOW! Twenty-one responses total out of over 100 sent out! (To those of you who did respond, our heartfelt thanks and gratitude!)

Think of this as if we are planning a wedding. We need some very important information from you, the guests. Like, are you coming or not, and if you are how many of you will there be? Critical information, don't you agree?

So here's what I want you to do: click here to download a copy of the questionnaire right NOW! Fill it out, email it to LBSAHS1978@aol.com, now, while you're thinking of it. Don't wait till later, there is no later. It will take just 5 minutes or less to complete; 30 seconds to send it. It's really important, because we have to make reservations in August of 2007 for August of next year to get the best venue for our party.

Your reunion committee is working hard to make this party happen for you, for us all! Do your part, return your questionnaire!

Thanks - peace-out.

CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDERS!

A good many questionnaires have gone out via email, and it has come to our attention that some of them may have been directed to spam folders. So, if you have not received your questionnaire electronically (and it's not in your spam/bulk folder,) or through the US Postal service....contact us!
lbsahs1978@aol.com

We will get one out to you right away!

Remember the deadline for returning your questionnaire answers is June 9th. Please offer your input for your 30-year-reunion!

Enjoy your day.

Be on the look out!

The questionnaires are coming your way. Many will arrive by email (already sent out yesterday,) and some by U.S. Post on Saturday the 12th.

If you don't receive a questionnaire either electronically or physically, it may be because we don't have confirmed contact information for you. You need to contact us a.s.a.p.! LBSAHS1978@aol.com

Don't delay in sending in your replies either. Fill out the questionnaire right away. We know how it is; you set it aside thinking you'll get to it later. But then, you forget, or you misplace the paperwork. This is your chance to have some input into the greatest reunion bash SA Saints have ever seen! Don't blow it.

Again, as a reminder, if you want to send in a deposit now for your ticket, make your check payable to Paul Vohsing, our new committee treasurer.

We look forward to hearing from all of you!

IMPORTANT UPDATE - PLEASE READ

Hi everyone,

Due to additional work responsibilities, Philip Marte' has stepped down as an active committee member. (We'll miss you at the meetings Philip!) Paul Vohsing is now our treasurer, and any deposit checks need to be made out to him.

The questionnaire mailing address is still the same:
% Catherine McWilliams,
4373 Walnut Ave
Long Beach, CA 90807
LBSAHS1978@aol.com

Thanks!

Vignettes of Yesteryear

Greetings!

Stepping into the cool interior of Saint Anthony's, I was suddenly hit with the feeling of being a time traveler. Despite the new paint inside and out, not too much has changed in the SA hallways. The lockers were in the same places, and I think, the same ones we used. The planters in the quad still had olive trees that, for some reason, didn't appear any larger. Missing were the benches we used to congregate on; those have been replaced with small round tables and benches. Little details have changed, but the big chunks are the same.

Does everyone remember Dean Logan's office? Well guess what? That office is now the official SA memorabilia archive.

Now, just imagine Paul and me in that tiny room, sifting through years of dusty boxes and scrapbooks with only two small windows for non-existent ventilation. (This was yesterday when the temps reached 97 degrees!) Imagine too, the laughs we had running across old newspaper clippings, Ocean Breeze School newspapers, and the Purple and White newsletter (all typed on a type writer!) Despite the cramped quarters, the heat, and the dust, Paul and I came away with some interesting vignettes of yesteryear to share with you at our reunion.

For a preview of what we found, be sure to visit the St. Anthony Class of '78 Photo Album.
Paul will be updating the site shortly.

Now we know that all of you must have a photo or two (or more,) from high school events. We also know that you're busy, we all are; but we ask that you schedule some time to find these photographic treasures, and send us copies. We're looking for a well-rounded pictorial history. All of you can help us make that happen. We look forward to your contributions.

Stay cool!

Sign the Guest Book!

Even if you do not have photos to share just yet, do visit the Class Photo Album. Sign the guest book, and see what your friends are saying about you!

WANTED: Nostalgic SA Photos!

Pictures, snapshots, Polaroids, maybe even a short film clip of SA'centric good times are sought. We're gathering images for a reunion slide show, and perhaps, a dvd compilation.

So if you don't mind your classmates remembering you in that way cool '70's hairstyle, then visit: http://mysite.verizon.net/resqirh5/ to send your digital snaps.

Webmaster, Paul Vohsing, welcomes all donations to this project.

Thanks!

Reunion date and other thoughts

Hello fellow Saints!

Our first committee meeting was a great success. We covered a lot of ground, and we are certain that this reunion will be the best thus far.

Here are some quick highlights:

A survey letter will be sent out to classmates within the next few weeks. If we have your email address, you'll get it electronically. Otherwise, we'll send it via post. Please help us out by responding promptly. (One question that you can think about now is: Would you prefer the reunion date to be August 2nd, or August 9th 2008?)

Our reunion will be semi-formal.

We've narrowed the reunion location to be anywhere along the coast between Huntington Beach and Santa Monica. Joy and Brenda are obtaining quotes for suitable venues and will present information at our next meeting. If you have an "in" at a nice hotel that you would like to share, please send information.

Brenda, Paul, and Philip have taken ownership of contacting fellow classmates. You can send inquires/information to lbsahs1978@aol.com. Please do not post a comment with personal contact information on this site. This committee respects, and will protect, everyone's privacy so we ask for your cooperation in this matter as well. Too, if you have a lead and/or information on a missing Saint, do not forward their information unless you have permission from that individual. The best course of action is to directly contact said person and forward the committee's email and this blog URL.

We have also decided that just because someone didn't officially graduate with us doesn't mean that they cannot be invited to the reunion. So, if you know of someone who spent quality time with us, and came away with positive memories (even if they attended S.A. for a short time,) please forward to them this blog and the committee email address. This party is about reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances; we welcome all.

At a later date we will post the names of our lost Saints. In the meantime, please help us spread the word of our reunion! Thanks a bunch!

Updated Committee list

Committee members as follows:

Brenda Caplinger
Philip Marte' (treasurer)
Brendan McDougall
Catherine McWilliams (secretary)
Joy Orduna
Paul Vohsing
Maria Weston (facilitator)



First committee meeting is this Saturday, April 21st. More information to follow.

Need one more committee member

Hello fellow classmates!

We are in need of just one more committee member to bring our number up to seven. Interested in donating your time and ideas? Send Catherine and me a note (lbsahs1978@aol.com) and let us know!

Also....are you in touch with one, two, or more classmates? Send out those feelers! We have a lot of blank spaces on our class roster that we need to fill. Help us out!

thanks!
maria

Need contact information for class mailing list

Hey all,

Ms. Tucker, director of Alumni affairs at SA, was kind enough to forward to me the class roster, such as it is, with names and contact info as input some 10 years ago+. You can bet that some of the information is outdated, or just plain missing.

I went through our yearbook and added the missing names. There were quite a few as it turned out.

So here is where all of you come in....tell me with whom you've been in contact. Here's what we're looking at, out of nearly 200 names, I have 8 confirmed addresses and emails. Clearly there is a lot of work to be done. Your help is greatly appreciated!

thanks!

p.s.
You don't have to post your personal information here either...you can email me, or Catherine.

Forming Planning Comittee for SAHS 30 yr Reunion!

Greetings all,

Already it's 2007, which means, (for those of us that plan ahead,) it's time to start thinking about our 30 year reunion. Now, I know some of you may not be ready to think about such an event because (well, lets face it,) it means we're getting "up there". Personally, I feel this is an opportunity to have a great party and a chance to reflect back on the years since way back when.

So, if you're interested in joining the SAHS planning committee, or if there is one already in the works...contact me or Catherine McWilliams LBSAHS1978@aol.com.

Hope to hear from you soon.