Saturday, December 2, 2006
One of the things I'm looking forward to in 2007 is the opening of the new East High School.
The city's East Side has been without a high school since 1998, when the former East building was converted to a middle school.
East Side Middle School pupils are now in their new P. Ross Berry Middle School building on Bryn Mawr Avenue.
The school building that housed the former EHS, and that saw the graduation of thousands of talented people, is going to be razed, and there was a walk-through for alumni and the public last week to allow pictures to be taken before the wrecking ball does its work.
I remember my first day at East in September 1966. The building seemed so large, and it had the largest hallways I had ever seen. Upperclassmen told me about the elevator that would take me from the first to the third floors. I was just another naive freshman and fell for that fable hook, line and sinker. At least I didn't fall for the lie about the swimming pool being near the gymnasium.
Little did I know when I walked across the stage to get my diploma from Principal Burton Honey in 1970 that the East High School building would one day be gone.
In with the new
I have driven past the new school at Parker Street and Bennington Avenue on several occasions and it is looking good. I can't wait to get inside and take a look around the multimillion-dollar facility, paid for with state money and tax dollars provided by city residents.
The school mascot name has gone from Sun Risers to Golden Bears to Panthers. The familiar blue and gold colors proudly worn by all who graduated from EHS for decades have been replaced by silver and light blue.
Underclassmen who attended Woodrow Wilson High School and The Rayen School this current school year will come to the new EHS in fall 2007. It is hoped they mesh well with the East Side kids to form a strong bond and a new tradition as they enter their new building.
Supportive alumni
One of the positive things I like about Youngstown is the spirit of those people in alumni associations who rally support for their various schools.
In addition to the East High Hall of Fame organization, there is the East High School Alumni Association, established in 2002 when a few East grads decided to revive the alumni association that disintegrated when the former East closed its doors as a high school in 1998.
The organization's goal is to have fundraisers to provide scholarships to students beginning with the first class to graduate from the new school. The alumni association has had several events since 2002, including a three-day affair in 2004.
Dinner-dance
The latest fundraiser is an alumni Christmas dinner-dance from 6 to 11 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Archangel Michael Hall, 401 Twelfth St., Campbell.
After-five attire is required for the event, which will feature a disc jockey. If you like to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, you have to bring your own.
The cost is 25 per person, and tables can be reserved for parties of eight.
Checks or money orders can be mailed to: EHS Alumni, P.O. Box 2644, Youngstown 44507.
You also can call these association officers to get tickets: Debra Jones, communications officer, (330) 783-0460; John Jemison, chairman, (330) 207-6202; Jaladah Aslam, co-chairwoman, (330) 270-0242; Paulette Hopson Smith, treasurer, (330) 744-2246; and Valerie Shakoor, secretary, at (330) 744-8845.
I attended the first dinner-dance three years ago, and it was a tremendous success. It was good to see classmates I hadn't seen in years as well as alums from other classes.
I am encouraging all who wore the blue and gold to come out and support this worthy event. Proceeds go toward the scholarship fund. You can have a good time, enjoy the camaraderie with folks you may not have seen in years, and also help some deserving students get a chance to take their education to the next level.
You also can find out how to become an alumni association member by contacting the aforementioned officers.
And please stop by and see the new school. I'm sure you'll be impressed with its design and craftsmanship.
ebrown@vindy.com