The PA Wilds in Harrisburg – A Future Constituent’s View

by Guest Contributor
April 2, 2019
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Sadie Martonik, a 4th grader from Kane, McKean County, shares her experience visiting the State Capitol in Harrisburg with a delegation from the Pennsylvania Wilds. The delegation included staff of the PA Wilds Center, families and “future constituents” Sadie Martonik; Max and Cole Enos (11 years old and 6 years old), sons of PA Wilds Center Executive Director Ta Enos and Leonard Enos; and Sadie’s sister, 6-month-old Sloane Lewis, daughter of Communications Director Kristin Lewis and Boyd Lewis.

(Pictured – PA Wilds Delegation with Senator Scarnati, Pennsylvania State Senate Chamber)

I am proud to live in the Pennsylvania Wilds. -Sadie Martonik

I went to Harrisburg on March 28th with my family and my mom’s coworkers, who work for the PA Wilds Center. We met with Senator Scarnati, and went to a PA Wilds art exhibit in the Capitol Rotunda.

In the morning, we met with Senator Scarnati in his office and talked about so many things happening in the PA Wilds. He took us down to see the Senate floor, where laws for Pennsylvania are worked on. It was exciting!

I am proud to live in the PA Wilds. It is a beautiful, creative and fun place. It is also peaceful with small towns, and trees and animals. There are lots of successful businesses here too, such as The Laughing Owl Press, Highland Chocolates, Alabaster Coffee Roaster & Tea Company and Heron.

We went to an art show in the Capitol Rotunda with 200 photo tiles of these businesses, and many more. The art show was called PA Wilds Creative Makers. Speakers talked about these special businesses, and about the PA Wilds. There were samples from makers, including chocolate from Highland Chocolates, maple covered nuts from Millers Maple and coffee from Alabaster. I was really happy to see so many people interested in the PA Wilds!

“The work my mom does is really important. I’m starting to understand better everything she does.” -Max Enos, son of PA Wilds Center Executive Director Ta Enos

I agree the work is very important, and the PA Wilds has an amazing team to help our communities grow and stay strong.

We even saw elk on our way home! This was an amazing family trip that I will always remember.

Pictured: Future Constituents Sadie Martonik and Max Enos

About the Author:

Sadie is the 9-year-old daughter of Kristin and Boyd Lewis and Mike and Jessica Martonik. Sadie attends 4th grade at the Kane Area Elementary School, and is active in Girl Scouts. In 2018, she raised $810 for the St. Jude Math-A-Thon by organizing a t-shirt fundraiser with shirts designed and produced by a PA Wilds Creative Maker, Icyy Ink Screen Printing & Embroidery in Warren, PA (Warren County).