Hebron Crossroads
by Jeff Gill

4-H is celebrating a centennial this year in Ohio! One hundred years ago the first 4-H club was organized by a county extension agent, and 4-H has been going strong ever since.

Prime Producers 4-H club is one of many in Licking County, but one of the most active here in Union Township. Of course, you can see all of the 4-H clubs in action at the Hartford Fair August 3 - 10, including all the specialty clubs that focus on foods and cooking, horsemanship, tractors, or making clothes.

There is a great family feeling in the general purpose clubs like Prime Producers, which is led by Martha and Dave Cable. Their 30 some members do everything from livestock judging to presentations on subjects from photography to gardening to health and safety. Aaron Dunkle and Tracy Wildermuth have gone to the state fair with their poster presentations in these areas and won awards. David Cable has shown animals at the state fair, as well as others from Prime Producers, and many will be going this year to see the new giant OHIO at the gate of the fairgrounds.

4-H meetings are run by the youth, and at their first meeting of 2002 they elected new officers.

President is now Drew Cable, with Zach Lohrman as vice-president and Whitney Mason, secretary. Taylor Besch is the treasurer, Jake Cormican serving as news reporter, and returning as health officer is Tracy Wildermuth. The safety officer will be Joey Cormican, and the highly coveted office of recreation officer went to past-president David Cable!

Prime Producers meets the fourth Sunday of the month at 6 pm in the Hebron Christian Church basement. They’ll meet more often as we get closer to the Hartford Fair.


Also, congratulations to our area Girl Scouts on their organization's birthday: you can always tell when it is because that's when they usually start delivering the cookies . . . yay! Thanks to leaders like Ruthanne Dougherty, Teresa Gilbert, and Kris Yost for all their work on this major task that funds most of their activities in the Heart of Ohio Girl Scout Council.


And while we're covering youth activities in depth, remember that the various youth baseball organizations are having sign-ups right about now. George Braden has had some health problems which are improving (Amen!), but he and Ethel still are working hard on Buckeye Lake Youth Association T-ball leagues, for 5 through 7 year olds. March 9 at Ryan Park is the next registration day from 1 to 3 pm. Birth certificates are required; for more info, call George or Ethel at 928-8096 or Tim Ballard at 928-8688.
Also, Lakewood Youth Baseball signups will be held March 9 and 16 from 9 am to 3 pm in the Lakewood Intermediate cafeteria; birth certificates are required for all, from t-ball up through "minor" leagues.


Finally, Lakewood Intermediate was host to a great Blue and Gold banquet for Cub Scout Pack 33. I really enjoyed getting to see the young men "crossover" with their Arrow of Light award from Webelos to Boy Scouts, and the Order of the Arrow dance team did a spectacular job, even getting the audience, from Cubmaster Doug Hohl to Unit Commissioner Minnie Hester, to join in the big "pow wow" dance (Paul Hester and I have a ways to go in the dancing department). Tim Rice, the former Kaniengahaga chapter chief of the OA in Licking County, B.J. Humphries the drummer/narrator, and chapter adviser Mark Rhodes all do a great job with the dance team, and add to the drama and excitement of many Pack and Troop events all over the county.

Our youth in the Lakewood area truly benefit from all these organizations that exist to serve their growth and guidance. Thank a leader sometime soon, would you?

Oh, and don’t forget that we’re in the middle of the proficiency test period for 4th and 6th graders! A kind word and an encouraging smile will go a long way for teachers and pupils, and a good breakfast wouldn’t hurt, either . . .

--

Jeff Gill is pastor of Hebron Christian Church and active in a few youth-serving organizations himself; if you'd like to let him know about an event or activity for youth, senior citizens, or anyone else, call 928-4066 or e-mail him at disciple@voyager.net.