March 19th Date - Sadie Pope Dowdell Public Library

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1 February 6, 011 South Amboy-Sayreville Times South Amboy Councilman Don Applegate is sworn in by City Attorney John Lanza as Tony Gonsalves holds the Bible. (Photo by Tom Burkard) 94th Birthday Celebration! You’re invited to a party @ the Dowdell Library of South Amboy where they will be celebrating their 94th birthday! All members of the community are invited to come and join the fun activities in March. On Tuesday, March 8 (6 pm), see Will Ferrell, as the super-intelligent alien in the movie “MegaMind.” On Monday, March 14th, birthday cake and refreshments will be served from 3:30 – 7:30 pm; on Wednesday and Friday, March 16th and 18th there will be children’s birthday celebrations at 3:45 pm; and on Saturday, March 19th (12:30- 3:30 pm) there will be a Family Game Day. Also, watch for announcements for a free computer class available on a first come, first served basis. The Dowdell Library has become a destination for the community; a place where people of all ages can enjoy informational and recreational materials such as bestsellers, current magazines, newspapers, Dvds, electronic games, or even 24/7 access to quality online information such as JerseyClicks from the library’s web page www.dowdell.org. Last year, in addition to other programs, more than 600 public elementary school students took the Dowdell library tour! What’s new? The Job and Career Accelerator! Either use it at the library or from home or office to explore career options, find jobs, take free online computer courses or free online occupational tests. Just log onto the library’s web site and select the Accelerator! People from around the country also log on the library’s web site for online access to the South Amboy Citizen and South Amboy-Sayreville Times in order to conduct genealogy research on their South Amboy ancestors. The library has expanded public access to the historical archives and maps. Members of the community are encouraged to consider donating historic photographs which document South Amboy’s heritage. Just speak to Barbara Bringman, Local History Librarian or Library Director, Elaine Gaber. The Dowdell Library is adjacent to the South Amboy High School. For more information, contact the library at 732-721- 6060 or comments@dowdell.org. MISTy WATER-COLORED MEMORIES By Elaine Holton Scott “Memories…like the corners of my mind. Misty water-colored memories of the way we were…” “10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!” The crowd shouted on TV as 1960 departed, and 1961 arrived. After watching the ball drop in Times Square, and listening to Guy Lombardo’s band play Auld Lang Syne “live from the Roosevelt Grill,” it’s bedtime for me. January 1st is a Holy Day, the Feast of the Circumsomething or other, and that means getting up early to go to Mass. Darn it. Being 13 years old and in 8th grade at St. Mary’s is starting to feel so exciting, and so grown up, too. Just last week, I got one of the new transistor radios for Christmas, and, now, everywhere my friends and I go, Rock & Roll music comes along with us. We’ve always been crazy over music…crazy over dancing, too. From watching Dick Clark’s American Bandstand for the last four years, and with lots of practice, we know how to Twist, Jitterbug, Stroll, Cha Cha, and even Waltz, just as good as the regulars on his show. In only 19 more days, John F. Kennedy is going to be sworn in as our 35th President of the United States. Because he’s both Irish and a Roman Catholic, it’s like he’s some kind of Irish Saint moving into the White House. I bet there’s going to be a lot of celebrating going on that day, especially here in South Amboy where Irish blood flows as freely as Irish whiskey. In school, we’ve begun to learn the Latin songs and responses to say during Mass for our Graduation Ceremony in June. The nuns have made it very clear to us that it’s either learn the Latin or forget about graduating. Somehow, that’s making the “mumbo jumbo” a lot easier to learn. Besides, it’s Student To Run Painting Business First year Rutgers student and current South Amboy resident, Austin Kaiser is majoring in Natural Resources and Business Economy, and is enrolled in a summer internship that will help him begin his entrepreneurship. He graduated from Cardinal McCarrick HS last year, and is eager to learn the foundation for starting a business for himself. Kaiser applied and qualified for an internship which gives him his own exterior house painting business to run during the summer. The internship gives him funding and resources to go out and hire painters and advertise the business among many other things. Austin has always been serious about one day starting his own business, and has wasted no time with marketing, even though actual production will not begin until summer. Kaiser hopes to gain real-life business experience and at the same time offer a service to his town and neighbors by painting homes. He will be painting lots of houses this summer, and is getting a head start in lining up jobs. If you might be interested in having any painting done this summer or receiving a free estimate, call Austin at 732-439-3580 or e-mail him at akaiser1992@gmail.com. really neat knowing another language, even if it is old Latin. In May, we’ll be going to Bear Mountain State Park in New York for our 8th grade class trip, the furthest from home many of us have ever been. I really wish I could buy a Brownie to take with me, but how can I save up around $4.50 from my measly 10 cent milk/5 cent candy lunch money? I guess I could share Rosanne Cross’ camera and maybe buy a roll of the black & white 127 film for her to be nice. Naah, forget about that. I need to get some money to keep for myself. Oh well, I’m not going to worry about anything now. May is like…50 years away. “Can it be that it was all so simple then, or has time re-written every line? If we had the chance to do it all again, tell me, would we, could we?” ***1961 was sort of a “threshold” year for older “Baby Boomers” like myself. Thirteen would turn into fourteen and grammar school into high school, bringing more freedom, school dances, parties, basketball games, first loves, and an eagerness to enjoy every single moment of every single day. 1961 was the beginning of the “big time,” with our whole lives stretched endlessly in front of us. Some Favorite TV Shows from the Fall Line-ups of ’60 and ‘61: Wagon Train, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Untouchables, Perry Mason, Candid Camera, Ben Casey, Dr. Kildaire, The Real McCoys, Rawhide, The Garry Moore Show, The Red Skelton Show Top Movies: West Side Story, Guns of Navarone, The Hustler, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Parent Trap, Judgment at Nuremburg Hit Songs: Stand by me/Spanish Harlem (Ben E. King), Crazy/I Fall to Pieces (Patsy Cline), Crying (Roy Orbison), Moon River (Henry Mancini), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (The Tokens), Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles), Runaround Sue (Dion), Town Without Pity/Only Love Can Break A Heart/ Love My Life Away (Gene Pitney) Best Motion Picture: West Side Story Best Actress: Sophia Loren (Two Women) Best Actor: Maximilian Schell (Judgment at Nuremberg) New Dances: Pony, Limbo Rock, Bristol Stomp Europe 2012 Tony G. is at it again! After organizing 30 plus trips to Europe, he is looking to 2012 for his next adventure. At present, he is weighing two possibilities. One would be called Enchanting Ireland, an 11-day trip with overnights in Dublin, Limerick, County Cork, County Kerry and Galway. There is also the opportunity for an extension to Belfast for 2 nights. The other trip would be to Italy, and would include overnights in Venice, Florence and Rome. This would be a 12-day trip. Whatever trip is selected, it would run in July of 2012. If anyone would like info on either trip, e-mail Tony at tonyg1952@rome.com. The Hibernians recently honored the following at the AOH dinner dance.Pictured left to right are: Joe Campbell Hibernian of the Year, Mary Lou DeBlis Irishwoman of the Year, George Fuller Flag Raiser 2011, and Mike O’Hara Irishman of the Year. (Photo by Mark Hurley)
1966-St. Mary’s talented third baseman Brian George awaits the pitch in an exciting game against the Sayreville Bombers. Brian George was destined to be a big success in life. He realized at a very young age that hard-work and creativity were important keys to achieving lifetime dreams and goals. Brian grew up in the Hope Homes section of President Park in Parlin. He said that, “Around 1954, Sayreville was broken up into lower Sayreville (the old families), and the newcomers (the developments: Hope Homes, President Park, Sayre Woods, Laurel Park and Parkway Homes) were mostly from Essex and Hudson Counties. It was a great place to grow up. You could walk out of the house and there were 20 kids to play with. Recreation wasn’t as organized as it is today. Kids organized football and basketball games themselves, and we played choose-up games.” As an 8-year old, George was selected to play on a Little League baseball team, and it was a rarity because you had to be at least 10 to play in the league. He was such a talented player that he was called “Little Joe D.” after Yankee great, Joe DiMaggio. The year of 1961 wasn’t only a memorable one for our country as Mantle and Maris battled to break Babe Ruth’s home run record, but also for the Sayreville Little League All-Star baseball team. “Winning the state championship was one of the greatest experiences in my life. Our coach Ken Buchanan was a good person and great coach. I loved playing for him and all of the other guys did too. Herb Davis also coached. We won 10 games in a row to take the NJ Championship, and advanced to the Division II championship, but lost a heartbreaker to Darien, Connecticut. If we won we would have gone to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to the Little League World Series,” said George. He also said he hopes that someone from the Sayreville Little League or Recreation Dept. will get a reunion together to commemorate the 50th Anniversary this year of Sayreville’s only Little League State Championship team. Young Brian George was kept busy, not only with his heavy sports schedule, (He also played on St. Mary’s 8th grade basketball team), but had a New Brunswick Home News paper route which he worked at for 6-7 years, and diligently put money away for his college education. “I saved $1 every week for college, and had enough money for three semesters,” he said. His 8th grade basketball coach was Mr. Wallace, Teddy’s father, and “To this day, I remember things he taught me,” said George. George said that his favorite grammar school teacher was Sister Mary Hedwig. “I was very active and would get up and walk around during class when I was in 8th grade, so one day she told me to bring a clothesline in to school from home, so I did. And she tied me up with it in my chair, he laughed. It was hilarious.” Sister Hedwig was in charge of the cafeteria, and gave Kevin McQuade and I the keys, and back then, it was a big deal to be trusted with the keys.” He also had Sister Hedwig in 5th grade. Brian chose to attend St. Mary’s high school along with teammates and guys he grew up with, the late Jim Passafiume and Jim Price. He said that, “Sayreville tried to keep our Little League team together when we were ready to go to high school, but the three of us liked St. Mary’s and went there. Where Have you Gone, Brian George? By Tom Burkard I also felt that St. Mary’s had a great coach in “Smokey” Ryan and I wanted to play for him. He led the team to the state championship in ’63. Unfortunately, when I got there, they didn’t renew his contract and he didn’t coach.” This, plus the fact that St. Mary’s did not have an official football team left him disappointed that he didn’t attend Sayreville War Memorial High School. After 3 years of varsity baseball, he felt that “In retrospect I would have rather gone to Sayreville. A bunch of my buddies were there, and they offered a more serious program. Although my teammates at St. Mary’s were great guys, my life might have changed quite a bit if I went to Sayreville.” The always-energetic George was involved in many other school activities. “We had a club football team at St. Mary’s, and I played quarterback with a bunch of excellent players including Sean Kelly, Paul Jankowski, Kevin McQuade, Jim Wallis and Donnie Potts. These guys could have played on any high school team in Middlesex County. We played the T-formation and kicked extra points. I was the kicker. We won all 5 of our games over CBA (twice), St. Joe’s, Hoffman, and St. Peter’s. We took it real serious.” In addition, his good friend Jim Dufford, was Editor-In-Chief of “The Crown,” the school newspaper, and asked George to become the Sports Editor. Brian accepted, and penned the popular sports column called “By George.” He tried out for Coach Luke Lenahan’s varsity basketball team, and was disappointed that he didn’t make it, but channeled his energy and enthusiasm into becoming a member of St. Mary’s first-ever boys cheerleading squad. He said that, “People thought it was a joke. It was a spoof. We were all athletes that couldn’t make the varsity basketball team. We had a lot of fun. We were very spirited, and we loved St. Mary’s. The guys on the basketball team were our buddies. We looked sharp and did corny things.” Brian also was a member of the St. Mary’s CYO High School basketball team for 2 years, and they captured the Raritan Bay Area CYO League championship. “Our coach, Jim MacKay was the best I ever played for, and that includes college. He was from our neighborhood, and would play basketball with us at the park. We had a good team and a great bunch of guys, all buddies, and after winning the Area title, lost in the Diocesan finals to a Trenton team down at Trenton.” Father George Brembos selected Brian to be the President of St. Mary’s CYO, and his good buddy, teammate, and fellow altar boy, Billy Bulman to serve as Vice-President. “The CYO was a big deal back then. Kids that went to Hoffman, Sayreville, CBA, and St. Joe’s, were able to get together with a focal point. We had car washes, and great dances, where we brought in bands from out of town,” said George. Brian loaded and unloaded trucks at Port Newark while in high school, and also worked for the Sayreville Board of Education doing odd jobs. “I got $4.50 an hour from the Port Newark job, and that was big money back then. Plus, I liked to spend money on clothes, and my family wasn’t wealthy, and it was up to me to generate income.” While President during his senior year, he also organized two major concerts at St. Mary’s gym, and called them “CYO A Go-Go.” “Seton Hall was doing big name concerts and I thought why couldn’t we do it on a smaller scale, and we did. I went to Colonel’s Cooper nightclub on Rt. 35 in South Amboy, and met with the owner Art Stock, and he gave me his booking agent in Jersey City,” said George. The first “CYO A Go-Go” was held around Christmas in 1965, and featured The Shangri Las, The Strangeloves, The Duprees, and the legendary Bobba Lou as the Deejay. Headliners for the Easter concert in ’66 were The Bobby Fuller 4, The Crystals, The Isley Brothers, and The Duprees. Brian said that, “From those great experiences, I started my South Amboy-Sayreville Times February 6, 011 1 own production company.” The legendary Jimi Hendrix allegedly performed with The Isley Brothers at the latter Go-Go, but that will probably always go down as an unsolved mystery. George said that, “Hendrix could have been there as a backup for the Isley Brothers before he went to London.” He also stated that “Both shows were highly successful, and we made four figures on the two concerts.” Brian got his future business ideas, inspiration and some experience from organizing and producing the two shows. Sister Mary Theodore was his favorite teacher in high school. “She was my History teacher, and inspired my love of history, and I majored in history at college,” he said. After graduation from St. Mary’s in 1966, Brian went to Kings College, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennyslvania, and started Magnus Productions, a business that booked, organized and promoted concerts with bigname acts during that time. George ran more than 30 shows with nationally known performers such as The Duprees, The Happenings, Vanilla Fudge, Eric Burdon & War, The Chambers Brothers, The Allman Brothers, Van Morrison, Jethro Tull, Chi- Brian George, a 1966 graduate of St. Mary’s H.S., is pictured at his popular Northshore Menswear business in Sea Bright. (Photo by Tom Burkard) cago (“The most successful concert I ever had”), Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Joe Cocker, The Brooklyn Bridge (“Which I did in Sayreville”), and many more. Brian said that the nicest groups he dealt with were Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, “Very professional,” The Duprees, “I love them,” Chicago “was great,” and Joe Cocker “was terrific.” While at Kings he also played Club Football, and in his words, “I was a second string halfback, third string quarterback, and was on specialty teams, and as a freshman was the kicker. It was the first year Kings College had Club Football.” Brian recalled “The summer before graduation, I was 6 credits short, and went to Rutgers, and was thrilled to bump into my two favorite teachers together, Sister Hedwig and Sister Theodore.” Following graduation from college, he hoped to get into television or rock promoting, but decided to take a position with J.P. Stevens, a textile company in New York and St. Louis. The man who hired him became president of Burlington, which was #1 at the time, and got Brian to work for Burlington, and two years later he was promoted and sent to Burlington in Chicago. He sold fabrics to Levi Strauss, Wrangler, and other companies that made clothing, slacks, sportswear, etc. George came back to New York in ’76, as the National Sales Manager, and stayed with Burlington until ’81. “When I left, I opened an executive search business, specializing in apparel and retail industry. It went very well for 5 or 6 years, but I really wanted to open my own clothing store,” he said. In 1982, he bought an old house in Rumson, NJ, and converted it into a clothing store. He called it Northshore Menswear because “I lived on the Northshore of Chicago, and I liked the name, and to justify it by saying I’m on the North Jersey Shore.” In his own words, “It started like L.L. Bean and ended up like Brooks Brothers, featuring tailored clothing, sportswear, shoes, furnishings, etc. I was very proud of it. In ’88, we opened a store in New York called Northshore on the Hudson, and we didn’t lose money in 2 ½ years that I was involved there.” Brian came back to New Jersey and started another business called Varsity Rags, which manufactured sports apparel for athletic departments of major colleges. “Our first customer was the University of Notre Dame, and for 10 years, we sold apparel to their athletic department. It was great exposure. From Notre Dame’s business, it grew and we had all the service academies, and still have the Naval Academy, Coast Guard, and West Point. We’ve also done projects with the SEC, Sports Illustrated, George Bush, John McKain, Bill Clinton, even Barak Obama. It’s been good exposure for us.” In 2003, Northshore was moved to its present location at 1080 Ocean Ave., in Sea Bright, and believe me, this place has just about everything you could want in a men’s clothing store. The late Sonny Werblin, owner of the New York Jets was one of Northshore’s customers. George also met Bruce Springsteen “A number of times at parties, and he’s very, very quiet.” Since childhood, Brian has always continued on page 23
Page 1 and 2: THE Date: February 26, 2011 PRICELE
Page 3 and 4: ★ Business of the Month ★ John
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Page 9 and 10: Winter Long Ago 1964-Late South Amb
Page 11 and 12: Bobby Valli, brother of world-renow
Page 13: Henry Optimistic new YMCA/Rec cente
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Page 21 and 22: LETTERS Thank You On behalf of the
Page 23 and 24: Remembering Sayre Woods Shopping Ce

March 19th Date - Sadie Pope Dowdell Public Library

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