With help, Old Economy will continue to impress

For the past 30 years, I have had the pleasure of taking colleagues from an array of German universities to the shores of the Ohio to visit the last of the three homes of the Harmony Society in Old Economy Village.

The first prominent visitor from the German-speaking world, however, was Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar, whose "Travels Through North America" featured the utopian settlement as a model society. The prince's account of his 1825 stay with the Harmonists so impressed the great writer Goethe that it became an important source for the idealized depiction of America in his last novel, "Wilhelm Meister's Travels."

Despite the extent of its historical and geographical reach, however, the site has again become the victim of economic hard times. As reported in Wednesday's Post-Gazette, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which preserved the society as a state museum by its purchase of 17 Harmonist buildings and some land in 1916, has now been forced to shut down our own National Historic Landmark ("Old Economy Faces Uncertain Future," Nov. 18).

As an officer of the Goethe Society of North America, I have often marveled at the artifacts, books and way of life that the Harmonists brought from their native Swabia to the frontiers of Western Pennsylvania. I would, therefore, encourage your readers to write their representatives on behalf of this unique cultural asset.

The "new economy" of our region should embrace Old Economy by developing an imaginative public-private partnership that would ensure a bicentennial celebration 15 years from now that is worthy of its remarkable heritage.

CLARK MUENZER
Point Breeze

The writer is an associate professor of German at the University of Pittsburgh.

Keep it going

Pennsylvania's budget dramatically cut the Historical and Museum Commission's funding. On Monday, nine members of Old Economy Village's staff -- including all tour guides -- were furloughed, leaving the six-acre, 17-building National Historic Landmark with a state staff of six.

On Tuesday, the board of directors of the nonprofit Friends of Old Economy Village learned the PHMC expects them to assume the programming for an average 30,000 yearly visitors, many of them schoolchildren. A premiere historical educational site in Western Pennsylvania and the first PHMC museum may become "an expensive warehouse."

Old Economy Village, the geographic, historical and metaphorical heart of Ambridge, is a vital component in the ongoing rejuvenation of the town. Those who believe in historical education, love the village and wish it to remain open, please act:

1. Call Pennsylvania legislators.

2. Sign the Friends of Old Economy Village board's official petition, available at Old Economy Village or send an e-mail to save_oev@yahoo.com.

3. Join the Friends. Obtain a membership form at www.oldeconomyvillage.org or call 724-266-4500.

4. Volunteer for scheduled events: Christmas with Belsnickel (for children) on Nov. 28, Christmas at the Village on Dec. 5 or the fund-raiser dinner on Dec. 13.

5. Donate to the Friends and/or attend the fund-raiser dinner to assist in continuing the site's mission.

6. Get the word out! Tell others how to help.

The Friends of Old Economy Village are dedicated to keeping the village alive, but the future is uncertain. Your support and advocacy would be deeply appreciated by all of us.

EMILY LAPISARDI
Board Secretary
Friends of Old Economy Village
Ambridge

Sour Palin

Why all the rage over the release of Sarah Palin's book? Thank goodness that during the presidential campaign, CBS anchorwoman Katie Couric asked Ms. Palin the difficult question of what newspapers and magazines she read on a regular basis. Ms. Palin's ridiculous and scattered answer to that simple inquiry has helped to save us from four more years of Republican rule.

The book is nothing more than sour grapes from Ms. Palin, who has chosen this forum to blame everybody but herself for her shortcomings.

JOSEPH M. GRUENER
Bethel Park

A true privilege

Regarding the passing of baseball legend Wallace "Bucky" Williams ("Played for Pittsburgh Negro League Teams," Nov. 18 news obituary):

I had the privilege to meet "Bucky" this summer as he was in rehab at a skilled nursing facility while I was there for two weeks.

This lovely, quiet, unassuming gentleman greeted me with a smile every morning while doing his rehab in his wheelchair.

I would say to him, "a swing and a miss Bucky" and he would show me the proper way to hold my imaginary baseball bat.

When my two grandsons, who love sports, would come to visit me, I desperately wanted them to meet Bucky, but alas he was never in his room, which was on the same floor. One evening I did see him sitting watching TV with other patients.

I truly feel sorry for his loss, but he was 102 and seemed to have peace on his face the entire time I saw him.

His caregiver took him home to Penn Hills shortly before I left the nursing home.

It was an honor and a privilege to meet Bucky. I will not forget him.

BARBARA G. DEMPSEY
Edgewood

Film connection

Regarding your poignant story "Pittsburghers Reach Out to Italian Quake Victims" (Nov. 15), I'd like to add another Pittsburgh connection. In September, four students from Italy's Abruzza region enrolled at Pittsburgh Filmmakers' School of Film, Photography and Digital Media for the semester. They were studying film and video at L'Accademia dell' Immagine in L'Aquila before the earthquake devastated their school and were invited to continue their film studies elsewhere during the school's rebuilding.

The University of Pittsburgh spearheaded the effort to help these students, and UPMC covered their tuition needs. The university found support for the students' housing, and Pittsburgh Filmmakers accepted them into four classes each at our school. Each is also enrolled in one class at Pitt.

These four talented, personable students have added a great deal to the educational fabric at Filmmakers. We are honored to play a part in helping them, and we look forward to their future endeavors as filmmakers.

BRADY LEWIS
Director of Education
Pittsburgh Filmmakers
Oakland

Food forest pests

I think a food forest in the middle of a city neighborhood is a wonderful idea; however, all the ramifications of fruit trees must be considered ("A Forest of Food Planned for City," Nov. 15).

I know that one of the Philadelphia city orchards became a haven and home to many families of rats. Rats love fruit. A summer vegetable garden and perennial garden sound wonderful, and other types of trees, such as the hazelnut tree, may be a better idea in the long run.

SHEILA FLAVIN
Westwood

WPAHS should re-evaluate how it is serving communities

I read with interest Dr. Christopher Olivia's open letter "to the residents of Western Pennsylvania." However, having been a member of the Department of Psychiatry at Allegheny General Hospital and a senior attending there for more than 20 years, I found his concerns regarding the "need to act in the best interests of the communities that we serve" disingenuous.

For the last 25 years, Allegheny General Hospital has maintained an excellent inpatient psychiatric unit to serve the needs of the North Side and North Hills communities. In June, Dr. Olivia, CEO of the West Penn Allegheny Health System, made the decision to close this unit. As a result, the WPAHS no longer provides inpatient psychiatric services within the city of Pittsburgh, and patients will need to receive care at Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville.

Concurrently, WPAHS decided to move the obstetrics and gynecology department to Western Pennsylvania Hospital, depriving the people of the North Side this valuable resource as well.

My understanding is that this will serve the goal of converting Allegheny General Hospital into a specialty care site, which will then enhance revenue. Rather than serving community needs as a "nonprofit charity," it is my opinion that Dr. Olivia and the WPAHS are attempting to improve the system's bottom line by eschewing vital primary care for the North Side citizens in favor of high-cost services, many of which are already provided by UPMC across the river. This will virtually eliminate Allegheny General's long-standing role as a community hospital.

As a proud member of the WPAHS medical staff, I agree that "real lives and the future of a community hang in the balance." I only wish that Dr. Olivia would follow his own advice.

KENNETH GOETZ, M.D.
Allegheny General Hospital
North Side

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