Published Sunday, December 15, 2002
at buffet dinner
By Erin Palko
Herald Staff Writer
For Clark and South Pymatuning Township residents and the volunteers who helped them recover from last month's destructive tornado, Saturday was a time of fun and relaxation after weeks of rebuilding and recovery.
Clark sponsored a buffet dinner at its fire department social hall, where residents mingled with their neighbors and volunteers who assisted in the clean-up.
Volunteer firefighters, police, medical personnel and elected officials -- including State Sen. Robert D. "Bob" Robbins and state Rep. Mike Gruitza -- were among those who stopped by. Gruitza told everybody it was team work that helped get them through the ordeal.
"That's the kind of thing that makes a community a good community. I saw the same kind of thing in '85 (when a tornado hit Wheatland)," Gruitza said, adding that he and Robbins are keeping their fingers crossed that the borough will get some money from the state for disaster relief.
Clark Mayor Doug Bradley has applied for two state Department of Community and Economic Development grants -- one for $30,000 and one for $100,000 -- and hopes to hear about their status by the end of the month.
The dinner gave the volunteers a chance eat with the families they helped after the storm.
After the tornado hit, Clark resident Sally Ursta made a big pot of chili so her neighbors would have a hot meal to eat. Her family also took in a neighbor's son.
"I think it's wonderful, and I'm very happy a lot of people are showing up," Mrs. Ursta said of the dinner.
At the other end of Mrs. Ursta's table sat Jim and Jan Scott and their family. The Scotts lost their home in the storm, but they plan to rebuild. In the meantime, they are renting a house in Sharon.
"We're getting situated," Scott said. "I guess it takes a little time. It would be better to be in our own house."
In one corner of the room, American Red Cross volunteers took the time to kick back and relax. Colleen Fuhrer, volunteer with the Mercer County chapter, said they were having fun "sitting here and doing nothing."
"It was nice to receive a meal instead of serving one," said Amy Icenhour, emergency services coordinator for the Beaver County chapter of the American Red Cross.
"I've seen a few faces of the people we've helped," said Angie Anderson, a volunteer with the Sharon chapter.
Bradley said he was pleased with the turnout.
"A lot of people are getting to talk to the volunteers ... I think that was the object," he said.
Bradley said he wanted to thank everyone who supported the borough in its clean-up efforts and recognized local police and fire personnel, borough council and borough employees. He said continued team work will help bring the community back to what it was before the storm.
"Without the team effort we never could have done it ... we have a long journey ahead of us, and its going to take us some time, but we're going to do it," he said. "A year from now, we're going to look back and say it was a piece of cake."