Would you forget this car?

Note to Charley Olson:
When we visited with Mike Foss in Surprise, Arizona last week, he was asked about a sports car that he was seen in on the class blog back in 2005. It was white and sporty, he was told. A white sports car? Mike had no memory whatsoever of it and said the picture, posted in 2005, couldn't have been of him. Here's the picture. Okay, Charlie, who the heck is in the car? That's you and Mike Foss kicking around in Tucson, right?  It was posted on this blog in July of 2005. Look it up. Is it stolen? Borrowed? What gives? The caption doesn't say. A nice ride, anyway.

Charlie writes:

Hi Stan,
Mike must of been pretty deep in the vino if he can't remember what car it was. Mary and I were heading back home from our winter stay in southern California and stopped for a few days at Mike's, I believe it was 1999 or 2000. Anyway the car is a Shelby Cobra that he bought himself for his 50th birthday, I even got to drive it...WOW! I'm sure he still has it. Anyway that's the story on that photo.
Charlie Olson

Wallweeds report. Finally.

Bev Roers Korkowski writes:

Wallweeds pretty much closed down the restaurant again on Monday at Granite City. We had Kathy, Lynn, Terri, Paula and myself. Had taken my camera but forgot all about it until we left so sorry about that….we look the same as last time, how’s that??

We are meeting again on Monday, March 15, at 12:30 at Granite City Restaurant and then again on April 12, TBD as to place.

These changes were made to accommodate some people traveling. Lynn will be leaving our group in April, hopefully only temporarily, as she is moving down to Memphis to be nearer a son and his family, so once we have our April luncheon, she’ll be gone soon after.

I saw Jerry Teeson last Friday night at a chamber gala and reminded him of the upcoming lunch, but he and his wife were going to be in Arizona on Monday. He hopes to join us one of these days. Now that Dave Serie is retiring, maybe you can convince him to join our group? We women won’t bite…promise!!

This is an old Wallweeds photo from last summer, not from last week when someone forgot to use the camera she brought with her for the purpose of taking a picture of the group. We do what we can. (Ed.)

Re: The Menu

Kaleen writes:There are certainly many items from which to choose. My choices for the reunion buffet are:

Meat: Grilled Pork topped with a beautiful, savory Lingonberry sauce, and Grilled Chicken Breast with Sun Dried Tomato Pesto and Provolone Cheese. Potato choice: Herb Roasted Baby Reds. Vegetable choice: Green Beans Almandine.

It is fun to keep up with Class of '65 activities on the Blog. Thanks to all of you who keep it going, especially Stan who has done such a good job for the past several years. I know there are many more who read it than there are contributors and appreciate the time it takes.

Does anyone know who is "missing" from our class or for whom there is no current address (email or physical address)? As you know, that should probably be one of the first things to find out as the reunion planning gets going.

Now that I am back in Alex after retirement, it is fun to run into classmates in restaurants and stores. I am not good at recognizing people, but some haven't changed. It is hard to believe it has been 5 years since I retired and 4 1/2 since I moved back to Alex. Where does the time go? I remember being amazed at how excited my mother was when she attended her 50th class reunion, and now we are close to our 45th. It just doesn't seem possible that so many years have passed. Enough nostalgia!

Thanks again to you who have kept this blog going.

Your classmate,

Kaleen (Anderson) Hilsenhoff

Dave Serie to retire early

Dave Serie writes:

After 41.8 years, I am retiring early from FMC/United Defense/BAE. I am looking forward to turning the page and moving on to other things -- like more golf, some more coaching. . . and cleaning the house...etc

I told Jeanette that I don't do bathrooms at all. It's too hard getting down with my Titanium knee, but I vacuum well!!
At the 40th reunion, Kathy Sherry Skadsberg, Harland Hoffland, my brother-in-law and me lost a tight golf match to Jim McPhee, Tom Obert, Sara Smith Sevey and Kathy Sherry Skadsberg. I have a conflict the weekend of the 45th reunion in August, but I will try to work around it. We need revenge; how about it?
Nice to see Bud Brusek's daughter doing so well in basketball. I have a sophomore -  Sarah -  playing varsity basketball at Champlin Park; would be nice to play Alex, but we're in the wrong division. Good luck, Bud, to your daughter and her team.
Anyway, looking forward to seeing everyone again. I will try and send a few current pictures.
David J. Serie
Contracts Manager Navy Programs
BAE Systems, Land & Armaments
US Combat Systems
4800 East River Road
Mpls. MN. 55421

Desert reunion in Surprise

From left, Phil Noonan, Mike Foss, Stan Rolfsrud, Brian Berglund, Tom Tessmer and Sara Smith Sevey. Chairman Bob Watson addressed the the group by speakerphone from a wedding party in Iowa, urging everyone to attend this summer's class reunion. Watson said that his daughter had driven him through a blizzard on icy roads to get to the wedding. The car spun out once on the highway. According to Watson, his quick-thinking averted certain disaster. Just as the car went into the spin, he yelled: "Hang up the phone, hang up the phone."

From the canyons of his mind. . .

Tom Obert writes:
A classmate I do remember is a Cardinal fan. I run across Ruth [Helie] Anderson quite often in our comings and goings about Alexandria. She and her husband are occasional mall walkers - and I see them at Cardinal sports events. This year at a girls' hockey game, I asked her if she had a granddaughter on the team (I actually thought the Super Fans were the only non-parents/non-grandparents at girls' games). She said no, they just liked to go to the games. OK! I think that makes her a Super Fan!

Ruth with her twin, Robert Helie

Mall walking this morning we saw a couple we see every day out there. We have always exchanged daily pleasantries as our paths cross during laps. Today they asked if we were going to the girls' hockey game tonight - the section finals in Willmar against Morris-Benson. We said, "Yah, you betcha!" Then, as they were leaving, they asked if any of us had granddaughters on the team. We said they all are - and then I asked if they knew Ruth Helie Johnson, a semi-regular mall walker, who also goes to the games but doesn't have a granddaughter on the team. The wife said, "Ruth was a classmate of mine." I asked, "You were class of '65? Ruth was my classmate, too." Yup, it was Vonita Johnson. Shortly thereafter, as if on cue, Ruth showed up for a walk - I relayed the whole story to her.

Cardinals going to State!

The Alexandria Girls Hockey team heads to the state tournament Wednesday after defeating a tough Morris-Benson team 3-1 last night.
Our man on the scene, Tom Obert, reports:  The game was against an amazing Morris-Benson team - they only have 11 players! Our 3 lines against their 2 lines eventually wore them down.
Michelle Anez scored first for Alex - determined to set the tone early. Alex pretty much dominated play throughout - ending with more than a 2-to-1 shots on goal advantage, but M-B has some dangerous players and tied the scored in the 2nd period.
A big break came later during a scrum in front of their net when a player accidentally (of course) knocked the puck in for an Alex goal, credited to Beth Rindy.
The 3rd period was very intense with just a one goal lead - Alex kept storming their net, and occasionally M-B would break out and threaten our goalie, Stephanie Drown. Steph stepped up and had a terrific game. Late in the game, wee senior defense, Alexis Nielson, did a solo rush the length of the ice and scored on a backhander. That was the game, on to the "X."

Tom's note to Twin Citians: The first state tournament game will be Wednesday. We will be there - with dining plans for Mort's! All are welcome to join us.

Contact Obert for details.

Please help choose the menu. . .

We're going to have a Class of 1965 Buffet Dinner at the Broadway Ballroom on Saturday, August 21, 2010. What would you like featured on the 45th JHS Reunion menu?
----

Sliced, Slow Roasted Turkey with Natural Gravy? or Chef Baked Lasagna with Garlic Bread Sticks? Sliced Roast Beef in Natural Gravy; Grilled Pork topped with a beautiful, savory Lingonberry sauce; Chicken Kiev; Chicken Cordon Bleu; Roast Chicken Breast with Honey Sage Dressing; Beef Tenderloin Tips with a beautiful Burgundy Wine Sauce; Grilled Chicken Breast with Sun Dried Tomato Pesto and Provolone Cheese; Tender, Juicy Barbequed Pork Ribs, and so on.

Now pick the potato and the vegetable. Here's how you do it:

Click on this link to review all the buffet offerings at the Ballroom. Look over the buffet dinners section. Make your choices under the "Two Meat selections, $16.45 buffet option," and then email your suggested reunion menu along with any comments, opinions, ideas or stories to JeffHi1965@gmail.com.

Then we'll determine the favorites from all responses and announce the menu.

You explain it, Sara. . .

John Herdan is wondering:

What fun is it to have a "Surprise" party if everyone knows about it????? (If it was in two weeks I'd be nearby.)

John

Sara says:

Good point, John, except the get-together is in Surprise, Arizona. Where that name came from is a mystery, but maybe Tom will know.
Sara

Did you autograph Tom's book?

He can't remember.

Tom Obert writes:
So, anyway, I'm looking in the yearbooks to identify Mr. Chapman. While I recognized his photo, in no way could I ever put together his name with his picture. Wondering how bad it had gotten, I perused the entire '65 yearbook and was quite taken aback at the number of classmates I have absolutely no memory of - neither the names nor the faces registered any kind of recognition. When I looked at the '63 yearbook, I may as well have been looking at Ruthie's yearbook from Terre Haute, Indiana. So I decided to go through the various classmate signings for clues. Many are now illegible, several leave me clueless (though a normal state), but some were interesting -
The following best summed up my high school "career":

"Tom,
I haven't really had a chance to get to know you, even sitting across from you in English. I haven't got a chance to get to know you. Hope it works out better next year. Til then, good luck in everything you do.
Diane"
[I have no idea which "Diane" - [nee] Hoffman? My only memories of an English class are of ragging on Sara Smith in Ms. Habstritt's class.]

Another brought a knowing chuckle, though it requires further 'explanation' from her:

"I guess Chris took up all my space - anyway. I remember a lot of things about you because we really do have something in common - your mother! Have fun & I'll see you this summer.
As always, Sue Gorham"

And finally, I remember this one to this day, for its uniqueness:

"If you chance to meet a sneezer,
swat him promptly on the breezer,
thus, you stifle his cadenza,
and avoid the influenza.

Rocky Linder"

Desert Reunion

It's all set for the Tessmer event Friday.
Alexandria Boomers will gather at 2 p.m. at Kokopelli's in Surprise, Arizona, to renew friendships, share memories and enjoy the afternoon.
You're invited. Among the attendees will be the elusive Mike Foss, who was tracked down through a nation-wide network of informants.
Going to be fun. We'll bring a camera.

Key Club event

Karl Tegland snapped this picture of his friends at a spring 1965 Key Club function. From left, Ron Olson, Stan Rolfsrud, Gerald Chapman, Connie Bundy (home on a college break) and Mike Bolin.

Minnesnowta? Nope. Dallas, Texas

Lorlee Bartos took these pictures. She writes from Dallas:

We are up to about 8 inches here.    Looks like Tucson is the only sunny place in the country.

 

Lorlee

A Valentine from Levi

Hi Stan,
I thought the timing was right for this photo, at least for the next few days.
This is our Grandson Levi, who is 5 months old.
Stay warm,
Charlie Olson
Class of 1965

The 7th year was at the Holiday Inn

Stan,

I am responding to your inquiry regard l965's 7th year Class Reunion.  I was one of the people on the "planning" committee and it was held at the Holiday Inn. 

 We missed your winter visit to  New Mexico.  We had the margarita's ready and nobody showed!

Have a great day....and thanks to you and Bobby for the great job you do on our "blog".

Sincerely,

Harland Hoffland

Class of 65

The Icemen at Noonan

Can you keep a secret?

There's a special event being organized exactly one week before the class of 1965 gathers this summer. Here's some details we got from our elder Cardinals. It's written by Ron Way. Remember him? The"Skip" Hall mentioned is Merle Hall, we think. Read on.
-------------------------------------------
As Erc Aga would say, "SO YOU KNOW"...

A special Tribute to coach Charlie Basch will be part of this summer's RWI Golf Reunion in Alex.  Skip Hall is the event founder and organizer, and I'll work with him and others to make this a GRAND event that Skip expects will be attended by most everyone who played for Charlie, led cheers for his teams, were Cardinal fans in Charlie's era, or played Clipper baseball with him.    

The Tribute will be the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 13 at the Alex Golf Club, preceded by RWI golf (Charlie will play in the final group).  Two things: you need not play golf to be part of the Tribute, and spouses are welcome. 

Tribute class coordinators are:  Bill Grove ('58), Charlie McDonald ('59), Ron Way (temp) ('60), Steve Longfellow ('61), Skip Hall ('62), and Roger Melaas ('63). 

Here's what you can do:   

1. We want to surprise Charlie, so don't tell him!

2. Mark Aug. 13 on your calendar (the JHS Class of '60 Reunion is that weekend and rooms may rent early).    

3. We need to get the word out; please forward this note and send along e-mail addresses of those who should know about the Tribute.

4. Forward any photos, mementos, or tidbits about Charlie and his time at Alex (Card athletics and the Clippers). 

5. Let me know if you wish to play in the RWI that day; we expect a LOT of golfers and tee times will be limited. 

6. We'll need to raise funds to underwrite a very special gift for Charlie and his wife, Kay.  Several have committed to $250 each; please give what you can.  

Growing on trees?

Grandma and Grandpa Korkowski (Bev Roers) just got back from Florida where they built a tree fort for the grand kids. Here's her note:

Stan: Since I’ve got recent pictures of additional grandkids, here are a couple for you in case you need some “fillers” for the blog one day. These are our Florida grandkids, living in Boca Raton. They are Joseph, almost 9; Ellie Grace, 7; and Andrew 3-1/2. Cliff and I just got back from a 5-day visit last week. The second picture shows the super-duper tree fort that Cliff and their dad built….800 lbs. of cement and over $500 of materials! The kids absolutely love their new second home!

Bev

A grandson in camos

Sandy Bonesteel writes: 
This is my new grandson, Aiden, who is now almost 6 weeks old. We love this picture, taken when he was 10 days old. Doesn't he look tough?

Ain't grandkids great?

These three belong to Bev Roers Korkowski and were found on her family blog.They are Isaac, Abby, and Evan Oxentenko.
Isaac is 5-1/2, Abby is almost 4, and Evan is 7.

Margaret Nokes, 60

We are saddened to learn of the death of the wife of our classmate Paul Nokes. Margaret Jeanne Nokes, aged 60, passed away Jan. 29. She had been ill for several weeks.

She leaves a devoted husband and two sons, Paul Jr, 35, his wife, Jennifer, and granddaughter, Kayla, of Oak Harbor, Wash.; and Ryan, 28, of Bellevue, Neb. 

She was preceded in death by her father, Archie Gann, mother, Eileen, and brother, Archie Jr. 

The funeral was held Feb. 2 in Bellevue with interment following at the Bellevue Cemetery. 

Memorials to the Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation. 

Paul and Jeanne would have been married 42 years this coming June.

Stan's dog likes New Orleans

In a scientific poll of K9 Super Bowl fans, this morning Stan's dog went with the sentimental, if not mathematical, favorite. Without hesitation, Birdie walked directly to the sheet of paper marked "Saints."
Anyone wishing to wager a dog biscuit on the Colts may do so by emailing Rolfsrud@gmail.com

"Tex" Rolandson takes a turn

Saturday afternoon Rusty Rolandson (JHS Class of 1964) joined performers Bruce Kelly and Annie O'Flynn in a stirring rendition of "Navajo Rug" during a break in the entertainment at the Carlos Creek Winery in Alexandria. (Photo by Tom Obert)

Bud's girl in winning Cardinal clash

The hated Willmar Cardinals face the beloved Alexandria Cardinals tonight to decide the conference basketball championship. Both teams are 11-1. Among the warriors will be our classmate Bud Bruzek's daughter, Gracie, driving hard in this photo supplied by Tom Obert.

Obert won't be attending -- he'll be at the last home girls hockey game tonight, doing the announcing for Senior Night.


Update from Obert:
In the 2nd meeting of the year between the 5th-ranked Willmar Cardinals and the 6th-ranked Alexandria Cardinals (I think I got that right), our girls basketball team prevailed at Willmar on a layup with 3 seconds left by Kate Gearman. We weren't there, but it sounds like it was another barn burner. We got in the car just as Dave Harris was announcing the final 15 seconds of the game on the radio. Our Cards had lost three players to fouls, two of our bigs, Angela Christianson and Alli Haar, and player-of-the-game, Lauren Trumm. Without having heard the game, I assume it was again a game of contrasting styles - our speed v. Willmar's size (a 6'4", 6'2", and 6'1" front line, which is a lot bigger than the boys Alexandria team in 1965.).

Third eatery gone

Will there be a place left to eat in Alex when the Class of 1965 gathers in August? Not at this rate. Another restaurant has closed. Trophy's. We held our 25th class reunion there when it was known as the Colonial Club. Wasn't a previous one held there as well? 15? Seven year? Help. We ran a picture of everyone out front in a previous post on this blog that we can't find at the moment. But here's a couple closeups taken from that photo showing some good-looking 42 year olds. 

John Herdan sends this clipping from the EchoPress:
Trophy's shuts its doors
Celeste Beam - 02/05/2010

Another area restaurant is no longer open. 
Trophy’s Restaurant, which has been owned by Scott Larson and Penny Trenne since October of 2005, closed its doors for good on January 1. (The newspaper held off doing a story until the owners could be interviewed.) 
The restaurant, located along Highway 27 near Nelson, has held several names over the years. 
Larson said in the 1950s, it was known as The Colonial Club. It was also known as the Blue Goose and Santa Fe. Larson and Penne bought the restaurant from Kenny and Donna Berscheid. They did some work on the building, remodeling the volleyball courts and changing the name of the bar portion of the restaurant to Willy B’s Sports Bar and Grill. But it wasn’t enough. 
Larson cited the economy as the main reason for the restaurant’s closing. “It all started with the $4 a gallon gas,” he said in an interview Wednesday afternoon. “People stopped going out after that.” He added that people become creatures of habit and even after gas prices started going down, people were used to staying home instead of going out.
 “The smoking ban also didn’t help,” he said, adding that in the summer it would be OK, but not in Minnesota winters. When the restaurant was operating at full staff, Larson said there were up to 33 employees. As time went by and the economy soured, Larson said he stopped replacing staff if anyone quit. 
In December, when the restaurant closed, he was down to six employees, not including himself or Trenne. The restaurant is up for sale and his hope is that someone buys it and turns it back into a restaurant. 

Trophy’s is the third restaurant to close in Alexandria since the start of the year. Others included Bug-A-Boo Bay and Time Square.

Bagels bites the dust

Class blog correspondent Donna Podratz passes along this item from the EchoPress. Another Alexandria business closing. There's also a rumor about Trophy's. Any word on that?

By Celeste Beam - 02/03/2010

After nearly 13 years, Time Square Bagels on 22nd Avenue West in Alexandria is closing. 
The owners, Wally and Roxanne Tischer, have posted a sign on the door stating the restaurant’s last day has been set for this Sunday, February 7. 
However, in a phone interview Monday, Wally Tischer noted it would likely be Friday or Saturday that the doors will close for good because he doesn’t think there will be enough product to get through Sunday. The Tischers owned the restaurant for the past seven years. They bought it from Rose Virnig, who opened the coffee and bagel shop in 1997. During their time with Time Square, the Tischers changed things up a bit by adding new food options to the menu, including Chicago-style hot dogs and New York-style pizza. 
As for why they decided to close, Tischer said it had everything to do with economics. “Time Square, just like many other restaurants, faced challenging times,” he said. He added that it’s hard for a restaurant, which makes fresh-baked goods daily that cost a little more, to compete with other restaurants.
“You can’t buy fresh-baked goods for a dollar,” said Tischer. The restaurant employed up to 24 workers, which made it hard to shut its doors. “This is very painful because it’s a part of this community,” Tischer said of the restaurant. “We want to thank our wonderful employees and our fantastic customers.” He added that everyone – his employees, his customers and the community – helped make Time Square what it was – a great restaurant. “That’s really the toughest part for Roxanne and I.” He commented on the location of the restaurant, which he called “absolutely awesome,” because it’s in one of the highest-count traffic areas in Alexandria. “Our vision is to have someone come in and buy it and keep it going. That would really please us,” he said. “It would be ideal.”