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I agree with Becky that Hal Brown was a great journalism teacher. We worked together on the school newspaper. Becky was editor and I was the Ad manager. Great fun. Also had Mr. Brown for English. Don Williams was hands down better than Mr. Houston. But all in all we had some fine teachers in those days.
I will pass on the verbal ping-pong and defer to Joel.
On another mattet, the head of the FBI testifies this Monday before Congress about the Russians and the Presidential Election.
I took your cue from your brow-beating about Manaford. Looked under every bed I could find and shook many-a-bush but not find a one of your commies that rolled out. Are you going to share your soviet intel with us?
It would be a shame if we mistook some of your democratic socialists for Putin's progressive Marxists. So how about it? Give us the collaborative scoop.
P.S. That is from the book "The Philosopher's Stone" by Nietche. Or maybe it was "The Stoned Philosopher" by R. Crumb. Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was the latter.
Joel: All those authors you mention reminds me of my college history class, having to read those books and report on them during a test. Rain again here in Roseville, Sun City. The small creeks are full of water. The turkeys and the deer love the creeks. Had a deer run by my kitchen window early this Spring, she lost her way from the creek area. Hope she made it safely back into her wooded area.
It was not actually the titles of the books Joel so listed, but the authors were my reference. Never really understand some of your conversations exchanged, but did pull out the names of the authors during the enlightenment period. Or, are we back into that period and do not realize.
I like the posts about favorite teachers at WHS. I had several favorites in 1956-60.
--Mr. Thatcher was the only teacher I had all four years. Each class had the same structure—correcting homework, doing the homework problems at the blackboard, the new lesson, and the next day’s homework assignment. Mr. Thatcher had us sit alphabetically, beginning with Robin Anderson. I sat behind Susan Mulcahy. The big thrill was when he took our class to his house to see his big game trophies.
--Mr. Faltis was my Spanish teacher for three years, after Mr. Boden for first year. He had a pet snake that he sometimes brought to class. I remember making a mistake in reciting a restaurant dialogue in front of the class. I was the waiter and said in Spanish “How do you want your eggs, fried or boiled?” I was supposed to say THE eggs, because when you say YOUR eggs it means “How do you want your balls, fried or boiled?” I remember Rudy Lucero laughing until tears ran down his cheeks and Mr. Faltis laughing almost as hard.
--Mr. Brown, our Senior English teacher, was super. He was a new teacher at the time--and a Korean War veteran. Our class project was to produce a collection of poetry and prose which we called “The Book.” What a great techer he was and what a great group--Bard Martin, Steve Coombs, Wendy Metcalf, Jean Meadowcroft, Lenora Monaco, Jack Anderson, Bob Brown, etc. Bard and I visited Mr. Brown in Woodland in 2010 and I couldn’t believe that he still rememberd us and m.any others in the class after so many students and so many years.
--Mrs. Waterman, my freshman English teacher was quite elderly by the time we had her as a teacher. Such an elegant lady! She taught us “The Merchant of Venice” and "My Antonia" and she did a wonderful recitation of Poe’s “The Bells” in class.
And many more great WHS teachers--most long gone now. I wish they were still here so that I could thank them. Elementary and secondary school teachers don’t get as much recognition as they should. I think that, after our parents, they are the major formative influence in our lives.
Larry, it is great hearing from you and your experiences from WHS. I always admired your intelligence and your friendliness to others and to me. I remember you and I had a gym class and stood close together as our names were close alphabetically. I was never intellectual and about the only thing I could do to stand out from the crowd was to walk on my hands. Mr. Muhl would single me out to demonstrate how this was done. I was able to walk the distance of the basketball floor, turn around while still on my hands and make it half way back before I gave out. That talent never carried me very far in the real world, but it was still fun while I was able to do it. I am now teaching my granddaughter, age 5, to stand on her head and to walk on her hands. Who knows...maybe I might be able to start doing it again. Ask me at our next class reunion...I might surprise you and me!
Are Looking For A 1960 Rock And Roll Band For Your Class Reunion?We Play All The Favorites From The Music You Listened To In High School.We Have Demo CD's You Can Listen To Make Your Decision,And We Will Give You A Great Price.Interested Call 530-666-9373.
Vern, I remember you walking on your hands! Palmer Muhl had a system of T-Shirts of different colors based on how one did in different physical tests. I remember that Don Longee had the fastest time in the rope climb. My favorite was the pegboard, although I could only get half way around. I'll bet you had the highest T-shirt color! I look forward to seeing you and other old friends at the next reunion--or even before then, since I live in Berkeley and my wife Karen and I get to Woodland every month or two to visit my sister Marsha Gorman and my cousin Jack Mitchell. We could have a beer at your favorite bar (my father's favorite was the Stag, which I think is still there). Is there a WHS directory where I could find how to contact you and other Wolves?
Marilyn Morgan Kregel
Born in Goodenow, IL in 1927, she was the third child of Walter and Edith Morgan. From her early teen years she made her home with benefactors, Ralph and Etta Hollingsworth, who sponsored her high school and college education.
She earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University and a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin. Her teaching career, which spanned 32 years, began in Park Forest, IL, and continued in Woodland, where she moved after her marriage.
With the Woodland School District, she earned several awards: Outstanding Teacher in 1983, Educator of the Year for 1985-86, and she was the Woodland School District's nominee for California Teacher of the Year in 1989. She served as Mentor Teacher for six years and received the Award for Classroom Excellence from the California Council of Teachers of English 1984.
After her retirement in 1989, she did home-teaching for the school district, tutored private students, taught writing and life history for Woodland Adult Education. The City of Woodland honored her with the Community Service Award in 2010.
Mrs. Kregel is survived by daughter, Paula Kregel and her partner, Jaclyn Sklarew, of Lincoln; son, Fred Kregel and his wife Cheryl, of Roseville; and grandsons, Jack and Eric Kregel. She is survived as well by brother, Reginald Morgan and his wife Barbara of Illinois.
A memorial service will be held at the Woodland United Methodist Church, Saturday, April 1 at 11 a.m. Private burial of her ashes at the Woodland Cemetery.
Persons who wish to honor the memory of Mrs. Kregel are asked to think of a way, large or small, in which they might help a child, as she was always grateful for the opportunities made possible for her in her early years by caring adults. Published in Daily Democrat from Mar. 18 to Mar. 19, 2017
ROBERT: Craig, for the last time, I am not a communist sympathizer. Please keep your associations to yourself.
"read your Paul Manafort reference post again...Glad you didn't find him under your bed ( along with the dust clumps and whatever else is under there I don't wanna know about)...the guy's a little shady (kinda a Deese, Dose, Dem...kinda guy)--only big money kinda Russian mob/Putin contact thing, if you get my drift..."
ROBERT: No argument there except for the "Russian mob/Putin contact thing". What's the evidence?
"and I suppose you never heard of this guy until I brought him up here quite awhile ago...But, just a piece O' thee old puzzle we be experiencing in these crazy times...Pay attention" POST #4727 03/22/2017
ROBERT: Yes, I have heard of Paul long before you were able to legally vote. Paul Manafort was involved in the following Republican Presidential campaigns: Ford, Reagan, Bush Sr., Bush Jr. and Trump. Please check with Joel about any alien elections. Thanks.
"P.S.--Your post said "Manaford"...its Manafort...not sure Who you were lookin' for...try again" – POST 4728 03/22/2017
ROBERT: Craig, thanks for editing my posts, especially my spelling. Not since my mother used to edit my literary contributions have I received such personal attention. Unfortunately she died.
Go ahead and make grammatical corrections too. I am sure there are many people on this web site who would gleefully enjoy your comments on such matters. If you want to come over to my house and check my unedited internet browsing history, you will see that "Manafort" NOT "Manaford" was my search subject.
ROBERT: Speaking of such, how about telling us what you discovered about Paul Manafort long ago? Do your best not to plegarize the FBI Director's lartest comments before Congress and reveal your conclusions and evidence.
ROBERT: and finally . . . to help you with Elipses, please see: http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/ellipses.html . . . Ooops, the nanites ate my parentheticals.
I ran into my neigbor, Pete Wiesick last weekend and told him that he had been mentioned twice as "a favorite teacher" on the Forum.. He asked if a check was coming his way- Pete's sense of humor is just as always.
Mr. Wiesick, Mr. Faltis, Ms Brandenburg, Olsen and Strand are my favorite teachers.
Based on a subspace comminique from the Argillian ambassador, I've learned that Mr. Roquefort has not been involved in any non-Earth elections, at least in this sector of the galaxy. Which reminds me, Ceasar's last words were not "Et tu, Brute?" That was just Shakespeare funning with us. Ceasar's last words were, "Hey, Brutus, you gonna finish that salad?" Now what was the name of that car club you belonged to? I remember for years the only car club in town was the Timemakers. Then I believe there was a club that wore yellow jackets. Who were those guys? Any of you Timemakers still around? Based on my replacing a piston in an old Chevy only to have the engine blow after driving it a few hundred miles, I imagine I wouldn't have been accepted into the club.
This my Time Makers Plague I kept after all those years..Rudy Robles and I got in that night together.......took 10 padles on the back end...had to wrestle in Tofoya's Horse Corral..where it was wet...muddy and i guess a little Horse stuff...Then they drove us to the Dairy Queen on West St...gave us a Dime each to go up and buy a Frostie...then home to a hot shower...Boy did we stink.......
I don’t remember the color coded T-shirts, but I do remember Don Longee on the rope climb. And yes, the pegboard champ was Art “Bosco” King from Knights Landing. He was a slender lanky guy with light complexion and blond hair. He was several years ahead of us and certainly knew his way around the pegboard.
I went to BYU, surprise, surprise! My standards were not up to par for a BYU student, but it was a family tradition to go there and I did my best to straighten my life out. I had many ups and downs and then married a wonderful beautiful girl from Italy who would not put up with my shenanigans. We celebrated our 50th anniversary last year and she has been the main reason for our having such a blest life. Immediately after we married, we moved to San Diego and have been here ever since. I have an older sister Maurine, WHS “58”, and a younger brother Eldon, WHS “64”, still living in Woodland, but I don’t usually visit Woodland unless it’s a special occasion, which includes WHS reunions. I missed our 50th reunion but attended the “All 60’s Reunion” in 2013, sponsored by the class of 1963 whereas all classes from 1960 - 1969 were invited.
I’ll have to pass on the invitation for a beer as that’s one of the things members of the “Mormon” faith, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are to abstain from. But I’ll certainly toast to you with a glass of punch or soft drink in my hand. I actually prefer water as my main drink now.
That is a great idea to have a WHS directory. Years ago at one of our reunions I was responsible for the name tags and I somehow came across a contact information list for classmates which I logged into my computer. I have checked that list over the years and it is becoming outdated. I noticed I do not have your contact information on that list. Joan Richter Lucchesi has been the “Catalyst” that has held our class together all these years. Maybe she could make that list available for all classmates?
I’m looking forward to when our class gets together again. It’s quite possible we may be combining classes as we are becoming fewer and fewer, which makes it all the more reason to never miss another reunion.
My contact information is:
Vern & Anna Larson
4609 Huggins Way
San Diego, CA. 92122
vernlarson@mac.com
home - (858) 453-0686
cell - (858) 366-3823 (texting available)
Looking forward to hearing from you Larry, and any others who may be reading this.
Vern Larson WHS “60”
PS - I noticed our senior photos are side by side in the Ilex. (I hope you don’t cut your own finger)
Woodlanders break ground on a new 10-acre park in Spring Lake. The park has been named after Rick Gonzales Sr. SARAH DOWLING — Daily democrat
Woodland families walked from their Spring Lake homes to take part in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 10-acre park nearby. Named after Rick Gonzales Sr., the Woodland City Council gave unanimous approval for a $2.4 million contract to JM Slover to build what has been called Spring Lake N3 Park.
The Thursday groundbreaking in front of what is now a lush, green field was attended by city and county staff — some of who are also Spring Lake residents. Neighborhood children also enjoyed the gathering, playing games provided by the City’s Rec2Go van parked along Miekle Avenue, where the new park is located.
Coonstruction phases of the park, the first of which will include a playground, canopy and tables. Construction on the second phase, which includes tennis courts and a half-basketball court, may be as far as 10 years away.
“Rick Gonzales Sr. was a community leader here for Woodland for over 50 years,” he said. “His work helped increase diversity in the local workforce.”
Gonzales served as president of the Pan American Club, was chairman of the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission and the only person in Yolo County to receive the Yolo County Bar Association’s Liberty Bell Award twice. He was also one of the founding members of Concilio of Yolo County and chairman of the Economic Opportunity Commission’s War on Poverty.
Gonzales was 85 when he died in September 2004 and has been commemorated by his son, Rick Gonzales Jr. (WHS 1964) , through Concilio which annually awards scholarships to local teens as well as honors residents who have made a difference in race relations. Concilio was founded in 1970.
Woodland Councilwoman Xochitl Rodriguez was one of hundreds of students to receive a Concilio scholarship throughout the years. She highlighted this during the ceremony — the park is in her district.
There will eventually be three parks in the Spring Lake development, which is southeast of Woodland, generally located between Hwy. 113 and County Road 102. The first, Jack Slaven Park, was built in 2010 and is 10 acres in size and located at 1705 Meikle Ave.
Additional development has triggered a second park, Rick Gonzales Sr. Park, which is farther south on Meikle Avenue, and where construction is also set to begin in the spring of 2017. It was formally named last September. A third park — still unnamed and called N1 — is located farther northwest in the development.
Before golden shovels were plunged into the ground, family members spoke about Rick Gonzales Sr., including his wife, Angie, son and grandson — also named Rick Gonzales.
“I’m not sure if my grandpa could’ve done any of it without her (Angie),” said Rick Gonzales, III. “My grandpa, Rick, is probably the best person that has ever been in my life and I appreciate you guys for honoring him.”
Angie shared a few words of her own. “We came to Woodland in 1945 and Woodland was only Main Street all this was out in the open and now I don’t go any place so I don’t know anybody anymore,” Angie said, prompting some laughs, “but Woodland has been a great town. Small but very great.”
Contact Sarah Dowling at 530-406-6231.
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Ricardo Joseph Gonzales - March 12, 1919 - September 12, 2004
Ricardo Joseph Gonzales died at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2004 at age 85.
Mr. Gonzales was born March 12, 1919 in Saguache, Colo., and had been a Yolo County resident for 56 years. He served in Okinawa during World War II. He was the owner of Rick's Top Hat Barbers and Velvet Touch Beauty Salon. In addition he was executive director of the Mexican American Concilio of Yolo County and served on numerous boards and commissions in Yolo County. He was also the recipient of many awards and recognitions for his lifelong efforts in helping the poor and disenfranchised of Yolo County. Yolano Park in Woodland was renamed the Rick Gonzales Park and the Department of Employment and Social Services building was named the Rick Gonzales Building in June of this year.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Angela Gonzales of Woodland; his sons LaVerne and his wife Gertraud of Sacramento, Gary (WHS 1963) and his wife Lisa of Chicago, Rick Jr. (WHS 1964) and his wife Erlinda of Davis and Jerry and his wife Cathy of Davis, grandchildren Montserrat, Diane, Mark, Adrienne, Eva, Alma, Ricky, Leah, Anjela and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his granddaughters Rosie and Lisa, his sister Theresa Harrison, and his brothers George Aguilar and Luke Gonzales.
Memorials in Mr. Gonzales' name may be directed to Concilio Scholarship Fund, c/o Concilio of Yolo County, P.O. Box 879, Woodland, 95776.
Services: A vigil was scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17 at Holy Rosary Church, 301 Walnut St., Woodland. Funeral Mass celebrated at noon, Saturday, Sept. 18 at Holy Rosary Church with burial following at St. Joseph's Cemetery. After the services, a gathering to celebrate the life of Mr. Gonzales will be held at the Home Arts Building on the Yolo County Fairgrounds. McNary's Chapel of Woodland is assisting the family with arrangements.
(Obituary from the Woodland "Daily Democrat," September 16, 2004.)
Robert, thanks so much for posting the article about the park in Spring Lakes, named after Rick Gonzales, Sr. No one deserves this honor more. I have my own special memories of him, due to some complicated circumstances which I won't go into, but he was always so good to my Mom and I...just a wonderful, caring man.
Vern, I had no idea you were Morman. That is not the Vern Larson I remember from high school! So glad that you are happy in your life in San Diego and congratulations on 50 years of marriage! I was not aware of the 60's reunion so didn't get the chance to see classmates from different years but hope there is another one so this can happen. You are so right...at this point in our lives, we should attend reunions and enjoy the fact that we are still alive and kicking!
As construction begins at one school in Woodland another is slated for demolition — trustees approved a contract for the same architect company to help with both projects.
The Woodland School Board approved a contract with HMC Architects, based out of Sacramento, to help with the demolition services of the Willow Spring property at Thursday’s board meeting.
The board doesn’t have a timeline for the project bid just yet, according to spokeswoman Callie Lutz.
The Willow Spring Elementary School shut down in 2009 as part of $7 million in budget cuts. It was in operation for nearly 70 years. The district began to look into selling the property — located at 1585 East Gibson Road on the northeast side of Gibson Road and Hwy. 113 — and announced its intent to sell in 2014.
HMC Architects is also helping to design the new school in the Spring Lake area — at Miekle Avenue and Banks Drive — that project was delayed from opening in the coming school year to the 2018-19 school year due to the abundance of rainfall in recent months.
