SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE MAY 2013
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INDEX Our Flag By Bernadette Gentry............................................................. 3 Happy 90th Birthday, Barnes By Albert Woodruff................. 4 Looking Back at 1955 By Clifton J. (Jerry) Noble Sr.......... 10
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Seeing our flag flying so high and free against the sky brings such pride and joy to my heart. On those sad days when I see our flag at half-staff it seems as if it is bowed down with sorrow for those young lives lost. Then words like courage, bravery, and dedicated come quickly to mind. I think, too of the pain experienced by their families and our country. So, on Memorial Day this year when we see our flag at half-staff, let us reflect on all our fallen heroes. Let us say prayer for eternal rest for them, and one for peace in our world. As taps echoes across the cemetery again and tears come to our eyes, let us vow to honor all who have died by living good and honorable lives in their memory. May God bless all men and women who have served our country and those who continue to serve today. And, may our flag always fly free over our beloved country, America.
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(all six of them)
By Albert A. Woodruff When I was a boy growing up in Westfield there were many interesting places to visit. In 1940, just before WWII, my family lived on Union Street. We made many trips downtown to spend time at my grandfather’s garage on the square. My grandfather, Al Fletcher, spent much time with my brothers and me, showing us his taxi business and the tow trucks. Next to the garage tour in the fun column came a day at Barnes Field, our local airport. My first off-the-ground experience was in 1940 when my family took a tour of a DC3, operated by American Airlines, called the City of Westfield (see photo ). That trip resulted in my long interst in aircraft. Years later I joined the C.A.P. (Civil Air Patrol) at Barnes field. The area, called Barnes Field by us old-timers, but now known as Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, was originally called Hampton Plains. As early as 1905, 9 years before WWI, the State Militia trained there. Between August and September of 1917, 13,000 troops of the National Guard organizations of the New England States camped on Hampton Plains. “Camp Bartlett” lasted for 14 weeks before the 104 Regiment deported for France. Their service is commemorated on the Aprermont Monument off Southampton Road, Rt. 10.* In 1923, (according to the Wikimapia.org website) citizens of Westfield and nearby Holyoke set out to build an airport. A group of influential local businessmen was charged to convince the owner of the land where the airport is now, Vincent E. Barnes, to sell his land to the City of Westfield for an airport. Barnes agreed to give up his land and he, “didn’t ask for a mere penny from the city or the businessmen.” The 27 acre plot was
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SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE MAY 2013
named Westfield Aviation Field and was dedicated on October 12, 1923. As the field gained in popularity, Vincent Barnes leased the city another 27 acre plot, with only a fee of $1 per year starting in 1927. Vincent E. Barnes, originally
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 The author (front) and his family getting off the American Airlines’s “City of Westfield at Barnes Airport in 1940
The Flying O’Connnor Bothers: left to right, Cornelius M. O’Connor, pilot, S.A. David I O’Connor, Asst. Manager Barnes Airport, William O’Connor, pilot, Robert O’Connor, pilot, Walter O’Connor, pilot, Charles P. (Chuck) O’Connor, Mgr. Barnes Airport.
Airline Feeder System, Inc., inaugurates WestfieldNewark flying service, scheduling two-round trips daily in 1937. At far left is Chuck O’Connor, Airport Manager.
Left: Vincent E. Barnes. Above: The 104th’s top air crew carries home the trophy captured from a nationwide competition “Yukon Lightning.” Kneeling Capt. Phil Gibbons. Back row: Lt. Cols Tom Astaldi and Maj. Snow.
The sophisticated nerve center of the 131st Fighter Squadron in its early days, this tent housed the operations and maintenance centers. At far left is the author’s brother, Sgt. Allen Woodruff with buddies at Barnes in the 1950s.
SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE MAY 2013
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sion for a lost plane. A well from Tolland, Mass, owned known M.D. in Westfield at a lumber business and had the time, Dr. Holleran was a been interested in aviavolunteer C.A.P. pilot with tion since its inception. Mr. the Westfield Unit. He was Barnes let the state and Naa WWII vet, and I believe tional Government use his that he was a U.S. Navy land without charge, while M.D. paying property taxes on It wasn’t all men in the land. At the time of the early days of flying. Camp Bartlett in 1917, he Continued from page 5 Eve Sothory was one of the owned 800 to 1000 acres. first women in the state to After Mr. Barnes passed take up flying. Her first lesson was June 8, 1930 with Chuck away in 1936, his wife and daughter, Sadie B. Knox, gave 297 O’Connor in an American Eagle-rock bi-plane, which had an additional acres to the City of Westfield. ox-5 engine. She later became president and secretary of EaShortly after, the City Council voted to name the airport ton’s Men Store in Westfield. after the family. In 1937 Barnes became a commerical airport. A ten pasAccording to the Golden Jubilee Souvenir Program of May senger tri-motored Stinson piloted by Earl K. Ellis flew from 19, 1974, the Airport got underway in 1924. Westfield to Newark N.J. twice a day. A year later the American In 1928 Barnes Airport put on an Aerial Pageant, May 25th Airlines DC-3 arrived. - 27th. It states clearly on the cover of the souvenir program, In 1942, the U.S. military took over the abandoned c.c.c. “Barnes Airport (owned and operated) by the Westfield and barracks and moved in one of its air units. They did not stay Holyoke Chambers of Commerce.” long, but in July of 1942, students from the State College in AmIn 1928 Chuck O’Connor became Airport Manager. A giant herst started to arrive to train as military pilots. of a man, in my opinion, he served as the city’s first Air Mail After the war, in March of 1946, the first group of returnPilot, sworn into the Postal Service in the office of Postmaster ing pilots met at the Holyoke Gars and Electric building under Edward J. Sammons in 1938. the command of Col. Francis H. King. They set up a temporary I met Chuck O’Connor at the field in the 1940s when my home at the Springfield Armory. In January of 1947 headquarbrother, Allen G. Woodruff, and I were in the C.A.P. I was ters was set up in the Westfield Armory, while tents were set up waiting to go up and fly with Dr. Hollaren on a search misin a remote corner of Barnes Airport. (See photo). The National Guard Bureau accepted the 131st fighter Squardron on February 24, 1947. Col. Lyle E. Holstead, Mr. Johnson Stefanik and Capt. Edward D. Slasienski were early leaders of the 131st fighter squadLocations ron with thirty two enlisted men and a dozen officers who To Serve You made up the first group to form the squadron. Better! The first P-47 Thunderbolt was flown in by Charles E. Oilbert of the 101st Squadron at Logan Airport, on April 4. More followed until the base was fully equipped. In July of 1948, eleven P-47s took to the air to fly over Idlewild Airport in New York, since renamed J.F.K. International. The 131st flew in formation over Westover A.F.B. for their tenth anniversary and the inauguration of President Truman. In 1950, the 131st received the top award of the Spaatz Trophy. How fitting that in 1951 the Squadron was converting to the F-51 Mustang Fighter. The Mustang was replaced in 1954, at loor
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the same time the unit entered the jet age with the introduction of the F-94 Starfire interceptors, giving the 104th a new mission. In later years, Westfield Air Guard personnel would enter the space age with Lt. Col. Lichtengurg flying on the space shuttle ST5-9. John Swigert Jr., also a member of the unit from 1957-1960, flew on the ill failed Apolla 13 mission. I have a personal connection to Barnes Airport. My son’s classmate Ricky Hoyt, and his father, Maj. Richard Hoyt were proud members of the Mass. National Guard Marathon Racing team. My son Keith and young Rick were in class together at South Middle School when Joe Knapik Sr. was the guidance councilor. While my son was in school with young Rick, my older brother, Sgt. Allen G. Woodruff was in the 104th with Maj. Hoyt. My brother has since retired from the 104th and lives in the state of Maine. October of 1961 saw the 104th left for Phalsbourg, France via C-124. The F-100s were replaced by the F-84s and now the 104th took F-86 Saber jets with them to France for a year of duty, regular Air Force style. Its a new day now in Westfield. After the A-10 Wart Hogs, with their twin engines and multi barrelled nose guns flew off into the sunset, we now have a new mission and a new gunslinger in town. By the time you hear the F-15 coming you just have time to look up and see a small black dot fade off in the distance.
Happy Birthday Barnes Field Happy 90th! *Author’s note: When I attended Westfield High School back in the early 1950s, Southampton Road was called the Apremont Highway. At the time of the dedication of the monument, the Mayor of Apremont, France, sent a letter thanking the 104 Regiment. Next to the WWI Marker is a marker from WWII commemorating the battles fought by the 104 Regiment. Photo credits: Souvenir Program, May 19, 1974, Barnes Municipal Airport Special Edition 1947-1987, 40th Anniversary, 104 Tactical Fighter Group Author’s collection
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By Clifton (Jerry) Noble, Sr.
By June 1955
Looking Back at 1955
~ Tin Man ~
construction on the West Springfield tunnel and traffic circle approach to North End Bridge were pretty much completed by the Berke-Moore Company. Also finished were the flood wall, ends of Park Avenue and Park Street south and north of West Springfield town green, fence lines and granite bounds to
mark edges of highway property. My survey party personnel was Ernie Rapisarda, Jim Geagan and Vincenzo G. Penna. Things were so busy that we worked several Saturdays overtime at regular-rate pay. Occasionally department chief Frank Brown from Greenfield brought his party 40 miles south to join the fun. We had started making final measurements on new ramps that were open to traffic. With survey needs less at the tunnel site I began work at the next Route 5 interchange south at Memorial Avenue where Dean Amidon was resident engineer. Here the new, divided highway of Route 5 was far enough from the end of Memorial Bridge so that two overpasses, instead of a tunnel, sufficed to carry the big traffic circle. Again I was responsible for location and elevations for the bridges. A retaining wall was needed and, of course, the usual ramps. Reconstruction of Agawam Avenue and a new underpass replaced the access road to Bondi’s Island Sewage Plant destroyed by the Route 5 relocation. All fill material came from the big Damato borrow pit south of Cooper Street in Agawam. Beyond South End Bridge and Springfield Route 5 was pro-
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jected to run near the railroad through Longmeadow lowlands to the Connecticut state line. My mother “Hester” and I visited cousin Carl Emerson and wife Esther on Connecticut’s Avon Mountain in early January. There we met Doctor Alexis Maltzeff and his young wife. Before coming to America he had been lead tenor at the St Petersburg opera in Russia. Currently he taught singing in Hartford and directed the Stanley Choir in Westfield, I lost no time in asking if I might take lessons from him. We arranged to meet Thursday evenings before rehearsal on the top floor of Stanley Products home office building on Arnold Street. He had me buy a dollar book of vocalizations by Concone and taught me to place my voice correctly for best quality. He gave me one of his published songs and his book on voice placement I continued lessons from Emily Yerbury, connected with the Hayle studio in Springfield. She emphasized sounding vowels (which would be fine in Hawaii). I perceived that consonants needed stress if an audience were to understand words. In January I got swim briefs from Coronado Surf Shop in San Diego, California, fine for summer tanning. From Fred Mueller in Denver, Colorado, I got denim shirt with snaps instead of buttons $4.75, western style dress pants $8.35, a cowboy’s spinning rope $1.75, and books of Gene Autry songs for $1.00 each. Elsewhere I got sneakers $2.69, a civil engineering handbook $11.00, Roget’s Thesaurus $3.95, and from Sears a hand air pump $7.95, and an extension ladder $9.88. Depending on theater and picture it cost between 25 and 90 cents to go to the movies. In May we got mother new eyeglasses for $36. When I worked for optometrist Jack Corcoran in 1942 in Fresno, California, wholesale cost for frame and lenses was about $10. Rent for out post office box in Russell was $1.20 a year and in Westfield $6.00 My cousin, Lester Emerson, gladly worked two days a week on my new garage-house at $2.00 and hour. The year-end building total, including Lester’s $831 wages was $4,883.12. After a hot July, rain poured on August 2. Stopping at Amidon’s field office to leave survey books I saw a car sunk to hubcaps in mud and said to my crew, “Let’s get out of here.” Crossing the Route 20 concrete bridge in Russell I noticed that Blandford Brook water was nearly up to the deck. I heard that wash out had caused a train wreck between Russell and Woronoco. I parked safely in our new garage across Herrick Road from our schoolhouse home. That evening I found water from steep Herrick Road running across the corner of our front yard. A curved stone deflected it back into the road. Next morning the intersection with Carrington Road was
Technical High School. My cousin a ten foot chasm down to ledge Lester’s family brought mother. extending shallower up Herrick The trio of Scarecrow (Maurice Road. Our car was in the garage on Wilcox), Tin Man (me), and Lion the far side. There was little hope (Art Smith) don’t show up until that mountainside Carrington scene three. Then we were on stage Road to Russell would be passable. with Dorothy (Mrs. Yerbury’s It was HOT. I was out in Corodaughter) till the end. nado briefs when the road superMrs. Yerbury was supposed intendent, his helper, and two seto play Wicked Witch of the West lectmen came walking south. The but substitution was needed betown’s road scraper had been left cause she got slightly injured by in the gravel pit at the top of “Shanconnecting her Buick with a Conty” hill across Bear Den Brook and necticut Company bus. However, they needed it. I had a pile of sand Flood August 2, 1955. Main St. Russell, looking East she was in the audience to watch in front of the garage for mixing her daughter. cement. They asked if they could have my sand to fill the shalI was unaware of the audience beyond the footlights unlow Herrick Road end of the chasm. Thus they got the scraper til the King of the Monkeys carried me across in front of the across, and I got my car back in the schoolyard. curtain. I remarked, “It’s lovely weather for flying.” People Dotty and Paul Barnes came from their new house across laughed. the brook. Paul’s father, Clarence, lived in the former ClarkRemoving grease paint, hair spray, and getting back into Duggan place opposite our schoolhouse. With his pickup truck street clothes made me last out of the dressing room. I found we followed the scraper to throw big stones out of the road. the Hayles to thank them. George kindly said, “We couldn’t When the north end of Carrington Road was opened Dotty and have done it without you. I rode on a plank placed across the low sides of the pickup body. When Doctor Alexis Maltzeff sang at the St. Petersburg At Main Road I expected Clarence to turn around and go opera, Anatole Bourman was leading male dancer. In America home, but instead he went two and a half miles farther in Hunhe had settled in Springfield at 441 White Street to teach ballet. tington, and me in swim briefs! Thus when Bourman came to see the Hayles’ recital of “The Dorothy had her purse with money and asked if there was Wizard of Oz” he met Maltzeff who had come to see his student anything she could get me at the grocery store. I said, “A box as Tin Man. of dry milk.” Later I walked two miles to Russell and took pictures of the landslide at the town line and of Russell’s flooded Main Street. From there I was able to phone Supervisor Tattan and guess when I might be able to get back to work. se My biggest surprise of the year involved singing. The next Hou lls recital planned by Marjery Fielding Hayles was to be based on Ca the Wizard of Oz. Instead of being blacklisted for bowing out of the 1954 Court Square Theater show, I was given the part of Tin Man in which I would sing “If I Only Had a Heart” and Mrs. Hayle’s own composition starting “People Help Each Other When They’re Lost in the Wood.” I bought gray tights for $6, a long sleeve, gray turtleneck and ballet slippers that could be painted silver. Tin foil stapled to a collared and sleeveless buckram shirt looked well with a funnel cap and a gray foam rubber blade on an axe handle. Swim briefs made perfect underwear. Head got white grease paint and gray hair spray. Audience filled the 800-seat auditorium of Springfield
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Mes Chere Soeurs...
Letters from a Military Wife My mother, Phyllis Anna Mary McInerny Strub, was born in 1920 in Worcester, MA, the fifth child in a family of eight. After graduating from Mass Aggie (now known as the University of Massachusetts) my mother worked for the Audubon Society, and eventually put her degree in Recreational Planning to good use by joining the Red Cross. She was sent to Fountainbleau, France toward the end of World War II to work in a USO club as a “Red Cross Girl.” She planned events and outings for the homesick and lonesome servicemen and women stationed overseas. It was there she met my father, Sgt. Alexander Strub. They married and though at the age of 29 my mother felt she was too old to have children, in no time at all she had 2 under the age of 2. By the time I was 6 years old, there were 5 of us, and eventually, 6. Throughout the 20+ years she spent moving from place to place as a military wife, my mother kept in touch with her 4 sisters. At first
Remember our Servicemen and women, and their families on MEMORIAL DAY - May 27 it was with a system of “Round-Robin” letters. She would send a letter to Mary, who would then sent it to Claire, Anne and Bernie. She often typed on an old manual typewriter. Sometimes she used carbon paper to send copies to each of her sisters. Luckily, many of those letters were saved and eventually made their way back to my brothers and sisters, and me. They are truly a treasure. In 1962 my father got orders for Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. At 11 years of age I was the oldest of 6, and leaving the Fort Douglas, Utah was very hard for me, but move we must. Our first home in Anchorage was a large apt. in an apartment complex while we waited for quarters on Fort Richardson. L. Peters Anchorage, 5 March Dear Ones: Excuse me for making with the group treatment again, but I bore myself so that I can’t repeat. And I have a condition which we up here call “cabin fever” ... can’t remember what you call it down there in the lower forty-eight. (That tickles me so!) Actually February wasn’t as long as is usually is, cause we had the “Fur Rendez-vous” to look forward to, and now the days are quite long. The sun was shining last night at five thirty. (We got to thinking that if it stays light till 2 A.M. in July that the days must be pretty long in April.) Strub got involved in that “Operation Timberline” maneuver - but only had to go for ten days. I no sooner got used to
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I can think of - there’s a tremendous gym where they have an active program in all sports, they have wonderful skiing with all the equipment furnished - even the bus to the ski area and lodge. They have ice skates, a rod and gun club, bowling, photo labs with every piece of equipment imaginable. At the craft shop they have leather work and, for example, the craft shop just got $1500.00 worth of new ceramics equipment. There’s even a “hobby shop for working on hot rods - with a grease
Continued on page 22
The Strub kids at the Fur-Rendevous in Anchorgage, Alaska
having a car than I had a neighbor on my hands who was convalescent and lonesome (Her husband was gone three and a half weeks. Strub managed pretty well. Thru the years he has somehow broadened without these broadening experiences, but here he gets caught for a bit of them anyway.) The neighbor would come down from breakfast at eleven and eat again with me at twelve! She not only has a tremendous appetite, but she has a cat, which comes-with or cries constantly outside the door. It was only two days. I survived. Yes, we packed Strub on the plane with all his gear and a prayer and forgot about him. (You should see him in all those arctic clothes. Only his mother-and I - could love him.) He is scared to death to fly, and sure enuf they had an incident landing. It was very windy and the runway was slippery. The crew in the rear ran into the cabin and strapped themselves down for a crash landing. He was a bit “Shook up” - enuf so that he got himself into a convoy to drive home.. no more airplanes! While we had the car we went out to the Post swimming pool for several lovely swims. At first Lainey was a little leery of that big blue moving mass, but she got used to it, and, of course, would have been in it with out restrictions. (Ed note: military facilities always have a long list of rules and restrictions about use. Lainie was maybe too young to use pool.) Which brings me to mention that at last we have a baby who walked on her birthday. We are so proud and so tickled. She keeps her Daddy in such a happy state that she can do no wrong. How she fusses over him! While we were out there I got to thinking about my nephews going into the Service. Honestly, I can’t think of a better way for a young man to spend a couple of years. Y’see, we have Elmendorf Air Force Base right next to Fort Richardson, and as far as I can see they have similar facilities. I will just list what
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g a n s i v i i n r L D ife... n I
By Andrea Bugbee
T
hree months ago, I suffered that unforgettable adult rite of passage called Teaching Your Child How to Drive. Unlike me, my new driver, Amanda, feels completely prepared for this looming independence. She is sixteen years old. She relaxes by watching sit-coms on the big screen while scrolling through Facebook on her laptop. She has gorgeous, dark eyes that she lines in black. She shamelessly trounces her father and me at the same board games we taught her to play. She understands Algebra and has thoughtful political views. She begs to get her nose pierced. She has a job. I, on the other hand, bring nothing to this journey save a useless, invisible brake pedal and a view through the front
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windshield of college, live-in boyfriends, visits to strange cities where she lives rather than where we live, the inevitable first tattoo, and her eager little sister finally ascending to the throne of a bigger bedroom. In short, it has become vividly clear that Amanda and I are on the last leg of an incredible journey - and here I sit, both literally and metaphorically, banished to the passenger seat forevermore. Of course every parent has colorful stories of near misses, garage door scrapes, sweaty steering wheels, and tap-n-touch parking. Amanda does a funny impersonation of me operatically screeching the word STOPINGGGGG as she barrels toward the brake lights of another vehicle. I, in turn, have nicknamed my little lead-foot “Trixie” after the stylish, speedy girlfriend on Speed Racer, one of my favorite childhood cartoons. Overall, however, Amanda is a good driver. She has a solid sense of where she is on the road and the rules she must follow to keep both herself and other drivers safe. Despite some “exciting” first weeks, I now enjoy our rides together. Often, we just listen to her music. Sometimes we chit chat. Occasionally, I get the opportunity to wax philosophical. Allow me to explain. While gripping the passenger seat these past few months, I have accidentally developed an all-encompassing, life philosophy sprung solely through traffic laws. Really! There is a brilliantly bizarre parallel between driving lessons and life lessons. To me, this parallel has become so enormous that my new prelude to much of the advice I give from the passenger’s seat
now begins, “In driving, as in life….” (The very phrase makes Amanda roll her eyes, but truly, I cannot help myself). For example, if someone has their directional on but hasn’t yet slowed to turn, I warn Amanda not to pull onto the road ahead of them. “In driving - as in life - never assume that a stranger is trustworthy.” I am smug at the opportunity to preach a double sermon. If an aggressive driver forces Mandy to yield as they push into a merge, I proclaim, “In driving, as in life, courtesy will always get you to a better place than speed and greed.” When reversing, I remind her, “In driving, as in life, never go backwards any farther than absolutely necessary.” And when Little-Miss-Smarty-Pants points out that rolling stops are fine because even Mom does them all the time, I sanctimoniously retort, “In driving, as in life, follow the rules of the road regardless of what other people do.” To my joy, these lessons are endless. Here are a few more: In driving, as in life… Accept unplanned detours as a chance to learn a different way to get where you’re going. Treat friends as your most precious cargo. Never take it for granted that everyone around you is completely sane. Communicate at tricky intersections so nobody gets hurt. Take time to refuel before you suddenly discover your tank is empty. Keep your Zen. You and that honking, angry tailgater may share the same road, but be assured, you are on far different journeys. Assuming all goes well, Amanda will become a licensed driver on January 5, 2013. Friends tell me this is the last big separation before college and that I will see less and less of my little girl as she grabs the keys and heads off to places far more interesting than home. But as she accelerates onto that symbolic highway to young adulthood, I can only hope she’ll hear my voice nagging at the back of her brain. “In driving, as in life,” I will be saying, “be sure to buckle up before you go.”
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SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE MAY 2013
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By Christy Cox
An Annual Search for Perennials Every Spring, one of my favorite seasons, I get excited about new plants. This has been a cold spring (though I was reminded by Lyssa that with a cold spring the daffodils and other spring bulbs last longer, and they did). I have different areas of my yard where daffodils bloom, so I had weeks of daffodils to enjoy. This is also the time I enjoy walking around my yard to see my perennials starting to come back to life. I check every couple days to see what has survived the winter. And naturally, I start
A Lenten Rose (Helleborus) pokes out of my garden in early spring.
thinking what NEW plants I would like to add to my collection! I feel you can never have enough plants, so I starting thinking of places where I can purchase these new plants. I actually plan shopping trips with my friends, and it becomes an event to look forward to. Remember to shop locally when purchasing new perennials and annuals. I try to stop at many of the places that sell plants to see what is available this year. There are nurseries, farm stands, farmer markets and local garden centers to check out. You never know where you might find a new and interesting addition to your garden. Many local farms sell plants only in spring, while others may be open all summer. Here are a few to visit: • Anson, 591 College Highway, Southwick, MA 01077 (413) 569-0388, www.ansonnursery.com • Blossoming Acres - 249 College Hwy Southwick, MA 01077 (413) 569-3663, www.blossomingacres.com • Coward Farm - 150 College Highway, Southwick, MA 01077 (413) 569-6724, www.thymeforallseasons.com • Meadow View Farm, LLC - 120 College Highway, Southwick, MA 01077 (413) 569-0814, www.meadowviewfarmsouthwick.com • Ray’s Family Farm - 723 College Highway, Southwick, MA 01077 (413) 569-1876 • Calabrese Farms - 257 Feeding Hills Road Southwick, MA (413) 569-6417 • O’Brien Nurserymen, LLC - 40 Wells Road, Granby, CT 06035 (860) 653-0163, www.obrienhosta.com • E. Cecchi Farms - 1131 Springfield Street, Feeding Hills, MA 01030 (413) 786-2489 • Cincotta Farms - 1252 Springfield St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030, (413) 786-2188 • De Caro Brothers Garden Center - 1236 Springfield St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030 (413) 786-0370 • Al Stepanik Greenhouses & Garden Center, 512 Feeding Hills Rd., Feeding Hill, MA 01030 (413) 789-2278 • Westfield Farmer’s Market - every Thursday from June 13th to September 26th, 2013 between the hours of 1:30pm and 5:30pm, Church of the Atonement lawn located at 36 Court St., Westfield, MA Small businesses need our support to stay alive. Some of the growers and distributors you see as you are driving along may surprise you and have something special to add to your gardens. Often small stores don’t advertise, no budget for that. They survive by word of mouth and by traffic going by. If you have a special place where you find plants and want to share, “like us” on facebook and post your favorite plant place, or email magazine@southwoods.info and I will post.
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Linguine with Shrimp & Spinach Pesto
By Christy Cox
Asparagus Roll-Ups 8 slices bacon 16 thick fresh asparagus spears 1/2 lemon, juiced 16 slices multi-grain bread, crusts removed 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons minced fresh chives 1/4 cup butter, melted 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet. Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on paper towels. Crumble bacon when cooled. Cook asparagus in a skillet with a small amount of water over medium heat until crisp and tender, about 6 to 8 minutes; drain and sprinkle with lemon juice. Flatten bread slices with a rolling pin. Stir cream cheese, crumbled bacon, and chives together in a small bowl until evenly mixed. Spread 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture onto each slice of bread and top with an asparagus spear. Roll the bread tightly around the asparagus; arrange onto prepared baking sheet with seam side down. Brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake in preheated oven until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. www.allrecipes.com
1 pound pasta 2 tablespoons roasted almonds 1 small clove garlic 1 teaspoon lemon zest 4 oz baby spinach (4 cups) 2 tablespoons grated pecorino or Parmesan
3 tablespoons olive oil Kosher salt and pepper 1 pound large peeled and deveined shrimp 3/4 cup dry white wine 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Meanwhile, in a food processor, pulse the almonds, garlic and lemon zest until finely chopped. Add the spinach, pecorino, 2 Tbsp oil and 1/8 tsp each salt and pepper. Purée until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Heat the remaining Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the shrimp with 1/4 tsp salt and cook for 2 minutes. Turn the shrimp, add the wine and crushed red pepper to the skillet and simmer until the shrimp are opaque throughout, 2 minutes more. Add the pesto to the shrimp and toss to combine. Toss with the pasta, adding some of the reserved cooking water if the pasta seems dry. www.womansday.com
Real estate 35 Years Selling Homes
TONGA YORK Text: 413-237-4277 • Call: 413-569-5643
Please Help Us Feed Our Community!
Southwick Food Pantry Items Always Needed: ITALIAN PASTRY AND COFFEE SHOP 610 College Highway, Gristmill Plaza Southwick, MA 01077 413-569-2250 10 Wintonbury Mall, Bloomfield, CT 06002 860-242-3440 The Botta Family • Emiddio, Carmen, Giovanni & Emiddio
• Pasta • Pasta Sauce • Cereal • Canned Tuna • Peanut Butter & Jelly • Canned or Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at: Southwick Post Office, Southwick Big Y, or Southwick Food Pantry.
All donations are greatly appreciated! For More Info: 413-569-9876
SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE MAY 2013
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New York Memories Traveling With A Crowd
By Frank Houlihan
The Korean War had just ended when I received an invitation from Uncle Sam to be inducted into the U.S. Army for a two year tour of duty. Making ready for my departure I packed the necessary items I felt I would be needing into a small valise, assuming whatever else I would need, Uncle Sam would supply. I said my good byes to my family and headed out to take the train to Whitehall Street in Manhattan, which would be the first stop for me on my journey.
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SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE MAY 2013
As I waited for the train, a friend and neighbor, who was also a classmate, joined me on the platform. He was headed to work in downtown Manhattan. The train soon arrived and we boarded, talking as we walked along. The train travelled from stop to stop picking up more and more passengers as it headed into the core of Manhattan. Three stops down from where I boarded, the train stopped, the doors opened, and my friend was literally pushed and shoved out onto the platform by passengers leaving the train, even though this was not his stop! There was little he could do, for the crowd leaving the train was in control. Being light of build my friend was easy to maneuver in any direction. The new passengers boarded the train and in the process the train door closed. My friend was left stranded amongst a crowd still on the platform. As the train pulled away I waved, and his arm was waving back. If he was lucky, he’d get on the next train that came through. It must be “fun” going to work like this each day! My train continued on and I was wedged in like a sardine amongst the new passengers that just boarded. Three stops later it was me being pushed by the crowd leaving the train onto the platform, which was not my stop! Luckily I was able to re-board the train before the door shut and the train took off. By now I was more than ready to get off that train. I had lost the shine on my shoes from being stepped on continuously and kept checking that my wallet was still in my pocket. I was glad to finally reach my destination. I walked to the
A busy New York City train station in the 1950s
Army processing center nearby, to listen to my indoctrination and take the physical exam. When all was complete, I was told to make ready for a bus trip to Ft. Dix in New Jersey for eight weeks of basic training. The bus to Ft. Dix was filled with recruits and none of us had any idea what we were in for. New friendships were quickly made and as I looked around I could see odd tear being shed. There were some recruits on the bus who appeared to be away from home for the first time. It would take a little doing for all of us to get used to our new environment. At Ft. Dix we found a whole new world opened up to us. Some of the recruits were slow to get off the bus, for they were not sure what they were getting into. To this day I have never again seen my friend who was pushed from the train by the crowd. When we waved a goodbye it was really a permanent goodbye.
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SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE MAY 2013
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Mes Chere Soeurs Continued from page 13
rack and all the equipment they have in a garage. (Strub went out there one lean week and greased our car for 25¢.) They have clubs and dances. They have very good libraries and USAFI courses where they can get either high school or college diplomas. I’ve been wanting to tell you this, Mame, cause I know you’re not tickled to see your boys go. We really enjoyed the fur rendez-vous. Course there was something wrong with a man from our home state winning the dog sled race way up here in this remote frontier. (You read that a Dr. Lombard, a veterinarian from Weyland, MA won, didn’t you?) There was a parade, and while I was amazed that they would even stage such an affair; there were girls on those floats in evening gowns! I’m sure they were not warm enuf: but is this your picture of Alaska? Strub was away, so I had nice warm clothes to wear. Y’know, in that respect, at least, I am getting like Grandma Mac. I can sure assemble a comfortable outfit when my husband is not around, that is. He gets so mad! And even Lis is starting to notice. Her comment on the rendez-vous was, Mummy, “Our next project will be to get you some sport clothes.“ Me? Sport clothes? Strub won’t let me wear the WAC clothes I came with - my trousseau... You should see the fur parkas on the men and women and the real mukluks, etc. They are more colorful than the dog races. They have a “Trappers and Miners Ball” at which they
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give a prize for the beast beard. I want to grow one next year - on Strub, that is. They had a fur auction, an Eskimo blanket toss, Eskimo dances, etc. art exhibits, etc. etc. We took in all the free and outdoor events. (Free because we had to buy new garage doors this year, and outdoor cause ‘Lainey is so happy in that stroller.) The real Eskimos are unbelievably round of face - each cheek is a puffy round ball. The kids play outdoors here almost as much as they did in Salt Lake City. They even go out after supper, if the father isn’t in a “Kids don’t play outdoors in freezing weather after dark” mood. I’m ALWAYS in the mood for them to go out... We’ve driven down the main road in both directions - going back the way we came in, thru Palmer, where they raise the fifty pound cabbages, etc. It was a treat to see fields and barns and even horses and cows. (It was dark when we came thru before.) We drove to another city called Seward out on the Kenai peninsular. It is built in the smallest area - right between mountains and sea... Special Service has a trailer park there, so we will see more of that. The camping areas look lovely, but we’ve been told that the mosquitoes are almost unbearable. I checked with the encyc. and it says they get worse the closer you get to the arctic circle. Why? The more we travel the more we realize that every place has its advantages and disadvantages...There wasn’t a mosquito in Utah. We saw a glacier - a lovely green frozen river, and we picked pussy willows on the way - on the first of February! We finally took the kids to the free bingo on Sunday afternoons at the club. Tim won the first game. Can you imagine a
better prize... A flashlight guaranteed for ten years, rechargeable in a wall socket. Tim has always been insane for flashlights. Here in winter, he can even take it to school. This letter is so dull that I will leave you, but I must tell you about Strub’s diet. He came home with some pills that the doctor said he could take, “Not that I NEED to, now!” He was to take them thirty minutes before dinner and they would curb his appetite. We had to postpone dinner every night while we waited for his pill to work, and while he waited he had a beer, and a hunk of salami, and cheese, and crackers, and sat down with no appetite.
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SAUNDERS BOAT LIVERY, INC.
Congamond Lake (on Route 168) Southwick, MA 01077 • (413) 569-9080 Family Owned and Operated Since 1843 OPEN 7 Days A Week • 9-6 Daily
Thanks To All For Coming By The Antique & Classic Boat Gathering
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Visit us at WWW.southwoodsmagazine.com
Non-profit news and events for area communities. Please send information by the 20th of the month in order to have it listed in this section. We will print as many listings as space allows. Our usual publication date is within the first week of the month. Send to: Town Crier, Southwoods Magazine, P.O. Box 1106, Southwick, MA 01077, Fax: (413) 569-5325 or email us at magazine@southwoods.info. KINDERGARTEN SCREENING FOR SOUTHWICK-TOLLAND-GRANVILLE CHILDREN
The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District Kindergarten Screening for the 2013-2014 school year will be held from Thursday, June 6th through Friday, June 7th, 2013 at Woodland School for Southwick, Tolland and Granville residents. In order to be eligible for Kindergarten, a child must be five years old on or before September 1, 2013. There will be no exceptions to this policy. As required by Special Education Law, Chapter 766, screenings will be conducted in the areas of hearing, vision, speech/language, cognitive and motor skills. All parents having an eligible child should come to the Woodland School office at 80 Powder Mill Road, Southwick,
MA to pick up an enrollment packet between now and May 21st. Open enrollment hours are 9:15 am to 2:45 pm. A check off list is included in the packet for your convenience. Once you’ve filled out your paperwork and have the necessary documents (proof of residency, birth certificate, medical, physical) as noted on the check off list, return ALL information to the Woodland School Office. An appointment will be made for you at that time to attend the screening (June 6th & June 7th) to complete the registration process. PLEASE CALL 569-6598 With questions
Congamond Coming Alive
We kick off the season with a fund raiser for the Babb’s restoration project on Saturday, May 11th with an evening of ballroom dancing at the American Legion Post on Powder Mill Road in Southwick, MA. The festivities begin at 7pm. It’s a BYOS (bring your own snacks) with a cash bar available for your liquid refreshments. There will be a complimentary beginner dance lesson given by Jeannette. Music will be provided by DJ Gary. Admission is $10.00. More details at our web site or you can call Linda at 413-569-2381. CRC will also be involved with the annual lake treatment in May and will host our annual lake clean-up day on June 15th. We will be doing something new this summer with Friday night “Boat-in Movies on the Lake” also beginning in May. Plans are just now being finalized but you can check out www.
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SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE MAY 2013
Rich Clark
gazine.com
CongamondMovies.com for details as they become available. Our annual 4th of July boat parade will be held this year on Saturday the 6th. The theme will be “Red, White & Blue”. Decorate your boat with patriotic colors and join in, or just come and watch.
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WHAT ARE YOUR FIVE WISHES?
A short presentation about the 5 Wishes will be held on Friday, May 31, 2013 at 6:30 pm at The American Inn, 1 Sawmill Park, Southwick. The Five Wishes provides you a way to control something very important---how you are treated if you get seriously ill. The Five Wishes address your personal, emotional,
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and spiritual needs as well as your medical. It is based on a human model, not a medical model. You make the choices and those wishes will be followed by your Health Care Agent. It is presented in a manner so everyone in your family knows what YOU want. It takes the guessing and hard decisions out of your family’s hands, causing less confusion at a difficult time. This special program is presented by Joanne Sullivan, RN, Grief Specialist Forastiere Family Funeral & Cremation.
SOUTHWICK ROTARY 8TH ANNUAL TAG SALE
The Rotary Club of Southwick announced that the club will host its eighth annual indoor and outdoor tag sale and flea market on Saturday, June 1st, at a new location – Southwick Recreation Center on Powder Mill Road, Southwick from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Anyone interested in reserving space will be assessed $35.00 per table. For a reservation, please call Bob Fox at 413 569 5962. Proceeds from the sale will support community and youth-oriented Rotary projects.
Grill’n Daze
The Southwick Rotary Club is looking for your help for their annual Grill’n Daze Competition, a BBQ and Chili contest on July 21st. Now in its sixth year, the competition has gained tremenous interst here in Southwick and the surrounding community. This is a great event for you to showcase and promote your business! You can sponsor a company team, compete yourself, or just enjoy the day with friends, family and your employees. There are three levels of sponsorship - Platinum - $500; Gold - $300; and Silver - $100. Sponsors will receive a banner on our event website and booth space to promote your products and services. Deadline for sponsorships is July 14.
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Your financial help will assist the Rotary Club with its advertising plan and prize money for the competition. Proceeds from the event will support Rotary community and youth programs. Please visit the websites www.grillndaze.com or www. southwickrotary.org Guidelines and an application form for the competition can be downloaded from our website.
Ellen Ayotte Exhibiting at Southwick Library Month of May
Granby, Conneticut artist Ellen Ayotte, will be exhibiting her artwork at the Southwick Public Library on Route 57 for the month of May.
Southwick Historical Society ANNUAL MEETING
The Southwick Historical Society will host it’s annual meeting on Thursday, May 23 at 7 PM at the Christ Church United Methodist, Fellowship Hall, 222 College Hwy, Southwick. Dues may be paid at this meeting. The Society will host a program, “Take Back The Notch” with Stephen Wood, noted writer, with a love of travel, exploration, learning, and meeting interesting people. All meetings and programs are free to the public and we invite you to join us for this informative program.
NCCHP May 2013 Update
After the long, cold winter, the 2013 museum season is finally here! From May – October the museum will be open for tours on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month from 12:00 – 3:00.
Free Monthly Movie Nights are back on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 7:00 – 9:00. This popular series features short movies about how things were made or operated “back in the day”. The May 22nd movie night will feature films about trains to complement the newest museum exhibit, “Trains and Railroads”. The monthly Living History series starts Wednesday, 6/12 at 6:30 with a program by David Leff called “Hidden In Plain Sight”. A local essayist, poet and lecturer, David unlocks the secrets of seeing magic in the mundane and discovering wonders in the commonplace world around us. The July Living History Series on Wednesday, 7/10 features a patriotic musical program “Lincoln and Liberty” led by Roger Lee Hall. Roger is a music preservationist, author and composer and holds a Ph.D. in Musicology specializing in early American music. Be sure to mark your calendars to come learn about, hear and sing many of the popular songs from the Civil War era. An exhibit about the history of photography and cameras is currently “under construction”. If you have old cameras, photography equipment or photographs you are willing to lend to NCCHP for the exhibit, please contact us. Also, if you are interested in working on researching, pulling together
and setting up new exhibits, we are always looking for more volunteers! To learn more or discuss further, please call 413-3578814 or e-mail us at ncchp.org@gmail.com . The NCCHP museum at the Drum Shop is located at 42 Water Street in Granville and is open for tours by groups of ten or more by appointment only (call 413-357-8814 for info).
ALAN L. FERRIGNO ATTORNEY AT LAW 100 Main Street Agawam, MA 01001 (413) 786-9454 Fax: (413) 786-9084 Email: attyferrigno@aol.com
SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE MAY 2013
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May 2013 Greetings, The House of Representatives recently completed its annual budget. During which time there were almost 900 amendments debated and they included everything from the Death Penalty to continued Welfare Reform. But more importantly, it’s an opportunity to advocate By State Representative for continued checks and balances withNicholas Boldyga in our State Budget. During the budget I voted for common sense reforms within the welfare system, a realistic, reduced and practical tax system and advocated for a more transparent state government. The budget is also an opportunity for Representatives to advocate on behalf of their districts. For the upcoming year, Agawam, Granville and Southwick all received increased local aid. Chapter 70, which is state aid to public elementary and secondary schools funding was increased for each community. Each community will also see an increase in Unrestricted General Government Aid, which is used for funding general government services, with broad leeway to distribute this money for programs across our local budgets. In addition to increased local aid, I advocated for the Statewide AP Massachusetts Math and Science Initiative (MMSI) funding. Agawam participates in this phenomenal program and I’m hoping Southwick will soon join them. The amendment increases the appropriation, which will help support, all schools that wish to participate in the MMSI program next year. I believe it is extremely important to invest in our children and their educations. The first step in ensuring that priority is appropriately funding each school district throughout the Commonwealth. In an attempt to achieve that goal, Republicans put forward two ‘target share’ amendments, which would increase the total appropriation for the Chapter 70 account by $46 million and $23 million, respectively. The amendments would have also provided cities and towns greater state funding to fill gaps and meet their target local share. Several years ago, the state determined that every city and town in the Commonwealth should receive a minimum amount of funding for educational requirements. Over recent years, many towns have been continuing to pay far more than their fair share. The ‘target share’ amendments would have forced the state to bring every city and town to its minimum level of Chapter 70 state aid, instead of continuing the small incremental increases over an unspecified number of years. Unfortunately, the target share amendments were not adopted. With your support, I will continue to advocate for education, common sense reforms and government transparency. Thank you for allowing me to proudly serve as Your Representative. Please call me with any concerns. My home telephone number is (413) 569-5188. I’m always available! Sincerely,
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413-568-8811 Nicholas Boldyga, Representative Please visit my website www.NickBoldyga.com for more information PAGE 30
SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE MAY 2013
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GOODS & SERVICES traprock driveways built & repaired. Gravel, loam, fill deliveries. Tractor services, equipment moved, York Rake. Bill Armstrong Trucking. 413357-6407. baseball cards - Old, Mint Condition. Great gift for kids & grandkids for collecting. 1000 cards $20.00 Call 413-998-3248. KEENKUT LANDSCAPING SPRING CLEANUPS, -Landscape Design, Mulch Beds, Plantings, New Lawn Installs, Weekly and Bi-weekly mowing, Bobcat service call 413-896-9240 DELREO HOME IMPROVEMENT for all your exterior home improvement needs ROOFING, SIDING, WINDOWS, DOORS, DECKS & GUTTERS extensive references, fully licensed & insured in MA & CT. Call Gary Delcamp 413-569-3733 RING RING AVON CALLING - looking for AVON products contact Christy Cox by email at: cvcox@comcast.net or call 413568-8082 evenings.
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baseball cards - Old, Mint Condition. Great gift for kids & grandkids for collecting. 1000 cards $20.00 Call 413-998-3248. 59 MFG Boat & trailer - with accessories $2900 or Best Offer call 413-569-3680.
REAL ESTATE westfield - Enjoy Life! Ranch Condo, beautiful grounds, pool, tennis, golf, 2 BR, 2 Baths, Garage, Deck, call (413)203-9745
HELP WANTED GREETER - PT, 16-24 hours per week to greet and direct guests, includes week-ends and holidays, Memorial Day through Labor Day, $10 an hr. Apply to: Audrey Miller, Operations Manager Wildwood Property Owners Association Inc, Tolland, MA 01034 Phone: (413) 258-4900
GL
S
Gene Griffin 413-357-0066
Sharpening Service
CLASSIFIEDS
Love,
Mower Blades, Brush Hog Blades Chipper Blades, Flail Blades Plus Other Types of Blades
Is Your Back crYIng? Welch chiropractic Wellness center
Dr. Thomas Welch 610 College Hwy., Southwick, MA
Call Today 413-569-0266
PRINTING
For All Your Printing Needs 413-569-0266
Gristmill Plaza, 610 College Hwy., Southwick, MA 01077
FREE ESTIMATES
P Driveways Plowed P Clean-Outs P Scrap Metal P Junk Car Removal P Rubbish Removal P Odd Jobs CELL: 413-237-7148
• In-Ground Liner Replacements • Openings • Renovations • FREE Estimates • Patios / Stampcrete • Licensed and Insured
MA (413) 636-4182 • CT (860) 413-3733 SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE MAY 2013
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SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE MAY 2013