PS 99 - Class of 1954 Reunion
On Sunday, Oct. 9th, members of the class of 1954 from PS 99 are meeting for a mini reunion. We will be meeting at the school at about 10:30 and then touring the area. We will be stopping for lunch. If you would like to join us please contact me so that we will know approximate numbers. Please bring a picture of yourself from the 1950s. Robert Lieberman will be filming the reunion in conjunction with a film he is making on the refugee families who lived in Kew Gardens at that time and would like to use the pictures in his film.
Anne Parnas Skandera
Anneskan@aol.com


Update for '65 RHHS Reunion Weekend
September 25, 2005
SUNDAY, OCT .9, 2005 bring your camera.
    1. Tour of the school...
We will be meeting by the 114th Street entrance at 10:15 am.The custodian, John Beard, has been kind enough to open the school on his day off, so please be prompt.
    2. Lunch at The Original Jahn's...
This will be on your own ,and will be immediately following the visitation through the school.Recall the fun you had "way back when",ordering The Kitchen Sink.
Edi Beckler Goldberg
lv2trvlny@aol


September 25, 2005
Click on thumbnail to enlarge.
Editor's Note:  Thanks to Helga (Marcus) Stein for this photograph of the 1947 Temple Isaiah Confirmation Class..


September 25, 2005
Click on thumbnail to enlarge.
Editor's Note:  Thanks to Peter Schiftan for this old advertisement for a photography shop that used to be at 81-61 Lefferts Boulevard..


Class of 1965 Richmond Hill High School Reunion
September 23, 2005
    Anyone who grew up in K.G.or vicinity interested in visiting places like Overlook Park,Dani's Pizza, etc.in the old stomping ground", on Oct. 8,2005 at 12pm ?(Let's do an informal lunch somewhere in the neighborhood too.) Several former K.G. residents will be coming from all parts of the country to attend The '65 R.H.H.S .'Reunion that evening at 8pm.It will be held at The La Guardia Marriot Hotel.
    The following day, Oct. 9,2005, activities for the' 65 graduates will include a tour of the school ,(10:30am),and an informal lunch at The Original Jahn's.
    If anyone wants to participate in meeting on Saturday afternoon, please post here.If a good number of people want to meet ,perhaps someone out there will want to organize the group.Nothing is definite for the "gathering"yet,however, it is not too late to express your interest in getting together that afternoon.
Edi Beckler Goldberg
lv2trvlny@aol


September 22, 2005
    Hi..my name is Helga Marcus Stein. I lived at 119-20 Union Turnpike in the early 40s when we came to America. I lived at 82-67 Austin St.(The Mowbray) from about 1945 until 1954, when I got married. My husband and I then lived at 83-80 118St until 1959.
    I graduated from PS 99 in June, 1946. I think I have my graduation picture and will look for it. I found out about the site from a Kew Gardens friend, Marion Schild. Helga Marcus Stein
[To contact Helga Marcus Stein, click here]


In the Works: A Documentary Film About Growing Up in Kew Gardens
September 21, 2005
Click on thumbnails to view page.
Editor's Note:  Kew Gardens alumnus and independent film maker, Robert H. Lieberman, is going to do an independent documentary film about what it was like growing up in Kew Gardens during the 1940's and 50's. Filming will begin in Kew Gardens on October 9, 2005.
Click here to read the full story.


September 20, 2005
Jay Rogers,
    Thanks for the postings of the newest photographs from the extensive Rogers collection. Didn't know you were such a good photographer and collector. GLad to see the picture of Explorer Troop 15. Scouting in KG was a great way to stay out of trouble. It gave me a great deal of self confidence and skills I still use today.
    Glad to see the pictures of Hank Diers. I was trying to find him recently and was saddened to hear of his death. Hank and I spent many afternoons and evenings in the marshes at the Eastern end of Flushing Meadows . At that time it was pretty wild and full of small game-rabbits,pheasant,etc. We tried hunting with bows and arrows (never got anything) and generally made it our private playground.
Paul Waldeck
Lived in KG from 1942-1963
[To contact Paul Waldeck, click here]


September 20, 2005
Would like to thank Jay Rogers for posting those photos of my best buddy for 48 years, Hank Diers. I've missed him greatly since his untimely passing a few years ago.
Nick Garrett
Lived in Kew Gardens: 1953 thru 1971 eagadjusa@netscape.net


Poetry and Music
September 14, 2005
Hi Joe, just to let you know---we're doing a poetry and music show at the Theater Cafe on Thursday, Sep.22nd at 8 P.M. We have enough performers at this time. We're hoping for a nice sized audience. This is a particularly nice venue for this type of show. The Theater Cafe is located at 106-03 Metropolitan Ave. next door to the Cinemart Theater.
Thanks,
Aaron
[To contact Aaron Adler, click here]


Spirits Alive!
September 14, 2005
Special walking Tour with The Richmond Hill Historical Society at Maple Grove Cemetery
Click on thumbnail to view photograph.
On Saturday September 17,2005 at 2pm .....an extraordinary interactive walking tour will take place at Maple Grove. (rain date Sept. 18th)
    Actors will be dressed in period costumes and stand near the graves of notable persons from the cemetery s historical monumental section. The characters portrayed will be the likes of Don Marquis, the illustrious author, The Bluebird of Mulberry Bend, a bad girl who found the loving hand of God, Elsie Dewolfe, illustrious actress and author, Mr. George W. Johnson, the first African American to record a song, plus many other historical figures that reach back 100 years ago. There will be stories of musicians, magicians, artists, and local residents that will come alive by the reenactment of the actors. A guide will take you through the cemetery.The stories are both interesting and touching.
    Admission is $5.00. Children under 12are admitted free The cemetery is easily accessible- located at the end of Lefferts Boulevard and Kew Gardens Road in Kew Gardens. The Union Turnpike Station is just a few blocks away, where the E and the F train stop. Stay on the front of the train. For further info please call 718-847-6070
Nancy Cataldi
President, Richmond Hill Historical Society
[To contact Nancy Cataldi, click here]


Another Piece of Our History is Gone
September 13, 2005
Editor's Note:  I've just been told today that the house on Audley Street next to the water tower - the one that used to be the old Richmond Hill Golf Club House - is being torn down.


The Who were King Where?
September 12, 2005
    I know this is only borderline Kew Gardens at best, but during our junior high years, my friends and I would often walk home from Russell Sage along Austin Street and use the tunnel under Union Tpke. Amongst all the graffiti littering the walls of the tunnel (not to mention the unspeakable substances on the floors) one piece of writing on the wall always stood out for me: near the ceiling, in black spray paint, someone proclaimed "Suicide Savages are King in Rich-Haven". If memory serves, at one point the walls of the tunnel got whitewashed but the message reappeared soon after.
    Well, I think it took me longer than I'd like to admit to deduce that Rich-Haven was Richmond Hill/Woodhaven, but I'm still in the dark as to the story behind this infamous reign of terror. Street gang? Motorcycle club? Heavy metal band? Berserker warriors from a Dungeons & Dragons game gone awry? Anyone know anything about these guys? Did any of the Suicide Savages stay alive and become civilized?
Thanks,
Bob Gampert
Lived in KG 1967-95
PS99 Class of 1978
[To contact Bob Gampert, click here]


September 11, 2005
    I want to thank you for this web site.
    My name is Harry Kaufman, and I grew up at 84-58 Abingdon Road. My family moved away in September 1966, and to my everlasting sorrow, the beautful house was torn down to build three ugly boxes.
    Not one photo exists in my family albums of my house, and for 39 years I have been hoping to see that house again. Tonight, thanks to this site, I have. Seeing my house again, the one in the middle, is among the happiest moments of my life. My mother, Gisele, now 88 felt the same way tonight.
Thank you
Harry Kaufman
hckaufman@yahoo.com


September 11, 2005
Editor's Note:  Here are two off topic slideshows.     First is my look back at the World Trade Center in honor of September 11th. Click here.
    The second is an almost 200 page slideshow on another web site showing what it was like in New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina. It's very well done. Close out the window to return here. Click here.


The Hampton House: a setback during early construction
September 11, 2005
Click on thumbnails to view photograph.
During the spring of 1947 long piles were being driven by a huge steam pile driver to support the foundation of the Hampton House. The underground spring that had fed the old Muller's Goldfish pond evidentally kept the soil too fluid to directly support the foundation. In the school we could feel, as well hear, every blow, every part of the cycle, day after day, week after week. The teachers must have talked, and we listened, between the hammer blows. The driver wasn't on wheels or treads. It rested on and moved, somehow, over a complex of criss crossed 12x12s and steel I beams. One day there was a loud new noise. The whole thing had gone and fallen over. I didn't see it happen, but I did come back with my camera.
Jay Rogers
[To contact Jay Rogers, click here]


Hank Diers, Cliff Tatum and Jay Rogers
September 11, 2005
Click on thumbnail to view photograph.
Here's another photo with Cliff Tatum & Hank Diers together. Both recently pictured in the Guest Book. Nick Garrett & Lynn Trevas Berman both were looking for Hank in the Dec 2003 Guestbook and might be interestred in the picture. [Click here to continue.]
Jay Rogers
[To contact Jay Rogers, click here]


For Lew Schenna and Paul Waldeck
September 8, 2005
Click on thumbnail to view photograph.
Hello Lew & Paul
It's Jay Rogers here from the Boy Scouts. You guys might be interested in the following picture taken in front of the Church, The First Church of Kew Gardens, on Memorial Day, 1953, after we marched in the Memorial Day Parade. Explorer Post 15: were we sharp in our white gloves and spats or what? [Click here to continue.]
Jay Rogers
[To contact Jay Rogers, click here]


September 6, 2005
I found this site while surfing for the old reformed church that was across from PS 99, and I am thrilled to see OUR town as it is now - I have lived in Texas almost totally since joining the Army in Sept 1955 lost track of all friends since my parents had me registered in school under my step fathers name and only one or two old friends knew of the change was Louis Schenna found it in third grad photo 1947 noe using birth name Lewis Vail I lived in Kew Gardens, from 1945 to 1954 during that time I worked for \Koopman Florist as a delivery boy - Tommy Guilano and Rose were owner and secretary - great people I graduated P.S. 99 in 1952 and went to Richmond Hill High while many went to Forest Hills - lived in the Altgreen Towers 118-40 Metropolitan Ave,(Va3-5388? wow what a memory) Active in Scout Troop 15 especially the indian dancers - rode trolley almost daily (loved to pull the pulley off and run like the devil) to Jamaica for YMCA and later worked at Mirsky Tackle Shop
Lew Vail
lewvail@cebridge.net


Kitty Genovese
September 1, 2005
[Editor's Note:  This message has been moved to the Kitty Genovese Message Board.]


Class of 1965 Richmond Hill High School Reunion to be held October 8, 2005 at the La Guardia Marriott
September 1, 2005
I am the chairperson, and want to notify former classmates that they may contact greatreunions.com, or me at lv2trvlny@aol to find out info.Tic purchased by Sept .9th for $79, and $89 after that date . Also, would like to have someone run another K.G. reunion for that afternoon. The one Nov .'03 was wonderful .
Thanks,
Edi Beckler Goldberg


September 1, 2005
    Editor's Note: As of February 1st, Old Kew Gardens [.com] got a new email address with Gmail, which is the Google web based email service. You've probably heard that Gmail offers two gigabytes [2,000 MB] of free storage. It's free, but available by invitation only. Invitations are so sought after that they are being offered for sale on eBay. I have invitations I can distribute to friends. I'm not selling them, I'm giving them away. They are available on a first come first serve basis. Just send me an email telling me you'd like one.
    Update: Unless I know you, your request must come from a bona fide working ISP email address. To prevent abuse, email requests coming from free web based email services like Yahoo or Hotmail will not be honored.
    Update: I will remove this post when I run out of invitations. If you're reading this, then there are still invitations left to give out.


September 1, 2005
[Ed.'s Note: The reason each guest book posting does not appear here immediately is that I review each message individually before posting to eliminate spam or unwanted adult content. Email me if you want to make a correction to a message you have already posted or if you would like a message removed.]




How to contact Guestbook signers

Some Guestbook signers choose not to publish their email addresses. If you wish to contact one of them, send me an email identifying the guestbook signer you wish to contact and giving me the date his or her message was posted. Your email to me must contain your full name, and may also include anything else you wish to tell the signer. I will forward your email to the Guestbook signer you wish to contact, but with no cc or bcc to you. It will be the signer's decision whether or not to make contact with you. Any emails which contain spam, adult content, or appear suspect for any other reason will not be forwarded. ~The Editor.