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!

The Day Has Arrived

This is it, folks.  The Silver Reunion has arrived, well, technically another 12 hours or so.  Sorry for the lack of news in past months, but it was hectic on the Facebook side.

In the end, we have over 100 graduates, about 40 guests.  A few people flew in or drove in from far away, many from Florida, others as far away as Arizona and California.

Everything is in place and we look forward to a great reunion.  No payment at the door, i.e. you have to already paid in advance.

There should be lots of photos to share afterward here, but to appreciate the full scope, visit

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56960529376

and proceed from there.

We are ready to take your payment! Some people already paid so we are up and running!!! If you have indicated to us that you are interested in the reunion, then you should already received an email from BillHighway.com with the Activation Code. Use the Code at https://www.billhighway.com/paynow

Astoria Manor

2522 Astoria Boulevard

Astoria, NY 11102-2991

(718) 278-7766

September 25, 2010, 7 PM to Midnight !!!

DJ Music, Photographer, old friends! Guests welcomed, up to 2 per graduate/alum. No tickets will be sold at the event.

Discount Rates:

Tickets purchased between 2/1/10 - 5/1/10 will cost $ 90.00

Tickets purchased between 5/2/10 - 9/4/10 will cost $100.00

NOTE: The Reunion Committee will not accept papers checks.

Adults only, no young children allowed.

Visit our Facebook group for more details,

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56960529376

Alternatively, leave a voicemail at (347) 725-0649 or post a comment to this notice.

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

Mini Reunion Drink for Newtow 85 Grads in NY Metro

If you live in the New York metro area, please let me know if you are interested in a Mini Reunion Drink on Friday, September 25, 2009 - a year before the big 25-year anniversary in 2010. Time will be around 7 PM on, but no location has been selected yet. Your ideas are welcomed. I think we need a bar/restaurant big enough for 20 or more people, where we have a big table for people to come and go. Hopefully we'll be catching up on what happened in the past 24+ years so we prefer some place quiet enough for conversation.

If interested, please respond via the Comment section of this blog post or leave me a voice message through my Google Voice below.

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.

The result is in, Newtown 1985 folks. The reunion will be held on September 25, 2010. Thanks for voting!

RIP, Dorothy "Dot" Farley

Mrs. Dorothy "Dot" Farley, retiree from Newtown High School in Elmhurst, Queens, New York, passed away on July 20, 2009. She was the head of the Co-op program for many years. She was in the 1985 yearbook so some students in Class of 1985 should know her.

Wake will be held today (July 24, 2009) at Kennedy Roth Funeral Home, 41-45 58th Street, Woodside, NY, 2 PM - 4 PM and 7 PM - 9 PM. The funeral home's phone number is 718-424-5430. A guest book is located at http://7324.dignity.mem.com/Story.aspx?ID=3114357

Let Us Set A Date, Final Count

Newtown Brochure

A high school friend was looking for prom photos to share with the Newtown '85 Facebook group and came across this brochure instead. I did not even know that Newtown had a brochure. I suppose any school can use some talented student or to claim some bragging rights about its student body.

A few of the "models" are already identified. Some of them are even in Facebook. Do you recognize any of the people?

Alumni Association April Event

As part of my re-connecting with my high school days, I recently joined the Newtown High School Alumni Association, just in time to attend the luncheon on April 25. In terms of recruiting for next year's reunion, it wasn't a successful event for me as the one classmate I met I was already a "friend" of his on Facebook. The entire decade of 1980s only had a few people. Still, it was good to finally meet Jorge in person. I also got to meet the current principal, Mr. Ficalora, who was a math teacher way back in 1985. Mrs. Silverman, in pinkish clothes, had decided to retire - I had her for Biology. Thanks go to Mrs. Borromeo for arranging the event!



If you are interested in joining the Newtown Alumni Association, mail a $10 check or money order, payable to NEWTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, to

NEWTOWN HIGH SCHOOL – Alumni Association
48-01 90 Street
Elmhurst, NY 11373-4099
(718) 595-8542

with your check or money order include (in piece of paper):

Name _________________________________________________________

High School Name (where applicable) __________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

Telephone Number _____________________________________________

Occupation ___________________________________________________

Year and Month of Graduation _________________________________

The $10 is annual membership only. Events cost separately. Each year, there usually is an event in April, at a restaurant, then an event in October, in the morning, at the school, in the library or the cafeteria.

Let Us Set A Date!

Bulletin Board

I think an adjustment to this blog is in needed. If you want the reunion committee to contact you about the reunion, then use the form at

http://newtownhighschoolelmhurst1985.blogspot.com/2009/04/we-want-to-hear-from-you.html

If you don't mind having your email, phone number, etc. displayed publicly, by all means post a comment and include such info to re-connect with any lost friends. I had to delete a comment from a reader recently because it included a phone number, but going forward, such comments will be published, unless the reader explicitly states that the info should not be revealed.

We Want To Hear From You