Page 22 - Fall Winter 2023 FINAL FILE FOR WEBSITE USE

Class News, continued...

south and east coasts. “Baby” force winds and rain tonight are living in a retirement awarding him the National
brother Paul is in Milwaukee but should escape the worst. community in Rockville, Youth Education Award at
and sister Susan Russell Couch Note: it is now the next Maryland. Little traveling their national convention.
lives in Connecticut. morning. The winds are down these days but enjoying Fields, the author of the
But back to hurricanes! Last to a fresh breeze and the sun retirement with nearby family bestselling Letters to Lyla
summer’s hurricane “Ian” took is shining. I am relieved to say and friends. has authored several books
hundreds of lives on the SW that the only damage was the describing life in Aroostook
coastal islands. Fort Myers window box on the front of Class of 1951 County in the nineteen forties
Beach and Sanibel were hit our house that blew off! Gertrude Ervin Reichert and fifties.
with 10-to-12-foot water The good news is that we 6605 Meadowland Circle A retired Air Force officer and
surges. The city of Ft. Myers loved learning to sail on Lake Erie, PA 16509 a former telecommunications
lost its entire water system Michigan and living in this (814) 864-1681 industry entrepreneur, Bob
for over a week and the local small rural canal with fellow trudy59000@gmail.com currently resides with his wife
hospitals were transferring retired boaters as neighbors Janice on their horse farm in
patients to other cities. and friends. Cattle graze Trudy Reichert sent this Westernville, New York.
Almost a year later, the entire across the road and we have wonderful piece of news in on
coastal area is still struggling no sidewalks or streetlights her fellow classmate. Editor’s Note: Mr. Fields, an
to recover from billions of that interfere with star gazing. accomplished author as noted
dollars in property damage. Our road to “civilization” Bob Fields, a 1951 graduate above, has taken his first foray
Over 50 miles inland, from passes through cattle fields of Houlton High has been into the realm of romance
elected to the New York State
novels with his first work
the coast, we are protected and orange groves. Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame. entitled, Velma. Velma is not a
from Gulf storm surges by LaBelle, our nearest town, He was recognized for his love at first site story, first love,
several locks and dams on is 15 miles downriver. With work with a Trout Unlimited or puppy love tale. It is pure
the river. However, we still 6,000 residents it has the program called Trout in the life-lasting magical love with
can suffer tropical winds small-town atmosphere of Classroom. (www.tic.org). an unforgettable ending. See
and water damage. We Houlton. But the farmers Trout in the classroom, or the full-page ad for Velma on
have experienced five major here are called ranchers. You Salmon in the classroom, page 56.
hurricanes over the years, lost occasionally see vans hauling offers students of all ages a
a dozen trees, a dented roof saddled horses ready for chance to raise salmonoids Gertrude Ervin Reichert, ’51
and a demolished screened cattle roundups. We also see in a classroom setting. The Class Rep
porch. During Ian last year we semis hauling tons of oranges students start with eggs
only lost a fence! Ironically, instead of potatoes. in November and release Class of 1952
our boat has never suffered We miss our summer visits to them as fingerlings in late Need Class Rep
a scratch! Luckily, two large Maine, but age, arthritic knees May. In his twelve years
trees on our bank fell away and legs make long trips by with the program in New Shirley Mason reports:
from the dock! car or plane nearly impossible. Yorks Mohawk Valley Fields Still here and doing day
We often lose electricity after So, I must be content with grew the program from two and overnight trips as I still
hurricanes or heavy summer fond memories and waiting classes to fifty involving over love new adventures. Still
thunderstorms and finally for the next edition of North two thousand students and volunteering as often as I
invested in an emergency Star! Best to you all! teachers annually. can. Coming up to Aroostook
whole house generator. It This came in from Paulette In 2016, Trout Unlimited County next week with my
ran steadily for three days Campbell: recognized Fields for his daughters and granddaughter
after last summer’s hurricane, efforts in educating young to visit and explore. The best
keeping us comfortably air Robert Campbell, class of students about the need news is I am expecting my
conditioned and the well 1950, celebrated his 91st for clean healthy waters to first great granddaughter in
pump and fridges running. birthday on September 7. protect the environment by October. I so love Aroostook
We are expecting tropical He and his wife, Paulette, County news on Facebook to

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