Published May 20. 2019 12:52PM
For the 65th year in a row a Fishing Party for Special Needs Kids was held at the Germantown Grove Club grounds in Jim Thorpe sponsored by the Dolon Jones Martino American Legion Post 304 and the Germantown Grove Club. In addition to a fishing experience, the children were also treated to lunch, drinks and snacks.
PHOTOS BY BOB FORD/TIMES NEWS
Pat Rodgers talks to the volunteers before the first bus of students shows up for the Special Kids Fishing Party sponsored by the Dolon Jones Martino Post 304 American Legion and the Germantown Grove Club.
Five-year-old Jamison Hunsicker of Weatherly Elementary lands a trout Friday morning.
Harry Gordon, 17, of the Palmerton School District, gets a fist bump from Dave Remmel after landing his third trout Friday morning.
Sabrina Steigerwalt, a senior in CCTI’s Life Skills program, uses a machine donated by retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Tom Frendak and built by Roger Poppin of Florida to help her reel in the fish. Pat Rodgers, left, and Palmerton High School junior Mason Kistler were on hand to help her.
The rain doesn’t stop the volunteers and children with special needs from fishing in the 65th annual Special Kids Fishing Party in the Germantown section of Jim Thorpe.
Sixth-grader Greg Ruslavage watches as Steve Springer of Jim Thorpe removes the 17-inch trout from the hook that Ruslavage reeled in at the Special Kids Fishing Party.
After fishing the children go to the fileting station where volunteers are on hand to process the fish and bag the kids’ filets.
Sydney Miller, 14, filets a trout as Nick Zurawa, 16. watches Friday morning. The longtime volunteers referred to them as the next generation to take the torch and continue the fishing party.
Martin Hodge, 16, from the Carbon Career & Technical Institute Life Skills program celebrates catching his second fish of the morning.
Brian Haselden, 17, shows his excitement as Silas Costenbader, left, a junior at CCTI, helps him land a trout.
Pat Rodgers shows a trout to Sabrina Steigerwalt, a senior in CCTI’s Life Skills program, that she caught using a machine to help her reel in the fish.