You can get Justin Startzel to talk about almost anything. If you really want to hear him talk enthusiastically, just ask him about his hometown of Tamaqua.

Evidence of Startzel’s enthusiasm isn’t hard to find in this small town of 7,000. His creations line the road that leads to his alma mater, Tamaqua Area High School. During the 2018-19 school year, Broad Street has been decorated with blue and white flags and ribbons and Blue Raider banners hanging in businesses throughout the town.

“Whenever I’m not working, I’m doing something for the community,” says the 29-year-old.

Indeed, Startzel has kept himself busy and in the public eye in as many ways as one can imagine. He has organized community cleanups and pep rallies. He also organized the biggest “white-out” the Tamaqua football team has ever experienced.

“Valley Athletic Supply came to me and said they would make T-shirts for the white out. We sold hundreds of them.”

His reach has gone outside the borders of Tamaqua, too. Six years ago, he started a Facebook page for the Tamaqua football team. The page has close to 5,000 people following it and a reach of 33,000.

This year, he began livestreaming the team’s games and says he has alumni all over the country tuning in.

“We even had someone in Kuwait watching a game.”

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Justin. His fondness for his alma mater and community service nearly came to an end in his junior year, when he quit high school.

“High school is all about fitting in, and I didn’t fit in anywhere. I come from a poor and troubled family. I had a bad case of acne, didn’t participate in any extracurricular activities and wasn’t really part of the school community. I was bullied, a lot,” he remembers.

Even though he faced so many problems, his heart drove him to community service during those dreaded teen years.

“Growing up in the South Ward part of town, I spent a lot of time at the South Ward Playground. Jackie “Nannie” Jones and Michelle (Mehallic) were my safety nets. They knew my family issues and constantly told me not to let them drag me down. They offered love, support and guidance, but also chastised me when I did something dumb. They showed me how giving back to the community also benefited me as a person.” Startzel repaid that support by spending a lot of time at the playground, not playing, but working. His holiday displays were amazing, especially at Christmas.

The playground became his escape from the issues at home, but there were still the problems at school.

So, he quit and went to work at Walmart. He did well there and was named produce manager, “But it didn’t take long for me to realize I wanted more, and to be successful, I needed to finish school.”

With that choice made, he went back to the high school and spoke with then-Principal Ruth Ann Gardiner, guidance counselor Frank Dickman and school nurse Cathy Miorelli.

“They were all super supportive. Cathy was a second mom to me. She is a big reason I am who I am today,” he says with reverence as wide as his smile. “She has such a good soul.”

Upon his return, he threw himself into studies and school activities. “In my senior year, I had more of a sense of pride. A lot of what I do now is to make up for what I missed in high school. I participated in a number of activities, including drama club. I became the school’s sports mascot, dressing up in an eagle costume. Some people still laughed at me, but others gave me the confidence I needed. I studied hard.”

The studies paid off. Startzel graduated with high honors. That last year of high school taught him a lot, especially the importance of being a part of the community. That love of community still drives him today.

With so much community service under his belt, it’s no surprise he sees a career in politics as a possibility. He has already served as a junior councilman while he was attending Tamaqua High School and a term as a full councilman, having been elected in 2012 as the youngest person to serve as a borough councilman.

He cut his term as borough councilman short, serving only two years of a four-year term, giving up the seat to join the Pennsylvania National Guard.

He credits the Guard and its discipline with helping him to become a better person. He achieved the rank of specialist E-4 and serves in the Guard as a supply specialist with the 109th Alpha Battery based in Plymouth.

“The Guard got me beyond the borders of Tamaqua and really helped me to push my limits.”

After working for two Hazleton-area firms, he now serves as the manager of DiMaggio’s La Dolce Casa on Broad Street. He started as a delivery driver but was promoted to manager just three short months later. He enjoys being surrounded by the people in this role. “You can get the sense of community in this restaurant.”

While he knew it’s not what he wants to do long-term, the job brought him back to where he loves to be — downtown Tamaqua. He recently accepted a position with Lowe’s Home Improvement Co.

He wants nothing more than to continue his community spirit activities and insists it goes way beyond just the high school and its sports teams.

“Tamaqua has come a long way over the last few years, and I love how it comes together so quickly whenever anything bad happens. No hesitation. I think other communities are envious.”

Startzel has faced a lot of adversity in his relatively young life, but he hasn’t allowed it to drag him down.

“My past is my past. I’ve learned that you don’t have to follow family down the wrong road. You can rise above your hardships by making good choices. And, if you make a bad choice, you can always change your life for the better. Every day is a learning experience if you open your heart and mind.”

Paul Cwalina contributed to this report.