August 1, 2013
Sprucing up: Students perform landscaping at Sandyvale
kurban@tribdem.com
The Tribune-Democrat
Thu Aug 01, 2013, 11:37 PM EDT
JOHNSTOWN —
Middle school students were busy getting their hands dirty on Thursday for a good cause.
Eighty youth and advisers from the Youth Conference Ministries – The Great Escape were at Sandyvale Memorial Gardens in Hornerstown to offer their services by doing landscaping projects.
YCM worked at Sandyvale last summer and returned again this year as part of its ministry of community service.
Students from the congregations of six churches from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania have been spending the week in town participating in various activities and staying at Pitt-Johnstown.
“There is always something to do here, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to work with these young people,” said Diana Kabo, secretary for Sandyvale Memorial Gardens. “They did such a great job last year and we’re happy to have them back, so it’s a win-win for everybody.”
The students were placed in groups with some doing weeding and mulching work throughout the site and others widening and edging the red and yellow twig dogwood shrub areas along the river wall.
As in the students’ previous visit, Sandyvale scheduled a short Hometown Roots, Stories of the Laurel Highlands educational and historical presentation to launch the work session.
The story was presented by Barbara Zabrowski, who spoke about the network of abolitionists who operated in the Johnstown area for the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. She also spoke about Sandyvale’s recent designation from the National Park Service as part of the Network to Freedom.
Darius Goettler, 12, is participating in the conference for the second year.
“We’re here helping Jesus by working in nature,” said the resident of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County. “I enjoy the activities we do and the worship and songs. I love to be involved.”
The conference wraps up on Saturday.
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