Zelienople’s aggressiveness in regard to improvements at the borough’s community park is worthy of notice.

Not only has the borough allocated money for some of the work, the community made an attempt — albeit unsuccessful — to obtain a state grant.

Now, at least partly in response to that rejection, the park board is holding fundraising activities to acquire needed money.

Meanwhile, the Friends of the Zelienople-Harmony Park, a nonprofit group, is sponsoring an adults-only Mardi Gras party from 7 to 11 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Center of Harmony to benefit the park.

The park project’s first phase last year was given a big boost by a $20,000 donation from the Zelienople Rotary Club.

GameTime Equipment, a national equipment maker, has contributed $17,000 through its foundation.

A new amphitheater, made possible by a $100,000 gift from The Ayers Foundation, which is named for the late James A. Ayers Sr., who was a Zelienople businessman and Harmony resident, also is part of the plans.

A project of the scope that Zelienople has undertaken requires efforts on many fronts. To the community’s credit, the manpower and can-do enthusiasm have been abundant.

Jeer Thanks to the actions of a Parker man, law-abiding members of the public can again be excused for being astonished by the thinking and questionable judgment of some prisoners.Richard J. Ealy, 20, in Butler County Prison since May 31 on a one-year sentence for a probation violation, “forgot” to leave in his cell a shiv that he had fashioned out of a toothbrush handle. While in the prison’s recreation area, a prison officer spotted Ealy sliding the object into his shoe.Ealy now faces additional charges of possessing a prohibited offensive weapon and a weapon or implement for escape.Ealy’s probation violation stemmed from a 2009 arrest in Butler for simple assault. At some point, he should have realized that it was in his best interests to avoid future trouble.Law-abiding people can be excused for wondering whether there was an undisclosed reason for Ealy’s “forgetfulness.” In a prison environment, it’s reasonable to conclude, the possibilities are many.

JeerThere are no grounds for sympathy for Michael Eugene Stewart, 39, of Eau Claire, despite his use of the “disabled, unemployed card” during his arraignment on charges stemming from a burglary between Jan. 12 and 14 at his neighbors’ mobile home.Among the items he confessed to stealing was a small, powder-blue box containing his neighbors’ daugher Molly’s blanket, dress, her birth and death certificates, and photographs. Molly died two hours after her birth on June 22, 2010.According to her parents, Molly was born premature, and her lungs were not fully developed.Instead of burglarizing his neighbors’ residence, Stewart should have been seeking legal, productive options for resolving his personal plight. Meanwhile, what satisfaction he might have gotten from stealing the irreplaceable keepsakes of his neighbors’ deceased daughter is puzzling.In addition to playing the “disabled, unemployed card,” Stewart told District Judge Sue Haggerty at his arraignment that he is engaged and has a 7-year-old child. In respect to them, he should not have resorted to crime.By his statements to Haggerty it is clear that he was trying to evoke sympathy from the judge. To Haggerty’s credit, he got little, as demonstrated by his being sent to the Butler County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.It’s to be hoped that, in future court proceedings, Stewart, like at his arraignment, will not be dealt a sympathetic card.