Mary Townley
804.423.7255
hoodmlt@aol.com

Hello Class of 1983!  It’s my pleasure to update you on news from a few of our classmates.  Kathy Alexander Long writes, “We are finally experiencing the “empty nest” now that our youngest son is attending Lafayette College where he is pursuing Neuroscience and is on the track and field team. My oldest son got married last December and is in his 6th year teaching 5th grade in Hagerstown MD. Last year he was a finalist for Washington County Teacher of the Year which was quite an honor. The middle son will be graduating from USUHS in May as an Air Force Doctor. He plans to pursue the field of Radiology. As for me, I am a supervisor with The Office of Child Care in Frederick County. I have had many occasions to visit The Onica Prall Child Development Lab at Hood and it always takes me back to my own time spent there as part of the Child Development course. It’s been nice getting to reconnect with some of my Hood classmates on Facebook.”  I also heard from Sharon Carnevale Schopfer who is looking forward to our reunion in June and tells us, “Since 2010 I became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and have worked in two major Houston Hospitals in the Medical Center Houston. Since leaving Houston in 2012, I had a Lactation private practice in DE and most recently (last 2 years) have joined WIC as their Breastfeeding Manager, part of the City of Newark, NJ Health Dept. My three children, Collin 27, Madi 23, and Evan 17 are all doing well. Madi and her husband Ryan are at Camp Pendleton living in Oceanside, CA. Collin is working for Burger King Corporate in Atlanta and Evan will be off to College in the fall. My husband Chris is a business owner and manages Atlantic Heat Treat in Wilmington, DE. Life is as busy as ever, Hope the Class of 1983 is doing well, and looking forward to June!” Pamela Stamey Inskeep had a lot to share.  She writes, “I have been working at my local library in the Circulation Dept. as a Community Service Worker II – Library Circulation Aide, P/T, since June 25, 2013. I also lead the library’s fiction and nonfiction book discussion groups. Plus, I lead a ladies social book club. I am also a private tutor, P/T, in math, reading comprehension, phonics, grammar, essay writing, cursive writing, and test prep. I am working with two students currently and am about to take on a third student. Typically, I tutor about 2 to 5 students each semester. My daughter, Jessica, is 27 years old now. She is a licensed and certified teacher and, after teaching high school special education for three years, she is now an Educational Diagnostician at an elementary school in Wilmington, Delaware. My husband Johnny has been helping my mom a lot this year. Since she doesn’t drive, he takes her to the grocery store, the thrift shop, and a local resale store and helps her do her shopping. He takes her to the bank and post office. Then, they go have lunch. They do this twice a week. I help her out once or twice a week. Besides reading a lot, I have started crocheting again. I find the rhythm of the crochet hook stitching yarn very soothing. I love the colorful yarns and beautiful patterns.” Deborah Single Hays shares that she will not be able to join us at our reunion this spring as she, her husband Stephen and their two boys, Matthew and Timothy will be cruising the British Isles. The cruise celebrates Deb and Stephen’s 25^th anniversary, Matthew’s graduation from Rice University, and Timothy’s completion of 10^th grade. Congratulations to the whole Hays family!  Finally, Lee Ann Near Aikens shared “Things are busy here in WV. Ron & I are essentially empty-nesters with Tori living on a military base as she works for DOD and Jordan graduates from WVU next May but will be starting medical school in the fall. I returned to work in the lab part-time at the VA after taking 10 yrs. off to stay home. It’s a privilege providing good care for our veterans. When not working, I spend time with my 85 yr. old mother tending chickens, cooking and running all over the place, and I’m blessed to have my 86 yr. old Dad nearby as well.” Hoping to see many of you at Reunion Weekend in June! ~Mary