SUMMER 2003

Auditorium Renovations at the TOP of the list

Over the past several years the LAHS Alumni Association has given several thousands of dollars toward sound equipment for the auditorium. This was sparked by a gift from David Pursley ’56 and as word spread, more contributions were received and more body microphones were purchased. And now there is even greater need for new sound and lighting equipment. Maintenance of the current system is difficult due to the age of the equipment and the lack of available replacement parts. An application was sent to the Degenstien Foundation asking for their financial support. We still have not received word of their acceptance. The proceeds from the spaghetti dinners will also be used for this project

The administration, school board and the Alumni Association are working together toward the completion of this three phase project. The first phase will be for a stage lighting and dimming system, which will control the house lights also. The lights can only enhance the outstanding performances that has been a tradition for our students.

Ballentine and Kleppinger Receive Scholarships

The class of 2003 is to be commended for it’s academic achievements. There was a record number of students applying for our 2 annual $500 scholarships making the selection process very difficult for the scholarship committee and the alumni board. They selected Ashley Ballentine and Tara Kleppinger as this years award winners.

Ashley will be attending Clarion University majoring in Speech – Language Pathology. She wishes to work with young children who have speech impediments and deaf children. Tara will be attending Franklin and Marshall, pursuing a degree in International Business where she can continue to develop her appreciation and knowledge of the Spanish culture and language as well to apply her strengths in social sciences and mathematics.

With Grateful Thanks

The Alumni Associtation has recived 2 generous gifts - $153.25 from the class of 1933, who closed their bank account and $1000 from Isabelle Romig Renninger ’32. Both donations are to be used for future Alumni activities. The LAHS Foundation received a gift of $450 from the class of 1942 for the Scholarship Fund. We appreciate the gifts as will the students who will benefit from your kindness.

Homecoming – October 3^rd

6:00 – Parade (Alumni are welcome to march with the band)

7:30 – Game with Distinguished Alumni Award presentation

9:00 – Brynnwood on 6^th

Special Feature: entertainment by THE SPASTIKS!

Returning the Favor

Cathy Young Platusich ‘65

After 6 years of ominous smells from every corridor in the school and fire drills galore, nothing exciting ever happened until I was safely out of school and then my very own brother blew up the chemistry lab.

Left to his own devices, my sweet brother Don Young ’67 would never have done anything to draw attention to himself, but, of course, he had lab partners to help him do so. It was a simple enough experiment – follow the directions, watch the apparatus, and turn off the heat before the tube get clogged. So Don, Billy Lane ’67 and Tom Hertzog ’66 set the thing in motion and the settled back to watch and indulge in that high point of every chem. Lab, hanging around and talking, which they did until clouds of smoke began bellowing from the beaker – just before it blew up.

For the ensuing chaos, Don remembers being yelled at to rinse out his eyes and he did realize that would probably be a good thing (Bill’s glasses came in handy here), but since he saw the real problem as his inability to breath, the thought did cross his mind that continuing to live, although blind, was a reasonable option.

Later that afternoon he blew in the front door of our house with a very red face slathered in ointment (compliments of Dr. Weightman), and a moss green wool sweater that had lost its fuzz and has turned orange down the front. After a decent interval (last bell)I drove him back to school where he picked up his stuff and swaggered around the halls a bit.

Years later this episode of the 3 stooges was still being played for the then current crop of chemistry students so that there wouldn’t be another disaster of “66”. I’m sure no one has heard the story recently at LAHS, but Don keeps the story alive.; Each year he relates his 4^th grade class with episodes of “Tales From My Youth”, and the chemistry-lab-gone-wrong is one he tells. Since he also tells stories about his siblings. I have just returned the favor.