Hits and Misses
A quick look at some of the key issues making headlines recently in the Observer-Reporter
HIT: Fifty years after the Tet Offensive, a group of local veterans returned to Vietnam, thanks to the efforts of Todd DePastino, founding director of the regional Veterans Breakfast Club. DePastino led the group on the two-week tour to commemorate the anniversary.
“It was just an honor and privilege to tour these battlefields with people who had served there and to have them share their memories of service 50 years ago,” he said.
HIT: Joe Maize, a man who knows all about hits, deserves one for winning his 400th game as varsity baseball coach at Peters Township High School. He attained that milestone last week in an 11-4 victory over Steel Valley. Maize, 62, is in his 34th season in charge of the team, a tenure that includes eight section titles, two WPIAL crowns and two PIAA championship appearances.
MISS: A recreational ax-throwing venue in Salt Lake City was actually approved for a license to sell beer. The co-owner of a company with the seemingly oxymoronic name Social Axe called this activity “a recreational amenity almost identical to a bowling alley.” A wayward bowling ball isn’t likely to kill anyone, though. Here’s hoping everyone stays sober and the axes hit only wooden targets.
HIT: We were pleased to report this week that a slice of Washington’s glass-making history will be preserved for future generations to enjoy. The National Duncan Glass Society is preparing to move the Duncan & Miller Glass Museum from its cramped Jefferson Avenue space in Washington to a building on Ridge Avenue, which will provide five times the space to showcase the extensive glass collection.
“We have all of this history of glass, and we hope to capture it here,” said John Day, president of the society.
HIT: We’re suckers for a good animal story and couldn’t resist giving a shout-out to Herman II, the feline featured this week in our Living section. As the unofficial mascot of Washington Ambulance & Chair Service, Herman II earns his keep in the ambulance service garage by serving as a therapy kitty for the employees.
“He can be a good stress-reliever,” said paramedic Randy Saut. “When you have a bad call, Herman listens.”
Now that’s a “purr-fect” arrangement.
HIT: At the risk of hounding our readers, we’d like to recognize Zack Shultz, who, while driving home to Waynesburg from work last month, came across a dog that had been hit by a car and left for dead alongside the road.
After undergoing surgery to treat a broken femur and extensive rehabilitation, the aptly named Lucky is alive today, thanks to the generosity of Shultz and his wife, who have adopted the animal.
“I just don’t understand how someone could be so heartless as to hit a dog and leave him on the side of the road,” Shultz said.
Nor can we.