Sunday, November 30, 2008

It's a Small World!

Pam Kirkwood ('64) just forwarded this email from George Covin ('65) - thanks Pam!

Hi Pam And Jon,
While on our anniversary vacation (35th) in Carlsbad, CA over Thanksgiving week my wife and I went shopping in Carlsbad Village. My wife shopped, I watched.

After going through many shops I told my wife Shirley, lets go back to the hotel. She said just this last one. I said OK but I will just wait outside. Well after awhile I went in to find her. I started to talk to the sales person behind the counter. We were talking about how nice the weather is in Carlbad as a opposed to where she grew up. So I asked where that was and she said that she grew up in the San Fernando Valley. I asked where and she said Burbank. I then asked what school she went to. She said Burbank High class of '67. I couldn't believe it.

Her name is Leigh Rugee Crossen.

What are the odds. Amazing.

Take care,
George

Funny Video Clip: Digital TV Conversion

Had to post this funny video sent in by Pam Kirkwood ('64) - Thanks Pam!


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Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope you had a blessed day with family and friends!

David Dupree ('66) 1948-2008

Sad news on one of our BHS alumni. Thank you for the email, Kathy - you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers...



Hi Cathy,
I really am enjoying your BHS newsletters, etc.

I do have some news for you to put in, although it is sad. I have just found out that my brother, David C. Dupree, has passed away at the age of 60. He was the class of '66. We had no word of him for almost 30 years. Long story. Apparently he had recently been living in Tarzana, Ca. Cause of death: cardiovascular disease.

Thanks for all your hard work keeping us all informed about BHS. It is much appreciated.

Hugs,
Kathy Dupree

Monday, November 24, 2008

BHS Bulldog Marching Band & Color Guard

Watch the Burbank High School Bulldog Marching Band and Color Guard perform at the 55th Annual 2008 Arcadia Band Review Festival of Bands held in Arcadia, CA, yesterday, Nov. 22nd - Great job, Bulldogs!


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Sunday, November 23, 2008

Thanksgiving Humor

And from Carol Nicholls Lebrecht, some Thanksgiving fun!

Cathy,
Here is some Thanksgiving humor for the season.



May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.

May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

John Muir Jr High School (now John Muir Middle School)

Today is the 45th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination and I was thinking about where I was on that day. It was 1963 and we, the BHS class of '67, were in 9th grade - some at Luther and the rest of us at Muir. (The other Luther students and all those from Jordan Junior High went to John Burroughs High School.)

I remember standing in the hall between classes when someone said, "The President's been shot!" Stunned by those words, I didn't know what to think. Years later after the movie, "JFK" came out in 1991, more questions arose. Today, I doubt the 'official' story the world was told.

In any case, it is interesting that I just received the following email from Cathy Nicholls Coyle regarding John Muir. I'm not sure who did the graphic, but I remember watching them make it in my art class - a linoleum or wood carving - pretty cool! Thanks Cathy.

Look what I found...

Hi CP:
I was looking through some old paperwork and came across this old John Muir Junior High School Promotion Program from 1964. Thought it would be good to share with our classmates who attended John Muir. Maybe those who went to Luther and Jordan can scan and post theirs too.

Cathy

(Click on program to enlarge)




















--- end ---


A LITTLE MUIR HISTORY...

The Burbank John Muir school building still looks the same from when we went there 1962-1964!



Known as John Muir Middle School today, the school first came into being in 1922 when a separate school for the 7th and 8th grades was organized and called John Muir Intermediate School. John Muir started out with less than two hundred students and six teachers. The John Muir Parent Teachers Association was formed in 1923 and has been an active, integral part of the school ever since. The 9th grade was added to John Muir Intermediate School in 1925 and the name of the school was changed to Burbank Junior High School.

At this time there were 670 students and about 25 teachers. In 1929 the name of the school was changed once again, to John Muir Junior High. The school's original location was at 220 East Grinnell Drive. In 1952, its current buildings were completed and the school was moved to 1111 Kenneth Road.

From 1922 up until the present time, John Muir has had 11 principals. The first principal was Elliot B. Thomas who served for 8 years. Allan H. Burnside served the longest amount of time, 19 years, from 1962 to 1981. Under the tenure of William Kuzma, John Muir once again experienced change, sending the 9th grade to the high school and receiving the 6th grade from the elementary schools, becoming John Muir Middle School.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Emergency Loop

Just received this email from Pam Kirkwood and if you can help, thanks so much.


Hi there Loopers...

We would imagine you are all making ready for next week's Thanksgiving Holidays...We would ask you to remember all of those who have lost so much in last weekend's devistating fires here in Southern California.

Specifically, we have 2 classmates who lost their entire home in a matter of minutes last Saturday night. Cheryl Dibble BHS '64 and her sister Pam Dibble '65 lived at the Mobile Home Park in Sylmar that was almost totally destroyed...Pam and Cheryl got out with only the clothes on their backs, their pets and a couple of important items. Everything is GONE!

I just talked to Cher this morning. They are temporarily staying with an old friend from High School, Phill Hayes '65...Cher related to me the horrors of Saturday night...What a nightmare for all...They will probably be going back tomorrow to sift through the rubble and ashes...

I told her that in these times, we all have to help each other. She said that "prayers" were what they needed most and I told her that went without question. I told her that I would alert the "Loop" and we would see what happens.

Cher was able to buy some clothes and the insurance company told her to keep all of her receipts...We are thinking that probably the most useful things to help them get back on their feet would either be cash donations or gift cards...If any of you feel you can help, please send your donations to:

Cheryl and Pam Dibble
c/o Phill Hays
26588 Shakespeare Lane
Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381

Cher can be reached on her cell phone:
(818) 205-5876

They managed to get their laptop out when they evacuated and can receive email at cwolf11@ca.rr.com

Not sure how often they check it, as they are still pretty much in shock and are busy contacting insurance companies and figuring out what to do next.

Thank you for your prayers and any help you might be able to give, Loopers...

Take care and a Blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours...

Love, Pam and Jon

Saturday, November 15, 2008

More California Fires

November 16, 2008 UPDATE
CLICK HERE to see maps showing locations of the fires.

We continue to pray for families and firemen and women who may be in harms way.


View Larger Map


Original Post
Folks, let's continue to pray for safety and protection for those in danger of fire. Just received this email from Cathy Nicholls Coyle:

Subject: The Sayer Fire is threatening Santa Clarita!

Hey CP: We are being threatened by fire again! We were suppose to go to a Memorial in Burbank this morning but couldn't go because they closed the 5, 14 and 210 Freeways. We would have to go to Ventura and then drive back to Burbank....

Attached is the Santa Clarita Emergency Notification link:

City of Santa Clarita Emergency Information

Photos from Cathy's backyard









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View Larger Map

MORE VIDEOS

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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Veteran's Day Memorial Ceremony

Thanks Cathy and thanks Mike!!

Hey CP:
Yesterday at the Veteran's Day Ceremony at McCambridge Park I ran into Mike McDaniel, BHS Class of 74, and co-author of the Burbankia website.

He had a wonderful display of World War I uniforms.






He said that it was the first time ever for these uniforms to be displayed.





In July 1917, 177 Burbank men registered for the draft. In September, they reported to American Lake in Washington for training. Mike has found the names of 84 of those men. The list is posted below:




















Since Burbank did not keep good records during this time, Mike is hoping that maybe one of our BHS alumni may know other names that he could add to this World War I Veterans list. If you do, please email your information to Mike McDaniel at mmcdaniel@ci.burbank.ca.us.

Thanks!
Cathy NIcholls Coyle

Classic 60's TV: George Carlin

Remember watching George Carlin on TV? His 'Hippy Dippy Weatherman' routine always cracked me up!

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Linda Muruz, class of '66, sent out an email tonight to her class which included a link to the following article on high school reunions which I hope you enjoy as much as I did!



Forty years after high school, a famed writer finds...
You Can Go Home Again
By James Grady
Parade Magazine


Publication Date: 09/28/2008
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This year, 8 million Americans are expected to attend their high school reunions—even though a national survey says 65% of reunion attendees don’t want to go through those years again.

Personally, I couldn’t wait to escape adolescence, to be somebody besides that gawky kid in my graduation photo. Yet, strangely enough, I’m one of those eager faces who showed up at my high school reunion. So why did I—and the 7,999,999 other people—go back?

This July, I finally found out, when I flew to my hometown of Shelby, Mont., to attend a reunion for everyone who went to its lone high school during the 1960s.

My rental car cruised into town along Main Street, where people called me Jimmy, not the James on my business cards today. The Roxy movie theater now has a brick façade, not there when my father was its manager. Old stores are gone, and vacant windows reflect little traffic.

I saw the white box house where I grew up. How could it have been so small? I drove past the home of my unrequited adolescent crush, Linda, wondering if she and her husband would come to the reunion. Sprinklers hissed on the football field where I learned how to get knocked down, get up, and get knocked down again. And looming at the edge of town was the sprawling two-story pink cement building—my high school.

On Friday night, each of the graduating classes met at designated taverns. My 1967 class had 87 boys and girls. A third of my classmates and some spouses (not mine, who declined with a smile) gathered at the Tap Room, a wood-paneled bar decorated with a class banner.

Amid squeals and laughter, I met friends wearing name tags that we sometimes needed. We swapped data about work, children, grandchildren, and what happened to our parents. Heartaches were related in stoic sentences, and nobody—nobody—whined.

We snapped pictures. We marveled at who went to prison and whose environmental entrepreneurship might help save the world. We were proud that Sandy, the woman voted “Most Likely To Succeed,” is now a counselor helping veterans cope with post-traumatic stress disorder. We spoke gently about our own strung-out alums who were not there but whom we hoped still might recover. Nobody dwelled on politics or religion. E-mail addresses got jotted on the back of motel receipts. We kept scanning the crowd to see who came. (Linda and her husband didn’t make it.)

What struck everyone I talked with is how little we actually knew back then. Lorna, a university staffer who was voted “Most Representative” of our class, told me: “We didn’t know who we were.” Nutritionist Mary Jeanne, who’d been voted “Best All Around,” said that she secretly thought she was the only one who was “scared and didn’t have a clue.”

None of us knew that one of the seemingly happiest guys in our class spent his nights using his fists to save his younger sister and mother from his stepfather’s beatings. Now a successful local businessman, he told me: “I thought that’s how it was for everybody.”

Reunions change reality. As one celebrant remarked, “The 10-year reunion is about impressing your former peers—showing them, and perhaps yourself, that you made it. By the 20th reunion, you get to just be yourself.”

Eleven years ago, at our 30th reunion, Wally sought out Randy. He had always felt a special connection, though they’d never dated. He walked up to her and said, “I came to see you.” Then he walked away. “I was so scared,” Randy told me. Two years later, she and Wally married, and they’re still going strong.

Gary, one of the reunion organizers who never left Shelby, whistled for the crowd in the Tap Room to quiet down. His voice trembled as he read the list of those forever gone: “Mike Jodrey, Rick Mauritson, Sue Turner…” We cheered for each name, but we didn’t cry. Instead, our emotions came out in the classic high school reunion hugs—hugs from someone you treasure more now than before. The hug from the woman you can’t remember who says she’d know you anywhere. The hug from an old girlfriend who was so right to dump you, the hugs of those who once shared hairbrushes in the girls’ room. Gene the airline tycoon hugged Kirby the family farmer. Sid the professor hugged Jesse the truck driver.

The hug meant we’re still here.

Driving to the airport, I felt valued and validated, glad I had gone, gladder to be returning home. I clicked on my left blinker. Like any experienced motorist, I checked my mirrors—and saw my old pink high school.

Just one last glance, and then it was gone.

James Grady is the author of “Six Days of the Condor.” His latest novel is “Mad Dogs.”

Friday, November 7, 2008

Vintage Photos of Burbank

Found the following old photos while surfing the internet...

BHS 1950

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Olive Street 1940

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Aerial Trolley Car

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Burbank Public Library - Built 1935

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Burbank Train Station

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Terminal Drive-In Restaruatnt outside Lockhhed Air Terminal, Burbank 1940

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Air Jamaica stewardesses demonstrate the L-1011 at Lockheed plant in Burbank, 1969

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Thursday, November 6, 2008

New England Cruise Report from Donna Luce Neitman

Thanks Donna for the update and so sorry to hear of your injury!! I hope you heal quickly and totally.

Hi Cathy,

Just thought I'd drop you a line and share a few words and pic of the New England cruise I took with Cathy and John Coyle, Cathy's sisters Joan and twin Carol, their mom Katie, Joan's husband Don, my mom and brother Don (class of '70). Does that make sense?

Anyway there were 9 of us. We had a wonderful time sharing lots of laughs, food and drink. We left from New York and ended in Quebec.

On the third day into the cruise however I was in Bar Harbor, Maine shopping with my brother when I stepped off the curb to take a picture and did not see the man-hole cover set a couple of inches lower than the street and down I went fracturing my discal fibula (the little bone on the outside of the foot). The peramedics came and scooped me up off the street and took me to emergency. They put me in a splint cast and the rest of the cruise I was pushed around in a wheel chair. John was a real trouper!! I managed as best I could to keep my "spirits " up with a little help from a "Petite Sirah".

The picture was taken at the welcome aboard dinner. Standing in the back row is me Donna (Luce) Neitman, John Coyle, Cathy (Nicholls) Coyle, Don Dempsey (Joan's husband), my mom Joan Luce and my brother Don Luce. Seated is Carol (Nicholls) Lebrecht, Katie Nickolls and Joan (Nicholls) Dempsey.

Love reading all the stuff on the blog and would love for you to share this with our classmates.

Love from Spokane, burrrr, but I love it,

Donna

November 7, 2008 UPDATE
I asked for a photo showing the fall colors and Cathy Nicholls Coyle sent this beautiful one that was taken by her sister, Carol - thanks Twins!


Here is the photo I was telling you about in the park in Quebec City. Joan is sitting on the bench and I am standing in the park. Can you see us?


November 8, 2008 UPDATE
Carol Nicholls Lebrecht sent a few more photos of the trip - thanks Carol - looks like ya'll had a blast!


Hi Cathy,
My family went on a New England/Canada Cruise in October. Here we are leaving New York City for our 10 day journey.



We had a wonderful time with the Luce Family. Donna had tried to coax Cathy to go on this cruise for a year. We were so glad we did. They were wonderful company.



We went on the cruise to see the fall colors. We were told it was a hit and miss thing. They had been having a lot of rain so the colors were just coming out. Here is a picture of a street in Newport, Rhode Island with St Mary's Church in the background. This is where John F Kennedy and Jackie Bouvier were married in 1953.



This is the Paul Revere statue in Boston. You can barely see the old North Church peaking thru the trees in the background.


We went on a Victorian Walking tour and learned of the "Rusticators" or the famous and wealthy people who came to Bar Harbor to live the Rustic life and built cottages along the waterfront.



Here is some fall color in Bar Harbor, Maine. Donna didn't get to see much of Bar Harbor as she was at the emergency room getting her foot x-rayed.



We visited several ports in Canada. The most colorful was Quebec.



This is the beautiful Montmorency Park in Quebec.


It was a wonderful trip with family and friends. It wasn't long after we got home that my Mom was asking when we were going on the next cruise.

Carol

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Photos from Lindsay, Corby Grueter's Daughter

Received a couple of great photos from Lindsay Grueter, daughter of Corby Grueter ('65) today.

Thanks Lindsay and be sure to click here to see a few more pics of your dad!

me and pops


me and uncle chris and my dad



Email from Lindsay:

Just saw a blog that you had posted desiring more information concerning my uncles Bob's death. Didn't know if I could be of any help.

I'm attaching a photo of my father and I!!! Also one of me, uncle chris
(dale) and my dad corby

Let me know if there is anything I can do.

My reply:

Thanks Lindsay for the wonderful photos... may I post them on our blog? Ya'll look so happy!! http://bhsclass67.blogspot.com/

And yes, can you share a bit more about how your Uncle Bob died? We have that it was July 3, 1990 - is this correct and where was he living at the time? (Pls see our memorial page)

I was sad to learn of his death only a few months ago! In high school, your uncle was a great friend and we laughed a lot together. His father, your grandpa, was my geometry teacher - he too is a wonderful man. And your dad was the heart throb of all us younger girls in high school - hahaa!!

blessings,
Cathy Palmer (BHS class of '67)
Sonoma, CA

Lindsay's reply:

My Dad says hello! I created a mini profile so we can keep in touch. I would love for you to post those pictures...I have soooo many more!!! Corby's not only my dad but my best friend on the face of the planet. My uncle robert died in 1988 not 90 from what my dad tells me! Don't know much more than that... don't remember ever meeting him but I know he was great. My grandma and grandpa passed a few years back as well...actually it's been closer to 6-7 years now.

11/5/2008 UPDATE:
When I asked Lindsay if Chris was another brother, here's what she wrote:

He's Chris DALE...Jennifer Dale's brother. I call him my uncle because he and my dad have been so close all of their lives and there just like brothers. I'm not sure what years they graduated to be honest, i'll have to ask my dad when he gets back from the beach. I know he and chris were gettin up early this morning to go surfing down in daytona where they live. (so jealous)

May 5, 2009 UPDATE
Found Lindsay's blog: http://corbygrueter.blogspot.com/

Be Sure to Vote!

Thanks Stuart for the reminder

My Scottie, Stuart McCleod, wants to remind everyone to get out and vote today!

ELECTION Day freebies abound for voters: Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, Ben & Jerry's for those who vote.

Starbucks: Giving away a free tall coffee to people with proof of voting (or a pledge of having voted).

Krispy Kreme: Giving away free star-shaped donuts with red, white and blue sprinkles (while supplies last) to people with an "I voted" sticker all day.

Ben & Jerry's: Giving away a free scoop in any flavor from 5pm to 8pm to anyone who says they voted.

Cathy Nicholls Coyle

--- end ---

And both Jeanne Barron Aikman ('67) and Pam Kirkwood ('64) sent this to me...

I doubt this will be my last political email but it might be....enjoyand don't forget to vote

;0) jeanne

AND

This one you got to see.....this is just too cute not to share.

This one will put a smile on your face !!! When the screen goes blank, stay on and be sure to watch the very end !!!!!!!

Pam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svhq4C9HhUg

Monday, November 3, 2008

Marathon Results -- THANK YOU!!

1/4/09 UPDATE
THANK YOU!

Hi Cathy - I just wanted to thank you for your contribution to the MS Society in honor of my son running in the NYC Marathon. It was touching to read the donor list and see the names of so many Burbank High friends.

Dave






ORIGINAL POST
This weekend, Dave LeSueur's son, Carl, surpised his folks by running in the New York City Marathon. In the email he secretly sent out last week, Carl wrote, "This is a small way in which I hope to offer some support in return. He will probably think it is ironic that I am running to honor him. He never liked running: he brags about how he joined the high-jump team in high school and would lounge on the pads watching the rest of the track team run until they threw up."

WE LOVE YOU, DAVE!


Hey guys,

I just wanted to let you know, I finished the marathon and I spoke to my Mom and Dad yesterday. My Dad's first reaction was he was mystified how we reached all these people, and then he was extremely moved by the support. Thanks so much for your help!!

I have received messages from some of the individuals who donated and will organize those to forward them to my Dad tonight. I have included a list of the donors, because I thought it might be interesting for you to see how many of your classmates united in this cause! It was truly moving. The donations are still coming in, so the list is not final yet. (some are coming in by mail and a few people are still going to donate on line).

Thanks so much!!

Carl

Adam Rubin
Adam Lindsay
Adrienne Robinson
Alan Landros
Alan Singer
Amanda Berns
Amy Graves
Andrea Moxness
Becky Malm
Beverly Baker
Bill Seager
Bill Ditewig
Bill & Jerri Harvey
Blyden Loutensock
Bob, Carol, and David Ridge
Brent & Judy Harward
Brian Elkan
Brit Meyer
Carl LeSueur
Cathy Palmer
Christi Hays
Chuck Wilcken
Cindy Ford
Craig Smith
Danny LeSueur
David Billings
David Phinney
Deanna Jennings
Debbie Bell
Diana Bartlett
Duane Thaxton
Elaine Gibson
Erin Taylor
Fred Bennett
Fred Ortega
Greg Arend
James Flavin
Jamie Petersen
jeanne aikman
Jenny Babcock
Jim O'Dea
Joanne Yoffee Furer
joel zeitlin
John LeSueur
jon woolf
Joseph Bingham
Kathy Reeder
Kenneth Peterson
Lauren Petersen
Leslie Elkan
Linda Everett
Lloyd Richmond
mark pollock
Mark Ludwig
Mary Ogle
Matthew Solum
Melinda (Mindy) Green (Halls)
Michael MacCaskey
Mike and Barbara Regan
Nancy (Green) Curtiss
Nancy Mitchell-Palmer
Neal Hershenson
Noah Eyre
Offline Credit Card 5/2/2008
Pamela Roberts/Spang
Patricia Betbeze
Paul Dozier
Peggy Kroener
Pete Peterson
Pete & Chrissy Carlson
R. Bruce Lindsay
Richard Ludwig
Rob Ridge
Roger Baton
Samantha LeSueur
Seth Jenson
Shari Goodstein
Shelley McMurrin
Sherri Giessinger Coleman
Stephanie Matsumura
Stephanie Picconi
Stephanie and Jim Price
Steve LeSueur
Steven Ridge
Sue Wildrick-Steffen
Susan Gallant
Tamara Hall
Tim and Sally Bennett
Tracy Bentley
Tyler/Leilani Hacking
Vincent Goddard
William Larson
William McMurrin