Category: default || By jt3y

When I run for governor (ha! ha!) one of my first proposals will be a law that requires everyone to pass a snow-driving course before they can obtain a Pennsylvania driver's license.

To make things suitably challenging, you'll have to pull out from a snow-covered parking lot into traffic and then make your way up a short hill in a 1969 Chrysler Imperial with bald tires and drum brakes. If you can't make it with clean underpants and fewer than three dents, you have to go to traffic school.

Also, I'd like to thank the clown in the SUV who passed me on the Glenwood Bridge Tuesday night, sending up a giant shower of snow and slush that clogged the sleek, gray Mercury's windshield wipers and blinded me temporarily. I hope that he's spending this messy and cold Wednesday safe and cozy in bed with a nice hot cup of coffee ... and hemorrhoids the size of watermelons.

Finally, if I hear one more Picksberg TV "meteorologist" use the phrase "wintry mix," I'm going to slug him. A "wintry mix" sounds like something on the menu at King's:

"Our vegetables today are green beans or wintry mix."

"Well, I just shoveled a pile of green beans out of my driveway, so I'll take the wintry mix."

As for the rest of you, here are a few warm-hearted news stories to keep you comfortable, wherever you are.

. . .

First, from the Pittsburgh Courier (which has redesigned its website, making it considerably more attractive --- nice job, guys), an interesting profile of the first African-American school board president in Our Fair City's history, Ocie Paige:

Paige, who served two tours in Vietnam and two in Korea during his 20-year Army career, then worked in restaurant management for another 12 years before retiring completely, said he tried to get some young Blacks interested in running for the school board, but nothing gelled.

So, he figured it was up to him to address the issue—and he did.

“Well, I just watched and learned for a few months, then I started bringing things out that they weren’t moving on,” he said. “So I let them know I was serious and wanted to accomplish something. That earned their respect.”

There are five board seats up for election, and Paige says he knows of only one announced black candidate, but it sounds like he's going to be encouraging more. In a city with a 12 percent African-American population, I can only think that more minority representation is a positive step forward --- and since the median age of black residents of McKeesport is 25, it's clear that young African-Americans represent a key part of the city's future and have to be pulled into the process as soon as possible. Good on Ocie Paige for stepping up and taking a leadership role.

. . .

Speaking of leadership, here's another item from the Courier: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield has given the McKeesport YMCA a $5,000 grant to assist its Teen Leadership, Education, Employment, Assistance and Development program in Harrison Village and Crawford Village. Teen LEAD promotes development of social skills and critical thinking for young adults 13 to 19.

. . .

Meanwhile, Blueroof Technologies has unveiled its plans for 15 to 20 "smart" homes along Walnut Street between Spring and Locust streets. Kim Leonard had the scoop last week in the Trib, and Jen Vertullo followed up in the Daily News (subscribers-only link) while Karamagi Rujumba had a story in the P-G.

Blueroof's "smart houses" incorporate automation and electronic monitoring designed to help senior citizens and people with disabilities live independently. While the non-profit has already built a few model "Smart Cottages," the proposed "McKeesport Independence Zone" would provide the first large-scale implementation.

The stories I read were not entirely clear, but I got the impression that planning and zoning approval will be necessary before the work can continue --- also, there's more fundraising to be done. You can get more information at Blueroof's website.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I just heard a TV news vidiot use the term "arctic blast," and I need to find out if anyone is delivering cans of whoop-ass today.