2 minute read
The Weather Bug
Joe Fink has never had a big television news debut as a weatherman, but this hasn’t weakened the powerful and passionate storm inside of him for weather.
His love for it struck him initially when he was a child, and he’s been enthusiastic about weather ever since.
“I was close with my uncle, who was a geography and weather schoolteacher for junior and senior high. He was always pointing out cloud formations, and that put the weather bug into me,” Joe said. “It hung on from that point on.”
Now, Joe has taken this love to Masonic Village at Elizabethtown by having his own weather station right outside of his apartment in the Smith North Building. The weather station stands 10 feet tall, is battery operated and continuously updates through an app.
“It transmits into the house display and transmits online to the Weatherunderground app. There are numerous features, and it can detect lightning strikes Joe said the app allows him to access the different features, and, as a result, he’s able to easily follow along with the weather any time of the day.
Prior to living at Masonic Village, Joe had a weather station for five years at his York County home. He’s had about four or five weather stations in total throughout his life.
Navigating weather stations is no problem for Joe, as he considers himself a “tech savvy” individual and worked in electronics for 40 years. Currently, he’s the “go-to man” for electronics in his apartment building.
Joe is just as interested in being involved at Masonic Village as he is in weather. He’s also the Retirement Living Association building representative and uses his technology skills to volunteer his help with the lights, camera and sound in Deike auditorium.
Joe’s involvement with Job’s Daughters youth group for 30 years piqued his interest in living at Masonic Village.
“This place has been very special to me. When I lived in Maytown, I spent a lot of my time here because I was always amazed with the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown,” Joe said. “I remember seeing the gentlemen sitting outside on the porch at Grand Lodge Hall, when they used to dress up in white shirts and ties, wishing that I might live here someday. Living here has been a dream fulfiller.”
Joe also dressed up as Santa this past year and visited apartments and residents all over campus during the holidays. He said he enjoys bringing residents joy and helping them feel involved, too.
“I started being Santa in York County, and I have my own Santa suit,” Joe said. “It’s been a family tradition.”
Joe has lived around the area the majority of his life and graduated from Donegal High School. He also served in the U.S. Navy for eight years. Despite whatever he’s a part of, the weather bug stays with him.
“Lots of times, I go into the dining room and the guys I know ask me how the weather is doing,” Joe said. “Being a weatherman must be the best job ever. What other job can you be wrong every day and still keep your job?”
