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On Broadway
(Lake)
By Pete Wachsberger
 Of
rain and reign
It rained ... finally. Even though it came at a high
cost to Florida, which got the brunt of Tropical Storm Fay, and
there was some significant damage around Clemson, we at last got a
bit of relief from the drought which recently reached record
proportions. Of course, Broadway Lake, is independent from the
Savannah River System which Hartwell is part of, so it is less
vulnerable to the effects of human engineering projects which
attempt to balance recreation, water supply, navigation, and other
needs. Nevertheless, Broadway is not immune. It, too,
has its depth gauge which is devoid of water to measure. To launch
your boat, you have to back farther down the ramp than you did a few
years ago. So, while it may be wishful thinking that this freak of
nature (a record four separate landfalls) signals an end to the
drought, folks around Broadway Lake are no less encouraged than are
those around Hartwell, Keowee, Jocassee, and Lanier.
Whether this relief will last remains to be seen. As
of this writing, Gustav is gathering strength, and is projected to
possibly arrive in the area around New Orleans as a category 3,
three years almost to the day after Katrina. Will it bring more
relief? If it does, will it be worth the cost? We all bled a bit
when Katrina hit, and she didn’t do squat for our drought.
OK, enough about that stuff. This space has always
tried to be at least somewhat light-hearted, and there’s no tasteful
way to joke about droughts and Katrina.
I had hoped that this month, I’d be able to tell of a
confirmed sighting, and positive identification of, Broadway Joe.
But, that legendary drama has apparently come to intermission.
Perhaps Joe is aware of the humans who are hunting him with cameras
and instruments much more lethal and is laying low. As we talked
about last month, there is much disagreement as to his (we make an
assumption here; it may actually turn out to be Broadway Jo)
species, size, or actual existence. With as many sightings as there
have been, I tend to believe that there is something out there, but
I kind of exhausted that topic last month, and don’t wish to become
a summer rerun.
So, in my desire to bring you some news that if not
funny, is at least worthy of being called “good news,” I’m going to
stretch a bit. Actually, not that far, just to the Nevitt Forest
neighborhood, which is just a short distance from Broadway Lake.
For, in that neighborhood dwells a truly delightful creature, one
which, unlike Broadway Joe, is a confirmed legend in her own
time. Taylor Hanna Fitch, a 17-year-old senior at
Belton-Honea Path High, lives there. But, confirmed sightings of
Taylor in her habitat for the next year will probably be as rare as
those of Broadway Joe. For she was recently crowned Miss America’s
Outstanding Teen. Yes, that is the Miss America that is included in
her title. It’s the teen version of the same title. She now is
committed and obligated to making appearances all over the country
for the next year. She somehow also has to balance that with
maintaining her honor roll GPA, and somehow squeezing in a bit of
“normal life.”
I have been privileged to watch, and be a small part
of, this legend for the past several years. When she became the
spokesperson for Easter Seals, for which my partner, Michelle King,
and I were official photographers, we knew that she was something
special. When she came to us for assistance in producing photography
and layout for the ad pages which all contestants are required to
sell and produce for the program book, we were honored. We asked
her permission to name her “Official Face of Bergerking Photography”
and she graciously consented. Now, for the next year she will
reign, and therefore she belongs to the Miss America Organization;
we have to get their permission before we can photograph or
interview her in her official role. So, Broadway Lake’s claim to any
part of her legend is tenuous at best, but, hey, everybody loves a
winner, and there’s no more lovable winner than Taylor Fitch. For
she is one of a kind in the world of beauty queens. While anyone who
follows such things knows that talent sets Miss America apart from
the other programs, few are aware that these young ladies also have
to have a platform of good works. Taylor’s platform, Overcoming
Challenges: Heart, Mind, and Hands, has brightened the lives of
countless special needs children in this area, and unlike many
contestants who come up with a platform to advance their pageant
dreams, Taylor came up with entry into pageants as a way to advance
the platform which is her passion.
Ironically, the Miss America program has a platform
of its own, the Children’s Miracle Network, which Taylor now has to
simultaneously promote, so she can now devote less time to her own
area of focus, which includes a program of her own design, “See
Others Soar.” That, when fully implemented will be a system of
recruiting high school age “buddies” for special needs kids.
Sorry Joe, you’re a fun story, but your legend pales
in comparison to the legend of Taylor Fitch. Now, if we can just get
her to stop by for a photo with the Broadway Lake in the background
...
As always, I’d love to get your
thoughts on this, and on anything else I might write about. My
e-mail:
pete@bergerkingstudio.com.
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