Bill Rockhill eyeing a future in logging and forestry

High School senior, Bill Rockhill, 18 of Woodgate, will graduate in June after attending the Town of Webb School since kindergarten.

His future plans are to attend college and among the schools he considered were SUNY/School of Environmental Science and Forestry, and Morrisville State College.

“I’ve been accepted at Paul Smiths and that’s where I plan to go to college to major in Forestry Industry and Operations,” he said.

After finishing college he plans to go west to work in the logging industry.

“I’ve always loved being in the woods. It’s something I enjoy,” he said

He has worked with his father, Bill Rockhill of Bear Creek Carpentry in Woodgate, for several years. “And we actually did a bit of logging when we had to clear land to build a house,” he said.

“We also had a sawmill to cut our own lumber for building houses and cabins.”

One of his dreams, he said, is to live in a cabin with a wood stove and a bed, and no power.

Attending the Town of Webb School has been a good experience, he said.

“I loved it. I love the area and all my friends are here, and the teachers are great. You ask for help and you get it right away.”

A favorite teacher who has inspired him is gym teacher, Nate Smith. “He really kept my mind on sports and with keeping my grades up.”

Bill’s school sports have included soccer and skiing. “I’ve done soccer and downhill skiing since I could walk,” he said.

Two years ago he joined the cross country team. “And I had some fun with that. This year I wanted to ski downhill, just on my own, and not race,” he said.

In the spring he competed in track and field, a sport he has participated in since 9th grade.

On graduation day he’ll be relieved that it’s finally over, he said, “but I know there’s a lot more school to come before I’m actually done.”

He is the son of Nancy Rockhill and Bill Rockhill of Woodgate. He has two brothers, Michael, 20 and Connor, 16, and a sister Melissa, who is 12.

 

Rex Rimato plans for science, music interests beyond graduation

High School Senior Rex Rimato has been a student at the Town of Webb School since 9th grade, after moving with his family from Vero Beach, Florida.

“We always had a house here and spent our summers here,” he said, adding that the Town of Webb School was a definite improvement over his Florida school.

And it didn’t take long for him to get used to Adirondack winters because he loves to ski, he said.

Rex was a member of the Alpine Ski Team, but this season his skiing was cut short when he broke his collarbone while skiing down Challenger on the first day that McCauley Mountain opened.

He misses it, he said, but skiing is still in his future.

“I applied to a lot of colleges with good ski areas,” he said. Those schools included University of Vermont in Burlington, Montana State University, Lewis & Clark University in Portland, Oregon, and he’s been accepted by Alaska Pacific in Anchorage to major in Marine Biology.

At the time of this interview, Rex hadn’t made a final decision as to which college he would attend, “but I will probably major in Biology somewhere,” he said.

His school sports have also included soccer and he competed on the track and field team this spring.

He is a member of Varsity Club, Key Club and Student Council.

For the past several summers he has worked at DiOrio’s Super Market.

A favorite class at school is AP Biology taught by Ron Smith.

“My favorite teacher is Jed Kinney who influenced me to do better in school, and Mr. Allen as well.”

Music is also important in his life and he plays the electric guitar in the Stage Band at school.

“I’ve been messing around with some electronic stuff and putting regular audio into my computer,” he said. “Then I use my computer to add the sounds I want. I use that when I’m playing guitar to add my own accompaniment.”

A cousin who produces music in San Francisco has been helping him with the project, “and it works perfect,” Rex said, adding that he plays mostly rock.

His father-a musician/songwriter & performer, whose stage name was Robert Hazard, and who passed away two years ago-wrote and recorded “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” It was a bestselling song for pop singer Cyndi Lauper.

Rex said, his father definitely inspired his interest in music.

“I was really self-taught. I’d just watch him, and we’d jam and stuff.”

Rex also does vocals and he is considering music production as a minor in college.

He is anxious to graduate and move on, he said. “I’ll miss Old Forge and the people, but I know that college will be cool, and I’m ready,” he said.

Rex has an older brother, Remy. He is the son of Susan Rimato of Old Forge and the late Robert (Hazard) Rimato.