Hello neighbor.
I want to send out a “congratulations” to Tom Devine, who recently left Juvenile Court on Main Street in Greenfield in a limousine, after 34 years of service. According to his son Dan Devine, who owns Brad’s Place, his father had always said he would leave his job, which he loved, when the funeral home came to get him. Jim Shea, who worked for Tom, told everyone at the retirement party that Tom had always told him, “I’m not leaving ‘til Wrisley is out back waiting for me.”
Well, Larry Wrisley of Wrisley Funeral Home in South Deerfield, who happens to be a good friend of Tom’s, obliged. Larry arrived in a limo to take Tom away, and gave everyone a laugh at the same time.
Dan tells me court officers and Tom’s peers — about 125 of them — attended his retirement party at Terrazza. Tom was surprised, and from what I hear, he’s not fond of surprises. But Dan said his father had a great time — everyone from some of his childhood friends to the people he spends time with now attended.
Dan says at one point Tom said, while looking out at the crowd, that he was reminded of many special memories. Guests came from as far as California.
Have a wonderful retirement, Tom!
I NEED TO CORRECT SOMETHING — and this is an embarrassing one. I told you last week about Bement School’s Fourth Grade Colonial Ball. It was held last Friday night in the Hall Tavern in Historic Deerfield, and from what I’ve been told, the kids had a great time. The students spent the last several months studying colonial America, and the ball was the traditional culmination of the school’s winter term. My great-nephew Thaddeus Conner of South Deerfield was at the ball. He’s in fourth grade this year, though I told you last week that he’d be attending next year. Where did that year go?
My sister Dorothy — Thaddeus’s grandmother — said all of the students arrived in their colonial outfits. The boys were dressed in suits and girls in colorful gowns. They were given instructions on how to ask someone to dance or accept the invitation. Parents, grandparents and teachers also got to dance with the students. After, lunch, provided by parents who made all sorts of dishes, was served in the dining room. After lunch, students went back to the ballroom to dance again before the event ended.
Glad you had a good time, Thaddeus!
THE THIRD ANNUAL DR. SEUSS CELEBRATION will happen on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Erving Senior and Community Center on Route 63 in Erving.
From 10:30 to 11:30, there will be a Green Eggs and Ham Brunch, and from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., there will be a free Dr. Seuss birthday party with a puppet show. The event and free and open to the public. For more information, call 413-423-3326, ext. 103 or email: urban@erving.com
LEVERETT HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND LEVERETT CEMETERY ASSOCIATION will present “History in Stone,” a slideshow by Dawn Marvin Ward. Family and local histories are preserved in special places throughout the county. Cemeteries are filled with local information and artwork and Dawn will share some of that with attendees. For more information, email: dawnmarvinward57@gmail.com
GREENFIELD COMMUNITY COLLEGE CHORUS will open its spring semester concert series on March 11 with a free preview concert of Music for Chorus, Strings and Piano. The performance will be held from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. in Sloan Theater on the main campus. Margery Heins will direct and there will be soloists. The chorus will be accompanied by Marilyn Berthelette.
COMMUNITY ACTION FAMILY CENTER and Mediation and Training Collaborative will offer a free 2-hour-long parent-Teen Communication and Empowerment Workshop on March 14 from 4:15 to 6:45 p.m. The workshop, which will help families increase their understand of conflicts and how to resolve them, will be held at 90 Federal St. Dinner will be provided at 4:15 p.m. and the workshop will begin at 4:45. Limited childcare and transportation assistance is available. For more information and to register, call 413-475-1555 or email: familycenter@communityaction.us
THE OUR LADY OF PEACE Women’s Group will hold another Stash Bash on April 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church on 7th Street in Turners Falls. It was such a huge success last year, they said they can’t wait to do it again.
Currently, they are looking for donations of fabric, sewing supplies, yarn, knitting patterns, beads, craft paint, rubber stamps, scrapbooking supplies, art supplies and more. Donations will be accepted until March 18.
For more information, or if you’d like to rent a table and sell your craft supplies, call Bev at 413-863-7783.
THE ANNUAL ORANGE-ATHOL LUNCHEON OF RESIDENTS LIVING IN FLORIDA was recently held at the Zephyrhills, Fla, Elks Club. About three dozen people attended. The group meets each year to have dinner and enjoy the company. I’m glad to hear the social event was a success again this year.
I’D LIKE TO SEND OUT A BIRTHDAY WISH to soon-to-be 90-year-old Dorothy Shippee, who grew up in Shelburne Falls. She has nine children, 28 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren with another due in May. Dorothy gets to the YMCA in Greenfield three days a week to exercise and socialize and still sends notes to all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren on their birthdays and Christmas. Have a great year, Dorothy!
GREENFIELD MILITARY BAND has its 2016 concert schedule. It will begin rehearsing in late March, and its first concert will be held in late April. The band will perform this year at Charlene Manor, Elm Terrace, Buckley HealthCare Center, Poet’s Seat Health Care Center, Beacon Field and the Energy Park. The band will also march in the Franklin County Fair Parade at during the fair. If you’d like more information about the band, visit: www.greenfieldmilitaryband.org
To contact Anita Fritz, features editor at The Recorder, send an email to: neighbors@recorder.com or afritz@recorder.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 276. Information you want included in Neighbors should be submitted by noon two days before you want it to run. Neighbors runs on Tuesday and Friday.
