All communities must deal with crime at one time or another. But the situation that has evolved in recent days in Cranberry Township is enough to make much of the municipality uneasy.

As reported in the Butler Eagle of July 14, on July 12 and 13 vandals with a BB gun drove throughout the township shooting out windows in two businesses, two homes and eight vehicles, according to township police.

Friday's edition of the Eagle reported on the township police disclosure of a series of daylight home break-ins and an attempted break-in since July 5 in the western area of the township.

The criminal-minded and immature individuals apparently don't realize the repair costs, inconvenience and fear for which they are responsible. At the same time, they are damaging the reputation of the township as a great place to live and/or do business.

The incidents accentuate the need for Cranberry residents to pay attention to what's going on not only around their own property but also around neighbors' properties as well.

Meanwhile, in response to the BB gun incidents, parents whose children own such a gun should pay attention to where that gun is and when and where it is taken. Not getting caught for one series of incidents oftentimes emboldens individuals to engage in more risky behavior.

The crimes in question point to young people with too much time on their hands. It's also possible that a desire to buy illegal drugs might be behind the burglaries — selling stolen items for drug money.

Regardless, the crimes are unnerving to the Cranberry community. Someone with knowledge about the crimes needs to tip off police regarding the relevant information.

Much imagination and artistic talents have gone into the Jeep cutouts currently being displayed around the community.Businesses, organizations and individuals sponsoring the cutouts have gone above and beyond what most people might have anticipated in the creation of the unique designs.The designs depict many of the diverse aspects of the community and symbolize many of the services and assets available here.The Bantam Jeep Art Project, an endeavor of the Butler Downtown organization, will be a colorful, interesting addition to the inaugural Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival Aug. 12-14, sponsored by the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau.A total of 70 two-dimensional wooden Jeep reliefs were made to commemorate the Jeep's 70th year. All were sold.The Jeep cutouts are to remain on display until Sept. 5.Besides being a positive addition to next month's festival from the visual standpoint, the decorated Jeeps symbolize the community's unity, pride and solidarity of purpose in the pursuit of good things.The festival has the potential to be a wonderful addition to Butler's summer menu of things to do.

The 28 New York City children visiting Butler County this summer as part of the Fresh Air Fund program are having priceless experiences away from the concrete of city life.But they would not be enjoying the qualities of rural life here if it were not for county families who generously have opened their homes to these children.These families are special people who understand the good that can come from the summer experiences that they are providing the children — some of those experiences being camping, picnics, fishing, even something so commonplace here as sitting around a campfire.In addition to the praise these caring families have earned — at least some for a number of years — praise also is warranted for people like Brenda McCall of Center Township. McCall is this county's Fresh Air chairperson, helping to unite the New York City children with families seeking to host them.And, each year, McCall is proactive in regard to that process, writing a letter to the editor announcing that Fresh Air is seeking host families. Her letter this year, published in the April 6 edition of the Butler Eagle, began:“With the arrival of spring, thoughts of summer are not far behind. The days grow longer, nature comes alive around us and summer plans begin to take shape.“Summer provides an opportunity for us to share the sights and sounds of our community with others less fortunate.”Since 1877, the Fresh Air Fund has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million disadvantaged New York City children. It is to be hoped that Butler County families remain a part of the program for many years to come.As an article in Wednesday's Butler Eagle reported, the participating children are enjoying wonderful experiences here, with the real prospect of positively affecting their lives from now on.