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Josh Moves on Up

Our favorite Phi Psi lawyer checks in with this which was reported in the Buffalo News.

An Albany lawyer with a reputation as a troubleshooter has been named chief executive officer of the State Liquor Authority, an agency under investigation by the state attorney general's office for failing to enforce its own laws on alcohol sales.

Joshua B. Toas was named to the newly created post Monday, according to an e-mail message sent to SLA employees by Edward F. Kelly, chairman of the state agency.

Gov. George E. Pataki's office confirmed Toas' appointment Tuesday evening.

"Josh Toas is a trusted and valued member of the administration, and the governor is confident that his leadership and impressive record of accomplishments will serve the State Liquor Authority well," said Pataki spokesman Saleem M. Cheeks.

Sources in the Pataki administration say Toas was named to beef up enforcement efforts in the troubled agency.

Toas was most recently deputy executive director of the state agency overseeing science, technology and academic research, and before that was executive deputy commissioner of the state's Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

A state official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the changes are coming to the SLA to "help move the agency in another direction, in particular with respect to improving their enforcement efforts."

His appointment comes after The Buffalo News last summer reported that SLA officials had ignored the widespread practice of alcohol wholesalers' and suppliers' paying off favored retailers with illegal deep discounts, cash and trips to wineries.

Witnesses testified about the lack of enforcement at a later Assembly hearing, and in October, Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer confirmed that his office had undertaken a major investigation of the SLA and the liquor industry.

Prosecutors from Spitzer's office have issued a number of subpoenas to wholesalers and distributors, and retailers say the illegal pricing, as practiced in the past, already has stopped.

Left uncertain about Toas' appointment is the future role of Kelly, who is paid $120,000 to run the agency, along with two commissioners - Lawrence J. Gedda and Joseph E. Zarriello - who are paid $80,000 each.

Albany sources said they expected that Kelly, 71, and other senior agency officials will soon be retiring or moving on.

Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz, D-Cheektowaga, said the newly created position came as a surprise to him.

"Obviously, the State Liquor Authority in the Buffalo area doesn't appear to be doing its job," Tokasz said. "Employees have complained to me about a lack of enforcement, a lack of staff. I think the agency in general is going downhill."

Toas, a captain in the Army Reserve's Judge Advocate General's Corps, recently served a tour of duty in Iraq.

He is a former assistant secretary of state, assistant counsel to the governor and associate counsel of the State Senate.

Active in Republican national politics, Toas served as a floor manager for Republicans during the 2000 presidential election recount in Dade County, Fla.

Paul W. Zuber, a lobbyist who works with the liquor industry through the firm Powers Crane & Co., said that he knows Toas well and that he brings a reputation for solving problems in government. "I feel he'll do an outstanding job," Zuber said. "I'll enjoy working with him."

That's All Folks

It was bound to happen. I've run out of old pictures of you knuckleheads. At least the ones that I can post on the site here. If you have any sitting at home (or at your parent's place gathering dust) send them to me.

With that, I present the last of the pictures from memory lane - pictures from a formal, held at some hotel. As usual, click on the images to see a larger view.

This is one of my favorite pictures - for two reasons. Well actually for several reasons. 1) In what some would say is an apocryphal sign, Derek places his hand on James' bald head thus siphoning the power that would make itself known years later on Derek's own head. (I keed, I keed). 2) I love the how the woman with Derek is caught in mid pose as she is amount to plant a kiss on Derek's cheek. Lastly, 3) James is shown with his then paramour, Denise (?). Can I tell you ever since that day, every time I hear Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight", I always think of these two dancing to the song. Don't ask me why.

Krajewski chilling with some honey's.


Paul gestures as to how much he loves the party.


Borenstein poses with a female friend. (Borenstein where the hell are you? I haven't heard from you in ages! Give me a call or at least send me an email!)


White boys can't dance.

The Need For Speed

Rich Phillips checks in with some pictures (sorry for not getting to these earlier Rich - bogged down with work and composing strongly worded letters to Steve Caponi).

Brothers, here are some photos of the NASCAR race at Richmond with Keith Green and Jimmy Jordan. Matt Felker could not make it, but he says he will be there next year!

For those who do not know, Keith is the Director of Public Relations for the Richmond International Raceway. The track is owned by the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) who are owned by the France family (the founders of NASCAR). Needless to say Keith is doing quite well and is well entrenched in an organization that had unlimited growth.

Keith has been graciously hosting this event for Tracy (my wife) and me since 2001. He has gotten us great seats, pit and garage area access and sometimes media access for each race. This is one hell of a way to see a race! You really see all of the work and strategy that goes into trying to win one of these events. Keith has a tough job of handling the press, the corporate brass, his staff and the sometime whiney drivers. His stress level can be very high come race day. After the race the following Sunday we usually head down to a favorite Richmond hangout and watch the Eagles and drink.

This past September we got to spend the weekend with Keith and his wife Donna. (Thanks again!) Her brothers were there with an RV and we had a great time at the track prior to, during and after the actual race! Jimmy Jordan showed up with his friend Mark and it was totally out of hand! Keith can be seen in one picture talking to someone in the winner's circle after the race. The other shots are of Jimmy, Me and his friend Mark, and then of one Jimmy all of these were in the infield at turns 1 and 2.

Hey, I am sure most of the bros (except Morrow) care nothing about NASCAR, but it is really a sport to watch for the drama, (if not for the wrecks!). I guess we have enough drama with T.O. and the Eagles, but sometimes a good pile up on the front stretch is well worth the other stuff!

Take care and I should be around the Philly area before Christmas.

RIP Colonel

Scott Bill sent this over the Thanksgiving Holidays:

It is with deep sadness that we share word of the passing of former SWGP Robert E. Lazzell, West Virginia Alpha ’41. The Colonel, as he has been widely known throughout the Fraternity, and his beloved West ("by God") Virginia Alpha Chapter, served as President from 1990-92, presiding at the Grand Arch Council in San Francisco in 1992. A member of the Order of the S.C., Bob was inducted in 1964 at Denver.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his widow, Lucille, and to all his children and grandchildren, including his son, Major. Robert E. Lazzell, II, USA (West Virginia Alpha ’85). A complete obituary and remembrance will be found in the Spring Shield, and fuller details on memorial services will follow.

Therefore, in honor and remembrance of "The Colonel," Past President Robert E. Lazzell, I declare a 30-day period of mourning throughout the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Accordingly, charters and other fraternal emblems in chapters across the country should be draped in mourning until December 22, 2005. A narrow band of black cloth may be hung around a framed charter; a similar black band, diagonally from upper right to lower left, may obscure the shield.

"May our great ruler in heaven ever guide us," and may Colonel Lazzell find a welcoming embrace among all the brothers in Chapter Eternal.

Fraternally yours,

James R. Blazer II
Ohio Delta 1979
President

BCM - Before Chapter Meeting

L to R: Goodman, unidentified, Condit, Jenkins.

By the way, dig the Flashdance style sweatshirt that Jenkins is sporting.

Caption This

This picture looks like either a) Brady has had enough of Toas' antics and is packing up to leave the second floor of the house or b) this was taken around 1 pm on a Sunday morning after both of them got out of bed.

It's What's In The Background That Counts

That's Caponi in his trademark open-mouthed look that he patented ages ago. Who's that in front in the red? Vassallo?

BC - Before Cell Phones

This is how Winkel rolled before the advent of cellular technology.

I'm Shy ... Like a Japanese School Girl

The "Come Hither" look patented by Flash and used on many unsuspecting females.

Didn't They Almost Have It All

So goes the title of a Whitney Houston song. Seriously, I thought that these two were made for each other. I can hear Jerry Garcia shedding a lonely tear right now.

NOT Girly Men

Oh the subtle undertones!

Body by Lopko

Walt was inspired to take up lifting weights after watching Winkel.

Body By Winkel

The fourth floor of the house was always equipped with state of the art excercise equipment, here were see Winkel get his six-pack abs.

Retro Fun

James contemplating something very serious. Either that or he is taking a drag from a cigarette.


Podrost pretending to read.


Josh, with a luxurious head of hair.


Tony, Josh and Chris. Notice the stylish red all-in-one pajamas sported by Flash. This is why chicks dug him. Also note the clean and very hip room that was mine and Podrost's.


Seriously, Sarge looks like one of the guys from the SNL skit where they sit aroudn eating wings and repeating "Da Bears!"


Looks like a chapter meeting with honorary Phi Psi jack Speise our faculty advisor. I remember one year during Thanksgiving Jack was at the house and was making two turkeys for us. Some a-hole brother went into the over and took a chunk of the turkey out before it had finished cooking. Boy was jack pissed off!

Glantz Quoted in The Inquirer!

In the chips

Lafayette Hill's Matt Glantz was an options trader - one of the biggest gambles there is - before he quit.

To become a professional poker player.

That was January. He set a goal of making $200,000 at the tables this year.

He more than doubled it last weekend.

Glantz, 33, finished second in a hold 'em tournament at the Rio in Las Vegas. More than 1,000 players each had bought in for $3,000.

Glantz walked away with $414,620 - including a $50,000 "save" he'd negotiated with the eventual winner to hedge his bet.

And on an idle day before the tournament, he bought into a $500 hold 'em event, outlasted 138 players, and won $24,700.

Glantz says he's just going where the money is.

"Poker now is like the [options] market was five years ago," he said from Vegas the other day. He stuck around to play, starting tomorrow, at the World Series of Poker's main event, a multimillion-dollar pot whose buy-in is $10,000.

As for improving your own game, remember that "nothing beats experience," Glantz says. "Read all the books you want, you can study all you want, you can play on the computer. But the most important thing is experience."

And one other thing. Get yourself a poker face.

"People I know tell me I show no emotion," he said - quite calmly at that.

- Posted in the Philadelphia Inquirer on Thu, Jul. 07, 2005

Food and Fun

Walt waits for Brady to cook something.


Randall chows down as Sarge (to his left) ponders how he's going to get through another shift at the 14th precinct. (Seriously, the guy looked like he should have a been a sargeant in Hill Street Blues). James rides his bike in the chapter room. Who's the chap in the red baseball cap?


From L to R: Unidentified, Goodman, Suranie, Harron, Morrow, Conallen (the Elder).


Lopcko barbecues in the backyard


Podrost fixes the lock to our room on the third floor yet again. One day when he forgot to take his key and kicked the door in to get inside.


Tad "Who's Got A Problem" Derenbereger gets caught off guard. Josh calls in a pizza order.

Guiley Breeds! - Congratulations!

Holy crap! Shelly and Derek are parents.

That right.

Zachary Harlan Guiley (a healthy 8lbs 15oz and 20 inches long) entered the world on Friday, September 9th at 7:53AM and immediately pissed all over it (literally, on the doctor who was delivering him). While I personally believe his action was a grand, deep, metaphorical gesture that was intended to be both funny and meaningful, Shelly thinks the kid just had to go. Both Zach and Mom are doing fantastic after the scheduled c-section (Zach was breech and had to be forcibly evicted after staging a very long sit in).

He's an amazing boy and we can't wait to introduce him to all of you. In the meantime, we'll be sure to notify you as soon as Zach's Poop Blog, the website where we'll document his every bowel movement through flash animation, daily updated charts and graphs, is up.

Zach -- look at that hair. Guess whose side that comes from. Hint:
Derek's bald.


Shelly and son. Have you guessed the bit about the hair yet?


Zach stone cold chillin' after his bath.

Burdick Becomes A Dad!

I think some of you may know by now, but I wanted to get this brief note out to be sure.

Neasa delivered our daughter Anna Marie at 4:40 a.m. this past Friday morning at UC Leuven Hospital in Belgium. She was born after a 5 hour labor and delivery, which from what I have heard is short (Neasa's opinion may differ here!). She was able to get an epidural which neas describes as "the business".

Anna has big blues (for now) and fair light brown hair. She seems kinda long with long legs so she could be a ballplayer? She is a tad shy of 7 lbs. She is more of a sleeper then a screamer, but does have nasty farts like her dad.

Both Neasa and Anna are happy and healthy and will be coming home this Wednesday. I'll take a few days off at that point.

I appreciate the pointers that some of you emailed me in the weeks prior. It really helped and I was a hands on player in the birth. I really appreciate the interest and support from everyone.

talk to you soon