Update from Bart on Smittys accident and Bennys Passing

Smitty was in a motorcycle accident along with his wife. He was hit by a car doing about 40 mph. He was thrown off of the bike (no helmet - of course - but what would you expect) and went down the block having most of his body turned into a human raspberry and I think he said he broke some ribs. He spent 10 days in the hospital but is now home. His wife got scraped knees. The bike was totaled and even split in half. The other guy had no insurance.

I found that out last night when I called Smitty to tell him about Benny having passed away. I know at least most of you know about Benny already but if you did not he passed away on Monday after a short bout of complications due to diabetes. He will be laid out at George Werst funeral parlor on Cooper Avenue this afternoon and tonight, burial tomorrow. The old gang is not as big as it used to be and we are spread thin those of us who remain - so it would be nice of you to show up and pay your respects if at all possible.

Please pass on this email ASAP as time is running short to pay respects for Benny.

As for Smitty, if you call him , make him laugh. That should help his ribs heal quicker! If you need his number, let me know.

Those of you who have email addresses for others from the Oval, please forward them to me. Thanks.

Oh, if Smitty's pic does not come out, let me know and I will resend it.

All the best,
Glenn B

"Benny was a good man. Never hurt anyone and always had a smile for you. He will be missed."

Our thoughts are with Janice and the family.

Dom

great stuff, just wanted to share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM

Big John Croce... blast from the past...

this is an exerpt from a facebook conversation John and I have been caryying on for a few days now. john and i went to grammer school together and shared some friends in the years that followed (charlie v , joe fitz and allison).



John: Hey Dom,I got all my class photos going back to 2nd grade I'll look for them.I have a good idea where they are.Did you know the "Gentle Giant" Joe Fitzgerald,and crazy man Charlie Vaughn from the "Oval". I was pretty tight with both specially Fitz. Also my little Costello, Allison God she was adorable.I hear all 3 are no longer with us. 2 young,2 soon such was life on the other side of the tracks.............John

Dom: Hey John,
I knew them all - very well. I spoke to charlie a few days before he left us. Check out my blog, you can see a few pics of charlie and one of allision. I havent come up with any of Joe... yet.
Did you check out our blog site ?

John J Croce Yes very cool, I recognize some faces.Cleveland & the Oval were allies.I remember Fitz with the school bus he got.Pass the pipe and come on in ! Bobby Mahoney from cleve. park always thought the words to " Tennessee Jed" were " I ran into Charlie Vaughn, he blacked my eye ,and kicked my dog". Charlie had a hatchett on his belt, when I asked why he said " If somebody hangs from the flafpole again I can chop the F...er down.An American original, I guess we all were in our own ways.Give my regards to all the Oval crew. And may God bless those who have left us behind.You can post this on blog if you want........John

Ron and Geri have a brand new Grandson...

Ron called me last week to say that he and geri are the proud grandparents of a baby boy.
Jessica is doing great and the baby already knows how to drive a big rig.

OK, Lets do it. BBQ, forest park... June... Any takers???

A Charlie Vaughn Fax I got a few years ago.

point and click to read it.
Its So Charlie... notice the "love charlie", such a mush.

great song... gotta give these boys credit :)

Grateful Dead 4/24/09 at Nassau Coliseum

I wish you were all there with us.

Pics from the "Gas Steine" vault of treasures

"the steine strut"...

gotta love that smilin face

setting the trend for hair styles

talk about hair styles... !!!

Karl and Gas Steins mother passed away.

I heard the sad news from Pat this evening. She's being laid out tomorrow monday and tuesday at:

Anderson, Sean - George Werst Funeral Home
(718) 821-8777
71-41 Cooper Avenue Glendale, NY 11385

Call for the hours.
She was very cool. I'll always remember her that way.

Glennnnnnnnnnnn ???

Are ve doink za 25th BBQ ?

Ien must know zoon, az iem plenning ze nekx majer zienteefik brakzroo !

Been a while since we got together.

Any ideas for the spring time gathering?

the boob bee q...

I'll be there. thats a promise, not a threat.

Joanne invited you to join the Facebook group "Farmers Oval Park".To see more details and confirm this group invitation, follow the link below:


http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=41337811851&mid=279d8eG4b2e2003G58f100G6

oops, sorry got my blogs mixed up :)

BBQ TIME IS UPON US

IT'S BBQ/PICNIC TIME

Boo-boo my friend, it's another pic-a-nic basket and not a ranger man in sight

Place: Where else but Forest Park near the bandstand, unless of course someone has a better idea. There are still picnic tables at Forest Park in that area, aren't there?

Date: Saturday April 25, 2009 (weather should be warm enough by then, if not bring a jacket)

Time: Not to early, let's start at noon.

Rain Date: Saturday May 16, 2009

If we get enough interest by April 1, then I will try to put together of list of what we will need and I'll also try to figure any cost on a per head basis. Of course we could also do this so that each person coming brings something to share.

For now think about it, and if you can come let me know as soon as possible. I figure we ought to have a nice time if at least 20 of us show up. Of course spouses and children are welcome.

Please pass the word.

Note: Right now the dates are tentative dependent on whether or not they are good for most who reply. Figure this to be like silly putty for now, in an egg waiting to hatch, soft, pliable and something to play with just waiting to be made into something a whole lot more fun than a mere wad of putty.

All the best,
Glenn B
aka: Legal Aide

Hey All,

Been a while since our dinner. I hope all are well.
Cant wait to see you all again. Keep looking for those pics and sending them.
Dom

I Don't Look Good Naked Anymore

I have to wonder, after all of these years away from Farmers' Oval just how many of us fit this song. Sadly I do.

All the best,

GB

As My Brother and his pal Charlie Vaughn Corrupted Me

...Gas corrupted his brother Karl by introducing him to the rest of us. Once he met us that was it for him. He was smoking and drinking and whatever else in no time. Here he is, the young Von Yon himself. I have not seen Karl in years and years and years - way too many at that. Hopefully if we ever run into one another somewhere we will recognize one another and not just pass by like strangers.

I had some fun times with the younger Stiene, and as he could tell you, that lemonade back then was darned good when you wanted a break from the booze.

All the best,
Glenn B

Best Friends

I remember these two as best of friends. Where one went the other was not far off. Two of the Original Schaefer Girls, if not the very first two: Jo and Karen. I am sorry the pic look faded, I suppose it is just like our memories of back then. I did as much as I could to sharpen it up a bit and to get the contrast and brightness as good as it would come out. Sometimes that is exactly the same way with my memory nowadays, I have to settle for the best I can do. While it is not exactly the way it was, it should help give you a good idea of the way things were back then. Our lives were young, vibrant, and full of wonder and held together by friendships. Friendships that I think and hope have lasted through the years, hopefully in better shape that this photo or my foggy memories. Click on the pic and watch your own memory come in a little better.

All the best,
Glenn B

Dorothy The Babysitter

Who is that little girl hiding her face from the inquiring photographer? I don't rememebr for sure if it was Dorothy's niece or if it was the daughter of a friend for whom she was baby sitting. Dorothy will have to answer that one. Of course even little girls, as camera shy as they could be, could not stay out of the camera's eye for all that long as evidenced by the second shot I got.

Of course the two really ugly guys with the bad hair were Larry M and Timmy B.. Little Jo is the one turned toward them whose face is also hiding, although I have plenty of other pics of her in my archives.

Now I sort of can figure out just about what Larry and Timmy look like right now - uglier with shorter hair or no hair (at least probably in Larry's case). I know what Jo and Dorothy look like from recent pics. I have to wonder though - what did that little lady grow up to look like. My guess is she must be about 40 now. Hopefully she will get her pic from way back when and get a kick out of it. (Note the glimpse of the playground areas from back then.)

All the best,

Glenn B

Apparently Not Everyone Liked Schaefer

So what can I say about a picture like this. Must have been we were gaining expereince and learning about other beers - or maybe someone was just having fun. Actually I still think Schaefer was one of the better beers back then, though I do miss Schmidts. No not Schlitz - I mean Schmidts because it was the better of the two. Then again I seem to remember that I soon graduated to things like Blackberry Brandy, Tango, Yago Sangria, Mateus, MD 20-20, Ripple, Annie Green Springs (or was it Farms), Zeller Schwartze Katz, Jack Daniels, Old Grand Dad, Wild Turkey, Mellow Corn, Vodka, Gordons Gin (good enough for Bogart in the African Queen it was good enough for me until I found Tanqueray), to Legal Ades, and finally to a canteen full of, well let's just say, full of lemonade - great lemonade at that. It's a wonder I am not an alcoholic; and yes I still like a cold one now and then, and a shot too.

All the best,
Glenn B

Happy New Year- New Years Eve 1972

Happy New Year everyone! I knew I had this picture somewhere. Dorothy Karen and I. I believe it was 1972. Don't know who's car this was or who took the pic, but I do remember it was soooo cold out I was frozen. But ahhh, cheap (and cold) champagne in a paper cup.....who cared. Could life get any better?