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Letter from an alumni with a complaint
concerning the site in October 2004
I see that
you donated the space to be used for the BHS Alumni website, so I
decided to send this to you rather than the man who updates it, since
technically you own the space. I understand that Mr. Webber is an older
gentleman, and I’m sure he’s very nice. I’m also very grateful that he
takes the time to update and run the website. I do have a small
complaint, though. I am offended by the link on the main page about the
ACLU and no crosses being allowed on Federal property. The ACLU may be
seen as evil to some, especially some more conservative and older folks,
but it does a very important job of keeping a separation between church
and state and guaranteeing that civil liberties of Americans are
upheld. I think a link to anything either praising or degrading the
ACLU has no place on our alumni website. The alumni website should be
strictly about things relating to BHS or the alumni and that’s it. No
political statements, no links supporting or degrading any groups,
individuals, or organizations, just things pertaining to BHS and the
alumni. Mr. Webber shouldn’t assume that all alumni feel the same as he
about the ACLU, nor should the website cater more to older alumni than
it does to younger. I’d just like to see more of a balance, and no
bias, and the thing about the ACLU taken off the website. If Mr. Webber
wants to make a statement about the ACLU he should put it on his own
homepage and not a page that’s for all BHS alumni. Not sure if you’re
the one I need to be complaining to or not, but just thought I’d tell
you. I guess if I don’t hear back from you I’ll send my complaint to
Mr. Webber.
My
response
I received
your complaint you sent to Brian. I am sorry you don't like some things
on the site but everyone can not be satisfied with everything. You of
course have the option of not accessing any link on the site as well as
not accessing the site at all. Perhaps you did not care for the photo
with the statement of ONE NATION UNDER GOD either. For your information
I served twenty seven months during WW2 in the Pacific for freedom of
press and freedom of speech. Even yours
Further from the above alumni
Dear Mr. Webber,
I think you might have missed the point of my complaint. Yes, you
cannot please all people all the time, that is true. But my point was
that this website is the official website for all BHS alumni. Just
because you do the updates and are the webmaster does not give you the
right to put whatever you want on our website. It doesn't belong to
just you, it belongs to all BHS alumni. I'm sure you wouldn't like it
if the shoe was on the other foot; if I was the one who ran the website
and posted links on it of my personal beliefs that might offend people.
That's why any website that is operated for the benefit of a group
should be kept neutral and should contain information only pertaining to
its purpose: in this case, BHS and its alumni. A website belonging to
all alumni, young and old, should be about BHS, alumni reunions,
information about alumni, and anything else pertaining to alumni and the
school. Political statements, like the one about the ACLU, don't belong
there. The ACLU is a very controversial organization and people on both
sides have very strong feelings about it. It can be a very dividing
subject in our country, and divisive material like that has no place on
our alumni site. That website is there to represent all BHS alumni. Do
I have the choice not to click the link? Yes, but that doesn't change
the fact that the link has no business being there in the first place.
If this was your own website, there wouldn't be any argument because you
can put anything on your own personal website that you desire. Your
personal beliefs about an organization like the ACLU, whether they're
positive or negative, belong on your own personal website, not one that
represents thousands of Brunswick alums. Do I have a choice not to
access the website? Well, not really. This is the one and only
official site of all BHS alumni, it belongs to me just as much as it
belongs to you, and if I ever want to view updates, check up on old
friends, or find out information about my reunion, I need to access the
website to do it. This is not an argument of free speech or freedom of
the press. Free speech is great, but when you're running a website that
literally belongs to and represents thousands of people, you have to
represent them fairly and stick to the true purpose of the website, not
use it as a vehicle to publish your own personal beliefs. If I, or
other alumns, wanted to see something degrading the ACLU we'd go look up
a website that's meant for that, or trade emails with like-minded
friends, and that would be fine. A website like that has every right to
exist. I'm also not sure how you took my complaint to be a personal
insult to your service in the military. I didn't mention your service
or anything about veterans. Just because I happen to think the ACLU
link on our website is inappropriate doesn't mean I'm against veterans
or freedom of speech.
Again, thanks for hearing me out. Like I told Brian, I appreciate you
taking the time to run the site, I just happen to think that link on our
site is inappropriate. I will not respond
But as information I started this site in 1998. There was no
alumni site up until that time. At this writing 10/5/2004,
there are 11,719 files and 507 folders on the site that I created and
put there not anyone else. A number of the subjects were requested
by alumni as things they felt might be of interest. All the information
concerning the alumni was volunteered by the individual alumni,
submitted to me to put on the site that I created and have run from the
beginning. I personally paid for the website when we were told we could
no longer use the BHS server that some student hacked. Later a few
alumni and only a few, from the 40's and 50's helped to sponsor the site
with their donations.
When I am ready to relinquish the site there is already someone ready
to carry the torch. |
John "Keeneye"
Cunningham
By John Spitzer/1956
Curtis
One of the
Brunswick High School and Military comrades has deceased, John "Keeneye"
Cuningham would have been in the class of early 50's....Quit and
joined the Navy and later transferred to the Air Force.....I would
like to have his Obits posted.
Are you able to
access the Frederick Post for Obits? If they are not in Frederick he
last resided in Goose Creek, SC 29445
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Elaine (Lainey) Cummings
So sad to tell you about the passing of our classmate
Elaine (Lainey) Cummings Shoemaker on November 6, 2003. It
was her wish to not have an obituary published and Donna has honored
that wish.
She has been incapacitated for many years with MS.
She died in Morgantown, W. Va.
She has lived there for some time. Her one child lives
there and the other five are scattered around. Lainey went to school
in Brunswick for 10 or 11 years and then her parents built a home on
the road from here to Lovettsville so she finished at Loudon County
High. When she first married she lived on the same road really close
to her parents.
Please advise any other classmates that is not reached
by my emails.
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Mr. Franklin Wenner
As originally published on Wednesday, September 3, 2003.
Mr. Franklin
"Frank" Thomas Wenner, 86, of 512 Brunswick St., Brunswick, died
Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
He was the husband of Anna Fisher Wenner, his wife of
59 years.
Born April 8, 1917, in Brunswick, he was a son of the late Ross L.
Wenner and Helen Humphrey Wenner.
He owned and operated Wenner's Barbershop, Brunswick,
for 60 years.
He was a member of New York Hill United Methodist Church, Brunswick.
He served in the U.S. Calvary at the Tomb of the
Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery under Gen. George Patton.
Surviving in addition to his wife are one daughter, Ruth Ann Arnold and
husband Dan of Florida; three sons, Thomas F. Wenner and wife Belinda of
Keedysville, David L. Wenner and wife Diane of Brunswick, and Kenneth E.
Wenner and wife Lewann of Knoxville; three sisters, Lena Moler of
Baltimore, and Mary Kearfott and Teenie Phillips, both of Brunswick;
three brothers, Albert Wenner of Florida, Bob Wenner of Brunswick, and
Dick Wenner of Virginia; six grandchildren; and nine
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Michael L. Wenner;
one sister, Lillian Rice; and three brothers, Charles Wenner, John
Wenner and Douglas Wenner.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7
to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at John T. Williams Funeral Home, 100
Petersville Road, Brunswick, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday,
Sept. 6, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Clark D. Carr officiating.
Interment will be in Park Heights Cemetery, Brunswick.
Memorial contributions may be made to Brunswick
Ambulance Co., 200 W. Potomac St., Brunswick, Md. 21716 |
Charles Foreback
Herald Mail July 24, 2003
FREDERICK, Md. - Charles "Juice" Foreback, 81, of 1100 Peach Orchard
Lane, died Tuesday, July 22, 2003, at his home
Born Dec. 17, 1921, in Brunswick, Md., he was the son
of the late William H. and Adlai Willis Foreback.
He retired from the Town of Brunswick.
He was of the Lutheran faith.
He was a member of Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1582 of Brunswick; and
Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 1136 of Brunswick
He is survived by two sisters, Helen V. Minnick and
Anna Dawson, both of Brunswick; two brothers, Robert Foreback of Round
Hill, Va., and Donald Foreback of Houston; nieces; nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Howard Foreback.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at John T. Williams
Funeral Home, Brunswick. |
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Mrs. Mary Watson
Wife of Harwood Watson (Watson 's Drug Store)
As originally published on Monday, July 7, 2003.
Mrs. Mary Jane Hooper Watson, 89, of 3517
Petersville Road, Knoxville, died Thursday, July 3, at Vindobona Nursing
Home, Braddock Heights.
She was the wife of the late Brown Harwood Watson.
Born Feb. 20, 1914, in Yellow Springs, she was the daughter of the late
Howard C. Hooper and Jane Crum Hooper Crummitt.
She was a retired registered nurse with Frederick
Memorial Hospital.
She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church, Ladies Auxiliary of Eagles
Aerie 1136, both of Brunswick, Brunswick Senior Citizens and Frederick
Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She also volunteered with the American Red
Cross.
She is survived by one daughter, Ann Watson Griffis and
husband Frankie of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; one son, Thomas B. Watson and wife
Charlotte of Knoxville; six grandchildren, Stephanie Goss, Wade H.
Watson, Bonnie Young, Kelly Watson Brown, Laura Hammett and Eric Griffis;
and 12 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Friday, July 11, at 11
a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, Brunswick, with the Rev. Frank E.
Fortkamp officiating.
Interment will be private.
Arrangements are by John T. Williams Funeral Home, 100 Petersville Road,
Brunswick.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Episcopal
Church, 112 E. A St., Brunswick, Md., 21716 or to a charity of choice. |
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Mr. John Norris Non Alumni
Known and liked by many Alumni friends
As originally published on Wednesday, March 20, 2002.
Mr. John L. "Johnny" Norris, 77,
of 502 Brunswick St., Brunswick, died Monday, March 18, at his home.
He was the husband of LaRue Baker Norris.
Born June 28, 1924, in Knoxville, he was a
son of the late John P. and Alice Mae Nelson Norris.
Mr. Norris was a member of Petersville Lutheran Chapel.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving
with the U.S. Army in France and Germany.
Mr. Norris was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10421, Steadman-Keenan American
Legion Post 96 and the Brunswick Museum, all of Brunswick.
Mr. Norris was a musician and loved
entertaining people throughout the area.
After retiring from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Mr. Norris enjoyed refinishing
furniture for his friends and neighbors, and contributing to the community through volunteer
work. He liked to fish on his boat with his grandchildren and friends.
Surviving in addition to his wife are two
daughters, Judy Gardner and husband Eddie, and Mary Jane Petrucelli and husband Jim, all of
Leesburg, Va.; three grandchildren, Trey Fields, and Troy Fields and wife Michelle of
Leesburg, and Scott Dawson and wife Julie of Frederick; five great-grandchildren, Denny,
Jonathan and Nicholas Dawson of Frederick, and Taylor Fields and Sabrina Fields of Leesburg;
a stepgreat-granddaughter, Olivia Osbourne of Leesburg; one sister, Larayn Martin of
Ijamsville, and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Norris will also be remembered by his
many friends from VFW Post 10421.
The family will receive friends 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, March 21, at John T. Williams Funeral Home, 100 Petersville Road, Brunswick. The
funeral home will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m.
Friday, March 22, at Faith Assembly of God Church, Souder Road and Md. 17, Brunswick, with
the Rev. Carroll Boyer officiating. Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Lovettsville, Va.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Frederick
County, P.O. Box 1799, Frederick, Md. 21702, or Petersville Lutheran Chapel, c/o Linda
Morris, 4232 Gene Hemp Road, Jefferson, Md. 21755 |
James Baker
Did not graduate - Left early during junior year
| Subj: |
Alumni Information |
| Date: |
2/27/02 4:30:54 PM Eastern Standard Time |
| From: 515Baker@adelphia.net |
My last name is Baker
My First name is James
Grad Class: 1982
Nick Name or Maiden Name: Bake
Address Street: 515 East D Street
City: Brunswick, Md 21716
Marriage Status: Married
Phone: 301-834-7910
Email: 515Baker@adelphia.net
Spouse Name - Kristy
Children - 0
High School Residence: Same as now |