Spotlight on park event
On behalf of the Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce and the City of Connellsville, I would like to thank everyone involved with our annual Christmas in the Park celebration. This endeavor involved many volunteers from throughout the city who certainly made the day for hundreds of local children. I would personally like to thank Rick Adabato, Dennis Ellsworth, Ron Shroyer, Frosty the Snowman, Santa and Mrs. Claus, June Newill and the Chamber Professional & Retail Division who assisted in spearheading this annual project. Special thanks to the Connellsville Recreation Department who spent endless hours in preparing the park for this event and all of the local businesses who donated to this event.
“Christmas in the Park” continues to grow year after year. Also, thank you Herald-Standard, for your newspaper coverage. This event is a wonderful way to showcase our own East Park in addition to adding to the joy of the season. I would be remiss in did not thank the New Haven Hose Fire Company for this joint venture. The parade was a wonderful addition to a wonderful day that kicked off the season in a big way.
May you have a very merry Christmas and a joyous New Year. We hope to see each and every one of you next year for another Christmas in the Park.
Chris Wagner
Connellsville
Still no storm water plan
Historically storm waters in Greene County have played a significant role in the 200-year evolution of our culture. Back on March 22, 1916, storm water flooding in the east, south and west of Waynesburg was recorded on film by local silent motion pictures pioneer Charles Silvius. During the 87 years since, flooding has been a regular reoccurrence not only in Waynesburg but also throughout Greene County particularly in the everglades in Cumberland Township.
The most recent flooding in Waynesburg occurred on Nov. 19. The Greene County Messenger reported the event with depressing pictures and disturbing accounts of damages that are reminiscent of the films produced by Charlie Silvius. The Messenger front page carried a big bold headline, “Troubled Waters.” I would have expanded the headline with a third word, which would be “again” followed by an exclamation point.
The Messenger articles and editorial spoke of the county commissioners reaction to the flooding problems by directing the engagement of local police and local PennDOT personnel. In-turn the reaction of those agencies was described as being heroic. However, nowhere in the Messenger, or anywhere else for that matter, was I able to find any reference to what actions the commissioners have taken to engage the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the purpose of developing a storm water management program for Greene County. The program is needed in order to provide for the protection, health, safety and welfare of American citizens residing in Greene County, which includes personnel serving in the local police forces and PennDOT.
Without such information one draws the conclusion, however erroneous it may be, that the commissioners are simply not interested in resolving the problems of storm water flooding in Greene County. One may ask why. Again, having no information, one must conclude it is because the boogeyman wants to divert the needed resources to other interests. Why? Well, one would have to ask the boogeyman that question because, in Greene County, only the boogeyman knows.
Paul Lagojda
Cumberland Township