SCHOOL REUNION '70s class event to revive rivalry of Sharon and Farrell

Alumni are coming from as far as London, England, for the reunion.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- There was a time of intense sports rivalry between Sharon and Farrell schools that meant most of the pupils didn't mix.
But come June -- at least for those who graduated from the schools in the 1970s -- that rivalry will be turned into something fun.
A class reunion extravaganza encompassing the entire decade will take over both schools with wild '70s clothes, dance music and -- of course -- sports.
"We were good, old-fashioned rival schools, but we were harmless," said Victoria Fore, who attended both schools and came up with the idea for a combined 1970s class reunion.
Fore, who graduated from Sharon High in 1977, never attended a traditional class reunion because she always wanted to see friends from both schools who graduated in various years. She attended Farrell schools through the ninth grade before her family moved to Sharon.
So last year, the event planner, who lives in the Maryland/Washington, D.C., area, came up with the idea to have a reunion including both schools with classes from the late 1970s.
After word got out, people who graduated in the early 1970s wanted to jump on board, and the Farrell and Sharon High Schools '70s Class Reunion was born.
Some details
The June 15-18 event, aptly called "Linking the Past to the Future," will take alumni from the rival schools back in time for a combined prom, basketball game, fashion flashback party and other events.
"Once I got the event together, I called a couple of my classmates and waited for someone to tell me I had bumped my head," she said jokingly.
But the response from the 1970s alumni has been very positive.
Working on a small budget, a committee formed by Fore started getting word out about the reunion on classmates.com and through word of mouth early in 2005.
Responses have already come from alumni living in California, Texas, Georgia and even London, England. More registrations come in each day, she said.
Etchaka Carrouthers, a 1977 Farrell graduate who went to elementary school with Fore, was one of the first to hear of Fore's idea.
"I thought 'Victoria, God must have touched your brain.' I thought it would be so wonderful," said Carrouthers, who now lives in Pittsburgh.
Carrouthers has been helping round up all the former cheerleaders and basketball players for the great rival basketball game June 17 at Farrell.
She's had to promise the cheerleaders they won't have to wear little skirts while persuading them to cheer at the game.
Carrouthers jokes that most of the 1970s basketball players will have to play from half-court.
Response to the reunion -- despite the school rivalry -- has been very positive, she said, with about 200 planning to attend.
"I spoke to one guy whose wife never got to go to the prom. This is her opportunity to go and dance to the '70s music and wear '70s clothes," she said.
Where extra funds will go
And though the weekend is expected to be great fun, it's also a way for alumni to give back to the community.
"The No. 1 idea is to come back and reminisce," Fore said. But after the reunion, they hope to give any extra money from donations to the schools. Fore said she would like to give each district at least $10,000.
"This was a great opportunity to see what the kids need as well as look at economic development issues. A lot of us have moved away and probably done very well," Fore said.
Both districts are allowing the alumni to use their buildings.
"I think it's great," said Richard Rubano Jr., Farrell schools superintendent. "Victoria is very professional. I was impressed with her."
Tours of the schools will be available during the weekend.
"It's just nice to keep the two schools together. A lot of us attended the schools and have lived in the Valley all our lives," said Dennis Staul, Sharon High School assistant principal who is a 1969 Farrell graduate.
cioffi@vindy.com
XFor more information, go to www.FHS-SHS-70sClassReunion.com or call (724) 342-8111.