Center Township man performs yard work during neighbor’s military deployment
CENTER TWP — Amy Horne doesn’t even have to ask her son for help with chores around the house — he is always working on something, whether it’s urgent or not.
The 26-year-old Ethan Horne, of Center Township, is now lending his penchant for house and yard work to some neighbors, one of whom is going to be deployed with the U.S. Army for about a year.
And while Dean Callender, who is in the Army National Guard, said he would bring Ethan a souvenir as thanks, Ethan said he is happy to do the yard work for nothing.
“I heard what the husband did and he was looking for someone to cut their lawn... so I came in and said something,” Ethan Horne said Monday, Nov. 2, while taking a break from mowing the neighbor’s lawn. “Hearing what he does and was looking for someone, I just thought it would be nice to do it.”
Ethan, who said he works a few jobs, including landscape work, doesn’t have any qualms about doing this work for free because he understands the sacrifice Dean Callender is making by serving in the military.
Callender’s wife, Brittany Callender, said Ethan’s help is greatly appreciated because she has young children and a relatively large yard. Having him help for a year — through the winter and the summer — was more than she could have asked for, Brittany said.
“He's been great, I don't know what we would have done without him,” Brittany said. “With the kids it's hard to get out there for me.”
Amy noted the couple has young children and said she can imagine the difficulty Beth Callender would have in keeping up with household tasks on her own.
“My other son has two babies that are the same age,” Amy said. “Just to think that this could be him and she could be doing this all by herself, too.”
The Callender children have taken to Ethan already, with Brittany saying they like to see him mow the lawn.
“My boys love when he comes and cuts the grass. They bring their little lawn mowers out next to him,” Brittany Callender said.
Ethan said he likes working outside and mowing the lawn of an Army soldier is no problem to do for free. It takes about two hours to mow the lawn, he said.
He is also planning to do some work over the winter as well. Amy commented her son actually enjoys shoveling snow from their driveway - a fact that Ethan agreed with. Other yard tasks are up for discussion, too.
“I'll probably see what kind of happens and we'll just go from there,” Ethan said of his plans for the cold months.
Amy said her husband, Ethan’s dad, died about 16 years ago. Since then, it has been Ethan who has taken on a majority of chores, without even having to be told.
Ethan can often be found outside working around the yard. Amy said he knocks out some tasks even when he could probably wait a little, such as shoveling snow.
“Sometimes I say, 'You really don't have to do that today,' but he's like, 'Oh no, I want to keep it looking nice,’” Amy said. “It always does look nice.”
Amy said she is proud to see Ethan take on the task of doing yard work for a neighbor in need.
“He has been such a help to me because we have a pretty decent sized yard and I never even have to ask him to mow or do anything else around the house. He's just out there,” Amy said.
