The cover of the 2010 Scuttlebutt features a photo taken in our beautiful library for two reasons; it serves as a small reminder of the room's grace and grandeur and also commemorates the official kick-off for our latest gift to the building—a preservation project of its beautiful woodwork. Future publications will include more photos of this magnificent and impressive room and we hope to line up a student to document the project's progress (as we did with the mural project).

The work will focus on water and heat damage (around windows and radiation), intensive stripping and cleaning, minimal re-staining and finally, resealing with shellac. Contractors we've consulted are making similar comparison to the mural: in addition to the original quality and craftsmanship, the wood in remarkable condition, its age and use considered! The need for this work was brought to our attention by head custodian, Gino DeClemente (who was instrumental in initiating the mural project as well).

This endeavor, like the mural project, may draw some criticism in that it is more "maintenance" and less "gift". Please bear in mind that our school district is responsible for the upkeep and improvements to an aging infrastructure that includes seven buildings, all 45+ years and older. We have been told that the school board cannot "play favorites" and must distribute its tax and aid revenue equally. Those readers who still live here are painfully aware of your share of school taxes. The rest of you recognize the effect of state and federal cutbacks on budgets everywhere. When it comes to making a choice between spending money on the kids or certain repairs and improvements, it's obvious what falls by the wayside. We're also fortunate to have a caring custodial staff that takes (almost) as much pride in our alma mater as we do, but Mepham is unique in that we have an active and engaged Alumni Association that is in a position to help.

We're counting on that help once again as we ask you to consider making a special donation to our preservation fund. If you have not renewed your membership for 2010, use the form at http://www.mepham.org/memform.pdf to do so and send a little extra. We hope to be able to move forward with this project in summer 2011.

Frank Setteducati '70

The cover of Scuttlebutt 2010 was by the winner of our Scuttlebutt Photo Contest.The $200 prize was won by Samantha Ponzio, class of 2012. (Click on pictures to see larger images).