Compiled by Adam Fornear
Fornear asked to include this photo with his article — where is his elbow?!
At the moment I’m sitting in this cool, little, hip coffee shop on the square in downtown East Troy, WI… my hometown. I, as have many of you, returned to my hometown for a feast of turkey, pie, and lots of family time. There was no shortage of any of that these past couple of days. But one of the many great things about coming home for a little bit is that I get to walk the familiar streets of my childhood. The Square of East Troy is the city center of this quiet little town, where back in the day, we used to ride our bikes, shop at the old hardware store (now this very coffee shop!), and where I held my first job ever (with a W-2) at Giles Restaurant washing dishes. I still chuckle as I head up to the square when I pass this one house on the left… You see, when I was 11 years old, I had a paper route (without a W-2) where I delivered papers from my sweet trick BMX bike I had oh so long ago. Anyhow, I’m riding down the side of the road, chucking papers and moving right along when all of a sudden, my bike comes to an abrupt stop and I go flying over the handlebars, slamming into the back of the parked car that I biked into. I’m still laughing…and the lesson here is, always keep your head up when biking!
While I was home, I also was able to throw down some turns on the telemark skis at Alpine Valley the other day. Alpine was the “mountain” where I learned how to ski, and broke a couple of bones doing so. Well it was a great night of skiing with a high school friend and his twin daughters. We didn’t hit the big jumps like we did in our youth but it was still a blast. Anyhow, I bring all of this up still with the 90th reunion on my mind. It was a real treat to have those memories of my 20 plus years at camp but also it was even more special to see all of those in attendance to walk those familiar steps of the past. To see how a community nestled on 77 acres could be so influential in peoples lives and great memories abound. We are so lucky to have camp in our lives!
Soon I will be joining Adam Kaplan on the East Coast for the second reunion tour of the season. Hopefully you can join us in your respected city and share loads of those great camp memories with us. Till then, send me some news for the next publishing of the Arrowhead and have a great day! Email me (Fornear) at fornear@campnebagamon.com.
IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW that in St. Louis, Dylan Scissors ran cross-country this fall while Griffin Scissors played defensive tackle for his football team. Patrick Meehan meanwhile stayed busy running cross country and Micah Franzel is playing hockey for his school. Mo Mills graduated last spring from Occidental College. Down south in Atlanta we learned that Sam Montag played an Ooompa Loompa in his school’s play, Charlie and Chocolate Factory. Sam also played football this fall. Ben Montag is a catcher for his school’s baseball team and recently competed in a baseball tournament in Florida. Aiden Capes captured the role as an extra in the Walking Dead. Owen Rosenthal plays basketball for his schools’ team and Marc Rosenthal runs cross country… really fast… he was 4that state this year! Jacob Greenwald is captain of his ultimate frisbee team and they recently won their championship game. Jacob is also captain of his basketball team. Nelson Mendels plays for his high school ultimate frisbee team while Chase Herbert played football and wrestling. Cameron Louie stays busy playing soccer. We had a brief stop in Louisville and while there Levi Gladstein informed us that he is playing squash and basketball for his school’s team. From there the reunion went north to Detroit. Noah Yaker shared with us that he is playing tennis for his high school team. Jack Wineman is starting for his high school JV hockey team, and was also to be captain. Max Rontal continues to compete for his school’s ski team and Jonah Rontal is spending time at the local climbing wall. Myles Rontal plays the trumpet and was recently nominated as Hustle Player of the Week for his basketball team.
IN THE WHERE-ARE-THEY-NOW DEPARTMENT: Mark Blumenfeld (St. Louis ’06-’11,’13) is an environmental health and safety coordinator for Millipore Sigma in St. Louis. Jeffrey Burnstine (Chicago/Atlanta ’05-’10,’12-‘14) is working in the commercial real estate business. Grant Rosskamm (Boulder, CO ’01-’05,’07-‘18) is teaching art at Federal Heights Elementary School.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RECENT ENGAGEMENTS go to Max Alpert (Memphis ’03-’07,’09-‘12) and Hayley Grossman (Louisville/Memphis)
BAR MITZVAH CONGRATULATIONS go to Jonah Rontal (Detroit) and Zach Riven (Dallas)