The West Suburban Little League is one of the best in the Johnstown area. The players are taught the skills of the sport and sportsmanship.

A game scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. got started on time, but in the second inning the rain started to fall and the umpires stopped the game.

After a heavy downpour for the next half hour or so, the rain stopped. That is when the greatest show of teamwork started.

The grounds crew, coaches from both teams and the umpires worked together to get the field in playing condition. They had shop vacs, rakes, brooms, buckets and shovels, and they worked for over an hour to get the field in condition.

No one was in charge of the process, it was pitch in and do what was needed. I was so impressed with the way things turned out and the game was resumed.

These coaches showed that teamwork can get anything done, and the kids also learned, because when the field was done and the coaches, umpires and grounds crew were walking off the field, most of the players applauded them.

The kids learned a great lesson that night and showed their coaches the appreciation they deserved.

I want to thank all coaches who give their time to the kids.

To all parents, please think twice before you complain.

Ronald G. Pfeil

Johnstown



Differences are what make us unique

Just when I thought the Tribune-Democrat’s presses would have cried, “Please, no more ignorant letters,” Gale Bala’s intellectually and personally offensive letter on June 20 graced the Readers’ Forum (“Liberals’ interpretation of Bible is wrong”).

Bala made enough distasteful remarks that I could likely compose a dissertation refuting her arguments. For brevity, I will highlight a few.

Bala asserts that liberals lack morals. Am I to gather that the almighty whispered into Bala’s ear what is moral and what is not?

Bala mentions the liberal belief in the “unproven theory of Darwinism.” Is Bala serious? There is an incalculable amount of data supporting evolution and many religious leaders, including Pope Benedict, have acknowledged the evidence supporting the theory. I presume Bala ascribes to creationism, a theory of which no collaborative evidence exists outside of Scripture.

Faith is a beautiful thing, but I find it intellectually abhorrent to discount a theory which has an incalculable amount of evidence in its support and raise another that depends entirely on one’s personal beliefs.

I endeavor to be a modern citizen in a modern world. Part of living in a modern world is realizing that standards of behavior change and vary from culture to culture.

Differences are what make us unique, and I look forward to the day when overly dogmatic, hateful and generally backward thinking joins the annals of history as a since-conquered societal ill.

Regrettably, the letters of some make me wonder if such a day will ever grace these parts.

Nathan R. Frye

Johnstown



Residents deserve credit for top ranking

Great news. In a recent poll conducted by a local magazine ranking the Top 10 places to live in Somerset County, Windber Borough was ranked No. 1.

Borough residents should be very proud of this accomplishment because they are the reason for the No. 1 ranking.

The great majority of residents in this borough are hardworking individuals, retirees and students who take great pride in their town, their schools and their individual properties, which are always well-maintained. It serves to enhance the beauty of the entire community.

Those are the reasons that those who visit Windber Borough always comment what a great place this is.

Residents never hesitate to come together to support various community events and causes which enhance Windber pride.

Unfortunately, sometimes there are those who, for one reason or another, neglect the upkeep and cleanliness of their properties, which creates blight and detracts from the neighborhood.

The borough has pledged to undertake a renewed effort to address and eliminate blight in our community. We are asking  the proud residents to join us in this effort and encourage any friends or neighbors to spruce up their properties and to also assist those who may be elderly or infirmed to do the same.

The borough has been rated No. 1. Let’s keep it that way.

Fred Oliveros

Windber Borough manager

Barry Jerley

Council president

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