Milne Alumni July Newsletter
July 15, 2006
(Revised for Web publication.)

by Mary Welch, '71


Dear Classmates & Milne Alumni,

Many of you have class reunions every five years, as does my Milne Class of 1971. However, I know that there are some class years that have not had a single class reunion or have not had a reunion in a very long time.

My Class of 1971 is having our 35th reunion and it will be in two weeks. I have organized this reunion to be low cost, low stress, and fun.

We have an open Saturday afternoon picnic that interested Milne Alumni can join us, which I have mentioned to you before in the monthly newsletters, but we are also meeting for Saturday night dinner and Sunday breakfast the same weekend.

If you are interested in joining us at our other two events, you are welcome. You can meet your own classmates and Milne alumni at these events, but unlike the picnic location, do not need reservations at either restaurant, so the space limitations will be on a first-come basis.

I have copied below the e-mails that I sent to my classmates (editd for Web publication). So far, at two weeks out, my estimation is that we will have between 30 and 40 people, including our classmates' guests, at the events. The picnic reservation allows for 100 at our site. Weather is conditional, of course, for the picnic, but we do have a shelter at the location, and we will probably meet there if at all possible.

Please read over the information below, and if you are interested in joining us, I would be interested in hearing from you.

In the meantime, our Milne website keeps improving and growing with all the continuing work that Judy Koblintz Madnick, Milne 1961, has done in the last month. New faculty listings and other interest sections have been added. Please check it out: https://www.albany.edu/~milne/.

Thanks for your interest. I hope you are having a good summer.

Best wishes,

Mary Welch, '71

For contact information, see the Milne Alumni homepage: www.albany.edu/~milne/


Milne Class of 1971
35th Reunion
Saturday, July 29, 2006 - Sunday, July 30, 2006

April 30, 2006

Dear Classmates,

You are invited to our 35th Class Reunion that will be held the Saturday and Sunday of July 29 & 30, 2006. Our three scheduled events include:

Picnic at Thacher Park, Saturday 12-4 PM
Dinner at The Albany Pump Station, Saturday, 7-10 PM
Breakfast at Martel's, Sunday, 8-10 AM

There is no cost for the reunion to you, except for your food, drink, and transportation. Please bring your own food to the picnic, and both restaurant events are pay-your-own-way, with off-the-menu items. My thanks to our classmate Barbara Mayer Skladunuk, who suggested both The Albany Pump Station and Martel's restaurants for our reunion.

At Thacher Park, we have reserved the Knowles Flat space for our Saturday picnic from 12 Noon to 4 PM. There will be no charge at the gate for anyone attending this event. On entering the park, you will need to identify yourself as going to the Milne Reunion. If you prefer, bring your own personal lawn chairs, side tables, and grills, or you can use the park picnic tables.

You will need to bring your own picnic basket, cooler, or takeout of your favorite food and drink to this event. This can include hamburgers, hot dogs, and barbeque chicken to grill, KFC fried chicken, sandwiches, salads, chips and dips, desserts, soda, iced tea, and lemonade. Beer and other drinks are allowed for those of legal age. Perhaps someone can make a sheet cake or cookies decorated with the class year. You might stop at a McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, a sandwich shop, or a grocery store on your way to the park if you do not have time to put something together before the picnic.

Your spouses, partners, friends, and kids are also invited. It is a large picnic area, and the park management says the space accommodates100 people. Since last April's All-Milne Reunion, I have stayed in contact with Milne Alumni from other years, and I have invited them to our picnic to set up their own class areas and introduce themselves to us. I envision it as a friendly Milne reunion event. You can circulate this information to other Milne alumni you know. I will be bringing the large award-winning Milne memorabilia display I made for last April's reunion, and I hope you will bring your own Milne items, as well as your cameras, your photos, and contact information, to share. I expect a pleasant, interesting, and fun afternoon.

The pool at the park is closed for this summer for renovations, but there is a playing field for softball, Frisbee, volleyball, and horseshoes. If someone has recreational equipment, please bring it with you. There is also a swing set and a bike and walking trail. If you like, bring your own bicycle. Electricity, lights, and restrooms are available at our picnic space.

This picnic will give you an informal opportunity to enjoy seeing and catching up with our classmates and perhaps those from other years. You might also make plans to drive to Thacher Park with some of our classmates.

There is no guarantee of having good weather. so far in advance, but we have had our class reunions there twice before, and the weather the last weekend of July was great both times.

Our class will have our Saturday night dinner and Sunday brunch at the area restaurants after the picnic. Information and addresses taken from online sources are listed below. I would like to know if you are thinking about attending, or plan to attend, so I can look forward to seeing you there. If you have any additional questions, please contact me.

Also, please check out our new, as of 2/17/06, and ever-improving Milne Website. Judy Koblintz Madnick, Milne 1961, has put this website together. It includes our directory project and various links, and she has done a great job: https://www.albany.edu/~milne/.

I hope all is well. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Mary Welch, 1971

John Boyd Thacher State Park is a nearly 2,000 acre park located about a 25-minute drive west of Albany. It's located on the Helderberg Escarpment (an escarpment is a cliff or steep slope, and the Helberbergs are a group of mountains/hills west of Albany) and has some lovely trails, playgrounds, lots of areas for picnics (including reservable outdoor pavilions) and it boasts some great views out towards Albany and the Hudson-Mohawk valleys. Interpretive programs are offered year-round, including guided tours of the famous Indian Ladder Trail. The Indian Ladder Trail is open from May 1 to November 15, weather permitting. There are over twelve additional miles of trails for summer hiking and mountain biking. Household pets only; caged or on a leash not more than 6 feet, rabies vaccination and proof of same required. Pets not permitted in buildings or bathing areas. On Route 157, off Route. 85, 15 miles southwest of Albany, 1 Hailes Cave Road, Voorheesville, NY 12186, (518) 872-1237. http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=125

The Albany Pump Station, C.H. Evans Brewing Company at the Albany Pump Station is a restaurant and brew pub in downtown Albany. It serves American style fare, burgers, fish and some upscale dishes as well. The highlight is their beer, of which they make upwards of 10 different styles and types. The Hefeweizen is outstanding as is their American Brown Ale, Belgian Style Ale and Pale Ale. This spot makes its home in a former city pump station, located in the historic Quackenbush Square section of downtown Albany. With lofty spaces, exposed brick walls, old grappling hooks and a fireplace, the Albany Pump Station retains traces of the past while employing modern brewing technology. The beers brewed on the premises (at least seven at any time) are available on tap, getting the thumbs-up from discerning beer fans. The fairly extensive menu features upscale pub food including a calamari appetizer and entrées ranging from jambalaya to a Gorgonzola New York strip sirloin topped with Merlot-red onion chutney. Full-menu hours: Monday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m, Friday & Saturday: 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m., Sunday: Noon - 8:00 p.m., 19 Quakenbush Square, in beautiful downtown Albany, NY, across Broadway from the Palace theatre, behind Nicoles Bistro, Albany, NY 12207, (518) 447-9000.

Martel's Restaurant at Capital Hills (the former Albany Municipal Golf Course) at Albany, 65 O'Neil Rd, Albany, 12208 - (518) 489-0466, Cuisine: American, Style: Casual, Hours: Opens at 10 a.m. Monday-Tuesday; 9 a.m. Wednesday-Friday and 8 a.m.weekends. Kitchen stays open until 9:30 to 10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, until, 11 p.m. the rest of the week, depends on business., Price: $1/2. Price rating based, on rough average of entree costs: $ for $9.95 and less, $$ for $15.95-$9.95; $$$ for $15.95 and higher. Out New Scotland Avenue/Road, just past the Thruway overpass, on the left, to O'Neil Road.

My thanks to Barbara Mayer Skladunuk. She suggested both The Albany Pump Station and Martel's. They both sound terrific.

Capital Hills at Albany
Steve Vatter, PGA
(518) 438-2208 Tee Times/Pro Shop
(518) 489-0466 Restaurant
The Capital Hills at Albany Golf Course was re-designed by Robert Smith and Edward Bosse in 1991, with the goal of making it more player-friendly.
Public, 18 holes, Par 71
Course Description - A rolling hilly challenge is the origin of the course name. Back tees play from 6179 yards and provide a formidable test of golf. The course borders the Norman's Kill creek on six holes. The course was redesigned by Robert Smith and Edward Bosse and reopened for play as the New Course at Albany on July 12, 1991. The new course is much more playable than the old "goat hill" track.
http://capitalhillsatalbany.com/home.html

More details will follow. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know.

Thank you.

Mary


Dear former Milne golfers,

Our classmate Dino is the the Groundskeeper at Capital Hills Golf Course, where we will be having our Martel's Sunday breakfast as part of our reunion weekend.

He has suggested a golf game in his response to my 2001 reunion e-mail I just sent.

Please let me know if you are interested in a game with your classmates on Sunday morning.

Thanks.

Mary


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