Happy New Year!

Adventureland - Filmed at Kennywood

Directed by Greg Mottola. With Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr.

A comedy set in the summer of 1987 and centered around a recent college grad (Eisenberg) who takes a nowhere job at his local amusement park, only to find it's the perfect course to get him prepared for the real world.

Release date March 27, 2009




Filmed at Kennywood.

New Year's Eve Celebration

The Salvation Army Steel Valley/Homestead Corps is hosting their annual New Year's Eve Celebration on Wednesday December 31, 2008 from 6:00 pm to 1:00 am.

Happy New Year!

Events:
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Worship Service

7:00 pm - Midnight
Fun, Food and Fellowship.
Movies, Games, Tournaments, Food, Refreshments, Popcorn,
Play in the Pittsburgh Steelers Youth Fitness Zone.

Midnight
New Year's Countdown

FREE!
All Welcome!
Fun for the Whole Family!
Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Salvation Army
Steel Valley Worship and Service Center
104 E. 9th Ave.
Homestead, PA 15120

Captains Keith & Katherine Jache,
Steel Valley Commanding Officers
(412) 461-2460

ALL WELCOME!

Movie Showtimes and On-Line Tickets

A new feature on Steel Valley Matters is the listing for Movie Showtimes.

Included are showtimes, on-line tickets, box office information, trailers, reviews, ratings and information from The Internet Movie Database IMDb.

To purchase tickets from Fandango, just click on the movie times (AMC Loews Waterfront 22 Only).

Waterfront's AMC-Loews to get IMAX

On January 23rd AMC Loews Theatre at The Waterfront will open their new IMAX movie screens.

Experience it in IMAX. Hear More. See More. Feel More.

IMAX (short for Image MAXimum) is a film format created by Canada's IMAX Corporation that has the capacity to display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film display systems. A standard IMAX screen is 22 metres (72 ft) wide and 16.1 metres (53 ft) high, but can be larger. As of 2008, IMAX is the most widely used system for large-format, special-venue film presentations


AMC Loews Waterfront 22
300 W. Waterfront Drive,
West Homestead, PA
(800) 326-3264 x790

Rt. 837 traffic near Rankin Bridge to be re-routed

December 29, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Allegheny County Public Works today announced that traffic patterns will change for motorists traveling on Route 837 North through the Rankin Bridge project beginning Monday.

The Rankin Bridge underpass on the Whitaker side will be closed for reconstruction.

All traffic heading toward Homestead on Route 837 North will be re-routed through the intersection between the Rankin Bridge and 837.

No detour is posted, but additional delays are anticipated.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

What Christmas is All About.......

WMASD CLOSING/DELAY INFORMATION

Due to the weather conditions the
West Mifflin Area School District
will have a TWO HOUR DELAY on
 
MONDAY - DECEMBER 22, 2008.

Sheriff’s Paddy Wagon, Not Santa’s Sleigh, Delivers Gifts To Underprivileged Kids

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. -(WPXI)- The sight of a sheriff’s paddy wagon is not customarily associated with hope and joy. However, many local families enjoyed watching their kids climb into the back of the sheriff’s wagon on Thursday.

Thanks to friends at the West Mifflin Wal-Mart, the paddy wagon was filled with toys for the sheriff’s Tree Of Hope-Angel Tree program. The program, celebrating over 20 years of service, provides gifts to underprivileged boys and girls in the Pittsburgh area.

On Thursday, the sheriff’s paddy wagon was at the West Mifflin Wal-Mart parking lot to distribute the toys.

From there, it made its way to the Tree Of Hope headquarters in Harrison Township to unload toys for distribution throughout Allegheny County.

8th Annual Dickens of a Christmas Home Tour

As part of the 110th Anniversary celebration of the Carnegie Library of Homestead, the Historic Munhall Library Estates and the Carnegie Library of Homestead have partnered to bring you the best of the Christmas spirit. Join us for a wonderful dinner and a home tour this Christmas season.

Tickets for the Home Tour: $15

*Dinner only: $45

*Dinner & Tour: $55

*If you plan on having dinner, tickets must be purchased by December 10, 2008.

Tickets can be purchased up to and including the night of the event.

Munhall residents likely facing ANOTHER tax hike

By MICHAEL DIVITTORIO,

Daily News Staff Writer

12/18/2008

Munhall council adopted its proposed budget with a 1-mill tax increase.

All six councilors present at Wednesday night's meeting voted in favor of the budget. Council Vice President Jill Fleming-Salopek was absent.

Councilman Dan Lloyd cast the only dissenting vote on a second budget-related motion, regarding the first reading of the proposed ordinance setting the millage rate at 10.25 mills.

One mill generates approximately $271,000.

"I don't think we're done trimming the fat yet," Lloyd said.

Some of that trimming could include cutting $100,000 that is set aside for a public works director.

Lloyd said the borough entered into an agreement with the director one or two years ago to pay him $70,000 for reported overtime throughout the years of service. Part of the agreement was that the director would retire, but that has not happened.

Council President Bernie Shields said he remembers the issue, and remembered voting against the agreement, and that there would be a "personnel issue" attended to today.

Several personnel issues, including the three-year police contract council agreed to Wednesday, among other increasing costs, were some of the major factors leading to a potential tax increase.

"We have to do more with less," Shields said. "It will be finalized by (Dec. 30). We can't talk about personnel, but there will be personnel decisions between now and the 30th."

Essay winners confirm: Family found in heart, not just in bloodline

Thursday, December 18, 2008

By Mary Niederberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Families come in all shapes and sizes, face numerous challenges and, in the end, sometimes the people who love you the most don't share any DNA.

Those were the sentiments expressed by some students in the Steel Valley School District in the essays they wrote for a contest sponsored by Green's Funeral Home in Munhall, "What Family Means to Me."

One student winner was chosen from each of the district's four schools, Barrett and Park elementaries and the middle and high schools. Winners had their essays read at a recent school board meeting.

The younger students received $50 Barnes & Noble gift cards, while Ashley Wolford received a $100 check and the chance to have her essay entered into a national competition sponsored by Aurora Casket Co.

When senior Ashley, 17, -- who was the winner from the high school -- heard about the contest she knew it was her opportunity to pay tribute to her stepmother, Gina Wolford.

"The first thing that came to my mind was that I wanted to tell her how much she means to me," Ashley said.

Ashley said she was abandoned by her biological mother when she was 9 years old. Several years later, her father started to date the woman who would become his second wife and "she welcomed me no matter what, even though I was pretty mean to her at first," Ashley said.

She said her stepmother has shown her that "family doesn't really mean the people who you are born to."

In her essay, she wrote: "The true meaning of a family has nothing to do with DNA. Family makes up the people who choose to love and stick by you no matter what happens."

Middle school student Erin Barefoot, 14, in eighth grade, also focused on her mother in her essay. But Erin's essay talked about how her family joined together to help her mother fight breast cancer twice.

The first time Erin's mother, Joyce Barefoot, was diagnosed with breast cancer was in 2000 it was around the time of Erin's sixth birthday, she said. Despite the diagnosis her family had a bowling party for Erin's birthday.

Several years ago, Mrs. Barefoot was diagnosed with breast cancer a second time.

"This time I was a lot older and it scared me, but I knew we had already been through this before and we could do it again," Ashley wrote.

She said during her mother's illnesses, her family, which also includes brother Thomas, 18, and sister Kelly 16, pitched in to keep the household functioning and to help her mother recover.

That meant, her dad, Brian, did most of the cooking.

"Dad did a pretty good job with that, only I have to say, my mom is a better cook," Erin said.

Erin also wrote about her own medical diagnosis: scoliosis, or curvature of the spine. She is required to wear a plastic brace to keep her spine in place and faces surgery in June. She wrote that she is "scared" about the surgery,

"Even though I'm scared I know my family will be there every step of the way. They will protect me, love men and make me laugh at myself," she wrote.

Erin said the message that she would like the public to take from her essay is this: "My family goes through much stuff everyday and we always find a way to love each other and that's what every family should do. No matter what they go through they should always be together and they should always love each other."

Elementary essay winners Savannah Merrill from Park and Karly Deutsch from Barrett, both fifth-graders, had differing themes in their essays.

Karly wrote about her large extended family, whose members live in Munhall and the traditions they uphold for the holidays, including their traditional Christmas Eve dinner of doughballs, sauerkraut and fish.

"A family means more than just the people who live in your house. I have three cousins, five aunts and seven uncles and a pap and grandma," Karly said.

She said this holiday season will be difficult because it will be the first without her maternal grandmother, who died last summer.

Karly also wrote about her little sister, Kacee.

"My little sister and I fight all of the time and we share the same bedroom. But I would miss her so much if I didn't have her," Karly wrote.

But for Savannah, family means just two people: Her and her mother, Donna Jean Dragojevich.

"My parents are divorced and it's just my mom and me," Savannah said.

Her essay points out the advantages of a two-person family.

"We have a lot less laundry. We have less expensive vacations and there's only two people so it's easier to agree where to go," she said.

"We are just like any other family," Savannah said. "We go grocery shopping and do all of the same things that other families do. Any amount of people still makes a family."

Jonas Brothers - Salvation Army Half-Time Show , Thanksgiving Day

To give to the Steel Valley Matters Red Kettle Campaign click the link below:

http://give.salvationarmyusa.org/goto/svm

DOING THE MOST GOOD!

West Mifflin Area Schools Early Dismissal

Due to the threat of inclement weather conditions the West Mifflin Area School District will dismiss 1/2 HOUR EARLY TODAY, 
 
TUESDAY - DECEMBER 16, 2008.
 
ALL EVENING ACTIVITIES ARE CANCELLED! 

Holiday Market

Steel Valley Arts Council (SVAC)

artspace 105

105 East 8^th Avenue, Homestead.

Wednesdays 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Saturdays Noon - 4:00 p.m.

through December 24^th

Every item is handmade; e.g., hats, purses, scarves, bookmarks, a collection of prints by George Nama to name a few. Hope to see you there. Free gift wrapping with purchase. www.steelvalleyarts.org steelvalleyartscouncil@comcast.net Happy Holidays.

Menorah Parade and Lighting

Join the Great Menorah Car Parade thru the city of Pittsburgh On Sunday December 21, 2008.

Followed by a Grand Menorah Lighting at the Waterfront Town Center at 5:30 pm.

The Great Menorah Car Parade begins at Lubavitch Center in Squirrel Hill at 4:30 pm and ends at the Waterfront in Homestead.

Eat 'N Park Christmas Star Commercial

11 Days and 1.3 Million Dollars To Raise - Western Pennsylvania Salvation Army Issues Red Kettle Report

PITTSBURGH, Dec 12, 2008 /PRNewswire --

With only ten days left, volunteers, officers and staff of The Salvation Army's Western Pennsylvania Division have their work cut out for them. The 28-county service area must raise 1.3 million more dollars to hit its $2,445,000 goal.

"This is a tough season," said The Salvation Army's Western Pennsylvania Divisional Commander, Major Robert J. Reel. He explained, "This economic downturn hit us hard. We hope and pray to hit our goal, but even if we do, our client caseload has jumped by a minimum of 20%." Reel continued, "We have faith that our donors will pull through, but it's going to be a roller coaster ride to Christmas eve."

Kettles that are behind include the following seven areas of service: Ellwood City; Erie; Johnstown; McKeesport; Meadville; Pittsburgh's East Liberty, and Steel Valley/Homestead. Reel said, "The danger in reporting totals is that they change minute by minute. The weather, number of kettles and volunteers, and the economy make this fundraising effort extremely challenging." Salvation Army Red Kettles account for roughly 10% to 20% of each local Worship and Service Center's budget. In smaller communities with fewer resources, they play an even larger role in fundraising. Money raised within a neighborhood remains there to support families specifically in that area.

Salvation Army fundraising and delivery of service are segmented according to zip code. That means each facility in every community is independent of one another. Reel explained, "If kettles in one town are productive, that doesn't mean the neighboring community is doing well. Each of our forty-two locations has its own separate budget and red kettle goal. Additionally, service is provided according to a resident's home address, minimizing duplication of service and stretching the donor dollar further.

If you are interested in either volunteering at a kettle or providing a site, contact your local Salvation Army. If you are in Allegheny County, contact Special Events Coordinator, Colleen Ley at 412-394-4870. Major Reel said, "We welcome parents and children. It is a wonderful way for families to give back and it really celebrates the spirit of the holidays in a personal way." Donors may also give online by logging onto http://give.salvationarmyusa.org/goto/svm and indicating where their funds should be directed. Income from red kettles stays within the community where it is raised or selected online.

Steel Valley Matters is hosting a Salvation Army Online Red Kettle and collecting donations to help those in need this Christmas. Our Kettle is just like those Red Kettles you see when you're out shopping, but it's online. If you'd like to donate, just click the link to our personal page below, and help The Salvation Army help thousands of people in need.

http://give.salvationarmyusa.org/goto/svm

Or you may mail donations to:

The Salvation Army ~ Steel Valley Corps
P.O. Box 395
Homestead, PA 15120-0395


Thanks,
Steel Valley Matters

The 2008 Historic Steel Valley Christmas Parade

Mr. McFeeley comes to Steel Valley "neighborhood"

By Michael Divittorio
Daily News Staff Writer

Blustery winds and chilly temperatures could not stop a speedy delivery at this year's Historic Steel Valley Christmas Parade.

Nealy 20 fire trucks representing departments from Homestead, West Homestead, Munhall, Whitaker and West Mifflin led the way for Grand Marshal Mr. McFeeley from Misters Rogers' Neighborhood at Saturday's parade.

McFeeley, otherwise known as David Newell, said he is honored to have been selected to participate in this year's festivities, and was surprised at how many people recognized him.

"The people were so friendly, and they all knew Mister Rogers Neighborhood," said Newell, who is director of public relations for Family Communications. "It's interesting. The adults were waving and so were the children, and their grandmothers were waving. It makes me feel good."

McFeeley was selected as the grand marshal because 2008 is the 40th anniversary of his participation in the late Mr. Rogers family-oriented program. He stood alongside Purple Panda on a float of King Friday's castle with a depiction of the famous trolley provided by Kennywood.

"It's his 40th year," Homestead Program Coordinator Denise Kelly said. That has to be recognized. That has to be celebrated."

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood continues to air in syndication on WQED.

This marks the 15th year that Kelly has coordinated the parade. She said it went well, but the weather had an impact on the turnout.

"If it wasn't for the cold, it would have been wonderful," Kelly said. "If the weather was better, every street would be lined up (with people). It's one of the coldest days of the year. It was a wonderful parade. We hope to make it bigger every year."

Homestead Mayor Betty Esper walked in the parade with her dog, and Munhall Mayor Raymond Bodnar also participated. Both said they thought it was a tremendous experience for them and the surrounding area.

"I think it's going very nice," Esper said. "this is a cold day and everybody's out and everybody's enjoying it."

"One of the greatest events of the whole year," Bodnar said. "We look forward to it every year, and it gets bigger and better for the Steel Valley. It's beautiful."

McFeeley participated in another community's parade last week, and headed to an event in downtown Pittsburgh shortly after the Steel Valley parade. He said his time in the Homestead area will be one of great memories.

"It makes you feel so good to be able to go to different neighborhoods in Pittsburgh," he said. "This is great to go to another neighborhood, and they all equally know "The Neighborhood."

More than 100 groups, organizations, officials, businesses and other entities participated in this year's parade sponsored by United States Steel Corp. Among those featured along the parade route were Mon Valley Harley Owners Group, Steel Valley Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scout Pack 15, Homestead Park United Methodist Church, Steel Valley Council of governments and officials from the Carnegie Library of Homestead.

There were performances by the West Mifflin High School Band and the Steel Valley Show Steppers and other groups. The event concluded with pictures with Santa at Shop'n Save's parking lot.

Kelly announced the winners of the parade contest later that afternoon. There was a tie for best float with the Waterfront Christian Church under the direction of Larry Seigworth, and the Community of Crucified One in Homestead under the direction of Chris Haigs and Bishop Jonathan Stewart. They Split a $500 prize.

The Monroeville joyful Twirlers under the direction of Tracey Poach won for best marching group. The West Mifflin High School Marching Band under the direction of Devon Smeal won for best marching band. Tracey's Place along Eighth Avenue won for best decorated store front.

Earning honorable mention for decorated store front are Outer Skin, Waterfront embroidery, Penn Automotive and Computer Gooroo.

"We hope they all come back next year," Kelly said. "We really want to thank them. Things like parades and light-up nights give people hope."

Step into the past

Homestead library room re-created in 1920 design

Thursday, December 11, 2008

By Mary Niederberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mon Valley residents can experience the area's historic past while looking out upon present-day developments from the new adult reading room at the Carnegie Library of Homestead.

The room, which has been restored to what library officials believe is its original design, sits in the front of the 110-year-old library and overlooks what was once the massive U.S. Steel Homestead Works, now the site of the sprawling retail and entertainment complex, The Waterfront.

That room design was taken from a black-and-white photo of the room that library officials believe dates to about 1920.

The project was completed and dedicated last month and was financed by grants from the Donald A. Abraham Memorial committee and former Homestead native William Campbell.

Mr. Abraham was a popular state legislator from the area who was killed in a car accident in 1978. Mr. Campbell is chairman of Intuit Inc. and a major benefactor to projects in the Mon Valley area.

Library officials have not released a total cost on the project.

The lamps and other items in the reading room were made to replicate those from the 1920s photo by an Oregon firm called Rejuvenation, said Eddie Wehrer, a library board member involved in the restoration project.

"We sent them pictures and dimensions and they worked from that," Mr. Wehrer said.

The restoration included uncovering a fireplace and the rebuilding of the woodwork and mantel.

The outside vent to the fireplace had been closed, so artificial logs sit in its hearth. Two chairs and a table and lamp sit in front of the fireplace and two lamps sit on the mantel, making it a bright place to sit and read.

Also restored was the hardwood floor in the room, which had been covered with layers of carpet and padding. Volunteers ripped up the old carpet.

"It was very hard, dirty, nasty work, but the volunteers who did it saved the project about $7,000," Mr. Wehrer said.

The walls of the room are covered with wooden bookshelves filled with adult fiction. Various chairs, tables and lamps are set for reading.

The black-and-white photo used as a model for the restoration sits on an easel at the entrance to the room to show visitors that the space has been restored almost completely to its original design.

The project started Aug. 30 when volunteers and librarians began dismantling and moving items from the room.

"The librarians oversaw the process, but most of the work was done by volunteers and board members. It was a real joint venture between board members, community volunteers and the contractors," Mr. Wehrer said.

It was dedicated Nov. 14 as part of the ceremony for the first-ever Steel Valley Hall of Fame induction.

"I think it's something the community can really be proud of," Mr. Wehrer said. "It keeps the original intent but makes sure it's a place that makes good, productive use for patrons in the 21st century."

Waterfront Holiday Weekend Schedule

Karaoke at Bar Louie for Children's Hospital

Bar Louie Waterfront, DJ Rockin' Bob's and Eat' n Park Present
Caring for Kids Karaoke

THURSDAY DECEMBER 11, 2008

7 PM TO 1 AM

BAR LOUIE

WATERFRONT

ALL DONATIONS BENEFIT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH

Macy's Friends and Family Sale

Receive the Macy's Employee Discount
December 10th through December 15th with the Friends and Family Sale.

Simply print this Coupon to receive your Friends and Family Discount!

"Have a Holly Jolly Christmas"

Steeler QB Batch rallie teammates for a good cause

By MICHAEL DIVITTORIO
Daily News Staff Writer

The Steelers scored enough points to beat the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday at Heinz Field.

On Tuesday, many of those players made a push to score more donations for Toys for Tots so that unfortunate children will have a merry Christmas.

Quarterback Charlie Batch and teammates Justin Vincent, Carey Davis, Dennis Dixon, Chris Kemoeatu, Dallas Baker, Ryan Mundy and other players gathered at the UPS Store in the Waterfront to accept donations and sign autographs as part of the Best of the Batch Foundation's fourth year of partnering with Toys for Tots.

"It's big," Batch said of Tuesday's event. "This is something that we've been doing for the past couple years. It's always grown. So it's just great to be a part of it."

The line of people waiting outside the store stretched for at least a quarter mile, wrapping around the Rock Bottom restaurant. Some came just to donate, and others came just for autographs.

"This event is only as good as what the fans make it, and it's just something that's great to be part of," Batch said.

The youngest fan in line, and one of the first through the door, was 8-month-old Christina Cherevka of Munhall. She sat down with Batch while her mother Gemma and grandmother Kathy Cherevka took pictures.

"My kids like sports and I like the fun of it," Kathy Cherevka said.

"It's exciting. (Christina) gets to meet Steelers," Gemma said.

The Cherevka family has made it a family holiday tradition to donate to Toys for Tots. This is the fourth straight year they've attended Batch's event.

"We like to give to the little ones," Kathy said.

Steve & Barry's appears headed for liquidation

A bankruptcy filing in New York appears to signal an end to efforts to save about 170 Steve & Barry's stores that survived an earlier round of restructuring. Operators now plan to liquidate inventory at all stores no later than early next year, according to court documents.

A list of assets includes locations in Century III Mall, West Mifflin, Monaca, Irwin and Erie. Steve & Barry's filed for bankruptcy in July and later sold assets to BH S&B Holdings.

More than 100 stores, including sites in Lower Burrell, Greensburg and Johnstown, were shuttered in the first round of closings.

Continental project in Pittsburgh getting mixed reviews for its impact

Business First of Columbus

October 31, 2008

Officials in Pittsburgh are trying to figure out how to spur development around a sprawling retail development by Continental Real Estate Cos.

Columbus-based Continental built the 1.5 million-square-foot Waterfront mall on a 260-acre former brownfield site in the Pittsburgh communities of Homestead, West Homestead and Munhall.

The project has attracted its share of detractors who claim the development has had little positive impact on neighboring communities.

“I would say that the predominant view is … the success of having this regional mall has not translated into the rejuvenation of Homestead,” said Doug Van Haitsma, director of real estate for the Mon Valley Initiative, a coalition of economic-development groups in several counties along the Monongahela River in southwestern Pennsylvania.

“I think the developer really kind of missed the boat, in terms of turning his back on the community,” Van Haitsma said.

But while the Mon Valley Initiative is not using the shopping mall as a model for future development in the region, Executive Director Laura Zinski said the project has resulted in additional county and state support for local real estate projects.

Without the Waterfront project, “I think none of that would be happening,” Zinski said. “If that hadn’t been successful, nobody would be looking over here.”

Continental CEO Frank Kass also defended the project.

“There were no jobs there for 15 years,” Kass said of the $300 million project, which attracted about $12 million in state and county grants.

Despite mixed reviews of the project’s economic impact on neighboring communities, the development stands to enrich the municipalities of Munhall, West Homestead and Homestead through property tax revenue. The Borough of Homestead, for example, collects about $500,000 a year from the development as it pays back revenue bonds with proceeds from the Waterfront’s tax revenue, said Homestead Mayor Betty Esper.

But because of a $28 million tax increment financing deal with the three municipalities, in which future projected tax gains are used to finance infrastructure and other improvements, any potential windfall is still well in the future.

Although many county officials speak well of the development, they say the need for such large-scale retail centers in the area has diminished.

“We believe there is enough retail in that area right now,” said Dennis Davin, head of Allegheny County’s Department of Economic Development, a sentiment that has been echoed by County Chief Executive Dan Onorato.

“I don’t think it makes sense to do another big retail development like that. I don’t think there is a market for that,” he said.

In Rankin and Swissvale, directly across the river from the Waterfront, the county has acquired 160 acres of riverfront property at the former site of a Carrie Furnace plant. With the site’s environmental clean-up nearly complete, the county is working to bring infrastructure to the property, which is envisioned as office or light industrial development, Davin said.

“We think that that can be a catalyst for future development,” he said.

The county has also made investments in the Mon Valley communities of Swissvale, Rankin and Braddock, said Stephen Papernick, principal with Pittsburgh-based Papernick & Gefsky PC, which serves as the solicitor for the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County.

Through the Allegheny Together program, launched last year, the county has engaged in grants and loans for facade improvements in traditional business districts like those in the Mon Valley.

“No one is building new houses in Rankin, except for the government,” Papernick said. “The hope is that you inject some money in there. You are planting the seeds that you hope will grow.”

In fact, most of the economic development efforts under way in the Mon Valley are coming in this piecemeal fashion. In Homestead, which has continued to struggle, Bobby Engram, wide receiver with the Seattle Seahawks, and Charlie Batch, of the Pittsburgh Steelers, are developing separate mixed-use properties in the vicinity of East Eighth Avenue, the community’s main thoroughfare.

Davin said both projects are under $5 million and expected to get under way by the end of the year.

Across the river, in Braddock, the county has invested $10 million since Onorato became the county’s chief executive in 2004, including plans for 30 residential units, Davin said. Seventeen have been built.

John Fetterman, mayor of Braddock, has lived and worked in the community for five years in an effort to reinvent it as a destination for creative types.

“Things are definitely trending in the right direction,” he said.”

Eddie Ifft at the Improv - Waterfront, Homestead, PA

The Waterfront
166 E Bridge St
Homestead, PA 15120
(412) 462-5233

Improv

Kennywood president to resign at end of year

Monday, December 08, 2008

By Joyce Gannon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Peter McAneny, president of Kennywood Entertainment, will resign at the end of the year, the company said.

Mr. McAneny, 56 will stay on for an undetermined period of time to help with the transition in ownership to Spanish-based Parques Reunidos, which bought the landmark West Mifflin amusement park and its affiliated parks earlier this year.

Hot picks: Gary Owen is at the Waterfront Improv

Owen it all to humor

When you join the Navy and end up in the Presidential Honor Guard in the administrations of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, what's left? Well, there's always the honor of being voted the funniest black comedian in San Diego.

Not bad for a buzz-cut white guy from Cincinnati.

Gary Owen, who also was the only white guy to host "Comic View" on the Black Entertainment Network, will show y'all how to talk the talk this weekend at the Pittsburgh Improv at the Waterfront in Homestead.

He performs at 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday and 9 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $16-$18.
Details: 412-462-5233 or online.

Southbound Glenwood Bridge closed Saturday

Thursday, December 04, 2008
By Joe Grata, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The two southbound lanes of the Glenwood Bridge will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday while a contractor resets frozen rocker bearings, the same type of condition that, when left unchecked, caused a span of the Birmingham Bridge to fail early this year.

"Motorists have never been in any kind of danger," said Tom Hakim, an Allegheny County Public Works engineer. "The situation was discovered as part of a routine inspection and we're acting quickly so we don't have a problem." Rocker bearings sit on piers and carry the weight of the superstructure. They tilt to account for expansion, contraction and bridge movement under the weight of traffic. When "frozen," usually because of rust, debris and general deterioration, they can lead to bridge failures.

If the contractor is unable to finish the work Saturday, the southbound lanes could also be closed on Sunday. The northbound side of the bridge will remain open at all times.

A detour will be set up to reroute southbound traffic off Second Avenue at Hazelwood Avenue and then to the Homestead Grays Bridge.

Ownership of the Glenwood Bridge is split among Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, with PennDOT responsible for most of the structure over the Monongahela River.

PennDOT last did $1.2 million in repairs in 2004.

Best Christmas Parade in the Valley

Don't forget the Best Christmas Parade in the Valley!

We need the Spirit of Christmas more today than ever before. Leave your troubles on the doorstep and come join us for a few hours of holiday spirit! The Historic Steel Valley Parade is this Saturday December 6th. Starting at noon there will be entertainment all along 8^th Avenue.

The parade route will be alive with entertainment from numerous local bands and marching units, floats, school groups, scouts, mini-cars and clowns greeting children of all ages. In celebration of the City of Pittsburgh’s 250th anniversary, we are respectfully saluting our neighbors with participation from a few “true” Pittsburgher’s in this years Parade. The parade Grand Marshal, Mr. McFeeley of Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood (who is celebrating his 40^th year of entertaining our children) will be joined by other local television personalities and dignitaries.

United States Steel Corporation is once again sponsoring the Valley’s premiere holiday event. The parade will start in West Homestead and move along 8^th Avenue to Shop N Save where Santa Claus will be available for photographs.

In the true ‘Steel Valley Spirit”, there will be a food drive to benefit local food pantry’s that serve our neighbors. You can help by bringing donations of canned goods, non-perishable items and toiletries to the Parade Reviewing Stand, located at the intersection of 8^th. Ave. and Ann Street.

Other activities that will keep our spirits warm include:
· Holiday music before the Parade at the corner of 8^th and Ann Street
· Artist’s Holiday Market at the Artspace 105, hosted by the Steel Valley Arts Council. There will be free hot chocolate and cookies available.
· 8^th Ave. Place located at 101 E. 8^th will be serving coffee & cookies free of charge
· Walgreen’s will be selling coffee for five cents a cup and icees will be available for $1.00.·

Vendors will be selling their wares along the Avenue to add to the festive atmosphere.

So bundle up the children and join your neighbors for an hour of great entertainment, laughs and smiling faces …. a great way to kick off the holiday season in the Valley!

The 2008 Historic Steel Valley Christmas Parade List

Over 100 Units are participating in this years 2008 Historic Steel Valley Christmas Parade.

The Grand Marshal for this years parade is Mr. McFeely from Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood

1. Local Fire Trucks (20)
2. United States Steel
3. U.S. Army
4. West Mifflin R.O.T.C.
5. Mr. McFeely and Purple Panda
6. KDKA TV Ross Guidotti
7. KDKA TV Jim Lokay
8. Mon Valley Hogs
9. Mayor John Dindak, West Homestead
10. Mayor Betty Esper, Homestead
11. Mayor Raymond Bodnar, Munhall
12. Steel Valley High School Band
13. Steel Valley Homecoming Queen
14. Steel Valley High School Cheerleaders
15. Steel Valley Girls Soccer
16. Steel Valley School Board
17. Steel Valley High School Honors Choir
18. Salvation Army, Steel Valley Corps
19. Steel Valley Chamber of Commerce
20. Steel Valley Rotary
21. Ray Schon State Farm
22. Keystone Plumbing
23. Joyful Twirlers
24. Bob Macy, Allegheny County Council
25. Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Council
26. Jay Costa, PA Senator
27. Marc Gergely, PA House of Representatives
28. Bill Kortz, PA House of Representatives
29. A.R.Eigean Gael
30. Pittsburgh Puppet Works Stilt Walker
31. Barret and Park Elementary Schools
32. Lil Bo Peep
33. Mistress Mary
34. Raggedy Ann
35. Raggedy Andy
36. Giant Eagle
37. Tri-Rivers/Tootsie Clowns
38. Kelly’s Truck
39. Pittsburgh Police Drums and Pipes
40. Steel Valley Family Center
41. Chick-fil-A
42. Lowes Home Improvement
43. Homestead District Lions
44. St. Therese’s Cheerleaders/Basketball Team
45. Kennywood Park Trolley
46. Red Hat Society
47. Syria Road Rigs
48. Guardian Storage
49. Sandy Bennett
50. Baldwin Borough Police Dept
51. Tracy’s Fashions
52. Scooby Doo
53. Oliver High School Band
54. Gummy Knight Express
55. McGruff
56. Duquesne/West Mifflin Boys Club
57. Best Buy/Geek Squad
58. Perry Traditional
59. Elks
60. Cricket Wireless
61. Micro Minis
62. Boy Scout Pack 15
63. Bowser Pontiac
64. Froggy 98.3
65. Community of the Crucified One
66. Penn Automotive
67. Eat-n-Park
68. Syria Clowns
69. Harmony Club
70. District Justice Tom Torkowski
71. Steel Valley Boxing Club
72. West Mifflin Boy Scout Troop 1111
73. Red Robbin
74. West Mifflin Show Steppers
75. West Mifflin High School Homecoming Queen
76. West Mifflin Police Dept
77. West Mifflin Area High School Band
78. DJ Sean
79. West Mifflin Cheerleaders
80. Waterfront Christian Church
81. Mama Pepino’s Pizza
82. Sandcastle Dunkin Dragon
83. Strong Women/Strong Girls
84. McDonalds
85. Gregg the Can Man
86. Boy Scout Pack 31
87. Brownie Troop 31
88. Panda Bear
89. Wal-Mart
90. Horses
91. Giant Eagle
92. Elmo/Cookie Monster
93. Fuddruckers
94. Uncle Sam
95. Carnegie Library of Homestead
96. Verizon
97. Steel Valley COG
98. YMCA UPMC Tri Boro Steppers
99. Wendy’s
100. Homestead Park United Methodist Church
101. Homestead Democrats
102. Port Authority Transit with “The Classmates”
103. AAA Tow Truck
104. Blue Thunder
105. Beginning with Books
106. Shop-n-Save
107. Santa Claus
108. Munhall Pre-Hospital Services
109. Catholic War Veterans
110. Western Pennsylvania Musicians Group

Windows On The Avenues Holiday Extravaganza

Please Join Us As Our
Seasonal Windows Come to Life
With Light And Performance
In Celebration of
Homestead's Re-Emerging Historic Business District

Friday, December 12, 7:00PM

The Avenues in Homestead
The 200 Block of East Eighth Avenue, Homestead, PA 15120

Stop by 213-215 E. 8th upon arrival
for a map and full schedule

The Windows Go Live at 8pm
Festivities ongoing from 7pm include

Tours of Building Renovations & Completed Spaces
Live-Work Lofts, Commercial, Green Roof

Entrepreneureal Information Exchange & Empowerment
For Those Intersted in Opportunities on the Avenues

Live Local Music, Holiday Films, and Fine Art
Wine Tasting, Gourmet Treats, and Abundant Cheer
Shopping on the Avenues
For Vintage Design and Architectural Treasures

See You Soon On The Avenues
Dress Warm!

Storytelling: Hearts of Steel Valley High -- A very special gift for Michael

Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Monday, December 01, 2008
By Elizabeth Spiker

I have been telling this story to a few people for years now. I'd like to share it with everyone because, quite simply, it will make you believe in people. We could all use a story like that.

A few years ago, I was teaching English at Steel Valley High School. For those who don't know, it's a small school district serving Munhall, Homestead and West Homestead. Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch is one of Steel Valley's most famous alums. The kids all walk. There are no buses from the school district. The kids are a mixed bag of black, white and Asian and come from varying economic backgrounds. While no one I ever taught came from a "wealthy" family, I did teach many poor students for whom school was often a safe haven from their home lives.

When I would tell people my livelihood, they would often say, "My, I couldn't ever teach school! Kids today are just awful." Or, "Surrounded by teenagers all day? No thanks!"

Well, somebody has to do it. We can't just send them out there like a pack of wolves every day to fend for themselves. And, as I'm about to tell you, spending your day with young people has perks that no "grown-up" job can offer.

It was the day before Christmas break and everyone was keyed up. You could feel it in the halls. Some were happy to be off for two weeks, and some were not because two weeks at home was something they'd be better off without. Despite what you see on TV, not everyone has a Merry Christmas.

That year, there was a senior named Michael in our school. He had multiple problems, both mental and physical, and came from a disadvantaged economic background. But Michael was as sweet as the day is long. Always happy. Always up. And his classmates loved him.

Now, when I say classmates, I mean all of them: the cheerleaders, the jocks, the bookish, the artsy-craftsy types. Steel Valley students can be a tough crowd, but they do have their moments. As an English teacher, I'm a geek about the language. But I have to say that the dictionaries are wrong by making the first definition of "love" a noun. Love is a verb. And this is why.

Michael had wanted a jacket for Christmas. A Steelers jacket. His own coat was ripped and torn, yet he wore it every day, proudly. He didn't have much in the way of material things, but you could see he had more than most of us in the areas that matter.

Well, the students in Jill Fleming-Salopek's English class took up a collection, unbeknownst to Michael. Soon, it wasn't just that class, but other classes as well. On that day, we gathered in Ms. Fleming-Salopek's room. It was standing room only.

When Michael came in, he was told by some of the students that Santa had come early and that he'd dropped off his present at the school so Michael would be sure to get it. He was so happy. Jumping up and down. Just like we all are (or were) when we didn't care about what others thought or how we looked. When we were just our true, uncomplicated selves.

When they gave him the coat, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Big, thick-necked football players to quiet, unassuming scholars. It was a moment I'll never forget as a teacher or as a human being.

Kids today. Sometimes we should look at their lesson plans.
Elizabeth Spiker lives in Bethel Park (lizspiker@verizon.net).