WHAT A REUNION!!!!!!! If you were one of the nearly two hundred who attended the East View Homecoming Reunion on Sunday, then you will know just what I am talking about. 

 

The Queen family decided several weeks ago that we should have a reunion of our family and friends at the East View Community Center.  We had never really had an East View Reunion and  had no idea how it would go. But were we surprised at the wonderful turn out and all the camaraderie that we shared.  Now, do not misunderstand me, everyone there was not a native from East View, but they were either born, raised or knew someone in East View.  Our senior East View resident, Rose Vallelonga was in attendance. She was born in East View and continues to live there and we all had the opportunity to sing Happy Birthday to her as she celebrates her 90th birthday this week.  Her daughter Brenda was with  her.  Happy birthday also to Bobby Bland who was in attendance.  

 

Just to mention a few, there was my childhood friend Garnet Gillespie Garrett, and there were the Sandy Girls and Nancy Johnson Richison.  Frank Guzzi and the Payton Girls were there  as were the Laffertys and the Kirtner family along with Noreen's husband Dan. Our Anmoore neighbors,  Ed Martin and Rex Talkington, Liz Stopiak, Dave and Charley, and some of our Broadway neighbors, Betty Hagi, Michelle Beto, cousins Frank and Tonya Zednek as well as Tracey and Randy Lawrence and Todd Davis and his children joined in the reunion. Several of our Nutter Fort friends were in attendance which included Joan Davis and her friends and family. Helping us was Cheryl Mihaulic and my sisters Joan and Cathy and their husbands as well as cousin, Ruby Oldaker. Our special guest from East View was Mark Queen who had just moved to his new home in Salem.  Our guest list included George and Jenneane Vincent, Shirlene Isabella, Jeanie McNabb and her husband Jeff,  Ron and Christine Fragale as well as Jack Smith, Jay Wolfe and his wife and Richard Iaquinta and several of our political friends. Our entertainer Janice McMurdo also served as our MC.  She shared some of her memories of being with our family for many years and we all enjoyed her music. Our menu included Hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans and the basic picnic menu.  I know I have not mentioned everyone of our good friends who took the time on this beautiful Sunday afternoon to be with us. Give me a call and you will be in next weeks column.

 

Our family, Dave, Fray, Leslie, Dixon, Marty, Holli, Hunter, Ben, Andy and Lisa are so grateful for your support. We must do this again soon; as I have always said there are no better people than those who live in East View or know someone who does.

 

October is here and this month is Pizza, Pasta, Pretzel, Apple and Popcorn Popping Month.  It is also the month when we should get all those wonderful mushrooms.  Just waiting for that phone call from Junior Heater or John Barnett.

 

This past week I received the local paper from San Giovanni in Fiore.  My cousin, Francesco Fabiano is on the staff and he makes certain I get the paper.  When I opened it up what a pleasant surprise I found with a couple photos of friends from here.  One photo was of Bob Maxwell, Shelly Moore Capito, Ben Queen and myself that was taken at a political event last month. There was also a photo of a group of ladies that I had hosted a luncheon for on the Fifth Floor in honor of our friend from Italy, "Juissey." The photo included our mayor Cathy Goings, CVB director Kathy Titus, Dr Judy Byer and her daughter Julia, Maria Destito, Rose Mazza, my daughters Lisa and Leslie and my sisters, Joan and Cathy. So now we have gone international.

 

This is the most beautiful time of the year, get out and enjoy it before the snows come.  Keep in touch and until next week "Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine."