Editor:
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank our community for supporting our youth programs here in Sweet Home. There are so many amazing young men and women who get the opportunities to excel at what they love to do because of the gracious giving of our businesses and/or community members.
I appreciate the support and encouragement of the coaches including the volunteers who go out of their way to help and encourage our youth to strive to get those better marks or become masters of their sport.
I appreciate the community member who encourages and cheers on the teams or individuals as they watch them practice and/or compete. And I appreciate the youth who live in a society today which can easily lead them astray and yet they still make positive decisions.
Far too often we hear about the mistakes the kids make in our society and I appreciate how much coverage The New Era gives to the kids who are out there being leaders and representing our community in a positive manner.
Recently we have read about the swim club, the summer track program, all the summer youth baseball, softball, wrestling and basketball teams’ progress.
Who cannot notice Amanda Basham, Byron Sanders, Carissa Swanson, Olivia Johnson or Jenna Kistner running down the road regardless of the weather. Or catching Nikki Smith, James Meyers, Rob Callagan, Jake Comstock or Caroline Amendola pole vaulting and Maria Kropf, Jessika Stewart and Dakotah Keys working on their long jump technique down at the track.
How about all the soccer players we see playing behind the high school in “shoot-arounds” or even all the kids who volunteer as camp counselors at the many summer camps in and around our community for the younger generation.
Not failing to mention all the other amazing talented youth in drama, band, choir, academics, pageants and clubs not sports related. In all honesty we have amazing youth in our community!
I grew up believing that it takes a whole village to raise a child. Our children are our future and I am so thankful I live in a community that supports them.
However you help the youth in our little piece of the Nation…called Sweet Home – thank you!
Lela Danforth
Sweet Hom