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Anne Ferrell Smith (Lanier)

So very sad that a shooting has occurred at a Richmond high school graduation.  it is really hard to believe.  I long for the way things were when we were in high school . . . Anne Ferrell 

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Anne Ferrell - Me, too!  The News from Richmond just broke my heart!  First Charlottesville a few years ago,     & now this!  And Tee Jay Graduation was cancelled!!! I do NOT like this Era we are living in! Is ANY State safe now?

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Congratulations, Sidney & Lois!   Best of Luck at Your New Deli!

I hope you get LOTS of New Customers, as well as the Old Ones!

My Daughters, Granddaughter, & I Will Stop By on Our Next Visit to Richmond!

Carlin Hudgins (Hanzas)

Such wisdom in those hillbilly rules. I have tried to live by most them f them my whole life!! Thanks for sending them to us!!

Carlin Hanzas

Lucy Boettcher (York)

Sydney, Glad to hear that Padow's will be having their grand opening on this Thursday the 14th.  Unfortunately I will be leaving for NC that morning for 5 days, but when I get back I will be coming by.  Congratulations.  Tell everyone hi.

Mike Floyd

Congratulations Sydney and Eddie on your Grand Opening at the Hanover Sports Park.  Wishing you all the best.

Carlin Hudgins (Hanzas)

Sydney, Congrats on your new place. I always loved your Pork Barbecue sandwiches when I came to Richmond to visit my Mother years ago!! Much success in your new place.

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

20 people on our list of family & friends are now living in the State of Israel!  We think about them every day & we hope they are safe in their homes & places of work.  We thank President Biden for taking the time to visit the State of Israel, even though his plans for a large peace-making meeting fell through.  It's good that at least the Leaders of 3 countries were able to communicate, even though the others were non-negotiable.  We are grieving the loss of so many precious lives, due to irrational & over-emotional reactionaries.  The 3,000- 6,000-year old  tensions between Israelis & their neighbors MUST END!

Russell Flammia

Yes Marilyn I can understand your concern about friends, relatives, and classmates living in Israel. The situation there is frightening. Being able to come to Israel's aide is a reason why we need to maintain a srtong military. It is disturbing to see the pro Hamas rallies on TV in the US.  What a crazy world we live in.

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Russell, the Palestinians in Israel are brainwashed & controlled by Hamas! Imagine not being able to think one's own thoughts or being able to express them, because a Dictator says otherwise!  I remember being able to express my opinion in most of my classes at Tee Jay!  - and the few where I was not allowed to do so!  Sadly, we are living in an age where Censorship is rampant - even in the U. S. A.!  That leads to Irrational Behavior & Violence as the end result, because nobody intervened earlier to stop them!  It's a repeat of 1939-44, so we need to get involved!  We are sending Donations to the Friends of the Israel Defense Force & Magen David Adom (The Red Cross in Hebrew)., to help the State of Israel!

Carlin Hudgins (Hanzas)

Thanks for your posts Marilyn and Russell' s post also!! I agree with everything you both have said. The whole thing is devastating!!

Mike Floyd

Thanks you Marilyn and Russell.  You are both right on target.  It is a scary time that we live in.  The protest and the support for Hamas in the U.S. and at the Universities is frightening.  

Russell Flammia

      Hi folks, Oct.25 marks the anniversary of Operation Urgent Furry, the U.S. invasion of Grenada and the rescue of over 100 American medical studnets. One of my former students, Ben, commanded a complany in the 82nd Airborne Division. His company found out where the dictator, Austin Hudson, was hiding. With an AC-130 gunship circling his home, Ben made the dictator an offer he couldn't refuse. Thus he was captured without a shot being fired.

     What also happend, the U.S. forces prevented a Russian Army build up on Grenada. Apparently the Russians had planned on using Grenada as a supply base to support communist guerilla foreces in revolutions in Central America. There was an entire warehouse of Russian military equipment on Grenada. 

    Ben, the former student, gave me a Russian military uniforn he acquired while there. I used it as a prop in my government class when discussing the president's military powers as commander in chief.

    Until that time, Grenada had no Thanksgiving Day. After all the smoke had cleared, Grenada deicided Oct 25,  would now be their Thanksgiving Day!

                                              Happy Thanksgiving Grenada!

Carlin Hudgins (Hanzas)

Thanks for the interesting story from your former student!! 

William Anderson

Russell-A great remembrance of an important event.  Thanks for sharing.

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Greetings to All!  The Holiday Season has been so hectic, I forgot to post my Annual "Happy Chanukah Wish!"    I hope it was enjoyable for many of my classmates! 

Now Christmas is approaching soon, and I need to get this message out to everybody else, before that, too, has passed by!

Bobby's comment about "Time going by too fast" is so true!  This past year is almost over, and I am STILL trying to "catch up!"

I hope 2024 holds more promise than 2023 did!

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Thanks, Bobby! I just read your list again! It's SO TRUE!

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

As some of you may know, we inherited my 2 Aunties' Florida Condo in 2008, and Joel & I spent many happy days here during  the past 12 out of 15 Winters (minus 3 years of Covid Season & his long illness) enjoying    the beautiful & peaceful lifestyle of Florida, going to the beach 15 minutes away, & visiting the Art Museums in Del Ray, Boca Raton, plus Joel's Cousin Myra Roberts' Annual Art Exhibit at Ft. Myers Art Center.   I also have many Happy Memories of good times with my Aunties, who lived until age 92 in 2002 and almost 96 in 2007. They were two amazing women who served in the Women's Army Air Corps during World War II, later worked for the Justice Department & Veterans' Administration in Washington, D.C., then opened 3 stores for kidswear which earned them the National Brand Names Award,  and thrived until they moved to Florida in 1981. 

Due to rising costs of Homeowners' Dues, Homeowners' Insurance and Taxes, I am now heing forced to sell this wonderful "2nd Home" & to visit Florida ONLY for a short stay in  hotels during  my future years. Our 2 Daughters  & i have been cleaning out the Condo for the past  two weeks & will be putting it on the market    after we leave!

If you or anyone you know is interested in a Prime Location with Spacious Rooms, a beautiful Lake with Visiting Wildlife, nearby shopping, & jaunts to the Atlantic Ocean, please let me know!

I am closing out a few phases of my life, but plan to stick around for many others. The next "Big Event" for me on the East Coast will probably be the Next Reunion of Tee Jay's  Class of 1962, 

Mike Floyd

 Classmate Joe Tuck recently joined the board of this non-profit.  The organization's goal is “to make the world a safer place through programming that discourages bullying, discrimination, and anti-Semitism."  Programs are built around literary works centered on the Holocaust and include author presentations and curriculum projects.  The literary works are both nonfiction and young adult historical fiction, presented as books and a play, and are suitable for ages 12 through adult.

Joe thought that TJ Class of ’62 members might be influential in spreading the word through the community. We have a curriculum in place in the social studies department of Swift Creek Middle School in Chesterfield County. We are interested in installing this curriculum in other junior high schools. There is more detailed information online at Chutzpah and Courage.  If anyone would like more information, please contact JoeTuck (804) 513-2713 or email Joe by clicking on this link Joe's Email

Submitted by Mike Floyd for Joe Tuck

Cathy Morton (Rose)

This past Saturday March 15 Pete Rose John Roses 85 year old brother died.  Pete went to TJ and lived in Richmond all his life. Pete was in the construction, landscaping, and topsoil business. Pete was the 3rd of the five Rose brothers. He is presided in death by sister Patricia Rose and David Rose who also graduated from TJ. His widow is Barbara Rose also graduated from TJ. He will be greatly missed in our family.

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

The News from Florida is that our Condo is going to be sold to a "Fllipper," who will paint the walls, replace  the carpeting, & change whatever the New Owners might like in order to make it saleable.

And Russell, we found out WHY the Homeowners' Association RAISED their fees!  While we were "Way Out Here in the Wild West," they added NEW tables and chairs for "A Poker Room" for the men, "A Bridge Room" for the women, "A Ballroom" for the Couples, and MORE "Sofas and Chairs" for "The Lobby and the Theatre" -- all in "The Clubhouse!"

Well, I don't play Bridge, & my Husband isn't here anymore to play Poker with the guys, & the Old Sofas &     Chairs in the Theatre and the Lobby were JUST FINE as they were!

All the Residents we talked to were unhappy with that situation, too!

The only thing that interested me in the Clubhouse were the Art Room & the Crafts Room, and they looked    pretty much the same as before!

So, I will save myself LOTS OF MONEY by NOT "Getting Stuck with a Quarterly Fee," for New Furniture I might NOT even use, & Activities I might not enjoy!  We only attended a few of the Monthly Concerts & usually, when there is Intermission, people would STAND in the Lobby to talk to each other, or some       would remain in the Theatre seats!  The New Residents of the Complex are about 10-20 years YOUNGER than I am, & they are VERY ACTIVE, so I'm sure they will be moving around more than I & NOT "Sitting on Sofas in the Lobby!"

Plus, the Roof of the Clubhouse needs Repair, so I will avoid that Additional Fee!

WARNING to anybody who lives in a Retirement Community: DON'T GET STUCK with Homeowner's Fees! "Get OUT while the Gettin' is Good!"

We saved a few Antiques my Aunties owned, & moved them back to Arizona on a Moving Van + with the help of UPS!

So now, I have some New Furniture here in Arizona for Storage of my China and Glass Items, & a new/old     Desk from many years ago, with a Wide Top for Drawing & Painting, & that's ALL very welcome here!

Lesson Learned:  Sometimes Property left to you in a Will is more expensive to keep than you imagined !

READ THE FINE PRINT !!

(Back to Cleaning out my Closets!)

Carlin Hudgins (Hanzas)

Marilyn,  sounds like you had your hands full. Glad you sold your place and will save on all those extra HOA fees!  Hope you are well! Can't believe how the years have gone by so fast!!  We all are turning 80 this year!! 

Carlin (Cokey) Hanzas

Belle Landrum

Hi. everyone.  I am still in richmond but have moved to the Hermitage.an assisted litypingving home in Ginter Park.  After my stroke the summer of 2022, i had to sellmy home.hard to do since i had planned to live out my lfe there. packing a two story house into one small room was not easy.  giving up long0held items ws even harder.  I hope to catch up on your lives and activities.  I have resorted to two-finger typing to get yhis to you - my laptop seems to erase everything.  this is my 6th attempt!  please forgive my typos.  Belle L.

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Oh, Belle!  I have thought about you so long &                                

wondered how you were doing!

Are you feeling okay now?

I know exactly how you feel about "Giving Away

Long-Cherished Items!"

I hope you at least saved some of those items for

family members!

Is your phpne number still the same?

I will try to call you, if so!

It's 3 hours difference here, however!

Anne Ferrell Smith (Lanier)

Oh Belle so sorry you have had to move out of your house -  I remember it well and playing there when we were young!   I was always so envious of your living so close to Westhampton!!  

I am glad you are at a place where you have some assistance.  A stroke can really take away your independence.   I wish I lived closer so I could visit you.   

I do not get to Richmond anymore .  We live in southeastern North Carolina and driving that far is really too much for both me and my husband.   I hope the people caring for you are kind and thoughtful.  You deserve that!  I send my love   Anne Ferrell