The city of Pittsburgh has experienced sports championship celebrations gone bad, where businesses and private property were damaged or destroyed, people were injured and celebrants were arrested.

Unfortunately, the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, became the latest victim of such unwanted, criminal conduct on Wednesday after the Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks for hockey's Stanley Cup championship. It wasn't a championship celebration; instead, it was an angry rout.

According to an Associated Press report, angry, drunken fans ran wild in the aftermath of the game, setting cars and garbage cans ablaze, smashing windows, showering giant TV screens with beer bottles, and dancing atop overturned vehicles. Later, looters smashed windows and ran inside department stores.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson appropriately termed the post-game activity “disgraceful and shameful” and said that “what's happened tonight is despicable.”

But perhaps the city was partly to blame for not having the resources in place to quickly quell the activity. A similar scene erupted in the city in 1994 following the Canucks' Game 7 loss to the New York Rangers, so the city should have been better prepared this time.

Nevertheless, a sports championship or defeat should not become the basis for such violence, neither here nor anywhere else. Such occurrences usually are perpetrated by individuals looking for any excuse to create mayhem, inflict damage and to steal — rather than expressing loyalty to their hometown team.

This time it was Vancouver. The question now is where it will happen next — hopefully not in Pittsburgh.

The Internet hasn't ended the need for libraries. In fact, despite the Internet, some libraries are being used as much or more than in the past.Unfortunately, at least in Pennsylvania, financial support from the state has not kept up with the ongoing demand for library services. In fact, the state has imposed deep library funding cuts over the past several years that have forced most libraries to cut back on hours of operation and staff positions.Libraries need every dollar they can obtain. And, to its credit, this year's Cranberry Township Community Chest Community Days event will be trying to make a significant positive financial impact.That impact will come from a new 5K race that will be held July 9 as part of the Community Days celebration, both to raise money for area libraries — although libraries from across the state will be able to participate — and to raise awareness of the financial plight libraries are enduring and what that means to communities.Appropriately, the July 9 race has been named the “Run for Your Library 5K.” It will be hosted by the Cranberry Friends of the Library, Cranberry Lions Club and THE CHAMBER of Commerce, Inc.In addition, there will be a one-mile Fun Run for teams of elementary school students competing for their schools.With the state experiencing serious budget challenges, it's likely that library funding from the commonwealth could become leaner before it improves. That means libraries will have to work harder and use creative ideas to keep needed funds flowing into their coffers.All libraries in this county should participate in the July 9 event and encourage as many people from their service areas as possible to participate in the event.The more people who run on behalf of them, the more their ability to make ends meet in their daily operations will improve — and the more their communities' library needs will be met.

West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh cannot go unnoticed regarding the special efforts it has made on behalf of children with burn injuries over the past quarter-century.This month witnessed the hospital’s 25th Summer Camp for Burned Children, an activity-filled five-day experience aimed at boosting the children’s self-esteem and providing a supportive environment for them to take positive risks.This year’s camp was held in Pittsburgh and at Camp Kon-O-Kwee near Zelienople, with the theme “Putting on the Ritz.”Among the activities were a trip to Pittsburgh’s Cultural District and to the Ross Park Mall, a picnic, attending a Pittsburgh Pirates game, a trip to Kennywood Park, along with a celebration in which the children wore formal dresses and tuxedos. They were chauffered to the event in limousines.“For five days, these children’s scars and pressure garments don’t seem so noticeable,” said Esther Atwood, burn center nurse manager.“It is a wonderful opportunity for them, and we have seen often that this camp can help change the lives of those who have suffered from a burn injury,” she added.West Penn deserves praise for making this opportunity available to these children who have suffered so much and who, in many cases, are enduring a prolonged healing process.The summer camp is furthering the children’s understanding about how many others struggle with challenges and physical restrictions similar to those with which they are dealing.All those who have been involved in making the summer camp such a success for so many years deserve abundant praise and appreciation for their commitment to these children.