No rest for the Messenger
…Well, with the Jacktown Fair, Rain Day and the Greene County Fair now behind us, I have been fortunate during these past few days to be able to catch my breath, collapse into my office chair and spend some time reflecting on the busy summer and contemplating about what lies ahead for the fall. And somewhere between thinking about the “past” and the “future,” it dawned on me that there was a whole heck of a lot of “present” piled up on my desk, waiting for me to wade through.
In particular, there were a large number of emails, letters and faxes that needed to be read and a high volume of phone calls that needed to be listened to. Most of the correspondence was from local residents and readers wanting me to know about upcoming events and announcements pertaining to recent engagements, birthdays, anniversaries and weddings. A few residents wanted to share with me some concerns that they feel are impacting the county, such as the closing of Perry Elementary School and issues regarding gas well sites such as safety, proper training and noise levels.
(NOTE: To those who called and left messages expressing these concerns, I thank you. Believe me, it is important for readers to let us know when newsworthy things happen and when they feel issues need to be publicly addressed, especially when a small staff like ours just simply cannot be everywhere at once.)
One reader asked me earlier this week why we didn’t have any information about the Perry School closing in last week’s edition, and the answer was simple: Because we were covering the fair, we weren’t able to cover the school board meeting that occurred mid-week. And due to our editorial deadlines, we didn’t have enough time to make phone calls, conduct interviews and find out what was going on so that we could put together a detailed story for last Friday’s edition.
We also decided that since we are getting ready to publish our annual “Back to School” series — in which the first installment will be on our front page in next week’s edition — we thought it would be an appropriate time to get as much info as we possibly can about the school closing, and ask representatives of the Central Greene School District a lot of questions…We won’t be afraid to ask the firm (but fair and objective) questions, and we expect to get some answers.
The “Back to School” series is also a must-read for parents and guardians of all local students because it breaks down all of the important information that pertains to the new school year, such as any changes in curriculum, classes and schedules, as well as improvements to school facilities, upgrades in technology, and much more. Each school district will be addressed, so the series will be essential reading for everyone, whether you’re a student, parent, teacher, school administrator or concerned taxpayer.
Be sure to check out the “Back to School” series, which starts in next week’s Messenger…
…Another item of interest that crossed my desk: I was informed that a surprise party was held earlier this month in honor of Mary Lewis, who recently retired from her position as Carmichaels Borough secretary.
Mary, who has served in one capacity or another with the borough since 1974, and who also serves as chief deputy coroner for the county, was honored by friends and family members with speeches, poems and songs at her party. She was also presented with a formal commendation from the Senate for her years of service.
To say Mary was a dedicated worker would be quite an understatement. A press release sent to me could not have said it any better: “She was devoted to her husband, the late Cumberland Township Police Chief Lewis, and remains devoted to the law enforcement community. Many local officers refer to her as ‘Mother Mary’ as she sees to their health, safety, and well-being. She always has an available chair at her dinner table and oversees the preparation of holiday meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas for officers who must be separated from their families on these important occasions.”
I have had the honor and privilege of knowing Mary and various members of her family since I started my career as a journalist in the mid-90s, and I can honestly tell you that there are very few people who I have met that are as compassionate, caring, sensitive, helpful and understanding as Mary. When I have called her to ask about details pertaining to a fatality, you could hear the heartbreak and sympathy in her voice – she cared about the victims and about their families, and was very respectful and compassionate, even as she remained professional and provided the facts. And she was very helpful to me as a writer over the years, educating me in the areas of being a coroner and borough secretary and always being patient with me when I asked dumb questions.
And what always impressed me the most was that no matter how much time went by between my phone calls or office visits to her, she always started the conversations by asking me how I was doing, and how my wife, family and job were doing, and she wanted to make sure that everything was okay in my life.
In every conversation I have ever had with her, she made me feel like a human being, like a family member or friend. If more people who worked in local or state positions were like her, I believe the world would be a much better — and nicer — place to live in.
So, here’s a round of applause to Mary for her many years of service, and being a friend and a “Mother Mary” to so many people during those years of service…
…One last thing: I have received quite a few tidbits as of late about the Humane Society of Greene County. First, I was informed that the shelter has recently received a few generous donations, including $25,000 from the county commissioner, $5,000 from Waynesburg Borough and over $400 from Greene County ABATE.
Money raised to help the non-profit shelter will be used for medical care for the many animals that are there, as well as for general operating expenses. Kudos to those organizations and individuals for donating to a worthwhile cause.
Also, the Humane Society informed me of a few upcoming fundraising events: The annual “Dog Gone Pool Party” will be held at Mon View Park Pool in Greensboro on Sunday, Sept. 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. The event will feature prizes and an award ceremony to include “Best Swimsuit” and “Best in Pool.” Dogs should be up-to-date on vaccinations and be on a leash. Admission by donation.
The shelter is also holding a Cash Bash fundraiser to benefit the Humane Society on Sunday, Sept. 25 from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Greene County Fairgrounds. Tickets are $20 each and are available for sale at the shelter. You don’t have to be present to win and you can win more than once. Food will be available.
For more info about these events, call the shelter at 724-627-9988…