Cheers & Jeers
Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Giant Eagle is phasing out single-use plastic bags at its stores.
Associated Press
Associated Press
In this file photo, the setting sun silhouettes electric transmission lines.
Cheers: The natural splendor of the Laurel Highlands was recognized once again as one of the top destinations in the United States for leaf peeping. For the third consecutive year, the region was voted one of the top 10 fall foliage destinations in the USA Today鈥檚 10 Best Readers鈥� Choice Awards. No matter the season, the beauty of the Laurel Highlands is something to behold. But, as we head into the time to view Mother Nature鈥檚 masterpiece, and the leaves change to rich reds, oranges and yellows, those who鈥檝e never taken a casual Sunday drive through the mountains should do so. You won鈥檛 be disappointed.
Jeers: The campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano might charitably be described as 鈥渦nconventional鈥� and not-so-charitably described as 鈥渋nept.鈥� Perhaps the primary marker of his campaign鈥檚 ineptitude is its decision to thumb its nose at local media outlets around Pennsylvania. Reporters and editors have been left in the dark when the candidate has made appearances in their communities, and the campaign has been hostile to reporters when they have attempted to ask questions. Conservative columnist Salena Zito has said she was told by Mastriano鈥檚 campaign that he would not be made available for an interview until she wrote 鈥渟omething nice鈥� about him. Ignoring the mainstream media, and the coverage it could give him, seems to be malpractice for a campaign that is, from all accounts, starved for cash, and is running behind Democrat Josh Shapiro in one recent poll by 13 points. It also raises questions about whether Mastriano is truly interested in being a governor for all Pennsylvanians, or just those who agree with him.
Cheers: To be honest, the single-use plastic bags that we stuff our groceries in are undeniably convenient. They don鈥檛 tear the way old brown paper bags did, and they鈥檙e handy when you鈥檙e loading and unloading your groceries from a vehicle. The downside, though, is those plastic bags are bad for the environment 鈥� they live on for ages in landfills, and litter our landscapes. Giant Eagle has eliminated the plastic bags at its stores in the Cleveland area and in Erie, and will be getting rid of them at its Pittsburgh locations in the months ahead. A Giant Eagle spokeswoman said the company recognizes its responsibility 鈥渢o help provide our families with a clean environment.鈥� Reusable bags will be replacing the plastic bags, and they will be available at an affordable five cents each. Shoppers who use government-funded assistance will not be charged for the bags. It鈥檚 something shoppers will have to get used to, but will benefit us all in the end.
Jeers: Compared to other countries, the United States has been dilatory when it comes to combating climate change. Certainly some of this is driven by a belief that it will not be too much of a bother for us. Of course, that can be easily refuted, because we are feeling the impacts of a changing climate right now. That was emphasized by a recent report that found weather-related power outages are becoming more common, and Pennsylvania is among the states that has experienced the most power outages caused by severe weather. This means there could be more instances of the power being out for long stretches of time, with refrigerators and air conditioners not functioning, businesses grinding to halt, and a whole range of additional consequences. To prevent future calamities, we need to shore up our electrical grid systems and, even more importantly, get serious about combating climate change.