Thumbs up, thumbs down

May 01, 1998

To the Waynesboro, Pa., ministers who decided to try to end strife and personal attacks during local school board meetings by showing up and praying silently. What a nice idea.

To Maryland legislative leaders, for naming a panel to look into the state's ethics laws, last updated 19 years ago. In the wake of state Sen. Larry Young's expulsion and Del. Gerald Curran's resignation, it was time to do something.

down To the Washington County high school seniors who haven't yet completed the 75 hours of public service required for graduation. No excuses, please. You had four years to finish this.

To the University of Rochester, for its two-year study that found that seniors with Alzheimer's disease were happier in rocking chairs than those who spent all day lying in bed. It took two years to figure this out?

To Washington County School Superintendent Herman G. Bartlett Jr., for calling on parents and others not to allow small children to run the streets at 10 or 11 p.m. at night. Amen.

To William Wivell, a candidate for Washington County Commissioner, for his bravery in opposing a project - a new minor league baseball stadium - that his employer, Allegheny Power, has pledged $1 million toward. He's got guts.

down To the more than 100 Chambersburg High School students who held an egg fight in Enoch Brown Park, leaving taxpayers of Antrim Township with a $500 clean-up bill. Not funny.

To Hagerstown officials, for their program to build home ownership in the city, a program so successful it's almost out of money four months after it began. Note to council: Time to restock this program with some bond money.

down To golfers at Hagerstown's Municipal course who are griping about a 75-cent a round fee hike, at a course subsidized by taxpayers to the tune of $54,000 this fiscal year.

To Blake Costello, a Charles Town ninth grader who devised a formula to determine a fish's weight based on its length. Soon he'll put his idea up against more than 1,000 others in international competition in Texas.

|

|

|