Hits & Misses
HIT: Most of us would agree that technology, and the role it now plays in our everyday lives, is a double-edged sword. For every positive application of technology, such as the ability to connect with far-flung friends and family in the blink of an eye, there is a negative, such as seemingly never being able to get away from being “connected.” But one area in which technology and social media have contributed greatly is in helping police investigate crimes. Surveillance cameras, whether government-installed or owned by businesses, are ubiquitous, and people who “see things” in an area where a crime occurs are just a mouse-click away from sharing their information with authorities. Such was the case with the theft of a motorcycle Saturday from a Canonsburg business. By Monday, in large part thanks to surveillance images and social media, one suspect was in custody and a warrant was issued for the other. So we’ll chalk this up as a technological victory.
MISS: Dealing in rare books and documents would seem to be a genteel line of work, overseen by people in tweed who are more conversant in paper stock and varieties of binding than they are in ways to pull off a nimble heist. But according to the Allegheny County District’s Office, the archivist of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s rare books and documents collection, and the co-owner of a bookshop in Oakland, perpetrated a campaign of thievery that resulted in more than $8 million in items being stolen from the library over two decades. A signed book by Thomas Jefferson, a volume by George Washington worth $250,000, and a volume by Isaac Newton valued at almost $1 million were among the items pilfered. Other items were badly damaged. That so many valuable rarities were taken over a span of years is a story of misplaced trust and profoundly flawed oversight. It’s also an affront to taxpayers who support the Carnegie Library system, and the notion that rare books and documents are part of the public trust.
HIT: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. That seems to be the motto of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority as it tries to extend its public water service to the outdated system that currently serves Greensboro and surrounding neighborhoods. A state funding package announced in April for the project to rehabilitate Dunkard Valley’s old water lines was lower than expected, with more money coming in the form of a low-interest loan rather than a more lucrative grant. But the authority is still moving forward by seeking bids for the project and preparing to find other revenue sources or ways to save money to make the upgrades affordable. Clean water is taken for granted by many of us, but it’s a luxury for some. It’s good to see SPWA trying to find an affordable solution to Dunkard Valley’s aging lines.
HIT: Many of their fervent customers probably believe that Sherry and Vince Rudnick’s decision to shutter their bar/restaurant in late December should merit a “Miss.” The place with a one-pound hamburger and other monster sandwiches, on a wide-ranging menu with modest prices, is a destination dining spot for residents of Amwell, nearby Marianna and points farther away. Closing this popular spot has to be a major disappointment for many diners who have traversed 10 Mile Road in the 36 years that Rudnick’s has operated. Yet the place has been such a hit that it deserves to be a “Hit.” Enjoy retirement, Vince and Sherry. You, your family and staff have inspired a lot of smiles and satisfied many large appetites.