NRHS: Class of 1951

NRHS: Class of 1951

One of the very best things about working in a library is that you have so many opportunities for interesting conversations with really great people. Wonderful stories are not only in books – they are with our patrons, our New Rochelle residents of today and yesterday. Add the fact that I also have the honor and privilege of being City Historian, and I could easily spend hours gathering information and tales from the people I encounter each day. If only there was an extra day in each week….  

Last week I did make the time to accept an invitation to hear stories from a group of terrific guys who grew up together in New Rochelle. This group of 12 - 15 or so get together at a local diner at least once a month. Not unusual? Well, these fellows come from all parts of the U.S. to enjoy some time together. And, at this particular lunch, all but two were members of NRHS Class of 1951! 

Pictured here, left to right standing: Richard (Boo) Wilkens,  Donald Gross, William (Bill) Billups III (’51 Class President),  Frank Adonetti, Donald Pinals, Arthur (Artie) Librett, William (Fuzzy) Farr, Murray Mendelsohn (Isaac E. Young High School Class of ‘41), David Garvin (NRHS Class of ’52). Kneeling in front: George (Bud) Ahrens and Armen Proudian.

Boo drove up from Westbury and Bud from Philadelphia. Fuzzy drove down from Mohegan Lake and Frank from Hopewell Junction. The rest still live locally – several are still in their hometown of New Rochelle. P.S. Last month Jesse Arnelle joined came from California to join the group!

Bud Ahrens brought along some memorabilia, which he kindly donated to the Local History Collection of the New Rochelle Public Library.

Some of the materials Bud donated. 

A special shout out to thank Artie Librett, who coordinates the monthly gathering. You can find Artie each Friday morning at NRPL, where he volunteers his time helping to process local history materials.

Do you have a group of NRHS classmates who still meet on a regular basis? We’d love to hear about it. 

Contributor: Barbara Davis, Community Relations Coordinator @ NRPL.

Summer Reading

Summer Reading 

Now that that those lazy, hazy summer days are upon us, here’s hoping you are finding plenty of time to read. If you have not yet discovered Lucinda Riley, her new book would be a great place to start. Published May 5, The Seven Sisters is the first in a linked series of 7 novels focused on the mysteries surrounding six girls adopted by an enigmatic billionaire. Upon his death each girl is given a clue to her origins; the first sister, Maia, follows hers to Rio, finding links to the building of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. Riley does the dual timeline story—one of my favorite plot devices—beautifully, and I can hardly wait for the second novel, promised for November 2015.

A number of long-time favorite authors had summer books published in May and June: be on the lookout for Nancy Thayer’s The Guest Cottage, Mary Kay Andrews’ Beach Town, Mary Alice Monroe’s The Summer’s End, Dorothea Benton Frank’s All The Single Ladies, and Shelley Noble’s Whisper Beach. Also published in June is Elin Hilderbrand’s The Rumor, which finds Grace spending too much time with her hunky landscape architect, while friend Madeleine has rented a room in town as a hideaway, hoping to overcome writer’s block. Teens Allegra, Hope and Brick are in the throes of young love. Rumors abound. Gather up your towels and sunscreen and head to the beach with this one. Friendships and marriages will be tested before the rumors can be put to rest. 

Readers wondering if Judy Blume was working on any new adult titles should enjoy In the Unlikely Event, published June 2, which is a wonderful coming-of-age story set in the 1950’s in a community traumatized by a series of devastating plane crashes. Teenager Miri grabbed my attention right off and held it all the way through; secondary characters are memorable as well.

A title to look out for in July is Amy Reichert’s The Coincidence of Coconut Cake, a charmer a la 'You’ve Got Mail' with a restaurant owner and critic at odds with one another. It’s also a love letter to Milwaukee’s foods and festivals and may make you want to plan a trip. Also due out in July is Circling the Sun by Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife. With a fascinating subject in aviatrix Beryl Markham, a compelling sense of place and the dramatic Karen Blixen/Denys Finch-Hatton/Beryl love triangle to pull in Out of Africa fans—it’s hard to see how this one can miss.

Science fiction fans who loved Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One will be thrilled to get their hands on Armada, publishing July 14. Another delightful—and thought-provoking—romp through classic science fiction themes, Armada is tremendous fun.

Mystery readers can look forward to Andrew Mayne’s second Jessica Blackwood  mystery, Name of the Devil, due out July 7, where we learn a little bit more about magician-turned FBI agent Jessica, her unusual family, and how other FBI agents are dealing with the suddenly high-profile rookie. Jessica has another spooky and intriguing case to deal with when a rural church mysteriously explodes and the small congregation goes missing. Also publishing in July are Kathy Reichs’ Speaking in Bones and Elizabeth Gunn’s Noontime Follies, the next title in her excellent Jake Hines series. But the real bonanza arrives in August, which must be “Mystery Month” this year. Look for Linda Fairstein’s Devil’s Bridge, Sue Grafton’s X, Margaret Maron’s Long Upon The Land, Sara Paretsky’s Brush Back, Martin Walker’s The Patriarch, and—last but not least—Louise Penny’s Nature of the Beast. Penny set the bar high with her last two books but she has no trouble clearing it with this one. All our old friends are back in Three Pines where a young boy with the compulsion to tell tall tales tells one true story with disastrous results. But which story was the truth and why is it so threatening?


Contributor: Beth Mills, Senior Librarian @ NRPL