Family Beach Picnic Part of Reunion Weekend

The 30th reunion of the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 is a two-day affair this year, including the reunion festivities at Testo's Restaurant Saturday, August 19, on Madison Avenue in Bridgeport and the family reunion picnic the following day.

The picnic is scheduled for 12 noon to 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon, August 20, at Lake Hills Beach #4 in Fairfield. The event is open to alumni and their families. It includes swimming, boating, volleyball, a picnic, and baseball. At least four certified lifeguards will be on duty for the festivities. Partygoers are encouraged to bring a picnic basket, their swimwear, and outdoor games. It should be a great time for all.

This event is open to family members of the 30th reunion class. It's an informal gathering on the beach affording us the opportunity to meet the families of those with whom we attended high school.

The beach has been a big part of my life growing up, since I've lived in the Lake Hills section of Fairfield my whole life. I remember playing Little League baseball on the diamond adjacent to the beach. Most of our neighbors and the children in Lake Hills virtually live at the beach, lake, and ballfield all Summer long. It's a jewel in Fairfield, tucked away off Black Rock Turnpike in the northern part of town.

Hopefully, you and your family can attend the picnic at the beach the day after the reunion. It will be a nice way to cap a most memorable weekend.

Paul

It's Elementary!

Each day I enjoy reading new messages from classmates who found our reunion Web site. The word is spreading that our 30th high school reunion is less than a month away, and many of us are excited about the weekend festivities August 19 and 20.

After reading Fred Baechtold's greeting on our reunion Web site last night, I began thinking back to the days of elementary school. That's my son, Billy, who attended Osborn Hill School, just like his Dad. When we were growing up in Fairfield, the elementary landscape was much different than it is now. For one thing, elementary school included grades kindergarten through six. Today, sixth-grade is part of middle school. In addition, Fairfield Woods was an elementary school 40 years ago.

Fred writes, "Mrs. Murphy, my kindergarten teacher from Fairfield Woods (when it was K - 8), lives in the complex where my parents live. Mrs. Murphy and I had the chance to meet in an elevator there earlier this year. How many of you recall Mrs. Murphy? I can name a few classmates who might remember."

That's incredible! I've often wondered what became of my kindergarten teacher, Miss Richards, at Osborn Hill School. Several members of our high school graduating class attended OHS, and the kindergarten teachers were Miss Richards and Mrs. Gallagher. Back in the day, Osborn Hill's students were "fed" into Fairfield Woods and Andrew Warde High School. Today, the OHS graduates move into Roger Ludlowe Middle School and Fairfield Ludlowe High School. The boundaries have changed significantly, with most of the OHS population living along the North Benson corridor.

When my son attended Osborn Hill School, I remember searching through the media center for any information I could find about the school in the early to mid 1960s. I found a paperback book all about the school's dedication in 1957. The school opened in response to tremendous population growth in the Lake Hills section of town, where I live. My neighborhood, which is adjacent to Samp Mortar Lake, was built in the mid 1950s, and shortly thereafter Osborn Hill School and St. Pius X Parish were constructed. I'd give anything to revisit those days ... but only briefly.

Where did you attend elementary school? Do you remember any teachers? I'd be interested to know. I'm glad my son also attended Osborn Hill School. I'll always have a place in my heart for that elementary school.

Paul

Times of Your Life

I'm listening to Saturday Night Oldies on Musicradio 77 WABC right now. No, not the original WABC with legendary disc jockeys like Harry Harrison, Cousin Brucie, Dan Ingram, and Ron Lundy, but a weekly show which airs every Saturday evening from 6 to 10 o'clock, hosted by Mark Simone.

WABC abandoned its music format nearly a quarter of a century ago. Currently, it's the top newstalk radio station in the country. However, these four hours each Saturday evening bring back the memories of childhood. Mr. Simone plays the songs which were popular in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. He has special guests every week, and there's even an Internet message board for all of us "boomers" to share memories and stories of our youth.

Mark's special guest tonight is Paul Anka, one of my all-time favorite singers. Mr. Anka's Times of Your Life peaked at number 7 in February of 1976, our final year at Andrew Warde High School. Is there a better theme song for this year's reunion? My one request to the disc jockey from Celebrations Entertainment during our reunion this year will be Times of Your Life. Here are the lyrics from that song:

Good morning, yesterday
You wake up and time has slipped away
And suddenly it's hard to find
The memories you left behind
Remember, do you remember?
The laughter and the tears
The shadows of misty yesteryears
The good times and the bad you've seen
And all the others in between
Remember, do you remember
The times of your life? (Do you remember?)
Reach out for the joy and the sorrow
Put them away in your mind
The mem'ries are times that you borrow
To spend when you get to tomorrow
Here comes the saddest part (Comes the saddest part)
The seasons are passing one by one
So gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life?
Gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life?
Of your life
Of your life
Do you remember, baby
Do you remember the times of your life?
Do you remember, baby
Do you remember the times of your life

What will be your request on reunion night? I'd like to know. The reunion is four weeks from tonight, and I can hardly wait. For now, it's back to Musicradio WABC, and Mark Simone's interview with Paul Anka.

Paul

Four Weeks and Counting

If it seems like the last 30 years have flown by, the last three months have been a blur. Since our first reunion committee meeting on Saturday, April 30, nearly three months have come and gone. Our 30th high school reunion is just four weeks from Saturday.

Last night, several of us gathered at Testo's Restaurant on Madison Avenue for a "photo shoot." The pictures will be used in an upcoming article written by committee chairman Tony Procaccini for the Fairfield Citizen and Minuteman newspapers. The adjacent photo was taken last night.

The committee members have been working diligently since April taking care of every detail to ensure a successful gathering. Alumni have been contacting former classmates through email and phone calls, getting in touch with former teachers, arranging the evening at Testo's Restaurant, hiring a disc jockey, and planning the decorations.

The reunion weekend even includes a four-hour Family Reunion Social Sunday afternoon, August 20, at Lake Hills beach 4 for alumni and their families. They'll be able to swim, play ball, have a picnic, and ride the boats. In short, it adds up to a lot of fun for everybody.

It has been a pleasure helping prepare for the event. The committee members are outstanding individuals. We're looking forward to a tremendous weekend.

Paul

Still Known as Andrew Warde High School

Over the weekend I came across several photos from this year's graduation ceremony at Fairfield Warde High School courtesy of the Connecticut Post newspaper. Imagine my delight when I noticed the school's name listed as Andrew Warde High School! Andrew Warde High School became Fairfield High School in 1986 when both public high schools consolidated into one school at the Melville Avenue campus.

Naturally, I checked the Ludlowe graduation photos, and the newspaper referred to the school by its current name, Fairfield Ludlowe High School.

If you'd like to take a look at the photos from this year's graduating class at Andrew Warde High School, click on the link attached to the title of this blog entry.

Do you still call the school Andrew Warde? Warde High? Or do you call it Fairfield Warde? I'd like to know what you think.

As far as I'm concerned, the school will always be known as Andrew Warde High School.





(The author is this year's winner of the Connecticut Associated Press Broadcasters' Association "Weathercast of the Year" for 2006, author of his own blog at news12.com, and may be reached at pppiorek@news12.com)

James Blake in the Alumni Spotlight

Think about it for just a moment. The last two major sporting events in Connecticut have been won by graduates of our high school!

Nearly three weeks ago, J. J. Henry captured the Buick Open Golf Tournament in Cromwell, Connecticut. The Fairfield High School graduate made all of us proud by winning in his home state.

Now, fellow alum James Blake is making news. The defending Pilot Pen tennis tournament champion and Fairfield High School graduate is the number one ranked men's tennis player in the country and sixth-ranked in the world.

You may recall back in May the tennis courts at the former Andrew Warde High School were dedicated in his honor. The photo above shows the banner that adorns the courts on Melville Avenue. A huge crowd gathered for the event, which featured students, residents, and teachers, including former Warde tennis coach John Honey.

"I’ve been doing this over 30 years and he’s by far and away the best high school player in the state of Connecticut I’ve ever seen," Honey said. "People will ask me, ‘Is this kid as good as James?’ James was a special individual and he was just that good as a high school player."

Blake expressed his appreciation to the crowd for attending, and he said his home has always been Fairfield. "I take offense when sometimes the media says I grew up in Harlem," Blake said. "Every time I come back to Fairfield it feels like it’s my whole family. I can’t believe this many people still care about me."



Blake returned "home" earlier this week, and he still remains humble and happy whenever he returns to the area. Tuesday was an amazing day for him. First, he kicked off the men's U. S. Open series by appearing on NBC's Today Show. Then, he received a police escort as his Mercedes Benz SUV arrived at a party in his name on the New Haven Green.

Several hundred fans turned out for the first-ever J-Block Party. The event provided the first 500 attendees complimentary food and tickets to the Pilot Pen tennis tournament scheduled to run August 18 through 26 at Yale's Connecticut Tennis Center.

All this in honor of one of our own, a fellow graduate of the high school which used to be known as Andrew Warde.

"It's pretty insane. It's so exciting," he said. "This is thrilling. It's something that I'll remember, but I'm not quite as much of a showman when I'm on stage as to when I am on the tennis court with a racquet in my hand."

Blake won the Pilot Pen last year, coming back from number 186 in the world to defeat Feliciano Lopez in the final. The following week, he advanced all the way to the U. S. Open quarterfinals.

Blake is also well aware of the accomplishments of fellow Fairfield/Warde graduate J. J. Henry. "To have the two major sporting events in the state of Connecticut held by Fairfield natives is incredible," he admitted. "J. J. is a good friend of mine. His little brother is someone I grew up with. I'm so proud of J. J. I can't wait to watch him play in the Ryder Cup."

We should be proud of both of these two gentleman. J. J. Henry and James Blake have made all of us associated with our high school very proud. The next time you're in Fairfield and you have the opportunity to drive by the former Andrew Warde High School, take a look at the James Blake tennis courts. What a nice tribute and honor for this fine young gentleman.

Music Trivia Answers

Here are the correct answers from our latest 1976 music trivia game:

1. d. Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
2. a. "Let Your Love Flow" by the Bellamy Brothers
3. a. True
4. c. "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple
5. c. "Blinded by the Light"
6. b. Bachman-Turner Overdrive
7. d. Burton Cummings
8. b. England "Dan" and John Ford Coley
9. b. "I've Got the Music in Me"
10. b. Eric Carmen

Since there are 10 questions, each answer is worth 10 points. Score the test yourself. How did you do? We'll have another 1976 trivia game next week. Thanks for playing.

Paul

1976 Music Trivia

Here we go again. It's time for more trivia from 1976. However, this time let's test our music appreciation and knowledge from 30 years ago. I'm sure our disc jockey from Celebrations Entertainment in Stratford will be more than happy to play several of these songs on the night of our reunion. Let's play!

1. This husband and wife team scored a number one hit in 1976. Previously they had several chart toppers as members of the "Fifth Dimension."

a. Peaches & Herb
b. Roger & Shirley McAllister
c. Sonny & Cher
d. Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.

2. "Let" us try this one...all of the following songs were hits in 1976, but which of them was a number one song that year?

a. "Let Your Love Flow" - The Bellamy Brothers
b. "Let 'Em In" - Paul McCartney & Wings
c. "Let Her In" - John Travolta
d. "Let It Shine" - Olivia Newton-John

3. Barry Manilow scored big in 1976 with "I Write The Songs," but he did not, in fact, write this number one classic.

a. True
b. False

4. Which of these hard rock anthems was not a hit in 1976?

a. "Carry On My Wayward Son" - Kansas
b. "Slow Ride" by Foghat
c. "Smoke On The Water" by Deep Purple
d. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" - Blue Oyster Cult

5. Manfred Mann's Earth Band scored a number one hit in 1976 with a song written by "The Boss." What was the song?

a. Fox On The Run
b. The Mighty Quinn
c. Blinded By The Light
d. I'm One Fire

6. By 1976 they had already run their course, but "Take It Like A Man" did manage to give them their last signficant hit. Who were they?

a. The Sweet
b. Bachman-Turner Overdrive
c. The Bay City Rollers
d. Hot Chocolate

7. In 1976 this lead vocalist from the Guess Who released his first solo single "Stand Tall." Who is he?

a. Van Morrison
b. Boz Scaggs
c. Roger Daltry
d. Burton Cummings

8. "Seals" of Seals and Croft was the brother of one of the members of which of the following 70's groups?

a. Daryl Hall and John Oates
b. England Dan and John Ford Coley
c. Dr. Hook
d. Tavares

9. Kiki Dee scored a number 1 hit in 1976 with Elton John with "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." What was her big "solo" hit?

a. Turn The Beat Around
b. I've Got The Music In Me
c. Speak To The Sky
d. It's A Heartache

10. Canadian songbird Celine Dion took "All By Myself" to the top of the charts, but the original came from this 70's rocker.

a. Henry Gross
b. Eric Carmen
c. Gary Wright
d. Peter Framption

The answers will appear this Tuesday. Good luck.

Paul

A Proud Day for Fairfield/Warde High School

It was a banner day for one of our own! Fairfield High School graduate J. J. Henry won his first professional golf tournament championship in six years Sunday when he captured the Buick Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut by three strokes. The 31-year old former All-FCIAC standout for four consecutive years (1990-1993) made his school, hometown, and state proud.

Henry, who now lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife, Lee, and son, Conor, grew up in Fairfield and attended high school at the former Andrew Warde site. He graduated in 1993.

Henry, whose younger brother also attended Fairfield High and was an all-FCIAC golf selection, finished with a 72-hole total of 266, good for 14 under par.

"To grow up here in the state of Connecticut and to come here again as the young guy who was wet behind the ears, so to speak, watching guys hit balls on the range and following some groups around, I thought how cool that would be someday if I could be one of those guys and play against the best players in the world," he admitted.

As a child, Henry, who lived on Fairfield Beach Road, played golf at his grandfather's house on Round Hill Drive in Fairfield. His parents, Ron and Nancy Henry, were there to watch their son win the championship in Cromwell Sunday.

"Once he got to the 15th green, we thought, 'This is going to happen,'" Nancy Henry said. "It's so special, especially to do it here (in Connecticut). It means a lot to J. J."

"It's a pretty special time, there's no doubt," J. J. said. "I can't wait to thank both my parents and my family for all they have done for me, because this win is about them, too."

J. J. Henry has made all of Connecticut, especially those associated with Fairfield and Warde high schools, very proud. As an alumni of Andrew Warde High School, I know we're thrilled for J. J. The "local boy makes good" story is a wonderful way to celebrate Independence Day and the 30th reunion year of our graduating class from that very same high school.

Paul