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It’s worth taking a moment and doing my job

When I started this job, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I hadn’t worked here in years.

In the past, I’d written stories and taken photos as a staff writer.

I had my “beats.”

Those places I was continuously assigned to go.

It was my responsibility to attend city council and school board meetings.

It was my duty to follow along and understand what everyone was trying to get across.

Through the disagreements. Amid the arguments. After a long-winded discussion back and forth.

It was my job to tell you what was going on in the world.

At least … in our little corner of the Ohio Valley.

But today, I don’t have a particular “beat.”

I edit submissions I receive from the community. Hence, the community editor title.

Sure, I write a few feature articles here and there.

And I have my Valley Life stories and these columns in the Sunday paper.

But mostly, it is my task to rewrite what other people send me in an e-mail or take down information that comes over the telephone or through snail mail.

I think you would be surprised at the amount of requests I receive.

Believe me, I do try to get in most of what I receive. But once in a while, it simply has to be a judgment call.

Like if something is unique. I would be interested in covering that so I can tell you about it.

But if it is something that everyone else in the area can also do or it has been done time and time again, then it doesn’t really warrant me writing about it.

Case in point … I had a lady call me about her grandson who was making a Halloween display.

She explained how hard he works on it and his love for making the props.

She said it is what makes him happy.

My initial response, truth be told, was thinking that I’m pretty certain most of the people around here are decorating for Halloween.

And I can’t possibly do a story on everyone.

I told her I would speak to my editor about it and call her back.

But as I hung up, I started thinking about my children.

What if one of them did something for which they were so proud and someone brushed them off with a nice pleasantry and wound up breaking their heart?

What if they poured their heart and soul into creating something and no one was ever around to see it, let alone appreciate it?

I would never want to do that. To anyone’s child.

She had simply asked me if I could take a photo and perhaps write a couple of sentences about him and his love for Halloween.

That certainly wouldn’t be an inconvenience to me.

Not in the least.

So, if you happened to read anything above this fold, you would see that I called her back.

I went over to his house on Hindman Lane in Weirton on Thursday afternoon and met with Anthony Suttinger.

He reminds me of my son, Dylan.

I am so glad that I went.

So polite and respectful. Kind of shy and has a quiet way about him.

His displays are amazing. And not just amazing for an 18-year-old to have done these past couple of years. But amazing.

They are thought-provoking.

Each one placed in its respective theme in the yard.

It is my hope that people will stop by his house and simply walk through his display.

I believe it would mean the world to him. That somebody would take a couple of minutes out of one day in their lifetime to make him feel like his work is valued?

That is someone I would like to meet.

Because his work should be appreciated.

It should be seen.

However, it rarely is.

And that kind of breaks my heart.

His parents happen to live on a street that doesn’t receive very many trick-or-treaters.

And he tries so hard.

It is quite evident when looking at each and every piece.

And that is kind of difficult to do, seeing as how there is just so much to see and so much detail in each and every themed room on the tour.

So, for nobody to even take an opportunity and go look at what he has created — a project he has literally spent his lifetime doing … that just isn’t right in my book.

Yes, I have a book. Just kidding about that.

The time it has taken him to make this haunted house for the public is overwhelming. I certainly wouldn’t have that kind of patience.

This isn’t just a hobby for him, either. It isn’t something he throws together a couple of weeks before Halloween.

Far from it.

Anthony saws, cuts, paints, creates, bargain shops and watches videos almost every day of the year.

For this one holiday that is over in the blink of an eye.

So, please … don’t blink.

I would hate for the day to have come and gone without anyone seeing something so wonderful.

That wonder is not just in his creations … but in his gift.

It shouldn’t be missed.

Anthony said he plans to have everything lit up and ready between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Happy Halloween, Anthony.

And Happy Halloween to all of you who choose to celebrate.

(Stenger is the community editor for the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times. She can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)

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