Laurels & lances: Birds, cheese & QBs
Share this post:
Laurel: To flying high. The Fox Chapel Parks Commission has been singled out for its efforts in education. The borough has set the gold standard in environmental preservation and educating people about birds, according to a statewide grassroots program.
Bird Town Pennsylvania works with communities and organizations such as the Audobon Society to promote a healthier environment for wildlife, birds and people. Bird Town gave Fox Chapel the highest recognition, its gold certification.
The designation can be used to seek grant funding for environmental projects. It reflects both commitment and prioritization.
Lance: To being dairy upset. A local food and craft market is a great idea to help promote area businesses and bring together local buyers to support the community. But is there a threshold for participation?
Pleasant Lane Farms says the Ligonier Country Market won’t allow the business to participate because it’s just too big.
“I think the idea was for the market to be for small farms and businesses that aren’t able to get their products sold nationally,” board member Claudine DePaul said.
Pleasant Lane Farms products are carried in 70 to 90 regional stores, but head cheesemaker Jason Frye says that’s often only two or three products, generating less revenue than one Saturday at the Ligonier events.
It’s understandable for a very small business, which Pleasant Lane is, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture classifications, to be cheesed off at being told it’s just not small enough for a local event. The market has updated its criteria to say any vendor whose products are represented in more than 60 retailers or sold out of state can’t participate.
The issue has led Pleasant Lane to take its case to the municipality. Frye says he doesn’t want the market’s permit denied but points out what he believes are violations of the conditional use. Ligonier Township is reviewing and tabled the vote on the permit until April.
It’s too bad an event so good for local business can’t find a way to bring everyone to the table and find a solution.
Lance: To an anticlimactic announcement. The issue of Aaron Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh has been in the wind for days as more rosters were juggled and signings announced. It isn’t that Rodgers was wanted, just that the announcement was anticipated.
Then, Thursday morning, a quarterback announcement for the Steelers finally came. The new guy in black and gold was…not a new guy at all. Mason Rudolph is coming back.
OK. That’s a choice, provided you are looking for a spare tire and a performance radial. Was the announcement supposed to make Rodgers more appealing to less-than- enthusiastic fans?
If not, and a more confidence-inspiring first-string announcement isn’t made, this is underwhelming.