Good to hear about Chips awards Dick. Now he is being a wonderful grandpa. I'm not sure if he is announcing now, but he was for the football games. Also, hope he keeps himself healthy.
Ellen: I must have been in the AM then, because I'm sure I went there everyday (except when I snuck off somewhere else). I even have a body outline painting to prove it (I think we did just hands too). I cannot find my photos, but they're here somewhere. I don't think the set ever included a kindergarten view.
The list so far thanks to Terry, Karen & Ellen. I may wander over to the school and/or the admin building one day and see what I can find out.
Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. Picklesimer, Mr. Borup, Mr. Gevings, Mrs. Rouch, Mr. Hall, Ms. Malecki, Mrs. Fuller, Mrs. Bocks, Mrs. Biggs, Mrs.Edlebrock, Mrs. Treais
Preview of coming attractions. There was actually a school at the Hilltop Circle Housing Project too. I have a photo somewhere along with a partial list of the families that lived there. .
To show some things don't change, here is the Ironwood Michigan (Single) School about 1930. That's my mom at (3,1). Well before the Manson girls began xxx-ing themselves out of society, my mom's friend Bertha (2,4) annotated this with her own version of ex-communication *(1,1), (1,4), (1,6) and (1,8).
My family bought their first home on Carla Avenue so we could go to neighborhood schools. This was before the junior high and high school were built but it was antiicipated that we would be able to go local all the way to high school. My older brother Brian went to Hilltop Drive School and then Chula Vista Junior and Chula Vista High School. I started at Hilltop Drive as a kindergartner in Mrs. Bocks class. In first grade I went up to an annex classroom East of my street for one year, then returned to the main campus for second through sixth grade. After a year of bussing to Castle Park Junior High, and as others have noted, we attended double sessions at Chula Vista Junior High as eighth graders for one semester. We occupied our new junior high in the second semester of our eighth grade year and graduated from the school. And I harbor vivid memories of the hair cuts we received to honor our entry into high school. In my case, as I recall, Bob Gray was the barber. In our first year, the school was overwhelmed with students, enrollment of 1900 as I recall, until Castle Park High opened. BTW the two sick dudes on the boat are my good buddy John Vredenburgh and Carl Bandelin. This was a senior class adventure that made a lot of people seasick. John went to USC and became a teacher and coach in the LA area. John Link also went to USC. During our freshman year I saw John in the cafeteria at U. of Arizona. USC was there for a track meet while my school, U. of the Pacific, was there to play Arizona in baseball. We had lunch together and John pointed out one of his team-mates who he suggested might generate some attention down the line. HIs name was O.J. Simpson.
I had an inkling that there were two kindergarten class rooms and maybe confused that with AM/PM. Does anyone recall? Two classes and two sessions? I do recall that there was a separate, enclosed playground.
I can't recall if the photo is up here, but John V. (Pete too) was also on the "St. Rose" Little League team that Mike Hollister's father Jay assembled.
Mr. Bandelin got a Ph.D. in English from Yale I believe and has been in college teaching/admin for a long time. Wasn't the field trip a whale watching expedition?
Elementary school memories: spaghetti dinners and open house, mini carnivals on the playground and rides in a rickshaw that someone's father had brought back from Japan, going barefoot all summer and scorched feet from playing basketball barefoot on the black-top, hitting a sidewalk crack on the flexy and doing major dermabrasion to the face, field trips, fear of getting pansed ...
This isn't the driver, but it is what the rickshaw looked like - I wonder who owned it?
What follows is not Bill & Ted, though they did have some Excellent Adventures (my 21 tip-in buddy Hal from UCI days played a role in the film - I recognized him immediately - striped tie below). Hal didn't attend UCI, but I spent more time with him and Jerry Kaiwi playing bball than I did attending seminars.
JoAnn-I, too, started kindergarten at Hilltop Elem. I'm sure my mother would remember my teacher's name, but I do not. My father was transferred to Alameda and Hawaii when I was in 1st. In 1955, my dad was tansferred again to San Diego, and we returned to our home on Penelope Drive (my parents had rented out the house while we were away). When we returned from Hawaii, I had Miss Cherry for 4th, Mrs. Ranibolt for 5th and Mr. Hall for 6th. On to CPJrH for 7th; double sessions at CVJrH for 1st sem 8th; HJrH 2nd sem 8th; HHS for the remaininng years.
I'm impresed that so many of you have kept your school photos and can identify the students in them. Looking forward to seeing you in September.
Oh my goodness, brucie, you silly willy! You KNOW the termites gobbled down the fence months ago! Hahaha ha ha! I'm such a card! Seriously though, as you all must realize, there is always tons to do in our active lives in between having more fun than any of our younger years can ever recall....retirement Is outstanding! We do get lots done each and every day, as im sure you all do, as well!
on that note, My mom recently told me that "one life time is not enough". Today, at the age of 86, she takes piano lessons, goes to computer classes several days a week, and spends many lunches with her girlfriends! There are still so many things she wants to do in life, and it is my prayer that she has the opportunity to get to them! She is a wonderful inspiration! Lucky me to still have the pleasure of both my mother and father's company!
I would also like to say how much I've enjoyed reading your many posts regarding Chula Vista trivia and memories....I believe that because of these posts, the reunion is going to be outstanding, even more so than they have been in the past! I am looking forward to seeing all of you and learning about what you all have all been doing.
Well I'm a bit biased, but in the immortal words of Eddie Cochran (1959).
"She's sure fine lookin' man, she's something else"
16 Inch Slow (and fakey) Pitch baseball. I ran the league in the Summer of 1968. Eucalyptus Park.
Teams: Police Dept, Rohr, Nelson-Sloan, Filippi's Pizza, Mr. Hollister's team (can't summon up the sponsor), There have to be more.
Still going strong in 2007 at least. Doesn't say whether it is still 16 inch.
Co-ed and Men’s Slow-Pitch Softball
Games played weeknights at Montevalle, Veterans, Discovery, Eucalyptus, Rohr,
and Chula Vista Community Parks beginning the week of June 11, 2007.
Entry Fees: per team 8-10 game schedule $380 Resident $465 Non-Resident
Chicago loves their 16-inch.
Williams, Eddie Collins (Boston Red Sox scout), Bill Lane (owner San Diego Padres) 1936
Speedwise, this guy could even beat our Ms. McCall, in fact he could beat Usain Bolt
Distancewise, any marathon or ultra runners out there? I did my first marathon in 1978 (Heart of San Diego, got to run over the Coronado Bridge) and my most recent in 2005 at Carlsbad.
I also attended the hilltop annex school for the first grade learning to read "run Spot run, see Dick and Jane play" it was an exciting time Haha! Does anyone know where Judith Schnorr went? CV has changed and grown and seeing the kids at the high school they are so different the school spirit is lacking but their football team had a good season this year!
Last time I spoke with Michael at the house on First Ave., he indicated that Judith was getting ready to retire (early). I got the impression that she was living in San Diego county somewhere. It was a number of years back. The large Obama painting was in the front yard, so I'm thinking it must have been after 2008.
I'd always assumed that it was Michael's work, so I didn't ask. I suppose it could also have been one of his students. Ms. McCall and her daughter I believe both took classes from Michael. One of them may know for sure.
Judith apparently retired from San Diego Unified in 2009.
I did not attend this, but I did go to the memorial at Chicano Park, as did Corinne and Jolie.
Where was the Annex? I'm thinking that it possibly was the old Hilltop Circle School site. I have to find out what the formal name of that school was. I'm also wondering who went there rather than the campus where I spent all my years. Was it an overcrowding problem? I recall Hilltop Drive Elementary accomodated a large number of students whilst other schools were being completed (much to the detriment of my pal Frank "Skeezix" Fernandez). Speaking of Frank, I think Jim Stuckey deserves to be in the "In Memory" section of this site. Jim was a good friend of both Frank and I. It wasn't his doing that he ended up at Castle Park.
Bruce, the annex was on J street between the fire station and the back of the houses on Dennis. We only went there for 1st grade the buildings were very old when we all were there. Originally there were old low income housing all around there so I think that is why the school was there.
The housing project was originally named Hilltop Village, but became known as Hilltop Circle. The formal name of the elementary school was most likely the Hilltop Annex Grammar School.
The class photo is a good one. Sure hope I un-misplace it soon.
Jerry Rindone got 39% of the vote in the June 3rd primary for Chula Vista Mayor. Councilwoman Mary Salas received 44%. So they will face off in the November general election.
Jerry's advantage is that there is still some name recognition--although not nearly as much as a couple of decades ago. He will get a lot of money from Republican organizations and businesses. He also loaned his campaign $25,000.
Mary's big advantage is that she is a Democrat in what is now a very Democratic and Latino community. She will get money from labor unions like the Police and Fire Fighters associations. She also was a State of California Assemblywoman, so has political and money contacts in Sacramento.
So, I think it will be a slight uphill battle for Rindone. But he may have more money.
The big issues are the Bayfront Development and attracting a University to Chula Vista. Both candidates support these.
There was a time when the big issue was growth and the impact on traffic and water. But big money has made those less of an issue. A lot of Republicans and Democrats supported slow growth. Developers, business owners and many labor unions--like the construction unions--supported growth while citizens groups wanted slower growth. So it was not a partisan issue. The only slow growth candidate in yesterday's election was Councilwoman Patricia Aguilar who got 48% of the vote for her seat and most likely will be re-elected in November.
Speaking of politics, it seems amazing to me that in order to obtain a medical permit for the dread marijuana, not much more is required than a trip to a local MJ storefront and paying a $50.00 fee to the front man doctor.
This from my reading of The San Diego Reader ad section.
It's harder than that to get a permit to build a raft.
Wow! Lane Field! Just seeing the name brought back a flood of memories. For as long as I can remember, our family went to watch the Padres every Friday night that they were in town. First it was Lane Field and then Westgate Park in Mission Valley. I am a baseball fan to this day, although I have to admit my loyalties have shifted to the Dodgers, with the rival Padres holding second place in my fan's heart. I just love being reminded of the good days of my life in Chula Vista. Thanks to everyone for that.
Hilltop High English teacher, Mr. Fetter, is alive and well and he lives on Nolan Avenue. He now goes by the first name of Willie instead of George. His full name is George Willie Fetter.
"Truth is beauty and beauty is truth, that is all you need to know"
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever"
(Although I had a college professor who said: "Beautiful things often don't work")
Mr. Rice lives in Coronado.
Jim Longerbone's father, Clyde Longerbone, was the fire chief for the City of Chula Vista. When he retired they made a cake for him and on top was written: "Old firefighters never die, their hoses just run dry".
Former Mayor Robert McAlister is in his 90s and living in the Veterans Home in Chula Vista. He is mentally alert. He was Mayor when Eisenhower visited in 1960 and was seated at the head table for the lunch. He was part of the program for the visit.
It was from Mr. Rice, in his civic class, that I first heard of local newspapers referred to as the San Diego "Republican" Union and the Chula Vista "Red" Star. Today it is the San Diego "U-Tea Party" and the Chula Vista "Dwindling" Star. (The Star-News was a fairly large local paper with a wide circulation when it was owned and published by Lowell Blankfort. Blankfort sold the paper many years ago and moved to San Diego. However, he does come to CV on occasion to attend meetings and give lectures. The Star-News is now under new ownership and is a small paper often less than 6 pages and with not much coverage.)
The Rindone family was originally from Italy. They pronounced the name Rindonie (rhymes with pony). When Joe Rindone moved to Chula Vista to teach at Southwest Junior High in the 1930s, he pronounced his name Rindone (done as in finished) to sound more American.
My older brother Woodie got to play in Lane Field. Details are sketchy, but it was at night and he pitched (with the mound moved in a number of feet).
A little trivia quiz. What HHS-64 grad of Italian ancestry came from a family of over 10 (I think the correct number is 13) kids? Got this in a long conversation with his brother (who was a nurse) when my younger brother Keith was making his exit from our world. He understood what I was talking about.
In the vein George started:
Mr. McAlister (& mortuary) sponsored the St. Rose Little League Team. I may go pay him a visit. Mr. Schanke lives in the vicinity of Nacion and Inkopah and Ken Anderson I assume lives somewhere in CV, since I see him at the YMCA. The father of Jim Morrison (The Doors) lived over on East James not too far from where the Longerbones lived. Two different Jim's, eh? I don't think there is any truth to the rumour that Jim (L.) considered abandoning his submarine work and starting a competing group The Portholes. It's all a matter of perception I think.
How many of us started her at Hilltop and finished at the high school?
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