Dick Kennedy

Judy Milbrath (Fitzgibbons)

Wow! It's been a whole month since the reunion and I'm wishing I'd taken more pictures. Like all of the previous comments, kudos to the planning committee for creating a wonderful series of events giving us opportunities to connect. Thanks, also, for the recent committee photo. What a good-looking group!

Just wondering--would it be possible for someone (or several people) from each of the grade schools to identify classmates in the grade school photos?  That would be really helpful for looking at the pictures in the galleries. Sorry folks, but most of us just don't resemble those senior year yearbook clips very well.

Hoping to keep in touch-Judy Milbrath Fitzgibbons

Janet Furtick (Raschke)

I would like to add my deep thanks to all the others for the incredible organization of our reunion committee.  The weekend was full of fun, comradery, and the food was great too.  The idea of the elementary pictures was genius and another way to make contact with those who we hadn’t seen yet.  Also, I thank all our classmates who were able to be there.  It’s hard to express how wonderful the weekend was but now I have a little corner inside me filled with the joy of our reunion.  On down days I’ve been able to pull out the joy and make my day smile.

Another reason to be grateful for the reunion is the timing of spending two good days with my brother Randy, who many of know.  Less than a week later he had a stroke and was gone. 

Since this weekend was so memorable I’d like to suggest that we do as some of the other classes and have a yearly picnic.  August seems to be our favored time but most of us don't have to worry about school times.  Maybe we can set the 2^nd or 3^rd Saturday/Sunday as our date.  Anyone else interested?

Cathy Harwood (Jenson)

Has anyone ordered the class reunion DVD?  I ordered mine in mid September and I still have not received it.  Mr. Raines cashed my check shortly after I mailed it to him.  I called him and he said he was having issues getting it finished but I think he has gotten that resolved and said it should be mailed out by the weekend.  That was on October 30th.  Hopefully it will get here before the week ends.  Since I missed this reunion, I am looking forward to getting it.  I was unable to recognize some of the classmates posted in the photos.  I was happy to hear the 50th reunion was a success.

Dick Kennedy

Bradford Vincent

Same here, I ordered the DVD but haven't received it yet.  But am still resonating from the wonderful time we had during the Reunion!

Rebecca Butler (Randazzo)

I haven't received my DVD either. My check was also cashed months ago. Hmmm?

Cathy Harwood (Jenson)

I guess I had finally waited long enough for the DVD so I called Mr. Raines tonight and told him I didn't want the DVD and to send me a refund.  He said he would put a check in the mail this weekend. Uh huh!!  It didn't sound like the DVD's were in the mail yet but that they would all be going out at the same time.  Hopefully you will all be receiving yours soon.  Enjoy.

Tim Stover

I am responding to the message forum thread on behalf of the local reunion planning team regarding the status of DVDs of our class reunion event.  I begin with an apology for the delay in the distribution of the DVDs to those of you who ordered them.  We did not have a formal contractual relationship with Richard Raines, owner of Raines Video Productions.  On the recommendation of the CHS Class of 1968 who utilized his services for their 50th reunion in August of 2018, we made his service available to our class members.  We did provide a list of addresses from our database with the understanding that he would only contact, directly, those whom he met at the reunion and who confirmed their willingness to receive a letter and order form for the dvd from him. To my knowledge, he did not violate that promise.  I also sent an email to the whole class (through this website)  notifying them of this opportunity so classmates who did not attend the reunion could access the dvd.

My last direct communication with Richard was an email I received from him on September 4th following the reunion.  In that email he indicated that he was in final production on our class dvd and that he anticipated shipping them the following week.  It is clear that did not happen.  Subsequent emails and phone calls to Richard in this matter have not been returned.

Reviews from Yelp and Better Business Bureau (Portland, OR) are mixed.   It seems clear that Richard has a problem with providing accurate estimates for time frames in which DVDs will be shipped.  It consistently takes much longer than most of us would expect and any promises he does make (as referenced above) also seem to be consistently wrong.  Here are links for these reviews:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/raines-video-productions-portland

https://www.bbb.org/us/or/portland/profile/video-production-services/raines-video-productions-1296-22449845

Some of the reviews indicate that, while the wait time was frustrating, they were pretty happy with the final product.  For those who are not interested in the protracted waiting period, he offers refunds.  You will see some of this referenced in the reviews alongside some of his own responses to complaints - particularly on the BBB site.

I know that at least of a couple of our classmates have tried and/or made direct contact with Richard and it seems results are in line with some of the complaints above.  I would be interested in any feedback you can provide to me in terms of such direct responses.  As one of the complaints online says, "Well, he found time to cash my check."  Obviously this is a pretty frustrating business model.  Given that I am not having any better luck in my communications with Richard, I am not sure what more to say at this point.  We will continue our efforts at contacting him on your behalf.  Those of you who are willing may also contact him directly at:

Richard Raines, Raines Video Productions,  mail address: 818 SW 3rd Ave., Portland, OR  97204-2405

Business Address:  1749 SW  Terrace Drive, Portland, OR   97201

email:  rcvp@aol-com

Phone:  503-274-9635

Website:  www.rainesvideo.com

Maybe "crowd-sourcing" this concern will be fruitful.  Thank you!

Timothy Stover   tim.stover@gmail.com

Cathy Harwood (Jenson)

Thanks for the information Tim.  Mr. Raines did violate his promise not to contact people who were not at the reunion.  I am OK with that..  He sent a letter with the offer of purchasing a dvd and I responded by sending him a check.  Now I am waiting to see if I get the refund I requested on Friday.  He said he would send it out this weekend.  That seems to be his patented answer.  The weekend!!  I called him three times and he answered twice so I guess I have been luckier than some.     

Tim Stover

Thank you for checking back, Cathy.  Please do let me know the status of the check.  Since I posted the message we have heard back from the member of the class of 1968 who had referred us to Richard and he acknowledged that the delivery timeline was also protracted for them - but it eventually happened and people seemed to be happy with the results.  And I appreciate your feedback about Richard violating the agreement we had around contacts from our database.  Not sure what I/we can do at this point but I will probably post Better Business Bureau and Yelp comments.  Shalom,  Timothy

Gino Harrison

I received my DVD video today.

Tim Stover

I received a phone call from Richard Raines of Raines Video Productions this afternoon announcing that he had mailed out the Class Reunion DVDs last weekend.  So they are in the mail.  Thanks to Gino for checking in to let us know that he received his.  If you have not received your ordered DVD in due time, please contact Richard Raines directly (see my previous message forum post with his contact details).  Thank you for your patience!  Timothy Stover

Bradford Vincent

I finally received the DVD.  Haven't reviewed it completely yet, but so far it looks great! 

Light Bryant (Bryant)

This is not directly related to past threads, but this afternoon (out of the blue) I had a recollection regarding Joe Malango - whose recent death many of us have commented upon and mourned.

In our senior year in Joe's drama class we had a student who (I think) had just transferred to Corvallis from Virgina.  I don't recall her name, but she was fairly short, very sweet and good-natured, and very good looking.

She had a pretty strong southern accent, and as a result Joe would frequently (regularly) refer to her as, or address her as,  "Shake and Bake."

Although it would probably long ago have become politically incorrect to do so (and probably offensive at the least), Joe meant it to tease her (as he did with practically everyone in the class).  She took it good naturedly and graciously.

At the time I thought it was very funny - but not in a mean way.  I think she may have had her own come-backs for Joe (although I don't recall).

Terry Crocker (Eaton)

Hi, everyone,  Just checking in.  I had hoped to join folks this last summer, but the timing was bad, and I wasn't able to come down and visit.  Hope there is a get together this year, however informal, that I might be able to attend.  Wishing everyone well in this New Year. 

Gina Cirilli (Carter)

Reminder:

Roger Asbahr's Celebration of Life will be held at McHenry's Furneral Home on 5th in Corvallis, Saturday January 20th at 2:00 pm. His recorded music will be featured begining at 1:30 pm and refreshments will be available afterwards. It's a time to celebrate remberances of a dear friend and classmate. 

Wynn Fischer

Thanks to all who responded  with a donation to keep our class website active.

 I

Wynn Fischer

As I was leaving this website today I accidentally clicked on to the memorials page and was disheartened to see that 87 of our classmates are no longer with us. I knew of the passing of close classmates, but am sorry to say that the total number of those on this list overwhelmed me. 
I wish I had taken a different approach to High School and made a real effort to get to know more of our contemporaries on a personal level. I made a pledge to myself to visit each name with a rose next to it and found  facts about this person that I wish I had known about before they passed on, and perhaps even able to discuss it with them in person. 
I guess my reasoning for posting this message is to reach out to all of you who come to this website to communicate and update our community about your life. If you are not comfortable sharing this information with others that's fine but please drop by every once in awhile with a howdy....even if we do not know each other. We are all that is left of the Class of 69. Let's all join together and celebrate this website and make better use of it..
Thanks

Rolf Erickson

Thanks for your post, Wynne.

I'm living in Fairfield, Iowa. It's a small town with a university based on the development of consciousness. I've been practicing Transcendental Meditation since 1971, and have been a TM teacher since 1976. I'm also a professional writer, editor, and publisher. In addition, I do some renovation and yard work for fun and money.

I've been teaching a dance fitness class called NIA since 2005. It's a great workout, and has kept me strong, flexible, and full of joy. The headquarters is located in Portland, Oregon.

I've been happily married since 1982 to my wife Renee. And I'm surrounded by good friends here in Fairfield. I feel that I have had a blessed life, and look forward to the days yet to come.

All the best to you and our Class of 69 family.

Rolf

Jim Botsford

Wynn, thanks for the positive motivator.  My recollection of you is that you never missed the opp to speak your mind, and I remember back to even then, I admired that trait.  Please keep herding these cats!

JB

Peter Eberhardt

November 23, 2024.   Autumn rains continue to fall over Eugene and the Willamette Valley, perfectly normal and welcome at this time of year.   I am drawn back into our CHS Class of 1969 website by notice that Mary Lou Beemer just celebrated her 74th Birthday.   Yay, Mary Lou!

Yes, the In Memory list grows longer as more classmates die of natural and unnatural causes.   If I am so fortunate to live to see our next Reunion there will be work to do to expand and fill the Memorial Tables with more cards as I've done these past serveral Reunions.

The past two Winters Guy Seghetti and I have attended an OSU Women's Gymnastics dual meet in Gill Colliseum, always stunning and spectacular.   We plan to do so again soon.   Jane McCauley and I cross paths several times a year.  Jane is the MOST active hiker / camper / photographer I know, the Ansel Adams of our class.   I do visit Brad Vincent in his Tigard home from time to time.   Kristi Hansen and I talk on the phone occasionally.  When Tava Daetz visited Corvallis last year I arranged a luncheon downtown with Tim Stover, Janet Phillips McKenzie, April and Linda Welch, Dan Lind, Guy Seghetti.    Recently Light Bryant mailed me Chris Doucet's CHS 1969 yearbook (we were both on Kathy Dodson's staff) and I forwarded it to her in Seattle.

The 2024 Election is over.   We are about to see and experience monumental changes.   Pay attention.   Participate.  This is your country.

Mary Dalrymple (Kohls)

I have not seen April Welch in years. I remember her best as we both attended Franklin grade school. How is she? 

Judy Milbrath (Fitzgibbons)

Hello-

In September our family had sad and happy events within a day of each other I'd like to share.

Some of you may remember my brother, (or had older brothers and sisters who knew him), Gene Milbrath, CHS class of 1959.  Sadly, he passed away on September 15th in Tucson, Arizona.  There will be a memorial service for him in Salem on Sunday, February 15th.  I can provide details.

The next day, September 16th, my daughter, Brytta, and I learned that we were published book authors!  Our children's book, Tricky Pickle Carrot Cake, was ready for sale!    Brytta wrote her first version over 30 years ago when she was in the 4th grade.  The adorable story follows the 100 Bunny children on their adventure to the farmers' market to buy the ingredients to make Tricky Pickle Carrot Cake. 

The story stands out from other "hundred bunny" stories in its multi-layered design.  It is not a counting book but a chapter book written at a second-grad reading level.  Each page offers something new:  a hidden Bunny with a small difference to find, a whimsical song for children to sing, a real recipe for the titular cake, and a complete list of 100 Bunny names for families to explore together.  The delightful illustrations intrigue younger children, as well.  This combination of fun, family and a moral reflection makes the story an interactive experience for both young and adults.

The book is available from our publisher, Xlibris.com, Barnes and Noble, Amazon and a host of other sources.  Just Google the title to find it online. 

This has been an amazing project and an incredible self-esteem boost for Brytta, who is on the autism spectrum.

If you'd like to see the book, I have a limited number of codes I can share to download a free copy of the e-book version.   An audio book is in the works.

For details on Gene’s memorial service or for the e-book download, email me directly at, judy@fitzgib.net.

It's been a while since I've been in Corvallis.  I imagine a lot has changed. 

I hope you had a blessed holiday season and have good health in the days ahead as we cross the three-quarters of a century mark.

Judy Milbrath Fitzgibbons

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mary Dalrymple (Kohls)

My sympathies, Judy, on the passing of your brother. I saw his obituary in the Statesman Journal and thought the name Milbrath sounded familiar! And, congratulations on yours and your daughter's book! That's wonderful you two are published book authors!