Kim Barraclough
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 07/99) - Bell bottoms, Donna Summer, Nazarath, Grease, Saturday Night Fever, platforms and hipsters -- St. Pat's and Sir John grad classes of 1979 will be remembering all the trends of the '70s at their class reunion next weekend.

Judy (Tereposky) Helset, who graduated from Sir John in 1979, recalls a lot of good friends and good times. Although Helset no longer lives in Yellowknife she said it still feels the same.

"Some of the friendships you make up here... well, it's unique.

"You don't find people like that in the south -- considerate and warm -- to come back here it feels like home... Even though it's changed, it feels like home."

She said that she and her friends would often spend time at the Laundromat, which is now a daycare, watching their friend spin in the dryer.

For a quarter he'd gladly take the heat until he needed to get out for air.

Helset also recalls parties held at Murray's Hideout, which is now better known as the site for Folk on the Rocks.

She said occasionally a deejay system would get hooked up out there to get the parties even wilder.

"It was rockin'," recalls Helset.

Helset also remembers the student president at the time showing up at school in a Toga for no apparent reason.

"We just had lots of fun, it was a really good group of people," said Helset.

The high school reunion will be held from the July 9-11. A meet and greet will be held on July 9 at St. Pat's high school from 7- to 10 p.m.

On July 10, a golf game may be organized and perhaps a baseball game.

Later in the evening, a dinner and dance will be held at Sam's Monkey Tree starting at 6 p.m.

On Sunday evening, a family barbecue will take place at the Long Lake boat launch, beginning at noon.

The co-ordinators of the event invite all those who graduated from either school around 1979. Be it class of '78 or '80 -- whatever, they simply want to see everyone out and having a good time. After all, this will be the last reunion of the millennium.