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Putting earth first

Portage students turn out for reboot of school’s annual Earth Day cleanup

By Alicia Chiang 4 min read

PORTAGE -- After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Portage Area Junior-

Senior High School students turned out Friday for the school's annual Earth Day cleanup tradition.

Freshmen to seniors gathered in small groups to clean up leaves in Crichton McCormick Park, build check dams for trout habitat and complete special projects.

Senior Cole Ellis said the future release of trout will give anglers a chance to fish locally and by placing rocks in the creek, the trout are held to an area that is easier to reach.

The work "feels good," he said. "It'll help the fishing derby and older members."

Another group of students led by Irene Huschak, president of the Portage Area Historical Society, installed a butterfly garden at the intersection of Munster Road and state Route 53.

The group shoveled turf into carts and placed it in the designated area enclosed by bright red bricks. Flowers were then planted. After an hour and a half of hard work, the once-barren corner is now a community butterfly garden and resting spot along the September 11 National Memorial Trail route.

There was a lot of sweat involved, senior Bella Single said with a laugh.

Huschak invited three master gardeners from Penn State to select flowers and make sure they attract butterflies in the hopes the little corner will be used by monarch butterflies, an endangered species. The group saw their efforts pay off when one butterfly landed on the newly planted vegetation.

Six bedrocks used for the railroad can be found on one side of the garden.

There is also a panorama, originally from Penn Traffic in Johnstown, showcasing the incline that used to go up what is now state Route 53. The incline operated from 1834-54, Huschak said.

"There's a lot of history here. And so it's nice to add some to it," Single said.

With the installation of the butterfly garden complete, she hopes to clear out the surrounding trees and plant more milkweed, which attracts butterflies. The September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance is to supply the garden with benches and bike racks.

The garden will be cared for by Huschak and historical society members, as well as the borough and the women's club.

A splash of color

On the other side of the town by the Portage Pool, a splash of color appeared under the burning sun.

A variety of colored paint was used to create fresh murals on two wall ball boards, which area youth use as a target for throwing tennis balls.

Tera Williams and her five students from the senior art class had been in the park since 8:30 a.m. painting the boards.

Williams said Rebecca Benton, the manager of Portage Pool, contacted her for the students' help as the boards had endured a lot of wear and tear and were outside all winter.

Williams said they decided to repaint the boards for their Earth Day cleanup as their class's special project.

"We thought, what better animal to catch a bunch of tennis balls than an octopus," Williams said with a laugh.

The board has a giant, red octopus between stalks of waving, green seaweed in an aqua-colored ocean, holding tennis balls with its tentacles.

Williams said the students got inspiration from kids in town, who usually throw tennis balls at the board when they're not swimming.

"I am very impressed with our ability to get this mural done in one day. I have a talented group of seniors that are excellent students and they're so humble," Williams said.

The Earth Day cleanup projects began in 2000, and school Principal Jeremy Burkett said he hopes the tradition can continue. It helps teach students the importance of caring for their communities, he said.

"It's great for our students to give back," Burkett said, "Our ultimate goal is to have projects where students maintain or build things that last over time."

Mirror Staff Writer Alicia Chiang is at 814-946-7428.

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