Tara is New BHS Student Auditor

Congrats to you Tara! And thanks Alan for the update:

Hi Cathy,

I was at BHS yesterday being interviewed by three current BHS students, all Juniors who were born in 1991. It made me feel so old at 55! All of these girls are students in Dave Thomson's Advanced Placement U.S. History class, so they are smart young women. What made me feel sooo old, among other things(!), was none of them had ever heard of "The Music Man", "Seventy-Six Trombones", Meredith Wilson, Andy Griffith, "The Andy Griffith Show", Ron Howard, "Happy Days", the list went on and on! Also, not helping "feeling youthful", another teacher came by, (I thought he looked middle aged), and talked to us for a bit. When he was ready to leave, he said to me, "I'm so glad to have met you, SIR". When I heard that SIR I really felt ancient!



What I wanted to tell you is that while I was at BHS yesterday the three girls who I met with told me that Tara K., your baby bulldog BHS correspondent, won her election this week to become the BHS Student Body Auditor!


Alan L.

Have you registered on the Centennial website yet?

If you are reading this as a BHS Alumni and haven't registered on Centennial website, this email's for you from Cathy Nicholls Coyle (click here to see who from our class has signed up!)

We need to get more of our class members to register on the Centennial Website! To date, we only have 34 registered.

Please put this link on your blog and tell them how EASY it is to register. They only have to fill in their Name; Login; Password; and Email address. They don't have to put in photos if they don't want to.

Also, tell them to be sure and click on the box at the bottom that asks to display their email address.

Burbank School

PS - Registering does not commit you to coming to the event. Even though we would like everyone to attend!

Thanks. Cathy

In memory of Valerie Jean Olson Smith ('64)

May the Lord bring comfort and healing to the family during this time of loss I pray. Valerie was the sister of Vern Olson and their family lived a block above me on Tujunga Avenue near Bel Aire. Thank you, Pam, for the email.

Valerie Jean Olson Smith

February 16, 1947 - April 9, 2008

Parents: Ralph and Dotty Olson

FIND A GRAVE link

This morning we received some very sad news. We lost our dear sweet Valerie Olson-Smith '64 yesterday, April 9, 2008, in Medford, Oregon.

For those of you who were not aware, Valerie had valiantly and so bravely fought ovarian cancer for the past several years...the same dreadful disease that claimed her sister Voni Olson '61 several years earlier.

Valerie was a true warrior in more ways than one. She had a profound and unshakable faith in God and trusted him beyond measure. Valerie faced years of cancer treatment with a smile on her face and her heart was filled with thankfulness for her every blessing. She appreciated so very much, all of you who so lovingly sent her birthday wishes for the past couple of years.

We will miss her cheery emails and we can only be thankful that she is no longer suffering.

At this time, we have no information regarding any arrangements.

If anyone would like to send a card or words of sympathy to Valerie's family, here is the address:

The Valerie Olson-Smith Family
1558 Cypress Point Dr.
Medford, Oregon 97504

We can only assume that Valerie's Family will also be checking her email address for messages, as well: oregonvjs@yahoo.com

Please join us in keeping Valerie and her family in your prayers.

God Bless

Love, Pam and Jon

--- end ---

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

JULY 14, 2008 UPDATE
Received this email from a friend of Valerie's today - thanks Ray:

Valeria and I grew up in the same church in Burbank. Don Thompson and I were always competing for her attention (he always won) We went to the same college and I was a groomsman in her and Robs wedding. I spoke to Rob on July 2 he is doing ok and moving back to So Cal.

Thank you for the very nice article regarding Valerie and her faith she will always hold a special place in my heart and memory.

Ray Martin 63

Go Fish!

Fishing is something that some people are WILD about and Pam sent this earlier today:

Mallory's Mom, Patti says to tell you thank you so much...It all looks wonderful on your blog and it will help Mallory celebrate!

She also sent this about her brother, Chris Basso BHS '80...He has a couple of sites and guess they are self explanatory...This is for the BHS fisherman!!! Opening Day at Lake Crowley is coming soon...

Pam

I also wanted to see if you could add my brother to one of your loops or maybe Cathy would blog him.


He is class of 1980 and here are two of his links, he drives for the studios, but he is also a fishing guide up at lake Crowley, and opening day is coming up.

http://www.sierradrifters.com/Basso.htm

http://easternsierratv.com/fishing/ (wearing black shirt in this one)

Ever seen a blonde Italian :)


Anyway this is his passion!!!

--- end ---


PENSACOLA, FL
I had to LAUGH because TODAY my daughter who is a fishing nut (has her captain's license) sent me the following pic of Ernie, Linda's boyfriend, who was in the Pensacola paper today! He makes fishing rods for a living - and also here's a pic of Linda and Hannah along with a video from this past weekend on the Pensacola pier:

Sr Bulldog Luncheon - Skate Keys and All!

GREAT! Thanks so much Cathy - I know everyone will enjoy reading this!

Hey CP:
Here are a few photos from today's Sr. Bulldog Luncheon:

Pic 1) Cathy Nicholls Coyle ('67); Sally Shelton Thomas ('68); and Pam Zipfel Kirkwood ('64)

Pic 2) THE SKATE KEY GIRLS CLUB

Pic 3) Sally (Shelton) Thomas's Skate Key and her Mom's Skate Key (BHS Class of '41)

Pics 4-7) THE FEW, THE PROUD, THE MARINES! Gary Smedsted ('64); John Coyle ('65); and Jon Kirkwood ('64)

I spoke with Gary Smedsted after the Sr. Bulldog luncheon today. He told me that his family, including his brother, "Dewey" Smedstad, had moved up North to the San Jose area in 1965. Since Gary had just graduated and eventually enlisted into the Marines, he decided to stay in Burbank. Unfortunately, Dewey died in San Jose, July of 1990.

Also at the meeting, Linda Durkee Johnson, (in charge of the Alumni Drill Team), announced that "any" alumni of Burbank High School is welcome to march in the Drill Team in Burbank on Parade (April 26th); and also in the Centennial Parade in September.

Cathy Nicholls Coyle

Roller Derby!!

You STILL have your skate key??? WOW! And does anyone remember Harry's Roller Rink in Glendale? I remember seeing Paul Peterson from the Donna Reed show there every now and again - he was a cutie - lol!!

Hey CP:

Can you let our alumni know that there will be a Sr. Bulldog Luncheon this coming Monday, April 7th? It will be at the Burbank Elks Club at 11:00 a.m. Lunch is $12.00. Some of us girls will be wearing our old "skate keys." Can you believe it? We still have them after all this time? Are we sentimentalists or what? Thanks!

Cathy Nicholls Coyle




Do you recognize this object? If you rummage around some basements or flea markets, you may encounter one, for they are not rare. Indeed, not so long ago, children often attached one to a string and carried it around the neck. The device is a skate key, and it was used to attach roller skates to shoes.

The skater placed his or her shoe on the metal platform, tightened a leather strap around the ankle, and used the skate key to tighten clamps that grasped the soles of the shoes at the toe. The skate key also incorporated a wrench, or wrenches, that were used to adjust the skate to the user's size and make other adjustments.

LOVE THIS PIC!!








More skating pics with last one from tv's Dick Lane's Roller Derby - LOL!!

Found a video of Woman's Roller Derby - "Rockin' and Sockin' at the Roller Derby!" HA!


source

UPDATE...
EMAIL from Pam Kirkwood (ANOTHER one who still has her skate key - AMAZING!! LOL!):
This blog spot on the "skate keys" and skating is great!!! You guys are just amazing! I have my skate key out and sitting on the desk, so I won't forget to wear it tomorrow!
It is still on an old brown shoe lace...
Love, Pam

SKATING MEMORIES by Cathy Palmer:
I was thinking about how many skinned knees I got over the years - lol!! One painful event was when I got the 'bright' idea to put my dog, Oscar, on a leash while I was on my skates and he pulled me down the street. It was great fun until I hit a bump and down I went - boom and OUCH! Screaming in pain, the neighbors came out and helped me get back home - ahhhh yes, memory lane... hahaaaa!

SKATING MEMORIES by Henny Porter and Cathy Nicholls Coyle:
Hi Cathy,
I had to laugh, when the blog mentioned our skate keys. I still have mine also. It's on it's original shoelace string that I wore then. Funny, how we keep such an odd memento isn't it? When we went to the Roller Rink I could hardly wait until they changed the direction that we were skating because my ankles hurt from leaning in the same direction, how about you? And how about all the fancy skaters in the middle? Nice memories.....
Henny

That's great that you kept your old skate key. My Mom and Dad got rid of a lot of our things when we got married and left their house but I actually did save a few things. I am so glad that I did! I hope you don't mind but I am going to forward your email to Cathy Palmer to put on her blog. She also had another roller skating memory. The memory I have right off the top of my head is how the neighbor boys next door took our skates and made them into skate boards! Another memory I have is that I had some old white (nurse looking) shoes that I used to put on my skates. You could really only have one pair of shoes that you used for your skates because the grips on the skates would make indentation marks on the front of your shoes...
Yes...they were very nice memories.....
Cathy

UPDATE 2

Cathy and Cathy,
Jon and I remembered this song from the 60' or 70's...
"I've Got A Brand New Pair of Roller Skates, You have a Brand New Key''...This is the link for the words...The Last Link is the best...This will be our "THEME SONG" for the Skate Key Club!!! Pam and Jon
http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/ivegotab.htm

Here's another one about the artist...
http://www.superseventies.com/1972_4singles.html

THIS IS THE BEST ONE...HERE IS THE SONG!!!
http://profile.imeem.com/rTxoOuU/music/Gv_3QPcC/melanie_safka_ive_got_a_brand_new_pair_of_roller_skates_you/

GREAT!! Thanks Pam and Jon.
I also found a video below of Melanie singing her catchy little tune!

Tara for BHS Auditor/Treasurer!

Sorry I haven't been updating information earlier but I've been busy with campaign week for ASB; I am running for Auditor/Treasurer.

BULLDOGS SPORTS!
We had a boys f/s tournament here, Harvard-Westlake won.

Today we are playing JBHS away. Varsity at 5:30, JV at 4:30.
We play them again at home on May 1. JV at 3:15, Var at 4:30.

With the girls this past year, Varsity got 5th in league. Our MVP was Tracy Luna. We had other awards also. Our JV team tied for 2nd in league, and they won our JV tournament here. Frosh/Soph was 3rd in league.

RESEARCH PROJECT
For my U.S. History project I will be researching Burbank High Alumni that were in The Burbank Fire Department. I am researching history, and how Burbank High Students changed, shaped, and things they have experienced or accomplished while working for the Burbank Fire Department. If there is anyone you know who is willing to share their experiences and stories please contact me, Tara Karamians at tarakaramians@yahoo.com or call (818) 689-4027.

Some information I would like is:

• The process they went through to become a Fire Fighter, engineer, etc.
• Why they thought it was appealing.
• Pictures.
• And anything else they would be willing to contribute and share.

Thank You,
Tara Karamians
BHS Class of 2009