This letter from John Lignelli appeared in today’s Valley Independent. Excerpts:

Mr. Carlock you did not do your homework when you ask what Mayor Lignelli ever did for Donora. I must say I am ashamed of your lack of knowledge that you have about your hometown of Donora.
…
Donora is no different from other towns that have lost major industries. But at this point I would like to challenge you when you become retirement age, which will not be too far away.

Come back to the town that you ran away from with your experience and your leadership skills and do something for the town where you were raised. Open a major food chain, a Super Target Store or a gas station.

In closing, Mr. Carlock, if you were mayor or a member of council, I would give you 30 years and you would never do what I have done for Donora and its people.

This is a great challenge for you, Mr. Carlock, just do 10 percent of what I have done.

John Lignelli
Mayor of Donora

John seems to take things pretty personally.

Donora was where my grandparents’ bakery was, growing up. My mother spent her entire childhood there. My parents are coming up for a planned visit on August 23rd, and staying for five days. One of the things my dad said they wanted to do was spend a lot of time kicking around the old Mon Valley. I am sure we’ll visit the cemetery, our old neighborhoods, maybe even stroll around downtown a little bit or get Detorre’s Pizza and take it to the Aquatorium. I really hope we can get out to Mingo Creek County Park. It should be a lot of fun.

I no longer have any real objectives for their visit myself. Just to get them some quality time with the boy. I warned them that their grandson is now practically adult human-sized so they should be ready for the shock after not having seen him in over two years.