See, I knew the cub would be useful someday. . .

HI,

The Alex Golf Course has put aside August 26th (Sunday) for us with a 1:00ish shotgun tee time. Thanks to Tom Obert being a member, our greens fee including cart will be $58.58 which is a bargain. Please let other classmates know about this and encourage them to let me know if they're playing with us. This will include non'65ers as this is a non reunion year and open to all.

Thanks,
Sara

An unabashed request for your money

The trailboss got this request for money on his computer today, along with an opportunity to assist a Nigerian in recouping lost millions; a special deal on male hormones; and a chance to lose weight by eating a lot of food.

Nonetheless, we thought this request particularly blogworthy. Read on, oh Alexandria boomer.

If you can read this, you should thank the Alexandria public school system. If you can read this on your very own personal computer, you should thank the Alexandria public school system for enabling you to become so successful. If you can read this on your very own personal computer while flying in your very own private jet, please include me in your will.

The following e-mail message (and letter attachment) from Paul Donley, Executive Director, Alexandria Area (School District 206) Education Foundation, provides information as to how you can best thank the Alexandria public school system. Your contributions to the Foundation will help finance such as electron microscopes for the 3rd-grade science class and space shuttle rides for the 11th-grade astronomy club. OK, a bit of hyperbole. Seriously, the Foundation's funds will be used for whatever purposes the Foundation board determines best address the needs of the school district (in consultation with the school district, of course) - to include anything from equipment to major curriculum initiatives. [The need for an education foundation is not unique to Alexandria - there are many throughout the state and more are being created all the time. In fact, our relatively novice foundation recently received inquiries from two other school districts as to how to establish such foundations!] We're going to have some fun too - for example, the Hall of Fame luncheon on Homecoming Day.

So please pass this message along to fellow alums, class blog sites, and class reunion committees. Mr. Donley, his appreciative board of directors, and, most importantly, all current and future students thank you.

Sincerely,

Tom Obert
Cub Reporter, and personal valet to Mr. Donley

(Photo by Obert -- his work steadily improves -- of School Superintendent Terry Quist -- Class of '71 -- and Mr. Donley. )

ALEXANDRIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATION FOUNDATION

The School District 206 Education Foundation was established to promote and develop the educational assets of our community. The goal of the Foundation is to raise $1 million over five years to support a wide range of activities to include student programs, literacy grants, and K-12 curriculum initiatives.

The short-term goal of the Foundation’s advisory committee is to raise enough money for operating expenses. These funds will be used to initiate communications, fund raising, alumni relations, and events, such as a hall of fame event (to honor distinguished alumni). Ultimately, of course, the goal of the Foundation is to raise an endowment fund large enough to finance its mission solely from interest earned on that fund.

Through its affiliation with the Minnesota Community Foundation, which manages the fund, School District 206 Education Foundation offers a full range of charitable giving vehicles and access to gift planning assistance. Contributions can be made to:

School District 206 Education Foundation
P.O. Box 308
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308

Your contribution will have a long-term, ongoing value for the students of Alexandria Public Schools. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,


Paul Donley
Executive Director

We get roses from California

Sara Sevey knows that the seasons don't change drastically in her part of California, but she gets spring fever like we do nonetheless. Here are some roses from Sara to all of us.

Take a break Paul; you outlasted that poplar

Are you sure those trees have to go? Heck, Paul Donley is older than they are and he's still standing.

The Alexandria Golf Course opened today. The superintendent, Donnacha O'Connor, took members of the greens committee, Paul Donley and Tom Obert, on a tour of the course. This august event triggered a terse posting to the internet with these photographs to document it. The poplar trees on the course, planted about the time we boomers were getting ready to graduate, are rapidly coming to the end of their normal life span - Donnacha now spends most winters culling dead and dying trees.

"This is changing the look of the course - whether or not for the better is a matter of personal opinion but dead trees have to be removed," Obert asserted, thereby taking a uncharacteristically middle of the road position on the thorny issue.

Paula was wondering. . .

Hi Stan,
Glad to see that the blog is back up and running. I really enjoy reading all the entries. Sorry to hear about your Mom's health problems. I hope she is doing better.
I was wondering if some of our classmates that live in Alex would be able to give me some info. My Dad had to move into Knute Nelson Nursing Home permanently this last winter. We have some of his furniture in storage and are wondering if there is someplace in Alex that will take furniture donations.
None of my siblings live in Alex so we don't know what type of agencies are there. I remember a couple of years ago in the spring when Dad sold his house and moved into assisted living there was some type of community "garage sale" to raise money for charity and they were happy to take household goods.
Does anyone know if that is an annual event? Any information would be greatly appreciated. If anyone has info they can email me directly at phanson2@qwest.net

Thanks for your help.
Paula (Widstrom) Hanson

Look in the archives

Tom Obert writes:
If one revisits the blogsite coverage of the Museum opening (August 2006), there is a photo of Virg and Jeanne Batesole looking at Myron Sahlberg's oil painting "Lady of the Lake." At the time, there were some inquiries (OK, I think it was Sara) as to the possibility of obtaining reproductions of that painting.
The Museum has announced that 16 x 24 reproductions as a giclee print on canvas are available for $250, with a limited number signed by the author. You can contact the Museum, which opens on May 1, at www.mnlakesmaritime.org - worth the perusal regardless - for more info.

Please have a thought for Mom

She's at the Douglas County Hospital right now. She's 86, soon to be 87, and she's had a tough patch. Here's a picture of Mom last Thanksgiving.

She's had a difficult convalescence from a nasty leg break a couple of years back and she was so looking forward to a Happy Easter. Things didn't quite work out that way, she fell on some ice, and now she's understandably discouraged in her hospital bed.

She's always had a lot of pluck and courage and we're counting on that in the weeks to come to bring her through this latest challenge.

Send her a card at Beverly Rolfsrud, Douglas County Hospital, Alexandria, Minnesota, 56308.

She'll appreciate it. Tell her she needs to get back on her feet.

The Cub produces ART!

This is the finest image ever presented to the blog by Tom Obert since he sprung for a digital camera. So says the Trailboss and his Grade School Mate, Lorlee Bartos. Actually, I haven't checked with Lorlee yet, but this is really good, Tom. I hope it inspires others to submit good stuff to the blog.
I also appreciated your story about going to a fancy restaurant on your basketball road trip to Atlanta and paying $20 for . . . WATER. Makes you wonder what all that water would be worth in your photo of the Georgia Aquarium? And what could you get for Lake Darling?
For you aquarium fans... those are grouper in Tom's award winning photo, above. Don't think they are even distant relatives of the walleye, but could be.

The Trailboss started it. . .

Boomer Grandkids. . .

Here's Jim Van Amber (Class of '64) with Eric and Susan Van Amber, two of his seven grandchildren. The trailboss started this with his Easter picture of his grandchild (below). So, have at it boomers, let the grand kid derby begin! Hey, it's better than a picture from the cheap seats at the Final Four. (Sorry Tom, THAT was a cheap shot. I will present one of your photos as a true work of art, once I get the okay from Lorlee). TB

Happy Easter, all you Boomers!

From Emily

11 months

An Ode to Lorlee from the Cub

We left for Atlanta and the Final Four almost 2 weeks ago - it had been over 70 here and all the snow was gone when we left. We drove through Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee enroute - all was green and increasingly leafier enroute, with the rosebuds in bloom from Kentucky through Georgia.

We returned home today to find 9 inches of snow on the ground with predicted below ZERO windchills tonight.

Hell, I didn't look that good in shorts anyway . . .

Pray for Billy, son of the late Peggy Watters

Missing man likely in river, police say
Patty Wicken sends this message:
Prayers are needed for Billy Fiebranz, the son of the late Peggy Watters, Class of '65. Billy, who was raised in Alexandria, is a handsome, talented young man who has overcome great hardships in his life.
From the StarTribune:
Early in the morning eight days ago, William Fiebranz was at the Fridley tackle shop -- Thorne Bros. Custom Rod & Tackle -- that he had helped turn into one of the best tackle shops in the nation. He has not been seen since, but fears are that he's in the Mississippi River.
On Thursday afternoon -- after Fiebranz, who is paraplegic, was reported missing by his wife -- a Sherburne County sheriff's deputy found his pickup truck at a boat landing off of state Hwy. 24 near Clearwater, Minn.
His wheelchair was found partially in the water, leading police to think that Fiebranz, 38, went into the river. It was unclear as of Tuesday how that would have happened, Blaine Police Chief David Johnson said.
Police had no reason to suspect foul play, he said. Fiebranz's wife, Pamela Fiebranz, told police there was nothing about her husband's behavior to indicate that suicide was a possibility, Johnson said.
Police don't think he was there for sport, the chief added.
Two days of water searches by the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office and an aerial search on Monday by the State Patrol found nothing. Pamela Fiebranz, reached at home, said simply: "We ask for everyone to pray for him."
In August 2005, Field & Stream magazine named Thorne Bros. Custom Rod & Tackle one of the 10 best tackle shops in the United States, saying that it had carved out a reputation as the "muskie palace" of the Upper Midwest.
About 7 a.m. March 27, Fiebranz was at Thorne Bros., conversing with his business partner and their co-workers, Johnson said, and giving no signs then "that there was anything abnormal going on."
Police have deemed his disappearance as suspicious because it was considered uncharacteristic for Fiebranz to go somewhere without letting anyone know his whereabouts. He also was not answering his cellphone, authorities said.
Johnson said this week that he wasn't aware of any new search plans. The river is moving fast with the springtime thaw, he said, and there is a lot of debris in it.Authorities probably will wait until there is a sighting, Johnson added.
Anyone with information about Fiebranz's disappearance is asked to call Blaine police at 763-785-6168 or Anoka County dispatch at 763-427-1212.

Sevey Open getting organized, join in

Hi Stan,

I'm so glad to see the blog up and running again. I truly checked it weekly.

Would you let people know that we're putting together another golf outing in mid-August and have them contact me at ssevey@yahoo.com if they want to join us.

Thanks,
Sara

Thank you, Sara. And thanks for the reminder. I pulled some 2005 file photos and want to encourage everybody to join the fun in 2007. It is open to all skill and experience levels, of course (Remember, the Sevey Open was Harland's first time) and the objective is an enjoyable afternoon and evening. You and Jim always do a great job organizing this event for us. -- Stan