Greetings for another quarter passed beneath us.  I don’t have much new to report right now as frankly, I’ve been pretty swamped with work and life in general.  With that, I haven’t had time to personally respond to everyone or put a lot of excess in this issue though I do continue to see new submissions and input which is great, and very rewarding!  I’ll pass some bigger news next issue. . .onto you guyz and girlz!

David Olsen was the first to write in for this issue . . . “We live in Gloucester, VA where I have been working as the Marine  Superintendent for a tug and barge operation in West Point, VA, while  continuing to serve as LCDR with the USCGR, stationed with the  National Strike Force in Elizabeth City, NC.  I am the proud father of  three children: Elly (9), William (7), and Virginia (2).  Currently, I am enrolled in the executive MBA program at William and Mary, and am anxiously anticipating the last day of class on August 1, with subsequent graduation in September 2008. Looking forward to a celebratory trip to Peru in August, with my brothers and Mom, as we hike part of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu!”

John “Buck” Hazel is still kickin in Indianna playing with his sons and toys. 

John submitted a picture with him and three of his four sons…Jack, Hunter & Joseph (Jake is 4 mos.) out on a snowmobile ride. 

Chris “Wolfy” Wholfeld sends his greetings and a big ‘caw’ from the Pacific Northwest.  “In the next month I cast off my ankle monitor, cross  Deception Pass bridge, and head south for Corpus Christi, TX.  Anybody know a good place to nest down there?  

My lovely wife Marla is expecting our first Prowler in September so wish her well… She shot down my name choice of LeBron but we’ll find a happy medium.  I am constantly in awe of what this woman can accomplish!!”  

Hans Rittinger announced his little girl, Lola Michelle Rittinger, will be 1 year old on April 1st. (No Joke).  Hans writes “We are all out in Bremerton, WA. I’ve been working at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for Electric Boat Corporation. USS Jimmy Carter Submarine project. Real hush hush stuff. (haha).”  

Derek Paschal sent in some bad news.  “On November 14, 20007, about 3 weeks after I got married and 1 week before my wife and I were to leave for our honeymoon, I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle home from work.  I have been commuting to work by bicycle for almost 4 years now.  Anyhow, I ended up flying over the car and ended up with a broken collarbone.  So I am now healed up enough to start riding my bicycle again, but I am horribly out of shape.  So the next few months of riding to work won’t be a lot of fun.  My wife and I have rescheduled our honeymoon for November 2008, so hopefully I won’t get hit by a car in between now and November.  Other than that, everything is going really well.” 

Joe Couillard writes in and states that he left Maersk Line Limited in Virginia and have moved to Houston, TX to be the Fleet Technical Superintendent for Skaugen Petro Trans, an offshore Lightering Company.  “I am responsible for a small fleet of Offshore Supply Boats that hall our lightering equipment and six newbuild Lightering tankers.  By the time this prints I should be settled in my new house.  It is in the community around the Redstone Golf Course which hosts the Shell Houston Open.  I will be moving in during the week of the open so that should be interesting.  Look me up if you live in the Houston area, my email is joe@couillard.us 

Fred Castonguay is looking for visitors in China if anyone wants to drop by 😉  Fred writes “I am still in Shanghai having a ball and available for visitors should people make it out this way.”

Our updated wouldn’t be complete without the insight from Wes “The Weasel” Corbett . . . “The fight for the People’s Liberation of the Niger Delta is going well.  My cover as a shipyard manager for an expatriate company thus far has worked.  If anyone is in the area, please come visit.  Take the Warri River (the main river of the Niger Delta) as far inland as you can until you come to the first low bridge; I am on the right in a bright light blue uniform with fluorescent yellow stripes… stunning in the mid-day sun.”  

Nicolle (McIntyre) Fowler just got home on maternity leave for a while with our new baby girl – Alyssa Nicolle Fowler!  She was born Feb 19, 2008 at 7:34pm. 

She was 8 lbs 0 oz and 19 1/2 inches long.  Nicolle writes “She has brown hair like her dad – but there is a hint of red, so I’m holding out some hope that it could change!  Everyone is happy and healthy at our house.  I’m still doing boiler inspection for the State of North Dakota and will have to go back to work full time by the end of April.  We are anxiously awaiting the spring – as does everyone who lives in a cold climate!!” 

James DeSmet wrote that they have the “4^th bun in the oven” and graciously attached two pictures of his new oven/range unit he’s in charge of at GE.  Neither were jokes: he’s got his 4^th kid on the way, and his product line is launching a new version this summer.  So if anyone has any appliance questions, hit James up.  If you need a 4^th child, see your spouse or girlfriend… preferable the former.  

UPDATE, UPDATE . . . I’ve received two notices of news and highlights of a few of our own from others, so we’re tooting your horn for you! 

Tommy Blenk . . gotcha!!  “ABS today announced three senior management appointments and one assistant management promotion in the Pacific Division as part of its strategic initiative to strengthen the coordination and administration of core service delivery to clients. The appointments take effect on April 1, 2008. . . .

Providing assistance to Han (Country Manager) will be Thomas Blenk, who will assume the post of Assistant Country Manager, Korea.  Blenk will move from his current position as Principal Surveyor at the SPP Shipyard.”  Thanks DeSmet for the links.

Hugh Healey is making some big jumps too!  “CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 13 PRNewswire-FirstCall – Horizon Lines, Inc. (NYSE: HRZ), the nation’s leading domestic ocean shipping and integrated logistics company, has announced the appointment of Hugh Healey to the position of General Manager, Guam.  Mr. Healey will be responsible for overseeing all of Horizon Lines’ Guam operations, as the Pacific island is poised for trade growth related to U.S. military expansion.”

Dan Brodeur wrote in and “ran into Sean Murphy while on work in New London, CT last Nov.  We grabbed dinner and he took me out for a spin in his Porsche Boxter.  Pretty nice ride!  Heard from Jim Gagne, he is doing well out in China and I believe he is moving off the mainland to Hong Kong with a new job.

I am still coaching high school varsity volleyball in NH, going into my 5th year.  We are also in our second year with the Great Bay Volleyball Club (www.greatbayvolleyball.com).  I am the head coach of the 16-2 team this year, and currently we are ranked 9th in all of New England.  Our 16-1 team is #2 in New England.  So far it’s been a pretty good year!” 

Jason Knoll and Deborah Knoll (Versluis) 95′ wrote in and sent a few pictures. 

“We are now in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.  Jason accepted the Production  Manager Position at Bay Shipbuilding in June.  We love Wisconsin!!  We have been married for almost 12 years and have two girls:  Ashleigh Faith age 10 and Emma Grace age 7.  I will be teaching at the elementary school this fall and I got my Master in Education about 5 years ago and have been teaching ever since.”

Art Miller wraps up this quarter’s issue with his submission including a picture of his family around the holiday time. 

“I have been living in Temecula, Ca for the last 4+ years.  I married my college girlfriend soon after graduation and have (3) great kids.  Recently I was hired by Oldenburg Group Inc – Lakeshore as their after market sales manager for everything west of Michigan including overseas.  It is nice to be back in the Marine industry.  Just in the last couple of months I’ve ran into a bunch of Kings Pointers.  If anyone needs unrep equip, ship board cranes, davits, winches, anchor windlasses etc, give me a call.  Or if you live in the So Cal area give me a call.” 

Thanks for your input and feedback – I’ve enjoyed keeping things up to date!  Until next time . . . smooth sailing!  ~Blake!