Munhall considers adding new police dog to the force

Munhall police may be seeking a new police dog through the Roethlisberger Foundation.

Police Chief Pat Campbell said his department was contacted by the foundation about acquiring a canine.

The foundation established by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger assisted in obtaining the department's current dog Rex in 2008, and the chief said an additional dog would be a welcome bonus.

"It's a very positive impact on the department," Campbell said. "I'm just trying to make sure this can be done. It would be a definite advantage. It would be another tool at our disposal. It's not a must-have. It's always a nice tool to have."

Campbell has until the end of this month to apply for the grant, but he may not seek a new dog if there is a cost to the borough.

"I have some questions I need answered before I even apply for this grant, mostly budgetary items," he said. "I know we have a tight budget. I'm not willing to spend more than we have available."

There is $5,000 allocated for the K-9 unit in this year's budget, and the department has spent $718, not counting handlers fees.

Campbell said the K-9 officer receives a stipend equal to two hours of premium pay per week, which currently comes out of the overtime budget and not the K-9 budget.

"It's not as easy as it sounds to get the true number of what the cost is," Campbell said. "We need to get a tighter grip on our accounting software. If I have two dogs, I'm going to have to take two handlers fees."

One issue that seems to be taken care of is the foundation can distribute grants only to qualified 501c3 organizations, according to foundation documents.

Campbell said his department plans on using Munhall Area Prehospital Service's 501c3 classification to help apply for the grant, as it did in 2007 when it applied for the dog obtained in 2008.

The foundation also helped Homestead police acquire a dog in 2008, along with a grant from Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala's office. Steel Valley Enterprise Zone sponsored Homestead's police department for the grant so that the borough could meet the additional eligibility requirements.

Campbell said he is confident the department will be able to apply for the new dog, and does not expect to hear back from the foundation about the dog until after the Super Bowl in February.

Officer David Smoley will become the new K-9 officer, if all goes well.

Campbell said Smoley is a full-time officer with five years experience in the borough, has participated in K-9 training exercises and has a heightened interest in becoming a handler.

By Michael DiVittorio, MCKEESPORT DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Firefighters Rescue Man Who Passed Out In Crane

WEST HOMESTEAD, Pa. -- Emergency workers rescued a man who passed out while operating a crane at a West Homestead manufacturing company.

West Homestead police said the man suffered a diabetic emergency while working in the crane that was 40 feet in the air inside the WHEMCO manufacturing plant around 10 a.m. Saturday.

Police said firefighters from the West Homestead Volunteer Fire Department were called to bring the man to the ground.

Firefighters used a mehanical basket to perform the rescue, police said.

The man was conscious and alert and was transported to a local hospital.

It was unclear how long the man was in the crane.

The victim's name was not avaliable.

WPXI
July 17, 2010

Aging gym holds hope for Homestead

The aging gymnasium is an unlikely place to hold the hopes of a community. The walls are faded orange and the basketball hoops have long been out of service, bare backboards with painted-over graffiti. It is cold in the winter and stuffy in the summer. The floor is uneven, coated with dust.

But parents and stakeholders in Homestead believe that with enough money and hard work, the empty gymnasium off 17th Avenue could become a haven for their children, who have little to do after Steel Valley Middle School lets out except sit in the Carnegie Library or wander the streets.

"If they're not somewhere safe, then they're on the corner, or they're watching somebody fighting," said the Rev. Terry Groce, the mother of a 12-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl.

For more than six months, the Rev. Jim Cannistraci has been formulating a plan to give Steel Valley Middle School students a safe space to stay after school, supervised and well-fed.

"None of us want to have to go through another school year and not have a place for our kids," said Rev. Cannistraci, executive director of the Methodist Union of Social Agencies (MUSA), an organization that has provided services for the Mon and Steel Valley for eight decades.

With the school year fast approaching, Rev. Cannistraci and his allies are searching for enough funding to turn the gymnasium into a state-licensed facility where MUSA can host an after-school program for middle schoolers until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

"It's so desperately needed," said An Lewis, executive director of the Steel Valley Council of Governments, which owns the building. "It would serve so many constituents."

They face an uphill battle. The gymnasium is their best hope for a facility large enough for the program, and it is in shabby shape. The Steel Valley Council of Governments worked with Homestead's Urban Design Ventures to plan a total renovation, estimated to cost $750,000.

But it is a terrible time to raise money, particularly for a project like this, Ms. Lewis said.

The Steel Valley Council of Governments obtained a $75,000 Community Development Block Grant from the county to install flooring and provide supplemental heating. They hope to put the contract out for bids next week.

Still, they need about $107,500 to build bathrooms so staff do not need to escort children upstairs, where several organizations have offices. Eventually, they want to add classroom space and a full heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Then, MUSA must raise money for daily expenses, like food and staff.

The program would harbor students from Homestead, West Homestead and Munhall, but residents said it is particularly needed in Homestead, a predominantly black borough that was once the bustling home of the Homestead Steel Works but is now much poorer than its neighbors. In 2000, 26.6 percent of Homestead's population lived below poverty level, more than twice the figure in Allegheny County.

As residents have struggled, many resources have vanished, Rev. Cannistraci said.

"The barrier here is not the desire. It's not the support," Ms. Lewis said. "It's the funding."

The desire and the need

While some communities have YMCA's, Boys and Girls Clubs or private community centers, Homestead does not, Rev. Cannistraci said. The borough has many assets, he said, but it has little for middle schoolers to do after 2:30 p.m., especially if they do not participate in school sports or clubs.

The Salvation Army holds a free after-school program that cares for about 15 children ages 6 to 12, and they hope to start a teen night for older children this year, but their capacity is limited.

MUSA runs after-school programs at Barrett and Park elementary schools, but by sixth grade, sports and clubs edge out the space for other programs.

Parents of Steel Valley Middle School students said they fear that the dearth of things for their children to do is dangerous.

"The main thing that I worry about with them is just occupying their time," said Tonya Carswell, who has six children, four still in school.

Rev. Groce said she often ends up supervising a de-facto after-school program for her son's friends, providing snacks and a watchful eye.

"Most of the time they're here until after dinner," she said.

Because the Steel Valley School District does not provide busing, many children walk to and from school. Carmella Jones, who has lived in Homestead for five years, said trouble often starts as students make their way home.

"They're bored, and they mess with people, knocking over garbage cans," said Ms. Jones, whose eldest child attends Steel Valley Middle School.

In April, an afternoon brawl erupted near a 16th Avenue playground, injuring three police officers, landing four people in jail and terrifying many families.

"You don't feel safe anymore to let your kids just walk to the playground," Ms. Jones said.

In June, an afternoon drive-by shooting shocked residents further. Many mothers keep their children inside, wary to let them venture past their porch, Ms. Carswell said.

Sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students are particularly vulnerable to trouble, but they are mostly left to fend for themselves in Homestead, parents said.

"They're dealing with a lot sometimes," said Ms. Jones. "They have responsibilities that they need to take on -- adult responsibilities -- but they do need an outlet where they can just be kids."

The hope and the vision

Rev. Cannistraci wants to create a program where any child who needs to can enjoy simple pleasures: a snack, relaxation and time with friends.

He said MUSA would provide a meal, physical activity, help with homework, computer access, mental health services, financial literacy workshops and career exploration sessions.

"We would be looking at what would be a comprehensive approach to addressing the emotional and the physical and the safety needs of middle school-aged children," he said.

MUSA plans to accept government funding for families that qualify and offer scholarships or low-priced memberships to others, Rev. Cannistraci said.

By the end of the 2010-11 school year, he hopes the program will serve about 50 students. Eventually, it could serve as many as 125 students, he said.

Kevin Walsh, principal of Steel Valley Middle School, lauded the idea.

"Knowing that there is a facility within your community that can house your children and keep them safe, that's very helpful," he said.

But he and others recognize that there are many hurdles in the program's path.

"I didn't know this could possibly happen, to be honest," said Mr. Walsh.

Ms. Lewis said she is preparing another Community Development Block Grant application, as well as an application to ask for donations from Lowe's Home Improvement.

Rev. Cannistraci said he hopes the program can start Sept. 1. But he knows that depends on many things.

First, a space

Decades ago, the gymnasium belonged to Homestead High School, closed when Homestead merged with West Homestead and Munhall to form the Steel Valley School District.

As steel mills closed in the 1980s, the old high school housed the Allegheny Works program, which provided job training to displaced steel workers. The gymnasium was their workshop, Ms. Lewis said.

Today, the space is used infrequently. In the winter, children from a nearby Head Start program bundle up in coats and ride tricycles across the floor.

Rev. Cannistraci said he knew the gymnasium was the right place for MUSA when he saw it.

The building is structurally sound. The ceiling is not as damaged as it could be. The facility is conveniently located for busy single parents. The space is big enough for children to play basketball, if someone puts up hoops. He sees a good structure. It just needs some work.

Monday, July 12, 2010

By Vivian Nereim, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

County bridges all gaps but one in Pittsburgh-to-D.C. trail

Construction cranes on Wednesday eliminated two of the biggest obstacles to completing a 335-mile biking and hiking trail from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., a project that has been in the works for 35 years.

Crews hoisted prefabricated bridges over active freight rail lines in Whitaker and Duquesne along the Monongahela River. Construction of a 21/2-mile trail segment linking the bridges to the existing trail will begin by fall, with completion expected by January, said Jack Paulik, project manager for Regional Trail Corp.

"This is a major milestone," Mr. Paulik said.

All that will remain incomplete on the Great Allegheny Passage after that is a one-mile stretch through Sandcastle Waterpark. Negotiations with the park owners have not produced an agreement that will allow the trail to go through.

"There's no solution just yet," Allegheny County spokesman Kevin Evanto said. "We're kind of at the same place we were a couple months ago."

County Executive Dan Onorato has established a goal of completing the trail by "11-11-11" -- Nov. 11, 2011. Mr. Evanto said the goal is reachable.

A 170-foot-long, 62-ton bridge erected in Whitaker crosses six sets of tracks operated by Norfolk Southern Railway and Union Railroad Co. A 110-foot-long, 37-ton bridge in the RIDC industrial park in Duquesne crosses three sets of Norfolk Southern tracks.

The bridges will provide "a spectacular view of the river, the working river," Mr. Paulik said.

Pushing the trail through the former industrial sites and over the rail lines ranks near the top of the development feats on the trail project, he said, along with renovation of the 3,291-foot Big Savage Tunnel in Somerset County that was completed in 2006.

The two bridges erected on Wednesday are about 2 miles apart and will be connected with a trail along U.S. Steel's former coke gas pipeline, which the company donated in 2007. The segment will hug the hillside between Route 837 and the river, connecting to McKeesport to the south and The Waterfront complex to the north.

A $500,000 state grant helped to fund the bridges, with private money paying the rest of the $950,000 cost, Mr. Paulik said. Developing the piers and substructure cost $2.5 million, nearly all of which was private donations, he said.

The bridges will enable trail users to avoid Route 837, which is dangerous for bicycling.

Development of the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage, which connects at Cumberland, Md., with the C&O Towpath to Washington, began in 1975 with the abandonment of 87 miles of railroad line from Cumberland to Connellsville.

Nine years later, the first 9.5 miles of trail opened in Ohiopyle State Park.

Thursday, July 08, 2010

By Jon Schmitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Homestead has 1st council meeting in new building

Homestead's 130th anniversary celebration and Community Day has been set.

Festivities begin at Frick Park along Tenth Avenue Saturday at 2 p.m. until approximately 8 p.m., borough officials announced at Thursday night's council meeting, the first in the new borough building near the intersection of Amity Street and Ninth Avenue.

Borough programs coordinator and event organizer Denise Kelly has been involved in Community Day activities for the past 12 years. She spoke about this year's upcoming event after the meeting.

"I think it's important that communities do these types of activities at least once a year," she said. "It's a real neighborly thing to do. It's important to come out and talk to your neighbors, and this is a great forum for them to do that."

There will be clowns, a petting zoo, pony rides, dancers, games, Elvis and Patti LaBelle impersonators, jazz music featuring the Smooth Groove, a water safety program provided by Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, a Bounce House, tattoos, a display of historic Homestead memorabilia, booths with information from the borough fire and police departments, and a visit from local TV personalities as well as performances from the Propel School choir and the Second Baptist Church men's choir, among other things.

"There'll be different things for the kids," Councilman Sam Rizzardo said. "I'm going to do a table for drug awareness. That's sponsored by the Pittsburgh Elks Association. It will be just a good time. There will be good food. You guys will have a good time. Stop down. It's a nice thing to have. I think it's great. It's going to be a great affair. It's a family affair."

Borough officials said they are off to a great start in the new building.

"Shortest meeting we've had for years," council president Drew Borcik said. "We went right through the agenda. I'm glad to see us all together. We were segregated for 20 years, the police department and the municipal offices. It's nice to have a new building. Thank God we have one and hopefully this is a new beginning for development going on in Homestead."

The meeting was not without a somber mood. Mayor Betty Esper was not in attendance. She was at a funeral for her brother Anthony Edward Esper, 83, who died on Independence Day.

Officials had a moment of silence at the beginning of the meeting for the longtime proprietor of the former Edward's Beauty Salon along West Street.

Council tabled a motion to accept a proposal from General Window Cleaning Inc. to clean the interior and exterior windows of the borough building on a quarterly basis. They want to seek bids to get a better price.

Council approved a request from Clark Memorial Baptist Church to block off Thirteenth Avenue between Glenn and Ann streets July 26-30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for an outdoor vacation Bible school.

Council approved submitting applications for two Community Development Block Grants, one for $100,000 for demolition and another for $240,000 for street reconstruction.

By Michael DiVittorio, MCKEESPORT DAILY NEWS
Friday, July 9, 2010

Orrin Hatch Born in Munhall, PA

10 Things You Didn't Know About Orrin Hatch

1. Orrin Hatch was born on March 22, 1934, in Homestead Park, Pa., to Jesse and Helen Hatch.

2. His great-grandfather, Jeremiah Hatch, a frontiersman, founded the town of Vernal, Utah, in 1878.

3. He attended Baldwin Public High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. During high school, he was on the basketball and boxing teams, and learned to play the piano, organ, and violin. He was also student body president.

4. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he served a mission in 1954 to Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.

5. He earned a bachelor's degree in history from Brigham Young University in 1959 and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1962. As a student he married his BYU classmate Elaine Hansen in 1957.

6. He worked as a trial attorney in Pittsburgh from 1962 to 1969.

7. He continued working as a trial attorney after he moved to his current hometown, Salt Lake City, in 1969 to be closer to his wife's family.

8. In 1976, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, winning 54 percent of the vote against the incumbent, Democratic Sen. Frank Moss. He was endorsed by Ronald Reagan.

9. He has served on a number of committees during his six terms. Most notably, he was chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1995 to 2001 and from 2003 to 2005. He has participated in the confirmation hearings for eight of the nine current justices.

10. He and his wife, Elaine, have six children, 23 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He refers to his offspring as "Hatchlings."

US News and World Report

By Jessica Rettig

Posted: July 6, 2010

Steel Valley to start year-round cyber school in the fall

Steel Valley School District is starting its own year-round cyber school in the fall for high school students.

Cyber students will be managed by a certified teaching staff provided by an outside company, which also will provide technological support.

The curriculum will include math, English, social studies, science and various electives with 45 total classes offered as both a semester and full-year option.

Superintendent Dr. William Kinavey said in an e-mail that the cyber school will provide a vehicle for credit recovery for failing students and give work-study students additional flexibility. He said he also hopes the cyber school will increase the graduation rate.

For more information, or to enroll, call Director of Academics, Information & Technology Ed Colebank at 412-464-3600, ext. 1555.

By staff reports
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, July 1, 2010

Homestead native lends pro flavor to football camp

When Jim Tomsula learned about a California-based football camp for people with Down syndrome, the San Francisco 49ers defensive line coach immediately thought of a perfect marriage.

Tomsula, a Homestead native and Steel Valley graduate, wanted to expand the camp to his native Western Pennsylvania. Little did he know there had never been anything like it outside San Jose.

"It grabbed me," Tomsula said. "Having this in Pittsburgh -- where they're nuts about football -- I couldn't believe nobody else was doing it."

Thanks to the efforts of Tomsula and his wife, Julie, the Football Camp for the Stars debuted Thursday night at Thomas Jefferson High School and featured a game Friday night involving 26 players.

Woodland Hills coach George Novak and TJ coach Bill Cherpak - Tomsula's coach and teammate at Steel Valley in the mid-1980s - served as co-hosts for the event. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt, Arizona Cardinals receiver Steve Breaston, 49ers linebacker Scott McKillop and Pitt players Dom DeCicco, Lucas and Nate Nix were among the guests.

The camp is the brainchild of Mike Machado, whose San Jose Valley Christian High teams have long had an association with people with Down syndrome and wanted to give them a chance to play. Tomsula learned about the camp through his two daughters, who attend Valley Christian.

"It was good for them and for our (players), to teach them something they didn't learn in the classroom," Machado said. "We want to give these guys a chance out in front, instead of on the sidelines, to get a real experience in football. For the first year, they've done a great job here."

Machado insists that the football experience is authentic at the no-cost camp, so its participants went through the same drills as the high school teams, each while accompanied by a TJ and Woodland Hills player.

"Cody couldn't wait to tackle," Bonnie Hubert of Titusville said of her 20-year-old son. "It's just wonderful."

Michael Maker, 18, was the "buddy" of former TJ and current Virginia Tech defensive end Chris Drager at the Big 33 Football Classic four years ago, and was thrilled to have a chance to play the game he loves.

"I was excited," Maker said. "I got to play quarterback and throw touchdowns."

Sheila Cannon, of the Down Syndrome Center at Children's Hospital UPMC, didn't believe Tomsula when he called to ask for her help because it sounded too good to be true. Then she saw a promotional video for the camp and knew that it could have a powerful impact.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for our guys," Cannon said. "They're often the water boys and managers, but never the players. This gives them the chance to do everything. It's a memory they'll never forget."

By Kevin Gorman
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, June 26, 2010

Borough of Munhall Crime Watch Meetings

On July 15th at the Carnegie Library the Munhall Neighborhood Watch and the Munhall Police Department will be holding a meeting to discuss the basics of Crime Watch as well as some of the challenges we are facing in our community.

Carnegie Library of Homestead
Shuffle Board Room
Thursday July 15, 2010
6:30pm


Introduction to Crime Watch
Location: Munhall VFC#3 Lower level in rear
Thursday July 22, 2010
Time: 6:30PM

This is an introduction to crime watch and is the basic foundation of how this program works.


Crime Watch Training (Observing and Reporting Crime)
Location: Munhall VFC#3 on Charles St, lower level rear
Tuesday, August 3rd
Time: 6:30PM

This is a follow up to the introduction to crime watch meeting. This training will teach the community what to watch for and what information the police will need to better handle the situation. This will help the police and community to work together to keep Munhall a safe place to live!

Happy 4th of July

Heartthrob Taylor Lautner surprises fans with appearance at Waterfront theater

Auditorium 17 at the AMC-Loews at The Waterfront had no fancy VIP seats or IMAX screen but it had one thing the other theaters did not on Saturday night: dreamboat actor Taylor Lautner.

His famous abs were hidden under a white T-shirt, paired with jeans, but he produced shrieks of delight nevertheless among roughly 170 moviegoers waiting for the 8 p.m. showing of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse."

The film's cast has been making surprise appearances around the country as a way to thank moviegoers and Mr. Lautner showed up in Pittsburgh, where he is making a film called "Abduction."

If the fans didn't know Mr. Lautner was coming -- one cited "hearsay," as if she were a courtroom attorney -- they suspected something was up last night once youthful security guards in suits marched in and took positions near the screen on the floor and along the hallway leading into the theater.

Patrons whispered and tapped out text messages, saying they'd heard a surprise might be in store. Then AMC-Loews employee Patrick Fisher introduced Mr. Lautner, called out "Who's ready?" and asked patrons to remain in their seats.

Mr. Lautner bounded to the front of the auditorium as cell phone cameras captured the moment for all eternity ... or Facebook. Fans screamed, whooped and declared their love for the 18-year-old actor who plays werewolf Jacob Black in the wildly popular vampire franchise.

"How are you guys?" he asked, his remarks amplified by a microphone. Smiling and joking with the "awesome" audience, he laughed when someone urged him to "take your shirt off."

Spotting three women in "Twilight"-themed shirts at the end of the third row of seats, he told them "I love the shirts," then corrected himself by saying, "I like the one at the end" -- a reference to its "Jacob's Army" proclamation.

The wearer of that garment, Kara Bussard, of Moon, was celebrating her upcoming 16th birthday with her sister, Erin Dargo, 29, of Brentwood. They'd initially purchased tickets for the 10 p.m. screening, Kara said, but went back to buy seats for the earlier show after hearing a rumor about Mr. Lautner's appearance from a worker at the Aeropostale store in the Waterfront.

When Ms. Dargo yelled, "It's her birthday" and pointed to her sister, Mr. Lautner wished Kara a happy birthday.

"I'm so excited I can't think straight," Kara gushed later. "I could cry."

Mr. Lautner, who has inspired a near cult-like following, begins filming this week on his new film. He is playing a teen who finds his own baby pictures on a missing persons website.

Sunday, July 04, 2010

By Katie Falloon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Settlement announced in Steel Valley teachers' suit

A federal judge Friday closed the gender discrimination lawsuit two male teachers brought against the Steel Valley School District. The order by U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer says the teachers and district have reached a settlement.

Lawyers for both sides couldn't be reached. Court records provide no details of the settlement.

Clay Karadus of Munhall and Steven A. Large of Elizabeth Township claim in the lawsuit that the district hired them at the bottom rung of the pay scale even though they had prior teaching experience, but it hired female teachers with similar experience for more money. The district denied their allegations.

By Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Sunday, July 4, 2010

Munhall man charged in fatal '09 crash

Pittsburgh police on Thursday charged a Munhall man with vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter for a crash last fall that killed an Elizabeth woman.

Police said Timothy Lesko, 22, was intoxicated when his car crossed the center line of Mifflin Road in Lincoln Place on Sept. 26 and smashed head-on into a vehicle driven by Amanda Deval.

Deval's front-seat passenger, Jessica Trail, 24, died instantly of chest injuries; Deval and two other passengers, William R. Grice and Michael R. Trail, were seriously injured.

Police said Lesko admitted driving the car when police first arrived at the scene, but then said another man was driving. That other man denied any involvement in the crash.

DNA taken from blood and saliva samples in the car proved Lesko was driving the car and that the other man was not in the car, police said.

Tests showed Lesko had a blood-alcohol level of 0.23 percent after the crash, police said. The legal limit for Pennsylvania drivers is 0.08 percent.

Investigators also charged Lesko with homicide by vehicle while driving drunk, aggravated assault while driving drunk, drunken driving and aggravated assault and various traffic offenses. Lesko is in the Allegheny County Jail.

By Bill Vidonic
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, July 2, 2010

SV board OKs tax increase in 2010-11 budget

Steel Valley School District property owners will be paying a little more in real estate taxes.

School directors unanimously adopted the 2010-11 budget at Tuesday night's meeting by a vote of 8-0. School Director Joe Ducar was absent. The budget comes with a 2.86-mill tax hike, setting the millage at 24.07.

The increase is the maximum allowed by the state, with a .86-mill increase through the Act 1 index and 2 mills allowed through special exemptions. Expenses are listed at $27,570,375 and revenue at $27,950,668, leaving an expected surplus of more than $380,000.

School director and finance committee chairman Vince Natale said raising taxes was not something the board wanted to do, but like most other districts in Allegheny County, it had to do so.

"We're not the only school district right now (raising taxes)," Natale said. "I would think 50 to 75 percent of school districts across Allegheny County raised their taxes. Everybody's feeling the effects, teachers pensions and just trying to make ends meet, just trying to provide day-to-day services to the students to make sure they get a good education. No regular district employees were laid off."

Natale said the district is keeping better records of purchases and spending to make sure every penny is accounted for and to see if there are any other ways to save money.

"Anybody who wants to spend any money in any area in the school district, they have to go through the business office," Natale said. "They have to make a request. (Business manager Mark Cherpak) goes in and sees if there's money there. If there isn't money there, they're denied. Everybody's allocated so much money in their budget."

School director Mike Terrick said the district could not lay off any teachers this coming year because it did not meet necessary stipulations under state law, and employees have been offered early retirement incentives.

"Anyone that we're losing we're not replacing," he said. "I can't foresee Steel Valley hiring new teachers for quite some time. We have good class sizes, and that's one way we're going to be able to control costs in the future."

Terrick said the board will look closely at numerous issues during upcoming negotiations for a new teachers contract.

The current contract expires June 30, 2011. Negotiations for administrative contracts are under way. Administrative contracts expire today.

Terrick also said the Waterfront and other properties are not paying their fair share because of a property assessment freeze from 2002.

"When (Allegheny County Executive) Dan Onorato froze the real estate assessments, the Waterfront was frozen at unrealistically low rates," he said. "We're paying the penalty for that."

District resident Rich Daley said the tax increase is going to make it harder for people on fixed incomes to meet expenses, and challenged the district's efforts of delinquent tax collection after citing a Tribune Review story in which Cherpak reportedly said collecting taxes was "difficult."

"It's really difficult to pay them too," he said. "What about the people who aren't paying? Are we doing anything about them? Are we just going to talk about it, or are we going to do anything?"

District solicitor Donald Fetzko said the district collected $1.2 million in delinquent taxes this year, and has plans to aggressively collect next year's delinquent taxes.

"The hammer's going to come down on them very shortly," Fetzko said.

Resident Donna Dreshman also questioned the district's and its municipalities' Homestead, West Homestead and Munhall establishment of tax increment financing.

"I don't like my taxes to be raised," Dreshman said after noting the district receives funds from property transfers and suggested the board should have nullified the TIF agreement.

According to budget documents, revenue includes $11.2 million in local property taxes, $1 million from delinquent real estate collection, $800,000 from earned income tax, $100,000 from realty transfer tax and $200,000 in other local revenue.

State revenue includes $8.4 million in basic education subsidy, $1.3 million in special education subsidy, $1.1 million in state share FICA and retirement, $1 million in property tax relief, $600,000 in charter school reimbursement and $200,000 in other state revenue.

Approximately $1 million is budgeted in federal revenue, with the bulk of it in Title I funds.

Expenses budgeted include $12.5 million in salaries, $5.3 million in benefits, $3.7 million in costs for students at other facilities, $1.6 million for debt service, $1.2 million for operation of facilities, $1 million in retirement incentives, $800,000 for transportation, $600,000 for activities/athletics, $400,000 for supplies, $200,000 in insurance payments, $200,000 for substitute teachers, and $100,000 for miscellaneous expenses.

The current millage rate is 21.21 mills. The last tax increase for the district was from 18.92 mills in 2007-08 to the current rate.

District officials were considering a budget with a 2.23-mill tax increase, but that idea fell through last month once the board pulled a proposed parking tax off the agenda following a near 20-minute executive session for legal matters. The parking tax would have required commercial businesses to pay $30 per each parking space exceeding 30.

Revenue from the parking tax was estimated at $240,000, and would have saved residents some money on real estate taxes.

By Michael DiVittorio, MCKEESPORT DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, June 30, 2010

W. Mifflin rehires Shar, lays off 13, cuts programs

n an eventful meeting last night, the West Mifflin Area school board rehired school director Phil Shar as girls basketball coach, fired its solicitors and approved a budget that included no tax increase but the layoffs of 13 employees.

The $45.27 million budget holds taxes at 22.992 mills. In addition to the layoffs, it eliminates the elementary Spanish program, some high school business courses and alters the district's special education inclusion program.

Among those laid off were director of school safety Joseph Gajdos; public relations coordinator/grant writer Robyn Tedesco; operations supervisor Chuck Toth; middle school dean of students Ed Schrader; and elementary dean of students Tony DiCenzo.

Voting against the layoffs were school directors Ned Mervos and Albert Graham, who participated in the meeting by phone. Mr. Toth is Dr. Graham's father-in-law and is entitled to a severance worth six months of his $48,400 annual pay based on severance agreements the board approved in November for certain administrators.

Dr. Graham has not appeared at a school board meeting since his name surfaced in late April in a report by the investigative firm Gentile-Meinert. The report quoted district maintenance workers who said they were ordered to performed work at Dr. Graham's home in summer 2008 that included repairs to his swimming pool and the installation of a new dishwasher.

Residents took the floor last night to ask Dr. Graham why he wasn't attending the meetings in person -- as they had at last week's workshop session as well -- but he did not respond.

The motion to fire the law firm of Dodaro Matta & Cambest was not on the agenda and was made late in the meeting by school Director Nick Alexandroff. The board voted 5-4 in favor of the dismissal, with school directors Kathy Bracco, Richard Fialkovich, Mr. Mervos and Dr. Graham voting in opposition.

Mr. Alexandroff then made a motion to hire Patricia McGrail as the district's new solicitor, but that motion failed, as did another motion to appoint Ms. McGrail acting solicitor until interviews could be held with a variety of firms. Also failed was a motion by Mr. Shar to hire George Gobel as the district's solicitor.

In the end, the board decided that it would use Ms. McGrail on an interim basis since it already employed her as a special counsel for the district.

Voting in favor of reinstating Mr. Shar were Mr. Alexandroff, Mr. Price, Mr. Cale, Mr. Fialkovich and school director John Donis. Mrs. Bracco voted against the hiring and Mr. Mervos, Dr. Graham and Mr. Shar abstained.

Mr. Shar had been the varsity girls coach for 19 years until May 2009 when his contract was opened by former Superintendent Patrick Risha because Mr. Shar made negative comments about the superintendent in newspaper articles. In June 2009, the board voted 5-4 to replace him.

A month ago, the board voted 5-4 to reinstate him. But shortly after the vote, the teachers union filed a grievance contending that having a school director employed by the district violated the state School Code.

Mr. Shar took the job as a volunteer, accepting no pay, arguing that he was not an employee.

However, superintendent Janet Sardon upheld the union grievance and dismissed Mr. Shar.

Last night, Mr. Price said the board majority felt it was in the best interests of the girls on the team to reinstate Mr. Shar so that summer workouts could be held. In the meantime, he said, he expected the union to appeal to an arbitrator.

Mr. Shar said he was glad to be back as coach but realizes the decision could be overturned again. "I just hope there is some light at the end of the tunnel," he said.

Mary Niederberger: mniederberger@post-gazette.com or 412-851-1512.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

By Mary Niederberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10175/1068184-100.stm#ixzz0rrs6hdP5

Click of Pa. wooden coasters attract enthusiasts

PITTSBURGH — For a city built on steel, some of the most sought after attractions in Pittsburgh are actually made of wood.

Just ask the more than 400 members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, who have come to Kennywood amusement park for the 7,000-member group's annual convention. The highlight will be riding three of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the world -- over, and over, and over again.

"There are very few, maybe no places, in the world quite like it," said Bill Linkenheimer, of Pittsburgh, the group's secretary and lifelong lover of the thrill of zooming over the rails, who joined the club in 1980 at age 13.

The gathering this week marks the fourth time that the group, founded in 1978, has held its annual convention at Kennywood. It also marks the first time the American Coaster Enthusiasts will honor two coasters at one park with plaques designating them ACE Roller Coaster Landmarks.

The rides -- the Jack Rabbit and the Racer -- were both built of wood in the 1920s by coaster designer John Miller. The Jack Rabbit is known for its 70-foot double-dip drop, while the Racer is the only single-track racing coaster in the U.S.; through its unique "reverse curve" design, riders start on the right side of the track and finish on the left.

"They are just examples of the way coasters were made back then and how a coaster can survive so long and be really fun and really enjoyable," said John Gerard, of San Diego, the group's public relations director.

Although coaster enthusiasts like the newer steel coasters, too, many are partial to the click-click of old wooden coasters. Modern coasters can be extreme and fast, but the ride tends to be the same every time, while everything from the time of day to the humidity can change the ride on a wooden one, Linkenheimer said.

"Every wood coaster truly is unique," said Linkenheimer, who has ridden more than 600 roller coasters all over the world. And he keeps them all listed on a spreadsheet to prove it.

Safety is also important, and the group said they have the highest confidence in the safety records of any parks they visit. They also encourage their members to ride safely by following a park's ride rules.

"There's none, absolutely none, that we won't ride," Gerard said.

Once dubbed the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World," Kennywood was founded in 1898 as a small trolley park, and many of its most famous coasters were built in the early 1900s. The park was designated a national historic landmark in 1987.

In 2003, the family-owned park was sold to Parques Reunidos of Madrid, which manages dozens of amusement, animal and water parks in the United States and Europe. The Kennywood sale also included two other Pittsburgh-area attractions: Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier and Sandcastle Waterpark in West Homestead.

Earlier this year, Kennywood was named the world's favorite traditional park by the National Amusement Park Historical Association, a Chicago-based group dedicated to recognizing and preserving amusement parks.

The group cited Kennywood's mix of historic and new rides as a factor in its appeal. On Friday, the park will open its newest coaster, the Sky Rocket, not far from where the Jack Rabbit is celebrating its 90th anniversary.

This week's ACE convention started at Kennywood, but participants will also visit Idlewild, Waldameer in Erie, and Conneaut Lake Park, located about 90 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Conneaut is home to the Blue Streak, the sixth-oldest wooden roller coaster in the U.S. and the only Edward Vettel-designed coaster with a shallow track design that is still standing.

The 72-year-old coaster hasn't been in operation for several years, and the park itself has fallen on hard times. The American Coaster Enthusiasts have donated $5,000 toward the restoration of the Blue Streak, and members say going to the park during the convention is one way to show their support for the preservation of these historic sites.

"Throughout the country, we've lost a lot of parks just like that," Linkenheimer said.

Perhaps the biggest attraction of the week, though, is what's known to coaster insiders as ERT -- exclusive ride time. The parks will make time available before opening and after closing for conventioneers to ride the coasters.

"You just get to ride until you are fried," Gerard said.

By JENNIFER C. YATES Associated Press Writer

ACFA gathering concludes in style

The Allegheny County Volunteer Firefighter Association Convention in West Homestead concluded in grand style.

The 96th annual event began June 6 with a firefighter memorial service at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Homestead followed by a luncheon at the church hall.

The mood turned from somber to celebratory with a battle of the barrel at the West Homestead fire hall along Eighth Avenue Monday and Wednesday.

The association presented various heroism awards on Friday followed by a christening of a new West Homestead ladder truck, and the convention concluded Saturday with various children activities, live entertainment, and the big attraction for all companies involved a parade of fire trucks, equipment and other vehicles.

The parade went by smoothly with no rain or thunderstorms around 4 p.m., contrary to what many media outlets were reporting.

"We lucked out," fire Chief John Dindak said of the weather. "We definitely lucked out."

Firefighters from Homestead, West Homestead, Munhall, Whitaker, West Mifflin, Dormont, Elizabeth Township, Rankin, Braddock, North Braddock, Ingomar, North Versailles Township, Mt. Oliver, South Baldwin, Baldwin, East Pittsburgh, Heidelberg and Duquesne participated in Saturday's festivities.

"It's the brotherhood of the volunteers," Dindak said. "Every company knows what each other department's doing and what it takes to run a fair, and it's only once a year. So you try to patronize each company that's having it. We're all fighting the same fight, trying to stay afloat and enjoy doing what we're doing."

Other activities Saturday included health screenings by Munhall Area Prehospital Services EMT Menachem Brodie. He checked blood pressure and gave global health assessments through visual examination and discussion.

"It can be a reality check for some people," Brodie said.

Brodie said people should walk, try to drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day and stay hydrated to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially in the hot spring and summer months.

Daeja Baker, of the North Side, volunteered to paint faces.

Baker said she learned about the convention through a classmate at Chatham University, and was happy to help out.

"It's fun so far. Kids like getting painted," she said. "They think they have tattoos."

Children also had an opportunity to be fingerprinted and participate in the Allegheny County Sheriff's crime prevention program with crime prevention specialist officer Jason Tarap of Community Oriented Police Services.

Children were given stickers, popcorn, and certificates naming them honorary junior deputies.

The convention also garnered some international attention. Wolfgang Labrezht, fire chief of Ogersfeld, Germany, who was visiting Pennsylvania as part of his vacation before returning home, enjoyed watching Saturday's parade.

"It's very strong," he said. "It's fantastic, technical and it's very nice. In Germany, (firefighters) maybe come from the area (for an event). Three, four, five, six (companies), not more. No big one."

West Homestead last hosted the convention in 1976. At the time, the event was in a large field, and had more of a carnival atmosphere with more activities and games available. The current fire hall, which was constructed in the late 1980s, sits on that field, and there is significantly less space to use.

Dindak said it is hard to compare this year's convention to the one in the '70s.

"I would think it would have been harder to duplicate what we did in 1976," he said. "You need a lot more manpower. You need a lot more space. I think for what we had here, it's fun. We didn't have entertainment back then. We supplied entertainment (this year), but before we supplied rides."

We have talked about (hosting it again). We might try to do it again in four or five years now that we've got a handle on it. I sort of forgot about what I did 33 years ago."

More information about the conference and the borough fire department is available online at www.station292.com

By Michael DiVittorio, MCKEESPORT DAILY NEWS
Monday, June 14, 2010

Munhall residents fed up

Munhall residents are demanding action to deal with juvenile delinquents, unruly Section 8 housing tenants, and alleged lack of enforcement of a borough ordinance.

Borough officials heard the cries from multiple residents for the first two hours of Wednesday night's council meeting looking for answers as to how their elected representatives plan on dealing with rampant disorderly conduct in the borough.

"We are getting the lowest forms coming to our neighborhood," said a resident who would only identify herself as Michelle for fear of retaliation. "Our street is a living hell."

"This is a damn shame that people got to live in fear," Mayor Raymond Bodnar said. "It seems to me we have the same problem as every town in this valley. It starts at home first of all with kids."

Marie Ruston said she and her boyfriend's lives were recently threatened, and "chaos" runs rampant along Eleventh Avenue.

Ruston said she called police multiple times for juveniles forming "gangs" near her property, and said there have been multiple incidents of vandalism.

Other residents, including those not listed on the agenda, commented about an ordinance involving rental properties and reported lack of its enforcement.

An ordinance was passed in 2006 that establishes, in part, rights and obligations of owners and occupants relating to rental of units in the borough and to "encourage owners and occupants to maintain and improve the quality of rental housing within the community."

Former mayoral candidate Judith Wilkinson had some choice words at last month's meeting about activity along the 600 block of Seventeenth Avenue.

Several residents Wednesday night said stricter enforcement of the ordinance, which allows the borough to instruct landlords to remove nuisance tenants, would cut down on the problems.

Others spoke up about drugs, foul language and other offensive activity along the 600 block of E. Fourteenth Avenue in Section 8 housing.

Councilman Dan Lloyd said Section 8 allows the federal government to fund ghettos in boroughs and small neighborhoods.

"You can't sleep. Your kids are in danger. People can't sleep at night because (those tenants) don't have to get up and go to work tomorrow because the federal government's made it too easy on them," he said. "It's a federal problem that we're doing the best we can (with). As a group of people I think we can do better. They're ruining our community. It happens in other communities, too."

Police Chief Pat Campbell said that block is known for criminal activity and officers respond to every call.

"We've had a lot of problems with unruly kids," he said. "We've had two shootings there in the past three weeks. Bad landlords with bad tenants and people that just don't want to take it any more. It's a horrible way to live, I'm sure. We're going to do everything in our power to make the quality of life for these people better. Whatever that takes, whatever that is."

Campbell said he will call Allegheny County Housing Authority officials to discuss the matter.

Frank Pastor spoke on behalf of residents concerned about police response. Pastor said he's contacted District Attorney Stephen Zappala's office and other county authorities.

"I am demanding something be done," he said. "I am demanding it be done now by the council, by the police, the mayor, the code enforcement officer, I don't care. I hold you all responsible for everything that happens on our street. You've been warned. You've been told time and time again, and all we get are empty promises. Empty promises will not work any more."

"The residents that were up there (in council chambers) are all decent hardworking people," Campbell said. "The ones that weren't up there that live up on that street are the ones that are the problem. We need a better screening process for these rental units. We need better enforcement from the agencies that are vouchering these monies for these rents. We need people to act like civilized human beings ... the houses that they're complaining about are all Section 8 houses."

"We're not blind to this. We see it to," council vice president Rob Falce said. "I think what we do need to have is a sit down with the police committee, the mayor, the chief. We'll do what we have to do. I know it's a tough battle. Let's not fool anybody. We're going in the wrong direction now in Munhall community-wise, and we know what's going on in our neighboring towns, too. We need to start attacking this problem."

Pastor also outlined several problems with police responding to calls in his area.

"I know for a fact that many of the calls that I make to the police department are drive-by calls," he said. "The police drive by and holler out the window as they go past the kids."

Councilman Bernie Shields commended Pastor for coming forward.

Council president Joe Ballas said there will be a crime watch meeting at Carnegie Library of Homestead to discuss problems in the borough. Meeting information is available online at www.munhallpa.us or by logging onto Facebook and searching for Munhall Crime Watch.

By Michael DiVittorio, MCKEESPORT DAILY NEWS
Thursday, June 17, 2010

Allegations against cop prompt investigation

A Munhall officer is under investigation following allegations from a borough resident that the officer possibly set the resident up for violent retaliation and stating that at least two ordinances police are supposed to be enforcing are worthless.

Frank Pastor outlined several criminal problems along Fourteenth Avenue, and the lack of borough ordinance enforcement at Wednesday night's council meeting. Pastor also noted an incident between him, an officer and a group of people nearby that the resident called to have dispersed last Monday night for making too much noise.

The officer was not named at the meeting. Ordinances in question involve curfew and nuisance tenants of rental properties. The latter is known as ordinance 1506.

Pastor said he called the police three times to have a group dispersed and on the third call an officer came to his house.

"The officer asked me what it is I wanted him do to," Pastor said. "I said I want you to do your job. He said, 'Exactly what is that?' If I have to tell a police officer what their job is, we have a problem.

"I began to tell him about the 1506 ordinance and he stopped me and said, 'The 1506 ordinance is worthless. None of it can be enforced.' I asked him about the curfew. He said, 'That too is worthless. The only thing we can do is cite the parent, and that (is not going to) get us anywhere so why waste our time?' This went on for quite awhile ... I did get a little angry and I told him he was worthless. He might as well go back to his donuts and coffee."

Pastor said the officer left his house and went across the street, began to disperse the group, and allegedly said, "The guy over there has a problem with you. You all have to leave." He claims the officer pointed or made other movements identifying Pastor as the reason for the officer's arrival.

Pastor said a few hours later after the officer left, a brick was thrown at his house and people made threats on his life.

"Somebody walking up and down the street was hollering, 'Some (homophobic slur) on Fourteenth Avenue's going to get murdered!'" he said. "He continued to holler this until about one o'clock in the morning when the police showed up. Three police cars this time. (Officers) with assault rifles got out of their cars and went to the house.

"I continue to have my house egged, and my car, over something that the police chief (Pat Campbell) assured me would not happen.

I would like to know what's going to be done now. I think that officer should be fired immediately. He was walking away from me shouting out the phone number to call Allegheny County police."

"We will investigate it," Campbell said. "We will bring the officer in and get his side of the story, check his report, check his call times and go from there."

Campbell said Mayor Raymond Bodnar will be involved with the investigation, and declined further comment, citing it as a personnel issue.

Councilman Bernie Shields said an officer telling a resident ordinances are worthless is highly unprofessional and shared his frustrations over the allegations with Campbell briefly after the meeting.

By Michael DiVittorio, MCKEESPORT DAILY NEWS
Thursday, June 17, 2010

Blockbusters for a buck

AMC-Loews patrons at the Waterfront can watch nine movies this summer at bargain prices as part of a special AMC Summer Moviecamp promotion.

On nine Tuesday mornings, starting June 15, moviegoers can catch a designated PG-rated film for $1 each. The chain reports that all admission and concession proceeds, excluding taxes and operating costs, will benefit Variety -- the Children's Charity and the Will Rogers Institute.

Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and shows will start at 10 a.m. The lineup:

June 15: "Shrek the Third."

June 22: "Imagine That."

June 29: "Monsters vs. Aliens."

July 6: "Madagascar."

July 13: "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa."

July 20: "Hotel for Dogs."

July 27: "Kung Fu Panda."

Aug. 3: "The Spiderwick Chronicles."

Aug. 10: Surprise title.

The promotion also includes Kids­Pack concession combos at the discounted price of $4. For a full list of participating AMC theaters see www.AMCEntertainment.com/SMC.

Witness: Homestead Drive-By Gunman Shooting 'Like A Madman'

A double-shooting in Homestead, apparently the result of a drive-by, is under investigation by Allegheny County homicide detectives.

The shots were fired near the corner of 16th Avenue and Mifflin Street.

A witness told Channel 4 Action News' Sheldon Ingram that the SUV drove up 16th Avenue and fired at two men standing near an ice machine outside of D'Andrea's Market & Deli.

The witness told Ingram that there were two people inside the vehicle and that the gunman was shooting "like a madman.

"One of the victims ran down the street, while the other went to a house across the street, according to the witness.

Police said they're hopeful the victims and several witnesses will cooperate in the investigation.

"We're going to let the dust settle. We're going to see what information comes our way and, hopefully, in a little bit of time we'll get some phone calls," said Homestead police Chief Jeffrey DeSimone. "Time is on our side, but then again, it all depends on if the victims are going to be cooperative. In most cases like this, we find that the victims aren't.

"Neither of the victims' names or conditions has been released. They were both taken to a hospital.

The vehicle was described as a red pickup, a Chevrolet Suburban or Trailblazer.

WTAE
June 7, 2010
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Basketball coach loses his job again

It appeared that Phil Shar had rebounded two weeks ago when the school board reinstated him as the girls' varsity basketball coach at West Mifflin Area High School a year after he was fired for criticizing former superintendent Patrick Risha.

But on Tuesday, Mr. Shar, who coached the West Mifflin girls for 19 years, was benched again.

This time the action was taken by current superintendent Janet Sardon, who was responding to a grievance filed by the teachers union contending that it is a violation of the state school code for Mr. Shar to serve as a school director and a coach.

The grievance was filed several days after the May 20 meeting at which the board majority voted to make Mr. Shar the girls' coach for 2010-11. Mr. Shar returned to the gym within days, holding open gym and conditioning sessions and coaching the team to a 3-0 record so far in their summer league.

Dr. Sardon said she upheld the grievance because she had legal opinions from three attorneys -- district solicitor Jack Cambest, union attorney Stephen Jordan and Pennsylvania School Boards Association chief legal counsel Stuart Knade -- that said it was a violation of the school code for Mr. Shar to serve as school director and coach.

After he was fired in June 2009, Mr. Shar ran a successful write-in campaign for school board and defeated incumbent Diana Olasz.

Mr. Shar said he was aware of Section 324 of the state school code, which stipulates that a school director cannot be employed by the school district in any capacity until after the expiration of his or her term.

That's why he agreed to take the coaching position on a volunteer basis, accepting no stipend. He said he believes other districts allow such arrangements.

But, Mr. Knade said his interpretation of the code, and as well as that of his colleagues, is that if a position is normally a paid position, "in my view it's employment whether or not you waive the pay for purposes of the school code."

Dr. Sardon said Mr. Shar can continue to coach the summer league because it is not a district-sponsored activity. But he can no longer supervise the open gyms, which will be canceled until a new head coach is appointed by the board, likely in June.

School director John Donis, chair of the board's athletic committee, said he plans to call a committee meeting next week to discuss whether the board has any authority over the situation. Mr. Donis said in the past the board has acted on grievances.

Mr. Shar said he's disappointed in the decision to remove him as coach but that he will continue to coach the summer league. "I would have done the open gyms to just to help the girls out, even though I won't be coach next season, but I'm told I can't," he said.

"It's really sad. I put 19 years into this and right in front of my eyes I'm watching this program crumble."

Mary Niederberger: mniederberger@post-gazette.com; 412-851-1512.

Thursday, June 03, 2010

By Mary Niederberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10154/1062761-55.stm#ixzz0pmo36RsW

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10154/1062761-55.stm#ixzz0pmnpOGjs

Customers 'Slapp'-ed for venting on the web

After a towing company hauled Justin Kurtz's car from his apartment complex parking lot, despite his permit to park there, Mr. Kurtz, 21, a college student in Kalamazoo, Mich., went to the Internet for revenge.

Outraged at having to pay $118 to get his car back, Mr. Kurtz created a Facebook page called "Kalamazoo Residents against T&J Towing." Within two days, 800 people had joined the group, some posting comments about their own maddening experiences with the company.

T&J filed a defamation suit against Mr. Kurtz, claiming the site was hurting business and seeking $750,000 in damages.

Websites like Facebook, Twitter and Yelp have given individuals a global platform on which to air their grievances with companies. But legal experts say the soaring popularity of such sites has also given rise to more cases like Mr. Kurtz's, in which a business sues an individual for posting critical comments online.

The towing company's lawyer said that it was justified in removing Mr. Kurtz's car because the permit was not visible, and that the Facebook page was costing it business and had unfairly damaged its reputation.

Some First Amendment lawyers see the case differently. They consider the lawsuit an example of the latest incarnation of a decades-old legal maneuver known as a strategic lawsuit against public participation, or Slapp.

The label has traditionally referred to meritless defamation suits filed by businesses or government officials against citizens who speak out against them. The plaintiffs are not necessarily expecting to succeed -- most do not -- but rather to intimidate critics who are inclined to back down when faced with the prospect of a long, expensive court battle.

"I didn't do anything wrong," said Mr. Kurtz, who recently finished his junior year at Western Michigan University. "The only thing I posted is what happened to me."

Many states have anti-Slapp laws, and Congress is considering legislation to make it harder to file such a suit. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., and Charlie Gonzalez, D-Texas, would create a federal anti-Slapp law, modeled largely on California's statute.

Because state laws vary in scope, many suits are still filed every year, according to legal experts. Now, with people musing publicly online and businesses feeling defenseless against these critics, the debate over the suits is shifting to the Web.

"We are beyond the low-tech era of people getting Slapped because of letters they wrote to politicians or testimony they gave at a City Council meeting," said George W. Pring, a University of Denver law professor who co-wrote the 1996 book "Slapps: Getting Sued For Speaking Out."

Recognizing that lawsuits can bring more unwanted attention, one organization has taken a different tack. The group Medical Justice, which helps protect doctors from meritless malpractice suits, advises its members to have patients sign an agreement that gives doctors more control over what patients post online.

The federal bill, in the House Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy, would enable a defendant who believes he is being sued for speaking out or petitioning on a public matter to seek to have the suit dismissed.

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

By Dan Frosch, The New York Times

Man Shot 4 Times In Homestead

HOMESTEAD, Pa. -- A man was shot four times late Monday night in Homestead, Allegheny County emergency officials told WTAE Channel 4 Action News.

Police were called to Maple Street and East Pink Way at about 11:30 p.m.

The man was taken to UPMC Mercy, but his condition was not immediately known.

Homicide detectives continued investigate.

WTAE
June 1, 2010

Hotel Loses Power During Munhall's School Prom

Steel Valley High School had one hot prom -- literally.

About 150 students from the Munhall area proceeded with their prom Friday night as firefighters hooked up generators to the Green Tree Radisson because of a power outage in the area.

Students used glow sticks, and, without air conditioning, some students got creative with their clothing -- some guys taking off their tux shirts.

Generators were used for some lights and some music in what was anything but a conventional prom.

"They're like, 'No lights,' and they're like, 'This is a senior prom, let's just make the best of it,'" said Nolan McGuire, a Steel Valley junior.

"(We) took our pictures with whatever light we had, ate our dinner (but we could) hardly could see what we were eating. They just went out on the dance floor and did their thing.

"Though the music kept starting and stopping, students with whom WTAE Channel 4 Action News spoke on Saturday night said they had a good time anyway.

WTAE
May 30, 2010
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Have a Great Memorial Day!

Munhall Borough's Annual Memorial Day Service and Parade

Monday May 31, 2010.

The parade lineup will be at 9am at the Steel Valley High School parking lot off Main Street. The parade will begin sharply at 9:30am.

Memorial services will be held at the
Homestead Cemetery at 10:00 am

2010 Allegheny County Firefighters Convention

West Homestead Volunteer Fire Department

West Homestead, PA

Schedule of Events

Sunday, 6/6
Memorial Service @ St. Maximilian Kolbe parish

• 10:30 Service
• Old-Timers' Meeting and Luncheon to follow in church hall

Monday, 6/7 and Wednesday, 6/9
Battle of the Barrel competition between various fire departments

• To be held along W. 8th Ave. next to Firehouse
• 6:00PM

Friday, 6/11
County Association Meeting @ 7:00PM

• Elections and Firefighter of the Year and Heroism Awards to be announced
• Meeting will be held in the Thomas Cendroski Memorial Social Room at the Firehouse
• Following the meeting, a "wet-down" ceremony will be held in the Truck Room to dedicate QUINT 292, West Homestead VFD's new ladder truck
• Entertainment will be provided through the evening

Saturday, 6/12
Line-up @3:00PM along Hays St.
County Parade @ 4:30PM

• Events will commence in the Firehouse parking lot at 2:00PM
• There will be health screenings, child safety information, activities for children, and other events scheduled
• The parade will begin at Hays St. and proceed along 8th Ave.
• Immediately after the parade, entertainment will follow at the Firehouse with trophies to be awarded for various categories of fire apparatus

Steel Valley axes parking levy, raises taxes in prelim plan

Steel Valley School District property owners should expect to pay more in real estate taxes next year.

School directors at Tuesday night's meeting unanimously approved a proposed 2010-11 budget with a tax hike of 2.86 mills, setting the millage at 24.07 mills.

The increase is the maximum allowed by the state, with a .86-mill increase through the Act 1 index and 2 mills allowed through special exemptions. Expenses are listed at $27,570,375 and revenue at $27,950,668, leaving an expected surplus of more than $380,000.

"I don't like it, but I had to approve it," school director Donald Bajus said.

The budget will be available for public review June 9, advertised for final adoption June 19, and up for a final vote June 29.

District business manager Mark Cherpak said the proposed budget contains all the revenue and expenses as listed at the last finance committee meeting.

Those figures are $11.2 million in local property taxes, $1 million from delinquent real estate collection, $800,000 from earned income tax, $100,000 from realty transfer tax and $200,000 in other local revenue.

State revenue includes $8.4 million in basic education subsidy, $1.3 million in special education subsidy, $1.1 million in state share FICA and retirement, $1 million in property tax relief, $600,000 in charter school reimbursement and $200,000 in other state revenue.

Approximately $1 million is budgeted in federal revenue, with the bulk of it in Title I funds.

Expenses budgeted include $12.5 million in salaries, $5.3 million in benefits, $3.7 million in costs for students at other facilities, $1.6 million for debt service, $1.2 million for operation of facilities, $1 million in retirement incentives, $800,000 for transportation, $600,000 for activities/athletics, $400,000 for supplies, $200,000 in insurance payments, $200,000 for substitute teachers, and $100,000 for miscellaneous expenses.

The current millage rate is 21.21 mills. The last tax increase for the district was from 18.92 mills in 2007-08 to the current rate.

District officials were considering a budget with a 2.23-mill tax increase, but that idea fell through once the board pulled a proposed parking tax off the agenda following a near 20-minute executive session for legal matters.

School directors said after the meeting that those legal matters included possible challenges by Waterfront businesses of the proposed parking tax.

The parking tax would have required commercial businesses to pay $30 per parking space exceeding 30.

Estimated revenue as a result of the tax was $240,000, and would have saved residents some money on real estate taxes.

"I'm not comfortable with what happened," school director Mike Terrick said. "I still think that there are certain sections of the town that aren't paying their fair share of real estate taxes, and this would have been a way to make it equitable.

"However, there are some potential legal issues that we have to be careful we don't cross over in the institution of the tax."

"I was definitely in favor of (the parking tax)," Bajus said. "I'm tired of taxing the taxpayers of this district.

"Unfortunately, there was some problems down there with people wanting to file appeals and challenge us on that tax. So we just took it off the agenda, and we'll see what happens now. It's a dead issue."

Terrick said the district would suffer a loss of revenue if the parking tax was challenged and the district lost.

"These were new issues that were brought up," Terrick said. "That's why I agreed to pull it."

He said customers would have had to pay 1 cent in additional costs to cover the amount of the parking tax.

There were some Waterfront business representatives in the audience Tuesday night, but they left shortly after the parking tax was pulled from the agenda.

District officials said the parking tax cannot be considered again until next year because the district does not have enough time to advertise and properly institute the tax.

Bajus said the board will take a strong look at teacher contract negotiations when dealing with 2011-12 budget planning.

"Definitely teacher contracts and Act 93 contracts," Bajus said. "Previous school boards gave this district away to the union, and we can't afford it any more.

"The day of reckoning has come. All over the country you are seeing we can't afford these union contracts anymore. They have to wise up. These people have to wake up and smell the roses."

Teacher contracts expire at the end of next school year.

Bajus cannot be on a negotiating committee because his daughter is a teacher.

Cherpak said the district is expected to have a fund balance of $18,000 at the end of the year.

By Michael DiVittorio, MCKEESPORT DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Munhall 15-Year-Old Recovering After Being Shot

MUNHALL, Pa -- Police said a 15-year-old showed up at a Pittsburgh hospital Saturday, after residents in a Munhall neighborhood reported hearing gunfire.

Munhall's police chief tells Channel 11 that his investigators were called to 14th and Louise Streets around 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening on reports of gunfire.

After conducting their investigation, the chief said officers did not find any victims or suspects. But an hour later he said a 15-year-old showed at the hospital with gunshot injuries.

Residents from the area are concerned about recent violence in their neighborhood.

"It's gone downhill. I don't know if its drugs, gangs, kids not caring. 15-year-olds shouldn't have guns. I'm 40 years old, I don't have a gun," said neighbor David Siegworth.

The victims name is not being released, but investigators said he is recovering at UPMC Presbyterian hospital.•

WPXI
May 25, 2010
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Steel Valley School District Regular Board Meeting Agenda

We welcome you to the board meeting of the Steel Valley Board of School Directors, and we will be glad to listen to your opinion on issues the Board is considering on tonight’s agenda. You are limited to three (3) minutes to speak during Citizen Comments on Agenda Items. In order for the School Board to recognize you to speak on a matter not listed on the Board’s agenda, you need to complete a Request to Speak at a School Board Meeting form and return it to the Superintendent's office not later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday before a board meeting.

T.E.A.M.
Together Everyone Achieves More

Steel Valley School District
Regular Board Meeting
Senior High School Auditorium
May 25, 2010
7:00 p.m.

Roll Call
Pledge of Allegiance
Acknowledgements
Moment of Silence
• Motion to place an appropriate selection of books into the school libraries in memory of those Steel Valley Family members acknowledged this evening.

Reports:
President of the School Board
Student Representatives to the School Board

Superintendent:
• Recognition of the Student Representatives to the School Board
• Recognition of Chamber of Commerce Student Leader Awards
• Recognition of Chamber of Commerce Senior Scholarship Award Recipient
• Recognition of Steel Center Top of the Shop Award Winners
• Recognition of Middle School Accelerated Readers
• Recognition of SADD Students
• Presentation of the Steel Valley Literacy Fair

Director of Pupil Personnel, Special Services & Elementary Education

Director of Academics, Information & Technology

Citizen Comments on Agenda Items

Solicitor’s Report:
New • Authorize the solicitor to draft a resolution, advertise and file the required notice for a commercial business parking privilege tax at a rate of $30 per parking space or parking stall. It is estimated that if the resolution is adopted, the tax will
generate $240,000 per fiscal year for general revenue purposes.

Action Items
Board Meeting Minutes (White sheets)
• Motion to approve the following meeting minutes:
April 20, 2010 worksession meeting
April 27, 2010 board meeting
1.0 Financial Management (White sheets) Mr. Natale, Chair
Budget, Finance, Insurance, Audit, Funding, Taxes Mrs. Ballas, Co-Chair
Mr. Bajus
1.1 Motion to approve the list of bills:
1.1.01 General Fund invoices for May 2010 in the amount of $590,091.84
1.1.02 General Fund hand checks for April 2010 in the amount of $372,868.44
1.1.03 Payroll Funding Transfers for April 2010
1.1.04 Treasurer’s Report for March 2010
1.1.05 Food Service invoices for April 2010 in the amount of $47,072.65
1.1.06 Capital Projects 2005 Statement of Income and Expense for the month ending
April 30, 2010
1.1.07 Foundation for Education Technology Account Statement of Income and Expense for the month ending April 30, 2010
1.1.08 Foundation for Education Barrett Project Statement of Income and Expense for the month ending April 30, 2010
1.1.09 Custodial hand checks in the amount of $61,598.68
1.1.10 Athletic hand checks in the amount of $1,309.00
1.1.11 Middle School hand checks in the amount of $14,420.62
1.1.12 Band Trip hand checks in the amount of $546.21

Revised 1.2 Motion to approve the proposed General Fund Budget for 2010-2011 with revenue in the amount of $27,950,668 and expenditures in the amount of $27,570,375. This budget includes a 2.86 mill increase in taxes bringing the total millage to 24.07

OR

Approve the proposed General Fund Budget for 2010-2011 with revenue in the
amount of $27,950,629 and expenditures in the amount of $27,570,375. This budget
includes a 2.23 mill increase in taxes bringing the total millage to 23.44.

1.3 Motion to authorize the proper officers of the district to sign the engagement letter from Maher Duessel for the period June 30, 2010, 2011 and 2012, for audit services of the district’s basic financial statements and the Single Audit, as well as audits of the Act 511 tax collector and the Homestead, Munhall and West Homestead real estate tax collectors

2.0 Operations (Yellow sheets) Mr. Ducar, Chair
Capital Improvement, Update, Repair and Maintain Facilities and Mr. Olson, Co-Chair
Equipment, Municipal Relations, Public Relations, Safety and Environment Mr. Bajus
2.1 Motion to approve facility rental requests as presented
2.2 Motion to approve fundraising requests as presented
2.3 Motion to authorize renewal of the transportation contract with PA Coach Lines for a 10- year period beginning July 1, 2010, with terms of the agreement as presented. Documents will be executed after the Board approves the terms.
2.4 Motion to authorize the district’s participation in the Western Pennsylvania Electricity Consortium
2.5 Motion to approve the disposal of the broken weight equipment, sport equipment and obsolete sport uniforms
2.6 Motion to authorize Mark R. Cherpak, Board Secretary, as the designated agent of the district for the FEMA program

3.0 Co-Curricular Leadership (Blue sheets) Mr. Olson, Chair
Activities, Athletics, Food Service, PTO Mrs. Kubancsek, Co-Chair
Mr. Terrick
3.1 Motion to approve the creation of a new student activity for the high school students in the area of Peer Mentoring Program for the 2010-2011 school year with Mariann Reilly as a volunteer sponsor

4.0 Special Assignments (Lilac sheets) Mr. Olson, Chair
Steel Center AVTS, Southeastern Special Schools, Board Policy Mrs. Kubancsek, Co-Chair
Mrs. Ballas
4.1 Motion to hold second reading and adopt the revisions to Policy No. 222 Smoking
4.2 Motion to hold second reading and adopt the revisions to Policy No. 225 Relation with Law Enforcement Agencies
4.3 Motion to hold second reading and adopt new Policy No. 250 Electronic Devices
4.4 Motion to hold second reading and adopt the revisions to Policy No. 832 Internet Safe and Responsible Use
4.5 Motion to hold second reading and adopt the revisions to Policy No. 907 School Visitors
4.6 Motion to hold first reading of revisions to Policy No. 607 Tuition Income
4.7 Motion to hold first reading of revisions to Policy No. 618 Student Activity Funds
4.8 Motion to hold first reading of revisions to Policy No. 108 Adoption of Textbooks
4.9 Motion to hold first reading of revisions to Policy No. 114 Gifted Education
4.10 Motion to hold first reading of revisions to Policy No. 119 Creating Effective Partnerships
4.11 Motion to hold first reading of revisions to Policy No. 203 Communicable Diseases and Immunizations
4.12 Motion to hold first reading of new Policy No. 712 Service Animals
4.13 Motion to hold first reading of revisions to Policy No. 916 School Volunteers
4.14 Motion to hold first reading of revisions to Policy No. 835 Email

5.0 Educational Leadership (Pink sheets) Mrs. Ballas, Chair
Curriculum and Instruction, Vocational Technical Education, Mr. Terrick, Co-Chair
Instructional Media Services, Special Education Services Ms. Youngblood
and Programs, Intermediate Unit Programs and Services,
Strategic Planning, Instructional Supplies and Equipment
5.1 Update

6.0 Personnel Management (Goldenrod sheets) Mr. Natale, Chair
Human Resources, Compensation, Fringe Benefits, Negotiation, Mrs. Kubancsek, Co-Chair
Recruitment, Selection, Staffing of Professional and Non-Professional Positions Ms. Youngblood
6.1 Motion to approve, retroactively, a family medical leave of absence for Denise Barron commencing May 12, 2010, not to exceed 12 weeks in duration
New 6.1.1 Motion to approve an unpaid leave of absence for Leisel Lengyel retroactive to April 26, 2010
6.2 Motion to appoint Melissa Pentin, Lori Oleksak, Audra Bobbs, Terri Brown-Groce as the special education teachers and Melissa Ladik, Mary Jo Sklencar and Terri Vargo as the special education paraeducators for the Extended School Year Program from July 6- 29, 2010
6.3 Motion to approve Kelsey Cataldo, Amanda Swiontek, Jared Lombardi, Gary Porter, Mark Bonacci, Kristy Nichols and Jessica Seward as day-to-day substitutes for the 2009-2010 school year
6.4 Motion to approve Diana Borges to attend the PDE Conference on June 14-16 in
Hershey, Pennsylvania, with travel, meals and tolls to be paid by the district
6.5 Motion to approve Maria Heddleston and Lori Kenavey to attend the PDE Conference on June 14-16 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, at no cost to the district
6.6 Motion to approve Marie Kraycar as a substitute in the food service department at an hourly rate of $7.25 per hour with no benefits and as a substitute custodian at the rate of $8.75 per hour with no benefits, contingent upon passing a general physical
examination and the district’s mandated screening for controlled substances, which
must be completed in 30 days
6.7 Motion to deny Grievance #410

Citizen Comments
Name Topic
Michelle Tomcik Letter received from Mr. Soles
Donna Dreshman Finances, general issues and other matters brought up during the
meeting
Suellen Swinkle Employees attending school board meetings
Larry Rettger Vandalism on Perry Street
Sharon Ford High School Student Handbook policies
Carmella Jones Become a long-term volunteer for middle school Title I program
Tracey Jones Steel Valley Parking Tax
Gerry Hawkins Transportation

Adjournment

West Mifflin rehires Shar as girls basketball coach

The West Mifflin Area school board has rehired former girls high school basketball coach Phil Shar, nearly one year after his contract was opened by former Superintendent Patrick Risha, after Mr. Shar publicly criticized Mr. Risha.

Mr. Shar, who is now a school director, was rehired by a 5-1-1 vote of the board. School director Kathy Bracco voted against the hiring and school director Ned Mervos abstained "due to legal action."

"It feels pretty good to be back," Mr. Shar said after the meeting.

Mr. Shar will coach on a volunteer basis and not be paid by the district. He will remain a school director.

Mrs. Bracco and Mr, Mervos were among five school directors who voted to replace Mr. Shar after 19 years last June with one of his former assistants.

Neither Mr, Shar nor district solicitor Jack Cambest would say if the rehiring was part of the recent settlement of a federal lawsuit Mr, Shar filed against the district in December.

As part of the settlement, Mr, Shar received $30,000, but neither he nor district officials are permitted to discuss the settlement because of a confidentiality clause.

Mr. Shar had been a long-time, highly successful girls coach at West Mifflin High School, had his contract opened by Mr. Risha in late May 2009 after he appeared at school board meetings to criticize the superintendent's plans to build a new middle school on the high school campus and his general handling of the district's finances.

Mr. Shar also made critical remarks about Mr. Risha in local newspapers.

A month after his contract was opened, the school board voted 5-4 to replace Mr. Shar with one of his former assistants.

After he was replaced as coach, Mr, Shar ran a successful write-in campaign for school board, knocking out incumbent Diana Olasz. Shortly after the election, Mr. Risha retired abruptly with two years remaining on his contract.

Mr. Shar filed the suit in December claiming that his right to free speech had been violated when he was fired from his coaching job for speaking in opposition to the superintendent. It asked for monetary damages and a return to his coaching job.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

By Mary Niederberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Several West Mifflin Businesses Hit By Burglars

Police continue to search for burglars who targeted several businesses in West Mifflin Wednesday evening.

The burglaries happened along Greensprings Avenue sometime after 5 p.m., police said.

Stump’s Bar, Rocko’s Pizzeria, Clips and Curls Hair Salon and Whitaker Tire Co. were among the companies hit.

Business owners told Channel 11 News the robbers gained access by kicking in doors or using crow bars.

"Must have been a pretty big guy, one foot print on the door and he kicked right through it, “ said Whitaker Tire Owner Jim Fetkzo.

Owner of Clips and Curls Hair Salon, Gina Caito, said "We’re scared now to walk out by ourselves.

”Surveillance video from Stump’s shows a man dressed in a hooded sweatshirt with a gun in his hand entering the business.

“Another half hour and we would have had someone here opening up. It’s made employees nervous. We have people here late at night and early in the morning. It’s very disconcerting,” said Matthew Walker, manager at Stumpf's Bar.

Authorities continue to investigate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

WPXI
May 20, 2010