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August 9, 2010

Fellow airmen and ladies,

It was GREAT! The only regret, it went so fast. The 2010 reunion was hosted by John ( Bomber ) and Christina Urbank at their home in beautiful Rocky River, Ohio. Located only three blocks from Lake Erie, their beautiful home is shaded by several large trees, with an English flower garden in front. Debbie and I stopped at a couple parks along the lake on the way to their home to walk out on a pier and explore a beach area. We had been to Cleveland before, but if you miss Rocky River, you miss a lot of the area's beauty.

John and Christina went all out with a cookout Friday night and a barbeque Saturday evening. Pork Loin, potatoes, corn on the cob, assorted salads, deserts, what a feast. With all the work involved they brought in help. Daughter Janet Luru, grand daughters Gelien and Shirley Langford, and foreign exchange student Julia Mertens. Richard and Shelly Peach arrived a couple days early to give them a hand. Paul Kuzinski and Ron Novak pitched in to help man the grill. Thank you everyone for making 2010 a success.

Saturday afternoon the ladies departed for lunch and a tour of Cleveland on the Lolly the Trolley. They had a terrific time and a very nice lunch. The men were treated to a tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Everyone had a great time before returning to the Urbank's for dinner and party.

This year we had 16 men and 12 ladies attend. That ties the record and we did have one new person attend. Steve Seymour was there and promised to be back. Those in attendance were: Larry and Jeanne Bourque, Dean and Pat Burgstahler, Steve Gunderson ( This may be a first, ROCKY paid a visit to ROCKY ), John and Chris Hoover, Larry and Bernie Kuepper, Paul Kuzinski, Pops McPartland and son Patrick, Mike and Eileen Nissley, Ron and Bonnie Novak, Dick and Shelly Peach, Gary and Debbie Roberts, Steve Seymour, John and Christina Urbank, Dean and Martha Varner, Ray and Jane Zeigler, and Erv and Carolyn Zimmerman.

As usual, our WEBMASTER, Erv Zimmerman had pictures posted on http://bwbuds.org/ before we returned home. Erv and Carolyn had to leave early to attend a family wedding. If someone would send Erv the group and couples pictures taken after his departure, I am sure he will post them also. Erv, where would we be without you? You have one terrific site, on behalf of everyone, thank you very much.

As I announced Saturday night, Larry and Bernie Kuepper (The newly weds) have stepped forward to host reunion # 10 in Wisconsin. Since they each still own a house, I will just say in the Appleton, Wisconsin area. Exact location to be announced. They will be assisted by Co-HOST Steve Gunderson. They are looking at September 2011, but are open to suggestions. That was Saturday night. During breakfast Sunday morning, Mike and Eileen Nissley have committed for 2012. As always, this is a long way off and things happen, so things could change.

Again, for those that were there you know what a great time we had, for those absent, there is next year.

Gary

June 5, 2010

Hi Guys and Gals,

We are only 9 short weeks away from reunion #9. Several people have already committed and John and Christina Urbank are busy getting things ready. Here, again, is the information you need for reservations at the Holiday Inn. The reunion is August 6-9 in Rocky River, Ohio. The rooms are under the name Bentwaters Buds. Please, lets make all of John and Christina's hard work worth it, with our biggest attendance yet.

Gary

Hi Guys,

August is creeping up on us. Christina and I have been shopping for hotels. We have picked the Holiday Inn Westlake as the nicest and most reasonable. They are offering $84.00 +tax per night. It is located about 5 minutes from our house. It is right off of interstate 90 just two exits away. It has and indoor pool, restaurant and bar. Let us know who will be checking and we will get the contract set up. There is a three week automatic cut off before the date

Here is the address:: Holiday Inn Westlake
1100 Crocker Road
Westlake Ohio 44145
Tel 440-617-2361
Fax 440-871-7910
Our address is: 19490 Battersea Blvd.
Rocky River
Ohio 44116

Best Regards,
John and Christina

January 11, 2010

Buds,

Happy New Year to all. Here's hoping 2010 is a good one. Christina and I would like to make the date for the reunion the 7th of August. I guess it should be actually the 6th thru the 8th of August to be correct. We hope this date will work for everyone.

Best Regards,
John and Christina

January 11, 2010

Buds,

Happy New Year to everyone. This is the information we have been waiting for!

I am sure John and Christina will have more information coming such as Motels, etc. but we have a date set. From the E-mails and phone calls I have received I know people needed to schedule time off from work and family vacations. For those flying into Cleveland it is also cheaper to get tickets well in advance. I hope to have the biggest group yet. We had two new guys last year and I am still pushing for Petrosky and Levine, whom have both showed interest. Remember, John and Christina live in Rocky River, Ohio which is outside of Cleveland. I hope everyone has a great 2010, Debbie and I are looking forward to seeing everyone.

Gary

August 24, 2009

Buds,

For all that were there, you know what a great time we had. For those that were not, there is next year.

This year's reunion in Greene, NY at the home of Larry and Jeanne Bourque, co-hosted by Dean and Pat Burgstahler. Dean and Pat arrived a couple days early to help Larry and Jeanne prepare for the event held in a beautiful, seven acre country setting. Friday evening we had a deer walk through the yard while we were there. Larry and Jeanne also called in reinforcements in the form of their daughters Sheri and Rhonda and son in law David. A big thank you to all seven that were involved in pulling this off.

Two weeks ago we were worried about a light attendance, but several surprises pushed the attendance to 27. Those in attendance were: Larry and Jeanne Bourque, Dean and Pat Burgstahler, John and Chris Hoover, Rick Jacobsen ( Jake ), Larry Kuepper and lady friend Bernie Breight, Rick and Brenda Lawrence, Mike Nissley, Ron and Bonnie Novak, Dick and Shelley Peach, Lewis and Janet Poley, Gary and Debbie Roberts, John ( Bomber ) and Christina Urbank, Dean and Martha Varner, Jane Zeigler, and Erv and Carolyn Zimmerman. A big thanks to our WEBMASTER, Erv Zimmerman, for our great web site where he has already posted pictures from this years reunion:.

The initial gathering was Friday evening for dinner and getting reacquainted. We were then back Saturday morning for more friendship. For Jake and Dean Varner, this was the first time they had seen the guys in 40 years. The ladies departed at 1100 for a trip to Cooperstown where a lunch and site seeing was planned. They had a buffet lunch at the beautiful OTESAGA RESORT in Cooperstown. The Airmen were treated to a tour of a Classic Car Museum in Norwich, NY. We all returned to the Bourque's for more refreshments and dinner. If you went away hungry it was your own fault.

There was picture taking and exchanging of gifts. Many of the ladies have put together crafts and other tokens of friendship for everyone. Paul and Barb Kuzinski were not able to attend, but contributed to the event. Paul called, but our location caused the call to be dropped three times. Paul and Barb had sent shirts to distribute to everyone. Thank you Paul and Barb. I came away with shirts, hats, coffee cups, pens, paper weights, friendship flag pins, magnets, stickers, etc. A big thank you to everyone for the gifts.

A side note: Just to show the friendships that have been built, Jane Zeigler attended without Ray. As many of you may know, the plant where Ray works suffered an explosion over a year ago. They are just now starting to get back to normal operations and Ray is a big part in getting it back to normal. Thus, he was unable to attend. Jane was visiting relatives about 5 hours from Greene and decided to attend to see her many Bentwaters Friends. Thank you Jane and next year I am sure Ray will be able to attend also.Guys, I think we need to watch this as some of the ladies were talking of continuing the reunions without us.

Speaking of next year, as I said last year, WE AREN'T DONE YET. Bomber and Christine Urbank have agreed to host next year in Rocky River, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland. We are already looking forward to a good time there. Saturday night I was approached by another airman who told me the he and his wife are in the planning stages as possible host. We won't release the name yet, but it's great to see this grow and so many people take part.

As Jim Tiller said, " Keep finding more Buds. "

Gary Roberts

August 14, 2009

Buds,

The 2009 Buds Reunion is fast approaching. I thought I would send a little information on things you may or may not see at or on the way to this years reunion courtesy of the hills in NY.

There are deer all over the hill out here. They come into our yard to eat apples (and some of our shrubs). We have had beaver in our pond from time to time. There is a groundhog living across the street. Turkey wander through the yard and fields in the area. An occasional rabbit or two drop buy to also see what we may have planted that they can munch on.

We have various types of birds around here. We have the common blackbirds, crows, starlings, robins, blue jays etc, There are a number of red-winged blackbirds that come around in the morning and evening. We also have various types of hawks and a couple types of eagle including bald eagles. Turkey vultures can also be seen soaring the skies overhead. We have bluebirds (NY state bird) and a number of woodpecker varieties. Northern Flicker is a wood pecker that spends a lot of its time on the ground eating ants & small insects. It has a red heart shape marking on the back of its head. We have some cardinals living in our hedges along with other birds. Blue heron stop by the pond with mallard ducks and Canadian geese. Hummingbirds zip in & out for a drink. There are just to many different birds to name them all.

Within a half mile of here there is a farm that has a camel, alpaca's, and floppy eared goats. At the top of the hill on the main road is a riding stable/horse farm.

Larry Bourque