ENV Newspaper Staff Reunion

Present at the “non-official” reunion on July 6 at Joe’s Crab Shack on the San Antonio Riverwalk were ENV staffers/Texas residents Sandy Boyett (“Roses & Onions” columnist), her daughter and occasional cover model Susan, and Dr. Elizabeth Reid (feature writer, associate editor and “Spanish Lingo for the Savvy Gringo” columnist/book author). Visiting ENV co-founder/editor/art director Connie Ellig, ENV photographer David Hopps, and longtime readers/family members Dolores Grunigen, and Ronnie and Anita Hopps joined them.
 

At Joe’s Crab Shack in San Antonio: (left to right) Elizabeth, Susan, Connie, David and Sandy

In honor of Sandy’s special road trip to visit Ensenada, the “official” reunion of ENSENADA NEWS & VIEWS took place on July 24 at La Tertulia Restaurant. Presiding over the festivities was La Tertulia owner Cecilia Bitterlin, the original publisher and one of the founders of ENV, the English-language tourism newspaper that reigned from 1982 until 1990 (when it was sold and transformed into the Baja Sun).

Attendees included Sandy Boyett, Connie Ellig, David Hopps, associate editor Howard Munson, “Cap’n Herb’s Line” fishing columnist Herb Nordquist, and longtime friends/contributors Bob Holcomb, Cha-Cha and John Dixon, and Brent and Gina BeSaw. Despite a few “senior moments,” the young-at-heart group enjoyed reminiscing while perusing vintage newspapers and photo albums before getting down to the serious business of drinking margaritas and devouring melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon.

Numerous festive toasts were raised throughout the evening. But Howard Munson said it best from the hearts of the ENSENADA NEWS & VIEWS staff when he stated, “I would like to think that we, as a group of small town dedicated newspaper human beings, might have made a difference, in some small way, in the lives of others along the way.”
 

At Restaurant La Tertulia in Ensenada: (top left to right) David Hopps, Sandy Boyett, Connie Ellig, John Dixon, Gina BeSaw, (bottom left to right): Howard Munson, Cecilia Bitterlin, Cha-Cha Dixon

Note: This story is dedicated to ENV staff members who are now in the highest heavens of cyberspace: Marion Smothers (“Vintage Baja” columnist/book author); Fran & Chris Hunt (photography and advertising sales); Charlie Lopez (Rosarito Beach feature writer and advertising sales director); Yolanda Rocha (Ensenada advertising sales director); Fred Hoctor (contributing writer); Jan Wright (distribution director); and Hermosa (frequent dog model).
 

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