Name: Larry Bach ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Apr 14, 2009, 6:06 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1972
City & State: Torrance, CA
E-mail
Message: Some Cougars know my mom, Billie Bach, so it's with sadness that I relate her death yesterday afternoon. Mom fell and broke her hip, having surgery April 1st. At 78-years old, her other medical conditions drained her strength to recover. Mom lived in Hawthorne at different times in her life for over 60+ years. My memory says she lived for a few years at Cordary and Fonthill over in the "Maze", and for almost 40-years at the corner of Manor Drive and 126th Street, across from the Borland's and the Fox's. Since 1995, mom lived in west Torrance. She attended Inglewood High School, class of '48 and briefly El Camino College. Mom was involved in various Hawthorne community activities including many years as a volunteer at Hawthorne Community Hospital, as a pollworker, as a room mother at Eucalyptus School, and with the Campfire Girls, for a short list. Being a fiery redhead, when mom had something on her mind there was never a misunderstanding what she was thinking or expected. Mom is missed but we have a whole gang of memories and funny stories. She would defend me and my sister Jamie, like a mother bear, but there was the devil to pay if the actual story revealed misbehavior on our parts. We're feeling great sadness and emptiness but also a sense of peace that passes all understanding. There is a memorial service Saturday evening. Email me for details.

Name: Connie Dewald ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Apr 14, 2009, 3:21 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: DeWald
Class: 1961
City & State: Omaha, NE
E-mail
Message: John, I laughed so hard at the story your mom told. I never knew your parents, but imagined the sight and it WAS funny!

Name: Sande Gosper ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Apr 14, 2009, 1:17 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Bashaw
Class: 1968
City & State: Garden Grove, CA
E-mail
Message: O.K. here's my tree story - the only tree we had was in front of our house on 127th Street - the one that the football team used to toilet paper the night before a game - however, trust me, the cheerleading squad got them back LOL

Name: Jessie Koehn ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Apr 14, 2009, 9:59 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Corral
Class: 1974
City & State: Los Angeles, CA
E-mail
Message: Smart aleck, John ha! I didn't know that! I was under the impression that it was being moved. I am sure some offical must know where it is...then again, maybe not!

Name: Chris Prewitt ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Apr 13, 2009, 8:07 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1967
City & State: Fullerton, CA
E-mail
Message: When I was in elementary school Janet and Penny Ashby's family had a pomegranate tree. I used to help myself to all I wanted. Somehow my mother knew every time that I ate one. One time she told me she didn't know if I were in a fight or kissing the girls. I didn't understand at first 'till I saw the "blood" on my shirt then the "lip stick" on my face. I stopped eating the pomegranates because I thought my friends would tease me.

Name: Jessie Koehn ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Apr 13, 2009, 5:28 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Corral
Class: 1974
City & State: Los Angeles, CA
E-mail
Message: What's up with the Broadway memorial and where is it going off to?

Name: Howard Paco Duran ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Apr 13, 2009, 3:13 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1961
City & State: Lake Forest
E-mail
Message: Craig, as a one-time stunt man in porn to another, I enjoyed watching you on Hallmark,congrats!

Name: Ella V Baker ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Apr 13, 2009, 12:42 pm - HHS Time
City & State: Seal Beach, Ca.
No E-mail
Message: The only real tree hugger I know of was your dad. In 1933 when the big earthquake hit Long Beach, your dad was taking a shower and he took to the back yard naked as a jay bird and the neighbor saw him hugging the back yard fruit tree.

Name: Daria Nickel ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Apr 13, 2009, 10:53 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Sanders
Class: 1982
City & State: Trumann, AR
E-mail
Message: I have enjoyed reading all the tree stories. Growing up we had two huge apricot trees growing in our back yard. The trees were big enough to climb, with more apricots than the birds could ever eat, or you could ever pick. My dad put a tire swing on a branch of one of them that stayed until the tree became diseased and had to be cut down. The larger tree had branches that reached over into our neighbors yard. You can't buy apricots in the store that come anywhere close to how good those fresh, home grown ones were. When we moved, we moved to a brand new house on 132nd street and we had little new baby trees...but we had lemons, I loved the fresh lemons!

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Apr 13, 2009, 9:45 am - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Las Vegas
E-mail
Message: Big Craig, I loved seeing you on screen. You know of all the people I remember from HHS and growing up with you guys, even though I haven't seen you guys in 30 years reading and thinking how you are now is exactly the same as I remember you back then. Sean Carroll is another one. I have always been told when I meet someone from back in my younger days how I haven't changed a bit. My attitude and energy and personality has not changed one bit. In all honesty other than my weight gain I feel mentally exactly the same as 30 years ago. I think that is what is keeping me going. When I used to speak to large audiences from elementary school kids to parents I was always told how well I did speaking to the crowd and speaking on their level so they could understand what I was saying. I think this has kept me going through all these past bad times I have had physically over the past several years. I can tell Craig is exactly the way he was back when we were at HHS and I think that is awesome. Our class of 76' was very special. Alot of us have kept in contact and we all remain friends even after 30 years. Even though I was far from being a model student (or even a student) my years at HHS is something I treasure forever. Thanks John for keeping those memories alive in all of us. And sorry for the book again but for some reason it takes me alot of room to explain things. I should have paid attention in English more

Name: Craig Bodkin ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Apr 12, 2009, 10:35 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Stevenson Ranch
E-mail
Message: Wow! I got a mention on Cougartown for my youthful portrayal of the middle aged balding portly Sheriff, Eustus Bucklehumper, on Hallmarks "Love Takes Wing". What's up shout out to Big Keith, and thanks to Kurt for the heads up announcement on the show. Long time no see guys. Just to keep the record straight. I shaved my head and wore a padded suit to appear larger around the middle in order to be true to the character. If you read the book, it clearly states that the Sheriff is a bald fat guy, so I was just trying to keep it real. After having such a significant impact on, and prolific career in the Porn Industry as Dick Dangling Private EYE, in the now legendary Dick Dangling Series, I had almost given up hope that I would ever get a shot at legitimate acting, and I still don't know if I did. All kidding aside, it really was a blast! Filmed at Melody Ranch in Newhall where they did Dead Wood. Awesome Western town. I'm just sorry I didn't get to have a saloon brawl, or at least shoot someone in the ass, but it's Hallmark after all. Lou happens to be a good friend, and has been threatening to put me in something for the last ten years. Well, it finally happened. Hopefully, other things may follow. Never too late right? For a signed 8 X 10, please send $10 to me, or $20 for a 16 X 20. Happy Easter!

Name: Alan Nelson ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Apr 12, 2009, 4:57 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1973
City & State: Parker, AZ
E-mail
Message: I'm not sure if anyone here knows this, but one of the passengers killed, and the lone survivor in the collision that took the life of Angel's pitcher Nick Adenhart, were South Bay kids. Henry Pearson and Jon Wilhite attended and played baseball at Mira Costa. Henry was killed on impact and Jon has just been upgraded from critical to serious condition. The driver of their vehicle, Courtney Stewart, was from Diamond Bar. All had attended, or were attending Cal State Fullerton. My wife and her brothers went to school with Jon's dad at Aviation. Our prayers and condolences to the families of all involved.

Name: Doris Donaldson ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Apr 12, 2009, 10:17 am - HHS Time
Maiden: donaldson
Class: 1957
City & State: Twin Falls, ID
No E-mail
Message: HEY NEIGHBOR! Carol Ferruccio: We lived at 245 No. Eucalyptus Avenue (west side of the street) from about 1952 till my folks moved about 1964 or '65. Recall the name Dave Anderson but can't place the face. Really didn't know anyone on the block except immediate next-door neighbors. Oh, 2 doors away was Mrs. Bitterman, a grouchy old, old lady (probably no older than I am now ... OUCH!). One day a friend of hers called when my folks weren't home and they were worried about her because she wouldn't answer her phone. She asked me to go over there and see if she was ok. Well ... I've always been something of a pantywaist and when I went over and looked through her front door, there she was ... flat on the floor face down, arms and legs spread as if she were doing a snow angel and her hair looked as though she had just stuck her finger in a light socket, and yes ... deader than a mackeral! MAN! I was so spooked by the sight, I ran home screaming. Then waaaay south on the block, I babysat for a lady whose name I can't even remember. I am surprised so many HHSers also had rabbit on their tables, and NOT for decoration! AND NOW BACK TO TREES FOR JOHN! When we lived on Washington, we had several Poplars in the parkway, all in a row. They were a very tall, thin tree, with lots of upward reaching branches. My little brother was warned NOT to climb those trees, but you know little boys. It was the day of my birthday party, before it started, and we heard my brother screaming. He had fallen from one of those branches that had held onto his foot just long enough to make it a harder fall and he BROKE HIS ARM. He was about 3 if a day, and that poor little boy was hurtin'. I took care of my little brother usually but that day I had failed him and I cried all the way to the doctor, louder than my little brother did. Moral of the story: Don't plant Poplars around little kids! HEY EVERYONE ... HAPPY EASTER!

Name: Bonnie Lou Cozby ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Apr 12, 2009, 6:52 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Simmons
Class: 1971
City & State: Ocean Park, WA
E-mail
Message: Happy Easter all. Growing up, Easter morning meant a big Easter basket at the door of my bedroom with a See's chocolate bunnie and chocolate eggs. I would have a quick egg hunt in the backyard, then we would dress in Easter finery (including hats & gloves) and head for my grandparents house. On the way we stopped at a tiny florist on Centinela (Culver City) to pick up corsages for all the ladies. It was mostly my mother's side of the family, so all the older family members spoke with french accents. When my cousins arrived, there was a second egg hunt. My grandfather had a leg of lamb on the spit and the air was fragranced by rosemary. We spent most of the day in the gardens and patio but beautiful dinners on grandma's very best china, crystal, silver & linens were served on sawhorse tables 8 feet long and placed in a U shape in their immaculate garage (we outgrew the dining room). After dinner the zahagi (shoqua or wineskin) was passed around the table. Back then, the See's bunnies had frosting decorations on their baskets and they were huge! I still buy/send the tall foil bunnies to our kids and family every year. As we moved around in our Coast Guard life, some of the homes we bought were chosen with my grandparent's yard in mind and although our holiday celebrations were usually the four of us, I tried to recreate some of those memories for our kids.

Name: Ricki Farrell ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Apr 11, 2009, 10:35 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Valencia
Class: 1961
City & State: Tucson AZ
E-mail
Message: Happy Easter to all! I love Cougartown, thank you John. I don't have to go anywhere to feel as though I'd taken a glorious trip. We had fig trees, peach trees and a beautiful magnolia tree. Bob Clark('63), my brother Leo('64) and I had wonderful times climbing eucalyptus trees that were all around us on Truro. Rabbit? We had rabbit many times until one day when one of my uncles brought home a rabbit he'd shot while hunting. When my grandmother, who lived with us, began to gut it she discovered it was in a family way. End of rabbits on our menu.

Name: Edward Schatz ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Apr 11, 2009, 10:02 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1970
City & State: tree city, california
E-mail
Message: hmmm, from trees to wabbits, those waskilly things. my mother made us rabbit once or twice after we moved to Hawthorne. Wasn't bad, similar to chicken, true. Wouldn't buy it now. Happy Sunday to all Cougs, no religious inferences. Be safe, eat little and live well.

Name: Connie Dewald ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Apr 11, 2009, 6:00 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: DeWald
Class: 1961
City & State: Omaha, NE
E-mail
Message: To comment on my daughter Tammy's post: My family lived on 142nd Street between Jefferson and Prairie until I was in 6th grade. We had a big lot and my father had hundreds of rabbits in cages. He sold them and we also ate them. When he was going to skin a rabbit for our meal he would tell us, and my brothers and I would come running to watch the procedure. To this day I could describe every step of skinning and gutting that animal. Don't think I could watch something like that now. We sure had some good meals of rabbit meat.

Name: Armand Vaquer ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Apr 11, 2009, 5:25 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1972
City & State: Tarzana, Karloffornia
E-mail
Message: My family used to eat rabbit until my grandmother lived with us and said, "It's just like eating a cat." Thus, that eliminated rabbit from our menus.

Name: Sandie Bailor ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Apr 11, 2009, 4:15 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1968
City & State: Pacific Northwest
E-mail
Message: My grandparents (on 119th & Prairie) raised rabbits in their backyard. When I was small they used to have a lot of 'fried chicken' for dinner. I remember the first time that I observed my Dad & Grandfather skinning one of my FRIENDS on the clothesline...I did NOT eat the fried chicken that night but silently let the tears flow at the dinner table...0 memories!!

Name: Tammy Nichols ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Apr 11, 2009, 2:38 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Levene
City & State: Long Beach CA
E-mail
Message: Doris asked if anyone used to eat rabbit? My mom (Connie DeWald) will have to tell the story but I know my Grandpa DeWald used to raise them to be eaten. So Mom, are you out there? I started the story - you finish. P.S. Sorry if this thread is innapropriate this close to Easter : (

Name: Armand Vaquer ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Apr 11, 2009, 1:08 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1972
City & State: Tarzana, Karloffornia
E-mail
Message: It seems like a sacrilege to take down a monument and not re-install it elsewhere. Hope everyone has a great Easter tomorrow. I'm heading down to my cousin's in Lake Elsinore.

Name: Sandra Bailor ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Apr 11, 2009, 12:52 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1968
City & State: Pacific Northwest
E-mail
Message: A very Happy Easter to all of my fellow Cougars and their Families!!!

Name: Adrianne DeAlejandro ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Apr 11, 2009, 10:53 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Longpre
Class: 1963
City & State: Cerritos, CA
E-mail
Message: Every Easter my mom would buy flats of candy and load baskets with it. Lots of jelly beans at the bottom. I always got a stuffed bunny, a new dress, hat, gloves, and shoes. When we had banty chickens, dad would take me to the feed store and buy me baby chicks at Easter. Mom would hide colored, hard boiled eggs thruout our huge backyard. Even when my sister's kids were small, they loved it. Baskets galore.
Trees... We had a huge Redwood at the side of the yard that Marsha Groseth and I climbed all the time. We had the Eucalyptus always wanting to hit the power lines in the back. A Weeping Willow tree with the caterpillars that dad had to take the branches with them on each year, and burn. A wonderful Peach and Fig tree. Our neighbors had a dozen Avocado trees in their backyard for us to enjoy. Our house was one of 3 in a row, and one at the end of our block of 129th Street, that were part of the first homes built in Hawthorne. We lived next door to Ione Bradford, who's home was next to the Edison Substation. A BLESSED EASTER TO ALL.