Laurels and barbs

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May 30, 2008

Anonymous The Tribune-Democrat Fri May 30, 2008, 01:38 PM EDT

Barb: What a shame. Windber Borough officials and community volunteers have done a yeoman’s job over the past several years refurbishing and expanding usage at Windber Recreation Park. Problem is, vandals have found the rural facility to be an easy target, inflicting what has been called “escalating damage.” Perhaps officials in Earthquake-devastated Dujiangyan, China, have the right idea. They have been rounding up suspected looters and vandals and parading them in front of the public. Hmmm.

Laurel: How appropriate that the repaired statue at Kiwanis Memorial Park to Veterans in Richland Township was unveiled at Monday’s Memorial Day service. The statue, depicting a soldier carrying a child, had been vandalized and the head stolen about a year ago. Through the fundraising efforts of the East Hills Kiwanis Club and the generosity of the community, the statue was repaired. Thanks to everyone involved.

Barb: No matter who currently owns the former Colver Clinic, it’s inexcusable that the medical and personal records of former patients have been found scattered outside the abandoned and dilapidated facility. The building is now, in essence, the headache of county taxpayers, turned over to the redevelopment authority after Dr. Aragam Subbarao quit paying property taxes and left town in 2000. Wasn’t eight years long enough for interested patients to retrieve their files? Perhaps the courts could have given the OK to remove the records and burn them – with the bill sent to Subbarao.

Laurel: Through the gracious donations of several benefactors, the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies has been able to announce another round of grants. The $97,325 is being divided among charitable organizations serving Cambria, Somerset and Bedford counties. The foundation is headquartered in downtown Johnstown and lists its mission as: “To serve the best interests of our donors in perpetuating their philanthropic interest in financially supporting our community, using the Foundations integrity, accountability and community knowledge.” Read more online at www.cfalleghenies.org.

Barb: Here’s another case of a talk-show host having gone way overboard. Controversial Pittsburgh-area sports radio host Mark Madden has been permanently taken off the air by ESPN. Madden was quoted as saying on the air that he had hoped Sen. Edward Kennedy “would live long enough to be assassinated.” Kennedy, of course, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. “Anything for an audience” seems to be all-too-common these days for talk-show personalities. What took ESPN so long?

Laurel: Hats off to the Roxbury Bandshell Preservation Alliance and to all of the groups who are volunteering their services this summer in the name of refurbishing the historic 8th Ward facility. Rock music and a Civil War encampment were featured last Sunday as the alliance kicked off its entertainment schedule. Concerts will be presented each Sunday through Sept. 14, according to Mary Borkow, alliance president. A food concession will be at each event. Sounds like a lot of fun for a good cause.

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