Letters: Barbers deserve more pay

Barbers deserve more

In Pennsylvania haircuts for men average $28, according to the Professional Beauty Association, an organization for beauty industry professionals. The average price for women’s haircuts is $44. Men and women should tip the barber or hairstylist a minimum of 20% if they want a super haircut. Based upon this information many barbers are charging far less than the average price of a haircut. For example, in PA a barber should be paid $28 for the haircut and with a 20% tip of $5.60, he should earn a total of $33.60.

Now I am fully aware that not everyone tips for a haircut - but they should. In the barber shop I go to I think the barber charges around $14 for a haircut. If the $14 rate is true with a 20% tip the barber receives $16.80. He is losing $16.80 on average for the haircut, according to PA norms. I pay $20 for my haircut, but my bill should be $13.60 more - and I am prepared to pay that but hey, a bargain is a bargain!

Now, if the barber raised the price to $28 plus tip I would pay that willingly. In my judgment it is time we pay our barbers a fair wage. For example, if the barber has 100 customers per week at a rate of $28 plus 20% tip he would earn $3,360 a month or $40,320 annually. And with more customers he would earn more. The average price for women’s haircuts in PA is $44, and with a 20% tip it would cost $52.80 - women beware, some stylists may charge more. And with the same number of customers, a women’s stylist would earn $5,280 monthly or $63,360 annually.

In New York, however, you pay a whopping $71 for a haircut and with a 20% tip, your bill is $85.20. Gee!

Joseph L. Baker, Fayetteville

Teachers = bright students

The Chambersburg Area School District held its third annual “Battle of the Brains” event on Saturday, March 24, at CASHS. Twenty-eight teams from grades K-8 participated in nine different high-level teamwork activities. Teams competed against each other by completing a Minecraft-themed escape room, STEM challenges (science, technology, engineering, and math), and other creative activities.

Teams competed for several hours of fun and for the hopes of being awarded champions of this intensely academic event. Families and friends joined the students for the awards ceremony.

This event would not be possible without the dedication and passion of our district’s gifted teachers. Brooke Michalsky, Jason Kibbe and Jennifer Michael worked tirelessly to create brain games and activities for the competition. Thank you to Wayne Group for offering assistance throughout the day. Thank you to the CASD Foundation for understanding the importance of this event and for sponsoring it by donating awards and the delicious pizza lunch from Pat and Carla’s Restaurant.

We were so fortunate to have the international students at Global Vision Christian School (SSVC campus) who volunteered their time to help supervise stations throughout the day. To the parents who also volunteered their time to help us with the event, thank you!

Finally, with great appreciation, thank you to Sheetz District Manager, Scott Orwig and the Sheetz Corporation for donating awards, gift cards and giant cookies for all participants to enjoy after the event. We are so grateful for your kindness and the support you showed our students.

Catherine Dusman, Assistant Superintendent in Chambersburg Area School District

Make TB a priority

A killer disease spreads across the globe, sickening ten million people annually. In a single year, the airborne illness kills more than 1.7 million people, with no end in sight.

This isn't the plot for a Hollywood blockbuster. This is a disease that has plagued humans for millennia-Tuberculosis.

The most troubling thing about TB is that it is curable. So why does it still kill more than 4,000 people every single day, yet never makes the headlines? Why have we allowed it to remain a major cause and consequence of poverty? It's because we haven't made ending it a priority.

Right now, Congress is deciding what we'll invest in this fight in 2019. Our Senators can fight for a significant increase in U.S. funding to help end this epidemic, but will they make it a priority?

W. Andrew Stover, Chambersburg