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Scout’s effort provides accessible fishing dock
VOLANT — Nearly two dozen men and women carried boards, hammered away at nails, drilled pilot holes for screws, set planks in place.
One even fished through the water to find dropped nails over a half-finished fishing pier outside Volant in September.
The work on the banks of Neshannock Creek is part of the development of a park in Springfield Township that will be comfortably accessible to any disabled person, particularly those who use wheelchairs.
Jack Grimm III, a student at Grove City High School, organized the construction for a project he has to complete in order to become an Eagle Scout.
“I wanted to do something worthwhile,” he said.
Other builders included Jack’s friends, family, fellow Scouts and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7465 in Springfield Township.
Although construction started in September, the idea developed over the summer when Jack’s troop was invited to plant trees in an area which the VFW is converting into a park.
Jack’s father, Jack Grimm II, said that got the Scouts involved and eventually led to Jack wanting to build the fishing pier.
Jack found a suitable site, came up with a plan for building it and recruited enough volunteer workers to get the job done.
Money to buy and transport materials was donated by local businesses and individuals.
The Grimms said that in order to help people get an idea of what the finished pier would look like, Jack built a scale model.
“We had to sell the idea,” Grimm said. “We took it to anybody who would listen, and once we had that model, that’s when things started to take off.”
“Once we had that model, it became something the average Joe could take part in,” he said.
Even after things had gotten under way, Jack and his father had to go back on the road asking for donations once they ran into unforeseen costs.
“We quickly learned some of the things we didn’t allow enough money for,” Grimm said. “There were delivery charges and materials, a lot of $25 incidentals that added up to hundreds of dollars.”
Grimm said they owe thanks to many people whose donations and encouragment were invaluable.
A plaque on the pier will thank all those who contributed to the project.
“It was fun but it was really time consuming,” Jack said about the construction work done over three consecutive Saturdays ending on Sept. 20.
“The first day we planted the telephone poles (that supported the pier over the water) in the ground and we put the stringers up,” he said. “The next day we did the substructure, and the day after that we put the decking on.”
He had to keep track of the hours that he and several other volunteers worked.
According to his records, he and dozens of volunteers logged more than 400 man hours.
It wasn’t Jack’s first experience with construction work.
“I’ve been working with my dad for a while,” he said.
His family has been building and adding on to the house they live in.
“Building a fishing pier, that is definitely new,” Jack said. It is awaiting final approval from local building inspectors.
“We’ll feel a lot better when the final inspection comes in the mail,” Grimm said, although he said the inspector called their home and told them everything was fine and that there was no reason why it wouldn’t be approved.
The pier is open to everyone but handicapped anglers will be given first preference.
Jack is a member of a Boy Scout Troop 71, which meets in the Leesburg Presbyterian Church, and has members from southeast Mercer county and the surrounding area.
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Jan Abernethy, a fifth-grade teacher at East Elementary School, was one of 75 teachers nationwide chosen to attend the Discovery Educator Network Summer Institute, which is held at a different location each year.
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Annual senior fair is Friday in Sharon
State Rep. Mark Longietti will hold his fourth annual free Senior and Health Education Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Sharon American Legion, 1395 E. State St., Sharon.
The fair will feature farmers market coupons, free health screenings, about 50 vendors, door prizes and free information and services.
For more information, call 724-981-4655. -
Dolata carves time for local fest
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But he always makes time for the arts festival in his back yard: the Hermitage Arts Festival, which runs this weekend at Rodney White Olympic Park.
“I like it,” said Dolata, who lives in Hermitage. “It’s a local festival. It’s a nice little festival.”
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Farmers market vouchers for seniors available
Mercer County Area Agency on Aging Inc. is again offering the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program to eligible Mercer County Seniors.
This program is made possible through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Distribution.
The purpose of this program is to encourage older adults to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables produced by local growers.
Eligible seniors can pick up vouchers at locations in Greenville, Grove City, Mercer, Sandy Lake/Stoneboro and the Shenango Valley . -
Victorian Weekend begins Friday evening
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The weekend begins with “A Victorian Concert” by the Mercer Community Band at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the bandstand on the east side of the county courthouse; the warmup concert starts at 6.
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Girl Scouting gold goes to RHS grad
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The Gold Award recognizes leadership, hard work and service to the community and for exemplifying the ideals of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Only five percent of Girl Scouts nationwide earn this recognition annually.
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Public invited to annual Farm Safety Day
Our annual Mercer County Farm Safety Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Leslie N. Firth Learning Center, home of Mercer County Cooperative Extension, and the adjacent 4-H Park, 483 N. Perry Highway, 1 1/2 miles north of Mercer in Coolspring Township.
Our staff, along with event sponsor, the Agricultural Health and Rural Safety Advisory Committee, invite you and your family to attend and actively participate in a full day of safety demonstrations and open dialog on an issue which affects us all. Our goals are to make rural residents more conscience of common hazards, risky behaviors, and cultural traditions which often contribute to farm and rural accidents.
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Urban League offers outdoor movie series
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The Shenango Valley Urban League is changing that this summer, with its “Films in the Square” series, to be held Friday nights at Veterans Square.
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Fourth of July activities
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Teaching with technology
