Hello
everyone. I hope your New Years' is off to a
wonderful start.
Speaking of
wonderful starts, a handful of McCarty Metro subscribers have
joined me in losing weight and being more healthy in 2016.
I am so proud of them. So
far, as a group, we have lost over 40 pounds,
have shared tips, advice and supported each other to live a healthier
lifestyle. Feel free to hop in. The water's fine. The challenge goes
until
June 1. You can check The McCarty
Metro Biggest Loser link at the bottom of each
page.
We are also
wrapping up the McCarty
Metro Pigskin Pickem challenge. We had 30
people participate this year, trying to be the best at
picking the winning NFL teams each week. Our game will
culminate at the end of the Super Bowl on 2/7 and our
champion will be announced. Thank you to all that played
this season.
My brothers and I had our annual
trek to Las Vegas after the Christmas holidays. Rick, Larry,
Jerry and Steve joined me and fellow subscriber Robert for a
long weekend in sin city. We had a blast. Can't wait until
next year.
Margaret and I also
celebrated her birthday by taking a Royal Caribbean cruise from Tampa,
Florida to Mexico, and back. We had stops in Cozumel and
Costa Maya. The weather was great, the food was great, and
we had just a wonderful time. We met some fun people on the
ship, and the crew was fantastic. Unfortunately, as soon as
we got back home.... The snow came (my apologies to the east
coast).
UHY Care's
is sponsoring the annual Dan McCarty Texas Holdem event on
February 23rd. I am really looking forward to the event,
and being able to see some old friends, all while raising money for such a
wonderful local charity like UHY Cares!. If you don't have plans
for that
evening, why not come out and have some fun. No card
playing experience is necessary, and I'll be hanging out
in the losers lounge soon enough. Check out all the information on
our DMGC
Texas Holdem page.
When
preparing this page each month, I try to think of a great
story which offers inspiration to me and hopefully our
readers, and I call it "My Final Thought". This month, I didn't have to look too far, as one
of my biggest inspirations was born less than two years
after me. Jerry McCarty is a great guy and has been a joy to be around all
these years. We have always had each other's back, whether
known as Little Guys, Tabo & Jabo, Banana Splits
members, R.A.D.A.R. organizers, disc jockeys, and fellow Cockroaches. I was torn up when I heard the news
from Jerry in December. After getting his diagnosis, Jerry has worked
hard to come out on top, all while still putting others
first, spreading his humor and still making others
feel important and good about themselves. Even though
distance-wise, we are apart, I hope he knows I still have
has back. I am 100% sure with his phenomenal
strength, the strength and love from Kathlene, Dana and
Evan, and the strength, support, and prayers from the rest
of his family, his friends, and all the readers here on
the McCarty Metro, Jerry will still be on top in his (Jerry's) world,
writing is tweets, doing his radio show, helping the
community, writing Peanut and Jocko potty jokes, and Cockroach tunes (not
necessarily in that order) for a long, long... long time. Here is a
recent article about Jer from the Santa Clarita Valley
News this past month...
ARTICLE
FROM THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY NEWS
Valencia
resident Jerry McCarty is as passionate about
volunteering at the William S. Hart Union High
School District as he is about the manufacturing
industry.
“I
love showing them that manufacturing is an
option,” McCarty said of working with Hart
district students. “Schools usually direct kids
to go to college, and I just think manufacturing
is an alternative way where they can make good
money or decide to go to college after starting
their careers.”
The
54-year-old chief operating officer for SMTCLA, an
advanced technology machines manufacturing company
that has an office in Valencia, said he
particularly gets a kick out of showing students
how to operate the $80,000 machine his firm
donated to Saugus High School. It’s the same
machine that’s used by Apple to make iPhones and
iPads.
“Kids
today have really good ideas, and I want to show
them how their ideas can come true,” McCarty
said in a phone interview Friday.
It’s
his passion and love for mentoring that led
officials with the Hart district to honor McCarty
at a board meeting this week for his years of
contributions, particularly with his involvement
in the district’s Advance Technologies Pathway,
a manufacturing program for students in the school
district.
McCarty
said that he was touched by all the kind words and
certificates he received, but became very
emotional when students from Valencia High School
discussed their cancer fundraiser with the board
before he was recognized.
McCarty
was diagnosed with spinal cancer recently and is
currently undergoing chemotherapy.
“I’ve
lost all my hair and 30 pounds,” he said.
“It’s tough. And I have to admit I’ve seen
other people go through it, but I didn’t know it
was going to be this much pain. It’s just really
tough. I just want to beat this thing.”
But
McCarty said he is not giving up.
“You
know, I’m still working,” he said. “I also
travel a lot for work so that keeps me going.
Also, there’s my wife and kids. And I play
basketball a lot.”
For
a couple of years, McCarty has provided equipment
and volunteered as a guest speaker for the
district’s annual Manufacturing Day at College
of the Canyons.
“Last
year, I got a chance to speak to the kids and show
them how to use the same machines that our
high-profile clients use,” McCarty said. “I
showed them what Jay Leno makes with his machines
and what will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas makes
with the machines. They enjoyed it.”
Hart
district board member Joe Messina spoke highly of
McCarty’s efforts during this week’s
recognition and said the district was lucky to
have him as a source.
“I’ve
known Jerry for five to six years,” Messina
said. “We’ve been blessed to have him at our
school district. He has a passion for the kids. He
understands them and knows that this trade will
help them get a great job in something they love
to do.”
Here's to my brother and
best friend, Jerry
McCarty... Cheers!
