Just Plain Neighbors: Pet shelter needs tug at Rowe girl's heart

[ Originally published on: Friday, May 08, 2009 ]

MAEVE GALLAGHAR, a 14-year-old home-schooled student from Rowe, is conducting a campaign to help the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society with donations of supplies.

''I will be having the supply drive until Saturday, May 16,'' she said. ''I've visited the shelter in Leverett and I know what they need.'' She is looking for clean blankets, towels, cat litter and canned cat and dog food. The dry pet food that Dakin uses is Science Diet.

''I feel so bad for the shelters. I hope at least one stays open,'' Maeve said.

She realizes that the Greenfield location will be closing soon and moving to Springfield, but the need never stops. Some other needs are dog and cat treats and toys, dog leashes and collars, metal food bowls, paper towels and bathroom tissues, liquid laundry detergent and trash bags, sponges, rubber gloves and brooms. The full list is at www.dpvhs.org.

Donation boxes are at Rowe Elementary School and transfer station, Pete's General Store in Heath and the school in that town, Charlemont Federated Church and Avery's General Store in Charlemont, and in Greenfield, at the Farmer's Cooperative Exchange on High Street.

When I last talked with Maeve, she said dog and cat food and a leash have already been donated.

''I've never done anything like this before, so I wanted to begin small,'' she said.

TWO TEENAGE FIGURE skaters have qualified for the State Games of America in Colorado Springs beginning July 27, and their coach, Kerry Togneri of Turners Falls is seeking some financial assistance.

The girl are Zoe McSweeney and Mollie Tobey, who won at the Baystate Games in February.

''I already have a generous donation from the Montague Elks, so my husband and the girls can go, but, usually the parents also go,'' Togneri said. ''We have a fundraising planned for the July 4 weekend, and are looking for any other ideas to help the girls make it in Colorado.'' Togneri's number is 863-8797, if you have any ideas.

MOTHERS IN NORTHFIELD, you won't have to make breakfast on Mother's Day, Sunday. The Northfield Kiwanis is having a pancake breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. at the Northfield Elementary School and mothers can eat FREE.

Other adults are charged $5, and it's $2.50 for the youngsters under 12. There will be a raffle for a wheelbarrow filled with spring garden items and two yards of compost delivered within 12 miles of Northfield. Drawing for that is June 1, $1 a ticket or $5 for Sox tickets.

ELENA PIROZHKOV of Greenfield is home from Colorado Springs Training Center for Mother's Day. She is training for the United States Wrestling Team for the 2012 Olympics.

Meanwhile, she said she won first place in the Nationals in this country this year and also in the Pan Am Competition in Venezuela.

''I'm looking forward to London now,'' she said.

I know I've mentioned this before. She was 4 months old when her family came to Greenfield from Siberia. Her mother, Tatyana, was my conversation partner at Greenfield Community College.

THE RECOVER PROJECT, a community open to all with alcohol or drug addiction, will have a car wash at AutoZone, corner of Federal and Silver streets, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost will be $5 per car.

They will have another car wash there on May 30.

JOHN FORTIN of the automotive faculty at the Franklin County Technical School has always felt that an auto show has been missing from Franklin County. Well, on Saturday there will be one at the school. Cars, trucks, motorcycles and antique cars will be on display. A few dealers will have new cars. All those showing have paid $5 to participate and the total will go into the scholarship fund at the school.

Trophies will be awarded in each class. Admission is free.

There will be raffles, food and plants for sale in the school's greenhouse.

HERE IS THE ANSWER for the readers who want the address for Clif Symonds, former music director at Greenfield High School ... 913 Belville Blvd., Naples, FL 34104.

FRANCIE LIN OF GREENFIELD recently published her first book, ''The Foreigner.'' For this, she has received the Edgar Allen Poe prize for the best first mystery novel or thriller by a writer.

''I know it's very prestigious. No one could be more surprised than I,'' said Lin.

She will go to New York City next week to receive her award.

Thanks to Ann Smith of World Eye BookShop in Greenfield, who called me about this news, who said, ''It's a very big thing.''

DANIEL BROWN of Greenfield has been selected as May Artist of the Month by the Liquitex Artist Acrylic Paint Corp. He said they invented acrylic paint in the 1950s.

Samples of his work and a statement by Brown can be seen on http://liquitex.com/awardprograms/aotm/aotm.cfm Ten original paintings of his are on display at the Greenfield Business Association meeting room through June 15, and three prints are at Magical Child toy store on Main Street.

WHATELY HISTORICAL SOCIETY is preparing for its 2009 exhibit, ''Textiles, Quilts, Fashions and More.'' Public contributions area being sought, said Adelia Bardwell, who is in charge of the exhibit.

''We have several wedding gowns,'' Bardwell said. ''These and any other contributions may be brought to the museum next Tuesday morning.'' The exhibit opening will be May 24 from noon to 3 p.m., with food, entertainment, sales and games.

Bardwell's address is 159 Haydenville Road and her phone number is 665-3837, if you have questions.

Irmarie Jones has been a member of the newsroom staff since 1969 and a columnist since 1977. You can reach her at: ijones@recorder.com.

 

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