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IMPORTANT DATES:

Mar 8 Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the Barney and Bea Recreation Center. Deputy Center Director Christopher Scolese will be the featured speaker. Reservations are required, so please call Alberta Moran at 301-937-7762 in advance.

Mar 15 14th Annual Spring Craft Fair from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Building 8 Auditorium (see item below)

Apr 12 Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Details will be included in the April issue.

Apr 21 Eastern Caribbean 10-day cruise on Holland America from Norfolk, VA, to the Bahamas, St, Thomas, Virgin Islands, Antigua, St. Maarten, and Puerto Rico. Cruise fares vary from $1,275 inside up to $1,750 outside with veranda. The fares include fixed fees of $238 to cover port taxes and other miscellaneous charges. For reservations and/or additional information, please call GRAA Travel at 301-937-7762.

May 10 Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m.

COMMENTS FROM RON BROWNING, GRAA PRESIDENT: Attendees at the GRAA Luncheon in February were treated to an enlightening, educational and well-organized presentation by Dr. Claire L. Parkinson on the results and impacts of changes in ice measurements around the world. She has been a satellite climatologist at the Center since 1978 and is currently assigned to the Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory (Code 614.1), a subordinate organization in the new Sciences and Exploration Directorate. Dr. Parkinson is an accomplished expert on sea ice and, among many challenging assignments, served as Project Scientist for the Aqua Mission and lead editor of the Data Products Handbook for the Earth Observing System. Her scientific data, captured from NASA satellite imagery and ice thickness measurements furnished by the U.S. Navy, does not fully support the global warming warnings being touted in some scientific circles. Although changes in ice thickness are occurring in the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere, there are no corresponding changes in the Southern Hemisphere. The jury is obviously still out on this issue.

FROM THE GODDARD ARCHIVES-IT HAPPENED IN MARCH:

Mar 25, 1961: Thor-Delta launched Explorer 10/P-14, Magnetic and Solar Wind, the first all-Goddard spacecraft.

Mar 7, 1962: Thor-Delta launched OSO-1, the first Orbiting Solar Observatory.

Mar 13, 1971: Delta launched Explorer 43/IMP 8, the second generation IMP for Solar-Lunar studies.

ROAD CLEANUP: Weather permitting, GRAA volunteers will pick up trash along Good Luck Road adjacent to the Center following the March luncheon. Help keep the Goddard community clean and get some exercise at the same time.

ENVELOPE STUFFERS FOR FEBRUARY: Marge Gustafson, Rose McChesney, Elaine Montgomery, Dave Moulton, Hugh O’Donnell, Ewald Schmidt, Bill Shields, Agnes Smith, Bob Wigand, Frank Wrigley,

LETTERS, WE GET LETTERS:

Art Anderson wrote, “Please express our attitude to everyone involved in publishing and sending the newsletter and directory. It’s good to keep up with what’s going on at Goddard. My years at Greenbelt and Wallops as a federal employee and contractor were most rewarding.”

Charles Davis wrote, “I use your directory to send Christmas cards, etc. I don’t know how I could keep in touch if it wasn’t for you and want to make sure you put my new address where my old buddies can see it.” Mr. Davis’ new address is 9221 Goldenrod Lane, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-3730.

Jean Ganoe wrote, “I’m grateful for the efforts of those who compose and distribute the GRAA Newsletter.”

Jim Livesay, Jr. wrote, “Thanks for the Newsletter. Down here (the northern neck of Virginia) is a lot slower than Capitol Hill, but it’s just right for an old man.”

Nicholas Mejia wrote, “I’ve enjoyed and appreciate the GRAA Newsletter.”

Leonard Rabb wrote, “In February I noticed the comment about poor donation levels. I have received the newsletter since I retired in 1980 and believe I owe you some back dues. Please find enclosed a portion of what I should send you. I started at GSFC in 1959 at the original Anacostia location and was involved in too many projects to talk about.”

TREASURER’S REPORT: Bob Wigand reports that donations were received from Art Anderson, Charles Dan,

Mary Ferris, George Kraft, Jim Livesay, Nick Mejia, Isabelle Oliver, and Leonard Rabb.

REMEMBERING OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES:

Paul J. Heffernan passed away unexpectedly at home in Greenbelt, MD, on January 18. Still employed as an aerospace engineer on the Center at his death, he worked primarily in the development and deployment of communications satellites, most recently with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Project.

Charles W. Hoffman of Silver Spring, MD, passed away on December 16, 2004. He worked as an electrical engineer in the Engineering Directorate, Systems Division, Electronic Systems Branch.

Larry M. Goodman passed away on December 10. He worked as an industrial engineer from 1963 until he retired in 1991. He then worked as a contractor from 1991 until 1996. Before retiring, he spent many years as the Project Support Manager on the TDRSS Project.

Michael J. Devett of Nottingham, MD, passed away on January 20.

Stephen Paull of Marquette, MI, passed away on December 28. He worked on many unmanned missions and retired in the mid-1970’s.

Although we have no details, we also note the passing of Irene K. Craig, Thomas J. Mooney, Sr., James A. Saxty, Shuford Schuhmann, and Richard A. White.

E-MAIL ADDRESS CHANGES: Art Anderson (artnmary814@earthlink.net); FredBradley (fbradley1@verizon.net); Ted Ferraro (creolelady@comcast.net); Jean Ganoe (Jganoe37@wmconnect.com); Vincent Guidice (maxwell@covad.net); John Lesko (Jgl37@alltel.net); Steve Meszaros (steve_meszaros@blm.gov); James O’Brien (Jimob1@verizon.net); Roger Tetrick (rjtetrick@bellsouth.net); and Larry Thomas (larthom@aol.com).

RECENT RETIREES: Wentworth Denoon

GRAA NEWSLETTER MAILINGS: If you no longer wish to receive GRAA mailings, please send a note to our Seabrook address or an e-mail to Dave Moulton at davidlmoulton@comcast.net. If you have moved or want to correct the mailing address we use, please write to our Seabrook address or send an e-mail to Strat Laios at stratlaios@comcast.net.

BARNEY HOYT SIGHTING:

Ye Editor has been advised that some readers think we

must have fabricated the story in the January issue about

Barney Hoyt’s apparent pursuit of a new career in show

business. The sighting by a confidential source of him PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE FOR ON-LINE READERS

being fawned over by “reindears” at the American Music

Hall in Lancaster, PA, has been substantiated, as is clearly

evident by the accompanying photograph. By the way,

we’ve heard Barney is still sporting that smile on his face.

14TH ANNUAL SPRING CRAFTS FAIR: The Spring Crafts Fair will be held on Tuesday, March 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Building 8 Auditorium. Registration is only $18.00 per table and is open to all Goddard employees, retirees, family members and friends. If you would like to exhibit your crafts (all of which must be handmade) stop by the GEWA Exchange Store no later than March 8 and complete the registration and security forms.

GEWA EXCHANGE STORE:

Due to popular demand, “Sunny Monday” has returned to the GEWA Exchange Store. Just like last year, all merchandise (with the exception of photo processing orders and event ticket purchases) will be discounted by 10 percent. The sale takes place from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. each Monday. You might want to stop by the store during the week for ideas and then return on Monday morning to make your purchases.

Remember the Honey Baked Ham or Turkey you had during last year’s holidays. GEWA is having them for Easter this year. You can order a 7- or 8-pound Honey Baked Ham Half or, new to the menu, a 3-pound Hickory Smoked Boneless Ham. If ham is not your favorite, you may want to order a Sliced & Glazed Turkey Breast, either Roasted or Smoked. There are also Combos, either an 8-pound ham half and a Smoked Turkey Breast or a 3-pound Boneless Ham and Smoked Turkey Breast. In addition, Grandma’s Famous Coffee Cakes and Carrot Cake are still available. Place your order for any of these scrumptious items at the GEWA Exchange Store until Friday, March 18, with delivery scheduled for Wednesday, March 23.

Remember shopping trips on QVC and seeing Joseph’s Lite Cookies? They’re now available at the GEWA Exchange Store! Once only available from QVC, sales went through the roof and now Joseph’s has expanded and allows GEWA to market two of their delicacies. One of the lite cookies available is Chocolate Peanut Butter (a crispy cookie) while the other is Chocolate Raspberry (a soft cookie), and both are sugar-free. You may already know how great other Joseph’s other lite cookies taste, so plan to give these new varieties a try. Also available is the Chocolate Chip Fat Free cookie.

P.O. Box 163, Seabrook, MD 20703-0163