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Local D-Day veteran says best memories are humorous ones

Paul Strevy, of Huntington, holds a framed collection of the medals he received as a result of his service in the United States Army during World War II. He was stationed in Great Britain, France, Belgium and Germany.
Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

Not even out of his teens, Paul “Gene” Strevy found himself in the middle of World War II. But even in the midst of war, his best memories are of some of the more humorous moments he found himself in while serving three years in the U.S. Army.

Now 94, Strevy, a native of Andrews, remembers vividly his time – with a bit of perceived fondness – for the more humanistic duties he performed, once he got out of boot camp after he was drafted to serve. It was 1943 and he was 18 at the time.

Strevy says his main job in the army was a “sailjer.”

ROCK grandparents finding support with new group

ROCK leaders Dr. Carla MacDonald (left) and Liz Godts show one of the resource materials used in the ROCK (Raising Our Children’s Kids) support group, which meets every other Wednesday at Trinity United Methodist Church, in Huntington. The group is open to anyone who has found themselves in the position of raising their grandchildren.
Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

Older adults who find themselves suddenly the caretakers of their children’s children are finding support for the unique trials, tribulations and joy as a second-time-around parent.

It’s called “ROCK – Raising Our Children’s Kids” – a free, secular program for grandparents who have custody of their grandchildren, meeting on Wednesday evenings at Trinity United Methodist Church, in Huntington. There, they can meet up with others who share the same situation and glean from the mistakes and successes of their peers.

Huntington House program gets grant to help fight homelessness

Rosella Stouder (left) and Dawn Zahm-Wilson coordinate and administer the Rapid Rehousing & Homeless Prevention Program (RRHP), which recently received additional funding to continue helping Huntington County residents from becoming homeless. The program is under the umbrella of Community and Family Services.
Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

A resource to Huntington County residents in danger of losing their homes is back up and running, after it got a shot in the arm in the form of grant funding to help prevent homelessness.

The Rapid Rehousing & Homeless Prevention Program (RRHP) is a program of Huntington House and jointly administered under the umbrella of Community and Family Services.

Heritage Pointe resident recycles, repurposes greeting cards as part of her mission in life

Heritage Pointe of Huntington resident Doris Kline stands next to the greeting card rack that is displayed outside her apartment door on Thursday, Oct. 3, holding a variety of cards she has made from repurposing previously used cards. The cards are free to Kline’s fellow residents.
Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

Anyone needing a greeting card can stop by Doris Kline’s rooms at the Heritage Pointe of Huntington and pick one up, no charge.

There’s a rack outside her apartment door, and even more tucked away in the drawers of her workshop area.

Trio of Huntington North cheerleaders gain elite entry to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NY

Huntington North High School varsity cheerleaders (from left) Dylinn Hertel, Lauryne Pearson and Arianna Betterly are headed to New York City this November to march and cheer in the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The three juniors each tried out individually for the opportunity to join the All American Cheerleaders in this year’s parade. The trio will be the only high school cheerleaders from Indiana to appear at the event.
Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

Three Huntington North High School varsity cheerleaders are not only going to represent their school in a nationally televised parade this fall, but they will have the distinction of being the only high school cheerleaders from Indiana to appear at the event.

Arianna Betterly, Dylinn Hertel and Lauryne Pearson, all HNHS juniors, were selected to march and cheer in the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, held in New York City on Nov. 28.

Elmore steps back in time to hopefully launch future career

Huntington native Stuart Elmore (right) directs actors Neil O’Callaghan (left) and Kristi Alsip during production on “West Park,” a short film, on Thursday, Aug. 29, at West Park Skate Center, in Huntington. The film was shot over the course of four days at the skate center. In addition to Elmore, a student at Columbia College Chicago, the film’s team included Jack Pickard, Paige Grable and Alex Underwood, all of whom are also from Huntington.
Photo by Steve Clark.

Stuart Elmore used to work at West Park Skate Center.

From middle school through high school, he was an employee at the venerable Huntington roller rink, which his family owns.

Now 23, Elmore recently turned back the clock and worked at the skate center once more.

Only this time, he wasn’t handing out skates or selling concessions.

This time, he was calling the shots on a short film – one that he hopes will launch his career as a director.

HNHS student hoping to make difference with comic-strip flyers

Jaq Webb, of Huntington, a junior at Huntington North High School, holds the comic-strip style flyer he created providing several resources and suggestions for those interested in celebrating peace and taking care of the Earth’s environment. The flyer is available in both English and Spanish.
Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

A Huntington North High School student hopes he can use his art to influence people and help bring change to a world in which peace is at a premium.

Jaq Webb, a 17-year-old HNHS junior, has created a comic-strip style poster and flyer to educate and provide resources about the United Nations’ International Day of Peace, recycling, taking care of the environment and writing to representatives in Congress, among others. And Webb, who is a Spanish student, has created the infographic poster in both English and Spanish.

Joy ride in Ford Model A finally comes to end for Andrews couple

With their 1930 Ford Model A dubbed “Abigail” in the background, Sharon and Tom Laupp, of Andrews, show the map of the United States that has been filled in, after they completed visiting the final few states this summer of the 48 states they’ve traveled in their vintage auto. The states they completed culminated in them visiting the famous “Four Corners” of the U.S., comprised of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
Photo provided.

A joy ride in an antique automobile reached a milestone this summer for Andrews residents Tom and Sharon Laupp after they logged the final states visited to complete the map of the 48 contiguous continental states in the United States.

It took a number of years – starting in 1996 after the couple first obtained their 1930 Ford Model A they nicknamed “Abigail” – but more than 20 years later they found themselves standing in the famous “Four Corners” of the U.S. and crossed the final four states off their bucket list.

Pathfinder Toasts the Arts with Meraki event Thursday at winery

Pathfinder Services Creative Abilities artist Reed Pickard gets a kick out of lending his creativity to painting a 2019 BMW i3 “Art Car” in preparation for the Meraki: Toast to the Arts event on Thursday, Aug. 29, at Two-EE’s Winery, in Roanoke.
Photo provided.

The community is invited to turn out to support the arts in a very special way, when the Pathfinder Services’ 2019 Meraki: Toast to the Arts event opens its doors on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.

The event, held for its second year, will be at Two-EE’s Winery, in Roanoke.

The evening features a concert by Indianapolis-area singer/songwriter Jennie DeVoe and her band that gets underway at 7:30 p.m. DeVoe’s music style is described as a unique blend of Americana-soul-roots and jazzy blues.

Birthday party for dog at humane shelter a chance for her to ‘give back’ in a way

Lilly Anne, a rescued Cocker spaniel, will have a party on Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Huntington County Humane Shelter from noon to 2 p.m. to celebrate not only her first birthday, but also her recovery from having a serious illness that required thousands of dollars in treatment.
Photo provided.

When little Lilly Anne turns 1, she’ll get a big birthday party bash, not just to celebrate her first year, but to celebrate her recovery from a serious illness. Everyone is invited.

Lilly Anne, a rescued Cocker spaniel, has been the unfortunate definition of a sick puppy, after her first owners surrendered her to the rescue at only 4 months old, when they brought her to a veterinarian for her puppy shots.

Crochet ladies’ ministry a labor of love

Members of the Angel Hugs Ministry of First Freewill Baptist Church, in Huntington, hold up crocheted items they have created to donate to cancer patients. Pictured are (from left) Deb Spencer, Dawn Mitcham and Brenda Paynter. The group seeks referrals of those they can provide with their handiwork.
Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

A group of ladies at First Freewill Baptist Church get a big kick out of being called “hookers for the Lord.” But, indeed, with hooks in hand – crochet hooks, that is – the women of Angel Hugs Ministry have created hundreds of handmade items to bless those who are battling cancer and other serious ailments.

The group, which started with Deb Spencer in October of 2009, has met every Monday evening for a couple of hours to work on making colorful prayer shawls, afghans, lapghans, baby blankets and chemo hats, with every item becoming a donation to someone with a need.

Preschool youth at Parkview Huntington ‘Y’ eating veggies because they’re raising them


Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

What’s got the preschool youth at the Parkview Huntington Family YMCA all excited about eating their veggies?

On any given day a child may be seen clutching a radish, or a green pepper or even some broccoli that they take home with pride.

That pride comes from having had a hand in raising the vegetables, thanks to a program partnership between the Y and the Purdue Extension, using grant funds to build a raised garden container in the playground yard.

PHH helping children improve while having fun with high-tech center

Luke Hall (right) has fun as he prepares to exit the Parkview Huntington Hospital’s new pediatric therapy gym, as his therapist, Hannah Koeneman, keeps watch on his progress and encourages him to exercise his muscles.
Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

Luke Hall thinks he’s going to the hospital to play on the cool playground-type equipment they have there. But his therapist knows he’s actually getting a workout.

The 5-year-old, who has been diagnosed with developmental delays, looks forward to his sessions at the new Parkview Huntington Hospital Pediatric Therapy rooms, located in the recently opened Holly D. Sale Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. When he sees the gigantic rainbow mural on the wall outside the gym’s doors, he makes sure to high-five all the colors before bounding inside to start some serious play.