Patrick chooses Johns Hopkins & the Blue Jays

Patrick has made his college decision, choosing to join the Class of 2015 at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

He'll be enrolling in the School of Arts and Sciences on the Homewood campus. He has not chosen a major yet but is considering economics.

Having developed his pole-vaulting skills at Fordham Prep, Patrick plans to continue vaulting with the JHU track team. He's met with the coach and has a spot waiting for him on the Blue Jays team.

Christine and Andy perform and play on annual SPFHS spring music trip

Christine and Andy took part in a Festival of Music student performance competition in the Washington area April 15-16.

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School music department - a couple of hundred students strong - traveled by bus April 14 to a hotel in Dulles, Va., for a three-night stay.

Concert Choir during warm-up.
Christine is standing in front, second from left.

Friday was performance day - and a long day it was! Four choral groups sang in the morning at Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, Va. Christine sings soprano with the school's Concert Choir.

After lunch, instrumental groups took the stage at the Rachel Schelesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria. Christine performed on flute with the Concert Band. Andy played percussion in the Concert Band and with a percussion ensemble and a "jazz lab" group. Those are just three of the eight instrumental groups from SPFHS that performed.

Concert Band during warm-ups.
Photos by another student, via Facebook.

On Saturday morning, when awards were presented at Schelesinger Hall, the SPFHS musicians won every category in which they were entered.

Saturday afternoon was the students' chance to do some sightseeing at the Washington Mall. The weather was poor, so Christine and Andy and their friends spent most of their time in the Museum of Natural History.

Photos by Christine

Andy is bowled over by bowling.

That night the crowd took over a bowling alley in Sterling, Va., dressed in wild outfits for a "rave" party of music, dancing, pizza and (mostly bad) bowling.

Christine and Matt, seated at left, and other members of their senior class.
Photo by another student, via Facebook.

It was another successful, and fun, SPFHS spring music trip - Christine's last, and Andy's first. Congratulations to the student musicians of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.

A tasty tour at a chocolate factory

Cathy sent along photos from a recent visit to the Anthony Thomas Chocolate Factory in Hilliard, Ohio.



"We only had to wait in line for about 20 minutes to get into the building (it's that popular) but we were able to see first hand how they make some of their famous candies. Of course they were making Buckeyes, which are a well known chocolate & peanut butter confection here in Ohio.

"The kids didn't want their picture taken with the Easter Bunny (can't imagine why?) but really enjoyed the free samples! Naturally we visIted the gift shop on the way out to take home more samples of their wares. It was a yummy tour!"

How to enjoy a rainy day

You can make the most of rainy weather if you wear the proper gear.

Discovering family history in print

Webmaster Dan writes: In a roundabout way I discovered a web site that has archives of various newspapers from around New York State, going back to the 1930s. It's a very slow and clunky site, but I managed to turn up some interesting articles from the Yonkers Herald-Statesman. For example: Mom and Dad's (Lorraine and Daniel's) wedding announcement.

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CLICK HERE to see the entire story on the full page from the Sept. 28, 1951 edition of the Herald Statesman.

Here is a link to the site, fultonhistory.com

In loving memory on his birthday

More photos have been added to the In Memory of Daniel page

The judge, the artists and the Peeps

Dolores is frequently called upon to judge art shows and needlework competitions. But at the Talbot County Visual Arts Center in Easton, Md., last weekend, she also judged a peep show.

Or, rather, a Peeps show.

Participants created dioramas and other artworks using the popular Easter-time candy, marshmallow Peeps.

The winner: A concert scene featuring Justin Peeper.

And yes, there was a real art show as well. Dolores and another member of the Rehoboth Art League judged the Spring Show of the Talbot County Art Council. There were about 50 entries in various media: oil, watercolor, pastel, fiber and a couple of mixed-media pieces.

"We agreed on awarding first prize to a beautiful pastel painting, second to a charcoal drawing and third to an unusual woven basket," Dolores said. "We'll probably hear about the fact that no oils won ... Some oil painters feel that they should always win, because they pay a lot for the paint! But what matters most is what they do with the paint."

Dolores' next judging assignment is at a major plein air show in June, also in Easton.

Lizzie is both student and teacher of ballet

At the Cape Cod Ballet Theatre for Children, Lizzie is an assistant teacher for a weekly class. These photos were taken at the "Parents Watch Day" performance of Cinderella.

Lizzie studies ballet at the Academy of Performing Arts. Her teacher there, Jacquie, is also the owner of the CCBT. This will be Lizzie's third summer assisting Jacquie with a dance program.

Tish writes: "Lizzie is receiving a wonderful dance education from Jackie, who attended the School of American Ballet, and graduated from Fordham University."

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.

Statesman Andy Goes to Washington

The Washington Monument as seen from the World War II memorial. Andy took this photo during an evening tour of Washington D.C. monuments.

Andy recently joined his school's chapter of the Junior State of America, an organization that promotes civics education and leadership programs for high school students. He traveled with the group to a JSA Winter Congress in Washington D.C. on Feb. 25-27.

He and his friends joined hundreds of other students from several states who convened in nine parallel Congresses to debate and vote on legislation. Representative Andy introduced his bill - to require women as well as men to register with Selective Service on turning 18 - in the House. But as it had already been soundly defeated in the Senate, it was not put to a House vote. (As it happened, the Senate that took up his bill defeated nearly every measure it considered. A tough group!)

The events took place Saturday and Sunday at the Doubletree Crystal City hotel in Arlington. After the bus ride down on Friday, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School group visited the Museum of Natural History. And on Saturday night Andy and his girlfriend, Senator Shannon, joined a group that took a bus tour of the city's monuments, including the Lincoln, Jefferson and World War II memorials.

A portion of the National World War II Memorial at night.

Rock on, dude!

Marie writes: "This is how you rock it in footie pajamas." Go Xander!