By Tribune-Review

Published: Thursday, February 21, 2013, 8:55 p.m.
Updated: Thursday, February 21, 2013

A Laurel & a Lance: To the city of Arnold. The Laurel is for trying to contract its garbage service to a private firm. The Lance is for writing bad contract specifications. Only one firm bid and it wanted to increase the rate for 2,200 residential customers over the current $22 per month. Yeesh! Given the size of Arnold and how close the houses are to each other, the city should be able to get service for less than $40 per quarter. Thankfully, the council rejected the bid and is reworking the specs.

On the “Watch List”:

• Pittsburgh & the 2024 Olympics. The Steel City is one of 35 American cities to receive a letter from the U.S. Olympic Committee attempting to gauge interest in making a bid for the 2024 Summer Games. Says Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald, “It's definitely something we should take a look at.” Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says the idea should not be dismissed outright. But given the multigazillion-dollar shellacking taxpayers would take, we have one question for both: Are you guys nuts?

• Curtiss-Wright. Although the Harmar manufacturer supplies Westinghouse with nuclear reactor components, it hasn't followed with layoffs as the nuke industry has slowed. We hope this continues.

Good luck: Vinny Mercurio. The A-K Valley's favorite bartender has hung up his apron after 50 years. Vinny is one of the last connections to New Kensington's heyday as an entertainment — and organized crime — mecca. Enjoy your retirement, Vinny. We'll miss you.

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