Class of 71 in August 2021 Concrete Herald

 Fame becomes us...

50-year Reunion Weekend was EPIC EPIC EPIC

What a GREAT gathering of the GREATEST CLASS EVER!  Well, I say that in all humility...

SWHS Class of 1971 braved a pandemic and our aging frames and rocked the weekend away!

In addition, we had a few activities that were completely Pacific Northwest themed and celebrated our great heritage in that hyphenated town we love so well. 

Due to the COVID pandemic the town's Loggerodeo festivities were curtailed.  The log carving, home decorating, beard contest, rodeo, fireworks, and museum activities were in full swing.  But we were not able to have a 50-year reunion entry in the parade because there was no parade.  Also no carnival.  So we plan to have an entry in the 2022 parade and show the Class of 1972 how it's done!!

Our weekend included a Friday trip to Friday Harbor by walking on the ferry at Anacortes.  We lunched in BEAUTIFUL Friday Harbor, explored the downtown area a little, and then rode back to Anacortes with the stunning island scenery.  No whales this time.  

Saturday we had our main event, hosted by Sue Ann Butt Bryson at our traditional spot on Minkler Road. 

Entertainment was provided by Mark Stendal and Marko Self and a few band members imported for the evening.  Lots of music from 1971 (we all know the words) and a sentimental trip through photos and narration to point out the extraordinary class that we are. 

Chefs Gary Rothenbuhler and Frank Handy prepared some beautiful salmon and the rest of the salads, desserts, etc., were provided by class members.  

So much work and love went into the planning and execution of the evening that it was difficult to leave at the end.  So treasure those moments and your photos.  This amazing group of people can only get better as we age gracefully into our 70s and return for another epic weekend at the 55-year mark!  

Thank you a thousand times for all the planning, work, execution, foresight, and thoughtfulness that made the weekend so great.  How did we know in 1971 that we would all still be friends, 50 years later?  Amazing. 

Class of 71 reunion planning under way!

Yes, we are planning our 50-year reunion!

After much discussion, we want to proceed with the reunion plans even if we don't know yet (as of April 1) if there will be a Loggerodeo or parade. 

So our dates are July 2, 3, and 4!

Friday, July 2:  Walk on the ferry in Anacortes and ride to Friday Harbor.  (Carpool from SW.) Return in the afternoon.  Departure time TBA.  Lots of time on the ferry for visiting.  Lunch and activities on your own in Friday Harbor and lots of visiting on the way back!

Saturday, July 3:  If there are Loggerodeo activities on this day, you are on your own for visiting the venues.  Such as log carving, carnival, street sales, etc.  

The evening event will be at Sue Ann Bryson's.  

About 4 we will begin setting up.  Local class members will do most or all of the catering.  Menu is the same as always:  Salmon, baked potatoes, salad bar, desserts - some sugar-free options.  $25 per person.  (The $25 will pay for food and help defray some additional expenses for the weekend, such as parade fees and supplies.)

Gather at 5.  Eat at 6.  Program at 7.  Then visiting and CLEAN UP. 

Additional events and surprises pending. 

Sunday July 4:  If there is a parade, we will gather at the parade staging area between 9:30 and 11 and climb on the flatbed trailer with hay bales!  Yes, there will be stepstools.  Wear red, white, and blue or CUBS blue and white!  Parade is from 11 to 1.  There may be a fun run prior to the parade.  Watch for announcements. 

After the parade, our weekend is over. 

So this will be in the local papers, occasionally, between now and then:

Sedro-Woolley High School Class of 1971 seeks class members for the 50-year reunion, July 3, 2021.  Activities and a parade entry are now being planned but not all classmates have been located.  If you are a classmate and wish to be included in the celebration, please contact Judy Johnson at Judyjj "at "comcast.net or any Class of 1971 member.  

Please join the fun!  

50-year reunion planning

Oh, yes, we are planning our 50-year reunion for July 3, 2021!  Seems early?  NOT!  We have been discussing this for six months already.  Right now we know we're having the reunion dinner on Saturday evening, July 3, 2021.  And we'll be in the Loggerodeo Parade on Sunday morning, July 4!

Additional events and surprises pending. 

So this will be in the local papers, occasionally, between now and then:


Sedro-Woolley High School Class of 1971 seeks class members for the 50-year reunion, July 3, 2021.  Activities and a parade entry are now being planned but not all classmates have been located.  If you are a classmate and wish to be included in the celebration, please contact Judy Johnson at Judyjj "at "comcast.net or any Class of 1971 member.  

Please join the fun!  

Class of 71 Coffee Hour - Tuesday November 26

Once again, we'll gather at the Woolley Market in SW from 5ish to 7ish for our monthly coffee hour!  Have you been attending?  We'd love to see you there!  We always have a fun visit and enjoy seeing our "oldest" friends.  

Come and be a part of our tradition!

Monthly Coffee Hour Tuesday September 24th

Thanks again to Shirley and Pat

for hosting our July pot luck!

 

 

 

September is here and so is the rain!  We got an early start on fall weather but it means clean air and no fire danger.  This may have been the BEST summer weather ever! 

Our regular coffee hour will be Tuesday, September 24^th from 5ish to 7ish at the Woolley Market!

50-YEAR REUNION

Here is some business to discuss:

I have already had inquiries about the 2021 50-year class reunion! 

There are people who want to travel here from elsewhere and they also want to participate in the Loggerodeo parade – you know, when we have a “float” and we try to live up to the great entry that Class of 1969 had this year?   Anyway, that means that we should have our reunion right next to the 4^th of July.

Interestingly, the 4^th of July falls on a SUNDAY in 2021.  So we could hold our reunion on Saturday the 3^rd.  There have also been some suggestions that we have more than one event; a cruise on Bellingham Bay, a traditional salmon BBQ, maybe a pre-function on the 2^nd?

Now is the time to think about it and to voice your opinion.  Do you want to have the traditional get-together that we always have?  Or go to a restaurant and have it catered?  And dress up?  A daytime additional event?  Or just stick around and go to the wood carving event?  Pre-function on Friday?  Other ideas?  We will also need to decorate our parade entry and be ready for Sunday morning.  I will turn in the paperwork for the parade entry but who will work on getting us a vehicle, a concept, etc.?  I still have the two banners.

And I can use some more photos from your high school album.

We’ll have a commemorative “book”.

There are still people who have not been found.  We’d like to make sure they are included.  I will put together a list of the folks we are looking for and send it to you at some point in the future.

Think about all of these ideas and contribute some of your own.  We want to make sure our 50-year reunion is the BEST it can be!!

In other news, the bowling alley is re-opening with a Mediterranean restaurant inside.  Stay tuned.

Early warning:  Our October Coffee Hour will be held, in the dark, on Tuesday, October 29^th.  At the Woolley Market.

So “fall” on in to the Woolley Market on the 24^th!  See you there! 

Monthly coffee hour June 25th at the Woolley Market!

Our monthly coffee hour will be Tuesday, June 25th, at the Woolley Market in SW from 5ish to 7ish. 



Last month we had a special guest, who came a long way to see us!  Marko Self was here and it was so good to see him.  We had a nice turnout and got in a lot of visiting and updates.  Come in June and see if we have any more surprises!

On June 5^th I awarded the Class of 71 scholarships for 2019.  This year’s winners of the academic scholarships are Lexi Rodriguez-Padilla and Jillian Nelson.  We had no applicants for the vocational scholarships so we’ll offer them via the local schools with vocational programs later this year.  Still for SWHS and State Street HS grads only.

Jerry Sommerseth’s memorial service will be Saturday, June 22^nd, at 1 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church in SW.  Please come. 

Our regular coffee hour will be Tuesday, June 25^th from 5ish to 7ish at the Woolley Market!

Loggerodeo events begin on June 28.

SWHS All-Class Picnic is Saturday, July 14, at Riverfront Park in SW.  Gates open at 11, lunch is available for purchase starting at noon.  No advance reservation required.  $5 entrance fee.

                https://swhsalumni.blogspot.com/

 Woolley Fiber Quilters present their 10^th annual quilt and fiber show July 12-13-14 at Cascade Middle School.  Great event!  $3 entrance fee.

                http://woolleyfiberquilters.blogspot.com/

Our annual pot luck will be Tuesday, July 23 at Shirley’s.  NOTE THAT THIS IS A LITTLE EARLIER IN THE MONTH THAN WE NORMALLY MEET.  Same plan as always – bring whatever pot luck item(s) you like and come join us for an evening of fun and visiting!  Shirley and Pat are the best hosts!

I had an idea…(many people run, screaming, when I start a sentence like that…)  I would love to collect some photos from YOU of our graduation events in 1971.  If you have some favorite photos from that fateful day, PLEASE scan them (high resolution is best) and e’mail them to me.  I will post them on our blog site and we’ll use them for sure at our 50-year reunion in 2021.  Don’t put it off until June 2021.  Do some today!

 

See you June 25th!