Laurel: For an organization to survive for 100 years is an accomplishment worth celebrating. And that’s what the Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Chamber of Commerce did on Thursday with a dinner at the Pasquerilla Conference Center. “The dinner was created to celebrate our members,” Debra Orner, Chamber vice president, said. But this dinner obviously was special for the organization, which says its mission is “to stimulate and encourage an informed membership, to be the advocate of business and to form private/public partnerships to promote the health and growth of area business and the community.” It was also a special evening for The Tribune-Democrat, which received the Chamber’s Cultural Affairs Award.

Barb: Here we go again with additional confusing medical reports. After weighing through new information from experts discounting the importance of routine mammograms and Pap smears for many women, we now hear from the American Cancer Society on another cancer test. Just when more men were convinced of the value of a PSA test, the society is warning more explicitly than ever that regular testing for prostate cancer is of questionable value, and can do men more harm than good. The PSA blood test can yield false-positive readings that result in unnecessary biopsies, the society warns, and it can lead to treatments that can cause impotence and incontinence. The good news is that we’re hearing from more than one side on these important issues and we’re getting additional data on which we and our physicians can form an educated opinion.

Laurel: On a more positive medical note, we welcome a partnership between Memorial Medical Center and Highmark, which will extend preventive medicine programs into rural areas of Cambria, Somerset, Indiana and Bedford counties. Financing to establish the Center for Community Health comes in the way of a $500,000 grant from Highmark Foundation. The program will include education, screening and intervention opportunities in small communities across the region, Dr. David Carlson, Memorial’s chief medical officer, said. The outreach will address weight management, cancer, osteoporosis, nutrition, cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders and smoking cessation, he said. It sounds like a great opportunity.

Barb: “Bring your child to work” programs are wonderful – in most cases. But turning an air-traffic controller’s two-way radio over to 9-year-old twins is a recipe for disaster. On successive days in mid-February, a JFK controller reportedly allowed his son and then daughter to give instructions and converse with pilots. An investigation is continuing, but the 48-year-old Long Island dad and a supervisor have been suspended and will likely lose their jobs, sources told the New York Daily News. There’s nothing cute about these bonehead moves. Hundreds of passengers and others were endangered.

Laurel: Congratulations to Chester Thomas, a Somerset County native who has been named recipient of Pitt-Johnstown’s 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award. The award is the highest honor the university bestows upon alumni. Thomas, a 1966 UPJ graduate, is the founder and executive director of Proyecto Aldea Global, also known as Project Global Village, located in Honduras, Central America. Thomas will receive his well-deserved honor at the annual Pitt-Johnstown Proud Celebration on March 20.

Laurel: For a welcome change, here’s a story about a church opening. The Rev. Charles Zimmerman and his wife, Nancy, have purchased the former First Church of Christ Scientist in Southmont and plan to begin a new ministry. Although retired, Zimmerman has continued to do God’s work, and says he is concerned that few churches are meeting the needs of people in the present culture. He hopes to do something about it by reopening the church. It will be called the Community Open Door Church. “Ask 70 to 75 percent of people if they are Christians and they will tell you yes,” Zimmerman said. “But there is a tremendous amount of young people who are not going to church because they are disillusioned with the traditional church.” We wish the Zimmermans much success. Additional information can be obtained by calling 255-6835.