Deadline: Sunday 6 February 2011

Newtown '85, if you have not voted for the Reunion 2012 date, please do so before end-of-day Sunday 6 February 2011.  That's like some time around 11:59 PM.  Before that, way before that, please.  Don't wait until 11:59 PM.

2012 Reunion!

Our 2010 Reunion was a hit and some people expressed interest in another reunion in 2012.  Here's the first step toward that goal, Newtown '85.

Newtown 1985 Silver Reunion - webcast

We had a netbook with Internet access at the Silver Reunion.  The computer sat in one corner and transmitted mostly dark silhouettes of people dancing.  Rats!  We should have walked the thing around the hall, but see if you can any decent glimpses of the event through these recorded videos.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9826986

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9827115

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9827356

THE EVENT!!!

Here you go, non-Facebook Newtown '85 classmates.  The event arrived and it was a blast.  Many people brought cameras and nobody forgot to load them with films!  I know, back in the 1980s cameras used films and sometimes we would snap away without knowing there was nothing to save the precious memories to. These are just the photos from my camera.  Hopefully there will be more.  To pause the slideshow, right-click somewhere white in the "notebook".  Mac users, control-click is equivalent to right-click, that is, hold the "control" key and click the big one button on your mouse or trackpad.  Enjoy!

Time and Place Set for the Big Reunion

We have selected the Astoria Manor in Queens as the place to hold our 25-year reunion on September 25, 2010! The Manor is located at

2522 Astoria Boulevard
Astoria, NY 11102-2991
(718) 278-7766
http://www.awm-ny.com/index.html

With the time and place settled, the next big task is to setup a payment system. Use the Follow button to be notified of changes coming up with this blog to be better informed of the reunion. See you there, Class of 1985!

Newtown Re-Visited

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

In October 2009, I re-visited Newtown High School through the Alumni Association's Breakfast Event. Class of 1985 had a few representatives, all but one I already contacted via Facebook so it was not a major event for recruiting. What was great was that after the breakfast, we were allowed to roam the school, to walk down the old hallways and memory lanes. Current students were available to accompany us on the tour, too.

September 2009 Mini Reunion

On September 25, 2009, a year before the big 25th anniversary reunion being planned, some of us Newtown '85 got together at the Grandstand Bar & Restaurant in Elmhurst, NY, not too far from Newtown itself. Not all of us showed at once but in the end we had more than a dozen people. Facebook is nice but it cannot replace meeting the old friends face-to-face. Do you recognize anyone?

Finalized - Mini Reunion Drink for Newtow 85 Grads in NY Metro

It's finalized! We will meet at

Grandstand Bar & Restaurant

85-35 Grand Avenue

Elmhurst, NY 11373

718 478 9633

6 PM to 10 PM

Friday 25 September 2009

That's on Grand Avenue in Elmhurst, midway between Queens Boulevard and the LIRR. We will have a room to sit down and wax nostalgia or go over yearbook photos etc. You can run to the bar and grab a drink or bring food from the restaurant area. Thanks go to Newtown 85's own Marie C. (nee Maria B.) and Grandstand's owner Mark for arrangement of the room. It helps to have a personal relationship, that's why I chose Grandstand.

We already have 18 confirmed guests in Facebook plus 22 "maybe". Hope to see you there! If you are coming, leave some contact info in a comment (it won't be published, unless you ask it to be) or better yet just text me at 347 725 0649 or call

A rare music video featuring Newtown High School seniors, Class of 1985. The technical person in me cannot help wonder how it was made. These days any digital camera can also record videos, why, even most cell phones can. But back in 1985, the camera must be one of those bulky things. Non-linear video editing was exorbitantly expensive for individuals. Whoever put together the video probably worked in the audio/video department at Newtown.

Calling All Class of 1985 from Newtown High School, Elmhurst, NY

Hear ye! Hear ye! Calling all graduates or alumni of Newtown High School in Elmhurst, NY, Class of 1985. I am on a committee to put together the big 25-year reunion next year. If you are from that school and that year, please leave a comment and a way to get back to you. Comments will be moderated and email addresses will not be published. Please pass the word around.

http://NewtownHighSchoolElmhurst1985.blogspot.com

We also have a Facebook group at

http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=56960529376&mid=2d09e3G2d99ce25G1e9dae1G6


In the end, ideally, everyone we found would be in the Facebook group, but as we start to reach out to people over the phone, or perhaps even via snail mail, a human-friendlier URL is better.