tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.comments2022-09-07T14:36:14.454-04:00Caminsky's WorldJeff Caminskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03452066593646439709noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-35612133055873267562016-09-16T23:23:19.795-04:002016-09-16T23:23:19.795-04:00I attended Bulman grades K-5 (all the grades the s...I attended Bulman grades K-5 (all the grades the school offered at the time) from 1998–2003.<br /><br />I guess I never really considered how many thousands of people went there before me.<br /><br />Kind of a bummer I'll never be able to see those halls again.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06997517952762481046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-82187550572173369742016-03-15T10:14:32.424-04:002016-03-15T10:14:32.424-04:00(I have to give a h/t to TheFederalistPapers.org: ...(I have to give a h/t to TheFederalistPapers.org: this piece is adopted from one of their postings; I just tweaked the language a bit.)Jeff Caminskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03452066593646439709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-87643029558704485762015-12-06T08:43:38.742-05:002015-12-06T08:43:38.742-05:00Beth and Jerry: they started tearing down the sch...Beth and Jerry: they started tearing down the school shortly after I posted this article, in the summer of 2011. As I recall, it took nearly a year for them to complete the job and hall the debris away. My parents even retrieved a brick to give my brother and me before everything was cleared away. It was painful to see so much of your childhood memories being torn down, but at least the grounds are still being used as a park...even if it isn't the way this old athlete would have designed it.<br /><br />My brother and I were able to take a quick tour of the building before they started demolition, visiting all our old classrooms. And we got to talk to the Principal, who told us a bit about the district's plans. Declining enrollments throughout the district meant that they needed to consolidate their operations; and since poor old Bulman needed some renovations anyway, and the district didn't want to spend the upkeep money, it was deemed expendable. (I understand that some other grade schools in the district have met a similar fate...including Roosevelt, which was demolished in 2012.) If enrollment increases, we were told they may rebuild it, but I seriously doubt that will come to pass any time soon. <br /><br />Most kids in the area now go to MacGowan Elementary, which I believe is the only elementary school left in the district.Jeff Caminskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03452066593646439709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-46892018058557068972015-12-06T00:41:00.352-05:002015-12-06T00:41:00.352-05:00I went home for a family funeral this week and dro...I went home for a family funeral this week and drove down Gaylord Street in Redford Township to see my childhood home. Memories flooded past as I drove by each house on the street. Continuing down Memory Lane, I drove down to the corner of Gaylord and Midland to see Bulman Elementary School. I could now believe my eyes that the school was totally gone! What and when and why did this happen? Anyone know the answers please let me know. I thought about calling the Redford Union School District to see if they know. I Googled it and this blog popped up. Any other information out there? Beth & Jerry Hutchisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13598626012515777384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-21219223095211610612015-12-06T00:34:52.958-05:002015-12-06T00:34:52.958-05:00I was in town this week for a family funeral and d...I was in town this week for a family funeral and decided to drive past my childhood home on Gaylord in Redford Township. As I was remember who lived in each house, I drove down to the end of Gaylord and Midland to look at my elementary school, Bulman. I was shocked to see the building was totally gone! I thought it was a bad dream. When and why did this happen to Bulman. I see the playground is still up. Wow, I remember walking home in 1968 when the Tigers had just won the pennant! So many other memories feel shortened now that the school isn't there anymore. Where do the neighborhood children go for elementary now? I drove around the block and saw that the Middle/Jr. High school is still operational and it was so much older than Bulman. I'm perplexed to say the least. Any new on this would be helpful. Thanks!Beth & Jerry Hutchisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13598626012515777384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-70470135818869413662013-11-22T15:13:50.481-05:002013-11-22T15:13:50.481-05:00I was in 5th grade and we were sent home to have o...I was in 5th grade and we were sent home to have our parents tell us what had happened. We didn't really fully understand at the time anyway, but it was an awful walk home wondering what in the world could possibly be so horrific that they couldn't tell us. I do a little demonstration in class for my memory lecture about how much more vivid our memories are from years before in the wake of a catastrophic event than for a week earlier. For years I used the assassination for this, until I realized that my younger students didn't remember it. Then I used the Challenger explosion for years. Since 9/11 I have used that. A few weeks ago I found to my shock that many of my undergrads didn't even remember that. Here's hoping we have many peaceful years with no more universal gut-wrenches, so that I can't do this demo any more.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18332809362777044071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-90881097596915461092013-01-16T13:01:07.151-05:002013-01-16T13:01:07.151-05:00I wish I could take credit for this story, but it&...<i>I wish I could take credit for this story, but it's just an adaptation of one I've heard before...usually from a friend. I do like the sentiment, though...and I do think my "re-write" adds a touch of whimsy (though I suspect that it's likely to exist mostly in my own imagination).</i><br /><br />Jeff Caminskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03452066593646439709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-1440768408858955732013-01-12T13:08:33.673-05:002013-01-12T13:08:33.673-05:00Here's a comment from a parent who has recentl...Here's a comment from a parent who has recently suffered through the ordeal of dealing with the inflexibility of the public school system (in Fairfax, Virginia). I completely hear you about letting kids learn through their mistakes, but our society has come up with some absurd rules that disproportionately penalize kids, such that it's really difficult to stand by and watch them learn this way. In our barbaric school system, if a student has 3 unexcused absences, his grades automatically turn into F's, no matter what the quality of their work. 3 "tardies" count as an absence. To make matters worse, the schools start at 7:10 am, despite the fact that this is in diametric opposition to the circadian rhythms of adolescents. Moreover, our fool principal refused to accept medical excuses from their psychiatrist (my kids both have clinical depression), claiming that a psychiatrist isn't a "real doctor". The result of all this was that my kids, who are extremely bright, were completely failed by the school system. My son dropped out. He is now in a fully funded PhD program in computer science at Georgetown University. My daughter was shunted to an "alternative school", for which she had to board a bus at 6 am (some solution, huh?). She is also doing well in college now. The bottom line is that the only reason this school system looks so good on paper is that they get rid of any students with any problems. Anyway, I agree with you about the importance of letting kids learn how to make decisions and cope. But this has to start with a society that doesn't throw them away for the slightest misstep. Just my 2 cents worth (yikes, when did they take the cents sign off my keyboard?).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18332809362777044071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-19311559494964544272013-01-10T16:53:15.095-05:002013-01-10T16:53:15.095-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18332809362777044071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-51751414893297471682012-06-06T07:04:48.821-04:002012-06-06T07:04:48.821-04:00Jeff, As part of your childhood, I remember the fu...Jeff, As part of your childhood, I remember the fun your dad and I had participating with ours and other baseball kids in our neighborhood.<br /><br />Fond memories indeed!<br />Ronronawoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09029604384364132347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-67169761511163179192012-06-05T21:04:53.148-04:002012-06-05T21:04:53.148-04:00Sad old Bulman School.....I walked past it every d...Sad old Bulman School.....I walked past it every day walking home from junior high, and soon Roosevelt School where I went will be a rubble heap. I went back there in '87 to do an observation, and when the "Roosevelt School Smell" hit me as I entered, I almost went back in time for real. Your comments about free play are so true......and the parts about "everyone is a winner" are true as well. I taught during the onslaught of the "middle school concept" and we are now working with these people......some without a sense of real responsibility, sadly. May change happen for the better.Junenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-85657404537450884392012-01-06T19:30:17.819-05:002012-01-06T19:30:17.819-05:00A lovely and hard-truth commentary about real and ...A lovely and hard-truth commentary about real and good things lost. My elementary school, Franklin School in North Bergen, NJ, was torn down and I don't choose to go back and look at what, if anything now fills that hole in the neighborhood. I like the comments about free play. Heavens, did we learn a lot about life while risking life and limb. I don't remember myself or a friend getting hurt. And when leather-lunged Moms wanted us home, we could hear them two blocks away!Charlesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-75043408168580917622010-04-16T15:08:28.600-04:002010-04-16T15:08:28.600-04:00I've been doing my best to convey to my family...I've been doing my best to convey to my family and friends what an overwhelmingly emotional experience our reunion was! Your words capture the weekend so well ... and I'm thankful for your blog. It helps a little to convey how magnificent the weekend truly was! Thanks so much ... and Go Blue!<br /><br />Mike Foley '80Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-2059126304720889792010-04-15T16:01:37.368-04:002010-04-15T16:01:37.368-04:00Jeff,
Thanks for expressing the great joy so many...Jeff,<br /><br />Thanks for expressing the great joy so many of us felt at this wonderful event. Words cannot capture the emotions and feelings of being together again, but you got awfully close! It was great to see you again. Go Bule!<br /><br />Jon Tomlanovich, '71Jon Tomlanovichnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-50152772740787400972010-04-14T17:07:26.542-04:002010-04-14T17:07:26.542-04:00Thanks for posting this. It brings tears back to ...Thanks for posting this. It brings tears back to my eyes again. <br /><br />What a wonderful weekend!<br /><br />-- Rudy Bickel '59Rudy Bickelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-25277692356452366512010-04-14T12:40:19.291-04:002010-04-14T12:40:19.291-04:00Your comments pretty well summed up my experience ...Your comments pretty well summed up my experience as well. As I stood on the Hill Auditorium stage, I felt transported back 40 years to when I sang with the Club, in the first row, no music in hand, and blending with my brothers in song. Thanks to all who made this a wonderful experience! As I remarked to Brad Bloom on my way out the door, "Let's do it again next year!"<br />Bob Acker, 2nd bass, '69Bob Ackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09576779105537630125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-58478321500679412092010-04-14T11:15:45.415-04:002010-04-14T11:15:45.415-04:00Brought my Dad (Stan Ryckman) up for the reunion a...Brought my Dad (Stan Ryckman) up for the reunion and concert...he was in the Club from 1945-47. He was an officer and was on the committee that interviewed and selected Phil Duey to be the new director. As far as I can tell, Dad was the third oldest guy there. I only wish that some of his classmates could have been there. I was very proud of him that he made it through all the rehersals and the concert. It was a magical, remarkable weekend. Thanks to all the UMMGC members and alumni for making the weekend so special for my father.Stu Ryckmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-16305822548826581702010-04-14T09:35:12.999-04:002010-04-14T09:35:12.999-04:00Snaps to your post!Snaps to your post!Jonathan Shandellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198878539306878742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-89823152895758963132010-04-14T09:34:01.552-04:002010-04-14T09:34:01.552-04:00Great post, Jeff.
I was struck by the number of ti...Great post, Jeff.<br><br />I was struck by the number of times I heard the alums say how impressed they were by the current club (or any version of the club subsequent to when they were involved) and that they were certain they were never THAT GOOD when they were in school. I heard it enough times to come to the conclusion that it's a natural reaction, caused by being away for all of these years, out in the "cold, cruel world" that chips away at our confidence and our belief in ourselves. What the anniversary weekend did for me was refresh the belief that yes, I once was good enough to be a proud member of the glee club, I once was a world champion and that ... if there's enough belief and faith still inside me, I can be once again.<br><br />This was the most emotional weekend of my life, and I have all of my old brothers to thank for it. My appreciation almost goes beyond words.<br /><br><br />Jamie Turner/'78<br />Tis of Michigan We SingJamie Turnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-41469882527120906532010-04-14T01:44:59.289-04:002010-04-14T01:44:59.289-04:00It was an amazing weekend and I thank God for bles...It was an amazing weekend and I thank God for blessing me to be a part of it. I will never forget it!<br />John FlukerJ Flukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04197295896601176236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-209558621895573582010-04-13T21:09:25.124-04:002010-04-13T21:09:25.124-04:00What stood out for me were the rehersals- the comm...What stood out for me were the rehersals- the commitment by our brothers as well as the conductors. We could have just sang - but the drive that made us Champions (I was in 78) really made me appreciate the attention to detail and thought that brought us togethe in a way very few things can in life. The experience in the Glee Club - seen with the lens of the years - brought a focus to what is important in life- creating something- sharing it and celebrating life with those friends - old and new - that made it all the more real and therefore , special.Steve Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07925578619980097358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-45943246236719511992010-04-12T18:56:56.431-04:002010-04-12T18:56:56.431-04:00So well said, so true, so true. Thanks Jeff for p...So well said, so true, so true. Thanks Jeff for putting into words what so many of us experienced this weekend. Brothers in Song, Sing On!<br />--Eric Vesbit, '94firth5https://www.blogger.com/profile/01717382072762577163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-88776796079492541022010-04-12T16:48:19.053-04:002010-04-12T16:48:19.053-04:00This pretty much captures it for me...
Hurrah for...This pretty much captures it for me...<br /><br />Hurrah for the Yellow and Blue.<br /><br />Hamilton Chang<br />UMMGC Past President and Prior Friar.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08656131795737791141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-24251484932401024062010-04-12T13:51:38.459-04:002010-04-12T13:51:38.459-04:00It was a fantastic weekend and wonderful singing.....It was a fantastic weekend and wonderful singing.... to see a (I made it so I can say it, poor video, good sound) video of the "Ave Maria" go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKOxdiov6WcUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07895464698761723577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683867836365129937.post-36842839502942821552010-02-26T22:31:17.050-05:002010-02-26T22:31:17.050-05:00Very nice, Jeff. Good luck with the next stage of...Very nice, Jeff. Good luck with the next stage of your life, home, and family!!Glenn Sogge (FormerComposer)https://www.blogger.com/profile/10835357305186156399noreply@blogger.com