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County Lions Perform Vision Screenings

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Putting into action the organization’s motto of “We Serve,” nine Lions, representing two Frederick County Lions Clubs, recently came together on a countywide service project when 214 preschool children in the YMCA of Frederick County Head Start program received vision screenings, performed by Lions members on eight different dates at various sites in September and October. The majority of the screenings were conducted at the Head Start offices in Frederick, with the remaining screenings held at Head Start locations at the Frederick YMCA and Hillcrest and Libertytown Elementary Schools.  Approximately 137 Lions service hours were spent on this effort. This was the sixth consecutive year for the joint-screening effort.

The children were brought in one at a time to a non-invasive testing station, with Head Start staff members accompanying the children. The station utilized PlusoptiX S12C eye-vision technology to capture an image of the children’s eyes and automatically determine whether a vision impairment, such as near- or far-sightedness or astigmatism, was present. The tester holds the unit approximately one meter from the child and asks the child to focus on the smiling face on the front of the camera. At the completion of the testing, each child received a Lion sticker to indicate they had completed the screening process.

While the vast majority of children passed, readings obtained by trained Lions indicated that some of the children needed to be seen by vision professionals for potential vision anomalies. The parents/guardians of 43 children tested received written test results to indicate that their child was recommended to see a vision professional for a potential problem or was unable to be screened. The advanced technology of the PluxoptiX camera provides readings that are printed out on a label that is attached to the letter for use by the vision professional of the parents’ choice.

Colleen Ford, health coordinator for the YMCA of Frederick County Head Start, stated, “This school year, our local Lions Club members have dedicated many hours of their time helping Frederick County (Maryland) families and children by conducting vision screenings. They have participated in four days of vision screenings in September 2019 and four days in October 2019. This event is one of extreme importance to the child’s overall health and educational development. With the state of art diagnostic machine they use, if the child is a referral, the information that is printed out for the family is of great importance to the provider performing the vision rescreen. Without the generous time given of the Lions Club members, it would be a hard mandate for Head Start to complete in a timely manner.”

Lions members participating in the screenings included: Sharon Hane, Nancy Smith, Clifford Sweeney, and Bill and Rachel Wivell from the Emmitsburg Lions Club; and John Aulls and Lynn Stimmel from Francis Scott Key Lions Club.

Childcare centers or organizations that want to learn more about the Lions preschool vision screening program or to schedule a screening should contact Lion John Aulls at aulls2@comcast.net or 301-662-2360.

Lions participating in the recent vision screenings of Head Start students included:  (seated) Lion Sharon Hane, Emmitsburg Lions, and Lion Lynn Stimmel, Francis Scott Key Lions; (standing) Lion John Aulls, Francis Scott Key Lions; Lion Clifford Sweeney, Emmitsburg Lions; Colleen Ford, Health Coordinator, YMCA of Frederick County Head Start; and Lion Lions Bill and Rachel Wivell, Emmitsburg Lions.  Participating but not shown:  Lion Nancy Smith of Emmitsburg Lions

Gerrie Inducted into the YMCA Sports Hall of Fame

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Hall of FameJames Rada, Jr.

When Kim Wivell Gerrie was a young girl, she would watch her father when he played softball with different Thurmont-area teams.

“I wanted to step out on the field with him,” Gerrie said.

Gerrie went on to become quite the athlete. She played softball and ran track and field while attending Thurmont Middle School. Then, while in Catoctin High School, she played softball, soccer, and basketball. During her senior year, the softball team had a record of 21-1, losing only in the state championship game.

She graduated in 1990 and went on to Shepherd University to play softball. Although her team had a different coach each year, they still managed to have a winning record each year.

And, now, she will be inducted into the YMCA of Frederick County Alvin G. Quinn Sports Hall of Fame on February 7, 2015. She is one of eight inductees this year.

 

Her bio for the Hall of Fame reads:

 

KIM WIVELL GERRIE Record-setting Softball Pitcher

Kim Wivell Gerrie has set softball records at every level she has played. A versatile athlete during her middle school years with blue ribbons in several track events, it was softball where Kim excelled the most. She was a member of the Little League All-Stars that played in the Maryland State Tournament. At Catoctin High she participated on the varsity soccer team for four years, played basketball all four years, and was truly outstanding in her four varsity years playing softball. She was a first team MVAL selection, starting in her sophomore year and repeated every year afterwards. In her senior year she was All-Area Player of the Year. She went on to a record-setting career at Shepherd University, where she was inducted into the SU Hall of Fame in 2007. She still holds five Shepherd pitching records.

       

“When I walked into the room (the Hall of Fame), it was very humbling to see all of those athletes and coaches on the wall,” Gerrie said.

The other inductees are Troy Barrick, Stan Biggus, Richard Burgee, Stan Goldberg, Chery Poirier, Bill Stup, and Guy Whidden.

The induction banquet will be held at the Walkersville Fire Hall this month. This will be the 39th annual induction ceremony.

Sharon Burd Retires

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Lindsay Brandt

Sharon-Burd-USEWhen the residents of Sabillasville, Maryland, travel to their local post office, they won’t be seeing the familiar face of their resident postmaster, Sharon Burd, kindly waiting to help them. Sharon Burd (pictured right) of the United States Postal Service retired from her post on September 28, 2014, after almost thirty-one years. “I like working here, because you get to see all local people you know every day,” said Burd.

Burd has been the postmaster at the Sabillasville Post Office since 2006. She started working for the United States Postal Service in 1983, and after working in both Frederick and Hagerstown, she wound up at the Sabillasville location when the post opened in 2006.

Burd grew up and attended school in Upstate New York. She met her husband, Dick, while in school, and they became high school sweethearts. As young high school students, they are pictured on the cover of their year book holding hands. Their family grew to include their five children, sixteen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. They relocated to Sabillasville, because her husband, who was in the U. S. Navy, was stationed in the area.

Before working for the USPS, Burd taught classes part-time at the YMCA in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. In addition, for a span of twelve years, she volunteered her time as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader in Sabillasville, while also teaching Sunday school at St. John’s United Church of Christ, also located in Sabillasville.

Burd already has big plans for her retirement. She wants to continue the renovation of her 100-year-old house, and to cross a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum off of her bucket list. She plans to visit the museum with her sisters.

Burd has three sisters and three brothers. Though they reside at various points across the United States, she remains close with her siblings by talking with them each week by phone. She even had a recent surprise visit by her brother, who was in the area during a business trip from New York. She was working around the house and the doorbell rang, revealing her brother. They were able to spend some time together before they went to watch her grandson play football.

Her daughter, Shannon (Burd) Brown, said, “She worked nights for twenty years. She hardly slept, but she did all of this stuff. She is a very good mom, always doing fun stuff. I’m glad she’s my mom; I definitely got lucky in the mom category.”

Daughter, Pamela (Burd) Beard, said, “My mom had an outstanding career with the United States Postal Service. I remember how excited she was to become the postmaster at the Sabillasville Post Office. She was always courteous and professional to all customers. She provided customer service with a personal touch.” Pamela’s daughter and Burd’s granddaughter, Camelia Beard, expressed, “I really enjoyed going to work with my Grandma. I saw the importance of good customer relations. People came to the Sabillasville Post Office from all over the area. She did a great job.”

Her role of mother doesn’t just apply to her actual family. Her coworkers at the Post Office noted how she always said that they were her kids, too. “She worries about us from the time we leave to go on the road until the time we get back,” said Pam from the Sabillasville United States Post Office.

Throughout the years, Burd would bring eggs from her chickens to share with her employees. They even stenciled “Burd’s Eggs” on the cartons.

“It’s going to be sad after all this time,” Burd said.  Her coworkers in Sabillasville, including Pam, Davie, and Jay, stated that she was very easy to work for, adding, “We are going to miss her.”