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Reunions of All Kinds
It's that time of year for reunions -- class reunions, family reunions, and even neighborhood reunions. I had a ball last Saturday at Bonnie LaPorte's camp on Point Au Roche, telling stories with kids from the old neighborhood. I say Bonnie LaPorte because that was her name when she lived on Johnson Avenue. Since then she has gone on to enjoy an outstanding career as a teacher under the name of Bonnie Gregware.
No one was really willing to take credit for the idea, but when I arrived there were plenty of familiar faces to greet me. Gerald and Karen (Maisano) Burdo were present, along with David and Linda (King) Richard, Len and Debbie (McNally) Duquette, John and Brenda (Clinebell) Ireland, Gary and Sue (Toussaint) Baker, Bobby Harris, Dan and Brenda Drowne and the one and only Goose Gagnon.
It was great to see Dora LaPorte, Bonnie's mother, and her Johnson Avenue neighbor since 1952, Olga LaPierre. Both still look young and were smiling as they listened to old stories from what-used-to-be young kids.
Carl LaPierre, Olga's brother-in-law, who used to be a frequent visitor to the neighborhood, was also present. He had taught for many years in the Moriah Central School District.
I even brought Gail Gagnon, my son's mother, to the event. Her cousins, the Rougeaus from Hartwell Street, will be invited next year, as will several others whose names cropped up during the afternoon barbeque.
As the boys gathered in the shade of an old oak tree, each with their favorite beverage in hand, the stories turned to old teammates and old girlfriends. Dave reminded me about a girl I liked who went to Peru Central -- one that I had somehow forgotten until his memory jogged mine.
I reminded Dave about how I had originally liked that redhead Linda King, but Dave had made up his mind that she was the girl of his dreams. Dave pawned off Linda's friend on me so that I'd be distracted, and we ended up double-dating at the Clinton County Fair in summer of '65. Forty years later Dave and Linda are still smiling together.
Back in the good old days, Johnson Avenue, like many neighborhoods around the city, was bustling with kids. There were bicycle races, baseball games, kool-aid stands and marbles. Ray LaMonda was the first on the street to have a mo-ped. He was nice enough to let us all have a try at it.
Before anyone left it was decreed that next year's neighborhood reunion will be on the third Saturday of July, again at Bonnie's camp. The inaugural group will be back, hopefully joined by Pam and John Quilliam, the Bells, the Gagnier girls, the Mooneys, and more. Maybe good old Gary Aglieri can stop making money in Texas long enough to join us as well.
THE STOWAWAYS RETURN ON SATURDAY
And speaking of reunions, the Stowaways, one of the North Country's legendary local bands from the Sixties, will return as part of Plattsburgh High School's Class of 1968 forty-year reunion. Back this year, after last year's record-setting concert, are Jim Wells from Florida, Kenny Phillips from Los Angeles, Geoff Jones from Rochester, as well as Plattsburgh's Spencer Bosworth and Mike O'Connell.
They are excited about the fun planned for Saturday night at Olive Ridley's on Court Street in Plattsburgh. At 8:30pm Last Licks will open the musical night. The Stowaways will take to the stage around 9:45pm with three one-hour sets. Sitting in with the band on some third-set songs will be Glen Dalton on guitar, Nelson Bosworth on flute and sax, Fred Passino on sax and Andy Fee on keyboard.
I've been invited back as the emcee for the night, and I'll make my debut with the band sometime during the night. I've been practicing the tambourine all week.
Bentley Austin, who was a key figure in the band's return in 2007, is busy this summer in Columbus, Ohio, with a summer music series and unable to attend Saturday's event. He will be missed by the band.
Olive Ridley's will start filling up early on Saturday, with a $5 cover charge starting at 6:30pm. The first in line might be John Wood, PHS Class of '68, who stopped by today's rehearsal to meet the band. He's here for the reunion all the way from Michigan.
Slip on your white bucks and turn your shirt collar up. See you at Olive Ridley's on Saturday night for the Stowaway's Second Reunion Concert.
Comments
Foxy: I really enjoyed reading your story of the reunion at Bonnie's camp. I only wish I could have stayed longer, but as you know I had another family party in Mooers that same day to attend. I planned on returning but it was storming so bad when we left Mooers, I took my mother home and decided to stay in town. Hope you all had a great time and I'm looking forward to seeing all of the "old gang" next summer there again.
Posted by: bob harris | August 24, 2008 8:06 PM
Hi Foxy. Nice to meet you. The reunion was awesome. We all had a blast. We are deciding on whether to have another one in five or ten years. Plattsburgh is an awesome town, and I always miss being there. Take care.
(Foxy's note: We had a nice talk that day, John ... while I was enjoying popcorn and a few beverages!)
Posted by: John L. Wood | August 14, 2008 7:33 PM