From: Harlan Lau Date: Thu Mar 28, 2002 3:51 pm Subject: Encina Update (alumni challenge, basketball, reunions, siblings, floegel, mietus, guevarra, bios, obituaries, humor, internet, whats new) ENCINA ALUMNI, Ronald Mintle '65 and Paul Bonderson '70 are the sponsors of this week's update! Please excuse the typo in Ron Mintle's email address in the last update if you tried to write him. Here is the correct address. Ron Mintle '65: rmintle@yellowmagic.com (I left out the r at the beginning). ALUMNI CHALLENGE MOTHER OF ALL PLEDGES Drum roll please.... Paul Bonderson '70 wrote: "Here is a chance for all of you to double the value of your pledge. I will match all funds raised by the challenge, dollar for dollar up to $10,000. Take advantage of this opportunity to make your dollars count for Encina, it's for the kids! Paul Bonderson, class of '70" Once again, Paul Bonderson '70 comes through for us! Last year, Paul pledged $100 for each alumni point. When I asked Paul to send in his pledge for $7400 (74 points x $100) he wrote back that he expected a higher scoring game and sent in a check for $10,000! And of course, Paul paid for the Dell webserver that the Encina website is now running on at Yellow Magic. Now Paul is offering to match all funds raised by the alumni challenge! So if you pledge $1 for each alumni pledge, Paul will match that with an additional $1. If you pledge $100, Paul will match that with an additional $100. The class of 70 was inspired... Mary Ellen Collentine 70 wrote: I can't attend, but put me down for $1.00 per point scored for the alumni team. Mary Reddick '70 wrote: I'll match my good friend Mary Ellen's contribution of $1.00 per point. Linda Sorenson Lehr '70 wrote: I will pledge $1.00 per point. Steve Wagaman '70 wrote: Harlan, I will pledge $1 per point. Can't come, tho. Paul Whatley '70 wrote: Harlan ( and class of 70 gang) I seem to remember last year and the tromping the alumni gave the youngsters. I also seem to rember the outrageous final score. I can say for my part it would be a bit dangerous to pledge per point this year (not to say the players may allow certain persons to take and make some unusually easy shots). So I guess I'll make it $250.00 for the night. Sorry I can't make it this year. I think the class of 70 and all of the Encina alumni have really got their priorities straight. It really is for the kids! Thanks Paul B for making mine double. You rock! Guy Blair 70 wrote: I wasn't in shape to play basketball in '70 so I'm certainly not in shape for it today, but I will pledge $1.00 a point. Thanks to Paul Bonderson...you inspired me. I hope Paul Bonderson 70's generous pledge to match all funds raised by the challenge will inspire more of you to make a pledge and support Encina. Do it for the kids! ALUMNI CHALLENGE PLEDGES *** UPDATE *** Last week pledges stood at $12.50 per alumni point and $275 in regular pledges. This week we ballooned to $24.50 per alumni point and $750 in regular pledges. Or $49 per alumni point and $1500 with Paul Bonderson's matching funds. If the alumni team matches their score of 74 points last year, that would be $3626 + $1500 for a total of over $5126. This does not count individual per player pledges. I would like to set a goal of $50 per alumni point or $100 per alumni point with Paul's matching funds. Two weeks to go. Can we do it? Do we have any big pledgers out there who will pledge $5 or $10 per alumni point? Let's take advantage of Paul's generosity! Here are the pledges we received this past week. See the Alumni Challenge 2002 page for the latest news: http://www.encinahighschool.com/homecoming/challenge02.htm Geoff Shumway 89 wrote: Just wanted to donate $3.00 for every point Ryan Norris makes in the Alumni Challenge. With a minimum donation of $50.00 donation to Encina High School. I also am RSVPing for the Alumni Challenge event. ** FYI. Geoff played on last year's alumni team and scored 19 points ** Steve Knowlton '87 wrote: Hi Harlan- I'd be happy to put up $1 per alumni point for this year. Micheal Carsey '64 wrote: I am coming to Sacramento on the 9th of April from Germany. I am going to be on home leave and plan to attend. Is there going to be a prize for those who have traveled the longest distance to attend? I will pledge $ .50 per point scored by the alumni team. ** Micheal is coming from Germany. Doesn't that embarass you local folks in Sacramento who haven't rsvped??? ** Duane Reagh '65 wrote: I will pledge $1 per point. Lora Saunders '67 wrote: Well, I'm going. I always enjoyed watching basketball, 'cause in the high school gym, you're right there, close. The last alumni challenge was great fun. Sorry to see no one else from my class is planning to go, yet. Come on guys. I'd like to pledge $2 per point Dan Reid 87 wrote: I'll put up 5 dollars for each dunk James Jones 87 throws down during regulation. Russell Hauf 87 wrote: Put me down for $10/dunk by Jonsey (also during regulation)! Dan Reid 87 wrote: Because I can't have my good friend Russell out pledge me (and to help Encina out), please raise my "per Jones dunk" pledge from 5 dollars to 10 dollars. (No cherry-pickin' Jones) James Jones 87 wrote: i can't dunk, sorry, i wish i could, tell those cheap pledgers danny and russel to put up $2.00 per point that I score I pledge $3.00 for every point I score, and $1.00 for every point team scores, go alumni----- Russel Hauf 87 wrote: I'm in for $2/point by Jonesey. But I'm disappointed that he can no longer live up to his former nickname! Come on Jiggernaut! I'll also pledge $10 if Jones can still do the Grab-the-backboard-with-one-hand-and-slam-with-the-other dunk before the game! He's a legend! Dan Reid 87 wrote: OK Harlan, 2 dollars per James Jones point, 5 dollars for his first 3 pointer, 10 dollars for an ejection and 15 dollars if he is asked to leave schoolgrounds. Darcy Frields 78 wrote: I can't make the basketball game but put me down for .50 cents a point. Pepai Falck '73 wrote: As Jerry would say, "IT'S FOR THE KIDS"....please put me down for $100 pledge (total not per point). "GO ENCINA, apaches rule, and dogs drool". I thought thats how it went, isn't that how it goes? Pep Walter "Lubie" Lubiejewski 65 wrote from New Zealand: Hello from down-under. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend in person because of the time and distance, but will pledge a $1 a point and will double it if the Alumni win. How's that for motivation for the oldies to spank the young whippersnappers!! Lubie Jerry Burks '71 wrote: This all sounds like a lot of fun Harlan, but close your eyes and picture this... They introduce Encina High School's Alumni basketball team and roaring out they come stacked 4 high on the fenders, handlebars, seat and gas tank of my Harley Davidson, carrying the American Flag... I make two quick passes around the court and then hang a brodie and come to a skidding stop right in front of their bench!!! Just the thought of it gives me goose bumps dude... lol (wink) (ok, ok, I'm only kidding you, but it was rather creative wouldn't you say...) hehe Jerry Burks 71 ** FYI. Jerry led the half time parade on his Harley during the last homecoming game *** Carol Markell Keller '78 wrote: I will pledge 50 cents a point for the Alumni team, and $2 per point scored by Kim Tierney. Go Apaches !! Carol (Markell) Keller, EHS '78 Heather Kendall '73 wrote: I would like to pledge $100.00 (total) to the alumni basketball game. Now it's your turn. I hope you were inspired by these heartfelt pledges and Paul's matching funds to "do it for the kids". Write me at harlan@rambus.com or on your class mailing list. Let it all hang out . ALUMNI CHALLENGE PLEDGES BY CLASS Here is a summary of the alumni challenge pledges by class. I have left out the individual player per point pledges. The intent of listing the pledges by class should be obvious . 1961: none 1962: $50 + $1 for each attendee at reunion 1963: none 1964: $0.50/alumni pt 1965: $4/alumni pt 1966: none 1967: $2/alumni pt 1968: none 1969: none 1970: $250 + $5/alumni pt + matching funds (!!!) 1971: none 1972: none 1973: $400 + $2/alumni pt (yeah class of 73) 1974: $4/alumni pt 1975: none 1976: none 1977: $1.50/alumni pt 1978: $50 + $3/alumni pt 1979: none 1980: none 1981: none 1982: none 1983: none 1984: none 1985: none 1986: none 1987: $2/alumni pt 1988: none 1989: $50 1990: none 1991: none 1992: none 1993: none 1994: none 1995: none 1996: none 1997: none 1998: none 1999: none 2000: none 2001: none Are you embarassed to see a goose egg by your class year? It doesn't have to be that way... ALUMNI CHALLENGE TEAM *** UPDATE *** I'm a bit disappointed in the class support for the players on the alumni team, both in pledges and rsvps. Last year the class of 77 pledged a total of $35 for each point Chuck Armstrong 77 scored. Can you imagine the pressure Chuck felt when he shot? This year we have: $5/point by Todd Brownell '73 $10/point by Bob Goosmann '74 $2/point by Kim Tierney '78 $7/point by James Jones '87 $3/point by Ryan Norris '89 The total for all players is less than the pledge for Chuck alone last year! We have no pledges for Rafael Enriquez '84 or Chris Dahlbeg '80 so far. I don't know what happened to the class of 80 this year. This is sad. And the rsvps are not looking so good either. We want the gym to be rocking on April 12th. Come on classes, come out and support your classmates! Are you guys going to let the class of 70, which has no players on the alumni team, show you up in their school spirit and generosity??? And on another topic... Barbara Hardy '76 wrote: As a former Encina MVP, why not call on the former female superstars of Encina to participate in your fundraisers? Do we have any other alumni women who would be interested in playing on a future women's alumni team? Let me know and I'll keep track of your interest. Co-organizer of the alumni challenge and alumni team captain Bob Goosmann '74 wrote: "Alumni Team Set (Almost) For Hoop Challenge The alumni team for the upcoming Alumni Challenge is almost set! Confirmed players are: Todd Brownell, '73 Bob Goosmann, '74 Kim Tierney '78 Chris Dahlberg '80 Rafael Enriquez, '84 James Jones, '87 Ryan Norris, '89 We have one or two spots open for additional former Encina players, but time is short. Please contact Bob Goosmann at magusbob@hotmail.com if interested. This will be another exciting game against an Encina varsity squad that is reportedly even better than last year's. We will be better also, and expect to give them a good spanking! Also, PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A PLEDGE BASED ON HOW MANY POINTS THE ALUMNI TEAM SCORES (even 50 cents a point will help). The school needs your support. Thanks!" ALUMNI CHALLENGE RAFFLE These are the donations we have received to raffle off at the alumni challenge. Rett Smart '73 donated: a miniature telephone a 7x18mm golf scope a digital CD player/ AM FM stereo boom box Bill Farley '77 wrote: I can donate four seats to a River Cats Baseball Game. The seats are in the first row on the home team dugout. If you cannot pledge money, perhaps you can donate a gift for us to raffle off? Many of you have your own business. Please consider donation a service or something related to your business. ALUMNI CHALLENGE BAND Doesn't anyone want to play in the alumni challenge pep band??? ENCINA BASKETBALL In the April Bulldog Barks newsletter, Principal Myrtle Berry wrote: "Basketball Fever. Both Girls' and Boys' Varsity Teams made the playoffs. For our girls, this was the first time in (some say 15) years that we have made the playoffs. We are especially proud of our Lady Bulldogs for all their hard work to put Encina on the map. We will especially miss the play from our outstanding seniors: Tameka Lands, Michelle Gouveia, Amber Baggs, Mary Flake and Artrice Stewart. Good job, Coach Kim and Staff! Things were happening so far with our boy's team that we could hardly keep us. We were definitely on fast forward. Our Mighty Bulldogs played at Arco Arena for the San Joaquin Sectional Semifinal Championship Game on March 2, 2002. At this writing, (although we were defeated at Arco) our boys will travel to Marin Christian in the Bay Area to compete in the NORCAL Preliminary playoffs. It's been a long and exiting season for our guys, we are proud of the entire team. Having played at Arco Arena will definitely leave a lasting impression with these guys. Thanks to seniors Stephen Beasley, John Coaxum, Lionel Smith, James Hankins and DeAndre Robinson for leading this charge. Finally, please join us on April 12, 2002, for our Second Annual Alumni Challenge Basketball Game. Last year's game netted over $15,000. We hope to exceed that amount this year." ALUMNI CHALLENGE Bob has assembled this year's team from a wide range of classes. I hope you will come out and support your classmates in person and/or by making a pledge for each point they or the team score! Sign up now! 2nd Annual Alumni Challenge Friday, April 12, 2002 4 p.m.—11 p.m. CAMPUS TOURS, 4 p.m.—6 p.m. Current students will provide alumni with guided tours of the campus, including the renowned Encina Art Gallery. DINNER, 5:30 p.m.—7:30 p.m. Dannie’s Catering will once again provide a delicious full-course meal in the school cafeteria. This year’s menu features a choice of prime rib with baked potato or smoked turkey with mashed potatoes and dressing. Included is tossed green salad, California mixed vegetables, dinner rolls, apple and peach cobbler, soda and coffee. DOOR PRIZES Each attendee will be automatically entered to win a prize during a drawing to be held at the dinner around 7 p.m. (must be present to win). NOTE: We are currently looking for donations of prizes—please contact Julie Eissinger Meador at jules95630@yahoo.com if you or someone you know can help. BASKETBALL GAME, 7:30 p.m.—9 p.m. An alumni squad will once again challenge the current Encina varsity team during a regulation-length, refereed, highly-competitive game in the Encina gym. If you are a former pre-1990 varsity player who did not play in last year’s game, contact Bob Goosmann at magusbob@hotmail.com if you want to play (note: if you have already contacted Bob, please send him another e-mail; a couple of the early e-mails were lost). Last year we received pledges totaling $250.00 per point scored by the alumni team (total points scored was 74). Please consider sponsoring this year’s team with a per-point pledge. Also funds raised will be used to support very worthwhile Encina projects and programs. POST-GAME PARTY, 9 p.m.—11 p.m. Coffee and socializing in the cafeteria with background music from the 60s, 70s and 80s. COST Before April 1, $20 per person ($10 for children under 10) April 1 and later, $25 per person ($12.50 children under 10) For more information or to volunteer to help, please contact Steve Palmer '74 at 530-676-2775 or spalmer@innotek.com, or Bob Goosmann '74 at magusbob@hotmail.com. For details about the Alumni Challenge 2002 along with the list of current RSVPs and pledges: http://www.encinahighschool.com/homecoming/challenge02.htm REUNIONS CLASS OF 1962 Event: Alumni only pre-party Date: Friday, September 27, 2002 Place: Mace's Format: No host cocktail party Event: Golf tournament Date: Saturday, September 28, 2002 Place: Haggin Oaks Contact: Bill Corrie Event: Reunion party Date: September 28, 2002 Place: Del Paso Country Club Contact: Alice Braio Bogert 62 at ajbogert@yahoo.com CLASS OF 1967 No plans for a 35th reunion. Next reunion in 2007. Contact: Linda Goff 67 at ljgoff@csus.edu CLASS OF 1972 Up to the minute information and maps to all venues can be found on the Class of '72 web site at: http://www.encinahighschool.com/class72/index.html Event: Alumni Preparty Date: Friday, July 12, 2002 Event: Reunion Dinner & Dance Date: Saturday, July 13, 2002 Place: Granite Bay Golf Club Event: Family Picnic Date: Sunday, July 14, 2002 Contact: Sue Kehoe Jacobson '72 at jacobson41@msn.com Debbie Sprague Mitchell '72 at galsmail@c-zone.net Darrel Mitchell '72 at lynk0007@c-zone.net CLASS OF 1977 Date: August 17, 2002 Place: Doubletree Hotel (near Arden Fair and Cal Expo) Contact: John Hyland at johnthyland@hotmail.com Sue Levy Joslin at Jos964@attbi.com CLASS OF 1982 Date: August 9, 2002 Place: Croatian Hall Contact: Soames Funakoshi at alexusfr@yahoo.com CLASS OF 1987 Date: TBD Place: TBD Contact: Kris Monday Dragoo at jkdragoo@winfirst.com CLASS OF 1992 Date: Saturday, October 19, 2002 Place: Grapes Dining & Spirits, 815 11th St Contact Rochelle Karrick Laun at RochLaun@yahoo.com or Jannell Penney at penneytax@msn.com SIBLINGS Wenchke Aarrestad 61 wrote: Wenchke Aarrestad 61 Ase Sofie Aarrestad ?? (deceased) Torgunn Sonja Aarrestad 69 Dennis Machen 62 wrote: Dallas Machen 52 (McClatchy) Dennis Machen 62 Stacie Gleckman 88 wrote: Robert Gleckman 83 Stacie Gleckman 88 Jenine Medkiff 77 wrote: Jenine Medkiff 77 Dee Dee Giles 78 David Weston 88 wrote: Todd Weston 86 David Weston 88 Annabel Oversby 72 wrote: Karen Oversby 67 Steve Oversby 68 Annabel Oversby 72 Karl Wallenda Schnaidt 91 is the son of Ken Schnaidt 61 (deceased) Pamela Tellefsen 64 wrote: Pamela Tellefsen 64 Jacqui Tellefsen 67 Wendy Tellefsen 68 Chuck Tuttle 69 wrote: Chuck Tuttle 69 Cathy Tuttle 71 Lori Kemp 84 wrote: Lori Kemp 84 Leslie Kemp 87 JACK FLOEGEL 62 Hi All - I'm going to try not to brag here, but my son Richard has a chance to go to Canne to make a movie. No joke. Richard just finished film school at USC and put together a short feature which has done very well on the film festival circuit. As a result, he may get a chance to show what he can do in the Chrysler Million Dollar Film Festival in Cannes. My daughter Suzanne is on a promotion campaign in support of her brother. (Part of this deal includes voting for your favorite film on the internet.) The instructions are included in her e-mail below. FYI - Bumpershoot is a film festival in Seattle. Follow her directions below. This kid is really talented. Thanks Jack Floegel ------------E-Mail From Suzanne Floegel------------ Do you all remember Bumbershoot???? Remember how I raved about my brother's film, My Chorus. Here was my reaction at the time if you have forgotten: "Bumbershoot was incredible!!!! They laughed throughout the entire film and laughed louder and harder at all the right places. They clapped at the best parts too. It was really exciting to watch - they LOVED it! Seriously, in all my years of theatre and going to the movies, I have never seen an audience react like this one did. They clapped loudly three times at the credits. I wish that you had been there. All in all, it was a great showing." Anyway, not to brag or anything but my brother is incredibly talented. If you read the forwarded email you will see that Richard's film, My Chorus, has been selected as one of 25 quarter finalists in the Chrysler Million Dollar Film Festival! On April 14, ten of those films will advance to the semi-finalist round, and each of those ten directors will be flown to Cannes to make a short film. Wouldn't that be awesome? I think I need to do a screening for all of you at my house. But I have to say, seeing it on the big screen was incredible. Alright, so get to the point. Part of the judging is done online, which is how you all can help send my brother to France. Please go to the site http://www.chryslermdff.com/, register to vote, and then go right ahead and give Richard's film a 1 (best). I would really appreciate it if you would vote. I am so proud!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you want to see all of the awards that the film has already won, you can go to www.mychorusfilm.com. Suz CHRIS MIETUS 66 Chris Mietus 66 wrote: John Mietus, son of Chris and Katie Mietus living in Spokane, WA, just finished a very successful Jr. year at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. The Pioneer team made it into the NCAA DIV III tournament for the third straight year and this year made it to the "Elite Eight" round before losing to then #1 ranked Carthage College (Wis.) on their floor. Final score was 85-70 but it was within 6 points with less than three minutes to go. Foul shots made the final difference. John had 16 points and 9 rebounds in the game. He averaged 14.5pts/10.1rebs over the 24-6 season to earn 1st team All-Northwest Conference honors. Led the league in rebounding for the second straight year - which makes his dad proud as I think back on my two years of hoops under Coach Ed Galloway. Some of the basketball ethic Coach Galloway instilled in me at Encina must have rubbed off. Actually, John is far better than his old man in every aspect of the game. He's been a joy for his parents to watch often and he has one more year to shoot for a final four appearance. Good luck to the Alumni Team in the upcoming charity game vs. the current varsity. Anybody have Jim Eakins, Norm Siefkins, or Carl Lyons numbers? How about Ron Floegel or Bob Hall? Whatever, have fun and raise a bundle. GINGER GUEVARRA 99 Thanks to Anthony Palaca 99 and Kathie Kloss 67 for pointing out these stories about Ginger Guevarra 99 in the Bee... Woman found dead after small fire By Walt Wiley -- Bee Staff Writer Published 5:30 a.m. PST Thursday, March 14, 2002 SACRAMENTO -- A 20-year-old woman was found dead Wednesday morning apparently from inhaling the fumes from a small fire in her belongings in a rented room in North Sacramento. Ginger Guevarra was found on the floor of her room on Rio Linda Boulevard by a medical crew sent to investigate a fire odor in the room. "Her feet were at the door where she had fallen. She almost made it out before she was overcome. And it was all from such a small fire," said Fire Capt. David Whitt. He said the fire had burned itself out 24 hours before it was discovered. It was limited to a portable stereo that was melted almost beyond recognition and a few books and other effects. "A case like this is a strong argument to have a smoke detector in your bedroom," Whitt said. March 23, 2002 A Life's Story Ginger Guevarra -- vibrant and sharp -- came from the Philippines wanting a piece of the American dream. She almost got it. By Bob Sylva -- Bee Staff Writer Published 5:30 a.m. PST Saturday, March 23, 2002 At a kitchen table in an upstairs apartment in Del Paso Heights on a warm August night in 1998, Ginger Guevarra sat alone and considered the events of her tumultuous life. The stabbing grief. The lingering guilt and remorse. Her growing list of disappointments. Mostly, she recalled the memory of her beloved father, whose photo she carried in her wallet. His stern voice, even from his grave back in the Philippines, continued to comfort -- and chastise -- her. "I've learned a lot -- both good and bad," Ginger Guevarra said then. "These months, I've been through a lot. You never think you could do it. This has been a big challenge in my life." Indeed, Ginger, then 17, had been through things no teenager should ever have to endure: The murder of her father. The stress of having to testify in criminal proceedings. The pressures of school, of a job at a fast-food restaurant, of disloyal friends, of diminishing family fortunes and growing family strife. Of feeling alone. And as if she didn't have enough burdens to bear, Ginger was quite adept at creating even more problems for herself. She was exasperatingly resourceful. Still, on that night in August, she was determined to succeed, to make her family proud of her. She was joyful, defiant. And then, like sad but hopeful stories before and since, Ginger faded from view and attention. Until 10 days ago, on March 13, a Wednesday morning, in a small, suffocating room in North Sacramento, where Ginger's body was found facedown on a carpet, her hands outstretched in a gasp for help. The coroner's report listed the cause of death as smoke inhalation and thermal burns. A fire department investigation deemed the small, long-smoldering fire an accident. Thus, Ginger, who would have turned 21 on May 7, died alone in a breathless room, in a seething darkness, with a melted stereo and a charred teddy bear. She was so close to escaping her fate. Her story begins at a funeral. Leopoldo Guevarra, his wife, Adora, and children, Jimmy and Ginger, moved from the Philippines to the United States in 1994. Guevarra wanted the best for his family. Back home, he was a respected accountant. Here, stymied by English but still proud, he found work delivering pizzas. On July 30, 1997, around 6 p.m., Guevarra attempted to deliver a pizza to a vacant house in Del Paso Heights. He was attacked by three youths. He was punched in the face, his head striking the pavement. His pockets were rifled of a crumpled dollar bill and a check for $9.99. He remained in a coma for 17 days at UC Davis Medical Center. His daughter never left his side. Then he died. And so did any Guevarra family chances to grasp the elusive American dream. Instead, tragedy came delivered to their doorstep in a pizza box. At his funeral that late August, Ginger Guevarra wore a black dress. She clutched a rosary in her hand and dispensed memorial cards to arriving guests. She tenderly escorted mourners to her father's casket. And when the priest's rote sympathies sounded hollow, she bravely stood up in front of everyone and spoke crushingly of her love for her father. She was 16 years old. One could not but be impressed by her poise, her uncommon maturity, her social finesse in such a grievous time. That same week, she and her brother, Jimmy, took their father's body back to the Philippines, to his native city of Calambra Laguna, where he was buried at Rizal Memorial Park. Thus, for this reporter, began a two-year adventure -- yes, that's a good word -- in trying to stay abreast of Ginger Guevarra: To report on her progress in two stories in 1997 and 1998. To track her shifting moods and sometimes errant behavior. She was a handful, careless yet endlessly charming. At 16, she was darkly pretty, with a heart-shaped face and flashing brown eyes. She was angelic and calculating, impudent and endearing. She was polite, thoughtful and well-spoken, and made an impression on even hard-nosed officials who crossed her path. "She is what we call a 'hot-and-cold kid,' " said Tom Gemma in 1997, then-principal of Encina High School, where Ginger was a sometimes student and a popular sophomore homecoming princess. "High potential. An up-and-coming leader in school." "She asked me what was being done on the case," said veteran robbery detective Dale Stanfield. "She sounded concerned. I had no idea she was so young." "She seemed intelligent beyond her years," said Deputy District Attorney Richard Yenovkian. "Very, very mature. Devastated by the loss of her father." In just three years in the United States, Ginger was a phenomenon of effortless assimilation. She spoke fluent hip-hop English. She could decipher teen pager code. She knew where every shopping mall and fast-food restaurant was. She was friendly and adaptable, and could easily negotiate the various student factions at Encina High School. Bright, capable, full of potential, she was every immigrant family's brightest hope. And deepest fear. Ginger plunged headlong into the American mainstream. Over time, she grew brazen, independent, at times irresponsible. Once she was arrested for her peripheral involvement in a pointless burglary. She was at odds with her heritage, its conservative traditions. Always her father's voice pleaded in her ear. "He didn't want me to lose my culture," Ginger always cried. "He would always tell me, 'Be Filipina! Be Filipina! Don't change.' " She could never reconcile that fundamental conflict. Now, on an afternoon earlier this week, Adora Guevarra, Jimmy Guevarra and close family friend Fernando Bonifacio, whom the family regard as a wise uncle, are sitting at a table at a board-and-care facility on the edge of Del Paso Heights. For years, Adora Guevarra has worked at this two-story apartment complex, which houses mentally disabled adults. Ginger and Jimmy lived here, too. Many of the clients knew Ginger, who treated them with kindness. Wandering through the room now, peering in the window, some of them appear even more perplexed. Adora Guevarra has been through a lot. First, she loses a husband. Now her daughter. Ginger has caused this poor, struggling woman no shortage of grief. Adora studies a calendar on the table, the month of March. She and Bonifacio try to account for Ginger's final days. Ginger's life was on an upswing. She had a part-time job at a telemarketing company. She received a small monthly stipend from her father's insurance policy. She was happy, upbeat. And she and her longtime boyfriend were in the process of moving into a new house in Elk Grove. In fact, it was the rigors of the move -- the packing, the shuttling back and forth -- that caused Ginger to spend a night at a room her mother rented in a house owned by a friend. Adora had kept a number of boxes at the empty house, filled with clothing and items she was going to ship back to the Philippines. It was Monday, March 11. Ginger was going to sleep in the jumbled front bedroom just this one night. The house is at 2441 Rio Linda Blvd. It is a small, white, clapboard house, surrounded by a low chain-link fence. The overgrown lawn looks like it hasn't been mowed in months. A bouquet of roses leans against a corner of the house front. Across the street is the parking lot of North Sacramento Funeral Home. Palm trees line this stretch of street, thatches of green swaying against a grainy blue sky. According to Fernando Bonifacio, who lives nearby, the following events transpired: He drove by the house Tuesday morning, March 12, and saw Ginger's green Isuzu Trooper parked out front. Later that morning, he and Adora tried to call Ginger at the house. There was no answer. That evening, Bonifacio drove to the house and knocked on the door. No answer. Bonifacio says he could detect the faint scent of smoke. Still, no one suspected the silent oven slowly radiating inside. The next morning, Wednesday, March 12, the landlord opened the front door and noticed soot marks flaring from the closed bedroom door. A 911 call was placed to the fire department. After an investigation, the fire was ruled an accident, its likely source a stereo, which, atop a cardboard box, ignited a fire that smouldered through the night. Days later, the cooled room is ghastly. All the walls are blackened. Everything is covered in a dense, plastic soot. The heat buckled the vinyl miniblinds. There is a tousled double bed, a black-dusted pillow, a charcoal teddy bear, a phone on a stool. Like a chalk outline at a crime scene, a pitiful impression of Ginger's body is apparent on the floor, a pale, frantic silhouette on an otherwise hellish carpet. Ginger's funeral was Monday evening, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Del Paso Heights. It was attended by school friends, her relatives from San Francisco, her boyfriend and his family. Ginger rests in a gray casket, wearing a pink sweater. Her dark brown hair is brushed back from her face, which is ashen but still pretty, innocent. There is a spray of flowers, a gold crucifix and a photograph of Ginger looking vivacious in a bright red formal, from the time she competed in a Miss Filipina contest. Adora's shrill, inconsolable keening at her daughter's bier sounded a heartbreaking eulogy. A priest spoke of Ginger's goodness. How, comforted in God's hand, "she is experiencing heaven for the very first time." Janeka Whitelaw, 19, is a friend of Ginger's from their days at Encina High School. The two remained close and talked frequently on the phone. In a private moment, Janeka remembered her friend. "She just knew how to make a bad day good," she said. "She could put her problems to the side. She would talk to you. She made a difference in your life. She had the best spirit, just the best spirit. Just a lovely spirit. She could always deal with someone else's problems, but never her own." Though strapped for funds, the family plans to ship Ginger's body back to the Philippines, her homeland, where she will be interred next to her father. At the end, she remains true to his wishes. Be Filipina. Be Filipina. Rest in peace, sweet Ginger. BIOS JENINE MEDKIFF 77 Occupation: Operations Officer Friends: Best friends:Ardis Harper, Nina Martinez, and Toni Nunez Lost contact with:Nina Martinez and Toni Nunez Hobbies: Playing pool, spending time on the internet Kids: I have three sons-Bob who is 26, married with a son. He is in the Army, stationed in Germany. Steve who is 25, married with baby on the way. He is also in the Army, stationed in Hawaii. Jose who is 14 1/2, and a freshman. He likes to skateboard and play video games. Junior_high: Howe Avenue Junior_high_friends: Janice Patton, Christine Montoya Martinez, Ardis Harper Memorable_teachers: Mrs. Young & Mrs. Kojima because they led me into adulthood. Also they were very kind, understanding, and supportive of my pregnancy during high school. Mr. Kirrene because he saw the ability in me and pushed me to reach my goals. Favorite_memory: During Summer School, going on an overnight camping trip, for a 24-hour talk marathon with my Pshycology class. Sibling_info: Dee Dee Giles Turner 1978 Heard_about_website_from: Mark Emmett MICHELLE DUBONNET 89 Occupation: Stay At Home Mom Bio: After graduation from Encina, I worked in Corporate America for ten years in Sacramento and San Jose. I graduated from Sac State, a B.S.Criminal Justice. In 1998, I got married. In year 2000, I had a baby. A boy, his name is Marcel. Being a mom is hard work, but so rewarding. It is the hardest job I've ever done. I'm actively involved in church activities, play groups and hanging out with other moms. I live in Elk Grove. Trivia: I rarely keep in touch with anyone from Encina. I see old classmates here and there when I'm out. I still keep in touch with Elizabeth Glaholt (Kanady). I lost touch with Carrie Williams Palenapa; I heard she got married. I saw David Otero giving traffic tickets last month at the maze in San Francisco! He's a CHP officer. OBITUARIES NATALYA OSTAPENKO 02 Sacramento Bee, March 26, 2002 Teen Dies After Car Crashes into Church A 17-year-old girl died Sunday [March 24] when her car crashed into a church in the Arden-Arcade area, the California Highway Patrol said. Natalya P. Ostapenko, a graduate of Encina High School, was driving west on El Camino Avenue near Tamarack Way late Saturday when her car skidded out of control, officers said. The 1991 Honda Accord spun before smashing broadside into St. Philomene Church and School at 2320 El Camino Avenue. Ostapenko was taken to UC Davis Medical Center where she died at 12:16 AM. Accident investigators said Ostapenko was driving too fast on the road wet from a recent rain. They said she was wearing her seat belt, and there is no evidence that alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash. HUMOR Courtesy of Sandi Elrod Gallegos 62... THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING AN E-MAIL ADDRESS RIGHT After being nearly snowbound for two weeks last winter, a Seattle man departed for Miami Beach, where he was to meet his wife the next day at the conclusion of her business trip to Minneapolis. They were looking forward to pleasant weather and a nice time together. Unfortunately, there was some sort of mix-up at the boarding gate, and the man was told that he would have to wait for a later flight. He tried to appeal to a supervisor, but was told the airline was not responsible for the problem and it would do no good to complain. Upon arrival at the hotel the next day, he discovered that Miami Beach was having a heat wave, and its weather was almost as uncomfortably hot as Seattle's was cold. The desk clerk gave him a message that his wife would arrive as planned. He could hardly wait to get to the pool area to cool off and quickly sent his wife an e-mail message, but due to his haste he made an error in the address. His message therefore arrived at the home of an elderly preacher's wife, whose even older husband had died only the day before. When the grieving widow opened her e-mail, she took one look at the monitor let out an anguished scream and fell to the floor dead. Her family rushed into her room where they saw this message on the screen: "Dearest Wife. Departed yesterday as you know. Only just now checked in. Some confusion at the gate. Appeal was denied - Received confirmation of your arrival tomorrow. Your Loving Husband P.S. Things are not as we thought. You're going to be surprised how hot it is down here" INTERNET From Fred Langa's Langalist, an update on email service... 2) Free Email Providers Going Away Yahoo announced it'll soon start charging for what had been a longstanding free email service, and I'm told that Operamail is doing the same thing (I don't use Operamail, so I can't say from first-hand info). This follows on last year's switch from free to paid for most of the other major web-based mail services. Those webmail services that didn't start charging for mail often imposed severe restrictions on use of the services, either limiting the number of emails you can get for free, or--- like Hotmail---by imposing strict limits on mailbox size. (Hotmail limits you to 2MB, unless you pony up for extra storage: The mail service still is free, but you have to pay to store more than a few items online.) There still are smaller webmail services available, but you gotta wonder how long they'll be around. Given this uncertainty, I'd be loathe to use *any* free mail service for essential communications. I think they're good only for "throwaway" accounts you don't care about. But even some email services you pay for aren't very good, either. See the next item, for example. 3) ATTBI's Email Fine-Print Gotcha My cable internet access used to be provided through MediaOne, which got eaten by AT&T's "ATTBI" division.. When the new owners took over, they made many changes to the service, which prompted me to wade in and slog through the fine print of the new user agreement--- which, in typical fashion, supposedly had automatically become binding the moment I used their service for anything, including using it to read what I'd involuntarily "agreed" to. But that's not the weird part. This is: In order to provide a more effective e-mail service and control spam, AT&T Broadband Internet limits the number of e- mails you can send per day as well as the number of recipients to which you can send the same message. If you are using the AT&T Broadband Internet Message Center, the maximum number of recipients per message is 25. There is also a limit of 100 messages per day. I'm used to ISPs placing a limit on the number of recipients for any given message---although 25 is very, very low. But the thing that frosted my cookies was the limit on the absolute number of emails you can send in a day, regardless of how many recipients there are. Some free services have similar limits on how much mail you can send--- but they're free. ATTBI is a premium-priced cable ISP! And if 100 outbound emails a day seems ample, it's not for me: In recent months, I've sent about 11,000 emails per month--- about 350 per day--- through the MediaOne mail servers. There was no problem. But today: Same server, same connection, same everything--- except there are new owners- -- and now I can't send my normal volume of outbound email. Gee, thanks, AT&T. (Note that the above has nothing to do with mailing the newsletters to you; that's done on by high-speed mailing-list service I use. I'm just talking about my own personal outbound email.) At least for now, I can use my Web-server's SMTP service to send outbound email, and that's in fact what I'm dong now. But it's slower that way, and consumes some of the web server bandwidth, which I'd rather have go to serving you web pages. My guess is that when AT&T says "in order to provide a more effective e- mail service," what they mean is: "We're cheap, and we want to put off hardware upgrades for as long as possible. The best way for us to do that is to keep you from using the service too much." Next, it wouldn't surprise me if they put bandwidth caps on each customer. Grrr. WHAT'S NEW Lots of updates since the old website was updated on March 8th... 3/27/02: Terra Johnson 99, Crystal Wilson 98, Ryan Sadler 99, Annabel Oversby 72, Karen Oversby 67, Steve Oversby 68, David Weston 88, Todd Weston 86, Brian Fairman 91, Tracey Harper 78 update 3/26/02: Joe Nestor 62, Karl Wallenda 91, Shalena Davis 88, Robert Gleckman 83, Natalya Ostapenko 02, Aase Aarrestad 63, Candace Talbott 74 update 3/25/02: David Hill 62, Patrick Carrell 77, Tony Kurywczak 84, Delbert Hart 62, Paul Bonderson 70 bio, Wenchke Aarrestad 61, Thorgunn Aarrestad 69, Jenine Medkiff 77/bio, Dee Dee Giles 77 SWITCHED TO ENCINA WEBSERVER AT YELLOW MAGIC 3/24/02: Patrick Gray 90 update, Haley Minns 87, Joan Andrews 62, Darell Baxter 71 update 3/23/02: Scott Brownell 76 update, Christine Lutz 63 update, Susan Green 66 update, Peter Konrad 63, Miles Jackson 86, Linda Hackley 62/bio, Kevin Poppen 98/bio, Charlie Reade 76, Eddie Hinsley 93/bio, Joe Gutierrez 95, Ray Gutierrez 94, Robert Olivo 99, Arlene Olivo 99, Gary Bush 70, Roberta Climent 64, Don Schlotz 63, Judy Murphy 82, Nora Hyer 69, Sue Caplan 62, Linda Caplan 64, Jodi Caplan 73, Steve Marston 72, Emil Magovac 72, Lori Shearer 72, Pete Minns 88, Mariann Marron 65, Bonnie Marron 61, Susan Marron 71, Ronald Morgan 70 update, Ginger Guevarra 99, Stephen Valdez 72, Michelle Dubonnet 89 bio update, Teri Hansen 71 update, Kent Towers 62 classmates.com: Lewis Soloff 67, Art Phillips 68, Arlene Duccini 69, Vernon Mar 69, Ellen Duccini 71, Veronica Wegenere 80, Joan Brown 85, Cheryl Rios 86, Brian Morse 87, Amy Applegate 87, Matthew Flowers 88, Shannon Maile 88, Priscilla Northrop 88, Beth Lubic 93, Tisha Burchfield 93, Jacalene Benavidez 97, Cristina Ultreras 99, Illaiza Nu'Ufolau 00, Bruce Gatewood 00, Stephen Bisby 01 gradfinder.com: Elaine Newton 61, Sean Caron 86, Raymond Correa 02 3/19/02: Daniel Meyers 72, Kenneth Meyer 74, Phuoc "Derrik" Quach 90, Patricia Stuart 62, Susan Green 66, Diana Fine 72 update, Cindy Onstine 85/bio, Dawn Meckfessel 85 update, Jill Lacanlale 96/bio, Joe Lambert 72, Brian Hearden 79/bio 3/18/02: Adrienne Fusek 95, Marybeth Kloser 75 update, Tom Higgins 87 update, Dennis Machen 62, Diane Viebrock 84/bio, Patti Viebrock 69, Elise Viebrock 72, Robert Viebrock 74, Michele Horton 88 update, Becky Lawrence 76, Jeff Jope 72 update classmates.com: Wenchke Aarestad 61, Larry Wheeler 62, Carol Schmitz 62, Michael Fites 63, Charles Welter 64, William Green 66, Barry Hahn 66, Michael Dixon 76, Daniel Smith 77, Gary Viramontes 79, Emily Neilson 81, Denise Kwoka 81, Steve Mitchell 85, Jennifer Johnson 86, Lisa Higgins 86 3/16/02: Mark Emmett 77, David Williamson 77, Heidi Christensen 79, John Yeats 63, Karin Yeats 64, Kary Riddle 94, Marie Fournier 78, Diane Fournier 79, Jon Steven Willis 74, Daniel Luna 86, James Bui 90 update, Patricia Basnett 64, Isaac Lebron 96, Karen Rivera 82, Debbie Burruss 73 update, Darlene Balestrine 83 update, Jeanne Leathers 64, Lisa Santana 93, Christina Foncree 98/bio, Susan Bly 71 update, Carol Krieg 73/bio, Yon Gomez 81 update, Dodie Dunlap 74, Tom Spencer 63, Morrison Graf 77, Ray Graf 70, Fred Graf 74, Diane Dourgarian 78, Kristine Lester 02 update, John Cauley 70, Debbie Cauley 71, Daniel Cauley 72, Peggy Cauley 74, Helen Cauley 75, Patricia Cauley 75/76, Patrick Cauley 77, David Jensen 72, Annable Oversby 72, Janet Davis 67/bio, Mary Lou McGrath 68, Shiella Barrows 83, Tammy Balderas 95, Laura Wiest 79 update, Brian Morse 87, Robert McNeil 89, Linda Russel 73, Richard Dupzyk 74, Aaron Dupzyk 81, Joel Dupzyk 86, Rod Sievers 62, Carole Sievers 65, Monique Mahone 82, Sandra Heath 78, Vanessa Pierce 90, Ron England 70, Wayne England 69, Van Rodgers 72, Dana Michael Rodgers 74, Maria Macias 82 bio, Sultan Jaki 00, Erik Beauchamp 87/bio, Dick Boomgarden 75 classmates.com: Rudy Benny 64, David Stone 70, Susanne Betzler 72, Margaret Emmett 74, William Holmes 82, Mark Hall 83, Dianna Cordova 83, Sherry Love 86, Michael Johnson 86, Darren Thurber 87, Peter Minns 88, Lori Adair 90, Michael Soler 96, Yaroslav Stolyarchuk 97, Stacey Jones 97, Joseph Lee 98, Terra Johnson 99, Ping Thow 99, Chris Willingham 99, Jason Schneeberg 00 HOMECOMING PARTY The current date is Friday, November 1, 2002 versus San Juan. Please make a note of the date of the Homecoming 2002 party! Don't forget to submit your contact information or bio: contact: www.encinahighschool.com/directory/submit_contact.htm bio: www.encinahighschool.com/submit_bio.htm PLEDGE NOW! Harlan Lau '73 Encina HS alumni webmaster www.encinahighschool.com