Coshocton County still a great place to call home
Ron Derewecki stands with the original 1962 projector at Coshocton High School’s planetarium.
COSHOCTON – This year has been filled with wonderful opportunities in Coshocton County that make this a great place to call home. With a variety of new businesses opening and ribbon-cutting ceremonies held throughout the year, it’s exciting to see people in Coshocton making a positive impact on their community.
Making an impact on your community comes in a variety of ways and doesn’t necessarily mean opening a new business or starting a new venture. Continuing long-held traditions as well as being open to positive change and new ideas is vital in keeping any small town community alive, and I believe that the people of Coshocton County have done a great job in that respect.
Over the past year, in conjunction with the chamber, we at the Beacon have started highlighting young professionals in our community. It has been a blessing and a privilege to get to talk with people in the community that I may have already known on a whole new level and learn something new about their lives, their families, and how they impact Coshocton County with the many projects and community organizations they are all a part of. Thank you all for taking the time to share what you love most about this community with us and I wish all of you the best in the coming year.
One of the things I love about working in Coshocton County is learning what people are passionate about and what makes them go above and beyond what is expected of them to do the impossible. That is exactly what Ron Derewecki did when he launched a project to remodel and eventually reopen the planetarium at Coshocton High School. To say that the planetarium is impressive is an understatement. With new state-of-the-art equipment made possible through generous community donations, the planetarium is a wonder that can be enjoyed by not only students at the high school, but the community. The planetarium has held various shows throughout 2018 and will hopefully continue its quality performances for many years to come. Thank you to all who donated and worked to make the new planetarium a huge success.
Tradition is important to any small town and nothing is more traditional than the annual Tiverton Institute, which celebrated its 116th annual program last year. Although it’s a long drive, I look forward to attending this event each year and have never left the program without learning something new about Coshocton County’s history. It’s amazing that people of all ages from all walks of life come together each year and continues the tradition of getting together with old friends and making new ones. The people who work tirelessly on this and many other annual events throughout the year are the kind of people who make this a wonderful community to live and work in.
A homecoming is special to any community and this past year, the small town of Bakersville celebrated its 70th annual homecoming. Sitting down at the Bakersville Community Park with Larry Stahl and John Ridenour to learn more about this historic homecoming was a pleasure. During the annual tractor pull, the original firefighters in the 1960 Bakersville Fire Department were recognized. It was an honor to talk with these brave men and learn the stories and memories of their time served. Thank you for serving the Bakersville area and for your willingness to respond to dangerous situations in the community. You deserve our respect.
I have never attended an honor flight luncheon until last November and I was amazed with the number of veterans and their families who came to the annual luncheon to look back on memories of their flight to Washington D.C. The honor flight is a life-changing organization that sends veterans to Washington D.C. to see the sites including war monuments and changing of the guard, among many others. Thirty veterans were able to fly last year with a guardian at no cost to the veteran. In its 11th year, the honor flight strives to give veterans an unforgettable experience in the nation’s capital while honoring them and recognizing them for their service. Many veterans say it is very emotional and is well worth the trip. Those who make the honor flight possible for our county’s veterans each year are amazing people who treat our nation’s heroes with the utmost respect and dignity. Thank you for making this trip possible for our veterans and thank you veterans for your service to our country.
While every small town in America has its problems, I believe that focusing only on the negative is not a way to bring about positive change. While we can’t bury our heads in the sand, we need to look at our problems in a positive light and try to be the solution, not sit with friends and complain about the negative aspects of this community. Instead of being negative, make 2019 your year to stand up and speak about the positives of Coshocton and be the change you wish to see.
Category: Opinion
