EAST FAREWELL
NEWS
Thursday, December
29, 1960 Vol. C809
LOCAL
NEWS
1960 YEAR IN REVIEW
East
Farewell – The first year of the new decade is coming to a close and as usual
the East Farewell
News will present its “Year in Review” giving a brief summary of the past year’s
events. 1960 was a year that saw many changes, improvements and some old
familiar and beloved events return for their yearly celebration. The preceding
decade saw East Farewell grow incredibly. It went from a small train stop of a
town whose claim to fame was the Iron Works that supplied the Mighty Keystone
Railroad with tracks to a mid-sized city that is a very popular summer
destination for many east coast city dwellers. It has a sophisticated mass
transit system, an award winning school system and has become a haven for
artists and musicians. Lake Charles has become locally famous for the “Swim
Across the Lake” the sailboat race and as a fisherman’s paradise. Every year
brings changes and every year there are familiar events that add to the
traditions.
1960 saw some
interesting events, some of which the town had nothing to do with. The weather
in the first quarter was extremely mild leading people to label it “the winter
that wasn’t” while there was snow and there were snow sculptures on Lakefront
Plaza, 1960 was the first snowless New Years since 1919. The total snow
accumulation was a measly 18” where the average is 30” for the last decade. The
weather, or lack of, was welcomed by the Valentine’s Day Social committee who
put on a great mid-winter event that the whole town attended. The Flower Show
Committee put on another wonderful show bigger and better than ever. Local high
school teacher, Miss Anna
Turner, was honored by NASA with the prestigious “Science Teacher of the
Northeast” award for her efforts to advance the teaching and understanding of
the new space age. Lake Charles saw some improvements, too. Lifeguards started
monitoring Lakefront beach and Hollywood beach and the “Swim Across the Lake”
was a well-organized event that had much better safety monitoring to handle the
increased entries. The other big event
on the lake was the sailboat race and once again the fourth of July fireworks
were set off from a barge in the middle of the lake that afforded almost
everyone around the lake a spectacular view. Junk dealer Gus Pollard made
national news when he discovered an original broadside of the Declaration of
Independence secreted behind a portrait of local railroad tycoon, Louis
Hampshire. The Playhouse had a big year, the Student Summer Stage put on four
plays as well as the Playhouse’s normal schedule of eight plays throughout the
year. The national strike on the Mighty Keystone Railroad had a surprisingly
minimal effect on the town. The two week strike couldn’t stop the crowds that
attended the 15th
Arts Music and Farm Show. This year was another record in attendance. The
Travelers baseball team had only a mediocre season and finished in second
place. The measles outbreak closed the elementary schools for two weeks but the
students and teachers all pulled through and came back stronger and healthier. Dr.
Quantry showed off his newest invention, an all-electric car much to the
delight of all the teenaged boys in town. Possibly the last remote radio
broadcast by WPAZ kicked off the Oktoberfest and after the enormously popular
event concluded it was announced that next year’s event would be shortened much
to the dismay of many. The Regional High Cougars football team were a young and
inexperienced but fought hard on the field and earned a 4-4 record on the
season. The Cougars basketball team is also young and is currently working to
improve with every game. The Playhouse season ended with the town favorite “A
Christmas Carol” that is still playing through the New Year. In the national
news, NASA made great strides into space, Khrushchev was quite the impetuous
ruler and John F. Kennedy was elected president.
The first year
of the new decade was an exciting year for the town and the nation. Everyone
seems to be looking forward next year and all the great events that it holds.
SPORTS
COUGARS FINALLY TWEET A VICTORY OUT OF THE
CANARIES
East Farewell – There was no Christmas Tournament
this year so the Cougars played a normally scheduled game on Saturday. The
Slate Mountain Canaries came into town looking for their second win in a row
but they left disappointed. The Cougars were able to notch their first victory,
36-31. This game was well played but both teams did not shoot very well. They
both averaged only 27% of their shots. The defenses were strong on both sides
but not strong enough to explain the low scoring average, they were both just
off. The game started off with the Cougars coming out strong with two quick
baskets by senior guard, Wendell Williams but things went downhill from there.
The Canaries scored one basket but the score remain 4-2 for the whole first
quarter. Shots from both sides would bounce off the front of the rim, rattle
around and spin out or miss everything completely. Cougar’s center, Dan Davis, was
able to take command of the center and Williams did a good job in the back
court. Aside from the lack of accuracy the team showed a great improvement in
their game play and court awareness. The first half ended with the Cougars on
top 20-16.
The second half turned out
to be more of the same but both sides worked the floor better, running plays
and actually taking planned shots, unfortunately the shots still didn’t fall. Canaries
forward, Ben Regal, got hot in the third quarter and made eight straight points
to close the gap to 28-24 but Billy green came over to help Gene O’Donnell out
and they were able to slow down Regal. In the fourth quarter the Cougars tried
a new defensive tactic and started to press the Canaries. It had limited
success, the Cougars were able to extend their lead to 34-29 but Williams
fouled out trying to break up an inbounds play. The Canaries were able to close
to 31-34. The Cougars were able to close out the game with a final shot by
Billy Green that fell through with only five seconds left. It was his first and
only score of the game.
The Cougars stay home next
week when they host the Fort Lee Captains. The game begins at 4:00PM on Friday
afternoon in the Regional High Gymnasium.
NATIONAL NEWS
NASSAR SAYS HE WILL DESTROY ISRAEL’S NUKE
REACTOR - PHILADELPHIA EAGLES WIN NFL CHAMPIONSHIP – BOSTON CELTICS SET NBA
RECORD – ROCK & ROLL BAND FORCED TO LEAVE GERMANY
After the news came out that Israel was building a nuclear reactor (with assistance from France), Egypt's President Gamal Abdel Nasser warned in a nationwide speech that the United Arab Republic would go to war "if we become sure that Israel is building an atom bomb". Nasser added "We shall take every step in order to preserve our country and to destroy our enemy. Nasser later pledged to send Egypt’s army to destroy the Dimona Nuclear Centre.
The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers, 17–13, to win the 1960 NFL championship. The AFL title game, between the Houston Oilers and the Los Angeles Chargers, will not take place until New Year's Day 1961.
The Boston Celtics set an NBA record for most rebounds by a team, in a 150–106 win over the visiting Detroit Pistons. Only 2,046 people turned out to Boston Garden to watch the Christmas Eve game.
After being forced to leave West Germany, The Beatles made a triumphant return to Liverpool, playing at the ballroom at the Litherland town hall.
Many, many
thanks to www.mrpopculture.com for
contributing to this section of the East Farewell News.
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