A wonderful community event took place on Nov. 27 in Windber. WAVE and local businesses and citizens sponsored “A Hometown Tree Lighting” at Miner’s Park. The park was beautifully decorated in Christmas splendor.
Following the tree-lighting, children were invited to Arcadia Theater for a visit with Santa Claus. Toys and gift bags were given to the children and refreshments were offered to everyone.
Isn’t it a shame that this festive atmosphere was marred by the theft of a large gift basket that was going to be used to raise funds for the theater? Items in the basket were donated by many hardworking people. Surely someone saw the “scrooge or “scrooges” leaving the theater carrying a large wrapped basket. The spirit of Christmas is giving, not taking.
Many thanks to WAVE for replacing the basket so the fundraiser could continue. To you, we say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
To the scrooge or scrooges – bah humbug.
Marge Bahorik
Carol Lesko
Members of the Arcadia Theater Guild
New regulations for outside wood burners
The Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board has proposed new regulations for the use of current and future outdoor wood burners in our state.
Read a copy of this state bill at www.-pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol39/39-42/1929.html.
I have written a letter to my state officials on this matter. Here are some concerns.
Some provisions of this bill would apply to wood-fired boilers installed prior to the regulation and 123.14(e) requires a stack height which is two feet higher than the peak of the highest residence located within 500 feet. Many persons with these furnaces will find that the terrain in their location makes compliance with this requirement extremely difficult and expensive.
I also have concerns that there will be permanently disabling and fatal fall injuries as persons attempt to build make-shift scaffolding as work platforms upon which to conduct the work of erecting the towering stacks.
The proposed regulation provides a list of allowed fuels and prohibits the use of any other fuels. Coal is not mentioned.
The proposal also would require current and future furnaces to be in compliance with a list of at least six other sections of Pennsylvania regulations. I am not sure how furnace owners determine compliance or the price of such compliance, if even achievable, with current units.
If you have concerns about your outdoor furnace, then I urge you to call and write to your state representatives. Information is available at www.legis.state.pa.us/.
David Flick
Somerset
Why are young children handling weapons?
One day into this year’s deer season and Pennsylvania had its first hunting accident involving a child. Part of the Game Commission’s Mentored Youth Hunting Program – which doesn’t set a minimum age requirement or make kids take a hunter safety course – a 12-year-old girl accidentally shot herself and her father.
Unfortunately, such incidents are becoming more and more common.
According to the International Hunter Education Association, in one year alone, there were 445 hunting accidents, about 25 percent of which involved children.
As long as children are allowed to tromp through the woods armed to the teeth, accidents will happen. After all, the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics warns that children under the age of 12 are not “developmentally ready to safely handle a gun while hunting.”
So why do we continue to send younger and younger children into the woods with loaded weapons?
It’s all about money.
The gun lobby pours money into the politicians’ campaign funds, and they, in return, when elected, appoint hunters to run the agencies that oversee and make all the laws and programs pertaining to our wildlife.
It is vital that compassionate people contact state officials and demand that they not only appoint non-hunters to run the state fish and game and other wildlife agencies, but that they also implement regulations that protect children and animals.
Readers can learn more about how hunting hurts animals and people at PETA.org.
Amy Skylark Elizabeth
People for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals (PETA)
Pass health-care bill that makes sense
Observations regarding the proposed health-care “reform” legislation in Congress:
* It’s unconstitutional. The Constitution grants only a limited range of powers to the federal government, and taking over one-sixth of the economy is not on that list. (Of course, the Supreme Court has sat idly by while federal politicians flouted the Constitution for the past 75 years. But that doesn’t make it OK.)
* It’s a fraud. We’re told it won’t increase the deficit over the next decade. But that’s because the extra taxes start immediately while the benefits don’t start coming for several years. Also, to keep the cost down, Medicare is supposed to be cut, but everybody knows that won’t happen. Instead, that part of the bill will be repealed later.
* The rhetoric for this legislation is rooted in the nonsensical notion that health care is a “right.” There is no “right” to have something at others’ coerced expense. Those of us who want to help the less fortunate can donate to charity.
* The proposed legislation ignores positive steps that can be taken to bring down the cost of health-care insurance, such as enforcing the Commerce Clause to let insurance be sold across state lines and increase competition.
Tort reform is desperately needed, too, as inflated lawsuit rewards drive up costs for everyone. And eliminate the many special-interest-serving mandates for coverage of items that individuals don’t freely choose.
Trash the health takeover bill. Pass something that makes sense and obeys the Constitution.
Allan Walstad
Upper Yoder Township
Truck thieves make mockery of system
There is something seriously wrong with the system called “justice.”
Last week, two teenage boys stole my son’s truck. They drove around all morning then were spotted by another son of mine.
My sons followed the truck all over the place. At one point, the thieves tried to run into my other son’s car. The chase went through several counties with many people put in a dangerous situation many times.
Police from several areas were involved.
The high-speed, reckless-driving chase came to an end when the boys totaled the truck while trying yet again to escape the police.
The boys were taken into custody and then released to their parents.
What is wrong with the system? Where is the justice?
Why are people not being made responsible for their actions? These same boys are yucking it up on the Internet and with their friends. There is no remorse.
In the meantime, my son and his family are inconvenienced and their children are fearful the boys will come into the house for more than keys the next time. Nothing can be done because they are minors.
What about the parents? Nobody was hurt, thank God, this time. But they are free to do whatever they want and maybe next time someone won’t be so lucky.
Pray for a justice system that will crack down on these kids before they become adults and commit more “adult” crimes.
God help us all if something doesn’t change and make people accountable for their actions.
Krista Miller
Johnstown
Stephens-Howling good athlete and role model
On Dec. 1, the NFL announced its players of the week. Included in the award recipients was one of Johnstown’s own, LaRod Stephens-Howling.
Stephens-Howling received honors as NFC special teams player of the week. This achievement is an honor that most people cannot even begin to dream about. But, on the other hand, it’s obvious that LaRod did.
I salute all of the individuals who had an influence on this young man’s achievements, including parents, coaches, family, friends, teachers, athletic and school administrators.
While in high school, he was a high achiever academically, and from the bleachers his talents and work ethic were obvious, as well as the sportsmanship he demonstrated.
I really don’t believe you could dislike this individual, unless, of course, you were on defense attempting to catch him.
Through all of his hard work and the excellent coaching he received, he was able to earn a scholarship to Pitt, where he continued his hard work on and off the field.
While in the college ranks, Stephens-Howling represented our town in a first-class manor.
Now he is showing the same work ethic in Arizona with the Cardinal. And the sportsmanship he displays is something that everyone who has had an impact on his life should relish, because you are all a part of making the mold that created him to be the man that he is today.
Stephens-Howling is a first-class human being.
I wish him all the success possible throughout his career.
Kevin W. James
Johnstown
