The January 2012 issue of Traditions, our UAAA newsletter, is now available. You can view it here.

If you did not receive this newsletter by email, it means that your email is incorrect in our database. Please check your class page and if your email address is missing or is outdated, please contact us and we will get it changed right away so that future issues will arrive in your inbox.

If you are aware of an alum who is not listed on Bearalums.com, would you please email or contact that person through Facebook and encourage him or her to visit Bearalums.com and add their name and email to our database? Then THEY can receive Traditions, too!

View an index of past issues of Traditions newsletters here.
Print the January 2012 issue of Traditions

We are excited to announce that we now have a Facebook page devoted to the Upper Arlington Alumni Association. We all know that Facebook is a popular and effective (not to mention FUN) tool for locating and reconnecting with longtime and sometimes lost friends, and we hope to find some of our "lost" alumni through this social medium.

From UA This Week, January 25, 2012:

With next month’s production of “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” a number of production roles have been filled by former students, working to share their experiences with this year’s class.

February’s production will feature directing by David Bahgat (’04), set design by Keith Schnacke (’07), sound design and engineering by Mike Freeze (’08), and lighting design by Anthony Aleshire (’08).

“It’s a pretty cool thing that, from the technical side, these guys have learned and decided to make that their vocations, but they all started in our productions,” said Eric Kauffman, UAHS vocal music director. “When they were students here they all did dual duty. If they weren’t in a scene, they were doing something backstage, or in here on weekends working to get the musicals ready.”

Bahgat, who is now acting in New York City, said this year’s production satirizes the way men and women interact in the office.

“It’s a commentary on the business world, and it definitely is a satire on the workplace and what women’s roles there are,” he said. “It pokes fun at CEOs and corporate execs, asking if they, or anyone, really ever knows what they’re doing in their jobs.

“In this piece, we really decided from the beginning that women are the brains behind the workplace, that really, the job can’t be done without them, and we play with that.”

THIS SALE RUNS FROM WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Support Upper Arlington Wrestling just by eating out at Carsonie's from January 24 - 26!

A percentage of all money taken in on January 24, 25, and 26 for lunch or dinner at Carsonie's Stromboli and Pizza on Lane Avenue will be donated to the Upper Arlington Wrestling Programs. All you need to do is mention that you are there to support Upper Arlington Wrestling and eat!

Print the flyer and the menu, as you can also order your food for carry out as well.

We are certain that you noticed the large banner ad at the top of this page. John Kost, Class of 1974, agreed to get us started on our new UAAA fundraising campaign by placing an ad on this Announcements page.

We would like to offer you the opportunity to place an ad on one of the pages of Bearalums.com with a link to your web site. Bearalums.com has a steady flow of traffic throughout the year, with the highest traffic from January through July, when alums are involved in reunion planning and are looking up classmates and searching for reunion information. Traffic also spikes when Traditions is sent out (quarterly), as the newsletter contains links that direct our alums to various pages of the web site.

A banner ad at the top of a Bearalums.com page will be viewed by thousands of people each week, as we have several hundred visitors daily. We believe that our alums value doing business with other alums, and it's one more way we can enjoy and benefit from the bond of being UA alums. The ads are priced very reasonably, with DISCOUNTS for UAAA MEMBERS.

Please visit our Ads page for pricing and more details!

Nancy Ivers Ferguson '69 writes:

" In November I was fortunate to be re-elected Mayor of New Albany for a third term, which began January 1, 2012. I feel very honored to be a part of New Albany's growth as it has moved from village to city status.

Through the years we have received some of our best ideas and advice from the Council, staff and residents of Upper Arlington. Several of our Council members grew up in UA and several of our staff members have worked for Upper Arlington earlier in their careers. The wonderful quality of life in Upper Arlington continues to inspire us, and we remain very grateful for the assistance UA has given us.

Happily, I visit Upper Arlington several times a week to visit my mother and sister who both reside there. A few days ago, my son also purchased a home in Upper Arlington and will be moving there from his current home in Austin, Texas in February.

CONGRATULATOINS, Nancy!

Congratulations to the Hastings Middle School staff, students, parents and alumni who gathered on December 8, 2011 to celebrate the building's Golden Anniversary during a formal recognition and rededication program. Hastings opened its doors to 675 students in September, 1961, but the building was not officially dedicated until December 8 of that year.

At the celebration, pictured above, Principal Robb Gonda read a Board of Education resolution commending the school's 50 years of academic, artistic, and athletic excellence. Hastings parent Tom English produced a video of the school's history for the special occasion. In addition, students prepared and buried a time capsule representative of the Golden Anniversary celebration.

As part of the Hastings 50-Year Celebration, Principal Robb Gonda has launched an Adopt-a-Chair Campaign to restore the existing chairs in the auditorium.

This campaign is being chaired by Amy Chope Whalen, UA '79 and Lauren Schooley Schuermann, UA '79, daughter of the late John Schooley, Hastings architect and UAHS Class of 1946 alumnus.

TO OUR ALUMS: As the campaign to restore the existing chairs in the Hastings Middle School auditorium continues, we would like to ask you to become a permanent part of the legacy of Hastings Middle School. We hope that as an alumnus, you will take part in this transformation and consider adopting a single chair or a group of chairs. A nameplate will be included on the back of the chair with the inscription of your choice. We believe this is a wonderful way to recognize you, your family, or your business. You may also consider memorializing a special person.

Restoration of each chair is $150. The chairs will feature a cushioned seat, and a nameplate will be included on the back of the chair with inscription of the donor's choice. If you do not feel that you can adopt an entire chair, we are extremely grateful for any contribution you can make.

In 2009, Dan Rohrs '79 was selected as our UAAA Outstanding Alumnus for his superior work as a high school teacher and coach. Recently, along with Windermere teacher Pam Dobies, Dan Rohrs was given the distinction of being named the 2011 Upper Arlington District Teacher of the Year.

Each year, faculty members nominate teachers for the honor of being their bulding Teacher of the Year. Once a Teacher of the Year is selected at each school, those individuals are considered for the Upper Arlington District Teacher of the Year. Our District Teacher of the Year will then be considered for the Ohio Teacher of the Year award.

Congratulations to Dan Rohrs '79, our 2009 UAAA Outstanding Alumnus and 2011 Upper Arlington District Teacher of the Year!

UA Vocal music alums will be excited to know that this year's musical will be How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Guest Director David Bahgat '04, will work with UA Vocal Music Director, Eric Kauffman, to bring the stage to life this February as the Vocal Music Department continues its tradition of excellence by bringing this musical to UAHS for the first time.

Performances of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying will be on February 23, 24, 25 and 26. Tickets go on sale on February 4.

For more information about the musical including how to purchase tickets, to see pictures from previous shows, and to view a complete calendar of upcoming events, please visit the UA Vocal Music website at UAVocalMusic.org.

Our amazing UAHS Marching Band performed during the halftime show at the 2012 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on January 3. Band Director Mike Manser asked band member and Arlingtonian Staff Writer Cassie Lowery to write a summary of the experience to share with us, and here it is, in Cassie's words:

"Every other year, the Upper Arlington Marching Band goes on a trip to perform at one of the college football bowl games. This year, we went to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. While some bands spent most of their time on the trip playing, practicing and competing, with a few performances mixed in along the way, that's not the case for UAMB. Fortunately for all of us, our director, Mr. Manser, knew that while this was a band trip, there needed to be more to the experience than playing our instruments. He made sure that we came back from the trip with lasting memories, as well as an understanding of the culture in New Orleans, which is so different from our own, in addition to a halftime performance at the Super Dome.

During our time in New Orleans, we went to see and did so many things you simply can't do at home in Ohio. We celebrated the New Year by watching fireworks on the banks of the Mississippi. We went on a swamp tour where we learned the difference between a swamp and a marsh, and got to hold an alligator. We experienced real Cajun food, including beignets from Café du Monde, during our time in the French Market and Jackson Square.

We took a tour of the city and saw everything from the above ground cemeteries to the statues of Joan of Arc and Andrew Jackson. We saw the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina as well as the amazing ongoing recovery process in the Lower 9th Ward.

We learned that New Orleans doesn't have sidewalks, but banquettes, what they mean when they ask if you'd like your sandwich dressed, and the proper response to 'Who Dat?'. We got all of this in addition to the incredible street performances and the halftime show.

I couldn't be more thankful for this. We have outstanding directors who know how to create wonderful trips year after year and fantastic band members who make trips like this one not only possible, but also make it one of the highlights of my high school career."

In the early Fall of 1961, an Upper Arlington High School sophomore & four juniors began "jamming" in the basement of a Brandon Road home. Just weeks later, singer-sax player Jeff Shaw '64, drummer Jimmy Davis '63, guitarists Gary Hughes '63 and Jim Grubb '63 and keyboardist Gary Bonnette began playing at teen dances and proms as The Ravens. As just one of four high school-aged rock bands in Central Ohio in that pre-Beatles," do-wop" era, the group accompanied local disc jockeys at record "hops" and played at most all area high school and church youth group dances.

The group began opening for touring rock 'n roll acts at Veteran's Memorial Auditorium and the
Fairgrounds Coliseum and entertaining at fraternity parties and dances at colleges and night clubs throughout the Midwest and East. The Ravens have continued to perform at dances, wedding receptions, corporate outings and community events through the years. In 2003, The Ravens were inducted into the Columbus Nightclub Band Hall of Fame and Columbus City Council recognized the group for its musical contributions to the community. In 2004, The Ravens were honored by the Upper Arlington Alumni Association as "Distinguished Alumni of the Year."

Shaw continues to lead the group as it begins its sixth decade of musical entertainment featuring favorite hits from the late 50s, 60s and 70s plus smooth jazz and standards. Original members Jim Davis and Gary Hughes were still with the group until 2005.

During the current anniversary celebration, The Ravens will be featured in the 2012 Upper Arlington Independence Day Parade along with performances at other dances and summer events. In Spring of 1962, the band made a special appearance at the high school junior-senior prom and on July 3, 2012, The Ravens will once entertain those seniors from the UAHS Class of 1962 at their 50th reunion.

A Golden Bear Alumni Cheerleading Reunion was held on Friday, September 30, 2011. Approximately 50 former UAHS cheerleaders participated. An hour long cheer practice was held for the alumni at the high school prior to the football game against Hilliard Darby.

Some of the alumni cheerleaders made a tunnel for the football team as they came onto the field, while alumni cheerleaders from the class of 2009 ran the B-E-A-R-S flags across the field. Alumni then cheered on the Golden Bear football team for the first half of the game. As the Golden Bears scored their first touchdown, the alumni, along with the current varsity cheerleaders, performed the traditional Stand Up and Cheer fight song dance.

Plans are already in the works for next year's event! Any former cheerleader interested in participating in the future should send their contact information to UAHSCheer@gmail.com and you will be added to the database! See pictures from the event here.

Jill Henderson Knowlden, Class of 1974, has set up a new Facebook page called "You know you are from Upper Arlington if ... " and you can go there to reminisce with the rest of us who grew up here and have wonderful, fun memories of our community and schools. The page has become a very popular place for alumni to reconnect and share their fondest recollections of growing up as a Golden Bear.

What special memories do you have of UA - things about it back then that made it unique, or qualities it still has that make it stand out as spectacular?

You can visit the "You Know You're from UA If ..." Facebook page here.

The Upper Arlington Historical Society seeks to enhance the quality of life in Upper Arlington by discovering, preserving, promoting and celebrating the community's history.

Founded in 1976 as a not-for-profit volunteer organization, the Society collects archival materials, shares historical information, conducts educational programs, sponsors commemorative activities, promotes historic preservation, and serves as a community resource.

Please visit The Upper Arlington Historical Society on Facebook.

Jeff Yarnell '59 has posted a great collection of photos of the UAHS Class of 1959 on the Class Facebook page. Please visit and enjoy these glimpses into the past!

Visit the UA Class of '59 Facebook page

From Mike Manser, Director of the UAHS Marching Band:

Congratulations to several UA alumni who were selected to The Ohio State University Marching Band for the 2011 season. Look for the following Golden Bears on the field at Ohio Stadium:

Jocelyn Smallwood - 3rd year sousaphone
Khalil Silwani - 2nd year trumpet
Andrew Giljahn - 2nd year flugelhorn
David Sacolick - 2nd year baritone

The Upper Arlington Boys Soccer Parent's Boosters are in the process of building a database of all Boys Soccer alumni and would like your help.

If you played for the Boys Soccer Team at UA High School for at least one season, we want you to let us know by 'liking' our new Facebook page here or by searching "Upper Arlington Boys Soccer Alumni" on Facebook. If you have difficulty, or are not a Facebook member, please email Ron Kincaid, the current chair.

Our purpose is to keep you informed about goings-on for the Boys team, be able to easily invite you to join us for events and games (such as our annual Alumni game, where the alumni take on the current year's varsity team) and allow us to continue building on the rich history of the UA Boys Soccer team.

Also, be sure to visit our new web site, UASoccerMen.org. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Ron Kincaid
Madalene Jentgen
Beth Witt
Upper Arlington Boys Alumni Soccer Committee

From Paul Steger, Class of 1971:

Thought you would like to see our website, MailPink.com, which we are featuring our campaign to fight breast cancer with Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

We have already given $25,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to fight breast cancer and to promote breast cancer awareness.

Hopefully we will soon raise more money for Susan G. Komen by having Bear Alums "mail pink" for the the Cure.

In his debut novel, The Man Who Fooled SAVAK, Douglas Roberts '66 weaves an engaging tale of love, romance and suspense around true events that are as relevant today as they were 40 years ago in Tehran.

The Man Who Fooled SAVAK, inspired by true events in the early 1970s, captures what it is like to live in a dictatorship with secret police monitoring your every move - an atmosphere of fear that still pervades today in many countries in the Middle East.

The Man Who Fooled SAVAK is available as an e-book at Amazon Kindle and Smashwords.com.

US Army Major Dave Eastburn, Class of 1994, is currently serving at the Public Affairs Officer for the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks Hawaii.

Dave is also the senior Army consultant to the CBS hit television show "Hawaii Five-O".

In April, 2011 he will deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for his fourth combat deployment.

Photo on the right shows Dave Eastburn and actor Scott Caan, who stars in "Hawaii Five-O" as Dano. Please click photos to enlarge.

Mark Walter, Class of 1998, recently published his first children's book, Buckeyes A to Z. The book is geared toward children ages 4-12 and features rhymes and facts about Ohio State football as well as educational activities and a search for a hidden Woody Hayes on each page. The book is available contacting Mark directly or by visiting mascotbooks.com.

Mark is currently a 2nd grade teacher in the Olentangy School District. He married Breane Barker, Class of 1997, in 2007. Breane is a furniture sales representative. The two live in Columbus.