From Harford Councilman Mike Perrone, Jr.:
Mike’s Musings — The Class of 2015
I suppose it is a generational thing. I heard it when I was in school, and over the course of time, I have to admit that I’ve been guilty of thinking it myself: the thought that today’s youth aren’t going to be able to fill the shoes and the institutions that they will be inheriting from today’s adults.
During the last few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk to many of the graduating seniors from Edgewood High School’s International Baccalaureate and Academy of Finance programs, and Joppatowne High School’s Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness program. The problems that these kids will face when their time comes to pull the levers of power in our society may well be more vexing than today’s problems, but I am much more confident now that they will be up to the challenge.
To the members of all of the Classes of 2015, I wish you all the very best of luck. Wherever you go and whatever you do, always remain mindful of history, for you will soon be the authors of it. I look forward to reading what you write!
Joppatowne High School’s Senior Award Ceremony was held on Thursday, May 28th. Here are some of the highlights:
– Over 50 various awards and scholarships were awarded to our senior class.
– Fifty percent (50%) of our seniors were recognized with these awards and scholarships.
– Over seventy percent (70%) of JHS’s Class of 2015 will be attending college, attending technical schools in the fall or will be joining the military. One of our graduates will be attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis.
Edge WoodStock
The Edge WoodStock planning committee has made the very difficult decision to not hold the event this year. Everyone involved knows this program is an extremely positive event which helps improve the image of our area; however with less than three months until the scheduled date, the committee felt there was not enough time put together the quality program Edgewood deserves.
Plans are being formed to have Edge Woodstock return in 2016 bigger and better than in previous years. Stay tuned for further information!
Joppatowne High School Football Fundraiser
In January 2015, Charles Johnson became the new varsity head football coach at Joppatowne High School. Coach Johnson graduated from JHS in 1983. He attended Harford Community College, where he became a Junior College All-American and received a scholarship to play football at the University of North Alabama.
Coach Johnson has been coaching youth rec football since 1991 and was the head JV coach at Edgewood High School in 2014. Coach Johnson and his staff are committed to teaching the game of football but also to mentoring the youth of our community. “Our coaches can supply the guidance and direction to our football players to make a difference in their lives. We have a new coaching staff that believes in building positive young men who will become productive in life by showing them the benefit of education, discipline, hard work and teamwork. Our staff will dedicate themselves to showing a belief in the person first and then the football player.”
As the new head coach of Joppatowne High School Football, Coach Johnson is trying to raise money for the program so it can purchase new equipment for the field and weight room. Please grab some friends and come out to Baldwin’s in Joppatowne on Saturday June 13th from 8-11 pm for a “bull roast” style fundraiser.
There are no tickets to buy or sell—Just show up! The program will ask for a $10 donation at the door. There will be some munchies, a DJ/ karaoke , a raffle, a silent auction and of course lots of fun! If you would like to contribute to the silent auction or just make a donation to the program, please contact Charles Johnson, by email at fbcoachjohnson@outlook.com or by phone at 410-371-9537.
Please invite your friends…the more the merrier. Our children deserve all we can do for them!
A Brief History of Flag Day
The Fourth of July is traditionally celebrated as America’s birthday, but the idea of an annual day celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as ‘Flag Birthday’. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as ‘Flag Birthday’, or ‘Flag Day’.
Following Cigrand’s lead, many local and state patriotic celebrations centering around the adoption of the American Flag occurred thought out the next 30 years. Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day – the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 – was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30, 1916.
While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson’s proclamation, it was not until August 3, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.
Spotlight’s on: The Anita C. Leight Estuary Center
The Anita C. Leight Estuary Center is the research and education facility of the Otter Point Creek component of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maryland. The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve – MD is part of a reserve system established by Congress in 1972 to protect estuarine areas as natural field laboratories for long-term research and monitoring. There are three components in the Maryland Reserve: Monie Bay, Jug Bay, and Otter Point Creek.
As one of the facilities of Harford County Department of Parks and Recreation, The Leight Estuary Center is dedicated to increasing appreciation and understanding of estuaries. Long-term studies provide insights into bay ecology and management. Education based on this research fosters public support of these vital estuarine ecosystems. The Estuary Center and surrounding park are open to the public and offer many opportunities to explore and learn about the Chesapeake Bay. The Leight Estuary Center is one of the few remaining large freshwater tidal marshes in the upper Chesapeake Bay accessible to the public.
Otter Point Creek is a shallow tributary located at the headwaters of the Bush River in southern Harford County, MD. The Otter Point Creek Component consists of two land areas (Leight Park and the Melvin G. Bosely Conservancy) connected by 261 acres of shallow open water. Leight Park is 93 forested acres owned by Harford County Parks and Recreation and is home to the Estuary Center. The Bosely Conservancy is 350 acres of tidal marsh and wooded wetlands owned by the Harford County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America.
The Otter Point Creek Alliance is the nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of the research, education and conservation goals of the Otter Point Creek Component of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maryland. Ways in which the Otter Point Creek Alliance supports the Reserve are by promoting environmental education of school children and the general public, offering volunteer opportunities, supporting research projects, sponsoring college internships, and promoting stewardship and conservation in the Reserve and surrounding area.
By becoming a member of the Otter Point Creek Alliance you support the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center and the Otter Point Creek Component. Through partnerships with Harford County and the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (CBNERR) public, private/group, and school (including home school) programs are offered. These program activities include things such as canoeing, kayaking, pontoon boating, crafts, hiking, education, animal encounters, and research.
To become a member or to renew your membership in the Otter Point Creek Alliance online, click here. To see what wonderful programs and educational opportunities are being offered at the Leight Center visit the Calendar of Events page.
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