Ski resort shuttered for a decade reopens in Pennsylvania

Ski resort shuttered for a decade reopens in Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH

Officials in western Pennsylvania say they hope the reopening of a ski resort shuttered for more than a decade will prove an economic boon to the area.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place recently to mark the official reopening of the Laurel Mountain Ski and Snowboard Area in Westmoreland County.

The area “unofficially” opened Dec. 21 after a $6.5 million overhaul by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Seven Springs Mountain Resort.

The work included a new chairlift, an upgraded snowmaking system, widening of slopes and trails and a complete revamp of the lodge.

Officials said they hope the reopening will attract new visitors to the Laurel Highlands and perhaps encourage people who were coming anyway to extend their stays.

More time offered to comment on Amtrack plans for Northeast

PROVIDENCE, R.I.

Federal railroad regulators are giving people more time to comment on major changes proposed for Amtrak’s Boston-to-Washington Northeast Corridor route.

A proposal to upgrade the 8-state passenger rail corridor over the coming decades was unveiled last month, with comments originally due by Jan. 31. But a portion of the plan that recommends building a new bypass for high-speed rail travel through coastal eastern Connecticut and southwest Rhode Island has met strong opposition.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed says he asked the Federal Railroad Administration for an extension for people to voice opinions. The Rhode Island Democrat received a letter from the agency last week confirming an extension, but the letter doesn’t say when the new deadline will be.

Reed’s office says the new deadline is expected to be sometime in March.

Fate of Polish WWII museum is unclear

GDANSK, Poland

It was supposed to be the first museum in the world to tell the story of World War II in its entirety by focusing on all the nations caught up in that global conflict. But it has fallen foul of changing political priorities in its Polish home, and as it opened its doors for the first time Monday, it’s facing an uncertain future.

After nine years of work, the Museum of the Second World War opened in Gdansk for one day to reporters, historians, veterans and donors. Director Pawel Machcewicz hoped the world could get a glimpse of it as he races against the clock to get it finished before he is pushed out of his job.

The project was launched in 2008 by then-Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who is today one of the European Union’s top leaders. Aside from its global approach, the creators of the state museum say it is different from most other war museums in that it puts civilian suffering – not military campaigns – at the heart of the narrative.

But the political climate in Poland has changed dramatically since then, with a nationalist and populist government in charge that deeply objects to its approach and wants to take control over the institution to change its content. Members of the ruling Law and Justice party say they want a museum that focuses solely on the Polish experience, with primacy given to the heroism of Polish soldiers who resisted the Germans.

Geography quiz

Q. Where would you travel to visit the Great Sandy Desert?

A. Australia. Located in the northwestern part of the country, it’s Australia’s second largest desert after the Great Victoria Desert.

Combined dispatches