Thumbs up, thumbs down

October 15, 2005

Thumbs up to Nick Giannaris, a longtime local philanthropist in Washington County, for coping with being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease by persuading his doctors to host a symposium where other Parkinson's patients could learn more about it and discuss it with medical professionals.

Thumbs up to Pam Anderson, owner of Anderson Construction Co. and Annette Sanders of the Institute for Caregiver Education Inc., for the community service that led to the Greater Chambersburg (Pa.) Chamber of Commerce to give them them its top honors for 2005.

Thumbs up to all of the parents who take the time to actually sit down and discuss sex with their teenage children. It may be embarrassing, it may be uncomfortable, but unless parents do it, teens are likely to get information from those with ulterior motives.

Thumbs up to the 20 citizens who attended a public hearing and offered input on proposed changes to Washington County's Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. How this is resolved will determine whether schools here can handle the student population.

Thumbs up to former West Virginia Del. Vicki V. Douglas, for the work she did as a teacher and member of the state's House of Delegates, including helping to save the Martinsburg Roundhouse. We wish her and her husband the best in their retirement.

Thumbs up to Arlene Hammond and Anita Bussard, for their combined 621/2 years of state service, which they finished recently as dispatchers from the Hagers-town barrack of the Maryland State Police. The two are friends as well as co-workers.

Thumbs up to the Berkeley County (W.Va.) Commission, for proposing an ordinance to restrict loud noises during the day, with more stringent rules applying from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. All county residents plagued with inconsiderate neighbors should say thanks.

Thumbs down to the members of the board that oversees Pennsylvania's school employee pension fund, for spending more than $200,000 in the past seven years to attend 116 out-of-state conferences. Two members alone have attended 59 conferences since 1998!

Thumbs up to Clark Crider of Chambersburg, Pa., who saw the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina and organized a team to help victims. What he found there was disorganization, but he persevered, saying he hadn't traveled "1,000 miles to be turned away."

Thumbs up to Rick Pill, an alumnus of West Virginia University, for the work he did to win honors as the outstanding alumnus for 2005. He is a member of the Berkeley County Board of Education and president of the West Virginia Bar Association.

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