Published: April 10, 2007 03:53 pm    SCHOOLS: LaSalle grads move reunion with them out West Thirty-year reunion for torn-down high school taking place in Phoenix By Paul Lane/lanep@gnnewspaper.com Niagara Gazette With LaSalle High School no longer in existence, members of its class of 1977 had to look elsewhere for a venue to host their reunion. Where did they choose? Phoenix, of course. Upwards of 200 people are expected to converge in Arizona the weekend of April 20-22 for the class’ 30-year reunion. Organizers figured if they couldn’t come back to their high school, they might as well make it a party to remember. “Going back to Niagara Falls, our school is there no longer. So we said, ‘Why go back?’ ” said Louis Flores, a LaSalle alumnus now living in Tucson, Ariz., who is helping organize the reunion. “We thought, ‘How could we gather these students who had never come to a reunion and make it a real reunion?’ ” In an added twist, a majority of Flores’ classmates will have less distance to travel to a reunion in Phoenix than they would if it were held back home. About 25 classmates from the Falls had made reservations as of last week, he said, with many of the others coming from Arizona, Las Vegas and other points West. Some classmates are making the trip from Florida and other southern cities, he said, with one person coming from Germany to take part. About 130 people have booked a spot in the opening dinner to date, a number Flores attributes in part to a deal he made during a visit home this past winter with the band Tunnel to come to the reunion. “We were sitting in the car, and he said ... ‘What would it take to get Tunnel out to Phoenix?’ ” said Vince Crossley, a band member and LaSalle alumnus. As it turns out, band members — none of whom are part of the class of 1977 — agreed to play the show for free as long as some of their expenses were covered. “When I heard about Phoenix, I said, ‘I’ll put my bags next to yours,’ ” said Tom Gariano, Tunnel’s frontman. “I’m ready to go.” Tunnel was a prominent local band in the 1970s that broke up over time, with its members joining other local bands such as The A-List and Rip and the Bandogs. The group still draws well in periodic shows, including LaSalle reunions the band plays on almost an annual basis; Tunnel will host a warm-up show Friday at the White Parrot Lounge. Getting Tunnel involved was vital to the reunion, Flores said. “What really got people excited was that Tunnel was coming to our reunion,” he said. “It was more legit, like, ‘Wow, this is going to be a fun time.’ ” A weekend of events is planned for the reunion, which has been expanded to include LaSalle grads from the five classes before and after 1977. “We wanted to make it more of a family thing,” Flores said. “That was probably one of the best thing that we could have done ... The class of ’77 was an awesome class. The camaraderie was great, we still keep in touch with each other.” “Through all these years, we’ve stayed tight,” Gariano said of his fellow LaSalle grads. Based on Gariano’s experience, the Phoenix reunion promises to be a good one. A member of the LaSalle class of 1976, Gariano saw only about 100 people attend his 30-year reunion held locally last summer, so choosing Arizona as the location was a wise move to get more people involved, he said. The 30-year reunion hasn’t happened yet, but Flores is already thinking about future reunions. Among ideas he’s considering are a Florida-based cruise and trip to Las Vegas. He figures it’s best to make his class’ reunions something worth attending. “We’re at a point in our life where we want to enjoy our life. What do we have when we leave this Earth? Our memories,” he said. “We’re still getting calls asking, ‘Is it too late (to attend)?’ It’s only too late when it’s over with.” IF YOU GO WHAT: Tunnel warm-up show; no cover. WHEN: 9:30 p.m. Friday.april 13 WHERE: White Parrot Lounge, 201 Rainbow Blvd., Niagara Falls. MORE INFORMATION: Call 285-9321. “Niagara Gazette” http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local/local_story_100155328.html