Sewickley Herald

              
Sewickley
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Vol. 93 No. 19
Serving Aleppo, Beil Acres, Edgeworth, Glenfield, Haysville, Leet LeeicfN", Ozbem?, Scwick’cy, Sewickley Heights, Sewicktc-y Hills
Wednesday, May 8, 1996
John Mwthart, nitnMrf counfli president mw hi* community and others puli together attar last winter's devastating floods. See Page 11."
50 Cents
INSIDE
▼ TRANSPORTATION
Sports
■ Sewickley Academy is attempting to build on its growing tennis
reputsfisn by winning its fourth straight WPIAL championship.
Page 27
News
■ D.T. Watson is shifting its focus back to the rehabilitation hospital's original plan — caring for children with serious illnesses.
Pag«4
Fund-raiser
■ Area gardeners open their gates and their hearts to show off their blooms and raise money that will benefit the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force,
Paga 23
GAS-TR0N0MICAL
Residents, business owners cope with high prices
ALLAN
HERBST
hf Herbst Texaco station at Thom and Walnut writes out a billfor Dan Hite of Village Plumbing Services Inc.
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No, it is not 1973 during the OPEC embargo.
In fact, it is not even 1991 during the Gulf War.
But gas prices are a vivid reminder of those years. >
The sky-rocketing prices of fuel in 1996 are not due to a war or an embargo. '	net oven a product of
Governor Ibm Ridges’ proposed gas tax, which, according to 16th District State Representative Susan Laugiilin, will probably wait until after the election.
And even then, she does not plan to vote for it.
' Mrs. Laughlia and Iier colleague, Nick Colafella, D-Beaver, have teamed to co-sponsor a proposal that calls for an investigation of rising gas prices. Colafella said in an issued statement that he wants an explanation of the shortage verified.
In his statement, Colafella noted that PennDOT attributes the hike to the approaching summer season and an international Shortage of oil.
“There are a number of reasons the price has gone up and I’m not sure I believe any of them,” says John Herbst, owner of the Texaco station at the corner of Thom and Walnut.
Herbst believes greed on the part of the sellers and refiners of crude oil is the problem. Some of his customers might think he is the greedy one for selling the gas at the high rata
“My margin hasn’t changed,” he says. “I do not make any more or any less money whether the price of gas goes up or down.”
The only way area gas stations would make less money would be if people stopped coming to the pumps. But that prospect is unlikely.
Tom Bridgcn, owner of Sunoco Service in Leetsdale, says: “People will drive no matter what. There are many things that affect the price of crude oil, but if gas was $1.60 a gallon people would pay it because they love to drive their cars.”
Prices for one gallon of gas are nearly eight cents higher than last year. A survey conducted by AAA at the end of April showed consumers had to plunge deeper into their pockets at the pump.
But they may need to dig even further to cover the cost of fuel in other areas, such as commercial shipping.
What motorists may not notice is their municipality digging deeper.
Ray Wolfgang, Sewickley Borough public works director, says the rise will not affect the borough too much in the immediate future because it purchases approximately 1,000 gallons a year.
Since he has not ordered fuel in a while, however, he does not know if the higher prices will bite a hole in {he borough’s pockets down the road.
Triple-A of West Penn/West Virginia predicts prices will drop in time for Memorial Day weekend, which is considered tile start of the summer traveling season.
But the decrease may not come in, time for Sewickley grocer Lewis Safran.
•Safran, of Safran’s Market, speculates higher fuel prices could hurt his business just a bit. The higher prices of crude oil may lead to an increase in chipping costs.
“fransportation is a big part of any business, and if trucking prices go up, then all the businesses will have to raise their prices,” he saya
That, of course* means higher prices for consumers.
Carrying a little extra cash over the next few weeks in pubaMy a smart move.
CALL THE SEWICKLEY HERALD WITH YOUR NEWS TIPS AT 741-8200 OR FAX THEM TO 741-59Q4