We’re paying for China’s doctrine

March 23, 2020

Virtually no media coverage of the COVID-19 Virus is directed where it should be — to the Communist Party of China. Reportedly, the virus started in October 2019, but was not acknowledged for three months. In any country with a free press, news would have spread quickly and early action would have been taken. Timely release would have effectively doubled the world’s response time. Imagine how much more could have been accomplished. More time to produce N-95 masks, respirators, research vaccines, restrict travel and develop and implement mitigation policies. Why didn’t ...

Coverage of the virus ‘essential’

March 22, 2020

What day is it? Oh, Sunday. The days since initial concern over the coronavrius quickly morphed into a pandemic — challenging our world like never before — are running together so please forgive me. You’re seeing designations of “essential” and “life-sustaining” references to various businesses. Newspapers and media have long been recognized as such in order to help keep the public informed. That’s especially “essential” during time of crisis, and the coronavirus, with the damage it’s done and all the uncertainty and fear that it’s created, qualifies ...

Bar, restaurant owners are heroes, too

March 21, 2020

Monday’s announcement from Gov. Wolf left many wondering why bars and restaurants were ordered to close. And it didn’t help matters that after the order was made, there was significant confusion due to different interpretations of the order until Wolf sent out a clarification later that night. It was a tough decision, no doubt. But there’s a simple answer why Pennsylvania bars and restaurants were ordered to close: We don’t want to be the next Italy. Some in the medical community fear that it could happen and happen quickly. COVID-19 has the unique ability to spread in a ...

Take time to reflect on the sun

March 20, 2020

Today at noon, unplug your backlit screen, stroll outdoors and take in the buoyant charm of reflected light. Afterwards, take a few minutes to reflect on the sun, the superstar powering the existence of the earth — including us, all things animate and inanimate, everything. The Vernal Equinox is the first day of spring, the occasion par excellence for honoring the sun, and every gardener’s unofficial national holiday. From our earthbound vantage point, the equinox feels like the solar system’s yearly reboot: Calibrating the seasons, hours and minutes, nights and days, the ...

Time right for redistricting reform

March 7, 2020

“That’s all we’re asking for: an end to the antidemocratic and un-American practice of gerrymandering congressional districts. ... The fact is, gerrymandering has become a national scandal.” — President Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan understood the dangers of gerrymandering, and his words ring even truer today. Gerrymandering has been an issue for years, and it is time to address the issue once and for all. Creating districts that are drawn by the public, without being tainted by the powers of incumbency and party registration, will ensure competitive elections. ...

Celebrating life of the common man

March 6, 2020

Have you stopped to think of the people in your life who make the hardest tasks possible? On Jan. 22, I traveled to the home of a long-term member of our company, Russell McGuire, to visit as he had just started hospice care because of his battle with cancer. McGuire was engaged in commercial construction projects with us for nearly 30 years, normally in a support role. Now, he was battling for his life with his loved ones at his side. Two years prior to my visit to McGuire’s house, I was in the beginning stages of what would be one of our most challenging professional projects. ...