Homestead

By Mary Niederberger
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Allegheny County Council President Rich Fitzgerald came to the Carnegie Library of Homestead yesterday bearing a significant gift — a $150,000 check from the county Department of Economic Development.

The funds came from a Community Development Block Grant and will be used to begin infrastructure improvements in preparation for the installation of an elevator that will make all three floors of the library, built in 1898, accessible to the disabled, said Library Board President Dan Lloyd. The library is still seeking funding for the elevator.

The grant was the second major gift recently received by the historic library, which is actually located in Munhall. The library board plans to soon renovate and enlarge the children’s and teen area with a $50,000 grant from the Allegheny Foundation and a $10,000 gift from Janney Investments.

The project will enlarge the current 850-square-foot children’s library by about 50 percent, said Mr. Lloyd, who is also a Munhall councilman. He made the announcements at a late-day news conference yesterday at the library.

[ Full story available at: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09050/950267-100.stm ]

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Two Homestead residences were destroyed and two others damaged in a pre-dawn fire today. One resident was treated for smoke inhalation.

The two buildings that were destroyed were a duplex at 344-346 E. 11th Ave. and the house behind it at 1106 McClure Ave.

A resident of 344 E. 11th Ave, identified as Patricia Hoston, was taken to UPMC Mercy for smoke inhalation. That was the only reported injury.

About eight people had to be evacuated from four houses after the fire started after 6 a.m. Initial indications from fire officials is that the fire was ignited by a candle.

[ Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09046/949379-100.stm ]

By The Tribune-Review

The Carnegie Library of Homestead has received a $50,000 grant from the Allegheny Foundation for the renovation and expansion of the children’s library, Dan Lloyd, president of the library’s board of directors announced Wednesday.

The Allegheny Foundation, chaired by Tribune-Review owner Dick Scaife, has invested more than $800,000 in the Homestead Library over the past two decades. The library has served residents of Homestead, Munhall, West Homestead and Whitaker since 1898.

[ Full article available at: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_611345.html ]

By Michael Divittorio
Daily News Staff Writer

Homestead officials have agreed on a settlement proposal which would change the Steel Valley School District’s board of director’s election system.

Advertisement
Currently, all nine school board members are elected at-large. That could change by the end of this month. The proposal establishes three voting districts, with one seat elected from each district and six at-large.

Homestead council unanimously approved the settlement at Thursday night’s meeting. Council Vice President Lynette Mariner, Councilwoman Susan Titmus and councilmen Jonathan Stewart, Donald Purifoy and the Rev. Donald Turner were present and voted in favor.

Those absent were President Drew Borcik and councilors Jack Myers, Marvin Brown and Georgianetta Miller. Turner said a prayer after the Pledge of Allegiance for Borcik, Myers and Miller, who were dealing with health issues. There was no explanation given for Brown’s absence.

[ Full story available at: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20237816&BRD=1282&PAG=461&dept_id=182121&rfi=6 ]

Public Works Changes Traffic Pattern Due To Construction

The Allegheny County Public Works Department is changing the traffic pattern near the Rankin bridge because of construction.

The Rankin bridge underpass is now closed, so all traffic heading toward Homestead is being re-routed through a signal intersection and that’s adding big delays.

This is all necessary so contractors can replace the Rankin bridge in sections.

[ Full story available at: http://www.wpxi.com/news/18415405/detail.html ]