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Through the hallways ...

Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. The 56th in a continuing monthly series.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

Continuing coverage of some athletic achievements -- in no particular order of era or importance ...

* Faculty Manager for Athletics BILL DAVIS originated the idea for the "Hall of Fame." He approached me during the 1989-90 school year with the idea to honor our athletes for their outstanding accomplishments. I concurred and together we determined the criteria/qualifications for selection and the location of where to display pictures/plaques of those honored.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION...
- at least four years since high school graduation
- emphasis on CHARACTER-SPORTSMANSHIP-LEADERSHIP qualities...
- consideration of League and/or State recognition (All Star, MVP, other)
- School recognition (Record Holder, Team Captain, Award Winner, etc.)
- College athletic participation
- Adult athletic competition and/or coaching
(these criteria were to be factors in consideration of nominees but no nominee had to be rated in each and every category)

NOMINATION PROCESS...
- nominations were encouraged from current coaches, past coaches (both Coach LEMAK and Coach GALATIS were consulted with regularly)
- nominations could be submitted by parents, friends, teachers, former teammates, community residents, etc.
- nominations were known only to the Athletic Council members; no public listing of nominees was ever released;
- nominations were expected to also include as much background information as possible (newspaper clippings, etc.)

VOTING PROCESS...
- The High School Athletic Council (Principal, Faculty Manager, Boosters Club President, and two to three Coaches) voted on each nominee
- There were often discussions pertaining to just how many nominees to honor each year to preserve the integrity and honor of selection; in some years there were only a few nominees selected; in other years there were many nominees honored;
- There were discussions pertaining to participants being one-sport stars vs. those who participated successfully in multiple sports;
- Once nominees were selected a formal letter was mailed to each honoree congratulating them and inviting them to the formal induction ceremony and asking them to provide a 3x5 or 8x10 picture to be placed on permanent display with their listing of accomplishments/statistics. A week or so later a formal press release was sent out to inform the entire community of the selections (the process from nomination to selection to communication to the actual induction ceremony covered several months.)

HALL OF FAME FORMAT & LOCATION...
- it was determined early on that there were to be three distinct categories for "Hall of Fame" honor: Athletes, Coaches and Benefactors. Athletes and coaches are self-explanatory; benefactors are those individuals who have contributed time/talent/expertise in so many ways to our overall athletic program and are deserving of recognition;
- the format for display was to be a frame (some were 8x10, some 10x16, some smaller) displaying a picture of the honoree along with a variety of athletic accomplishments and statistics; each frame would be glued to the wall; directly under each frame was a separate plaque (a standard-sized 5x7, I believe, with the honoree's name and year selected for honoring)
- the "Location" for the "Hall of Fame" was the hallway wall area, outside of the school auditorium, beginning just off the Main Lobby (the old Main Lobby now) and continuing down toward the gymnasium (then --- the new Swimming Pool now) and then around the back wall of the auditorium and up the hallway back towards the cafeteria (now the Art classroom). There was a large sign in place just above the hallway doors leading down the hallway past what used to be the Home Economic rooms, now the Broadcast Studio area. For a number of years this location served us well, but with the major construction/renovation of 2000 the "Hall of Fame" had to be relocated.

HALL OF FAME today.....
- Hall of Fame selection continued while construction/renovation took place until 2003 and then there were no selections in 2004 and 2005. During the early 2000's there was no formal area for display but honorees still received recognition at an athletic event and still received their own 5x7 plague of recognition.
- In the 2005-2006 school year High School Principal Dave Warren, Craig Cheplick (Fac. Mgr. Athletics) and I worked to bring back the selection process and find a permanent location for the "Hall of Fame" display. With Superintendent Tom Phillips' support and assistance it was decided to have that permanent display in the main hallway of the newly constructed Fieldhouse. Craig Cheplick had seen numerous Halls of Fame in his travels and coaching experiences and he suggested and implemented the format we see on display today. "Key" to our display is the artistry & talent of Tony Vickio. With the support of the Boosters' Club (especially the efforts of GLENDA GEPHART), Coaches, talented students and many others, our "HALL OF FAME" continues today.

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* The inaugural Class for the Watkins Glen athletic "HALL OF FAME" was introduced on June 6, 1990 at the "ALL SPORTS BANQUET" That year, following the blessing by REV. FRED HANNON, Rector of St. James Episcopol Church, and a fabulous dinner sponsored by the Boosters' Club and a wonderful talk from guest speaker Jack Spates (Cornell University Head Wrestling Coach) and the athletic awards presented by each coach, the following were inducted into the "HALL OF FAME":

---COACH JOE LEMAK---BLAINE MOREHOUSE--- JIM SCOTT---WILLIAM (BILL) DAVIS--- BILL COLUNIO

* COACH JOE LEMAK: (7/21/1917 - 10/18/2001) -- 35-year career in Watkins Glen 1948-1983
- as a young lad he was active in boxing, ice skating and football (Peekskill, NY); won an athletic scholarship to Manhattan College; won Diamond Glove Open Boxing Championship of Westchester County in 1936; following College he was in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946 rising to rank of Lieutenant;
- at Watkins Glen as Physical Education and Health teacher he coached Football, Basketball and Baseball, helped (with his son) to construct our Football and Baseball fields, and served more than 25 years as Director of Summer Programs at Clute Park;
- as avid golfer he was Watkins Glen Golf Club Champion in 1953, 1955, 1956 and 1957; he was Tompkins County Golf Champion in 1969-1970-1975 and won the Secretary's Cup in 1972, and the Governor's Cup in 1975
- one of his proudest moments came on March 16, 1951 when his Boys' Varsity Basketball Team defeated New Berlin 48-36 at Cornell University's Barton Hall to win the New York State Section IV Class B Varsity Basketball Championship
- Joe was elected to the Section IV Hall of Fame in 1993
- in his later years following retirement he was well known throughout his neighborhood as a local magician, and he along with his wife Mary was quite active in the Watkins Glen Public Library -- in 1991 he was chosen to be the Public Library's Ambassador for National Library Week.

* JIM SCOTT -- WG Class of 1964
- lettered in Football, Basketball and Baseball; averaged 14 points per game and helped lead Coach Pete Galatis' Varsity Basketball team to Section IV Class B semifinals in 1964
- awarded Coach Blake Physical Education "Oscar" for outstanding play;
- continued outstanding basketball play both at Corning Community College and SUNY at Brockport (held 11 of a possible 17 basketball records upon graduation from CCC and was on All Tournament Team (1967-68), Most Valuable Player (1968-69) and SUNY All Conference Team (1967-68 and 1968-69)
- at WG coached JV and Varsity Boys' Basketball and Girls' Softball, has led the Saturday Morning Seneca Youth Basketball Program for almost 30 years and been selected Boosters' Club "Coach of the Year" multiple times

* BILL COLUNIO -- WG Class of 1965
- extremely talented and successful member of both Basketball and Baseball teams;
- signed professional baseball contract with the New York Yankees and played a few seasons in their minor league organization

* WILLIAM (Bill) DAVIS -- WG Class of 1960
- outstanding three-sport star in Football, Basketball and Baseball; played under guidance and direction of Coach Lemak, Coach Galatis and Coach Warner;
- went on to stellar baseball career at Ithaca College; signed professional contract with the Chicago Cubs as a pitcher at 5:00 p.m. on the day he graduated from Ithaca College, and played two seasons of minor league baseball in that organization: Year #1 - Idaho; Year #2 - Illinois
- served WG as long-time Physical Education teacher, Coach and Faculty Manager for Athletics;
- served our community as Community Recreation Director at Summer Beach Program; coordinated Saturday Morning Recreational Program; and instituted "Davis Cup" community Tennis Championships.
(BILL was totally surprised by his selection --- a well-kept 'secret' by the Boosters' Club!)

* BLAINE MOREHOUSE -- WG Class of 1986
- Varsity Football IAC All Star (1985 and 1986); IAC Defensive Player of the Year (1985 and 1986); New York State All Star Team (1985 and 1986)
- went on to stellar football career at SUNY Cortland and named Division III All American in 1988

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INAUGURAL "TOP DRAWER 24 TEAM" -- the 1st Scholar-Athlete-Citizen team, sponsored by CHARLIE HAEFFNER, editor/publisher for The Odessa File, honored extraordinary young men and women "because of a combination of achievements and traits that together make them uniquely qualified to tackle the challenges of today and of the future." Beginning with Watkins Glen and Odessa student athletes/scholars, this "Team" has since been extended to both Bradford Central and Trumansburg High Schools. Members of this exclusive group from Watkins Glen are:

2006:
MOLLY MURPHY
SOPHIE PETERS
JACLYN CONKLIN
JON FAZZARY
ALAN McILROY
STEVE COMBS
JOHN M. BIANCO
MICHELLE THORPE
COURTNEY WARREN
JEFF KELLOGG
PHIL BROWN
NATASHA EVANS
ASHLEY EVANS
MOLLY OATES

2007:
ELLIE FAUSOLD
JAIMIE SEDLACK
MOLLY MURPHY
SOPHIE PETERS
ALAN McILROY
ANDREA WITIAZ
JACLYN CONKLIN
SUNNIE SMITH
JOHN M. BIANCO
ARIANA MARMORA
BEN STAMP
TOM BLAKE
JEFF MEEHAN

2008:
ELLIE FAUSOLD
JAIMIE SEDLACK
MOLLY MURPHY
SOPHIE PETERS
ALAN McILROY
JACLYN CONKLIN
ERNIE BRENNAN
ASHLEY SAVARD
ERIC DAHL
MOLLY BILINSKI
BEN QUIGLEY
NICK PHOENIX
ABBY STAMP
JOE STANSFIELD

2009:
ELLIE FAUSOLD
JAIMIE SEDLACK
NICK PHOENIX
ABBY STAMP
JOE STANSFIELD
GUNNAR LOPEZ
NICK SECORD
ALEXA YASKULSKI
ALICIA UPHAM
CODY DAHL
KATEY CHEPLICK
ERIC MACK
HALEIGH WIXSON
SHANNON HAZLITT

2010:
TAYLOR CHAFFEE
JESSICA STANSFIELD
ANGELA KEOUGH
AUSTIN STEPHANY
HALEIGH WIXSON
ADAM RICE
SHELBY OLAFSON
ANDREW CONKLIN
AMBER SWARTZ
TRAVIS WAITE
STUART COOK
ERIC MACK
JENNA SWARTHOUT

2011:
HALEIGH WIXSON
ADAM RICE
SHELBY OLAFSON
ANDREW CONKLIN
AMBER SWARTZ
CASEY HOLLAND
SHANNON HAZLITT
THOMAS WICKHAM
TAYLOR CHAFFEE
JESSICA STANSFIELD
ANGELA KEOUGH
AUSTIN STEPHANY
HALEY TUTTLE

As CHARLIE HAEFFNER says, "Each honoree has excelled in unique and impressive ways, maintaining along the way the capacity to do so while operating with what I like to call a core of kindness. They are tough, and yet compassionate, determined and sportsmanlike."

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Some miscellaneous athletic news:

* Yearbook Dedications:

1945: COACH FRANCIS W. BLAKE
1953: COACH FRANCIS W. BLAKE
1960: COACH FRANCIS W. BLAKE
(1st person I'm aware of with Yearbook dedications in three different decades of service at Watkins Glen)
1950: COACH JOE LEMAK
1979: COACH JOE LEMAK
1966: COACH JERRY LOUGHLIN
1975: COACH JERRY LOUGHLIN
1990: COACH JERRY LOUGHLIN
(2nd person with yearbook dedications in three different decades.)

* 1902: 1st Girls Basketball Team organized
* 1906: 1st Boys' undefeated Basketball Team (named mythical New York State Champions)
* 1908: 1st Track Team is organized
* 1909: Athletic Association is instituted
* 1916: Southern Counties Basketball League formalized
* 1924: District joins Sportsmanship Brotherhood
* 1933: Boys' Basketball Team becomes Class B Sectional Champions
* 1933: 1st Tennis Team is organized
* 1951: Boys' Varsity Basketball team wins Section IV Class B Championship
* 1954: Lettermen's Club is formed
* 1954: 1st Wrestling Team organized; MR. MILFORD A. WARNER named as Coach;
* 1990: WG Athletic "Hall of Fame" organized
* 2001: Final Football game played on Alumni Field on November 2, 2001
(STEVE OLIVER led the team to a 50-40 victory over Union Springs as he scored 5 touchdowns and rushed for 280 total yards; his yard total fell just shy of the school record of 294 rushing yards set by GEORGE PALMER in 1971)
* 2002: FINAL Tennis match ever played on the Middle School courts was held between MIKE DONNELL - member of 2nd team doubles team in 1939 - and his daughter KATHY (star tennis player from the Class of 1967); NO SCORE was recorded
* 2002: Final Basketball Game in the "old" gymnasium (current HS Swimming Pool)
(This was a 2nd round Section IV Class C game between Watkins Glen with a record of 19-2 and seeded #2 vs. Southern Cayuga with a record of 16-4 seeded #6; Our Varsity Boys' Team completed season as IAC Division I Champions and overall IAC Champions --- a year to remember!!!)
* 2002: June 13th - dedication of new Fieldhouse
(National Anthem was played by several trumpet players arranged by DIANA GROLL. Alma Mater was sung by the Varsity Cheerleaders (the reigning IAC Champions) under direction of Advisor/Coach LYNN NORMAN. Speakers included Board of Education President PEGGY SCOTT, followed by a representative from Governor GEORGE PATAKI's office, Watkins Glen Mayor BOB LEE, and High School Principal BRIAN O'DONNELL. MRS. SCOTT & SUPERINTENDENT DR. MARY ELLEN CORREA held the symbolic ribbon cut by Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds MIKE DE NARDO. Athletic Director JAMIE HARTER then introduced TODD LINCOLN - member of Boys' Varsity Basketball team --- to throw the 1st pass to TOM HARRISON --- member of the 1954/55 Varsity Boys' Basketball Team and leading scorer in the old Southern Counties League with a 25+ point average his Senior year) to score the very 1st "official" basket.)
* 2002: December 3rd - 1st JV and Varsity Boys' Basketball games played on new basketball court in the Fieldhouse;
1st JV Basket: BRIAN RENTSCHLER 1st Varsity Basket: DREW BUBB 1st Varsity Assist: TODD LINCOLN
1st Varsity 3-pointer: TODD LINCOLN
Team Scores: JV WG 28 Odessa-Montour 27 Varsity: WG 70 Odessa-Montour 32
*2003: New Swimming Pool opens - 1st Girls' Swim Meet in new pool (October 23, 2003) was against Odessa-Montour
* 2003: Varsity Girls' Swim Team undefeated winning streak of 109 dual meets comes to an end on 9/02/03 in 98-83 loss at Horseheads

* During the major construction/renovation of 2000-2003: prior to the building of the new athletic fields the outdoor season of 2000-2001 was a true challenge as Athletic Director JAMIE HARTER arranged for the following:

--- Varsity Baseball and Track "Home" events were scheduled at Odessa-Montour
--- JV Baseball "Home" games were held at the Watkins Glen State Park --- upper campground field)
--- JV Softball "Home" games were held on our one remaining field available during renovation
--- Varsity Softball "Home" games were held at the Burdett Elementary School

* Boys' Varsity Basketball CHAMPIONSHIP of 1951:
- On Wednesday, June 6, 2001 - as part of the annual ALL SPORTS BANQUET - the Boys' Varsity Basketball Team was honored on the 50th anniversary of their Championship season. Team members from that 1951 team were:

T.J. O'ROURKE, Captain -- TED MARCINIAK -- J. WILLIAM (BUB) SMYDER -- ROGER HERRICK -- FRANK BUTTON -- TONY TALLARIDO -- ANTHONY (TONY) SPECCHIO -- DELIVAN GATES
..... and COACH JOE LEMAK ... and Team Manager JOE DEL ROSSO
(T.J. O'ROURKE, TED MARCINIAK, and COACH JOE LEMAK are in the WG Athletic "HALL OF FAME")

The 1951 team's championship was the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class B Championship. The team completed a 13-5 season then went undefeated in Sectional play at 3-0 to win that title. During that same season COACH MILFORD (BUD)
WARNER's JV Team had a 17-1 season and won the Southern Counties Championship.

* 1898: CLYDE OVERPECK - WG Class of 1902 - became Schuyler County Bicycle Champion
* 1909: WILLIAM CHANDLER, HAROLD CASSIDY, JOHN WAIT & CLARENCE PECK combined to win our oldest trophy - the 1909 Hobart Inter-School Association One-Mile Relay
* 1971: ESTHER PELLER CHURCH became NYS High Jump Champion in Special Olympics (Her Coach was JEAN LAWTON)
* 1973: LEE HERRICK became 1st female player on Boys' Varsity Baseball Team; MARIE FITZSIMMONS became 1st female player on Boys' JV Baseball Team
* 1991-94: CHARLENE BELL became 1st female to play on Boys' Varsity Football Team
* 1997: AMANDA AHO - 1st female on Boys' Wrestling Team pinned her opponent in the very 1st New York State wrestling match between two female opponents
* 1999: LIZ HENRY became 1st female Pole Vaulter in our Track team history

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* Some additional individual achievements include:
- DON SMITH, Class of 1950: scored 60 points in Varsity Basketball game vs. Newark Valley (26 field goals & 8 foul shots) in the 1948-49 season
(Game score was WG 108 - NV 52)
- TED MARCINIAK, Class of 1951: scored 5 touchdowns in football as WG defeated HORSEHEADS 52-6 in the Fall of 1948;
(GEORGE PALMER scored 5 touchdowns in a game 1971 & STEVE OLIVER scored 5 touchdowns in a game in 2001);
- "Century Club" wrestlers (those achieving 100+ career wins) are:
MATT MARCINIAK (189), MIKE ELLIOTT (167), DAN BOND (167), JOEL SKORUSA (148), SANDERS WATSON (114), AARON STANSFIELD (112) and NILS WATSON (100 wins)
- JASON RAPPLEYE: scored best/highest three-game total in Southern Tier history for a Junior Bowler with an overall 821 pins during the winter of 1999
- MIKE BEBER: in 1998 had a career year in Soccer besting STEVE TERRY'S record for career assists and JASON SABATINI'S record for career scoring with 56 goals/38 assists and 152 points
- CHRISSY TRUAX completed her Varsity Softball career (1995-1998) with a .520 batting average, 18 homeruns and 141 RBIs; in April of 1994, playing on the Varsity as an 8th grader, she combined with ALISSA NORMAN to turn a very rare TRIPLE PLAY.

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* February 9, 2002: Varsity GIRLS' CHEERLEADERS win IAC CHAMPIONSHIP ending Dryden's 16-year hold on the top spot. LYNN NORMAN, advisor: with Cheerleaders NICOLE BAKER, SARAH BIANCO, DENISE HOREIN, JAMIE KETTER, MEGAN LEE, ADAM BANKS, ALICIA BOYLES, KATELYN CORNELIUS, LINDSAY LAKOMY, CASEY MANZER, ALYSSA MARCH, KARI SMITH, CHRIS TURNER, RACHEL PORTER & ERIN SPENCER.

* COACH KATE LA MOREAUX & Girls VARSITY SWIMMING TEAM have the greatest dynasty in our District's history. Co-Ranked #1 in NYS Class C/D in 1994-95 and ranked #1 alone from 1995-1996 through 2002-2003, the girls were UNDEFEATED in dual meets from 1995-1996 through 2002-2003 (109 straight dual meets!!!) The TEAM was ranked nationally in the Top 10 since 1997 and were consistently named by the IAC as Scholar-Athlete teams. GIRLS also finished consistently in the top schools for SPORTSMANSHIP.

* COACH MICHELLE VENDITTO'S Varsity SOFTBALL and Varsity BASKETBALL Teams from 1989-2003 both won more than 100 games with 1996 SOFTBALL Team winning 20 games and Varsity BASKETBALL Teams exceeding 17 victories a season five times; her teams brought several IAC Championships to our school.

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More individual accolades.....

- TRACI LINCOLN: WG Class of 1998 had one of the best individual Basketball games ever as WG defeated previously undefeated Odessa-Montour (then ranked #5 in New York State) 55-50 as she scored 19 points with 10 rebounds, 10 assists (a triple-double!!!) and 5 steals; that
game improved WG's record to 16-3 overall and 15-1 in the IAC while O-M fell to 17-1 overall and 14-1 in the IAC

- ADAM ROBBS: WG Class of 1991 was our 1st "KIWANIS CLUB ATHLETE OF THE MONTH" (Club is no longer in existence). Adam was a stellar wrestler with 96 career wins;
--ANDY GARRETT: WG Class of 1996 scored a 3rd place and a 4th place finish in two trips to the NYS Swimming & Diving Championships;
-- JOHN YEAGER: WG Class of 1990 scored a career-high 36 points in a 67-64 Varsity Basketball Team victory over Newark Valley;
-- HOLLI KEEFER: WG Class of 1997 won the Class D Sectional Championship in Diving in 1995 and also was undefeated in both the IAC and Class C that same season;
-- PETER DUGO: WG Class of 1996 averaged three 1st place wins per meet and became the IAC Section IV Class C 100 Breaststroke Champion in 1996; and
--TAYLOR CHAFFEE: WG Class of 2012 (as an 8th Grade student) scored 32 points for the Varsity Girls Basketball Team in their 66-44 win over Edison on January 5, 2008.

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* HALL OF FAME" - 2nd class - June 5, 1991 - presented again at the year-end ALL SPORTS AWARDS Banquet - official program noted the following:
- OUR Team of the Year: WRESTLERS at 12-0-2
- OUR Wrestler of the Year: MATT MARCINIAK
- OUR Coaches of the Year: COACH BOB LEE (Football), COACH MIKE WATSON (Wrestling)

* Special thanks was given to Faculty Manager BILL DAVIS:
- in title our Faculty Manager; in reality our Director of all Athletics
- through his efforts, each of our 29 athletic teams had comprehensive schedules, practice and game facilities, appropriate officials, transportation services, extensive publicity and so much more...
- for all of this, for his energy, dedication, organizational skills and countless hours of time we extended to BILL DAVIS grateful thanks and appreciation...

- Athletes competing in NYS Championships:
* MATT MARCINIAK - Wrestling - 1st place in NYS
* MIKE ELLIOTT - Wrestling - 8th place in NYS
* MICHELLE SEITHER - Swimming - 20th place in NYS
* KRISTEN BROWN - Swimming -17th place in NYS
* NEIL PLANTY - Diving - 17th place in NYS

Teams and COACHES:
Varsity & JV Football - BOB LEE
Varsity Girls' Basketball - BOB LEE
Varsity & JV Volleyball - MICHELE VENDITTO & LIBBY LICHT
Varsity Softball - MICHELE VENDITTO
JV Girls Basketball - MICHELE VENDITTO
Varsity Girls Swimming - KATE LA MOREAUX
JV Boys Basketball - JAMIE HARTER
Varsity Girls Track - KATE LA MOREAUX & KAZ ESTELOW
JV Girls Softball - JAMIE HARTER
Boys Volleyball - JAMIE HARTER
Modified Soccer - KAREN JOHN
Varsity Boys Soccer - BOB KING
JV Baseball - KAREN JOHN
Varsity Co-Ed Tennis - JOHN FAZZARY
Varsity Cheerleading - LIZ PARADISO
Varsity Boys Basketball - JERRY LOUGHLIN
JV Cheerleading - PEGGY VAN AMBURG
Varsity Golf - JERRY LOUGHLIN
Varsity Wrestling - MIKE WATSON
Varsity Baseball - BILL DAVIS
Varsity Boys Track - MIKE WATSON
Varsity Boys Swimming - ROB MICHEL

Modified/Junior High Coaches: ED LINDSAY (Wrestling), JANET SIMIELE (Gr. 7/8 Cheerleading), MICHELE VENDITTO (Gr. 7/8 Girls' Basketball) JAMIE HARTER (Gr. 7/8 Girls Swimming), ROB MICHEL (Gr. 7/8 Boys Swimming), and Gr. 7/8 Boys Basketball.

Additional: COACH JIM SCOTT: --- Gr. 3-6 Winter Basketball Program (Saturday mornings)
COACH FRED SEITHER: --- GLEN GATORS

1991 "HALL OF FAME" Inductions:
KATHY HATSELL presented by KATE LA MOREAUX
COACH GALATIS presented by BOB KING
ADAM MARCINIAK presented by MIKE WATSON
COACH BLAKE presented by BRIAN O'DONNELL

* COACH PETE GALATIS: see information found in January's column;

* COACH FRANCIS W. BLAKE: at Watkins Glen from 1930-1967 as Coach, Teacher and Vice Principal; coached 1932-33 Boys' Basketball Team to Section IV Class B Championship (defeated Cooperstown at Endicott)
- coached 1932-33 Football Team which only lost 1 game;
- during World War II years of 1941-1945:
* sports schedules were curtailed due to reduced numbers of students and gas rationing; Coach Blake made certain athletics continued in the best possible manner;
* he coached Boys Basketball Team playing an independent schedule as there was no Southern Counties League in operation;
* Varsity Football was dropped altogether and Basketball team played a very reduced-6 game schedule
* he increased intramural opportunities for ALL students;
* he instituted a Touch Football League and formed Boxing & Tumbling Clubs
* he coached a six-man Football Team in 1946/47 and brought back 11 man Football in 1948 and beyond;

* ADAM MARCINIAK: WG Class of 1985
- Section IV Class B wrestling Champion, WG Invitational Champion three times, EFA Tournament Wrestling Champion two times, Section IV Wrestling runner-up, WG "Most Improved" and "MVP" Wrestler;
- as Member of Varsity Football Team he was both a Southern Tier All Star and an IAC League All Star
- Member of Varsity Track Team
- at SUNY Brockport he was National Placewinner in Division III Wrestling, a Division III All American, All New England in Wrestling and SUNYAC Champion

* KATHY HATSELL - WG Class of 1983
- one of our very 1st Varsity Girl swimming champions, known for hard work, great talent, sportsmanship and overall success; established a number of pool records

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Hall of Fame BENEFACTORS category --- for those contributions of time and talent (much of which has happened behind the scenes) and tireless efforts on behalf of our athletic program:
LINCOLN WAGER 1994
TOM FRANK 1994
TRACIE MC ILROY 1995
WG SPORTS BOOSTERS 1995
DR. THOMAS J. LOVE 1996
DON MAAS 1996
MARY FRANZESE 1997
JOHN DILTS 1997
DON DRYDEN 1999
CHUCK BUTLER 2000
KATE BARTHOLOMEW 2001
FRED THORP 2002
MARIE KEEFER 2003

See you in March for more athletic coverage!

Through the hallways ...

By Brian J. O'Donnell

Switching gears now and moving away from faculty/staff/student academic achievements to those athletic achievements and highlights that are such a great part
of our history and tradition. These will be presented in no particular order in year or prominence, but as a collection of accolades for many.

* BOB LEE - WG Class of 1964...
- Inducted into Watkins Glen Athletic Hall of Fame on December 4, 1998 during halftime of varsity boys Basketball Game against Edison;
- remains as the only person inducted twice into the Hall of Fame - once as a player and once as a Coach;
- coached St. Mary's Basketball for 16 years; began coaching at Watkins Glen High School in 1975, going from Junior Varsity Coach to Defensive Coordinator to Head Coach;
- Coached Varsity Girls' Basketball for several years;
- helped JV and Varsity Football teams raise more than $3,000 for Alumni Field lights
- named Section IV Football Coach of the Year in 1990
- served as High School and College referee for 16 years;

* JEAN LAWTON - Teacher & Coach - 36 year career at Watkins Glen
- Gr. K through Gr. 12 Physical Education teacher beginning in 1950
- Coach for our 1st Girls' Varsity Basketball Team in 1972-73; team won Divisional Championship
- Special Olympics Coach for 10 years and Tri-County Coordinator for Special Olympics;
- nominated for Athletic "Hall of Fame" by Linda McIntyre who said, "Jean laid the foundation of enthusiasm for the game...the fun of physical competition...the fairness and compassion of Sportsmanship"
- out of town at her "Hall of Fame" induction ceremony, accepting on her behalf was Cyndy Wood, Pool Director

* PETER GALATIS - Physical Education Teacher & Coach
- career at Watkins Glen was 1955-1987; assisted Coach Lemak with Varsity Football and in 1962 began the 1st WGHS Golf Team;
- in 1956 he began a 14-year tenure as Varsity Boys' Basketball Coach ( in the Southern Counties League)
- coordinated Middle School Intramural program for a number of years;
- Coach Lemak said, "He was quiet, calm, dignified -- a good role model but a very private person. This man went about getting the job done in a highly competent but unspectacular manner."
- inducted into the "Hall of Fame" on June 5, 1991; induction speech given by HS Librarian Bob King

* BARB HUGHEY - WG Class of 1962 - Physical Education Teacher & Coach
- Top Physically-Fit Senior and Female Athlete in Class of 1962; received "Arthur Jackson" Award and the "Physical Education" Oscar; held school records in Long Jump, Triple Jump and 50-Yard Dash
- Coached WG Varsity Girls' Swim Team in 1972-1977 and Girls' Tennis Team from 1978-1987; Swimming Team had several Sectional Champions while in Tennis the team had winning seasons 7 of 10 years along with Sec. IV Class B & C Champion Andrea Holmes;
- began "Lifetime Sports" program at WGHS and also coached a competitive Aqua-Dance Team;
- Guidance Counselor Nancy Loughlin researched Barb's 'history' calling her "...a most unassuming educator about who and what she is."
- Barb was inducted into the "Hall of Fame" in 1997

* SAMUEL SCHIMIZZI, SR, - late 1930's/early 1940's
- played football for Coach Blake when Watkins Glen was a member of the Southern Counties League and played home games at the "Fairgrounds"
- in 1940 many parents objected to their sons playing football and only 20 athletes came out for the team; the team dropped from the League for a while, then re-entered and completed a 3-2-0 season with wins over Waverly , Horseheads and Painted Post;
- played Left Guard and Left Tackle during his Senior year; team was often referred to as the "Lakesiders"
- also played on the Basketball and Baseball teams;

* JAMES SCAPTURA - WG Class of 1953
- from written comments by Coach Joe Lemak: "...he was a priceless substitute player...never complained as he waited with spirit & vigor for me to call on him whenever needed as a substitute. Jim was a great teammate and player."
- Coach Lemak further commented, "In the early 1950's we had the Watkins Glen American Legion baseball team, playing home games at the Fairgrounds and away games at places like Elmira Heights, Hector, Odessa, Ovid and Montour. Jim's father, Nick, had a big station wagon used to make deliveries from his "Red and White" grocery store and for away games he would let us use that station wagon to transport our team."

* MICHELE (MIKE) L. BARTONE - WG Class of 1934
- team member on Basketball (Right Forward), Football (Quarterback) and Track teams;
- in May of 1934 he received a 3rd Place Award Bronze Medal for a Foul Shooting contest held in Little Falls, NY (a NYSPHSAA Award)
- beyond high school was an avid bowler (1947 Singles' Championship in the Elmira Bowling Association) and golfer (consistently scored in the low 40's for 9 holes and had at least one hole-in-one);

* "Hall of Fame" inductions from October 16, 1998...
On a semi-warm and clear evening, during halftime of the Boys' Varsity Soccer Game vs. Odessa-Montour, former Health Teacher & Coach (and Inaugural Member of the "Hall of Fame" himself JOE LEMAK and I handed out plaques of membership to the newest "Hall" honorees. As Faculty Manager for Athletics JAMIE HARTER read their accomplishments over the public address system and Superintendent DON DRYDEN looked on, each honoree was greeted by
JOE and me as numerous faculty/staff, students/athletes and parents applauded. Former Board President DR. THOMAS J. LOVE ("Hall of Fame" Benefactor since 1996) was also present.

- DOMINICK FRANZESE, Jr. - WG Class of 1955
....played 2nd Base with a career batting average in excess of .300 in Baseball;
....played Basketball for four years, once scoring 32 points in a game vs. Horseheads and was Senior Co-Captain & Honorable Mention All Southern Counties All Star;
....played Quarterback and did place-kicking for Football team for three years
....was Radio Announcer for Senecas sports for 14 years and instrumental in obtaining lights for original Alumni Field;

- SHEILA SUITS CARNAHAN - WG Class of 1979
....1st female athlete to excel in team sports given Title IX and increased opportunities for female athletes in the 1970's;
....Member of Girls' Varsity Swim Team for 6 years (Gr. 7-12); played Varsity Basketball for 4 years; and was Member of Track & Field Team for 6 years (Gr. 7-12)
....Placed 1st in every IAC Track Meet she entered both in the Shot Put & Discus; in 1977 Sectionals she placed 4th in Shot and in the NYS Track Meet in 1977 she placed 6th overall in the Shot; her Shot Put record on our home track was 37 feet 10 1/2 inches;

- KRIS NOBLE SEAMAN - WG Class of 1990
....IAC Swimming Champion in 1986-1987-1989 in the 200 Yard Medley Relay and in 1986-1987 in the 100 Yard Breaststroke as well; she was Section IV Class C Champion in 1986-1987-1988 in the 100 Yard Breaststroke and in 1986-1987 in the 200 Yard Medley Relay; she won the EFA Invitational in 1988 in the Breaststroke and in 1989 finished 13th at the NYS Championships again in the Breaststroke; she has held numerous pool records at our pool and throughout the IAC and in 1988 earned the distinction as "Southern Tier Athlete of the Week.

- JOHN DILTS (Benefactor) -- John served as Head Groundskeeper for 26 1/2 years and always approached his job with energy, enthusiasm, dedication, great care and total professionalism; he accomplished all of his responsibilities cheerfully and with the prime priority of safety.

* "Hall of Fame" Inductions from October 15, 1999...

- TED MARCINIAK - WG Class of 1951
...four year veteran of Football, Basketball and Baseball Teams ....scored 5 touchdowns vs. Horseheads in WG's 52-6 victory; member of 1951 Class B Basketball Championship Team; scored 17 points in East-West ALL STAR Basketball Game; pitched 11-0 victory over Edison in May 1951 - struck out 13 and at the plate himself went 3 for 4; also scored 31 points in basketball victory over Edison.

- TREVOR HOLLAND - WG Class of 1990
....Quarterback (Football), Point Guard (Basketball), Pitcher & Outfielder (Baseball); Junior Year passed for 850 yards & 7 touchdowns, Senior year passed for 1,028 yards and 11 touchdowns; 1st Quarterback in school history to pass for 1,000+ yards in a single season; Division VI All
Star/Twin Tiers All Star/MVP/Sportsmanship Award in Football; pitched in a game at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY

- STEVE DECKER - WG Class of 1992
....Three sport star in Soccer, Baseball and Basketball; in Soccer - team MVP in Corning Cup Tournament, school record of 31 saves in goal vs. Notre Dame; IAC 2nd team All Star; in Basketball named IAC 1st Team All Star as a Senior; and in Baseball named to 1st Team IAC All Stars; named as Captain for Exceptional Seniors Game both in Soccer & Baseball

- NATE VAN OSTRAND - WG Class of 1993
....Football and Basketball (Gr. 8-12) and Baseball (Gr. 10-11-12); 1992 ALL STATE Running Back (1,000+ yards rushing) and 1993 All TWIN TIERS running Back and ALL STATE Running Back (1,000+ yards rushing) - graduated as WG's all-time leading rusher in Football; went on to play football at Buffalo State (as Senior linebacker had 134 tackles - 5 solo - 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 11 pass breaks); March-September of 1998 Nathan played for the Hildeshem Invaders in the Germany Professional League and was voted BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER with 71 tackles - 27 solo - 10 sacks and 3 knockdowns;

- DONALD A. DRYDEN - Superintendent of Schools (Benefactor category)
....Athletic Director 1996-2000; helped implement additional new teams of Varsity Girls' Soccer (1996-97), JV Soccer (1997-98) and Boys' & Girls' Bowling (1998-99).

* Hall of Fame inductions from September 28, 2001 --- 12th annual ceremony...

- DAVID POPOVICH - WG Class of 1979
....member of Football team for four years; Quarterback as a Senior; outstanding member of Junior High and Senior High Track Teams; ran the 440 & Relays; did the High Jump and was a Champion Pole Vaulter; held school record in Pole Vault at 13 feet 4 1/2 inches (don't know if that record is still current) ....loved to WIN but more importantly loved to compete & outperform himself and always with a SMILE; as an adult a most successful golfer and competitor in curling

- ALLISON ISLEY MAJKA - WG Class of 1983
....Cheerleader: MVP Varsity Cheerleader in 1982-83; Member of IAC Championship Team 1981-82 AND 1982-83; Team Captain 1982-83; JV Team Captain 1980-81 and Member of IAC Championship Team in 1979-80 AND 1980-81; Top Ten Award U.S. Cheerleading Association National Championships in 1981;
....Swimming: Co-Captain Varsity Team 1982-83; Co MVP 1982-83; Most Improved Award 1981-82; 100 Yard Breaststroke IAC and WG Record 1981-82 and 200 Medley Relay WG Record Holder 1981-82;
....Track: MVP 1980-81, 1981-82, and 1982-83; Team Captain 1982-83; Ran 400, 800, and 1200 meters plus 400 and 3200 meter relay and did High Jump and Long Jump;

- COLIN HATSELL: WG Class of 1988
.... Varsity Swim Team Gr. 8-9-10-11-12 .... 1st Swimmer in WG History to swim 100 Free in less than 50 seconds; held school record from 1988-2001; qualified for 1988 NYS Championships; helped team win Class C Section IV and IAC Championships from Gr. 8- Gr. 12; Team Captain 1988
....Varsity Golf Team Gr. 9-10-11; top WG Golfer at 1986 Corning Junior Invitational; Team Captain; qualified for 2nd round Sec. IV NYS Meet;
....Varsity Cross Country: Gr. 9-10-11; top WG runner in 1986 IAC Championship Meet; placed 13th in 1985 IAC Championships; team Captain;

- KERI MC ILROY SCHUBMEHL: WG Class of 1996
....Swimming: 1992-93; Team Record of 12-2 for 2nd place in IAC and Section IV; Team won Fall Sportsmanship Award;
....Volleyball: 1995-96; Team won 1st place in Sportsmanship
....Basketball: Gr. 10-11-12; for JV Team in 1993-94 she won individual Sportsmanship Award; Varsity Team won IAC Southwest Large School Championship in 1994-95; she was individual winner of 1st ever 3 point shootout at Exceptional Seniors Game;
....Softball: Gr. 8-9-10-11-12; JV record as Pitcher was 11-5; Varsity record as a Pitcher was 33-13; career statistics were 95 runs scored, 45 hits and 50 RBI's; as a pitcher she was 15-1 in IAC and 20-3 overall in the 1995-96 season; 1995-96 team was IAC Large School Champion, won 2nd place in Sec. IV Class C playoffs and ranked #19 in all of New York State

- KATE BARTHOLOMEW - BENEFACTOR category...
....donated countless hours of time and effort assisting the overall athletic program and always complimenting the athletes - great & small - on their achievements -- helping them feel good about themselves and their school community.

* for this 12th annual Induction: ALLISON ISLEY MAJKA couldn't be present due to being home with a child who was ill; accepting on her behalf was her dad CARL ISLEY; COLIN HATSELL flew in from Chicago to be there - celebrating his mom's birthday that same weekend - and joining him for his induction were his mom, his sister Kathy (herself a Hall of Fame member) and his brother Michael up from Florida; KERI MC ILROY SCHUBMEHL's mom TRACIE MC ILROY had the honor of presenting her plaque to her (TRACIE is also in the Hall of Fame for her efforts leading the Boosters' Club in 1995 financing the athletic program during an austerity year); this 12th Induction was dedicated to COACH PETE GALATIS (inducted in 1991) and COACH FRANCIS BLAKE (inducted also in 1991).

...Look for additional HALL OF FAMERS and other outstanding athletes in February! Through the hallways ...

By Brian J. O'Donnell

2002-2003...

As this was the final year of my tenure in Watkins Glen, it may be a bit more comprehensive than previous installments - enjoy!

* Prior to the new school year, those members of the faculty/staff retiring, transferring, or resigning included the following:
- REETHA SHUMWAY (1971-2002) - Special Education Teaching Assistant and long-time aide to CAROL KUNZMANN; Reetha loved her job, helping students; NANCY RUDA arranged a wonderful party for Reetha as the new school year began;
- RAY KASCHALK (1998-2002) - Physics Teacher; you could often see RAY and his students out in the hallway conducting various Physics experiments in a truly authentic assessment manner; and who could forget RAY's Halloween celebration character? He also spent some time as our Assistant Wrestling Coach under Coach MIKE WATSON;
- RICK PETTET - former U.S. Navy Officer and local runner; RICK transferred to a Science position in our Middle School and he is still there today;
- DAVID SMITH resigned as Math Teacher at the High School; He had been involved at the BOCES - Teacher's Center prior to coming to Watkins Glen and we appreciated his time with us and our students;
- BARB HUGHEY - long-time High School Girls's Physical Education teacher and "founder' of our 'Lifetime Sports' program; Girls' Tennis Coach for a number of years (Athletic HALL OF FAME COACH Girls' Swim Team 1972-1977 with several Sectional Champions and Girls' Tennis Team 1978-1987 with seven of ten winning seasons and ANDREA HOLMES becoming Sectional and Intersectional CHAMPION on her way to "Hall of Fame" status too; Remember the gym class "dance" program and "Cross Country Ski" program (with her husband RICK helping cut trails in the State Park???)
New Faculty/staff included:
- NELSON BEEBE: a legend at Odessa-Montour as an extraordinary teacher of Mathematics; a regular summer school teacher for us and -- to our advantage - a half-time Math Teacher at the high school following his retirement from Odessa-Montour (Nelson and I went back a long way to our summers as teachers at the Elmira Correctional Facility in the early 1970's) --- what a great teacher; what a great guy!!! It was wonderful to again work with him!
- WAYNE O'BRIEN (Physics) and MATT YANINAS (Living Environment/Biology) were hired and rounded out our High School Science Department in a time of need;
- NAOMI ZUCKERMAN (Mathematics) and ERICK SCHNELL (Special Education) were hired for the High School;
- YVONNE AILING continued as long-term substitute in Vocal Music with JAMIE JOHNSON as long-term substitute in French;
- TRACY PRATT (Physical Education), one of my students when I was Middle School Principal, was hired to replace BARB HUGHEY; and ROSANNE DOANE became 1/2 time Main Office Assistant for Attendance and 1/2 time in our Guidance Office

* Additional faculty/staff retirements following 2001-2002 school year were:
LINDA FAZZARY (Health Office Clerk for Elementary and then Middle School), JOAN GASCON (Teaching Assistant at the Middle School), MARILYN DENSON (Elementary then Middle School Teacher), LINDA GOULD (Elementary Teacher), KAREN SCHAMEL (Elementary Teacher), ED WESTBROOK (Elementary Teacher) and MARY ANN VAN AMBURG (Elementary School Main Office Secretary);
* DIANE SCHMIDT was employed as a Social Worker and TONIA ILLIG was Support Services Coordinator

* New staff at the Elementary & Middle Schools included:
JANELLE WHITWOOD (Special Education), TREVOR HOLLAND (Physical Education), BARBRA POWERS (Grade 4), NICOLE PERRY (Reading), CAROLYN YAW (Keyboard Specialist), AMY TAFT (Keyboard Clerk), JENNIFER JOHNSON (Special Education), AMY MILLER (Special Education), SUZANNE FINGLER (School Nurse), HOLLY JOHNSON (Gr. 5), & KIM LAZZARO (Gr. 5); and former Elementary School Principal MIKE YUHASZ was appointed Interim Elementary Principal in October and completed the 2002-03 year in that position.

* Foreign Exchange students for 2002-2003: FALKO RICHTER - Germany
MARKUS BUELOW - Germany
ANA NAVARO - Ecuador
MARILIA VILLELA - Brazil

* BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT: a new requirement under SAVE Legislation to inform parents of any new items (Attendance Policy, AIDS Education, and Guidance Information);

E-MAIL & VOICE MAIL: became communications vehicles for faculty/staff/parents;

SEXUAL HARASSMENT Training was held for all faculty/staff;

* HILARY DAVIS: scheduled to be a Sophomore, enrolled instead at Simon's Rock College of Bard in Barrington, Massachusetts;

* CLUB OFFICERS:

Art Club: President LAUREN WOOD, Vice President MICHELLE FRIESEN, Secretary TRENTON LOUGHLIN & SAMANTHA LONG, Treasurer STEPHANIE BLACKFORD

Library Council: President SUMMER LINDSAY, Vice President CARRIE LANGLEY, Secretary MEGAN GROLL & MARGARET KIRTON, Treasurer AUDRA BIEG

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Iron-Man RICHARD MC INTYRE ----- Career Comes to a close.....
* Long-time English Teacher RICHARD MC INTYRE -- suffering from an illness that attacked his vocal cords finally made the decision that he could not perform his responsibilities according to his high standards and he called in "sick" --- ending an era of consistency and excellence --- he was replaced in the classroom first by JANICE MAHON for several weeks, then by certified English teacher JONATHAN MILLER from early March through June; the English Department had a 2nd major change as KELLY MUIR left on a child-care leave (Welcome JACK!) and ED PORTER was her long-term substitute from March 18-June 20th;

*High School Secretary LAURI MACRI took a leave for foot surgery and KATHY CRANS substituted for her;

* The High School schedule was revised somewhat so the Middle School could be dismissed first; JAMIE HARTER resigned from his position as Athletic Director in May and was replaced by KAZ ESTELOW as Faculty Manager for Athletics. New Business Official DOMENICK ALOISIO began working in July of 2002;

* Grade 9 students were no longer permitted to be part of the "Open Campus" policy as the plans were to phase-out the Open Campus tradition at lunchtime until all classes were restricted to campus throughout the school day.

* Graduation 2003:
- The Superintendent, DR. MARY ELLEN CORREA, called away due to a death in her family - sent CONGRATULATIONS to the Class of 2003; I - as usual - thanked the members of the Class of 2003 for all of their hard work/effort that brought them to our stage; and I also thanked all teachers and staff Grade K- 12 for being so supportive and caring and parents, grandparents, uncles/aunts, brothers/sisters, neighbors, etc. for all they had done; and specifically to: retiring faculty members for this year DONNA REIMELS in our Elementary School and DANNIE BROWN, DIANE MELVENEY and RICHARD MC INTYRE in the High School, and to
retiring Board of Education Member JIM O'BRIEN;

- as this was my 15th and final High School graduation ceremony as Principal I extended sincere thanks & appreciation to Senior Class Advisor NICK DUGO for organizing/implementing these fine ceremonies through the years!

* $36,150,000 renovation/construction project --- a three year project --- was fully completed with all areas slated to be fully operational for the 2003-2004 school year; generosity of our District Residents and taxpayers, and patience/flexibility/cooperation of faculty, staff, students and parents made this possible with little interruption to our program and with overall safety/security as the number one priority;

* 2002-2003 was the final year of Coaching for Girls' Varsity Swimming Coach KATE LA MOREAUX; KATE retired with an overall record of 223 wins, 17 losses and one tie, eight IAC Championships, nine Section IV Championships, five years as #1 Ranked Swimming Team in New York State (for our Class), and several team Sportsmanship and Scholar-Athlete awards; additionally KATE was honored nationally by recognition in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in
the Crowd" --- in 2003 KATE was honored by our school with selection to the Watkins Glen Athletic HALL OF FAME as a Coach.

* as we began the 2002-2003 school year we had a new Business Official: DOMINICK ALOISIO; GRADE 9 students were no longer permitted to participate in the 'Open Campus' program (with plans to phase out the Open Campus within four years), and our Central Office/Business Office and Guidance Office personnel moved into their newly renovated locations in the summer of 2002;

* there was a very special event held at NICK DUGO'S home on September 20, 2002 as the "Time Capsule" from the original cornerstone of the High School was opened -- thanks to the expertise of DAN TEED & NICK GIAMBO; no real surprises were found in the 'capsule' but it was a historical event nonetheless;

* the 1st High School "HOME" team victory in the new Fieldhouse happened on October 3, 2002 as Coach DANIELLE MAZZOLA's Varsity Volleyball Team won their event;

* Renovations of Science Classrooms (#743 and #737) took place over Christmas Vacation (and a bit beyond!) and in January of 2003 the new Music Education suite and Technology Computer Room opened for "business."

* 2002-2003 also saw Social Studies Teacher CRAIG CHEPLICK receive Board Certification from the Board of Directors of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards;

* the A-B-C-D schedule with 55-minute classes became a reality and two daily lunch periods soon became just one; AIS, PLATO and the 21st Century programs continued;

* HALLOWEEN DOOR DECORATING winners were: 1st Place: KATHY MEIERJURGEN and 2nd Place: RAY THOMAS

* Christmas Season DOOR DECORATING Contest winners:
1st: NICK DUGO & NANCY BAHNS (a tie)
2nd: KELLY MUIR (again!) - a regular happening for her!
3rd: MARIE FITZSIMMONS
(Honorable Mention went to: DENNIS BRADY, the MAIN OFFICE gang, and NAOMI ZUCKERMAN)

* Several babies were born during the 2002-2003 school year:
- 8/29/02 ADRIENNE SEARLES SOLOMON
- 9/01/02 SHEA ELIZABETH BOLAND (My Granddaughter)
- 10/22/02 RILEY MERILL HART (Sharidy Hart's daughter - Sharidy administrated the 21st Century Program)
- 10/24/02 ISAAC ALEXANDER MC ILROY (Tracie McIlroy's 1st grandchild)
- 12/23/02 PARKER THOMAS WADE
- 3/21/03 JOHN (JACK) MUIR
- 3/31/03 KENNEDY JACLYN LA MOREAUX

* TRACIE MC ILROY & MARIE KEEFER kept the Boosters' Club up and running; DIANA GROLL, YVONNE ALLING & SALLY MICHEL kept those wonderful Concerts coming; EILEEN MALANEY, DIANA GROLL, and GAIL BUTLER kept the "Senecan Scoop" coming, and MAGGIE FIELD & BOB FOOTE kept television Channel 5 up and running;

* EILEEN MALANEY (Channel 5 Bulletin Board), TERRY PATCHETT (Career Development), LAURA ASK (Choices Counselor), MARTHA EVANS (Instructional Support), ALICE LEARN (Curriculum and C-DEP) and TRACIE MC ILROY, KATE LA MOREAUX, KAZ ESTELOW, and LYNN NORMAN (Athletic Council) all gave of their time, energy and expertise.

* CRAIG CHEPLICK (Hugh O'Brien Leadership Coordinator), DEB SAVARD, TOM OMIATEK, TOM PLANTY, NANCY RUDA, LYNN NORMAN, JANICE KILBURN, NANCY LOUGHLIN, CHRIS OMIATEK, KAZ ESTELOW, JILL WINKKY-WADE, KATE BARTHOLOMEW & MARTY EVANS (CIM Team Members), and GAIL BUTLER (Jeans Fridays) also contributed much to our staff and students.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS.....

ROTARY STUDENTS OF THE MONTH:
CHRIS VAN AMBURG, CHRIS TAPPAN, EMILY MAC WILLIAMS, THERESA BIANCO, KELSEY WOOD, GEORGE WHITING, LINDSAY LAKOMY & DAVID MIZERAK

STUDENT COUNCIL: President BRANDON MATTHEWS, Vice President CHAD DERSHAM, Secretary KELSEY WOOD, Treasurer STEPHANIE BLACKFORD

CLASS OF 2003: President THERESA BIANCO & KEVIN MURPHY, Vice President LINDSAY SCHMIDT, Secretary LINDSAY LAKOMY, Treasurer KATHRYN OATES

Schuyler Leadership Trainees: ANDREW PIKE, MEGAN BAUCHLE, MEGAN NICHOLS, SHANNON THOMSON, AUDRA BIEG, LUKE HOLGATE, KELLY LARGO, MATT BOYCE, ALLISON DE DOMINICK & ERICH HERZIG

* 1st SENIOR CLASS PHOTOGRAPH for the Yearbook was taken in our new FIELDHOUSE on OCTOBER 2, 2002

* Homecoming Royalty: LINDSAY LAKOMY (Queen), DREW BUBB (King), Court: NATALIE BARTONE, MAGGIE NIVER-JOHNSON, TERESA LA FACE, ROB PARISE, DAVE MIZERAK & MATT BOYCE.
- CLASS Float competition: 1st: Seniors; 2nd: Sophomores; 3rd: Juniors; 4th: Freshmen

* Halloween Costume Winners: Most Original GABBY ROSIER, ANNA TESILLO, & JEN ARCANGELI; Scariest ROBERT CORNELIUS; Best Look Alikes KELSEY WOOD & THERESA BIANCO

* KRISTA CAMPBELL was HOBY Leadership student honoree; HOPE SULLIVAN represented BOCES-HOSA presenting information at BOCES BOARD Meeting in December;

* VFW Voice of America essay contest winners:
1st - $800.00 LUKE RIBAUDO; 2nd - $600.00 KEVIN MURPHY; 3rd - $400.00 JOSHUA LOWMASTER

* Semi-formal Dance ROYALTY: Queen LINDSAY LAKOMY; King GEORGE KELLOGG; Princess: DESIREE ELLISON; Prince: RYAN EVANS

* JESIKA CLINK: 3rd Place (Data Entry) BOCES VICA Competition at SUNY DELHI
* KYLE EDELE: Watkins Glen Public Library Student Ambassador for National Library Week

* PROM Royalty: Queen JENN ORR; King DREW BUBB; Princess MICHELLE AMISANO; Prince GEORGE WHITING

* JONATHAN WOOD: 2nd place - BOCES Envirothon
* MEGAN NICHOLS: won Scholastic Art Award
* KEVIN MURPHY: awarded appointment to U.S. Coast Guard Academy
* THERESA BIANCO & KELSEY WOOD: won NYS Attorney General "TRIPLE C" Award
* ASHLEY HOUSEKNECHT: received Xerox Humanities Award
* MEGAN GROLL: received the RYLA Award
* KRISTA MOORE: received Clarkson University Leadership Award
* EMILY HUBBELL: received Clarkson University Achievement Award

* AUDRY BIEG, KELLY LARGO, ASHLEY CROSS, ALLISON DE DOMINICK, NICOLE BAKER, EMILY HUBBELL, SAMANTHA LONG, ASHLEY HOUSEKNECHT, DENISE HOREIN, FELICIA FRANZESE, KRISTA MOORE & ADAM MATHEWS: received the Elmira College "KEY" Award

* MITCH SIMPSON: won the "Amber Brockway" Award
* BRETT DENSE: won the "Kitty Depew" Business Scholarship
* CASEY LEES: won the "Lenore Fenaughty" Award
* GABRIELLE ROSIER: won the "Lions Club Cook-Warner" award
* NATALIE BARTONE: won the "Melissa Wilson" Award
* MATT BOYCE: won the "Peter A. Pevo" Award
* ALYSSA MARCH: won Southern Tier Guidance Counselors Scholarship
* LAUREN ANDREWS: won the "Beth MacNamara" Art Award
* KELSEY WOOD: won the "Janet Andrews Simiele " History Award
* MEGAN NICHOLS: won the Student Council English Award

* New High School Cornerstone was set: Gr. 12 students THERESA BIANCO & GABRIELLE ROSIER were a major part in helping with the overall process; others who contributed items to be locked away in the Cornerstone were: KELSEY WOOD, ERIC HANSEN, KELLY LARGO, GEORGE WHITING, LUKE HOLGATE, MEGAN MATTHEWS, MICHELLE WARREN, JOSEPH BRADASCIO, TRENTON LOUGHLIN, TYLER LATTIN, MEGAN GROLL & DEVIN MACRI.

* Top 10 Seniors were: #1 - MEGAN NICHOLS; #2 - SHANNON THOMSON; #3 - THERESA BIANCO; #4 - DEBORAH PRUITT; #5 - EMILY MAC WILLIAMS; #6 - LAUREN WOOD; #7 - ALANA MALINA; #8 - KELSEY WOOD; # - KEVIN LEE;
#10- ERIC HANSEN

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KYLE GREGORY------------ SETH MARCELLUS ------------BRENNAN LOVE

On Sunday morning, May 4th, three of our students --- all Members of the Class of 2005 --- were killed in a horrific automobile accident just outside of Hector on Route 414. Almost immediately more than 150 students, faculty & staff assembled at the High School for comfort & familiarity, to share emotions and thoughts. In the days that followed "normalcy" took on a totally different meaning for all of us. A community-wide memorial service was held in our Fieldhouse on May 8th at which numerous cards, notes, pictures -- produced by students -- were available for the families. MICHELLE WARREN & MEGAN MATTHEWS sang a song written/composed by GEORGE WHITING: "Forever in My Heart." The Senior High Chorus sang"I'm With You" and "Only Time," and MITCHELL PEVO played and sang"Knocking on Heaven's Door."

MITCHELL also played the "National Anthem" along with the special talents of ERNIE WHITING, BRYANT MYERS, JAMES RUDA, JOHN WILKENS, and ANGELO PETERS. The Friends of the Watkins Library made a $1,000 donation to the Watkins Glen Public Library to purchase a permanent bookcase in memory of KYLE, SETH and BRENNAN. At a Track
Meet dozens and dozens of people made a memorial lap around the track in their honor ... and who can forget how the blazing sun broke through the dark storm clouds with brilliant rays streaming down on that rainy & dreary afternoon? There was also a large gathering of students along with many staff on a hilltop (the highest point in Schuyler County) to "remember & memorialize." Gone - but never forgotten!

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It has been my pleasure to bring back these memories and achievements from years past. I hope you've enjoyed reading them as they ARE the history & tradition which is the Watkins Glen Central School District. Beginning in January our "Through the Hallways" will look at a variety of Athletic achievements and the outstanding young men and women behind them!

Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas to everyone --- see you again in January of 2012 !!!

Through the hallways ...

By Brian J. O'Donnell

* 2000-2001 continued from last month...

--EMILY HUBBELL was selected to attend 66th annual 4-H Capital Days Program in Albany, NY
--DAVID BOYLE (Silver Key) & CARL STANDISH (Merit Award) were Regional Winners in the Scholastic Art Award competition
--JOSH BUTLER prepared and taught a full Calculus Class (AP Level) to his peers
--KYLIE BURCHELL was student Ambassador for National Library Week for the Watkins Glen Public Library

-- Take Your Child to Work Day participants: NICK SORENSEN with Mom KELLY; SOPHIE PETERS with Mom MARIE; TAYLOR PETTET with Dad RICK; ASHLEY SAVARD with Mom DEB; SARAH KASCHALK with Dad RAY; and HANNAH ARMSTRONG with Mom KAREN

-- Schuyler County Envirothon Competition: 2nd Place - AMY CHAFFEE, SOPHIE GUBLO, TONY BANKS, TAREN LOUCKS and MELANIE BARNES; RJ RICHTMYER & LOGAN VOORHEIS were members of the SCT-BOCES 1st Place Envirothon Team;

-- RYAN BARR won SCT-BOCES Award as Member of 2nd Place Team in Wall Construction at the SUNY Delhi competition

-- Rotary Students of the Month were: JOSH BUTLER, MARK MATTHEWS, ASHLEY WOOD, LESLIE MILLER, MELANIE BARNES, JESSICA CONKLIN, DAVID BOYLE & ADAM KRESS

-- National Honor Society inductees: EMILY MAC WILLIAMS, RACHEL PORTER, KEVIN MURPHY, ERIC HANSEN, ASHLEY ROBERTS, ALANA MALINA, SHANNON LEWIS, APRIL BYERS, KYLIE BURCHELL, ELIZABETH HENRY, LESLIE MILLER, JOANNA JELLIFF, KRISTIN VAN HORN, MEGAN NICHOLS, SHANNON THOMPSON, JENNIFER SMALLEY, KELSEY WOOD, MEGAN BAUCHLE, KELLY SAVARD & THERESA BIANCO.

-- PROM Royalty: King - JOSH BUTLER; Queen - ASHLEY WOOD; Prince - SEAN HARNAS; Princess - KATIE CRIPPEN

-- Mark Twain Scholars: ELIZA ALBERT, DAWN THORP, ASHLEY FAZZARY, TRACY SAVARD, CHRISTY COOK, DAVID BOYLE, KATE VAN EMRIK & ADAM VAN BUREN

-- JOSH BUTLER, JEFF DILL, DAVID BOYLE & PHIL ST JULIEN played the "National Anthem" at Watkins Glen International on June 2nd for the Historic Races and were filmed for the television program "Speedvision."

-- JOEL WILBUR won the Lake Country Players Award; KELLY FIELD, KRISTIN FIELD & WILL CUMMINGS won the "AMBER BROCKWAY SCHOLARSHIP Award"; ADAM KRESS, DAVID BOYLE, & ANTHONY BANKS received Youth Court recognition;
BILL PRUITT, HOLLY CLAIRE, & JOSH BUTLER received the American Association of Physics Teachers Award; LIAM FITZSIMMONS and ADAM KRESS received the "Triple C" Award from the NYS Attorney General; ELIZA ALBERT, ASHLEY WOOD & ASHLEY FAZZARY won the Society of Women Engineers Award; LYDIA JOHNSON, RANA MORGAN, KEITH BUBB, HOLLY CLAIRE & NICK VAN AMBURG received the Diversified Cooperative Occupational Education Award; and TRACY SAVARD won the PTA Stanley Marcus Humanitarian Award.

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Some of the highlights and achievements from 2001 - 2002:

* Assisting with Summer Orientation were: PHIL ST JULIEN, JESSE RINGSMUTH, ANNA LONGBUCCO, BERIL ELGUN, JEFF DILL, ERIC HANSEN, LIZ AMISANO, MARGARET KIRTON, RYAN COON, LUKE DALECKI & graduate ADAM KRESS

* Class Officers:

SENIORS: President Chris Turner, Vice President Rachel Porter, Secretary Liz Henry, Treasurer Adam Hayes.

JUNIORS: President Drew Bubb, Vice President Lindsay Schmidt, Secretary Lindsay Lakomy, Treasurer Matt Boyce

SOPHOMORES: President George Whiting, Vice President Nicole Baker, Secretary Audra Bieg, Treasurer Ashley Houseknecht

FRESHMEN: President Tara Parish, Vice President Seth Marcellus, Secretary Sarah Bianco, Treasurer Margaret Henry

HOMECOMING: King: CHRIS TURNER Queen: JULIE MILLER Court: JESSE RINGSMUTH, RYAN COON, AMY CHAFFEE, ADAM HAYES, CASEY MANZER & SEAN HARNES

Top 10 Students - Class of 2002: RYAN COON, PHILIP ST JULIEN, ERIN SPENCER, JEFF DILL, LIZ HENRY, AMY CHAFFEE, HEATHER ANDREWS, TAREN LOUCKS, EMILY DAY & CRYSTAL LO VETTE
Valedictorian: RYAN A. COON
Salutatorian: PHILIP M. ST. JULIEN
Senior Orator: ERIN M. SPENCER
Closing Remarks: ADAM L. HAYES

* JULIE DILL: raised U.S. Flag on our flagpole on new entrance for the very 1st time; RYAN COON: won "Letter of Commendation" from National Merit Scholarship Program; KELLY SAVARD & JOHN DERRIG were dually enrolled at WGHS and Corning Community College;
KELLY LARGO: was Hugh O'Brien Leadership Program student representative

* Rotary Students of the Month were: DARCY WOOD, KYLIE BURCHALL, PHIL ST. JULIEN, JULIE MILLER, CHRIS DRAKE, AMY CHAFFEE, BRAD MATHEWS & JESSE RINGSMUTH

* Mark Twain Scholars: RYAN COON, LIZ HENRY, AMY CHAFFEE, PHIL ST. JULIEN, JEFF DILL, JENN SMALLEY, ERIN SPENCER & HEATHER ANDREWS

* 1st Pitch on new Softball Field was thrown by KERI MC ILROY (Class of 1996)

* EMILY DAY was Student Ambassador for Watkins Glen Public Library during National Library Week (raised more than $180 for the Library)

* VFW Voice of America Contest Winners:
1st Place - $800.00 ADAM HAYES
2nd Place- $600.00 STEPH RAPPLEYE
3rd Place - $400.00 LIZ HENRY

* JULIE MILLER: appeared in Sports Illustrated "Faces in the Crowd"; JORES PETERS won 1st place in "Mike Watson Memorial Wrestling Tournament"

* DARCY WOOD attended FBI National Academy Leadership Program July 22-27, 2001
* EMILY HUBBELL & TIM BALL attended 4H Capital Days Program in Albany
* DARCY WOOD was featured in "Next Step Magazine" as one of the 'Top NYS Teens'

* LYNN MARIE BENNETT, Gr. 9, had a poem published in "The International Library of Poetry"

* Chemung Youth Leadership participants:
- Gr. 10: ASHLEY CROSS, ERICH HERZIG, CHAD DERSHAM
- Gr. 11: MEGAN BAUCHLE, LUKE RIBAUDO, EMILY MAC WILLIAMS

* Boosters Club Athletes of the Month: JULIE MILLER, ASHLEY ROBERTS, EMILY MAC WILLIAMS, CHRIS DRAKE, KEVIN MURPHY, TODD LINCOLN, BEN WINSTEAD, SHANNON LEWIS, ERIN SPENCER & LIZ HENRY

* AMY CHAFFEE & KELLY LARGO were student reps on Building Shared Decision Making Team; ERICH HERZIG & KELLY LARGO were student reps on Open vs. Closed Campus Committee

* Boys' State: SEAN LOVE, MATT BOYCE, GEORGE KELLOGG, KYLLE EDELE & KEVIN LEE
* Girls' State: LAUREN WOOD, THERESA BIANCO & KELSEY WOOD.

See you in December for news/notes from the Class of 2003 - my final class. Following the December column I'll begin in January with some of the athletic history of our District.

Through the hallways ...

By Brian J. O'Donnell

I received a nice note from former High School Principal FRED LORENZ and his wife PEG (a former Elementary School Teacher) -- they're both doing well and enjoying their retirement in Florida!

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Attended the wedding of KERI MC ILROY (Class of 1996) and JESSE SCHUBMEHL on Saturday, October 1st --- wishing them all the best!!!
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The decade of the 2000's.....

* 2000-2001:
- Superintendent DON DRYDEN retired; DR. MARY ELLEN CORREA was hired as the new Superintendent

- Former Librarian LOUISE STLIIMAN, former School Nurse-Teacher MYRTLE MILLER, former teacher "LU" WILLIAMS and Elementary School Reading Teacher PHYLLIS BOND all passed away.

- the District's $36,150,000 renovation & construction project began in earnest;
- APPR (annual professional performance review), PDP (professional development plan), AIS (academic intervention services), CDEP (comprehensive district educational plan), and SAVE all became part of our ever-increasing vocabulary of education
- Code of Conduct, Building Emergency Management Plans, Curriculum Mapping, Group Wise, Professional Development Logs and Dimensions of Learning also entered our world.

* 2001-2002:
- Middle School Principal MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN resigned and he was replaced by former High School Math teacher DAVE WARREN;
- student and adult smoking on the "Island" was formally banned
- new terminology included rubrics (scoring tools that list criteria for assessment), best instructional practices (interdisciplinary team approaches to information) and the 21st Century Program (grant monies focusing on before & after school programs;
- September 11, 2001 changed our world forever as the "War on Terrorism" began

* 2002-2003:
- state mandated "Back to School" informational evening was held to present information on Attendance Policies, AIDS Education and Guidance services;
- voice mail and e-mail became a reality for most
- High School daily schedule was tweaked so the Middle School could be dismissed first
- Athletic Director JAMIE HARTER resigned and KAZ ESTELOW became our 1st female Faculty Manager for Athletics
- Freshmen students were no longer permitted to leave campus at lunch time as the Open Campus concept was being phased out
- cornerstone of the High School (set in 1967) was opened as that area of the structure underwent extensive renovation;
- a revised "A-B-C" daily schedule with 55-minute class periods was implemented in the high school

Faculty/Staff retirements/resignations:

2000-2001: BOB KING - HS Librarian, LARRY CLARK - School Board, CONNIE GOOLEY - MS Librarian, LINDA MOORE - ES Teacher, BILL HENDERSON - MS Science, JAY LA SCOLEA (resigned) - HS English, KILLEEN KANE (resigned) - HS Math, COLE LEE (resigned) - HS Special Education, JOANN AXTELL - MS English, PHYLLIS BOND - ES Reading.

2001-2002: LINN HENRY - School Board, VICKI SCHAMEL - School Board, BARB HUGHEY - HS Phys. Ed., KAREN SCHAMEL - ES Teacher, MARILYN DENSON - ES/MS Teacher, LINDA GOULD - ES Teacher, JOAN GASCON - Teacher Aide, JILL WINKKY-WADE - HS Guidance, ED WESTBROOK - ES Teacher, DONNA REIMELS - ES Teacher, REETHA SHUMWAY - Teacher Aide, MARY ANN VAN AMBURG - ES Secretary, LINDA FAZZARY - ES/MS Nurse's Aide, RAY KASCHALK (resigned) - HS Science

2002-2003: BRIAN O'DONNELL - HS Principal, DIANE MELVENEY - HS Math, DANNIE BROWN - HS English, JAMIE HARTER (resigned) - AD

*2000-2001:

- this year began on two tragic notes:
AMBER BROCKWAY (born: 9/19/1984) was killed on August 5, 2000; AMBER was noted by her teachers as "a pleasure to have in class," "a whiz at English and in Advanced Art," and "worked for and achieved Honors in Physical Education"; AMBER was a valuable member of the JV Volleyball Team and looked forward to Varsity Volleyball; her life-long dream was to become a model.

MIKE WATSON, long-time Health Teacher and Coach (Wrestling, Cross Country & Soccer) died in an accident on August 28, 2000. After a long and successful career as Teacher & Coach at Notre Dame High School, MIKE came to Watkins Glen for the 1985-86 school year. He was a real "pied piper" when it came to the recruitment and motivation of athletes, he edited the ever-popular "Mat Chat" and was simply the BEST leader for 'Simon Says' that Sports Day ever had.

- in the middle of the 2000-2001 school year we suffered a third major loss as Guidance Office Secretary NANCY CLEVELAND passed away on January 30th. NANCY was the 1st and only Secretary for Odessa-Montour's Alternative High School in the early 1980's and then our High School Guidance Office Secretary for more than 18 years. NANCY took a genuine and sincere interest in faculty/staff and students, came in early, stayed late and was involved in all facets of high school life. One of the founding members of "SLIC," she loved Happy Meal Toys, breakfasts at Chef's and celebrations of all kinds.

- Several personnel changes reflected 'take backs' from BOCES (employees originally employed by BOCES and now employed by the District)
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- among the Seniors highlighted in the 2001 SENECAN were:
* Best Eyes: DJ AMISANO & MOLLY SCHAMEL * Most Athletic: JOSH BUTLER & CATHY BROWN * Best Car: LESLIE MILLER
* Best Hair: LIAM FITZSIMMONS & TRACY SAVARD * Worst Drivers: NICK WEBER & JENNIE COOK * Best Car: ANTHONY DOANE
* Teacher's Pet: JOEL WILBUR & ELIZA ALBERT * Most Artistic: ELIZA ALBERT & CARL STANDISH
* Best Dressed: TJ LOVE & BETH VICKIO * Best Personality: JOSH BUTLER & MELANIE BARNES
* Best Smile: DJ AMISANO & ASHLEY WOOD * Class Big Mouths: JEFF ALLEN & JENNIE COOK
* Class Clowns: ANTHONY DOANE & JENNIE COOK * Best All Around: JOEL WILBUR & ASHLEY WOOD
* Most Likely to Succeed: DAVID BOYLE & ELIZA ALBERT.....

* Class Officers:
Freshmen: President: CHAD DERSHAM; Vice President: NICOLE BAKER; Secretary: ASHLEY HOUSEKNECHT; Treasurer: KRISTA MOORE

Sophomores: President: TERESA BIANCO; Vice President: LINDSAY SCHMIDT; Secretary: KATIE OATES; Treasurer: LINDSAY LAKOMY

Juniors: President: ERNIE WHITING; Vice President: APRIL BYERS; Secretary: KYLIE BURCHELL; Treasurer: ASHLEY ARCANGELI

Seniors: President: ASHLEY WOOD; Vice President: DAVID BOYLE; Secretary: JOSH BUTLER; Treasurer: JOSH BUTLER

* Student Council Officers: President - JEFF ALLEN; Vice President: STEVE COLE; Secretary: JOE ROBERTSON; Treasurer: DAVID BOYLE
* Interact Executive Board: KATE VAN EMRIK, CRAIG BARNES, JESSE RINGSMUTH, ALANA MALINA, MELANIE BARNES, LAUREN WOOD, JOEL WILBUR, TERESA BIANCO & DAVID BOYLE

* Girls' State: ASHLEY FAZZARY & TRACY SAVARD
Boys' State: DJ AMISANO, JOSH BUTLER, MARK MATTHEWS , MATT JAYNES, STEVE LEE, DAVID BOYLE, & CARL STANDISH

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* Alumni News: MELISSA KISSELL visited the high school as part of the requirements for Education 101 at Mansfield University (Now she is a teacher of Special Education in the Watkins Glen High School); HOLLY JOHNSON was recognized by Elmira College as an "Honors Student" (Now she is a Math Teacher at the Watkins Glen Middle School). CHRISTIN CHERKIS was in the high school fulfilling a requirement in Field Experience with the SUNY Brockport Delta Program (Now she is a Guidance Counselor at Ernie Davis Middle School in Elmira, NY).
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* Science Club Officers: President: TONY BANKS, Vice President: ASHLEY WOOD, Secretary: EMILY DAY, Treasurer: APRIL BYERS

Art Club Officers: President: LIZ HENRY, Secretary: AUDRA BIEG, Treasurer: CHRIS CHERKIS

* Chemung Youth Leadership Trainees: KEVIN MURPHY, JULIE MILLER, KELSEY WOOD, JORES PETERS, ERIC HANSEN & DARCY WOOD

*** Watch for more news in November!!!

Through the hallways ...

By Brian J. O'Donnell

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A look back --- thanks to MRS. WILLIAM (Patricia Suits) ELLISON, who sent me a Watkins Review clipping from July 10, 1935. We have the 4th quarter HONOR ROLL to share:..... the "TOP 15" in each Class...

2nd Grade: PATRICIA SUITS, JAS. BATES, ANTHONY FAZZARY, ANGELINE SCHIMIZZI, MERTON DAVENPORT, EARL HALL, CATHERINE SCHIMIZZI, ELENE VITALI, NICOLINE FRANZESE, HAROLD DIFFENBACK, RUTH DRAKE, ALBERT RAY ELLISON, SAM FAZZARY, JEAN OVERHISER, WALT OSTERHOUDT.

3rd Grade: MARGARET JAMES, DONALD ANDREWS, PATSY SCHIMIZZI, BILLIE LEFFINGWELL, ORLANDO BENNETT, HENRY SHULMAN, ALFRED SULLIVAN, BETTY SIMIELE, LUCILE PALMER, BILLY BALDWIN, ROBERT MICK, TONY PANGALLO, ROSEMARY PASTORE, CORALEE PRATT, MARGARET SEBRING.

4th Grade: JANE COOLICAN, CALVIN DRAKE, ROSE DEL ROSSO, MARTHA MORGAN, ANNE LEFFINGWELL, JEAN MARTINE, WARREN BAKER, JAMES GIVIN, FRANK MILLEN, CAROLINE DENSON, BARBARA BARILE, JOHN CHEROCK, BEVERLY WAITE, RUTH VOORHEES, DONALD KELLEY.

5th Grade: ELEANOR ROBERTS, P. HARAMIS, KEITH CARPENTER, JAMES BEARDSLEY, LAWRENCE CHASE, DANN WHITING, JOHN QUIRK, ALTON DOYLE, AUDREE KENT, WAYNE DUNBAR, RICHARD SMITH, JANICE MURPHY, BETTY WIGSTEN, NANCY WALSH, ANGELINE MAGAR.

6th Grade: MARY VALEANTE, DINA MURATORI, ESTHER FREUDENHEIM, ANN ODELL, FRANK BUTTERAZZI, SHIRLEY PALMER, WALTER TILLMAN, ROSALIND WAGER, BILLY BAIRD, ANN HAUGHEY, JOHN MARCELLINO, DOROTHY WAGER, ARTHUR CURRY, LENA DE DOMINICK, BARBARA KIERMAIER.

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STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS,,,,,

**ROTARY STUDENTS OF THE MONTH**

----------- 1998-1999---------- 1999-2000

October: JESSE JOHNSON, CASSANDRA KEEFER
November: JEFF LEARN, ERIK DALECKI
December: CARTER MAY, JOEL WILBUR
January: ANDY CLARK, MARIAN SCHAMEL
February: ANNE BARTONE, KAYLA EVANS
March: TRACEY GREEN, CHARLIE CHICONE
April: BRIAN BAKER, JENN BILLS
May: BRANDON VAN HORN VAL MAHON

** HOMECOMING ROYALTY**

---------1998-1999-------1999-2000

Queen: CHRISTIN CHERKIS, C.C. HOLT
King: MIKE BEBER, TYSON VAN SKYVER

1998-99 Court: PATTI FRANZESE, TRACEY GREEN, MELISSA LAMBERTON, JESSICA O'BRIEN, DAVID CADY, JESSE JOHNSON, JEFF LEARN, GEOFF SMYDER.

1999-2000 Court: NICOLE CHAFFEE, CASSIE KEEFER, LINDSAY NICHOLS, MARYANN REISS, ALEX KELLY, ANDY CLARK, SASHA KUZNEZOV, MIKE MARGRENO

**STUDENT LEADERS**

------------Class of 1999---- Class of 2000

President: JESSE HAYES, LINDSAY NICHOLS
Vice. Pres: ASHLEIGH FOOTE, BRANDON MARGRENO
Secretary: CHRISTIN CHERKIS, MEGAN MC GROGAN
Treasurer: JESSE JOHNSON, KRISTY SMITH

**MARK TWAIN SCHOLARS**

Class of 1999: REBECCA ST. JULIEN, ASHLEIGH FOOTE, AMY VAN BUREN, MELISSA FRIESEN, CARTER MAY, AUDREY BYERS, WENDY BESLEY, NATE VOORHEIS.

Class of 2000: JOSH FISKE, MARIAN SCHAMEL, KAYLA EVANS, MELINDA RIBAUDO, ANDY CLARK, BREANA COPP, KELLY OSBORNE, MICHELLE McNANEY, EMER SMITH.

**INTERACT CLUB**

--------------1998-1999------------- 1999-2000

President: SHANNON CALLANAN, KAYLA EVANS
Vice. Pres.: JEFF LEARN, ANDY CLARK
Secretary: CASSANDRA KEEFER, MELANIE BARNES
Treasurer: JOEL WILBUR, DAVID BOYLE
Committee Chairs...
*Community: MELISSA KISSELL, CASSANDRA KEEFER
* International: NICOLE CHAFFEE, PHIL ST JULIEN
* Finance: JESSE JOHNSON, MARIAN SCHAMEL
* Club: MEGAN MC GROGAN, KATE VAN EMRIK

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* 1998-1999:

ART CLUB OFFICERS: President - AMY BINGHAM; Vice President - MELISSA FRIESEN; Secretary - JOEL WILBUR; Treasurer - ELIZA ALBERT;
Class of 2002 OFFICERS: President - RYAN COON; Vice President - AMY CHAFFEE; Secretary - SHANNON LEWIS; Treasurer - PHIL ST JULIEN
FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS: JULIA DAVID (Germany), VANIA DONOSA (Panama), ANDERS LARSEN (Denmark), MARINA MELO (Brazil), FRANZISKA GORLACH (Germany), BARB TRUSSEL (Switzerland)
BOCES HOSA COMPETITION: 1st Place: AMY VAN BUREN (Extemporaneous Writing); CHEMUNG YOUTH LEADERSHIP Graduates: KIM WARREN, MARIAN SCHAMEL, MELANIE BARNES & KAYLA EVANS

* CARTER MAY: won the AAA Driving Award
* TRACEY GREEN: was "Business Student of the Year"
* PHIL CUMMINGS: won "21st Century English Award"
* LIZ ROHMANN: won the "W.A.R.T." Award (Running Club)
* SHANNON CALLANAN: won "Burdett Ladies Wednesday Afternoon Club Award"
* BRIAN BAKER: won "Athletic Service Award" & "Water Safety Award"
* ANNE BARTONE: was "Watkins Glen Public Library AMBASSADOR" for National Library Week

Scholastic Art Award Winners: DAVID BOYLE, MICHELLE DORE and MELISSA FRIESEN
"Honorary Members of the Phys. Ed. Department": BRIAN BAKER & BRANDON VAN HORN by virtue of help and support with the Gr. K-12 Swimming Program
"Open Water SCUBA Certification": earned by DAN CAMPBELL, JONATHAN HENRY & RYAN COON

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Showcasing their SINGING TALENT at various athletic events were: MARY ROSE CHICONE, EMER SMITH & NIKKE CHAFFEE

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* NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FINALISTS: CARTER MAY & REBECCA ST JULIEN.....

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ALUMNI IN THE NEWS DURING 1998-1999:

*APRIL MC FALL: earned AA Degree from SUNY @ MORRISVILLE (May 22)
* JESSICA COLON: graduated from Cornell University with BA in Government (May 30)
* JENNIFER SIMIELE: graduated with college degree in Psychology (May 16)
* MEGAN BAHNS: graduated from Ithaca College with degree in Sociology & Gender Studies (May 15)
* MICHELE BAHNS: graduated from Cornell University with degree in General Studies (May 30)

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1999 - 2000:

* Foreign Exchange Students: MARTIN HUTSCH (Germany), ANDREA BUNK (Germany), MARIA SOLEDAD MUSSOLINI (Argentina), KATHRYN THOMAS (Australia)

* Broadcast Studio/Channel 5: EMER SMITH, DANIELLE SCOTT, SASHA KUZNEZOV, LINDSAY NICHOLS, RONELLE WILLIAMS, KYLE BARNHART, JOYLIN SIMMONS, JAMIE LAPRIORE, ANDREA BUNK & ADAM KRESS.

* BOYS' STATE: MATT JAYNES, JOSH BUTLER, DAVID BOYLE, STEVEN LEE, CARL STANDISH, DENNIS AMISANO & MARK MATTHEWS.

* School Store Employees: SHELLI CONTI, KELLY FIELD, KELLY BAUMAN, EMILY BYERS, KRISTEN FIELD & CHRIS CHERKIS.

* PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL - STUDENT LEADERS :
Gr. 9 President: THERESA BIANCO; Gr. 10 President: AMY CHAFFEE; Gr. 11 President: KEITH BUBB; Gr.12 President: LINDSAY NICHOLS; Student Council President: VAL MAHON; National Honor Society President: ANDY CLARK;
Interact Club President: KAYLA EVANS; SADD President: ANNE BARTONE; Art Club President: JEN HARTLEY; Foreign Language Club Co-Presidents: BREE COPP & JOEL WILBUR; HOBY Leadership Winner: BETH VICKIO.

Senior Editors for the Yearbook: KAYLA EVANS & NIKKI CHAFFEE; Environmental Leadership Council: ANDY CLARK; Shared Decision Making Team Members: VAL MAHON & JOEL WILBUR; Science Club President: JOEL FISKE; Library Council President: LISA CERVONI; Quality School Consortium: LINDSAY LAKOMY, THERESA BIANCO & JOEL WILBUR

* Biology REGENTS Award winner: DAVID BOYLE

* Ruth Warner Math Award: MARSHALL HAMMOND & TRACY FAUSEL

* ELIZABETH AMISANO: attended National Catholic Youth Conference in St. Louis, Missouri

* SCT-BOCES Awards: SUNY Cobbleskill competition: LOGAN VOORHEIS - 8th Place (Hydraulics/Light Construction); and RICHARD RICHTMYER - 4th Place (Tractor-Four Wheel)

* Top Academic MIDDLE SCHOOL students:
Grade 5: MARGARET BALL, BREANNA COON, & ILEA MALANEY
Grade 6: MEGAN GROLL, COURTNEY WARREN, & NATHANIEL DRIX
Grade 7: MARGARET HENRY, TIM BALL & HILIARY DAVIS
Grade 8: ASHLEY HOUSEKNECHT, KRISTA MOORE & BRIAN DOOLITTLE

* Middle School "HOOPS FOR HEART" competition: JONATHAN FAZZARY, COURTNEY WARREN, JOHN MICHAEL BIANCO, JARED PETERS, ASHLEY HOUSEKNECHT, and MATT MYCHACK

* Grade 8 TEEN TUTORS: JACKIE CANFIELD, STEPHANIE O'BRIEN, KATELYN CORNELIUS, MICHELLE AMISANO, AUDRA BIEG, JESSICA ECTOR, EMILY HUBBELL, STACIE BAUCHLE, CARY CLARK, DESIREE ELLISON & SAMANTHA LONG.

* AMANDA AHO & JENN SMALLEY: raised the Girl Scout flag on the High School flagpole in honor of Girl Scouts Week;
TAREN LOUCKS: went to Washington, DC to speak to 18 U.S. Senators as "NYS BEEF AMBASSADOR";
SHELLY CONTI: was WG Public Library Student Ambassador for National Library Week;
PHIL MC ILROY: won 15th place in NYS Skills Championship for "Precision Machining Technology";
ARLENE RUDA (mom Nancy), HANNAH ARMSTRONG (mom Karen), SOPHIE PETERS (mom Marie) and TAYLOR & SOMER PETTET (dad Rick) all were part of "Take Your Daughters to Work Day."

Through the hallways ...

By Brian J. O'Donnell

ALUMNI BANQUET news from June 17, 1989:

* Purpose of the Alumni Association is ..."to carry on the dinner tradition each year so the graduates from all years may gather to honor the newest graduates and meet and reminisce of school days."
The ALUMNI ASSOCIATION dates back to 1904. Among the many highlights are the following:
* 1964: MISS BERTHA THOMPSON attended her 60th Banquet;
* 1926-1966: JACK THOMPSON served as Association Treasurer;
* 1958: ELIZABETH McANARNEY received 1st Citizenship Award
* 1961: Head table adorned by flowers sent in by a classmate from Hawaii
* 1968: Association voted $400.00 to the Schuyler Hospital Building Fund
* 1973: Class of 1948 presented a painting to the school in memory of "JAMES FRANZESE"

BANQUET Years and locations: 1926-1932, 1934 & 1935: held at the STEPHEN HOUSE (a local restaurant); 1933, 1936, 1943-1945: held at the JEFFERSON HOUSE; 1968-1969: held at the JEFFERSON MOTOR INN; 1937-1942: held at GLEN SPRINGS HOTEL; 1946-1953: held at the Watkins Glen High School CAFETERIA; 1954-1967: held at the Watkins Glen Elementary School; 1970, 1972 through 1978 - held at the Watkins Glen High School; 1971, 1979 - present -- held at Clute Memorial Park Community Center (thanks to JANET FITCH for researching this information for the "100 Years Book" in June of 1982.

PLANNING COMMITTEE for the Class of 1964 (for June 1989): DAVID BARTONE, DANIEL TEED, RAYMOND GRANSTON, KAREN BARTONE, JILL KENDALL and
ROSEANNE PARADISO.

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A Look Back..... DR. JOSEPH ROBERTS.....

* Born in New York City on April 6, 1911
* Graduated from Dartmouth College in 1932
* Received his Degree in Medicine from New York University in 1935
* Began private practice in Watkins Glen in 1938
* Served at U.S. Army Air Force Hospitals and as a Flight Surgeon during World War II
* Served as Chief of Medicine for 10 years and President for 3 years at Schuyler Hospital
* Served on Watkins Glen Board of Education from 1958/59 --- 1962/63
* Served as W.G. District Physician from 1963-1984
* Died January 4, 2007

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Highlights from 1998-1999 through 2001-02:

* 1998-1999 New Employees... LINDA HILLMAN (Curriculum Coordinator), ALICE LEARN (Peer Coach), PATTI SMITH (Peer Coach), MICHELLE ROSS (Technology Coach), SYLVIA BAILEY (Occupational Therapist), DENISE GLOWASKI (Special Education), KATRINA ECTOR (Teacher Aide), TOM PLANTY (Global Studies Teacher), KILLEEN KANE (Mathematics Teacher), KATHERINE MEIERJURGEN (Spanish Teacher), SANDRA BARTONE (1/2 time English Teacher), DEREK SELLECK (M.S. Math and Aide), GINGER QUINTELA (Resource Room/Special Education in Middle School), KIM FARROW (Long term sub, Instrumental Music - Middle School), LUANN ELIZABETH (Long Term Sub Home & Career Skills Middle School), BRIAN LE BARON (Disciplinarian in Middle School), BRIDGID COOPER (Gr. 4 - transfer from Middle School), WENDY DEAN (Kindergarten), DENISE HETTICH (Grade 1), ANGIE ROSELLEN (Kindergarten), LORI SWANSON (Physical Education - Elementary School). Additionally: LAURIE MACRI became High School Main Office Secretary, GAIL BUTLER transferred to High School Main Office, DEBRA BOND transferred to Middle School clerical job in Main Office 1/2-time and 1/2-time as Secretary for Mike DeNardo.

* 1999-2000 New Employees... CAMILLE MEEK (CSE Chair/Director for Special Education), ROSE CHEDZOY (Secretary for Special Education), LORI ZEBROWSKI
(Special Educ. - Elementary School), CYNTHIA PODELL (Consultant - Spec. Educ.), MARGARET CLEARY (Spec. Ed. Consultant), LUCILLE LUCKY (Middle School Spec. Educ.), PAUL RHUDY (Social Worker), PAM DE BOLT (Teacher Aide), RONDA GIRARDI (Teacher Aide), NANCH BRADASCIO (Teacher Aide), BRANDI JOHNSON (Spec. Educ.), JILL WINKKY-WADE (Transferred from Middle School to High School Guidance), NANCY RUDA (Spec. Educ. Teacher in High School), JAMIE JOHNSON (Long term sub in French), KRISTA WRIGHT (Special Educ.- HS), MICHELLE GONZALEZ (Middle School Guidance Counselor), SUSAN KIRTON (Middle School Science), CHRISTIE SMITH (Middle School Math), JACK TELECH (to 1/2 time Computer Support and 1/2 time Math), RON PIERCE (Middle School In School Suspension Monitor), ELLEN STEVENS (Middle School Nurse), KELLY ROBARDS (Middle School Reading), SARAJANE HARRIGAN (Elementary School Music), CONNIE SARGENT (Middle School Home & Career Skills), PATRICIA GOTSCHAL (Elementary Music), SUNSHINE MILLER (Elementary Music), KIM BALLIET (Gr. 4 Teacher), MARY MINOR (Kindergarten Teacher), MARY IANDOLI (Middle School Technology), WENDY MANGENE (Gr. 2 Teacher), and JENNIFER TITUS (Gr. 1 Teacher).

* 2000-2001 New Employees... DR. MARY ELLEN CORREA (Superintendent), CONNIE LUCIA (Occupational Therapist), MELISSA HOUSEKNECHT (Speech Therapist), JARED WEBSTER (Gr. 4 Teacher), KRYSTINA WESTERVELT (Gr. 3 Teacher), SCOTT MORSE (Gr. 7 Social Studies Teacher), JAY LA SCOLEA (1/2 time English/Technology Teacher), MARGARET SWINNERTON (High School Health Teacher), ALICE LEARN (as Curriculum Coordinator), and ANN MARIE BATES (Goals 2000 Peer Coach).

* 2001-2002 New Employees... MAGGIE EDGLEY (High School Librarian), DANIELLE MAZZOLA (HS Spec. Educ. Teacher), DENNIS BRADY (HS Spec. Educ. Teacher),
SAM BRUBAKER (HS Phys. Educ. Teacher), LAURA BRACE (HS - Long term sub Social Studies), DAVID SMITH (HS Math Teacher), YVONNE ALLING (Long term sub - Vocal Music Teacher), CHRISTIE COOLICAN (Long term sub Health Teacher), AMY LAKOMY (HS Library Clerk - transferred from Elementary School), ANDY PATROS (District Technology Coordinator), JAMIE HARTER (Athletic Director - former HS Phys. Ed. teacher), WENDY GRINOLDS (Gr. 1 teacher), TRACY LA PENNA (Gr. 1 Teacher), SUZANNE YORK (Reading Teacher), DIIONE FOX MURCH (Spec. Educ. Teacher - Elementary School), JIM SCOTT (1/2 time Elementary School Phys. Educ. Teacher), TRISH ERVAY (Instructional Support - Elementary School), ANN MARIE BATES (Middle School Keyboard Specialist) COLIN PRITCHARD (Middle School Librarian), and two promoted from Teacher Aide to Teaching Assistant: KELLY STERNER (Computer Room) and DIANE JOHNSON (Discipline Room - both at the High School) and DAVID WARREN as new Middle School Principal. PEGGY RICHARDSON came to the High School in October as Special Education Teacher Aide.

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YEARBOOK DEDICATION:

1998-99: LIZ PARADISO

1999-2000: BARB COON

2000-01: KATE BARTHOLOMEW

2001-02: VICTIMS OF 9/11

HOMECOMING QUEEN:

1998-99: CHRISTIN CHERKIS

1999-2000: C.C. HOLT

2000-01: ASHLEY WOOD

2001-02: JULIE MILLER

STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT:

1998-99: MATT MADORSKY

1999-2000: VALERIE MAHON

2000-01; JEFF ALLEN

2001-02: JORES PETERS

VALEDICTORIAN:

1998-99: REBECCA ST. JULIEN

1999-2000: JOSHUA FISKE

2000-01: DAVID BOYLE

2001-02: RYAN COON

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* 1998 - 1999:

- KAREN ARMSTRONG and DIANA GROLL both secured $500 grants from the Teacher Center; KATHERINE MEIERJURGEN received a grant of $2,944 from the TWIN TIERS COALITION;

- KAZ ESTELOW coordinated "Red Ribbon Week" and "Spring Recruitment Day."

*********************************

Probably the biggest news of the year was RICHARD MC INTYRE taking a sick day. The "STREAK" ended at 2,907 consecutive days without an absence (a record never to be
broken ) --- Cal Ripken's baseball streak was ONLY 2,632.

**********************************

- among teachers elected to "Who's Who Among American Teachers" were: DANNIE BROWN, KATHLEEN (KAZ) ESTELOW, RICHARD MC INTYRE & PAT TAMMARO.

- MARIE FITZSIMMONS & JOE REYNOLDS competed in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC

- KATE LA MOREAUX was named "BPW PROFESSIONAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR" and also Kiwanis Club "FEMALE COACH OF THE YEAR."

- REETHA SHUMWAY was honored with the WGFA Leadership Award

- BOB KING retired after 13 years as our 1st and only Boys' Soccer Coach

- BARB COON & CYNDY WOOD completed requirements for Open Water Scuba Diver Certification

- MARIE FITZSIMMONS & NANCY BAHNS coordinated the Womens' History Club

- in an 'informal' 50 mile walk: CHRIS OMIATEK walked all fifty miles; TOM OMIATEK walked 40.5 miles; and GAIL BUTLER walked 27 miles

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For the very 1st time - May 13, 1999 - Band Director DIANA GROLL, Choral Director DEBRA PATTERSON and the High School Band & Chorus introduced "STAND WE IN SPIRIT" - a new school song for a new millennium --- not a new Alma Mater but a new school song. WILL WICKHAM, Class of 1974 was the song's composer and the words of the song were based upon the poetry of students: IRIS CHAMBERLAIN, RANA MORGAN, STEVE POST, JACKIE SIMIELE, NIKKI SIMIELE, BRIAN SMITH, DAVID TERRY, LOGAN VOORHEIS, and MAURA WILLOCK.

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A LOOK WAY, WAY BACK.....

The Honorable William N. Ellison recently donated his father's Commencement Program to the school archives. This 26th annual COMMENCEMENT, for Wednesday morning, June 24th at 10:00 a.m. was for the CLASS OF 1908 and listed the following:

* Class roll in order of standing in scholarship "beginning with the highest":
- RALPH H. GABRIEL ("Gabriel's Junction" is named after him)
- ARTHUR RAY ELLISON
- ALBERTA JANE SMITH
- ETHEL MAY WILSON
- LA FAYETTE WILLIAM ARGETSINGER

* Class Motto: A SINU IN MARE
* Class Colors: RED & WHITE
* Class Flower: RED ROSE
* Class Vine: IVY

* Class Officers: LA FAYETTE W. ARGETSINGER --- President
ARTHUR E. ELLISON --- Vice President
ALBERTA J. SMITH --- Secretary
ETHEL M. WILSON --- Treasurer

RALPH H. GABRIEL --- Editor in Chief for the Oracle

* Commencement Program:

- Prayer: Reverend S.L. Haynes
- Chorus Glee Club
(The Heavens are Telling)
- Oration & Salutatory: RALPH H. GABRIEL
(The Nobleness of service)
- Oration: LA FAYETTE ARGETSINGER
( Westward the course of empire)
- Class History: ETHEL M. WILSON
- Class Prophecy: ALBERTA J. SMITH
- Double Quartet Glee Club
( Water Lilies)
- Oration & Valedictory: ARTHUR R. ELLISON
(Our Natural Resources)
- Awarding of Diplomas: Principal S.S. JOHNSON
- Presentation of Regent Diplomas by Honorable DANIEL BEACH, Regent of the University

* The High School Orchestra played several selections

---------------------------------------------------------

1999-2000:

* TILT TEAM (to coordinate the integration of New York State Learning Standards & Assessments along with new teaching & learning strategies:
KATHERINE MEIERJURGEN, EILEEN MALANEY, DIANE WOOD, NANCY BAHNS, TOM PLANTY, KAREN ARMSTRONG...

* CORD Distance Learning Team - trained over the summer in Washington, D.C.
KELLY SORENSEN, KILLEEN KANE, KATHLEEN ESTELOW, RAY KASCHALK, KATHERINE MEIERJURGEN

* CISCO Networking Program - summer training at Alfred University to learn how to teach and build educational networks:
KAREN ARMSTRONG

* District-wide: MARTY EVANS was "Goals 2000 Coach" and ALICE LEARN was "Instructional Support Teacher"

* Career Development Office: MARY JO SNOPEK (Shadowing & Speakers), DEBBIE MINIER (Community Service) and CAROLYN CONNELLY (Faculty Support)

* NICK DUGO named by West Virginia University (by student nomination) as "Educator Who Made A Difference"

* CRAIG CHEPLICK continued coordinating the "Hugh O'Brien Award"; JILL WINKKY-WADE coordinated Tech Prep Program, and NANCY LOUGHLIN coordinated
the Parent Academy; LINDA HILLMAN was Curriculum Coordinator, JANICE KILBURN was an additional Psychologist & KIM ROSEKRANS was a Social Worker. NICK DUGO was responsible for "SUNDAE TUESDAY"; BOB KING received the Faculty Association's Leadership Award, NANCY RUDA directed the SADD Club and JANICE LEARN, MARIE KEEFER, DIANE JOHNSON & TRACIE MC ILROY kept the Boosters Club up and running.

* Senior All-Night Party organizers were SHARON CLARK & MARIE KEEFER with chaperones NICK DUGO, SHARON & LARRY CLARK, MARIE & GREG KEEFER, HAROLD CHAFFEE, KATE BARTHOLOMEW, NANCY BAHNS, NEIL DE RAICHE, KILLEEN KANE, JAMIE HARTER, DIANE WOOD, JEFF MYER, DIANE MELVENEY, TRACIE MC ILROY and JAN LEARN.

* KATE LA MOREAUX and DAVE WARREN supplemented their teaching duties by serving as High School Disciplinarians. KATHERINE MEIERJURGEN and her Girl Scout group did a district-wide clean up for "Make A Difference Day." KATE BARTHOLOMEW donated six ORACLES (1941-1946) from her Mom's collection to our archives. Taking a "Pie in the Face" at a PEP RALLY were: DON DRYDEN, KAZ ESTELOW, DAVE WARREN, RAY RASCHALK and STEVE SHYMKIW. Substitute Teacher MARLENE LUM donated her grandfather's Report Cards for 1891, 1894 and 1895 to our archives. Coach of the Year was STEVE SHYMKIW, and Fan of the Year was KATE BARTHOLOMEW.

See you in September with student achievements from 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

Through the hallways ...

By Brian J. O'Donnell

Thank you HONORABLE WILLIAM N. ELLISON...

A few weeks ago, The Honorable William N. Ellison donated his father's High School diploma to the school archives. The diploma -- measuring about 15 inches by 19 inches with a nice picture of the "old" High School (with "tower uprearing" as the Alma Mater states) --- is embossed with a large Gold Seal which reads: "BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THE VILLAGE OF WATKINS 1863". The main section of the diploma reads as follows:

"The Board of Education Watkins High School Watkins, N.Y." (notice the word Glen does not appear, as the name Watkins Glen did not become legalized until the 1920's).....
"This certifies that ARTHUR R. ELLISON having completed the course of study prescribed by
this Institution and having passed Satisfactory Examinations, in the same, is entitled to receive
its Highest Honors; In Testimony whereof this DIPLOMA is confirmed upon him and we have
caused our corporate seal, and the signatures of the President and the Faculty to be hereunto
affixed. Given this twenty-fourth day of June, 1908."

The signatures on the diploma were: Board of Education President GEORGE C. WAIT, Principal
SAMUEL S. JOHNSON, Vice Principal JOHN A. BEERS, and Teachers: CAROLINE F. BARNES (Mathematics), NINA M. GANUNG (Science) and KATHARINE BROWN (English & History).

_______________________________________

Thank You LINDA MC INTYRE...

The Class of 1935 published a little booklet called, "The CHEER LEADER - To Spread School Spirit." JANE GANUNG saved her copy and her daughter CATHY gave it to LINDA who, in turn, has now donated it back to the school for our archives. Thank you LINDA for your thoughtfulness.

The booklet contains the Alma Mater along with several cheers and yells set to "Central Will Shine," "Notre Dame Hike Song," "Auld Lang Syne," and others.

One of the cheers follows:

"The march is on, No brain or brawn
Can stop the charges of fighting men!
Loud rings the cry! A grim defy!
Of hard attack let loose again.
Oh, it's a hike! hike! hike! for victory,
The call to rise and strike!
For Watkins High men are winning
When Watkins High hears
HIKE! HIKE! HIKE!"

One of the "Yells" was:

"Eeen dicka, deen dicka,
Fetta dicka fa,
Eeen bibba, bo ba,
Eeen bibba bo ba,
Eeen dicka, deen dicka
Fetta dicka fa,
Watkins High School!
RAH! RAH! RAH!"

I couldn't resist one more "Yell" -

"Boom-a-lacka Boom-a-lacka
Bow, wow, wow...
Ching-a-lacka Ching-a-lacka
Chow, chow, chow...
Boom-a-lacka Ching-a-lacka
Sis-boom-ba
Watkins High School
RAH! RAH! RAH!"

* NOTE TO OUR READERS: if you have items of yore you'd like to donate to the Watkins Glen Central School District archives, please contact me at bodonnell@stny.rr.com

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The 1997-1998 school year...

* School District Calendar was dedicated to former Supervising Principal JOHN R. COOK, District Principal from 1953-1964; under his leadership both the STUDENT COUNCIL
and NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY began, the ORACLE was replaced by the SENECAN as the Yearbook, the LIBRARY, LETTERMEN'S, PHOTOGRAPHY and FUTURE NURSE'S
CLUBS began and the Wrestling Program was re-established.

* the cover for the District Calendar features pictures of PROFESSOR S.S. JOHNSON (1874-1909 years of service to WG), PROFESSOR JOHN A. BEERS (1909-1941 years
of service to WG), MR. WARREN HERTENSTEIN (1941-1953), MR. JOHN R. COOK (1953-1964) and County Superintendent of Schools MR. IRVING GOODRICH, SR.

* SUPERINTENDENT DON DRYDEN'S summer letter to faculty/staff mentioned the following new personnel:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: FIONA GIBSON, Grade 1; THOMAS WOOD, pre-kindergarten; LYNN VONA (BOCES), Special Ed.; KATHY ECTOR (BOCES), Teacher Aide; JEANNIE ANDREWS, Teacher Aide; NANCY RAMSDELL (BOCES), Library Clerk; PATRISIA FENNER (BOCES), Student Support; PEG RICHARDSON, Volunteer Assistant.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: JILL WINKKY, guidance counselor; ZACH BROWN, from 1/2 time to full time Math; BRENDA TRAVIS, 1/2 time Math.

HIGH SCHOOL: DEBBIE NILSON, Teacher Assistant; MARIE FITZSIMMONS, Social Studies; KELLY SORENSEN, English. (Fitzsimmons and Sorensen were previously 1/2 time.)

DISTRICT: RENEE HETTICH, grant writer; JAMIE HARTER, faculty manager.

* Additionally the High School welcomed: DEBBIE SAVARD - Reading/Writing Resource Room Teacher; SHARON CROSS - 1/2 time Main Office Clerical until November; transferred to Middle School Main Office in November; CAROLYN EMMICK - School to Work Coordinator; CONNIE LAZORATION - Home Ec./Food Prep Class Teacher

* KARYN SABARA was welcomed back to the HS Computer Lab; (she resigned Jan. 5th with GAYLE SEDLACK filling in;) LARRY JAYNES would now be shared with Odessa-Montour.

* MARIANNE AARONS resigned from the Business Office in August and JACKIE CLARK filled in until a new person could be hired.

* DORIS DE NARDO & ANNABELLE YAW retired from the cafeteria and LORI GEZZI & JANET RIBAUDO were hired.

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* INTERACT began its 3rd year of operation with the following officers: President: COVENEY FITZSIMMONS; Vice President: HOLLY JOHNSON; Secretary: JESSICA SEDLACK;
Treasurer: DERYCK HONG.

************************************

September 16, 1997: RICHARD ELLISON, Member of the Class of 1998, passed away after a courageous battle against the effects of a devastating illness.

*************************************

* ROTARY STUDENTS OF THE MONTH:

- October: HOLLY JOHNSON; November: MELISSA KISSELL; December: JASON BARRY; January: JULIE DILL; February: JESSICA SEDLACK, March: JESSICA O'BRIEN;
April: JON EVANS; May: AUDREY BYERS.

* HOBY Student Leader -- Hugh O'Brien Youth leadership program - MICHELLE McNANEY selected by school committee led by CRAIG CHEPLICK

* The HS "501" Team: TOM OMIATEK, COLE LEE, NANCY LOUGHLIN & BRIAN O'DONNELL

* HELPLINE MEMBERS: NANCY LOUGHLIN, DANNIE BROWN, KATE LaMOREAUX, LIZ PARADISO, NANCY CLEVELAND, KAZ ESTELOW, CYNDY WOOD, MARIE FITZSIMMONS, BRIAN O'DONNELL, DEBBIE NILSONc TRACI McILROY, EILEEN MALANEY

* Chemung Youth Leadership Trainees selected:

Grade 10: VAL MAHON, PHIL McILROY
Grade 11: JESSE JOHNSON, AUDREY BYERS

* CHARLES BUTLER, SR: returned as High School Hall Monitor

* Newspaper Club Officers:

President: SAMANTHA LEWIS & MARGUERITE PERSONIUS
Vice Pres.: NICHOLE COVERT
Secretary: KELLY NEY
Treasurer: NICOLE SIMIELE
Historian: JOEL WILBUR

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DISTRICT-WIDE STUDENT ENROLLMENT: Elementary: 515; Middle School 438, High School 447. Total: 1,400.

Turn Back the Clock: September 11, 1963: HS had 801 students (Gr. 7-12); Elementary School had 941 students (Gr. K-6) Burdett School had 161 students to equal 1,903 students...

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21st Century Skills/Student Outcomes: what our District wanted for our students upon graduation:

EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING IN SOCIETY, GROUP DYNAMICS, PROBLEM SOLVING, WELLNESS & HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, COMMUNICATION SKILLS

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* Rare Books donated to HS Library by GERRY RICHTMYER:
- "Lady of the Lake" 1903 - "Beginning Reader" 1905 - "Julius Caesar" 1919 - "Anthony & Cleopatra" 1897 - "The Choice Gift" 1853

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* HOMECOMING NEWS: QUEEN: ALISSA NORMAN; KING: IRA CADY; COURT: Traci Lincoln & Steve Terry; Betsy Westervelt & Ryan Cherock, Anita Scuteri & Nate Weber, and Samantha Lewis & Matt Schamel

Class Floats: 1st Place Grade 12; 2nd Place Grade 10; 3rd Place Grade 11; 4th Place Gr. 9

Judges: KAZ ESTELOW, DANNIE BROWN & BRIAN O'DONNELL

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* Math Teacher DIANE MELVENEY was awarded a Teacher Center grant of $500 to purchase TI-92 Calculators for our students.

* BUS TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT news:
- "WALTER JENNINGS AWARD" - given to entire transportation staff for safe and consistent driving record;
- LAIDLAW challenged all of its terminals statewide (18-20 terminals) in a Food Drive which ultimately collected 6800 pounds of food for the needy; our Watkins Glen terminal finished in 1st place statewide with more than 1100 pounds of food collected;

* Thank you DIANE & NEAL MELVENEY: There used to be a large display board in the "old" Main Lobby which displayed each quarter's High Honor and Honor Roll students thanks to the efforts of DIANE & NEAL

* Classroom Door Decorating Contest winners: 1st Place: MRS. SORENSEN; 2nd Place: MS. ESTELOW; 3rd Place: MS. WOJTUS; Honorable Mention: MR. THOMAS, MRS. DIANE WOOD, MR. KING

* Foreign Language Club Christmas Semi-Formal: King: CHRIS SCHONEMAN; Queen: HOLLY JOHNSON; Prince: BRIAN BAKER; Princess: TRACEY GREEN; Duke: MIKE MARGRENO; Dutchess: CASSIE KEEFER; Count: ERIC THORPE; Countess: KIM WARREN/JENNY COOK

* MARY ROSE CHICONE & NICHOLE CHAFFEE: often sang "The National Anthem" at a variety of school events.

* Science Olympiad Winners: 1st: JASON BARRY & CHRIS SCHONEMAN; 2nd: DERYCK HONG; 3rd: SARAH HOPPE & MELISSA FRIESEN

* March 17, 1998: "UP WITH PEOPLE" performed in the HS Auditorium to a packed house. ADAM FOSTER made the large welcoming banner for our Main Lobby.

* ANDY CLARK volunteered to be the Student Representative to the County Environmental Management Council

*****************************************

* Mark Twain Scholars were: KRISTEN RAPPLEYE, JULIE DILL, HOLLY JOHNSON, STEPHEN TERRY, CHRIS SCHONEMAN, JASON BARRY & COVENEY FITZSIMMONS

* Girls' State: AUDREY BYERS & DENISE DE TORRE
* Boys' State: JEFF LEARN, CARTER MAY, JESSE JOHNSON, JAY SULLIVAN and JESSE VOORHEIS

* COVENEY FITZSIMMONS won the NYS Attorney General's "Triple C Award" (Courage - Commitment-Character)

* CYNDY WOOD was honored with the Red Cross' "American Red Cross Health & Safety Line of Service Award" for her supervision of our District K-12 Swimming Program
and for training hundreds of Lifeguards through the years.

* NANCY LOUGHLIN was awarded a Rotary "PAUL HARRIS FELLOW" -- Rotary's highest honor.

* STEVE LO PRESTI was named "Phoebe Apperson Hearst PTA Educator of the Year" for our District.

****************************************

* SARAH RICHTMYER resigned as HS Main Office Secretary effective May 1, 1998; SARAH formerly worked in our Business Office and for over 10 years SARAH and her
husband CHUCK organized our All-Night Senior Party; SARAH was also Central Treasurer for all Extracurricular Activity Accounts during 1995-1996; for May and June TRACIE McILROY served as Main Office Secretary and GAYLE SEDLACK substituted for TRACIE in the HS Computer Lab.

* District Chemical Awareness Team: TRACEY GREEN, MARK MATHEWS, MARIAN SCHAMEL & CHARLIE CHICONE. Advisor was MARIE FITZSIMMONS

* Prom Royalty: Queen - COVENEY FITZSIMMONS; King: COLE BUBB; Princess: TRACEY GREEN; Prince: JESSE HAYES; Court: HOLLY JOHNSON, JON EVANS, TRACI LINCOLN, STEVE TERRY, ANITA SCUTERI & NATE LaMOREAUX

* LARRY CLARK (462 Votes) and TOM LOVE (417 Votes) were elected to the Board of Education

* RYAN COON won 1st Place in Memorial Day essay contest

* JULIE DILL: named a "ROBERT C. BYRD Honors Scholarship Winner" - our 1st since BRIAN THOMAS back in 1991 - for students who have demonstrated excellence and
achievement and who show promise of continued excellence - only 412 awarded in New York State and only one from Schuyler County

* National Honor Society Induction:

JESSE MILLER, MARGUERITE PERSONIUS, CASSANDRA KEEFER, JILL KASPRZYK, JESSICA HINES, BREANA COPP, SHELLY CONTI, JENN BILLS, NICHOLE CHAFFEE, KAYLA EVANS, MELINDA RIBAUDO, EMILY DAVIS,
TAMMI LINCOLN, KRISTEN RAPPLEYE, MEGAN McGROGAN, VAL MAHON, VICTORIA PIERCE, ANDY CLARK, MARION SCHAMEL, JOSH FISKE, LINDSAY DRAKE, EMER SMITH

* Senior Day - Darien Lake - Chaperones: NICK DUGO, NANCY BAHNS, SARAH RICHTMYER, STEVE SHYMKIW, EILEEN MALANEY, DIANE WOOD

* BOCES HONORS:

NYS VICA AWARDS: KRISTIN RAPPLEYE, 1st Place - Data Entry
HOSA Awards: AMY VAN BUREN, 2nd Place- Nurse Assisting; JEAN HINES 2nd Place- Extemporaneous Writing
Voc./Tech Honor Society: JEREMY PIERCE, Auto Tech.; KRISTIN RAPPLEYE, Office Automation
Cobleskill HS Days: JOSHUA MILLER, 10th Place - Forest Fire ID
Achievement Award: JOSHUA MILLER, Wildlife

* ALICE LEARN -- named PEER COACH for 1998-1999; this BOCES' GOALS 2000 position was shared between Watkins Glen and Elmira Heights...

* Congratulations to KAREN ARMSTRONG: awarded grant of $2,800 from Twin Tiers Coalition for her Solar Kiln Project.

* BERN GOOSEN: Foreign Exchange student from South Africa, here in 1993, visited in June!!!

* RICHARD McINTYRE: has now worked 2,437 consecutive school days (including summer school) without an absence for a sick day!

**********************************

The 1997-1998 school year was the final year of service for many people. Those who retired included:
* MARYLOU THOMPSON - Elementary School Teacher; * LOIS CUTTON - Middle School Math Teacher; * WILLIAM DAVIS - Elementary School Teacher & Faculty Manager; * PAT TAMMARO - High School Social Studies Teacher; * BETTY FERRI - High School Main Office Receptionist; * JUNE IRMISCHER - High School Science Teacher; * JUANITA TOMASSI - long time cafeteria employee; * KATE DISCENZA - District Payroll Clerk;
* SHIRLEY THOMPSON - Tax Collector; * EDITH EMMONS - Board of Education Clerk

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See you in August!!!

-----------------------

Other Scenes from the past

For a look at some early 20th century photos of downtown Odessa and other nearby locales, try the website http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyschuyl/phalbum.htm.

Looking for historical accounts

We're seeking historical accounts of Schuyler County on this page -- both an overview of the area's settlement and development, and side stories related to the county's past that are informative and entertaining.

Any historians out there are welcome to try their hand at such efforts -- either through fresh writing or through previous essays or stories you might have composed and would like to see in electronic print for awhile.

Some of what appears here will remain for an extended period, while some will take turns with newer entries. I've included a photo of the fairly recent past -- the demolition one clear day a couple of years ago of the R House 2 building on Main Street in Odessa, a building with a rich history. In fact, anyone with details of that structure's long existence could tackle that as a subject.

In addition to the writing, this would be a good place for photos of historical interest. Anyone with old photos of Odessa, Montour Falls and Watkins Glen are welcome to lend them to this website for possible publication, or scan them and send them by e-mail.

If you are interested, you can e-mail the address at the bottom of this page or to chaeffner@stny.rr.com, write to The Odessa File, P.O. Box 365, Odessa, NY, or call 594-3594 and ask for Charlie.

----------------

For earlier Brian O'Donnell history columns and other historical items, click here.

E-mail publisher@odessafile.com

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