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Health & Fitness

Dundalk Optimist host Youth Appreciation Week Dinner

Dundalk Optimist along with area principals celebrate at the annual Youth Appreciation Week Dinner.

The Dundalk Optimist Club hosted its annual Youth Appreciation Week Dinner at their club house on North Point Blvd.  Principals and students from Sparrows Point High School, Dundalk High School, Patapsco High and Sollers Point Technical, joined with members of the Dundalk Optimist in this annual Youth Appreciation celebration that began in 1964.

Those in attendance feasted on a home cooked meal prepared by the club’s treasure, Shirley Panuska who has been cooking for the Optimist members since 1992.  The atmosphere was cordial and united the parents, principals, and Optimist.

Each principal or representative gave a brief introduction about their school and a background on the two students selected to take part in this Optimist tradition.  The students were then given the opportunity to address the audience and share some of their aspirations.

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Mr. Bill Hartlove, a long standing member of the Optimist, addressed the audience and noted that some of the students who spoke, expressed their concern about the trials and tribulations of public speaking.  Mr. Hartlove offered the students a solution.

Mr. Hartlove spoke at length about two programs sponsored by the Optimist that dealt with these issues. “Please go back to your respective schools and get the word out that we sponsor an essay and oratorical contest, where our members work one on one with each student in developing their public speaking skills,” Hartlove said.

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Complete details can be obtained by contacting Shirley Panuska at (410) 285-3899 or visiting the Optimist International website.

In addition to the honored students sharing their goals with the audience, Dundalk Principal Tom Shouldice. and Sollers Point Principal Mike Weglein gave an update on the new Dundalk/Sollers Point School.  “We are very pleased with the progress of the construction on the adjoining schools,” said, Mr. Shouldice.  The school is scheduled to open in 2013 and will be fully operational in 2014 when 1,500 students will attend.

Each honored student was presented with a desk pen set that was inscribed with their participation in this tradition.

The Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Charles Martin, who has served as a past president of the Optimist and is currently a member of the board of directors.

Please view the accompanying photos of the night’s activities.

 

 

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