I’m not going to lie, I really wasn't brought as a flag-waving patriotic guy. My parents believed in this country, my mom is still alive and still believes in this country. But I'm not someone who wears patriotism on my sleeve like a badge or anything.
 
I’m don't stand behind a flag thinking doing so protects me or the even the meanings behind the words that mean something. I just try to live by what the words mean.
 
The founding fathers had a lot of faults, however, the one thing that they wrote down for perhaps the first time in the history of humankind was that all are created equal.
 
​I know they wrote "all men are created equal," but the true nature of what they were trying to establish was that all of humankind is equal. I could go into a very long diatribe about why they couldn't get this simple wording right, but I won't here. The truth is they meant that this country will strive for the notion that all of humankind is equal. We're advanced enough today to understand that that is what they should've meant.
 
We are, right?
 
That said, I’ve gone on a tangent I know (and I deleted much of my rant), but I’m what I'm trying to get out here is a frustration for why we cannot figure some things out for everyone.
 
The folks running the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association are saddled with an incredible amount of responsibility to coordinate the district and state finals. I wanna make sure it’s clear that I understand the difficulties of that and what these good folks are dealing with.
 
​Maybe I'm wrong but I don't remember games years ago scheduled for the morning of Memorial Day? If they were I perhaps was working for a staff where we had multiple people to both cover the sporting event and the Memorial Day festivities. But mostly I remember being able to get to both. It wasn't easy, but it was doable.
 
It literally pains me to have to make a decision to cover one thing over the other.
 
I truly believe in my heart of hearts that I should be covering Memorial Day observances. The folks who believe in honoring those who have left this planet and who served this idea we call America deserve our moment of recognition. Yes they are the same folks every year and yes I have covered them year after year. But these are folks I've grown to respect and admire for what they do.They sometimes only do these ceremonies alone without fanfare or even being acknowledged.

In comparison to many things, very few people attend the observances. Yes there will be people along the parade route, but a lot of participants toss out candy to incentivize participation. So are the lessons learned that of taking a moment to observe? Hard to say.
 
I also believe, and this is important, that these young people people playing these sports live in a country that affords them to live their best life. This was given to them, all of us really by those who sacrificed for or stood up for our ideal.
 
I believe that alone is a reason to insure their memories are given our full measure of devotion. Without living our best life why on earth would we stand up for a handful of words written nearly 250 years ago.

I am going to take a few moments out of my day to reflect and give thanks for the life that I live in this country that I believe has the right motivation and eventually will get more and more of these ideals right.  I might be standing on the first base side of a softball game or cruising down I-79 to get to another game, but I will be thinking about my dad and those friends I have in Meadville and Franklin who will put aside their lives for a moment to help us remember to reflect on what freedom costs. Like worship, we don't need to be at a ritual to give thanks.
​
​And I will go cover the girls softball game and then a boys baseball game because that truly is the life we are trying to uphold. 
I hope the PIAA does something to fix this in the future. Parents and grandparents shouldn't have to choose between their feelings of duty to country and watching their future generation living their best life.

On the bright side, our May 16 board meeting was well attended by people who gave the board valuable advice on how to look at things moving forward. This is two months in a row we've had misinformation sharing as the reason our meeting was well attended. Typically, there is no one in the audience. 
 
Recently the communication between the administrators and board members has improved dramatically. This was done through face-to-face conversations and open sharing of information. How can we do this between parents and the school? 
 
The hiring of a new superintendent brings with it hope that things will improve in that area as well.

Come to the meetings. Send an email. Give feedback. Ask questions.
​Don’t wait for the panic of social media misinformation to push you to get involved. 
 
Let’s all get back to talking and having open communication lines. ​

Sabrina Backer, President - Sabrina.s.backer@gmail.com
Andy Boland, Vice-President - andyboland@hotmail.com
Erin Leccia - erinleccia.fasd@gmail.com
Tracey Leyda - leydat@students.fasd.k12.pa.us
Misty Nalepa - mnalepa3@hotmail.com
Donald Judy - judyd@fasd.k12.pa.us
Ronald Richburg - rrichburg0679@gmail.com
Alesha Hartsfield - hartsfielda@fasd.k12.pa.us
Ben Andrews - andrewsb@fasd.k12.pa.us
Jennifer Gornall, Solicitor, Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C. - jgornall@kmgslaw.com

Ms. Kimberly Eaton, Board Secretary/Business Manager -eatonk@fasd.k12.pa.us

​I'm done, I'm done talking about this with endless babble of the same babble that was the babble one, five, ten, twenty, fifty and so on years ago.

Babble, babble, babble.

Public safety is expensive, yet we don't want proactive social programs because people mislabel them socialism. Babble.

We think taxes are too high yet we want schools to to do things that cost money. Babble.

Regulate guns, Babble.

​I  have the right to bear arms. Babble.

Stop the endless babble.

Yes, I'm talking to you on social media. Yes, I'm talking to you politicians. Yes, I'm talking to you TV station journalists and newspaper gotcha sensationalism types.

​What are the outside-the-box solutions? Let's talk about those. Seriously, what are they?

Don't give the "give guns to teachers" crap. I know several teachers past and present that shouldn't be within a 100 miles of a trigger. And those are the types who would be first in line to sign up. Get me drunk and I'll name names and beg you to change my mind on this.

It is costly to put in metal detectors. Metal detectors become cumbersome. Security guards cost money and generally speaking are needed to help facilitate metal detector protocols and so on. And having security officers simply there to mostly sit at a desk all day reading a magazine seems a waste of time, money and opportunity.

Folks scream "it's not the guns, we have a mental heath issue!" OK.  So we need more mental heath providers paid for out of taxes? Agreed, so we can raise taxes then right? And are you going to listen or think more of your rights are being infringed upon when you're deemed not stable enough to own a gun. This country is loaded with lawsuits on this very topic.

That brings us to gun bans and/or regulations. What do you do with the millions of guns out there already? Regulate ammunition? That could be a long-term solution, but certainly not an immediate one. Again, what is already out there stockpiled?

We circle the bowl after a series of gun tragedies and it never completely flushes, but we walk away from the stall and make it the next guy's problem. Then it's gone from our cares until we hit Taco Tuesday and the discomfort sets back into our gut.
 ​
​Maybe we shouldn't always wait until we have a mess to get serious about fixing the problem?

The lobby for the right to bear arms folks is willing to spend billions to protect gun ownership rights.

Billions.

(Imagine if billions were spent on education and  protective measures?)

​So if the lobby is strong and has that pesky piece of legislation called the Bill of Rights backing up their arguments each and every time, why put our energy there? It's been like running up against a brick wall for decades and those trying to breach it can't even find a way to work together to scale the damn thing.

Maybe it's time to go around it?

Maybe it's time to realize the wall isn't even scaleable or takes too much energy to try to penetrate or circumvent?

We do not want a police state either, so... let's consider this as a starting point for a discussion. Warning, if you start babbling incoherently, I'll likely just figure you're a wall not worth scaling.
 
Public schools are state government agencies with weird little twists like school boards made up of citizen "watchdogs." They are also predicated to follow federal education standards. So if they are government entities can we think more about other government resources that are elsewhere in our communities to combine and use the space of schools as offices?

​For example, can local and state police have satellite offices with two or three officers running their shifts out of the school? Their office is actually in the school and one officer is always present.

How about local national guard facilities, do we need a separate facility and grounds for them? what if active national guard units go with smaller details and they train at schools using the grounds to work out and drill? They could also be on hand to help educate kids on the military and if trained correctly maybe other areas.

Why have a counseling center in their own building? Can human services be split up so that their juvenile counselors and advocates have offices in schools too?

The pandemic showed us the possibilities of how teams can work from independent locations instead of always having to be in the office together.
​
So why can't we take school campuses and rethink them? Don’t just bring the resources to the school occasionally, but station them there.
​​
I'm sure there are countless other solutions. But we can’t find any of them until we cut through the babble. The only thing that is guaranteed to fail is doing nothing. We have proved that over and over again.
​
It’s time to stop the yelling, eliminate the babble and genuinely do something more than talk.

Enough is enough!

​Watching keyboard vigilantes respond to this has been interesting I must say. Some called it pathetic to still have the tree up this far after Christmas has passed. ​

I'll admit it, I've tossed around several barbs about this tree and wonder why it hasn't come down yet. I contended that a reason some folks are complaining is the symbolism it displays. The seemingly forgotten, definitely decaying tree in the center of a town that has many other signs of seemingly forgotten and definite deterioration.

What was once a great symbol of community - lit up during the holiday showing pride and care of place, is now faded and just looks like another thing not being taken care of.

​One of the spokespeople responsible for giving the gift of this tree wonders what the big deal is? He said it is a "green" tree in the middle of the park. He also mentioned that volunteers and people stepping up to do this do it for the community and that they are always looking for more to join in and help out. The Oil City Rotary Club, which organizes this gift to the community, would love more people signing up to help with all their community efforts.

He brought to light several very good points. The green tree perhaps not as it is now greenish brown with a blanket of needles underneath. One can see from the road that is it well passed its prime. 

All of this was supposed to be a moot point by today because the plan was to take the tree down on Sunday. If you've driven around Town Square today you would've noted that it was not. Here is what organizers say happened - weather. 

​The City of Oil City Fire Department helps the Rotary and everything was set to go with them to bring their ladder truck down to help take down the lights and tree. The cold and snow made this an unnecessary risk of equipment and personnel. It was postponed again.

​So it stands still until it can be organized with it's many moving parts again.

A couple folks on social media mentioned planting a tree instead of bringing a chopped down one each year. Though on the surface this sounds reasonable there are many reasons this isn't the best of ideas.

For one, Town Square Park is a multifunctional park. A tree in the center limits the ability to do many of the things they currently do there.

​Earlier this season I had a discussion with another person who spends countless hours to get a tree for their town (you do realize most towns don't even go through this effort right?). She brought up a few great points why a live tree isn't ideal.

To transplant a permanent tree you have to live for several years with a less than spectacular much smaller display at first. Then you get a handful of optimal years and eventually the tree is either too big to decorate or it is time to take it down. Then you can't just plant another tree there because the old root system is still there. So, though it seems like a logical solution it is not.

Loits of things to consider.

But let's try to consider  the overall picture here before we cast too many stones. To put the tree up for the holidays takes planning and coordination with the city, whoever donates the tree, folks with cranes and the Oil City fire and police departments, not to mention the other volunteers who help set up the lights, decorate the park, coordinate the light-up night festivities and so on. 

They do this to give holiday hope and joy to their town, as well as all of you who swing by the city. Perhaps that effort needs to be applauded and not berated? Perhaps folks could join the Rotary and become active in their community instead of just being keyboard warriors? There are a lot of perhaps's to go around.

We all know the absolute least glamorous part of any task is the cleanup. You can imagine the excitement of the build-up, but, unless you're the youngest brother of brothers who liked to build things, you probably can't imagine the cleanup. From the youngest brother perspective, let me tell you cleaning up sucks.

​So its easy to complain, it is harder to pony up some effort to help.

That said, on the other side of the coin perhaps an exit plan does need to be a part of the whole volunteer planning stage? Maybe getting the little brothers lined up ahead of time to clean up isn't a bad idea?

In any event, I do know that several stories I tell about truly positive things in our community I wish garner half the attention of this hubbub over a tree that just hasn't been taken down yet.  Truly far less attention was given to a story I did about folks trying to raise money to help the children who tragically lost their mother.

So what does that say about us?

What a fiasco of non-sensical blathering has taken place since last Sunday regarding the halftime show at the Super Bowl.

Before I go on, I didn't even really watch the game other than having it play on my phone as I worked, and I didn't watch the halftime show. In fact, I'm not sure I've ever watched an entire halftime show in my life. I feigned interest in The Rolling Stones years ago, I caught glimpses of Aerosmith and Michael Jackson, I ashamedly admit googling Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction(don't judge), but the halftime show is not my bag. The TV camera-work and quick cuts from this angle to that angle and the sheer chaos is really not enjoyable at all to me.

​I will get to this photograph in a minute.

The line up of this year's halftime show appeared to be like many before in my mind. Folks who are nearing the oldies list appealing to the demographic of Super Bowl watchers who have money... well not the boomers, but the middle-aged, middle-income folks.  Folks who grew up listening to hip hop before they even knew what it meant - like rock-n-roll in the 50s and 60s, punk in the 70s (I try to forget disco and the 80s entirely), grunge and hip hop changed music. In so many ways for the better because they opened up sound once again. They opened up poetry to a new generation.

OK country music folks calm down. I didn't mean you when I said middle-aged, middle-income folks. Hip hop has spurned generations of listeners just like the Beatles did, just like Michael Jackson did, just like Garth Brooks did. Music of many divergent individuals has made an impression at one time or another.

​There is enough music going around for everyone. It was time to recognize some folks and why not do it in L.A.

Seemed fitting

Now I'll talk about the picture above.

​You know what most people who play music have in common? Music education. Not all, but most musicians took some sort of music in school or were helped by someone who could teach them a few things.

So if we want good music for generations to come... maybe even during half-time shows here is an idea. Instead of polarizing ideas of this genre or another... why not celebrate music in a way that pays tribute to the beginning of the super bowl where high school and college marching bands performed, but also helps educate the public, create awareness and generate funds for why music is so important anyway?

What I think next year's Super Bowl planners should consider is this... bring back the marching band.

"You can't call us about your trash pick-up," said Venango County Commissioner Chip Abromovic. He went on to list other things like potholes on neighborhood streets, water, gas and sewer issues. "The most important issues that affect our day to day lives, that's what these elections are about." His fellow commissioners Mike Dulaney and Sam Breene nodded affirmatively. 

​Tomorrow we elect mayors, school board members, city councilors, judges and sheriffs. These are the folks you go to when we have a problem at home. These folks decide budgets, taxes and how protected we are through fire and police, clean water and sanitation, local roads and downtown parking  as well as any number of local ordinances and permits from folks trying to do community events.

According to Venango County director of elections Sabrina Backer, the last municipal election numbers were abysmal, though she was too nice to use such a word. Of the Republicans registered  in the county, only  29 percent of them turned out to vote. Democrats were even lazier with only 19% seemingly caring who was elected.

These elections are supposed to be what makes America something special. We decide who gets to governs from within our trust. It is a reflection of who are as a whole when an individual sits on council for our ward or on a school board representing the needs of our district.

So township and city councils could be changed or remain the same based on Tuesday's results. Our lives could be dramatically changed come swear-in day based on tomorrow's results.

This really is a big deal.... too bad less than a third of us gives a crap.

I've struggled trying to figure out how to write this opinion post. A week or so ago I became aware that several people in the PENNCREST school district community were in the midst of dealing with philosophical differences.

That's the nice way of putting it.

Hate is another way of putting it.

Narrow-minded, short-sighted, hypocritical, it's really none of your business, get a life and shut the fuck up is another way of putting it.

And I am holding back here.

Apparently a dude named Glenn Wright  took a photo of a display at Maplewood High School's library where a handful of books about being gay or LGBTQ are presented on top of the book shelves. "I realize this makes me a hater, but I am totally ok with that label..." his post read.

Ok this is a dude has either a problem with gay people or a school's acceptance of information and willingness to actually provide those materials..... I'm not really sure. But at least he is ok with it.

There are narrow-minded people everywhere. Sadly I've grown accustomed to this being a norm.

But..... enter a couple school board members getting involved with this post. 

David Valesky shared this post adding his own commentary. (Glenn is not on the school board, but David is, I want complete clarity in this). 

David wrote that "Besides the point of being totally evil, this is not what we need to be teaching kids. They aren't at school to be brainwashed into thinking homosexuality is okay...."

WTF! Deep breath here Rich, Deep breath.

This is where I struggle to keep my cool. Who the hell is this David Valesky and what authority does he have to decide anything about what is or is not evil and how does that even come closets  how one associates their gender? Really, who the hell does he think he is? Claiming it's not something we should be teaching our kids.... well for one, its a display in a library, and two, why the hell not? People are individuals with unique experiences and perspectives. Valesky has his own unique perspective and that is fine. But now he throws down a gauntlet as a member of a school board saying information is inappropriate. Mind boggling that he thinks he should be in a position to decide appropriate information when he appears to be spewing antiquated hate speech that is, in fact, in the bible he professes as THE word. 

Mind boggling as well that he goes on to use the term brainwashed.

In The Titusville Herald a few days later he stood behind his remarks. I give him credit for standing behind his opinions..... but again I ask, who the hell does he think he is?

Another School board member Luigi DeFrancesco also shared Wright's post but did not offer further commentary. A third school board member, Bob Johnston,  chimed in saying the matter of the display will be investigated.

These are grown men. I want to emphasize this point. And they are in a position to decide the actions of the school district. Before getting too deep into the hypocrisy of citing evil while speaking in a vile tongue, are they advocating for knowledge to be squelched here? Are these books teaching "pure evil?" Or are they giving acceptance to a marginalized group being oppressed by neanderthal thugs?

As I said before, I'm struggling to find words to address this feeling I have that we have a few members of a school board who think they are speaking for God. They are, in fact, speaking for a group of oppressors who have no justifiable reason to get involved in the lives of people they not only don't understand, but really don't have any claim to decide anything about  the way they choose to live. The funny thing is at least one of these folks adamantly opposes interference of the government into his life.

Ah- ha moment?

No not likely.

I'm frustrated beyond belief here. This one school board member calling anyone other than his own post evil is beyond me. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone!" And this assumes one could truly know sin, or what constitutes sin.

I read several comments on these posts and was appalled at how much piety laden hypocrisy there truly was and beyond that, how much self-proclaimed scholars of the bible there are. 

The truth is, knowledge is power. We need to read books that challenge us and we need to discuss viewpoints unfamiliar to ourselves. And we need authors sharing what it is like to be marginalized so someday, perhaps, we'll be better humans.

​I guess until then, campaign against oppressors and vote.

Last weekend the photo on the left appeared on Facebook. A few hours I drove out to the school and this is what I saw on the right. I don't have any knowledge of the origin of each, but I found it interesting none-the-less.

The article in the Titusville Herald had a few interesting points. One Valesky stood his ground. We now know exactly where he stands. Defrancesca thought the story should be about how cell phone photos on the internet have a way to get out of control. Really? That's the story here?

Mind boggling.

The next PENNCREST School board meetings are a work session on June 14 at 7 p.m. and and board meeting on June 16 at the same time. People wishing to address the board  must request a spot with the school board secretary by Monday. The meetings have been moved to the high school auditorium because of the larger than usual expected turn out.

Many members of the public supporting the LGBTQ community are organizing to have many voices present. I'm guessing there could also be supporters of Valesky's brand of Christianity present too.

​I still cannot believe, in this day and age, we are forced to still deal with this level of bigotry veiled in christianity. It is mind boggling!

http://8and322.weebly.com/opinion/complacency-is-the-place-to-be

http://8and322.weebly.com/opinion/leadership-isnt-a-matter-of-convnience

http://8and322.weebly.com/opinion/mitigation-efforts-too-much

http://8and322.weebly.com/opinion/open-letter-from-a-healthcare-worker

http://8and322.weebly.com/eight--322/make-a-difference

http://8and322.weebly.com/old-blog/who-are-you-thinking-about-when-you-say-that-were-overreacting-about-covid-19

Plus several stories about the pandemic since March 2020 can be found looking back at the Eight & 322 page in the menu above.

To see how the numbers have been please check out  8and322.weebly.com/crawford-and-venango-cases.html