2012 March

Sorry I didn’t get a newsletter out in February. I didn’t really have much news, plus I was busy getting laid off yet again. That makes 3 times since last June. Yes, I have managed to land successfully at another position that’s supposed to last at least through May, but I am beginning to feel a little like a migrant worker. It’s odd to go spend months at a job, 8 hours a day, getting to know the building, getting to know the people, and then BAM! You will never be in that place or see those people again! Disorienting. Oh, I’m not complaining: I know I’m very lucky to have a job at all, much less one that pays well and involves sitting in front of a computer screen in a comfortable office, rather than digging ditches. I’m just saying it’s odd. I think people today have to be a LOT more flexible than ever before. Ready to grab the next trapeze rung at a moment’s notice.

We gained one classmate in the last 2 months, bringing the number that we think we know the whereabouts of to 653, a new maximum. High fives! As always, if you learn any classmate contact info, please share it with me.

Condolences to classmate Ed Mullen, whose father died in February.

Nice article in American Songwriter Magazine about Don Tassone’s and Art Toegemann’s involvement with the Mediator performance venue.
http://www.americansongwriter.com/2011/12/the-mediator-stage-goosebumps-and-great-music/
I always think of music as being something important in the Cranston East mix, and it’s nice to see these two alums bringing that to the community at large. Congrats, guys, on this recognition!

Dave Fowler is in training once again for this year’s Boston Marathon. Dave writes a terrific blog about his training, motivation, and the sheer insanity of it all:
http://speakerscorner-dave.blogspot.com/
One of Dave’s motivations is the charitable organization he’s established in memory of his son, Nick, called “Help in the Nick of Time”. You can learn more about it, and make a donation, here:
http://helpinthenickoftime.shutterfly.com/
I love one of the runner’s t-shirts Dave mentions in his blog: “My sport is your sport’s punishment.” Good luck!

George Alford is finding a number of parts in locally produced films, including “Polypore” (by Jesse Barrack producer/director). Congratulations, and break a leg!

Franne Donovan’s and her husband Jeff Amelse’s daughter Caroline has been named to the Mortar Board national honor society at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. Congratulations to her and her proud parents! I think we can tell how smart Caroline is by the fact that she goes to college in Hawaii.

Quick! Go dig last Sunday’s Rhode Islander magazine out of the recycle bin. Tom Iacono published his account of the lone Rhode Islander at the Alamo in the March 4, 2012 issue. As mentioned in a previous slab of this update, Tom went to school in Texas, where he read about and visited the Alamo, and learned about Captain Albert Martin’s role there. If you don’t have a paper copy, here’s a link:
http://tinyurl.com/7pdw3qo
If you don’t have access to the ProJo archives, Tom can send you the article (tomiac1@verizon.net).
Congrats on your publication!

Speaking of links, we have lots of ways to keep in touch online, now. For example, we have a web site:
www.chse1971.com
(thanks to Ernie Sutcliffe for starting and maintaining)
and wiki:
https://chse1971.wikispaces.com/
(also thanks to Ernie)
and Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/group.php?gid=51722469479
and a Facebook event for the last Reunion:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=192240297471327
Check out one or more of these easy ways to see what people are up to.

That’s about it for me. What’s going on with you? Share your joys and pains with others who can celebrate and sympathize.

Have a \s/uper day!

Ed DeJesus
exdejesus@gmail.com