THIS IS SURRATTS FOUNDATION E-NOTICE 2008-03 as of March 1, 2008


Hello Hornets:

Here are some items that may be of interest:

1.  A REPORT FROM AFGHANISTAN.  We received this email from Rix Mills (62), from his "home away
from home" in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan: "Henry:  Thanks for the nice piece from Suzan.  I thanked her
for her kindness and thank you for keeping me in people's view so that they are reminded that we can do
things outside ourselves and make a difference if we just take a little time out and do it.  I have six alumni
from various classes who are sending me packages of school supplies, stocking hats, gloves, and a wide
range of other things for the kids here.  We will soon go to a local orphanage and pass out these things to
the kids and I am sure that the pictures from that event will make everyone's efforts worthwhile.  It is cold
and wintery here and as soon as things thaw out we will be back on the road doing our job and giving
things to the kids along the way.  I am attaching a picture of my "home away from home" so that you can
see that I live a "sheltered" life here.  Rix"

We've posted the photo of Rix's Afghan home on the web site at www.surrattsville.org.  You can send a
"care package" to Rix's Afghan children by getting a USPS flat rate priority mail box for $8.95 and shipping
it to Rix's APO address.  The address is:

Rix Mills
Regional Training Center (RTC)
Mazar-e-Sharif
APO  AE  09354

And we received this useful tip about getting supplies to Rix for the children from Suzan Martz Holmquist
(62): "Hi Henry:  For anyone sending items to Rix Mills in Afghanistan or anyone in the military, the Post
Office has a new offering of flat rate boxes and rates to all military addresses.

The box is bigger, and costs a tad more, but you have the capability of sending more things at one rate.  
Our post office has been out of flat rate boxes since before Thanksgiving, but you can order  the new
boxes on the web site of the post office, www.usps.com.  You have to walk through a zillion pages to get
there, but you will  find, priority flat rate APO/FPO boxes that can be ordered and mailed directly to your
home.  The boxes are free of course and no charge to send them to your home.  Suzan"

2.  PTSA PLANS HELPFUL SESSION.  We received this email from the very active, and successful,
Surratts PTSA: "Dear Parents/Stakeholders:  As part of our continuous efforts to educate and empower
parents the Surrattsville High School and SHS PTSA will co-host the PAT Program in conjunction with
PGCPS Division of Student Services.  The training modules will include a basic knowledge of PGCPS
curriculum and instruction, strategies for assisting students and teachers, knowledge and strategies for
understanding typical adolescent behaviors, specific strategies for effectively assisting any classroom
teacher and knowledge of proper protocol and etiquette for navigating our public schools.

Upon completion of this particular workshop you will be certified as a "Volunteer Classroom Assistant" and
services for your background check application and fingerprinting will be rendered (without charge) by
PGCPS Department of Security.  This comprehensive workshop will be presented on Saturday, March 1,
2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Surrattsville High School.  Information is available from Bob Ross
PTSA President at (240) 626-8572 or bobross@comcast.net, or from Barbara Wright, Parent Liaison at
(301) 599-2453 ext. 247 or Barbara2.Wright@pgcps.org.

3.  SEARCHING FOR 58 GRADS.  We received this email from Class of 58 ORC Jean Merriman
Beardmore (lljbeard@shentel.net):  "Hi Henry:  We have found most of our classmates!  These are the
three we still can't find.  Would you put an SOS out in the e-Notice for these Class of 58 grads, Joy Irving
Kearney, Eva Pearson, and Kathy Hummer Grumbling?  Thanks, Jean"  Might any reader have any leads
that might lead Jean and her committee to information about these missing class members?

4.  HORNETS MARCHING BAND TO PERFORM AT DISNEY WORLD.  We received this exciting news
about the 2007-2008 Hornet marching band from a proud Surrattsville parent: "Dear Henry: My daughter is
currently a sophomore at Surrattsville High.  The Marching Hornets are trying to raise funds for their
upcoming trip to Disney World in March during Spring Break.  They will be performing in a Band Festival in
the Park, and also in the Disney Parade.  Any help you can give in getting the word out to alumni would be
appreciated.  They need money to cover the transportation (buses).  You can contact the band director
Mrs. Valerie Dent for any other information.  Thanks, Cheryl D. Joppy, Band Parent"

5.  MEMORIES FOR THOSE CLASSES FROM THE 50S AND 60S.  This cute site was passed along by
Tim Smith (74):  http://cruzintheavenue.com/DYRT.htm.  I'm sure it will bring back lots of memories for folks
who attended Surratts in the 50s and 60s.  (And speaking of brother Tim, those Hornets living in South
Florida who are interested in South Florida community affairs and politics might enjoy Tim's "Blog for Fort
Lauderdale" at timsmith.com.)

6.  ANNUAL GOLF OUTING FOR A GOOD CAUSE.  We received a notice from the Villella family asking
folks to hold the date for this year's annual Tony "Moose" Villella Memorial Golf Tournament.  It will be held
Friday, September 5, 2008.  The Villella family reports that contributions and participation in the first
annual golf tournament enabled a donation to the Anthony Villella Scholarship Fund of $22,300.00, and
one student has already been awarded a scholarship and the Fund continues to help other students.  
Flyers for the event will be sent out as the time comes closer.

7.  HORNET CONTINUES TO GET YOUNGER EVERY DAY.  We received an update on the dizzying
(literally) activities of The Villages Twirlers Team from Ann Weaver Pelle (71).  Photos of the Team's
recent events, including at Disney World, are on their web site at www.thevillagestwirlers.com, under
"Recent Events".  The people from Growing Bolder  (www.growingbolder.com) came out to film the Team at
Disney World, and that film is at http://growingbolder.com/planet/media-view.php?objId=92830.  Ann notes:
"If you have to sign-up to log in, they do not solicit, but have great stories about great people our age;
bands from our generation, film stars, etc.  It is really cool to see what everyone we loved in a younger time
is doing now!"

[Ed note: We're counting on Ann to keep inspiring us!]

8.  GREAT MEMORIES FROM A FORMER FACULTY MEMBER.  We received a very nice note from
Vivian Bounds Edelen (former faculty, 1938 - 1942).  You may recall that Vivian celebrated her 90th
birthday last year!  (And how wonderful is it that Vivian started her career at Surratts 66 years ago, and we
still hear from her regularly!)

Here's an excerpt from Vivian's note that is bound to bring back a flood of memories in many of our
readers of the much simpler days at Surratts in the early 1940s: "Dear Henry:  [A recent e-Notice item] of
great interest to me was that of Joan Duke Gates.  I taught her brother, David, in 4th grade and
well-remember her brother, Paul, who was in high school at that time.  He was very handsome, as were all
the family, their father and the boys, and Mrs. Duke so pretty, as were the girls.  I remember Mr. Duke
stopping his car each morning to take Mrs. Frank Dent and Mrs. Mildred Wheatly to their jobs in D.C. each
day to where they worked for the government.  Mrs. Duke played the piano when a group of us met at the
old Fireside Inn in T. B. to practice a dance we were going to perform at a Farm Bureau banquet in
Baltimore in February 1941.  Polly Gwynn Benbow (2nd grade teacher) and Mary B. Edelen (5th grade
teacher) and I were in the group."

[Ed note: If only videotape had been available to record that dance performance in Baltimore.  What a
treasure that would be for the Foundation Archives!]

9.  CLASS OF 62 ACTIVITIES UPDATE.  Please don't forget to contact Len Owens (62),
lowens15@nc.rr.com, if you have info on Class of 62 grads or their family members, or to learn about all
the activities of the Class of 62.

10.  CLASSES OF 78/79 PLANNING REUNION.  And, if you're interested in the joint reunion plans of the
Classes or 78 and 79, or have info on 78 or 79 grads or their family members, please contact Jeanne
Hoffman LaRoque (78) at jeannelaroque@yahoo.com, or Karen.whitevz@yahoo.com (79).


I hope you're all well and enjoying a great Winter 2008!

All the best, Henry Smith (71), hsmith@smithdowney.com