Uniontown featured in NPR post-election segment

One of my regrets now that we're in the aftermath of the election is the fact that I didn't post more during the election, particularly regarding campaign promises and local hopes. I don't think I would've swayed people one way or the other, necessarily, but I like to think maybe people would've at least considered what I had to say.

See, the thing is, a lot of people around here seem to think Trump is their solution and salvation, the key to turning what's long been a struggling county around and back to what is was in its prime. And I think those people are wrong. I think that for a variety of reasons I won't get into today.

For now, NPR has run a story on the expectations people have of a Trump presidency, particularly in little ol' Uniontown. One of the things they mention is that for the first time in 20 years, Pennsylvania went red and voted Republican, something that seemed to surprise pundits and I suspect the politicians themselves--but it didn't surprise me, and I can't imagine it surprised many other residents, either. The flip from blue to red has been brewing a long while. I've mentioned on this blog in the past that I noticed during Obama's first run in 2008 many more yards had McCain signs than Obama, and having spent my whole life living here, I was fairly confident that had a hell of a lot more to do with skin color than it did policy. Even other Democrats bought into the unfounded rumors that Obama was born in Africa and his father was a terrorist.

Similarly, in my new location of nearby Washington and all the way down 40 to Uniontown, Trump signs dominated. While Fayette and Washington counties certainly aren't representative of the entire state, they seemed to reflect the attitudes and opinions of a lot of other people in the state, and while pundits seemed to speak of Pennsylvania as though it were a guaranteed blue state, I was skeptical. Like I said, in the end, we went red, and I wasn't surprised in the slightest. I wasn't alone, either.

Community members of all political persuasions came out for the event including Fayette County Democratic Party Chairman Jim Davis. 

In the spring, Davis was trying to raise alarm bells to his party. He told NPR that he was concerned about the large Republican turnout in the Pennsylvania primary and he that he was seeing Democrats in his country switch their party registration so they could vote for Trump in the general election. 

The writing was on the wall. 

"We didn't want to see it," Davis says. "We didn't want to accept it but ... it was obvious." 

Part of that has to do with the desire to see the coal industry make a comeback, and it's hard to argue with people who are feeling the impact of that loss. There's even a post back lurking in the archives of this blog dedicated to the impact the loss of the industry had on the area. It's pretty evident, really. The thing is, I think these hopes that Trump is going to bring it back are unrealistic. For one, I think he's barely aware of the county's existence, and on top of that--and this is one of the many reasons I couldn't vote for him--he doesn't seem to have a true understanding of how to fix our problems. The best example of this is evident in the fact that he promised to help both the coal and natural-gas industries, both of which have business in Fayette County. But the problem is the two compete with each other, making it impossible to truly help both. In the end, it'll be one or the other.

As much as I understand why people are holding on to the hope that coal will be saved, maybe it's time for Fayette County to move on. Maybe it's time for us to take a look at what else we have to offer and how we can rebuild our economy in another way. Take Pittsburgh, for example, which is becoming known more and more for sectors like technology and medicine. Even a look at the Waterfront will show you how the city is moved past its steel history--the area now boasts shopping, dining, and even entertainment, with places like Dave & Busters or the Improv comedy club, plus the Carnegie library/music venue up the hill. That's what we need to strive for--not a revival of an industry that truly doesn't seem like it's coming back or a president-elect full of empty promises, but rather an alternative to pick us back up again.

In the NPR article, Davis says something similar:

Davis believes the Democratic Party has to reinvent what they stand for in order to win back blue-collar voters and stop putting social issues at the forefront of the party. Democrats, he says, have to start talking about things like how to bring decent jobs into places like Fayette County. 

"Not a job that pays $8 an hour with no benefits, but a job that can pay a reasonable wage with benefits that a man can raise his family, can hopefully buy a house and send his children off to college, maybe state school, but college," Davis says. "That's the kind of thing we've got to start talking about."

Fayette County gets mention in Funny or Die video

First of all, if you're not familiar with comedian Keegan-Michael Key, you should really change that. I recommend starting here.

More recently, Key, a Penn State alumnus, did a video for Funny or Die encouraging Pennsylvanians to get out and vote--and I encourage you, too! But more importantly, the video references our own Fayettenam, including specific mentions of Connellsville and Bud Murphy's. And while our registration deadline may have passed and this video is now a little outdated, it's still pretty funny and worth the watch.

Vote!

Hello, everyone! Long time, no post. Truth be told, the reason posts have fizzled out is because I really just didn't feel like doing them--keeping up with Fayette County's news can be tiring and disheartening, and on top of that, there have been times where I felt I didn't have much to say and I'd only be rehashing a news article, and I don't think that's what anyone is interested in reading.

That said, I don't want to end the blog altogether, and I will try to surprise you with the occasional post. I have some Nam Nuptials posts I'd like to do, and there's a political post brewing. But first, I wanted to tackle something a little simpler and a bit more pressing--registering to vote.

It's election season, and we're all surrounded by ads and social-media posts about who should or not be president. But the thing is, you have to do more than just discuss politics--you have to get involved, and you have to get out and vote on election day. And of course, in order to vote, you have to first be registered, and you have to be registered by a certain day to be able to vote on Nov. 8.

The deadline for us here in Pennsylvania is Oct. 11. You can register with a paper form and mail it to your county voter-registration office as long as it's postmarked by the 11th, or you can register online by clicking here. For the most part, all the form requires is some basic personal information.

If you think you may already be registered but aren't sure, you can check by clicking here and searching using your name or your driver's-license number.

If you're registered but aren't sure where to go to vote, you can search for your polling place by clicking here and entering your address.

And remember, take the time to learn about all the candidates--including those running for local positions--and make an informed decision.

Veteran denied service at Darby's due to service animal

I'm fascinated by service animals, to be honest. I love animals in general (I'm probably like the only vegetarian to come out of Fayette County), but service animals in particular really interest me due to the numerous ways they can be used to help people and what a benefit they are. One of the things they're great for is veterans with PTSD, like local man Eric Stump, recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star who did three tours in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, Stump was recently denied entry on a visit to Darby's because of his service dog, Dixie, who I'm sure is adorable.

I'll be honest, my initial plan for this post was to take Darby's to task for it and encourage a boycott, because not only is it super shitty to deny service animals, but it's also illegal unless the animal is causing a disturbance. But I have to give credit where credit is due--the owner handled the situation promptly and appropriately by apologizing.

"I feel bad. I don't ever want to hurt anybody's feelings, ever," [Barbara] Johnston said.

 While I'm glad the situation has been resolved, this does seem like a good case for ensuring employees--and business owners--are aware of laws regarding service animals. And remember, kids, if you're out and about and see a service animal that you just really, really want to pet because nothing's cuter than a dog in a vest, don't. It can be disrespectful, and more importantly, it can distract the animal from its job, which can be anything from assisting a blind person to providing support for people with mental illness.

Pechin's goes on lockdown, internet responds accordingly

Man, there's nothing like scrolling through your Facebook feed on a Friday on your lunch break and seeing that Pechin's is locked down because of a possible active-shooter situation.

The world's been a little chaotic and violent lately--we all know that. I couldn't help but think, "Not another one." Fortunately, it was a bit of a misunderstanding, and a man simply was hoping to sell a gun at the flea market...which is kind of ridiculous thing in itself, selling guns at flea markets. But I am glad it wasn't a situation where anyone was in direct danger.

The Internet being, well, the Internet, someone made it a meme.

Duda's Farm having trouble with roadside signs because PennDOT

Ah, roadside farm stands. They're a hallmark of summer. Need some tomatoes or sweet corn? There's probably a sign along 40, 51, or 119 guiding you right to some. And if you're like me, you kind of look forward to this--when the time comes, you hit your nearest Duda's stand to stock up on your weekly produce. Maybe even eat less junk than normal and instead have corn on the cob, stuffed peppers, or zucchini. And their roadside signs are so familiar, you almost don't notice them.

Unless you're PennDOT, or rather, the person who complained to PennDOT about Duda's signs.

Duda's took to Facebook asking for community support after being told to take the signs down. Apparently, Duda's needs a permit for the signs, as they don't fall under exemptions that political signs, yard-sale signs, or other small, temporary signs on private property placed with permission have. Which doesn't make much sense to me--while I'll grant Duda's signs are typically larger than those other signs, they are still temporary. Plus Duda's says the signs on private property were placed with permission, so it's hard to see what the problem is here.

Duda's feels they're being targeted, and it's hard to argue with that, especially considering they noted similar signs that are apparently okay. PennDOT says they're only concerned with signs people complain about, so...which one you complained about Duda's signs and why? Also, if all signs are illegal, why not go after all of them and get money off them fines? Surely PennDOT could always use more help paying for the construction that is every-damn-where, not to mention everyone's favorite, fresh oil and chips.

So why not just apply for the permits? Well, they have, but of course, it's a long process, and they'd like to be able to keep the signs up in the meantime. Duda's also turned to local politicians for help, particularly Rep. Pam Snyder, who introduced a bill allowing such signs to be put up without permits.  It's currently awaiting action in the state Senate.

In the meantime, I personally suggest visiting your closest Duda's stand and showing your support. For my fellow expats, you can find one in the parking lot of Washington's Crown Center mall.

Nam Nuptials: Inne at Watson's Choice

I'm getting married! But this actually has nothing to do with my wedding, so...never mind. Nevertheless, as a blogger, I'd love to highlight some of the Fayette County wedding venues and vendors--especially for couples looking for something a little different than a social hall.

The last time I was at Inne at Watson's Choice, it was for my cousin's First Communion, and looking back, I remember very little of it. But it's fitting that now, all these years later, her oldest brother chose Watson's for his wedding--and it was beautiful.

Unfortunately, I didn't really get any good pictures of the place. I thought about it, but, you know, partying with friends and family was my priority. So you'll have to rely on the venue's page for that one. Sorry, guys!

I did briefly consider the Inne for my own wedding, but it's a barn and I'm not much of a barn-wedding girl for myself--but if you are a barn-wedding couple, I think you'll love this place. The barn is nice and quaint, and though it looks a little small, it's well-suited for weddings. We started off there with cocktails, then headed down to a tent on a lawn for a buffet dinner. After dinner, we spent the next few hours dancing until the DJ packed it up, which is around 10 due to the neighbors. If you need a break from the dancing, there are plenty of places to hang out, whether it be outside on the porch or up in the loft, looking down on the party below.

We kept the party going for a little after the DJ finished by heading down to the fire pit, which was a nice touch on a chilly, rainy night. I headed off to crash at my parents' place, but a lot of my friends and family--especially the wedding party--got rooms and spent the night.

Everyone had a great time, the venue was nice, and you and your guests can spend the night so you can get real drunk without worrying about getting home. Sounds like a great wedding to me!

My brother is seeking out a kind stranger

I've mentioned before that my brother is in the military.

Widely regarded as the nicest picture of us as adults in existence

He's even done a guest post in the past about encountering a case of stolen valor. Fortunately, though, he now has a positive story, and we all know I like to spread the cheer here when I can.

He went out to Eat N Park last night with is fiancée to have dinner before he ships off soon for his annual two weeks' training, and since he'd just come from drill, he was still in uniform. When they finished their meal, the waitress informed them that someone else paid for their meal for him. Which I think is cool as hell. I always love hearing stories like this, and I love sharing them, too--it's so, so easy to focus on the bad, and it's always great to hear little reminders like this of people doing nice things for other people.

Thing is, my brother doesn't know who he was, and he'd like to thank that person. So if you were at Eat N Park Sunday night and paid for that goofy-looking kid up there's meal, know that he really appreciated it and would like to know who you are.

Thank you, kind stranger, and keep on spreading that kindness through the Nam.

In the meantime, a couple of us have suggested that my brother find a way to pay it forward.

Dunbar American Legion shut down because of general debauchery, basically

The DA and state police announced today that the American Legion in Dunbar will be shut down.

DA Rich Bower cited 20 incidents over the past three years that contributed to the decision. I'm guessing one of them was from the end of March, when three people were arrested and police fired shots. Police also recovered multiple weapons and some marijuana. Oh, and then there was the deadly shooting that occurred at the place in 1997.

Bower said other incidents include harassment and sexual activity. He hasn't said, though, whether or not the closure is permanent.

But honestly, is there anything more American than violence and harassment with alcohol, too?

Rock the Yough music festival partners with Lynn's

Connellsville's upcoming music festival has a new partner--Lynn's!

Lynn's will donate a portion of their sales on the first Monday of every month to Rock the Yough, starting this month. So if you want to grab some dinner or a drink on your Monday and help support the budding music festival at the same time, be sure to head out to Lynn's tonight.

As excited as I am to see an event like this happening in Connellsville, unfortunately for me, I won't actually be able to go--it's the same day as my brother's wedding. So that just means everybody else has to go for me and have a great time! Check out the festival's Facebook page for up-to-date information on tickets and the lineup.

Rock the Yough will be held Aug. 6 at East Park. Proceeds benefit Connellsville's Parks and Rec board.

Connellsville Police warn of IRS scam

Tax season may nearly be over, but that doesn't stop scammers!

The Connellsville Police--though I can't imagine this scam is limited to Connellsville--have posted about a tax scam making the rounds, in which residents have received calls from people claiming to be the IRS, saying that they may be subject to a lawsuit/charges/warrant if they don't call a certain phone number. These calls aren't legit. Not only are they not from the IRS, but the IRS will never convey such information over the phone. In fact, as a general rule, almost no government agencies will, as with most businesses, and you should never give out any personal information or online.

If you receive such a call, the police advise you to simply ignore it. You can report it if you want.

Man arrested after police chase...and falling for a kind of obvious trap

I kind of love this story.

So, a man was arrested Saturday morning after a police chase. 31-year-old Christopher Greer of Uniontown was initially pulled over Thursday night because he has a history of driving with a suspended license--because, you know, having your license suspended and continuing to drive enough times that you have a reputation for doing it is a great idea. I mean, what could possibly go wrong, other than a police chase through town?

Police lost track of him on Fayette St., due to the fact that he was speeding, running lights and stop signs, etc., which was a bit dangerous.

Early Friday morning, police saw a Facebook post from him looking to sell an iPhone, and this is where things take a funny dumb-criminal turn. An officer texted Greer, pretending to be interested in buying the phone, and they arranged a meeting. Greer must've suspected something was off, because he didn't get out of his car--but he got surrounded anyway, backed into one of the police cruisers, and fled yet again. Good for him for being suspicious, I guess, but that probably would've come in handy before scheduling a meet-up with cops, especially considering he gave himself a flat tire, which resulted in him getting caught.

He's facing multiple charges, including charges of assault and reckless endangerment, with bail set at $20,000.

Connellsville Police looking for possible robbery witness

The Connellsville police are investigating a robbery that happened in the early-morning hours of Wednesday, March 30, at ReddyMart. A male stole money and cigarettes, and upon reviewing security footage, they saw a woman in the store just before the robbery who may have information about it but is unaware.

If you can help identify this woman--or if you are her--you're asked to contact the Connellsville police, either through a private message on their Facebook page or by calling 724-628-2501.

Man charged after shooting at neighbors

A local man is facing charges of reckless assault, simple assault, and reckless endangerment after firing a dozen shots at his neighbors, as one does.

New articles aren't really clear on his motives, and honestly, I'm really curious as to what they might've been. Not that there's a whole hell of a lot to justify shooting at your neighbors. I just want to know what led this guy to do it. Like, it's one thing to shoot in self-defense. It's another thing to shoot if, like, someone's being too noisy or something.

The man was taken into custody after a standoff with police, as though shooting at your neighbors wasn't bad enough.

Rock the Yough coming to Connellsville this summer

Music fans of the Nam, you're getting a music festival in your own backyard. Rock the Yough will be held at East Park in Connellsville on August 6. I'm bummed I won't actually be able to go--that's the day my brother's getting married!

The festival is still in early planning stages, so no information about things such as the lineup is available yet. But it's a pretty cool thing to bring to Connellsville, and I personally hope it takes off. But in the meantime, the festival's Facebook page is kicking things off with a contest if they hit 1,000 likes, and I like if you dear readers head over, you can help them reach that goal.

The festival is also currently looking for sponsors.

Proceeds of the festival will benefit Connellsville's Parks and Rec board.

Nam Nuptials: The Summit

I'm getting married! Although I'm getting married in the Pittsburgh area and will therefore mostly be using Pittsburgh-area vendors, I have explored my Fayette County options, and as a blogger, I'd love to highlight some of them--especially for couples looking for something a little different than a social hall.

I'll be honest--we never actually toured The Summit, but the only reason for that is timing. Although I didn't want to wait around too long to start planning our wedding, knowing I wanted a date for next summer, planning a wedding in winter has some major disadvantages, and a major one is that some venues are gonna be difficult to tour. The Summit is a perfect example. Although they have someone taking calls and answering e-mails, the resort is closed for the season until April and actually doesn't even have their power turned on, so a tour would have to happen either during a weekday, requiring my fiancé and I to both take a day off from work, or we'd have to wait until they opened at the end of April. While I was willing to take a day off, my fiancé wasn't quite as open to it, plus a busy period at work for me would've made it difficult. And I didn't want to book a place I hadn't seen. I haven't been to The Summit probably since my First Communion. On that note, The Summit was a nice choice for that! And my dad also worked there at the time, so there's that.

The bummer is The Summit had a lot of the qualities I wanted in a wedding venue, like being in the mountains with nature and trees around and overnight accommodations onsite. They also offered packages similar to ones we'd considered at Seven Springs and at a much lower price--we'd been looking at Seven Springs' cheapest package, and the Summit package we liked the most was $30 cheaper per person, with add-on options like the quality of bar liquor or shots after the bridal dance. For comparison purposes, The Summit offered a little less than Seven Springs, but it was significantly cheaper and honestly might've been a winning venue for us if we'd been able to make a tour work with our schedules. 

If you're looking for a nice, rural setting with nearly comprehensive packages, I'd say The Summit is a great choice--especially if you're looking to save some money, as their packages are a good bit cheaper than similar ones at other nearby resorts. 

County health rankings released

Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is nationwide county health rankings have been released, and Fayette County isn't the worst in Pennsylvania! The bad news is we're second to worst.

Rankings are chosen based on such factors as premature death, quality of life, obesity rates, preventable deaths, and more. Some notable things from this year's Fayette County data are that we're getting worse for premature deaths, adult obesity, physical inactivity, STIs, and uninsured, unemployed, and child-poverty rates. Remember, kids, eat healthy, take a walk every day, and practice safe sex--if you're a college student, condoms are often available for free at campus health centers.

Fortunately, though, it's all bad news--we have improved in some areas, including alcohol-impaired driving deaths, preventable hospital stays, diabetic monitoring, mammograms, air pollution, and the violent-crime rate. Keep up the good work, guys! Remember to take care of yourselves, don't drink and drive, preventative care is super important, and violence is pretty much never the answer.

Parents arrested in death of toddler

I'm not sure what's sadder--the fact that a toddler who died last month weighed only 10 pounds at the time or the fact that I wasn't surprised to hear that.

I'm sure you remember the story. A girl, not yet two, was left in a carseat for 13 hours. When her mother checked on her and gave her a drink after running errands, she noticed something was wrong and took her to the hospital, where she unfortunately died. Not long after, the coroner announced that preliminary autopsy results would not be released "so as to in no way compromise the accuracy and completeness of the ongoing investigation into the death of [the child], to which I said, "Personally, this makes me concerned that this is going to end up a pretty sad, disturbing case."

And here we are not even a month later, and it's looking like I was right. The coroner is now saying the cause of death was malnutrition and dehydration, and both parents have been arrested. They were also found to have been living in "deplorable" conditions with no running water or sewage.

This entire thing is sad and disturbing, to be sure. This child deserved much better, as do all children, but there are still a lot of unknowns here. It would be easy to criticize the parents, but we should also remember that drug use or mental illness could be a factor. And it's also important to remember that taking that into consideration is by no means making excuses for or justifying what happened here--it's merely a reminder that people aren't always in a good, healthy frame of mind and that others around them can pay the price as a result. It's also important to remember that wouldn't make this okay. And that Facebook comments wishing violence or death upon these parents does no good to anyone, nor does expressing that make one a better person.

I have some lingering questions. Did no one notice the child was just 10 pounds and try to intervene? What about the health of the couple's other two children, who were placed in protective custody?

And finally, as always, if you see something, say something. And if you're struggling with mental-health or substance-abuse issues, please reach out to someone. There's no shame in asking for help.

Dog found

A dog was found today off High St. in Brownsville without a collar or microchip. Anyone recognize her?

Easter Events

Easter is creeping closer and closer already, which means Easter events are, too. If you're looking for something to do or even seeking out the Easter Bunny him/herself, here ya go!

• Today--March 13--from noon until 5 p.m., St. John Byzantine Church in Uniontown will hold an "Eggstravaganza" show featuring egg artists, a marketplace, video of pysanky-making, display of Easter-basket covers, an explanation of traditional Easter foods, hands-on pyansky workshop, and a Lenten lunch.
• Keep an eye out for the Easter Bunny at Colebrook Chocolate in Connellsville!
• And as previously announced, Immaculate Conception in Connellsville will have their 9:30 a.m. Easter mass signed for the deaf community. All are welcome, not just Catholics.

Upcoming events

You know, back when we had all that unusually warm weather in December, I knew we were gonna pay for it comes January and February. And while we've seen worse and temperatures are set to go up over the next few days, well...here we are. But if you're getting cabin fever and are itching to get out and do something, you've got some cool options.

New events are in bold, past events are crossed out.

• On Wednesday, March 2, stop by the Uniontown Mall to sign a pledge against using "the r-word."
• A free meal will be served to those in need at Abundant Life Church in Uniontown on Saturday, March 5, 1-5 p.m.
• Tractor Supply in Uniontown will once again  host a rabies clinic on March 6 from 1:30 until 3 p.m. Rabies and distemper shots will cost $15 each, and you'll be able to have your pet examined by a vet from Duck Hollow Animal Hospital.
• A spaghetti dinner will be held to raise money for Connellsville's annual fireworks display. Admission costs $8 and includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad, bread, drinks, and dessert. The event will also include a 50/50 raffle and Chinese auction.
• Fayette Friends of Animals will host a Cash Bash on Saturday, March 19. Tickets are still available.
• Fallingwater will have a Fayette County Appreciation Day on March 20 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., where all Fayette County residents will get to tour the historic house for free. Reservations required. No word yet on when they'll let me live there.
• Falls City Pub in Ohiopyle will be hosting a Southern Tier Beer Night, with five craft beers from Southern Tier and five craft courses from the restaurant. It'll be on Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m., but you'll have to make reservations and space is limited.
• The annual Empty Bowls will be held April 24 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the adult rec center in Uniontown. Choose a handmade bowl, eat some soup, and participate in auctions to benefit the food bank.
• The Braddock Inn summer concert series will kick off on Saturday, May 28 with The Corn Liquor Band, playing from 8 p.m. 'til midnight.

Of course, we're heading into high-school musical season, so look for a list of those soon, as well.

Couple has trouble selling "Silence of the Lambs" house

UPDATE: The price on this has been lowered again--apparently for the fourth time--to just under $225,000.

I wasn't going to post about this, but CNET picked up the story. And the combination of some of their wit with the fact that this is catching on outside of local news inspired me. I mean, my personal favorite is the line, "Maybe they could throw in a basket of lotions to sweeten the deal?"

The famous house from "The Silence of the Lambs" known as the dwelling place of serial killer Buffalo Bill has been up for sale since last summer--apparently, no one's buying. But is it the "serial killer" part that has people staying away? Nah. It's probably just the asking price, which currently sits at $250,000, down from the original price of $300,000.

Now, I may not be an expert in county real estate, but I know enough to know that $250,000 is still too high for an old house in Layton, no matter how big and no matter its Hollywood history. Sure, the movie might add some value, but not enough to justify the price, and I can't imagine the average Fayette County buyer even cares. And if people around here are willing and able to drop $250,000 on a house, they're probably gonna spring for something a little nicer, or something that's not right next to train tracks, or something newer. I mean, based on experience in my childhood, you know what my first thought is when I see an old house? It's, "Man, that's probably a bitch to heat in the winter. No thanks."

A political PSA

As election season rages on, now's as good a time as any to remind everyone that voting is important, first of all, but to be able to vote, you first have to register--but to be able to vote in the primaries next month on April 26, you have to register by the deadline. That deadline is at the end of this month on March 28, and it's for both new registries and updates like changing your party. Because remember, in Pennsylvania, you have to be registered with a political party to vote for one of its candidates.

You can now register or update your information online in PA by clicking here.

One more time--the deadline to register to vote or to change your party affiliation is March 28. The primary is held April 26, so get out and vote! Just not for Trump, please, or else we're all screwed.

Easter mass to be signed for deaf

Fr. Bob and interpreter Cindy Hanzes have announced that Immaculate Conception in Connellsville will have their Easter Sunday mass at 9:30 a.m. signed for the deaf. All are welcome, including non-Catholics.

For more information and resources for the Fayette County deaf community, visit the Hear Fayette Facebook page.

High-School Musicals Masterpost

'Tis the season for high school musicals. Let's be real here--we're probably all most interested in our alma maters or the schools of friends and family, but just in case you'd like to venture out and see something different and support local schools' drama departments in the process, here are all the local musicals being performed this spring. As always, if you'd like to add a school to the list, just send it my way!

Also, shout out to whoever it was years back now who wrote a letter to the editor complaining about Godspell being anti-Christian. You keep fighting the good, ignorant fight.

Shows are in alphabetical order by school.

• Frazier: Due to a lack of interest in the annual musical, Frazier got creative and is instead having a Broadway review. It'll be this weekend, with tickets costing $5, featuring a variety of songs from both classic and modern musicals. Remember, kids, participating in your high-school musical is awesome and fun and I'd do it again if I could.
• Geibel: Grease, performed at the State Theater in Uniontown March 17-19. Tickets are $20, me seeing a large number of former teachers is priceless.
• Laurel Highlands: Cinderella, performed at the Laurel Highlands High School March 10-13. Tickets are $12 each, as well as a $25 dinner/show combo on the 12th. Which sounds super cool and fancy and impressive. Kids these days, man.

Planned power outage

Just to get the word out to make sure everyone impacted is aware, West Penn Power will have a planned power outage to upgrade facilities on Tuesday, March 1, from about 8 a.m. until noon in Uniontown. However, the outage should only impact about 55 West Penn customers near Pittsburgh St. Customers will be notified via phone message, and in case of bad weather, the upgrade will be pushed back a day until March 2.

Toddler left in carseat for 13 hours

UPDATE: The county coroner has announced that preliminary autopsy results will not be released "so as to in no way compromise the accuracy and completeness of the ongoing investigation into the death of [the child]." Personally, this makes me concerned that this is going to end up a pretty sad, disturbing case.

If you've wondered why posts lately have been kind of bland things like upcoming events, this is why. Keeping up with Fayette County news gets exhausting and upsetting because so much of it is negative, so a long time ago now, I stopped looking for things to post about and instead decided to post about whatever made it onto my radar on its own. Unfortunately, this was it.

A toddler died Wednesday after being taken to Uniontown Hospital after being left in a carseat for 13 hours. Initially, I assumed this meant the child had been left in the car overnight, but this does not seem to be the case. Yet leaving a child strapped in a carseat indoors for no real reason is still confusing to me, not to mention really sad.

The child's mother returned from running errands and went to give her a drink and noticed something was wrong, prompting her to take the child to the hospital. Upon investigation, the home was found to be in "deplorable" condition with no running water. The child's father was at home at the time but apparently just...left her unattended in a carseat for 13 hours. Father of the year right there.

The child's two siblings have since been put in protective custody, which sounds like it's for the best.

Nam Nuptials: Fernstone Retreat

As you may or may not know, I got engaged on New Year's Day! So between working and writing and trying to enjoy free time, too, I've been slowly plugging away at planning a wedding. And...I haven't made much progress. But I have gained blog material! While I live in Washington and it's looking more and more like my wedding will be in Pittsburgh with Pittsburgh-area vendors, Fayette County isn't out of the running just yet, and it's worth discussing what the Nam has to offer in terms of weddings, especially if you're like me and want something a little different than a social hall.

While we still haven't settled on a venue, one of the ones previously in the running was Fernstone Retreat in Farmington, a beautiful oak pavilion with such things as overnight accommodations and a waterfall on the property. And for a couple who got engaged at Ohiopyle, that's a pretty serious contender. Packages start around $10,000.

Unfortunately, we never got to see the venue in person, and this is where Fernstone lost me as a customer as a result--they couldn't work with our schedule when it came to taking a tour. Now, due to work and the hour-long travel time, we wouldn't have been able to make it to the venue before 5 in the evening, and while I understand this isn't ideal for venues and their staff who tend to keep typical 9-5 business hours, we were led to believe this was doable, only to have our tour canceled twice the day of the tour. Upon the second cancelation, we were told to let them know if we were ever able to make it at 4 instead, a mere hour earlier. If they couldn't really work with our schedule, I would've appreciated an up-front explanation rather than to be strung along and bailed on twice, wasting my time as a result. I lost about two weeks because of this, when I could've spent that two weeks looking at other venues. Hell, I could have one booked by now--the original plan was to look at Fernstone a week ago and make our final decision by the following Monday, and now I'm back to square one.

So if you're interested in Fernstone and can make it up there by 4 on a weekday, go for it. It looks like a great, unique place.

Blast from the Past: We Used to Be a Different County

Credit goes to The Windber Area Museum for posting this to their Facebook page.

Pennsylvania's counties used to look like this, at the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775.

Yep, Fayette County used to be part of Westmoreland County. It's interesting to think about how things could be different for either county had that not changed.

The museum also posted some other nice historical tidbits, like the fact that Somerset County wasn't created until 1795 and was part of Bedford County until then.

Annual spring tree sale

Honestly, guys, I wish I could buy a tree, but alas. The struggles of apartment life. But if you're doing some landscaping and want to add some trees to your property, the Conservation District is holding its annual tree sale. Order forms and payment must be submitted by March 18 at the District office at Nickman's Plaza in Lemont Furnace.

Pick-up will be April 1 and 2 at the county fairgrounds from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.--2 p.m. on the 2nd.

Enjoy your trees!

Rabies Clinic

A rabis clinic will be held at Tractor Supply in Uniontown on March 6 from 1:30 util 3 p.m. Rabies and distemper shots will cost $15 each. You can also have your furry family member checked out by a vet from Duck Hollow Animal hospital.

Lenten fish dinner masterpost

Mardi Gras has come and gone, and I have the beads and feathered mask to prove it. That means we're heading right into Lent, the season of fish dinners, so I've decided to compile a list of county dinners--especially if you're like my dad and want to spend your Lent eating at as many different ones as possible. The list is in alphabetical order by location, and any links lead you to a menu. Enjoy!

• Hiller VFC, every Friday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., including lunch delivery. 724-785-9793.
• North Union Township VFW, every Friday from 4-7 p.m. $9.95, eat-in or take-out. 724-438-8543.
• Perryopolis: St. John the Baptist RC Church, noon until 6 p.m., eat-in or take-out. Menu includes baked or fried fish dinner, fish sandwiches, pierogies, haluski, green beans, macaroni & cheese, and cole slaw. 724-736-0675.

I'll be adding to the list throughout Lent, so if you have any locations to add or menus to link to, feel free to contact me.

State job openings

Looking for a job? The state police recently reminded everyone on Facebook that they have positions open, in both civil service and non-civil service. If you're in need of a job or looking for a job change, this could be a good opportunity to take advantage of. Visit the state's employment website to view available positions and apply--and I took a look and there are plenty of openings across a variety of areas, so there's something for almost everyone, not just police work.

Man shackled 15-year-old girl as collateral for loan

When I was in high school, I had a teacher who would take collateral anytime a student needed to borrow something like a pen--he'd take, say, a book or your handbook that contained our hall passes or something that we needed to ensure he'd get his pen back. But a Brownsville man, Christopher Wiley Brown, took collateral to next-level awful when he took an actual human being, like someone out of a primetime drama or, like, the mob.

I have so many questions, the biggest and most important one being what makes one think that a human is appropriate collateral? It's sick.

The loan agreement required the girl to help care for the man's disabled fiancée, while the girl's dad was to repair their home. And honestly, that arrangement would be fine if it were, you know, consensual and didn't involve leg shackles and a ball gag.

And when I heard "leg shackles and ball gag," my mind jumped right to sexual assault, too, and sure enough, Brown "made her touch his genitals."

Fortunately, the girl was able to free herself and text her dad, who called 911 and is not being charged. The news article doesn't given too much detail here, but I do have concerns about what kind of father allows his teenage daughter to go with a grown man, even if it is part of a loan agreement. Because it sounds like her dad knew where she was, just not the fucked-up extent of it.

The man was jailed Thursday on charges of kidnapping and indecent assault, among others.

I was gonna advise Brown's fiancée to find someone better, but on second thought, I have a hard time imagining that she didn't know.

Geibel to compete on "Hometown High Q"

This Saturday, Feb. 13, students from Geibel will be competing on KDKA's "Hometown High Q." Their episode will air twice--first on March 19 at 11 a.m., then on March 26 at 11:30.

Go, Gators! Good luck! Kick some ass!

Local man's snow machine makes Weather Channel

Maybe Ohiopyle should've called in Mark Duda for their canceled Winterfest--he apparently has a pretty good snow machine that got the attention of The Weather Channel.

Duda's been working on snow machines since he was 16, which is about as long as I've been trying to figure out a way I can hibernate for the winter. If this winter hadn't been so warm, he might've gotten a good bit of homemade snow out of it, but alas, homemade snow needs certain conditions to come about. But that means that last year, he was able to make snow until May--which isn't surprising to me, since that was about the time I was heading up to the mountains for the weekends and finding everything still bare and dead.

But Duda's been able to make some pretty impressive snowy hills, the tallest being 30 feet high. So, skiers who haven't been able to get their fix this winter, make friends with Duda.

Or maybe he should just start charging admission.

Brownsville Chamber of Commerce President dies

Sad news for the Brownsville community today--longtime president Frank Ricco has died, according to a Facebook post.

The post includes a statement from Vice President Carl Della Penna, which reads:

"Pretty much every one of us can't remember living in the Brownsville area without Frank Ricco. When I think of Brownsville I can't help but thinking of Frank. His love and passion for Brownsville and its betterment was second to none. He gave countless gifts of time, talent and treasure to the Brownsville community for decades. He gave to and supported the community more than anyone will ever know. I remember Frank as a kid with Little League Baseball, what he did for the schools, the sports teams, the band and numerous other school activities. I remember selling parts to Frank as a late teenager and continuing servicing his company up to today. I served as Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce under Frank for probably 20 years, and Vice President of his Sons of Italy Lodge for almost 10 years. Frank was board President for the hospital, Luzerne Park, State President of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania....so many organizations you can't name them all. He was a mover and shaker. When Frank was involved he wanted and expected it done, and done right. He was a pillar businessman in the community. To me he was an inspiration and an idol. I learned a lot from Frank. We will all miss him very much."

As a result, the Chamber of Commerce's meeting scheduled for Feb. 9 has been canceled.

Visitation hours will be Sunday and Monday from 1-8 p.m. at the Brownsville Sons & Daughters of Italy. The Sons of Italy will hold a memorial at 6 p.m. Sunday and a wake at 6 p.m. Monday. The funeral will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at Brownsville's Historic Church of St. Peter, an Ricco will be interred at LaFayette Memorial Park.

His family has asked that donations be made to Ricco's scholarship fund.

Have breakfast with the Easter Bunny

New Haven Hose Co. is hosting breakfast with the Easter Bunny on Sunday, March 20, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Food will include pancakes, eggs, homefries, sausage, coffee and juice. Cost for adults is $6, children under 12 will be $3. Have fun!

Home Depot holding job fair

Need a job or exploring new opportunities? Home Depot will be holding a job fair on Thursday, Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. More details below.

Ohiopyle cancels Winterfest because of a lack of winter

Look, I know some of you love snow, but don't we deserve a break after the past couple of winters? I mean, I say this fully expecting another round of snow by Valentine's Day because that's just how winter works around here, but still. It's been a warm, snow-less one, and as much as I'm rejoicing, not everyone is happy.

A lack of snow has led Ohiopyle to cancel their Winterfest originally scheduled for this weekend. They will not reschedule. They won't be rescheduling, presumably because at this point, when do you reschedule?

Of course, Ohiopyle is still a great place to visit, even without specific festivities.

Or you can come hang out with me at Mardi Gras.

Laurel Highlands Ambassador Program featuring historical lectures

It's easy to forget with everything that goes on in this county,  but we live in an area rich in history. The Laurel Highlands Ambassador Program recognizes this and will be hosting a series of lectures starting in March showcasing that history, plus things like tourism and even the paranormal.

Personally, I'm all about that Kecksburg lecture.

Pancake and Sausage Breakfast

St. Rita's will be holding an all-you-can-eat buckeye-pancake and sausage breakfast on Valentine's Day--Feb. 14--from 7 a.m. until noon. Cost for adults is $5.50, children 12 and under get in for $2.

Who to call in an animal-related emergency

If you follow just about any animal shelter on Facebook, you've probably seen more than one post that says, "We are not animal control!" Shelters take animals in--they don't, and likely can't, go out and pick up animals found wandering. So who do you call? Well, the Westmoreland and Fayette County Animal Response Team (CART) has made a handy chart breaking down who handles what, helping you determine who to contact in any situation from wounded wild animals to incidents of animal abuse.

Save it to your phone, print it out and stick it on your fridge, whatever. Actual contact information should be forthcoming--the organizations are still working on putting together a comprehensive list.

Music from Fayettenam: The Abilene Band

Looking for something to do this weekend? The head to RBG Uniontown tomorrow night, inside the Park Inn, to see The Abilene Band starting at 9 p.m. The band plays country rock and top-40 hits. No cover charge.

Methadone-clinic director and doctor indicted

In what I can only assume is the continued fallout from raids in the fall, a methadone-clinic director and doctor have been indicted on drug charges.

The two people arrested were Dominic Dileo and Rosalind Sugarmann. Dileo has been charged with 19 counts of illegally distributing Suboxone, as well as illegally distributing Xanax. Sugarmann's charges are similar, totaling 93 counts between the two of them.

Dileo's had legal troubles in the past--in 1996, he was sentenced to ten years in prison for writing unlawful prescriptions and has also been convicted of mail fraud. His medical license was suspended, then reinstated in 2005.

The clinic has been operating under a provisional license since a raid in October, but it is not named in the indictment.

Winter storm closings

Everybody make it through the storm? Dig out okay?

If you dug out intending to, like, actually leave your house, you probably shouldn't--for one, PennDOT's gonna need some time, but plenty of local events and such have been canceled.

For you Catholic churchgoers, the diocese has relaxed mass attendance for the weekend. If you're able to attend mass, go for it, but please don't risk getting out there--it's fine if you can't make it. Churches are expected to still hold mass as scheduled, but parishioners are encouraged to check first to be sure.

All county transportation has been canceled for today, Jan. 23.

Other cancelations for today are as follows:

• Uniontown Hospital Outpatient Diagnostic Center
• Abundant Life Church of Uniontown canceled their meatloaf dinner
• UMWA Local #1248 canceled their meeting
• Grace Baptist Church of Grindstone canceled Saturday Bible Study and Sunday Services 
• The Uniontown YMCA will be closed Saturday, will reopen Sunday
• The dance at the Amvets Post #103 in Hopwood is canceled 
• Greene Valley Presbyterian Church of Carmichaels canceled all services Sunday
• South Union Township Youth Indoor Soccer Games are canceled
• The S.A.T. site for Uniontown Area School District scheduled for Saturday will be held February 20

Connellsville mayor Greg Lincoln is asking any Connellsville residents having difficulty shoveling out to let him know and he'll get volunteers to help.

Remember, the state remains in a state of emergency, with similar declarations in Perryopolis, Masontown, and Fairchance.

While we're all snowed in, anyone have some cool pictures of the snow they'd like to share?

46 charged in connection with drug ring

We all know Fayette County has a drug problem, and we saw things culminate this summer when a string of businesses were raided in a relatively short time span. In what I can only assume is a related event, 19 people were arrested with drug ties yesterday, leading to a total of 46 people charged in the county over a span of about two years.

Federal investigators said they sized more than $1 million in cash, guns, homes, cars and drugs in connection with the biggest drug trafficking ring in Fayette County’s history.

For a full list of those charged, see WPXI. All were involved in heroin and cocaine trafficking.

I don't know that this will solve the county's drug problem--in fact, I think we need to work on helping addicts get help rather than making arrests and calling it a day--but it's sure to have an impact.

Geibel Student qualifies for Olympic swimming trials, named CoGo’s High School Sports Unsung Hero

Geibel senior Emily Zimcosky has qualified for a spot in the 2016 Olympic swimming trials this summer, which is obviously pretty awesome. But she's also been named CoGo’s High School Sports Unsung Hero for the month of January.

The High School Sports Unsung Hero Award, presented by CoGo's, recognizes local high school student-athletes who have dedicated themselves to sports and academics, but traditionally have not received the deserved attention.

Good luck, Emily!

The Nam on Facebook: Uniontown Robberies

I haven't been able to find any news articles or anything on this so far, but I think it's important information to share--various Uniontown-area Facebook users have been mentioning robberies and attempted break-ins lately. The Herald-Standard has mentioned a few business-related robberies, but it's unclear if they're related to the ones Facebook users are sharing.

The specific areas mentioned were Craig Meadows and Craig St., multiple incidents, with stories ranging from people breaking into cars to walking into people's houses.

Stay safe, guys. Make sure you're locking everything, and if you see something, say something. If you have any information on any robberies in the area, let the police know.

Blast from the Past: Brownsville and the Mon

I know I've been posting a lot about the historical society, but they seriously have lots of good stuff! Facebook users, I highly recommend their page for regular glimpses at what the county used to look like.

I like this one a lot because I recently just so happened to be driving along the Mon in Brownsville. But here's what it looked like in yesteryear.

Help the Fayette County Historical Society

Over the summer, the county's historical society featured an exhibit on furniture made in the county, including furniture made here between 1760 and 1820. A DVD was made of a simulated tour of the exhibit, narrated by a professor from Cal U. The historical society is offering them for sale as a fundraiser for $18 each. All proceeds support the historical society.

Of course, I'm sure the historical society would also welcome any donations, DVD purchase or no.

Connellsville Canteen to honor anniversary of 1936 Olympics

Did you know Connellsville spawned an Olympic gold medalist?

Connellsville native Johnny Woodruff won a gold medal in the 1936 Olympics in the 800-meter race using a pretty brilliant tactic--when he was boxed in by other runners, he stopped in his tracks, moved to the third lane, then passed everyone to win the race in 1:52.9.

The Connellsville Canteen will be featuring an exhibit on Woodruff and the 1936 Olympics to honor the 80th anniversary of the event. The exhibit will open on May 1 and will run through the rest of the year. It will include rare photos of Woodruff and other winners, as well as one of the first original torches used in the torch relay from Olympia, Greece, to Berlin, Germany. A model of the Hindenburg will also be included to illustrate its role in the Olympics.

Do you know these gentlemen?

The Fayette County Historical Society usually posts some pretty neat old photos to their Facebook, but sometimes, they feature people no one actually knows. But maybe you can help.

The only information anyone has on this photo is that it was taken in Fairchance. Anyone have any idea who these guys are?

Help Connellsville Area Community Ministries reach their fundraising goal

Was your New Year's resolution to be more charitable? Maybe to help the community more? Or maybe you just want to pitch in for a good cause regardless.

 Connellsville Area Community Ministries is aiming to raise $100,000, and as of a few days ago, they'd managed $72,000. They're getting close! Click here to find out how to donate, and remember, any little bit helps--even if it's just a couple bucks. You can also visit the Bob Evans in New Stanton all day on Monday, Jan. 25 with a CACM flyer to have 15% of your bill sent to the non-profit. You can print the flyer or visit CACM to pick one up in person.

The ministry serves the Connellsville community by helping people in need with food, clothing, medical equipment, emergency housing, minor housing repairs, mentoring, and utilities.

Music from Fayettenam: Nevada Color

So there I was a couple weeks ago, enjoying the opening bands Punchline's record-release show when I heard a name that sounded familiar. Not wanting to be Facebook creeping in the middle of a band's show while I was right in the front row, no less--and with a low battery and probably low on data for the month--I saved my creeping for later, when I confirmed what I suspected. The name I heard was familiar indeed, as the dude, Max Kovalchuk, had gone to Geibel and graduated with my brother. Who I of course immediately texted, and I was kind of bummed that he hadn't been able to go to the show with me because of his weekend drill with the Army.

It may have been a local show, but it was still pretty cool to see a Geibel grad up there onstage rocking out one of the two opening acts for a band I've been a fan of for 10+ years.

The band is Nevada Color, and I quite like them. Unfortunately, the venue's sound quality seemed to be lacking--this was the second time I've been there in a few months, and both times, I had a hard time hearing and understand the singers all night long--which made it difficult to adequately listen to and form an opinion on a new, unfamiliar band. It's one thing when you know all the songs, it's another when you get cheated out of discovering a great new band because you can't hear them well.

Fortunately, they're on Spotify, and I highly recommend giving them a listen--especially those of you who are also into alternative rock. I'm having a hard time drawing decent comparisons, but it's an upbeat rock sound in line with bands like The Strokes, Phoenix, or Vampire Weekend. They were a perfect opener for Punchline, actually. So far, my personal favorite is "Buzz Aldrin."

Their next local show is in Pittsburgh Jan. 16. They'll be in the lineup for the city's Strip District Music Festival, which will be featuring a ton of other local bands, too, all playing in--duh--the Strip. I'm hoping to make it.

#NevadaColor #livemusic #concert #FrontRow #ThrilledTour

A photo posted by Janelle (@littlejanelle) on Dec 19, 2015 at 7:47pm PST

Ring Found

The Uniontown police have advised via a Facebook post that a ring was found in the parking lot of a local restaurant. If you think the ring is yours, you're asked to call Uniontown police to claim it, but you will need to describe the ring and identify the restaurant where it was lost/found.

Lady Luck

Somehow, within the last couple of years, my family started the tradition of brunch and gambling on New Year's Day. So I started 2016 with my very first trip to Lady Luck at Nemacolin--after a very brief and very cold visit to Ohiopyle, of course. And if you're up for putting up with the cold and don't like crowds, it's the perfect time to go!

To be honest, way back when Lady Luck first opened and I heard about their policy of paying to get in, I was put off. If you want to play for the day, you get a 24-hour pass that costs $10, but you're reimbursed via a gift card good anywhere at Nemacolin. You can also put it towards food if you eat at the restaurant at the back of the casino. If you want a year's membership, you can pay $40, which is admittedly a better deal if you live nearby and plan to go a lot. For me, since I live an hour away now, it wasn't worth it.

We started the trip with brunch, which was served buffet-style. I'm told this is different than the restaurant's usual setup. The food was decent but not impressive, although I was a fan of the massive omelette I got from the omelette station, as well as their dessert cakes. I regret not snatching a piece of strawberry cake while there was still some left, and it was replaced with some sort of bacon-topped cake.

Now, part of the reason we went to Lady Luck rather than our usual Meadows in Washington or Rivers in Pittsburgh is that most of my family tends to do better at Lady Luck, but yesterday, most of us did terrible and lost, with the exception of my brother's fiancee. It's hard to gauge from one visit, especially since I've visited most other area casinos multiple times, but this was one of the worst trips to a casino I've ever had in terms of money and winnings/losses.

Which brings me to the fact that all in all, compared to other casinos in the area, I found Lady Luck to be disappointing.

The quality and variety of food at other casinos is better. Other casinos are also bigger, though I admittedly don't care about how big a casino is. The catch is, though, that Lady Luck also doesn't have as much a variety of games, especially some of the ones I've come to love at Rivers and the Meadows. at Lady Luck, there were only a handful of slot machines I had fun playing--the rest were really generic and kind of boring, honestly, while at Rivers and the Meadows, I make my rounds between games like Jurassic Park or Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz of this one I like with goldfish or The Princess Bride or Titanic. Lady Luck had only two of those, and they had a much smaller number of them. And I lost.

My verdict? If you want to have a more fun overall experience and better food, go elsewhere. I've heard people tend to do better at Lady Luck, if you're more concerned with your chances of winning--although that wasn't my experience. But the thing is, if I'm gonna lose money, I'd at least like to have some fun doing it, and the chances for that were pretty limited at Lady Luck.