Laurels & lances: Growing, going, giving

Laurel: To a grand gourd. Westmoreland County made a good showing with a super squash.

Eric Gunstrom of Harrison City was awarded first place in the 58th annual Barnesville, Ohio, Pumpkin Festival with a monster vegetable weighing in at 2,405 pounds.

It took an investment of about 30 hours per week to grow the behemoth, which is on display in St. Clairsville, Ohio, but will be making the trip home for Pittsburgh’s Monster Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 15-16.

So what’s the big deal about a big gourd? Gunstrom’s got a good answer.

“These festivals are good for the kids,” he said. “They get to see that the hard work pays off and that something that starts at the size of a quarter can grow into something huge, if you take care of it.”

Lance: To a quick departure. It seems like just a few months ago that we were wondering whether John Pallone would be an adequate or acceptable open records officer for Harrison.

That’s because it was. Pallone took the job as township manager in March. His resignation was accepted Monday.

Pallone resigning from things is not unfamiliar. It was just two years ago that he stepped down as New Kensington-Arnold School District superintendent, where his brother chaired the school board. A former state representative, he was the first person to take the job under a state rule change that allowed lawyers without education experience to do the job.

No information was given about why the commissioners are looking to fill the job again after just a few months, despite hiring Pallone unanimously. Commissioner Eric Bengel seemed to point the finger at his board, calling it a “mistake” for them “to not work with Mr. Pallone to find common ground in his management of the township.”

Laurel: To showing up. The Richard King Mellon Foundation is using a $2 million grant program to work on chronic absenteeism in Southwestern Pennsylvania schools.

“It’s happening outside of the urban core, it is happening in charter schools, and it is happening in Westmoreland County,” foundation director Sam Reiman said. “It is not just one area.”

It is important to address. Students need to attend school not only to gain the education but also to qualify for promotion to the next grade or to graduate. Schools need to worry about attendance because it can impact their funding, meaning students who don’t show up are affecting the education of their classmates.

About 11,000 students from just 15 local schools would fall into the category of chronic absenteeism.