Susan Staron Sanders, the angel of Thomas Street, wrote that three people each purchased a Christmas street light for Monongah and that five lights will be installed this year, bringing the total to 21.

I’ll let Susan explain it:

“Good afternoon. An update on the Christmas Lights. As you all know we can purchase 5 more lights this year which makes me so proud of our wonderful town. This will make us a total of 21 lights. WOW is all I can say.

“Now for very special Thank You’s to some of our wonderful town people who are purchasing a light.

“John Olesky, Mari Lisa Johnson & Adam Michna. We the committee thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

“The committee will buy two lights. We will be purchasing replacement bulbs, too.

“I will be placing the order to receive a 15% discount from Mosca,” which manufacturers the lights that cost $500 to $600 apiece.

“Again, please keep the donations coming. We couldn’t do this without you.

“Sincerely,

“Susan Sanders”

 

Susan Staron Sanders, the angel of Thomas Street, wrote that three people each purchased a Christmas street light for Monongah and that five lights will be installed this year, bringing the total to 21.

I’ll let Susan explain it:

“Good afternoon. An update on the Christmas Lights. As you all know we can purchase 5 more lights this year which makes me so proud of our wonderful town. This will make us a total of 21 lights. WOW is all I can say.

“Now for very special Thank You’s to some of our wonderful town people who are purchasing a light.

“John Olesky, Mari Lisa Johnson & Adam Michna. We the committee thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

“The committee will buy two lights. We will be purchasing replacement bulbs, too.

“I will be placing the order to receive a 15% discount from Mosca,” which manufacturers the lights that cost $500 to $600 apiece.

“Again, please keep the donations coming. We couldn’t do this without you.

“Sincerely,

“Susan Sanders”

We the Committee will be buying a light also and two if nessecary. We will be purchasing new replacement bulb.

We will be checking all our lights next week to see if any bulbs needs replaced etc.

Ill be placing the order tomorrow to receive a 15% discount from Mosca.

Again please keep the donations comin

Thank you from the Committe we couldn't do this witho

Sincerely
Susan S

Mari is a senior accountant at Fairmont Regional Medical Center. She is a graduate of North Marion and attended both Fairmont State and the University of West Florida.

Adam works at Guns and Ammo and is involved with the Knights of Columbus. The 1980 North Marion graduate (after 3 years at Monongah High before it closed) has two former Sts. Peter and Paul School nuns, Sister Rose and Sister Dolores, in the family tree.

Adam’s father, Adam Michna and mother, Ethel Stevens Michna, have three amazing coincidences involving June 11. In 1960 the legendary Father Everett Briggs performed their wedding ceremony. Father Briggs also handled the marriage of another couple on that day: Henry “Dinkle” Martin, who kicked the extra point in 1955 that brought Monongah High one of its five state football titles, and Gloria Jean Nichols.

The two couples remained friends till they passed away. Dinkle died at the age of 53, Jeanie at 57, Adam at 77 and Jeanie at 83.

And Adam Michna’s parents, Francis "Frank" Michna (1887 - 1947) and Katrazyna Dering Wegrzyn (1877 - 1947), died on the same June 11 day in 1947.

The third Christmas lights purchaser, John Olesky, will see his shell and pearl version erected on Church Street, where he finished his childhood in Monongah in the house at Church and U.S. 19 (Camden Avenue) next door to the Sayre family that included daughter Mary Margaret Sayre Lewis, two doors down from the Lushinski family with daughters Rosemary and Lorrain and son John and sharing the same alley with the Feltz family of Coach Jim Feltz, wife Betty Lynn Wilson Feltz and children Jay, Jonny Pat and Jaimie.

After Sts. Peter and Paul School and Monongah High, John attended Fairmont State for a year, then graduated from West Virginia University School of Journalism before embarking on a 43-year newspaper career that took him to Williamson and Charleston, West Virginia, St. Petersburg, Florida and Dayton and Akron, Ohio. He lives in Tallmadge with Paula Tucker after a half-century with his late wife, Monnie Elizabeth Turkette of the Cinderella, West Virginia coal camp adjacent to Williamson, where they met. The relationship took them to Glendive, Montana, Charleston, West Virginia, Dayton, Ohio, St. Petersburg, Florida and Akron, Ohio.

Susan Sanders, the angel of Thomas Street who lives one door away (in the Mangino house next to the Catania house) from the Thomas Street rental that housed the Olesky family till it purchased the Church Street home from Consolidation Coal Company during World War II, and husband Ron Sanders, a Vietnam veteran, live next door to Mayor Greg Vandetta and his wife, Janice Manzo Vandetta.

Susan, Class of 1971, an administrative assistant at Personnel, has these angels on her Charge of the Lights Brigade Committee:

Susan is president, Shelly Yankie is vice president, Mary “Kitty” Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968, is secretary. The alternates are Josh Scritchfield, Brianna Stewart and Bill McCombs, Class of 1969, Monongah’s water genius.

Previous angels included Connie Warash,  Valerie Vandetta Aldridge, Class of 1973, Linda McCauley, Sheila Mills, the late and legendary Good Samaritan Warren Sloan’s companion for 17 years, Teena Field Ailstock, 1984 North Marion grad, Tina Stevens and Monongah’s premier photographer, Chris Martin, Class of 1970.

So 21 Christmas street lights will make Monongah shine every holiday season. Doesn’t that just brighten your heart and your day?

 

We the Committee will be buying a light also and two if nessecary. We will be purchasing new replacement bulb.

We will be checking all our lights next week to see if any bulbs needs replaced etc.

Ill be placing the order tomorrow to receive a 15% discount from Mosca.

Again please keep the donations coming.

Thank you from the Committe we couldn't do this without you.

Sincerely
Susa

 

Brother, Jimbo explain what it means to live in West Virginia

ESPN sportswriter Ryan McGee wrote an incredible article about what it means to be from West Virginia.

It’s about a pair of millionaires who still have Country Roads in their heart and DNA – Nick “Brother” Saban and Jimbo Fisher.

They will be the head coaches when Alabama plays Florida State at 8 p.m. Saturday. ABC has this choice TV coverage.

When Ohio State won the national title in 2002, it almost never happened because Cincinnati came within an eyelash – and two dropped passes in the end zone at the end – from derailing the Buckeye express.

Brother checked with Rick Trickett, once a WVU assistant coach, to find out who was the Bearcats’ coordinator. It was Jimbo. Brother arranged a meeting with Trickett and Fisher. He hired both of them on the spot. They were West Virginia comfortable with each other.

Brother also talks about Dewey Tarley, the Farmington No. 9 miner, and Pepsi Meffe’s service station pinball machine in Monongah next to the United Mine Workers Hall.

To read the article that explains why West Virginians who meet for the first time chat like family, click on http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/20495103/alabama-crimson-tide-nick-saban-florida-state-seminoles-jimbo-fisher-west-virginia-roots

The Michalski family is the Kennedy family of Monongah – without the millions of dollars.

They are rich in love and togetherness and helping others.

Monongah High alumni who travel to Monongah from other states wind up at Ramona Fullen Michalski’s house with its swimming pool and a treasure of Monongah High and Monongah mementoes. Ramona is the hostest with the mostest that Ethel Merman sang about in “Call Me Madame.”

Ramona, Class of 1949, is my “Monongah bureau chief” for this blog. I phone her often for guidance when I’m working on an article about Lions.

Ramona’s late husband, Frank, was my protector when bullies made fun of me because of my distorted speech caused by being born with a cleft palate. One menacing scowl and drawn fists from Frank and then NO ONE made fun of the way I talked any more on the Sts. Peter and Paul schoolgrounds.

You never forget that kind of help. I tried to pay it forward the rest of my life by helping others, such as having children of color play in the first integrated baseball program in southern West Virginia's Mingo County that I formed and ran before Brown vs. Board of Education said you couldn’t separate kids by color, and having girls play baseball with boys in Dayton, Ohio. The Michalskis taught me that.

This is a family who will do anything to help you. And they don’t forget favors for them, either.

When the oldest son of Ramona and Frank Michalski was born, Ramona needed blood. Frank’s former Monongah High football teammate, the late James Michael Commodore, Class of 1950, donated blood for Ramona. So the son was named Frank Michael Michalski.

Ramona and Frank’s DNA and character traits are imbued in their children, who saw its value first-hand during the 52 years their parents were married.

One of the six, Jay Michalski, and Debby Mason Michalski are celebrating their 31^st wedding anniversary today. They live in Fairmont.

Debby wrote:

“Happy Anniversary, Jay. It's been a great 31 years and I'm looking forward to many more!”

They probably locked eyes at the Tom Tom, a teen hangout in the building that once housed Patsy Forte’s drug store in the center of East Monongah.

Debby is a sales representative for the United Security Agency, a former agency assistant at Horace Mann and a graduate of Grafton High and Salem College. Her parents are Linda Mason Williams and John Mason of Folsom, the one near New Martinsville and not the prison that Johnny Cash sang about.

Jay works for a Fairmont recyling company.

Their children are Brad Ross, married to Brittney Ross, living in Fairmont, and Brad and Brittney’s child is Bryce Ross; and Michael Frank Michalski, father of Caden Michael Michalski.

Mike Michalski lives in Monongah with wife Janet Sauro Michalski.  Their children are Brandon Michael Michalski, married to Lynisa King Michalski and living in Arlington, Virginia; and Tony Michalski, married to Holly Turkett Michalski and living in Fairmont. Brandon Michael’s children are Jacob and Ava Michalski. Tony’s children are Sydney Michalski and Anthony Dean Michalski. Tony Michalski is Marion County Parks and Recreation Comission executive director.

Ramona and Frank’s other children:

Marcia Michalski Westfall, Class of 1974, of Kilarm, married Dave Westfall, Class of 1948. They ride their Harley motorcycle all over the United States. Their children are Brandy Westfall Haney, married to Kiley Haney, living in Fairmont and the parents of Caleb, Kiley and Aiden Haney; Amy Westfall Raines, living in Fairmont with Chad Raines, and the parents of Brevon Westfall, Alley and Erhan Raines; and David Westfall II, living in Morgantown with Nichelle Westfall and their children are Lucille Marie and Forrest Westfall.

Carol Michalski Drake, living in Shinnston with husband Robert Drake.

Ramona Marie Michalski, who lives in Monongah with her mother, Ramona Fullen Michalski.

Ramona and Frank’s daughter, Mary Frances Michalski Hulderman Gapen, passed away after 38 years as a teacher at Barrackville Middle School and Monongah Elementary. She was married to Rick Gapen. They lived in Barrackville.

 

Mary and Rick’s children are Tammy Hulderman Weintraub, married to Jacob Weintraub and living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with three children, Dina, Samuel and Mariam; Tracy Hulderman Eye, living in Morgantown with husband Josh Eye and their child, Liam Eye; Mathew Gapen, who spends his time in Morgantown and Pittsburgh; Eric Gapen, who lives in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania; and Mark Gapen, living in Severn, Maryland with wife Heather Gapen, the mother of Katie and David Gapen.

Ramona and Frank’s 23 great-grandchildren were supplied by 12 of their grandchildren.

Friends and family call her “Monie,” (pronounced mow-knee) which is close to what I called my wife of a half-century, the late Monnie Elizabeth Turkette 0lesky of Cinderella, the Sycamore Coal Company camp adjacent to Williamson, West Virginia near the Tug River the separates West Virginia from Kentucky. For those not in the know, the Hatfields lived on the West Virginia side of the Tug and the McCoys on the Kentucky side.

You know, the Hatfields and McCoys, one of the most famous family feuds in American history.

And then there’s the Michalski family, one of the most famous families in Monongah. Not for feuding, but for friendship, frolicking and forever offering a hand-up. God bless them.

And kudos, Jay and Debby. You have great role models. And 31 years of following in their footsteps.

3 Martino sisters safe from Harvey

Janice Hoffman, Class of 1967, who lives in Salem, Virginia, reached Joette Martino Bowie, Class of 1967, who lives in Spring, Texas, 25 miles north of Houston, and reports that “she and Ron are staying home and safe.”

Joette’s reaction: “We are good, as are all our families. The rain has been unreal and is still coming down.”

Karen Martino

“All our families” includes Joetta’s sisters, Karen Jo and Suzanne, who also live in the Houston area hit by Hurricane Harvey’s heavy, horrific rainfall that has turned streets into rivers in southeastern Texas.

The sisters are daughters of Joe and Virginia Martino. Another daughter, Toni, lives in Fairmont.

Gerald Pulice, Class of 1974, is keeping a close eye on the Martino sisters. They are his cousins.

Anthony Pulice, Jr., Class of 1945, is Joe and Virginia's cousin.

Previously, Janet Duncil Skarzenski, Class of 1966, wrote:

“All good at our place (Cypress area, where a tornado touched down briefly). My oldest son & family are also good (I-610 & Eldridge area of Houston). My daughter & family live near Brazoria and had to evacuate but are safe.”

On Tuesday, August 29, Jan posted:

“So much better-looking today. Rain is little to nothing. It almost makes me feel like the sun is out.

“We are fine. The reservoirs (that were breached by the floodwaters) are more south of us. We personally have not lost power through any of this. Street flooding, yes but we did not get any water in the house. Our street appears to have been spared as far as I can see."

Carmella Catania Allard, Class of 1947, who lives in San Antonio, 150 miles from the Rockfort landfall of Harvey, writes her sister, Mary Catania Heywood, Class of 1945, who lives in Covina, California, reports:

“Thankfully for Carmella and her family in San Antonio and Austin they have not had any problems.”

If you have reports about Hurricane Harvey’s effect on other Monongah High Alumni, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com or post it on Facebook if we are Friends and I’ll get the information there.

 

This blog is a conduit to help Lions keep track of each other during difficult times.

Click on the blue http://jo4wvu.blogspot.com/search?q=hurricane+harvey to read previous MHS blog articles about Hurricane Harvey and the Monongah High Alumni who are dealing with it.

Not just the food is Italian

We all know that the food at Clarksburg’s West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival is as Italian as spaghetti and meatballs.

But so is the musical entertainment, for all of the festival’s 39 years.

Only Italians or Italian-Americans are invited to perform.

The guy in charge of entertainment, Steven Pishner, makes sure of that. That’s Pishner as in Diane Pishner Walker, Clarksburg’s author of “Spaghetti and Meatballs,” about growing up in an Italian family.

 

This week the music will be provided by Moreno Fruzzetti at 6:30 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday, The Diamonds at 8:15 p.m. Friday (“Little Darlin’” and “The Stroll” and Sal Valentinetti, finalist on “The Voice,” on Saturday.

I scoured The Diamonds’ roster but I didn’t seen an Italian name on it. Gary Owens, Jeff Dolan, Jerry Siggins and Sean Sooter.

But then, I have a Polish name, Olesky, but my mother was born in Pellizzano, Italy so I guess one of those guys has Italian blood, too, if not a name with a lot of vowels, like me.

Lucille Holbert Mason, 103, Worthington town clerk for more than 30 years, church member for about as long as Monongah Baptist existed and mother of two Monongah High alumni, passed away Sunday, August 27.

She celebrated her 100^th birthday July 5, 2014 at the Monongah Baptist Church.

Daughters Patricia Sue Mason Wells, Class of 1955, and Pamela Mason Stanholtz, Class of 1970, drove their mother from Shinnston to Monongah every Sunday so that Lucille could attend Monongah Baptist Church.

Patty is the widow of Lyndon Wells, Class of 1955.

Patty and Pamela brought Lucille to her 100^th birthday party in Monongah in 2014. Among the guests was Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, who lives in Rivesville and who is the sister of John Olesky, Class of 1950, publisher of this Monongah High Alumni blog.

I forwarded the story of Lucille’s 100^th birthday party to my friend, then-editor of the Fairmont Times John Veasey, who wrote a tribute to Lucille in his column. Patty and Pam wrote me a warm thank-you note for putting their mother in the well-deserved spotlight.

The first MHS graduation class, in 1918, included William Fay Holbert, who passed away in 1956.

Lucille’s obituary:

Nedra Lucille Mason

July 05, 1914 - August 27, 2017

 

Nedra “Lucille” Mason passed away with peace, grace, and elegance just as she lived her life on August 27, 2017 in the home of her daughters who lovingly cared for her in the last years of her life.

Lucille was born in Richwood, WV on July 5, 1914 to the late William and Bessie Gooden Holbert. She grew up in a loving home with two brothers and two sisters; William Holbert, Carl Holbert, Geneva Ruth Holbert Blamble and Olive Marie Holbert Goff, all deceased. The family moved to Fairmont where Lucille was in the first class to attend all four years in the “new” Fairmont Senior High School in Loop Park. She continued her education at het Fairmont Normal School (now Fairmont State University) from where she graduated and went on to begin her teaching career. She taught in Weirton and at Fairview Elementary School in Marion County. Lucille worked for over 30 years as the town clerk for the town of Worthington. She was also proud of her work as a Sunday School teacher and for 35 years as the church clerk for Monongah Baptist Church, where she was a member. She has touched the lives of many children and their families.

Lucille met and started dating Gilbert Bates Mason because “he was good looking and had a car.” She married and shared her life with him because of a deep love and adoration of a very good man. Gilbert and Lucille married on December 27, 1936 and remained inseparable until his death in May 1987.

Lucille and Gilbert were the much loved parents of Patricia Sue Mason Wells, Richard Dean Mason (deceased), and Pamela Jean Mason Stanholtz. She spent most of her time throwing all her energies into her family, which grew to include four granddaughters; Diana Kay Wells Arthur (Keith), Wendy Ellen Wells, Karolyn Wells Kilpatrick and Sharon Ruth Wells Belcher (Mark), and four great grandchildren Caitlin Bryn Belcher, Cameron Prescott Belcher, Christian McKenzie Belcher, and Ethan Sean Kilpatrick.

She created beautiful hand-stitched quilts and put love into each stitch. She enjoyed creating pottery with her daughter, Pam, and loved to travel with anyone who would go with her. She was always ready for an adventure. For over 50 years, she enjoyed league bowling with her friends for various sponsors. She bowled well into her 80s.

Her home and kitchen were always open to others and she was a great example to her family by always studying her Bible and sharing her faith and God’s love with all she met. She will always be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt. She had a great passion for helping others. Neighbors and friends often became family, especially Kevin Scott and Daryle, Jeannette, and Journey (her baby girl) Maher.

The family would like to thank Dr. Isha Woofter and staff for all their kindness during Lucille’s journey.

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home in Fairmont from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesday, August 30, 2017. The  body will lie in state on Thursday, August 31, 2017 at Monongah Baptist Church from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. The funeral service will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Fairmont. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com .  

 

Highway projects skip Marion County

There are no Marion County highway construction projects in the $1 billion road bond amendment facing West Virginians in an October 7 election.

Projects are planned for 18 counties if the bond issue passes.

They are in Berkeley, Cabell (Huntington), Hancock, Harrison (Clarksburg), Jefferson, Kanawha (Charleston), Lewis, Mingo (Williamson), Monongalia (Morgantown), Morgan, Ohio (Wheeling), Pendleton, Putnam, Roane, Tucker, Wayne, Wood (Parkersburg) and Wetzel counties.

Governor Jim Justice, running as a Democrat, won Marion County in 2016 by 52.5% to 38.6% for State Senate president Bill Cole. Later, billionaire Justice switched his party affiliation to Republican in an apparent attempt to court President Trump’s favor.

Update on Lions in hurricane’s way

Janet Duncil Skarzenski, Class of 1966, slapped with Hurricane Harvey’s up to two feet of rain that hit the Houston, Texas area, reports:

 “All good at our place (Cypress area, where a tornado touched down briefly). My oldest son & family are also good at this time (I-610 & Eldridge area of Houston). My daughter & family live near Brazoria and had to evacuate but are safe .... thanking God and prayers for all.”

We haven’t heard yet from the 3 Martino sisters from Worthington who live in metropolitan Houston. That would be Joette, Class of 1967 (Chris Shamrock Henning tells me), Karen Jo and Suzanne (Jim McDaniel tells me).

Jim and I are trying to contact the three sisters. We’ll let you know what we hear.

Joette Martino Bowie lives in Spring, Texas, 25 miles north of Houston. She attended the 2017 Monongah High Alumni Reunion in Fairmont.

A tornado touched down in the Houston suburb of Cypress, damaging several homes. There have been fatalities from the rampaging waters in the Houston area. Thousands are homeless. Texas National Guard have been called out. Federal assistance is on the way, too.

Carmella Catania Allard, Class of 1947, lives in San Antonio, 150 miles from the Rockfort landfall of Harvey.

Carmella’s sister, Mary Catania Heywood, Class of 1945, who lives in Covina, California, reports:

“It seems that Harvey is still active, but thankfully for Carmella and her family in San Antonio and Austin they have not had any problems.”

If you have reports about Hurricane Harvey’s effect on other Monongah High Alumni, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com or post it on Facebook if we are Friends and I’ll get the information there.

This blog is a conduit to help Lions keep track of each other during difficult times.

Click on the blue http://jo4wvu.blogspot.com/search?q=Harvey+drenching+ to read the earlier story about Hurricane Harvey and the Monongah High Alumni who are dealing with it up close and very personal.

When you’re at a Vandetta reunion, frankly, you’re surrounded by Frank Vandettas.

Frank Vandetta III, born in 1955, and wife Brenda Vandetta are used to it.

Frank III is the guy in the yellow shirt in the photo. Brenda is wearing a green top at the Rivesville gathering.

Their son, Frank Anthony Vandetta IV, is in blue holding a child,  Frank Vandetta V, whose mother is Stephanie Kishbaugh Vandetta, on the far left, a paramedic who once lived in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. Frank IV is a North Marion grad and Monongah Fire Department firefighter.

There’s a previous photo of Frank V being held by WVU’s The Mountaineer.

Nathan Kotsko is behind Frank III and Brenda. Nathan Kotsko and Meya Kotsko, I suspect, have Vandetta blood in them.

The first Frank Vandetta, married to Olga Grandoni Vandetta, was born in the early 1900s. The second was Frank Junior Vandetta,  born in 1928. The third is Frank Vandetta III,  born in 1955. The fourth is Frank Anthony Vandetta IV, born in 1990. The fifth is Frank Charles Vandetta V, born in 2015.

Frank, Jr., who passed away in 2013, was married to Fannie Caputo Vandetta, who survived him.

His brother-in-law is Sam Lopez, Sr. of Monongah, one of 19 remaining survivors of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in 1945 and the father of Linda Lopez Gandy, Class of 1965, Monongah Alumni Association president.

Frank, Jr. was predeceased by son John Vandetta and sisters Joanne Vandetta Lopez (Sam’s wife), Mary Jean Vandetta Bonfantino and Margaret Vandetta Shaffer.

Joanne passed away in 2012.

Monongah Mayor Greg Vandetta, Class of 1975, is Frank III’s cousin.

Valerie Vandetta Aldridge is Class of 1973.

Harvey drenching Jan Skarzenski;
Carmella Catania Allard on fringe

Janet Duncil Skarzenski, Class of 1966, is hunkering down in Houston while Hurricane Harvey hits Texas.

She’s 1.5 hours from Galveston but 3.5 hours from where Harvey hit the state coastline near Rockfort.

Jan Skarzenski

Jan describes her situation: “A lot of rain. Not much in the way of wind. Right now, we're OK but Houston is getting a lot of water. More than ever before. We'll see how the next few days do. Thank you.”

Torrential rains are hitting Houston, 95 miles from Harvey’s landfall. With Harvey stalled, the Houston rainfall for these next few days may equal the normal yearly total there. Thus, flooding would become a serious problem. The rivers around Houston are rising rapidly.

Richmond, Wharton and Victoria all are in serious danger of ramping rivers overflowing.

A tornado touched down in the Houston suburb of Cypress, damaging several homes.

With as much as six feet of water in some Houston homes, at least two people have drowned.

Thousands of homes are taking on water and hundreds of people are trapped and stranded in rising floodwaters across the Houston metro area after Harvey dumped more than two feet of rain. More than 1,000 people have been rescued across the area so far as the death toll from Harvey rose to three.

Dr. Greg Postel, meteorologist and hurricane specialist for The Weather Channel, said the flooding unfolding in the Houston area "could be the worst flooding disaster in U.S. history."

Texas Governor Gregg Abbott has activated 3,000 National and Stte Guard members.

300,000 were without power in Texas.

When Theresa Walter posted that her son lives in Angleton, 41 miles from Houston, Jan responded:  “I sometimes go to church at the 1^st Assembly of God Angleton with my kids. They live near Brazoria. Small world, Theresa.”

Brazoria is 55 miles from Houston and 14 miles from Angleton.



Carmella Catania Allard

Jan was on the 1960 Monongah team that won the Marion County softball title under the coaching of the late Gene Kendzior.

Carmella Catania Allard, Class of 1947, lives in San Antonio, 150 miles from the Rockfort landfall of Harvey. Her area seems to be on the fringe of the torrential rains . . . for now. Since Harvey is expected to hang around in Texas for a few more days, who knows?

Carmella’s sister, Mary Catania Heywood, Class of 1945, who lives in Covina, California, reports:

“It seems that Harvey is still active, but thankfully for Carmella and her family in San Antonio and Austin they have not had any problems.

 

“Thank you, John, for your concern, also all the work you do to keep us posted is wonderful. Take care.

 “Mary”

Carmella wound up in San Antonio because her husband, Omer, still was in the Air Force when the late Angelo Catania, Class of 1943,  convinced his siblings and father to move to Covina, California, where Angelo was stationed during his Army Coast Artillery training days of World War II.  

That would be Mary; Alex Catania, Class of 1944; Josephine Catania, Class of 1952; and their father, Joseph Catania, widower of Schiro Catania and a native of Sicily.

Angelo married a Monongah girl, Pauline Layne Catania, also deceased. Mary is the widow of Arthur Heywood, who passed away in 2015.