CBS 21 Community

Snoddy,

As far as your Digression goes, WOW! sorry to hear that.  Nothing is quite as frightening as local officals who are in charge of multi million dollar decisions and work at it part time.  They do their best, but often they just don't realize the scope of an issue.

That brings me back on topic.  The more I think about it, the more I think this is a real pandora's box that just got opened.  I think you are correct in your assumption that the twp is trying to stay out of this as much as possible.  I fell bad for all involved, because it was a good faith gesture of kindness on the part of the township, but they just didn't think it through.  This is not pendot property on the side of 83 or 81, this is a residential area.

I have a 10 foot patch of grass between the curb and my sidewalk, as many people do.  I measured the distance from the center line of the road to my property, and under Swatra Twp's ordinance about 3 feet of what is clearly my front yard would be open to public use.  Which caused me to send an email to the zoning officer in the twp in which I live to check for simalar ordinances.

Perhaps the legislature does, in fact, need to address this issue statewide so that individuals don't have to go through this again.

BORROR wrote:

I am part of the family and everyone else has a memorial, why shouldn't michael.  I think you are disgusting for writing such hateful things.  Let the family alone in there time of grief.  How would you feel if somthing like this happend to you?  Would you want people calling you disgusting? 

So put up a memorial at home, where family and friends will see it OFTEN.  Or a cemetary plot.  Don't harrass a homeowner who's already traumatized by the accident right outside his house.

BORROR wrote:

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS AT ALL!!  I WOULD THINK A CROSS WOULD BRING COMFORT TO EVERYONE INCLUDEING THE LAND OWNER.

Well, obviously it doesn't.

bethschot wrote: i think you should watch what you say to my niece ok

for one don't tell a kid how to deal with death every one has thier own way of dealing with this and if

this is how we deal with this then let us be

Sorry, but your rude response is the one that's out of line.

You conveniently ignore that the homeowner has the right to deal with death (right outside his house!) in his own way.  Why don't you let him be?

ceisenhour:

First of, this is absolutely pathetic now. I know the family who removed the cross, and although they are close to my family it strongly upsets me knowing that they would do such a thing. I understand everybody has their own opinions, but being that the Labe's have the township's permission to put the memorial in place again this all needs to stop. I've read many of the comments on here and it's obvious that many of us are teenagers, and for that reason it's automatically assumed that we have no idea what we're talking about. Michael was a son, an uncle, a brother, a boyfriend, etc. and his family truly does miss him. I do believe that during the time of greiving one should be allowed to cope with their loss however they believe they need to do so. This is a very hard time for the Labe family, and it is very disrespectful to sit here and "bash" on them for making something in memory of the one they lost. This is nothing new to the media, so do not sit here and say that the family is only doing this for the attention. I remember hearing about this on the news months ago, and it SHOULD NOT be allowed. When you lose someone you do not want to deal with grief from others. Yes, it may have hurt the family seeing the cross outside of their home, but imagine the pain that Michael's family feels. They wake up everyone morning, knowing that they will no longer see Michael's face, they won't hear his jokes, see his smile, or even hear his voice. But what they do have are the memories of the 17 years that Michael was alive. I can not even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose a child of my own and I know for a fact that I would not want to try and cope with the loss of a loved one and all of this nonsense along with it. Stop with all of the nasty remarks now. The cross is going back up, with the permission of the township and sitting on here arguing back and forth is not going to prevent that from happening.

Last, to the Labe's, I truly am sorry for your loss. Michael was a great guy who could put a smile on anyones face no matter what the situation was. I'm sorry that you must deal with all of this during this time, and I hope that you're holding up the best that you can right now. Your family is in my prayers. Stay strong, and may God be with you.

Yes, it's hard on the family.  It's difficult for any family which has lost a loved one.  But I can't comprehend how they reconcile the love they obviously had for Michael with the rude and sometimes hateful posts they are making in this forum.  One even made a direct threat (which WHP wisely deleted).  Is this the legacy the family wants?

Why can't they erect a memorial at home?  Could it be that they do not want a reminder of the tragedy in their faces every day?

firestar:

Firestar wrote.. I say delete em all and start over, what do ya' ll say?

Wow,

So Swatra Twp is now requiring a permit for the RM, interesting.

I got a response from the zoning guy in the twp in which I live and that was his response.  He told me that a small breakaway cross in a twp right of way would be removed after a time, but a structure like the one they put down would be condsidered a permanant one, and would then be treated like any other permanant structure in a right of way, ie a brick mailbox. It would need a permit, and to conform to code.  Now how you get a permit to place something on someone elses property in the right of way, I am not sure.  I think the fact is, this permit will not be issued, and the whole thing will go away.

As I looked at the picture on the website, one of the things I realised was that this thing is TOTALLY unsafe.  A monument of that size needs to be fastened to a concrete foundation as do the angles on each side.  I would guess the foundation, by code(at least in my twp) would be about 3'X2'X2' minimum.  The problem is that the rain runoff on the slope would eventually errode the base of the cross and it would wind up in the street, either from rain or wind.  That could pose a threat to motorists, not to mention not being a very fitting end to a religious symbol.

The township did the right thing.  They gave these people an inch, and they took a mile.  Or to be more fitting, six feet.

robo0425:

Wow,

So Swatra Twp is now requiring a permit for the RM, interesting.

I got a response from the zoning guy in the twp in which I live and that was his response.  He told me that a small breakaway cross in a twp right of way would be removed after a time, but a structure like the one they put down would be condsidered a permanant one, and would then be treated like any other permanant structure in a right of way, ie a brick mailbox. It would need a permit, and to conform to code.  Now how you get a permit to place something on someone elses property in the right of way, I am not sure.  I think the fact is, this permit will not be issued, and the whole thing will go away.

   A few years ago I lost my young nephew in a violent car crash in which his friend who was driving struck a tree in a yard alongside a residential street. My nephew flew through the windshield and died in the branches of the tree and his friend died on the front lawn. I can assure you it was very traumatic for our family and friends.

   Did we memorialize my nephew and his friend by placing crosses or flowers in the yard or tieing ribbons on the tree? No, we did not deliver even one petal to the crash site. We knew it was disturbing enough for the homeowners to know two young men had died on their lawn and they did not need any more reminders the horrible scene they witnessed.

  We memorialized my nephew at the proper place for such things. Even after 5 years his cemetery plot is lovingly covered with flowers and his sister places a fresh Pittsburgh Steeler flag every few months because he was a huge fan and since he was a U.S. Marine, an American flag flies also. We have remembered our loved one and at the same time have not intruded on the rights and feelings of anyone else.

   I can also think of other ways to remember one who has died without violating the rights and feelings of others. I have seen many memorial trees with small brass memorial tablets attached in public places such as parks, school lawns, and church or hospital lawns. Of course, you should get permission before planting anything in a public place and follow any regulations but I think it would be possible to do that in our area. I can not think of a finer or more comforting sight then a beautiful tree such as a dogwood in full bloom to remind us of our loved one and to remind us that God has promised us that our loved one will bloom again just like the tree.

   Other ways to remember might include raising money for a scholarship or academic or sports prize at a local school to be given in the name of  the deceased person.. Other donations of time or money could be given as a memorial and it's always nice to compile a scrapbook or write a  short history of the person's life so future generations will remember them too.

   There are many ways to remember a loved one that can bring great comfort to a grieving family and at the same time not intrude on the rights and feelings of others. Lets remember that the family where this has all happened is undoubtedly feeling pain and sorrow too. 

robo0425:

Wow,

So Swatra Twp is now requiring a permit for the RM, interesting.

The township did the right thing.  They gave these people an inch, and they took a mile.  Or to be more fitting, six feet.