Laurels & lances: Healing, benefits, milk and beer

Laurel: To healing with those who understand. Parkland to Pittsburgh is a program that will bring together survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School shooting with the local Jewish community. While many people have said they empathize and understand and offered prayers and tears, the two groups are the only ones who really can feel each other’s pain. And hopefully by sharing their grief and fear, they can find ways to heal.

Lance: To changing the rules. The Alle-Kiski-rooted aerospace and automotive component manufacturer Arconic notified retired employees last week that it would be chopping health care benefits in half and killing off their life insurance.

“Arconic’s leadership team has made the difficult decision to reduce the company-provided Medicare Exchange HRA contribution,” an Arconic executive wrote to the retirees, adding that while they “recognize the impact,” it’s what’s best for the company.

It also means the retirees who gave years of service to Alcoa and then its spin-off Arconic did so for a lie. The company made a deal. You work for us, and when you are done, we will do this and this and this. Yes, no doubt it is better for the company, but the best long-term benefit for any employer is employees who can bank on the company’s word. Arconic’s check just bounced.

Laurel: To doing a body good. A Somerset County dairy farmer testified to a Congressional subcommittee about bringing full-fat whole milk back into U.S. schools, which have only been offering lower-fat options in recent years. But like eggs, dairy has had its ups and downs in the world of nutritional trends. Let’s just offer it without demonizing anything and let people choose for themselves.

Lance: To the worst location. Sheetz wants to beef up its store at the corner of Carpenter Lane and Route 30, adding seating and, oh yeah, a restaurant liquor license. But come on, Sheetz. The store is across the street from Stewartsville Elementary.

Sheetz has been adding plenty of beer caves and restaurant areas to its locations all over Pennsylvania. Does the company really need to sell alcohol spitting distance from a schoolful of kids under 12? Isn’t there enough money in gas and sandwiches? That’s what Sheetz built its brand providing.

Yes, they successfully lobbied to sell beer, but like a kid who just turned 21, now it’s up to them to realize that alcohol has a time and a place, and just because you can get your hands on it doesn’t mean you always should.