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| GreeneSpeak- JULY 2010 Edition |
JULY 2010 GREENESPEAK July
GreeneSpeak hits the stands July 7th. Our cover photo comes from
the files of columnist Candice Buchanan. Her Grandma is the young
girl with the long curls, seated front left. Photo comes fomr
Western Greene County in the 1920s! E-MAIL US YOUR OLD PHOTOS
AND WE'LL PUBLISH AS MANY AS WE CAN Lots of coverage of fun and
interesting events. "Cindy's Wind" lists some little
boosts to get you through your day. Roxane Palone discusses the
declining state of the Indiana Bat. If you missed the Waynesburg
Fourth of July Celebration, we've got pix for ya'! AND LOTS MORE RELAX WITH A COOL GLASS OF ICED TEA IN THE SHADE AND ENJOY!!! --
OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF
GREENESPEAK monthly
newspaper
A member of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
Cindy Bailey, Editor/Publisher
PH: 724-344-7980
cindy@greenespeak.com
Headquartered at
99 S. Washington St.
Waynesburg, PA 15370
Maiing
Address:
P. O. Box 1003
Waynesburg, PA 15370
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS
WEBSITE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES.
Call Cindy today:
724-344-7980
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RESULTS OF THE LYNCH MOB So for those who want to hear what I have to say about the proverbial lynching at First Baptist,
I suspect you already know who won, but it wasn't by the landslide they probably expected. By a very contentious vote of 87
to 57, the pastor was voted out today. I thought the mere 30-vote spread was a little surprising, considering the very
concentrated and orchestrated effort on the part of our illustrious leaders to make sure the pastor looked as bad as possible.
You know, calling the elderly folks, holding "select" "informational" meetings, and otherwise "persuading"
people to vote against him. Oh well. This is America, churches can operate however
they chose and people can say whatever they want, at least unofficially. And I thank God for that, even when people abuse
this right that so many have died for. However, you and I both know that GOD HUMBLES
US ALL SOONER OR LATER. OH WAIT....HE ALREADY HAS. To the victors belong the spoils: a fractured church, tarnished public image, and ugly feelings. But the worst
thing of all is that as of roughly 1:30 p.m. today, the OFFense was instantly transformed into the DEFense. O boy! Now
these people who forced the rest of us to pick a side have to defend their position and to MAKE SURE EVERYTHING
LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALL BETTER. They have to "prove" they were right; they have to make SUCCESS HAPPEN....If they think
they're exhausted NOW, let's see what happens during the lengthy search for a new pastor and yet another annoying transition
to follow....HEY GUYS: you may have a little trouble finding a new victim, uhm, pastoral candidate. I THINK THE WORD IS OUT:
First Baptist tortures pastors.... So as of today, another lamb has officially
been led in. We have a new full-time youth and "transition" pastor. Geeze, I'm worried about this young guy. I pray
they don't make minced meat out of him. Hopefully he can play their game the way they want to, but if he can't, I guess we
know how they'll handle THAT. Meanwhile, my family and I took a stand against
the way this was done from the moment we heard it was happening. I have searched my heart, and I have no regrets about this.
Our decision to stand up was not exactly about this pastor or the last one (which someone is always accusing us of) - although
we liked them both. As my older daughter said so well today, the Baileys took a stand against this persecution of a
man and his family in the name of HUMANITY. The Baileys have nothing to gain, not position, power, or money by doing
this; it was just the RIGHT THING TO DO. So I guess that's why
no one GETS us at all. Most of these folks who harpooned the poor guy are politically connected, or have a son or daughter
who needs a teaching job, or have an image to retain because of associations with the fire company or the hospital or Waynesburg
College or a business or whatever else. The Baileys, like most of my readers, just work for a living, and try to get through
the day, but we are NOT ASHAMED. We have been criticized and shunned for our stand; some
of the frontrunners against the pastor stormed out of a meeting when I was talking (boo hoo, THAT'S never happened before
LOL!), but as I said in the June GreeneSpeak, at last I'm starting to understand what Jesus meant when he said, "blessed
are the persecuted." I'd do it again in a heartbeat, and the Lord's House is still the Lord's, and if we choose
to worship there, we will not be deterred by those who think because of the personal time or money they've invested in it,
that the church is THEIRS and that PEOPLE LIKE THE BAILEYS DON'T MATTER. The Baileys are NOT CHAFF BLOWN AROUND
BY THE EVIL WINDS. And, as I said WE ARE NOT ASHAMED. The only thing that shames
me and humbles ME is how a shepherd and his family were persecuted and virtually destroyed before my eyes and I couldn't really
do anything about it - other than rally against it. But I don't count that as vain labor. The
only thing I can do to honor them and God is to keep fighting for the underdogs, wherever I find them, however I can. And
I will.
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| Daisy sits in Bob's rhubarb patch. Belle's barn is in the background. |
[POSTED MAY 26, 2010] "Cindy's Wind" Latest Installment Bob's Rhubarb Patch By Cindy Bailey, GreeneSpeak Editor/Publisher
When
we were first married in the merry month of May some 30 years ago, my new husband and I kind of chuckled at my father-in-law’s
gift(s) of fresh rhubarb as a side dish to eat with our leftover wedding cake.
Growing up, both my mother and grandmother
had rhubarb patches, but nobody really cared much for this spring oddity that looked like pink celery, another boring vegetable.
I loved those dumb Sweet Tarts but couldn’t abide this twangy, stringy stuff that smacked of horseradish or something
I still can’t put a name to.
However, by the time I had an engagement ring on my finger, my soon-to-be-mother-in-law
had changed this undeserved prejudice with her famous Rhubarb Finger Pie, which I wrote about soon after she passed away,
in order to describe the kind of person she was.
I had never seen “finger pie” before and no, it didn’t
have fingers in it. You just ate it with your fingers. She had this enormous baking pan, which must have been a sheet cake
pan from a bakery or something (you never knew what she would come home with from an auction or rummage sale, but that’s
another story for another day), and so she’d roll out this huge, thin piece of pie dough. Then she’d make a sort
of rhubarb sauce with a little sugar in it and spread it thinly across the dough, and top it off with another slab of dough
that she sprinkled with a little more sugar and cinnamon. I think this concoction was her way of camoflauging the flavor,
which was her style. Her mission was to help soften life’s blows, unlike me who would rather take a swing at somebody,
but I digress...I think she figured those three starved beasts (sons) of hers would see pie and that would be it. (She was
right). She often made the economical dish for picnics, leaving it in the pan, sliced diagonally so you were eating dainty
little diamonds suitable for a bridal shower or afternoon tea party. What’s not to like?
So I became one of the
few people who acquired a taste for this strange wonder; most people who love it are related to someone who raised it and
had so much they didn’t know what to do with it. I think it will become a lost vegetable, or fruit or whatever it is.
And yet when I married, I vowed, right along with “for richer or poorer” that I would never be bothered
with something as old-fashioned as pie dough (a state of affairs that still makes my own mother weep).
And so. We smiled
a little every time Rob’s dad asked us, “Need any rhubarb?” and not wanting to offend, we’d accept
it, toss it in the freezer, and forget about it. Later, after the girls came along, and I was a stay-at-home mom, I became
a little more thrifty and cooked whatever I had. Pap Bailey still always brought me rhubarb in the spring, which I turned
into jam, still one of Julie’s favorites. I usually mixed it with apples or strawberries to camouflage it also.
And Rob began to delight some older ladies we know by bringing them some of our glut of this product. Part of rhubarb’s
mystique is that it’s only good for such a short time. It ‘s always growing, but you watch it closely and pick
it at exactly the right time, or it becomes tough and bitter. You gently pull it from the ground; you don’t cut it.
I never asked my father-in-law why; after he reads this I’m sure he’ll tell me.
Now before I continue, your
should know that my now-slightly older husband has joked for the 35 years that I’ve known him that he would never be
a sheep farmer, nor raise a garden, or anything remotely close to these two items. A non-sentiment shared by his older brother
Dan.
But there are no escaping some things; I believe they are genetic. Briefly, Rob gave in on the farming thing a
little when as a bride, I asked for chickens, ducks, and a goat, all of which make better entrees than pets. Not surprisingly,
we soon abandoned this unrewarding endeavor.
But then came our second daughter. Who is so very much like her grandfather.
When she asked for a horse, all former bets were off. So It was that one steaming July day, Daddy and Uncle Dan suddenly found
themselves intrenched in the farm life, hammering away on a brand new horse barn (neener, neener, neener).
And as you
may already know, the equine experience was a great ride for our family, and a great tool that connected a dad with his little
awkward daughter. How many times I’d watch (inside the toasty house with a steaming cup of coffee) as Rob backed the
truck in on the snow or mud with a load of hay and this itty bitty little girl would hoist those heavy bales around and fling
the flakes over the fence to the starved beast (horse).
Later she’d don her helmet (at my insistence) and go with
her dad into the barn and you’d hear her singing like most people do in the shower. “Belle, pick up!” she’d
demand and the horse would dutifully lift a hoof for her poopy pedicure. And you’d hear the same song as Ann shoveled
the you-know-what into a wheel barrow and dumped it on the lower side of the fence. And this went on for years until it was
time for the old girl ,who had provided us with so much joy, to rest. And since that day, father and daughter have been a
little at a loss without their bond of caring for “Belly.”
And now it’s almost time for the little-girl-that-was
to move on. And for the past year or so, I’ve noticed their relationship has resembled a bad case of rain rot. I’m
suspecting that he’s a little mad at her for growing up, and she’s a little mad at him because she misses him
already and sort of resents that intrusive heartache as she prepares for college life.
But then one day a couple of
weeks ago, I noticed Daddy out around the old manure pile which is now rich, black dirt. I’ve been a wife long enough
to know when not to ask. And then he brought me some rhubarb from his dad’s place and I made everyone some strawberry-rhubarb
jam (I’m still holding out on the pie dough thing). And then he casually mentioned that he dug up about four plants
from his dad’s patch and planted them you-know-where.
And interestingly, Julie brought home a sick little baby
rhubarb last summer and I tossed the ugly duckling into the ground by the porch in what appeared to be a bed of clay where
the infant was promptly stepped upon all summer long. So when the topic of rhubarb came up, I guiltily remembered it and went
down to see the damage (I walk by it everyday but had not even thought about it since the day I plopped it in the dirt, uhm,
clay) but to my surprise, a couple of tender, pink shoots had sprung up. So now it was all in the family.
But today
Daisy and I went out to see Bob’s patch, and I was a little stunned to see a work of horticultural art that rivals anything
his dad ever grew, and when he was mowing yesterday, he went out there first thing to carefully trim around it. So I think
this spot has now become his healing place, connecting him to his own father, as well as his daughter and the happy days when
Belle lived here.
And as you might expect, I can see some life lessons in Bob’s Rhubarb Patch:
–Never
dig your hooves (or heels) in the ground too long or you’ll become tough and bitter. I’ve done this myself, I’ll
admit and I’ve known (know some now) educators, church leaders, public officials, business managers, you name it, who
have stayed past their prime to their own (and everyone else’s) ruination.
–When everything is wrong, things
look bleak, and you don’t know where to turn, there are clues right under your nose, like Julie’s rhubarb plant.
I had walked right by that thing every day and never even noticed that it had survived the clay, the trampling, the crippling
snow, and my neglect. Likewise I’ve watched my girls even as babies trying to hang onto something that isn’t working
anymore. I could always tell a new phase was coming; they always got so fussy (a euphemism for “tough, bitter baby)
a few days before they conquered the next milestone. There will always be times in life when it’s just right to give
up the old ways and try something new. Us middle-aged folks, I think, have the hardest time accepting this. We’ve spent
30 years proving to everybody that we know everything and it’s hard to give that up. We’re not old enough to be
wise yet.
–It takes a lot of, uhm, you-know-what to create the fertile ground that will bring the eventual harvest.
No shortcuts to finger pie. Sometimes things get as ugly as a fresh manure pile before they get better.
–Removing
the muck from oneself or surroundings is a dirty job, but effectively wielding the manure pick or shovel is a matter of your
attitude. You can sing like Ann did in the barn, or you can whine like I would have done. Or, you can just wallow to your
own detriment.
–When you have an unpleasant job to do, the WAY you do it is as important as pulling out the rhubarb
stalk instead of cutting it off at the quick. Having said that, all of us need a strong, firm tug on the ear from time to
time.
And you know, Bob’s rhubarb patch has become a healing place for
me, too, symbolic of the cycle
of life at the Bailey house in which three generations are connected through a horse, a homely plant, and the love that continues
to sustain us all. ## WATCH FOR UPDATES TO THE "CHURCH MATTERS"
PAGE COMING SOON.
[POSTED MAY 21, 2010] Thinking maybe you're tired of the Primary yammer, so here is a little bit of religious fodder
to snack on.... A CHURCH TEST MOST UNHOLY I was watching this show on network TV sort of based on
the old "Candid Camera." Never saw it before; forget what it's called, but they set up these scenarios with actors
in an effort to see if people will do anything about it, or even notice. In Situation A, they had two actors dressed as airline pilots who were drinking in a
bar as they looked at their watches and said loudly that it was almost time for takeoff. Of course, it showed several people
just watching wide-eyed; one couple joined their carousing; but only one guy got in their face, demanded to know who they
were flying with and then called the fake number. Of course they told this concerned guy that is was all a joke, but they
congratulated him for his concern.
In Situation B, a young man with Down's Syndrome (an actor) was awkwardly packing
groceries in the store when this fake customer began lambasting the poor soul. Most people just stood there and watched, but
one woman tore into the abuser in the same vein as you might think The Wet Hen would do; another good Samaritan got proactive
and demanded that the manager kick that "customer" out.
Of course it's a money-making TV show, but it
really does make you wonder if you would DO THE RIGHT THING in difficult situations.
ANYHOW, I've found myself
in a situation similar to Situation B in which I have to decide whether stand by and watch something THAT'S NOT RIGHT or do
whatever it is I can do about it. So here's what I've come up with and EVERYONE CAN PLAY ALONG if there is a church anywhere
in your past, present, or future. I'm calling it:
THE CHURCH TEST MOST UNHOLY
DIRECTIONS FOR PLAY: Read
the various church bulletin announcements listed below, select the one that most suits your needs (or write your own, tailored
to your own congregation!), and ask your pastor if he would mind having it nonchalantly placed it in the church bulletin one
Sunday soon. The test is: WILL ANYBODY SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT OR EVEN NOTICE IT? Will it spark any discussion or awareness
or will it be ignored? Most of all, will it get anybody to change anything for the better? Or like the folks watching the
verbal abuse of the young man with disabilities, will everyone stay in their comfort zone and keep things NICE AND QUIET?
LET'S ALL HOPE AND PRAY FOR THE BEST.
1. This church warmly welcomes newcomers to our services, unless you work
for the wrong car dealer, funeral home, newspaper, or (add a business here).
2. The weekly Keep-the-Membership-at-Large-in-the-Dark
meeting convened last week, but we're actually still in the dark about when it was, what it was about, or when the next one
will be held.
3. Please note: "Sing a new song to the Lord" has been redacted from the pew Bibles for
your convenience.
4. NOTICE TO ALL CONGREGANTS WHO WOULD LIKE A PERSONAL VISIT FROM THE PASTOR: We strongly urge
you to keep this request to yourself, as the pastor, in his effort to become more like Christ, is currently trying his hand
at OMNISCIENCE.
5. This church believes in Biblical infallibility, the authority of which is second ONLY to the
Church Council/elders/deacons (fill in the blank appropriately).
6. We hold that the church constitution is a LAMP
UNTO OUR FEET.
7. We welcome young families to our church; just keep your kid in line. And that means no rattles
or apple juice in the sanctuary. If this is your first visit, heaven help you find the appropriate Sunday School class and
teacher for your child.
8. There is no dress code in this church, but if you wear something odd, you'll just have
to put up with mean stares.
9. No fair sitting in my favorite pew.
10. Please leave the First Amendment
in the vestibule before entering the sanctuary and be sure to take that annoying item back with you when you leave.
11. Place all comments and suggestions in the Suggestion Box which resembles a dumpster and is located in the backyard behind
the church.
12. The Pastoral Relations Committee/Worship Committee/Hospitality Committee (put in your favorite
here) extends their appreciation to all who helped in any way with maintaining the pretext of meaningful worship, healthy
relationships and sincere hospitality in this place.
13. Church leadership is highly overrated. We're all sheep,
after all, and when was the last time you saw a shepherd have control over anything, especially sheep? That's why they hire
Border collies!
14. We feel that edifying the Body of Christ is paramount; that's why we don't spend time or resources
on advertising our programs and activities to anyone in the community. We're all here for what can get out of it. Besides,
there's less noise and mess.
15. All talents and gifts are welcome here. Especially restricted gifts that help
us maintain this lovely building. In our concentrated effort to lift the Lord, as opposed to ourselves, we don't recognize
individual talents, so there will be no clapping and don't expect anyone to ask you to use your abilities in any way
that might offend or threaten another longstanding member. The Lord loves a medicore giver.
16. The pastor has
agreed to preach on only those portions of the Bible that we enjoy hearing. Have you heard the one about the guys who lowered
their friend down through the roof, using ropes as he lay on his bed, so he could be healed by Jesus? Made you smile, didn't
it? Stick with THAT, preacher! None of that awful Jeremiah. NOBODY LIKES A NAYSAYER. THE TRUTH IS MEAN
17. It is
the sincere desire of this church to stand up for what's right, follow the Lord's leading, and commit ourselves and resources
to the saving of souls and to promote justice for those in need both here and in the world, as long Important Toes are never
stepped on. Just saying. LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES. Your comments are welcome. Let me know if you would like them published on this website.
All comments for publication remain anonymous but you must tell ME who you are.
[POSTED MAY 19, 2010] HELMETS, ANYONE? Ok, so you have to admit my election prediction came true. Bill did squeak past Bully Boss Badger
Pam, and as my friend and colleague Julieann Wozniak so aptly put it, "I never thought there would be a time when Bill
DeWeese was the lesser of two evils." I sincerely hope that Bill realizes
how lucky he is today and that he remembers to whom he owes his position. On the
other hand, I hope all the letter openers and other sharp and/or blunt objects at the county offices today are locked
up. I figure it will be a looooong day there today, especially for anyone who dared not to actively, obviously support our
friend - the sweet mom and grandma who wears her cross necklace proudly as she wields her ax every day and pushes herself,
her family, and her friends ahead of everyone else.... In fact, GreeneSpeak is
now offering special CRABBY HATTIES for all government workers, vendors, and others who could possibly come in direct contact
with the Bully Boss in the next few weeks. Styled like a bycicle helmet and made from recycled PAM'S POSSE T-SHIRTS, these
little wonders also include ear plugs that play recordings of your Happy Place. You just tell it what you want to hear when
the screams and rants begin. Call 1-800-MYBULLY to order yours today. Price is $49.95 with proceeds to benefit the AUNT-CINDY-KNOWS-EVERYTHING
FORTUNE TELLING SERVICE....but I'm always digressing.... Frankly I think the average
person is SICK AND TIRED of people using their connections, whether it's their name (Bertugli, Trumpka), whatever, to get
on the public payroll for their own benefit. And heaven help anybody who crosses these people, or who gets in their way in
any manner. You can't help feeling like Greene County has become a satellite office of the mob. I'd just like to say, "You know, us DUMB CLUCKS who pay for your tax-funded salaries and
porky projects, ain't as dumb as you think." Why can't these "public
servants" just do their job, which is managing public works and the employees who carry them out. And I mean managing
as opposed to BULLYING. Everybody hates bullies and I am convinced we have THREE, YES THREE BULLLIES AS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
How else could they all get along so well as Pam likes to brag? I wonder if Pam
might have shot herself in her own little dainty foot by running against DeWeese and showing her, uhm, petticoat a little
too much. I think the $10,000 bribe, that is, campaign contribution, from Allegheny Energy really turned people off. There
was nothing illegal about this, but I think the subliminal message was, "Look, if I can boss AE around AND make them
pay me besides, WHAT DO YOU THINK I WILL TO TO YOU IF YOU GET IN MY FACE?" Not a very delicate image, is it? So I guess it could have gone either way, but as I always say, it ain't over 'til it's over, and
you can spend all the money in the world and blow your face up on big signs and promise everybody everything, but the citizen's
vote is still the ONE THING WE HAVE THAT THEY CAN'T DO NOTHIN' ABOUT. And yeah,
I'm a critic, but THE SYSTEM STILL WORKS. All I can add is thank God. POSTED MAY 17, 2010 SO HOW'S IT, GOIN', BILL? SEEN ANY
BADGERS LATELY? So anyway I followed DeWeese's people around last
Friday just to get a feel for how it's going, and the word I would use to describe Bill right now is "puffy." His face looked like you would expect a man his age to look after fighting
off a rabid badger (uhm, that would be PAM THE BULLY BOSS) for the past two months or so. Apparently pleased with my coverage
of the debate, which you can see below, (scroll down to "Update on the debate"), Bill's people invited me to
a ceremony they had scrambled around to slap together in honor of the proposed SCI-Fayette to be constructed in
German Township. At that site on Friday morning, Bill admitted that the gathering was in response to "an unhappy rumor
that the money (for the new prison) is unavailable." The rumor is apprently being perpetuated by Pam and/or her people. But DeWeese insists that the money is "locked in for almost immediate construction." A release I received May 10 noted that a "major hurdle" had been
cleared. According to that release, "DeWeese said the state Department
of General Services has informed the legislators that it has acquired signed letters of intent to sell and/or verbal agreements
with four property owners, meaning the 2,000-bed prison will be built on the site preferred by DGS and the state Department
of Corrections." Now, I don't know about you, but I sure would like to have been one of the four property owners. Can't
you see DeWeese's people offering them anything they wanted: JUST SAY YES????
Something like 200 people showed up for the
photo opp and sandwiches - real ones, not those dumb finger things or hot dogs they usually put out. I saw the Herald-Standard
there; maybe the Trib, but didn't recognize anyone from the O-R. The DeWeese Trauma Team included his usual local workers,
state Rep. Mahoney's spokesman (DeWeese made sure he pointed out that Mahoney was absent for a good reason, asking for prayers
or thoughts or something for Mahoney who was at that moment "under the knife" for gall bladder surgery, I think).
Also state Sen. Kasunic; the German Twp supervisors; and SCI union reps came up front. The firemen dragged in a fire truck
and somebody, the supervisors I suppose, must have gotten a state-funded little red dump truck that pulled in and almost
got stuck. Anyhow,
DeWeese bragged about the "720" jobs SCI-Fayette #2 would provide and chided me and Farley Toothman for criticizing
the arrival of SCI-Greene way back when due to the riff-raff that is sure to follow any large state prison. I think Bill
thinks I like having my name mentioned as much as he does. I notice he NEVER refers to my newspaper by its name, "GreeneSpeak."
I think he's afraid if he says it out loud, lightening might strike him, or worse, it might somehow validate GreeneSpeak as
a real newspaper, WHICH IT IS. CHECK THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION WEBSITE MEMBERSHIP LIST UNDER "WAYNESBURG."
WHILE YOU'RE AT IT CHECK OUT THE KEYSTONE PRESS AWARDS ON THAT SITE UNDER DIVISION 8. (OR click on "Award-Winning Stories"
on this website). On the PNA website, you will NOT find the O-R, the H-S, or the Messenger listed in ANY DIVISION BECAUSE
NONE OF THEM WON ANYTHING. AND I'M NOT BUYING THAT THEY DIDN'T ENTER ANYTHING. EVERY JOURNALIST IN PA COVETS THE KEYSTONE,
BUT I DIGRESS.... I
guess Bill always uses my given name, instead of the name of my newspaper, because he figures it will make me sound more like
a bored housewife with a hobby than A PITHY NEWSPAPER THAT TELLS IT LIKE IT IS....(I told him anytime he mentions my name
in public, it is a double-edged sword, but I am digressing again....) Bill pointed out the overcrowding situation in the state prisons,
adding that the new SCI-Fayette will be filled to capacity as soon as it opens.
Anyway, I suppose there will be a prison there
as they claim one day, but "signed letters of intent to sell and/or verbal agreements" are not real convincing of
anything. What government agency EVER accepts VERBAL agreements on anything? Have you EVER seen a ceremony where they present
a giant Letter of Intent to the community???? I suspect this sloppy little PR stunt may actually have done more harm than
good and Bill, take it from me: NOTHING will ever stop Pam or her people from saying mean things about you. Sorry, pal. They
say mean things about me, too. It's real sad. Oops, YOUR people say mean things about me as well, but I'm getting off the
track again.
However, there must be a significant contingency of DeWeese fans in Greensboro, or at least they would
have you believe so. Following the prison event, DeWeese and his folks gathered at the Greensboro gazebo for a ribbon cutting.
One thing about Greensboro; they don't fool around. This thing looks like something you'd see on a fancy beachfront somewhere.
Pardon me, but all these publiclly funded beautification projects going on everywhere cause me to bristle a little when you
think of the poverty and need all over Greene County. Anyway, there were maybe 100 people in the gazebo that day who were served lunch
that included meatballs, sparkling water, and chocolate covered strawberries prepared by Greene County Career & Technology
Center. It really was a nice event and it really is a nice little amenity along the river. I didn't ask how much it would
cost to rent it out for parties, probably more than I could afford....so much for helping out the Common Man with his own
tax dollars.
Judge Farley Toothman gave a nice talk; you have to admit he's a great speaker. He had been solicitor
in Greensboro for several years. Mike Dufalla of PennDOT spoke briefly, as did Mary Shine, Greensboro Council president and
driving force behind everything down there. I suspect she hides a BIG CLUB under her parasol with Bill's name (and blood)
all over it. Just saying. Proverbially, I mean...Not so curiously, however, hardly anyone from the county attended....Park
& Rec director Jake Blaekr, county planner Ann Bargerstock, economic development director Robbie Matesic were all publicly
thanked. I'm SURE they were all too busy with real work to attend a party would could benefit Bill....although
a very nervous Archie Trader (the token Republican) said about 8 words and put his hand in front of his face when he thought
I was going to snap his photo. As I said, I really went to these events just see how Bill was doing this late in the game. As
I said he looked pretty puffy; I understand that, I look puffy most days anymore. When I asked him how he thought it was going,
he said, "We're still competitive," adding, "Pam thought it was going to be a slam-dunk."
Not sure about the dunking just
yet, but I think she certainy has gotten a few good slams.... Watch this site over the next three days for more on the election.
##
[POSTED MAY 14, 2010] ELECTION INSIGHTS COMING SOON.... I attended a couple of events today and have much to tell you about the race among the Dems for the 50th District.
I will be posting some GOOD STUFF as soon as humanly possible...check back soon. [POSTED MAY 2, 2010]
GLAD YOU ARE READING; GLAD YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN THE POLITICAL SCENE
Well, well, well, my take on last week's debate among the candidates for the 50th PA District (see next article
below) has brought some interesting reactions from readers. I'm glad people are interested in the election and politics, and this
is important, but understand that I don't write this stuff just to make people react, much as my detractors would like to
accuse me of this. I just call it like I see it. I write what there is, and if it makes you think or wonder or even get mad,
this is not a bad thing, but of course I love it when you tell me I HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. Thanks to those who have said
this; I love you but you know that I didn't write it to make you love me and that's why you love it. (Yeah, you'll have
to go back and read that sentence again).
I figure it always makes interesting reading to hear "another" voice -
that is, a voice that doesn't pander to elected officials. Or at least a voice that even slightly resembles a real live person.
You well know that I couldn't pander to ANYONE if I had to, but I fiercely defend the right of any other newspaper or person
to do so - although I think it's wrong and I think this type of behavior has contributed to many of our troubles in PA and
America in 2010.
Consider the tendency of people to avoid making waves or to look rude or to seem "indelicate" or
you name it...How many times do people shrug and say, "Everybody else is doing it, so it must be okay." Consider
this in regard to the campaign finance debacle that DeWeese and others are embroiled in. And how 'bout that illegal immigrant
problem? And what those big banks that handed out those phony mortgages like Santa hands out candy canes? And then there is
the story of the people who walked by the dying man who was bleeding on a city sidewalk, stabbed after he rescued a woman.
I understand the fears of people who may have thought he was drunk, etc., but why didn't someone at least call 911 or run
into a nearby business for help? While I was in Washington D.C. visiting my daughter last weekend, we watched a guy halt eight lanes of traffic
to allow a mama duck and her 12 children cross the street in safety. But something like a dozen people just ignored that poor
soul on that sidewalk. Makes you wonder what you would have done, doesn't it? I think I know I would have called 911, but
then you hear these stories of the 911 dispatchers ignoring calls (not in Greene County!). It just goes on and on....but I
digress....
I
KNOW this avoidance to stand up, to speak the truth, to try at all costs to avoid disagreement or persecution or anything
uncomfortable has contributed to the steady decline of newspapers overall (GREENESPEAK IS NOT DECLINING, HOWEVER. In
fact, our readership continues to grow, along with the number and variety of advertisers. The only thing that really limits
me as far as the number of copies and the number of distribution points is the number of hours in a day! I don't mean to brag;
well, maybe just a little, but I've had folks in Washington, Fayette, and Westmoreland counties asking me to launch editions
for their counties. Yeah, right!!!! ).
At the bottom of this article is the latest on the nation's 25 largest daily papers, which are nearly all
DECLINING, largely because their publishers and editors pander not only to elected officials, but also to corporate and large
local advertisers to the point that their coverage of news, issues, politics is like SWISS CHEESE. But they've cut out so
much "offensive" material that there are more HOLES than cheese; that is, editorial content. Those publishers and
editorial boards must be exhausted trying to please all their friends and backers INSTEAD OF JUST REPORTING THE NEWS AND/OR
TAKING A STAND ON ANY TOPIC.
What I've found in this business is the same thing I've tried to teach my daughters:
1). BE WILLING TO TAKE A STAND, BUT GET THE FACTS, AT LEAST MOST OF THEM, FIRST.
2). STAND FIRM AND DON'T LET
THE WINDS SWIRLING AROUND WHAT'S IN VOGUE AT ANY PARTICULAR MOMENT BLOW YOU AROUND LIKE A PIECE OF CHAFF.
3). WELCOME
DEBATE AND DISCUSSION, BUT NEVER LET ANYONE MAKE YOU FEEL ASHAMED OF YOUR CHERISHED BELIEFS.
4). JUST BE WHO YOU ARE, BECAUSE
NOTHING ELSE WILL WORK ANYWAY.
5). WHEN YOU DO THESE THINGS CONSISTENTLY, YOU WILL EVENTUALLY FIND YOURSELF BEING
REFERRED TO AS A PERSON WITH INTEGRITY AND SINCERITY, EVEN WHEN YOU OCCASIONALLY FAIL OR MAKE MISTAKES.
This sorry state of journalism, along
with the many pithy writers on the Internet these days, is why people are always saying, "There's nothing in the paper
anymore." And why people tell me, "There's more news in GreeneSpeak than any of the other local papers." And
while I appreciate the sentiment, there is much that I don't cover, as you well know. But I try to present material you haven't
read anywhere else, or offer opinions on stories you've already heard if I think there is something significant that hasn't
already been said. I try with everything in me to make sure GreeneSpeak readers find a UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN EVERY SINGLE PRINT
EDITION, as well as thiss website. Because I know if I don't, there will be no reason for you to read it. So here's the list:
Top
25 List by Daily Circulation
Newspaper Circ as of 3/31/10/ % Change
1. The Wall Street Journal 2,092,523 +0.5%
2. USA Today 1,826,622 -13.58%
3. The New York Times 951,063 -8.47%
4. Los Angeles Times 616,606 -14.74%
5.
Washington Post 578,482 -13.06%
6. Daily News (New York) 535,059 -11.25%
7. New York Post 525,004 -5.94%
8.
San Jose Mercury News* 516,701 N/A
(1/1/10 To 3/31/2010)
9. Chicago Tribune 452,145 -9.79%
10. Houston Chronicle
366,578 -13.77%
11. The Philadelphia Inquirer** 356,189 N/A
12. The Arizona Republic 351,207 -9.88%
13. Newsday
334,809 -9.07%
14. The Denver Post*** 333,675 N/A
15. Star Tribune, Minneapolis 295,438 -7.71%
16. St. Petersburg
(Fla.) Times 278,888 -1.49%
17. Chicago Sun-Times 268,803 -13.88%
18. The Plain Dealer, Cleveland 267,888 -8.14%
19. The Oregonian 263,600 -1.83%
20. The Seattle Times*** 263.468 N/A
21. The Dallas Morning News 260,659 -21.47%
22. Detroit Free Press 252,017 -13.31%
23. San Diego Union-Tribune 249,630 -4.45%
24. San Francisco Chronicle
241,330 -22.68%
25. The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J. 236,017 -17.79%
The Mercury News since 1/1/10 has made Oakland
Tribune and Contra Costa Times editions of the daily.
**Philadelphia Daily News circ is now included as an edition of
the Inquirer.
***In Seattle and Denver, joint operating agreement partners ceased publishing a print newspaper.
From
www.editorandpubilsher.com ##
[POSTED
4-30-2010] UPDATE ON THE DEBATE 50th District Candidates draw standing room only
crowd to Alumni Hall at Waynesburg U. So the debate is over and I would have to say that the aging Hot Shot Bill DeWeese
was the winner, by a hair, over Bully Boss Pam Snyder. The crowd loved it when he said the best thing for the 50th District
would be to "keep the Greene Team together." But Pam didn't think that was too funny so she tossed in a jab
about hoping he gets a chance to enjoy his hefty pension. She blamed him and his colleagues for allowing the state subsidy
for schools to dwindle, and he slammed her back with raising property taxes by 20%, accusing her of "mismanagement".
Tony Brnusak (D) of Mastontown and Richard Yeager (R) of Jefferson did a pretty decent job of holding their own
against the two longtime political hacks they were up against. Brnusak started out by claiming that neither Pam nor Bill "put
him up" to running, in order to cancel out negative votes. Yeager said his conservative views at the table full of Democrats
made him feel like the "odd man out."
As the crowd began to become engaged at the rather mild jabs,
the moderator, representing the League of Women Voters, asked the audience to refrain from applause. I don't see what the
big deal was. I guess Waynesburg University wouldn't want a REAL debate besmirching their Christian mission. The
LWV claims their purpose in sponsoring these events is to help people become informed so they can make an intelligent choice
and be heard, but being heard apparently doesn't include cheering their candidates on. One thing about the First Amendment;
there's always somebody somewhere trying to put a lid on it!
Anyway, I got there late and as luck would have it,
I ended up a petunia in Pam's garden of onions, that is, supporters, many of whom were wearing "Pam's Posse" shirts
- her loyal department heads and other minions on the county payroll which she admitted tops 300. That's at least 30 more
than the last time I checked. Has Greene County really provided enough new services for the residents in the past couple of
years to be able to meaninfully employ THIRTY MORE PEOPLE? Man, cushy office jobs in this county are
popping up like gas wells. Who knows what these people do all day, but you can be sure Pam has 30 more supporters,
not to mention the families of those loyal supporters.
Why, it was heartwarming to see all these folks willingly
give up an evening that they could have been home with their families - all for their Bully Boss Pam. Such devotion!
Meanwhile, Pam gushed charmingly when she explained why she feels qualified to be a state legislator: It's because
she is a wife, mother, and grandmother, of course! It wouldn't have anything to do with her political connections, do you
think? You know that Bertugli name, don't you? Recall the shamed rural beauty queen (Pam's niece) who as far as
I know is still on the public payroll? You know, the one sleeping with the newly married Mike Manzo (married to someone else!)
who allowed you (the taxpayer) to pay for his love nest where she met him for important work for which she was paid by YOU.
Now there's your family values!
Anyway Bill isn't any better. Manzo, after all, was Bill's chief of staff
- the guy who's finking on Bill now for campaigning at taxpayers' expense.
Most of the yammer was about Macellus
shale, funding schools and transportation, and even the national health care bill, which was off the topic if you ask me.
I'd like to blame our state legislature for that debacle, but the DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON OWN THIS ONE ALL BY THEIR LONESOMES,
HA HA!
Overall, the Dems at the table agreed on the things you would expect, including a sverence tax and more
regs on drilling and more monitoring of drill sites by the DEP. In their typical manner of protecting the bureaucrats
who support them, all three were careful not to blame the DEP, noting that they are "overworked" and "under
staffed." God, who isn't? They ride around in their little DEP-emblemed cars, but you rarely see them doing anything.
I see them at Sheetz in Waynesburg mostly. And what about our local environmental "watchdogs," those fine folks
who are supposed to be protecting our water resources and watching out for erosion problems? If you read the story of Earl
Sponaugle in GreeneSpeak, whose house is a sitting duck for flooding due to the TrAILTowers in Mt. Morris, then you may know
that the GCCD is also "overworked" and "short staffed." Methinks they don't leave their offices too much.
How an you CYA if you're out working? Here's a tidbit for you about the TrAIL project. Pam bragged last night that
she successfully led a battle against Allegheny Energy, which chose an alternate route for the towers, with the
exception of the substation now being constructed near Sponaugle's house. So don't you think it's odd that Allegheny Energy's
PAC donated $10,000 to Snyder's campaign? You can see it on the Pa. Dept. of State website: Yeager said he opposed the severence tax and more regs, noting that this type of thing turns private business away
from PA. Everybody at the table agreed that property taxes are too high and state subsidies to schools are too low
and merging school districts would be the best solution to cutting costs. Pam says we need taxes on cigars and smokeless tobacco.
Yeager said too many resources are wasted on PSSA tests and the control of public education should be
returned to school boards and teachers. For economic growth, Pam oddly says more private business is needed; Bill
bragged that another prison will be opening "within a week" (interesting timing, don't you think?); Brnusak said
the drillers should hire more local people; and Yeager said Greene County needs more capital investment and a friendlier business
environment. The Dems all agreed (surprise!) that liquor licensing should remain in the state's control. Yeager
disagreed. Everyone but Bill (natrually) agrees that legislators should have term limits. Bill says the election
process "fundamentally" limits the terms. In their closing remarks, Brnusak said his service as
a Marine gives him "the right" to run; and his work with the UMW has given him the appropriate experience. Yeager
noted that he started out as a laborer and worked his way up into managing a trucking firm with 240 employees which taught
him that you can't spend more than you bring in. Bill said if re-elected, he would be the 3rd highest ranking legislator
in the House, bragging that he appropriated "$1 million a year" to Greene County for several years. Pam
touted the Wal-Mart, and a "dedicated funding stream" to the fire departments, and bragged about that stupid water
partk and the roller rink (!?!?!?) in Greensboro. On a side note, methinks the ugliest battle going on is between
Bill and Pam over Greene County's fire departments. Bill always brags about the money he appropriates for them. Pam pointedly
noted last night that the firemen are complaining that the table games will eat into their Bingo. Both claim to have supported
every single one of the VFDs. You can imagine the strife this must be causing within the VFDs themselves. "NOW what do
we do?" I'll admit I never truly understood just how political these teeny tiny fire departments are
until I began covering local government. The crap that has gone on in Rices Landing alone is enough to make you think democracy
is on its last wobbly leg. The Waynesburg Fire Dept. is the same, only bigger. Now before anybody gets their underwear
in a knot, of course we need our emergency personnel, who help us when we're in real trouble, despite the political misdeeds
of some of their members, particularly the ones in charge. And of course politicians everywhere play into the general
fears of the public in regard to fires, disasters, and traffic accidents. And of course, maintaining these VFDs is astronomically
expensive, but you NEVER HEAR ANYONE ever mention anything about MERGING these resources for the good of the public, ESPECIALLY
politicans. Why would people like Pam or Bill want to eliminate any of these little fiefdoms, pockets of undying
support? So you see how complicated it is this election with Pam and Bill at odds. It used to be SUCH FUN when everybody was
on the same side. I'd LOVE to be a fly on the wall during the back-door discussions at these VFDs where everybody's in
a quandry about who to support. Same thing with all the supervisors, many of whom have been IN MY FACE for years about how
great Bill DeWeese is. Now if they say that, they have to deal with BULLY BOSS PAM who has much more contact with them
on a regular basis. I love how Pam insinuated that Bill doesn't know how to "work together" like her and
Dave and Archie. Yet SHE is the turncoat, sitting there with a proverbial knife in Bill's back, using pretty much the same
strategy and material against Bill that the HOPKINS TEAM used in the last two elections. Now I defend anyone's
right to run for any office in any election, but you WOULD THINK Pam wouldn't call her own kettle black at a public debate
like this. I guess everybody was forewarned that Waynesburg U. is Bill's territory so NO FAIR TALKING ABOUT MY
CRIMINAL CHARGES. Anyhow, my prediction in all of this is that Bill will win, even if for some reason he loses
the Primary. I see him carrying out an historic write-in campaign, the likes of which no one has seen. It would give him one
more thing to be bloated about, wouldn't it? My take is that more people dislike Pam PERSONALLY than Bill. I can't
believe how many people have told me they, uhm, despise her. I mean people I never met before. I was under the impression
that everyone loved her. But she really is a BULLY, stepping on whoever dares to get in her way. That's why she and Coder
get along so well. I see her as the kid in your class (every class has one), who ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS had to be in the front
of the line. That kid in my class was Helen, who always shoved her way to the front and center of everything. She was
like Eddie Haskell on "Leave It to Beaver." She charmed the teachers who all thought she was so popular among her
classmates that they ASKED HER to lead the line. Even in my salad days, I HATED PRE-MEDITATED INJUSTICE, so Helen
was infuriating to me. Pam and Helen could have been sisters. You have to admit, Bill is a charmer. And my experience
is that almost every endeavor in life, whether personal, political, business-related, humanitarian, even religious comes down
to something personal. The world moves and shakes by the response to something that has happened to you personally. You go
to church because some kind person invited you. You become a teacher/politician/whatever because someone in that field inspired
you. Or you become a politican because you have an AX TO GRIND with the bum in office. When faced with a choice,
you probably won't vote for someone you don't like, even if you agree with their policies. And you have to admit,
Bill knows how to present himself and he goes out of his way to make you feel like he knows your personally. Why, last night
he pretty much thanked me for picking on all the Democrats equally! Hit me right in the heart, it did! YOUR COMMENTS
ARE WELOME. [POSTED 4-28-2010] THREE-BOBBLE HEADS BRAWL SET FOR APRIL 29TH Political debate begins at 7p.m. in Miller Hall, Waynesburg U. With no offense to the League of Women Voters, who are sponsoring what will surely be
a brawl, I can't wait to see former mutual supporters Bill DeWeese and Pam Snyder do their level best to make the other one
look bad. Challengers Tony Brnusak (D) and
Republican Candidate Rich Yeager have also been invited to participate. Who knows where Brnusak, a mine official, weighs in
on this. I can't figure out if it was Bill or Pam who, paid, that is, convinced this guy to run.... MY ADVICE TO REGISTERED VOTERS WHO DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT BILL OR PAM: WRITE IN RICHARD
YEAGER'S NAME ON YOUR MAY 18TH BALLOT. That way, you've made your statement of nonsupport for these two back-stabbing, self-promoters. Yeager
is a good man. Anyhow, I plan to attend the
debate and hope to get some great pix of what will surely be a contentious night. And later on, I hope to see you at the 1,000-pound Weenie Roast! (OOPS! Did I say that?) See you there! ## [POSTED
4-9-2010] IT'S A JOKE, GIRLS If you have
read the April print edition of GreeneSpeak and can't pick out the APRIL FOOL'S JOKES in it, maybe you're not paying attention
or else you're taking yourself a little too seriously. It is an accepted practice of newspapers, especially small community
ones, to print some April Fool's stories. GreeneSpeak is a monthly so we print a few every year in April whether we publish
on April 1st or not. And no, I don't mark them in any way, because I want to be able to say GOTCHA!!! I figure the "art"
I put with the piece is enough for ya' to figure it out on yer own! I
usually write something about politicians and the environment. Recall last year's Redneck Park? This year was no exception.
I am a Democratic woman myself, you know, and truly I feel bad if you're offended, but it's just a joke! Look for the truth
in the satire, and if you think I went too far, or even better, if you GET IT, feel free to write me, anonymously or not,
and I'll publish all decent comments here and maybe a few in the MAY print edition. Surely anyone looking at the photos with the stories would realize this was
a J-O-K-E ? ! ? Perhaps you have your own April Fool's story that you'd like to write. I'll print the best ones here. And
really, ladies, I know it's an election year, but please, can't cha just lighten up a little? You have to admit the hot
dog photo is just a little bit funny, and after all, isn't that what Pam is doing, "roasting" her opponent??? E-mail me at: cindy@greenespeak.com
POSTED APRIL 6, 2O1O @ 5:41 P.M.] BREAKING
NEWS Judge Nalitz: Mark Good’s
appointment is ‘immediately terminated’ By Cindy Bailey
GreeneSpeak Editor/Publisher
WAYNESBURG–Since October of last year, Washington Township has been in an uproar
over the appointment of Mark Cameron Good to the board of supervisors following the resignation of Jon Corbett.
On April
6, Judge William Nalitz terminated that appointment, noting, “the court finds due to the previous convictions of ‘infamous
crimes’ (Good) is ineligible to hold the office. That appointment is immediately terminated.”
After citizens
complained about the appointment early this year, District Attorney Marge Fox contacted Good, as well as township solicitor
Bill Hook, requesting that Good resign.
Hearing no response, Fox filed suit March 3 in Greene County Court, noting that
Article II, Sect. 7 of the PA Constitution prevents anyone convicted of an “infamous crime” from holding public
office. (Good had been convicted of numerous counts of conspiracy, theft, and arson in a car theft ring back in 2000 for which
he served jail time and was ordered to pay restitution).
At the February supervisors’ meeting, Good, who had been
appointed by chairman Bryant Dean and former supervisor Wayne Miller, snubbed citizens’ pleas to resign. “Get
me out...get me out” was his reply.
Good’s attorney, John Stets, said Good had mailed the township a resignation
letter dated April 5th.
Fox said she had a resignation letter apparently drafted by the township secretary which was
dated April 9.
“I received a call from Washington Township that Mr. Good was resigning on Friday (April 9th).”
Stets said the date mix-up might be a typo and that the supervisors would have to accept the resignation at their April
12th meeting.
But Fox asked the judge to issue an order, noting, “Without an order, we have nothing certain saying
he has resigned or that the resignation has been accepted until (the supervisors’ meeting on) April 12th.”
So Nalitz issued the immediate termination order.
Fox also asked the judge to require Good to repay the township any
money he had been paid as a supervisor.
The judge said he understood that Good had performed duties as a township laborer
for several years.
To which Fox said she was only seeking the difference in the hourly rate as a supervisor vs. laborer,
as well as meeting pay.
Stets said he was not ready to respond, to the request as Good will not know if he will be retained
as a laborer by the township until April 12th.
The judge ordered Stets to file a memorandum as to whether or how much
Good should remit to the township.
A second hearing took place immediately afterward regarding the restitution Good
had been ordered to pay following his 2000 conviction in the car theft matter.
Fox said after Good’s criminal
history came to the attention of the public following newspaper coverage, she had been contacted by victims of his crimes
who said they had not received any payments for some time.
Fox said Good is in contempt of court, because documents
show that Good owes $94,670.18 and that he hasn’t made a payment since December 2006.
Stets argued that Good had
already been tried in criminal court and that this was a civil matter and he is not in contempt of court.
Stets said
Good was paid “$8 an hour” as a laborer by the township. “He just doesn’t have the money,” Stets
said. “He took the supervisor’s position to have medical coverage. His wife is ill.”
Fox asked what
authority Stets had to declare this a civil matter.
Stets asked why the “eight other co-defendants” weren’t
also being charged.
Good took the stand and said his wife’s medicine costs $240 per month, that he has had sporadic
work, and that he got the township laborer position in Oct, 2007 at $9 an hour.
He said he owns no vehicles or property;
everything is in his wife’s name.
Fox asked the judge to order Good to make appropriate payments.
Stets
said, “We won’t even know if he has employment and can’t make a rational determination until (April 12).”
The judge ordered Good to file a current income report between April 12 and 20.
[POSTED MARCH
26, 2010] RUMORS, I GET RUMORS For several weeks now, I've been getting calls about the Feb. 5-6 snowstorm in which
Pam Snyder supposedly demanded the return of her electricity, which was promptly restored to her and several nearby relatives
before everyone else. I've been told that a generator was brought in from the power company or the county. Well, the authorities
I've talked with at Allegheny Energy and the county tell me on the record that this is NOT TRUE. Doug Colafella of Allegheny Energy says he is not permitted to address the accounts
of individual customers but added that the power was restored to the Snyder household and several nearby homes on Wednesday
Feb. 10th. By that time, he said, 14,000 additional customers in Greene County also had power. Statewide, 230,000 customers
had power returned by then as well, he said. "None
of our people brought in a generator," said Colafella, who noted that he spoke with the company's storm responders working
in that area. "Crews arrived, removed the tree, repaired the lines, re-energized the lines, and left." In all, 31
customers had been affected by that one tree, he said. Gene
Lee, Greene County chief clerk, said the county did not loan or rent a generator to the Snyders. I asked him to forward my
e-mail to Pam for her comments; I don't look for her to respond. Colafella added that AE follows a priority system (discussed on their website) in which critical facilities
are restored first, followed by the largest popuation centers. Public officials' homes are not on that list. "And we
don't set up remote command posts," he said. "Some
of the confusion people have is about how power is restored," he said. The critical factor was the tree damage. That's
why some homes in any given neighborhood may have restored earlier than others. In reviewing their policies and resources in regard to major power outages, Colafella said the company
discovered several issues: poor communications in
remote areas due to spotty cell service; not enough hardcopy maps or GPS systems for employees who came in from other states;
and not enough mobile lighting for night repair sites. AE
has natually been the target of criticism following the storm. Regarding this particular rumor, Colafella said, "You
can't stop rumors, but I think it's unfair for our restoration efforts to be portrayed this way." GreeneSpeak doesn't plan to address this rumor again unless I hear from someone directly
involved in any aspect of this story, including the Snyders. If you have new or pertinent information on this, contact
me: cindy@greenespeak.com/ ## PRANK AND ROBO CALLS The
politics are thick right now. I got a call the other night at 12:46 a.m. from someone who kept reminding me to vote in behalf
of a certain candidate. It was a real live person who called me a MEAN NAME when I asked him who he was. Anybody else get
one of these? The state police say so far they've not gotten any complaints about this type of call. Let me know if you do.
And then call the police. They can trace it if they feel there is enough need. Robo calls are worse in some ways. At least you can hang up on a real live person. ## POOR DOGGIE
ON MAIN STREET I've gotten calls and also have witnessed
a beautiful, friendly border collie which has been tied on a really short leash in front of the CareerLink. I'm told that
dog is tied "for eight hours at a time." I saw it tied there one morning at 11 and then later again at 3. Interestingly, Humane Officer Derrick Foreman works there so I asked him about it. He
says the dog named "Lassie" is not tied out eight hours a day, has become a favorite of the staff and clients, and
belongs to a person living in a motel who is desparately trying to find work. Derrick says the dog is fed and watered regularly,and
if you have any questions, you can contact him at: ddacres_99@yahoo.com. I believe what Derrick is telling me, but it concerns
me that the dog could be harmed or teased by people walking by. I worry that it could stangle on that short leash. But I am
a worry wart. I am also wondering if there is someone
out there who could help this person and their dog, now living in the motel. If you can help in any way, I'm sure Derrick
can forward your message. ##
HAVE YOU HEARD THE ONE ABOUT THE RIDICULOUS WAL-MART
WHIPPING? (Slightly revised 10-16-10). What's this I hear about a certain public official having a temper
tantrum in the Waynesburg Wal-Mart? Seems this elected
official wanted a certain T.V. set at a certain sale price and then THREW A FIT, verbally assaulting store employees,
when told that the sale price was not available on that particular T.V, not even to OVERBLOWN PUBLIC OFFICIALS (ok
I added the overblown part). So this illustrious public servant got REAL UGLY and had to be escorted from the
establishment by store authorities. What's happening to our
county, our state, our country? Public officials from the bottom all the way to the top are OUT OF CONTROL...from the statewide
campaign finance scandal swirling all around our own Mendacious Knave Bill DeWeese...to township officials in Perry Township
who are stonewalling and attempting to sweep away some pretty amazing financial corruption...to the convicted felon on
the board of Washington Township supervisors who has refused to step down even after the DA filed a civil compaint against
him....And YOU are paying the salaries of these people! And when
citizens (or newspapers) ask questions, these public officials and those who blindly support them NEVER address the issues,
instead preferring to accuse the people asking the questions of making things worse, of muckraking, of airing dirty laundry,
or my personal favorite, MISQUOTING, LYING and/or just plain GETTING IT WRONG. I would encourage you NOT TO GIVE UP THE SHIP if you are one of the brave souls who speaks out because YOU'RE
SICK OF THE CRAP AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE. For
my part, I pledge to keep on keepin' on. They can call me a liar and even put those accusations in their meeting minutes
like Perry Township Secretary Lila Ayersman so enjoys doing, but I HAVE MY INEGRITY. Sure I make mistakes, but I NEVER MALICIOUSLY
OR BLATANTLY LIE ABOUT WHAT THESE PEOPLE DO. They know it. You know it. That's why they hate me so much. The purposes of this finger pointing at the citizenry, as well as newspaper reporters, is: a). to DEFLECT everyone, as I said, from addressing the real issues. b). to HECKLE, HUMILIATE, AND INTIMIDATE people (and newspapers) enough to get them to
BACK OFF. So here is the note I would like to put in my own minute
book: GREENESPEAK DOES NOT BACK OFF JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE SAYS MEAN THINGS TO ME OR ABOUT ME. Others have tried this;
it doesn't work. After almost six years of publishing and
distributing GreeneSpeak all over the country, you would THINK that people (especially pubic offcials) would get this. But
I am still educating folks that: A). NEWSPAPERS ARE ALLOWED TO
ATTEND AND COVER PUBLIC MEETINGS AND EVENTS OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING. B).
NEWSPAPERS ARE ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS AND ASK FOR PUBLIC DOCUMENTS AND YES, PUBLISH THOSE DOCUMENTS. C). NEWSPAPERS ARE ALLOWED TO CRITICIZE, AND EVEN POKE FUN OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS. THAT'S BECAUSE THIS
IS AMERICA. THIS IS HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS TO KEEP PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE IN EXCHANGE FOR DAILY FEEDING AT THE
PUBLIC TROUGH. D). ALL NEWSPAPERS DO NOT HAVE TO REPORT
ALL THE SAME NEWS IN THE SAME WAY. NOT EVEN IN GREENE COUNTY. P.S.
CITIZENS ARE ALSO PERMITTED (ENCOURAGED!!!) TO DO A., B., and C. And allow me to EXHORT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT D.
IS THE FOUNDATION OF A FREE PRESS. MEMO TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO
ARE DOING OR TRYING TO HIDE UNSAVORY ACTIVITIES IN YOUR JURIDICTION: Persecute me and my newspaper at will. GREENESPEAK PUBLICATIONS
wears your abuse like a Badge of Honor. And I look forward to seeing
you at your next public meeting.... And may I say CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE WAL-MART FOLK WHO HAD THE COURAGE TO BOOT OUT AN UNRULY CUSTOMER WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE A WELL-KNOWN PUBLIC OFFICIAL.
THAT TOOK GUTS! It must have felt like Napolean stomping his feet on his island of exile.... Meanwhile, if you saw this episode that I'm dubbing THE RIDICULOUS WAL-MART WHIPPING, I'd love to
hear your comments. Or if the disturbing state of the
political scene in general is gnawing away at your LAST NERVE, don't hesitate to tell me about it. Contact me at: cindy@greenespeak.com or 724-344-7980. Or use the Greene Scream Page. All comments
will remain anonymous unless you tell me otherwise.
[POSTED MARCH 9, 2010] GREENE COUNTY'S LATEST SIDE SHOWS... ...are taking place in a neighborhood near you, but the best two I know of right now are in Washington
and Perry Townships where the idea of representative government is a joke. ...where
transparency in government (open meetings and open records) are snubbed EVERY DAY. ...where taxpayers are wondering why they are paying a solicitor for poor or NO legal advice. ...where in one case (Washington) the local policy makers include a convicted felon (Good) and a
hot head, loud mouth (Dean) who has been thrown out of half the businesses and agencies in Waynesburg for his tendency to
think he's an EMPEROR or something. ...where the bad attidudes
are not just rude; they are affecting public safety, esp. in Washington where the supervisors didn't bother to touch the roads
during the 24-hour snowstorm Feb. 5-6 until it had stopped - 24 inches later! The situation delayed emergency responders from
reaching a heart attack victim. They finally made it to the scene more than 3 hours after the initial 911 call was made. The
victim apparently had died almost instantly, so nothing could have been done to save him, but that does not address public
safety at large here. Citizens who live on that road and others have told us that the road had not been touched until the
911 dispatcher called the township for assistance. We're also told Mr. Hot Head was anything but nice on the phone with this
dispatcher. The two supervisors did show up in two different trucks but both got hung up in the deep snow, which is WHY THEY
SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLOWING THROUGOUT THE STORM. ...where in the
other case (Perry), you have the supervisors, the solicitor, and the secretary spending their days trying to cover somebody's
backside in what is becoming a more and more dubious situation regarding financial managment and record keeping there.
They forced me to go to the Harrisburg Office of Open Records to wrench an 18-month-old public document from them, the infamous
FRAUD AUDIT REPORT which is now posted on the DOCUMENTS page. It was a stalling tactic for reasons we can only guess at. And
I think they think that somebody got away with it. Stay tuned.... I
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR TAKE. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING YOU THINK I SHOULD KNOW. Or if you just want to VENT, YOUR COMMENTS ARE
ALWAYS WELCOME: cindy@greenespeak.com.
BREAKING NEWS [POSTED MARCH 5, 2010] Fatal
fire in Dunkard Township, fatal accident in Carmichaels PA
State Police were busy in the wee hours of this morning with two dismal scenes, a house fire that killed two in Dunkard
Township, and a one-car fatal accident in Carmichaels. At
about 3:30 a.m., fire swept through a two-story wood frame house on Walnut Hill Road in Dunkard Township, killing a two-year-old
child and his grandmother, whom police believe died while trying to save the toddler. Donna D. Miller, 49, was found in 2-year-old Wyatt Miller's bedroom where she tried to reach him
before she was overcome. She had alerted the other people in the house to the fire. Also in the house was Everett L. Miller III, who pulled his daughter Sierra Miller, 5, through a
window he had broken. He was transported to Washington Hospital and then flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment of his
burns. Also in the house was Robert S. Fuller, 16,
of Washington, and Phillip D. Robinson, 59. Fuller assisted Robinson in pulling Timothy Proctor, 3, from a window.
Fuller was moderately injured. Dashawn Whitaker,
16, escaped the home with no injuries. Autopsies are
pending to determine the exact cause of death. The
cause of the fire is under investigation by the fire marshal unit. Assisting were fire departments from Greensboro, Pt. Marion, Bobtown, Fairchance, and Mt. Morris, as well
as the coroner's office, EMS Southwest and the Salvation Army. Also this morning at around 4 a.m., Travis Murphy, 19, of Carmichaels, died when the 2000 Dodge Ram he was
driving west on SR 21 crossed over into the eastbound lane, over the guiderail, smashing into a large tree. He was pronounced
dead at the scene by deputy coroner Mary Lewis. Rt. 21 was closed for two hours. PennDOT and Carmichaels/Cumberland Township fire companies assisted at the scene.
[POSTED FEB. 25, 2010] Well, the snow is a drag, but if you're like me, you'll put up with anything AS LONG
AS YOU HAVE YOUR ELECTRIC AND YOUR DSL! Let's all
say a collective prayer that the gusting winds won't bring down our broken trees onto our power lines. I suspect when the
snow finally does melt off, the devastation to our woodlands will be epic. But of course at that time, people will be dealing
with flooding! And then there are the massive icicles
to watch out for. Geeze, I think home remodeling business will be booming if any of us survive the winter. I feel bad for a lot of the small business folks I've talked with. Restaurants and some
of the specialty retailers took a beating. And If you do your work on home computers like I do, it was nailbiting wondering
if the stuff would ever come back on. Did I mention that I lost 12 DAYS this month to power and DSL outages? I suppose you heard them say the snowfall for February has now surpassed any other February
on record. Oh boy. Anyway it's a strange time. I
suspect Greene County is also in the middle of some kind of record for the most amount of political chaos ever witnessed here.
If you know of a similar time, by all means, write me and tell me about it. With our state Rep. awaiting a corruption trial; our state Senator stepping down; and the
demise of our Congressman, I suspect our fair Democratic leaders are hysterical that PA could become another Mass. Wouldn't
that be a hoot? Wouldn't you just LOVE to see a Republican get in Murtha's seat? Meanwhile, I have no news to report as to whether we have a Republican candidate for DeWeese's seat.
It's too bad they aren't a little more organized, but the thought of taking that battle on is daunting, as is the cost of
a campaign. And then there's the ever-popular corruption, which I'm sure will continue one way or another, that stacks
the odds against any poor soul who might possibly want to get elected for the right reasons. I'd love to hear your thoughts on both the storms of the natural variety we've been
getting here lately, as well as the POLITICAL STORMS brewing in our corner of the state. E-mail me at: cindy@greenespeak.com. ## [POSTED FEB. 18 @ 9:30 p.m.] HOPKINS WILL NOT RUN AGAINST DEWEESE By Cindy Bailey, GreeneSpeak Editor/Publisher A tearful Greg Hopkins, who ran unsucessfully against Bill DeWeese for the 50th District in
'06 and '08, said tonight that he will not run against the recenty indicted incumbent this year. Addressing about 40 members
of the Greene County Republican Committee gathered for their regular monthly meeting at the Greene County Country Club, Hopkins
said, "I've stuggled with this decision for a long time, but I'm married now and together we made the decision not to
jump back in." Hopkins
was married in August of last year. "As
an athlete, part of your conditioning is to take on things that are not comfortable in order to make you stronger," he
said. "The '06 and '08 elections made us better people." In fact, Hopkins was victorious in Greene County both times. The charges against
DeWeese have cast a palor over the last two elections especially, leaving many Greene County voters feeling cheated out of
a fair election process. After
DeWeese was indicted in December 2009 for allowing and/or directing his state staff to do campaign work for him at taxpayer
expense, several former volunteers with Team Hopkins told GreeneSpeak that "60 Harrisburg staffers" descended on
Greene County in the waning days before the November 2008 to carry out a major door-to-door campaign. Describing the effort
as "dirty," the volunteers believe the purpose was to scare voters into sticking with DeWeese and/or to spread
sinister implications about Hopkins. Noting
the sacrifices of his many supporters in the grassroots campaign, he concluded, "I don't think it's the call for
me right now." The group
gave him a standing ovation. Committee
Chairman Rich Yeager said, "I don't think many people realize the sacrifice it takes to run for office." Earlier this month DeWeese announced that he would run
again. A few days later Greene County Commissioner Pam ( who is the aunt of the infamous Angela Bertugli, fallen rural beauty
queen, who was ensared in DeWeese's campaign finance mess) Snyder threw her hat into the ring. She has been quoted
in other media that she thought Bill would not run. In December, however, in an interview with GreeneSpeak, DeWeese strongly implied that he would not
give up the ship just yet. Insiders
tell GreeneSpeak that the Greene County Democrats are not completely unified in their support for Snyder because of her connection
to Angela Bertugli. The former Rain Day Queen, Snyder's neice, was allegedly having an affair with DeWeese's former
chief of staff, Mike Manzo. The kingpin of the Bonusgate scandal, Manzo created a fake job for the twenty-something Bertugli
and set her up in an apartment in Pittsburgh, all at taxpayer expense. The much-older Manzo was newly married to someone else
at the time. After this story
broke, Bertugli was moved to another job on the state payroll in Harrisburg. To date, no other Rebpulican has officially joined the race for the 50th District seat in
the House, but a number of Republican Committee members said tonight that they think a good candidate would have
a decent chance of success this time since the opposition vote will be split. State Committeeman Don Wilson noted, "The 50th district is with our grasp to take it.
The primary on the Democratic side with be extremely ugly with lots of fallout. We need to get people to register as Republicans." Hopkins pointed out the importance of write-ins during
the Primary, noting that 3,000 Democrats wrote in his name in 2008. "Democrats don't understand that they can do this
in the primary," he said. Yeager
said anyone interested in running for the seat can contact him for help and information at: yeagers1@windstream.net. March 9th is the last day to file petitions. ## Send your comments
to: cindy@greenespeak.com ##
BREAKING NEWS....[POSTED FEBRUARY 17, 2010] GREENESPEAK
READERS: GET READY FOR A SHOCKER! [HA]DEP SAYS CONSOL'S MINE SUBSIDENCE DRAINED THE LAKE!Naturally, CONSOL is appealing this ruling, but anyway
here it is..... Department
to Identify Appropriate Remedy in Next Phase of Investigation PITTSBURGH,
Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After an extensive analysis, the Department of Environmental
Protection has determined that longwall mining at Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company's Bailey Mine in Richhill Township, Greene County, resulted in ground movements that damaged the Ryerson Station Dam. "These findings
were based on concrete information from Consol, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DEP files and months
of site observations," said DEP's Director of Mining Operations Michael Terretti. "The
department stands behind its findings and will now move into the second phase of its investigation, which is to address the
appropriate remedy." DEP initiated the investigation following an Allegheny County
Court of Common Pleas' decision that directed DCNR to file a claim with DEP under the state's Bituminous Mine Subsidence
and Land Conservation Act for damage sustained by the dam. Among its findings, the interim report concludes that beyond
longwall mining activity, there was no other activity in the spring and summer of 2005 that could account for the movement
of and damage to the dam. The report also excluded dam instability and hillside instability as potential causes. Underground coal
mines can cause ground movement and damage at greater distances than customary mine subsidence theory typically predicts,
as was the case with the Ryerson Station Dam incident where DEP found a number of examples such as pipeline buckling and road
and stream heaving. DEP also discovered several instances of ground movements in areas beyond the customary prediction
area in its files and in examples Consol identified throughout Appalachian coal fields, including three in the vicinity of
Bailey Mine and two in West Virginia. Ryerson Station Dam forms a 62-acre lake that was drawn
down immediately in July 2005 after joint inspections by DCNR and DEP uncovered serious structural
concerns, including increased seepage and a greater number of cracks in the concrete structure. In August
2005, the departments removed a portion of the dam spillway to prevent the reservoir from refilling after heavy rains
and runoff, which could have further stressed the damaged structure. The 1,164-acre Ryerson Station State Park opened
in 1967 in the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania near the West Virginia border and provides
recreational opportunities at the popular park, which also features picnicking, hiking, camping and a seasonal swimming pool.
The concrete dam across the North Fork of the Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek was built in 1960. SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Southwest Regional Office
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