February 2026 – Gary Bennett Publishing

Tips for getting the most out of your 50th high school reunion

By Gary Bennett

Most of the basketball team, with assistant coach Jim Smith (third from left), at the 40th class reunion in 2015.

This article appears in the Winter 2026 issue of the Frederick News-Post’s Prime Time magazine. 2/25/26.

Looking back half a century, there’s no denying 1975 and 1976 were momentous years. If you graduated high school then, you experienced a great deal: the Vietnam War and the military draft ended; a president of the United States nearly got impeached and sent to prison but was then pardoned; an unelected, grandfatherly “sort-of” incumbent took on a toothy, charismatic peanut farmer from Georgia for the presidency; and the nation celebrated its bicentennial.

The sensitive singer-songwriter craze of the early ’70s gave way to harder rock and a new thing called disco. Movies gave us classics like “Jaws,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Rocky.” We watched shows like “All in the Family,” “M*A*S*H,” “Happy Days” and a brand-new late-night program developed just for us, “Saturday Night Live.” The recession of the early ’70s was mostly in the rearview mirror and the malaise of the late ’70s was still ahead. Times were pretty good and the future looked bright.

So, if you graduated high school in ’75 or ’76 like me, it is perfectly understandable — and permissible — to want to relive those gentler, more innocent times, even if only for one evening, at a class reunion.

You may be surprised to learn that even in this age of pervasive social media and virtual meetings, in-person class reunions are still a thing. A big thing. It is estimated that about 250,000 happen every year in the U.S. The reason is simple: we all crave connection. And let’s face it, high school was an important part of our lives and the friendships we made there often last a lifetime.

Since it’s early in the year, chances are good you are about to be invited to your own class reunion. Perhaps it’s a big one. My advice: go for it.

I attended my 50th high school reunion in August and had a wonderful time. The key, I believe, is to keep expectations low and egos in check. You can’t predict how the evening will unfold, but you can prepare. Get the registration list ahead of time, review yearbooks and check Facebook. Make it your business to know a little about the current lives of your classmates. Once there, circulate as best you can and show genuine interest in others, even those you barely knew. Name tags are your friends, so feel free to stare as much as you need. We all look different now, but there’s no denying we shared an exciting, formative time in fairly close quarters.

Most of the basketball team with head coach Dick Bittner, in middle with basketball, at 50th class reunion in 2025.

Sure, reunions can be scary, but that’s part of the appeal. If nothing else, they are fascinating anthropologic studies for the curious. Who got fat? Who remained a bachelor? Who had seven kids? And if you don’t go, there’s no getting it back.

With that in mind, here are some tips for having a swell time at your upcoming high school reunion.

Tip #1 — Go to it!

Why not go? The food will probably be good, the drinks are legal and the music is your own. If it’s a milestone anniversary, it will likely attract more classmates than any other. If you are on the shy side, that works in your favor — you can move from one superficial (but sincere) conversation to the next all night long. If you must, consider it a challenge to step outside your comfort zone. Working a room is a skill that will always serve you well.

Tip #2 — Don’t worry about how you look or what life has thrown at you.

Embrace who you are and be comfortable in it. The dirty little secret is that everyone is far more concerned with themselves than with you. At my 50th reunion, almost everyone was retired, so what you did for a living or how successful you were no longer mattered. It never even came up. Conversation naturally turned to safe topics like family, travel and hobbies.

Tip #3 — Don’t worry about awkward high school romances.

Just laugh them off. Chances are you and your old flame will barely interact. If you do, it’s easy to keep things brief — you have others to see. At my high school, only one set of classmates eventually married, so you won’t be alone in wondering about what might have been. Take it for what it was — an adolescent, hormonally driven rite of passage.

Tip #4 — Bury old grudges and competitions.

These things are so far in the past they barely matter now. Look at classmates with fresh eyes and let go of old judgments. Like you, everyone has evolved. That said, don’t minimize any high school bullying that was egregious. If you know your old tormentor will attend, you may decide not to go. But if you can summon the courage and keep expectations low, it can also be a growth experience.

Tip #5 — Circulate and talk to everyone.

As tempting as it is to stick with a few old pals, make a point of seeking out as many classmates as possible. Be sure to introduce yourself. A great opening line is “Tell me about your life!” or “What have you been up to?” It allows the other person to take the lead and control the narrative.

Gary Bennett at his 1975 high school graduation.

Tip #6 — Volunteer to help organize the event, even if you live far away.

It’s not fair for all the work to fall on the same people who stayed in their hometowns. In the age of Zoom, FaceTime and Google Groups, step outside your comfort zone and help, even if only a little. The more voices involved, the better the event will be.

Tip #7 — Be ready to show pictures of your grandkids, but let your classmate go first.

Everyone is proud of their grandkids, even if they’re at the top of their class in reform school. There’s no safer subject.

Tip #8 — Come with a spouse, significant other or friend.

They may not want to, but it’s usually safest. You don’t want to look lonely — even if you’re not — or like someone on the prowl. Years ago, I attended my wife’s 40th high school reunion as the unknown spouse and had a great time. I had no expectations and my only role was to be supportive. Sell that to your companion.

Tip #9 — Find out if any old teachers will attend and invite them if possible.

Teachers often have a lot invested in their classes and are sometimes only a few years older than their students. It was hard to imagine then, but at age 30, some teachers were only about 12 years older than their classes — a gap that feels minuscule now. Many are likely still around and would love to attend. At my recent reunion, I learned the head basketball coach planned to come. I bought a basketball on my way to the event, had all the players sign it and presented it to him in a small ceremony. He was genuinely touched.

Tip #10 — If classmates want to keep the night going, go for it.

If things are going well and the ice has been broken, snacks or drinks afterward can feel natural. I highly recommend it. You can continue conversations in a quieter setting and perhaps gain both an old friend and a new one.

Bonus tip — Leave a bit early.

If you’ve smiled, been friendly, self-effacing and genuinely interested in others, then — like the old show business saying — you’ll “leave them wanting more.”

Class orator Gary Bennett at his 1975 graduation.

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

‘Sharp-dressed’ ZZ Top rocker to thrash and bash in Frederick

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in the February 19, 2026 issue of the Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment magazine.

With his trademark chest-length beard, dark “Bandito” sunglasses, colorful suits and African caps known as “Bamileke hats,” ZZ Top front man and guitar virtuoso Billy Gibbons may be one of the most instantly recognizable figures in rock ‘n’ roll history. His 1983 hit “Sharped Dressed Man” seems like a no-brainer for Gibbons to have written and recorded with his Texas bandmates.

His sound is one of a kind, too. Music critics have called his guitar work “growling” and “part traditional, part contrary, and part of the deep seam of Texas weirdness.” Others have described his sound as “loud, macho, greasy and distorted.”

In 1969, along with his fellow long-bearded sidekick, the late bassist Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard, who ironically doesn’t sport a beard, they formed the Texas-based, ass-kicking, blues-rock group ZZ Top and enjoyed extensive chart and touring success in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Billy Gibbons and the BFG’s will take the stage at the Weinberg Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24. Tickets are available at weinbergcenter.org/shows/billy-gibbons.

As ZZ Top, the group enjoyed immense popularity beginning in the ‘70s with albums like 1972’s “Rio Grande Mud,” 1973’s “Tres Hombres,” 1975’s “Fandango!” and 1976’s “Tejas.” They created boisterous FM radio hits with “La Grange” and “Tush” that are still staples on classic rock stations today. By the mid-’70s they became renowned for their live shows, which translated into award-winning music videos in the ‘80s. They are still going strong today.

ZZ Top’s distinctive sound featured muscular guitar riffs and a hard driving beat. But it was their physical look that turned them into pop icons. After taking a three-year break in the late ‘70s, they came back with their new, distinctive look. Hill and Gibbons looked like wayward and rascally twins with hats, glasses and long, scraggly beards, bookending the ironically un-bearded, seemingly straight-laced drummer, Frank Beard.

Success continued into the ‘80s with albums like 1981’s “El Loco” and 1983’s “Eliminator.” MTV loved their videos featuring beautiful girls and fast cars. Singles “Give Me All Your Loving,” “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs” topped music charts. ZZ Top was the world’s top-grossing touring act in 1986.

Chart success waned in the ‘90s, but ZZ Top continues to be a popular touring act to this day.

Bassist Dusty Hill passed away in 2021 at age 72 but was replaced, at his wish, by his longtime guitar technician Elwood Francis. At the time of Hill’s passing in 2021, ZZ Top held the record for longest running active musical group with the same lineup. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2019. A ZZ Top tour is scheduled for later in 2026.

ZZ Top has altogether released 15 studio albums and sold an estimated 50 million records. They have won three MTV Video Music Awards and, in 2004, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

As a solo artist, Gibbons has released three acclaimed albums: “Perfectamundo” in 2015, “The Big Bad Blues” in 2018 and “Hardware” in 2021. All were supported by his current band, the BFG’s, who accompany Gibbons on tour.

72 Hours interviewed Gibbons in January to talk about his life, career and upcoming show in Frederick.

You are considered one of the world’s best guitarists. How did you get interested in the guitar in the first place? Did it come naturally to you?

Two compelling early life events pointed to the path I ultimately took: seeing Elvis Presley performing live and, shortly thereafter, attending the now famous recording session at Bill Holford’s ACA studio down in Texas, where B.B. King and his band began cutting up with an unforgettable series of one-take wonders. It was right then and there the what-to-do message was clearly delivered. It’s still what we’re doing.

ZZ Top still exists and still tours. What made you decide to go off on your own and create a new band?

The BFG Band is a radical and definitively different aggregation, offering alternative means of expression. The BFG appearances remain rather loose while girding the delivery with that ingrained Texas thing, making it an undeniable win-win.

How does this new band differ from ZZ Top?

It’s something of a sonic departure bolstered with the insane talents of Mike “The Drifter” Flanigin on the Hammond B3 and behind his ancient Fender bass-guitar and, of course, our old friend Chris “Whipper” Layton who brings those infamous backbeat blues chops to the fore. Yeah, it’s another simple trio, but long ago we fell for a stoic style of minimalism in delivery which totally remains solid without specific direction. No question, it’s our decisive way to “thrash and bash.”

The beards that you and Dusty grew and the sunglasses and hats — how did that look come about and why? You were successful in the early ’70s with a more conventional look.

It was 100% serendipitous. An unexpected long break from stage and studio work concluded, and we were brought back together both sporting this more hirsute, chin-whiskered appearance and thereafter decided along the lines of “heck, let’s just go with it!” Our pals at Boot Star in Los Angeles keep us in fine threads, helping us look sharp to this day. Frank Beard, of course, didn’t really fall into place, but his name entertainingly took care of it.

In Frederick, can we expect to hear the ZZ Top hits with your new band?

Yes, Concord Records is firing up the upcoming BFG disc with the new material. Additionally, we certainly touch upon some tried and true hot numbers that maintain recognition, yet that dirty and down home BFG approach seems to enrich the delivery. There may even be a tip toward splashing through some not often performed deep cuts.

You are touring with Dwight Yoakam in 2026. How did that come about?

We’ve remained friends with Dwight for more than a few decades. In fact, I was his houseguest for a lengthy stay while my place was being refurbished. ZZ Top and Dwight were also label mates for the longest time, and we got to enjoy each other’s company and creations over the years. His brand of country sound is the rockin’ kind, which is more than OK with us.

Can you tell us anything about the new ZZ Top album? I understand some previously recorded tracks from Dusty Hill are on there.

There’s a wave of all sorts of material from some early sessions we’re aiming to incorporate into a final mix. There could be a bonus, having the entire band represented in those rare and raucous tracks.

You are also working on a new solo album. What can you tell us about that?

The ongoing recording sessions continue with the brainstorming around all angles surrounding the material at hand. We will all certainly be leaning on that invisible internal jukebox jury to attempt to determine the favorites that make final release. Suffice it to say, in the wee, wee hours, they make for some loud and gettin’ louder sounds.

Frederick County’s mysterious claim to presidential fame

By Gary Bennett

President Reagan with Richard Allen at a working luncheon at Camp David during a visit of President Jose Lopez Portillo of Mexico in 1981.

This article appears in the February 12, 2026 issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment magazine.

Located within Catoctin Mountain Park in northern Frederick County, Camp David is a rare national historic site that virtually no American ever gets to see.

Many visitors have been close to the secluded enclave — hiking at Cunningham Falls or traveling Route 77 near Thurmont — without ever laying eyes on it. Camp David spans roughly 125 acres and is protected by about 200 Marines on any given day. There is intentionally no signage directing visitors to its location.

Mysterious, perhaps, but every president since Franklin Roosevelt has used the camp for business or pleasure — more often the latter. Within its confines, presidents and their guests have debated world affairs and enjoyed golf, tennis, bowling, swimming, skeet shooting, horseback riding, basketball, wallyball or movie nights in a private theater.

Now more than 80 years old, Camp David began modestly. Completed by the Works Progress Administration in 1940, it was originally known as Hi-Catoctin and served as a federal retreat.

In 1942, Franklin Roosevelt sought relief from Washington’s humid summers, appropriated the retreat and renamed it “Shangri-La” after the fictional kingdom in “Lost Horizon.” Presidents have been showing off the site ever since, and more than 50 heads of state have visited.

The following stories come from Michael Giorgione, who served as Camp David’s commander under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, as recounted in his book “Inside Camp David.”

According to Giorgione, “One head of state, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, huddled there with President Roosevelt in 1943 to pore over plans for the invasion of Normandy. Since the camp is just a short drive from Thurmont, the leaders drove to the [now defunct] Cozy Restaurant so Churchill could see what a jukebox looked like. He handed the stunned owner some coins for the jukebox and bought a beer.”

Roosevelt enjoyed sitting on the porch, often with guests, sipping whiskey and smoking cigars. He even had an extra-wide door installed outside his bedroom, opening like a drawbridge, to allow him to exit quickly in his wheelchair in case of fire.

President Harry Truman seldom visited, preferring trips to Key West and the “Southern White House.” Even so, he added steam heat to the presidential lodge, allowing the retreat to be used year-round.

President Dwight Eisenhower was a frequent visitor and is credited with renaming the retreat after his grandson David, though it retains the official government name Naval Support Facility Thurmont. An avid golfer, Eisenhower built a compact four-hole golf course and enjoyed grilling steaks outside his cabin. He famously hosted Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev there in 1959.

Presidents Kennedy and Johnson used Camp David sparingly.

John F. Kennedy visited primarily for consultations with cabinet members, members of Congress and former President Eisenhower during the Cuban Missile Crisis and after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. He enjoyed swimming in the heated pool. Giorgione recounts an embarrassing incident in which overheated water left a sheen of melted asphalt on Kennedy’s face — an episode the president handled with humor.

Lyndon B. Johnson preferred his Texas ranch but Lady Bird Johnson loved Camp David’s flowers and peaceful setting. “I leave my troubles outside the gate,” she once said. Johnson nevertheless used the retreat for meetings with advisers about the Vietnam War.

Richard Nixon enjoying the great outdoors at Camp David in 1972.

President Richard Nixon was a frequent visitor, averaging about one visit every two weeks during his five years in office. He favored Camp David’s quiet during the Vietnam War and Watergate era and enjoyed tennis, bowling — often alone — and playing piano. Nixon was described by Giorgione as “stand-offish,” though “Mrs. Nixon was very nice.” Nixon made more modifications than any other president, including adding an hourglass-shaped pool at Aspen cabin and building Laurel, an entertainment cabin often featured in the media.

President Gerald Ford, by contrast, was remembered fondly. “He was a prince. He and his wife were great,” Giorgione wrote, adding that they were “just like you and me.” Ford often ate lunch with staff in the mess hall and enjoyed walking in the woods, followed by Secret Service agents. Betty Ford loved the flowers and regularly thanked those who tended them.

President Jimmy Carter spent limited time at Camp David but hosted its most consequential event — the Camp David Accords. In 1978, Carter personally moderated peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, leading to the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty and a Nobel Peace Prize. Carter was described as cordial to staff, enjoyed woodworking and took walks with his daughter Amy.

President Ronald Reagan was a frequent visitor who recorded his weekly radio addresses from the camp. He especially enjoyed horseback riding and movie nights.

President George H.W. Bush often used humor in notes about camp maintenance. “Mike — the toilet in the presidential bathroom is not responding to presidential commands,” he once wrote to Commander Mike Berry. In 1992, Bush’s daughter Dorothy was married at Camp David — the first wedding held there. Bush installed a regulation horseshoe pit and enjoyed playing wallyball with staff.

President Bill Clinton visited infrequently, averaging only a few trips per year. He attempted, unsuccessfully, to broker a peace agreement between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 1993. The Clintons enjoyed walking the tree-lined paths.

President George W. Bush was a regular presence, spending hundreds of days at Camp David. He hosted foreign leaders, planned responses to the Sept. 11 attacks and enjoyed basketball and card games. Giorgione recounts Bush’s concern that his bed was uneven, prompting an exhaustive investigation — including Giorgione himself lying on the bed to test it. At the end of his second term, Bush refurbished the basketball court, Leatherwood, for incoming President Barack Obama.

President Barack Obama found Camp David exquisitely beautiful and hosted the Group of Eight summit there in 2012 after protests ruled out Chicago. A basketball enthusiast, he made frequent use of the court.

President Joe Biden visited about once every three or four weeks during his term, often bringing extended family. He enjoyed relaxing, playing games and occasionally hosting high-level policy discussions.

Donald Trump spent little time at Camp David, preferring Mar-a-Lago or his Bedminster property. “You know how long you’d like it? For about 30 minutes,” he once told a reporter. He did not host foreign dignitaries there and later canceled plans to host Taliban leaders.

George W. Bush at Christmas time at Camp David, 2005

•••

Camp David Presidents’ Day Quiz

Do Democratic or Republican presidents tend to visit Camp David more often? Answer: Republican presidents

Which president visited the most times? Answer: Reagan

Which president was most like “one of the guys” at Camp David? Answer: Ford

Which president hosted Camp David’s seminal event, the Camp David Accords? Answer: Carter

Which president installed the first golf course at Camp David? Answer: Eisenhower

Which presidents played basketball at Camp David? Answer: George W. Bush and Obama

Which president didn’t care for Camp David at all? Answer: Trump

Which president gave Camp David its current name? Answer: Eisenhower

Which president enjoyed bowling at Camp David? Answer: Nixon

Which president enjoyed playing wallyball at Camp David? Answer: George H.W. Bush

Top romantic movies for your Valentine’s Day enjoyment

By Gary Bennett

Ryan O’Neill and Ali McGraw in Love Story, 1970.

This article appears in the February 12, 2026 issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment magazine.

We’ve all seen it on screen: opposites who squabble a little too much but eventually find they are perfect for each other. Or the perfect couple who is torn apart by circumstances but eventually, against all odds, find their way back to each other. In either case, you can look forward to lingering eye contact, slight smiles, swelling music, and the eventual embrace and kiss.

Is there anything better than a good romantic movie? Not on Valentine’s Day! And, there are so many to choose from. From sweeping dramas to lighthearted comedies, the genre is one of the most enduring in Hollywood. If you’re planning the perfect day with your sweetheart, you’ll want to cap it off with the perfect romantic movie.

Here is my list of the best romantic movies of all time. Some are well-known classics from a bygone era and some are newer favorites. Some are funny; some are serious. Some have a happy ending; some sad. But, no matter your choice, you’ll impress your significant other with your thoughtfulness and creativity in picking just the right movie.

10. “The Notebook,” 2004

This tear-jerker has blue collar Ryan Gosling (Noah) recklessly and single-mindedly chasing his wealthy dream girl Rachel McAdams (Allie). Spoiler alert: sad ending.

9. “Dirty Dancing,” 1987

This off-limits romance between a young debutante and her slightly older, “bad boy” dance instructor is set in 1950s Pocono Mountains and features a new type of threatening music called “rock ‘n’ roll” and accompanying racy dance moves. This musical romp stars Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Happy ending.

8. “Love Story,” 1970

Another tear-jerker featuring the unlikely pairing of a wealthy Harvard student (Ryan O’Neil as Oliver) and a working-class music student (Ali McGraw as Jenny) and their battles to be together despite the protests of parents and society. “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Sad ending.

7. “When Harry Met Sally,” 1989

This light, romantic comedy explores the eternal question “Can men and women just be friends, or are they doomed to eventual couple-dom?” Stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan provide the answer. Movie has the comedic line of the century uttered by director Rob Reiner’s real-life mother portraying a restaurant patron who reacts to Ryan’s fake public orgasm with, “I’ll have what she’s having.” Happy ending.

6. “Sleepless in Seattle,” 1993

The story follows a widower, Sam (Tom Hanks), who calls a radio show to discuss his heartbreak and attracts the attention of countless female listeners. Among them is a woman named Annie (Meg Ryan) who is engaged to be married but feels like something is missing and falls for Sam. Happy ending.

5. “Titanic,” 1997

The unlikely love story between poor Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and wealthy, engaged Rose (Kate Winslet) may play second fiddle to the impending disaster of the Titantic, but that makes it all the more urgent. The two have an undeniable chemistry. Sad ending.

Debra Winger and Richard Gere in An Officer and a Gentleman, 1982.

4. “An Officer and a Gentleman,” 1982

Another opposites-attract movie has test pilot-in-training Richard Gere eventually falling for Debra Winger, a local Navy test pilot wife-wannabee who has her sites set on Gere. She thinks better of it and gives up, not realizing that Gere is falling for her. It’s a classic, old-style love story with a happy ending.

3. “The Way We Were,” 1973

Still another opposites-attract movie has Katie (Barbara Streisand), a wise-cracking political activist, squabbling with Hubbell (Robert Redford) over his WASP-y entitlement. They eventually attract and marry, but the film’s ending is ultimately inconclusive … possibly sad, possibly happy.

2. “The Sound of Music,” 1965

This one seems to be an opposites-attract move but not really. This sweeping musical classic, set in the dangerous times of Nazi Germany and occupied Austria and starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, features a slow-blooming attraction and love affair between the naïve good-hearted governess and the stern but ultimately also good-hearted master of the house. Happy ending.

1. “Ghost,” 1990

This emotional, love-triumphs-over-death story stars Patrick Swayze as a murdered banker who can’t leave this worldly realm until he bids farewell and ensures his loving but grieving wife, played sweetly by Demi Moore, that he is OK and ready to go. Have the tissues ready! Sad but ultimately happy ending.

Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in Ghost, 1990.

CLASSICS IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

The following four incandescent, timeless romantic movies occurred before 1960 and belong in a category of their own.

“The African Queen,” 1951

Perhaps the original opposites-attract movie, “The African Queen” stars Humphrey Bogart as a grizzled riverboat captain and Katheine Hepburn as the prim and proper missionary who slowly but surely fall in love while pursuing Germans in World War I. Happy ending.

“Casablanca,” 1942

This ageless Hollywood classic pairs Humprey Bogart (Rick) and Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa) as star-crossed lovers haunted by the past.

“Doctor Zhivago,” 1955

Set in Russia before World War I, this epic tale recounts Yuri’s (Omar Sharif) passionate love affair with Lara even though he’s married to Tonya, whom he also loves. Sad ending.

“Gone with the Wind,” 1939

This classic starring Clark Gable as Rhett Butler and Vivien Leigh as Scarlet O’Hara is filled with dramatic flair and a not-to-be-denied love even in the face of the horrors of the Civil War. Both are fierce, strong … and manipulative. Sad ending.