I read with sadness the [January 2003] article on Sandy Sebby Napierski.  Sandy was a classmate of mine, class of 1954, at Grossmont High School.  She was a great drum major for our marching band and led us to being the only band in the country to retire the All Western Band Review trophy.   It had to be won three times by the same competitive band in order to gain it's retirement.  It was won the first time in 1950, then in 1952 and retired in 1953 (November).  I played saxophone on the march and it was a tremendous honor and celebration when we won the Review and retired that trophy in our senior year.
  The band was under the direction of Harold G. Lutz in those years and was patterned after the United States Marine Corps Band in every aspect (including the discipline!).  Sandy followed Mr. Lutz's "orders" to the letter and so did all of the band members.  That is why we had such a terrific band and an entire Music Department at Grossmont in that era.  Many students, including myself, went on to professional music (not guitar banging!) upon graduating.
  I last saw Sandy at our 45th class reunion and knew she was not well at that time.  Right now our '54 Reunion Committee is in the process of planning our big 50th.  Last Saturday we were indicating that we would have a "Memorial Board" at the class reunion listing our deceased class members.  Now we will add Sandy's name to that list.  Again, thanks for the article on Sandy.

  I was fascinated by the [December 2003] article by Marcella Williams, [The TNT Club: A Dynamite Club With A Heart].  My Mom, Mary Carlile, was a long-time member until she died in 1958.  It's most interesting that the last recorded meeting was in 1991!! The article mentioned that I, Stanley Brennen and Leonard Wessels played dance music at the "recreation hall" for a Christmas potluck of the TNT.  Thanks so much for mentioning Stanley Brennen.  I've been racking my brain to remember his name.  I played piano, Stanley played sax and clarinet and Leonard was on drums . . . ah, those were the days!
  The "recreation hall" was in fact what we called the "Old School House" off Woodside about where Los Coches crossed under this street.  The three of us played there every Friday (or was it Saturday?) night for at least one, possibly two years.  The dances were well attended.  We were all in high school at the time, probably juniors or about 16-17.  Occasionally, other pieces were added.  I remember that Dee Ann Conrad's husband (can't think of his name, but his son attended the Hometown Reunion in 2001) played trumpet with us for a while.  I used to get Big Band arrangements from Thearles Music Company in San Diego, and the three of us would do our best to sound like Tommy Dorsey or Benny Goodman.
  I have wonderful memories of that period in my life.

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for the community.  Right now that idea doesn't seem to be successful either.
  We were hoping we could do what Ramona did and get Federal and County grants to restore the dilapidated old building.  In order to do that the property has to be in the hands of a non-profit organization, not a private property owner.
  We will work together to try to preserve this building in our historic district and we may need the help of YOU and our community to get this accomplished.  Stay tuned for further developments.
  Back in 1910 the Old Town Hall land cost $200 and was paid for by the Lakeside Improvement Club, which later became the Woman's Club of Lakeside. They and the community raised money for the building which cost about $3,000 total.  The hall was rented out for dances, shows, dinners and community events.  In the 1940's the Kussave family ran it as a movie house, and it operated that way up until the 1980s.  It became a Pussy Cat Theater and the town raised hell until that closed down. Later it was a revival hall for a black congregation and after that, a thrift store.

  In 1996 the Maine Avenue Revitalization Association restored the exterior by rebuilding the marquee, painting the front and purchasing lights for the perimeter of the building.  They were hoping something good would happen to it. Along came the Octad One Production Company who needed a theater for their productions of live plays.
  This brought a wonderful new venue to our community.  Recently the theater company closed it's doors and we are left with an empty building once again.
  Our member, Kathy Flannigan, who is a architectural historian sent me this newspaper article dated 1911: "'Lakeside to Have New Structures: Ground Broken for New Public Hall and Rectory' A new public hall costing $2,000 is being erected at Lakeside. Ground was broken for the improvement last Monday.  Most of the money has been raised and is expected the building will be completed without delay.
  One the same day that work was commenced on the hall and order was given the W. D.  Hall Company of El Cajon for lumber for a manse, to be built on the church grounds on Park Street.  The parsonage will cost about $1500, most of which has been contributed by residents of Lakeside."