Just Plain Neighbors: Buckland native wants names of all who served

[ Originally published on: Friday, June 19, 2009 ]

Robert Purinton, a native of Buckland, is on a mission. He wants a monument created to list names of all persons who served in the military from World War I on.

''Oh, I know there is a listing up against the wall on the second floor of veterans from World War I and World War II, but it's up against the wall and you only see it if you go to town meeting,'' Purinton said. ''I discovered that when I went looking for the name of my uncle.''

Town Clerk Janice Purington agreed, when I talked to her, that what monument there is, is ''in pretty sad shape.'' Purinton has teamed up with his cousin, Edward Purinton of Ashfield, to set up an arrangement for anyone interested to make a donation for a new and expansive monument.

There is a Buckland Veterans Memorial Monument Fund set up at the Bank of Western Massachusetts in Shelburne Falls.

''I think all those people deserve it,'' Purinton said. ''America is number one, thanks to our veterans.'' He explained that he is not even a veteran because between WWII and the Vietnam War, he became a father and that exempted him. And, he now lives in Arizona, but returns to the area in the summertime.

He can be reached at 625-6832. Ed Purinton's number is 625-9378. ''We want the names of everyone from Buckland, male and female, who served,'' Purinton said.

THOSE WHO ATTENDED the Wormtown Festival at Camp Keewanee in Greenfield, in late spring, contributed 567 pounds of food for the needy. This was shared by the Franklin Area Survival Center and Franklin County Community Meals, said Amy Clarke, director of the meals program.

A group called 'Strangers Helping Strangers' hosts food drives at music festivals all over the East and folks who attend are accustomed to taking a few extra food items to festivals all over the east to feed the needy in that community,'' Clark said. ''Recently, 108 families went to the Orange Food Pantry on a Thursday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., so those donations really came in handy.''

THE LEVERETT COOP'S annual fling will be Saturday in Moores Corner from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. An array of local artists and children's activities are planned. Food and free music begin at noon with musical guests Pitchfork at noon, Jen Toby at 2 p.m. and Steve Crow at 4 p.m., among others.

At 1:15 p.m., there will be a celebration of the co-founders of the coop ... Julie Shivley and Dan Bennett.

THE CONWAY COMMUNITY CHORUS will perform works by Brahms, Randall Thompson, Handel and Duane Nyman on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the United Congregational Church in Conway.

Featured will be Brahms' ''Liebeslieder'' and Thompson's ''Frostiana.'' Cathy Shaw and Amy Crawford will accompany on piano.

A donation to support the music fund is suggested ... $6 ($3 for seniors and students under 18 years).

THERE'S SO MUCH going on this weekend. Hawley is having its giant multi-town tag sale on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a. m. to 4 p.m. each day at Hawley Grove in East Hawley.

Now that there is a new roof on the former Holyoke Boys Club, which is now locally owned, most of the tag sale can be indoors, if it rains.

GREGORY COTE, 17, of Boy Scout Troop 16 in Greenfield, is having a food drive on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to complete his Eagle Scout work project.

He is collecting nonperishable food items at Stop & Shop and Foster's in Greenfield and Food City in Turners Falls. The food will be given to the Montague Catholic Social Ministries Food Pantry.

Greg has been a Boy Scout for 10 years, as well as a Cub Scout. He is a junior in the electrical program at Franklin County Technical School.

A BENEFIT SUPPER: First Parish Unitarian Church in Northfield is having a benefit supper for two local aid organizations on Saturday at 6 p.m. This is in observance of the Summer Solstice.

Loaves and Fishes, based in Northfield, formed to provide help for people in times of crisis, and the Northfield Food Pantry are providing food and other essentials to those in need.

Locally grown foods will be featured, including early summer greens and strawberries for strawberry shortcake.

Contributions will be accepted at the door for the two organizations.

JUANITA ''BUNNY'' CALDWELL will be the center of attention on Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Gill-Montague Senior Center on Fifth Street in Turners Falls. She is retiring after 12 years as director of the Senior Center.

Originally, she had agreed to work for two months and stayed on the job for 12 years.

''Stop in and share some memories and enjoy light refreshments,'' says the announcement. When I asked Bunny what she liked about her job, she didn't hesitate. ''The people.''

She will be leaving on June 30 and she said she will probably be doing whatever she and her husband, Dick, decide to do ... ''probably a little travel.''

RYAN PETER DENKEWICZ, grandson of Raymond and Genevieve Denkewicz of Millers Falls and son of Peter and Carolann Denkewicz of East Greenwich, R.I., has graduated as valedictorian of Bishop Hendricksen High School in Warwick, R.I.

Ryan is the third member of his family to be named high school valedictorian. His father, Peter, was valedictorian of Turners Falls High School, class of 1979 and his aunt, Raye Marie (Denkewicz) Young was valedictorian of TFHS in 1978.

In high school, Ryan was co-president of the National Honor Society in 2008, won the Hendricksen's top prize at the annual culture and science fairs, is a member of the Rhode Island Honor Society and is National Advanced Placement Scholar, with honor. He recently published a research paper in the Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences.

Through Bob's Children, a charitable organization he founded, he has collected hundreds of ''gently used'' toys and redistributed them to less fortunate families in the Providence, R.I., area.

Athletics? Oh, yes. On the tennis team, he had the top singles spot for the past two years and varsity level all four years, earning him All-State and All-Division honors. He earned two state titles in wrestling in his freshman and sophomore years. He was a recent participant in the United States athletic games.

Ryan will attend Duke University in the fall and intends to major in biomedical engineering.

THE UNITED CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of Conway will have its 17th annual strawberry supper on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Baked ham, potato salad, baked beans, cole slaw and strawberry shortcake, with homemade biscuits, is the menu.

Call Lorna at 369-4080 for reservations ... $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12.

A watercolor by Michael Tillyer will be raffled and also a 50/50 raffle is scheduled.

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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