|
|||||||||||||
Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Citizens of the week
Citizens of the week
Dave and Dot Jelinek walk and recycle
Rain or shine, chances are that on any given day, David and Dorothy (Dave and Dot) Jelinek can be found walking on the mountain.
The Jelineks have lived in the Clarke side of Bluemont since 1976, when they left their previous home in College Park, Md. Both are former joggers who have traded jogging for walking in recent years due to doctors' orders.
Dave, 84, and Dot, 82, usually walk about 2 miles a day, Monday through Saturday, on U.S. 606, also known as River Road. They also sometimes walk on the road leading to the nearby golf course.
Dot said that one day she decided to take a bag, and now makes it a habit to pick up plastic bottles, cans and other recyclable items along the way.
"I concentrate on things that are not too heavy," she said.
They often spot deer, a variety of birds and other animals along the way. They notify the Virginia Department of Transportation when they encounter roadkill that needs to be moved.
The Jelineks enjoy taking in the mountain scenery, and also enjoy the health benefits of daily exercise.
"I want to die young, but I want to put it off as long as possible," Dave said.
Physical activity is no stranger to the Jelineks. They designed and built their house themselves.
Originally from Wisconsin, the couple said they never really thought of Maryland as home. They traveled up and down the east coast, looking for the right place to settle down, and happened upon Clarke County.
"When we found this spot, we knew immediately that it was home," Dot said. "We love it here."
Building the house was a 13-month project, with the couple's three sons helping on weekends. One of their sons had a friend in construction, who enclosed the house in three weeks. The Jelineks did the rest themselves.
"Dave can do anything," Dot said. "I'm a wonderful go-fer and I can swing a hammer."
While the Jelineks were attracted to the beauty and peacefulness of Clarke County, they were also impressed with the people.
"Clarke County is a nice place to live," Dot said. "People here are so friendly."
Dave remembered a time when he went to the then Berryville Lumberyard, which was owned at the time by John Friant Sr., and said he needed a 4-pound sledge.
"They said, 'we don't have one, but we'll make one for you,'" Dave remembered. "That was our first encounter with Clarke County business."
"The people are wonderful to work with," Dot said.
Dave's community involvement has included being a miller at the Burwell Morgan Mill, serving on the Regional Jail Authority and volunteering with fire and rescue.
John Harris, commander of the American Legion Post 41 in Berryville, said he has known the Jelineks for many years and frequently sees them out walking and picking up recyclables.
"They're the nicest couple," Harris said.
Harris and Dave met when both worked together as poll officials.
"He stopped by one day last week when we were walking, when it was very cold, and he was probably thinking we were out of our minds," Dave said.
But unless the weather is quite severe, the Jelineks maintain their routine.
"At a certain point you get proud of it," Dave said, referring the their ages.
"I get restless if I haven't walked," Dot said. "One of my son's friends said to me, you'll outlive us all.'"
-Rebecca Maynard
You must be logged in to post a comment.