Dec 16, 2011 7 min read

…This is usually the time of year when my Scrooge side starts to melt a bit and I start to warm up to the holiday season, and as you will read later in this column – and over the next few weeks – you will see that this time of year really helps bring out the softer side of this typically grumpy columnist.

But before I get all happy, there is an issue pertaining to this newspaper that I have to address. So if you can deal with a little complaining, I promise there will be happy holiday thoughts by the end of this column.

I seem to address this issue in my column about once a year, and it looks like it’s time to bring it up again…It’s an issue that has been ongoing with the Messenger since I can remember, but it seems to me that it’s been happening again as of late. Every week, I receive quite a few emails, letters and/or phone calls from people that represent churches, schools, organizations or businesses who want us to publicize or promote an upcoming event that they’re holding or sponsoring. Many times, I am asked if the Messenger can run their announcement for free. Many times, they explain that they’re asking for free publicity because they don’t have money to buy an advertisement, or they don’t want to pay for an ad because they’re either A.) not charging for the event or B.) not making any profit because all the proceeds are going to a charity.

Okay, most of the time we are fine with that. And we happily place the info provided to us somewhere in the paper, usually in our popular “County Calendar.” We explain that our editorial space is limited but we will try our best to get their info in on time because we want to show our support for their events. And for the most part, we succeed.

But often times, we’ll put this info in our paper at no charge, only to pick up another local publication and see a nice-sized ad about the same event, from the same folks who asked us to print their stuff for free. Obviously, we have no idea how much the ad cost in the other paper, and maybe they did get a big discount…but we’re pretty sure that the other papers aren’t giving away the ads for free.

This sort of thing happens often, and quite frankly, it stuns me. It makes me feel like people are sometimes saying, “We want you to support our event by giving us your valuable print space for free, but we’re not going to support your paper. We’re going to spend our money elsewhere.”

I hope the folks who do this understand that we have expenses and bills just the same as the other papers, and that we rely on advertisers to help us pay for those expenses. Our materials and supplies don’t come cheap, and even though we pride ourselves on being a long-running, award-winning and unique newspaper that truly cares about our communities, it’s important for some folks to remember that we are also a business.

Now, in case I’m sounding a tad negative, I want to stress that the Messenger does receive a lot of support from a lot of area folks and we are sincerely appreciative for what they do. I also want to stress that we proudly support any and all legitimate community events and fundraisers, and we encourage those who are working hard to organize events and fundraisers to continue sending us their info. If you have any questions about how to send your announcements, feel free to drop us a line. Our contact info can be found in the helpful box below.

(And by the way, if you are interested in placing an ad in our paper, feel free to contact Dave Behary, our sales representative, by calling us at 724-852-2251 or by emailing him at dbehary@heraldstandard.com.)

Okay, end of rant. I don’t feel like complaining anymore because I just looked at the calendar and I realized that Christmas is just a little over one week away! (That sound you just heard was my head exploding from the combination of excitement and panic, as I now have to finish shopping for my wife.)

One of the reasons I cherish the holiday season so much is the fact that every Christmas I look forward to attending a special memorial service titled “The Empty Chair,” which is held to honor the memories of departed loved ones who are missed so dearly during the holiday season. Coordinated by GriefSHARE, a support group through the Greene County District Attorney’s office, the service is held to remember loved ones whose lives were lost as a result of homicide, substance abuse or other causes.

To be honest, I find this service to be one of the more touching and emotional events I attend all throughout the year. And this year’s service, which was held Monday at the Roberts Chapel on the Waynesburg University campus, was no different. It was a quiet and touching time of remembrance, and I hope that each and every one of those who attended are able to find peace in their hearts this holiday season — and every day of their lives. Hats off to GriefSHARE and the district attorney’s office for putting this event together. Read our detailed story about this event on the front page of this very issue…

…Speaking of Christmas: I was informed that more than 60 local children attended the Greene County Department of Recreation’s “Breakfast with Santa,” held Dec. 3 at the Greene County Fairgrounds.

This is another special event that is held each December, in which children have the opportunity to sit with Santa Claus, discuss their Christmas lists with him and have their picture taken. Each child also receives a special treat from Santa, as well as a bag of reindeer food to help guide his sleigh team on Christmas Eve. Other activities at this year’s event included ornament-making and a coloring contest.

The Department of Recreation would like to thank Santa and Mrs. Claus, everyone who attended, and all volunteers and sponsors, including the Greene County commissioners, for their support in this popular holiday endeavor…

…Lastly, Linda Orsted of the Flenniken Public Library in Carmichaels dropped me a note informing me that, for the second year in a row, the Flenniken Public Library’s Assistant Director, Jessica Miller, plans to enjoy a dip in the Monongahela River on New Year’s Day for the library’s annual “Flamingo Plunge” pledge drive. Miller will be dressed as the Flenniken Flamingo again this year.

“Drastic measures are needed to help replace the 30 percent decrease in state funding the library has experienced over the last three years,” Miller said. “The people we serve deserve to have the best library services available.”

Stop in, call the library, or mail a check to make your pledge of support. Help to keep library services in eastern Greene County funded in 2012…