Tree of Life Synagogue shooting survivor clears new hurdles at Butler Farm Show
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Although Pittsburgh has not fully healed from the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting last October, it showed a furry display of strength.
“I feel a bit stronger every day with the strong support from the community, family, friends and my teammates,” said Timothy Matson, one of four police officers wounded in the shooting on Oct. 27, 2018. “I just did my job.”
Matson, who has been with the Pittsburgh Police Department for 13 years, was one of several law enforcement officers and veterans in the Celebrity Rabbit Hopping Contest on Tuesday at the Butler Farm Show, 625 Evans City Road.
“It was interesting,” Matson said about his first time rabbit hopping. “It's something you certainly don't get to see in the city often.”
The rabbit hopping contest is modeled after horse show jumping, but on a scale to suit rabbits, said Shannon Brandon, leader of Butler Bunni Bunch, a 4-H club of about 45 members.
4-H members train the rabbits to hop over hurdles on a leash. Next, the trainer shows the officer how to help the rabbit as it moves through the timed hurdle course.
The rabbit with the fastest time and least amount of faults is declared the champion.
“Our goal is to celebrate police officers,” Brandon said about this year's celebrities. “We are proud of our law enforcement, and we want to give back,”
Matson and his partner, Olivia Blatt, 14, took fourth place with her Tan rabbit named Almond at 3.7 seconds.Matson's message to the crowd: “No matter how hard it gets, keep pushing.”Brandon said she hopes the interaction between the officers and club members gives the community a positive perception.“A positive interaction makes a positive impact,” she said.“He's amazing,” Brandon said of Matson. “He doesn't think he did anything; his opinion was that he is a civil servant who did his job.”Knoch Middle School eighth-grader Chase Black, who is a club member, competed in his second celebrity hop with his English Spot rabbit named Little D.“She's the best I've had so far,” said Chase, 13, about his rabbit.Chase, who also is the Junior Boys Rabbit representative, said he enjoys meeting new people through the contest.“I think it's cool,” he said about working with this year's officers and veterans. “It's pretty awesome.”Hopping with law enforcement shows the crowd that the club cares about them and thanks them for their service, he said.Chase said he thinks highly of Matson for his actions during the synagogue shooting.“For him to be here tonight, I really appreciate it, especially after something like that happening,” he said. “We'll all thank him for what he did.”The Butler County 4-H is doing a fundraiser to buy new vests for the Butler County K-9 officers, Brandon said. To donate, call the Butler County 4-H Extension Office at 724-287-4761.
Here are the winners of the Celebrity Rabbit Hopping Contest on Tuesday at the Butler Farm Show:- Butler Township Officer Rachel Dovidio teamed with Lily Wassam, and her Mini Rex rabbit Logan took first place with 2.88 seconds.- State Game Warden Larry Hergenroeder teamed with Sage Brunst, and her Holland Lop named Otis took second place with 3.5 seconds.- A Pennsylvania State Trooper teamed with Eliana Blasko, and her rabbit Quicksilver took third place with 3.58 seconds.- Pittsburgh Police Officer Timothy Matson teamed with Olivia Blatt, and her Tan rabbit named Almond took fourth place with 3.7 seconds.
