Laurels & lances: Cupcakes, eyesores and permits

Tribune-Review | Thursday, February 17, 2022 4:05 p.m.

Courtesy of Oakmont Volunteer Fire Department

None of th 13 workers in the kitchen at Oakmont Bakery were injured when an SUV crashed through a brick on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. The driver was taken to the hospital for treatment of indisclosed injuries. With the help of several local companies, the bakery was able to resume full operations by Monday.

Laurel: To a sweet gesture. Businesses in competition with each other might not seem like the best sources of help in times of trouble. What is tragedy for one can be a boon for another. But when it comes to small businesses, it is always best for the community if these little economic motors keep chugging.

On Feb. 12, Oakmont Bakery was the victim of a crash when a Ford Expedition slammed into a kitchen wall. Thirteen employees were in the building at the time, but none was injured.

People who needed muffins and danish haven’t been out of luck. Doors were open Saturday morning, even though the baking was being done at Tristate Bakery Services in Middlesex while repairs were underway.

But that wasn’t the only option owner Marc Serrao had on the table. The owners of Bethel Bakery, Prantl’s Bakery and Pastries-A-La-Carte all offered up their ovens to help.

Lance: To eyesores. Tarentum’s council has a proposal on the table for a quality of life ordinance that would address health and safety issues in the community such as cutting grass, removing junk vehicles and keeping homes in good condition.

These issues might seem just cosmetic, but they aren’t. Overgrown lawns can lead to unwanted critters, junk vehicles can be dangerous for kids to climb and homes that haven’t been cared for can mean porches or roofs or windows that become hazards to residents and passersby.

Tickets for violations would start at $25 but could climb from there. The fines aren’t so onerous that they would unduly tax residents, but they might be a wake-up call that could make Tarentum a more attractive place to live.

Laurel: To business as usual. For almost two years, the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office has had people make appointments to come in and get or renew a concealed carry permit. The process was put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But things are changing. Sheriff James Albert is once again allowing walk-in applications when the courthouse is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Allegheny County also is allowing walk-in permits again from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.

The permit to carry a concealed weapon might be a weird harbinger of the pandemic coming to an end, but let’s take what we can get.