Damascus students act as supervisors for a day

By TOM KANE

DAMASCUS, PA - Four eighth-grade students from the Damascus Elementary School spent a day “shadowing” the Damascus Township supervisors, learning how municipal governments work on April 20. This was the eighth year of the program.

In the evening, the students took an active part in holding the monthly public meeting before the public. One student, Kathryn Figura, played the role of the township supervisor, Jeff Dexter, in conducting the meeting.

The other students were Megan Boyer, Jared Fasshauer and Bubby Lacey.

“We showed the students three important aspects of the township-cows, stone and lumber,” Dexter said. They visited the Calkins Creek Creamery where local cows’ milk is used in the production of cheese. Next, they visited the Bedrock Quarry on Oregon Turnpike where stone is mined into gravel and, finally, they visited Canfield Logging Company to see how trees are transformed into lumber.

“Our teacher asked if we wanted to volunteer for the program since we are honor students and wouldn’t be hurt by missing class,” Figura said.

“It was fun even though it was snowing for a while,” Lacey said.

“We think that the students get a lot out of seeing how governments work and we hope this program continues,” said Maralyn Nalesnik, school principal.