The Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust has been named year’s recipient of the James K. Boyer Quality of Life Award by the TriCounty Chamber of Commerce.
The award presentation took place on Wednesday, Jan. 20, during the Chamber’s Annual Boyertown Area Progress Dinner held at La Massaria at Bella Vista Golf Course in Gilbertsville.
Nathaniel Guest, director of the Trust, accepted the recognition on behalf of the volunteers, donors and other who have offered support.
“Progress as we’ve seen it over the past 18 months is entirely because of what they’ve done,” said Guest. “They’re work to secure a future for Boyertown’s past is made all the more important in this community whose past is strongly informative of its future.”
Criteria for the James K. Boyertown Quality of Life Award includes: operations based within the Boyertown Area School District, improvement to properties which represents investment in the future of the community, civic or volunteer activities, and regional or national recognition for profession.
“Boyertown is one of those very, very rare communities – anywhere in this county, anywhere in Pennsylvania – whose future is likely as brilliant as it’s past,” said Guest. “Each generation has to decide for itself which things it will save for the future and which things it will surrender. Eighteen months ago, this community made a choice to save the Colebrookdale Railroad for future generations.”
“I walked those tracks for years, enjoying beautiful scenery that many others are now able to enjoy,” said Heather Chandler as she presented the award on behalf the Chamber.
Prior to the award presentation, Boyertown Superintendent of Schools Richard Faidley shared some personal thoughts as he introduced this year’s student video.
“Progress was the day we got a television with a remote control, because up until then I was the remote control,” said Faidley, looking back on what progress meant to him as a young child. “As we reflect on what progress means, look at what this community has become. The sky is the limit when you have a dedicated group of individuals like we have this evening.”
Boyertown high school juniors Brandon Karcewski, Erin Morrell, Alex Loughin, and Shawn Corkan worked together with Bill Cherkasky, telecommunications teacher, to create this year’s Boyertown Area progress video highlighting local businesses.
Dancing Tree Creations Artisans Gallery and Studio, N.E. Fisher – a Division of McCarthy Engineering Associates, the Foundation for Boyertown Education, and The Swamp Door Antiques & Curiosities LLC. were each featured in the film. Business owners worked with the students to showcase what changes their companies have undergone and what they have to offer the community.
Earlier in January, Cherkasky and his students took several field trip days to visit with the participating businesses.
“We had a late start this year,” he said, explaining how in addition to the business profiles – the film also needed a theme or concept to tie everything together. Through a previous student project, the “superhero” idea was born.
Each student played a vital role in the film’s production. Karcewski took the role of Progress Man to defeat Regresso Man, Morrell did behind-the-scenes work, Loughin served as a part of the audio team, and Corkan played Regresso Man – causing problems for local businesses as a part of the film’s plot.
During dinner, guests enjoyed music by the Boyertown Area Senior High String Ensemble with Orchestra Director Chris Cinquini.
