Laurels & lances: Getting answers & giving help
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Laurel: To a prime location. Everyone knew what should go at the 142-acre warehouse site near the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 70 in New Stanton. For months, speculation was rampant. It ended Wednesday when Westmoreland County officials confirmed that Amazon will be the new tenant.
“This proves that corridor is ready for major companies to come in here. We’re hopeful Amazon is just the beginning and we want to keep this trend moving along,” county Commissioner Sean Kertes said.
The site, made up of two parcels, was purchased by North Carolina-based SunCap Property Group in September 2022 at a total cost of about $11 million. About 180 trucks are expected at the warehouse when it opens. The workforce for the property could be as high as 600 jobs starting at $19 per hour.
The purchase was made after months of protest surrounding another proposed Amazon location. Residents of Churchill were vocally against Amazon taking over the former Westinghouse compound. The New Stanton property was purchased by SunCap about six months after the internet retailer abandoned that idea.
Perhaps Westmoreland County will prove a better — or at least more welcoming — home.
Laurel: To giving support. The explosion that claimed six lives and three houses — with more to be lost — on Rustic Ridge Drive in Plum was a tragedy. It stole good friends, neighbors and even local officials. It left people scared for what might happen next.
So how could that be a laurel? We give that honor to the people who gave back. All of them. The people on the street who were immediately there. The people who have given anonymously to GoFundMe campaigns. If you even lifted a silent prayer, this laurel is for you.
But in particular, we single out the people that are looking out for the kids. The youngest victim of the blast was Keegan Clontz, 12. He was killed along with his father, Casey. It’s a scary thing for kids to lose a friend or classmate in such a jolting manner.
On Tuesday, there was a kind of group therapy session on Rustic Ridge that helped kids process and escape via crafts and play. It also helped parents get information about counseling and other support.
Laurel: To the kids giving back. And then there are the children who see others in pain and want to do something about it.
Multiple fundraisers are happening to give any help possible to the victims and community. The most amazing are the ones organized by kids.
The handwritten “4 Rustic Ridge” sign at the corner of Stirling Drive and Muirfield Court marked one lemonade stand in Plum’s The Highlands neighborhood. It was pulled together by a handful of girls ages 7 to 11 who collected over $1,000 offering cold drinks, brownies and cookies, money they gave to the Rustic Ridge Homeowners Association.
In Holiday Park, Ava Gribbin pulled in $745, which she donated to nonprofit Angels in DaSkys to assist recovery.
These kids took their own emotions about the explosion and processed them in a way that helped others. Good job.