Laurels & lances: Rebuilding, increasing, concealing
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Laurel: To rebuilding. On Dec. 4, 2021, St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church in Arnold was gutted by a massive fire that seemed like the end of the 74-year-old house of worship.
Two years later, a $2.2 million sanctuary is rising from those ashes.
“We rebuild our church, but we are rebuilding connections within our greater community and rebuilding even ourselves, with joy, happiness and hope,” said the parish’s pastor, the Rev. Yaroslav Koval.
Construction began in October for the new building that incorporates parts of the original, including Belgian-made stained glass and the old bell tower.
It’s a resurrection of more than just a structure. It’s a revitalization of congregation and community, and it is beautiful to see.
Lance: To increased need. Toys for Tots collects money and toys to provide a happy holiday to children whose parents are struggling to make wishes come true. It’s a worthy cause with a history stretching back to 1947.
But sadly it’s a cause all the more in demand right now. Both the Allegheny Valley and Westmoreland County chapters of the organization have seen more families applying to the program for 2023.
Allegheny Valley has seen a startling 43% increase. Westmoreland’s numbers are not final and may rise even more with a last-chance signup event scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the chapter warehouse at 1572 Roseytown Road in Hempfield.
Both chapters see the greatest need for its older children. Allegheny Valley needs toys for kids 8 to 13; Westmoreland needs gifts for girls 9 to 12.
The cause is worth a laurel. It’s the misfortune of such increased want at this time of year that deserves a lance. It is sad to see more children having uncertain holidays.
Lance: To little information. Sometimes government statements are so lacking in information that they are almost more unsettling than being kept in the dark. Consider Greensburg Salem School District.
Superintendent Ken Bissell told school board members Monday about an elementary classroom incident in October that is being investigated by police.
It is understandable that some details would be withheld because of routine privacy concerns over something like the identity of a child or an employee. However, the details in this case are a black hole.
A school is not named, although the involvement of Greensburg police would suggest it would be Nicely Elementary, the only elementary in the city. But police won’t comment.
Adults involved have been removed and are not working with children. There is no explanation of why, other than a letter that went to parents last week telling them an incident came to administrative attention on Oct. 27. The letter noted the involvement of the Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau and district attorney’s office. There is no comment there either.
“I want parents to please know and understand that we will do everything to ensure our children are cared for and address any incident with fidelity and integrity,” Bissell said.
Everything, that is, except saying what happened.