MARILYN HAGERTY: High school hobnobbers of 1960s are celebrate Golden Age

When they were in high school here in the 1960s, students at St. James and Central High Schools loved to dance. They would dance during the noon hour. They would have dances on weekends. To them, a dance was a “hobnob.”

A bunch of at least 120 former students who are reaching the golden age of 65 are coming together in Grand Forks this weekend for what they call a hobnob. They are mellow. They love remembering school days here.

“It isn’t about us,” says Bill Budge from his lake home in Minnesota. “It’s a reconnection with classmates at Central and our friends from St. James. It’s a coming of age.”

Budge is an architect who lives at Scottsdale, Ariz. His mother was the late Ethelyn “Dimpy” Budge, who was an instigator of the Red Cent publication for alumni of Grand Forks public schools. Budge has a brother, Pat, in Grand Forks. He said the whole idea of getting together with classmates started brewing when a few of the CHS class of 1963 were marking their 65th birthdays. So they have been trying to gather up classmates from their year of 1963 as well as 1962 and 1964.

Barbara Reigstad of Shoreview, Minn., has been lending a hand. She first came to Grand Forks schools from Kansas City, Mo., when her father was stationed at the Air Force base.

“At St. James, my school, we danced every noon hour in the gym,” she says. ”Fridays, a DJ from a local radio station came over to spin the top 40 for us.”

At Central during those years, students went across the street to the YWCA to dance at noon. Reigstad is married to Central High graduate Bart Reigstad.

What’s doing

The weekend arrives with the first ever Grand Forks Inline Marathon called Rollin’ on the River on Saturday. Skaters will twist and turn through city streets...There’s a “Keep the Ball Rollin’” golf tourney today at Kings Walk as a benefit for the Perry Nakonechny Youth Sports Fund. ... And a Rockin’ Rollin’ Rally is set for 5 p.m. today in Lincoln Drive Park. ... Meanwhile, Friends of the Library are holding a book sale today, Saturday and Sunday at the Grand Forks Library. ...The exciting roar of race cars will be heard across the city from River Cities Speedway this evening. ...The Farmers Market will be held again downtown Saturday. ... Blues on the Red in Town Square on Saturday concludes the season with the Lamont Cranston Band from Minneapolis and the local Austin James band. ... Sunday, the seventh annual History Rocks antique car event will be held on the Myra Museum grounds of Grand Forks County Historical center on Belmont Road with music, sloppy joes and root beer floats.

Ask Marilyn

Q. Was John Steinbeck the author of the book “Travels With Charlie”?

A. Yes, indeed. I was out in left field when I used an incorrect name for the author in my Sunday column. I thank the three sharp-eyed readers who called it to my attention. And I thank the reader who didn’t notice my faux pas and simply enjoyed remembering that fiasco long ago when there was a proposal to change the name of North Dakota to Dakota. Another time. I will revisit the days when there was a move to change the name of East Grand Forks to Red River.

Q. What are people finding at the downtown Farmers Market on Saturdays?

A. Corn and tomatoes are coming in. Last Saturday was the biggest and best ever market with herbs from Churchs Ferry and Sioux jewelry by local crafters. The onions and cabbages were enormous.

Q. What about melons?

A. Idamae Hendrickson, who sells produce from the parking lot in front of Kmart, says they are just barely starting. She and her son, Rick, bring produce in regularly from their 20-acre garden on the family farm near Mekinock, N.D. Other longtime vendors around here are the Allards, who have a garden in the Minnesota Point area. They show up with fantastic produce at the Farmers Market as well as at Home of Economy on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Tim and Sandy

Cheerful people of the week: Tim Skarperud, Sandy Slater.

Reach Marilyn Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or (701) 772-1055.

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