Laurels & lances: Time, money, gas and guns
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Laurel: To a little piece of history. Opening a time capsule is like cracking the seal on the past. It isn’t like reading about what happened decades ago. It’s more like getting a call from an earlier version of yourself or taking a ride in a flying DeLorean. It’s a time machine that sits still and waits for the world to move around it until the time comes to open it.
Westmoreland County is giving that gift to the future. On Monday, county employees sealed a time capsule that will be opened in 2048.
Westmoreland residents at that time won’t just read about what happened in 2023. They will see evidence of it, from a covid-19 in-home test to election ballots to, yes, copies of the Tribune-Review.
“I hope in 25 years they do this again. It would be cool,” Westmoreland County chief clerk Vera Spina said.
Lance: To a big bill. These days, we have all gotten far too accustomed to prices going up. But in New Kensington, one high price is reaching new heights.
Council members say they had little choice over a new contract with refuse hauler County Hauling. The five-year, $15.3 million contract was passed by a vote of 4-1. It sees prices spike 73%. Today’s price of $78 per quarter will go up to $135 in 2024. Other haulers had less experience or higher proposals.
“Our hands were tied on this one,” council member Todd Mentecki said.
New Kensington leaders need to make new options a priority to prepare well in advance next time, giving themselves and their residents ample opportunities to come up with new solutions. Another 73% would be too much for anyone to handle.
Laurel: To lower prices. Let’s be clear about something. The average price of gas in Pennsylvania is no bargain at $3.56 per gallon.
It is, however, lower than it was this time last year. GasBuddy shows the Pittsburgh area is 36 cents under that high-water mark. It’s also down for the 10th straight week, which is a welcome relief as holiday costs mount and holiday travel is planned.
It’s not much, but, as the season of thanksgiving gives way to the season of giving, we will take what we can get.
Lance: To saying this one more time. Yet again, the Transportation Security Administration has confiscated a weapon at Pittsburgh International Airport.
This time, it was a .380-caliber handgun loaded with seven bullets, including one in the chamber. It was taken Saturday from a North Hills man. It was the 40th gun confiscated this year. The previous record of 35 was set in 2019.
A handgun is not a too-large container of shampoo or a pair of manicure scissors that you might forget were in your carry-on. It is something you should always be well aware of possessing and securing. That makes every weapon seized seem more deliberate than accidental — although accidental really isn’t reassuring, either.
We are headed into one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Please, for everyone’s safety and a quick trip through airport security, know where your guns are and don’t bring them into the airport.