THIS IS SURRATTS FOUNDATION E-NOTICE 2003-3 OF MARCH 1, 2003

Hello Hornets:

Here are some items that might be of interest.

1.  76 GRAD ANNOUNCES FUND-RAISER.  Kim Ellis King (76), kkimma220@aol.com, is working on the Relay for Life fund raiser on behalf of John Hanson Middle School in Waldorf.  (The event will be held at LaPlata High School.)  Donation checks, payable to American Cancer Society, may be sent to 13997 Wetherburn Street, Waldorf, Maryland 20601.

2.  FOUNDATION CRUISE UPDATE.  In order to permit interested cruisers who weren't able to make the 2003 cruise to join us, we've decided to postpone the Foundation cruise until November 2004.  We'll begin announcing details this Fall, so everyone who's interested can sign-up in time to get the lowest possible "early bird" prices.  Please mark your calendars for November 2004 if you'd be interested in joining us.

3.  MYSTERY PHOTOS IDENTIFIED.  Jeanette Johnson (62) spotted those mystery photos on the web site as interior scenes at Tanglewood Elementary:  We took the photos for the Foundation archive in response to a rumor about a year ago that Tanglewood would be closed and demolished, and its operations moved to a new building on the Surrattsville property.  That rumor seems to have been unfounded, but its nice to have the photos anyway.  I'll bet you former Tanglewood students can almost taste the water coming out of those little water fountains in each classroom (shown in the photos).

4.  2002 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN.  Thanks again to the very generous donors (listed below) to the Foundation's informal 2002 Annual Campaign.  Thanks to several "at the wire" donations, the final total for the campaign was actually $3,434.23, and permits the Foundation to replenish the scholarship funds spent last year and to grant scholarships again in 2003.

5.  SAD REPORT FROM EAST TEXAS.  I received this email from Sue Jones McGee (63) on February 2:  "Dear Henry:  As you know, I live in East Texas and I thought I would let you know how things are here right now.  Yesterday at about 8:05 am there was a loud explosion and we ran out side to see if we could figure out what was going on.  We looked up in the sky, because you really felt like we were being attacked because there were several explosions and everything shook and rattled.  You could see the shuttle, of course.  At that time we were unaware that that was what it was, and it was breaking apart into a lot of pieces and then there was no more of anything.  You could actually see a lot of fire coming off the shuttle in the sky with the naked eye.  Needless to say, the rest is history.  There are pieces of the shuttle and body parts scattered everywhere.  Were I live is approximately 150 miles east of Dallas.  Yesterday they declared a civil emergency, which is a disaster emergency.  From Ennis, Tx. to Louisiana is a no fly zone until further notice.  F‑16's were flying everywhere, and extremely low, yesterday.  On the local TV stations they kept flashing a message about the F‑16's and not to be alarmed.  Today we have the F‑16's and the Black Hawk helicopters.  NASA, the FBI and you name it is everywhere.  It truly does feel like a war zone.  The mood of the people here yesterday was of total shock and disbelief.  Everyone really thought that we were being attacked.  How sad that all of us now live with this fear since 9/11, and with all that is going on about war.  Children were terrified yesterday; sadly they now know somewhat the fear that the children in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere live with every day of there life.  Starting at about 8:30 am yesterday, they kept issuing warnings, after people started reporting finding pieces of the shuttle, not to touch anything or pick anything up.  Well, guess what the idiots were doing?  Exactly what they weren't suppose to.  It makes you wonder where there common sense is located!  Our local TV stations have been reporting around the clock and showing a lot more then the national stations.  America has been through a lot lately, but it only makes us stronger and more UNITED than ever. We are mourning together as a nation and will continue to do so.   Sue"

I know all of our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the Columbia astronauts and the others affected by this terrible tragedy.

6.  SECOND GENERATION EFFORTS; CLASS OF 78 REUNION.  I received this email from Patricia DeLauder Dean (78): "Hi Henry:  I am looking for any information on the Class of 78's reunion. I have tried all the obvious places without success. Please ask your e-Notice readers to contact me if they have any information.  Also I would like to thank all the alumni who have children in the military.  And thank their children for their selfless behavior.  My son is a Marine just sent to the Middle East.  Patricia, patricia.dean@lmco.com"

We send our best wishes and special thanks to Patricia's son and all of the other second generation Hornets in military and public safety service!

7.  INTERESTING WEB SITES.  Surrattstock performer and internet maven Wayne Tatum (74) sent in word about these two web sites, which Ill bet will be of interest to some of you fans of the old WPGC Good Guys top 40 days:  http://www.reelradio.com/lc/ and  http://www.amandfmmorningside.com/splash.html.

8.  SURRATTSTOCK PERFORMER HAILED, TWICE, IN THE POST.  Speaking of Surrattstock performers, the following glowing article about Surrattstock performer John Previti (72) appeared in the Washington Post on January 29, 2003:

"'Previti: Standards That Are Anything but Ordinary.' On a list of Washington‑based jazz ensembles that deserve greater exposure, the John Previti Quartet would have to rank high. At Blues Alley on Monday night, the band moved through a collection of mostly pop and jazz standards with ease, invention and charm.  Previti, best known for his work with the late guitar great Danny Gatton, played a typically self‑effacing role on acoustic bass, warmly underscoring the swing pulse sustained by drummer Big Joe Maher and fashioning a series of thoughtfully articulated solos that created lyrical interludes or arching bridges. While most of the melodies played by vibist and pianist John Cocuzzi and guitarist Rick Whitehead were familiar, the arrangements stood out with splashing colors, deft interplay and unexpected twists, including some neatly executed contrapuntal passages.

"Three Little Words," "On the Street Where You Live" and other tunes found Cocuzzi on vibes, showering bright melodic variations over the dominant chords set into swift motion by Whitehead. When it came time for Whitehead to take the lead, he infused his improvisations with everything from subtle harmonic extensions to bluesy exclamations. The group was briefly pared down to just three pieces ‑‑ vibes, guitar and bass ‑‑ a combination that proved particularly alluring on the ballads.  Like the band's new CD, "Swinging Lullabies for My Rosetta," the show also featured complementary vocals by Marianna Previti, the bassist's wife, and Maher, one of the best blues and jump singers in town. Among other things, Marianna Previti put a wonderfully sly and sensuous spin on "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me."

... and this glowing review of John's latest CD appeared in the Post on January 24, 2003:

"'John Previti Quartet,  Swinging Lullabyes for My Rosetta.'   It's easy to lose sight of the fact that the John Previti Quartet's new CD was recorded in the studio, since the band often sounds as if it's in the midst of a late‑nightclub performance, casually swinging its way through a collection of vintage jazz and pop standards. About the only thing missing is the sound of tinkling glassware.  Occasionally augmented by vocalist Marianna Previti, no stranger to swing‑era sounds herself, the quartet devotes the 12 performances on "Swinging Lullabyes for My Rosetta" to music that has never gone out of fashion in jazz circles. Duke Ellington's handiwork inspires three appealing collaborations, beginning with bassist Previti's ruminative reprise of "In a Sentimental Mood" and ending with "Do Nothing Til You Hear From Me." The latter tune, intentionally or not, finds Marianna Previti evoking images of another contemporary vocalist with similarly old‑school tastes: Maria Muldaur.

Sidney Bechet, Earl Hines and Fats Waller also receive affectionate nods. Yet when the band reprises Waller's "Jitterbug Waltz," relying on an arrangement that makes wonderful use of Previti's upright bass, pianist John Cocuzzi's switch‑hitting work on vibes and Rick Whitehead's fluid guitar, some listeners will also be reminded of how much guitarist Charlie Byrd ‑‑ one of the bandleader's friends and collaborators ‑‑ admired the same tune. Drummer and singer Joe Maher rounds out the lineup, adding brush‑stroked motion and soulful vocals to a series of performances that often charm effortlessly.  (Appearing Monday at Blues Alley. To hear a free Sound Bite from John Previti Quartet, call Post‑Haste at 202‑334‑9000 and press 8124. (Prince William residents, call 703‑690‑4110.)"

Way to go John!

9.  CALLING MARYLAND PARK H.S. GRADS.  I know that a number of e-Notice readers have relatives who graduated from or attended Maryland Park High School in Seat Pleasant/Capitol Heights back in the day.  (I think Maryland Park closed in the early 50's.)  My uncle is heading a committee planning an all classes Maryland Park reunion luncheon on June 19 in Waldorf.  If you have any info on Maryland Park graduates, please give a call to Richard at 301-459-3545 or Mary at 301-627-6714.

DAVID MARRA died on January 23.  I got this note from his daughter, Alecia Marra Haman:  "David was a great dad to the five Marra kids, Chris (74), Alecia (76), Andrew (78), Aleta (80), and Ben (82).  He was always there cheering and routing for us. We will miss him. Just a note, he was the one that named  "Malfunction Junction" at the north end of Clinton, near Kirby Road."

JUDITH M. BURROUGHS died January 11, 2003.  Judy taught foreign language at Surratts for 17 years.  Judy's obituary appeared in the Washington Post on 02/24/03.

 

MANY THANKS TO THESE GENEROUS 2002 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS!

Nancy Oursler Maynard (65), In Memory Of Billy Wasson (65) and Karen Bitterman (65)

Deborah Williams Largent (79)

Janet Goddard Sullivan (54)

Vicky Simontacchi Young (57), In Memory of Margie Jones Green (57)

Ellen Talbert-Miller (61, and faculty), In Memory of Judy Lord (Business Teacher)

Michelle Wilson Block (68), In Memory of Danny Vaughan (68, K.I.A Viet Nam 1969)

Donna Rae Sturtevant Smith (70)

Henry Smith (71)

Denise Hope (72)

Rosa England Bolen (45), In Memory of Donald Edwin England (51)

Robert Kane (68)

Joan Penn Revis (61)

Homer Revis (56)

Helen Bovbjerg Niedung (54)

Vicki Forsht Williams (65, and faculty)

Peter Williams (64)

Sherri Koch Gay (71)

Ed Jaffe (65)

Melissa Gilcrest (69)

Coral Ann Kupfer (65), In Memory of Anne Marie Schmalfuss (65)

Anne S. Noyes (Faculty)

Betty O'Clair (73), In Memory of Col. Francis R. O'Clair

Fred Keeney (73)

Suzanne Meilert Fields (71)

David Weber (65)

Scott McWhirt (71)

Jane Edwards Robinson (54)

Steve Profilet (71)

Brenda Karnes (Faculty)

Anonymous (63)

Norman Myers (66)

Laurie Summers Miller (76)

Paul Monaghan (59)

Diane Wain Hayes (74)

Jim "Butch" Spradling (71)