Representative Michele Brooks and Senator Bob Robbins Hold Meeting Regarding Lake Wilhelm Marina

Written by Roberta Biros

Representative Michele Brooks and Senator Bob Robbins received a mention in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette this weekend, but the folks in the “big city” don’t seem impressed with our local legislators . . . and they don’t even know them!

The article in the Post Gazette was reported a recent meeting that was held by Representative Michele Brooks regarding the closing of the marina at Goddard State Park. This is an issue that has been ‘floating’ around my desk for a few weeks now (no boating pun intended), and the Post Gazette story brought the topic to my attention again.

I received an email message a few weeks ago from a concerned citizen regarding the marina at Lake Wilhelm. The docks are empty, and the individual stated concerns about budget cuts causing the closure of State Parks like Lake Wilhelm / Goddard. He asked that I write a story about the problem in an effort to give it some attention. I reviewed the issue briefly, and had full intention of taking a visit to take pictures and report the condition of the marina and park. I also did some research regarding the possible closure issue. My initial findings were that House Democrats have been threatening park closures (offering no specifics) as a response to the Senate Republicans’ proposed budget cuts. I’ve heard many mentions of various “cost cutting threats” and “political games” going on from both sides of the House in an effort to posture for budget negotiations. I’ve been trying to parse out the details and simply haven’t had the time to do the necessary research (after all, this is just a hobby for me and not a vocation . . . I usually leave the research stuff up to The Herald).

Today’s article in the Post Gazette [READ HERE] explains that Representative Michele Brooks held a meeting on May 15th at McKeever Environmental Learning Center in Sandy Lake. The meeting was attended by roughly 50 slip holders, State. Sen. Bob Robbins, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) officials and a representative of the governor’s northwest office. The article stated that Representative Brooks held the forum in order for slip holders to “blow off steam”. In this statement, the author (John Hayes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) implies that maybe the meeting didn’t have much of a valuable purpose (or outcome).

The article went on to explain that the marina is vacant for the 2009 season because the marina lease agreement had not been renewed. The previous lease holder claims that he was “forced out”, and the DCNR insists that the former lease holder chose to not renew the lease and no one bid on a new contract. The article closed with a less than stellar impression of the final outcome. In the words of the Post Gazette, “The meeting ended without resolution, with politicians promising to take boaters complaints to Harrisburg.”

Hmmm. I suppose the folks at the Post Gazette expected more from our “politicians” other than promises?

As a side note, it is unfortunate that no email notice was sent out regarding the May 15th meeting. Had more people known about the gathering (newspapers, bloggers, etc.), the issue may have received more coverage . . . but then again, maybe that was the idea.

BLOG POST UPDATE:

Like clockwork, The Herald followed our story with some additional details. CLICK HERE to read more.
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Take Me Out to the Ball Game (Again)

Written by Roberta Biros

(NOTE: if you drive by and see my yard cut in the pattern displayed to the right, you’ll understand my inspiration)

We made it to another Pittsburgh Pirate baseball game today. This was our third game this year. After the success of our first two games (both wins for the Pirates), we had high expectations. Unfortunately, it seems that we set ourselves up for disappointment. Today’s game was the Pirates vs. the Houston Astros. It couldn’t have started out any better. Nate McLouth was the lead batter and started the bottom of the first inning with a home run. It was all pretty uneventful after that. The Pirates lost the game 2 to 1.

Win or lose, you can’t beat the fun of a baseball game. Travel from central Mercer County took only a little over an hour and fifteen minutes from our front door to the parking garage on 6th Avenue (a mere $5.00 parking for events). It left us plenty of time for a leisurely stroll over the Clemente Bridge to PNC Park. If you are looking for bargain tickets, you can check out deals on Ebay. We did. We got today’s tickets for about $6.50 including shipping for two seats from a reputable Ebay vendor. We were in an upper section of PNC Park, but I promise you that there are absolutely no bad seats in this stadium. It is an entertaining and inexpensive day if you are looking for good family fun. Total cost for the day including tickets, parking, cotton candy (for me), and a soft pretzel (for my husband) was less than 20 bucks. Ball park rules allow you to carry in sealed bottles of water and snacks if you are visiting on a budget. Bottles of water are a must as drinks purchased at the park require a small mortgage. Vendors outside of the park sell ice cold bottles of water for $1, so be sure to pick one up before you go in so that you can save your money for much needed nachos, wings, or good ol’ Cracker Jack.

If you haven’t made it to a game lately, you need do so. The baseball game itself is fun, but the other “activities” make the day very entertaining. The Pierogi Race (pictured below) is always a crowd favorite. Non-Pittsburghers may not get the whole “pierogi” thing, but the hometown crowd loves it. My husband enjoys watching them shoot free hot dogs from shoulder-mounted artillery launchers, and I like the t-shirt shoot where souvenir t-shirts are “sling shotted” into the crowd (also pictured below). It all makes for a fun time for the whole family.

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