The weekend of 3- Jun was a big hit in Rangeley. Initial festivities occurred during the Friday night Happy Hour hosted by Craig Sargent at Sarge’s Pub & Grub. There were some old faces, some unrecognizable in class 1972, causing some embarrassment initially. Class 1972 even had a chaperone attend. For Class 1971 it was almost a repeat gathering of our 40th reunion at Loon Lodge in 2011. It was a great ice breaker to renew old times and see old school friends again. The recognition stumper was Laurel Wilbur who several people thought, including myself, that she was Peggy Brownlee. She forgave us. Gloria Ferry wasn’t hard to recognize but she tried to fool us by have a leg in a cast. My only regret was not getting all the names of those attending. Craig generously paid for all drinks, not just the first!! Thanx Craig!
We strolled and drove separately to Furbish Brewery & Eatery for the dinner gathering. There were more old faces to greet us there on the 2nd floor, that we missed at the Happy Hour. Matt & Dyanne and Steve & Valerie were the first I recognized. We had a total of 24 classmates for more drinks and an outstanding dinner. We all dined on excellently prepared and well served delicious shrimp scampi, prime rib, and pizza. Beth’s staff were the best anyone could ask for in any restaurant for the size of our crowd! The windows were opened for cooling and I bet we could be heard all the way back to Sarge’s Pub, the conversation volume was so loud. My table included Tom & Bonnie, Karen, Mike & Kathy, Ken & Amber, my wife Frankie and myself. You will have to see the attached pix to see who was at the other two tables. Kenny Haley hosted this dinner, generously paying for all drinks!! Thanx Kenny!
We were running late but Kenny had some pull with the manager (his daughter), so we stayed past closing time to play the RHS Family Feud game; class 1971 versus 1972.
Designed and created by Tom, once again, (remember the Jeopardy Game in 2011?). Tom and Drucilla collaborated and drafted the questions and the ‘100 person survey’ answers.
(Well this is Rangeley, after all, so the 100-person survey required some poetic license…)Tom played the role of emcee (Steve Harvey) and his wife Beth operated the computer audio and video effects! Great stuff!! Pix are added.
Videos were taken but each file was too large to Email. (Any suggestions for sharing?) Mike kept asking exactly who those 100 people surveyed really were… It was nip and tuck with each class leading in correct answers, jockeying for first. Again, Tom really taxed our brains to recall the best and worst teachers, coaches, administrators and custodians, what we normally did in Rangeley as kids, places we where we hung out, and town events. Class of 1971 barely edged out a win, (after cheating a little bit), with a score of 349 to 253! It was a great evening of fellowship and fun before we begrudgingly had to finally leave. Tom’s Family Feud was the hit of the night and he did an outstanding job creating it and emceeing with his wife Beth’s enthusiastic help! Thanx Tom!
Before we sat down for dinner, Craig provided a revised schedule of events for Saturday because of the nasty hailstorm predicted. It negated boating and any cookout planned. His changes included a bowling luncheon at Moose Alley and an afternoon reception with snacks at Sarge’s Pub & Grub before dinner there. Weathermen are better in Maine than Virginia, so we actually got the storm and it was a doozy. Luckily the hailstones were only pea sized and fairly soft!! It nicely cooled things off in time for the reception. Again, we encountered some old faces and more unrecognizable ones, too. I had extreme trouble recognizing Rex Ellis because of his beard and stature, but I did recognize him from his eyes. Mike Linnell was a little easier although he has changed a lot with thinning hair like me. Jimmy Beedy was easier to recognize when he started talking. Unfortunately, I had to leave early for a home cooked dinner at Alice’s and missed more fun like Karaoke and catching up on 50 years of changes.
Sunday, we had a lively 0830 breakfast at the Rangely Inn. There were less numbers, because of hangovers and refusals to leave bed that early, but it was still the same crowd reliving old times. The Inn’s under new management again but they have a great chef and staff like they had when we were growing up. Craig reported that his daughter-in-law called late SAT night from Sarge’s to report ‘Eric Z’ was bringing the house down singing Karaoke!! I had to ask who Eric Z was… it was none other than Eric Ellis!! Wished I had been able to see that!! When we finally broke up, we got smart and had a group photo of us all on the steps.
Overall, turnout was excellent. We had one late cancellation; Steve Boutilier & guest and of course we had to share Kenny & Amber with Class 1972, although I ‘booked’ them first. Sharon Sargent was under the weather and could not attend, but she shared Craig with us, anyway!! Thanx Sharon!
We had at least 29 classmates & spouses attending the three separate weekend events at one time or another. Attendees included;
Class 1971
Matt & Dyanne Gurney
Tom & Beth Collins
Mike & Kathy Marquis
Steve & Valerie Grant
Karen Page Hawksly
Eric (‘Z’) Ellis
Bonnie & Tom Haggan
Monty & Frankie Oakes
Class 1972
Barry & Lisa Brackett
Ken & Amber Haley
Rachel & Mike Lowell
Gloria Ferry Roth
Drucilla Dunham Vickery
Connie Russell
Laurel Wilbur
Jill Quimby Smith
Rex Ellis
Mike Linnell
Jim Beedy
Craig Sargent
Nearly everyone attending had the same comment – excellent to outstanding results for the RHS reunion 3- June 2022!! Craig sure knows how plan and host a weekend Class Reunion!! All loved Tom & Beth’s Family Feud game including the staff!!
Only negative was the hailstorm on Saturday causing the schedule to move indoors to Sarge’s Pub once again. The cookout/boating would have given us more time to catch up on the past 50+ years some of us have been away. It was great being inside anyway; just a repeat of the Happy Hour we had on Friday night only with more people!!
At the Sunday morning breakfast, Craig proposed we have another reunion in 4 years and include class 1970 to beef up our numbers.
I agreed wholeheartedly and sure hope ALL our 1971 & 1972 RHS classmates say yes and can attend, especially those who couldn’t make it this year!!!
See ya then!!
