--- In CraftonReunion@yahoogroups.com, damsl@j... wrote:

> I don't know when the NEWS O'CRAFT was first published, but I was on the
staff. In my time it was mimeographed, collated (if more that one double sided
sheet) and walked to each classroom for distribution.
>
> Margery Lynch, '43


Margery Lynch:

Nora Willetts was the faculty member who sponsored the News O' Craft, if my
memory serves me correctly.  Maybe the Crafton Library managed to preserve a
copy?

Jane Kolts, '36

--- In CraftonReunion@yahoogroups.com, "loringejahnke" <loringejahnke@t...>
wrote:

> IMHO, Mrs. Chess could outdo Martha Stewart in spades because Mrs. Chess was
practical. Mrs. Chess did not tell us we must make zippers from scratch---"Just
take all the little teethy things on this side of the zipper and align them,
offset, with all the little teethy things on that side of the zipper and roll
them together." With Mrs. Chess, we just had to learn to install a zipper.
>
>
thankingmrs.chessforteachingmenevertomakebakedalaskaagain,iamloringejahnkesaying\
ciao


I like Martha Stewart.  I like watching her do stuff.  I loved it when she was
on David Letterman and said,"How do I keep coming up with this crap?"

Wasn't Mrs. Chess wonderful?  I remember making pancakes and I also remember she
showed us some upholstering - I think she was trying to cover a chair or
something.

But what made it more memorable than anything else was running back and forth
from 2nd ward to the high school.  Rain, snow, whatever, we hustled back and
forth.  I remember the snow being packed on the side streets that we would take
and slipping and slilding along - then over the bridge, where you could look
through the planks at the train tracks far below.  You're right - trying to
share this with my daughter would result in a lot of eye rolling and deep sighs.
Probably just what I did when I had to listen to my dad talking about his long
walk to school. oh well.

Donna Meyers Koenig,'71

Reading the memories of Alma Chess, reminded me of many a Home Ec class at
Second Ward..... We walked from the High School, to Second Ward to practice
cooking and sewing...plus, cleaning up afterward ... that meant putting in a
washload of laundry, tea towels and aprons..... I remember specifically, that if
the Cooking project of the day was not able to be completely prepared in the 1
hour (I think that's how long it was) ... you would be outside walking your
project around the school yard to cool it off....... I seem to remember a Lemon
Meringue pie that "had to be eaten"before the end of class....... We whipped it
out of the oven, carried it outside on our home-made pot holders and took turns
walking it around the building until it cooled...... During the walk the fluffy
brown tipped topping, slowly and steadily shrunk to the middle of the pie until
it was maybe the size of a tan and white tennis ball....... all 5 or 6 of us in
the "team" choked down every bit of that pie......... I've never made another
one ... to this day........ Thanks Mrs Chess...... I also remember an
unfortunate Short Rib Stew incident, involving a pressure cooker..... but that's
another story.......

Lynda Dysert Wojanis, '65

I just wanted to be the first to extend "Holiday Greeting's" to all and wish
everyone the best in the coming New Year.

Martha Stewart Special, next week...

"How to Cook up an Alibi and Make Bail"

LOL!!!

Love and memories,
(John) Lanny Hill, '65

Another Cougar is gone.

Bob died early this morning, after a valiant battle with Alzheimer's disease. 
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 6th.  They will be 3 PM at
our church, Covenant Presbyterian, here in Auburn, Alabama.

It is noted that is the 73rd anniversary of the death of his Father, killed by a
robber at the bank in Oakmont.  Curious that it has worked out that way.

We are rejoicing that Bob now has been freed from his prison of Alzheimer's and
has joined all the saints rejoicing together at the throne of the One whose
birth we celebrate, later this month.

Bob served in the Merchant Marine, during WWII, helping ferry the armaments
necessary for D-Day, from the U.S. to Europe, aboard unescorted munitions ships.
He was thrilled when he subsequently gained Veteran Status and will be interred
with those honors.

Ruth Lynch McFarland, '40

I heard a very funny joke I want to pass on.

After a night at the bar, a drunk was showing his new apartment off to a friend.
In his bedroom they noticed he had a large brass gong over the bed.  His friend
said, "What's the gong doing over your bed?"  To that, the guy answered, "Why,
that's not a gong; it is a talking clock."  Squinting at it, the friend asked,
"How's it work?" "Here, I'll show you," as he took the mallet lying along side
the bed and struck the gong.  Suddenly a voice came through the wall, "Hey, you
idiot, it's ten past three in the morning."

Tom Businger, '48

Hello,

While searching the web I came across an NPR Christmas file from December, 2001.

http://www.npr.org/programs/wesun/features/2001/dec/faulk/011212.faulk.html

It's from the gifted storyteller and former radio broadcaster John Henry Faulk,
born Austin, Texas, 1913. He had recorded his 'Christmas Story' in 1974 for the
program 'Voices in the Wind'.

I thought it was really read well and that others might also appreciate reading
along (the text is there, too) while he tells his story.

You'll need to have RealAudio on your computer to listen to the audio file.

Watching the rain come pouring down in sunny Italy

Karl F. Stewart, '68

Hi all,

I read an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer Newspaper about the Midpark High
School Alumni Association.  I went to the site at: http://www.midparkalumni.org
if you would like to see what others are doing with their alumni groups.

A lot of theirs is similar to Crafton Reunion's with a lot of sites for keeping
up to date information on alumni.  But, they do not have a messaging site or the
web site we enjoy.

The alumni gave out three scholarships in 2003 and administers two privately
funded gifts.

One of their funding  methods is selling bricks and larger tiles for a brick
walkway.

This is just what another group is doing.  FYI.  Midpark is a rather large high
school built in the 60's in the Berea School District but actually in the city
of Middleburg Heights

I also installed the complete Dukane School Sound console and speakers at this
school when it was built.  And a Auditorium Sound System for twelve hundred
fifty people.

Tom Businger, '48

It is interesting to read everyone's memories of Mrs. Chess.  Let me add mine.

Do you all remember sewing the circles on paper before you were allowed the
thread?  People made entire outfits while I was still sewing the paper.  And to
this day, I still hate to sew.

And do I dare mention the eggs a la golden rod?

Jackie Dempsey
With No Sewing Ability, '68

Cougs:

PBS has another special called "Rock at 50."  It is a great showcase of
individuals and groups from 50's and 60's.  Check you TV Guide.


Eileen McKeever D'Elia, '66

--- In CraftonReunion@yahoogroups.com, Tom J Businger <tnpbuss.1@j...> wrote:

> I read an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer Newspaper about the Midpark
High School Alumni Association.  I went to the site at:
http://www.midparkalumni.org if you would like to see what others are doing with
their alumni groups.
>
> Tom Businger, '48


Tom,

Thanks for the link.

The Annual All-Years Reunion, eGroup and website have taken their own paths. 
These paths have no pre-defined destination, other than supporting the Annual
Reunion, yet they compliment each other and carry us forward.

Midpark's effort is, of course, different than ours in many respects.  The
similarity in goals, as defined in their Mission Statement, is comforting, but
they are something we have resisted becoming.  That, in a word, is
"Association."

Having an Association seems to have given them the ability to do positive things
in the Community, by giving them a revenue stream to draw from.  We have only
charged minimal admission to the Annual Reunion so that we could pay the bills
incurred and make the deposit for the next year.  Perhaps we might learn from
Midpark?

I would ask that anyone knowing of efforts similar to ours let us know about
them.  While we are happy with the results, thus far, we can always learn from
others.  Heaven knows we don't have all the answers.  We may not even have the
correct questions.

If you know of an interesting effort, let everyone know about it... right here. 
Who knows what we can learn?  Who knows what we might do?  I'm willing to find
out.

Your Friendly Moderator

--- In CraftonReunion@yahoogroups.com, jdempseyl@a... wrote:

> And do I dare mention the eggs a la golden rod?
>
> Jackie Dempsey
> With No Sewing Ability, '68


Jackie

Eggs a la golden rod - that is the first thing I thought of when I saw the name
Mrs. Chess!

What about grilled cheese and tomato soup??????

Eileen McKeever D'Elia, '66

Just another Flor-idiot checking in to wish all Cougs a Happy Holiday
Season!!!!!!!!!

And if you wish to escape the wicked weather in the North -- you can always come
down to the balmy shores of Florida.  We would love to have you (and your
"tourist dollars"  LOL )

Also, want to wish David Malloy a very happy birthday on the 8th.  And may he
have many, many, many more so that we can work the name tag table for ALL future
reunions even if we have to use wheelchairs and canes :):):):):)

Love to all,

Adele Johler Roupp -- 1966

Since the year 2003 is almost finished, I guess the class of '73 skipped the
30th?

Was there anyone in charge of a reunion?

Karen Cumpston Jordan, '73

--- In CraftonReunion@yahoogroups.com, jdempseyl@a... wrote:

> Do you all remember sewing the circles on paper before you were allowed the
thread? People made entire outfits while I was still sewing the paper. And to
this day, I still hate to sew.
>
> Jackie Dempsey
> With No Sewing Ability, '68


I had forgotten the circles 'til you mentioned them. I did finally finish a
skirt with a matching vest, but I was sure at one point that the end of the
school year would come before I did finish.  I too, hate to sew, but I can't
blame it on school. I just find it very boring.  Can't sew well, either, but I
can sew on a button and cut the grass, and pop a roast in the oven.  I also
dislike cooking, but can't remember a thing about Mrs. Chess & food.

I do remember, at one point thinking, "Gee, maybe I'd do better at "Shop," I
wonder if they'd let me take that with the boys?"

When my boys became teens I made sure I taught them to at least sew on a button,
thereby saving their wives from having to do every little thing for them.

I think it's shameful the way work was so sharply divided in the 'old days'
----- Women who couldn't run a lawnmower and men who couldn't even cook an egg.

Judy Davis Kueshner, '55

--- In CraftonReunion@yahoogroups.com, Jordan04340@a... wrote:

> Since the year 2003 is almost finished, I guess the class of '73 skipped the
30th?
>
> Was there anyone in charge of a reunion?
>
> Karen Cumpston Jordan, '73


Karen,

"In charge?"

It must be the Christmas Spirit; I have the need to go, "Ho, ho, ho!"

I tried to contact the person "in charge" to ask her your question. Her daughter
answered the phone and Mommy told her to say she was on the "other line." I then
waited an hour, called back and got an answering machine.  This is the typical
response from your "in charge" person.  Maybe you'll have better luck?

Here's the bad news... Over the past four years I have discovered that just
about anyone can be "in charge" of your reunion. They just have to claim that
they are "in charge" and they are. This can be good or bad, depending on who's
"in charge."  Not so good for '73.

Now for some good news... Our First Annual All-Years Reunion, in 2000, was
actually the result of the combining of the 35th reunion of the Class of 1965
and the 31st reunion of the Class of 1969. Then, we invited everyone else to
join us and started a Tradition.  1969 had a blast and are planning to hold
their 35th reunion in 2004, with us.

May I suggest that your Class ALSO have your 31st Reunion, on July 2nd, 3rd and
4th, 2004?  We would be honored to help host it at the Holiday Inn ~ Airport and
in Crafton Park.

I have sent you our current 1973 Class Roster so that you can contact those
we've already located and fill in the blanks of the MIA's.  That next step is up
to you and your Classmates.  It will take some work, but is well worth the
effort.  '71 and '72 joined us in 2001 and 2002 and '74 is locating people for
2004.  It would be a shame for '73 to miss out on a great time.

Bill Cain, '65

This was sent to me by Sue Hartz Blanton (1966) and I thought it was very good.

I know this is long, but in these trying times we live in I found it well worth
reading. After you read this it makes you glad you are where you are.

Love to all,

Adele Johler Roupp -- 1966

********************************************************************************

A Tale of 6 boys

Each year I am hired to go to Washington, DC, with the eighth grade class from
Clinton, WI, where I grew up, to videotape their trip. I greatly enjoy visiting
our nation's capitol, and each year I take some special memories back with me.
This fall's trip was especially memorable.

On the last night of our trip, we stopped at the Iwo Jima memorial. This
memorial is the largest bronze statue in the world and depicts one of the most
famous photographs in history -- that of the six brave soldiers raising the
American flag at the top of a rocky hill [Mount Suribachi] on the island of Iwo
Jima, Japan, during WW II.

Over one hundred students and chaperones piled off the buses and headed towards
the memorial. I noticed a solitary figure at the base of the statue, and as I
got closer he asked, "Where are you guys from?

I told him that we were from Wisconsin. "Hey, I'm a cheese head, too! Come
gather around, cheese heads, I'll tell you a story."

(James Bradley just happened to be in Washington, DC, to speak at the memorial
the following day. He was there that night to say good night to his dad, who has
since passed away. He was just about to leave when he saw the buses pull up. I
videotaped him as he spoke to us, and received his permission to share what he
said from my videotape. It is one thing to tour the incredible monuments filled
with history in Washington, D. C., but it is quite another to get the kind of
insight we received that night.)

When all had gathered around, he reverently began to speak. Here are his words
that night.

"My name is James Bradley and I'm from Antigo, Wisconsin. My dad is on that
statue, and I just wrote a book called, "Flags of Our Fathers", which is #5 on
the New York Times Best Seller list right now. It is the story of the six boys
you see behind me.

"Six boys raised the flag. The first guy putting the pole in the ground is
Harlon Block. Harlon was an all-state football player. He enlisted in the Marine
Corps with all the senior members of his football team. They were off to play
another type of game. A game called "war." But it didn't turn out to be a game.

"Harlon, at the age of 21, died with his intestines in his hands. I don't say
that to gross you out, I say that because there are generals who stand in front
of this statue and talk about the glory of war. You guys need to know that most
of the boys in Iwo Jima were 17, 18, and 19 years old. (He pointed to the
statue)

"You see this next guy? That's Rene Gagnon from New Hampshire. If you took
Rene's helmet off at the moment this photo was taken and looked in the webbing
of that helmet, you would find a photograph ... a photograph of his girlfriend.
Rene put that in there for protection because he was scared. He was 18 years
old. Boys won the battle of Iwo Jima, boys, and not old men.

"The next guy here, the third guy in this tableau, was sergeant Mike Strank.
Mike is my hero. He was the hero of all these guys. They called him the "old
man" because he was so old. He was already 24. When Mike would motivate his boys
in training camp, he didn't say, 'Let's go kill some Japanese', or 'Let's die
for our country.' He knew he was talking to little boys. Instead he would say,
'you do what I say, and I'll get you home to your mothers.'

"The last guy on this side of the statue is Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian from
Arizona. Ira Hayes walked off Iwo Jima. He went into the White House with my
dad. President Truman told him, 'You're a hero.' He told reporters, 'How can I
feel like a hero when 250 of my buddies hit the island with me and only 27 of us
walked off alive?' So you take your class at school, 250 of you spending a year
together having fun, doing everything together. Then all 250 of you hit the
beach, but only 27 of your classmates walk off alive. That was Ira Hayes. He had
images of horror in his mind. Ira Hayes died dead drunk, face down at the age of
32 ... ten years after this picture was taken.

"The next guy, going around the statue, is Franklin Sousley from Hilltop,
Kentucky. A fun-lovin' hillbilly boy. His best friend, who is now 70, told me,
'Yeah, you know, we took two cows up on the porch of the Hilltop General Store.
Then we strung wire across the stairs so the cows couldn't get down. Then we fed
them Epsom salts. Those cows crapped all night.' Yes, he was a fun-lovin'
hillbilly boy. Franklin died on Iwo Jima at the age of 19. When the telegram
came to tell his mother that he was dead, it went to the Hilltop General Store;
a barefoot boy ran that telegram up to his mother's farm. The neighbors could
hear her scream all night and into the morning. The neighbors lived a quarter
mile away.

"The next guy, as we continue to go around the statue, is my dad, John Bradley
from Antigo, Wisconsin, where I was raised. My dad lived until 1994, but he
would never give interviews. When Walter Cronkite's producers, or the New York
Times would call, we were trained as little kids to say, 'No, I'm sorry, sir, my
dad's not here. He is in Canada fishing. No, there is no phone there, sir. No,
we don't know when he is coming back.' My dad never fished or even went to
Canada. Usually, he was sitting there right at the table eating his Campbell's
soup. But we had to tell the press that he was out fishing. He didn't want to
talk to the press. You see, my dad didn't see himself as a hero.

"Everyone thinks these guys are heroes, 'cause they are in a photo and on a
monument. My dad knew better. He was a medic. John Bradley from Wisconsin was a
caregiver. On Iwo Jima he probably held over 200 boys as they died. And when
boys died on Iwo Jima, they writhed and screamed in pain.

"When I was a little boy, my third grade teacher told me that my dad was a hero.
When I went home and told my dad that, he looked at me and said, 'I want you
always to remember that the heroes of Iwo Jima are the guys who did not come
back. Did NOT come back.'

"So that's the story about six nice young boys. Three died on Iwo Jima, and
three came back as national heroes. Overall, 7,000 boys died on Iwo Jima in the
worst battle in the history of the Marine Corps. My voice is giving out, so I
will end here. Thank you for your time."

Suddenly, the monument wasn't just a big old piece of metal with a flag sticking
out of the top. It came to life before our eyes with the heartfelt words of a
son who did indeed have a father who was a hero. Maybe not a hero for the
reasons most people would believe, but a hero nonetheless. We need to remember
that God created this vast and glorious world for us to live in, freely, but
also at great sacrifice. Let us never forget from the Revolutionary War to the
Gulf War and all the wars in between, that sacrifice was made for our freedom.

Remember to pray for those still in murderous places around the world. STOP and
thank God for being alive and being free at someone else's sacrifice.

God Bless.

REMINDER: Everyday that we wake up free and put our feet on the floor is going
to be a good day.

Hello,

I was reading the Guardian Newspaper, England, Dec. 5, 2003, and found this
reference to pre-Christmas salesperson hazards. I thought you might find it
interesting to see how another country is facing its pre-season retail
countdown.

"According to USDAW, the shopworkers' union, workers face an increased risk of
physical assault and verbal abuse in the run up to Christmas. Retail crime
doubles in the six weeks from mid-November and, during this time, shop staff are
much more likely to be stabbed, punched and kicked by thieves desperate to avoid
being caught."

The article went on to point out that in the past, only some corner shops opened
on Christmas Day, but in recent years larger outlets and even some supermarkets
have joined in, a trend which has been bitterly opposed by the USDAW. The union
believes Christmas Day shopping only adds to the violence.

Stores remaining open on Christmas Day won't happen soon in Italy. The Catholic
church has strongly opposed any such effort. In fact, the day after Christmas,
Santo Stefano, is a national holiday, too.

I've also stumbled across something that refers to the U.S. retail industry. As
you probably all know, the median hourly earnings for salespersons in the retail
industry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $7.50. Well, it's
interesting to note that students looking for a little extra income this year
during the Christmas season will apparently be competing for those jobs against
more professionally prepared Americans out of work.

Several papers, along with the Washington Post, reported, "The weak job market
this year has created a larger pool of qualified applicants seeking work in the
retail industry. We're better staffed this year than we were last year at this
time," said a Target manager quoted by WP. "I think I had a better applicant
flow this year. I don't know if that's just people looking for extra Christmas
money."

"More likely", continues the WP, "it's the tepid economy. With more than 13
million Americans out of work, many are willing to take part-time temporary
positions."

I also found it interesting to read elsewhere that because of the number of
applicants to choose from, more stores are doing background checks. Apparently
this goes beyond 9/11 and is an attempt to curb workplace violence. "Employers
have more choices of job candidates when the economy is slow, and now they make
(hiring) decisions based on things that didn't matter in good times when
applicants were scarce. It's resulted in a boom in the employment verification
industry," reported Business First out of Buffalo last week.

Writing to you from a not so sunny Italy
Karl F. Stewart, '68

--- In CraftonReunion@yahoogroups.com, "loringejahnke" <loringejahnke@t...>
wrote:

> IMHO, Mrs. Chess could outdo Martha Stewart in spades because Mrs. Chess was
practical.
>
> Mrs. Chess taught guys, too, in a separate class with no girls which was sorta
strange even in those days.
>
> Who remembers her?


I do.  How many other guys took "Culinary Arts" from Mrs. Chess?

I know Ed McAllister and I did in our senior year. Learned how to sew. We made
aprons and chef's hats. Ed is a teriffic cook and I am sure he owes a lot to
Mrs. Chess for that.  And, for me, it all sure came in handy a year later when I
was 3000 miles from home in the Air Force.

Bill House, '65

--- In CraftonReunion@yahoogroups.com, Roupp Adele M TIGTA <Adele.Roupp@t...>
wrote:

> "The next guy here, the third guy in this tableau, was sergeant Mike Strank.
Mike is my hero. He was the hero of all these guys. They called him the "old
man" because he was so old.


FYI,

Mike Strank was from Pittsburgh. More info is available via the below link:

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/michaels.htm

I highly recommend this book, btw.

Will Aston-Reese
Carlynton '76

--- In CraftonReunion@yahoogroups.com, Jordan04340@... wrote:

> Since the year 2003 is almost finished, I guess the class of '73 skipped the
30th?
>
> Was there anyone in charge of a reunion?
>
> Karen Cumpston Jordan, '73


After reading about the class of '73 NOT having their thirty years reunion, I
want to tell you that the class of '48, along with our late President Tony
Kueshner and the "COMMITTEE," have given our class the gift of EXTRA SPECIAL
reunions every FIVE years during the fifty-five years since our graduation.

They did all of the planning for the events, the letters and mailings, the pre
banquets doings, and the extra side trips for out of towners to enjoy several
days.  We even had an extra mini-reunion thrown in, during 2001.

Now, our VP Dr. Gib Friday has stepped up to take over for our beloved TONY.  
THANK YOU GIB and committee!!!  Now we will appreciate all your efforts, even
more so.

TO The Class of 1948 "ETERNAL COMMITTEE"

Joan Crum
Agnes Edens Irwin
Dolores Flanagan South
Gib Friday
Clyde Gilson (deceased)
James James
Anthony Kueshner (deceased)
Judy Davis Kueshner, '55
Fr George Leech
Norma Marburger Shields
Pat O'Mahony Schepner
Dorothy Spada Hanna
William (Stan) Stephens
Mary Wengryn (deceased)
Edward Witt (deceased)

and anyone else that helped make our class reunions the best, Thank You.

The post for the '73 class brought it home to me how very lucky we were that we
had selected good people to head us up.  My one daughter's class in Brecksville,
'89,  picked an idiot and they have had no reunions and they are coming up on
fifteen years.

Tom Businger, '48

All this mentioning of Mrs. Chess brings back some memories. Like a bunch of
guys signing up for the class just to see if they would mix us with the girls
class. The plan backfired when there were enough boys to create an all male
class. Bad news for Mrs. chess.

Her patience was tested regularly. Things like cutting the bobbin thread on
someone's machine, so the apron fell apart when a stress was put on the seam.
Going out for a fire drill and coming back 15 minutes later. Telling Mrs. Chess
we had a duck for us to cook. How delighted she was until she realized we were
talking about a rubber duck (traffic cone)... Detention for that one.

And then there was the bread making by us, and grading by the faculty. You will
have to use your imagination here, since I don't wish to upset the faculty that
judged the finished products. They still don't know, and I ain't tellin'.

John Davidson, '68

All,

It is with great sadness that I send the following message.

Mary Jo Owens Herman, age 70, was born in Pittsburgh, PA and had been a resident
of Pensacola for the past 22 years. She died from complications of lung cancer
on Monday, December 1, 2003.

Mary Jo was a retired Registered Nurse who continued to provide her skills and
tender loving care to all. She had a spirit that caused anyone who knew her to
become happy even under what they may have considered bad circumstances. As she
would point out "Don't sweat the small stuff."  Her love of others was evident
as she won the hearts of everyone who was fortunate enough to spend as little
time as a few minutes with her to having been a life long friend.

She is survived by her husband, Karl Herman; her daughter, Leslie Robinson, her
husband Fred, and their children, Michael, Daniel and Katie Robinson of
Blackwood, NJ, daughter, Laura Smith, her husband Captain Steve Smith and their
children, Morgan and Sean of Hollywood, MD, and daughter, Linda Herman of Plant
City, FL; sister, Pat Thompson, Pittsburgh, PA; brother, J. Richard Owens of
Boca Raton, FL.

Memorial service was at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 2003 at First United
Methodist Church in Pensacola with Rev. Fred Zobal officiating.

Mary Jo Owens Herman, '51 had been courageous in her dealing with cancer.
Unfortunately, she lost the battle, and went ahead to her reward. There is no
doubt in my mind that she is with her Lord.  She was frank from the outset about
what the future held.

Mary Jo and Karl's daughters, Leslie, Laura and LInda were all with her, as was
her brother Dick (CHS, '54).

In accordance with her wishes, consider making a contribution in her name to:

First Methodist Church Living Trust Fund
6 Wright Street
Pensacola, FL 32501

Karl is a 1949 CHS graduate; his address:
   Karl Herman
   5 Pamlico Cir
   Pensacola FL 32507

(email: karlwherman@...)

Jane Staaf Lewis, '51

--- In CraftonReunion@yahoogroups.com, Roupp Adele M TIGTA <Adele.Roupp@t...>
wrote:

> This was sent to me by Sue Hartz Blanton (1966) and I thought it was very
good.
>
> I know this is long, but in these trying times we live in I found it well
worth reading. After you read this it makes you glad you are where you are.
>
> Love to all,
>
> Adele Johler Roupp -- 1966


Scott Green '36 here,

Thank you Adele for forwarding it, and thank you Sue Hartz Blanton, for a
beautifully written account of the realities of war. It is a reminder that our
freedoms have been maintained and won by many heroes, often just frightened boys
or girls.

My beautiful bride and I spent the Thanksgiving weekend with our daughter Paula
Jean Green Hustwit, 62' and her husband Jack, in eastern Pa., near Lancaster. As
we drove through our beautiful state we realized how blessed we are.

We watched the Amish farmers riding the highways in their horse-drawn buggies,
refusing to be absorbed by the world, as modern vehicles whizzed past them.
Freedom to choose one's life-style is but one of our many blessings.

We awake each morning knowing there is an abundance of food in our house, and
perhaps forgetting that many peoples in the world have neither house nor food.

We have freedom of speech, as we witness in these daily posts.

We can disagree with each other, with our president or our government, and have
no fear of punishment.

We have our God-given gift of choice, (Free Will), which allows us to decide for
ourselves what we will do, and whom or what we will worship.

Yes, our freedom has been fought, won, and maintained by many before us.

Therefore I can state my personal opinions, and you can agree or disagree.

A forgiving God has blessed America.

And finally, as a Christian, preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, I
thank Almighty God for his message of Love, Peace, and Salvation.

A blessed Christmas to each of you -

Scott and Jean Green

--- In CraftonReunion@yahoogroups.com, jcjwalt@a... wrote:

> DROP A WAL-MART ON 'EM!
>
> Nobody can resist low prices.....
>
> Jack Walters, '69


Hello,

I've become fascinated with retail. I think consumer buying habits reflect our
economic situation better than any government statistic does. Can you imagine
leaving University 30 or 40 years ago and your expectation for the future was to
shop at Wal-Mart?

I was reading the New York Times this morning (Saturday) and was glued to the
screen as I read about Wal-Mart in Mexico.

The NYT writes, "Though it came to this country only 12 years ago, Wal-Mart is
doing more business — closing in on $11 billion a year — than the entire tourism
industry. Wal-Mart sells $6 billion worth of food a year, more than anyone else
in Mexico. Economists say its price cuts actually drive down the country's rate
of inflation."

Talk about dropping a Wal-Mart on 'em! The next thing we know David D. Glass,
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc. and who has been with Wal-Mart since 1977, will be running for
President of Mexico with the 'Partido Revolucionario al Detalle' under the
Wal-Mart slogan "Respect for the Individual, Service to Our People and a Desire
to Strive for Excellence."

The NYT went on to say, "Global expansion has helped make Wal-Mart the world's
biggest company in terms of revenues, with $245 billion in sales last year — a
sum greater than the economies of all but 30 of the world's nations." There are
194 countries in the world.

"Wal-Mart says that it treats its Mexican employees so well that the workers
want no union, and that it pays its workers better than do its Mexican
competitors," says the NYT. "However, in the United States, a unionized
supermarket worker makes, on average, about $19 an hour. At Wal-Mart, where
there are no unions, that worker makes about $9 an hour. In Mexico, for a newly
hired Wal-Mart cashier, the pay stub reads about $1.50 an hour."

I guess it's going to be awhile before we have a trend of reverse immigration
with Mexico.

Here in Italy, I still have the Saturday outdoor market down the street that
sells locally produced, and imported, fresh produce at a really good price.
Clothing in Italy is generally expensive, though. What with the prices they
charge you here for underwear, you'd think you were buying a pair of trousers
for your Sunday suit.

Waiting for 'em to drop Wal-Mart on Italy so I can buy some new clothes
Karl F. Stewart, '68

Cougs,

Happy Holidays!

Just lettin' yunz know the "Crafton A Town We Once Knew" website is updated for
December.   New pics, on the front page, of CHS in this season's first snow. If
you click the pics you'll get a bigger picture.  Here's the link...

http://www.craftonreunion.org/catwokbeta2/front2/front2.html

But wait, there's more!!!

Under "Eclectic Links & Fun Stuff" on the front page you'll find a TON of new
stuff... Links to Christmas pages, games and more.  Lotsa stuff for young 'n'
old to waste time on the net.

And for every hand that goes up, every one that calls in...

The December Picture O'The Month page is up.  Check out the Bradford Pears on
Steuben wearing white... not blossoms... but SNOW, and LOTS OF IT!  There are
also several pics from the ski slope in Crafton park.  As with the front page
you should be able to get larger versions of the pics by clicking on them.

Last year Crafton's first snow was on December 5th, and we got around 5 inches. 
Same thing this year... coinky dink?  I hope so, cuz I don't want to go through
another winter, like last year, so soon!  My back is already out from shoveling
snow... sigh.

Finally, stop back often this month... there will be lots of updates and more
Christmas features.

willbill Kelton, '68

All,

Ruthie has been through some tough times over the past two weeks. She was first
admitted to Allegheny General ICU and subsequently transferred to Ohio Valley.
She suffered seizures and had complications from her stomach reduction
operation. The operation evidently left her stomach opening smaller than
optimum. There will have to be a procedure to correct this. No time has been
set, as of now.

Ruth's condition has been stabilized and she is doing much better, now. She has
been moved to a new facility where she's receiving some quality care.

Ruthie's new phone number at Kindred Hospital is 412-494-5500 (ext. 4504).

The address is:

7777 Steubenville Pike
Room 504
Oakdale, PA 15071

Glen Miller (Schenley '38)
Ruth Dysert's Dad

--- In CraftonReunion@yahoogroups.com, "Will Kelton" <b_carnes_99@y...> wrote:

> Happy Holidays!
>
> Just lettin' yunz know the "Crafton A Town We Once Knew" website is updated
for December.   New pics, on the front page, of CHS in this season's first snow.
If you click the pics you'll get a bigger picture.  Here's the link...
>
> http://www.craftonreunion.org/catwokbeta2/front2/front2.html
>
> But wait, there's more!!!
>
> Under "Eclectic Links & Fun Stuff" on the front page you'll find a TON of new
stuff... Links to Christmas pages, games and more.  Lotsa stuff for young 'n'
old to waste time on the net.
>
> And for every hand that goes up, every one that calls in...
>
> Finally, stop back often this month... there will be lots of updates and more
Christmas features.
>
> willbill Kelton, '68


Will, et al.

Woo Hoo....

I almost thought I was back in the early sixties, at a store on Liberty Avenue,
listening to a pitch for a Veg-A-Matic.  Remember the guy that had a microphone
on a contraption that went around his neck and rested on his chest?  Now he does
Info-Mercials and is a multi-millionaire... LOL

You've gotten some great shots of the old Schoolhouse.  They really put you in
that Christmas State of Mind.

I also had a chance to check out some of the new Eclectic Links and will be back
so see more.  Like Forest Gump said.... "You never know what you're going to
get."

Thanks for taking the time and effort to put this together for those of us so
far from home.  I'll be back...

Your Friendly Moderator

Yesterday marked the 62nd anniversary of the "Sneak Attack" by the Japanese on
Pearl Harbor.  Truly, a "DAY of INFAMY." But why am I making a note of this day?
It is because I do not want anyone to ever forget the time that Japanese leaders
were in Washington, talking peace moves, while their carriers were far to the
North evading detection by us, so they could swoop down and attack us at Pearl
Harbor, on a Sunday morning, killing twenty-four hundred people.  Their envoys
were quickly exiting our borders at the last minute, before the attack.

Yesterday marked that anniversary and also the date of our country finally
getting involved in World War II with Our President Roosevelt declaring war
against Japan, Italy, and Germany.

In the Sunday comics at the B.C. strip by Johnny Hart, he says, “What do you
think of when you hear the word "INFAMY"?  After sending the bottle message, it
returns with this "OF HOW A NATION, UNDER GOD, CAN FIGHT TO DEFEND ITS
FREEDOM---THEN PASS IT ON TO THE VANQUISHED ---- WITH LOVE"

Frankly, I am getting a little tired of always turning the other cheek.

We won WWII, and then our country rebuilds Japanese and Germany's cities and
factory facilities while our own people sat in dilapidated factories and cities.
Most all of Pittsburgh's steel mills have been leveled and manufacturing of
heavy goods has gone.

We reached a stalemate in Korea.   Seoul is rebuilt as a beautiful new city
along with other cities there, and with a new business climate, but our own
country slides further into decay.

The Berlin wall comes down and East Germany prospers. Yet our own people
continue to lose jobs and our infrastructure continues down the drain.

Now, as our country is almost on the brink of collapse, we can shell out $87
billion to fix Iraq (plus how much has all ready been spent over there?).

The European and Asian trade deficits are climbing ever faster and Washington
now reneges on the steel tariffs.  If you count as they do, more people are
getting jobs, but when you count the thousands that have quit "looking" it is
astro-numerical.

When, does something start to "trickle down" to the people of this country who
are paying the freight?   Do you really think the other countries around the
world will "stoop" to help this country if we were to experience a total
collapse, by financial or a natural cause?

Most of us know the answer to that question.

So, when you go shopping for your Christmas gifts, notice the country of origin.
Nearly all were produced elsewhere.

Our people need to "DECLARE WAR" against buying overseas items.  Will this mean
"NOT BUYING " anything?  Probably so!

We need to send a message to the companies and government that we want OUR FAIR
SHARE of the jobs making the world's products. The only way to get their
collective attention, is through all their "BACK POCKETS"

If ALL unnecessary buying was to stop, (let's ALL park our cars for a day) and
the tax money ceased, to a dribble flow, even for a few days, enough to say, WE
MEAN IT, it is now.  Do what has to be done.

To those of you who will say, "Can't happen," I say yes, then Japan and Germany
did win the "BIG" war only sixty-two years later.  We may have won the battles
but millions of Americans fought and died in these battles for NOTHING.

Tom Businger, '48

Hello,

Today's 'another' holiday over here. It's the Immacolata Concezione. So I've
been surfing a little. And because we've been talking about food, actually
Wal-Mart, there's this video online I just found that some of you might find
interesting. I thought it did a good take on Matrix, and I love the Matrix
series.

http://www.themeatrix.com/

I remember when I was around 4 or 5 years old my grandparents used to take me
with them down the old Steubenville Pike about 40 minutes away to a farm to buy
fresh chickens and produce. Those were the days when my grandmother used to kill
the chickens in the basement and I'd have to pluck them upstairs in the kitchen.
I wonder how many grandparents still kill their own chickens?

At Ohio University I had a friend who had a farm. One year a woman I was dating
there wanted to have a Winter Solstice party so we slaughtered one of our
friend's pigs. I dug a hole in the ground and cooked it on the hot coals under
the dirt. I started at 5 in the morning and by 9 that evening we had a great
time.

I tried repeating the experience here in Italy one Christmas with a turkey. My
family and I had just moved into a house that I was still renovating. The
electricity kept going out every time I switched on the oven. So I went out and
dug a hole in the soon-to-be vegetable garden and did the ritual all over again.
That night with flashlights my kids and I dug up the turkey. It was still as
cold, if not even colder, as it was when I had put it in.

Bummer. I think we ate canned beans that night.

Buon appetito
Karl F. Stewart, '68