Saint Joseph School eighth-grader Adelaida Rodriguez shared her love for learning with the Berkeley County Commission when she served as an honorary member on Feb. 22.
“I love my school; I love learning,” the Falling Waters, W.Va., resident told the local government leaders. “If there is no homework, I’m sad. I really, really like homework.”
She told the commissioners that she is involved in theater at the Martinsburg school, an endeavor that makes her happy and clears her mind. She hopes to attend Spring Mills High School, where she would like to take AP classes, participate in theater and play basketball.
After being sworn in by Commission Vice President Eddie Gochenour, she expressed concern that trash along major thoroughfares such as U.S. 11 and Interstate 81 is damaging Berkeley County’s image.
“It’s turning away tourists,” she said, adding that cleaning up litter and planting more trees could greatly improve the area’s appearance.
Commission President Jim Whitacre told Rodriguez that the county has a litter patrol that works hard to remove trash along roadways and to whom requests can be directed to clean up areas of concern. The interstate is a federal highway and therefore local authorities and residents are not allowed to clean it up, but he acknowledged the importance of keeping the community as neat as possible.
“We get one chance to make a first impression for anyone new coming here,” Whitacre said.
