Interactive Murals and Welcome Sign Enhance Milroy CommunityInteractive Murals and Welcome Sign Enhance Milroy Community The Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Institute has created vibrant murals and a welcoming sign in Milroy, enhancing the community’s aesthetics and providing unique photo opportunities. Field Murals Armagh Memorial Field now boasts two interactive murals on its bleachers: * A blue bleacher features a fish on a line with the inscription “Milroy.” * A butterfly mural with the words “Milroy” and “Mifflin County” on its wings. Visitors can pose between the butterfly wings for memorable pictures. Wendy Kerstetter led the mural project, with assistance from other class members. Welcome to Milroy Sign Along old Route 322, a new “Welcome to Milroy” sign welcomes visitors and enhances the area’s revitalization efforts. The sign was designed by the class and fabricated by Bryson’s Stuff. Community Impact The projects were funded byMCS Bank and Overhead Door Co. of Nittany Valley. The chamber’s Executive Director, Rhonda Kelley, praised the Leadership Institute class for their hard work and dedication. Roxanne Garrett, a class member, expressed that the institute fosters connections and empowers individuals to contribute to their communities. Adam Weaver emphasized that the program instills a commitment to local improvement and service, recognizing that leadership is about empowering others.
Photo courtesy of the JUNIATA RIVER VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Emily Weaver, left, and Wendy Kerstetter paint each side of the butterfly mural at Armagh Memorial Field in Milroy. Weaver was from Kish Valley Grace Brethren Church, with Kerstetter of The Christian Retreat Center.
MILROY — Anyone who has visited Armagh Memorial Field knows there are plenty of baseballs flying around the friendly confines during the summer months.
Now, thanks to a community service project by the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute, there are also some other things fluttering about on newly painted murals.
As part of their eight-month program, the chamber’s third Leadership Institute class was recently asked to develop a community project. That included planning the project, identifying partners and locating funding to cover expenses.
The class’s idea was to create interactive murals at the heavily utilized ballfield, bringing color and life to the bleachers and allowing visitors to see depictions of several iconic community landmarks on each mural.
“I am so very proud of our chamber Leadership Institute’s community projects this year,” said Rhonda Kelley, executive director of the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce, of the murals which were unveiled in May. “The group worked very hard to see their vision come to fruition.”
Photo courtesy of the JUNIATA RIVER VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute’s third class, which recently graduated, are pictured at Armagh Memorial Field in Milroy. The class included (front row from left): Lori McMonigal, Stevie Miller, Alison Longenecker, Jennifer Sunday, Roxanne Garrett, Wendy Kerstetter and Sarah King; and back row: Susan Yohn, Ashley Legradi, Robin White, Kenda Haas, Emily Weaver, Adam Weaver, Alyssa Williams and Randa Reifer. Holding the fishing rod is Randy Traxler.
One end of the outfield bleachers features a mural with a pole hooking a fish in a local waterway with a banner that reads “Milroy” above it. The blue color of the bleachers provided the perfect backdrop.
Randy Traxler, of NuVisions Center in Lewistown, playfully pretends to reel in the oversized fish for a marketing photo.
At the other end, butterfly wings surrounded by clouds were painted on the bleachers. The left wing features the bright colors and design of a real butterfly, along with the word “Milroy” painted on it.
The right wing features “Mifflin County” along with iconic symbols like a goose head for Goose Day, deer and trees to represent the rural area and, of course, a baseball for the rich sports tradition.
Visitors can stand between the two wings for a cool photo opportunity, where it appears they have wings.
Photo courtesy of the JUNIATA RIVER VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Randy Traxler gives the new ‘Welcome to Milroy’ sign a shine.
The hashtag – #JRV Leadership – and the chamber’s logo are also incorporated into the design.
Kelley said Wendy Kerstetter, of The Christian Retreat Center in East Waterford, was the main artist. Others certainly helped to fill in the design.
The second project was to create and install a “Welcome to Milroy” sign along old Route 322 near the entrance to Milroy and the Veteran’s Memorial. The class designed the sign, which was then fabricated by Bryson Wagner, of Bryson’s Stuff in Granville.
“They recognized the improvements already taking place in the Reedsville-Milroy area and wanted to add to the progress,” Kelley added.
Kelley said MCS Bank was the primary sponsor of the sign, and Overhead Door Co. of Nittany Valley and Milroy OIP sponsored the mural.
The project was certainly rewarding for those in the class, including Roxanne Garrett, communications coordinator for the Mifflin-Juniata Regional Services Corp. – The Care Network in Yeagertown.
“The leadership institute is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about community resources, our rich local history, and the people who are contributing to the area’s success and development,” Garrett said. “The program is a valuable tool for making connections within the class and networking outside of our individual industries.”
Completing the projects and the program was a meaningful experience for Adam Weaver, of the Providence Mortgage Group in Milroy.
“The leadership institute has meant a commitment to the betterment of our hometown,” Weaver explained. “Spending time learning about leadership, our region, and the strengths and opportunities locally, allows us as leaders to be in a better position to pour into our community, our businesses, and our people, and serving people is what the essence of leadership is really about.”
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