For the Record – June 11, 2015
by Barbara Mastriania
Enthusiasm counts …
J. J. Michitsch is one of the most enthusiastic people I have met recently. A sophomore at Bucktail Area High School, J.J. recently represented Bucktail at a Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership conference in Shippensburg. His enthusiasm about the conference when I interviewed him Tuesday was as strong as it was when he returned to school after the conference, Bucktail o school counselor Sheri Gordon. “He was so pumped up, he just lit up,” she said.
Most students who attend the HOBY conferences return excited. While there they meet many other students from around the state. They engage in interesting debate on issues while getting to meet some legislators and getting an idea of days in the life of legislators.
Conference attendees also become more aware of their own talents. J.J. said he usually is not inclined to talk in class but expects that he will be more talkative in the future. He’s also learned that he has leadership and responsibility qualities. During a day in Harrisburg he and the group he was with saw work needed at a Salvation Army facility and a shelter facility, and they got to work pulling weeds, raking mulch, and cleaning walls and floors. When the work was difficult, J.J. came up with solutions to make it easier.
Gordon is hoping he will help her encourage students next year to want to attend a HOBY event. T O’Brian, an actor and sports enthusiast according to his internet biography, had many philanthropic efforts. His proudest achievement is the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY), which he founded in 1958 after spending considerable time with Dr. Albert Schweitzer and his clinic in Africa. Struck by the impassioned work being done by Schweitzer, O’Brian set up his own program to help develop young people into future leaders.
The conference was a very good experience for J.J., Gordon said. It encourages students to “spread their wings.”
Tourism draws …
Anyone who has any doubts this area can draw people here for short term visits should have been in the area last week. I don’t know about the rest of the county, but the western end of the county was full of excitement both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday it was the Cruise for a Cure a very popular 60 mile plus ATV tour through one of the most scenic areas of Pennsylvania. On Sunday it was the annual Dirty Dabbler dirt bike trek through the area. The motorcyclists – I heard there were more than 350 of them, as in years past, enjoy a spaghetti dinner at the Chapman Fire Hall while in the North Bend area.
It was just a very exciting weekend in this area and so good to see all that life and energy here.
No starving cats here …
Rumor has it, not a clue if it’s true, but I overheard a conversation about the trap, neuter and return program for cats, that there are no starving cats in Renovo because people do feed them. And that’s probably one reason the TNR program can work effectively. But, I’m also told that when the trapping part of the program is being done it’s important that people comply to requests not to feed the cats for that time period.
Christmas in July …
Rumor has it, not a clue if it’s true, that Christmas in July will be celebrated in Renovo July 25th.
