Homestead

Robin Rombach
The 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.

[ Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08346/934272-55.stm ]

By MICHAEL DIVITTORIO
Daily News Staff Writer

Steel Valley School District’s Barrett Elementary students received a slam dunk lesson about character, leadership skills and the importance of an education from some world-famous basketball players.

Harlem Globetrotter legend Fred “Curly” Neal and current Globetrotter Andre “Hot Shot” Branch visited the Homestead school Tuesday afternoon.

The visit was made possible by Sue Hartman, a parent of a first-grader at the school, who entered Barrett in a contest through country music station Y108.

“We’re certainly excited to have them,” Principal Sharon Fisher said.

[ Full story available at: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20217947&BRD=1282&PAG=461&dept_id=182121&rfi=6 ]

Steel Valley school directors got some bad news Monday night when auditors told them the district is not operating with a balanced budget and that a tax increase for next year is a virtual certainty.

Betsy Krisher, a partner with the auditing firm of Maher Duessel, reviewed the firm’s draft audit report for the board’s finance committee and informed the board that it had overspent its general fund budget in 2007-08 by $349,266.

She warned that if a similar scenario exists this year, “you won’t have any fund balance left all.”

To cover the overspending in last year’s budget, the district used money from its fund balance, which now sits at $243,068.

“You have to balance in 2008-2009 or you will be in the red. There is no cushion,” Ms. Krisher told the handful of board members who showed up for the finance committee meeting along with Superintendent William Kinavey and Director of Operational Services Mark Cherpak.

[ Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08339/932497-55.stm ]

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!”

[ Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08336/931924-294.stm ]

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 ]