Message Forum

Too funny! Mike, thanks for the props but they are unnecessary. IMHO less formal/casual has more to do with how the event is structured than where it is held. I'm up for whatever at this point! And I agree that we've had enough discussion about this. October at the Tara would work with me. IF we had the possibility of requesting/utilizing the cocktail area outside of their bar, that would be my vote for the room. I've attended events in that space before and it has a nice, relaxed feel...PLUS they have a pool table. ;)

04/10/15 11:54 AM

#120

Karen DuBois (Maxwell)

Count me in for the Tara in October!! :-)

04/10/15 02:13 PM

#121

Sherry Schreiner (Beckwith)

Ok,

Thank you there are some people who have reached concensus.

I will get formalized pricing from the Tara probably by Monday.

See if there are any objections (over the weekend) and mobilize the troops.

I'll check on the outside DJ venue and schedule for a Saturday night in October.

Chris M you and I can talk about that off-line and you do deserve some credit. DBS

Again, at this point Daryl, Robin, Chris, whomever is volunteering can exchange e-mails and numbers along with other people and we can set the plan in motion.

Look, all I want all is for you guys to be happy. I couldn't take anymore e-mails.

Life is too short and we lost some good people from this class as we need to honor them as a group.

I am going move on this and speak to Daryl.

Hopefully we will be all set up by the end of next week.

Best Regards,

Michael

04/12/15 03:02 AM

#122

Awesome news!

Count me in for a party of two and let me know to whom and where to send payment when you secure the date. They are also VERY good about giving a group discount for room rates for events so this may also inspire more to come and join in.

I am sure that Chris knows the same contacts I do and since he is local to them can help to book the DJ or band but if you run into any walls with it and need more suggestions I have a few others I can add to the mix. Private message me on FB if you need help with it Chris.

So happy we will have a gathering. You are all great people to be with and share good times .. its a shame a few more people don't share that opinion or allow themselves to become infected with the positive energy goin going on here to help us all stay in touch. Oh well.. Keep us posted

Sherry

04/14/15 07:42 PM

#123

Alright,

There is no liability for the Sheraton Tara. The hotel takes care of that.

You can also go casual as this is not a black tie affair.

Here's the deal in order to keep the cost right for everybody.

It is $69.00 per person with tax and gratuity.

The only caveat is there will be a cash bar for booze.

They have October 17th, 2015 open.

You can do the open bar but the cost goes up immensely.

Give me your feedback and thanwe can put the deposit down.

Thanks,

Michael

04/15/15 08:53 AM

#124

Sigal Cohen (Rice)

That sounds great! I think that should work for everybody. Thanks for all your hard work. If you need me to do anything let me know.

04/15/15 10:48 AM

#125

Michael Hurta

Thanks Michael.

Cash bar sounds fine with me.

Date works well for me.

Will need to know to whom and where to send a check once ready to go.

Mike Hurta

04/15/15 10:51 AM

#126

Michael Hurta

Ah... One more question... Is there an option to get a better room rate if associated with this event?

04/15/15 11:17 AM

#127

Michael,

Yes, if there is a final decision to proceed forward there will be a room block with a discounted rate for out-of-towners.

Keep the comments coming and we should be able to cement this deal as I have been speaking with Daryl as he is getting feedback as well along with C. Martell, Robin, Sherri, Gloria, Sigal and others who have weighed in.

I will advise of what that is and than we can start receiving checks or set up a pay-pal.

Thank you,

Michael

P.S. - Thank you for your patience....

04/15/15 02:42 PM

#128

Daryl Capuano

While we are all busy, I know that Mike Hornyak is in the midst of a particularly busy time in his life. Yet, he has spent a dozen hours or so visiting, evaluating, and negotiating with the Sheraton Tara. He also has spent additional time trying to figure out the operational detail related to organizing payments. Special thanks to another good man - Ira Steinberg - for help on that front. Mike did so because he recognized the impasse that we reached and wanted to ensure that we had a class reunion.

My goal here was to make sure the process was open so that everyone could get a say. Now that the process has led to a majority consensus - with full recognition that there are those who still oppose a hotel setting - I am hopeful that we can all come together and bring this to closure as soon as possible. Anyone who has a tangible alternative (not a complaint or a whine) but a concrete possibility, now is the time to offer it to the group. Otherwise, I'm sure I speak for many in expressing delight that we can put a date on the calendar and move this forward.

04/15/15 04:27 PM

#129

The Tara sounds like a great alternative and I'm glad to see that they don't have the same stipulation as the Embassy Suites with liability. It will be nice to have an event back on our "home turf".

My only question at this point would be the added cost of a DJ/band. I assume we should add a few dollars to each ticket price in order to cover this? Unless you have another alternative.

Let me know what you need me to do in order to keep the process moving forward. I still have a spreadsheet that I started compiling of 1985 graduates that we can get complete and use for invites.

Robin

04/15/15 09:29 PM

#130

Susan Gnibus (Wasienko)

Not sure what a DJ would do to the price, I guess that depends on how many people actually come. Again, very possible and enjoyable to select the music from the good ole 80's and run it via ipad, mac, whatever. I have offered the PA system with mic and it isn't a problem. Just a thought in case this drives the price up. Thanks Mike, for moving forward, a relief !

04/16/15 09:06 AM

#131

Sue,

Chris Martell will be providing the DJ and I think he is picking it up on his own.

I am going to reach out to him.

Michael

04/16/15 11:13 AM

#132

Hurta already committed to buying me a beer (or 2) so I'm good with cash bar. ;) October is wide open with me.

Sue (and others), what we had originally discussed was creating an 80 playlist using iTunes, Google Play, etc. and piping it through a PA system. We could let the music play in the background and could also add songs as we wish. If someone wants to bring a Karoake machine (Sheri) we could hook that up too. Now THAT would be funny!

04/16/15 04:58 PM

#133

Steven Klein

Thanks to all who are working so hard to put this together. I am definitely in for the Tara, and hoping to see all of you that were at the 25th, as well as all those who weren't.

04/17/15 10:27 AM

#134

Michael Hurta

Man... I'm digging all the updated photos!

04/17/15 11:58 AM

#135

Since it seems the ball is now rolling in the right direction and that we will be securing a location for the 30th reunion, we still need to be able to locate everyone. So....a yahoo email address had been created (PHS85Reunion@yahoo.com) and we are hoping that everyone will email the following information.

Full name (maiden/married if applicable)

Current Address

Email address

From this information we will be able to keep everyone up to date on the 30th reunion plans and send out invitations at a later date. Please forward this information to anyone you still keep in contact with from our graduating class so we can compile a complete listing of everyone.

Thanks!

04/17/15 12:23 PM

#136

Curt May

Good to see we've come to a consensus. I sent requested data to the new email box.

04/17/15 02:22 PM

#137

As an FYI, I'm working on music for the event. Sorry Mike Hornyak, Jim Kerr is busy that weekend. So, what I'll ask from anyone and everyone is to suggest songs from HS. I don't care how cheezy or heavy or lame you might think they are now, I'll put them on the list. If no one gives suggestions; however, get ready for 5 hours of Van Halen and Iron Maiden!!!

Thanks all!

I'm also going to see if I can get my homeroom back together...Jen Mandler, Me, Dom Marzigliano, Curt May...in that order :)

04/17/15 03:32 PM

#138

Your 30th Reunion is tentatively set until contracts get signed next week:

Sheraton Tara
Address: 199 Smith Rd, Parsippany, NJ 07054

Phone:(973) 515-2000

October 17th, 2015, Saturday

(Put it on your calendar!!)

$69.00 per head with tax/gratuity - 5 hour event - Cash Bar

(15) complimentary rooms have been blocked off for out of towners and there is no minimum if the rooms are not occupied:

Call in under 1985 PHS Reunion to the Tara:

$119.00 per night plus 15% sales tax.

Music to be provided by DJ Jazzy Martell and Company.

In addition to that, if someone comes in Friday night they will be afforded the same rate.

Stay tuned as we figure out where to send the checks and other methods of payments.

Have a great weekend!

Michael

04/18/15 10:50 AM

#139

For those of you who are not interested in attending the reunion or unable to. Could you please send an email to PHS85Reunion@yahoo.com with your name (maiden/married if applicable) and letting us know just that. This way we can be sure that everyone in the class is at least aware of the event and no one has been looked over.

Thanks!

04/19/15 08:57 PM

#140

Gloria Basem

Mike and everyone working behind the scenes, thanks for grabbing the bull by the horn and getting this done! Sorry if I offended anyone with my comment about not thinking a picnic was the best venue - just wanting it to be easy so the most number of people would come.

05/07/15 01:19 PM

#141

As of today - May 7 - we have 48 people having sent their contact information (or an email saying that they aren't interested/unable to make it) to the PHS85Reunion@yahoo.com email address. So please take a minute and send an email AND talk/text/email those people who you are still in contact with from our graduating class and ask them to do the same. Thank you!

05/26/15 10:30 AM

#142