Elevator to the Stars p.6

A Trailblazer’s Paradise p.14

An Olympian’s Second Act p.10

KimmieMeissner

SPRING 2014

In Her Own WordsBel Air’s Kimmie Meissner looks back on her life after the 2006 Olympics.

ART DIRECTORLaurise McMillian

CHIEF OF PRODUCTION Stephanie Perkins

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORJoshua Eller

EDITORIAL STAFFGeorgina CammayoNadia Kaczkowski

William MartinJohn Parks

WRITING STAFF Luis Figueroa Ashton Horne

Andrew HuenkeBecca McLhinney

Emily Padgett

SPECIAL TO OWL MAGAZINEKimmie Meissner

PHOTOGRAPHY STAFFJennifer Lewis

John Morin

DESIGN STAFFGrayson Karr

Gabriel KostadinovaManuel Reyes

DESIGN SPECIALISTBrianna Breece

CHIEF ADVISERClaudia Brown

TECHNICAL ADVISERPhilip Roszak

BUSINESS MANAGERRachel Mitchell

PRINT PUBLISHERStockson Printing Company

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOGRAPHYRick BabyakAbby Bruns

Deborah Feingold Linda Gettier

Dennis GloriosoBarry Huneke

Ed Slusher

Do you really know the people around you? What if your co-worker is royalty in a town half a world away? That guy in your math class? Maybe he’s a Slove-nian rapper.

In this issue, we celebrate the journeys of people such as Goran

Radulovich, an international student at HCC, American secre-tary turned African king Peggie-lene Bartels, previously home-schooled student Emily Padgett, and Olympian Kimmie Meissner.

In spite of going through vari-ous phases of uncertainty, each of them eventually learned to embrace their individual trials and develop a positive attitude towards change.

Read on to learn more about their journeys, as well as those of others who are featured in this magazine. Perhaps you may find that though every path is differ-ent, each one is a life-changing adventure on its own. As distinct as they are from one another, one

thing is for certain: no journey begins without the initial step.

The beauty of a journey, ir-respective of the goal or lack thereof, is that it leads to self-discovery. Facing difficult situa-tions, undertaking a new task, or confronting the unexpected all give us the opportunity to grow.

So go ahead, we encourage you to take yours today and make every succeeding step count!

CONTACT US:Harfowl@harford.edu

6

10

JOIN THE STAFF

Spring 2014

“Though every path is different, each one is a life-changing adventure on its own.”

The Journey is the Reward

Owl Magazine | TABLE OF CONTENTS

14 A Trailblazer’s ParadiseLearn about the unique challenges that the mountains of New Mexico present for outdoor enthusiasts.

King Peggy Shares Her StoryLearn how one woman’s sudden turn from American secretary to African king caused change and inspiration to a town.

8 A Campus UnitedMeet several students who represent the flags flying in the Quad.

Owl Magazine | TABLE OF CONTENTS

6 12

7 From Home Schooling to Harford

Share a student’s first experience in a public school.

104

The Secret World of Adult SkatingNo matter what age or skill level, ice skating offers something for everyone.

5

Elevator to the StarsCan’t climb the Stairway to Heaven? Just wait for the space elevator.

4Take Me out to Ball Park RestaurantThis local eatery’s menu and atmosphere are an out of the park home run.

19 Live at HCCEnjoy comedy and fantastic displays of musical talent this semester.

4

reSTaUranT reView | Spring 2014

I spent many of my summers at the Ball

Park. Camden Yards is probably the first

place that comes to mind, but I mean

the Ball Park Restaurant. This cozy

restaurant decked out in Orioles memo-

rabilia is located in Street, Maryland on

Conowingo Road. If you’re looking for

a comfortable, “everybody knows your

name” type of atmosphere, then this place

is perfect for you.

There’s a wide variety of diner fare you

can choose from, such as hot sandwiches,

meatloaf, burgers, and subs. They also

serve crab cakes, steaks, and even a

simple hotdog. The prices of most of their

entrees range from $5.75 to $15.75, with

the most expensive item being their steak.

I had the privilege to indulge in their

house specialty, which was cream of crab

soup, and a hot meatloaf sandwich with

mashed potatoes. The cream of crab soup

was creamy without overdoing it, with

large lumps of crab meat throughout,

topped off with spicy Old Bay.

As the waitress brought out the hot

meatloaf sandwich smothered in gravy, I

could see the steam rising from the plate.

Each bite was savory and filled with fla-

vor; the mashed potatoes were whipped

to perfection. The entire thing was a melt-

in-my-mouth favorite.

Although more than satisfied with the

generous portions of my entrée, I was

determined to investigate the dessert

menu. When asked about what desserts

they had, the waitress named nine differ-

ent treats: apple pie, pumpkin pie, cherry

pie, pecan pie, apple turnover, cheesecake,

bread pudding, and ice cream, all ranging

from $4.00 to $8.00.

I decided to sample the classic apple pie.

The outside was a flaky, homemade crust,

just like the kind your grandmother would

make. The inside was moist and filled with

fresh, juicy apple slices, with a pinch of

cinnamon giving it that distinct flavor.

As for the history of Ball Park,

the restaurant got its name from the

property on which it was built. From

1920 to 1946, it was once a baseball

field used by the Susquehanna Semi-

Professional Baseball League.

The current owner, Joy Frederick,

purchased Ball Park Restaurant on July

29, 1989. She decided to “keep the spirit

of baseball alive within the restaurant

by lining the walls with bits and pieces

of baseball memorabilia.”

While I was dining here, I couldn’t

help but notice the restaurant was

filled with locals. The waitresses knew

everyone by name and ordered them

their “usual.”

If you’re looking for a quality, home-

cooked meal with great service and

friendly faces, make sure to stop by Ball

Park Restaurant because it surely is a

catch.

Take Me out to Ball Park Restaurant

By Becca McLhinney | Photography by Grayson Karr | Owl Staff

“This cozy restaurant decked out in Orioles memorabilia is located in Street, Maryland...”

At $4.50 per cup, Ball Park’s cream of crab soup is a grand slam.

5

Owl Magazine | BOOK NOOK

Ball Park RestaurantIt was about four in the morning in Silver

Spring, Maryland, when Peggielene

Bartels was awakened by an overseas call

from Ghana. “Congratulations!” cried the

voice, “You are the new king of Otuam!”

Assuming it was a prank, she almost hung

up on the call that would change her life

forever.

Bartels soon learned that upon her late

uncle’s death, she was chosen to take over

as king to her ancestral town in Africa.

Days later, she accepted the role while

continuing her work as a secretary in the

Ghanaian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

In seeking to improve the lives of 7,000

people, her two worlds – as an American

secretary and an African king – merged

into one.

Never in the history of Otuam had there

been a woman in charge. Bartels took on

the title of king instead of queen to be

taken seriously by a traditional group of

elders in a male-dominated town.

In a recent visit to HCC, Bartels shared

her incredible journey in the book, King

Peggy, which details her struggles and

triumphs as king of Otuam.

Upon agreeing to take over the royal

seat in the small fishing village, King

Peggy inherited the town’s problems with

running water, healthcare, education,

abuse of women, a run down royal palace,

and a council ridden with several corrupt

elders.

Determined to succeed, King Peggy

strived to become an effective leader

by finding a balance between modern

politics and ancient traditions. She

used her secretarial skills and strong

personality to overturn negative notions

of her rule, which eventually led to

her becoming the source of hope in the

impoverished town.

She kept her unwavering faith amidst

the difficulties and found renewed hope

with the help of generous donors who

aided the town in moving forward.

Under her leadership, a bank was

established in the village, corruption

declined, women were empowered,

boreholes were built, the royal palace

was restored, healthcare and education

are making progress, and other

improvements are in the works.

By accepting the role of king to a

poor fishing village, Bartels witnessed

the transformation of a town and of

herself. By restoring hope in her people,

she too, found new meaning to her life.

Substantiated by her personal testimony,

King Peggy demonstrates the importance

of fulfilling your roles in society and

doing your part for the greater good.

In a brief but powerful statement, she

imparted a striking message to her HCC

audience: “In this world, we all have a

calling. You may get yours earlier, you

may get yours late. When it comes…

receive it because we’re all on this earth

for a reason.”

“I had such an admiration for [King] Peggy that she was willing to take this enormous

job…it was stranger than fiction…but it was true.”

-Olivia Bach

“I learned that there are people in the world that

have nothing and appreciate getting anything at all – we, as Americans, have so much

more opportunities.”

-Libby Copes

By Georgina Cammayo | Owl Staff

Beyond the BookKing Peggy Shares Her Story

“Her two worlds — as an American secretary and an African king — merged into one.” Readers React

to King Peggy

6

As you stand on an elevator after putting

your luggage on the floor, you hear the

bell ding and the elevator begins to move.

This elevator, however, does not go to

a town or a city. It doesn’t go anywhere

on land, but up into the vastness of

space. This sounds like something from

science fiction, but could very well be a

possibility with the creation of a space

elevator.

According to David Smitherman of

NASA’s Advanced Projects Office, the

idea originates from Fountains of Paradise,

a 1978 science fiction novel by Arthur

C. Clarke, who wrote the famous 2001:

A Space Odyssey. When could the space

elevator become a reality? “Probably

about fifty years after everybody quits

laughing,” says Clark.

The space elevator would be connected

to a space station that sits at geostationary

orbit, essentially so high that it would

circle the Earth. The base tower would

stand around fifty kilometers tall; it

would be tethered to Earth and four to

six tracks would run up to the station.

The shuttles would run on

electromagnetic currents, which would

allow them to reach thousands of

kilometers-per-hour in a few seconds.

The tower would be made of carbon

nanotubes (CNTs). This is a new form of

carbon that is lightweight, one hundred

times stronger than steel, and holds

the tensile strength and hardness of a

diamond but will not become brittle and

crack like diamonds sometimes can.

Because the CNT is currently being

researched, the tower is not feasible

today. Smitherman states it may not

happen until towards the end of the 21st

century.

We are currently pushing the limits of

our resources, but we could use this space

elevator as a jumping point to venture

further beyond the stars. We could use

the station as a launch bay to send out

further shuttles to collect asteroids and

space debris for raw materials.

It could also be used for space tourism

so people can see the galaxy with their

own eyes, or to even live in space one

day. According to Smitherman, the cost

of a ticket to space, taking into account

current energy prices, could be around

$222 including baggage of 150 kg

(around 330 lbs.).

The biggest issue, however, is that this

can only be possible if we garner a high

enough percentage of people using the

elevator. It is therefore imperative that, as

we research into CNT or magnetic trains,

that we actually have civilians who are

willing to go into space, not just as a job

but as a place to live.

By Luis Figueroa | Digital Art by Joshua Eller | Owl Staff

Science Fiction to RealitySpace Elevator to the Stars

“We could use the station as a launch bay to send out further shuttles to collect asteroids and space debris for raw materials.”

SCIENCE |Spring 2014

The space elevator would allow vehicles to explore space without burning a large amount of their fuel to escape Earth’s atmosphere.

7

Owl Magazine | VOICES

Do you remember your first day at

HCC? Were you excited to start college?

Scared? Now imagine being a home-

schooler in the same situation. Imagine

yourself not having any public or private

school background and suddenly finding

yourself thrown into a crowded class-

room full of strangers and professors who

don’t know you or your learning style.

When I walked through the doors on

my first day at HCC, I had no idea what

to expect. Being home-schooled my

whole life, the only classroom settings I

experienced had been with other home-

schoolers.

I was anxious for the semester ahead.

Would I understand homework assign-

ments and teaching methods? Would

I be able to break the “antisocial home

schooler” stereotype and make friends?

Upon initially attending college, most

home-schoolers that I have known are

entering into their first classroom experi-

ence. They often have the same fears and

apprehensions that I had. Despite the

skepticism that home-schoolers are often

met with, those whom I have spoken to

tend to thrive in a college setting in ways

that public or private schooled students

do not always achieve.

According to a few of the many home

schoolers who attend HCC, their college

experience has been mostly positive.

“I was really nervous and scared. I

was worried about not being able to find

the classrooms, and I was worried about

making friends,” says Tiffanie Ware, a

Psychology major. “It was a lot easier

than I thought. Once I started going to

my classes I realized that I had worried

over absolutely nothing.”

General Studies major Garrett Vesly

adds, “My personal experience going

from a home-school setting to a public

school setting was not very difficult

at all… I was just a little nervous,

not because of going to a classroom

but more the fact that I was starting

college.”

Although these home-school students

adapted easily to the new environment

and structure, there are often fears and

apprehensions upon starting college. Fear

of the unknown can have a crippling

effect and home school students need

to know how to overcome that anxiety.

Upon enrolling at HCC, I recommend that

home schooled students meet with either

Jim Quigg or Bill Elliot at Academic

Advising. They are the two advisors who

primarily assist such students.

“Just be yourself,” Tiffanie suggests

to new students. “Having been home-

schooled isn’t a bad thing, so don’t listen

to other people if they say something

negative to you about it.”

It has now been more than two years

since I started at HCC and I realize that

most of my initial fears were unfounded.

I miss being home-schooled but I am

incredibly grateful for the opportunity

that I have to get out of my comfort

zone.

By Emily Padgett | Photography by John Morin | Owl Staff

From Home Schooling to Harford Community

“[Home-schoolers] tend to thrive in a college setting in ways that public or private schooled students do not ...”

HCC alum Imani Lewis was home-schooled for the majority of her life and is now excelling at the University of Maryland as a Communication major.

President for Campus Operations, says that

since there are more students represented

than the flagpoles, he makes “decisions of

what flags to put up based on the country’s

population.”

For international students, the flags

also represent a connection to their home.

“Every time I see the German flag, it

reminds me of one of the best experiences

of my life,” says Yasmeen Ali, a Software

Engineering major.

Yasmeen lived in Germany for three

years when she was 12. At 16, she

came to Maryland because her dad

was in the military. In Germany,

“everyone was friendly, and the

place I lived was very clean. Food

was always made fresh and there

was barely any processed food.

This county was not as diverse as

where I lived in Germany, but I still

8

COMMUNITY | Spring 2014

HCC’s World Flags AreMore Than Decorations

A Campus United

By Ashton Horne | Photography by Jennifer Lewis | Owl Staff

Goran Radulovich was a former rapper in

Slovenia who found success with his single

“Stara Ulica” and earned his Associate’s

Degree in Audio Engineering and Massage

Therapy back home. You might wonder how

he ended up at Harford – his sister lives in

Bel Air, which led Goran to start school here

about a year ago.

Ben Rushby, a General Studies major,

came from Derby in Central England on a

scholarship to play for the Fighting Owls

soccer team. Head coach Jason Muffoletto

contacted College Prospects of America,

a sports marketing service for high

school athletes entering college, and

found his profile.

Goran and Ben are just two of many

international students who are living the

American dream right here at HCC. In

celebration of the diversity these students

bring to HCC, international flags were added

to the campus in 2001, the brainchild of Dr.

Claudia Chiesi, a former HCC president.

The flags change each year to reflect the

growth of our diverse campus community.

Currently, 48 banners align from the main

entrance of the library all the way to the

front doors of the Student Center and along

the academic halls by the quad.

Cameroon, Iran, Belgium, Romania,

Netherlands, Nepal, and Russia are just a

handful of the nations international students

represent. Gregory Deals, the Associate Vice

think it’s diverse.”

Arren Gapasin moved to the States in

2006 from the Philippines. She says, “At

first it was a culture shock; the weather

was much colder than in the Philippines.

I wasn’t used to the diversity either. Since

then, I have adjusted, but I really miss

my family, friends, and the food.”

“My experience has been good; I

have had a lot of help [at HCC],” says

Ben Rushby. The biggest difference

between the U.S and U.K he has seen

is the playing style for soccer and the

restaurants. “The style of play in the U.K

is a lot more physical. Here the officiating

is strict and you can’t get away with

as much.”

Ben continues, “As far as restaurants

go, I noticed here there are a lot more

fast food places you can choose from and

go to. Back at home while we still have

fast places such as McDonalds, it’s not

nearly as much; it’s more of the classier

[dine-in] restaurants to pick.”

Goran Radulovich cites educational

differences between the U.S. and his

home country. “In Slovenia, school was

much harder; you had less help from

teachers because most of them had

multiple subjects to teach. Learning

here is much easier. You have more

assistance.”

Adds Goran, “I like the flags on campus

and what they represent.”

Admission specialist Jenny Lares works

in the school’s international program.

Her job is to review foreign students

and coordinate campus visits. Gazing at

her world map, she says, “Diversity is

something we shouldn’t celebrate once a

week. We should celebrate it every day

and include it in every issue or have it be

a part of the development of each issue.”

There may be 48 flags on campus to

represent international students, but each

flag holds a unique and special story that

goes far beyond HCC and truly makes

this a campus united.

Owl Magazine | COMMUNITY

9

A Campus United“There may be 48 flags on campus to represent international students, but each flag holds a different story that goes far beyond HCC.”

The international flags flying in front of the Student Center were added to Harford’s campus in 2001.

What is post-Olympic life like? Well, it involves

professional skating shows, coaching and

school…lots of school. It hasn’t always been

this way. I had a challenging transition between

top of the world and now, but I’ve found my

way. Now a few years down the road, I can

look back with the wisdom only time and per-

spective can bring and for that, I am grateful.

Moving back home from Florida after

training and living there for two years was bit-

tersweet. I was ecstatic to be coming home and

to reunite with family, friends and community.

But my homecoming also meant a change of

course as far as my skating was concerned.

An injury to my knee cut my competition

life short and upon my arrival, I lost my aunt

to cancer. A few months later we lost a little

girl from Cool Kids, my charity, to cancer as

well. Suddenly the calm, stable life I had grown

used to was completely turned upside down. I

lost my outlet of understanding life and work-

ing through my stress, throwing me into dark

waters that I had never experienced before.

As far as skating was concerned, my passion

and love for the sport completely vanished

before my eyes. I didn’t want to watch it on

television, I didn’t want to talk about it and

most troubling of all, I didn’t want to lace my

skates up and take to the ice. This self-inflicted

exile from the sport that had captured my

imagination all those years ago, lasted for about

two years.

Then one day I was asked to skate in my

friend’s charity show out in California. He

knew that I wasn’t skating anymore, but

thought maybe, just maybe, I’d consider it. I

An Olympian’s Second ActBel Air native Kimmie Meissner competed in the 2006

Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Meissner wrote about her

Olympic experience for The Harford Owl in 2010. This article

focuses on her life after the Olympic Games.

By Kimmie Meissner | Special to Owl Magazine | Photography by John Morin | Owl Staff

don’t know why, but I said yes right on

the spot. Three years from that first show

and I am skating again every day. It took a

shocking amount of hard work to get back

to the level I am at now, having to relearn

all of my triple jumps and fully develop

my personal style on the ice.

When I skate now I have a new appre-

ciation for this sport and my ability to be

out there in center ice. It seems insane

to me that there was a time I denied any

connection to figure skating. In 2012, I

competed in a professional competition in

Japan and performed in multiple shows

and tours. In 2013, I once again skated in

my friend’s show in California and had a

tour in Brazil and Canada, as well as the

Disson skating shows that are televised on

NBC.

It’s a refreshing feeling to look at my

schedule and see it filled once again with

adventures in the realm of figure skat-

ing. Now a different avenue on the show

docket, but one that is full of fun, friends

and most importantly, the ice.

I decided to begin coaching about two

years ago. This has been quite the experi-

ence since I am now on the opposite side

of the boards, supporting younger skaters

and helping them to fulfill their dreams. I

coach a multitude of students ranging in

ages from 8-17, beginners and senior level

competitors.

It’s such a gratifying experience to

watch as they discover their potential.

The joy that comes with landing a new

jump or simply skating faster grants them

a healthy dose of confidence they can

carry with them into other aspects of their

life. I enjoy facilitating their learning and

watching the wonder and exuberance

burst around them, reminding me of my

early days on the ice.

Between coaching and performing,

I also center most of my time around

school. When I had first begun my col-

lege journey, I attended the University of

Delaware with the intention of majoring

in exercise science. Training at the on-

campus rink made an easy addition of

school with my skating. Unfortunately,

my first semester was also when a coach-

ing change was made and I had to move

to Florida, forsaking my studies. Upon

my return home, I found myself trying to

adjust back to student life.

I needed a new start, a new beginning.

So, after gaining control of my spinning

life, I transferred to Towson University,

changing majors to English with a focus

on writing. That change has been one of

the best decisions I’ve ever made. I love

to read, but I absolutely adore writing.

This intimate form of expression acts as

my way to interpret the world I live in,

alongside the physical act of skating that

allows me to move through the emotions.

Both are art forms that have captured my

heart and soul.

When I am not performing, coaching,

training or attending classes, I am most

likely to be found spending time with

those close to me. My charity, Cool Kids

Campaign, is expanding and I am also

involved with a few others in the com-

munity. I am surrounded by a wonderful

group of friends, but this was also a chal-

lenge during my return from Florida. I

needed to reconnect with everyone I cared

about.

While most of my close friends were

around me during my competitive days,

we experienced completely different teen-

age years. When all of us get together, the

conversation normally centers around

different high school experiences, college

parties or nights out. I can relate to them

with our nights out, but both experiences

revolving around school are much differ-

ent. My friends and I work around that

barrier as much as we can, but it always

stands just out of sight.

As you can see, post-Olympic life is

really quite normal. A few times a month

I get to put on my persona and perform

for thousands before returning back to

classes, my students, and my family and

friends. It is really the ideal life for this

24-year-old.

“My passion and love for the sportcompletely vanished before my eyes.”

An Olympian’s Second Act

12

A breakup. That is what ultimately led

me to sign up for figure skating lessons

again at 26.

In my quest to find a positive out-

let to keep myself busy and not overly

emotional, I rediscovered a hobby I had

forgotten over the years. Captivated by

the sport once more, I began skating fre-

quently and discovered I was not alone.

Other adults on the ice inspired me, as

they all have stories to tell.

Stephen Kavanaugh, 41, is often

seen doing laps in his military uniform

during public sessions in Ice World,

Abingdon. He has been skating for over

twenty years and has taken adult hockey

instructional lessons in several duty sta-

tions throughout his career. “I love the

sport,” he says. “I love just skating out

on the ice. It’s something to teach my

kids and it’s just overall fun.”

Another Ice World regular, Alicia

Orlando, is a tennis instructor who

playfully refuses to give away her age

other than being over 60. She circles

the rink week after week, taking small

strokes at a time. She remebers skating

on cleared frozen ponds while music

played in the background. “We never

had rinks when we were growing

up,” she shares. “That’s how I met my

husband. We were teenagers on a

frozen pond.”

In addition to recreational skating, the

sport also offers opportunities to per-

form. Fine Wine is an adult performance

troupe composed of about 15 adults

mostly in their 30’s-60’s at Mt. Pleasant

Ice Arena in Baltimore. Artistic Director

Jeffrey Nolt creates original pieces twice

a year for shows at Mt. Pleasant.

“A lot of adults never want to join

because they’re scared of skating in front

of people,” he says. However, members

learn to face their fears and insecurities

regardless of skill level.

Heather Piepenburg, Figure Skating

Director of Ice World, has been skating

since she was seven years old. “I really

enjoy it because you feel free,” she says.

“You can just take your mind off every-

thing else…and really enjoy the jumps

and the spins and feeling like you’re a

kid again.”

She encourages adult participation

because “it’s a great way to meet other

people. It’s also a great way to motivate

yourself because there’s always a goal.

You’re always working towards getting

to a higher level and learning

new skills.”

Like Heather, Dennis Glorioso’s

involvement traces back to childhood.

The 57-year-old was pulled in to the

sport early on but was forced to with-

draw after suffering hearing loss in his

By Georgina Cammayo | Owl Staff

“The minute my blades touched the ice that first time as an adult, I felt an instant connection that has never weakened,” says Lesley Finn (above), adjunct faculty at

Towson University and mother of two.

The Secret World of Adult Skating

late teens. It wasn’t until 13 years ago,

when he got his cochlear implant that

he started skating consistently again and

began training for adult competitions.

“Skating with a hearing problem some-

times is a challenge” he says. “But I keep

working at it because I love it. I like to

keep challenging myself to do better and

be stronger.”

For Barclay Gibbs, 32, skating was a

childhood dream that she put on hold

until later. “I loved watching skating on

TV when I was little,” she says. “But I

was really focused on pursuing ballet as

a profession. I was dancing every day, so

I didn’t have time to take skating lessons

too.” Now as Artistic Director of Dance

Conservatory of Maryland, she finds

figure skating offers an exercise that is

“way more fun than going to the gym

and running in place for an hour.”

Suzanne Himmerich, also 32, is a

medical sales representative who began

taking lessons at 17. She was 27 years

old when she competed – and won gold

– in her first Adult Nationals, a competi-

tion for skaters 21 and

over at a variety of levels.

“I think skating is fun,”

Suzanne says. “It’s a stress reliever. It al-

ways seems that you come here and you

skate and you just forget about anything

going on in your life. You walk out of

here kind of renewed and you feel fresh

and happy.”

Apart from figure skating, hockey is

another popular ice skating sport for

adults. According to Ed Slusher, Ice

World’s Hockey Director, adult hockey

participants include those who engage

in competitive sports, those who play

recreationally, and those who are still

getting to know the sport through the

adult instructional program.

“I offer most adults the advice of just

coming out to try skating before get-

ting started with hockey,” Ed says. “For

adults that are able to skate already, I

offer them an adult instructional option

or a power skating class to brush up on

their skating before we involve pucks.”

Various adults come together in the

rink for a multitude of reasons

because ice skating goes

beyond the technical

aspects of the

sport. The

skating

motto “Fall, get up. Fall, get up” teaches

that a hobby is more than a pastime. It

also helps form character and instill a life

lesson applicable to a person of any age,

and one that I was lucky to come by at a

time when I needed it.

13

Getting Started on the Ice

The Secret World of Adult Skating

Mt. Pleasant Ice Arena6101 Hillen RdBaltimore, MD 21239(443) 984-4075www.mtpleasanticearena.com

Ice WorldPublic Sessions: $7.50-$8.50; $3 skate rental Group Lessons: 6-10 sessions for $105-$120

Ice World1300 Governor Ct.Abingdon, MD 21009(410) 612-1000www.iceworld.com

Local Rinks CostMt. Pleasant Ice ArenaPublic Sessions: $4; $2 skate rentalGroup Lessons: 7 sessions for $98

“I play for the exercise, friendships and fun,“

says Nick Taylor (above) a salesman and hockey coach.

BEYOND CAMPUS | Spring 2014

14

Bouldering over a cliff at 10,000 feet can be one of the best, but mostchallenging moments of the trek.

15

Owl Magazine | BEYOND CAMPUS

Imagine you’re hiking up a vertical slope

so steep that you look up and can’t see

more than twenty feet ahead of you. You

finally make it up to the top of this slope

and are left standing 12,441 feet above

the ground. You can spin around and

gaze at the vast amount of nothingness

and space in all directions. There’s even

a thunderstorm brewing below you, but

you’re so high up that you’re above it!

Philmont Scout Ranch is a challenge

unlike any other – adventurers back-

packing through the mountains of New

Mexico while choosing a variety of pro-

grams to do along the way, ranging from

black powder rifle shooting to horseback

riding. It is an adventure of a lifetime,

especially for those who have never been

out west. One of the best parts about

Philmont is choosing whatever programs

you want to do, whatever journey you

want to take.

The main attraction in the North is

Mount Baldy; standing 12,441 feet, Baldy

is the tallest mountain on the Ranch.

Climbing Baldy was the most challenging

part of Philmont because a crew needs to

learn how to work as a team while you

are carrying up to 60 pounds up 3,000

feet in a span of four miles.

One of the highlights of the North

Country is a camp called Pueblano. Their

feature attractions are spar pole climbing

(scaling a tree with spiked boots) and log-

gerball, which is an old-fashioned baseball

game where players run the bases back-

wards and throw only underhanded.

One of my friends, Phil Outten, liked

Pueblano the best. He says, “Pueblano

was my favorite because of the spar pole

climbing. I also enjoyed the campfire that

they put together.”

The most interesting camp in the mid-

dle country is called Cimarroncito, which

is a rock climbing camp. You go and boul-

der in the morning and can then return

to camp and show off what you learned

in the rock climbing gym. Nothing quite

like the experience of a rock climbing

gym in the middle of backcountry!

Another infamous attraction is the

Tooth of Time. It’s a giant rock shaped like

a tooth right in the middle of the Ranch.

It provides one of the best views in camp,

with a 360-degree panoramic shot.

The main attraction in the South

Country is Mount Phillips. Phillips is the

second highest mountain on the Ranch,

standing an estimated 11,700 feet. The

trip up isn’t as strenuous but it’s still a

challenge with a 50-60 pound pack on

your back.

The second time my fellow scouts and

I went out, we wanted to do more so we

decided to hike an average of ten or more

miles a day, with our trek equaling almost

105 miles at a time. We went to Pueblano,

up Mount Baldy, Cimmaroncito, and over

the Tooth of Time. My favorite memory

was getting to the top of Mount Baldy

with my father, uncle, and cousin. My fa-

ther and uncle hadn’t been up together in

over 20 years, and seeing the joy they had

on their faces with us was priceless and a

memory I’ll never forget.

Phil enjoyed the view from Tooth of

Time the final day. “I enjoyed watching

the sunrise from the Tooth of Time. Hav-

ing a 360-degree view and seeing the sun

rise was simply amazing,” he says.

If you want to go to Philmont, you will

need to either be a Boy Scout or be in a

venturing crew. It’s much easier to go to

Philmont as a venturing crew. Venturing

crews are not associated with Boy Scout

troops, but they are associated with the

Boy Scouts of America.

You can either join an existing crew in

the area or create a new venturing crew

as long as that new crew registers with

the Boy Scouts of America. Creating one

isn’t difficult. Just find friends that would

be interested and register with the Boy

Scouts of America. More detail on how

to do this can be found online at www.

scouting.org.

Philmont is everything an outdoor type

would love. There are beautiful views,

plenty of activities for a crew to do, and

the potential to grow closer together as

friends while backpacking in the marvel-

ous backcountry of New Mexico. I would

encourage everyone to go out there;

it’s a rare experience worth considering

instead of just going to the beach again

this summer.

By Andrew Huneke | Owl Staff

Philmont:

“Having a 360-degree view and seeing the sun rise was simply amazing.”

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Commemorating the Sesquicentennial of Maryland Emancipation

FEBRUARY - MAY 2014

THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE, MARYLAND, AND BEYONDFa ces o f Fr eedom :

Exhibition | Theatre | Film | Literature | Discussion SERIES

JOIN US!

www.harford.edu/community/hays-heighe-house

This project was made possible by a grant

from the Maryland Humanities Council,

through support from the National

Endowment for the Humanities

1201 Technology Drive, Aberdeen, Maryland 21001 • Tel: 443.360.9200 • www.ucmaryland.com

University Center(formally known as HECC & HEAT CENTER)

The epicenter of education, training and technology along the I-95 corridor in northeast-

ern Maryland, University Center provides a welcoming, growth-centered atmosphere,

where students can choose from a community of leading universities to advance their

education and professionals can access first-class training and meeting resources.

Why wait? Step into your future today.

ucmaryland.com

Your Future. Our Mission.

19

Owl Magazine | SPORTS

WOMEN of IRELANDMarch 9 @ 3PM

Amoss CenterAssigned Seating, $15-$30

Dinosaur Train: Live!February 1 @ 1PM and 4PMAmoss Center

The Monster Who Ate My PeasFebruary 7 @ 7PMAmoss Center

The Winter DoldrumsFebruary 9 @ 3PMChesapeake Theater and Student Center

Sunday Afternoon Concert SeriesFebruary 16 @ 3PMJoppa Hall, Recital Hall #1

An Afternoon in ParisFebruary 16 @ 3PMJoppa Hall, Recital Hall #1

The Healing Journey of a Daughter of Slavery and a Son of the Slave TradeFebruary 19 @ 11:30AMStudent Center, 243

Comedy Night with Adam Hunter and Shang ForbesFebruary 20 @ 7PM Chesapeake Theater

The Princess Bride, LiveFebruary 21, 22, 28, and March 1 @ 8PMFebruary 23 and March 2 @ 3PMChesapeake Theater

Dog Sees GodFebruary 21, 22, 28, March 1st @ 8PMBlack Box Theater, Joppa Hall Room 032

Broadway’s Next Hit Musical February 21 @ 7:30PMAmoss Center

Five Little MonkeysMarch 21 @ 7PMAmoss Center

The Role of the Susquehanna River in the Underground RailroadApril 4 @ 1PM and 7PMChesapeake Theater

Duo VelocipedeApril 6 @ 3PMJoppa Hall, Recital Hall #1

SeussicalApril 11 @ 7PMAmoss Center

Vist tickets.harford.edu for more information.