Getz, Maguire Family Honored by PA WILDS

The Maguire Family, Shirley in front holding the Champion of the PA Wilds award and from left behind her: Robert Heverly, Shirley’s son Bobby Maguire, daughter Markay Conner, son Jim Maguire and his wife Lori.  Unable to attend Thursday night’s awards dinner were James H. “Jim” Maguire, Jim and Shirley’s daughter Becky Charles, and sons Roy Timblin and Jeff Maguire.
The Maguire Family, Shirley in front holding the Champion of the PA Wilds award and from left behind her: Robert Heverly, Shirley’s son Bobby Maguire, daughter Markay Conner, son Jim Maguire and his wife Lori. Unable to attend Thursday night’s awards dinner were James H. “Jim” Maguire, Jim and Shirley’s daughter Becky Charles, and sons Roy Timblin and Jeff Maguire.

ST. MARYS — The Jim Maguire family and local artisan Steve Getz were among eleven residents, business owners, and organizations from across the Pennsylvania Wilds region recognized last night with awards for their contributions helping grow the region’s nature and heritage tourism industry.

The PA Wilds Champion Awards are given out annually as part of the PA Wilds Conservation Landscape movement; this year’s winners were recognized at a dinner in St. Marys last night.

From logger and land developer, to restaurant owner and operator, to volunteers, the Maguire family has made a significant mark on the region, one that is founded on their love of the natural resources and sense of community that make up the Pennsylvania Wilds.


In accepting the award for the Maguire family, son Jim Maguire thanked his parents, Jim and Shirley Maguire:  “I want to thank Mom and Dad, our family, friends and employees, because it takes all of them to make it happen.  Our roots go fairly deep — our family showed up in the Commonwealth in 1742.  Many times when we visit areas like Harrisburg and Philadelphia, you wake up and look out the window and all you see is townhouses, and you think, those people don’t have any firewood to cut or any grass to mow.  That’s when you know that we’re living the dream here.  We thank you for this recognition.”

Award recipient Steve Getz, center, and, from left: Clinton County Commissioner Paul Conklin, Clinton County Arts Council member Rich Wykoff, Getz, Ta Brant Enos, Executive Director of The PA Wilds Center, and Clinton Commissioner Pete Smeltz.
Award recipient Steve Getz, center, and, from left: Clinton County Commissioner Paul Conklin, Clinton County Arts Council member Rich Wykoff, Getz, Ta Brant Enos, Executive Director of The PA Wilds Center, and Clinton Commissioner Pete Smeltz.

Getz is an accomplished artist, designer and arts advocate who has championed arts efforts at the local and regional level, including working on behalf of the PA Wilds.
He said he has been “blessed” to live his dream. “It is truly an honor to be named Artisan of the Year.  Working as an artist has been my lifelong dream and I realize how blessed I have been to actually live my dream.  It’s an honor because I believe so deeply in the mission of this (PA Wilds) program.  I label it as Enviro-economics where business and nature not only co-exist but actually thrive.  Many thanks to Ta Enos (Executive Director of The PA Wilds Center) and Meredith Hill (PA Wilds Director, DCNR) for their leadership and vision over the years.  It proves once again that with the right mix of people, you can accomplish almost anything.”
 

An accomplished painter and designer whose work has earned many recognitions and appeared in galleries, museums and other collections, Getz is probably best known among the Wilds network as one of the faces of the Station Gallery, which he and others on the Clinton County Arts Council transformed from an abandoned train depot to a stunning gallery that hosts thoughtful – and very well attended — art shows throughout the year. He has also been instrumental in organizing arts events and festivals, such as Clinton County Arts Council’s Harvest Days and the upcoming Lock Haven JAMS festival in August.

Both award recipients received congratulatory citations from U.S. Congressman Glenn Thompson, State Sen. Joe Scarnati, and State Rep. Mike Hanna.

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