MAY 2020 UPDATE
May 10, 2020
Hello.
THE 2020 REUNION is now only 2 months away from today!
Except there’s this:
In my last communication with The Community House I learned that they are operating remotely and discussing how to reopen. Sarah doubts that they will be open for large events like ours by July, and even if it is allowed by then, she expects social distancing protocols to be required. Can we properly reunite without handshakes and hugs? Can we even fit in the building standing six feet apart?
Here’s a stream-of-consciousness list of my concerns:
Will a “second wave” of the virus be underway? Will it be possible to hold any peripheral events? Will restaurants be seating people by July? If so, will they seat groups or will we have to spread out? If not, can we make it on carry-out and where will we eat that? More importantly, will salons be open so we can have our hair be presentable? I suppose that matters less if we are wearing masks! Who will want to fly? Who will want to stay in a hotel? How many classmates who want to attend the reunion will not attend this year? Do you like construction? Do you like carnivals?
The city has tentatively postponed the annual Village Fair to ... wait for it... the same weekend as our reunion! Shain Park will be filled with carnival rides, carney music and the roar of diesel generators. The terrace at The Community House will be downright unpleasant with several rides only ten feet away. There could be trouble parking.
Classmates have sent messages that they will not travel until there is a vaccine, but more saying they wish us well, but they won’t be attending a reunion this year. Even local classmates don’t feel safe attending.
I have worked enthusiastically on this project because I think we are a great class and deserving of a great reunion to celebrate our 50th. I still do, but it will be poorly attended if we hold it this year. So I’m making the call, earlier than I had intended:
THE 2020 REUNION is POSTPONED
The good news: when we do hold the reunion we won’t be wearing masks, we can shake hands and embrace, we can swarm the bar. The town will be looking good as I would prefer you see it.
The big question, of course, is When? I don’t see a sure way to plan anything at the moment, so I will start by seeing how flexible TCH can be with future dates. If I postpone until July 2021, we may not be in the clear yet so flexibility is important.
As for nomenclature, if we meet in 2021 or 2022, it’s still THE 2020 REUNION to me.
Construction Projects in Birmingham
Maple Road reconstruction, deemed essential, is underway. Trees have been cut down, wooden barricades to protect pedestrians set in place, the old roadway is beginning to be torn up. The remaining sidewalks are too narrow for social distancing and there will be dust. I was glad to be wearing a mask. This view from Park and Maple, looking West.
View of Maple Road reconstruction from Old Woodward and Maple, looking East. The project extends from Woodward Avenue all the way through the town to Southfield Road.
Baldwin Library is expanding the children’s area, eastward toward the park. The project was expected to be completed before the reunion but, as work had to stop because of the pandemic, that won’t be possible.
This is our new ultra-luxury boutique hotel, The Daxton. It was due to open in late July but the pandemic has thrown the project off schedule. When we do reunite you may want to stay here.
The North Woodward parking deck is torn open for major repair work.
THE 2020 REUNION Website
Thank you for your compliments on the website. All the reunion information will need to be revised to indicate postponement, so give me some time, but new information will be made available there. Donations can be made there. IN MEMORIAM and WHO’S MISSING pages will be frequently updated, and tickets will eventually be available for purchase there. A new HELPFUL LINKS page has been added.
If you haven’t visited, please do.
Website: seaholmclassof1970.com
Case-sensitive password: SHS70@50
THE 2020 PIPER
For those who need a reminder, The Piper was the name of our yearbooks. At the website THE 2020 PIPER is ready to post your biographies and (5) photos. People are enjoying the format, and it will only get more interesting as more classmates submit their bios.
So far twenty classmates have posted: Martha Barnes / Cindy Blanchard Kronig / Randy Bryant / Monica Carey / Ed Connolly / Jim Coran / Bob Duff / Reid Elliot / Barb Gaskill Prew / Vicki Hague Kendall / Leslie Hildebrandt Benyo / Cathi Jones / Mary Lamont Hartman / Tracey McCall / Bill Plawinski / Karen Roth Slepchuk / Linda Simpson Platt / Gary Spencer / Wendy Wyatt
Interestingly, almost all who have posted their bios have included their emails and addresses which, as you may be aware, I have been diligently keeping private to protect your privacy - so I stay out of trouble. However, I am very happy to see people sharing their contact information so that this can function as a class directory. A very helpful tool for planning ZOOM parties.
A Virtual 50th Anniversary Celebration!
Now, even more importantly in light of the postponement, I am hoping to virtually ‘gather' with all of you via a movie on June 11th to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Graduation Day.
Sadly, unless I receive a flood of your ‘toasting’ photos by June 1, I’ll have to cancel. To date I have not received enough photos to constitute a movie. Please send your photo to me at: philip@woodburydg.com
Sharing Our Talent
In past updates I have been excited to share the talent of two of our classmates:Jim Hagen; Landscapes, and Peter Gilleran; Paint. I’ve got one more.
In 2010 I had a conversation with Joan Gellatly and her husband, John. When she spoke of her photography, and especially her photography of birds, she lit up with passion. I think her work is outstanding.
Please enjoy:cJoan Gellatly; Birds