Letter
We might not have had an early spring like Punxsutawney Phil predicted this year, but it’s definitely, and finally, here. The proof is in the longer days, the sunnier days, the daffodils pushing through the soil and the smell of the air.
If that wasn’t enough proof for you, it’s baseball season. Work is underway on preparing the Washington Wild Things field in North Franklin Township. The day of our cover shoot with Wild things’ president and general manager Tony Buccilli, folks were focused on the pitcher’s mound and home plate. The season begins on May 9 with a series of away games in Missouri and Illinois. The team’s home opener is May 17 against the Lake Erie Crushers.
While that’s more than a month away, Buccilli has been as busy as ever during the off season. At 30 years old, not only is he one of the youngest in professional baseball with such large responsibilities, he’s also among the Wild Things’ employees who have been with the team the longest – he started as an intern back in 2012. He takes his responsibilities seriously, and he’s been credited with the team’s recent success – they came one game shy of the Frontier League’s championship last season. But moreover, he uses his youthful perspective to create fun and unique promotions that fill the stands, and hopefully create life-long Wild Things fans. Read Observer-Reporter sports editor Chris Dugan’s profile on page 17.
Now that it’s spring, you’ll find more people out on the golf course. Among them will likely be Bill Kurp, who has been a golf pro for 51 years. He’s had an impact on many area budding golfers, including Canon-McMillan’s two-time WPIAL champion Lauren Waller. Staff writer Rick Shrum caught up with him at Southpointe Golf Club, where he’s a teaching pro and outside golf events manager. You can learn more on page 22.
Spring is the season when Leadership Washington County begins searching for its next class, which begins in the fall. The organization, which formed in 1998, has graduated more than 300 area leaders (myself included, class of 2018). On page 12, staff writer Karen Mansfield sat down at Chicco Bacello with LWC executive director Katie Unger-Chipps for a cup of coffee and to learn more about the class, which takes place one day per month for nine months. If you’re interested, you can apply online at palwc.org. Not only will you learn valuable leadership skills, you’ll learn about the inner workings of Washington County – from local government and health care to education and non-profits.
I highly recommend it.
Cheers,