PLEA FOR HELP FROM FUHS LIBRARY

The following e-mail message was sent to Pat Vierra Zima (FUHS '53) who has received help from the library and who has helped fund the restoring of old school newspapers.

I'm sending this e-mail to you because I have provided help to you in the FUHS library for alumni concerns or historical information related to Fullerton Union High School. On Monday, April 16 (the day we came back from spring break), we were informed that the position of library technician (the support person in to the librarian in each of the six high schools) had been cut. We librarians would like to rally as many people as possible to go to the May 1 meeting of the Board of Trustees in a show of support for the services provided by the school libraries. Fullerton is, of course, the original school in the district, and our library is the one that houses the rich historical archives, the collective memory of the early years of the school, the district, and also Fullerton College. I have been able to offer support to alumni, including tours and physical resources, because I have a back-up person who can run the library if I step out or dig into the archives. The board has to vote on June 19 on a budget that includes funding for two positions at the District office that were not in this year's budget but does not include funding for the library technicians who partner with us in providing library services to students, staff, and alumni. The June 19 approval of the budget will probably be a consent agenda item; it will be a done deal by then, but there is time to revise the proposed budget before then.

The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. in the Education Center Board Room, located at 1051 West Bastanchury Road, Fullerton, California. To be able to speak to the board, we will need to complete blue cards and wait until the rest of the meeting is over, probably around 9:00 or 9:30 p.m. We can't have everyone speak for five minutes, but we would like a show of support just by sheer numbers, whether or not you can actually address the board. WE DO NOT WANT YOU TO CALL THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND VOICE YOUR OPINION BEFORE THE MEETING.

I'm contacting you as alumni or those interested in the history of Fullerton High School. We are also trying to get parents, students, and teachers from the entire district to show up on that night in support of not passing the budget as it is currently proposed. I'm attaching a file describing the duties that Erin Black does in our library. These could not be done by a fill-in person, because the union regulations forbid allowing someone to do the tasks in the job description of a classified person whose job was cut.

The reason given to us was "declining enrollment," but we are talking a possible decline of about 50 students per campus over the next three years. There are about 4000 more students in the district than there were when I came in the 1994-95 school year, according to the California Department of Education's website. The governor has a May Revise for the state budget; our board has a chance to do a May Revise on their proposed budget as well.

I'd really appreciate your support.

Thanks,
Diane Oestreich
Fullerton Union High School Librarian

Please click on "Comment" to see the file she attached describing the duties.

CAUTION- NEW MICROSOFT OFFICE 2007

The new version of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access) is so different from any other version that you have seen that I caution you to review it before you buy it. You may have to buy a book of directions or take a class to understand how to use it.

Instead of having menu items listed with drop-down options, it uses Tabs with ribbons that contain so many choices that it's mind-numbing. (You have to see this to understand what I'm talking about.)

If you are planning to buy a new computer, check out your options on the software that will come installed on it. You may want to stick with Office 2003.

MEL WILLIAMS, FUHS '56

Friday, April 13, 2007
'Mr. La Habra' grew up with hometown
Mel Williams, 69, was known for his lifelong volunteerism.
By ERIC CARPENTER
The Orange County Register

LA HABRA – In many ways, the life of Mel Williams mirrored the history of La Habra. He grew up with this town.
He was born here just a decade after the city incorporated.
He helped build fledgling community groups into institutions. Poured concrete in the park that houses the annual Corn Festival. Planted trees that now have firm roots.
Williams was known by many simply as "Mr. La Habra."
He continued to lend a hand, to volunteer – even in failing health – until he could no more.
Williams died April 4 of complications from a kidney transplant. He was 69.
"He was La Habra's town greeter," said Robert Dale a friend and fellow member of the Old Settlers Historical Society, a group dedicated to preserving La Habra's past.
"You'd walk down the street with Mel and he'd talk to everybody in his path, only stopping to clean up pieces of trash," Dale said. "This was his town."
Williams also was the unofficial town photographer, a hobby that he picked up from his father, who founded the town's first photo store.
Williams carefully preserved those photos that documented La Habra's growth from sprawling citrus farms to thriving industry and dense housing.
As the town grew, Williams was there to help. He started volunteering at age 5. With his parents' guidance, he raised money for the March of Dimes. He later served on the board of directors for more than 20 years.
He worked as a carpenter, helping his dad build the Boys and Girls Club in 1957. He joined the Kiwanis Club in 1963 – and never missed a meeting until 1996.
Many people got to know Williams as the bell ringer outside the Euclid Street Post Office, routinely raising thousands of dollars each holiday season for the Salvation Army.
"If I can make one person have a better day of life, every day of my life, that's what I want to do," he told the Register in a 1999 interview.
Williams never married. He was just too busy, he said.
He never had children, but many considered him like a father. He delivered Meals on Wheels to senior citizens every Friday. And during the week, he routinely drove friends to doctor's appointments and chemotherapy treatments.
He held their hands when they needed support.
Many friends showed their love for Williams and tried to repay some of his favors during his kidney transplant in 2003.
Friends set a goal of raising $5,000 to help pay for some of Williams' medical expenses. Within weeks, they more than double the anticipated amount, raising $12,000.
This was his town. Its people were his family.
Williams is survived by his sister, Nanette.
The Historical Society on Saturday will plant a Canary Island palm – Williams' favorite tree – at La Habra High School in his honor. The tree planting begins at 10 a.m.
A public graveside memorial is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at Memory Garden Memorial Park in Brea.
Contact the writer: 714-704-3769 or ecarpenter@ocregister.com

LUNCH WITH ANITA '53

Anita Mills Johnson '53 and husband Courtland missed the Pow Wow luncheon this year because they were bringing their grandchildren down to Orange County from San Jose for a Disneyland adventure in April instead so a few fellow '53 classmates joined them for lunch during their visit. Thank you, Anita and Courtland, for the lovely lunch and enjoyable companionship.
Pictured are Connie Stafford Van Horn, Courtland, Sheryl Weible Fowler, Theo Dwinell, Anita and Shirley McFarland Tardie.

Postscript: On Friday the 13th, as Anita and family were packing up to leave for home, their hotel caught on fire. The jinx lives on. (But, fortunately, so do unharmed Anita and family.)

GERRY BOYD AND SHIRLEY MC CONAUGHY (BOTH '53)

Email message to Connie from Lynn Stafford Cook '53 and Gerald Cook '52:

We just heard that Gerry (Boyd) Seely ('53) passed away about 3/20/07. Services were private and have already taken place. We also just received word that Shirley (McConaughy) Ranabauer ('53) also passed away. It was announced at the Elks Lodge (Frank was Past Exalted Ruler of Fullerton Lodge). I don't know when she passed, but if I get more info. I will let you know.
Lynn & Gerald