Hits and Misses
HIT: The cooler weather this week has certainly hinted that fall is around the corner, and another is the school buses that are snaking their way around on streets and roads in the mornings and afternoons. The resumption of school in many districts around the region this week means that drivers need to be cautious when they are commuting during the day. Drivers should always lay off the gas pedal, but particularly in neighborhoods without sidewalks, where children could be walking in the street to reach school or a bus stop. And when those buses arrive, the yellow, flashing caution lights on a bus mean its driver is about to stop and pick up passengers or drop them off. Once red lights are flashing on the bus and the stop arm is extended, drivers behind the bus need to stop, as do those drivers in the opposing lane – the only exceptions are if the two lanes of a road are separated by a physical barrier, such as a grassy median, guardrails or concrete barriers. Drivers also need to be mindful of their speed in school zones. Keeping this in mind will help everyone have a safe and productive school year.
HIT: The Summer Olympic Games ended in Paris almost two weeks ago, but Olympics of another sort will be coming to the City of Light next week – the Paralympic Games get underway on Wednesday and continue through Sunday, Sept. 8. Two men from the region are competing: Eric McElvenny, a graduate of Belle Vernon Area High School, and Kevin “K.J.” Polish, a graduate of Mapletown Junior/Senior High School. McElvenny, who lost part of a leg in Afghanistan while deployed there as a U.S. Marine, will be participating in the men’s division of the paratriathlon, which will include a sprint, a 12-mile cycling ride and a 3.1-mile run. Meanwhile, Polish will be taking part as a pararcher, something he has done since a 1999 car accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. In a story in the Observer-Reporter, McElvenny explained, “I never really thought about getting into long-distance racing, but it is pretty cool because you are competitive, but at the same time, you are trying to help other athletes push through the course.” Everyone should wish McElvenny and Polish the best of luck as they also go for the gold.
MISS: The enforced isolation that accompanied the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic was necessary in order to reduce the possibility of yet more Americans becoming severely ill or dying from the virus. The downside, though, is it increased feelings of loneliness and isolation among people of all ages, and had a particularly hard impact on children. This is now becoming evident among young people who were babies or toddlers when the pandemic began. They are now starting kindergarten, and according to a story in The New York Times this week, many are experiencing developmental and academic delays. Some are less adept at managing their emotions, holding a pencil or expressing their needs. Experts say this is because they spent more time at home and less time around other people. They also had more screen time. The impact has been more deeply felt with boys and those in lower-income households. A pretty good case can be made that some of the federal COVID relief dollars earmarked for schools should be directed to the youngest students. Catherine Monk, a Columbia University clinical psychologist, told the Times, “We 100% have the tools to help kids and families recover. But do we know how to distribute, in a fair way, access to the services they need?”