Tuesday, June 10, 2003

Hebron Crossroads 6-15-03
By Jeff Gill

Time for our biannual traffic report at the Hebron Crossroads: traffic will be heavy all this weekend across US 40, with tie-ups and back-ups right through Rt. 37 to the east and Kirkersville to the west, centering on National Trail Raceway for the Pontiac Nationals.

The staff at Lancer’s Inn has refilled all the napkin holders and salt shakers, the stores have filled their shelves, especially with potable beverages, and volunteers all across the Lakewood area are getting out their earplugs and sunblock (35, natch).

It isn’t often that ESPN and over 100,000 friends drop by in the Hebron area, and everyone from churches to package stores have signs up to say "Welcome Race Fans!"

NHRA and Jim Layton have much to roar about as this world-class event comes to town, and so many sports teams, band boosters, and civic organizations benefit from helping out with concessions, parking, and tickets. If you’re lucky enough to be attending, keep a friendly eye open for someone you know behind the counter or at the turnstile. . .we’re everywhere!


And at the same time, many from the Lakewood area will be up at Camp Falling Rock through this weekend with Cub Day Camp. Around 250 Cubs, along with unit leaders and parents will be served by a staff of dozens of whom many are from the Lakewood area, with Hebron’s Sharon Scheidegger as one of the co-directors. We pray for good weather for both events, that are each high octane in their own way. . .

Speaking of Lakewood pride, last weekend’s commencement exercises at the high school were moving and exciting in a number of ways. Molly Morgan, the valedictorian, snuck in two addresses, and we’re all glad she did.

After a more traditional speech, followed by salutatorian Rene’ White and a senior choir ensemble, Molly slung a six-string over her mortar board and robe to sing a song she wrote for the occasion. It was ready for heavy rotation on the top 40 playlist in this hearer’s opinion, and if she’s copyrighted the words maybe she’ll send them to disciple@voyager.net so I can publish them here for you, but trust me: it was a very, very good song.

And she sang it well, too. I hope Kathy & Jim’s video came out well with good sound quality, because I’ll guess there was a little vision blurring during that performance.


Anyhow, with graduation trails leading on down the road to the future, and National Trail roaring over the fields this weekend, it’s also time to look forward to looking back.

By which cryptic statement I mean the "Path To Statehood" wagon train, passing through Licking County from east to west June 30 to July 3.
Lakewood High School will be the stop for dozens of mule-drawn wagons and hundreds of participants (both re-enactors and paying "guests") the evening of July 1. A local contingent of area churches will feed the wagoneers dinner and breakfast the next morning,, and from 6:30 to 8:30 pm there across from the Buckeye Scenic Railway station on the National Road, you can come visit the wagons, pet the mules, and watch or join in with square dancers from the Buckeye Lake Historical Society or Indian dancers from the Boy Scouts Order of the Arrow dance team.

The next morning, the "Path to Statehood" will pause at the Hebron Mill, where Brezina Construction and Design will host a stop at 10 am. After some brief ceremonies there at the mill, the wagon train will head off to a lunch stop at Pigeon Roost Farm, where the Jutte’s have a full agenda of activities for all ages planned (and then they get to feed ‘em!).

That night the caravan will overnight at Watkins Memorial will support from the Kirkersville and Pataskala area.

As you can see, there are many different days and times you can catch a glimpse or get involved with this unique tribute to Ohio’s bicentennial. Make sure to mark some or all of this on your calendar now!

And many thanks to Kim Halter and Jody Schoop of Hebron, Charla Devine for the Hebron Historical Society and Donna Braig for the Greater Buckeye Lake Historical Society, and to Hebron Christian Church, Jacksontown United Methodist Church, and the United Methodist Church of Hebron for their involvement and support in feeding these historic multitudes.

They’ll be rolling through the Hebron Crossroads very soon. . .


Jeff Gill is pastor of Hebron Christian Church and a local historian and archaeologist; if you have news to help make history come alive today or information of general interest, call 928-4066 or e-mail disciple@voyager.net.
Hebron Crossroads 6-09-03
by Jeff Gill

Pomp, circumstance, honors and congratulations to the Lakewood High School Class of 2003!

At commencement this Sunday, valedictorian Molly Morgan and salutatorian Rene' White will lead their fellow graduates across the platform to receive their diplomas and head out into the world with the love and and thumbprints of their entire family on them.

This is the first major goal achieved in the adult lives of these young folks, and while they have many more ahead of them, give them your heartiest congratulations on reaching it.

With plenty of speeches on the agenda, I know the '03 gang doesn't need more exhortations to "walk boldly on into the future," but a little advice does seem in order (even if it's not absolutely necessary).

First, avoid debt like the plague. Not the coughing, sneezy plague, but the gross, horrible, "makes everyone avoid you like the plague" plague.
The average college grad right now is starting their job search with over $18,000 in student loan debt and $2,000 in credit card debt. The subtle burden (you know the obvious burden here, right?) is that with a $350 or more monthly obligation at the top of your budget, you start looking for the right salary more than the right job, and can begin painting yourself into a box from day one.

There are precious few things that if you don't buy them in your early 20's you'll regret all your life. Save, give, and spend, in that order.

Second, right on the heels of "what not to buy", take advantage of the opportunities you have now, whether to travel, learn a skill, take another class, listen to a concert or speaker out of the ordinary. Because the same idea applies: you will not in future years ever wonder why you didn't go to one more party, or see more movies when you were just out of high school. You will, on the other hand, have occasion to wish you'd picked up one more skill, tried one more possibility, or polished one more talent when time and family and other obligations rested more lightly on your head.
And thirdly, never forget that it's never too late. For a fresh start, for a new beginning, for renewed relationships, for deciding on a better direction. And there are more people than you know ready to help you along the way, if you let them.

Godspeed!

For a younger age group (although many of our grads are helping out as teachers and aides) we have quite a few local Vacation Bible School programs. From the first week out of school to the end of summer, area churches offer weeks and weekends of special activities and programs. We'll print further info as it comes in, but here's what we know right now around the Hebron Crossroads:

Heath Church of Christ; June 9 to 13; 6:00 to 8:30 pm;
"Treasures of the Nile"; age 2 to 6th grade.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel; June 16 to 20; 9 am to Noon & Friday closing program at Noon; "Seaside With The Savior"; age 4 to 6th grade.

Licking Baptist Church; June 16 to 20; 6:30 to 9:00 pm; nursery to adult.

Jacksontown UMC; June 23 to 27; 6:00 to 8:30 pm; "SCUBA!" age 3 to 8th grade.

Hebron Community VBS at Hebron Christian w/ Hebron UMC;
Story & Song Camp July 21 to 24; 6:30 to 8 pm; pre-K to 5th grade, leading into "Marketplace 29 AD" July 25, 6:30 to 8 pm; July 26, 9 am to 4 pm.

Hebron Church of the Nazarene; July 28 to Aug. 1; times and ages TBA.

And don't forget that the Hebron Library has started their Summer Reading Program, with special programs planned all through the summer. Stop by for more info, and we'll share particular events here as they come up. It's going to be a great summer around the Hebron Crossroads!

Jeff Gill is pastor of Hebron Christian Church and a summer camp creature; if you have VBS, camp, or even just picnic news to share, call 928-4066 or e-mail disciple@voyager.net.