Archive for November, 2008

More people hungry, less food available, organizer says

By Margaret Smykla

Rainbow Kitchen Community Services receives most of its food from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, where it is a member agency.

But to completely stock its popular breakfast program, food pantries and Kids Café, the Homestead kitchen also must rely on donations.

In tough economic times, however, people are less willing — or able — to give even though the number of those seeking assistance grows.

“There is less food available, yet more people needing it, so we have to stretch what we have,” said Donna Little, executive director.

Rainbow Kitchen is a nonprofit that seeks donations year-round to help low-income individuals and families.

Its next effort will be the annual Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, which is open to everyone. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rainbow Kitchen, 135 East Ninth Ave., Homestead.

[ Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08331/930739-55.stm ]

By Karen Zapf
TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Arson caused a fire in a second-floor classroom at West Mifflin Area High School, the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office said Monday.

West Mifflin police Chief Joseph Popovich criticized the district for waiting 3 1/2 hours to notify police about the fire.

“The school board needs to address the issue of notifying the proper authorities when something happens,” Popovich said. “They need to reinstruct their staff on the proper procedures and protocol when there’s a fire in a school.”

Popovich said a janitor discovered the fire around 3 a.m. Monday. Janitors work in shifts and are in the school at all hours.

[ Full story available at: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_599983.html ]

Thursday, November 20, 2008
By Mary Niederberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The economy is down and bus routes have been reduced, but officials at Century III Mall are keeping their fingers crossed for a healthy holiday shopping season.

Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department announced that retail sales dropped by 2.8 percent in October, the largest amount on record, with sales of everything from autos to furniture to clothing taking a hit.

One week earlier, the Port Authority announced that it was cutting bus service to Century III Mall, starting Sunday, potentially keeping shoppers away from the West Mifflin complex, which already is dealing with some 30 empty storefronts.

[ Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08325/929199-55.stm ]

By MICHAEL DIVITTORIO
Daily News Staff Writer

Director Mike Altman has lots of faith in this year’s crop of Steel Valley drama students.

He’s challenged them to perform “Hedda Gabler,” often called “the female Hamlet,” a play rarely performed at the high school level.

“It’s rare for a high school to tackle such a staple of the theatrical canon,” Altman said. “It’s not something you would normally see at a high school. Some would tackle Shakespeare, and do it badly, (rather) than tackle this.”

The classic realist drama explores the aristocratic Hedda Gabbler’s motivations for marrying middle-class academic George Tesman, who not only is below her station but is hopelessly uninteresting to her.

[ Full story available at: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20201813&BRD=1282&PAG=461&dept_id=182115&rfi=6 ]

By Craig Smith
TRIBUNE-REVIEW

West Mifflin Council is considering installing a metal detector at the entrance to its second-flood chambers at the borough building.

“I think it’s just a precaution. Why wait for something to happen?” said council President William Welsh.

Council members said the idea to install the detector is not in response to any particular threat or incident.

[ Full story available at: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/teenscene/s_599026.html ]