Hawthorne Feedback

Name: Dennis Kilroy ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Aug 16, 2006, 1:43 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1977
City & State: BP CA
No E-mail
Message: Michael Alsop I remember you from Sepuleveda & Del Air Park. I have not thought about some of these names for awhile. I remember Mrs. Lafferty well although I had Mrs. Cahill another great teacher. Mrs. Lafferty's son Barry and I became friends at Dana & HHS. We had many great times together. Even if Barry tried to kill me in his Mom's white mustang ! LOL But that is another story... It has something to do with Pizza show and too many beers !Later...I hope I am not working Sunday night so I can make Fosters

Name: Michael Alsop ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Aug 16, 2006, 12:35 pm - HHS Time
City & State: Chesapeake, VA
E-mail
Message: Concerning Mrs. Lafferty: Sorry to hear about her condition. More than any other teacher I had, she inspired (or possibly a fear of her inspired), the importance of education in me. I swear I still have dents in my skull from her knuckles pounding my head during spelling tests imploring me to "Think!! Think!!" She was a teacher to a number of members of my family crossing generations. My mother (Carol Easterly HHS '57) was also one of her students as well as most of my uncles.

Name: Anita ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Aug 16, 2006, 10:46 am - HHS Time

Maiden: Harmon
Class: 1969
City & State: Fair Oaks, Ca
No E-mail
Message: To Michael Alsop in Chesapeake, Va.....you're right. This is an incredible site, thanks to John Baker. You mentioned Edna Lafferty's 5th grade class. I think that woman taught 5th grade forever! I hear she was a bit of a 'tough' one, but never the less a very good teacher. Edna had 3 sons. Hal, Tim and Barry, all of whom were HHS graduates. Hal was somewhere between the classes of 60-65, I'm not really sure. Tim and my brother John c/o '70 have been friends since they met at Cabrillo in Kindergarten and remain so to this day. Getting the two of them to go to one of their reunions however has been like pulling teeth.....oh well, their loss. Barry the youngest is now the primary caregiver of Mrs. Lafferty as she is dealing with the complications of Alzheimer's. She taught an awful lot of kids over the years and I'm sure she is remembered by many.

Name: Bob Jensen ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Aug 16, 2006, 7:39 am - HHS Time

Class: 1971
City & State: Los Angeles
E-mail
Message: I just noticed that Ralph Berardino's name is listed in the "In Memory" list on Carl Tank's Multi Class Reunion page. Can anyone fill me in. I have been looking for him for years. Hope to see lots of people this Sunday evening at Fosters.

Name: joyce ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Aug 16, 2006, 1:01 am - HHS Time
Maiden: terry
Class: 1972
City & State: haw, ca
E-mail
Message: Hi Jean and thanks for responding my email is birdlvr310@aol.com

Name: Steve Fraser ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Aug 15, 2006, 9:16 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1966
No E-mail
Message: Re: Don D...Not only were the Anderson's were a founding family in Hawthorne, but Glen Anderson moved up to councilman, then mayor of the city. Then became Lt. Governor of the state under Edmund G. "Pat" Brown. During the Watts riots Mr. Brown was out of town and Anderson was left to take over and place National Guard units on street corners with rifles loaded with non lethal rubber bullets.He returned to Hawthorne to run a successful real estate development company. The I-105 Fwy in marked as the Glen M. Anderson Fwy.

Name: Jean MacErnie ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Aug 15, 2006, 8:58 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Caldwell
Class: 1968
City & State: Albq NM
No E-mail
Message: Hi....I need some help! I have been trying to get into the email addresses for the class of 72 to contact Joyce Terry...But it will not let me....I have gotten in many times before with no problem...so what am I doing wrong? Joyce, can you send me your email address and I will send it on to Suzanne...who now goes by SuSu legally. I talk to her once a year or so. My ex and I are divorced though still friends...I usually go over for Thanksgiving every year or so...Usually with my son Neil and sometimes Eric. They went to HHS too! Highland high school Hornets in Albq.

Name: Michael Alsop ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Aug 15, 2006, 3:19 pm - HHS Time
City & State: Chesapeake, VA
E-mail
Message: This is one of the best sites I have been on where the history of Hawthorne is concerned. I was a resident of the city from 1957 (year of birth) until I moved away in 1983. I attended Jose Supulveda Elementary (anyone out there from Edna Lafferty's 5th grade class in 1968??) and was really mad at my parents when they bought a house in an area where I had to attend Yukon Internediate and Leuzinger instead of RH Dana and HHS. I would have been in the HHS class of 1975. I was even more upset when the state changed the course of 105 after they had condemmed our house in Del Aire to build it. I still come back to the area often and find myself driving the old neighborhood and Hawthorne in general to look at the changes going on; and they call it progress. Who in their right mind today would shoo their kids out the door early on a summer morning with a dollar in their pocket and not expect to see them again until dinner? We did it every day and didn't always know where we would end up. Some days the beach, some days the wetlands down the train tracks off of Aviation Blvd, some days just hanging out with Eric Ellenberger, Jack Vallembois, and Kenton Crist at Del Aire Park. It was good to be a kid in the 60's!

Name: Paul Wisman ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Aug 15, 2006, 12:58 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1961
City & State: Torrance, Ca
E-mail
Message: Here's what I recall regarding the Circles & Squares. Starting from the north: Hawthorne Square, Broadway Circle and Plaza Square to the south. All were named for their shape and are clearly shown on page 113 in Walt Dixon's fine book "Images of America - Hawthorne". The photo is looking south from 120th street and not north as the caption states. Kenneth Chevrolet is clearly shown at the right of the photo next to Hawthorne Blvd. Schlimmer's Cash Hardware (where I worked during my senior year)is just out of the picture at the lower right.

Name: Pat Underwood ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Aug 15, 2006, 8:56 am - HHS Time

Class: 1963
City & State: Hawthorne, Calif
E-mail
Message: I check into the feedback pages on a daily basis, because of the comments and the old stories of my home of 51 years. I hadn?t been to the Cougar news section in a while and this is what I found in the June 8, 1962 issue ?Last Will and Testaments?. John left a comment for one of his teachers, leaving her his legacy and it went like this. I Hereby Bequeath? ?John Baker, my good looks and heart and my love to my loving English teacher, Mrs. Marks.? I learned from another issue of the Cougar News that Mrs. Theresa M. Mark began teaching at Hawthorne High in September of 1957. Sometimes I forget just how much Cougartown has to offer, other than the feedback pages. Thank you John Baker for introducing the world to the ?Life and times of Hawthorne, California? and keeping the Alumni together. Note from Lawndale High School of the early 60?s, George Key was my Vice Principal and Jack Findley was one of my Gym teachers and you're welcome for a fine teaching staff.

Name: Dave Krikac ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Aug 14, 2006, 7:46 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1976
City & State: Franklin, TN
E-mail
Message: Well, Nice Weather you have here in Hawthorne, just flew in Sunday. Thought I would report in and let you who were STILL on the Fence to SHOW UP to the party. COME ON IN THE WATER WILL BE FINE.We missed the big volleyball tourney in Manhattan Beach by a day or so, saw the clean up today. It was SO cool to take my daughter for a drive and eat at Sloopy's...Had a Peanut Butter/Banana Shake...MMMMMM. Walk on the peir, Strand, Breathe Nice Beach Air, Play twinkle toes in the sand.....Wimped out on the dip in the water...BRRRRBig week with K1-Paul, K3-Ken, and K-4 Karen, not to mention DISNEYLAND Tomorrow! All the best Cougs.....see you SATURDAY, Can't WAIT.

Name: Don D. ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Aug 14, 2006, 3:24 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1975
City & State: South Bay
E-mail
Message: Good responses, John and Jerry! What are the names of the individuals who started Hawthorne in the early 1900s and what was the name of their company at that time?

Name: Karen Masters~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Aug 14, 2006, 3:00 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1972
City & State: Hollyglen, CA
E-mail
Message: In answer to the question regarding the new school in Hollyglen (by the way...Hollyglen is one word, not two...common mistake)...they are building a one-story junior high in the center of the construction area and will replace the playing fields...probably on the Aviation side of the school. The old junior high will be torn down after Cabrillo School is rebuilt. They will house the Cabrillo students there during construction.

Name: Laura Anderson ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Aug 14, 2006, 2:03 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Twitchell
Class: 1979
City & State: Hemet, CA
E-mail
Message: John...that pic on Raymond's post is Leo Zaldivar....no relation to Herendo Mendoza. Sadly Leo has also not attended any past reunions either. Last I heard Leo was a flight attendant but I can't confirm or deny that. I do know that Leo's older brother was involved in the production end of shows like LA Law until his untimely death in the 80's. There is a tribute message to him at the conclusion of one of the episodes. His professional name was A. Michael Zaldivar. Leo...if you read this email me!!!

Name: Laura Anderson ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Aug 14, 2006, 2:00 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Twitchell
Class: 1979
City & State: Hemet, CA
E-mail
Message: Ray....I believe you are speaking of our fellow classmate Herendo Mendoza Class of '79, however I don't know if that info has been declassified yet. If not then I'm really not at liberty to discuss Mr. Mendoza....however, there are others that are familiar with him as well...Teresa Zak, Tom Hoffarth, Laura Berkel, Connie Gaston, Leo Zaldivar just to name a few. Herendo was quite popular hence his many quotes and references throughout the El Molino and Cougar newspaper. Unfortunately he has been unable to attend any of our reunions...sad as he liked to party!

Name: Jerry Miles ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Aug 14, 2006, 1:57 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1966
City & State: Fair Oaks, CA
E-mail
Message: Mister John Baker you are truly a wealth of knowledge and much more than just Hawthorne facts. You are completely correct. It was originally Hawthorne Circle.

Name: ron coleman ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Aug 14, 2006, 1:44 pm - HHS Time
City & State: las vegas, nv
E-mail
Message: Hey John, I just recently found out about this website and thanks a lot. I'll be sending in some dues shortly. Here is a Cougar sighting. Victor Rivas who grew up in Hawthorne and attended HHS his freshman and sophomore years around '71 and '72 on a rerun of Montel Williams last week. He was promoting a book he wrote about growing up and having been abused and tortured by his maniac father. The original episode aired about a year ago and my sister saw it and called up Victor who is now a successful actor and living in Hermosa Beach. About a third of the book is about growing up in Hawthorne which despite his hell of a home life he says we all still had a great time. To you Hawthorne Intermediate's there is some mentioning of Coach Sweeney and a lot of others. Victor was a great athlete (when his dad let him out of the house) who ended up moving to Miami where he left home at sixteen and later went to Florida State on a football scholarship and had a couple of tryouts with the Miami Dolphins. His older brother Tony started on the varsity football team at HHS as a junior when Laidlaw was there. Anyway, the book is called "A Private Family Matter," which is what the Hawthorne police used to tell him and his mother when they went down there to show them their bruises and beatings.

Name: Don D. ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Aug 14, 2006, 1:36 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1975
City & State: South Bay
E-mail
Message: Can anyone tell me the original name of Plaza Circle when Hawthorne was first laid out? (Miles)Jerry, I bet Walt Dixon knows this one. The folk I spoke with at the City of Hawthorne planning department did not know but they heard the names of "Plaza Circle", "Plaza Square" and "Plaza Diamond" used for that area.

Name: Raymond Smith ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Aug 14, 2006, 1:34 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1981
City & State: Portland, OR
E-mail
Message: Ok, I got a story I just came accross that I need someone to shed some light to the mystery of the joke. There was this student (name I can't recall) who's picture kept coming back to the Senior's pictures class yearbook even though he graduated a few years before I did. You would see his picture as the last picture on the Senior's page. Will someone shed some light on this mystery/joke? Some of the comments he made(even though I know he didn't quote them) was like "Why is this year unlike your past two? (his comments were: My mommy doesn't walk me to school and I got a new Fonzie lunch pail). or "Who was your favorite teacher and why?. (his comments were: Mr. Rogers, he taught me how to be a good neighbor). or "What do you plan to do after graduation?" (his comments were: Write a book about my experiences in 7 years of high school-4 as a senior.) Now truely this has to be the work/prank of someone or some people in the yearbook staff. Laura Twitchell...can you shed some light on this? I think he graduated in your class.

Name: Jerry Miles ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Aug 14, 2006, 11:24 am - HHS Time

Class: 1966
City & State: Fair Oaks, CA
E-mail
Message: Don D, The VFW paid the nominal sum of one American Dollar for the water tank and then spent $4000 to convert it. OK, all you Hawthorne history trivia nuts. Some of you may know that Broadway was originally called The Plaza. Plaza Circle was one block south and once called Plaza Square. However, it was called something else before this. Can anyone tell me the original name of Plaza Circle when Hawthorne was first laid out?

Name: Bud Rhoades ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Aug 14, 2006, 11:07 am - HHS Time

Class: 1974
City & State: The Shore
E-mail
Message: While on vacation last week I read a couple of really good books, one of them titled Laurel Canyon, Rock and Rolls most famous address gave mention quite a few times to good ol' Hawthorne and our famous musical family. A great read for all of you music fans who loved the 60's and 70's L.A based music scene, think Eagles, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell ect ect. and of course the boys.

Name: Paula ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Aug 14, 2006, 11:04 am - HHS Time
City & State: Rescue, CA
E-mail
Message: Hi there!! If anyone talks to Mike Angle and could ask him to please E-mail me at jpjcl@jps.net that would be awesome! (I am also looking for old family photos for the Wilson family that anyone from the old neighborhood may have, especially that might include Brian) There are not a lot of photos left for his children from "back in the day" and hoping to find a few from old friends and neighbors for them. Thanks so much. Paula Springerjpjcl@jps.net www.Springerevents.com