City Faces in Different Places
By Michelle Duez on February 02, 2014 from City Faces
I'm a believer in the concept that things happen for a reason. Today I went to two different businesses in town and couldn't find anyone from Bridgeport. I went to McDonalds hoping the third time would be a charm and my instinct was correct. I stopped at two tables and again, people weren't from Bridgeport. At the third table sat Tom and Josh Rhine. I've known the Rhines for seven years. Their son Noah and my son Mark played on the same Bridgeport Little League CBall All Star team in 2007. I've always said hi to Josh but I never had the opportunity to really to get to know him. Today was a blessing and a funny coincidence. Please take a moment to get to know my friend Josh Rhine and why it's a coincidence I interviewed him today, Superbowl Sunday.
How long have you lived in Bridgeport? Sixteen years, since 1998. He's a 2012 BHS graduate.
Where are you originally from? Josh was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. His dad Tom was a Captain in the Air Force and Little Rock was his first post. They moved to Ormond Beach, Florida and then to Bridgeport.
Family? Tom and Tana Rhine, parents; older brother Zach, 2011 BHS graduate; younger brothers Nathan, a senior at BHS and Noah, a freshman at BHS.
What is your favorite color? Green
Where do you work? On Monday mornings, you can find Josh at Sheetz on Johnson Avenue. He works in the coffee bar stocking cups, cleaning the counters, refilling the coffee and most importantly, making the customers feel welcome and getting to know them. He and his dad claim he makes the best coffee and run the world famous Sheetz coffee bar. He also works three days a week at Empowerment for Employment Workshop making things out of wood and shredding.
Favorite Bridgeport spot? City Park. Josh loves to ride his bike along the trails, talk with his friends and most of all, watch the trains that frequently run along the park’s edge.
Favorite WV spot outside of Bridgeport? Grafton is top on list for Josh. He and his dad like visiting the CSX train yard a couple times a month.
Favorite place outside of WV? The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in Cumberland, Maryland and Altoona, Pennsylvania, where is grandfather used to live, to see the horseshoe curve railroad tracks in the mountains. The train station is also very big in Altoona and has many things to see.
Pets? Josh and his dog Lucky are very close. Lucky is a Black Lab.
Hobbies? Riding bikes and learning about railroads and trains – especially CSX. He was reading a CSX train manual when I stopped to talk to him and his dad. Josh is also a pinball wizard and likes to play the crane/claw machines. His advice is, “Be the crane.”
Interesting fact about you? Josh was born Superbowl Sunday weekend in 1994. How fitting is it that I selected him to interview on Superbowl Sunday! His older brother Zach was also born Superbowl Sunday weekend in 1993. Both years the Buffalo Bills played the Dallas Cowboys. What’s unique in this situation is that Josh’s parents are from these states. Tom is from New York and Tana is from Texas. Both years Cowboys won the Superbowl (I'm a Redskins fan, this makes me grumble.). Tom added that Josh has many friends in Bridgeport. He's grateful that the people of Bridgeport have been kind, patient and accept Josh just the way he is and enjoy him being a part of their lives. This means alot to him. I for one am proud to call Josh my friend.
You can often find Tom and Josh Sunday's at City Park, Bridgeport McDonalds and the Grafton train yard, it's their weekly routine unless inclement weather.
Josh’s pick for the Superbowl? Denver Broncos
Jeff Toquinto wrote a story about Tom Rhine running in the Boston Marathon last year, click HERE to read the story.
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