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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Good Morning,
I have received 30 RSVP's for the Fenway Gathering in honor of our "Mr CHS", Chip Padgett. That fills the 3-10-top round tables in the room. No more RSVP's can be accepted, however, there will be a few high-top tables (no chairs) for SRO's and mingling.
I have made name tags and will provide seating place cards for those with RSVP's. PLEASE SELECT A SEAT & RESERVE IT WITH YOUR NAME CARD.
I have created a slide-show with tons of pictures from our school days and past reunions that will be running continuously in the background on a large wall-mounted TV.
Some of us will be remaining after our Scanlan room get-together for dinner in the Fenway's gourmet restaurant....
As for our luncheon at QUEEN'S RESTAURANT:
We have adjoining tables for 25-30 in a private room in back of the restaurant. THERE ARE NO SEAT RESERVATIONS, so it's "first come first served". We can use restaurant seating just outside the room for overflow. Queen's opens at 11am, luncheon begins at noon. At our age, there might be an issue with "facial recognition", so please wear your RSVP name tag at both functions or fill out and wear available stick-on name tags.
Please re-read announcements and/or email. All of your questions should be answered. Or, you can always just give me a call or text me.
For your class,
Doug Zollo
727-488-0445
dougzollo@gmail.com
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I have wonderful news...Thanks to two anonymous benefactors, we now have the Scanlan meeting room reserved for us at the Fenway Hotel, 453 Edgewater Dr, Dunedin, FL 34698, 727-683-5999 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday September 19th. Our benefactors have to guarantee a minimum bar/food purchase, so let's share food, drink and memories together in a celebration of life for our Mr CHS 1961, Chip Padgett.
Valet parking is highly recommended. Overnight parking is $18, event only $5. Limited neighborhood parking can be a lengthy walk from hotel.
So, on Friday September 19th, we will have lunch together at Queen's and a toast to Chip at the Fenway in the evening.
RSVP FOR EACH EVENT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY-LIMITED SPACE....
Doug Zollo
dougzollo@gmail.com
727-488-0445
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Chip Padgett's Gathering
Chip Padgett - Mr. CHS 1961
Hello Everyone,
Ever since "Mr CHS" left us on July 4th of this year, there have been many thoughtful remembrances on this website and in emails written by those whose lives he touched. One thing for sure, we all wanted a time to gather to honor Chip; a time to share how this humble and respected man touched our lives.
Barry Smith, Tippy Connell, Bob Spence, I and several others have been discussing a gathering for Chip which included offers of sizeable donations (if necessary) for this event. We agreed to give Penny private time to grieve the loss of her husband...now she is ready and looking forward to this gathering in honor of Chip.
Barry & Tippy are checking into the Fenway Hotel on Thursday, September 18th. We had originally planned a Roof-Top Bar celebration, happy-hour to sunset, Friday, September 19th at the Fenway, but the bar is being renovated and not expected to be ready in time for us. SEE NEW ANNOUNCEMENT!
I researched other locations which wanted big bucks: $1500 room rental, limited menus, guaranteed food minimum $1250, noisy atmosphere not conducive to this occasion. So, we are booked for Friday, September 19th 12:00 noon at Queen's Pizza (Greek/Italian Restaurant) 1834 N. Belcher Road, Clearwater 33765 (727)-446-6016.
We have had a luncheon at Queen's before; excellent menu, good food (Greek Salad and lunch sized pasta portions), beer & wine AND A PRIVATE DINING ROOM FOR 30-35. We will have guests attending that are not CHS'61 grads. Please wear your picture nametags if you still have them.
RSVP ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY - PLEASE
dougzollo@gmail.com 727-488-0445
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Sharing time together...
I received a call from Chip Padgett about an impromptu get-together of "old" friends at Capogna's Dugout on July 22nd 2023. It's always fun to spend a little time in the past renminiscing. We shared stories and laughed together....wonderful time. As we have gotten older, our connection to one another has become stronger and just so comfortable.
Sudler Hood / Tippy Connell / John Wallace / Claude McMullen
Hal Stowers / BJ Waschak Stowers / Tippy Connell
Ron Featherstone / Sudler Hood / John Wallace/ Claude McMullen /
Chip Padgett / Barry Smith
John Wallace / Claude McMullen / Chip Padgett / Barry Smith
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ABO Party 3/4/61 (Thanks to Mike Coachman)
I hope you will enjoy this little piece of my Clearwater history.
In my senior year at Clearwater High School a sizable group of us
guys starteda very loose fraternity called the ABO (All Boys
Organization). At school we wore sweatshirts with the ABO logo
until the disapproving school administrationbanned them.
In early February the ABO organized a dance party at the
Coachman citrus packing house's loading dock next to the office.
Uncle James Coachman approved our using the location. Party
was to be Saturday, March 4th, 1961. Selling tickets at school
for $.50 each, we grossed about $250. We ordered several
cases of CocaCola and potato chips to serve free at the bar.
Driving to a N. Greenwood gas station hangout, we asked if
anyone knew of a local band. Several fellows responded
that they were in a band. We agreed to pay them $50
(and a bottle of whiskey) for their providing the night’s
entertainment. Someone got the whiskey from their parents'
stash. The band requested there be a piano ready for one
of their guy’s use. We built a temporary electric fence from
the outside corner of the office around the field back to a
boxcar on the tracks. At the entry, we took (and sold more)
tickets. The band arrived about 7pm, and the party started
shortly thereafter.
We had not remembered that the CHS basketball team
was playing in the state playoffs that night out of town
but in the bay area. About 9:30pm people from the
game started arriving as the team had lost their game.
Also game attendance was poor as people chose
attending our party instead.
The evening was a lot of fun for all with no disagreement
among the attendees. A deputy sheriff checked by, saw
all was well, and went on his way. The parked cars filled
the packing house field areas and on both sides of the roads.
The band played quite well with just one break. During the
band break one guy had a reel to reel tape player to keep
the music going.
At the event's 11:30PM conclusion, we paid the band
and all went home. Sunday we removed the fence,
bar, and cleaned up the area.
After paying party expenses, we had $150 profit and
wondered what to do with it. CHS had a foreign student
program that was supported by cash donations made by
the different school clubs. During the morning homeroom
period, theadministration would announce which clubs
donated and how much. So far the highest was $75.
So we thought this was a good use for for our profit of $150.
The school office readily accepted our donation that we
specified was made by the ABO. Although many students
were aware of this donation, no homeroom received
announcement for this. After a bit of pressure, the administration
begrudgingly announced the donation. Just following that, one
could easily hear cheers echoing throughout the campus.
However we were still forbidden to wear any ABO clothing at
school. To this day (62 years later), people who attended
this party still comment on the wonderful experience.
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