June 15, 2013
12 Noon to 10:00pm
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
St. Maximilian Kolbe's St. Patricks Day party
Tickets are on sale for the St. Maximilian Kolbe's St. Patricks Day Party on Sunday, March 17th.
Doors open at 11:30, buffet served from 1:30 - 5:30.
Buffet features: Guinness Stew, shepherd's pie, ham & cabbage, penne pasta, chicken, veggies and potatoes. Deserts include scones, shamrock cookies and tarts.
Price is $25.00/ticket, but if you book and pay for a table of 8 by Friday, March 8th, pay only $20/ticket.
Children up to age 10 are $10.00 but cannot be included to get the discounted price.
Tickets are available at the office.
Call the rectory at 412-461-1054 with questions or to reserve your table.
Doors open at 11:30, buffet served from 1:30 - 5:30.
Buffet features: Guinness Stew, shepherd's pie, ham & cabbage, penne pasta, chicken, veggies and potatoes. Deserts include scones, shamrock cookies and tarts.
Price is $25.00/ticket, but if you book and pay for a table of 8 by Friday, March 8th, pay only $20/ticket.
Children up to age 10 are $10.00 but cannot be included to get the discounted price.
Tickets are available at the office.
Call the rectory at 412-461-1054 with questions or to reserve your table.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Dave & Buster's Introduces Ultimate Destination for Sports Fans
New look offers New Sports Viewing, New Food, New Games and New Fun
PITTSBURGH, PA, Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Think you know Dave & Buster's? Think again.
Dave & Buster's, the leader in all-in-one entertainment, is upping the game with the launch of its newly renovated location in Pittsburgh at the Waterfront. Combining massive 15-foot TV screens, a new menu, new games, and top to bottom upgrades, Dave & Buster's is the ultimate go-to game day headquarters for Steelers fans.
Over the past three months, the Pittsburgh Dave & Buster's has been transformed into the ultimate destination for sport enthusiasts, with a new contemporary look and feel. With enormous projection screens and 25 huge HD TV's, Dave & Buster's has dining, sports viewing, and entertainment under one roof.
"Our new look is unlike anything you've seen before, and with new food and new games - no other place has this much fun going on," said Chris Lama, General Manager, Pittsburgh. "We're so excited about the new sports bar, and can't wait to share it with Steelers fans."
Pittsburgh Dave & Buster's guests who are looking for fun are definitely going to find it. Highlights of the changes include:
- Sports focused seating, three 180" projection screens and dozens of additional large TV's
- Signature Dave & Buster's Million-Dollar Midway games such as Speed of Light, Quad Air-Hockey, Connect 4, Fruit Ninja and newly added Doodle Jump
- New menu items including: Poppin' Potatoes, Bistro Steak & Shrimp, Chicken Rockefeller and Snow Cone cocktails
- Mike Prisuta from Steelers Broadcast will be hosting two events at Dave & Buster's during the Steelers game:
- November 17, 2012 at 8 p.m.: Your Home for the Holidays, where a $500 grocery gift card can be won.
- November 30, 2012 at 8 p.m.: Tickets to the 12/9 Steelers vs. Chargers game are up for grabs and additional station prizes!
- November 15, 2012 at 6 p.m.: University of Pittsburgh's Head Basketball coach Jamie Dixon will host his radio show live on location.
- December 4, 2012 at 12 p.m.: Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch and teammates will host the Steelers Toys for Tots Drive for the Marines, where fans have the opportunity to enjoy lunch with the Steelers.
- December 15, 2012 at 8 a.m.: Dave & Buster's will host a breakfast with Santa, allowing children a meet and greet with Santa and all proceeds going to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
The Pittsburgh Dave & Buster's is located at 180 E Waterfront Dr. Homestead, PA - 15120. Hours of operation are 11:30 a.m. - midnight Sunday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday (no minors under 21 permitted after 10 p.m.).
Dave & Buster's also schedules private functions, including corporate events, birthday parties and rehearsal dinners. Find out more at http://www.daveandbusters.com/events/plan-your-event/
About Dave & Buster's
Innovators of the restaurant/entertainment category, Dave & Buster's was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Dave & Buster's now operates 60 large venue, high-volume restaurant/entertainment complexes throughout the United States that offer a food and fun-filled experience to adults and families. The exciting environment of the Dave & Buster's complex contributes to each guest's experience and also provides the perfect setting for corporate and group events. Dave & Buster's is currently updating all of its stores to enhance the TV viewing areas and build a larger sports atmosphere. Each Dave & Buster's offers an impressive selection of high-quality food and beverage items, combined with an extensive array of interactive entertainment attractions such as pocket billiards, shuffleboard, state-of the-art simulators, virtual reality and traditional carnival-style amusements and games of skill. Dave & Buster's emphasizes high levels of guest service in an upscale atmosphere to create casual, yet sophisticated, ideal playing conditions.
SOURCE Dave & Buster's
Published: Monday, Nov. 12, 2012 - 6:10 am
Monday, November 5, 2012
Light-up Night in West Mifflin
Light-up Night in West Mifflin commemorates the kick-off for the Borough’s holiday season.
We are looking forward to a fun-filled night for young and old alike. Holiday music supplied by our outstanding High School Band, a church choir and a DJ will put everyone in the Christmas spirit. Dancing groups, a magician, sports and famous mascots as well as clowns will delight the children as they wait in anticipation to see Santa. Raffles, food, drinks and lots of surprises will be part of the evenings festivities.
To date these are some of the plans for Thursday, November 29, at 6:00 PM; West Mifflin’s night to light up!
So invite your neighbors and come to the West Mifflin Borough Building on Lebanon Church Road for a night of holiday fun.
For more information please call Mayor Kelly at 412-461-1839.
We are looking forward to a fun-filled night for young and old alike. Holiday music supplied by our outstanding High School Band, a church choir and a DJ will put everyone in the Christmas spirit. Dancing groups, a magician, sports and famous mascots as well as clowns will delight the children as they wait in anticipation to see Santa. Raffles, food, drinks and lots of surprises will be part of the evenings festivities.
To date these are some of the plans for Thursday, November 29, at 6:00 PM; West Mifflin’s night to light up!
So invite your neighbors and come to the West Mifflin Borough Building on Lebanon Church Road for a night of holiday fun.
For more information please call Mayor Kelly at 412-461-1839.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
2012 Historic Steel Valley Christmas Parade
Saturday December 1, 2012
12 Noon
For additional information call (412) 461-0667
Friday, September 7, 2012
Carrie Furnaces Tour and Iron Pour
Carrie Furnaces Tour and Iron Pour -- Saturday, September 15th
Tours begin at 9:00 AM and run every half hour through 11:30 AM
The Carrie Furnaces, a National Historic Landmark, were the heart and soul of U.S. Steel's Homestead Works.
Tours begin at 9:00 AM and run every half hour through 11:30 AM
The Carrie Furnaces, a National Historic Landmark, were the heart and soul of U.S. Steel's Homestead Works.
On this self-paced tour, visitors are invited to explore the site at
their own pace. Former steelworkers and docents will be stationed
throughout the site to explain the iron-making process and share their
personal experiences and stories.
For the first time in 30 + years, iron will be cast on site as Rivers of Steel plays host to a Hot Metal iron pour.
For tickets and more information go to: www.riversofsteel.com or Call 412-464-4020 x32
For the first time in 30 + years, iron will be cast on site as Rivers of Steel plays host to a Hot Metal iron pour.
For tickets and more information go to: www.riversofsteel.com or Call 412-464-4020 x32
Monday, May 7, 2012
Family, friends join in as club honors Esper as Homestead icon
Homestead Mayor Betty Esper was honored for her years of service and dedication to the community.
The Harmony Club of Homestead paid tribute to Esper at its Dorothy Lance-Vivian Weems Annual Scholarship Luncheon on Saturday afternoon at St. John's Cathedral Center in Munhall.
Many of the mayor's relatives traveled from as far away as California to join local family, friends and colleagues at the event.
"The biggest surprise was my family coming," Esper said. "When I was out in the lobby, I was looking at people coming in. Then somebody said (tilde)Congratulations.' I thought, (tilde)I don't know what's going on, but something is going on.'"
Her family was hiding in the lounge until KDKA news anchor Brenda Waters, the mistress of ceremonies, announced Esper as the Harmony Club of Homestead honoree.
"Mayor Betty Esper, this is your day," Waters said. "You are being honored today."
Harmony Club member Marlene "Pumpkin" Murphy organized the surprise and presented Esper with the 2012 Best Foot Forward Award for her dedication and ongoing spirit of service and volunteerism.
"She's always there for whoever needs her to be there," Murphy said. "She's been my best friend. She's my mentor. She's my strength when my strength seems weak."
She said no one will ever fill the shoes of "BoBo" Esper.
Esper's nephew Joe Esper, who is a Pleasant Hills councilman, shared some stories of his well-known aunt.
"She did lose an election back in 1993," he said. "We try to forget that. But I remember back in 1993 talking to her and asking what she was going to do now that she wasn't mayor. Her response was that she was going to keep doing the same things that she's always done, but she just wasn't going to have an office to go to everyday. I can guarantee you that she never stopped. She didn't give up"
Joe Esper shared a memory of his aunt introducing him to President Bill Clinton in 1996 when he came to Pittsburgh while running for re-election.
"I'm so proud to be her nephew and of everything she has done," said Robin Robinson, who traveled from Westwood, NJ. "Everywhere I go, I talk about her commitment to her town and family."
"During one's lifetime, there are few opportunities to recognize an individual who has placed a handprint on the lives of her family, her friends and the citizens she was elected to represent," said Denise Kelly, Esper's friend and former Homestead program director.
Esper is a life-long resident of Homestead who began her political career in 1980 as a borough councilwoman, serving in that capacity for 10 years before becoming mayor.
"Mayor Esper has seen her community through the struggling decline of the industrial revolution," Kelly said. "It was during that period that our mayor, like many before her, became a former employee of United States Steel. It was also during that time when she maintained her vigilance during the second renaissance of the borough of Homestead, during the dismantling of the Homestead plant, during negotiations with potential developers and the subsequent birth of our county's most premier destination point, the Waterfront."
She said that, through the mayor's diligence and guidance, Homestead chartered new ground and pulled itself out of Act 47 distressed-community status.
Esper also played a large part in the Homestead High Level Bridge being renamed as the Homestead Grays Bridge in 2002, in recognition of the borough's famous Negro League Baseball team.
"The only reason I wanted to be a mayor is to be out in the public, talk to people and help people," Esper said. "The political part, I hated. I don't even consider myself a politician. I just like doing things for people."
She said mayors get credit for many things by being in the public eye and representing boroughs, but there are many others who come together to get tasks accomplished.
"We get the credit," Esper said. "When people tell me about everything I did for Homestead, I just put my head down because I didn't do it all. You cannot do anything alone."
Lynn Settles, mother of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch, read a letter to Esper from her son.
"I appreciate you helping me become the (tilde)Best of the Batch' as I grew up," Batch wrote. "I also correct the media that I'm not from Pittsburgh; I'm from Homestead. You are the reason for the life of Homestead today. The memories you have given me as a kid and as an adult will last forever."
Former state Sen. Mike Dawida noted a famous Robert Kennedy quote: "Don't ask what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
"Betty Esper has done for Homestead just like he said," Dawida noted.
"On behalf of Barrett Elementary School and community, we salute you," the Homestead school's principal Sharon Fisher said. "We say thank you for the many items you donated to the school and just from being a visible sign of support."
Austin Davis, executive assistant to Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald, presented Esper with a proclamation from the county.
Davis told Esper that Fitzgerald sees her as his "political mother" since he started as an Allegheny County councilman.
Esper received proclamations from state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, and state Rep. Marc Gergely, D-White Oak, honoring her life and accomplishments.
Also at the luncheon, Steel Valley High School student Marlon Brown and West Mifflin Area High School student Erika McDonald were presented with $1,000 scholarships from the Harmony Club of Homestead.
The club was started in 1899 by Anna S. Posey, and originally was called The Ladies Aid of Homestead. It helps local families in need and offers financial support to community organizations.
By Stacy Lee
McKeesport Daily News
Published: Monday, May 7, 2012
The Harmony Club of Homestead paid tribute to Esper at its Dorothy Lance-Vivian Weems Annual Scholarship Luncheon on Saturday afternoon at St. John's Cathedral Center in Munhall.
Many of the mayor's relatives traveled from as far away as California to join local family, friends and colleagues at the event.
"The biggest surprise was my family coming," Esper said. "When I was out in the lobby, I was looking at people coming in. Then somebody said (tilde)Congratulations.' I thought, (tilde)I don't know what's going on, but something is going on.'"
Her family was hiding in the lounge until KDKA news anchor Brenda Waters, the mistress of ceremonies, announced Esper as the Harmony Club of Homestead honoree.
"Mayor Betty Esper, this is your day," Waters said. "You are being honored today."
Harmony Club member Marlene "Pumpkin" Murphy organized the surprise and presented Esper with the 2012 Best Foot Forward Award for her dedication and ongoing spirit of service and volunteerism.
"She's always there for whoever needs her to be there," Murphy said. "She's been my best friend. She's my mentor. She's my strength when my strength seems weak."
She said no one will ever fill the shoes of "BoBo" Esper.
Esper's nephew Joe Esper, who is a Pleasant Hills councilman, shared some stories of his well-known aunt.
"She did lose an election back in 1993," he said. "We try to forget that. But I remember back in 1993 talking to her and asking what she was going to do now that she wasn't mayor. Her response was that she was going to keep doing the same things that she's always done, but she just wasn't going to have an office to go to everyday. I can guarantee you that she never stopped. She didn't give up"
Joe Esper shared a memory of his aunt introducing him to President Bill Clinton in 1996 when he came to Pittsburgh while running for re-election.
"I'm so proud to be her nephew and of everything she has done," said Robin Robinson, who traveled from Westwood, NJ. "Everywhere I go, I talk about her commitment to her town and family."
"During one's lifetime, there are few opportunities to recognize an individual who has placed a handprint on the lives of her family, her friends and the citizens she was elected to represent," said Denise Kelly, Esper's friend and former Homestead program director.
Esper is a life-long resident of Homestead who began her political career in 1980 as a borough councilwoman, serving in that capacity for 10 years before becoming mayor.
"Mayor Esper has seen her community through the struggling decline of the industrial revolution," Kelly said. "It was during that period that our mayor, like many before her, became a former employee of United States Steel. It was also during that time when she maintained her vigilance during the second renaissance of the borough of Homestead, during the dismantling of the Homestead plant, during negotiations with potential developers and the subsequent birth of our county's most premier destination point, the Waterfront."
She said that, through the mayor's diligence and guidance, Homestead chartered new ground and pulled itself out of Act 47 distressed-community status.
Esper also played a large part in the Homestead High Level Bridge being renamed as the Homestead Grays Bridge in 2002, in recognition of the borough's famous Negro League Baseball team.
"The only reason I wanted to be a mayor is to be out in the public, talk to people and help people," Esper said. "The political part, I hated. I don't even consider myself a politician. I just like doing things for people."
She said mayors get credit for many things by being in the public eye and representing boroughs, but there are many others who come together to get tasks accomplished.
"We get the credit," Esper said. "When people tell me about everything I did for Homestead, I just put my head down because I didn't do it all. You cannot do anything alone."
Lynn Settles, mother of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch, read a letter to Esper from her son.
"I appreciate you helping me become the (tilde)Best of the Batch' as I grew up," Batch wrote. "I also correct the media that I'm not from Pittsburgh; I'm from Homestead. You are the reason for the life of Homestead today. The memories you have given me as a kid and as an adult will last forever."
Former state Sen. Mike Dawida noted a famous Robert Kennedy quote: "Don't ask what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
"Betty Esper has done for Homestead just like he said," Dawida noted.
"On behalf of Barrett Elementary School and community, we salute you," the Homestead school's principal Sharon Fisher said. "We say thank you for the many items you donated to the school and just from being a visible sign of support."
Austin Davis, executive assistant to Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald, presented Esper with a proclamation from the county.
Davis told Esper that Fitzgerald sees her as his "political mother" since he started as an Allegheny County councilman.
Esper received proclamations from state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, and state Rep. Marc Gergely, D-White Oak, honoring her life and accomplishments.
Also at the luncheon, Steel Valley High School student Marlon Brown and West Mifflin Area High School student Erika McDonald were presented with $1,000 scholarships from the Harmony Club of Homestead.
The club was started in 1899 by Anna S. Posey, and originally was called The Ladies Aid of Homestead. It helps local families in need and offers financial support to community organizations.
By Stacy Lee
McKeesport Daily News
Published: Monday, May 7, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Sunday Heritage Market at Historic Pump House & Water Tower in the Waterfront kicks off May 6
Blues Guitarist James Wolpert, Franktuary and much more!
Free
weekly event features local artisans, farmers, businesses, and musicians, at
Trailhead
of Great Allegheny Passage in Munhall
Blues guitarist James Wolpert and the Franktuary food truck
will help kick-off the second season of the Sunday Heritage Market at the
Historic Pump House & Water Tower, 880 E. Waterfront Drive, in the
Waterfront May 6. Located at the
trailhead of the Great Allegheny Passage, Rivers of Steel National Heritage
Area is sponsoring the weekly market at every Sunday throughout the summer from
10 AM to 2 PM through September. The
vendor market, which is free and open to the public, is part of the ongoing
effort of Rivers of Steel to promote the cultural heritage of Southwestern
Pennsylvania’s steel industrial history.
Besides Wolpert and Franktuary, vendors for the May 6 Market
include; Galaxy Farms; The Rise Above Bakery; Pitaland; Bulgarian-Macedonian National Educational Cultural Center, Nest
Pottery; Four Direction Jewelry; Knitting by Pam & Donna; Lillian Mary’s
Market; Robin Londino’s Handcrafted Jewelry; Dragon Lady Tie-Dyes, Kyndhaze Clothing; Silent
Lotus Creations, Art by Marcia Furman,
among others.
The Historic Pump House is conveniently located adjacent to
Lowe’s in The Waterfront shopping complex and on a trailhead for the Great
Allegheny Passage. The historic building is also the site of the 1892 Lockout
& Strike that resulted in “The Battle of Homestead.” Cyclists are welcome
to park in the pump house lot near the road or by the water tower, where there
are restrooms available.
The market is held in conjunction with the Pennsylvania
Council on the Arts; the National Park Service and the PA Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources. Enjoy a great opportunity to support local
business, while enjoying good food, music and summer fun with family and
friends!
For more information or to become a vendor, call 412.464.4020,
ext. 46, or email marketlady@riversofsteel.com.
Check out our blog for updates on vendors and entertainment at https://sites.google.com/site/
The Rivers of Steel
National Heritage Area is managed by the nonprofit Steel Industry Heritage
Corporation (SIHC) in partnership with the National Park Service and the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. SIHC works with communities throughout
Southwestern Pennsylvania to identify, conserve, promote, and interpret the
cultural, historic, recreational and other resources associated with steel and
steel-related industries. The goal of Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area is
to use these resources to encourage community revitalization through cultural
tourism, historic preservation, natural and recreational resource development.
Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area encompasses Allegheny, Armstrong,
Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. For more
information visit www.riversofsteel.com
Contact: Sherris Moreira
Director of Marketing
for Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area
###
Sunday, April 22, 2012
PYROTOPIA: Festival Of Fire Arts Coming To Pittsburgh’s Waterfront on Saturday, April 28
Event At The Historic Pump House Will Be The First Of Its Kind On East Coast
PITTSBURGH, PA (March 30, 2012) – Pyrotopia: 1st Annual Festival of Fire Arts will be held from 8pm until midnight on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at The Historic Pump House & Water Tower, 880 E. Waterfront Drive, Munhall, located at Pittsburgh’s Waterfront. The one-day event is free and open to the public.
As the East Coast’s first-ever festival dedicated to fire arts, Pyrotopia will present fire’s diversity of use by artists and celebrate humankind’s primal fascination with fire. Pyrotopia will entertain, enchant and introduce attendees to the use of fire, as well as electricity and light, as artistic media by showcasing artists employing these elements in many ways.
Festival installations and performers will include:
• Flaming Simon, a fire-driven version of the electronic game "Simon" created by Pittsburgh artist and Pyrotopia founder Eric Singer.
• Fiery Flamenco Dancing by Carolina Loyola-Garcia. She will perform “In the Time of Memory” with live musical accompaniment by Jon Bañuelos, James Bond, Luke Savage and Barb York.
• Fire spinners and dancers from Steel Town Fire, Pittsburgh’s premiere fire performance troupe.
• Megavolt Tesla Coil, a six-foot tall Tesla coil created by Pittsburgh engineer Mark Barlow.
• A special ground-effects fireworks show by New Castle’s Pyrotecnico, which orchestrated the dazzling fireworks display at the 2011 Three Rivers Regatta.
• Live demonstrations of fire-related arts, including glassblowing, pewter casting, and plasma torch cutting.
The evening will be co-hosted by jazz chanteuse Phat Man Dee and performance artist Andrew the Impaled. DJ Zombo will play special sets of fire-themed music throughout the night.
Carrie Blast Furnace Lighting
In conjunction with the festival, Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area will illuminate the Carrie Blast Furnace complex across the river from the pump house later in the evening, providing a dramatic backdrop for the event.
Children’s Events on Saturday Afternoon
On Saturday afternoon from noon until 5pm, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Science Center will present special programming for families, including hands-on art projects with Black Light Spin Art and LED Lanterns, and demonstrations showing the science of fire and how fireworks get their color.
Funded by Sprout, Heinz and Grable
Major funding for Pyrotopia is provided by a Seed Award from the Sprout Fund and a Small Arts Initiative grant from the Heinz Endowments. Funding from the Grable Foundation will support daytime educational and DIY arts programming for children, family-oriented activities and promotion geared to bring families to the event.
“Funding from Sprout, the Heinz Endowments and the Grable Foundation will allow us to stage an artistic event that is unprecedented in the area and on the East Coast,” said Eric Singer, festival founder and lead organizer. “The rapid growth and interest in festivals like Burning Man and The Crucible Fire Arts Festival on the West Coast signal a deep fascination with fire used in performance, installation and sculpture. We are creating this festival to unleash Southwestern Pennsylvania's own unique brand of fire art.”
The team producing Pyrotopia is comprised of artists, technologists, producers and other experts with long-term experience in working safely with fire and employing fire in artistic practice.
For more information about the festival, please see www.pyrotopia.net.
About Eric Singer
Pyrotopia founder Eric Singer is a musician, artist, engineer and programmer and the Founder of LEMUR: League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots. He holds a BS in Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon; a Diploma in Music Synthesis from Berklee College of Music; and an MS in Computer Science from New York University. He has over 20 years of experience in the areas of electronic musical instruments, interactive systems, robotics and pyrotechnics. He performs and lectures around the world and teaches a wide range of art and technology subjects. He is known internationally for his software and hardware products for interactive art creation. He founded the NYC Burning Man regional organization in 1998, is a co-founder of the NYC machine and fire arts collective The Madagascar Institute and has taught at the NYU Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) and the Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts.
About The Sprout Fund
The Sprout Fund is a nonprofit organization supporting innovative ideas and grassroots community projects that are catalyzing change in Pittsburgh. Founded in 2001, Sprout is designed to facilitate community-led solutions to regional challenges and supports efforts to create a thriving, progressive, and culturally diverse region. With strong working relationships to many community organizations and regional stakeholders, The Sprout Fund is one of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s leading agencies on issues related to civic engagement, talent attraction and retention, public art, and catalytic small-scale funding. With ongoing local support and continued appreciation by the communities it serves, The Sprout Fund will continue to provide an entry point for young people to become involved and active in their communities and support projects that have the collective power to shape a new culture and vision for the region. For more, see www.sproutfund.org.
About the Heinz Endowments
The Heinz Endowments supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center for learning and educational excellence, and a region that embraces diversity and inclusion. For more information, see www.heinz.org.
About the Grable Foundation
The Grable Foundation's mission is to help children and youth to become independent, caring, contributing members of society by supporting programs critical to a child's successful development. For more information, see www.grablefdn.org.
Contact: Drue Miller, Festival Marketing Director
press@pyrotopia.net
(412) 266-5192
Friday, April 20, 2012
Brush with Greatness: Hanging Out with Bill Campbell
It’s a rare opportunity to come face to face with one of the world’s most brilliant and renowned businessmen and tech gurus.
It becomes extraordinary when you get to share a beer and hear unbelievable stories with said person — all while it goes down in Duke’s Bar in Homestead.
Yup, the Pittsburgh Technology Council brought the infamous Bill Campbell to town as part of its Venture Out series to arm local entrepreneurs with business-building knowledge from the world’s top business minds.
In case you don’t know Bill Campbell, he’s a Homestead native and hero/legend in Silicon Valley. There’s not enough space to review his resume, but the highlights include being on the board of Apple since 1997, a close friend with Steve Jobs, mentored Jeff Bezos and has been running Intuit.
So after a sell-out crowd at the PTC event where his presentation was a mixture of tall tales, business advice and the occasional F-bomb, Campbell gathered an entourage of high school classmates, business associates and other notables, including Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch for a few rounds of beers and a deep-fried, Homestead-style buffet at local watering hole Duke’s Upper Deck on 8th Avenue.
Magazine spreads and pictures of Campbell at various Homestead charity events dotted the walls. While I was talking to Batch about his Best of Batch Foundation (batchfoundation.org) that helps local underprivileged youth and their families, Campbell wanders over and puts his arm around Batch with a Bud Light dangling from his free hand.
Campbell instantly engages me in the conversation and before I knew it, we were talking about Ray Lane of HP and Kleiner Perkins. I was telling Campbell about his presentation in Pittsburgh last year. Campbell gave me an earful about Lane’s investments. As the conversation progressed, I couldn’t believe I was swapping stories with one of the world’s most brilliant technology and business minds. It was quite surreal.
So there I was, smack dab in the heart of Homestead talking to two of the coolest dudes I’ve ever met. I can’t believe that guys like Campbell and Batch would talk so openly and candidly with a pip squeak like me.
Just goes to show you that you can take the man out of Homestead, but you can’t take Homestead out of the man!
Bill is a class act. So is Charlie. Goes to show you that Pittsburghers are solid people and they rarely forget their roots. No BS at all. Bill and Charlie prove it.
So back to Campbell’s presentation earlier in the day. He was pretty adamant about not having media. We convinced him that a little coverage would be a good thing. I almost scored an interview for TechVibe Radio, but five solid, quiet minutes proved impossible.
So I took notes furiously. I wanted to glean a few nuggets of wisdom from his fast-paced presentation. I came away with a few sound bytes for lack of a better term. Here’s what I got:
At the end of his presentation, Campbell was asked about his passion for giving back. He went into a long answer that ended with him choking up just a bit recognizing the work of Batch. I’ll go ut on a limb and end this with a direct quote from Bill:
“I wish everybody would do for their home towns what Charlie does for his!”
http://www.techburgher.com/breaking-news/brush-greatness-hanging-bill-campbell/
It becomes extraordinary when you get to share a beer and hear unbelievable stories with said person — all while it goes down in Duke’s Bar in Homestead.
Yup, the Pittsburgh Technology Council brought the infamous Bill Campbell to town as part of its Venture Out series to arm local entrepreneurs with business-building knowledge from the world’s top business minds.
In case you don’t know Bill Campbell, he’s a Homestead native and hero/legend in Silicon Valley. There’s not enough space to review his resume, but the highlights include being on the board of Apple since 1997, a close friend with Steve Jobs, mentored Jeff Bezos and has been running Intuit.
So after a sell-out crowd at the PTC event where his presentation was a mixture of tall tales, business advice and the occasional F-bomb, Campbell gathered an entourage of high school classmates, business associates and other notables, including Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch for a few rounds of beers and a deep-fried, Homestead-style buffet at local watering hole Duke’s Upper Deck on 8th Avenue.
Magazine spreads and pictures of Campbell at various Homestead charity events dotted the walls. While I was talking to Batch about his Best of Batch Foundation (batchfoundation.org) that helps local underprivileged youth and their families, Campbell wanders over and puts his arm around Batch with a Bud Light dangling from his free hand.
Campbell instantly engages me in the conversation and before I knew it, we were talking about Ray Lane of HP and Kleiner Perkins. I was telling Campbell about his presentation in Pittsburgh last year. Campbell gave me an earful about Lane’s investments. As the conversation progressed, I couldn’t believe I was swapping stories with one of the world’s most brilliant technology and business minds. It was quite surreal.
So there I was, smack dab in the heart of Homestead talking to two of the coolest dudes I’ve ever met. I can’t believe that guys like Campbell and Batch would talk so openly and candidly with a pip squeak like me.
Just goes to show you that you can take the man out of Homestead, but you can’t take Homestead out of the man!
Bill is a class act. So is Charlie. Goes to show you that Pittsburghers are solid people and they rarely forget their roots. No BS at all. Bill and Charlie prove it.
So back to Campbell’s presentation earlier in the day. He was pretty adamant about not having media. We convinced him that a little coverage would be a good thing. I almost scored an interview for TechVibe Radio, but five solid, quiet minutes proved impossible.
So I took notes furiously. I wanted to glean a few nuggets of wisdom from his fast-paced presentation. I came away with a few sound bytes for lack of a better term. Here’s what I got:
- Invest in people, not companies.
- Get the best engineering manager that you can afford.
- Hire big right off the bat.
- Hire a financial person to pick up the loose balls.
- You MUST have complete passion for the product.
- VCs need to help their portfolio companies get better at what they do.
- Tech communities need a strong VC presence to survive.
At the end of his presentation, Campbell was asked about his passion for giving back. He went into a long answer that ended with him choking up just a bit recognizing the work of Batch. I’ll go ut on a limb and end this with a direct quote from Bill:
“I wish everybody would do for their home towns what Charlie does for his!”
http://www.techburgher.com/breaking-news/brush-greatness-hanging-bill-campbell/
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Rivers of Steel looking for Carrie Blast Furnace Volunteers
Have a Pittsburgh steel story to tell?
April 10, 2012
Carrie Blast Furnace set to start 2012 tour season; looking to expand volunteer base
Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, is looking to expand its volunteer base at the Carrie Blast Furnace complex for the 2012 tour guide season. The National Historic Landmark is managed by the steel heritage nonprofit and has been getting a lot of attention in recent months, from appearing on Travel Channel’s “Off Limits” and PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow” to being utilized as a backdrop for music videos and movies.
The only steel site of its kind open to tourists in the Pittsburgh region, the century-old furnace complex was the heart and soul of the US Steel Homestead Works. A tour takes visitors through the whole steel-making process including the Ore Yard, the Car Dumper, the Torpedo Car, the Blowing Engine House, the Hot Stoves and finally the cast house surrounding Carrie Furnace No. 6. Included on the site is the famous “Deer Head” sculpture, an homage to the years of shut down the site has endured since the mid-80s.
Rivers of Steel is looking for volunteers with a connection to Pittsburgh’s steel industry and/or heritage who can not only can interpret our region’s steel story and learn to interpret the Carrie Blast Furnace site but can also share vignettes of their own steel-related experiences. Those interested can attend an informational meeting at 2:30 PM and 5:15 PM Friday April 13 at The Bost Building, 623 E. 8th Ave., Homestead, Pa. For more information, contact Sherris Moreira at 412.464.4020, ext. 46 or email smoreira@riversofsteel.com
The Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area is managed by the nonprofit Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation (RSHC) in partnership with the National Park Service and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. RSHC works with communities throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania to identify, conserve, promote and interpret the cultural, historic, recreational and other resources associated with steel-related industries. The goal of Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area is to use these resources to encourage community revitalization through cultural tourism, historic preservation, natural and recreational resource development. Rivers of Steel National Heritage area encompasses Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. For more information visit www.riversofsteel.com
Contact: Sherris Moreira
Director of Marketing
412.464.4020, ext. 46
smoreira@riversofsteel.com
Find us on Facebook
April 10, 2012
Carrie Blast Furnace set to start 2012 tour season; looking to expand volunteer base
Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, is looking to expand its volunteer base at the Carrie Blast Furnace complex for the 2012 tour guide season. The National Historic Landmark is managed by the steel heritage nonprofit and has been getting a lot of attention in recent months, from appearing on Travel Channel’s “Off Limits” and PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow” to being utilized as a backdrop for music videos and movies.
The only steel site of its kind open to tourists in the Pittsburgh region, the century-old furnace complex was the heart and soul of the US Steel Homestead Works. A tour takes visitors through the whole steel-making process including the Ore Yard, the Car Dumper, the Torpedo Car, the Blowing Engine House, the Hot Stoves and finally the cast house surrounding Carrie Furnace No. 6. Included on the site is the famous “Deer Head” sculpture, an homage to the years of shut down the site has endured since the mid-80s.
Rivers of Steel is looking for volunteers with a connection to Pittsburgh’s steel industry and/or heritage who can not only can interpret our region’s steel story and learn to interpret the Carrie Blast Furnace site but can also share vignettes of their own steel-related experiences. Those interested can attend an informational meeting at 2:30 PM and 5:15 PM Friday April 13 at The Bost Building, 623 E. 8th Ave., Homestead, Pa. For more information, contact Sherris Moreira at 412.464.4020, ext. 46 or email smoreira@riversofsteel.com
The Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area is managed by the nonprofit Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation (RSHC) in partnership with the National Park Service and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. RSHC works with communities throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania to identify, conserve, promote and interpret the cultural, historic, recreational and other resources associated with steel-related industries. The goal of Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area is to use these resources to encourage community revitalization through cultural tourism, historic preservation, natural and recreational resource development. Rivers of Steel National Heritage area encompasses Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. For more information visit www.riversofsteel.com
Contact: Sherris Moreira
Director of Marketing
412.464.4020, ext. 46
smoreira@riversofsteel.com
Find us on Facebook
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Sandcastle Waterpark Announces Dragon's Den as a New Attraction for 2012!
With summer just a few months away, Sandcastle Waterpark is proud to announce Dragon's Den as the newest addition to our family of water slides.
West Homestead, PA (PRWEB) April 04, 2012
Dragon’s Den is the biggest addition to Sandcastle in nearly ten years! "We want to try to keep things fun and exciting for our guests,” says Sandcastle's General Manager Damian Dondero. "This has been a few years in the making and we are excited to add a waterslide that is completely different than any other experience we currently have at Sandcastle."
Dragon's Den will offer guests maximum thrills as they catapult through a dark and mysterious 45 foot tunnel slide, which then plummets them into a 35 foot bowl where they encounter a 9 foot tall dragon that spits mist at its riders. After completing 2-4 revolutions in the mist-shrouded abyss, guests will suddenly disappear from sight, splashing down in a landing pool.
Located adjacent to the Mon Tsunami Wave Pool and behind the Snack Shack, Dragon's Den is a two- person tube slide. Riders must be 48 inches or taller to ride. The slide is manufactured by ProSlide Technology Inc. Construction on the Dragon's Den is expected to be finished in time for opening day of the 2012 season.
Sandcastle is open daily June 9 through August 19. Sandcastle is also open the weekends of May 26-28, June 2-3, Aug 25-26 and Sept 1-3.Gates open at 11AM. Admission is $31.99; senior (55+) and guests 48" and under are $21.99. For Group Sales call 412.464.9931. Experience the excitement of Dragon's Den all summer long with a 2012 Sandcastle Season Pass! Visit http://www.sandcastlewaterpark.com for more information.
Sandcastle is part of the Palace Entertainment family of parks.
Palace Entertainment owns and operates 40 theme parks, waters parks and family entertainment centers nationwide, including Kennywood and Idlewild. Palace entertains millions of guests annually and is one of the largest park operators in the nation.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Carnegie Library of Homestead Spring Cleaning
Hello,The Carnegie Library of Homestead will be having 80 AmeriCorps volunteers at the library this Friday, March 9th to help us with a massive spring cleaning! We will be cleaning almost every room in our building on this date!
If you have any of the following that you could bring to the library to help with the clean up, please bring to the library by this Wednesday.
Rags
Buckets
Dust Pans
Push Brooms
Small Brooms
Scrub Brushes
If you would like any of the items you lend us returned, please put your name on the item.
Thank You!
Emily Salsberry
Library Services Coordinator/Youth Services Librarian
Carnegie Library of Homestead
510 E 10th Ave
Munhall PA 15120
p 412-462-3444
f 412-462-4669
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish Fish Fry
Every Friday12 Noon to 7pm
World Famous Fish Sandwich, Shrimp, Haluski, Pierogies & More.Eat In or Take Out - 412-462-1743
St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish
363 W. 11th Ave,
Homestead, PA 15120
Monday, February 6, 2012
Jack Butler waited a long time to get into the Hall of Fame
How long has Jack Butler been waiting to get into the Hall of Fame?He played his last game in 1959, before 18 of the 32 current NFL head coaches were born, and his eligibility for the Hall of Fame began 48 years ago. In that time Butler watched all but one of the other players who joined him on the NFL’s 50th Anniversary Team go into Canton without ever getting the call. The call finally came on Saturday as Butler was the one Seniors Committee nominee to earn election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“I never thought it would happen, but here I am!” said Butler after getting the news.
Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s article about Butler’s election has some information that makes it even clearer that Butler was playing in a very different football world than the one we live in right now. When he got to the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 1951, Butler was a wide receiver. The team switched his position to defensive end before he finally settled in at cornerback.
by Josh Alper on February 5, 2012, 9:13 AM EST
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Steel Valley development projects detailed
Officials in three boroughs that reap benefits of The Waterfront are trying to drum up support for projects they say will build on the success of the retail complex.
Local and state politicians and development and business representatives on Thursday held a news conference at the West Homestead Borough Building to detail plans for residences and a cultural center expansion, saying they are key to continuing the revitalization of Munhall, Homestead and West Homestead.
"We're trying to link The Waterfront and its success to the business district and the municipalities to rebuild that," said Homestead Council President Drew Borcik, who is also co-chairman of the Steel Valley Intergovernmental Initiative.
The projects would be part of what has been dubbed "The Avenues of the Steel Valley" —Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth avenues — which run through all three towns and hosted a bustling business district before the decline of the steel industry.
Groups, including the Steel Valley Enterprise Zone Corp., are working with government loan and tax credit programs to rehabilitate buildings and attract small businesses, said Chuck Starrett, Enterprise Zone coordinator for the corporation.
One of those efforts is a planned expansion of the Bulgarian-Macedonian National Educational & Cultural Center on West Eighth Avenue in West Homestead.
The 81-year-old organization has outgrown the building it has occupied since 1936 — 22,000 visitors toured the facility last year — so it plans to add a cafe, gift shop and museum space in an adjacent lot, President Patricia Penka French said.
With a $150,000 grant from Allegheny County, the cultural group this fall acquired an adjacent lot with three dilapidated buildings, Executive Director Walter Kolar said. It then used $100,000, three-fourths of which came from a Steel Valley Enterprise Zone loan, to demolish the buildings.
The project's $1.1 million cost, including a $250,000 grant match from the state, would mostly be raised from donors.
French expects ground to be broken in the spring.
North Shore-based developer a.m. Rodriguez Associates Inc. also announced plans to develop One Homestead, which would include a 30-unit apartment building with ground-floor commercial space on Eighth Avenue. The plan also includes 18 townhouses, three loft units, community space and a leasing office in the former post office on Amity Street.
The developer is purchasing the property for $68,000 from the county.
Work on the $12 million project to create the low- and moderate-rent units is contingent upon funding assistance, including $10 million in tax credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency by April, he said.
By Tory N. Parrish, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEWFriday, November 11, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Special Preview Screening of a New "Ghost Hunters" episode called "Ghost of Carnegie"
Ready for a true Pittsburgh-style haunting?
The Carnegie Library of Homestead is featuring a special preview screening of a new "Ghost Hunters" episode called "Ghost of Carnegie" on Saturday, October 29.
Previously aired on the Scfy channel on September 20th, this is a unique opportunity to see it where it happened. The episode, which airs again on the SyFy Channel (Channel 680 on Verizon) at 11 a.m. on Halloween day -- Monday, October 31 -- follows the Ghost Hunters crew as they explore the Library and Music Hall in the middle of the night, and encounter disembodied voices shouting frantically, doors mysteriously closing, books moving by themselves on the Library shelves and the voices of ladies giggling in the basement locker room long after everyone has gone home.
Two screenings will be offered Saturday night, a matinee for families at 4 p.m. and an "after dark" 7 p.m. show.
Special tours of the Library basement, locker rooms, Music Hall and other sites of reported hauntings at the Carnegie Library will take place after the screenings.
Cookies and refreshments for kids will be served, and wine and beer will be available for adults.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and will be available at the door.
Wear your costume for more fun!!
510 E 10th Avenue,
Munhall PA 15120
412-462-3444
www.homesteadlibrary.org
Friday, October 7, 2011
Allegheny Passage trail link under way
Four bicyclists who were about to embark on a five-day Pittsburgh-to-Washington, D.C., ride got a surprise sendoff Thursday from one of the main architects of the Great Allegheny Passage trail.
Jack Paulik, project manager for Regional Trail Corp., was at The Waterfront to monitor the start of work on the newest trail improvement -- a 3,000-foot dedicated bike lane on East Waterfront Drive in Munhall.
The lane will begin near the giant blue Marcegaglia industrial building, hooking directly with the recently opened 3-mile section that goes to Grant Avenue in Duquesne. It will follow East Waterfront Drive past the historic Pump House to near the first apartment building, linking with another trail section that dives behind the apartments and several office buildings and restaurants.
The bike lane will be 9 feet wide to accommodate two-way traffic, Mr. Paulik said. It will be separated from vehicle traffic by a 5-foot-wide buffer strip, marked with delineator poles (sometimes called "candles") every 32 feet. Two 12-foot-wide lanes will be maintained for cars and trucks.
"I don't think anybody's done a bike lane like this in the region," said Linda McKenna Boxx, president of the Allegheny Trail Alliance. "Munhall Borough was phenomenally cooperative."
Restriping the road and installing the delineators and signs should take about two weeks, Mr. Paulik said.
Original plans called for building the trail through the Marcegaglia property, but after prolonged discussions, company executives decided not to allow it, Mr. Paulik said.
Aside from the wasted time, that might have been a blessing -- the cost of the bike lane is about $42,000 (paid for by the Colcom Foundation) while building the trail on the Marcegaglia site would've cost an estimated $400,000. The savings will be invested in other trail improvements.
Completion of the bike lane leaves the one-mile gap across the Sandcastle Waterpark and Keystone Metals sites as the only incomplete piece of the Great Allegheny Passage. Progress has been made on design and financing for that section and construction on the Sandcastle property may begin this fall, Mr. Paulik said.
The last piece will be finished sometime next year, but with federal Transportation Enhancement funding in the mix, the project is subject to a complicated review process that makes it difficult to give a specific completion date, he said.
The bicyclists, all from Frederick, Md., were making their first ride on the passage, which goes from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Md., where it meets the C&O Towpath to connect to Washington.
They delayed the start of their trip by a few minutes to get a preview from Mr. Paulik of the scenic new trail section connecting The Waterfront to Duquesne, and to have their picture taken with him.
"Your money's done good work," said Gaye Eckenrode, who was joined by friends Megan Miller, Randy Austin and Jeff Austin for the ride.
Friday, October 07, 2011
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11280/1180307-455-0.stm#ixzz1a9CqSmo3
Monday, October 3, 2011
Quick Getaway for Fall
• What to do: The scenery changes dramatically along a new leg of the Great Allegheny Passage that officially opened in June in Homestead and connects with a well-marked existing bike route to Boston -- a round trip of roughly 24 miles. It brings riders up close and personal to Pittsburgh's industrial heritage -- U.S. Steel Edgar Thomson Works, Braddock Locks and Dam on the Monongahela, warehouses and rail yards -- and transforms into bucolic trails at Boston (where you can continue on to Washington, D.C., if you want).
• Where to start: Anywhere in the Waterfront complex in Homestead, but many park at the Pump House lot, across from Lowe's Home Improvement store. You'll have a short ride on the sidewalk before reaching the paved bike trail.
• What to see: You'll cross a new 170-foot-long bridge in Whitaker over six sets of active train tracks, then follow the trail behind Kennywood's rollercoaster and Pit Fall. In Duquesne, you'll cross a 110-foot-long span in the RIDC industrial park and then another bridge over the Mon into McKeesport. The route follows the shoreline then turns off the bike trail, over active railroad tracks and into town. Follow the white bike symbols on the sidewalk on Lysle Boulevard. A Great Allegheny Passage sign at the McKeesport Municipal Building on Lysle invites cyclists to use the restrooms there. The route follows along Gergely Riverfront Park and you'll pick up the bike trail again to cross the Albert V. "Bud" Belan Bridge (15th Street Bridge) that connects McKeesport with Port Vue and Liberty over the Youghiogheny River.
On the other side, cross Liberty Way (be careful with the traffic -- this is the busiest spot you'll cross) and follow the route on lightly traveled River Ridge Road (we never saw a car on it) and connect once again to the bike trail. You'll soon pass through Dead Man's Hollow, where the trail along the Yough becomes flat, shaded and beautiful. There are public restrooms on the left at Boston Ballfield Park and farther down the trail bike and kayaking rentals, shops and eateries in Boston
.• Fun factor: Definitely 8, for the back-door peek of Kennywood.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Cultural center in West Homestead starts new season of fundraising sale
Since moving from Iowa to Pittsburgh a year and a half ago, Jim and Susan Graham have been sampling the region's ethnic offerings.
On Saturday, the Greenfield couple stopped by the Bulgarian-Macedonian National Educational and Cultural Center in West Homestead for the opening day of the center's most popular fundraiser -- Soup Sega!, which means Soup Now!
They bought creamy mushroom noodle soup, spicy tomato with dill dumplings soup, and cheeze banitza, bite-size cheese strudels filled with feta and cottage cheese.
Saturday was the start of the nonprofit organization's 13th sale of takeout homemade soup and other foods. The sale is held four days a week and runs until the first week of May.
David Harabik of Munhall plans to stop in weekly for the foods he said he cannot get anywhere else: meatball noodle soup and spinach banitza.
Other soups made from traditional Bulgarian recipes include gluten-free Balkan bean; vegan white bean; spinach and rice; lentil; and potato leek.
A popular vegan soup is spicy African yam, which contains yams, peanut butter, onions, carrots, tomatoes and garbanzo beans.
Other foods for sale include gyuvech, or beef stew with cabbage, green beans, carrots, potatoes, okra and other vegetables; pulneni chushki, or stuffed peppers; yagni, spanak I oris, or lamb with spinach and rice in a savory sauce; and cherry/apple strudels, or layered phyllo filled with a cherry/apple/walnut mixture with cinnamon.
The sale funds about 75 percent of the center's operating costs of roughly $1,500 per month.
Organizers hope that next year customers will be able to dine outdoors in a garden. They plan to create one on 20,000 square feet of adjacent property the organization recently acquired through a $150,000 Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund grant from Allegheny County.
The center also was awarded $250,000 in state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funding, which requires $250,000 in matching funds. Once secured, that funding will be used to construct the garden and a cafe and gift shop at the center building and install a parking lot on the newly acquired land.
Center president Patricia French of Mt. Lebanon, whose parents were co-founders of the center in 1930, said she envisions a daily food sale once the garden opens, with dinner served on weekends.
It was her idea, while brainstorming for a new fundraiser in 1998, to hold Soup Sega!
"I had no idea it would take off like this," she said.
The sale is held 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Bulgarian-Macedonian center at 449 West 8th Ave. The cost of soup is $7 per quart, or $3.50 per half quart. Food items range from $5 to $7 and can be ordered via telephone or online. Weekday orders should be telephoned in advance. Payment is by cash or check only.
More information on the fundraiser and the center: 412-461-6188, 412-831-5101 or www.bmnecc.org.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Margaret Smykla, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
‘Ghost Hunters’ set sights on Homestead haunts
Ghosts at the former Homestead police station are ready for their close-up.
They, along with borough officials, will be featured on the Syfy original series "Ghost Hunters" Wednesday at 9 p.m. Eastern.
Homestead police Chief Jeff DeSimone is featured in one of the promos for the episode titled "Ghost of Carnegie."
"Can't wait to see it," he said Monday morning. "I actually found out by accident (when it was airing). I was watching the show last week, and I saw a commercial for this week's show. Lo and behold, there I am on TV."
Crews filmed part of the episode outside the facility near the intersection of Ninth Avenue and Amity Street in May.
Officers were interviewed, and police secretary Vicci Kenna. Kenna was filmed in a place she thought she would never have to return -- the old station's basement.
Paranormal investigators Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson were not at the station during that part of production.
DeSimone said he is not sure what findings will be presented Wednesday.
"It goes to editing and they do whatever. We're just curious to see how the show turned out," he said.
Kenna promised Monday morning that the TV spotlight will not "turn" her "Hollywood."
"I am so ready (for the show)," she said. "They want my autograph now because they figure that afterwards, when I make it big, then I might charge for autographs. I said, OK. I'll never forget where I came from."
Kenna and the chief said the department will not have a viewing party.
"We're gathering at our own abodes," she said.
Another trailer on the show's website, video.syfy.com/shows/ghosthunters, shows investigators using devices and a dog to search for paranormal activity at the music hall in the Carnegie Library of Homestead in Munhall.
Library president Dan Lloyd said the hunters explored the entire facility, including the athletic club, the pool, the boiler room, the main hall, the adult reading room and the music hall.
"They had all kind of equipment set up, listening devices and stuff," Lloyd said.
Staffers reported hearing and seeing unexplainable phenomena. A mysterious death in the pool was reported by the old Homestead News Messenger in November 1899.
According to that report, Robert E. Peebles, 25, died Nov. 28 around 10 p.m. "under mysterious circumstances" and "was found dead in 8 feet of water."
The episode promo online did not show the pool.
Lloyd said he is not sure what they are going to show, but he and library staff are anxious to find out.
"I think it's good," Lloyd said of having the library be part of the show. "It's fun. Some people take it seriously. If that's what they're into, that's fine.
"It gives us an opportunity to tell our story about a pretty historic place. I have friends that watch it religiously. We're all going to be watching it.
"We were going to try to put something together to watch it in the music hall, but we just were so busy with so many other things that we didn't get to do it. I'm sure most of the library people will be watching."
Ghost Hunters is not the first paranormal group to investigate the former police station, which originally was built as a post office. Hauntings Research conducted a study in May 2010 and released its findings in September of that year.
Hauntings Research founder Ed Ozosky said at the time that the jail cells contain a vortex for souls and spirits crossing into and out of the living world.
"I totally lost track of how many people were in there," Ozosky said. "One of the reasons there were so many people is that it literally had an open doorway for spirits to come and go ... (finding) a vortex is very rare."
The Greater Pittsburgh Paranormal Society gathered nearly 30 hours of video and 100 hours of audio at the former police station in 2008.
The recordings reportedly revealed screams coming from the basement and human figures moving about in a locked office.
DeSimone said the Syfy show could be a positive thing for Homestead.
"If nothing else, I look at it as something on the lighter side of life," he said. "It definitely isn't a bad thing. Sure as hell beats somebody getting shot, or a fire, or a murder.
"It's all been a pleasant experience. I made some new friends. I keep in contact with them. They're down-to-earth people. When I talk to them, we don't even talk about ghost investigations."
Even with all of the explorations and findings, the chief remains skeptical about the supernatural activity in his jurisdiction.
"I'm no further ahead in how I felt now than I felt before," he said. "With all the investigations and stuff they've done, I don't believe, I don't disbelieve, I don't know and I still don't know."
Syfy is available for Comcast customers in the Steel Valley, West Mifflin and vicinity on Channel 41; in Monroeville on Channel 60; and in McKeesport, Elizabeth and Irwin areas on Channel 127. On FiOS systems, Syfy is Channel 180; on DirecTV, it is Channel 244, and on Dish Network, it is Channel 122.
By Michael DiVittorio, MCKEESPORT DAILY NEWSTuesday, September 20, 2011
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