In memory of Joseph

Our family is saddened by the passing of Joseph, father of Kathy, father-in-law of Kevin and grandfather of Shanna and Kevin. Joseph passed away on March 31st after a brief illness. He was 77.

"Skip," as he was fondly referred to by friends and family, served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and was commended for saving the life of a pilot during a blinding snowstorm in Rome, N.Y.

Skip retired from the Yonkers Police Department as a sergeant after 25 years of service. He was instrumental in developing the Yonkers Emergency Services Unit, where he served until his retirement in 1986.

He will be sincerely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Obituary at funeral home web site

Christine chooses RIT, for art and science

Christine has decided to attend Rochester Institute of Technology starting this fall. She will pursue a BFA in Medical Illustration through RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

The program appeals to Christine's interests in both art and science, and combines creativity with a career focus. It's one of only a few undergraduate medical illustration programs in the country.

Christine will graduate this spring from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. She'll be sharing the RIT campus with her cousin Rebecca, who will be entering her junior year.

Self-portrait of Christine.

Andy plays as guest drummer at nearby school

Andy was one of several outside musicians who joined students at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung, N.J., for its spring concert on Sunday. The small school brings in additional musicians, adults and students, to supplement its own student players. Andy and a few other Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School band members were recruited for the academy's Christmas concert in December and were invited back for Sunday's performance.

Familiar face in SPFHS production of 'Hairspray'

Christine's boyfriend Matt played the featured role of TV host Corny Collins in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Repertory Theater production of the musical "Hairspray."

The company put on six performances, all sell-outs. The students did a fabulous job - the acting, singing, dancing and music by a 16-piece orchestra were all top notch.

Former SPFHS student Marc Shaiman wrote the music and co-wrote the lyrics for the show, which ran on Broadway from 2002-2009.

Happy spring! (Brrr!)

Webmaster Dan writes: These crocuses bloomed in our yard last week. The calendar says Spring arrived on Sunday. Yay!

So why, on Monday morning, are they dusted with snow? Boo!

Has spring arrived in your neighborhood? Please share your early signs of warmth and growth.

Stephanie & her Girl Scout troop hit the TV News

UPDATE: Video link fixed!
Click here to see the video of the Girl Scouts on Channel 6.

(You may see a brief commercial first.)

Cathy writes: Stephanie’s Girl Scout troop recently had the opportunity to visit a local television station.

They were the guests of the chief meteorologist, Jerry Martz.

The girls were allowed to be in the studio during the live 6 o’clock news broadcast.

They participated in a special segment when they appeared live with Jerry. He asked them about cookie sales and what other events the troop is doing in the community.



It was very exciting being in the studio watching the news broadcast, even though we had to stay quiet.

We were able to witness the camera operators at work and follow along on the teleprompter.

After the news broadcast, the girls got a full tour of the weather station.

Jerry explained to them all of the various computers that he uses to forecast the weather.

Each girl got a chance to stand in front of the ‘green screen’ used to display maps and other graphics.

They all enjoyed the fact that with their green badge sashes on, parts of their bodies appeared invisible on the camera. This was, by far, their favorite part of the visit!

The girls will all earn a weather badge as a result of their visit, and certainly become new fans of Channel 6 News.

Stephanie is in her sixth year of Girl Scouts, and a member of Troop 348 in the Ohio's Heartland council. On May 12, the Girl Scouts of the USA marked the 99th anniversary of their founding.

Previously on the Birch Street Web: In May 2007, Christine and her Girl Scout troop joined the outdoor audience at the CBS Early Show.

Shanna moves up from K to 4

Shanna has finished Kindergarten and is moving up to 4th Grade.

The first phase of her student-teaching assignment at P.S. 21 in Yonkers concluded Friday. Shanna has been working with a kindergarten teacher there since January. For the next two months she'll work beside a teacher in a 4th grade classroom.

This semester of student-teaching is the final requirement for the master’s degree Shanna is earning from Mercy College. She'll receive the degree at commencement ceremonies May 18.

Brennan now training in Pensacola

Brennan is now stationed at Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 in Pensacola, Fla., where he will be training with Aviation Maintenance Squadron 2. He is expected to be in Pensacola for an extended period, and his bride, Shauna-Rae, has begun scoping out apartments nearby.

Previous articles:
Brennan and Shauna-Rae are married
More photos from the wedding

MATSG-21 is located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, on the Gulf Coast in Florida's panhandle. NAS Pensacola is the primary training base for all Navy, Marine and Coast Guard aviators and, among other things, home of the Blue Angels and of the National Naval Aviation Museum.