Cheers & Jeers
Colleen Nelson
Coral 鈥淏uzz鈥� Brodak stands inside The Brodak Museum replica of her late husband John Brozak鈥檚 original hobby airplane shop in Carmichaels.
Alyssa Choiniere
Pennsylvania Pride Pageantry provided entertainment Saturday at Pride in the Park in Connellsville, Fayette County鈥檚 first pride event. Pictured from left are Karry Kurcabe, Kay Shore, Aubreana Skye, Jesse Mitchell and Patrouious Achatz.
Cheers: The late John Brodak and his expansive aviation-related collection have been fittingly honored. The Brodak Museum opened its doors in Carmichaels last Sunday, allowing visitors to check out Brodak鈥檚 many items and visit his replica 1950s hobby shop. His daughter-in-law said it was his dream to share the aviation collectables he鈥檚 been acquiring for years with the public. Brodak, who passed away in 2020 at 81, started learning about model airplanes when he was a teenager. By 1960, he opened a hobby shop that bloomed into Brodak Manufacturing and Distributing Co., the largest model airplane manufacturing company in the world. He also started the Brodak Fly-In, an annual competition for model airplane enthusiasts. During the Fly-In, ongoing through this Sunday, the museum, at 100 Park Ave. in Carmichaels, will be open to visitors from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. daily. It鈥檚 worth a visit to see the incredible collection of a man who was able to make his hobby his livelihood.
Jeers: Study after study has shown that the presence of guns in a home is more likely to cause harm to friends or family than repel intruders. So what makes some lawmakers believe that funneling more guns into schools will increase the safety of students and staff? Doug Mastriano, a state senator and Republican gubernatorial candidate, says he wants to introduce legislation that would allow school personnel to carry weapons to school, as long as they have a concealed carry permit and take a firearms course. However, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), the union that represents teachers and other school employees, is strongly opposed. Rich Askey, PSEA鈥檚 president, sensibly pointed out, 鈥淭he problem we have right now is a direct result of people bringing guns into schools. The last thing we need is more firearms in our classrooms and hallways, creating even more opportunities for students and staff to be injured or killed.鈥�
Cheers: In the works for more than two years and delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington had its first Pride festival last weekend, and from all indications it was a success. Residents of Washington County and elsewhere came to the city to celebrate diversity and acceptance. On the same day, the Fayette County community of Connellsville also had a Pride festival. Washington鈥檚 Pride festival received the support of several businesses on Main Street, which flew rainbow Pride flags on the day of the event. That communities the size of Washington or Connellsville now host Pride festivals is indicative of how far the LGBTQA community has come since the Stonewall riots in New York 53 years ago this month. One day, festivals like these will likely be routine in many small communities, and no one will bat an eye.