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Volume 3, Number 2,
September 1998
MIDNIGHT
SUN ONLINE
-The Online Newsletter for
Robert E. Peary High School Alumni-
MSO WEB SITE - http://www.pearyhs.org
INTRODUCTION
Greetings Huskies!
'Tis Autumn.... the start of a new school year(???!). Sorry, I'm a week overdue with this newsletter... oh how time flies when you're in "Sin City"..... and having fun! Forgive me. It's the desert heat.
Our condolences to Sue Kenison Wilson (1976) whose father Stanley E. Kenison passed away on September 1; and to Brenda Clark Merson (1969), James Clark (1970), and Bill Clark (1976), whose mother passed away on September 8 after a long, courageous fight. May each rest in peace.
Recovery wishes to Buddy Clay (1978) who was diagnosed recently with leukemia.
Our thoughts are with Ken Roseman (1969) whose sister, Diane Bieber, recently underwent breast cancer surgery.
And we hope that Shelley Moran is quickly recovering from her surgery.
A special welcome to Fran Scolnik Block (1971), who recently joined us online. As most of you know, her son Aaron Goodrich was a victim of the still-unsolved Starbucks murder in Georgetown. We continue to hope for a resolution to this crime.
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From Harriet E. Ashmore patkip@aol.com, Peary mom: The father of one of Peary's students who was killed in Vietnam has asked me to locate the plaque that was in front of Peary with the names inscribed of the boys who were killed there. I drove up to Peary, but the front was blocked off. I have asked and phoned, but no one seems to know. Of course, this father is devastated and was searching with perhaps a connection to Peary. I am the mother of a former Peary student, Kip Ashmore, '67, hence I spent quite a bit of time at Peary. Thank you for any information.
Reply from Jim Hardman (1976): I was just up at Peary and spoke with the site superintendant. As you may be aware, the site has been leased by the Hebrew Academy of Washington. She informed me that, with all of the other vandalism at Peary, she was uncertain as to whether some Peary Alumni had secured that memorial plaque, along with other commemorative items, or if it had been stolen. The only remaining Peary-specific item was a large school seal inset into the entryway, inside the school. The evidence of vandalism which I saw from inside the entryway was, frankly, astounding.
I am hoping that an query will appear in the next Midnight Sun Newsletter, which would inquire as to any knowledge of the whereabouts of any of these plaques, or other commemorative items. If anyone knows where these items are, hopefully they can respond. Ideally if these items can be located, their location can be posted on the Peary website.
I note that on the page http://www.pearyhs.org/text/phs-fact.htm it does mention that of the plaques on the bell-tower, "they were stripped off and returned to the respective families." However, so far as I know, this would have been true of only those plaques listing individual deaths of students attending, and of staff serving in the school at the times of their demise. Of the Vietnam Memorial plaque, there is no mention made.
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If you can assist in locating these items, please let us know. Also, many have been asking where all of the trophies and awards have been stored. Possibly the county has these items in storage. It would be nice to find out if anyone has the resources for this. Thanks!
Also, most of you know that a complete set of Polaris yearbooks are available for browsing at Aspen Hill Library. Another archive resides with the county. Please, please, please people.... the yearbooks at the library are being abused.... pages torn out, the books written-in, vandalized. Please respect our "heirlooms" — keep them in good shape for others to enjoy, okay?
A reminder that our postal address has changed. Please address all correspondence, photos, and donations to: The Midnight Sun Online, 3428 Winterhaven Street, Suite 201, Las Vegas, NV 89108-5055. Donation information is online and all that is received goes towards the maintenance of our pages and the website server account. A $125 donation was recently received from a 1976 alum, which is very much appreciated. That covered approximately 1 month's worth of the Peary server account (our website) and maintenance. Besides the $500 I'm still out from last year's Holiday Party, I cannot continue paying for this effort on my own — so all of your donations are very welcome at this time!
REUNIONS: The Class of 1968 is holding its 30-Year Reunion on Saturday, September 26, 1998 at the Bethesda Hyatt. Picnic to be held on Sunday — details online in the Class of 1968 section. The Class of 1978 held its 20-Year Reunion in August. We still look forward to posting some photos from this event when they arrive. A Class of 1973 alum has offered some photos from their 25th, and we expect those shortly.
COLORADO GATHERING: Another Rocky Mountain Gathering on Saturday, September 26! Contact Ron Bostwick (1977) in Boulder at 303/443-9977 for the details — hope to see you Colorado alums there!
HOLIDAY PARTY: There have been only two alums interested in assisting Maureen Difulgo Bladen (1976) with this year's Alumni Holiday blast. As mentioned last time, I have relocated and will be unable to co-chair the event. Facilities are filling up, and Bauer Rec Center will not be large enough to accomodate the expected turnout this year.
BENEFIT: A benefit will be held for DC firefighter John Carter (1977), who died in the line of duty last year. The Outta the Way Cafe in Derwood will be sponsoring this event on Sunday October 25, the day after the anniversary of this fallen hero's death. Donations for raffles are also being accepted. Please call Gerry D'Ascoli at 301-963-6895 if you can help. Portions of the proceeds will go to the Memorial Fund to assist his wife, Debra, and 8-year-old son, Brian. More details will be posted online shortly. Mark your calendars now!
REDSKINS: If you're on AOL, type-in keywords "Kevin's Corner" to see what 1976 alum, Kevin Brooks has to say about the team in his own AOL Digital City section!
CUPID: Don't forget to catch the premiere of CUPID on ABC, Saturday at 10:00pm, starring Paula Marshall (1982).
MOM'S TALK: Congrats to Lynne Keady Galletti (1978) and yet ANOTHER televised story about the Mom's Talk radio and cable program. They recently were featured on Lifetime's New Attitudes.
Articles for the next issue of the Midnight Sun Online are due Saturday October 24th. Submit your articles and news items directly online when you visit the home page.
Bob Lau, Editor/Webmaster The Midnight Sun Online Robert E. Peary High School