DECEMBER 18, 2021
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SUBSCRIPTION ALERT: DUE TO PERSONNEL SHIFTS AT THE WEEQUAHIC HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, IN THE FUTURE THE “WHS NOTE” WILL BE MAILED TO YOU BY THE WHSAA AT ANY TIME BETWEEN FRIDAY EVENING AND SATURDAY MORNING EACH WEEK. PLEASE BE PATIENT AND HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND.
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Hi Historians of the Weequahic Era,
THERE WILL BE A HOLIDAY HIATUS AHEAD FOR PUBLISHING OF THE “WHS NOTE.” THE LAST DECEMBER MAILING WILL BE DECEMBER 17TH AND PUBLIAATION WLL RESUME JAN. 7TH.
Staying in touch with” WHS Note” subscribers:
Linda Cohen provides notice of her father’s passing:
My dad, Leonard Cohen, WHS Class of 1948 passed away on December 7, 2021. His obituary can be read at Leonard Cohen's Obituary. Linda
Marvin Kaleky (Hillside 55) has a point of information to share:
If anyone needs/wants any info about Hillside High alumni, contact me (emkay18@yahoo.com) as I have the directories published in 1996 with all graduates from the beginning up till '96. Marvin.
Gail Shapiro reaches out to her dad’s classmates:
Just wondering if any other alums from Class of 1940 out there? My dad, Harold (Hal or Heshie) Shapiro is still living in Millburn (since 1960). He would like to hear from classmates; e-mail address is hesh1922@gmail.com. Gail
Howard Cohen (58) shares reunion highlights:
Regrettably, I missed the last one. But the previous one was a chance to revisit with old WHS friends, almost all of whom I have not had any contact for many years. We relived our wonderful years at Weequahic with a little exaggeration, a factor that comes with age and distance. For some of us, including me, we did not realize how fortunate we were to have such a first-class educational experience.
For me, the best memories are of the music
program, especially the marching band with Joe Menker, Gil Kadis, and others. The saddest part was realizing how many of my classmates had died.
Congrats to Judy Epstein Rothbard, June 1958, for having done great work for our class reunions. I was one of those with Judy who was only at Weequahic for 3 1/2 years, one of which was at the Annex. Judy, who married my friend George (he and I worked together at his father's Mulberry Street market), went to Peshine Avenue (K-8) with me. I still have the Peshine Avenue graduation photo. Maybe we should try for another one in 2023, our 65th. I volunteer to help.
In addition, there is Sherry Ortner's thoughtful and interesting book about the WHS Class of 1958. How many high school graduating classes have someone who becomes a professor and writes about their high school class? Bravo, Sherry. Howard
Marc Curtis Little (69) and Carrie Jackson (68) promote special events:
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Friday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve Extravaganza
7-11 PM
Carrie Jackson and All-Star Ensemble
Cricket Club Entertainment Complex
(Secure Parking Available)
For Info, Contact Norman Mann (973-518-4498)
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“Holiday Season,” Weequahic style:
Rita Bleckner Weisstuch (6/59)
How about a Weequahic remembrance on your holiday table? I'll share my recipe for the famous “Weequahic Salad” found on the tables of the Weequahic Diner. My late sister-in-law (Laura Lapides Bleckner) sent it to me over fifty years ago. I've simplified it.
Weequahic Salad
1 bag of shredded cabbage
2 cucumbers with peel
1 large sweet onion
Equal parts oil, sugar and vinegar (I use 3/4 Cup)
2 Tbsp Kosher salt
In a large bowl (preferably with a lid) put shredded cabbage, cucumbers halved lengthwise and sliced in food processor, onion sliced in processor as well. Mix together oil, vinegar, sugar and salt. Pour over the vegetables. Allow to marinate a day or two. Stir or shake covered bowl. Enjoy! Rita
Jacqueline Kaufer Klein (66)
Here are some magical holiday memories from old Newark days that, perhaps, others remember too. I just am always thinking of these happy times so I like to share them. There have been so many years of holiday memories associated with living in Newark. Maybe they will spark magical remembrances for you, too.
I remember waiting for the #107 Bus on freezing cold Sunday mornings to go into NYC with my mother and grandmother to see the amazing Rockefeller Christmas Tree and the skaters and flags by the Golden Prometheus statue. There were the magical Christmas window displays at Saks 5th Ave and Lord & Taylor. We would get a paper bag filled with chestnuts from the vendor in front of Saks. I will never forget how warm they felt when our hands were freezing and how sweet tasting the chestnuts were. I still remember going to see the Radio City Christmas Show with the Rockettes. Nothing will ever equal those memories or their holiday magic.
But I also remember those nights in December, after my mother closed her store, we would wait in the dark by Weequahic Park in the freezing cold for the bus to come so that we could go see the department stores in Downtown Newark decked for the holidays. Bamberger’s was beyond magical! Taking the wooden escalator up to the toy department, there was nothing like it. All of the Ginny, Betsy Wetsy and Tiny Tears dolls, the painting easels and "Candyland" games and other board games the fire engines that you could sit in, bikes and pogo sticks; and Santa (with me, picture, below), of course! It was so exciting, the floors filled with children and glass cabinets filled with toys.
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The women, all of whom had shopping bags filled with packages, wore cloth coats with little pins and an assortment silver bells, pine sprigs and small ornaments. The displays were so beautiful including snowflake stencils on all of the windows and gift-wrapped packages. even when i think back to it now, no matter where I go or what I see, nothing was as enchanted as Bamberger's toy department.
And I remember a rocket ride at Kresge’s. When you finished the ride, there was a paper chimney and you could take a grab bag with little surprises in it. My aunt worked for the store manager at Kresge's. In December, for a special treat, we would meet her in the tearoom there where we had chicken a la king; my favorite treat! My uncle worked in the display department of Ohrbach’s, so, over the holiday season, our house was filled with giant papier mâché Santas and boxes with spools of colored ribbons.
The streets in Irvington and Newark were so pretty at night with the garlands that hung from one side of the street to the other, from the telephone poles and lampposts. I will never forget looking out the windows of Maple Ave. School when the snow would start to fall. And, when snow was falling, I recall those amazing mornings listening on the radio to see if our school was closed for a snow day.
My mother had an old, mint green DeSoto in the 50s. After closing her store at night, she would drive us around on the little streets in Elizabeth to see the Christmas lights and decorations on the houses. It was so beautiful. There is a quote by the poet, Louise Gluck, "We look at the world once in childhood. The rest is memory." I think that is true. Jackie.
Moviedom in Newark:
Albert Greenspoon (Hillside 56)
I believe ‘’The Ten Commandments” played at the Paramount Theater. Albert
Joel Enda (62)
One of the movies I went to see at the Park Theater was “The Thing” and it was scary. I was ten years old at the time. Joel
Arthur Schechner (49)
The head usher at the Park Theater was named “Charlie.” Never knew his last name. When I was at Peshine, we would wait on a nasty day for the principal, Mr. Albin J. Fry, to declare a half session. That meant we did not have to come back in the afternoon because they did not want us sitting around in school cold and wet. So, what did we do? We went to the Park Theater for the weekday matinee and sat around in the dark theater just as cold and wet. What fun! Arthur
Elaine Fairfax Stone (WHS 54-56/Fairfax, LA 57)
To Jackie Kaufer Klein (66), I do remember the Park Theater (though not as vividly as you). We moved away to California in 1956 from our Badger Avenue residence. When I went to Weequahic, I remember (vaguely, of course) walking to the Park for movies. I loved your descriptions and movie list. "Imitation of Life" was one of my favorites; I'd like to watch it again. Did not know that Sandra Dee was in it? Elaine
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