New Kensington, Arnold leaders offer encouragement to Valley High football players

Three leaders of the New Kensington and Arnold communities have put themselves at the service of players on the Valley High School football team.

New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo, Arnold Mayor Joe Bia II and District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. spoke to members of the Vikings team on the field Wednesday at Memorial Stadium. They were invited by the team’s new coach, Mark Adams, who was hired in April.

The team started spring camp Monday.

“I wanted to be proactive,” Adams said. “I want these young people to understand there are people who care about them and want to see them do well, not only in athletics but in academics, and just in the community. We want them to take pride in where they live.”

With the players assembled before them in an end zone, Guzzo, Bia and Pallone each told the players they are there for them should they ever need help or someone to talk with.

“What we’re talking about and what we’re interested in is good decisions, guys, making better decisions so things don’t happen like what happened a week ago when we lost one of our friends and local kids,” said Bob Pallone, a former New Kensington-Arnold School Board member who is running in this year’s election to get back on the board. He is the brother of District Judge Pallone.

Bob Pallone was referring to the April 23 shootout on Fourth Avenue in New Kensington in which Divine Warner, 16, of Arnold was killed.

That loss left people heartbroken and devastated, said Dana Jones, who has been the team’s strength and conditioning coach for 17 years.

“It’s a small community. That stuff just resonates,” he said.

Jones faulted technology — cellphones, and kids growing up isolated playing video games.

“All that teaches you to do is settle things with violence,” he said. “They don’t know any other way.”

Frank Pallone invoked a quote by Henry Ford, “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it,” in encouraging the players to do just that.

“Whatever you’re doing, you have to think. Whether it’s on this field, whether it’s in school, between classes, in class, in the cafeteria, out on the street, at a party — you have to think,” he said. “If you think before you act, you’re not going to have any troubles because you’re going to plan for what you want to do, because you’re going to think it out.”

Pallone said people end up before him because they committed a traffic offense or a crime.

“That’s because they didn’t think first. If they would think about what they were going to do first, then they would know that’s not the right thing to do,” he said.

“No matter what it is that you’re doing, think first, and then act. Plan it out, just like you do when you’re on that field and they call that play out,” he said. “When they call that play, you’re thinking what you’re going to do next, right?

“That’s what you’re going to do in your life. Think about what you’re going to do next all the time. If you do that, you’re not going to make that mistake, you’re not going to be in front of the magistrate.”

Pallone told them he has an open-door policy.

“If you’re ever down and out, if somebody’s bothering you and you don’t have someone to reach out to, don’t be afraid to come in the front office, go to the front window and tell my staff that you’d like to talk to me. I’d be glad to do that,” he said.

Jones emphasized that the district judge meant it.

“That’s critical with all three of these guys,” Bob Pallone said. “These are the three leaders of the community right here, both mayors and the district justice are pretty much the highest rank in the city. They’re telling you that if somebody is bothering you, you need help, you want to talk about something, their doors are open. They care about what happens to every single one of you here.”

Guzzo said he and Bia ran for their offices because they want a future for not only their kids but all of the community’s youth. He said they want the players to know who they are and that they are there for them.

“You guys are the future of our community. We want you to be excited about being part of the community, how you can get involved in the community and why you need to stay in school and go to all your classes,” he said.

“The reason that you stay in school and the reason that you go to all your classes and get the grades you need is to be able to participate in something that you love,” he said. “The only way that you’re going to be able to do that is stay in school and keep your grades up. When you need help with something, you’ve got a million people who are willing to help you.”

Guzzo said he and Bia worked together on the $81 million investment Gov. Josh Shapiro announced May 1 that will bring Re:Build Manufacturing to the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park, creating 300 or more jobs.

“Those jobs are for you guys,” Guzzo said. “Whatever you guys want to do, just know that the gentlemen standing up here are all in our own way willing to help each and every one of you at every turn of your life. That’s what we’re here for. I know you think it’s BS, but it’s not. We are here for every single one of you, for you to be successful in whatever you want to do in life.”

Bia, who is seeking reelection as mayor of Arnold, told the players he reads the newspaper all the time.

“I see here’s this guy, he’s getting arrested for this. Here’s this guy, he’s ‘going in the ground.’ Or here’s this guy, he made a big success for himself,” he said. “All those guys had decisions to make, just like you do. You’re going to get up and you’re going to say, ‘What is important to me today?’ That’s what you have to keep following through with.”

Bia said they’re all around if any of the players need advice. And that he’ll be in the stands on Friday nights this fall.

“We wish nothing but the best for you guys,” he said. “I want to see a lot of wins.”