Correcting what might seem to be a minor inconvenience for visitors to Moraine State Park might not seem like a big deal. But plans to construct new ramps connecting Route 422 to the North Shore of the park could increase traffic by easing access into and out of the park.

The new ramp design announced by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation last week will improve access to the North Shore of the park. For decades, only westbound traffic on Rt. 422 has had an exit to that part of the park.

The project, which is expected to begin in 2017, will involve removal of the current access road coming off 422 west and construction of a new, two-way access road and bridge that will let drivers going east or west on Rt. 422 access the North Shore.

Most local public officials support the project, saying it's been talked about for years and could increase visitation to Moraine State park, while also making access into and out of the park easier for all visitors. A few residents have expressed concerns about the proximity of the new ramp system to the intersection linking Rt. 422 with Interstate 79, fearing an increase in accidents.

Seneca Valley School District's hiring of a chef to upgrade the food served to students and train cafeteria staff in all seven of the district schools deserves a cheer — from students, their parents and everyone in the district.It's known that eating habits are established early in life, and by promoting healthier eating and creative preparation of fresh foods over reheating of prepared and processed foods, district officials will help students good develop eating habits that will benefit them the rest of their lives.Many school districts have been looking to make cafeteria food healthier, while still keeping it appealing to young people.British TV chef Jamie Oliver launched the movement a few years ago with his Food Revolution program. More recently First Lady Michelle Obama highlighted schools bringing in chefs to produce healthier foods as a way to help fight childhood obesity, which can lead adults with heart disease and diabetes.Darlene Carmack, Seneca Valley's director of food services, brought in professional chef Joe Comunale as a consultant to help train the district's 90 cafeteria workers on how to prepare healthy and fresher meals. Part of the idea is to actually make food on site, rather than having already prepared food shipped to the schools.Comunale's work was so effective and so well received that he was offered a full-time position with the district.Comunale's impact in district kitchens was quickly evident as he helped produce 23 options for students, a big jump from the former standard of three — a main course, a salad and a side.Pizza, a perennial favorite, remains on the menu, but made with whole wheat flour. Other options include General Tso's chicken, roasted pork or three-bean beef chili. Increasing the health balance, each meal is served with a fruit or vegetable side.Another example of Comunale's creativity came when he heard students raving about Chipotle's, a fast-food chain that's grown rapidly promoting a healthy menu.Comunale took the excitement for Chipotle's as a challenge and produced a carnitas (braised beef) dish that some students say tastes better than Chipotle's.The focus on — and excitement for — healthy and delicious food made on-site at schools is welcome and could be something students carry with them for years after they graduate from Seneca Valley.Other districts should look at what's going on in Seneca Valley kitchens — and make their own moves to upgrade food served to students.

Both a jeer and a cheer can be found in the news report last week that two state lawmakers and one former lawmaker from Philadelphia were charged with improperly taking money from a lobbyist-informant.Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams filed the charges, which were in addition to earlier charges he filed against two other state lawmakers and a former Philadelphia traffic court judge for similar influence-peddling offenses.All six of those charged are Philadelphia area Democrats.Williams, a Democrat, took up the cases after state Attorney General Kathleen Kane, also a Democrat, dropped them saying the operation unfairly targeted black lawmakers and cases could not be won in court.Williams, who is also black, took the case, noted that other lawmakers, approached by the lobbyist-informant, rejected his offers of cash and gifts.Williams earns a cheer for doing the right thing and following through with prosecutions to weed out public corruption in Harrisburg, even if it means prosecuting people from his own party. Kane, on the other hand, deserves a jeer for dropping a case with solid evidence of political corruption for what appear to be partisan reasons.