Cheers & Jeers
Cheers: Cheers to Greene County’s baseball and softball teams this spring for their success. Although both fell short of a title, Carmichaels’ teams reached the WPIAL baseball and softball finals. Jefferson-Morgan and Waynesburg Central both saw their baseball and softball teams qualify for the playoffs. In Class A softball, Greene County teams – Carmichaels, West Greene and J-M – made up three of the WPIAL’s four semifinalists and two of the three PIAA qualifiers. In baseball, Carmichaels, Waynesburg Central and Jefferson-Morgan each won a playoff game, and the Mikes advanced to the state tournament. Greene County also notched a pair of section championships: Carmichaels softball and Waynesburg baseball.
Cheers: Initially greeted with trepidation and skepticism, the merger of Washington Health System with UPMC has paid off for both the community and the employees. The one-year anniversary of the affiliation was marked June 1, and in the year since the merger, UPMC Washington and its sister hospital in Waynesburg, UPMC Greene, have seen an expansion in health care services as well as the preservation of 2,000-plus local jobs, with more expected to be created. Brook Ward, president of UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene, said the health system has made significant progress in broadening close-to-home access to elevated care specialties, including pediatrics, orthopedics and specialized surgical services. The affiliation has also strengthened the workforce by raising wages and improving benefits – UPMC employees now receive employer-matched retirement contributions, something they didn’t have before. “As we reflect on this first year, we remain focused on delivering compassionate, high-quality care while fostering a workplace where every team member feels valued and empowered,” Ward earlier this week. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished — and even more excited for what’s ahead.”
Jeers: The official start of summer is a few weeks away, and what better way to enjoy the warm, sunny days than on a bike. E-bikes, one of the hottest trends in recreation, are making it easier for cyclists of all abilities to hit the trail. But as more folks are climbing into the saddle for a battery-assisted cruise, area trail managers are seeing an uptick in complaints from walkers, runners and others who are being caught off guard by e-bikes passing or bearing down on them. E-bike riders often travel at higher speeds, which can create unsafe conditions, disrupt the quality of the trail experience for others and potentially damage limestone trail surfaces. Ted Koval, a volunteer with Yough River Trail Bike Council, which maintains a 23-mile portion of the Youghiogheny River section of the Great Allegheny Passage, told the newspaper this week that his organization “gets all kinds of complaints” about e-bikes on the trail and urges riders to exercise a little common-sense trail etiquette. “E-bikes can be a good thing if the riders are paying attention to speed and not ignoring other people on the trail. A lot of people are walking and have headsets on, and they’re not going to hear the e-bikes. It’s an ongoing problem, and we really need to educate people about following the rules.”
Cheers: Welcome to the “gig economy” era – a sector characterized by short-term, flexible, on-demand employment opportunities. Growing at an annual pace of 13.5%, the nontraditional approach to work shows no signs of slowing, with roughly 42% of the country’s workforce participating either full time or as a “side hustle.” Staff writer Zach Petroff talked to a few gig workers who shared their reasons for doing it, with flexibility being among the top benefits. Meghan O’Farrell of Beallsville said she turned to gig work after being laid off from her job and now drives for Uber Eats delivering food, car parts and even prescription drugs. Her sales job paid better, but O’Farrell said she loves her gig job more. “I have a purpose with Uber Eats, and I’m having the time of my life,” she said.