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Valley Laurels & Lances
Lance: To the Allegheny Valley School Board. This bunch of ostriches doesn't want to see the fact that this school district almost certainly won't stand alone in 10 years. The district is small and shrinking. The state wants to reduce the number of districts. Allegheny Valley is a prime candidate for elimination. Despite this, the board is moving ahead with an $18.5 million construction/renovation project for Springdale High School, saddling its taxpayers with a bill that will still be due when the district is history. Instead of spending this money, the district should be contacting its state legislators, the state education department and its neighboring school districts about a merger.
Lance: To Allegheny Valley School District taxpayers. The board may have made up its mind already about the Springdale High project, but it was willing Wednesday to listen to the public. And about 20 people showed up. Shame on you. In a few years -- if (or when) the state forces a merger -- you'll be whining about your tax bill helping to pay for a now-closed school. You'll have no one to blame but yourselves.
Laurel: To Bert Molitierno. The colorful owner of Verona Jeep isn't taking Chrysler's decision to eliminate his dealership lying down. He's advertising his dispute with the automaker with giant signs in the windows of his dealership and fighting back with a petition to Congress. Long live the right -- as the Constitution states -- "to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Lance: To Abbie Jane Swogger. An Allegheny County judge sentenced the erstwhile stripper-Highlands teacher aide to a three-to-six-year jail term for having a drug-booze-sex party with a group of teens. She embarrassed her children, the school district and herself. Good riddance.
Laurel: To the groups that support Memorial Day. From Freeport to Leechburg to Lower Burrell to Springdale and most other places in the Valley, the spirit of Memorial Day -- remembering those who died in service to our country -- is kept alive. We often hear Memorial Day has lost its meaning. We don't entirely disagree, but we don't see any lack of effort by the people in the A-K Valley.
On the "Watch List": Community College of Allegheny County officials. CCAC could have a serious problem if the allegations of student Christine Brashier of Squirrel Hill are accurate. She says a dean attempted to intimidate her to stop seeking student support to form an Allegheny Campus chapter of a national group that supports the right of students to carry licensed, concealed weapons on campus. CCAC is reviewing Ms. Brashier's allegations. But if the dean said what Brashier says she said, she should be fired.
Laurel: To the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Eastern Conference champions are headed to their second-consecutive Stanley Cup Final and, once again, will face Western Conference winner and defending Stanley Cup champs Detroit. The 'Guins were outclassed in last year's cup. But a team that overcame a slow start and responded like the pros they are to a late-season coaching change is a year wiser and a year more mature. The Red Wings will be clipped. Lord Stanley's cup is comin' home. All together now -- Hey!
