1979

Our cross-country update begins in the West.

Traveling east to Cincinnati, Ohio, we learn that Paul Keck Jr. was just named president and CEO of the new Lindner Center of HOPE, a private, nonprofit, comprehensive mental health center opening in August in Mason, Ohio. In a press release Paul is described as "a nationally and internationally respected psychiatrist with an expertise in bipolar disorder and psychopharmacology." Paul will be designing an ideal mental health treatment, research and educational resource center as he begins recruiting the brightest leaders in mental health care and research.

Paul also writes, "I am in touch with Jeff Cross in Denver, Colorado, and Scott Stevens in Kentucky and am happy to report that they are both doing well and busy with their careers and families. My oldest son just graduated from Boston University and is making a living playing online poker. My youngest son is a sophomore at the University of Montana, playing lacrosse. A fond shout out to Jack Long in Massachusetts, Jon Peabody in Illinois and Tom Crepps in Colorado Springs, Colorado."

Moving on to New York, Lisa Mendelson Friel writes, "I am still at the Manhattan DAs office (my 25th year) and am in my sixth year as chief of the sex crimes unit. When not working I am doing things with my three teenage kids. The oldest is a senior and we are waiting to hear where he gets into college. My next son is a sophomore and my daughter is in eighth grade. All play basketball and baseball and I spend most of my nonworking hours watching them play, which the old jock in me loves. I have recently taken up golf since my old jock's body (i.e., the knees) has made other more pounding sports impossible. I love it and hate it at the same time. We enjoy our relatively new home. After 17 years in a two-bedroom, apartment having the three kids sharing a bedroom, it was time to find bigger space. I bought a semi-detached two-family house in Brooklyn that I turned into a one family. Now we have lots of space and mom has her own bathroom. I feel like I've died and gone to heaven!"

Finally, skipping into New England we learn that Gina Barreca, professor of English and feminist theory at the University of Connecticut, is writing three times a week for the "Brainstorm" section of The Chronicle of Higher Education. In 2007 she had the privilege to be the keynote speaker at a conference titled Joking Apart: Gender, Literature and Humour, 1850-Present, which was hosted by the Centre for Modernist Studies, University of Sussex, United Kingdom. If you go to Ginas Web site www.ginabarreca. com you can hear an interview with Gina and her friend Fay Weldon, who presented with her, as they discuss the trials and delights of public speaking (October 12, 2007, Mediacoach interview).

We are now on the home stretch approaching our 30th reunion.The turns seem to be coming around much more quickly. Fewer than 10,000 hours remain until our 2009 date in Hanover. Please plan to take the leap and join your classmates.

Enjoy the sunshine and longer days of june.

17 Southview, Pleasantville, NY10570; (212) 827-8456; mwinkler@marthastewart.com