Neville Island's Commissioners spent most of their March meeting discussing the usual street and road projects and other routine township business. But the highlight of the meeting came when two historical artifacts were gifted to the township.

Mark Selzer (photo, right) presented the first one in honor of his father, Ed Selzer, long time Neville Police Chief who recently died. Ed had acquired one of three copies of the original deed to the island. At the end of the American Revolution, the new nation had no money but unlimited land, so it paid its soldiers in land grants. General William Irvine had been Commander of Fort Pitt, and later was assigned by George Washington to command the army during the Whiskey Rebellion in what is now Washington County. In 1787 he was paid for his services with the land grant for what was then known as Montour Island and is now Neville Island. As was the custom of that time, officials hand wrote three copies of all documents. The other two copies of this deed are in the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg and the Smithsonian Institute. The framed copy Mark Selzer presented to the Commissioners includes the deed in a hinged inset, which can be opened to reveal the back side, where Ben Franklin's signature is clearly visible.

Franklin at the time was President of the Pennsylvania Colony and signed all land grants. Unfortunately, state boundaries were still being established, and Virginia also claimed what is now Allegheny, Washington and Greene Counties. Virginia had granted Charles Simms the same island (which they called Long Island), also for military service. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Simms, since his grant had the earlier date. Simms later transferred his ownership to his business partner, John Neville. After his home in Washington (Pa.) was burned to the ground in the Whiskey Rebellion, Neville built a home on the island and lived there until his death in 1803, which is why it was named for him and not Irvine or Simms. The deed will be hung in a prominent location.

The other artifact was a 1932 Commissioner's Badge (photo, left) donated by Barbara Shuty. Commissioners no longer receive such badges. This one belonged to Andrew Glinka, Shuty's husband's grandfather.

In routine business, the Commissioners discussed the Riverfront Park, the Gibson Avenue Traffic Light Project, and the poor condition of several catch basins. Storm sewers will need repaired as soon as weather allows. The Police Report showed 196 calls and 28 citations. The Comnmissioners approved purchase of a Toro Zero Turn 60" lawn mower for $11,207.79. Neville Green will host the 2023 Earth Day Litter Clean Up on Saturday, April 22, from 9 - noon. The street sweeping program will resume Wednesday, April 5. Numerous residents complained about a pack of Huskies terrorizing the First Avenue neighborhood, attacking, badly wounding, and sometimes killing pet dogs and cats. Police have issued citations but the owners ignore court dates and refuse to confine their dogs.

In March, Coraopolis Boro Council awarded a $422, 940 contract to Niando Construction Co. to redo Chestnut Street and its water line. Grants from Columbia Gas and other sources will reduce cost to the Boro to $225,000. Council agreed to look into fencing and improvement of the Ridge-Route 51 intersection (right), eliminating the unsightly row of concrete blocks, cones, tape and signs greeting drivers as they enter town. The Ridge Avenue entrance to Route 51 was closed several years ago after a series of accidents. Oncoming high speed traffic, which includes buses and heavy trucks, cannot be seen around a bend (to the right of this photo). Council allocated $20,000 for sealing cracks in the pavement of numerous streets in town. The Police report showed 949 calls, 225 complaints, 74 investigations, 13 arrests, $1500 in stolen property recovered, and eight alarms. The Fire report showed 12 calls. Council approved $214, 113.09 in monthly invoices, and $133, 023, 77 in payroll. Members approved the application for a $300,000 State DCNR Park Development Grant, which would allow work to continue on the new Riverfront Park. $700 was given to the VFW to help with expenses of the Memorial Day Parade. Robb Cardimen urged Council to take action on repair or replacement of the 134 year old School Street waterline. Looking ahead, volunteers are needed April 1 to plant trees along the new Ferree Street Steps.

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As Spring 2023 approaches, Neville Island's riverfront park is coming into much better focus. The park site, located behind the Speedway Station next to I-79, borders the water and will be a passive use park. That means it will not have playground equipment or athletic courts or fields. It will have paths, benches, restrooms, and a dock for fishing and canoe/kayak launching. The river bank down to water's edge is 45 feet, so steps or a zig zag path will be needed for fishermen and paddlers. There will be no facility for putting a motorized boat in the water and parking will be very limited. Temporarily, portajohns will be necessary until a permament restroom can be built. A structure in the river (see photo, right) will have to be removed. Its original use is uncertain. Old Heinz History Center maps reveal it first appeared in the 1930s but who built it and why is unknown. It was apparently a pumphouse for bringing river water on shore for one of the mills located in that part of the island. There are several similar structures standing along the Ohio River but this one appears in better shape than the others, with its roof, windows and sides still intact. The railroad has finally agreed to grant an easement for a road to the park. The road will come in alongside Speedway. Neville has the grants needed, so now the Environmental Study must be completed. Preliminary inspection of the soil indicates the presence of arsenic and other industrial chemicals, so, just as Robert Morris and the River Hounds had to do, a top layer of soil will have to be removed and a seal built with clean soil placed on top of the seal. Some preliminary bulldozing has already occurred. Much of the site now is in thick brush and scrub trees.

The Commissioners approved a new ordinance placing much stricter controls on utility companies or anyone else "opening" a street or road surface to work on submerged lines and then repaving the surface. This is a rewording of Part II Chapter 283 Article II. This was necessary because often a solid street surface was removed and replaced with a series of patches not nearly as good as the original surface.

Members of Neville Green expressed regrets that they were not notified in advance of the removal of the Silver Maple from Cottage Park so they could conduct a ceremony for the tree, the oldest and largest Silver Maple in Allegheny County. NG members informed the Commissioners that they wanted to work with them in planting a replacement tree.

Earth Day activities will be held Saturday, April 22. Details will be announced in March.

Kevin Edwards

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19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Coraopolis Borough Council spent its two February meetings examining several infrastructure issues.

The first one is an ongoing study of downtown parking. Allison Marine has been heading a committee to explore the subject. Including parking meters, permits and tickets, Cory earns $50,000 annually from parking. But the meters are outdated and are currently nonfunctional, so this is the time to decide what to do. Eliminating parking meters is a possibility, to compete with free parking at malls. But people would leave their cars parked all day and ride the bus into Pittsburgh for work or shopping, so Cory shoppers would have nowhere to park. The committee has asked for bids from parking meter companies and has received five proposals. Each company would conduct a several month survey and then recommend a course of action. Where to place meters, how much to charge, whether to charge 24-7 or only on certain days or at certain hours, all need decided.

Robb Cardimen raised the problem of Cory spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on milling and paving streets only to have them torn up by utility companies to service utility lines. The worst offender is the water company. Cardimen proposed that from here on, no new milling or paving be done on a street until the old water lines have been upgraded and any other utility lines checked and upgraded if necessary. Cory isn't the only community with this problem. Neville Island Commissioners discussed the exact same issue at its recent meeting.

Rudy Bolea observed that the Fifth Avenue Gazebo is in bad shape and needs repaired or replaced before it collapses and hurts someone.

Cardimen addressed the hiring crisis the borough faces. One public works job in particular has been open for 400 days. No one wants a manual labor job anymore. People want office or supervisory work. Cardimen reminded the Council that Cory has been lucky with a light Winter because it is short of snowplow drivers.

The Montour Street-State Avenue intersection is receiving new traffic lights and sidewalks (photos above and left). The new sidewalks will include ADA ramps and the new lights will incude a pedestrian controlled crosswalk light.

The Library air conditioning and ductwork are being updated, new carpeting is being installed, and the trim is being updated.

The Police Report showed 1039 calls, 116 investigations, 14 arrests, $1000 in stolen property recovered, 16 moving violations, and eight alarms.

Council approved purchase of a new 2023 Ford Explorer Police Utility AWD Interceptor.

The contract with Waste Management was renewed. The Hazardous Waste option is again included, which covers paint, garden chemicals, auto products, batteries, items containing mercury, and electronic items.

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marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

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At their January 2023 meetings Neville Commissioners approved the removal of a huge Maple tree (photo, right), grinding of the stump, and trimming of a Cherry tree at the north end of Cottage Park, at a cost of $6800. The Maple tree has died. It was one of the largest, oldest Maples in Allegheny County, according to the County Arborist's Office.

As sections of Grand Avenue have been repaved, yellow lines have disappeared. They need to be repainted.

Trucks are once again becoming a problem on First Street as they block traffic while unloading.

The township will apply for a $269, 11.00 PennDot grant for the replacing of traffic lights at the Neville Road - Gulf Road intersection. If Neville receives the grant it will have to match it with $67, 278.00.

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Coraopolis Borough Council began 2023 by approving various appointments and service agreements for another year. Council also honored longtime Cory resident Orlando Falcione, who recently died, and dealt with the usual infrastructure issues.

The appointments included positions on the Water & Sewage Authority for five year terms, Michael Harris as Director of the Zoning Hearing Board, David Demaree as Director of Civil Service, Karl Groom as Commissioner of the Shade Tree Commission, Michael Engel as Director of the Ambulance Authority, and Jeff McBain as Vacancy Board Chairman, and Michael Harris as Director of the Property Maintenance Appeals Board. Council also approved two Directors on the Memorial Library Board, and Ray McCutcheon as as Director of the Sanitary Authority Board.

Falcione (photo, right) was a Renaissance Man for Coraopolis. He was an honor student and star football, basketball and baseball player at Coraopolis High School, then attended Juniata College on a football scholarship. He spent four years in the Navy and returned to Cory to serve as teacher, coach, Principal and Superintendant, earning graduate degrees at Duquesne, West Virginia and Robert Morris. Simultaneously he served on Council for a decade and as Mayor for several terms. Even in his eighties he was still filling roles on various Boards and Committees. Falcione achieved local fame for his homemade wine and sausage and founded a charity golf tournament that has continued for 50 years.

Council approved the acquisition and disposition of the vacant property at 735 Sixth Avenue. It also approved the continuing Waste Management contract, including the electronics waste pickup provision.

Members also approved partial payment to Avelli Construction Company for $45,810.00 for the Main Street project. $97,000 is still withheld by Council until final insopection and approval of the work is completed.

Upcoming in 2023 will be major reconstruction and stream stabilization along Brook Street, which lies "down in the hollow" along McCabes Run.

Invoices for $189,989.55; payroll for $225,880.45 and the annual $600.00 contribution to the Valley Ambulance Authority were approved.

Several members explained how parking on Fleming Street between Ridge Avenue and Vance Avenue has become a problem. People are parking on both sides, blocking pedestrian access to the sidewalks and firetrucks and ambulances from getting down the street. Council discussed the possibility of painting one side yellow. Ed Pitassi pointed out that people parking on sidewalks on both sides of narrow streets is a widespread problem, especially on Neely Heights in the Wood and Main area.

Council also discussed the problem of a dumpster set on Neely Heights, apparently for a roofing project. It blocks emergency vehicles and the salt truck from getting through. There is a driveway it could be set on.

Purchase of a new Ford F150 truck with plow, stainless steel bed and salt spreader was approved. The basic truck costs $65,450. With the complete package it will cost $105,000. Council also approved a $40,400 Ford Explorer with Police Interceptor outfitting.

Councilman Robb Cardimen brought up the problem of utility companies digging up brand new streets which Council has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to remill and repave.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon announced that Cory has received a $298,000 grant to replace the 4th & Watt Street traffic lights. So all 4th Avenue lights will now be new. He added that the Borough had income of $6 million 580,000 in 2022 and is in solid financial condition.

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Coraopolis Borough Council ended the 2022 year the same way they began it --- by discussing infrastructure. But 30 minutes before the December 16 meeting, a special session was convened. It was a Conditional Use Hearing, complete with attorneys and a stenographer. Its purpose was to approve a new business in Coraopolis, a combination tobacco shop and game room to be called "Smoke & More." Pool tables and gaming machines will be installed. Although tobacco will be sold, no smoking will be allowed on the premises. Complementary alcohol slushies will be served to patrons but no other alcohol will be served. The establishment will employ five, all to be Coraopolis residents. $30,000 in renovations will be done before the business opens. No loitering will be allowed in or in front of the building. Afrter 20 minutes of questions Council agreed to render a decision at its January meeting.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon announced that the work on Riverfront Park has begun (photo, right) and will proceed as weather permits.

The Police Report revealed 1138 calls, 231 complaints, 71 criminal investigations, 11 arrests, $20,000 in stolen property recovered, and 16 motor vehicle violations.

Council was informed that Amore, Cory's nine year old police dog, is ill and needs surgery. He will probably be forced to retire. The Police Department is requesting approval to purchase a replacement, Oscar, who is now in training.

The Fire Department answered 11 calls within the last month.

Council approved a $142,790.60 payroll and $266,621,29 in invoices. It approved a 2023 millage rate of $12.5 mills. And it also approved a 2023 General Fund Budget of $6 million, 677 thousand, 420.00.

Then Council approved payments of $262,737.00 to Avelli Construction Company for Main Street and $237, 259.12 to El Grande for Pine Alley.

But members were not happy. They have received many complaints from residents about the roughness of the Main Steeet pavement (photo, above) and about rain puddling on Pine Alley (photo, right). Council members drove Main Street and agreed it was rough. But part of the roughness is the "scoring," seen above, a process of lining new pavement to help tires grip it during rainy, snowy or icy weather. Scoring is now required. A "roller," which meaures variance, was run over the three block stretch. A variance of 1/4 inch is allowed. Nowhere did Main Steeet exceed the 1/4 inch variance. A "grinder" could be used to smooth out any undulations but would cost $30,000. There is still a $90,000 payment to make in 2023, so the Borough Solicitor and Engineer advised Council to pay this bill and see if the surface smooths out with use.

Pine Alley is the most important alley in town, running for six blocks from Ferree Street to Main Street. It is used by businesses for deliveries, by churches, and by Sanvito Funeral Home. It had become rutted and pot holed. To solve the puddling issue parts of it were regraded.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Neville Island's Commissioners closed out the year with two meetings at which they announced their annual Tree Lighting and Home Decorating Contest, approved various street and road projects, approved the 2023 budget, and discussed the ongoing Riverfront Park development.

The Tree Lighting was held Saturday, December 10. With the community gradually recovering from COVID, it was once again an in person event. There was music by a disc jockey, hot chocolate and cookies served by members of Neville Green, and the first 50 childeren received gift bags.

Judging for the annual Deck The Island Holiday Decorating Competition will begin on December 10th and continue through Sunday, December 25th (Christmas Day). Residents can enter simply by decorating their homes or businesses.

The Commissioners discussed the problem of utility companies digging up a street or road to reach their lines, then filling it in and repaving it in a condition not matching the surrounding pavement. This has become an especially aggravating issue when the Island has just spent hundreds of thousands of dollars redoing a street expecting it to last several decades, then it's dug up in several places and cheap patches are laid down, which weaken the overall surface and shorten the lifespan of the street. The Commissioners authorized the Township Solicitor and Manager to begin work on new standards for resurfacing a street when a portion of it has been removed or damaged. These new standards will be written into the Township's regulations under Chapter 283 Article 11.

Mrs. Dorothy Antonelli, President of Neville Green, was recognized for her efforts as a volunteer to beautify and improve the Island. She was presented a plaque and spoke to Council briefly.

The Commissioners approved a major work project on Utah Street, to include updating the water line and milling and overlaying the full width of the street in asphalt. The project will cost $110,000 but grants cover much of that. Neville's share will be $45,000. Utah Street runs between Grand Avenue and the Ohio River near the Interstate exit ramps.

Applications are being submitted for replacement of the waterline and repaving of Riverside Place. Riverside Place runs along the river two blocks south of Grand Avenue, bordering the brick apartments.

The Police Report indicated 162 calls for the month.

A meeting with Columba Gas officials is planned to coordinate street and road work and utility line work.

The Solicitor reported that demolition of derelict property is in progress.

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marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

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The Neville Island Board of Commissioners at both their November meetings struggled with the rising cost of sewage service. AlCoSan (The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority) has informed Neville its sewage rates will be increasing 7% per year for at least the next five years and probably will continue to rise beyond that. With a high percentage of older residents and low income residents, and inflation already a burden for most, the idea of this steep a rate increase seems unacceptable for the Commissioners and Township Manager Jeanne Creese. But they could find no alternative.

"We've spent $5 million on new sewer lines," Creese pointed out. "In 2013 our annual payment to AlCoSan was $80,000. This year it is $200,000. And they're saying by 2028 it could be $300,000? We can only increase rates so high. If we have any serious repairs we're going to be in serious trouble."

Neville is already using its reserves to avoid raising rates but can't continue doing that. There are no grants to help with utility rates. The Department of Environmental Protection keeps adding regulations which increases costs. AlCoSan serves 83 communities plus the city and is replacing 150 year old lines, which is expensive.

Neville explored building its own treatment plant but the cost would be prohibitive. It considered moving from AlCoSan to a neighboring community like Coraopolis or Robinson, but the cost of building pipelines across the river and to those facilities would be prohibitive.

So Neville is caught in the middle, and will have to raise rates.

In other news, Sheetz is planning to have work done on its 12" line, which will require a significant water service shutdown. A meeting will be held to work out the details.

Columbia Gas has notified Neville that it plans significant gas line work in 2023, much of it requiring tearing up streets the Township just paved at great expense. Usually when work like this is done, CG leaves a patchwork of newly redone sections. "But," Creese pointed out, "those new patches are weak. Each patch is liable to need work in a few years, rather than the pavement lasting 20 years like we intended."

A meeting will be held with Columbia Gas to discuss this issue.

The railroad is not cooperating on the Riverfront Park issue. It has declined to give Neville the narrow strip of abandoned right of way behind the Sheetz Station, and it declines to sell it, because it might want to restore tracks at some future point. The railroad wants Neville to install a signalized grade crossing in order to build a road across the abandoned right of way to the new park.

"Do you realize how absurd this is?" Creese demanded. "That track was torn up 50 years ago. Are we really talking about putting in a flashing light and crossing gate for a strip of grass??" The railroad's other proposal was to build a tunnel under the right of way, which everyone saw as equally ridiculous. So negotiations will continue.

The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 10 from 6-8 pm. A DJ, gift bags, children's entertainment and food truck with free coffee, hot chocolate and cookies will be there.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Council also approved the purchase of a $21,857.45 Polaris Ranger. The Ranger shown at right is not the exact vehicle the borough would acquire, but is close. Its Polaris would come with a winch and snowplow in front and a salt spreader on a bed in the rear. The Polaris would be used on sidewalks, parking lots, and other small areas where a full sized truck is not particularly effective. Money for the Polaris is now available because a new truck was budgeted but will not be available for purchase due to parts and supply line issues.

The Coraopolis Community Development Corporation is still requesting that it be allowed a 6" depth to Neville Alley at its Mill Street Station. However, Cory Solicitor Richard Start repeated that the law clearly requires a 10" depth.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon pointed out that as construction begins at Riverfront Park, surveillance cameras are needed, and should be connected to police dispatchers.

The first phase of the Riverfront project will include an amphitheater, pavilion, restrooms and parking. It is set for completion June 1, 2023 at a cost of $650,000.

Work continues on Main Street (photos at left and below) and crews are racing to complete the project before bad weather closes in. The photo below shows pavement done and final touchup proceeding. The photo at left shows work at the bend in progress. The section shown here in the foreground has since been completed. The work in the background, starting up the steep hill, is still in progress and is the final section. Neighbors have mixed feelings about the project. Many older residents regret losing the iconic brick streets Coraopolis was famous for, but are also happy to have a new, smooth street that will not have the buckling and maintenance issues the bricks had.

McCutcheon reported that 99% of 2022 taxes have been collected and the Borough is in good shape financially.

The Police report showed 1115 calls, 11 alarms gone off, 13 accidents, 44 moving violations, 134 investigations, 13 arrests and $500 in stolen property recovered.

The Fire report showed 15 calls and four joint calls with Neville and Kennedy.

A sinkhole has occurred in Pine Alley and is being dealt with.

George Clyde of Chestnut Street reported a colony of 12 Raccoons which were causing problems in the neighbor- hood.

Council approved invoices totalling $236,947.01 and a payroll totaling $132,951.32.

Robb Cardimen reminded Council that work done last year on Edgewood Avenue, Devonshire Road and DiVito Alley still has cracks in it and the company should not be paid until those are repaired.

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Neville Island has received three grants totalling almost a million dollars toward the creation of a riverfront park adjacent to the I-79 bridge. State Senator Wayne Fontana and State Representative Anita Kulik were instrumental in the procuring of these grants. Planning and design will begin immediately, including efforts to resolve the long standing stalemate over the railroad right of way which must be crossed to gain access to the riverfront property. As can be seen in the photo at right, the tracks were taken up long ago but the railroad retains ownership of the strip of land in case a new industry moves in and it wants to lay new tracks and once again provide service. The park will include trails, benches, picnic tables, fishing access and docks for launching of rowboats, canoes and kayaks. The park will not offer facilities for power boats.

In other business at its two October meetings, Island Commissioners set Trick or Treat for Thursday the 27th from 6-8 pm and voted to apply for grants for Pine Road and Idaho Avenue waterline replacements. Several residents pressed Commissioners to enact rules for street parking of boats and RVs, which, among other problems, block access for fire trucks and ambulances. Removal of the old dead tree at Cottage Park was approved.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Coraopolis Borough Council considered the need for a connecting trail, a CCDC request to occupy Neville Alley, and intrusive dumpsters at its two October meetings. It also set the annual Trick or Treat evening for Thursday, October 27 from 6-8 p.m.

The trail issue was explained by Hollow Oak Land Trust Executive Director Sean Brady (photo, left). Cornell now has a trail network winding around the Cornell School land and, in McCabes Hollow, bordering McCabes Creek. Eventually that network will link to the trail work in Thorn Run Hollow to the west, where Hollow Oak recently acquired 50 acres. The goal is to link to the Montour Trail to the east. To do that, a trail needs to be built climbing from McCabes Hollow up to Montour Street and the Sacred Heart Academy campus, from where it can drop down the hill to the Montour Trail. Three private land owners plus Duquesne Light own tracts of land leading from McCabes Creek up to Montour Street. Brady explained that Hollow Oak would be approaching those land owners, asking if they would allow a trail to be built across their land. The problem is the trail is open to both hikers and bikers (photo below), and many property owners do not want bicycles on their land because they disturb wildlife, erode soil and crush plants, some of which are endangered. Land owners in and adjacent to McCabes Hollow maintain their woods as de facto game preserves. Three herds of Deer, two flocks of wild Turkeys, plus several Hawks, Owls, Wildcats, Fox, Raccoon, Possum, Groundhogs, Rabbits, two dozen species of smaller birds, plus a dozen kinds of Frogs, Toads, Lizards, Salamanders, Snakes, Crayfish and even a small type of fish known as Darters inhabit the Hollow, its springs, streams and ponds, and the wooded hills flanking them. The most likely route for a connecting trail would be up the cleared right of way Duquesne Light maintains below its electric transmission lines. That long strip of land is kept clear of trees. It is mostly high grass, wild berry bushes, briars, weeds and vines. But Duquesne Light has historically discouraged people from using that strip. Whether Hollow Oak can persuade them to allow an official trail on it is questionable. Brady told Council Hollow Oak had just completed a bridge over Montour Creel near Hassam Road and is building a campground near the water treatmnent plant to be used by Montour Trail users.

The Dumpster problem arose because Waste Management Company, which collects the trash in Coraopolis once a week, announced that its large trucks could no longer pick up the dumpsters tucked back in alleys, alcoves and narrow spaces between buildings.

It asked that businesses and residents please bring dumpsters out to the street. But this has led to dumpsters being parked on sidewalks, alley entrances, and even parking lots and parking spaces. Some Council members even brought photos showing dumpsters blocking sidewalks and parking lots. Council members agreed that this could not be tolerated but also understood that large trucks cannot fit into alleys, alcoves and tight corners. Several members agreed to discuss the problem with residents, businessmen and the company.

The two photos below show Neville Alley, a brick street the Coraopolis Community Development Corporation would like to absorb into its Mill Street Station project. The CCDC would like to replace the century old bricks with either concretre or asphalt. But the alley provides access to a business in the middle of the block and that business owner refuses to allow it to be permanently cut off. (It's already been temporarily cut off, as the photos show.) Further, water, storm drainage and sewage lines run below the alley.

IF the businessesman allowed the alley to be cut off, Council would want the CCDC to meet standard street requirements of 10" thick pavement and a curb along the alley. The CCDC wants only a 6" pavement and no curb. Meanwhile, work continues on the station itself and the area between the station and the railroad tracks.

Duquesne Light has announced an old kitchen appliance buyback for refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, micro waves, freezers and other items. They will pick up the appliances and haul them away for no charge. Duquesne Light is urging all customers to replace their old energy innefficient appliances with new much more efficient models.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon reminded Council of skyrocketing prices. For example, new Christmas wreaths are needed and will cost $20,000. Street and road work is costing significntly more than even six months ago.

McCutcheon also said many new businesses in Cory still have no occupancy permits.

In his monthly police report, Chief Ron Denbow cited 1177 calls, eight alarms, 109 criminal investigations, $1000 of stolen property recovered, 13 accidents, two injuries, 187 moving vehicle violations, and 9 vehicles towed.

Fire Chief Charles Spencer reported 18 calls (including Neville and Kennedy) and 109 hours. He noted that the Department answered a call to the old P & L.E. RR switch tower. He also pointed out that the new Countywide 911 number is working fine.

Mayor Michael Dixon declared this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. He also informed Council of the Shop With A Cop program, in which local children get to shop at Dick's Sporting Goods with Cory policemen.

Council approved payment of $134,691.74 to the General Municipal Pension System, $26,865.09 to the Coraopolis Volunteer Fire Department Relief Fund, $213,670 to the Police Pension Plan, $259,792.43 for October invoices, and $130,909.83 for the October payroll.

Members of the audience asked about Noise and Safety laws in the Boro and whether these could be enforced more strictly, about neighborhood parking regulation, and about the high cost of construction or renovation permits.

George Mihalyi reported that four trucks of salt have arrived, and that leaf pickup will be October 17th - November but reminded residents NOT to rake their leaves onto the street. Only rake them to the front.

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Coraopolis Borough Council used its September meetings to cover a long list of projects and activities.

One of the most visible and dramatic was the demolition of the Garden House (photo, right), the home of the Coraopolis Community Development Corporation's Food Pantry and other activities. The century old building was originally a residence and was not in good condition. The CCDC received Council approval to construct a new building there specifically designed to house offices for its various activities. The Community Garden directly behind the Garden House was not affected and continues to serve as one of the sources for the Food Pantry.

Council approved grant requests for $200,000 for a new Salt Storage Facilitty and $230,000 for the Ridge Avenue Tot Lot Playground Improvement Project.

The resignations of Sarah Azooz-Ismail from the Library and Heather Dixon from the Shade Tree Commission were accepted.

Work continues on several street projects.

The photo at left shows reconstruction at the Vine Street-Ridge Avenue intersection.

Main Street is restricted to one lane and is sometimes closed entirely as crews rebuild both sidewalk and street surfaces and upgrade water lines.

Council approved $14,325 for sewer line and road repairs on Wood Street.

But Council asked that the Engineers invite another round of bids for work to be done on Chestnut Street. The low bid the first time was $530,000, which several Council members considered too high. $100,000 of that would be to upgrade the water lines while the street surface was opened up.

Council also approved handicap parking signs for Marcia McArdle on 1st Avenue and Becky Hetrick on Hiland.

In one unusual transaction, Council voted to vacate a long inactive alley at the top of Chestnut Street. The photo at right shows Chestnut Street deadending. That's Sylvan Way turning to the right, where it runs westward through School Street to Fleming Street. 120 years ago, an alley was designed to continue further eastward, just above the house seen here, either connecting to Maple Street or stopping at the cliff just above it. But the terrain was too steep for development. The alley was never paved, never used, gradually dirt washed down from the slope and buried the once level right of way, and weeds, gass and small trees have grown up on the site. Karen Romasco now owns the house pictured, and is requesting that she be allowed to buy the alley so she can dig out and build a driveway to park her car. Council instructed the Borough Solicitor to draw up the necessary papers for this transaction. State laws will require that adjoining land owners be notified and given a chance to bid on the land.

Meanwhile, down on 5th Avenue, an abandoned house across from the former Van Balen Laundry that was proposed for demolition was found to include a wall that also supports 5th Avenue. PennDot, which is involved because 5th Avenue is also State Route 51, wants a study done to see how this dilemma can be resolved.

The railings have been installed on the Ferree Street Staircase (photo, left). All that remains now is landscaping, which will include a row of trees planted.

A new mural has been commissioned for the wall along the parking lot on the side of the Cobblehaus Building.

Council heard complaints about the home at 1029 Main Street, where no one has been seen for a month but chickens are wandering loose.

Councilwoman Alison Marine updated Council on the study the Parking Committee has been conducting. Coraopolis currently has 333 metered spots, 60% along curbs and 40% in lots. They produce $35,000 - $40,000 annual income with a 25 cent an hour rate. Many of the meters are in various states of disrepair. At least, Marine suggested, Cory should install new meters that all work and are all the same kind of meter rather than the six different kinds of meter now seen. Some of the spots now seem inefficient as the business district changes. For example, there is a block of meters outside of the Rite Aid free parking lot which are never used and could be removed. Should rates be raised? Should Cory simply remove all meters and offer free parking? Several members pointed out that free parking would allow people to park all day while taking the bus into town, which would prevent customers from parking to patronize Cory businesses. Should Cory issue permits for business owners or employees, or delivery vehicles? What about Food Trucks? A professional study would cost $12,000 and would compare Cory parking to that in other similar communities. Council voted to invite bids for a professional study.

Trick or Treat has been set for Thursday, October 27th from 6-8 pm.

The Neville Island Commissioners at their September meeting authorized the Township Engineer to advertise for bids to replace the Cottage Park Playground equipment (photo, right) with brand new "Tot Lot" equipment and rubber playground surfacing. The current equipment and surface have deteriorated and are no longer suitable.

The Commissioners also voted to replace the carpet for the board room, hallway and office at a cost of $6,457.00. The carpet was installed in 1970.

In August, AquaTech surveyed the island water and sewage lines for leaks and found one at 3000 Grand Avenue caused by a faulty coupling. A new coupling was installed and the leak stopped. "These surveys are critical," Township Manager Jeanne Creese told the Commisioners. "Leaks like these are small and water does not show up on the surface so we don't know about them, but that water leaking out 24 hours a day costs us thousands of dollars over a month."

The Arizona Avenue waterline is undersized and needs replacing at a cost of $350,000.

Police Chief Joseph Hanny delivered the Police Report, which showed a quiet month of 178 calls, 15 of which required EMS services.

But problems with the I-79 Bridge (photo, left) continue. PennDot has announced that once again, southbound lanes on I-79 will be closed from 8 pm Friday to 5 am Monday September 16-19 and again September 23-26. Traffic will be detoured through Sewickley and Coraopolis. Northbound traffic will be narrowed to one lane. Penndot has assured Neville Island that these will be the final weekend closures.

Trick or Treat for 2022 will be held Thursday October 27 from 6 - 8 pm. Residents welcoming participants should turn on their porch lights.

Ms. Creese informed the Commissioners that it is time to renew the Comcast Cable Franchise Agreement and as part of this the address base needs updated. There are new addresses, and some old addresses now extinct.

Concern was expressed at the appearance of the Spotted Lantern Fly on the island in recent weeks. This is an invasive species from China which kills trees. At this time of year it looks like a Stinkbug. Anyone seeing one is urged to kill it.

The 1964 undefeated Neville High School football team will hold a reunion the weekend of October 21.

Neville hired Tyler Chegas as a permanent full time public works worker.

A parking issue has arisen on Vivianna Way (photo right). There are some driveways which are either too short or too narrow for modern vehicles, particularly large pickup trucks. A driveway should be at least 12 feet wide but there are driveways only 10 feet wide. Some of those driveeways pass between houses which prevent widening of the driveway. Residents with those narrow or short driveways are parking on the street. But Vivianna Way is too narrow for on street parking. If vehicles are parked on both sides, traffic cannot pass. Commissioners will visit the site and talk to residents.

Negotiation continues with CSX Railroad over access to the Riverfront Park property. Neville would like to buy the CSX right of way, which has no tracks on it and has not been used for 70 years. CSX would prefer to keep the property and just build a road across it, reserving the right to restore tracks at some point in the future. Such trackage seems unlikely since the property deadends immediately at the steep embankment of the I-79 entry ramp and on the other side of I-79 is an entirely residential neighborhood.

The traffic light at the intersection of Gibson Avenue and Grand Avenue (photo, left) is overdue for replacement.

On Sunday, September 11, Neville will host the annual Heitz of Heaven 5K Run Walk. This event is in memory of Ryan Heitzenrater and organized by the Heitz 61 Memorial Foundation. Between 8-noon Grand Avenue will be reduced to a single lane and Von Stein, New Haven, Gibson and Front River Road will have limited access. Street parking will be prohibited.

The Commissioners committed $58,960 toward the Neville Police Pension Plan and $42,974 toward the Neville Service Employees Pension Plan.

The Elmhurst Group, an industrial real estate company, has requested approval for a Neville Island Warehouse. Elmhurst would build the outer shell on Gulf Road, then advertise for an occupant and build the interior to suit. The Commissioners tabled this request until October.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

At a busy August meeting, Coraopolis Borough Council honored three police officers and spent most of its time discussing various infrastructure details.

At the very start of the meeting, Council recognized three officers credited with saving the life of a Coraopolis man who suffered a cardiac event while walking his dog. Pins and certificates were presented to James Cillo, Scott Tapler and Shawn Quinn. EMS staff and doctors later confirmed that had these officers not acted quickly and professionally the man would not have survived. Thanks to their efforts he is alive and well and recovering at home.

Council then devoted a considerable portion of the meeting to an update of the Mill Street Train Station restoration project. Work has been proceeding slowly for a decade, relying mostly on volunteer labor and funding raised from donations and grants. The building has been stabilized, a new roof has been laid, the bell tower has been rehabilitated, and new sidewalks, curbs and utilities built.  

Restoration of the canopy is planned next. But the CCDC (Coraopolis Community Development Corporation), the agency doing the work, needs Council approval for major work on Neville Avenue, the street running between the station and the former Segneri's parking lot (see photo above). The Avenue continues on down the block for 153 feet until it deadends at the Polaris dealership, but needs recontructed. It's narrow, has poor drainage, and is riddled with potholes. The CCDC would like to replace the century old bricks with asphalt, totally reconstruct the catch basin, rebuild the drainage, build in slopes and low curbs, and redesign and rebuild the stormwater drainage system. The work would be done to Council specifications. The Segneri's building and parking lot are part of the project. The goal is to renovate the building and parking lot and find a restauranteur to run it. CSX has not been helpful. The CCDC paid $65,000 in escrow but the railroad is slow to approve every step, so no work can be done on the railroad side of the station property. To help raise funds, the CCDC proposes selling bricks with donor names on them to pave the surrounding walkways.

Council members had several questions. Would the Boro still own the property? Where would legal liability lie? Why could not the historic bricks be kept? What exactly would be established inside the completed station? Until those questions are answered, and pending research into the legal issues, Council moved to postpone approval.

The Engineers reported that work continues on the huge Main Street reconstruction project, as seen in the photos above and to the right. But the grant application to raise the height of the Levy 18 inches (to prevent flooding from the Ohio River) was denied. Such a Levy increase would significantly reduce the flood insurance riders residents in the lower four blocks of town pay.

Robb Cardimen asked if the cracks that have appeared in Devonshire, Edgewood, DiVito, etc., will be repaired by the paving company under the warranty. He also pointed out that expensive paving projects across town are being damaged by utility companies opening up holes to repair or update water lines, etc.

Cardimen suggested the closer coordination should be implemented so if water or other utility lines need repaired or replaced, this be done while the street is under repaving and the surface is removed anyway, rather than after an expensive paving job has been done. He pointed out that Columbia Gas has always been very good about this and other utility companies should follow that example.

The Fire Department requested Council approval to shift Coraopolis fire calls to the 911 number rather than routing them through local dispatching. One advantage would be the County 911 service would also alert neighboring fire departments faster than the local dispatcher can. A saving of only a few minutes can often be critical. Cory Fire officials would meet with County officials to set up the transition. The Fire Department, having recently received a brand new truck, has put the 1949 hook and ladder truck and a 2002 vehicle up for bid. Smaller villages and townships in this and neighboring states usually obtain their trucks second hand from larger fire departments. A fire department in West Virginia has already inquired about the truck.

Mayor Michael Dixon reported that Dick's Sporting Goods is partnering with Coraopolis Police to sponsor a Shop With A Cop day to help local children obtain sports items.

Police Chief Ron Denbow reported 120 criminal investigations, 20 arrests, $18,500 of stolen property recovered and 86 motor vehicle violations.

Rudy Bolea asked if the Borough could not increase enforcement of laws against trash and junk accumulating in front yards and on porches, sidewalks and driveways. He suggested that perhaps it was time to increase the fine per day for anyone caught letting this happen on their property. The Solicitor informed him there was a legal limit to the amount such a fine could be, which is $300 per day.

Council was informed work is almost complete on the total reconstruction of the Ferree Street Stairway (photo, left). A railing has yet to be installed, and landscaping has yet to be done. But otherwise the historic staircase, linking the Lincoln School Neighborhood with the Montour Hill Neighborhood, is done. The track running along the right side of the stairs is for someone walking a bicycle up or down.

The Ben Harrison Mural at the top of this article runs along Pine Way on the Snappy's Tap House wall, between Mcdonalds and Mill Street.

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At its July meeting, Coraopolis Boro Council approved a motion to replace the traffic signals at Montour Street and State Avenue (photo, left) with new ones at a cost of $286, 200.50. A state grant will cover $160,000, leaving Cory to pay the remaining $126,000.

In other business, Council approved the sale of Cory's 1995 fire engine to Big Otter (W.Va.) for $21,500. It is still in good shape but has been replaced with the brand new fire engine which arrived in Cory last week.

Invoices for June totaled $190, 783.20. The payroll for the month was $129, 990.86.

An official proclamation by Mayor Michael Dixon was read recognizing Valley Ambulance for 50 years of service. Since 1972, the agency, with a staff of 50, has handled an average of 5600 emergency calls a year.

The Police Report showed 10 alarms, 518 complaints, 162 criminal investigations, 24 arrests, and $1200 in property recovered. Firemen answered 12 calls.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

At their June work session and regular meeting, Neville Commissioners recognized Neville Green for its work in beautifying the Island. Neville Green is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to enhancing the Neville environment. They maintain and annually update planting beds at the intersections of I-79 (right) and Neville Road with Grand Avenue (above). They also maintain and update smaller beds not shown here. The work is usually done on Saturday mornings.

In regular business the Commissioners moved to demolish a home at 125 2nd Street. They hired 16 year old Cody Chetoka as a full time seasonal laborer for the Summer. Notice was made of issues with a property on Front River Road, which will need investigating for the next meeting.

Agreement was reached between the Township and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the construction of a recreational fishing and boating facility at the new Riverfront Park. The project will cost $250,000 and rhe Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission will reimburse Neville for 50%.

The Commissioners approved final payment of $29, 280 for Nebraska Avenue water line replacement, storm sewer reconstruction, and repaving of the street, sidewalks and curbs with concrete (photo, left). Nebraska Avenue is a residential street running between Grand Avenue and the river adjacent to the I-79 ramps. Neville received $266,600 in grants for the $295, 880 project, so only owed the $29, 280.

They also recognized VFW Post 402, the VFW Auxiliary, and American Legion Post 924 for Memorial Day services honoring deceased veterans.

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After years of complaints and frustrations, the middle part of Main Street is about to be totally reconstructed.

Coraopolis Borough Council at its June meeting approved the nearly one million dollar project. The exact amount is $997, 640.00 and the company is Avelli. Work will extend from Sixth Avenue to Neely Heights. Below Sixth and above Neely Heights Main Street is in good shape, having already been rebuilt. But the Sixth - Neely stretch is in terrible shape, as the photos here show. Utility companies have cut through the street to service underground lines. Bricks have buckled in hot or cold weather. Patches have been repatched, often several times. The brick streets in Coraopolis are 100 years old and rest on a foundation of sand and gravel. They were well built by skilled brickmasons and have stood up well. But after 100 years they're due for reconstruction, and skilled brickmasons are now hard to find and too expensive. So the bricks will be removed and the roadbed excavated down to the base. New water and sewer lines will be installed as part of the project. The foundation will be rebuilt with sand and gravel and then poured with a solid layer of concrete. The west sidewalk will also be redone. The east (right in this photo) sidewalk was recently redone.

One $800,000 federal grant and a $160,000 Columbia Gas reimbursement will cover most of the cost.

In other business, Council approved the monthly payroll of $118, 583, 90, and monthly invoices of $191, 743, 01. It also signed a PennDot maintenance agreement that pays Cory $4800 a year for street sweeping and plowing.

Councilwoman Allison Marine reported her committee is continuing to research the downtown parking situation. They are looking at other similar sized downtowns to see how they handle it.

Councilman Ed Pitassi reported that local Boy Scouts are placing signs on the local trails and would like to add a bench honoring a recently deceased Navy veteran.

The Fire Department monthly report showed 11 calls, of which three were mutual aid calls in Moon, Crescent and Robinson Townships. The new firetruck is in and will be in service as soon as it can be loaded with equipment and hoses.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon reported PennDot is closing the southbound lane of I-79 across the Neville I-79 bridge for four consecutive weekends. Drivers will be using 4th and 5th Avenues to detour through Sewickley.

Bids were too high for the Chestnut Street repaving from brick to concrete. Council voted to reject all bids and call for rebidding.

Diane Angelo asked that Council begin the legal process to pass a brake retarder ordinance ("jake brake"), mostly for 4th, 5th, State Avenue and Montour Street as heavy trucks use those routes coming through town.

Mary Lou Lanza of Vance Avenue reported that a home on Vance is housing far too many occupants (she believes over 20), with the house and grounds not being properly maintained, rats visible all day and night, too many cars overwhelming Vance Avenue's limited parking, and local handicapped parking spots being taken. Council promised to investigate and asked her to call in any times anyone was using a handicapped spot so they can be towed.

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With a large crowd downtown for the parade on a sunny Memorial Day, Coraopolis kept reminding everyone of what the holiday is really about by honoring its war dead in various ways.

Even before the parade began, the VFW Plaza at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Mulberry Street stood as a tribute to veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the War in Vietnam and multiple Middle East campaigns.

Raised stone markers honor each war. Bricks have been bought by locals with the names of their family's veterans. And the recently refurbished Doughboy Statue with its rifle and bayonet stands guard over it all. Many people spent 10-15 minutes studying the markers and bricks and reading the names of those who died.

Midway through the parade the procession halted. A wreath was placed at the base of the central marker in the plaza (photo, below).

Taps was played (photo, right), its long melancholy notes echoing off the brick walls of the surrounding buildings.

Three rounds of rifle blanks were fired, representing a 21 gun salute.

It is approaching 80 years since world War II ended and very few people remain who experienced it in person.

It was noon on another warm sunny Spring day when suddenly all the church bells in Coraopolis began ringing, the fire siren over the Borough Building began sounding, and horns began honking. Adolf Hitler had committed suicide and Germany had surrendered. Months later, the same scenario was repeated when Japan surrendered to end the war in the Pacific.

And then, just three blocks from the VFW Plaza, the trains began pulling into the Mill Street Station, the same one now being restored.

The old steam engines were decorated by red, white and blue bunting. The men on crutches, in wheelchairs and on canes exited the passenger cars first, followed by those lucky enough to be coming home healthy. Large crowds from Coraopolis, Moon, Neville, Robinson, North and South Fayette blocked traffic on Mill Street and 4th and 3rd Avenues as they met their loved ones. And this emotional scene was repeated day after day for weeks as thousands of men were slowly brought home.

In a time of prolonged peace and without a military draft it is hard for today's younger generations to imagine what it was like. The war affected everyone. In a much larger Coraopolis of 18,000 people, over 7,000 men had gone to war. And they had been gone for four years.

Everyone had fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, cousins and neighbors in the war. There was no television, but everyone listened to hourly radio reports and read daily newspaper accounts of battles fought in faraway places like Anzio, the Ardenne, Tarawa, Corregidor, and Iowa Jima, or out on the water in places like The Coral Sea and Midway.

Several years later, the same agony was repeated during the Korean War. Coraopolis and Western Hills residents learned of places like Inchon, the 38th Parallel, and the Chosin Valley.

Several Coraopolis and Western Hills men were part of the Chosin Few, the legendary Marine Corps unit that went into the Chosin Valley to blow the Chosin Dam and knock out the electricity to all of North Korea. It was a trap. The Chinese Communists wanted them to come in and had intentionally left the valley unguarded. As soon as the Marines were in, China closed the trap. If they could capture the Marines, it would be a propaganda coup and probably end the war. China surrounded the Marines with 80,000 troops and demanded surrender. For 10 days there was no word from Chosin. Coraopolis families hung on their radios hour by hour, fearing the worst but praying for a miracle. On the 11th day the Marines emerged, fighting their way out, the dam blown, carrying their dead and wounded with them. Not one man was left behind. Again, church bells rang and sirens and horns sounded.

At cemeteries in Coraopolis and across the Western Hills, Boy Scouts and VFW and American Legion units spent last week placing flags on graves of all military veterans. It is astonishing to see the high percentage of local men who served. They are the men the holiday honors.

The crowd needed those iced drinks. It was a hot, sunny, humid day and shade from buildings or trees was at a premium. The crowds lined the streets three deep from Main Street to Chestnut Street.

Coraopolis has had a Memorial Day Parade since 1919, when it was held to honor local soldiers in World War I. Over the years, the parade has expanded to honor veterans in all branches of the military in World War II, the Korean War, the War in Vietnam, and more recently the Middle Eastern campaigns.

Over its century long existence, the Coraopolis parade has become THE parade for the Western Hills, as no other township or borough holds one.

Cory's is the third oldest continuously running Memorial Day event in western Pennsylvania. The older two are Sewickley and Lawrenceville. Sewickley's has run since 1899.

This year's parade was not quite as long as the prepandemic versions. It did not have as many marching bands, floats or drill teams. Obviously, the pandemic has somewhat disrupted the tradition of several of those units from coming. Over the next year, Coraopolis VFW members will be reaching out to the Scottish Kilt Band (a crowd favorite), several Drum & Bugle Corps, and absent area marching bands to renew their traditional appearances.

Nevertheless, the parade took an hour and 20 minutes to pass any one spot. It included guest appearances by Batman, Wonder Woman and the Ghostbuster team walking alongside their famous vehicle.

Several of the adult marching bands (like the one at left) have become too old to march two miles in the heat and humidity, so they now ride on flatbed trailers and continue to perform.

The Coraopolis Veterans of Foreign Wars Keith Holmes Post 402 holds the annual parade, which requires a year round fund raising effort for the $7000 plus costs. Coraopolis Borough Council donates some of that money, and area donors contribute some, but the VFW raises the rest.

Currently, Mike Blair is Commander of Post 402. Nancy Morrow is President of Auxiliary Post 402. Bart Stack is Commander of American Legion Post 924.

Blair and Jack Cairns co chair the Parade Committee, with Morrow, Kathy Cairns, Jean Lubawy, Rob Rea, Patti Drummond, Rita Blair, Frank Lubaway, Karen Morrow, Christian Rea and Jim Kest as members.

The Three Rivers Model A Club broght a beautiful collection of 1932 Fords which they drove down 5th Avenue with each one containing a politician. Shown at right is State Representative Anita Kulik riding in the rumbleseat of one Model A.

Other politicians riding in the antique cars were Representative Valerie Gaydos, County Councilman Sam DeMarco, and State Senator Devlin Robinson.

Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Cub Scout and Daisy troops marched, and Boy Scouts handed out parade programs along the sidewalks.

There are more Fire Engines in the Parade than any other type of entry. They come from Coraopolis and many Western Hills boroughs and townships. Not only are there brand new fire trucks, but there are several historic models from as far back as 1918.

All totaled, the fire engines in the Parade represent an investment of several million dollars. They include hook and ladder trucks and bucket trucks required to reach high apartment buildings or hotels.

The group with the most units in the Parade is the Shriners, a subgroup of the Masons. The Shriners this year send a brass band and choir (both on flatbed trucks, not marching), and groups of men steering specially built tricycles, model cars and model trucks.

Probably the most unique entry in the 2022 parade was the submarine veterans unit known as Requin Base. This post for all Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania servicemen who served on submarines brought a 30 foot long model submarine which they towed down the 5th Avenue parade route.

The two Grand Marshalls are seen in the photo at right : Danny Larocco (seated at right in khaki Army uniform) and Bob Massimini. Both are among the Western Hills' few remaning World War II Veterans. Both lied about their age and enlisted at age 16, and both served in the Pacific.

LaRocco participated in landings on the islands of Manila, Tarlac and Luzon. When the amphibious boats dropped the men off, Larocco was too short for his feet to touch bottom so men on both sides of him lifted him up until they got to shallow water. He was bayoneted by a Japanese soldier on the beach but taped a bandana over it and kept fighting. He still has the scar today. After the Japanese surrender, his unit was shipped to Korea, where he fought at Inchon on the 38th parallel. After he returned home he joined Post 402 and has marched or ridden in every Memorial Day Parade since.

Missimini was trained in rifle marksmanship and amphibious landings, then shipped to Okinawa and Iowa Jima. He was there when the Marines raised the flag on top of Mount Suribachi on Iowa Jima. He now resides in West Palm Beach but remains a member of Post 402 and comes home every year for rhe Memorial Day Parade.

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marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

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Before a packed house in the spacious school auditorium, Cornell High School graduated 44 students Friday night.

Heather Ann Stephenson (photo below) spoke as the Valedictorian. She was followed by Morgan Lynne Engel as Salutatorian.

This was the class that survived the full span of the COVID pandemic. They had events and eventually even in person classes cancelled and had to take classes online. They had to wear masks. And finally they watched the nation emerge from the lockdowns and mask mandates and were able to return to normal school. The fact that they were able to experience a regular graduation was somewhat of a triumph.

Rather than bring in an outsider, the class voted to name English teacher Patricia Dahmen as its keynote speaker. Mrs. Dahmen advised them to Be Kind, Pursue Their Passion, and Take Risks as they head out into the world beyond high school.

In addition to Stephenson and Engel, top academic averages were by Victoria Cohen, Alana Meltrott, Azlin Gonzalez-Medina, Karly DiVito, Madison Litzinger, Jada Jenkins, Carmine D'Allessandro and Craig Pulford.

Eight special awards were presented : The Social Science Award, Mathematics Award, English Award, and Science Award to Heather Stephenson; the Scholar Athlete Awards to Karly DiVito and Craig Pulford; the Business Education Award to Vicente Navarro; the Foreign Language Awards to Zachary Zupke in French and Allison Ricketts in Spanish; and the Technology Education Award to Connor Jacob Peterson.

Senior class officers were President Jada Jenkins, Vice President Michael Smith, Secretary Madison Litzinger and Treasurer Victoria Cohen.

In addition to those already listed, members of the Class of 2022 were Lorayne Bando, Diamond Banks, Briahna Brinzer, Michael Brisco, Sharone Bronaugh, Douglas Cecil, Kirara Clarit, Niani Ellis-Landucci, Morgan Engel, Shaun Godfrey, Khyvon Grace, Mariah Hutchinson, Gianna Jackson, Izabella Jones, Jason Keene, Andrew Lamb, Nevaeh Lee, Angel Matuke, Maxim McDonough, Elyce Morales, Rheanna Mudrick, Crysta Rader, Malaya Reddick, Patrick Scott, Sophia Sicilia, Stefany Storch, Lilly Sutherland, Stefania Wiley, Christopher Zinsmaster, Lucy Zubek and Zachary Zupke.

The Cornell Orchestra (photo above), under Bill Lamb, provided music, including the entry and exit marches. Lamb can be seen at left in the photo.

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701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

The Neville Island Commissioners at their May meetings passed the Engine Brake Retarder Ordinance residents have been demanding. The Commissioners have been working on this for three months but PennDot requires certain steps be gone through to enact such an ordinance. Neville has completed all the steps and the ordinance will take effect immediately. An Engine Brake Retarder is a device on tractor trailer trucks to spare brakes from heavy use. Instead, the truck uses pressure built up inside the engine to slow the truck. These are very effective out on the highway, especially on steep grades where constant use would quickly wear out the brake pads. However, in residential areas, they cause problems because of the loud hissing and popping noises. Residents near the I-79 bridge ramps have increasingly demanded the Commissioners do something because the trucks kept people from sleeping. As seen in these photos, trucks descending the off ramps have to stop at the Grand Avenue intersection. The trucks pictured are not the ones causing the problems. These photos simply show the ramps leading to Grand Avenue East (above) and West (left).

In other business, the Commissioners finalized purchase of a backup salt spreader for $$7380. They discussed the complaints about parking around Neville Roller Drome. Mostly on Thursdays for Adult Skate Nights, people are parking along and across heavily truck trafficked Neville Road, and on nearby residential streets.

Manager Jeanne Creese announced that all five Commissioners have now completed the 50 hour "Local Government Academy" training.

They approved the $83,883 work on Alley F and Front River Road, but noted that Columbia Gas will be doing utility line work at the same time and no schedule can be announced until Columbia Gas schedules its work. They accepted the 8" water line constructed by Lindy Paving, which will serve Lindy plus two parcels set for future development.

Neville Green will plant flowers Saturday, May 21 at 9:30 a.m. Memorial Day Services will be held Sunday, May 29 at 3:20 pm at the Neville Island Honor Roll Monument.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

At its two May meetings, Coraopolis Borough Council discussed a long list of items, some needing immediate action, others that will need attention within the next year.

First on the list was the stream stabilization project for McCabes Run. This stream begins in what used to be the McCabe Farm, but is now a housing development along Hassam Road near the old Pleasant View School. McCabe Run flows between Montour Street and Charlton Heights, then below Cornell School, and parallels Brook Street and Montour Street until it empties into the Ohio River. It used to be a much larger stream, with several swimming holes and healthy populations of Catfish and Perch. As more and more housing was built in its Moon Township headwaters, water was diverted into storm sewers so the stream today is only a fraction of what it once was. But during heavy multiday rains it still swells to major size. Downed trees and branches clog the stream as seen at right, backing up sediment as shown, and diverting flow to the left or right. Often, during rains, it overflows onto Brook Street, which runs along it for two blocks.

McCabes Run passes through seven tunnels, under Vance, Ridge, State, Arch Alley, 5th and 4th Avenues and the CSX Railroad. The tunnel under State Avenue is shown at left. These tunnels were built in the late 1800s. The ones under 4th Avenue and Vance Avenue have been replaced but the others are original, meaning they're 130 years old. At low water, the tunnels are still adequate, as seen at left. But after several days of rain, McCabes Run overflows its banks and becomes too big for the tunnels.

Originally, the Vance Avenue "tunnel" was a huge metal pipe, large enough to drive a vehicle through. Vance Avenue deadended on both sides, and a footpath led over the top of the pipe. But the pipe was removed, replaced by a very small culvert. The pipe could handle any volume of water, but the culvert is too small, and during heavy multiday rainfalls water occasionally backs up.

At some point replacement of the Ridge, State and 5th Avenue tunnels will be necessary, but this will be very expensive.

Most Coraopolis residents never think about McCabes Run unless they live along it, but last year they were reminded of its existence when 4th Avenue was narrowed for work on the underlying tunnel and storm sewer. A new storm sewer was built, and a new tunnel was built from the top of Arch Alley to the bottom of 4th Avenue. As seen at right, this new tunnel is large enough to handle heavy flows during multi day rains.

Coraopolis has received a $125,000 grant to address the problems along McCabes Run, but estimates for the work are for $350,000. Work will be done mostly in the Brook Street section. It will consist mostly of removing debris which has built up over the years and straightening the stream bed, eliminating the detours the stream has built to bypass the debris. However, McCabes Run passes through forest until halfway down Brook Street, so falling branches and trees will always be a problem. Twice a year debris removal would help, but that takes workmen away from other priorities and is expensive.

In other business, as seen at left, Mayor Michael Dixon presented Jimmy Segneri with a key to the city, recognizing him and three generations of his family for running Segneri's Restaurant for 68 years. Segneri has retired and sold the building to the Coraopolis Community Development Corporation, which may tear it down or convert it to office space. When completed, the Train Station is projected to need 32 parking spaces. It has only three now. So tearing down Segneri's would add those much needed spaces.

Police Chief Ron Denbow listed 1064 calls, 324 complaints, 91 criminal investigations, 20 arrests, 175 parking citations, 76 moving violations, three alarms, five vehicles towed, nine accidents in his monthly report.

Fire Chief Charles Spencer listed six calls and one electrical fire.

Council approved May invoices for $269,358.06 and the May payroll of $126, 150, 33. It awarded the 2022 street and roads contract to El Grande Industries for $438, 950 for work on Pine Alley, Summit and St. Clair. It sold rehabilitated properties at 634 6th Avenue, 1731 Hiland Avenue and an unnumbered lot on Cliff Street.

Council approved the Borough Manager to sign a Multimodal Transportation Fund Grant for $490,000 for Mill Street improvements. The entire Mill Street project will cost $700,000 but due to grants plus utility companies sharing some of the cost, Coraopolis wil only pay $200,000.

Council approved expenditure of $105,000 for overhead traffic signals at the corner of Mill Street and 4th Avenue. These will replace old signals mounted on the street corners.

Council members and the Borough Manager's office have been receiving complaints about potholes. Currently the pothole crew includes only two men. More should be hired but no one is applying.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon informed Council that the cost of the new overhead mounted traffic signals at the Montour Street-State Avenue intersection (photo, right) will be $240,000 with the Fire Police Ambulance "safety flip" included. The "safety flip" senses an emergency vehicle half a block away and flips the lights to red until they've passed. With the PennDOT Greenlight grant, this would cost Cory $100,000.

Some frustration was expressed at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDot) having denied Cory's request for the third time for a traffic light at the Montour - 4th Avenue intersection. This extremely dangerous intersection, adjacent to the Montour Hotel, finds cars coming down Montour Street trying to turn left into heavy traffic with many large trucks travelling at high speed coming off Neville Island or through on Route 51.

After some discussion, Council tabled a request by the CCDC to pave Neville Avenue with asphalt replacing the historic brick. The Polaris dealership also uses Neville Avenue. Utility lines run underneath.

Pittsburgh Motor Speedway

Pennsylvania's Finest Dirt Track Racing On The Big Half Mile

Sprint Cars - Late Models - Sportsmen - 6 & 4 Cylinders

Every Saturday Night : 7 -11 pm

Just Beyond Robinson Town Center On Route 22/30

Coraopolis is already known for its world class West Point Ballet. If Catherine Cocco has her way, within a few years it will also be known for its vocal and instrumental musical academy. Her Allegheny Music Academy is already chartered, licensed, up and running. She's still trying to acquire a suitable facility in Coraopolis, but she's operating out of facilities in Sewickley and Mt. Lebanon.

This is no amateur operation. Cocco holds B.A. and Masters degrees in Music Education from the University of South Carolina. She is fully certified from Kindergarten through 12th grade and has taught in public schools in Philadelphia. She founded a similar school in Philadelphia and grew it into a full time living.

"I know this can be done because I've already done it," she insists.

Her husband is from the Pittsburgh area and wanted to move back to be near family. But they couldn't find an affordable house in Pittsburgh or the South Hills that fit their needs. One such house did become available on Chestnut Street in Coraopolis and they grabbed it.

"Although it was the housing opportunity that brought us here, I've already fallen in love with the town," she smiles. "And I think there is a great opportunity here for the kind of musical experience I want to provide."

Cocco is convinced every child would benefit from a high level musical experience and intends to make it available to as many as possible. She plans to operate outside of but in cooperation with the public and private schools in the area.

Her standards for faculty members are high. " I have three requirements. My instructors have to have college degrees in music with a specialty in the instrument they're going to teach, they have to have professional perfor-ming experience, and they have to have five years teaching experience. Every single lesson, I want our students and their parents to walk away saying "Wow!"

Cocco herself is a specialist in Piano, Flute and Voice. As seen in the photo at left, she loves teaching Flute to 10 year olds (4th graders). "Music opens up a whole new world to children," she beams. "it's wonderful."

Typical of her outstanding faculty is Chris Hemingway, in the next two photos. Hemingway is one of America's finest young Saxophonists and Cocco's specialist in Woodwinds (Clarinet, Sax, Oboe, Bassoon). He trained at Duquesne University, where he won numerous awards, and became proficient in both classical and jazz styles. At age 21 he was a soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony. Hemingway has performed with various Jazz, R & B, Soul and Blues groups, and currently performs around the nation and world with the New Century Saxophone Quartet, which has won awards in several prestigious competitions.

Cocco also has specialists in String, Brass and Percussion and both Male and Female Voice.

The first niche she is carving out is with home school students.

"Parents can usually teach their students basic math, history or English," she explains. "And two or three parents working together usually find that one of them can teach basic science or a foreign language. But music is a highly specialized field and there aren't very many parents out there who feel confident in trying to teach their son or daughter an instrument or to sing. So we can provide that service. Homeschoolers can come to our Mt. Lebanon or Sewickley locations for general music classes, group lessons and ensembles. We also offer traditional private lessons, conveniently scheduled during school hours when other music schools are closed."

The timing has not been good. She launched Allegheny Music Academy just as COVID hit, so had to teach classes online. "Teaching music online is a challenge," she admits. "The more I did it, the better I got. I now enjoy online classes, but I'm happer teaching in person."

She's investigated several potential sites in Coraopolis. She cooperated with Adrienne DiCicco, Children's Librarian at the Coraopolis Library, to provide Music for Homeschoolers classes in March. "That was when we decided to really focus on home schooled students."

But Cocco has other target clienteles in mind. One is older and retired people who might have played an instrument in their high school band, abandoned it for decades, and now with more time might want to get back to it. "We could offer them refresher courses. Since they already played it for several years, they could pick everything up again really fast, and then we could maybe take them to a higher level than they were on before. An older person can derive tremendous satisfaction from playing an instrument. To refurbish an old instrument and take a few lessons would not be expensive, and from then on it they could spend an hour or so every day enjoying whatever music they liked."

She also envisions supplementing school music programs. She wants to offer "Master Classes," 90 minute sessions where a Band or Orchestra Director would identify his top two, three or four Clarinetists or Flutists or whatever. They would be given a piece of music and would work for two weeks on it. Then, in the Master Class, each would play the song. The instructor would critique their playing, pointing out the strengths, but identifying the weaknesses. He would play the song, or the particular part, on his own instrument to demonstrate. The student would then play it again. Meanwhile, the other Clarinetists, Flutists or whatever, would also be in attendance, watching their classmates being coached.

Since school budgets are limited, Cocco knows keeping costs down is critical. She could offer Master Classes for $100 a session. If there were four Clarinetists, that would be $25 a student for 90 minutes with a professional, a tremendous bargain.

Another service would be to take the entire Clarinet, or Flute, or other section, of a Band or Orchestra, and work with them on one piece of music.

"Most Band or Orchestra or Choral Directors are so overworked they don't have the time to break the music down like this," Cocco explains. "Plus, there's a great value to having an outsider come in so the student hears a different voice. And, no one person is an expert on every instrument. If the Band or Orchestra Director's background is in Brass, we can provide great assistance in Woodwinds and Strings."

Cocco would like to assemble the homeschooled students into bands, orchestras and choruses in Fall 2022. "There comes a time when you have to play or sing as part of a group. Music may be learned individually, but it's usually performed with others. And home schooled students need all the interaction with others they can get. Plus performing before a live audience is a valuable experience."

And she has an idea about that. "These smaller schools try to put on musicals, but many of them don't have an Orchestra so they use a bought sound track. Those are usually awful. We could provide them with that Orchestra. We could work with the Drama Director, prepare exactly the music they want exactly the way they want it, and support what they're doing. Their production would be better and our students would have the experience."

"We have this tremendous musical community in Western Pennsylvania and a lot of people don't know about it," Cocco says.

One of those, Robin Hasenpflug, is pictured at right. Hasenpflug is a Cellist and Cocco's Strings specialist. Hasenpflug majored in Music (and Cello) at Baldwin Wallace (in Cleveland), then earned a Masters at the prestigious University of Cincinnati School of Music and trained as a music teacher at the Suzuki Institute in Chicago. She's an Adjunct Professor at Westminster College and performs with the Ohio Valley Symphony, Butler County Symphony, Trans Siberian Orchestra and Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Hasenpflug lives in Pittsburgh and is someone Cocco thinks people in the Coraopolis area ought to meet.

"Kids learning to play the Flute, or Clarinet, or Saxophone, or Cello, or whatever, need to know that there's a future for them in music. There are people out there who do music as adults. They make a living at it. They keep getting better at it, exploring new directions, having fun with it. It's not just something you do in school and then forget about."

As part of this effort, she's offering the first Music Explorer Camp August 15-19 from 1-5 pm at St. Stephens Church in Sewickley. Kids ages 9-14 will participate in small group lessons including cello/violin/viola, flute, trumpet, percussion, guitar and keyboards, all with professional faculty. There will be introductory lessons on the Recorder for students interested in clarinet. Whether the students are experienced in music or not, this camp will offer an opportunity to try different instruments and socialize with other music minded students. Tuition is $340 with an Early Bird Discount of 10% off if paid by July 15. Group discounts are available.

Anyone interested in contacting Cocco about lessons can call 267-393-1987, or email her at cgrace@cgracesoprano.com.

Help Wanted

Graff's Auto Service Center

Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

412-264-9733

The Neville Island Board of Commissioners had two busy meetings in April with several major agenda items plus a Veterans Banner dilemma.

A 16" water line valve broke, reducing the flow down to a 6" backup line. The repair will cost at least $9,800, but could be $15,000 or $75,000 if the Board decides to move to a larger capacity size, either 12" or 16." No grants are available for this type of maintenance. Even worse, meters and valves are hard to get due to supply line issues.

The Commissioners debated whether to take control of a privately owned water line because several new industries will be tapping into the line on land now being developed. It will cost the township money to take over the line but it will recoup those costs by tap in fees and monthly charges.

The Board approved purchase of a backup salt spreader. They debated options like all steel construction and strobe lights.

Neville has concluded a required study of traffic so is now legally entitled to impose a restriction on large truck brake retarders. The retarders make loud noises as the truckers brake coming down the hill off the bridge. The noises wake residents up and create a loud neighborhood. They read the new ordinance this month and will vote on it in May.

The Board then once again took up the problem of Veterans Banners. In addition to various other issues --- residents want them perpendicular to the street, want them larger, and want them lower, but Duquesne Light owns the poles and requires them parallel, smaller and higher (see photo, right) --- Neville is now out of poles. There are many poles along Grand Avenue, but Duquesne won't allow banners on any poles with cables, transmitters or street signs, which eliminates most of them. So Neville has more applications for banners than it has poles to mount them.

Representatives from Neville Green, a nonprofit receiving no government funds, announced that it is awarding two $500 scholarships and is doing its Spring planting May 1 in planters along Grand Avenue. The annual Cleanup Day is Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m. til noon.

A roomful of angry residents voiced their dissatisfaction with a fence the township erected at its municipal parking lot; with various parking issues, in particular regulations against parking facing against traffic and parking on streetsweeper days; and with people using cones to reserve street parking spaces. One resident was irate over utility workers marking the water line by spraying on her grass and her new white picket fence. The Commissioners explained that the fence was needed to save parking for residents on official business, that the traffic facing rule was a state law, that the streetsweeper needed room to get down the street, that police had been told to pick up the cones, and that utility workers had a legal right to service their underground lines and mark their location.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

The long talked about Riverfront Park came several steps closer to reality this month as Coraopolis Borough Council approved three key pieces. The picnic pavilion was ordered at a cost of $77,699 and the amphitheater was ordered at a cost of $109,461, both from Snider Recreation, Inc. The restroom complex was ordered at a cost of $210,300 from CXT Precast Concrete Products. All three are subject to DCNR reviews.

Perhaps the most interesting item Council dealt with was the approval of the removal of two 150 year old Oak trees from the Revolutionary War Cemetery at 1900 Ridge Avenue. As the photos show, a large crane and chipper shredder truck were used for the job, for which the borough paid Gold's Tree Service $6,500. Jacob Ferree and other local Revolutionary War heroes are buried there.

Robb Cardimen reported back to Council that area dealers informed him that due to supply chain problems, NO new dump trucks would be available for purchase in 2022. Council had approved $115,000 for the purchase. However, due to a cancelled order by another town, a new police cruiser IS available fully equipped for a bargain price of $50,000. The current cars have 80-90,000 miles each so are due for replacement. Council approved purchase of the cruiser instead of the dump truck.

Police Chief Ron Denbow recommended to Council that one new officer be added to the Department. Coraopolis has traditionally maintained a force of 10. But Denbow informed Council that during 2022-23 two retirements, including his own, will occur, and finding officers is difficult. He has a highly qualified applicant who passed all tests. Denbow pointed out that when officers take sick days, or vacations, or are in court testifying, or are on special narcotics investigations or dealing with traffic problems, the Department is short handed. Council discussed this at length. A new officer, with benefits, would cost $67,711 a year. Denbow observed that currently when the previously mentioned absences occur it costs $138,000 a year to pay overtime for other officers to fill in. So hiring a new officer would be a major savings.

Andrew Toth is resigning from the Shade Tree Commission. He is moving out of town. Brandon Hayes was named to replace him.

Mayor Michael Dixon reviewed the cleanup day, tree planting, Easter Egg Hunt, and Montour Run Trout stocking (see article below). He urged Council to approve new trash receptacles downtown, and asked whether a three way stop is needed at the Maple - State Avenue intersection.

The Engineer updated Council on Watson Street, Alder Alley, School Street, Pine Alley, Summit, St. Clair, Woodlawn and Willow Way work projects. Council members raised questions about recently paved streets already showing cracks.

Stacie Christie has resigned as Director of the Historical Society as she is moving to Erie.

Denbow's monthly Police Report showed 1118 calls, six alarms, 303 criminal investigations, eight arrests, $50 stolen property recovered, 82 moving vehicle violations.

Council approved $174,870 in invoices and a $122,141.66 April payroll.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Once again, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission stocked Montour Creek with Trout for the 2022 season.

With Representative Anita Kulik and Coraopolis Mayor Michael Dixon helping, PFBC officials released several hundred healthy Trout at various points along the stream.

The stocked fish join an existing population of Catfish, Carp and Rainbow and Brook Trout.

Montour Creek rises along the Allegheny - Washington County line, gathers several smaller streams together, and becomes large enough to support a fish population from Imperial to the Ohio River. It is the border between Moon and Robinson Townships for much of its length, then runs along the eastern border of Coraopolis, crossing the new Soccer Complex before entering the Ohio River.

There are several pools deep enough for swimming, but for most of its length Montour Creek is only a foot or so deep and suitable for wading.

The Montour Trail runs along the creek the entire way, making it accessible for fishermen willing to hike up to a mile or two from the nearest road crossing.

Originally a popular fishing stream, the Montour became contaminated when coal mines opened in the southern part of its watershed around 1900.

The fish disappeared for most of the 20th Century as the mines continued to leach acid drainage into the smaller streams which fed the Montour. Oil leakage from the Montour Railroad also polluted the creek.

During its worst period, Montour Creek actually ran reddish from the mine drainage.

But after the mines closed, the water gradually cleared. This was helped by large stands of Cattails and other plants which serve as filters and water purifiers. Some of these plants have grown on their own, and others have been planted by various environmental groups.

Fish began moving back into the Montour from the Ohio River. The Fish & Boat Commission does not stock contaminated streams, but once the Montour became clean enough to support fish, they added it to their list. Today, Montour Creek is considered a thriving fishery.

Anyone fishing the Montour is required to have a fishing license. These can be bought online at huntfish.pa.gov. A license costs $23 for an adult, $12 for anyone 65 and older, and $3 for children younger than 16. A license lasts one year. Three, five and ten year permits can also be purchased. A fishing license must be on the person fishing and must be shown to a game warden as requested.

Fish are low in fat, high in protein, and provide substantial human health benefits. Fish provide valuable vitamins and minerals and beneficial oils that are low in saturated fat. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are also beneficial. However, Catfish, Carp and Eeels found in Montour Creek should not be eaten. They're bottom feeders, and Mercury and PCBs remain in the mud. Since Trout eat insects, crustaceans and even small fish, they avoid most of this problem. Eating Trout once a week or so, or daily for a week or so, is not considered risky. But eating it on a daily basis over a long time might not be wise.

Comedy Night Fundraiser - April 23

Join us for a fun evening of "clean comedy" from Mike Conley, Auggie Cook, Shaena Rabbini and Matt Wolfarth plus a grand buffet! Dinner & show at The Fez in Hopewell for $40/person.

(Benefits local Knights of Columbus Council #2555.)

To order tickets: email KCcomedy2555@gmail.com or visit https://www.mshj.org
(Ticket sales close April 11 - No sales at the door.)

An unexpected March snow storm did not stop the OLSH Interact Club from participating in their rescheduled “MLK Day of Service” project. Their planned day at Mooncrest Neighborhood Programs (MNP) was canceled back in January due to the largest snowfall of the season. Then, the students were giving up their day off. This time, the students spent a regular school day on the project. In addition to honoring the civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Day is designated as a national day of service where individuals are encouraged to volunteer to improve their community.

Families and individuals living in the Mooncrest community, located just four miles from OLSH, struggle with the effects of poverty. Mooncrest Neighborhood Programs promotes “spiritual, intellectual, physical, social and emotional development for children and families living in the Mooncrest neighborhood.” The work is aligned with the Felician Sisters’ core value of solidarity with people in need.

The all-day visit to Mooncrest began with a delivery of cereal and drinks from the school’s food pantry. The Sacred Heart Pantry is one of many area food services that stock MNP with food and supplies. The next few hours were spent doing spring cleaning throughout the center. Surfaces, furniture, walls, and windows all received a thorough scrubbing from the Interactors.

After learning about the many free resources and services available at the center, students participated in two weekly adult programs with the Mooncrest residents - the Faith Sharing group and Pokeno! While fewer residents than normal participated due to the snow accumulation, it was still a lively session. The Pokeno players range from 20-something year olds, to young families with babies in tow, to long-time octogenarian residents. The prizes for Pokeno are items typically not provided by government or pantry services - such as toothbrushes, feminine products, blankets, and toilet paper.

Lunchtime was the group’s chance to learn more about the history of Mooncrest, which was created during World War II. American strategists feared Hitler would send a fleet of bombers up the Ohio River to strike our manufacturing facilities. For protection a radar installation was built on the hills above Thorn Run and a MORDOR command was born : Moon Offbase Radar Defense Officers Residences. The village of Mooncrest was built to house them plus the workers at several key defense plants on Neville Island. For 10 years after the war, military families from the airport and the NIKE base lived at Mooncrest. Finally, in 1955, military families were moved out and the long, connected housing units sold to private real estate managers.

The village went downhill as absentee landlords ignored maintenance needs. By the 1960s Mooncrest had become a low income enclave, off to itself, isolated from Cory and Moon Township. The village filled with dysfunctional families and children adrift. Those children were bused to Moon schools but were frequently absent and chronically underachieved academically. As the housing units aged problems developed. The downward spiral steepened.

The village had an idyllic setting, high on a forested plateau, with stunning views of the Ohio River Valley, Sewickley and Coraopolis. But it was in deep distress.

Sister Rene Procopia of the Felician Sisters Convent adopted Mooncrest as her personal service project, creating the Mooncrest Neighborhood Programs Center and actually moving part time into a Mooncrest townhouse to be more a part of the community. Sister Rene became famous for her work in Mooncrest, being recognized by Bishop David Zubic, the Governor and the State Legislature. Eventually the Felician Sisters and OLSH joined her in trying to help the community. Sister Rene died in 2018 but the Felician Sisters and OLSH continue the project in her honor. But the community continues to evolve. A recent shift in the community’s demographics to predominantly Spanish-speaking immigrants from Central America has added another problem : many of its residents do not speak English at all, or very well. Twice during the visit, OLSH Spanish teacher and Interact volunteer Mady Simmers was called upon to help interpret a resident’s request for medical assistance. The center’s staff speak minimal Spanish and the students were intrigued to watch their teacher put her skills to important work.

The afternoon was spent finishing up some much-needed tasks, such as relocating some shelving, organizing books, and shoveling the sidewalks. The drive through the community on the way back to campus was somewhat somber, as students saw the many small units which sometimes house more than one family due to the increasing cost of rent. “The students left feeling more grateful for the many blessings in their own lives, and with the desire to return to do more good. They reflected on how they are aware that the needs throughout the world are vast, as they shared their surprise at the level of need so close to home,” said Interact Moderator Cheryl Karashin.

The group hopes to schedule a regular opportunity to do service at the MNP After School Program, which takes place daily and serves upwards of 70 community students in grades K-8. Miss Simmers would like to engage some of her Spanish students to help with communication and ESL tutoring, and Mrs. Karashin is hoping to get other faculty members involved as well.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Neville Commissioners at their March meetings requested a survey of the new Riverfront Park tract so they can plan a park layout and contract the necessary work.

The park land lies behind the gas station and is bordered to the west by the exit ramp from I-79 and to the northeast and east by industrial sites. As the map at right shows, the open land is a long strip running behind several industrial lots. Access is alongside the gas station but the exact boundaries of the land along and behind the gas station has yet to be defined, a major reason the survey is needed.

Access to the park will be by a driveway entering along the Speedway lot. Neville owns a right of way for that entrance.

One thing the survey will determine is exactly where the old railroad right of way and current utility rights of way extend and exactly where the industrial lot lines run. As the aerial view shows, a huge parking lot exends behind the industrial buildings, but is little used. If some of that lane could be acquired it would help.

As the photo below shows, the site is now in very rough shape, with piles of gravel, junk and mud, scrub trees, briars and uneven ground. Testing will have to be done to make sure the soil has not been contaminated by a century of industrial use.

While the park will have other facilities, one key use will be as a launching point for canoes and kayaks. It will not be equipped for powerboats. It will also be useful for fishing, picnicking and walking, although it won't be big enough for long trails. It may need additional soil added to bring it above floodplain level.

In other business, the Commissioners discussed ordering a backup road salt machine (to be installed in a pickup truck), but held off until a second bid was received. The first bid was for $6487. Police reported that cameras are being replaced by new ones that are integrated with other districts so vehicles can be tracked as they move across the entire county. This cost $8688. Applications have been filed for grants of one million dollars and $250,000 for development of Riverfront Park. Payments for various street and road projects were approved. The annual Earth Day Litter Cleanup is set for Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 9 a.m. at the Fire Station. Residents are reminded the Wednesday street sweeping program will resume on April 6 and will continue through November 30.

Estate Settlement Notice

724-547-7115

At its March workshop and business meetings, Coraopolis Borough Council honored several citizens and discussed needed work on Mill Street.

First to be honored were Bill and Ken Sweterlitsch and sister Deborah (photo, right), who are retiring as owners and operators of the Coraopolis Hardware. The Hardware has existed at the same 5th Avenue address for 134 years (scroll down for separate story). It will close March 31, and has been the subject of stories in various local newspapers and magazines. Mayor Michael Dixon awarded the three certificates and keys to the city.

Police Chief Ron Denbow recognized police officers who apprehended William Goring, a local 40 year old who tried to kidnap Dezi Frawley, a Coraopolis nine year old, as she waited for the Cornell School Bus at the corner of School and McCabe Streets at 8:15 a.m.

Frawley, (photo below right) was able to escape and run to the bus as it approached her stop. Police were called immediately and found and arrested Goring two hours later.

Council also honored Frawley with a special plaque for her courage and quick action in escaping her kidnapper.

Finally, Council honored Chief Denbow for his long service to the Boro.

Council then turned its attention to more routine matters. The February Police Report showed 1044 calls, six alarms, 237 complaints, 271 criminal investigations, 12 arrests, one shooting, 18 accidents, 27 moving violations, and $500 in property recovered.

The Fire Report showed seven calls, one accident involving a vehicle crashing into a house, one carbon monoxide case, and one space heater fire.

The annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, April 2 at 10 a.m. aqt Bliwas Field. with Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts helping.

Illegal dumping has become a problem at the corner of Vance, Francis and Howard Streets. This three way intersection is one block east of Vine Street. The dumping is happening mostly at night, and involves both trash and piles of dirt and gravel. At the least, Council was asked to send equipment there to level the piles. But something also needs to be done to stop the dumping. Several people suggested motion activated cameras to be installed on trees or light poles nearby.

An NAACP representative updated Council on maintenance issues at The Towers. Residents petitioned the Allegheny County Health Department but were told they had to complain individually and list their specific apartments and issues. Residents are reluctant to do this because they fear retaliation from the Towers management, which could include cancelling their leases. The NAACP pointed out that many people think of it only as a racial organization but it addresses housing and health issues wherever they occur. Residents at the Towers include various races, religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Council expressed its dismay and frustration that its brand new $52,000 Ford F-150 truck specially equipped for use as a Canine Carrier had its engine blown due to negligence. The officer in charge simply did not check the oil and it ran completely dry. Since a Canine Carrier truck goes home with the officer and dog every night, the vehicle did not come under the regular inspections all other vehicles receive. It only has 10,000 miles on it and replacing the engine will cost $15,000. The Borough Manager called both Ford and the insurance company but their investigation found negligence so the $15,000 is not covered. Council must pay to have the engine replaced because the dog requires a specially equipped truck and the dog is a valuable addition to the police department.

After temporary suspension due to COVID, the Memorial Day Parade will once again be held, at 1:30 pm Monday, May 30.

Council moved the block of Chestnut Street between 4th and 5th Avenue to the top of the streets and roads priority list because with the Fire Department now in its new location in the new Municipal Building, its trucks use Chestnut Street more than half the time when they go out on calls. That block of Chestnut Street has developed deep potholes and uneven areas and is deteriorating rapidly.

Invoices of $310,705.38 and the monthly payroll of $123, 801.40 were approved for payment.

Council authorized Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon to apply for a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant of $500,000 to use toward Phase III of the Riverfront Park.

The Salt Storage Building behind Bliwas Field is in need of replacement. It's 50 years old and nearing the end of its lifespan. Council approved a grant application to at least help with the cost.

The request by Cobblehaus Brewing Company for a permit to park food trucks at the Gazebo Parking Lot Fridays and Saturdays through August 2022 was tentatively approved, noting that there may be a conflict with a Coraopolis Youth Creations request to use a food truck as a fundraiser on the opposite side of the same parking lot.

The biggest discussion of the two meetings came when local developer Brian Diggins explained to Council a new project he was considering. He would like to remodel the building at 423 Mill Street (adjacent to the vacant lot next to Pine Alley) to hold a new restaurant on the first floor and apartments on the second floor. He would also landscape the vacant lot and use it for parking. The project would cost $600,000 and would create a building of 4200 square feet.

The building is currently assessed at $82,000.

But Diggins outlined for Council a list of problems he sees on Mill Street. There are potholes and cracks in the pavement. Trees have died and sidewalks are buckling. The streetlights do not all work. Pine Alley has deteriorated and is sloping to the side so rain water and snow melt flow against the building. Parking meters lean and no longer work.. Sidewalks are cracked and uneven.

Given all these issues, Diggins first asked that the assessment on the building (and thus the taxes levied on it) not be increased due to his improvements.

"Conditions along the street lower the value of property facing the street," he pointed out.

Diggins requested that Council come up with a plan to upgrade Mill Street.

Council discussed this issue at length. It was pointed out that when a building permit is issued, Allegheny County sends out an assessor to reasses property and levy taxes, and Council has no input. Council has applied for grants for Mill Street three times and been turned down. It will continue to apply but until it receives a grant it does not have the resources to tackle Mill Street, an $800,000 - $900,000 job. The street lights themselves are good but it's the underlying structure that prevents them from working properly. The entire street and sidewalk need removed and the foundation, including the utility pipes and wires, need redone. The trees were the wrong type to plant there and grew too big. Their roots are what cracked the sidewalks and the street. The trees grew too big to maintain. Council promised to continue applying for grants and as soon as they acquired one to begin work on Mill Street.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

State Representative Anita Kulik hosted another of her "Meet and Greet" sessions Saturday at the Coraopolis Anchor & Anvil Coffee Shop.

Kulik (in blue vest, right) provided the donuts for the 11:00 a.m. brunch. Voters from Cory, Moon, Neville and Robinson gathered to drink Coffee and discuss local issues with Kulik and each other.

"This is the part of politics I enjoy," she told reporters. "Getting to meet people and find out what their concerns are, what they need, how their government can serve them best. There's not a campaign going on right now, so there's no pressure. Just a leisurely discussion of issues. This is why I went into politics and why I stay in it."

Among her constituents Saturday morning was Bill Sweterlitsch, who is retiring from the Coraopolis Hardware across the street (see story below). Kulik presented Sweterlitsch with a citation from the State Legislature for a lifetime of service to the community.

Michael Dixon (red and blue sweater, left), Mayor of Coraopolis, and most members of the Coraopolis Borough Council were there. Members of the Neville Board of Commissioners and Moon Council were also present, as were members of the Moon Garden Club and other civic organizations.

Coraopolis Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon (green vest, below) was there.

Kulik was at the Anchor & Anvil for about two hours. Most people came for about 30 minutes, ate a donut, drank a cup of coffee, spoke to Kulik for 10-15 minutes about one or two issues, then left.

The issues were discussed were local. Nobody was asking about COVID, masks, vaccines, inflation, the Ukraine or gas prices.

Instead, they asked about grants their communities might be applying for and whether she could use her influence to increase their chances of getting one.

Coraopolis, Moon, Neville and Robinson all rely on county, state and federal grants to help them build and maintain parks, maintain and upgrade streets, roads and utilities, and plant and maintain trees along streets and roads.

Some locals asked about the redistricting process now going on, which will produce political districts different from those that have existed in the past. The courts have ruled that gerrymandering must be reduced, even if it cannot be eliminated entirely.

Kulik has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 45th district since 2017.  She attended Bishop Canevin High School.

Her 45th district includes Coraopolis, Neville, Robinson, Kennedy, Stowe, Ben Avon, Emsworth, Kilbuck, Pennsbury, Rosslyn Farms and Scott Township.

(Moon, Crescent and Sewickley are in the 44th District.)

Kulik expressed her regrets that Coraopolis was losing its downtown hardware store and Segneri's Resturant down on 4th Avenue.

"We might try to eat at Segneri's one last time," she said. "That's been a meeting place for politicians and businessmen for a century."

Help Wanted

Graff's Auto Service Center

Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

412-264-9733

Another Coraopolis icon is disappearing. After 134 years at the same address, the Coraopolis Hardware is going out of business March 31. It will leave Coraopolis with only the Montour Hardware still selling tools and all the items that hardware stores offer.

"It's just time," Bill Sweterlitsch (photo below) says. "It's actually way past time. We've been worn out and ready to retire for the last decade and we've had the store listed, but nobody's buying hardware stores these days. We finally found a buyer for the property."

That's Kelly and Tammy Ulm, who will convert the hardware into a wood products store and hold classes in various woodworking skills. They'll create a large apartment upstairs and live above the store.

"There has always been an apartment up there," Sweterlitsch explains. "It was in the front. Our grandparents lived up there. The rest of the upstairs we used to store inventory. He'll have a huge space to work with, which will face out the back of the building." Ulm isn't sure he'll rent out the smaller front apartment or perhaps use it for guests.

H. W. Wickenheiser opened the hardware in 1888. Joseph F. Sweterlitsch bought it in 1927 and it's been in the familty ever since. Bill and Ken got their start sweeping floors, opening paint cans and stocking shelves at ages 12 and eight. Bill went off to college and worked for Pittsburgh National Bank for five years before returning to the family business.

For most of its history, the hardware employed 20 people full time. It carried Lionel Trains, Flexible Flyer sleds, Huffy bikes, Radio Flyer wagons, Christmas trees, power tools, hunting and fishing equipment and hunting and fishing licenses. Every Christmas they'd set up a large train layout in the front window.

"One by one," Bill recalls wistfully, "the discounters and big box stores began selling those items. They could buy in bulk and sell them for less. They didn't make a profit on any of those items. They used them as loss leaders to lure customers to the stores, hoping then they'd buy something else."

A hardware store doesn't have that kind of volume. It has a 10% profit margin. It can't afford to sell sleds, bikes, trains or power tools at a loss just to bring in customers. So one by one the Coraopolis Hardware stopped selling those items.

"We got out of the hunting and fishing license business when the state in 2005 went to a computerized system. It would have cost us $2000 to buy the official state computer. We only made 50 cents on each license. It didn't make sense to invest in that computer so we stopped selling them."

But even though it gradually reduced the number of full time employees down to the current five, the hardware was still doing well. It sold paint, hand tools, lawnmowers, lawn and garden supplies, plumbing equipment, woodworking supplies including the lumber, and various odds and ends like trash cans, birdbaths, Christmas lights, bird feeders, work gloves and snow shovels.

"And service and repair," brother Ken (photo, right) adds. "The big box stores and discounters were selling power tools but not offering service or repair, so people had to take them somewhere. Our repair work actually grew a lot as the big box stores took over the power tool market."

With the hardware closing, Bill and Ken are directing customers to the Montour Hardware, Kuhlman's, CNI True Value in Hopewell, or Phelps Equipment on 4th Avenue.

With their final day only a few weeks away, they're gradually selling off what remains of their inventory. The store is looking very empty, with many shelves cleared of merchandise.

"What inventory we have after March 31 will go to other hardwares," Bill explains. "And anything they don't want will go to agents who specialize in disposing of what they call "odd lots." The leftover lumber upstairs will give Kelly what he needs to build that new apartment. With the price of lumber sky high right now, that lumber will save him a fortune."

The last few weeks have been a parade of long time customers dropping by to say goodbye, and area newspapers and magazines doing stories. Even State Representative Anita Kulik came by to give Bill a citation from the State Legislature in Harrisburg commemorating 95 years of community service (photo below). Mayor Michael Dixon (red and blue sweater below) will recognize the Sweterlitsches at the March council meeting Wednesday night.

Although the store goes back 134 years and the family has owned it for 95 years, Ken's own history with it goes back 54 years.

"The part I'll miss is the people," he admits. "So many customers who became such good friends. The only thing we really had to sell, the only way we could compete with the big box stores, was customer service, so we tried to provide the absolute best customer service anyone could get anywhere. Thank goodness, the town and the area responded to this and customers kept coming back."

But neither Bill nor Ken could keep going any longer. All that unloading of lumber and large boxes and barrels of merchandise have taken a grim toll. And the concrete floors haven't helped.

Bill has arthritis everywhere and looks forward to Stem Cell treatments to try and give him pain free movement back.

Ken struggles with shoulder, knee and ankle problems. He's already had surgeries and needs more. "My replacement knee is needing replacement again, the other one is overdue for its first replacement, and my ankles need some kind of surgery."

Bill loves golf and travel and especially loves travelling to play golf. His next trip will be to Maine, and he has several more trips to various areas of the U.S. "I've been to Scotland once. I have no particular desire to go back overseas. I'd rather see this country."

Not Ken. He likes travelling abroad. His next goal is Austria. 'Our family is from a village near Vienna. I'd love to visit there. And we want to see Oktoberfest in Munich. When you're running a store, it's hard to get away for a couple of weeks for a good trip. Retiring will make it a lot easier."

Coraopolis once had four hardwares and is now down to one.

"A town needs a good hardware," Bill insists. "Yes, it's hard to compete with the big box stores and now people can buy everything online. But having a store just a few minutes away, rather than 20-30 minutes away, is important.

"And being able to get good advice is important, too. The employees at the big box stores often don't know anything about what they're selling. At a good hardware, someone can help you buy exactly what you need, and then stand behind it after you take it home."

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Coraopolis Borough Council opened its February meeting with the annual Black History program presented by local evangelist Dana Watkins (photo, right). Over the years, the programs have focused on soul food, local churches, children, and other topics relevant to the Black experience in Coraopolis. This year, Watkins had Pastor Herb Tillman of the Abundant Life Ministries speak and lead a prayer, Trenae Massey of Mt. Olive Baptist Church lead the room in a singing of the hym Lift Every Voice and then introduced Carter Spruill (photo below) of the Coraopolis chapter of the NAACP as the evening's featured speaker. Spruill briefly reviewed the history of the NAACP, which was founded in New York City by five Whites and four Blacks. But he emphasized that the issues confronted by the NAACP were issues that concerned all people, not just minorities or just Blacks. He talked of tree planting, neighborhood beautification, cemetery tending, voter registration, helping people, especially elderly voters, get to the polls, raising the minimum wage, safe working conditions, safe neighborhoods, student academic achievement, fair housing and other priorities. The Coraopolis NAACP chapter currently has 157 members and serves not only Cory but Moon, Neville, Robinson, Sewickley and Crescent.

At the conclusion of the program, Mayor Michael Dixon (bottom photo) issued a proclamation declaring February Black History Month in Coraopolis and honoring Watkins for her services over many years.

As the official Council meeting began, Police Chief Ron Denbow's monthly report listed 10901 calls, 227 complaints, 84 criminal investigations, 13 arrests, 17 accidents, six injuries, 40 motor vehicle violations, and five alarms having gone off.

The Fire Department reported 10 calls, one vehicle fire, and one carbon monoxide call. The carbon monoxide call was particularly worrisome as a gas furnace had malfunctioned in the middle of the night and had the family not had a CO detector installed, the results would probably have been fatal. Fire Chief Charles Spencer urged all residents to install CO detectors.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon reported that a water outage had occured in the east end of town. A leaking valve on State Avenue had to be repaired so water had to be shut off for an eight square block area for most of one day. Service was restored by that night.

A major focus was the renewal of the waste collection contract. Once again, Waste Management was the only company submitting a bid. Currently, Cory pays $394,000 a year for weekly trash pickup plus a supplemental contract for pickup of old tires, paint cans, and electronic items (TVs, computers, phones, radios, microwaves, etc.). The new bid calls for $459,624 a year plus $33,000 for the supplemental contract. To pay this, Cory will have to increase the quarterly bills by $15. However, as Councilman Rudy Bolea pointed out, "It's worth it to keep old TV sets and other electronics out of our alleys, vacant lots and streams like McCabes Run and Thorn Run. It helps keep the town clean." Council voted to approve the Waste Management bid and supplemental contract.

McCutcheon warned Council that if another storm hits the area Coraopolis could be in serious trouble. An order for 170 tons of salt this year has not yet arrived and the recent ice storm used up the last of what salt remained from last year.

McCutcheon also reported that the concrete and steel teepee used to store the salt is in bad shape and needs replaced. This teepee sits behind Bliwas Field and is 50 years old. A grant application to replace it was denied. Original estimates on a new one are in the $150,000 - 200,000 range. One reason for the high cost is the new set of federal and state regulations to prevent rainwater or snow melt from carrying any salt into local streams and rivers. A salt shelter has to have a raised floor to keep the salt above water, has to have a "lip" to keep any of it from washing away, and has to have a watertight roof to keep any rain from reaching the salt. This becomes especially important for Cory because its teepee sits on the edge of the bank right above the river, right on the floodplain, so it will be closely checked by county and state inspectors.

The Borough's 2022 budget is already finalized and no money was included for a new teepee, so if Cory must totally finance a new one money will have to be taken from some other priority. Or, as one Council member suggested, it could be done late in the year and the money taken from the 2023 budget.

Several business owners have asked that more attention be paid to ice accumulation in the downtown area, because during long Winters it prevents older customers from getting to businesses.

McCutcheon reported on the Riverfront Park. It will contain 33 parking spaces, restrooms, a pavilion, stage, gazebo, electrical outlets, lighted walkways and parking areas, and many surveillance cameras. A $305,000 grant has been received for Phase II. By the time it is completed this will be a million dollar park, so the borough manager emphasized that "we must take really good care of it. We can't let this much of an investment be vandalized or deteriorate."

Mike Harris of Main Street reported that stop signs are badly needed at several points along Main Street. Traffic in general and Amazon vans in particular drive up and down Main Street at high speeds and it's dangerous for the children who live along the street and for drivers trying to back out of their driveways.

Anthony Richards of 4th Avenue urged Council to install No Right Turn and One Way signs at the foot of Montour Street to keep drivers from turning right into heavy traffic on 4th Avenue, which has two lanes heading west. The situation is deceptive, since when the traffic light one block east, at Ferree Street, is red, the street looks empty, so a driver could turn right and get halfway up the block. Then the light turns green and suddenly two lanes of traffic come off the Neville Island bridge at high speed and there would be nowhere for a driver to turn off and the tractor trailer trucks could not stop in time.

A representative from the Coraopolis Towers Apartment Complex on 4th Avenue reported that tenants are experiencing several problems and can't get management to address them. The worst problem is sewage backing up into the apartments. There is also a major issue with trash being dumped and then not picked up. On a different level, older residents are being bullied by younger residents in places like the TV lounge and recreational areas.

Council explained that since the Towers is a private business, it had limited power to intervene, but sewage and trash were public health issues so the Allegheny County Health Department should be contacted. Mayor Dixon requested specific apartment numbers and promised he would follow up their calls to the County Health Department with his own call. He asked that a representative from the Towers Tenants Association report back to Council at its March meeting with a progress report, and if nothing has still been done he would address the issue further.

The Towers is a low income facility offering one and two bedroom apartments at monthly rates of from $400 - 900.

There were reports that the recent paving job on Edgewood, Devonshire, Cliff, Euclid and DiVito Alley is already deteriorating and, under the warranty, another milling and overlay process may be needed.

Gary Flasco was voted on and sworn in to fill a vacated Council seat.

Council approved invoices for $284,175.59 and the monthly payroll of $124,455.75.

Estate Settlement Notice

724-547-7115

In one of his final official gestures as Mayor, Shawn Reed dedicated Cory's new trail system before a surprisingly large turnout on a rainy December morning.

Reed (photo, right) had announced at the December Council meeting that the dedication would go on "rain or shine," because this has been one of his pet projects and he wanted to be the one to announce its completion.

The system is officially called the Wildcat Trail Network because it circles below and above the old Wildcat Rock formation which was a popular overlook before it was destroyed by construction of the Cornell School.

The system includes Wildcat Trail, Deer Run Trail, Riverview Ridge Trail, McCabe Hollow Trail, Brook Run Trail and Turkey Trail. The main trailhead is behind the football stadium. There are two trailheads along Brook Street and one on the drive leading up to Cornell School. A spur extends up McCabes Hollow where plans are to connect it to a Moon Township trail. The old Powerline Trail, which runs from the Montour Trail to Mooncrest, is close, and planners may use parts of it. Trail signage has been provided by Joe Messner as part of his Eagle Scout project. Other members of Boy Scout Troop 358 are doing other work along the trails and at the trailheads.

The trail system has been a joint project of Coraopolis Borough, Hollow Oak Land Trust, the Coraopolis Shade Tree Commission, and Troop #358. But volunteers from throughout Coraopolis pitched in on dozens of Saturday work sessions to lay out the trails, then clear the trees, downfall and underbrush.

"We all got well acquainted with Stinging Nettle," recalled Council Member Ed Pitassi. "We learned to wear long sleeves and long pants even in hot humid weather. These trails only total a couple of miles but a lot of work by a lot of people went into this."

The land between Maple Street and Brook Street (down in McCabes Hollow) was the old Coraopolis Park before half of it was sold to the Cornell School District for the new K-12 school back in the 1970s. But Cory retained ownership of the rest of it, a rugged patch of woods, cliffs, high ridges and steep slopes. The trails are almost all in thick woods.

Pitassi (in red rain parka, below) did the official ribbon cutting, after which most of the crowd embarked on a rainy hike through the woods

Help Wanted

Graff's Auto Service Center

Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

412-264-9733

Lifelong Coraopolis residents have spent a lifetime watching treasured institutions disappearing as the town lost population and people's habits changed. The trolleys, Shafer Bus Lines, passenger train stops, the Montour Railroad, the high school, junior high and grade schools, the YMCA, the Glass House, Rockwell Steel, Forgings, Cahen's Department Store, Isaly's, three movie theaters, duckpin bowling lanes, the list goes on and on. As 2022 begins, Cory is about to lose another one : Its water plant. Due to a declining customer base, increasing costs, aging equipment and new federal regulations, Coraopolis can no longer afford to maintain the wells and purification plant. The oldest wells were drilled in 1937, the newest in 1978. They replaced older, 1800s, shallower wells. The current plant was built in 1948 and updated in 1978 and 1996.

Due to Homeland Security regulations, we cannot photograph and post photos of an active water plant. But when these plants were built 70-80 years ago, many of them used a common architectural plan. We have found another town's plant, which has already been closed, and used photos of it. These are very similar but not exactly like the one in Cory.

The Coraopolis Water & Sewer Authority will remain in business. It will maintain the pipes and pumps and continue to provide water to residents and businesses in Coraopolis. It will continue to bill customers. But now, instead of pumping drinking water UP from the plant on First Avenue, it will buy water from Moon Township and allow it to flow DOWN from Moon's lines on the heights above Coraopolis. It will still use the water tower on the hill above Maple Street.

Neither members of Borough Council nor members of the CWSA are happy about closing their wells and plant, which for much of the 20th Century were state of the art. For the last several years, the CWSA has struggled with the rising costs, aging equipment and tightening regulations. But 2021 was a point of no return. They don't have the money to continue.

Originally, Cory residents had their own backyard wells or drew water from Thorn Run, McCabe's Run, Montour Creek or the Ohio River. As the town grew, it began drawing water from the river and built a crude facility to boil it. Chlorination began in 1921 to kill microorganisms. But as mills and mines began emptying poisonous chemicals into the river, a different approach was needed. In the mid 1800s, geologists discovered a whole additional river flowing deep underground. It flowed south to north under western Allegheny County. This "river" was actually a series of aquifers. They are not connected to the Ohio River. They lay below layers of sand, gravel, shale, limestone, anthracite, iron, soil and sandstone, which act as filters. By the time water percolates down through those layers, it is biologically pure, meaning free of bacteria, viruses or any microorganisms. Local hydrological engineeer John Watson suggested Coraopolis drill a series of wells down to tap those aquifers. That was the beginning of a century during which Coraopolis was famous for having the best drinking water in Allegheny County. For several decades, residents drank water straight from the wells. As science improved, government regulations tightened, and in 1935 Cory began running water through four water softeners and two filters.

The water plant sits between the Little League Field and The Towers apartment building. It looks very much like the plant shown in the top photo. Water is pumped in from the wells and run through four swimming pool sized basins (photo, above). In the first two basins, chlorine is added which bonds ("oxidizes") to dissolved iron and manganese in the water, creating ferric chloride and manganese chloride, large heavy molecules which settle out or are filtered out. Getting rid of them has the effect of "softening" the water.

The third and fourth pools are anthracite and green river sand filters (diagram, left). Green sand is a mixture of sand, bentonite clay and chlorine crystals. These filters may sound simple but are incredibly effective at removing impurities from water.

Water then goes to a final tank, where chlorine is added. The water remains in that tank for several hours to allow the chlorine to diffuse throughout every drop. This guarantees virus inactivation.

In the 1930s Coraopolis was praised for having one of the most advanced water systems in the nation. In 1978 and 1996 the plant and pumps were upgraded to maintain that reputation.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Cory itself had a population of 18,000. The plant processed 2.2 million gallons of water a day. The Coraopolis Water Plant also supplied water to Robinson Township, Moon Township, a long list of businesses, mills and factories, and, when they were built, the Airport and adjacent Air Force Base. With that many customers, they could afford to install the latest technology as it became available.

But in 2021, Cory's mills are long gone. Moon and Robinson have their own water plants. The Airport and Air Force Reserve Base buy their water from Moon. Coraopolis has fewer than 6000 residents and the CWSA is down to 3000 connections, including residences and businesses and 29 industries. The water plant now processes less than 300,000 gallons a day.

Meanwhile, thanks to water scandals in Flint (Michigan), Martin County (Kentucky), Philadelphia, East Chicago, Tacoma, Waukesha (Wisconsin), New York City, Corpus Christi (Texas) and several other communities, state and federal regulators have imposed much tighter requirements on water plants everywhere. The EPA estimates that 63 million Americans are drinking unsafe water, and authorities are determined to correct this.

Coraopolis drilled nine wells to tap that underground aquifer. Only six are still pumping and they've slowed down significantly.

"They're just at the end of their lifespans," explains CWSA President John Schombert. "Actually, they're way past their lifespans. To get 84 or even 43 years out of a well is unheard of. They really built things to last back then. We've been lucky. But we've been living on borrowed time for decades, and that time has finally run out."

For Coraopolis to maintain its current system, it would have to drill at least two new wells. But to drill a new well requires DEP approval. The DEP is not approving any new wells. It wants towns to stop using the aquifers, and it wants small plants closed.

Coraopolis cannot simply abandon the wells and switch to using Ohio River water. Because of the mills and mines and towns and the city of Pittsburgh upstream, river water contains a long list of dangerous chemicals, such as trihalomethanes and polyfluorokenes. Removing those requires newer technologies, such as activated carbon filters and reverse osmosis filters (next two photos). Cory cannot afford either of those.

It's not alone. Springdale, Har-Brack, Leetsdale and a dozen other small communities have already closed plants.

"There's a limit to how high you can raise rates," CWSA officials point out. "This is not a wealthy community. If we could spread costs over 18,000 users it would be OK. But with only 3000 users, we would have to double or even triple our rates. Many of our customers simply could not afford it, and even the ones who could afford it would protest."

But updating the wells and plant are not the only expenses the CWSA faces. One of the major federal goals is replacing all lead water pipes nationwide. Lead was the issue in Flint, Michigan and several other places. Lead in old pipes can leach into the water. It causes a long list of health problems, the worst of which is mental retardation in children.

Cory's lead pipes are not leaching lead into the water. They're coated with calcium which prevents the lead from coming into contact with the water. The water is repeatedly tested at various locations in town to make sure no lead is in it. But it doesn't matter. Federal agencies are pressing communities to replace those lead lines. In Coraopolis, that means all lines installed prior to 1950, which is most of the lines in town. The CWSA has been replacing them as fast as it can. Two thirds of the cost of replacing lines is digging up the street and repaving it. So every time Columbia Gas or the Street Department digs up a street or road for any reason, CWSA tries to use the opportunity to replace the lead lines. In the recent repair on Fleming Street, they removed a lead line with "Installed 1896" clearly engraved on it.

Rough estimates are that it will cost $22 million to update the plant and wells plus replace the lead lines.

Borough Council and the CWSA have realized they were in trouble since about 2000. They have consulted with the EPA, DEP and various experts about alternatives. They have met with Moon officials three times about possible deals.

As a matter of fact, Coraopolis residents have already been drinking Moon water without realizing it. Their lines already interconnect.

Whenever Cory has to shut down its plant for servicing, it switches over to Moon water. And, when the water tower and Devonshire Road pump house no longer met federal requirements, residents on Grace Street, Euclid Avenue, and the upper section of Montour Street were switched over to Moon water, where they've been ever since.

As of January 2021 the CWSA has 24 miles of water pipes and 158 fire hydrants. It and Moon already cooperate in ownership and operation of the Riverview Sanitary Authority sewage treatment plant.

The CWSA already has a million dollar grant to replace more lead lines. The new federal Infrastructure bill will provide another several million, but that will also be neeeded to replace more lead lines.

There are no grants available for the money needed for the Plant.

Moon has a few wells drawing water from the aquifer, but draws most of its water from the river. That water does contain trihalomethanes, poly fluorokenes and several other carcinogenic chemicals. But Moon, having a much larger customer base, has had the money to install the activated carbon filters to remove those from its water. And, being a much newer community, Moon does not have the lead lines to replace. Moon has just completed a major upgrading of its plant.

A start date for any new contract with Moon is not certain but would almost certainly be sometime in 2022. The CWSA would in effect be a customer of Moon, buying 375,000 gallons a day on a 40 year contract. Moon's cost is $3.34 per 1000 gallons, while Cory's is $2.25 per 1000 gallons. But that higher Moon cost covers the recent Moon plant upgrades, new sophisticated monitoring equipment, and the critically important activated carbon filtering columns. Moon fluoridates its water, which prevents tooth decay. Coraopolis residents will see an increase in their monthly or quarterly billing statements, but not nearly as much as they would see if Cory had tried to keep its own wells and plant.

Moon has offered Coraopolis the same contract Moon currently has with the Airport.

Once the contract was in place, the Coraopolis water would represent 15% of Moon's daily water total.

At the end of the 40 years, Coraopolis could terminate the agreement with two years notice. Otherwise, it will continue to automatically roll over in five year increments.

Once the wells are closed off, they can never be restarted. If, at some point in the future Coraopolis or Moon wanted to draw more water from that aquifer, brand new wells would have to be drilled, assuming the EPA or DEP would approve new wells and Cory or Moon could afford to do it.

The building housing the Coraopolis Water Plant will not be abandoned. It also houses the Streets & Roads Department. And, of course, the CWSA will still be maintaining the Coraopolis pumps, lines and water tower.

The official decision has not been made. That vote will come at the December 21 meeting of the CWSA. But given the situation, board members see no alternative.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Although Coraopolis Borough Council went over the usual list of year ending business items, much of its December meeting was a farewell to retiring member Danny Larocco. At age 93, Larocco is concluding a long and illustrious career of public service to Coraopolis. He has been everything from Santa Claus in the annual Christmas parade to a crusader for various civic projects, many of which would never have been done without his constant badgering of mayors, delegates, state representatives and anyone else with funds and authority.

"People would call me with their complaints," he recalled. "I'd say, Well, I'm not your representative. You have a representative from your ward. You should call them. They'd say, 'Yeh, but you're the only one who pays any attention to us.' So I'd do what I could. I never promised anyone I'd get any results. I just promised them I'd do what I could."

LaRocco's life would make a book. He left school in January to enlist in the Army during World War II. He waded ashore on several Pacific islands, fighting Japanese soldiers in hand to hand combat on beaches. He received one ugly scar when a Japanese bayoneted him. LaRocco killed him, wrapped a bandana around the wound and kept on fighting. After WWII, he was sent to Korea, going, as he recalls, from 100 degree heat to -10 degree cold. Finally home, a friend convinced him to run for a seat on council. "I don't have time for that," LaRocco said. "Why would I want to be on Council?" Because we need you, the friend said. So he ran, and won and has been there ever since. "When I first got elected, I was all alone," he says. "Everything I suggested, not one other member voted for. I had to fight for a long time before some others started coming around."

Before a standing room only crowd, various dignitaries honored Larocco. State Representative Anita Kulik (photo, right) presented him with a citation from the House of Representatives. Council itself honored him. Mayor Shawn Reed, Police Chief Ron Denbow and others spoke of how LaRocco had always supported Borough departments, agencies, projects and events and never had a political agenda. LaRocco stood at the podium through all the accolades with an embarassed smile. "I'm just overwhelmed," he said. "I never expected any of this. I just always loved Coraopolis and everyone in it. I never even considered living anywhere else."

But he lost his compusure at the final tribute. Jeff Carter of the Cornell School District presented LaRocco with an official high school diploma, correctly dated to his own graduation class. Having left school in January and being gone to war so long, he never went back to finish. The diploma brought tears to his eyes. "This was my biggest regret," he admitted. "I always wished I had gotten my high school diploma. Now I have it."

Larocco vowed to stay active. "I'll be at the meetings," he promised. "I'll just be out in the audience."

It was also the final meeting for outgoing Mayor Shawn Reed, who did not run for reelection. "I never planned to be a long term politician," he explained. "I just wanted to serve one term to help jump start several initiatives I thought were important. Those are well under way now, so I feel confident others can take over."

Council did, however, have business to conduct.

Chief Ron Denbow presented the monthly Police Report, which saw 395 complaints, 107 investigations, 26 arrests, $500 property recovered, 257 parking tags, 104 moving vehicle violations and six vehicles towed.

The long awaited work on the Ferree Street Staircase has finally begun (photo, left). Local residents had expected a repair, with new railings installed and the eroding steps reformed. They were amazed to see a jackhammer taking out the entire staircase, as seen in the photo at left. A new foundation, stairs and railings will be built. The Ferree Street Staircase is heavily used by Montour Hill residents descending to the Lincoln neighborhood and on to downtown. It is much shorter than going down Montour Street, which bends out to get around the cliffs.

Council approved the 2022 budget of $6, 091, 077, which they noted was the 7th in a row with no tax increase even though it calls for $1.7 million in street and road work. The reason this is possible is that several grants have been received.

Rudy Bolea informed Council that the Welcome To Coraopolis sign on Maple Street is in bad need of replacement.

Cracks in the pavement on Devonshire and Edgewood Avenues have been filled and sealed. The work was covered by warranty.

Saturday, December 11, at 10 a.m., a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the football field trailhead to officially open the new trail system which drops down into McCabe's Hollow, curves around below Wildcat Rock, climbs back up the hill to the gazebo, and finally drops down to the football field.

Council noted that in 2021 Coraopolis has seen seven derelict houses removed, 100 new streetlights, many curbs and sidewalks replaced, a new Coraopolis map, and a new F150 truck.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

At its December meeting, the Neville Island Commissioners honored Vicki and Marissa Fiedler (center photo), Linda and Joe Solecki (right photo), and Bill Leon (center). The Fiedlers were given the Neville Green Award, the Solekis were given the Volunteer Fire Department Award, and Leon was recognized for his 20 years as a Commissioner. He is retiring as of January 1.

In other business, Attorney Emily Mueller noted that demolition of 125 2nd Street had cleared the required paperwork and was set to occur. The Commissioners voted to restore the 25 mph speed limit on Grand Avenue, instructed Township Manager Jeanne Creese to apply for a $278,058 Penndot grant to upgrade traffic signals at Grand Avenue and Gibson Lane, and reminded residents of the December 18 Luminaria display along Grand Avenue. Judging for the Christmas Decoration Contest will begin on December 18 and continue through the 26th.

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The Neville Island Board of Commissioners at their two November meetings approved a 2022 budget with no tax or water rate increases, but faces a massive expense for the installation of a water system backflow device. And, Township Manager Jeanne Creese warned that it may not be possible to hold water rates steady beyond 2022.

"ALCOSAN (which handles Neville's sewage) has announced a 7% rate increase every year through 2026," she informed the Board. "We can absorb the increase in 2022 and just have less money to spend on maintenance. But past 2022, we can't absorb those future increases. Residents will have to plan for higher rates."

And Neville's budget must absorb another cost. West View Water (which supplies the island's drinking water) has informed the island a backflow device must be installed where WVW's line connects to Neville's at the eastern end of the island. The backflow device (one in a neighboring community is shown in the photo at right) prevents water from flowing back into the system. In case of an accident, this prevents contaminated Neville water from ruining the pure water in the rest of the system. Each community WVW serves is being required to install such a device.

"But," Creese warned the Board, "This will be expensive." She expressed hope the island could use American Rescue Fund money to cover it. The island is receiving $100,000 in ARF assistance.

The 2022 budget includes $100,000 for Cottage Park improvements and $70,000 for streets and roads.

Creese also informed the Board a new computer system is being installed to replace the old paper system of monitoring water and sewer system pumps, lines and filters. It won't be possible for companies or industries to fudge their paperwork anymore.

Due to a change of residence, Tracy Phillips resigned as a Board member. Temporarily, the Board appointed Mark Stewart to fill the position.

The Board zeroed out the bond issues of Calgon and Trumbull due to projects completed.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Coraopolis Borough Council worked through a long list of details at its two November meetings but spent the most time trying to decide what to do about repaving options.

Cory manages street repairs in partnership with Columbia Gas. As the gas company digs up streets to repair leaking lines or replaces 100 year old lead pipes with new PVC pipes, the Borough takes that opportunity to update the streets. Columbia Gas is reimbursing Cory $220,000 for Watson, 6th and Ridge. Their reimbursement assumes a 3" base, then 4" concrete or asphalt. Generally, CG recommends asphalt on neighborhood streets, since they are less used and don't have large truck traffic. On main through streets CG recommends concrete, but they'll still just reimburse for 4". Main Street, for example, is being paved with concrete. Several points of disagreement arise with this arrangement. First, block by block, the town's historic brick streets are being lost. CG will not reimburse to relay the bricks, which requires skilled bricklayers and would be much more expensive. So the bricks are replaced with concrete or asphalt.

Second, the depth of the new foundations and the new pavements are not always enough to cope with Cory's hot Summers and cold Winters. But if the Borough chooses to add inches to either foundation or pavement, that becomes a local expense, not reimbursed by Columbia Gas.

Right now, several blocks are being redone, as seen in the photos. Being prudent, Council always demands a warranty on work done, so the street does not crumble the following Winter. But the company hired to do the work will not offer more than a 90 day warranty at the thickness proposed. For a long term warranty the contractor says an 8" base and at least 6" of paving is needed, and he recommends 8" of paving.

The charge for another two inches of paving is $50,000. For another four inches of paving it would be $100,000. This choice has exasperated several Council members. As Rudy Bolea argued, "We have a perfectly stable brick street with a solid sand and stone base, which has held up for 100 years with no problems at all, and CG comes in here and tears it up. So why then should they not be required to replace it exactly as it was?"

Unfortunately, the law requires only that a utility company reimburse to restore a street to an "equivalent condition," not reimburse to restore century old bricks or pave it thick enough to survive another century of hot and cold weather.

$50,000 would cover an extra two inches of paving for three streets now torn up. Or $100,000 would cover four inches on all three.

This is not a matter than can be postponed, since the streets right now are torn up and closed to the public. Residents, school buses and emergency vehicles are detouring around until the repaving is done. Winter weather is closing in.

Chess Street, which is also being redone this month, was bid as a total reconstruction, with curbs, sidewalks and storm sewers to be done in addition to the street itself.

"Given the lighter traffic in these quiet neighborhoods," Bolea asked, "How much base and pavement do we really need?

In other matters, Council approved a contract with Allied Communication to place tracking devices in all Borough government vehicles, including police cars, maintenance trucks, snowplows and streetsweepers. Wayne Wagner (photo, left) appeared to answer questions about the devices and the software to use them. Both the Police Chief and Borough Manager will be able at any time to check on the whereabouts of any vehicle in the Borough fleet. Council agreed to a three year contract for 20 vehicles of $4,000 a year. Insurance on vehicles includes a significant discount if such devices are installed, so the savings on insurance will almost pay for the annual cost.

Council instructed the Borough Engineer to prepare the specifications for the contract on weekly trash disposal, since the current contract with Waste Management Company expires in February and a new contract must be in place by March 1. Council noted that the contract currently includes an electronics and paint disposal clause, and the new one should also include this.

Council ordered the sale of the 2005 Chevrolet Police Department van for $1,000.

Chief Ron Denbow delivered the monthly Police Report, which included 1350 calls, 332 complaints, nine arrests, $10,000 in stolen property, six vehicles towed, and eight alarms.

Mayor Shawn Reed informed Council that the Coraopolis Community Development Corporation had received a pass through grant for $225,000 a year for six years. The grant was announced by the Governor, but will come from private corporations, who will receive tax credits in exchange. The money will go to the Community Pantry, Riverfront Park, trails, and the Shade Tree Commission. Reed also announced a Ribbon Cutting for Wildcat Trail at the Cornell Football Field at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 13 regardless of weather.

George Mihalyi reported a problem on Wood Street. Once the bricks were removed, it was dicovered gas lines were only buried 5," not the 15" required. Lines must be dropped to 15" before repavement. Columbia Gas says it does not have the manpower to lower the lines.

Mihalyi also warned Council that due to new federal regulations and a declining customer base, Cory's 150 year old wells, water purification plant and lines may no longer be sustainable. Cory may have to abandon its water system and begin buying water from Moon. A meeting Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. will focus on this issue.

Help Wanted

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Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

412-264-9733

Michael Dixon has been elected the next Mayor of Coraopolis and will be sworn in the first week of January.

The November 2 election saw an extremely low 27% turnout. Coraopolis has 3859 registered voters and only 1,051 bothered to vote.

Of those, 358 mailed in their ballots. Only 687 actually showed up at the polls.

Robb Cardimen won the election at the polls, 346-341. But Dixon won 283-75 among those voting by mail, giving him an overall margin of 624-421.

When absentee ballots and poll ballots are combined, Dixon won every Ward except one. He won in Ward One District One 78-22, in Ward One District Two 81-59, in Ward Two 124-70, in Ward Three District One 96-56, in Ward Four District One 82-57, in Ward Four District Two 90-83.

Cardimen won Ward Three District Two 74-73.

George Mihalyi, Rudy Bolea, Chad Kraynyk, Jason Shazer and Allison Virus were all elected to Borough Council by wide margins. Virus is the only newcomer. On Neville Island, Richard Rutter was reelected to the Board of Commissioners from Ward 2, and William Belsterling was elected as a Commissioner at large. Stephanie Mazzocco, Michael Engle and Darlene Abbott were reelected to the Cornell School Board, which includes Coraopolis and Neville Island.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Michael Dixon paused recently on a cool rainy Saturday morning to talk about Coraopolis and his campaign to become its next Mayor.

"Coraopolis is on the cusp of a boom right now. It has exciting projects in motion, like the AHN Sports Medicine Center, the Soccer Complex, Riverfront Park, Ohio River Trail, and the Mill Street Update. This is a great time to be living in Coraopolis and experiencing its rennaisance."

He sees the Mayor's role, on the one hand, as a facilitator, an enabler, a networker, who brings people together to work on initiatives, gathers the resources they need, and clears obstacles out of their way.

"Council, of course, represents each Ward, and is ultimately the voice of the people. And we have a Borough Manager. As Mayor, I would listen to Council and to the Manager, find out what direction they want to move the town, and then serve as a catalyst to help that happen."

Dixon was born in Southview, an old mining town 20 miles out what was then the Montour Railroad and is now the Montour Trail. His boyhood home was right on what is now the trail. Last year he hiked from his home here in Cory all the way out to his former home.

Dixon graduated from Fort Cherry High School, playing basketball and tennis and participating in Band (trumpet) and Chorus. He performed in musicals and chorus festivals. He went to Indiana University of Pa. and majored in Political Science, singing in the Chorale there. From there he went on to Robert Morris to earn a Masters Degree in Internet Information Systems with a Programming Focus. That was when he discovered Coraopolis. He and wife Heather live on Stratford Avenue with their dogs and cats.

He's been a typical 21st Century high tech worker ever since, moving from one company to another to provide programming services. He's worked for Cigna Insurance, Dick's Sporting Goods, Thomson Reuters, PPG, BNY and Keypoint, always in a software engineering role. Currently he works for Aderant, where he manages legal software.

Dixon is a Mason, a member of the Coraopolis NAACP, and volunteers at the CCDC Food Pantry.

"I feel almost called to lead, to contribute, to do what I can for this town. I really love it here. It's a special place. I know it had a proud past with all the mills, and those mills aren't coming back so our future will be quite different, but I think we can be just as great in the 21st Century as we were in the 20th."

He sees his job as good training for being Mayor of such a town.

"The internet keeps changing, and of course companies and individuals keep changing. So in software, we have to be continually updating and adapting. You've got to be a problem solver, a logical but creative thinker, and at the same time be a team player. I think a Mayor has to be like that. You have to build connections between people, build bridges from the resources to those who want to use them."

He sees a need to get more people involved, both at the micro level and at the community level.

"The old organizations like the VFW, the Kiwanis, the Masons, the Elks, the Moose and so on, they're all facing a membership crisis. Their core membership has aged, some are passing away, and others are no longer able to participate due to health problems. But they have not attracted a younger membership base. So their membership has shrunk from 100 to maybe a dozen. That's not sustainable, and those organizations are now in trouble. The same thing has happened to the town. Many of the people who back in the mid 20th Century contributed so much, helping run the parades and little league and other programs, they've either passed away or gotten too old to help much. Fortunately, younger men and women have stepped up, so now we have the CCDC and a very active Council. But we need more. A lot more. Many of those people who are so quick to comment on social media need to come downtown and actually help us with various projects. A Mayor can help get them engaged."

He supported the various initiatives outgoing Mayor Shawn Reed began, and would work to make sure they continue. "This consortium between Coraopolis, Robert Morris, Carnegie Mellon and alumni such as Jim Swartz, for example, is one of those great initiatives which we need to make sure continues."

He sees Mill Street as having real potential. "No other town around here has anything quite like it. We need to develop that street, make it a place people want to come to, on a weeknight or a Saturday afternoon. It could be like a mini Carson Street or a mini Strip District."

He's aware of the growing frustration with parking in town. "This is a difficult issue. There's no simple solution, no one size fits all answer. We need to all work together on this. We need one strategy for downtown and another one for the neighborhoods."

He sees communication as the #1 priority. "We have to reach out and get people involved. Government can't do it all. But the people can."

Tootsie's

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701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

The Neville Island Commissioners discussed a long list of infrastructure and property issues at their October meeting, but township residents were more interested in their own local priorities. They came to the podium with a very specific list of three needs they wanted the Commissioners to address.

First was the need for pedestrian crosswalks along Grand Avenue between I-79 and the Robert Morris complex. They pointed out that the mile long residential neighborhood had no crosswalks, no stop signs and no traffic lights. Especially during rush hours, traffic was heavy, and included buses and tractor trailer trucks. There was no break in the traffic. So there was absolutely no way to cross the street. Chairman Rick Rutter tried to explain that Grand Avenue was a major throughway and therefore was a PennDot road and not under control of the township. Only PennDot could approve cross walks, stop signs or traffic lights, and because traffic was flowing down off and up onto I-79, it was not likely to give such approval. The women were not satisfied. "Give us the names of the officials in position to do the approving, and we'll contact them ourselves." They argued that this was a community and PennDot officials should not have the authority to control such issues from far away. "Our children should have the right to safely cross the street to get to the playground, or to get off the school bus and cross the street to get to their homes. Our adults should have the right to safely cross the street to get to a store or visit neighbors. We'd like to invite a PennDot official to come here and try to cross the street." The Commissioners promise to give the women the contact information.

Women also pointed out that the street signs had faded until many were unreadable, a problem which affected delivery trucks, emergency vehicles and anyone else needing to find a street address. They said the signs were old and needed replaced. They were told the Commissioners knew of the problem and it was being addressed but the pandemic had slowed all such work.

Finally, the women were unhappy with the banners hung from Duquesne Light poles to honor local veterans. The signs have been hung parallel to Grand Avenue rather than perpendicular, so drivers can't read them. Rutter explained that previously, Neville had hung a similar set of banners perpendicular and they had all been knocked down by trucks. The women were not satisfied. "Every other community around here hangs theirs perpendicular and none of them are knocked down by vehicles. The banners are not out over the street. For a vehicle to knock one down it would have to be running up over the curb or sidewalk. And anyway, the signs are not low. They're high. What vehicle is that high?" Rutter patiently explained that vehicles do pull over to the side to load or unload, that many trucks were in fact high, and that Council had discussed this issue numerous times and had finally decided on the parallel mounting. He pointed out that Council had even considered hanging the banners away from the street in a special display at the park, but that they had decided more people would see them if they were along the main street. The women wanted to know if the Commissioners could not reconsider, and offered to gather names on a petition to show that many residents agreed with them. But several Commissioners agreed that they had already gone over this issue several times and had finally made a decision and did not want to go back and rehash it again.

On infrastructure issues, the Commissioners noted that Frontier Steel had not responded to their compliance requests so water would be shut off November 1.

They noted that their AlCoSan flow data was out of date so they agreed to activate the meters to gather current data before reaching a new consent agreement with AlCoSan.

They issued a 30 day notice to Neville Chemical demanding that it install a new backflow device on its water lines. It has not been a good October for Neville Chemical, which on October 5th was fined $62,075 for a leak which released hazardous emissions into the air. The EPA has also found Neville Chemical guilty of groundwater contamination.

Dave Kerr reported that a company had been apprehended stealing water from a fire hydrant. The company had opened the hydrant, attached its own hose, and was using the water to wash its trucks. He said both the township's monitoring instruments and a security camera had detected the situation.

The Commissioners expressed their unhappiness with the allocation of federal American Rescue Plan funds. The funds are based on population. Suburban townships filled with upscale subdivisions but zero industry receive millions of dollars. Neville Island, with a tiny population but two dozen heavy industries, has to maintain utilities, roads and services for those industries, but receives no infrastructure funds. Township Manager Jeannie Creese observed that it was highly unfair but there was nothing the Commissioners could do about it.

They approved application for a CDBG grant of $171, 750 to help pay for the Utah Street Waterline Replacement Project.

They approved application for a GEDTF grant of $207, 800 for the River Front Park Project.

They approved application for a GEDTF grant of $203,000 for the Cottage Park Playground Improvement Project.

They approved application for a GEDTF grant of $466,000 for the Pine Road Waterline Replacement Project.

The Commissioners agreed to reduce the bond for the Calgon Neville North Project from $99, 158.90 to $91, 480.90.

They approved the Land Development Plan for Black Diamonds Rentals on Grand Avenue, plot #158-D-90.

They approved the Fall Hydrant Flushing, which will occur between 4:00 pm and midnight. Customers are asked not to do laundry during this time.

And, finally, the Commissioners announced Trick or Treat Thursday Oct. 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. (see photos right and below). Residents who wish to participate should turn on their porch lights.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Stop signs have been installed along Vine Street but PennDot prohibited Coraopolis from installing the three speed bumps residents requested. As the photo at right shows, new stop signs now require motorists to stop at Devonshire Road, Edgewood Avenue, Vance Avenue and Ridge Avenue. At the least, the stop signs should slow down traffic. Hopefully, they will be such a nuisance that buses, trucks and anyone in a hurry will choose to bypass Vine Street altogether and go down Montour Street.

PennDot forbids speed bumps on grades higher than 8%. Vine Street has a 12% grade, so does not qualify. Residents and even a few Council members asked why Cory could not install the speed bumps regardless of what PennDot said. But the attorney advised that to do so would leave the Borough liable in court if any accident occurred or anyone damaged their vehicle. However, if drivers continue to speed despite the stop signs large heavy posts might be installed to prevent vehicles from running off the street and up into yards and driveways, damaging walls, porches and even vehicles parked in driveways, as has been done in the past.

Vine Street remained closed between Edgewood Avenue and Tompkins Alley ("Alder Alley") while the new concrete "cured." The Tompkins Bend section is shown in the photo below. The ridges scribed into the concrete are to increase traction on the dangerous bend in rainy, snowy or icy weather. Curbs and stormwater drains were also redone. This does not complete the Vine Street work. Other sections still need redone. But the Tompkins Bend section was considered the worst, so it was done first.

In other street work, Council approved work to begin on Wood Street between 7th and Hiland, and Chess Street from 5th Avenue to West End. Wood Street suffered water damage and brick buckling. The bricks will be replaced by 8" asphalt above a foundation of crushed stone. The sewer and water lines will be relaid. Chess will receive asphalt.

A $1.1 million grant has been received to replace the water line on Main Street. Council approved an $80,000 ADA lift inside the Library to make it more handicap accessible. The lift will run along the stairs and transport both people and wheelchairs.

Work is underway at the Soccer Complex to relocate the water line so Route 51 can be widened to provide turn lanes. Currently, traffic entering and leaving the complex backs up traffic entering and leaving I-79.

Council discussed the Flood Plain Management Program. Currently, the three pumps are working but are very old. They could be reconditioned. The flood levee could be raised. It runs, almost unnoticed, along the back of properties along First and Pennsylvania Avenues. It is not a true wall, but merely a high ridge. With weather becoming unstable and severe storms becoming more frequent and more intense, flooding is becoming more possible. It's been almost 100 years since all of Coraopolis below the tracks was under water, but other places where flooding has been nonexistent have suddenly seen flooding, so precautions are needed. A 25-75 FEMA Grant could be used for this work.

Two more delinquent property demolitions were approved, at 1013 and 1110 Montour Street. These are abandoned homes below street level. Demolitions will cost $44,000.

Council approved $600,000 for Mill Street "streetscape improvement" between 4th and 5th Avenues. The bumpouts will be removed and the waterline replaced. A GEDTF grant will cover $500,000 of the cost.

Another GEDTF grant for $230,000 will allow the replacement of playground equipment at the Ridge Avenue Tot Lot.

The Duquesne Light LED Street Light Program continues. In this phase, 100 streetlights will be replaced along Hiland, Vance and Ridge Avenues.

Council noted that the TV series "Sprung" recently filmed an episode at Bliwas Field and the surrounding neighborhood. They left everything in perfect order.

Ray McCutcheon announced the completion of the new, updated community map.

Thursday, October 28 will be Trick or Treat night in Coraopolis.

Help Wanted

Graff's Auto Service Center

Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

412-264-9733

Coraopolis Mayoral Candidate Robb Cardimen stopped by the Volunteer Fire Department before the October Coraopolis Borough Council meeting. It's in an adjacent wing of the new Municipal Building and the trucks gleamed in the late afternoon sun.

As a lifelong resident of Coraopolis, Cardimen is well known in town. He played sax and tuba and then was drum major in the Cornell band, has worked as an aviation mechanic for several airlines, has served on the Water & Sewer Authority for 12 years, Borough Council for 10 years, and President of Council for four years.

But he's probably proudest of his 29 years in the Volunteer Fire Department, and that's probably the role most Cory residents know him for. Whether fighting home, business or industrial fires, rushing to the scene when a vehicle is hit by a train, or performing other emergency rescue missions, Cardimen is always on the front lines. He's also there when the Cory trucks fan out to Neville, Robinson, Kennedy or Moon Townships to help them with any fires or emergencies.

He's proud that Coraopolis still has its Volunteer Fire Department when so many other towns have lost theirs. But he's worried. "It's getting harder to recruit young firemen," he says. "One reason is the training is getting tougher. Twenty somethings don't want to make that commitment. And of course, there's danger involved, and a lot of times we're in life and death situations rescuing victims, so there's a lot of responsibility involved, and a lot of people don't want to place themselves in those positions."

For Cardimen, it's a matter of giving back. "This is a great town. I love this town. It was a great place to grow up in, and it's a great place to live. I feel like we should all do our part to help keep the town great. Things like serving on committees, serving on Council, and serving in the VFD are all ways of paying our dues for living here."

He remembers when there was even a Volunteer Police Department force. It was called the Auxiliary Police. Auxiliary policemen helped at parades, games and other events, directing traffic and parking and crowd control, so the full time police could focus on more important duties elsewhere. "But then those volunteers got older, and they couldn't recruit younger members, so we lost that Auxiliary. I don't want to see that happen to our Fire Department."

Cardimen was in the last class to attend school in one of the old buildings before the new Cornell district moved everyone to the hilltop complex. After graduating, he attended the Pittsburgh Aeronautics Institute to be an Aviation Mechanic. Once he graduated and became fully licensed, he went to work for Chataqua Airlines in Maryland for a year before coming home to work for USAir in 1997. He was based here, but was often sent to Boston, Philadelphia or D.C. to do inspections or training. After USAir pulled out of Pittsburgh, Cardimen went to work for Southwest in 2016. He's still based here, but is often sent to Chicago, Atlanta or Texas to do inspections or training.

"I started going to Council meetings before I was actually a member," he recalls. "I've seen some difficult times. There were people on Council who had their own personal agendas, and some people who had political agendas even though this is supposed to be a nonpolitical town. During some of those years, we had a hard time getting anything done. I saw a few times when there was a lot of bickering at Council meetings, and times when the Mayor and Council strongly disagreed on just about everything. More recently, we've been really fortunate in that we have good people on Council who only care about what's best for the town, which is why we've been able to get so much done."

Cardimen is running as a Republican in this Mayoral election. "I was a lifelong Democrat until 2015. I don't havems with De any problemocrats locally. But I was getting more and more unhappy with how Democrats were behaving in Washington. It seems to me that at the national level, the party and its candidates care less and less about the voters and the common working people and the best interests of the nation and more and more about their own personal careers and about their party's needs. I just reached the point where I couldn't support that anymore. And, having been a Republican for the last seven years, if I had switched back to being a Democrat just for this election, people would have started calling me "Flip Flop Robb." So I just ran as a Republican."

Cardimen was a big supporter of Mayor Shawn Reed and his initiatives. "He had a vision for the town. I agree with that vision, and I want to become Mayor so I can make sure it continues forward. For example, this small business incubator initiative he was pursuing with Robert Morris and Carnegie Mellon must be continued. It has such great potential."

COVID has slowed or halted progress on many issues, and prevented Reed from getting everything done he wanted.

As the town moves past all the COVID restrictions, Cardimen wants to focus on those issues and make more progress.

"Our top priority needs to be Blight," he says. "We're an old town, so we have old homes and businesses. Some of those have been very well maintained, but others have fallen into disrepair. We can't expect someone to invest in a nice home or business and next door or across the street is an old structure in danger of collapse, which lowers the property values of everything in the neighborhood. Over the last several years we've torn several of those down, but we have to step up that progress."

He sees the Allegheny Health Network and Soccer Fields on the east edge of town as a tremendous change agent. "We're going to have hundreds of people coming here to that treatment center and for those games. We currently do not have the restaurants or businesses to serve them. As they finish construction, we should be acting as quickly as possible to be ready for them."

He also sees Parking as a major issue. "Should we be charging for parking downtown? Where do we find room for more parking? And in the neighborhoods, people are parking on both sides of narrow streets. Emergency vehicles can't get through. How do we address this? We have college students renting houses and each one of them has a car. Those neighborhoods weren't designed for this many cars. What do we do? We've reached the point where we have to make some decisions."

It's still all about giving back. Cardimen sees serving as Mayor as one more way of paying for the privilege of living here.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Vine Street residents are finally getting what they've been demanding for years. But they showed up at the September Borough Council Meeting anyway, and pressed their case for more.

Work began this week on Vine Street, particularly on Tompkins Bend (photo, right), the sharp turn halfway down the distance between Montour Street and Route 51. The entire street has potholes, cracks, buckles and eroding concrete. But Tompkins Bend is the worst, and will receive attention first.

Vine Street for much of the 20th Century was a gravel alley famous as the town's best sledriding run. It was only paved from Montour Street down to the Devonshire Road intersection, then up from Route 51 to Tompkins Alley. From Tompkins Alley to Devonshire, which was half the total distance, was gravel. That was OK, because very few people used it, and in Winter it was usually impassable. The Borough closed it off with barriers and spread a heavy load of cinder ashes on the half block at the bottom and let sledriders have it. Children, and often adults, on Flexible Flyers came screaming around Tompkins Bend, and picked up speed again down to the Ridge Avenue crossing, then hit the ashes and came to a halt in a spray of sparks just short of Route 51. Often, sledriders failed to make the Tompkins Bend turn and ended up in the yards or on the front porches of the homes on the outside of the bend. Almost every boy and girl in the eastern half of Coraopolis ended up on Grandma Tompkins' front porch at least once. She'd hear the sled thump against her house, come to the door, look down to make sure the kid was OK, shake her head, and go back inside to her knitting.

Then the Borough paved it, houses were built along it, and suddenly it became an actual street. Drivers discovered it, and began using it as a shortcut between this end of Moon Township and Route 51 or even I-79. In the last two decades, school buses and tractor trailer trucks have begun using it. The pavement was never intended to support the weight of such large vehicles. It has also become somewhat of a drag strip. When trucks and buses are not in the way, drivers speed both up and down the hill. A 15 mph speed limit is posted. Residents and Coraopolis Police using radar guns have clocked vehicles at 50-55 mph. Especially at Tompkins Bend, this has caused frequent accidents.

Clearly, speeding vehicles have replaced speeding sleds as a Tompkins Bend tradition.

Chad Kurzdorfer (photo, left) described for Council what it was like to actually live at Tompkins Bend. "There have been 10 dogs killed in recent years. Our kids can't play in the front yards. I've had $54,000 in damages caused by speeders who missed the bend. They took out my wall along the front of my yard. They've totaled my truck sitting in my driveway. They've landed up in my yard six feet from my front door. This residential street has become one of the five busiest throughways in town and a real raceway. I have three kids who not only can't play in their own yard or front porch, but can't even walk up and down the sidewalk to go visit friends or neighbors."

He wasn't the only Vine Street resident who spoke. One described using a paint can to spray "Slow Down!" on the street, to no avail.

What Kurzdorfer and his neighbors want is not just new pavement, but stop signs at every intersection and fairly high speed bumps, preferably four of them, on the Edgewood - Vance Avenue stretch. Kurzdorfer thinks a speed bump both just above and just below Tompkins Bend, plus one at Tompkins Alley and one up at Edgewood Avenue, would help

"Even if you put stop signs and speed limit signs up, it won't matter. The drivers will ignore them. The only way you slow them down is with speed bumps. If they ignore those, they'll damage their vehicles."

Council discussed installing lighted stop signs and agreed it would be best done now while the road is closed for construction. A new ordinance will be needed so traffic tickets can be written and enforced.

There is the possibility that stop signs and speed bumps would slow traffic down so much that many drivers will decide to go on down Montour Street and come across State Avenue. "Good," said Councilman Danny LaRocca, who lives near the Vance - Vine intersection and has been campaigning for Vine Street repairs for years. "Vine Street was never intended to carry this much traffic anyway."

In other business, Council discussed the need for a new street salt facility next to Bliwas Field. The current "teepee" (photo, below) was built in the early 1970s and no longer meets state code. A new one must have a raised floor and a "lip" around it to better prevent salt from leaking in the event of prolonged heavy rain or flooding.

Councilman Robb Cardimen spoke of the need to centralize voting in one place and recommended Cornell School. "People don't walk to vote any more," he argued. "And for those few who still do, we could run a bus on election day. Or voters could call an Uber or a Lyft, which often transport voters free of charge." Currently residents vote in their own wards. Cornell School Superintendant Aaron Thomas approved the idea.

Jordan Tax Services has placed a lien on the Montour Junction Soccer Complex, which is preventing the Complex from proceeding with further construction. Neither Allegheny County, the previous owner of the property, nor the Pittsburgh River Hounds, the current owner, has paid their Municipal Stormwater Fees for the last four years.

Council reviewed plans for the Welcome Home Parade in honor of those who served in Afghanistan. The parade will be held September 11th at 11 a.m. An 8:30 a.m. ceremony will honor the Veterans.

Another Cory Cleanup Day will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25 from Broadway to First Avenue.

The annual Coraopolis Fall Festival will be held Saturday, October 18.

A large truck is once again parking on the sidewalk on Ferree Street. It blocks pedestrians from using the sidewalk and prevents emergency vehicles from getting down the street. There is an ordinance prohibiting this. A parked vehicle cannot exceed nine feet high or 26 feet long. Police Chief Ron Denbow agreed to post signs and then monitor the situation. If needed, further action will be taken.

Jordan Tax Services representatives will be at the Municipal Building to collect school taxes Wednesday, September 22 from 9-12, and again on Wednesday, September 29, from 1-4.

Special attention was given to Frank Kamalich (photo, left), who is retiring from the Police Department after a lifetime of being an officer and then dispatcher. Chief Ron Denbow recalled how Kamalich trained him his first day on the job as a rookie patrolman. Denbow told Council of his days hanging out at Eddie's Lunch with his high school friends and Kamalich coming along every day and dispersing them. Then when Denbow joined the force, Kamalich drove him over to Eddie's and ordered him to get out and disperse his friends. Denbow said it was the hardest thing he had to do as a new officer. Kamalich came to the podium and spoke about how much he loved Coraopolis and his career in law enforcement. He will still serve as an occasional substitute for the new dispatcher.

In the monthly Police Report, Denbow listed 1325 calls, 304 complaints, 218 civil investigations, $400 in stolen property recovered, 19 accidents, 78 parking tags, five high grass & weed citations, 13 alarms and six cars towed.

Chuck Spencer informed Council that the new stop signs workers have been installing in Coraopolis are too small and do not comply with PennDot specifications. Discussion ensued about exactly where the new signs had come from. It was determined that they were old and had been in storage at the Streets & Roads garage and had somehow been brought out of storage and used.

Jennifer Patterson complained about her difficulty in getting the Builders Inspection Underwriters of Pennsylvania, an agency headquartered in Avalon, to come inspect her building at 912 Fourth Avenue and issue her an Occupancy Permit. She said she made numerous appointments and the BIU fails to keep them. She hopes to open a youth center in the building, formerly a kitchen, baths and appliances outlet.

Bids Requested For Line Relocations

Friends of Pittsburgh Professional Soccer is soliciting bids for relocation of existing public utility services associated with PennDot State Route 51 05A road improvement project, located in the Borough of Coraopolis in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

The work includes Waterline Relocation (relocation of 725 linear feet of 6" D1 pipeline, valves and appurtenances). It will include tie ins and traffic control.

The work also includes Sewerline Relocation (relocation of approximately 235 linear feet of 15" SDR 35 PVC). It will include two precast manholes, bypass pumping, tie ins and traffic control.

Flight Attendants for American, United and Delta Airlines and Reservists from the Air Force Reserve Command's 911th Airlift Wing at Pittsburgh International Airport have spent the last week playing key roles in the airlift of Afghanistani refugees from Kabul Airport to destinations in the Middle East, Europe and the United States.

The effort is continuing, so security precautions do not allow reporting of specific locations or posting of photographs showing the faces of flight attendants, pilots or reservists. The photos shown here have been cleared for publication.

The 911th Airlift Wing has been flying its famous C-17 Globemaster IIIs from Kabul to intermediate destinations in the Middle East. For five days a plane took off every 20 minutes around the clock. Commercial aircraft then pick up the refugees and fly them to bases in Europe or the U.S., where the Afghans will spend two weeks or more. While there, they will receive complete medical checkups, any medical or dental care needed, COVID tests, and COVID vaccinations.

Each refugee will also be meticulously vetted to make sure no terrorists are posing as refugees to gain admission to the U.S. After that, they will be assigned locations for permanent resettlement. Pittsburgh has already been identified as a location which will receive 750 Afghans.

These Afghans are the men, with their wives and children, who have served the United States during the last 20 years as interpreters or other aides, and would be at risk of retaliation by the Taliban.

The government always has the right to order commercial airlines into emergency service. This is called the Civil Reserve Air Fleet Provision. President Joe Biden exercised this right last week. The airlines then asked for flight attendants and pilots to volunteer for the mission, which involved a certain amount of risk.

The Globemasters are cargo planes. The only seats are along the side walls. So en route from Kabul to the intermediate destinations, several hundred Afghans sat on the floor and only about a hundred got to sit in the seats.

Once they boarded the U.S. commercial planes, everyone was given a seat.

Flight attendants report that the Afghans were generally respectful and well behaved, but had to be told every few minutes to keep their masks on. The women, almost all of whom wore burqas or scarves, would try to pull those in front of their faces instead of using the masks.

The trips were mostly uneventful, but danger was always present. The planes landed and took off in corkscrew patterns instead of the usual straight lines to avoid the possibility of someone on the ground with a shoulder mounted rocket launcher sending a rocket up after them. Many flight attendants told reporters that landings and takeoffs were the only times they felt afraid.

Each pilot and flight attendant was issued an eight page handout with instructions on how to interact with Afghans.

They learned that Afghans do not usually make eye contact while talking, only the right hand may be used to gesture, and talking loudly is considered disrespectful.

Flight attendants were encouraged to welcome the Afghans and express sadness that they have had to leave their homes, but not to ask questions about their families or personal experiences because Afghans do not like to discuss such private matters with strangers.

The rescue planes did not spend much time on the ground. The Air Force Globemasters flew into Kabul, loaded their passengers and took off. The commercial planes took off from their European bases, flew into their Middle Eastern airports, loaded their passengers, and took off. Neither pilots nor crew members left their planes.

Special lunch boxes were prepared and served. They contained foods and beverages appropriate for the Afghan culture and the Islamic religion. But many Afghans ate little or none of the food, preferring to keep it for later, since they weren't sure when or where their next meal might come.

Several women were pregnant, and five babies were born in midair, but no locals were on one of those flights.

Flight attendants were required to wear their masks at all times. They handed out lollipops to the children, who acted as if candy was a new or rare treat.

The adults spent most of the flights sleeping, but when they were awake they talked quietly among themselves. Very few got up and moved up or down the aisle. Afghans speak Farsi, but most have also learned to speak English.

Special posters were mounted in the restrooms to show Afghans how to use toilets. Back home, they tend to squat over holes in the floor.

Flights from the intermediate Middle Eastern sites will continue for two more weeks, so some local pilots and flight attendants may continue to work, thus names and photos are still sequestered. But the flights out of Kabul are done, so members of the 911th are all back in Pittsburgh.

Many of the volunteers for these commercial flights have in the past volunteered for various UNICEF missions. They tend to be the more experienced pilots and flight attendants and the ones who usually fly international flights.

Not all Americans or Afghans who helped the U.S. made it out of the country before the Taliban closed off the Kabul Airport. No further U.S. flights are allowed into Kabul. But the United Nations and several other nations still have a presence there, and they may help those remaining people get out.

In all, 122,000 people were airlifted out of Afghanistan, including 50,000 Afghans. It will be over a month before they all make it to the U.S.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Coraopolis Borough Council at its August meeting approved the demolition of the houses at 1730 Montour Street (the old Turner property, seen in photo at right after the house was removed) and 1528 5th Avenue. Minniefield Demolition Services was contracted to handle the jobs for $39,000. Both houses were once solid structures but recent owners have neglected maintenance and the housers fell into disrepair. The Montour Street property's roof had collapsed and rain damage ruined the inside. Both homes had deteriorated beyond repair.

Council also approved the replacement of the traffic signal at Mill Street and Fourth Avenue, the intersection adjacent to Segneri's Restaurant and the Cahen Building now home to an antique mall. Bronder Technical Services was paid $181, 274.14 for the upgrade. An ARLE Grant will cover most of the cost. The former light was 70 years old.

The Police Department was authorized to hire new Dispatchers, replacing retiring Frank Kamalich. Jason Moran was hired full time and Cory Russi was hired part time. The Library was also authorized to hire new part time aides.

Traffic will be closed on the 1100 block of Hiland Avenue on September 18 from 1 - 9 pm for a block party.

A Welcome Home Parade on Saturday, September 11 at 11 a.m. will honor returning Afghanistan veterans.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

At their regular August meeting, the Neville Commissioners approved a long list of street, road and utility line projects. They renewed their Police Services Contract with Ohio Township and updated their CharWest Police Mutual Aid Agreement.

But the most intense part of the meeting came at the end, when residents expressed their concerns about deteriorating behavior by transients living in lower rent housing on the Island. Break ins and attempted break ins were reported. Police cannot respond quickly enough; by the time they reach the scene the thieves have fled. One couple complained that they bought and remodeled a house for their daughter to live in and now she's afraid to stay there after two break ins. Others complained that they have always walked for exercise but are now afraid to walk because of suspicious characters. The suspects live in the World War II era housing units, which were built for essential workers during the war and now, 80 years later, have aged so they carry lesser rents. The discussion went deep into landlord - tenant issues. Landlords cannot easily refuse to rent to suspicious tenants because of antidiscriminatory laws and agencies like the ACLU, which defend the rights of lower income applicants. Privacy laws make it hard to inspect apartments to see how many people are living there or whether guns or drugs are present. Two residents complained of an apartment with two people paying the rent but eight living there. One told of calling 911 when witnessing one crime and being put on hold for 10 minutes.

Several asked if surveillance cameras could be installed at key locations. Landlords explain that they cannot evict anyone or even collect rent due to the federal COVID Moratorium. This sets up the further problem of landlords owing utility bills and county, township and school taxes but having no money coming in to pay these charges. Council members and Township Manager Jeannie Creese explained that inspections are the key remedy. Under the law, they can inspect a property every time it is sold or a tenant changes.

But if neighbors report a code violation, the Township can immediately order a thorough inspection of the apartment or house, whether or not the tenants are home or agree, which can reveal how many people are living there and whether any drugs or guns are present.

Residents also raised several other issues. Heavy traffic due to the I-79 detours has created the need for crosswalks on Grand Avenue at the Park. And tractor trailer rigs driving through residential areas 24 hours a day are causing noise, vibrations, fumes and even "house shakes." Especially annoying are the large air brakes, which squeal when applied and released. Residents asked that the Island street sweeper expand its territory to come down their streets or alleys. One resident pointed out that utility crews dug up her water line to work on her neighbor's line, then recovered it. She wanted to know if they'd be back or if it was safe to plant grass over the scar. She was told to go ahead and plant the grass.

Help Wanted

Graff's Auto Service Center

Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

412-264-9733

Most of the attention of the Coraopolis Borough Council in its July workshop and voting meetings was devoted to streets and roads. But Council began the July 7th workshop meeting with a presentation by Cara Mason, Director of Economic Development for the Coraopolis Community Development Corporation.

Mason (photo, below) speaks from a strong background. She came to Cory after 13 years in the nonprofit sector. She worked for the Heinz History Center as a grant writer and event and development staffer. She earned her degree in Mass Communication from Point Park. She walked Council through the CCDC's view of Cory's current status and then spoke of its five year plan.

She portrayed a growing business district which serves a town population of 5424 but also draws customers from Neville, Groveton, Moon and Robinson Townships. She spoke of the Food Pantry, which is operating at over 100% capacity, and a Community Garden (bottom photo) with all plots active and lots of vegetables being produced.

During the next five years, she talked of growing the downtown even more, of setting up Coraopolis as a Small Business Incubator in conjunction with Robert Morris University and Carnegie Mellon University. She envisioned leveraging the restored Train Station into a commercial corridor two blocks down to Riverfront Park which is curently under development. She saw the need to tackle residential blight in some neighborhoods as houses and garages have been allowed to fall into disrepair. She saw the need for a strong communication platform and networking to make sure all residents knew what was happening. She saw the need for a social service outreach to schools, Scouts and other agencies. And she saw the need for an Arts & Culture Initiative.

As Council moves beyond COVID, members and spectators are again present in the meeting room, with masks optional. The attorney and engineer attend remotely via Zoom, visible to members and the audience on the screen, as shown at right.

Jason Chazer was nominated, voted in, and sworn in, as Councilman for the Third Ward, replacing Lucinda Wade. He will serve until November, when a full term Councilman will be elected.

The Borough Engineer and Borough Manager presented a long list of street and road projects, some of which are currently in progress, and some of which are planned. Vine Street above Vance Avenue, especially up to and around Tompkins Corner, is being repaved at $112,000. As soon as work on Vine Street is complete, workers will move to the Ferree Street Steps, where new steps and railings and a bike track along the side will be built. Vance Avenue's 1400 block, where the street drops to cross McCabe's Run ("The Dips"), will be repaved. Pine Way between Main and Mill and between Mill and Mulberry will be repaved at a cost of $63,000. Wood Street is scheduled for paving from 7th Avenue to Hiland Avenue at a cost of $450,000. $284,000 has been received from the American Recovery Act. Coraopolis is also receiving $567,000 as part of the Biden Stimulus Package, via Governor Tom Wolf.

Police Chief Ron Denbow reported that in June the Department received 1386 emergency phone calls, completed 125 criminal investigations with 12 arrests, recovered $16,123 in stolen property, cited 51 motor vehicle violations, and checked out eight alarms. Denbow cautioned residents that fraudulent unemployment compensation claims, in which someone hijacks someone else's information and files a claim pretending to be them, are on the rise, and have even affected some Council members. He urged people to contact Police immediately if this happens to them.

Mayor Shawn Reed reported that due to retirements and other factors, Cory is in need of poll workers for the November elections. He urged any one interested to call Ray McCutcheon at the Borough Office.

Rudy Bolea reminded everyone of the annual St. Joseph's Parish Festival beginning Thursday, July 15 and running through Saturday, July 17. This is the first Festival held under the new Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, which is a merger of St. Joseph's, St. Catherine's of Crescent Township, and St. Margaret Mary of Moon Township.

George Mihalyi reported that he had been receiving complaints about several dilapidated garages in town. Most are the small garages that were built early in the 20th Century.

Ed Pitassi reported that all Library employees have been screened and cleared to work with children. He also mentioned that Library patronage had been high since the building was reopened last month.

Ray McCutcheon told Council that 86% of 2021 taxes are in.

Mike Harris raised the issue of abandoned shopping carts, abandoned cars in yards, and public trash receptacles old and damaged and in need of replacing. Mike Dixon asked if citizens could hold a fundraiser to buy the new trash receptacles. New ones cost $600 plus shipping.

Pittsburgh Motor Speedway

Pennsylvania's Finest Dirt Track Racing On The Big Half Mile

Sprint Cars - Late Models - Sportsmen - 6 & 4 Cylinders

Every Saturday Night : 7 -11 pm

Just Beyond Robinson Town Center On Route 22/30

I-79 Northbound will be closed from Friday evening through Monday morning so work crews can work on the pavement and paint the bridge.

Traffic will be rerouted onto Route 51, through Coraopolis, across the Sewickley Bridge, through Sewickley, back up the Ohio River Boulevard, and onto I-79 north of the river.

This will be done on several weekends until the maintenance is finished.

Two lanes of traffic come north on I-79. Often, even with the two lanes, traffic backs up, especially during the Summer when families are heading to Erie for vacations. Now, those two lanes must narrow to one lane on Route 51 and across the Sewickley Bridge. 4th Avenue coming through Coraopolis has two lanes and the Ohio River Boulevard across the river has two lanes each direction.

Columbia Gas work crews along Route 51 have promised to stop work on weekends to avoid making the problem even worse.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Visitors from Sheetz Corporation presented their proposal for a complete upgrade to the existing Sheetz Truck Depot near the Emsworth Dam to the Neville Island Commissioners Thursday night.

As seen at right, the representatives set up maps and diagrams to explain their proposal. They answered various concerns which had been raised earlier, read a few letters and answered those, then took questions from the Commissioners.

The proposal had been rewritten to account for compliance issues.

To be named the Sheetz Neville CLI Facility, the project will include dismantling the current building and replacing it with a new, larger, more modern structure. The parking lot will hold 40 Sheetz gasoline trucks, most of them there between shifts. There will be two wash bays and four maintenance bays. An office building and two guard shacks, one at each entrance, will be erected. A chain link fence will enclose the entire area, with gates opened only to admit or allow exit for trucks.

The current facility is shown at left. The diagrams the men displayed showed a much larger building. This is not now and will not be a loading facility. The trucks load the gasoline elsewhere, as seen below.

The facility will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with three shifts. At peak hours there will be 21 workers on site.

Geese will be an issue. At any time of day, a large flock of geese inhabits the current depot and the vacant lots surrounding it. Here and elsewhere on the island, attempts have been made to encourage the geese to move on. Loud noises, human activity, spraying the grass and ground with chemicals which irritate geese feet, and other strategies have all failed. The Sheetz representatives are hopeful the bright lights, noise of the large trucks, and lots of human activity, will all persuade the geese to abandon the area.

The Sheetz representatives acknowledged that the 80 year old site has what they call "legacy issues." Old water lines, sewer lines and other utilities need to be rerouted and brought up to 2021 code compliance. A new hydrant will be added and an old fire water line decommissioned. A Dumpster complex will be reduced in size and brought into compliance.

The new facility will have two entrances, one from the South along the railroad tracks, and the other from the North. Both entrances open onto a side road, which crosses the tracks and joins Neville Road.

The land rises slightly just behind the North entrance. From that ridge a visitor looks directly down onto the Emsworth Dam and Locks.

Trucks from this Depot serve Sheetz gas stations and stores in Allegheny County and parts of neighboring counties.

Council again wrestled with the problem of the railroad crossing near the intersection of Neville Road and Grand Avenue. PennDot wants the crossing upgraded to an electronic signalized crossing meeting 2021 compliance standards. The current crossing apparatus is 50 years old. PennDot is concerned with the traffic flow on Grand Avenue, especially since many of the trains crossing here are tank cars filled with flammable liquids. IF the traffic light on Neville Road stopped traffic on Grand Avenue, it could easily back up onto the railroad tracks. If a train were then approaching, the traffic would be trapped on the tracks. PennDot wants the traffic light coordinated with the railroad crossing lights and gate so that if an approaching train activated the crossing it would also automatically change the traffic light to green to let the vehicles escape the tracks. Because of the computerized circuitry, the new pole and wiring PennDot wants would cost Neville $273,000. That is approximately two years streets and roads budget.

Council has been arguing that the railroad owns the crossing and PennDot owns the traffic light and intersection, so in effect none of the intersection or crossing should be Neville's responsibility. The Commissioners agreed to seek grants for the project but warned that if they do not acquire the grants they simply do not have the funds for it, especially since this is a siding not a main track, only one train a day crosses the road there, these may be tank cars but they're only moving at 5 mph, and in history there has never been an accident. Commissioner Kerr reminded PennDot that this project has been proposed before and Neville never had the money for it so it was not done.

Concerns were voiced about the Veterans Banners now being erected along Grand Avenue. They are parallel to the street rather than perpendicular as in other communities, so cannot be read while driving. Each hanging includes two banners rather than just one. And they are too low, so will be vulnerable to high trucks. As one Commissioner asked, "Which of you volunteers to phone everybody who bought one and tell them it's been two or three years and theirs got knocked down so now they have to buy a second one" ?

The Commissioners reminded everyone that from Friday until Monday the I-79 Bridge will be closed for maintenance and painting. Traffic will be detoured through Coraopolis, across the Sewickley Bridge, through Sewickley, and back up the Ohio River Boulevard to the I-79 Bridge. From two lanes on I-79 down to one lane on the detour, there are bound to be plenty of backups and short tempers.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Chance Satcho, a Montour High School graduate, has been named to the Dean's List at Potomac State College in Keyser, West Virginia.

Satcho, an infielder on the Catamount baseball team, is a Business Administration major.

A 5-11, 185 freshman, Satcho graduated from Montour in 2020. He appeared in eight games for Potomac, getting three hits and driving in one run. The Catamounts fielded a veteran lineup, finishing 35-8 and reaching the regional semifinals.

Potomac has slightly over a thousand undergraduates and is part of the University of West Virginia system.

Satcho played baseball and football at Montour. He also played baseball for the Flood City Elite, a travelling all star team.

To make the Dean's list, a Potomac student must earn a 3.0 or higher grade point average with no Ds, Fs or Is.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

The Neville Island Board of Commissioners is officially opposed to the demands of PennDot and CSX Railroad in the replacement of the Grand Avenue - Neville Road crossing. PennDot wants the crossing redone to meet current standards. It wants Neville to replace the pole, install a new circuit box, and install cable from the next nearest crossing so they can be coordinated. As Township Manager Jeanne Creese explains, "The County owns the road and the railroad owns the tracks and crossing equipment. So we're being asked to bear the cost of repairing something we don't own any part of." Creese pointed out that the total cost would exceed $300,000, which would be Neville's entire streets and roads budget for the next two years. Penndot claims Neville "owns" the poles and circuits. The pole is 50 years old and needs replaced, which would cost $150,000. "How does a simple pole, no matter how sophisticated, cost that much?" asked one Commissioner. In a time when no level of government wants to raise taxes, the federal government is handing down responsibilities to states, which are handing them down to counties, which are handing them down to local communities. And companies don't want to raise prices, so they're pinching pennies and trying to shift costs to government. "But we don't have the money, either, and we can't raise taxes, either," one Commissioner said.

The CSX line, the old Neville Island Railroad, serves a dozen industries on the east end of the island. Trains only run 15 mph, about once a day, and this is the only major road crossing. Although still opposed to being responsible for the funding, the Commissioners voted to apply for a $273,751 grant to cover the costs. If they don't get the grant, they will insist PennDot and CSX cover it because Neville simply does not have the money. One Commissioner asked why PennDot could not use some of the funds it is receiving from President Joe Biden's Infrastructure Plan.

In other business, Waste Management has informed the Commissioners that it is having trouble finding drivers and may be forced to miss pickup days. The Commissioners were not pleased with the idea of garbage all over the island sitting for extra days or a week in the hot Summer sun. "Don't we have a contract?" one asked. "What penalties could result?" asked another. It was agreed the Island would seek recourse if needed.

The Engineer reported that developers have had workers showing up without proper permits. They are not being allowed to proceed with paving, construction or other work until water lines and other utilities are in compliance.

The Commissioners voted to ban large trucks from Spring Alley, which is not large enough to handle them.

Several valves along Grand Avenue are leaking. The packing deteriorates over time and once this happens valves cannot be repaired. They must be replaced.

The Board Attorney reminded the Commissioners that utilities are exempt from the open records laws due to a ruling by the Department of Homeland Security.

Help Wanted

Graff's Auto Service Center

Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

412-264-9733

As the Coraopolis Library emerges from the pandemic, it needs two new aides (and possibly three) to meet the expected increase in users. Council authorized Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon to advertise for the part time positions. The Library is now fully open with regular hours.

But in a more complicated issue, Council addressed the problem of shipping containers and old tractor trailers being permanently parked on borough streets and used as business offices or business warehouses. The men doing this are not registering as businesses, have no address except a post office box, and thus pay no taxes. The problem is, as Attorney Richard Start reminded Council, they cannot pass a new ordinance prohibiting or regulating this and then enforce it on businesses or their containers already in place. Council must find existing laws which they can enforce. Council determined to resolve this by its July meetings.

75% of 2021 real estate taxes have been recived and 32% of 2021 expenditures have been spent.

Council reluctantly approved 3rd Ward Representative Lucinda Wade's resignation, necessary because she and her family are moving out of the Ward to another part of Coraopolis. Wade assured Council she would remain active in community affairs and would help in any way possible. A special meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 16th to fill Wade's seat.

Police Chief Ron Denbow reported 115 criminal investigations, 18 accidents, two injuries and a rash of thefts of the contents of unlocked vehicles.

The June "Second Saturday" will be held this Saturday, June 12th.

Council approved monthly invoices for $141,543.98 and the monthly payroll of $120,825.38.

As usual, derelict property demolition was discussed. This time, homes at 1528, 1530 and 536 5th, 1730, 1013 and 1110 Montour, and 617 and 623 7th Avenue, and 202 Broadway, were mentioned. The 1530 5th Avenue house, which sits next to McCabe's Run, was badly burned, but the owner is contesting Borough condemnation because he says the house can still be salvaged, although no visible signs of salvaging efforts can be seen. Grants were not approved for the two Montour Street properties so they will not be demolished at this time. McCutcheon explained to Council that condemnation approvals and grants are getting harder to obtain because of asbestos and other environmental concerns. The legal procedure for each piece of residential property now averages 18 months. One small house demo averages $9500.

In another issue which Council discusses every month, street and road repair and infrastructure maintenance, McCutcheon reported that work on Riverfront Park, Main Street sidewalks and Euclid Avenue (above the pumphouse on Devonshire) are proceeding. He told Council he had just walked the Main Street project earlier that day and it looked very good. Pine Alley from Main Street to Mulberry Street was placed on the list of priorities for 2021. The Duquesne Light Streetlight Project will see 100 new lights installed at a cost of $106 per light. These will go on Hiland, Vance, Ridge, 6th and 7th Avenues. McCutcheon also reported that he had personally inspected Vine Street and suggested it be moved up on the priority list. "It's in really bad shape with very large holes," he informed Council. He spoke of one particularly bad 118 feet long section at "the corner," a sharp turn halfway up the five block long street, just before it reaches the Cliffs. He recommended that section be totally redone to a 10 inch depth, which he estimated would cost $112,000. But, he emphasized, it has to be done this Summer, before Sacred Heart and Cornell buses resume using it in late August, because the work would totally close Vine Street.

Pittsburgh Motor Speedway

Pennsylvania's Finest Dirt Track Racing On The Big Half Mile

Sprint Cars - Late Models - Sportsmen - 6 & 4 Cylinders

Every Saturday Night : 7 -11 pm

Just Beyond Robinson Town Center On Route 22/30

For the second year in a row, COVID restrictions cancelled Coraopolis' annual Memorial Day Parade. But the Coraopolis Veterans of Foreign Wars gave the community something memorable anyway : the dedication of its "new" VFW Foreign War Memorial at the corner of 5th Avenue and Mulberry Street.

This Memorial has actually been in place for over a year. It was supposed to be dedicated in 2020. But COVID restrictions prevented that.

After a year of masks, social distancing, bar and restaurant closings and sports played before empty stands, the ceremony was like a celebration of a return to normalcy.

State Representative Anita Kulik and Congressman Conor Lamb were there, as was Coraopolis Mayor Shawn Reed.

In a sense, it was a celebration of the VFW post itself. Chartered in 1922, the Post met in rented quarters for 20 years until 1942, when it moved into the brand new building pictured at right. Named for two Coraopolis residents killed in battle, the Keith Holmes Post grew into one of the most successful in the area. Over the years many groups have rented the large auditorium inside for events, including weddings, receptions, dances, parties and exhibits.

After 80 years positioned in front of the high school, and then, when the high school closed, in front of the library, the famous Doughboy Statue shown at left finally came home to guard the VFW Building.

The original statue cost $3500 but today it's valued at $75,000. It's made of copper. It was mass produced in the 1920s to honor World War I (1914-1918) veterans, and distributed to any town raising the price.

Originally, 300 Doughboy Statues were produced. The Smithsonian Institute keeps an official record of them. Each statue has a serial number. Cory's is #259. 134 remain in place in cemeteries, parks, town squares, in front of high schools and city halls, and at the entrance to bridges. The Coraopolis Doughboy Statue is one of only 12 remaining which have the official bayonet still in place. The nearest Doughboy Statues are in Aliquippa (#278), McKees Rocks (#287) and Lawrenceville (#231).

Plates below the statue display the names of Coraopolis residents killed in World War I and World War II.

Behind it, pedestals also commemorate military campaigns in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The plaza between the Doughboy Statue, the pedestals and the building is paved with bricks. These bricks can be engraved with the names of local veterans who served in one of those wars. The price of commemorative bricks will help pay for the Memorial. The updated plaza cost $110,000. $44,000 of this was paid for by VFW fundraising, mostly the bricks. They cost $250, $300 and $500. Many people who saw the ones Monday said they would buy one for their own relatives who served.

The Plaza stands at one of the town's main intersections. Surrounding it are a hardware, restaurant, coffee shop, beauty shop, medical center, ballet school and art gallery. 5th Avenue, running right past it, doubles as Route 51 and is packed with traffic during rush hours each morning and evening. So the Plaza will receive plenty of visibility.

The dedication ceremony lasted 45 minutes. VFW Commander Mike Blair called everything to order and Steve Miller delivered the opening remarks. The VFW Color Guard both presented and, later, retired the flag. The Ohio Valley Community Band, sponsored by the VFW, played the Star Spangled Banner and several patriotic melodies.

Keynote Speaker Colonel John Pippy, who himself has served 29 years, was the keynote speaker.

A gun salute was performed in the middle of 5th Avenue, and a bugler played Taps from the corner opposite the VFW.

A sizeable crowd attended, including children, young adults, families and older residents. Two food trucks did a brisk business.

Mayor Shawn Reed (coat and tie, left) was not an official speaker, but he chatted with various dignitaries, including local favorite Danny Larocco (in uniform, left), who served in the infantry in the Philippines and Korea. "I lied about my age and forged my parents signatures and enlisted at age 16. I dropped them a postcard just before I boarded the train. I was gone for three days before they found out where I was."

He had some narrow escapes. "The LSTs were dropping us off at the beaches. We had to hold our guns over our heads and wade ashore. But they assumed everyone was six feet tall and the boats could only come in so close. I was short. I had that heavy pack on, and the gun. I was in way over my head. I came close to drowning. Some guys around me held me up and towed me to shallow water."

As they invaded the islands, one by one, there was hand to hand combat. Larocco shows a vicious looking wound on his left hand and wrist. "One of the Japanese soldiers got me with his bayonet before I killed him. We were in battle. There were no medics. I just wrapped it with a handerchief and kept going. Later on, medics came around and asked if anyone was in need of medical attention. I didn't even say anything. It took a while to heal, but since I got out of the army it hasn't given me any trouble."

Larocco made it home safely and became a long term Coraopolis Council member. He recently turned 92.

The Memorial Day Parade will resume in 2022. In 2019 Coraopolis held its 89th consecutive Memorial Day Parade, making it the second oldest in Pennsylvania, behind only the one in Lawrenceburg. But both those two parades have been cancelled the last two years due to COVID restraints.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

The inevitable announcement no one has wanted to hear finally came last week in Coraopolis when Jim and Trudy Mancini made it official : They're selling the Cash Market and retiring.

Once the couple made the decision to sell, they spent time seeking a buyer who would agree to two conditions : (l) He would keep the grocery store in Coraopolis and (2) He would retain all current employees.

The sale is not yet final. The Mancinis and the buyer are working out the details of transfer.

But employees have been notified, and Trudy posted an announcement online.

"We're trying to ensure a smooth transition with limited interruptions. We absolutely did not want to leave Coraopolis without a grocery store or our employees without a job."

The Cash Market has become a Coraopolis landmark. It was founded in the 1950s by Albert Mancini as a Meat Market. In those days, there was a Giant Eagle at Montour Street and State Avenue and an A & P on Fourth Avenue. Mancini's was on 4th Avenue right next to Pete Myl's Chrysler Plymouth Dealership.

First Giant Eagle closed, and then A & P. So the elder Mancini saw the opportunity to expand.

And that was made possible when Pete closed his Chrysler Plymouth Dealership. "He'd been promising us that when he retired, he'd sell the building to us," Jim recalls. "And he kept his promise. That gave us room to expand." He shows a reporter how across the back of the Cash Market, facing the loading docks and rail road tracks, the Pete Myl Garage sign still stretches all the way across the building. Jim stops and points around. "Right here," he says. "This was the original store. The Meat counter was right over there."

Jim Mancini stands in front of a produce rack in his Coraopolis Cash Market and shakes his head. "The grocery field is more difficult right now that's ever been," he admits. "It's difficult enough for the big chains, the Krogers, Food Lions and Giant Eagles. For us little guys, the family owned, small town, single outlet groceries, it's a real challenge."

Mancini's costs have kept going up. Utilities, wages, taxes, the prices he has to pay for meats, vegetables, beverages, everything. But he can't raise prices.

"We've had a loyal local customer base," he says. "They've shopped here to avoid the long drive out to Giant Eagle, Sam's Club, Costco, Target, WalMart or KMart. As long as we have the same prices. But if we raise our prices, they'll go ahead and make that drive. They'll spend five dollars in gas to save three dollars at the grocery."

The big chains buy billions of dollars a year from growers and distributors. So they can threaten to take their business elsewhere unless the suppliers give them rock bottom prices. "We can't do that," Mancini explains. "We don't buy in enough volume to threaten anyone.So we have to think carefully."

He turned and pointed down the long rack of shelves behind him.

"We divide our stock into three categories. The Meats we take great pride in so we continually shop for the best quality. Our customers are willing to pay a little more for high quality meats. The general items like potato chips, soft drinks, snack foods, etc., we just look for the best deal. But all the rest of our stock --- Dairy, Fruits, Vegetables, Juices, Canned Goods, everything, we purchase from a single buyer. That allows us to buy in a very large volume. Those big chains divide down their purchasing. They buy Milk one place, Leaf Vegetables one place, Root Vegetables another place, Fruits someplace different, and so on. So by concentrating all our purchases in one supplier, we can nearly match the big chains in volume."

He admits to keeping a close check on his rivals, especially Giant Eagle. "Dad used to take me with him when he'd walk their shelves looking at prices. I don't do it as often as he did, but I do it pretty often. We don't worry about the places where you buy in bulk. But we make sure we're competitive with the others."

Back by the Deli, he held up a package of Isaly's Chipped Ham. Long a favorite of Coraopolis when Isaly's was a popular Mill Street business, Mancini still stocks the item even though Isaly's actual stores have been gone for 50 years. Now Isaly's is just a supplier.

"Did you know Isaly's also created the Klondike Bar?" he asked. "We still carry those, too."

Walking around the store, Jim can't get very far without someone coming up to him, saying hello, shaking his hand, hugging him and exchanging a few stories.

Once the sale becomes official and a date is announced for his final days at the store, he expects many of those exchanges to get emotional. "We'll truly miss all of our loyal customers and employees very much. We sincerely appreciate everyone's business over the years," Trudy says.

"One thing about a small grocery," he smiles, "We can cater to what our customers want. If they want a particular kind of Bread, or Meat, or Ice Cream, we'll get it. There are people right now shopping in this store that were shopping here when I was a little kid."

As a full service grocery, the Cash Market offers baked goods, and even does a lot of baking in house. They sell Apple or Cherry Turnovers, their own store made Pizzas, even Snickerdoodle Muffins. But still, from that original opening, they offer the best Meats in the Western Hills.

"Those methods Dad used to prepare Sausages and Meats were brought over from the Old Country. He loved working with Meats. He took great pride in knowing how to do everything, including cutting it properly."

Jim feels fortunate to have had Dave Cook as his Butcher for a long time. "He worked for Giant Eagle, but was working with us part time. When he retired from them, he just kept working here. People don't realize how a good Butcher can make or break a cut of Meat."

That's Mancini on the left and Cook on the right, standing in front of the very long Meats Counter which is the heart of the Cash Market.

There aren't many businesses which last 70 years and become landmarks. Montour Hardware, Deramo's Beverages, Segneri's Restaurant, and the Cash Market did. Locals are keeping their fingers crossed the new owner fulfills his promise to continue the tradition far into the future.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Residents of Coraopolis and the Western Hills once again can gain a say in their local government by voting Tuesday. In Coraopolis, this is an especially important election because, once again, a new Mayor will be chosen.

The popular and dynamic Shawn Reed surprised almost everyone back in January by announcing he would not run for a second term. Reed, who has almost certainly been the most successful Mayor the town has had in the modern era, brought a professional marketer's instincts to the office. He has spearheaded the railroad station restoration project and several other initiatives. He is pushing a cooperative movement with Robert Morris University and Carnegie Mellon University to develop Coraopolis into a small business incubator. And he has ceaselessly promoted the town as a hidden jewel, an unappreciated treasure, a great place to live or start a business or relocate an existing one.

But Reed insists he never intended to seek a second term. "I'm not a career politician," he says. "There were certain directions I thought the town should go in, and I thought being Mayor would help me push it in those directions. But it's now headed in those directions, and there are others who can continue that work. I'll continue to spearhead the train station project and certain other initiatives. But my own business career is taking me out of town more often, and I need to attend to that."

The first candidate to replace Reed is Robb Cardimen, seen in the photo at left. Cardimen was born and raised in Coraopolis and lived here all his life. He has served the town in several capacities, most visibly as a leader of its Volunteer Fire Department, and as a member and then Chairman of the Borough Council. Back in the 20th Century, he was also a member of the Police Department as a Dispatcher. Cardimen has arguably been the best Council Chair the town has had in recent memory. He presided over an economic resurgcnce and a move to a new Municipal Building. He approached the position with no agenda except the betterment of the community. During his tenure, the town finished in the black every year and invested hundreds of thousands annually in upgrading streets and roads. While across Pennsylvania and the nation other towns, many larger than Coraopolis, have lost their Police and Fire Departments and Libraries and have allowed their streets, roads and downtowns to deteriorate, Borough Council under Cardimen has kept taxes steady while upgrading their Police and Fire Departments and Library and nurturing a slow but consistent growth in the business district and tax base.

"I have agreed with Reed's vision and want to continue his various initiatives," Cardimen says. "One area I might emphasize more is keeping the downtown cleaner and more presentable. We need to sweep the streets more often and keep trash bins and dumpsters emptied."

The newcomer in the race is Michael Dixon. He's not from Coraopolis, having moved here with his wife Heather in 2015. He hasn't been on Council, or served in any other capacity. So he's an outsider, very much like Reed was when he ran. But he does love the town and also supports the ideas for it Reed introduced. Dixon is a software engineer who did under graduate work at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned his Masters Degree from Robert Morris University. He's worked for PPG, Thomson Reuters, Aderant, Citigroup and now Dick's Sporting Goods. His other college major was Political Science. Dixon sees the office of Mayor as an enabler, finding out what people want and then moving in that direction. "A servant of the people" is how he phrases it.

"I want Coraopolis to be a community where people want to live, shop and maybe start or relocate a business."

As a Robert Morris graduate, Dixon would be well positioned to continue the Shawn Reed initiative where Coraopolis leaders and Robert Morris leaders work together to develop an atmosphere in which businesses can start and flourish.

Neither Cardimen nor Dixon are traditional politicians. Neither seems to have ambitions to use the Coraopolis Mayorship as a springboard to run for anything else. They both appear to have the best interests of Coraopolis at heart. They both appear very bright, very open minded, and very forward looking. It could be a very close race. Which means every vote will count. With the dangers of COVID behind us, residents are urged to go to the polls Tuesday and vote.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Coraopolis Borough Council once again spent time at its May workshop and voting meetings discussing delinquent, abandoned and/or unmaintained properties within the community.

Allegheny County Court proceedings are running a year behind. Laws prevent Council from just taking over property without owners or descendants being given due process. But neighbors continue to complain, with good reason. Once grass and weeds grow high, animals and insects can move in. Allergy and asthma sufferers are affected. And the unkempt appearance lowers neighboring property values. The houses themselves become problems. They can be homes to colonies of feral cats or other animals. Sometimes homeless people, drug users or neighborhood kids break in. If neglected too long, the homes can begin to collapse, posing a hazard to neighbors or anyone walking down the sidewalk. Or they become fire hazards, often sitting dangerously close to other houses on both sides. Yet Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon and Council members are stymied in their effort to resolve these problems. They have been trying for five years to gain control of the Van Balen property on 5th Avenue. The owners won't improve it, but won't sell it, and hire attorneys to keep court action tied up in delaying tactics.

The latest locations to pose such problems are the former Scappi property below the tracks and an abandoned home on 7th Avenue above the tracks. No one will accept ownership. Taxes are 10 years delinquent. Occupants have died and no descendants can be found. Banks deny responsibility.

Coraopolis is not alone in facing this problem. Every old river town struggles with it. As a matter of fact, Cory has done a better job than most in acquiring title and dismantling old properties. But it is an ongoing effort, and neighbors are understandably impatient. The Henderson and White properties on Hiland Avenue are next in line for demolition.

In other matters, Council has $400,000 in street and road projects budgeted for and scheduled halfway through 2021. Work is in process all over town. It includes downtown parking lot resurfacing. Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon reminded Council that the costs of asphalt and other construction materials are up significantly.

Water flushing began this week. The day to day schedule can be found on the Savvy Citizen website.

Ed Pitassi's Shade Tree Commission tree planting project continues. The next targeted areas are Edgewood Avenue, Ridge Avenue at the dead end above Route 51, the new Borough Building, and Mill Street. The Borough planted trees along Mill Street in 1980 and, after 40 years, for whatever reason, they are dying. Pitassi and his crew will consult with property owners along Mill Street about replacing the trees.

With the Governor opening everything Memorial Day (although masks will still be required indoors), the Coraopolis Municipal Building will be opened to the public June 1. But Council meetings will still be online. And the Municipal Building will need more intense cleaning with people coming and going.

Melissa Wade announced her resignation from Council effective June 1.

The Coraopolis Library will be opening up completely as of June 1.

Jordan Tax Services will take over delinquent tax collection.

Bliwas Field, home to the Coraopolis Little League, still needs repaired after extensive storm damage.

Rite Aid is giving COVID shots. But an apppointment is needed. The shots are much in demand and many residents have already been vaccinated.

Council noted the opening of a Zoomba Yoga facility in Coraopolis.

Mayor Shawn Reed informed Council that after a year's delay due to the COVID crisis, the joint effort with Robert Morris University to develop a business incubator atmosphere in Coraopolis is resuming.

The Police Report included 1434 calls, 277 complaints,six arrests, 102 investigations, 25 accidents, 90 traffic citations and 13 alarms gone off.

Since there is no Memorial Day Parade this year due to COVID, Council voted to give its annual $700 parade supplement to the VFW to defray the costs of the upcoming awards event.

Council reminded residents to vote Tuesday.

Help Wanted

Graff's Auto Service Center

Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

412-264-9733

At their May workshop and voting meetings, Neville's Commissioners discussed the high costs the Fire Department incurs when fighting a chemical fire. Water cannot be used because the hydrogen and oxygen in it actually feed and intensify the fire. Suppressant foams are used to cut off the oxygen and suffocate the fire. But the foams and the equipment to use it are too expensive for a small volunteer department. So the Board discussed billing companies if chemical fires have to be fought on their premises. Overall taxes could be raised to cover the problem, but that would require that everyone pay more because a few companies did not guard against chemical fires. No decision was reached. Commissioners will discuss this matter again at future meetings.

47 Veterans banners are up and more applications have been received. The banners are in alphabetical order on both sides of Grand Avenue. More poles may be needed.

Efforts to locate owners of the Riverfront Park RR right of way have been unsuccessful. The $250,000 grant to work on the park has been filed.

Two Commissioners mentioned a problem with drivers ignoring school bus lights and passing buses stopped to load or unload children. The problem does not involve Cornell buses. Police cars follow those on their twice daily routes. But other buses hauling students to private schools are not followed by police and drivers are violating the law.

Complaints are coming in about high grass violations. These are hard to prosecute. Court is one year behind on such cases.

The Commissioners approved a $65,000 bid by Independent Enterprises for the Mayflower sewage lines and manholes, a $318,750 bid to repair sinking asphalt on Nebraska Avenue, and a $17,000 bid to flush the water lines.

Volunteers are needed for the Annual Neville Green Flower Planting Event - Saturday, May 22, 2021. Volunteers should meet at 9:00 AM at the Neville Island Fire Station, 5300 Grand Avenue.  Please call 412-262-3620 to register or with any question.

Pittsburgh Motor Speedway

Pennsylvania's Finest Dirt Track Racing On The Big Half Mile

Sprint Cars - Late Models - Sportsmen - 6 & 4 Cylinders

Every Saturday Night : 7 -11 pm

Just Beyond Robinson Town Center On Route 22/30

At its April workshop and voting meetings, Coraopolis Borough Council wondered about the advantages and disadvantages of moving from one association of communities to another. Currently, Cory belongs to the Char West Council of Governments, which includes Bridgeville, Carnegie, Collier, Crafton, Crescent, Green Tree, Ingram, Kennedy, McKees Rocks, Neville, North Fayette, Oakdale, Rosslyn Farms, South Fayette, Stowe and Thornburg. It has been proposed that Cory move to SHACOG, or the South Hills Area Council Of Governments. SHACOG, as can be seen in the map at right, has Baldwin, Bethel Park, Brentwood, Castle Shannon, Brentwood, Dormont, Elizabeth, Findlay, Heidelberg, Moon, Mt. Lebanon, Peters, Robinson, Scott, South Fayette, South Park, Upper St. Clair, West Mifflin and Whitehall.

There are eight of these co-ops in Allegheny County. Their advantages are financial. The co-op can bid for commonly used goods or services and get a better price since it deals in greater volume. It can also purchase highly specialized equipment, such as road line painting machines (photo below), that make no sense for an individual community since it might only be used occasionally. It can also fund and train special units, like a Swift Water Rescue Team, or a SWAT team, that would not be cost effective for a small community.

Since SHACOG has become a much larger Council, it can offer more than CharWest. It particularly offers more services for Police and Fire Departments. Moon recently moved from Charwest to SHACOG.

However, one large disadvantage of SHACOG is the distance Coraopolis Council members would have to drive to meetings. Instead of driving to Crafton or Carnegie, members would be driving to Peters Township, West Mifflin or Elizabeth, a comparison of 20 minutes to over an hour, late at night, on rainy, icy or snowy roads. Several Council members announced Wednesday night that they, personally, would not be willing to make that drive, so if Cory made the move, someone else would need to be willing to do it.

One of the advantages of CharWest is the grants it has been able to obtain to help communities acquire and dismantle abandoned properties. 1403 5th Avenue (the Van Balen Laundry), 1528 5th Avenue, 1730 Montour Street, 1424 and 1731 Highland Avenue, and 536 5th Avenue are examples of properties CharWest is helping Coraopolis take down. These grants are critical because, due to asbestos and other toxic substances, demolition has become much more expensive. Only a few years ago it might cost $10,000 to dismantle a building. Now it takes $40,000 for a house (see photo below) and even more for a commercial building.

A Council of Governments, such as CharWest or SHACOG, can obtain grants more easily than individual communities because it has trained grant writers and carries more political influence.

In other issues, Council adopted the Allegheny County Hazard Mitigation Plan. Mill Street will be closed from noon to 4 pm on June 12, July 10 and August 14 for Second Saturday activities. Cobblehaus Brewing Company was granted a six month food truck permit, for Friday and Saturday evenings.

COVID restrictions have curtailed the Robert Morris University / Carnegie Mellon Business Incubator discussions but they will resume in June with Mayor Shawn Reed leading the effort.

Vine Street remains a persistent problem. Council acknowledged that it might be necessary to close Vance and Edgewood Avenue intersections and launch a major reconstruction project. Repeated patchwork attempts have not been successful.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon noted that Gazette 2.0, a newspaper in McKees Rocks, named Coraopolis the best town in the Western Hills.

PennDot is scheduled to widen Route 51 at the Soccer Complex in August, a project which will include relocating utility lines. However, PennDot has also announced that it will close the I-79 on ramp on Neville Island this Summer and detour the traffic through Coraopolis around to the Groveton on ramp. While this detour is in effect, PennDot will not be able to begin the widening project because it would cause a horrific traffic backup. Other upcoming street projects are the 900 block of Ridge Avenue, the 700 block of 6th Avenue, and Watson Street from Ridge Avenue to Alder Alley. Columbia Gas will work with the Borough on line replacement. The Memorial Day Parade has been cancelled for the second straight year due to COVID restrictions. However, the VFW will hold a Memorial Service from 11-1 Monday, May 31. The National Day of Prayer was authorized to use the Gazebo and parking lot for its annual activities. Handicapped parking spaces were approved for Sally Nelson at 504 West End Avenue and William Swoger at 814 Maple Street.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Neville Township's Board of Commissioners worked through a full slate of issues at their two April meetings.

The first was a delicate problem involving parking and "hanging out" in the neighborhood of the Neville Rollerdrome. The famous skating rink has become a victim of its own success. Since others have closed, only two rinks remain : this one and one in McKeesport. Skaters are driving in from all over Beaver, Butler, Allegheny, parts of Washington County, and even from Ohio and West Virginia. Parents will drop kids off and come back for them after a few hours. But due to COVID limits, only so many at a time can be inside. While waiting their turn, or waiting to be picked up, kids have nowhere to go but the neighborhood, primarily 2nd and 3rd Streets. Some are even lingering along both sides of very busy Neville Road. And adults coming to skate, especially on Thursday night all adult sessions, overflow the small parking lot and park along neighborhood streets. Neighbors are complaining and asking that something be done. But the Commissioners cannot outlaw parking, walking or gathering on a public street or sidewalk. They agreed to study the issue further.

A long list of completed and proposed street, road and waterline projects were discussed. Columbia Gas has completed work on 3rd Street. Bids were invited to repair a sag in pipeline alignment at Mayflower Place. In 2020 24,000 gallons a day were leaking from the Neville Road waterline and most of that problem has been resolved. Two pumps have been sent out for repair.

The Board approved replacement of aging waterlines along Utah, Idaho and Arizona Streets and North Alley B. This project will cost $980,000. To cover this, Neville has submitted a grant application through U.S. Representative Conor Lamb's Office with support of Pa. Rep Anita Kulik. If the grant is received, Neville would pay a match of $200,000.

Two of the companies which have had multiple service lines coming in have combined those into one larger, newer line each, which will eliminate leaks and make maintenance much easier. The Board approved the Shields Asphalt Paving bid of $63,381 for South Alley and Spring Alley.

PennDot has proposed a railroad crossing signal near the Neville Road - Grand Avenue intersection. Neville would maintain it.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Neville Needs Relocated RailRoad Easement;

Million Gallon Leak Occurs On Neville Road

As part of its plan to develop its Riverfront Park, the Neville Township Commissioners need to relocate a railroad easement once owned by the Neville Island Railroad. The tracks were pulled up long ago and all that remains is a grassy strip owned by the Pittsburgh & Ohio Valley Railroad, which took over the assets of the Neville Island Railroad. Neville needs to legally move that right of way so they can build an access road into the park.

Meanwhile, a water line break at 5100 Neville Road leaked a million gallons since there was no shutoff valve accessible. The Commissioners emphasized that this company and all others must bring their equipment into alignment with modern standards to avoid such mishaps. There was also a water line break on Nebraska Avenue but it was quickly shut off.

Neville approved a new contract with Valley Ambulance Authority. The window bids came in well under estimates, and will cost only $15,244 for aluminum frames for the entire first floor. 50 tons of road salt have been ordered. Street sweeping will resume April 1st, and annual line flushing will begin soon thereafter. New owners of the former Kings site propose combining parcels and moving water and gas lines.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Coraopolis Borough Council at its March meetings discussed the trail system, food trucks, and the municipal building sound system. It also renewed the contract for Valley Ambulance Authority.

As of Spring 2021 the trail system includes a basic mile loop beginning and ending at Frank Letteri Stadium, with numerous side trails. It circles 55 acres. The main ("Wildcat") trail passes the site of the former Girl Scout Lodge, drops to Brook Street, heads up McCabe's Hollow, follows the base of the Wildcat Cliffs, and climbs the hill to "The Grove" picnic shelter behind the school. It then descends to the Stadium. Ultimately plans are to link into the Power Line Trail, which would cross Montour Street and drop down to the Montour Trail, and go the other direction, cross Maple Street and descend Thorn Run Hollow. A new map is being created and copies will be provided at trailheads at the Stadium and on Brook Street. Signs will also be mounted for the main trail and side trails. Even though it's only a mile long, because of its steep descents and ascents the trail is a great workout and preparation for longer hikes.

Coraopolis has had a contract with Valley Ambulance Authority for 50 years and voted to renew that contract for the foreseeable future.

Council continues to struggle with the Food Truck issue. If a truck parks in a driveway or on private property no permit is needed. It could use a parking lot as long as it kept feeding coins in two meters. But locals are requesting blanket six month permits to roam the whole town. Given the heavy traffic going through town on 4th and 5th Avenues, and a shortage of parking spaces, those permits are not possible. Cobblestone brings in food trucks on Friday and Saturday nights, but always notifies Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon in advance of which trucks are coming and when. Council agreed permits would continue to be issued only for very specific times and places.

Riverfront Park details are coming into sharper focus. The long strip will be developed in three phases : West, Center and East. It will include rain gardens and restrooms.

Councilman Rudy Bolea proposed that Council begin seeking sponsors for an amphitheater. The name of the sponsoring company could be placed on the amphitheater.

This would allow Coraopolis to build a much nicer structure than it could afford with its own funds or with a grant. The goal would be a very nice small amphitheater suitable for small concerts or shows, as seen in the photo at right in another community.

Construction plans were approved for 2021 to include the Ferree Street Stairway, Main Street, Euclid Avenue, Riverview, Ridge Avenue, 6th Avenue, Watson Street and potholes at the Vine Street - Ridge Avenue intersection. The Ferree Street Stairway should be done by September. On the last three projects, the bricks would be pulled out, concrete poured, and a "mill and overlay" process used. Utility companies would participate since gas, water, sewer and electric lines would all be affected. Councilman Ed Pitassi reminded everyone that the Coraopolis Library was still operating on a pickup only basis until the COVID restrictions are lifted. The sound system continued to cause problems for townspeople trying to listen to meetings by phone, since no in person spectators are allowed. Hollowood will be installing new wiring in hopes of solving this. Stormwater fee bills are not being received by residents. Jordan Tax Services is investigating.

Help Wanted

Graff's Auto Service Center

Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

412-264-9733

At its regular February meeting, the Neville Board of Commissioners reviewed plans for its Riverfront Park, the property behind Speedway it hopes to develop. The Township will apply for a grant to defray as much as 50% of the $1 million cost, but Manager Jeanne Creese warned that the Council had offended the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by applying for and receiving, then turning down a grant last time. "We must explain to them that we had extenuating circumstances and we also have new board members this time," she explained. The new park would allow fishing, canoeing and picnicking on the river.

The Solicitor recommended that a paragraph be added to the standard property development form to require developers to add landscaping in compliance with the Stormwater Runoff Regulations. The Board agreed.

The Commissioners approved the Pine Road Waterline Replacement Project. Applications for grants will be filed. Work on Arizona, Utah and Nebraska Avenues and Alley A and Spring Alley were added to the list of priorities for 2021. Council also approved replacement of the first floor windows in the Muncipal Building (photo, right) at a cost of $22,000. The new frames will be fiberglass.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Coraopolis Borough Council at its February meeting approved a new pension program for local Police and voted to hire Lexipol Company to monitor and manage Police Department policies. This service will cost $14,000 initially and $6000 annually. Lexipol serves thousands of Police departments nationwide. It verifies that all policies and procedures comply with current laws and guarantees that all officers are familiar with all of them. This becomes critical in potential lawsuits.

Council also authorized Hollowood Music & Sound of McKees Rocks to upgrade the municipal building sound system, particularly the receivers and microphones. Concurrently, it also authorized purchase of a new computer to serve the sound system. This is needed for teleconferences but will also help people listening to meetings over the phone or on TV.

In routine business, Council approved $285,487 in invoices and $136,633 in monthly payroll. It renewed the annual Jordan Tax Services contract and the Waste Management Company special collection agreement. This includes TVs, paint, old tires, electronics, etc. It was noted that Jordan can also handle delinquent taxes, liens, letters, etc.

Members were informed that Policemen, Firemen and some residents over 70 had been vaccinated for COVID. The Savvy Citizen Network is working fine and adding subscribers. Council discussed complaints that old vehicles, some with flat tires, some actually under repair, were cluttering borough streets.

Various bids for road and street work and demolition bids for properties on Montour Street and Fifth Avenue were approved. Again a contract for the Ferree Street Stairway Project was approved. A $157,000 grant will help cover costs. Council agreed that aluminum railings would be used.

The Police Report listed 1293 calls, 264 complaints, 10 alarms sounded, 181 civil actions, nine arrests, 12 accidents, two injuries and 84 motor code violations.

Food Truck permits were discussed at length. Jordan Donuts is requesting a permit. Current Cobble Haus permits limit trucks to certain days and times. Several members worried about granting long term permits, especially given how busy 5th Avenue and the main parking lot are during the days. Council decided to send two members to discuss the situation with Jordan Donuts.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Sacred Heart's Drama Program has faced the same problems as everyone else during this year of COVID restrictions. And they found a unique solution.

Under Director Dolores Manuel and her staff, Sacred Heart staged their annual Christmas Show before an empty auditorium, filmed it, and aired it online for family, students and friends to watch.

It wasn't the traditional performance. This one was an hour long variety show featuring short skits, solo performances and a few scenes from past OLSH Christmas plays.

You can see it at www.olsh.org/apps/pages/upcomingperformances.

Several Sacred Heart graduates, some from more than a decade ago, came back to help with the technical aspects.

"I was disappointed this was not going to be our traditional show," said senior James Benke. "But we all finally realized it was a blessing to still be able to perform despite the pandemic."

For the seniors, the performance was especially important since they won't have the opportunity to come back after the pandemic and do it again.

"Performing virtually was definitely different," senior Maddie Fiedler explained. "There's a certain energy we get from acting in front of a live audience, and that was missing. But our directors made this different kind of production super easy."

Even rehearsals were conducted mostly online. Both staff and students had to be flexible. None of them had ever participated in anything like this before.

"Getting to watch the show later at home with my family was great," senior Grace Gartley recalled.

Students were allowed to write and direct segments themselves as part of the production process. In all, 20 students took part.

Having done this once, OLSH figures it can do it again. The Spring musical Working will be performed in March. While Manuel is hopeful the parents of cast members might be admitted to the theater, the musical will also be filmed and made available in some form online. Copyright restrictions will be an issue, but it will be livestreamed somehow.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Savannah Antolic has been named to the Chatham University Dean's List for the Fall 2020 term.

Savannah graduated from Cornell High School in 2019 with honors.

She is the daughter of Jill Zawinski.

Miss Antolic is majoring in Public Policy and Law. She is currently a sophomore at Chatham.

To make the Dean's List she had to earn a Grade Point Average of 3.5 or above.

Earning that high average was especially difficult during this pandemic year. Due to COVID restrictions, Chatham is holding a mix of in person and online classes. This makes labs and discussions more complex than usual. Travel restrictions have limited field trips, guest speakers and other typical college experiences.

Although Chatham dorms are open, the campus is currently on a Raised Alert Status, meaning quarantine and isolation policies are in effect and frequent testing is required.

All of this has imposed an extra layer of stress to the already stressful college experience of tests and research papers.

Help Wanted

Graff's Auto Service Center

Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

412-264-9733

The Neville Road Waterline and landscaping at Calgon Corporation were the major issues discussed by the Neville Commissioners at their January meeting.

The 16 inch waterline is a replacement for an older line. Among the many properties the new line crosses is a two parcel tract owned by Backchannel LLC. The owners did grant an easement for the installation of the line but have not granted the easement needed to continually service the line. If owners do not grant the easement, Neville may have to go through condemnation and that will require an assessment to determine value, and will require legal authorization.

Calgon has recently completed a 5000 square foot expansion. New State and County regulations require that trees, grass and shrubbery be planted. But a fence fronts the property on Grand Avenue, and just behind the fence is a paved parking lot. A railroad track and fence front the property on Neville Road. Calgon sent its Engineers and Environmental Consultants to the meeting to explain that they do not own the tracks and the fences are for safety and security. Council asked that Calgon move the fence back and landscape the strip between the fence and Grand Avenue. Calgon reluctantly agreed.

In other details, work is underway to repair the Neville Chemical riverbank erosion. A January 7 waterline break on Nebraska Avenue has been repaired. The Commissioners approved a $47,800 share for maintenance on the sewer lines suspended from the Fleming Park Bridge, and for $92,246 to Iron City Construction for waterline work completed.

Banners for local veterans have increased in cost by $10 each.

New pumps have been installed at two stations along the water lines. The old ones had begun to leak.

PennDot is still planning to work on the railroad crossing at the Neville Road - Grand Avenue intersection.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Robb Cardimen, who presided over an economic resurgcnce and a move to a new Municipal Building, stepped down as Coraopolis Borough Council Chairman at its January meeting. Cardimen may have been the best, or at least one of the best, Chairperson in Cory's modern era. He approached the position with no agenda except the betterment of the community. During his tenure, the town finished in the black every year and invested hundreds of thousands annually in upgrading infrastructure. While across Pennsylvania and the nation other towns, many larger than Coraopolis, have lost their Police and Fire Departments and Libraries and have allowed their streets, roads and downtowns to deteriorate, Borough Council under Cardimen has kept taxes steady while upgrading their Police and Fire Departments and Library and nurturing a slow but consistent growth in the business district and tax base. Cardimen will continue on Council as Vice President. He is succeeded as Chairman by David Pendel.

The rest of the January meeting was mostly devoted to routine clerical details as Council begins a new year. Council honored Greg Sundin, who is retiring from the Police Department after 26 years. Council approved continuing service agreements with Amato, Start & Associates for legal services; Lennon Smith & Souleret for engineering services; Mark Turnley for accounting services, and the Beaver County Times for print publication of official announcements. Council approved a move to First National Bank as its bank of deposit. Workshops will continue to be the first Wednesdays and official meetings the second Wednesdays

Appointments were approved for George Mihalyi on the Water & Sewer Authority, Robb Cardimen on the Civil Service Commission, Don Haney on the Zoning Board, Orlando Falcione on the Sanitary Authority, Ed Pitassi on the Shade Tree Commission, Dallas Stewart on the Property Maintenance Board, and Henry Bobro on the Vacancy Board.

Jonathan Short was approved as a new Police Officer. Mayor Shawn Reed read a proclamation on Human Trafficking, reminding everyone that it has reached epidemic levels, even here in Pennsylvania. Carter Spruill of the Coraopolis Chapter of the NAACP reported that the local group should receive its official charter in February and already has 150 members. Council discussed a food truck permit application by Jordan Donuts but delayed a vote awaiting clarification of how long the truck would be parked on site. Mayor Reed noted that Embellishments Beauty Studio at 411 Mill Street would have its grand opening ribbon cutting at 11:15 Saturday January 16. Council approved $232,188 in invoices and $217,843 of payroll. The Police Report noted 1194 calls, 32 citations, 76 investigations, 11 arrests, one stolen vehicle, 10 accidents, 9 alarms, and vehicles towed.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

The Neville Island Board of Commissioners at its December meeting honored two volunteers who have left an impact in the township.

They recognized Mark Stewart and the late Guido Batista (photo, right). Stewart is a member of the Neville Volunteer Fire Department and works at the Neville Township Public Works Department. He has worked to upgrade fire hydrant connections and attended training on confined space rescue. Batista was a Commissioner and Tax Collector and initiated his own frequent litter sweeps. Batista served in the Marine Corps at the Marshall Islands and Okinawa. He would clean up after napalm attacks. He moved to Neville Island in 1950 where he raised five children. After the COVID restrictions have been lifted, the Commissioners will hold an official awards ceremony to properly honor the two. Neville created the Volunteer Award in 2018 to recognize residents who make a significant contribution to the community. Each honoree has his or her name added to a permanent plaque at the Municipal Building and receives a $250 donation to the charity of their choice.

In other action the Commissioners approved the 2021 budget, the water and sewage budgets, $140,000 for a new flushing station, the upgrading of 20 streetlights to LEDs, and the Mayflower Place sewer repair. They noted that PennDot wants to install a new automated signal at the Grand Avenue railroad crossing. The Duquesne Light substation has been connected to an outdated 12 inch water line and will now connect to the new 15 inch line. The Neville Road water line is now within 20 feet of completion, a $287,000 project.

ALCOSAN has proposed that each municipality it serves reduce its flow by 10%, an issue which will need further discussion in 2021. A fueling station is planned for 5800 Grand Avenue, a former Kings property. The Neville Rollerdrome faces several issues, including inadequate parking, but COVID restrictions now limit customers to 10 inside at a time, so the issues won't be critical until those restrictions are lifted. Calgon plans for a large storage building addition. Water sampling to meet Department of Environmental Protection requirements continues with flushing and sampling. Hydrants are needed at Robert Morris to make this easier.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

A press release from Harrisburg revealed that a third of Pennsylvania cities and towns will end 2020 in debt despite raising taxes and eliminating fire and police departments, parks and recreation programs, and local water and sewage processing. An alarming number are approaching bankruptcy. But Coraopolis isn't one of them.

At its December meeting, Coraopolis Borough Council announced that the 2021 budget will maintain the 12.5 mill tax rate for the 8th consecutive year, while ending 2020 in the black and completing numerous achievements during the last 12 months. These include several major street and sidewalk projects, a Wildcat Trail in the woods between Brook and Maple Street, a Facebook page, a new website, a Savvy Citizen site, purchase of two trucks for maintenance, two Ford Interceptor police vehicles, a Ford F-150 K-9 SUV, and a Sutphen Pumper fire truck, purchase of body cams for the police, demolition of delinquent property, collection of delinquent property taxes, installation of 80 new L.E.D. street lights on several key streets and a new L.E.D. stop sign on State Avenue, continuing work on Riverfront Park and planting of street trees. This solid financial status is due to prudent decision making by Council and the careful management by Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon. McCutcheon and his staff apply for grants and share project costs with Duquesne Light, Columbia Gas and PennDot.

Council approved $140,960.46 in invoices; a November payroll $125,795.15; and a 2021 General Fund Budget of $4, 965, 253. Subscriptions on its new Savvy Citizen network are now up to 334. $177,000 in delinquent taxes have been collected in 2020. 92% of all 2020 property taxes are now in. The Police Report included 1020 calls, 70 criminal investigations, $150 in stolen property recovered, and 35 citations issued. Parking meters are turned off for the holiday season to encourage downtown shoppers.

Street projects proposed for 2021 include Vine, Watson, Riverview, Montour along the cliffs, the dead ends where Vance Avenue dips to McCabe's Creek, the short street connecting Montour and Brook Streets, Woodlawn, School and the short street off Maple running along the Cemetery.

McCutcheon thanked the many businesses and residents who have decorated so well for Christmas, giving the town a very festive appearance.

Help Wanted

Graff's Auto Service Center

Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

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Coraopolis and Neville Island homes with K-12 students will begin receiving free Wifi in January 2021 if they choose.

A consortium of Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh, the Keystone Initiative for Network Based Education, Cornell School District and MetaMesh Wireless has launched a pilot program called Every1Online. This program will provide no cost Wifi equipment and service to households in Coraopolis and Neville Island.

The first priority will be households with students in grades K-12. Cornell has already sent out registration forms. All families are invited to sign up. They could also sign up by phone or online.

Cornell students already receive devices to use at home. Those in grades K-6 receive IPads. Those in grades 7-12 receive Chrome Books, which are laptop computers.

By forcing schools to offer online coursework, the COVID pandemic exposed the fact that many students did not have home Wifi service, so their IPads and Chrome books were of limited use.

This project is designed to solve that problem. MetaMesh has installed a transmitter on the top of Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning (photo, right. Notice antennae on top). That transmitter sends a radio signal to Coraopolis. MetaMesh has installed relay boxes on the Water Tower (photo, below. notice receiver and relay antennae on top), the 5th Avenue Gazebo, and at Shelley Jones Park. Neville Island had previously had routers installed at Cottage Park and Memorial Park, which MetaMesh will replace with relay boxes. A final relay box must be installed to provide a signal to the neighborhoods from Vine Street to Groveton. The likely location for this relay box will be the site of the former water tower on Woodcrest Avenue (near Sacred Heart School). There is currently a cell tower there, which might be used if permission can be obtained.

MetaMesh has a crew of five who will be installing equipment in homes in late November, all of December and into January.

Each home will have a small receiver (about the size of a dish) installed on the roof or outside wall, and a Wifi router installed inside (see photo below left).

The service will not be 5G, but will be in the 4.0-4.5G range. That is enough to allow a student to participate in Zoom meetings, video conferencing, downloading of movies or other assignments, and to upload any projects he or she might create at home, including slide shows or videos.

All families will receive an email address and phone number to call in case of problems. A MetaMesh representative will immediately come to the house. Metamesh and its partners have already provided free Wifi to homes in Braddock, Homewood, Sharpsburg and several Pittsburgh neighborhoods, although in those it uses different equipment than it will use in Coraopolis. It is currently installing equipment in New Kensington and Arnold.

Metamesh is the brainchild of Adam Longwill. Longwill knows what it’s like to be a kid without internet access. His parents didn’t have it. He studied up on the technology and rigged up his mother’s old wok as a rooftop receiver to get it.

Longwill (photo, right), now with degrees from Goucher College, the University of Maryland and the University of Pittsburgh, sees the Digital Divide as a major crisis.

“To live and work in today’s digital society, it is essential to have access to the internet. Reliable internet access is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity and a right. Unfortunately, many people right here in Allegheny County cannot afford the internet services they need. Every1Online is one way to begin to see internet access as a human right,” Longwill explains.

Once every home with students is online, then any other household can sign up to receive in home equipment and internet access. Businesses can also obtain the service but will have to pay for it.

Samantha Garfinkel of MetaMesh explained that they were driving the streets of Coraopolis and Neville Island with a receiver to make sure everywhere in town could receive a signal.

The original grant will provide 24 months of service. “By then,” Garfinkel says, “The school district and community should be able to figure out how they’ll cover the cost. Since we’re not trying to make a profit or pay a dozen executives high salaries, this is really not that expensive. Maybe a local foundation could cover it. Maybe the local businesses could subscribe to the service and pay a little more than the basic cost, with enough left over to cover the resident costs. Maybe the school or the town could raise taxes slightly. A local corporation might donate the very small annual cost. There are lots of ways this could work. But one way we will never use is to bill the individual homeowners.”

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Neville Island Commissioners at their November meetings confronted the problem of rising sewage rates.

Since Neville is too small to operate its own water treatment plant, it contracts with two outside agencies.

The West View Water Authority (bottom photo) maintains a purification plant on Neville Island. It uses water drawn from the Ohio River and purified by activated carbon filters. WVWA sends pure water from the island plant to the industries and residents of the island, plus to other communities on both sides of the river.

Neville pumps its sewage back to the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (AlCoSan) for treatment. The sewage has to be pumped up the island, across the Fleming Park Bridge, through Stowe Township and McKees Rocks, across the McKees Rocks Bridge, and along the North Shore to the AlCoSan plant (photo, right).

Neville maintains pumps along its own pipelines, and AlCoSan maintains pumps along its pipelines.

AlCoSan is quite an operation. It maintains 90 miles of pipeline and treats 250 million gallons of sewage daily. You can see its two mile long facility by looking down to the right as you cross the McKees Rocks Bridge (photos below) or drive east on the Ohio River Boulevard (photo at left).

Neville bills customers quarterly for these services plus Garbage & Waste Collection, for which Neville contracts with Waste Management Company. The Garbage & Waste Collection rates are $42 per quarter. The rates the company charges Neville go up every year, but the Board of Commissioners have thus far been able to absorb these increases.

For water service, most residential customers pay $32 a quarter for 3,000 gallons. For use above this limit, they pay $9.11 per 1,000 gallons.

The rates WVWA charge Neville go up every year. For 2020, the rates went up 20%. But the Board was able to absorb this cost without raising customer rates.

Maintaining all those pipelines and pumps is expensive. This year the Township is replacing the Neville Road and Nebraska Avenue waterlines. Costs for such a project are about $400,000 each. But Township Manager Jeanne Creese and her staff constantly apply for grants. This year they received $350,000 in grants for the Neville Road work and $359,300 for the Nebraska Avenue work. This has allowed them to avoid raising taxes or rates.

“As a small township, our taxes and rates would go through the roof if we were not able to obtain those grants,” Creese explained. “The average resident doesn’t realize how dependent we are on those outside funding sources.”

But every year, AlCoSan also increases Neville’s sewage treatment rates, from 7% to 15%. This is necessary because federal mandates involving stormwater runoff keep increasing AlCoSan’s costs. Federal, state and county authorities are determined no rainwater, snowmelt, or other runoff is going to leak into sewage lines and no sewage is going to end up in the rivers or lakes. But preventing this gets increasingly expensive.

The Neville Board has tried to absorb these costs, and has not raised customer rates since 2015. But it cannot absorb them any longer. And there are no grants just to offset sewage rates.

Therefore, for 2021, residential rates per quarter will increase from $34.60 to $39.00. For this, each household can discharge 3,000 gallons. For discharge above this limit, they will pay $21.75 for each 1,000 gallons.

The Commissioners debated at length whether to begin raising rates a little bit every year, or to raise the rates a larger amount once and then not raise them for another five years. So this new rate could remain in place until 2025.

Even with the increase, the combined total of waste disposal, water and sewage remains lower than surrounding communities, almost all of which also bill quarterly, and many of which also use AlCoSan. The Board is not raising tax rates for 2021.

In other business, (1) The Commissioners discussed raising the parking fine from $5. (2) The CWM contract expires January 1. It costs $530 a month for backup operators. Ms. Creese recommended against renewing, suggesting they instead ask for a six month extension to get past COVID. (3) Judging for the Holiday Decoration Contest will be held the first two weeks of December. (4) The Board also discussed compensating the tax collector. (5) The Christmas Party scheduled for December 12th has been cancelled due to COVID. (6) Six stop signs have been installed to replace existing ones which have become damaged or worn over time. (7) The Utah Street waterline has been proposed as the next major work project.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Coraopolis Borough Council members at their November meetings stressed that leaf collection has begun and residents should rake their leaves TO the curb but not IN the street. John May of Public Works also emphasized that residents should park their cars in the driveways or alleys so as not to block leaf pickup trucks, which come right along the curbs. Crews are out every day now that the leaves are dropping heavily, but they move slowly so it will take time to get to every street.

In other business, Council rejected the October request that Ferree Street be made two way between 4th and 5th Avenues. Members pointed out that they could not get specific enough answers about the development in Robinson Township that supposedly made the change necessary, and they could see no need or benefit to it. Over the next few years, if such a development does make the change necessary, they can always act on it then.

Council discussed a grant application which would allow a $750,000 project redoing the west side of Main Street from 6th Avenue to Neely Heights. This will include the street, curb and sidewalk. (The east side is already being done.) Grant funding would cover 70%. Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon told Council it may be time to consider Mill Street for the next major updating, but grants would be needed because the work will be extensive. Pine Alley, Hiland Avenue and Cliff Street are also high on the priority list. These would all be 2021 projects.

A major food distribution event will be Monday, November 16, using the Soccer Complex to load. Volunteers are needed to drive meals to homes.

McCutcheon reminded Council that Westbanco was closing its branch in January. The Coraopolis Library has an account there which will have to be moved. McCutcheon is meeting with First National Bank.

Council approved November invoices of $623,916.80, an October payroll of $116,543.03, and $7,000 for the purchase of a fuel injector pump.

They approved the closing of Mulberry Street between 4th and 5th Avenues on December 5th from 9 am to 2 pm for the Christmas in Coraopolis event.

Acquisition and disposition of the vacant lot on Thorn Street through the Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program was approved.

Council approved the use of Bliwas Field for a Saturday meeting of the Coraopolis chapter of the NAACP.

Members of Council agreed that problems with the phone system must be resolved so members or residents can participate in meetings without the Firewall security feature constantly dropping people. Once again at the November 11 meeting several members suddenly found themselves disconnected.

Police Chief Ron Denbow reported 1398 calls, 100 criminal investigations, 18 arrests, $1500 in stolen property recovered, 12 accidents and six towed vehicles. He emphasized that three of the arrests were for opening parked vehicles and stealing contents. He urged everyone to lock their vehicles.

Citizens requested trash cans at bus stops. One guest pointed out that the Waste Management trucks were brushing low hanging overhead lines. Another said an abandoned house on Sixth Avenue was deteriorating so it was a safety hazard, and it was infested with rats.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Coraopolis Boro Council began its October meeting by listening to a proposal that Ferree Street between 5th and 4th Avenues be restored to two way traffic.

Long ago, Ferree Street was two way for its entire length. It's been one way for the one block between 4th and 5th Avenue for about 50 years. But making it one way has created a traffic corkscrew for anyone heading out 5th Avenue toward the Soccer Complex or I-79. As the photo at right shows, drivers coming off the Neville Island Bridge must turn right onto 4th Avenue. Most traffic continues on down 4th Avenue through town. But anyone wanting to head for the Soccer Complex or I-79 must turn left up Montour Street then left onto 5th Avenue. Until now, that has been only a few drivers.

But that's about to change. A development in Robinson Township near I-79 will draw 700 workers and tractor trailer trucks coming to their warehouses. Southbound I-79 traffic cannot exit at Route 51. It has to exit onto Neville Island and come across the Neville Island Bridge through Cory. This will create a long line of cars and trucks turning right, then left, then left. And those turns are very tight for tractor trailer trucks.

If Boro Council approves, traffic could simply continue straight coming off the bridge, then turn left at Graff's Gas Station. The development will not be complete for two years, so there is time for lengthy Council discussion and then for negotiation with PennDot. A PennDot study would be required. Traffic light changes would be required at the 4th Avenue - Ferree and the 5th Avenue - Ferree intersections. And PennDot will have to approve any changes, since Route 51 is involved.

Development representatives assured Council the trucks will not be hauling hazardous materials : no oil, gas or nuclear waste. They will be hauling building materials, medical supplies and retail goods. The change would also increase State Avenue traffic, as drivers coming off the Neville bridge will continue straight up Ferree, then turn right onto State, drive to Montour, and turn left to go up the hill.

In other matters, Council approved the demolition of two houses down over the cliff from Montour Street, across the street from the Cliffs section of the street. At 1110 and 1013 Montour Street, the houses have been abandoned for several years and one has a large hole in the roof. They have deteriorated beyond repair.

Council authorized the purchase of a new Fire Truck, a Sutphen Heavy Duty Pumper at a cost of $573,764.83. A down payment of $143,441.21 will be made and a long term lease arrangement will cover the rest. The Volunteer Fire Department will contribute $115,000 toward the purchase.

In routine business, Council approved October invoices of $198,237.93, the September payroll of $117,630,64, and the Police Report showing 1454 calls, 8 alarms, 122 criminal investigations, one stolen vehicle, and nine accidents.

Council expressed its dissatisfaction with PNC Bank for the nearly zero interest on the Borough Reserve Fund. Key, Huntingdon and Dollar Bank will be consulted to see if a higher rate of interest can be obtained.

The Harvest Festival is this Saturday, October 17 from noon - 4 pm. Those planning to participate in Trunk or Treat should remember to decorate their trunks.

Council is also dissatisfied with the bids for the Ferree Street stairs, also known as the Cinder Steps. There were very few bids and they were not acceptable. Council would like to call for new bids. But they were told prices won't change until the COVID Pandemic lifts. The grant is good for 2-3 years so there is time. It costs $1200-1500 to advertise for bids.

Concerns were also expressed over the Devonshire Road - Edgewood Avenue - DiVito Alley street work. The original paving was fine, but the seal coat laid down by a subcontractor afterward has flaws. Council is in discussion with the subcontractor.

Euclid Avenue storm sewer work was also discussed. Currently the narrow connecting street is using single point discharges, but there is a large volume of water pouring down off the hill above, and multiple discharges are needed, possibly with catch basins. Euclid Avenue was historically an unpaved alley, running behind the old Pump House, steep and narrow, used mostly as a walking trail and Winter sledriding track. Since it was first paved back in the late 20th Century, water runoff has been a problem. A grant to is being used to correct the problems.

The Borough is understaffed for leaf collection. Two more workers are needed. The problem is the job is only seasonal. Four workers are needed to handle the approximately 50 tons of leaves. One drives the truck, two do the raking, and one operates the vacuum. Many communities require residents to bag their leaves for pickup. Coraopolis only asks that they rake their leaves to the curb (but not on the street).

The state no longer trims trees and bushes to keep traffic signs visible. Even the light from some street lights is shaded and doing little good. This has become a safety hazard, so the Borough will have to take over the job. It will cost about $1000.

Bikes and skateboards are beginning to damage the new $120,000 basket ball court. Some means will have to be found to prevent this.

Fall tree planting has begun.

The Cornell Campus Trail is finished except for signage. Residents are welcome to hike it. Allow about an hour for the entire loop, because no matter which direction you walk, it includes a steep uphill section. Plus, there's a lot of wildlife in the Woods, and you may want to pause and look. Deer, Turkeys, Red Tailed Hawks, Owls, Fox, Wildcats and an occasional Black Bear frequent the McCabes Hollow area. No bikes or all terrain vehicles are allowed on the trail. Signs will be erected as soon as possible.

2020 taxes have been 90% received.

The Library has reopened (after COVID closure) for Tuesday and Thursday computer use, but patrons need to call for an appointment.

Council discussed hiring a plumber to install no touch faucets and hand cleaners in the Boro Building rest rooms as one more way to deal with COVID.

The new L.E.D. sign on State Avenue (photo, right) is working fine and traffic is actually stopping. This solves the problem of people ignoring the old stop sign. The new sign is solar powered with its own panel. It has flashing lights at each corner of the octagon shaped STOP sign.

Thanks to efforts by the Fire, Police, and Water Departments, Coraopolis has raised its IOS score to #4, only 0.04 points from a #3 rating. This will mean 2021 Fire Insurance rates will drop across the community.

Work is underway to redo the curb and sidewalk on the eastern (toward downtown) side of Main Street between 6th Avenue and Kable Way. It will cost about $150,000 but Columbia Gas will cover about $90,000.

A Cleanup Day will be held Saturday, October 24 from 9 a.m. til noon. Volunteers should meet at Riverfront Park at 8:45 a.m. They will mostly be removing weeds and debris from 5th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd Avenues. Volunteers are advised to wear work gloves.

Help Wanted

Graff's Auto Service Center

Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

412-264-9733

The Neville Island Commissioners opened their October meeting by listening to guest Carolyn Yagle, Director of Planning & Policy for the Environmental Planning & Design Agency of Pittsburgh. Since 2018, Neville has been in a three way consortium with Stowe Township and McKees Rocks for multiple municipal zoning. Whatever policies the three communities adopted would govern land use within all three. Yagle reported that Stowe has completed its report and would hold a public hearing on it before submitting it. McKees Rocks has never formally adopted the ordinance. Yagle said Neville and Stowe should be able to proceed by the time of Neville's regular work session in November.

The Commissioners approved the Waste Management Compny's bid for waste and recycling collection for the 2020-21 cycle.

The Police Report included 208 calls and 85 traffic citations. Residents were reminded to lock their vehicles. Across the valley, thefts of items left in vehicles is high.

The Commissioners approved the demolition of the house at 125 2nd Street as a blighted property. The demolition should cost in the neighborhood of $27,000.

The rest of the meeting was taken up with going over various maintenance items line by line.

An update of the Island's MS4 status was read. MS4 deals with each community's work on stormwater and pollution runoff. Gottlieb Co. is progressing. Neville Chemical and Township officials had a meeting to discuss needed work. Lindy Office & Lab completed its work and the Township is satisfied.

Water main replacement along Neville Road continues. Places have been found where the water line and other utilities are too close and the water line may be moved further apart. Planning is in progress on Nebraska Road. Bids have been sought for new Cottage Park drinking facilities which must be usable for those with disabilities. Commissioners approved payment to Youngblood Paving for work done. The water line along Utah Street will be replaced.

Leaves and debris have been cleared from stormwater inlets along streets and roads. The Grand Avenue manhole has been repaired.

The Commissioners reminded all residents that Trick or Treating is Thursday night, Oct. 29, 6-8 pm, two days before the official Halloween, which is Saturday, October 31. But Commissioners urged residents to follow Allegheny County guidelines for Trick or Treat during COVID-19. Due to COVID, there will be no 2020 Christmas celebration.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Coraopolis Borough Council at its September meeting voted to hold Trick or Treating as usual despite the Covid-19 virus. As is tradition, the Trick or Treat night will be Thursday, October 29, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Parents are urged to make sure their children maintain proper social distances. Residents may opt out of participating, of, if they do wish to participate, may place bowls of candy at the end of their walks or steps, or install a slide which enables them to slide the treats down to the kids.

Council gave final approval to a building to be constructed at the Soccer Complex on State Avenue (Route 51).

It was noted that, after Council had approved the massage salon in the former LaBello's Restaurant on 5th Avenue, the owners had announced that they had abandoned their plans and would not be opening the businesses after all.

Council added Euclid Avenue to the repaving being done on Devonshire Road, DiVito Alley and Cliff Street. It was noted that once paved, Euclid Avenue would present a problem with stormwater runoff.

Rudy Bolea asked Council to set deadlines on remodelling/refurbishment projects. Failure to meet the deadlines would cause taxes to revert back to their original amount.

Council reminded all homeowners and especially lawn care contractors that grass clippings must be disposed of in a way that does not allow them to end up in the stormwater runoff system.

Council again discussed parking meters. One proposal was to do away with the present system and go with pay stations. Chad Kraynyk argued in favor of the municipal lot (across from old boro building) remaining metered and all others free for two hours. Bolea suggested that business owners could help enforce the two or three spots in front of their storefronts.

Council discussed types of pavilions to erect at the Riverfront Park.

Bids for rebuilding of the Ferree Street Stairway were reviewed but may all be rejected and new bids invited.

Council voted to acquire and dispose of 6th Avenue Lot # 419-H-189 via the Vacant Property Program.

Although not technically a Council project, work commenced on 4th Avenue as PennDot closed off first one side, then the other, of the street. Equipment was brought in to remove the pavement and dig down to McCabe's Creek, which runs under State, 5th and 4th Avenues on its way to the Ohio River. The creek, called McCabe's Run on old maps, originates in Moon Township and flows down the wooded valley below the Cornell School campus. It runs past Brook Street, flows through two huge culverts under Vance and Hiland Avenues, reappears, then enters the final series of tunnels. The problem is those tunnels are now deteriorating after 100 years, and 4th Avenue was in the process of collapsing as the tunnel was caving in. Since 4th Avenue is Route 51, which is a state and county road, PennDot is totally rebuilding the tunnel under it. The street does remain open for traffic, but first one side, then the other, have been closed off to allow for the work.

Finally, Council approved the $28,398 purchase of a new F-150 pickup truck for the Public Works Department. The current P.W. truck will be given to the Shade Tree Commission, whose truck rusted out and can't pass inspection

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

The biggest news on Neville Island this month was not an issue discussed by the Commissioners at their September meeting, but the announcement that Andrews Logistics has purchased the 10 building complex of Neville Galvanizing Company at 3005 Grand Avenue (see map, right). Andrews will demolish seven buildings and remodel the other three to create a new shipping terminal for trucks hauling hazardous materials. Andrews has won several awards from the National Tank Truck Carriers for its safety. It chose the Grand Avenue location because it is close to I-79 and other major highways. Andrews recently purchased 100 brand new tank trucks to give it a state of the art fleet.

The arrival of Andrews will significantly increase the tax base of both the Island and Cornell School District, although it will require at least a full year for the company to update the property and move in.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Coraopolis Borough Council approved a winery and a massage salon at its August meeting. The winery will be at 1032 Hiland Avenue. The massage salon will go into the former LaBello's Restaurant on 5th Avenue (photo below). Doug Johnston has purchased the Hiland Avenue property (photo, right). The grapes would be raised on a Moon Township farm and the wine sold at a Crafton business. The 1032 Hiland location will be used to press, ferment, process and bottle the wine. It will be the first commercial winery in Coraopolis but many residents have raised grapes in backyard vineyards and made their own wine for personal use. Coraopolis also has a brewery and a Lemoncello distillery, so producing alcoholic beverages in town is not new. The winery and salon were approved at Special Use Hearings held before the official Council meeting. The Borough Solicitor warned both businesses that they would be carefully scrutinized to see if they followed rules and regulations and if they were in violation their special use permits could be withdrawn and their businesses shut down.

Duquesne Light is installing LED lights in town. The company hopes to install 100. The lights are free but the installation costs $110 per light. The LED lights use less current, so will reduce electricity costs, but it will take several years to see a significant savings. The LEDs are being installed on Vine, Montour, School and Main Streets. A previous phase installed LEDs along 4th and 5th Avenues.

The members voted to close Mulberry Street from 11 am - 1 pm September 12 for the dedication ceremony for the VFW Memorial. The memorial was recently completed and includes the Doughboy Statue plus monuments honoring local veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the campaigns in Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Council noted receipt of a Cares Act COVID grant for $125,000 to cover costs incurred.

Police Chief Ron Denbow reported 273 complaints, 103 criminal investigations, 10 arrests, one injury, 129 parking tickets, 16 moving violations and 11 alarms.

Mayor Shawn Reid told Council over 150 people attended Second Saturday on Mill Street. He noted that work on the old train station is ongoing, although slowed by COVID, and talks with Robert Morris College about developing Coraopolis into a Small Business Incubator continue.

The Coraopolis Memorial Library is still closed due to COVID. Tree planting by the Shade Tree Commission has been on hold due to COVID, but crews will resume plantings in September. The flower beds downtown and at the entrances to town have been suffering due to the hot, dry conditions. COVID has discouraged volunteer labor so it has not been possible to keep up with the daily water needed.

Work on the new trail on Cornell School property continues, although an itchweed infestation has slowed it. An Eagle Scout project will provide signage.

The Borough has collected 80% of anticipated annual revenue.

A special use hearing will be held in September to approve a large building at the Soccer Complex.

Help Wanted

Graff's Auto Service Center

Auto Mechanic ---------------Must Be ASE Certified

Brakes, Tires, Emissions, State Inspections, Etc.

General Auto Repair Services

Starting Wage $18 hour

412-264-9733

At its regular August meeting, the Neville Island Commissioners approved a series of street and road projects, discussed the MS4 Stormwater annual review, and heard Township Manager Jeanne Creese explain that the remote meeting permit expires September 5 so they need to make arrangements for in person meetings beginning in September.

The Engineer's report began with the MS4 Review. The yearly screening for illicit discharges has been completed, and only two notices were sent. Quick responses were received and the problems taken care of. Because Neville is surrounded by water, it does not have to do the construction that many communities face in guiding stormwater to the river. The review was examined line by line. Various companies either meet the requirements or are working toward meeting them. Valves have been replaced and pumping stations have been inspected. However, in 2021 the Township does need to upgrade several meters and hydrants to meet ever increasing standsrds.

The Sewickley Bridge has partially reopened so the traffic backup on the island will ease somewhat, but will still occur at rush hours, so lane restrictions will still be in place near the I-79 bridge. PennDot will update the traffic signal at the bridge exit.

As for street and road projects, work of one kind or another will be done at 117 Second Street, 120 First Street, 733 Grand Avenue, and 7030 Grand Avenue, H Street and Alley B. Major work will begin on Neville Road, where the water line will be replaced. The Township may experience reduced flow during the work. Neville is now soliciting bids for flushing stations. Surveys have been done on the Nebraska Avenue water line project and bids are being solicited. The Cottage Park drinking fountains will be upgraded.

The Commissioners granted a special use permit for Neville Motel to become a dog boarding facility.

During the Summer, Neville has conducted its meetings by phone. Anyone interested could also listen in. Unless the state renews it, the permit to do this expires September 4. So Neville will have to make arrangements for in person meetings while maintaining the required six feet distancing among both Commissioners and visitors. But phone access will be continued for any residents who want to listen in.

A tree fell in Memorial Park. It has been removed and the site cleaned up. The Commissioners noted receipt of the Corona Virus Relief Fund Grant from Allegheny County.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Coraopolis Borough Council worked its way through a very busy agenda at its July work session and meeting.

Even before the official meeting began, Council hosted three hearings. The first concerned an amendment to Cory's zoning map. The amendment is to protect the Borough's water supply from accidental spills and discharges of toxic and harmful chemicals. The amendment primarily concerns the area between the railroad tracks and the riverfront.

The second hearing concerned an application for a winery to be constructed at 1032 Hiland Avenue in a house formerly owned by Danny Dinardo. Doug Johnston has purchased the property The grapes would be raised on a Moon Township farm and the wine would be sold at a business in Crafton. Only the actual wine making process would be housed on Hiland Avenue. Wine would not be sold there.

The third hearing concerned an application to locate a nail salon providing pedicures and manicures in the former LoBello's Restaurant on Fifth Avenue next to the National Guard Armory.

After the hearings, Council voted to postpone approval of the proposals until the August meeting.

Another hearing will be held in August, to review the application by Friends of Professional Soccer to build a structure at the Allegheny Health Network location.

David Pendel raised the issue of the stop sign at the corner of State Avenue and Chestnut Street in front of the Lutheran Church (photo, right). Drivers simply ignore the sign. Children often cross the street at this location and are at risk. Pendel proposed installing a solar powered LED stop sign that blinks red. Such signs cost from $700 to $1500 depending on features. John May, Public Works Superintendant, promised to look into the situation and report back to Council.

Lucinda Wade informed Council that Coraopolis Youth Baseball Association teams have begun play and asked what Council plannd to do about the light pole situation at Bliwas Field. (A storm blew down one of the poles two months ago). Chairman Robb Cardimen explained that upon inspection it was found that all three poles are rotted at their base and in need of replacing and H & L Electric had submitted a bid of $18,600. Council discussed the issue, then voted to approve the work.

Danny LaRocco informed Council that the Doughboy Statue was back in place and the Memorial Park work in front of the VFW building has been completed. Since no Memorial Day Parade was held this year due to the pandemic, Council voted to pay the VFW the $700 usually used for the parade to use toward the costs of the statue and park. Bricks on the walkway to honor family members who served in the military re available for $100. For details and photos of the statue, scroll down for a separate story.

Mayor Shawn Reed reported that he had an area economic development meeting coming up Monday night to develop goals for the year in light of the Coronavirus problems.

Ed Pitassi reported that Shade Tree Commission tree planting has been postponed until Fall due to Coronavirus issues.

The Coraopolis Memorial Library is still closed due to the pandemic. It will notify Council when it is possible to reopen.

Attention shifted to street and road work. Borough Engineer Larry Lennon reported that plans for the Euclid Avenue Stormwater Improvements have been reviewed, revised, and submitted to the C.F.A. for review. Euclid Avenue is the narrow lane extending from Cliff Street up the steep slope into Moon Township. It runs behind the Pump House. During heavy rains, huge amounts of water pour over the bank, down the hill past the Pump House and out onto Devonshire Road. Euclid Avenue was simply an unpaved walk way for 100 years so rain soaked into the ground. When it was widened and paved, the water runoff problem was created.

Lennon reported that most of the work scheduled has been completed but a few streets are waiting for Columbia Gas to complete its portion of the work. Mt. Vernon, for example, is waiting for Columbia Gas to redo the sidewalk there after working on its buried lines. As soon as Columbia Gas finishes, Youngblood Paving will apply the top coat.

Lennon added that Coraopolis is waiting for PennDot to complete water and sewer work and will then repair Arch Street Culvert.

Police Chief Ron Denbow (photo, right) reported that the Civil Service Exams have been completed. Jordan Ross has resigned as a part time officer and Denbow recommended hiring a replacement from the list of those who passed.

Don Neely has been interviewed, vetted and hired as one of the Dispatchers. Coraopolis has managed to keep its own 24 hour seven day Police Dispatch and Fire reporting system which many neighboring communities have given up to a County 911 system. Cory's dispatch system is managed by four full time, and three part time dispatch officers.  That's Dispatcher Frank Kamlich in the photo above. Kamlich is a retired Coraopolis Police Officer. He served from 1977-19991, then came out of retirement to help with the dispatch department. Kamlich has now worked five years as a Dispatcher.

Denbow warned Council that due to recent events across the country, it will soon be mandated that all Police Departments have body cams. He has been researching this. Watchguard is the top company. Cory could purchase six body cams plus docking stations, software, and four eight terrabyte servers for $17, 898. When an officer was off duty, his cam could be placed in the docking station for uploading and recharging. Council discussed this and approved the purchase of up to 10 body cams for up to $25,000.

At Cardimen's suggestion, Council suspended its August work session, but will still hold its regular voting meeting August 12. That meeting will be preceded by the 5:30 hearing on the proposed soccer building.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

At their regular July meeting, the Neville Commissioners discussed the increased traffic the island will face from the Sewickley Bridge closing.

The bridge will be closed for extensive repairs. Drivers from Coraopolis, Moon, and the Airport, who normally used the bridge to get to Sewickley, will now be following Route 51 through Coraopolis and driving through western Neville Island to reach the I-79 Bridge, which they will use to cross the river and follow the Ohio River Boulevard to Sewickley. This added traffic, at rush hours, will back up at the traffic light before they turn right and swing up onto the bridge. The Commissioners mentioned changing the timing of the traffic light, letting more Grand Avenue traffic through before turning red. But PennDot has ruled out that possibility, because it would back traffic up coming off the bridge, possibly creating a traffic jam up on I-79.

In other business, the Commissioners approved the 16 inch water line replacement along Neville Road, a $571, 257.50 project. They also voted to approve the $10, 873.40 which is the final installment of the Salt Storage Project. It came in $3000 underr budget.

They acknowledged that the Army Corps of Engineers will begin work on a preventative maintenance program. In other developments, grants have been received to help with the Nebraska Avenue work and new drinking fountains at Cottage Park.

The Police Report for June showed 256 calls, 14 alarms and 56 citations.

The Solicitor noted that the Governor's Mandate has been extended only through September 1, so the August meeting could be the last one held by telephone.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

The Doughboy is back.

Missing for several months, the famous Doughboy Statue is back on its pedestal at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Mulberry Street, just outside the VFW Building.

It now presides over a newly built Memorial Park, which includes granite monuments honoring local veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the campaigns in Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Today's statue is valued at $75,000. It's made of pressed copper and copper plates.

The Coraopolis Doughboy is actually one copy of a statue by E. M. Vaquesney. His creation has amazing detail : shoelaces, wrinkles in the uniform, knuckles, facial features, screws and nuts on the rifle and bayonet.

It was mass produced in the 1920s to honor World War I (1914-1918) veterans, and distributed to any town raising the price. The term "doughboy" was used to describe the foot soldiers because of the fried flour dumplings they ate. After the war, they popularized them back in America and now we call them "donuts." 

The Coraopolis VFW raised $3500. The statue cost $1000, the base cost $1500, and the copper plates cost $1000. Today, this does not seem like much. But in a time when men making high wages in the mills brought home $4000 a year, when homes cost $7500, a new car could be bought for $500 and a good meal in a good restaurant cost 50 cents, $3500 was a staggering amount of money. Schools, churches and civic organizations all held fund raisers and contributed. The plates contain the names of Coraopolis veterans killed in WW I and II. 

Those plates were sent away with the statue for cleaning and restoring. They have resumed their place on the pedestal of the statue.

Originally, 300 Doughboy Statues were produced. The Smithsonian Institute keeps an official record of them. When cast, each statue received a serial number. Cory's is #259. 134 remain in place in small towns as remote as Arizona and Wyoming. They were installed in cemeteries, parks, town squares, in front of high schools and city halls, and at the entrance to bridges. The Smithsonian not only lists their addresses, but their GPS coordinates. There are hobbyists who spend their vacations driving around the country visiting and taking photos of each one.

Over the years, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires, vehicles smashing into them, trees falling, and vandalism destroyed 166. There were three variations on the Coraopolis version. One is a U.S. Navy version, one an infantryman waving his hand overhead, and the other a World War II version. There are not as many copies of those other variations still in existence.  The Coraopolis Doughboy Statue is one of only 12 remaining which have the official bayonet still in place. 

The nearest Doughboy Statues are in Aliquippa (#278), McKees Rocks (#287) and Lawrenceville (#231).

The Coraopolis Doughboy has roamed around town. When first received, it was placed on 5th Avenue in a small park. When the new Municipal Building was built, the statue was moved to the front of it. When the new high school opened, the statue was moved to the front of it, where it remained until the 1970s, when the high school was closed and converted to apartments. At that point, the statue was moved to a spot on State Avenue, just below the library and across from the Greystone Presbyterian Church. Finally, it was moved to its current location in front of the VFW Building. 

Not every community has such a statue. It is one of those features which makes Coraopolis unique, a link to a time almost 100 years ago.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

After a full year of attention, Neville Island finally has its new salt storage bin in place and full and landscaping should be completed this month. The old location was lost when PennDot claimed the site for equipment storage. The new site is along the river at the back end of the park where the main pavilion stood for years. The Neville Commissioners voted their approval at their June meeting, which was held by teleconference. They noted that the facility ended up costing $2000 less than projected.

The Commissioners also reduced Sunbelt's bond from $50,000 to 0.00. They discussed the Neville Road waterline replacement bids at length. The first order is in for the Veterans Banner program but Duquesne Light has not yet responded to the request to mount the banners on its poles. Street sweeping has resumed. The Neville Township Building is reopened to the public. Island parks have reopened but not restrooms. Playgrounds are open but parents are asked to use hand sanitizers before and after use. The Neville Hotel has submitted a change of use request.

The Commissioners began discussion of the problem of access to the land Neville Township has acquired for a proposed river front park. Currently, an abandoned railroad track, piles of refuse, and high growth of weeds, brush and trees (photo, right) prevents work on the area. This is an issue which will require attention over the coming months.

Township Manager Jeannie Creese explained that the July meeting poses a problem. Because of July Fourth, no Work Session will be held. But how and where to hold the official voting meeting is uncertain. Action by the Govcernor and the Legislature will affect plans. The Commissioners would like to meet in person. But the regular meeting room does not allow for social distancing. They could move to the Fire Department, but there is no air conditioning and no public address system. Finding room for the five Commissioners plus the Township Manager, Engineer and Solicitor can be done but providing room for the public as the law requires is difficult. This matter will have to be resolved over the next four weeks.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Although it covered several other items, the main focus of Coraopolis Borough Council at its June meeting was Street and Road Repair.

The meeting began with praise for Mayor Shawn Reed and all who helped with Saturday's peaceful demonstration in honor of George Floyd. Police and Fire Departments from surrounding communities and State Representatives Anita Kulik and Connor Lamb participated.

Council approved invoices for $144,281.12 and a payroll of $103,442.05. Members also approved acquisition and disposal of Lot 341-D-217 Vine Street. It's a vacant lot at the sharp bend, which the adjacent landowner has been maintaining as a yard. That landowner will now acquire it.

The police report showed 1291 calls, 99 criminal investigations, 163 civil investigstions, 12 accidents, one injury, 131 parking violations, five moving violations, six vehicles towed, and 12 alarms off.

A July 8th 5 pm hearing will be held on the Wellhead Maintenance Protection Program, a wine production facility at 1032 Hiland Avenue in a former DiNardo property, and to approve a Foot Massage business in the old Labello's Restaurnt on Fifth Avenue.

The Doughboy Statue has been reconditioned and will be returning to Coraopolis.

A local Boy Scout for his Eagle Project will be providing signage on the new trail system.

The Borough Building will open to the public July 1. The July meeting will be open.

Now that companies are moving past the Coronavirus shutdown, work will resume on various street and road projects. The first priority will be State Avenue from Main Street to George Street, excluding the section between Chestnut and Maple, which is owned and maintained by the State. The second priority will be the 900 block of Ridge Avenue from Watson to Main. Watson Street from Hiland to Ridge will be redone with Columbia Gas reimbursing the Borough. The 900 block of Second is on the list, as are Edgewood and, as an alternate, Devonshire. All of this totals $480,000.

Which brought Council to DiVito Way, the alley turning off Devonshire and running behind the houses fronting on Montour Street. A previous property owner had dug out the soil to level the lot so he could install a pool, and then installed a fence on Borough right of way (photo, left). DiVito Way is now collapsing down onto that lot but the fence prevents the Borough from repairing it. 14 residents use the alley to access their garages and want something done. The first problem is the fence. It would have to be removed before any work can be done. The second problem is that the only way to build up the underlying ground is to import fill and dump it on the homeowner's property, tamping it down before laying asphalt on top of it. The green bags in the photo are an attempt to fill in one of the larger holes.  The law establishes several feet on either side of a street or highway as public right of way, which can be used for a sidewalk, a shoulder, drainage, or, at the least, for routine maintenance. Based on that law, the previous homeowner should never have been given a permit to excavate the land that close to the alley, nor to build the fence that close to the alley, and, in fact, no record can be found of a permit having been issued. Council asked the Solicitor to investigate the matter and advise the Borough how to proceed.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Meeting online via Zoom and/or telephone hookups, Neville Commisioners at their May session approved a $66,000 street resurfacing contract with the Youngblood Paving Company.

The resurfacing will focus on H Street (which runs along Robert Morris Sport Center), and Alleys A and Alley B (Between First, Second and Third Streets). Some discussion ensued. Engineer Ned Mitrovich explained that the life of a street or alley paving could be extended considerably if the Township did an aggressive job of sealing cracks and making minor repairs once or twice a year. Township Manager Jeanne Creese pointed out that Neville had a total 2020 Streets & Roads Budget of $94,000 but that due to the Coronavirus she expected revenues to be down so that Streets & Roads figure could reduce by $20,000. The H Street and Alley A and B Project woul fit within that reduced budget, but the Township would probably not be able to afford anything else in 2020.

Ms. Creese also informed the Commissioners that the new driver of the Township street sweeper was ready to take his drivers test as soon as the County reopened the testing center. The street sweeper is ready to go.

Lynn Beloma was appointed to the Neville Township Zoning Board.

The monthly Police report showed 168 calls, three traffic citations, one boat assist out on the river (which turned out to be a false alarm), and four medical emergencies.

The Commissioners expressed their desire to resume meeting in person in June but Ms. Creese explained that it would be difficult. The meeting room was small and fitting all the Commissioners in while maintaining six foot spacing would be tricky, but then no guest speakers, media or resident observors could be admitted. Pennsylvania laws require that all such meetings be open to the public and to media. No decision was made.

The Commissioners were informed that 12 applications had been received for military veteran banners.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Coraopolis will pay $2290 for one year of the service. Sewickley, Bellevue, Ben Avon and many other Allegheny County communities already have the system. It is possible for people who don't live in Cory but work here or just want to keep up with what's happening to subscribe. The Police and Fire Departments plus the Borough Manager will all be able to post on the site.

Council discussed the problem of All Terrain Vehicles damaging trails. The trails have been constructed at great cost and effort. Council voted to post signs reminding riders that motorized vehicles are prohibited on trails, to mount cameras to record who is riding the ATVs, and to post signs letting riders know they are being recorded. An ordinance is being drawn up to specifically address this issue, authorizing the Police to fine riders.

At the May 6 work session, discussion focused on potential demolition of two borough properties posing health and safety hazards. The first was a house at 1621 Hiland Avenue which was abandoned and already in declining condition, then further damaged by the recent storm. Most of the back of the house was off. By the May 13 meeting, demolition had been completed (see photo, left).

The second property was the Van Balen Laundry property at 1403 Fifth Avenue (see bottom two photos). This property has remained vacant for years and is in serious decline, posing a health and safety hazard. Its appearance from the front is misleading, as the building continues for half a block to the rear (see second photo). The owner lives out of town and has not been cooperative, using various legal maneuvers to forestall Coraopolis from taking action. A new program for dealing with such situations will soon go into effect to allow communities to proceed with condemnation and demolition more efficiently. Coraopolis will back off for a while to allow this new program to go into effect.

Council approved the advertising for a new Police dispatcher. The current dispatcher is leaving for another job.

Council discussed a zoning change to protect its water wells. Two zones in the areas of Fifth Avenue, Mulberry Street and Birch Alley would be defined as protective zones. This need was revealed by last Summer's Buckeye Pipeline break. Coraopolis draws its water from several wells penetrating to a deep aquifer running below the river. The new zoning ordinance would be submitted to the County for approval and then voted on, hopefully at the July meeting. Council Attorney Richard Start told Council this would be a lengthy ordinance and notices would have to be posted on properties in the area covered.

A proposal by Bactronix to microbially treat the Police Wing, jail cells and vehicles was discussed. According to Bactronix the treatment would be good for six months. Many Councilmen had questions. Would this treatment cover the Coronavirus? Would the daily cleaning already done reduce the effectiveness of the Bactronix sprays? How effective would the treatment be in vehicles with people constantly getting in and out? Council decided to discuss these concerns with Bactronix.

With the Coraopolis Library closed until further notice, Council discussed whether to continue paying the Library aides. They moved to continue paying them until at least the end of June.

After one pole at Bliwas Field, the Little League field on First Avenue, was blown down by the April storm, an electrician checked the situation and discovered that the other two poles were rotted at the base and the wiring had a short circuit, so new poles, wiring and lighting would be needed. John May of Public Works urged Council to instruct the electrician to lock out the panel so no one could flip the switch to on until the needed repairs were made. Council agreed.

Council also discussed the upcoming primary election. Allegheny County has asked all communities to consolidate their wards into one centralized location. Council debated whether to use the VFW or Cornell School.

Lucinda Wade expressed concern that many of the town's older citizens do not drive or own cars so could not get up to the hilltop Cornell campus. It was suggested that on election day buses could be run, or possibly Uber drivers could be used.

The issue of oversized trucks being parked on residential streets overnight was raised. This is a serious problem because emergency vehicles (fire trucks, police cars and ambulances) cannot get through. There is already an ordinance in place prohibiting this. Council agreed to post signs in the areas of consistent abuse, and then, having given notice, to tow vehicles. The two areas of most concern are Edgewood Avenue and First Avenue.

Police Chief Ron Denbow delivered the May report. In the last month there were 10 alarms, 271 complaints, 71 criminal investigations, 100 civil investigations, one stolen vehicle and one injury.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon reported that Cornell Superintendant Aaron Thomas has proposed mounting banners across Fifth Avenue with the names of the graduating seniors. Each sign would cost $200 and double as a Welcome To Coraopolis banner. The pandemic quarantine has forced the issue of internet reception in town, which is critical for students doing all their schoolwork online while school is closed. Dr. Thomas proposes mounting routers on the gazebo downtown and at each end of town so wifi would be available. Council approved the projects.

Council concluded with a lengthy discussion of street construction. They voted to invite bids for a 1.5" mill and overlay on State Avenue, Edgewood and Devonshire. They noted that State Avenue has a brick foundation from the days when it was a brick street. That foundation helps overlays last five years or more. But it was also noted that trying to correct rhe curb height issue, which is a problem around the borough, would do more harm than good. Council also discussed Watson and Ridge Avenues. Work there must be coordinated with Columbia Gas and possibly other utilities, which need to pull the brick foundations and lay new pipes.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

The most important feature of the April 8 Borough Council meeting was that it was held at all. At a time of national quarantine, when schools, businesses and sports are closed and everyone confined to their homes due to the Corona Virus, many boroughs, towns and school districts have simply suspended meetings. Others tried to meet but could not get the technology to work. Coraopolis held both the April 1 work session and the April 8 voting meeting by teleconference and everything worked perfectly. Any citizen who wanted could dial 339-209-6770 and listen in. They could even speak up if they wished, although no one did.

The meeting occurred less than 24 hours after a powerful storm rolled through town, bringing down trees and utility lines, peeling shingles, siding and shutters off houses, blowing porch furniture and trash cans down the streets, and causing much of the town to be without power for about eight hours. Various members of Council commended the Police, Firemen, Public Works crews and others for working all night and most of the day to clear the streets, clean up yards and restore power.

Attorney Richard Start began by clarifying that the meeting was legal, in that the law authorized such teleconferences in times of crisis and that the meeting and a public phone number had been announced both online and in print in local newspapers.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon reviewed closing and cancellations. The biggest event to be cancelled was the annual Memorial Day Parade, which would have been its 90th consecutive running, second longest such streak in Pennsylvania. Playgrounds and Parks have been closed, soccer fields are closed, and the Art Walk postponed.

Discussion ensued about the developing partnerships in which private corportions get tax credits for donations to communities or community development foundations.

Coraopolis is eyeing possibly $3 million in grants over the next six years. These would be used for everything from tree planting to playgrounds to the Fort Vance Memorial to the creation of "pocket parks" to work on community trails to housing. These grants do not preclude the possibility of applying for additional grants from other sources.

Council was informed that due to the Corona Virus shutdown, concrete and asphalt plant closings have stalled Coraopolis street and road repairs. If the shutdown continues long enough, the Borough may have to skip 2020 and resume work on streets and roads in 2021.

Council was also informed that with businesses closed and residents unable to work, the Borough would likely see a significant drop in taxes collected, which will impact many local activities.

But it was reported that the Borough has thus far collected $825,000 in 2020 tax revenues and is in very solid financial shape with the year one third over.

Police Chief Ron Denbow reviewed with Council his proposed updating of policies on social media and electronic media. Of particular interest were the regulations on the electronic recording of interrogations.

Denbow also presented the monthly Police report, which included 1201 calls, 301 complaints, 17 arrests, eight accidents, one injury, 68 vehicular violations, six vehicles towed, eight alarms and $2153 collected thus far from parking meters.

John May from Public Works clarified that 11 streets had been closed by downed trees and power lines, but all had been reopened.

But he reminded residents that there is NO Spring Leaf Pickup. No one should be raking leaves to the curbs. They should place them in bags for pickup.

May also proposed that Council ask Waste Management Company to locate a dumpster in a central spot so residents could bring their electronics and cardboard boxes for pickup.

Mayor Shawn Reed reviewed with Council a proposal by Hollow Oak Land Trust to build a bridge across Montour Creek to connect the Montour Trail to Montour Woods. This is an area near Ewing's Mill, actually in Moon Township but used by Coraopolis residents. The Montour Woods tract, which borders Meeks Run, contains a 10 mile trail network. It is easily accessed from Cory by taking the Montour Trail out from the Groveton trailhead. The reason this is relevant to Coraopolis is that the day long hiking trail begins at Thorn Run on the western edge of town, winds through Moon Township, drops down through Montour Woods, and follows the Montour Trail back to the eastern edge of town. The proposed bridge would eliminate the need to cross Montour Creek, which especially in the Spring or after a day long rain can become wide and deep.

Council approved $175,449.83 in April invoices.

It approved the March payroll of $112,800.26.

It extended the contract with Cargill for road salt for the 2020-21 year. It also approved storage of unused salt from the 2019-20 year. Due to a mild Winter, the Borough used less salt than usual. But road salt contracts require communities to use at least 80% of the salt used. Coraopolis had ordered 700 tons of salt for 2019-20 but only used 180 tons. So the borough is obligated to pay for storage of the unused 520 tons. This will be resolved by ordering much less salt for 2020-21 and using up a part of that 520 tons.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

With everyone isolated due to the Coronavirus, Borough Council will conduct its April Workshop Meeting tonight (Wednesday) by Teleconference.

Interested citizens can "attend" by dialing 339-209-6770.

This is the first time a Coraopolis Borough Council meeting has ever been held by Teleconference and the first time residents could listen in. The last time such a shut down occurred, during the Spanish Flu outbreak, the technology did not exist to allow such procedures.

In all likelihood, next week's voting meeting will also be held by Teleconference and citizens will again be able to listen in.

Borough offices are open and business is being conducted as usual but the general public is not admitted to the building.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Fears of the Coronavirus have led government officials to order or ask all places where people gather in large numbers to close for the foreseeable future.

This includes schools, sports, libraries, theaters, churches, social clubs, political rallies and meetings.

Airlines have cancelled most flights to Europe and Asia and have reduced many flights within the U.S. This impacts many flight attendants and pilots in Cory and the Western Hills. Those who have been working the international flights can use their seniority to "bump" younger attendants and pick up domestic flights. But many of the younger attendants will be out of work for at least a month, meaning they will not be paid.

Groceries, especially the major national chains, have seen customers bulk buying certain items until shelves are empty. The list of items bought out is an odd mix : toilet paper, bottled water, milk, Clorox Disinfectant Wipes, raman noodles, Lysol, soup, meats, pickled pigs feet and flour.

Groceries have begun limiting purchases of each to three per customer but shelves still empty within two hours of restocking.

Like all Pennsylvania schools, Cornell has cancelled classes until April. Teachers are conducting lessons online and beginning Tuesday March 17 vehicles will make daily rounds with food for students who normally eat in the school cafeteria. Food distribution points will be the Cottage Park Pavilion, 5th Avenue Gazebo, and the school cafeteria. Comcast offers 60 days of free internet service for students who need it.

Coraopolis Little League practices are still supposed to start this week but the Pony League season, which was to begin with games in March, has been pushed back to April 6th.

The Coraopolis Memorial Library has been closed until March 29, at which time the Governor and library officials will reassess the situation.

Coraopolis churches are maintaining their Sunday services but surpending all meetiungs and activities until firther notice.

Penn Dot has announced it will continue bus runs but has increased bus cleanings between runs. All buses will be thoroughly cleaned, including seats, railings, posts, and other places of human contact.

Under mandate by the Governor, beginning Monday all restaurants and bars will be closed except that restaurants may sell carry out orders.

The Tull Theater in Sewickley has closed until further notice. Cinemark Theaters are staying open, at least for now, but have added deep cleaning and disinfection between each showing in each theater, and are cleaning every surface such as counters, railings, door handles, etc., in the lobby area once an hour.

The WPIAL and PIAA have suspended all sports, including the State Tournament, until further notice

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

In a short and routine March meeting, the Neville Island Commissioners discussed progress on their MS4 Stormwater Compliance Plan and the status of the Fleming Park Bridge sewer line.

An MS4 is a drainage system that is (l) owned by a town or township that discharges into streams or rivers, (2) designed or used to collect or convey stormwater (e.g., storm drains, pipes, ditches),and (3) not part of a sewer system and not emptying into a sewage treatment plant.

To prevent harmful pollutants from being washed or dumped into MS4s, residents and companies are required to obtain NPDES permits and develop stormwater management programs (SWMPs). The SWMP describes the stormwater control practices that will be implemented consistent with permit requirements to minimize the discharge of pollutants from the sewer system. Like every other town and township in Pennsylvania, Neville has been checking each residence and company on the island to make sure they are in compliance.

This month, Neville engineers checked on Columbia Gas, the Neville Motel and Neville Chemical. The Neville Motel's application form was incomplete and was returned to be redone. Neville Chemical has a river bank erosion problem but as soon as weather permits will begin grading to resolve it. The Columbia Gas parking lot is making MS4 improvements.

The Commissioners also discussed the sewage pipeline crossing the river at the Fleming Park Bridge. A West View line at that same point had a problem but Neville's pipeline is stable at this time.

Township Manager Jeanne Creese pointed out that residents or businesses with Coronavirus concerns should contact the Allegheny County Health Department at www.alleghenycounty.us/coronavirus or 412-687-2243. It is the best local news source.

Volunteers are needed for the annual Earth Day Litter Pickup on Saturday April 25 from 9 a.m. til noon. Volunteers should meet at the Fire Station.

The Township's annual Street Sweeping Program will resume Wednesday April 1 and the annual Spring Hydrant Flushing will be held April 23-24 from 4 pm til midnight.

The Township is accepting applications for the Veterans Banner Program. Any current or former resident of the township is eligible. Applications are available at www.nevilletownship.us.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Possibly the most important item on the Coraopolis Borough Council's March Meeting was Mayor Shawn Reed's address on the Coronavirus.

Reed had attended a meeting of the Mayors of Allegheny County, where they discussed the virus.

"The peak of this problem has not reached us yet," he cautioned Council. "But it's coming. We will have to deal with it. Make no mistake, this will affect all of us in large and small ways."

He urged people not to panic, but listed common sense precautions every Coraopolis resident should take. These include.....

l. Stop shaking hands. Fist bump instead. 2. Wash your hands several times a day. 3. Socially distance yourself in subtle ways. Sit a chair away from someone in groups, at bars or in other social situations. 4. Avoid large crowds, especially if you're over 60 or have heart disease, diabetes or any sort of respirastory condition.

Mayor Reed said Cornell School is being thoroughly disinfected each night.

The Mayor also updated Council on plans for Coraopolis to become a Business Incubator, which would have huge economic implications. He has an upcoming meeting at Robert Morris with officials from Carnegie Mellon, Robert Morris and other institutions. The idea is that Cory would make itself into an ideal environment for a new business to locate. There are services and facilities that new businesses need. Some new businesses fail, but some succeed and grow into large, successful businesses. Over a decade, being a business incubator would bring tremendous advantages.

Police Chief Ron Denbow explained that Officer Shawn Quinn, Cory's K-9 laison, continually raises funds through clothing sales, bingo games, donations and other activities. All money raised goes into a special K-9 fund to support Amore, Cory's Police Dog, and his vehicle. The Police asked for Council approval to use money from this fund to buy a new vehicle. The current K-9 truck is a 2011 model with over 90,000 miles and several expensive repairs needed. The Police found a 2020 truck with extended cab. The rear seat area would be rebuilt as the dog's compartment, and the truck bed would be useful for hauling other equipment. The base price of the truck is $48,000 plus modifications for the dog. The Police would end up paying $17,000 per year for three years, all from the special K-9 fund.

Council approved the purchase.

Denbow also delivered the monthly Police Report. There were 1025 phone calls, 221 complaints, 84 criminal and 137 civil investigations, 113 arrests, 13 accidents, two injuries, and seven alarms.

Police issued 54 parking citations. So far in 2020 parking meters have brought in $653.

Councilman Rudy Bolea reminded everyone that Pennsylvania has changed the laws to allow voting by mail. People will not have to go to the polls, but voting by mail must be done before the regular election day. He urged Coraopolis residents to go to VotePa.com.

Councilman Ed Pitassi announced that 25 trees will be delivered to Coraopolis for planting in April. A Boro Cleanup Day will also be held April 25.

Council gave the VFW Post the right to close off Mulberry Street for several hours to bring a crane in and raise a new air conditioning unit to the roof. It will be done in the morning so as to minimize inconvenience.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

PennDot announced this week that work will begin on the I-79 Bridge at Neville Island and the Ohio River as soon as the weather breaks this Spring and last until Fall 2022.

As much as possible, traffic will be allowed on one lane in each direction while work is done on the other half of the bridge. Work will be done at night and on weekends so lanes can be kept open during the week and at rush hours. But some work will require complete closure and traffic will be detoured across the Sewickley Bridge or the closer Coraopolis Bridge. And there will be some closure of Grand Avenue and its pedestrian side walks as they pass beneath the bridge.

The work will include the exit ramps leading down to Grand Avenue on Neville Island, Route 51 leading to Coraopolis and McKees Rocks, and the Ohio River Boulevard leading to Emsworth and Sewickley. It will include the underdeck and concrete piers, road surface, superstructure, walls, viaducts, abutments and drainage features.

It will include structural steel repairs, fatigue-prone detail retrofits, full structure paint, deck joint replacement and repair, deck and parapet concrete repairs, bearing replacement and repair, substructure concrete spall and crack repairs, bridge drainage downspout repair, update approach guiderail/bridge barrier connections and repair light poles. The general preservation scope-of-work for the four sign structures includes replacement of various bolts and sign connection hardware, replacement of deteriorated conduit and fittings, replacement of damaged luminaries, and full and spot painting with galvanized coating. 

Unfortunately, this work will be done at the same time as work is being done on the Sewickley Bridge (photo, left). a few miles down river. That project will also involve narrowing down to one lane at times and totally detouring traffic at other times. Mike Sokol, Project Manager for the I-79 Bridge, assured reporters that work on the two would be carefully coordinated so they were not totally shut down at the same time. And, he pointed out, work on the Sewickley Bridge would take only one year, and work on the I-79 Neville Island Bridge would continue for three years.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Neville Commissioners opened their February work session with a presentation by VFW Post 402 Commander Mike Blair (photo, right) on the Hometown Hero program. This is an effort to mount commemorative posters honoring local veterans. The posters are hung from telephone or utility poles. Post 402 is in Coraopolis, where 90 banners have already been hung along 4th and 5th Avenues. Blair asked the Neville Commissioners to approve a similar program along Grand Avenue.

Families wanting to honor a veteran must fill out an application and include proof of military service, proof of local residence, and a good photo, preferably of the veteran in his or her uniform. The cost of the banner and the mounting hardware is $110.

The Commissioners were primarily concerned with permits. Blair explained that the VFW had to send Duquesne Light the number and location of each pole. But given that this is a U.S. Military project, and the VFW is a nonprofit organization, Duquesne Light approves the requests. However, there are requirements. The bottom of the banner must be 13 feet above the street, and the hardware must meet certain specifications. The VFW is also required to have insurance. In Coraopolis, they worked through the Borough Council to acquire the insurance coverage. Ed Walsh accompanied Blair and answered questions about the applications. He has been handling the ones for Coraopolis and would be willing to do so for Neville Island, or the Island could find someone to do it.

In Coraopolis, Blair and a few assistants have been mounting the banners, using a ladder. Neville Township Manager Jeanne Creese said she believed Sunbelt might be willing to provide a bucket ("cherry picker") truck so Blair and his crew would not have to keep climbing and moving their ladder. Neville no longer has its own VFW Post. Its members have merged with the Coraopolis Post.

The Commissioners voted to approve the project.

In other business, Ms. Creese explained that there is a problem with parking at the Township Office. Seven spaces plus one handicap space are provided. The handicap space is in the front of the building but the handicap ramp, as can be seen in the photo below, is on the side of the building. She asked that the handicap space be moved to the side so it is next to the ramp. Then, she explained, when all employees are in the office, they use all seven spaces, and people coming to conduct business have no parking.

She recalled that during last Summer's pipeline problem, the Environmental Protection Agency officials had to park three blocks away. But the problem is made worse because the local residents or people visiting them often use some of the seven parking spaces. The Commissioners agreed to look into it and find some solution.

Two delinquent properties, at 125 2nd Street and 7119 Front River Road, are in process. A Sheriff's Sale for the Front River Road property is set for June 10. An Interested Purchaser Agreement is needed for the 2nd Street property. Creese reminded the Commissioners that these proceedings move very slowly.

The Cottage Park Playground needs replaced. Neville has lost the grant it applied for, but still needs to take action. The Commissioners agreed to try and find a donor, or a sponsor, possibly offering naming nights, or theming the playground so an organization might be willing to fund it.

Finally, the Commissioners authorized the agreement delegating its tax collection to Jordan Tax Services.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

At a busy February Work Session, the Coraopolis Borough Council discussed a property auction, the riverfront park, street trees, purchase of a new pickup truck and police vehicle, parking meters, 2020 street and road priorities, and a deteriorating alley.

The property auction will be conducted by the Sheriff but will be funded by Station Auto Parts. The property (seen in the photo at right) is at 638 Fourth Avenue. The building currently on the property is in serious decline and will probably be demolished. It's a small concrete block apartment building built in 1924. All around it are businesses and small industrial buildings.

Council authorized the Borough Manager to purchase a Ford 150 pickup truck from Woltz & Wind Ford. After an $8,000 discount, the truck will cost the Borough $26,940. It will be used by the Public Works Department.

The Borough Manager and Police Chief Ron Denbow were also authorized to use the Department of Community Economic Development Grant for $50,000 to purchase a new vehicle. By the time the vehicle is equipped with lights, siren, an interior screen and other police equipment, it will cost about $54,000 of which Coraopolis will pay about $4,000. The vehicle to be purchased may be a replacement for the current K-9 van.

Shade Tree Commission Chairperson Stephanie Blazier (photo, left) appeared before the Council to explain the Corridor Park her group proposes. It will extend down School Street (photo, below) from the Library (photo, below left) to Riverfront Park. Shade trees would be planted along both sides of the street. Given a few years for the trees to grow, School Street from Ridge Avenue to First Avenue would become a beautiful shady avenue.

Blazier and Council Liaison Ed Pitassi explained that there is a major obstacle to this project. The sidewalk extends all the way to the curb. So to plant trees they need Council authorization to remove squares of pavement.

Various Council Members expressed concerns with this project. First, snowplows operate on those sidewalks and planting trees would interfere with them. Second, as the trees grew, their roots would crack at least the sidewalk, if not the street. Third, the leaves the trees would drop every Fall would add to the leaf clearance burden Borough maintenance workers already face. Fourth, the trees would interfere with parking along the curb as they would prevent doors from opening.

Pitassi explained that their Commission had already discussed purchasing a snowblower to work around the trees. But it was pointed out that the snowblower would still require someone to operate it, and that would be another task at a time when maintenance staff were already working as fast as they could to clear streets and sidewalks.

The trees along the Library were a major concern. The Library is heavily used, even in Winter despite the snow and ice. The Borough is legally liable for the sidewalk in front of and along the Library. Its workers must be able to efficiently plow those sidewalks, often several times a day during times of heavy snowfall. Trees along the sidewalks would certainly interfere with that.

It was pointed out that for the six blocks of School Street under discussion, many yards border those sidewalks. Even the churches along the street had yards bordering the sidewalks. Why could not those trees be planted in the yards? Pitassi explained that the yards were private property and that would require negotiating with each individual land owner.

Two Council members mentioned that numerous utility lines ran along and across School Street and within only a few years those trees would begin interfering with those lines.

The discussion ended with no final decision on the School Street trees.

Attention turned to the 2020 Streets and Roads plans. Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon announced that the 2020 agenda included finishing a few projects left over from 2019.

But the major emphasis in 2020 will be on State Avenue. There will be a few sections that will be delayed, because there are water linea and other utilities to be updated, and there would be no point to redoing the street only to tear it up again. But most of State Avenue will see improvement during 2020.

McCutcheon informed the Council that it was time to update the town's official insurance appraisal.

He pointed out that this needed to be done every 10 years for insurance purposes. The new appraisals will be done by Industrial Appraisal Company at a cost of $5310. The appraisal will include the new Borough Building.

Council then discussed the Riverfront Park Project. McCutcheon invited members to drop by his office to see the master plan. A ramp down to the river and a dock for canoes, rowboats and possibly paddleboats will be built near the current overlook (in the center of the photo below). There will also be bocce courts, a gazebo, a concert shell with lawn seating, restrooms, a playground costing $80,000 - $100,000, and parking. When all of this is completed, the park will be landscaped with flowers, bushes and trees.

The next item was the recurring problem of parking meters. Council has discussed this on several occasions. The options are to keep the current ones in place, remove them entirely, remove them along the curbs but keep them in the parking lots, or go to new meters with new pay methods.

The new pay methods might be a cell phone app, or a series of central pay kiosks, probably one per block.

But all of these come with problems. The malls offer free parking, so if Coraopolis wants its businesses to compete with the stores at the malls, it needs to offer the same free parking. But if there is free parking, people will park and ride the bus into Pittsburgh, leaving all the parking spaces unavailable all day for local customers. One solution to this is to post "two hour parking" signs and have police officers mark tires and issue tickets for cars parked there too long. But that's an added duty for already overworked policemen. Some towns use the pay kiosks, where instead of parking meters, a person parks and walks to the kiosk to pay, receiving a ticket he takes back and places on his dashboard. But people don't like having to walk a block away to pay and then walking a block back to the car, before they can step into the store or shop they came to patronize. Sewickley uses this system, with the downtown divided into zones. Customers there are complaining. So Council continues to explore what other towns are doing.

The final issue First Ward Councilman Danny LaRocco introduced was Divito Way, the alley running between Devonshire Road and Montour Street. Decades ago, a homeowner dug out the land below the alley to level his property so he could install an above ground swimming pool. Prior to that, the site was a vacant lot, with land extending out 12-15 feet from the alley before gradually sloping down to Devonshire Road.

Now that the land drops straight down from the alley, over time the alley pavement has begun to collapse, as can be seen in the photo at left. The usable surface of alley is a lot narrower than it used to be. It is now basically a one lane alley.

The current homeowner has asked the Borough to do something about this. Residents with garages further up the alley have also asked that repairs be made.

The first problem is the fence. As can be seen at left, the fence comes literally to the edge of the pavement. It would have to be removed before any work can be done. But it is privately owned and is on private property. The fence is also a hazard, as it prevents drivers from seeing around the bend to see what might be coming.

The second problem is that the only way to build up the underlying ground is to import fill and dump it on the homeowner's property, tamping it down before laying asphalt on top of it. The green bags in the photo are an attempt to fill in one of the larger holes.

The law establishes several feet on either side of a street or highway as public right of way, which can be used for a sidewalk, a shoulder, drainage, or, at the least, for routine maintenance. Based on that law, the previous homeowner should never have been given a permit to excavate the land that close to the alley, nor to build the fence that close to the alley. It was 40 years ago. The alley is in an out of the way place and very few people except local residents pay attention to it. The owner may never have applied for a permit but may have simply proceeded on his own.

Several Council members pointed out that Coraopolis must make main streets and roads a priority, and only after they are all in good condition, can crews turn their attention to side roads and alleys.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

In a specially scheduled Monday meeting, Coraopolis Borough Council swore in six members for the new term. They included newly elected and reelected members. District Magistrate Michelle Santicola, herelf newly elected, performed the swearing in ceremony. Those sworn in, seen in the photo at right, are (left to right) George Mihalyi, Chad Kraynyk, David Pendel, Robb Cardimen, Ed Pitassi and Lucinda Wade.

Because all previous positions had expired, Mayor Shawn Reed called the meeting to order and conducted the first several minutes. Once the new Board reelected Cardimen as President, Reed turned over the gavel to him. The Board also elected Pendel Vice President.

Council voted to continue contracts with Amato Start & Associates as Solicitors (Board Attorneys), Lennon Smith Souleret as Borough Engineers, Mark Turnley as Auditor; PNC Bank as Official Depositor, and the Beaver County Times as the official Newspaper Of Record. (By law a newspaper of record must be a daily print publication).

Council set a 2020 schedule of workshop meetings at 6:30 pm the first Wednesday of each month and regular meetings at 6:30 the second Wednesday of each month.

Council approved appointments to standing committees : the Water & Sewer Authority, Robb Cardimen; Civil Service Commission, Karl Groom; Zoning Board, Anthony Price and Don Haney; Sanitary Authority, Richard Deems; and Shade Tree Commission, Ken Maye.

Tom Toomey (photo, left) asked Council how these appointments were decided, since he knew of others who had submitted their names but were not chosen. "When was the list of applicants narrowed?" he asked.

Cardimen explained that a temporary committee had been set up to review the applicants and, based on experience and qualifications, they submitted their recommendations to the Council. Cardimen pointed out that as he presented the names to Council he asked if any Council member objected to any name or wished to add a name. No one did either. So Council proceeded to the vote of approval.

Council extended Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon's contract for two more years.

Police Chief Ron Denbow presented the monthly Police Report for December. It included 196 complaints, 181 criminal investigtions, 16 arrests, $500 in property recovered, 20 motor vehicle violations, and 12 alarms sounded. Parking meters for 2019 brought in $9628.

McCutcheon pointed out that reimbursements from Buckeye Pipeline and Columbia Gas for work done on Chestnut Street are due but not yet received, which will affect the financial report for January.

Council approved $192, 017 in invoices for January, and a December payroll of $140,591.56.

The Engineer's report included notice that a survey would be conducted on recently rebuilt Euclid Avenue, and that PennDot had notified Coraopolis that it would be repairing culverts on 4th Avenue.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

The Neville Township Board of Commissioners opened its December meeting Thursday night by honoring 2019's Outstanding Local Volunteers.

The Board presented plaques to Sue McCoy and Sandy Lang of Neville Green, an organization which works on various projects to beautify the Island and make it safer and more enjoyable. McCoy and Lang have contributed 25 years of service. That's Chairman Bill Leon in the photo at right presenting the statement by the Board and the plaque.

The Board also presented a plaque to the 22 members of the Swiftwater Rescue Team. They are trained and experienced in river rescue. The members reside in Forest Grove, Groveton, Neville and Coraopolis. They maintain boats and rescue equipment at Groveton and Neville. They are prepared for ice rescue, hazmat operations, rehab, rope rescue and other types of emergencies. They have both hard and inflatable boats which are either located on the river or can be quickly towed to a rescue site. Commissioner Gig Mundell testified to the effectiveness of the group by recalling how they rescued him two years ago in a boating accident. Mundell was the one (in the photo below in salmon shirt) presenting the plaque.

Township Engineer Ned Mitrovich announced that Watson Standard Company had installed its new state of the art backflow valve and the Fire Department plus a master plumber had tested and certified it. With that, Watson was allowed to hook back up to the Island's water system. A previous Watson backflow valve had malfunctioned in October, contaminating the water supply and forcing Neville to shut it down temporarily.

Mitrovich also informed the Board that Speedway Gas Station & Convenience Store had applied for permission to expand. Discussion ensued during which it was mentioned that many problems have occurred with Speedway, including truck parking and unreasonably large amounts of trash. It was suggested that the business may be exceeding the capacity of the small site. Until these issues are resolved, the Board voted to deny the application.

Mitrovich also presented the Board with a letter requesting a map of the Island's water system. He cautioned the Board that in the aftermath of 9/11 the federal government had warned local governments to carefully guard maps of their utilities to prevent them from falling into the hands of people who might plan criminal or terrorist activities. Township Solicitor Charles Means advised the Board to deny the request until they discussed the matter with the requesting agency and received a written guarantee that the map would be kept confidential and not passed on to anyone else. The Board voted to do so.

The Board approved the 2020 tax rate, noting that it remained the same.

Mitrovich announced that the Pavilion had been dismantled and the new Salt Storage Bin installed except for the roof, which was scheduled to be installed this week.

Neville Green, the Neville Fire Department and Neville Township will hold the Island's annual Christmas Celebration Saturday, December 14, from 6 pm - 8 pm. Trolley and Carriage Rides, Face Painting, a Photo Booth, Cookies and Santa Claus will be included.

New Board members will be sworn in early in January.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

The final Coraopolis Borough Council meeting for 2019 was uneventful, as members tied up loose ends and looked ahead to 2020.

Mayor Shawn Reed, Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon and several Councilmen expressed their appreciation for the holiday decorations on Fifth Avenue and throughout the town. With the new streetlights, the towering Light Tree at the corner of 5th & Mill, and the individual store fronts, Cory has a very festive atmosphere.

Police Chief Ron Denbow reported that in November the Coraopolis Police received 224 complaints, conducted 92 criminal investigations, made 10 arrests, recovered $500 worth of stolen property, attended to 13 accidents, wrote 17 citations and towed three vehicles.

The Borough Engineer reported that Euclid Avenue (connecting Vine Street with Moon above the Pumphouse) has been rebuilt and repaved, as seen in the photo below. Due to frequent and heavy rains, half of the street had begun sliding down the steep Pumphouse Hill so that the street was not usable by vehicles.

Danny LaRocco announced that Friday would be final day of leaf pickup, so any residents with remaining leaves should rake them out to the street.

Council President Robb Cardimen pointed out that traffic light upgrading continues. He also told residents that they could phone Waste Management ahead of time, then set TVs or other electronics out with their trash and WM will pick them up. Cardimen also said that in 2020 one of Council's goals would be to find ways to better communicate with residents.

Several audience members brought their concerns to the Council. Mike Harris wanted to know what could be done about businesses littering their sites like a junkyard, with old cars, spare parts, boxes, etc. Chief Denbow explained that the Police had written numerous tickets to the businesses mentioned. Cardimen added that laws protected businesses and limited actions.

Harris also wanted to know what could be done about businesses setting out trash Friday afternoon for Tuesday morning pickup, so it presented a very unsightly mess for people driving through town all weekend. Chief Denbow said that was a violation of the law saying trash could only be placed at the curb 24 hours in advance and Police would check the site this weekend.

Lucinda Wade asked about how a potential business could acquire one of the abandoned sites. Various Council members explained that the process of condemning a property, demolishing it, putting a lien on it, and trying to acquire it took about two years and could take longer because owners had certain rights. McCutcheon explained that even if it were put up for sale, first the unpaid back taxes would have to be paid.

Stacie Christie of the Coraopolis Historical Society spoke to the Council about several new initiatives the Society is pursuing, such as African American, Train Station, Ohio River and Frontier collections. They are continuing to research the history of important homes and businesses.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

The Neville Island Commissioners devoted almost their entire meeting Thursday night to reviewing the recent water crisis and answering questions from members of the audience.

Township Engineer Ned Mitrovich (below, speaking) did most of the talking. Several handouts, one 14 pages long, were also available for attendees to take home.

The crisis began on October 22 when a meter alerted the township that an industrial back flow valve at Watson Standard Company malfunctioned and allowed 2,000 gallons of contaminated liquid back into the island's water supply. 600 gallons of that 2,000 were a firefighting foam that contains toxic polyfluoroalkyls, usually called PFAs. PFAs cause liver dysfunction, disruption of the immune system, kidney failure and Cancer.

Officials immediately issued a Do Not Use warning and sent volunteers from Neville Island plus neighboring community Fire Departments and other groups door to door to inform every single resident of the situation. Off island caretakers were called about their parents or wards. TV news networks were called and posted bulletins. The line into Watson Standard company was disconnected.

Pallets of bottled water were brought in from Sams Club and distributed. Additional water was available at the Township Office for anyone wanting more.

Meanwhile, Neville immediately contacted the EPA, DEP and other agencies. At dawn the next morning, a crew of five had arrived from the DEP (Dept. of Environmental Protection). Special bottles were brought in and samples collected and sent to a lab in Lancaster. Under Emergency Protocol they were tested immediately.

"Their equipment can test for parts per trillion," Mitrovich explained. "The safe level is 70 parts per trillion and we tested at six parts per trillion." So the Do Not Use caution was reduced to Do Not Ingest. Showers, baths, etc., were OK.

Township Manager Jeanne Creese (photo, left) had a rough 24 hours. She stayed at her desk around the clock answering phone calls and emails even in the middle of the night.

Eventually as the level stayed at six part per trillion, the warning was lifted and residents were told the water was safe to drink. Again, volunteers went door to door.

Neville residents use 423,000 gallons of water per day. Twice a year, once in the Fall and once in the Spring, they flush the lines with one million gallons. They did this, and presumably any remaining traces of the PFAs were washed out of the system.

But residents at the meeting still expressed concerns. The meter showed that there had been backflow of 2,000 gallons, but doesn't show exactly when it occurred. It might have occurred all at once, in which case the Township's swift action may have prevented any problems. But it could also have occurred over several days or weeks, in which case residents could have been ingesting the PFAs.

Before being hired as Neville Township Manager, Creese worked as a HAZMAT firefighter for 15 years. "We were covered in this stuff all the time," she explains "So even if someone did ingest a little bit of it, first, it would be diluted by all the water in the system, and second, that small amount would not likely cause any harm, as long as we make sure this doesn't happen again."

But that remains a worry. Backflow valves are inspected on a regular schedule. Watson Standard's had recently passed its inspection with no problems.

"Any piece of machinery can malfunction," Mitrovich told the audience. "You can have a brand new device malfunction on its first day. There's really no way to 100% guarantee this won't happen again to some other company. All we can do is keep inspecting aggressively and watch the meters every day. We test our water supply every single week."

It is possible the PFAs never reached the residential part of the island. Neville's water comes in at the eastern (upriver) end of the island, moves through the industrial section, then reaches the homes on the western end. Watson Standard is a complex of three buildings in the bend of Grand Avenue, almost two miles from the nearest homes (on First Avenue). The PFAs could have been diluted out of the system before they reached those homes. But it is not possible to determine that.

Backflow valves are not unusual. The human body contains several . If the one leading from your esophagus to your stomach wears out, you begin suffering from heartburn as stomach acid backs up into your throat. The heart contains them to keep blood from flowing back into the chambers. Most engines and large industrial equipment have them.

Watson Standard has been sent the bill for the six pallets of bottled water, the testing, and all the other expenses the crisis caused. But if penalties are to be imposed, they would come from the DEP.

Watson Standard is a long time island business which specializes in inks, coatings and adhesives. They do not make fire prevention substances. But their processes deal with highly flammable chemicals, so they have a sophisticated sprinkler system set up which douses any flames with foam to suffocate the fire. That foam is contained within the sprinkler system, which is hooked up to a water line coming in from the main water line. This is where the backflow occurred.

Watson Standard has a separate line coming in which provides water for sinks, toilets, drinking fountains, etc. That line was not involved and is still functioning. It is the sprinkler system line which has been cut off until further notice.

Neville isn't the only Pennsylvania community concerned with PFAs. The DEP is testing more than 300 water systems across the state for similar contamination. It has already found 25 systems contaminated. One major local site is the Greater Pittsburgh Airport, where such foams are used on runways to fight fires. They run off into local streams.

In other business, the Commissioners agreed to send the inspector out to recheck two residential properties which neighbors report are declining rapidly, with holes in the roof, animals moving in and out, and rainwater flowing freely with no gutters or drains.

The Island Holiday Celebration will be held Saturday, December 14 from 6-8 pm. Face painting, trolley and carriage rides, cookies, photos and visits with Santa will be available.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

The November Coraopolis Borough Council meeting was relatively calm and uneventful, but a few significant items emerged.

Chief Ron Denbow delivered the monthly Police Report. 1547 calls were received, including 246 complaints. 114 criminal investigations were conducted, resulting in nine arrests and $100 of property recovered. The month saw 14 traffic accidents, 15 motor vehicle violations, three cars towed and 14 alarms sounded. Parking meter money collected brought the year's total to $8698.

The $157,000 grant has been received for the Ferree Street staircase reconstruction. Work will begin as soon as weather permits in the Spring.

Councilman Rudy Bolea pointed out that $800,000 in delinquent property taxes has been collected in the last three years. "It's cost us a few dollars to collect it," he admitted, "but the investment has certainly been worth it."

Councilman Robb Cardimen reminded everyone that in January there will be a combined Reorganizational Meeting and Business Meeting on Monday, January 6. This will replace the usual business meeting the second Wednesday of that month.

The Food Bank/Highmark Turkey Dinner Giveaway will be held Monday, November 25.

The Coraopolis United Methodist Church will again offer its Community Thanksgiving Dinner from noon til 4:00 pm.

Councilman Chris Jackson noted that the Coraopolis Blue Devil 13 year old football team reached the championship game before losing. The team won its division, then won its quarterfinal and semifinal games to reach the championship.

Council approved November invoices for $145,232.15 and October payroll for $118,964.13.

At this point in the meeting, Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon proposed that Council approve an application to the H20 Pennsylvania for a grant of $3,546,270. He explained that Coraopolis has a levee running along the riverfront from Thorn Street to Chestnut Street. It is part of a larger flood plain management plan. Coraopolis below the tracks was flooded 80 years ago. Water actually reached the business district. In response, pumps were installed and a levee created. But the word "levee" is misleading. In many river towns, the levee is actually a wall. In Coraopolis, it is a ridge of land. If you walk, drive or bike toward the river on any of the lower streets, you'll notice they begin to rise slightly as they approach the river. The peak of that rise is the "levee." H2O PA was established by the General Assembly in July 2008. The Act provides for single-year and multi-year grants for the construction or renovation of flood control projects (plus stormwater and other projects). For a long time, Cory's levee and pumps have provided adequate flood control protection. But in the 21st Century, once or twice a year, unusually heavy rainfalls have descended on the area and flood waters have risen higher than usual. Cory's levee has not yet been breached, and the pumps have not been needed. But both levee and pumps are now considered inadequate. The last FEMA inspection of the levee and the pumps was in 1978 and the report advised then that they needed updated.

McCutcheon's proposal would be to raise the levee by 18" and upgrade the pumps from manual to automatic, to be electronically turned on anytime water breached the levee.

The levee at its far eastern end would also protect the riverfront park and Ohio Valley Bike Trail under development.

In addition to protecting homeowners in the First and Second Avenue areas from flooding, it would have a second benefit. Due to recurring flood damage in many Allegheny County communities, insurance companies have revised their coverage. Homeowners in flood plains now pay significantly higher rates unless their communities have "adequate" levee and pump protections in place. Raising the levee 18" and upgrading the pumps would meet the "adequate" definition of insurance companies, thus lowering local homeowner insurance rates.

After questions and discussion Congress approved the grant application.

As a final note, Council reminded everyone that the VFW has begun mounting the banners as part of its Veteran Banner program. A banner costs $110. Servicemen or relatives must bring official discharge papers (prior to 1950) or a DD214 form (since 1950) to the Borough Building between 12:30 and 3:30 Thursday afternoons, or complete the transaction online at Troopbanners.com. Banners are now hanging along 4th and 5th Avenue. If needed, State Avenue may also be used.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Michele Santicola has devoted considerable time and effort over several years to various community causes. She has worked in youth programs in Mooncrest, gone into the schools, and served on the Moon Township Board of Supervisors. Her work on behalf of children and lower income adults is why a large number of voters favor her in Tuesday's election.

Santicola has been spread pretty thin over the last year, running a campaign plus maintaining her law practice, making every meeting of the Moon Twp. Supervisors and continuing her work in the community. But she describes the campaign as a "wonderful learning experience," expanding her insight into what the voters want in a judge. "Regardless of income or education or job status, we are blessed with good people here, who all want to be treated fairly and listened to."

Her supporters point out that while both candidates are qualified, she is the only one who has served on both sides of the bench. She has worked as both a defense attorney and a prosecutor. She has sat as a judge, writing opinions. She has Grand Jury and Appeals Court experience. And recently she has that experience on the Board of Supervisors. "Now, hopefully, I can use all that experience to serve the people of this area," she says.

Max Feldman has been practicing law in the same 5th Avenue office for 27 years. And he figures on being in Coraopolis, either as District Judge or as an attorney, for the next 27. And that's why a large number of voters favor him in Tuesday's election.

The Coraopolis-Neville-Crescent-Moon judicial district has been without a judge of its own for two years. Every month, a different judge rotates in for that month's cases. The judges don't know the communities involved and do not hold night sessions or extra day sessions.

Feldman supporters worry that Michele Santicola will use the judgeship as a stepping stone to higher position and, once again, the district will be left with rotating out of district judges. They point to her winning a seat on the Moon Township Board of Supervisors, then immediately running for district judge. They point to her already investigating possible openings at the county level.

Feldman himself doesn't talk about these details. He's focused on a grass roots campaign, with lots of going house to house, knocking on doors, listening to voters, finding out what they worry about and what they want in a judge.

Since it would not directly involve her job as a Magistrate, Santicola has not been following the impeachment hearings in W#ashington too closely, but she does point out that "the Constitution provides safeguards to make sure such a process follows the law. If the House votes Yes, the matter would go on to the Senate for trial. Mitch McConnell would be required by law to bring the matter to a vote. But the President is also guaranteed the right to confront and cross examine his accusers. There are checks and balances built in."

Even though the Western Hills are a long way from the southern border, Santicola knows illegal immigrants have found their way here and will be showing up in her courtroom. "It is the job of the judge to make sure every single person is treated fairly. We have to balance the demands of the law on one hand and the needs of the individual on the other. We have to keep reminding ourselves that immigrants have come here because they want a better, safer life and think we are the best place in the world to find it. They are, for the most part, good people who want the same things everyone else wants. Imagine being in a foreign country where you don't know the laws and don't speak or read the language. Are you intentionally breaking a law or are you confused and don't understand the law? A judge has to be very careful in these cases. Yes, of course, local residenrs have to be protected and everyone has to obey the laws. But compassion is also essential."

The Opioid Crisis may be the biggest challenge the legsl system faces.

"I love this place," he says. "I love this whole area. We have good people here. The vast majority of them just want to be respected, to be listened to, and to be treated fairly. As a Magistrate, it will be my job to make sure all those things are done. "

Feldman sees the disparity in the area. "But these are all Americans, all important people. No matter how big or small their house or apartment is, they all deserve equal treatment and respect under the law. The Magistrate has to be visible, be out and about the town and the area, be available to everyone who wants to talk to him. He has to know the community, know all its various neighborhoods, from Mooncrest to Glenwillard to Charlton Heights to Front River Road. And it's not always big court decisions. It may be little things. Helping people vote by absentee ballot, helping people get the kind of help they need from some government agency. A Magistrate is more than a courtroom judge."

Feldman has been too busy knocking on doors and campaigning to watch TV and keep up with the impeachment effort in Washington, but he does think it's important to follow the Constitution. "No matter who you are, the Constitution guarantees you the right to know the charges, to confront and cross examine your accuser, and to have your hearing in public, out in the open, where everyone can see what's going on. We can't have Justice without Due Process. Whether you're a laborer or President, you have to have your basic rights."

"Not only can we deal with this, but we must,": she declares emphatically., "The picture most people have of this whole Opioid situation is wrong. People think opioid addicts are homeless drifters living under bridges. But that's not true. We know that most people get addicted when they suffer an injury, either from sports or a traffic accident or on the job. We know that doctors, dentists, trainers, schools and coaches are all too willing to hand out or prescribe powerful medicines. We just had a doctor here convicted of selling opioids to anyone who came by. We have to educate patients to be reluctant to accept these drugs in the first place and to use them carefully when they are needed. We also have to educate parents. They need to be watching very carefully what medicines their children are prescribed. We assume kids coming from upper class homes cannot possibly be using opioids. That's not true. They suffer injuries or have teeth treated just like anyone else. And once you start taking these drugs for pain, you get addicted quickly."

"Now, in a courtroom, you don't just have the people who are dealing or trafficking these opioids. You have all sorts of other crimes like theft and assault that derive from opioids. So the whole legal system is affected."

She pauses for emphasis. "We've got to focus on treatment, not punishment. And we can't wait and try to deal with this in the courtroom. It's too late. We have to address this problem at the front end. We have to go into the schools, and then find ways to educate the adult population. This is where a Magistrate can really use the powers of the office. We can bring together agencies and programs to focus on this. We have to make this a priority. If we could solve this problem, we would lift a huge weight off not only the court system but the whole community."

Feldman supporters point to his arriving in Coraopolis with nothing and building his law practice from scratch. He's doing fine now, but at one point he had to watch each dollar carefully. So they believe he can identify with members of the community that find themselves struggling pay check to pay check.

Asked about illegal immigrants, Feldman explained that "the law must apply equally. The Magistrate takes an oath to administer the law blindly, impartially, and that's what I will do. But that does not require me to abandon common sense and compassion. An illegal immigrant still has the right to be heard, to be treated with respect, within the boundaries of the law."

Feldman shakes his head when the subject of Opioids comes up. "A great percentage of crimes that come before the Judge are directly or indirectly a consequence of drug abuse, and those guilty of harming others can be held accountable plus connected to programs that can help them build a better future. . Yes, of course, we have dealers and traffickers and users. But also many thefts and assaults arise due to opioid use. And a teenager may come before the court on what may seem like an unrelated offense except his parents are opioid users so the kid is without supervision or adult guidance. So who's to blame, the kid or the parents? As a Judge, I would work closely with mental health and community service agencies. We must address this issue on all fronts, as a total community, without compromising public safety."

Feldman points to his 27 years of working long hours as proof he would be a hard working Judge. "I'm used to working evenings and weekends. The idea of night court so people don't have to take days off their job is not a problem to me, although I can see challenges when agencies or law enforcement personnel are not available after hours. We have to make the court accessible. I will do whatever is needed to serve the community."

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Teacher Sarah Sleasman didn't expect to be doing this for another year or two, but it looks like she's heading for the Central American nation of Costa Rica.

"I really thought it would take several years to build a group of students to make such a trip," she admits to the reporters questioning her. "But this is an exceptional group, and they came to me. They said if I wait for a few years, they'll all be graduated. They wanted to go now."

The students actually did the planning, and found ACIS, a company specializing in school trips to foreign countries. ACIS plans trips to Spain, Portugal, Mexico and other countries. Their tours are designed for high school groups and offer various options.

"Taking a group to Spain or Portugal would be nice, but a Costa Rica trip will be shorter, less complicated and less expensive. Plus going to Spain or Portugal is more of an urban trip --- ACIS spends most of its time in cities --- while Costa Rica is more of a rural trip."

Costa Rica is a large stretch of tropical rainforest fronting on the Pacific Ocean on the western side and Caribbean Sea on the east. It has 14 volcanoes, highest of any Latino country. One Costa Rican island, Cocos, lies 80 miles offshore in the Pacific.

The Costa Rican rainforest is one of the world's most protective biozones. Over 25% of the nation is protected. The nation has the world's largest species diversity and has aggressive laws and patrols to make sure no one bothers any of the plants or animals. They include four species of monkeys. four species of sea turtles, 2000 species of plants and 840 species of birds.

Although the country does have a thriving agriculture --- coffee, banana, rice and pineapple plantations dominate--- ecotourism has risen in the last two decades so it is now the nation's leading source of income.

As far as Sleasman is concerned, the primary reason for going is that for a week her students will be immersed in the language. But the seven day itinerary has other activities.

They'll visit two national parks in the rainforest, a coffee plantation and a volcano. They'll spend one full day at a school, one day at the beach, and one day in community service.

The cost per student is $3000 and fundraising will begin immediately. Sleasman envisions a coffee sale, food nights and dance show concessions, among other projects. She hopes some members of the community will step forward with donations.

"It's too late to apply for grants," she explained. "I thought I would do that when I was planning to go in two years. But the grant cycle is about 18 months, so when the kids came to me, it was already too late to apply for anything."

Since they'll have less than 16 students, ACIS will place Cornell in with another one or two schools to create a big enough group. If, the next time, Cornell could sign up 16 students, ACIS would custom design a tour just for them.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

The long awaited film Harriet opens Friday, November 1 at Sewickey's Tull Theater. It is an overdue biography of Harriet Tubman, who was one of America's greatest heroes but one students don't study much in history classes and most adults know very little about.

Tubman was born a slave on a Maryland plantation. A former owner had actually freed her in his will, but her present owner has concealed those papers. Tubman, however, refused to remain a slave. She escaped and survived a harrowing 100 mile journey north, much of it through woods. She was pursued by men on horseback and with dogs, and at one point was trapped on a bridge. She escaped by diving into the river and was carried several miles downstream, where she finally made it to shore. Eventually, she crossed the state line into Pennsylvania and freedom. There, she discovered a community of free Blacks and was hired as a maid. But her story was only beginning. She planned to return home to bring her family to freedom. To do that, she needed to learn to use a gun, and became an incredible marksman (which we know is historically true).

In all, Harriet Tubman made 13 trips deep into Maryland, bringing 70 slaves to freedom. She was one of the key figures in the Underground Railroad, the system of trails and hideaways that allowed slaves to sneak north to the free states. She recruited men to help John Brown stage his attack on Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Once the Civil War broke out, because of her knowledge of the terrain and her marksmanship, she was recruited into the Union Army. She served as a scout and spy, and, between battles, as a cook and nurse. She was placed in charge of a regiment and assigned to lead the raid on Combahee Ferry, South Carolina. Tubman thus became the first woman, and the first Black, to lead a military unit. Under her command, the regiment freed an astonishing 750 slaves. A novel, The Tubman Command, by Elizabeth Cobbs, recounts the details. Today, the area is a national historic site with a monument to Tubman.

After the Civil War, Tubman retired to property she bought in New York. With the issue of slavery resolved, she became an early leader in the Women's Suffrage effort.

Today, her home and several other sites she lived or visited are historical sites.

The famous bridge where she was trapped and dove into the river is a popular Maryland historical site.

But history textbooks are only now beginning to focus on her, and even now, they only mention her activities in the Underground Railroad, ignoring her military career and her later work in women's suffrage.

Amazingly, this is the first film ever made about her.

Cynthia Erivo plays Tubman. It is a great performance. Erivo is about the same height as Tubman was, and her facial features and body build closely resemble what we know of Tubman from photographs. This is likely an Oscar winning performance by Erivo.

As for historical accuracy, fact checkers have not been able to find any errors.

The grandson leading the pursuing group may be embellished somewhat. We don't know that much about him, so the film fills in the gaps. But we do know he aggressively pursuued any escaping slaves and sold even very young slaves at market, so the film's portrayal is not unreasonable.

Photography in the film is outstanding, as as the acting by all the major cast members.

We have letters, diaries and newspaper clippings that all prove Tubman's intelligence and courage. Her only flaw was that she taught herself to read and write and all her life retained a few eccentricities, like writing and saying "nebber" for "never" and "them-uns" for "them" or "those."

The movie is inspiring a nationwide revival of interest in Tubman. The Tull Theater is hosting a weekend seminar of lectures and exhibits about local Tubman and Underground Railroad connections.

During the entire run of Harriet there will be photos and posters of safe houses in the Western Pennsylvania area on display.

After the noon Friday showing, Mike Spratt will speak to the audience about safe houses in this area. Books on Tubman and the Underground Railroad will also be available.

Saturday at 7 pm. the documentary film We Are Free Because Of Harriet Tubman will be shown. The film was shot on the exact locations where Tubman's adventures occurred.

Sunday, at noon, Dr. Thomas Mainwaring of Washington & Jefferson College and author of the book Abandoned Tracks, about the former safe houses still standing in Western Pennsylvania, will lecture and answer questions.

The film Harriet will be shown three times a day every day for a week from November 1 through November 7.

The Tull Theater is located one block from the main street in Sewickley. Parking is behind the theater.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Coraopolis has moved Trick or Treating to Saturday, November 2 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm because of severe weather predicted on Thursday, October 31.

Mayor Shawn Reed and Borough Council President Robb Cardimen made the decision Tuesday.

All safety precautions and rules for the event will still apply, and Borough police and firemen will be stationed at key sites to control traffic and ensure safety.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

At a busy October meeting, the Cornell School Board worked through a long list of items involving student extracurricular activities and staff issues.

The meeting began with a presentation by Cornell High School junior Cody Maxwell and his grandfather. Each Cornell senior is required to complete a major community service project. Maxwell volunteered to undertake a two year project instead. Maxwell is a baseball player, and reminded the Board that Cornell's baseball field lacks many amenities rival schools have. One of these is dugouts. Cornell is the only school in the conference, indeed the only school on its schedule, without dugouts. Maxwell presented a plan to build those dugouts.

He handed out illustrations, shown at right, showing the dimensions and what the dugouts would look like. He proposed building one dugout this year and the other his senior year. The dugouts will have shingle rooves and stone floors and would cost about $1000 each. Maxwell indicated that, working evenings and weekends, he could build a dugout in about three months.

Maxwell's grandfather (in photo, at left), who has 37 years in construction, assured the Board he would supervise the work each day and make sure it met all safety and state and local code requirements.

The Maxwells would undertake fundraising and attempt to persuade local merchants to donate or discount building supplies. They will set up a bank account which the school can audit monthly, obtain a tax exempt number, and meet insurance requirements.

The Board was generally supportive but discussed possible issues. One is the extreme tightness of the baseball field layout. Cornell's baseball field barely fits into a level space along Maple Street. Slopes go up on three sides and down on a fourth side. Dugouts will have to be dug into these slopes.

The second issue is the field's drainage problems. Cornell's baseball, softball and football fields all sit on narrow ledges of level land with steep hills going up on both sides. After any rain, water floods the fields, often making it impossible to practice or play and taking days to drain. This is why Cornell's football field is nicknamed "The Swamp."

To help alleviate this problem, the baseball field was excavated and French Drains were built to carry off as much water as possible and hasten the drying out process. The major focus was on the margins of the infield, where the water flows rapidly down the slopes and onto and under the playing surface. But this is where the dugouts will be built. So an extra effort will need to be made to avoid disturbing the French Drains.

The Board approved the project and asked that they be kept informed about progress.

Immediately, members of the community began stepping forward. Tiffany Battaglini Leitner, of Battaglini Insurance Agency, at 1108 5th Avenue in Coraopolis, volunteered to spearhead the fundraising. Her phone number is (412) 999-6895. Ed Arnold promises to help with excavating the dugout foundations. Anyone else willing to donate materials or join the work crew should contact Ms. Battaglini Leitner.

In other business, the Board approved the hiring of Marissa McGowan as a long term special education teacher. Ms. McGowan is a local resident who has been teaching at Montour Propel School in Robinson Township.

The Board also approved the workshop costs for Athletic Trainer James Peters (in photo at left administering to an injured football player) to attend the annual trainers' workshop, this year to be held in Connecticut. Peters is a long time Cornell trainer. He played football at Western Beaver High School and Waynesburg University, works with all Cornell sports teams, and is on the sidelines at all games. Sometimes he attends two games in one day, one right after school and the other at night. He also attends practices. Athletic trainers are required to attend the annual workshops to continually upgrade their skills and knowledge.

Superintendant Aaron Thomas reviewed with the Board revised state requirements about new school board member training, compulsory school attendance, health exams and guidelines on releasing student health information to social workers, a new required workshop on how trauma affects student brains, training of school security officers, safety requirements for science labs, workshops and playgrounds, and new food service regulations.

Thomas reviewed with the Board the progress of the Cornell Robotics Team, partially pictured at right. The team has already completed three tournaments and has three coming up. A tournament robotics team has nine members. Cornell's roster this year includes Nick Spirnock, Nick Bennett, Shayley Barrett, Brooke Bennett, Julia Joranger, Julie Merryman, Josiah Frantti, Clara Joranger and Eliza Wingo. Cornell's team is coached by Cristy Meinert. (See separate article on the Record's Features page.)

The final item on the agenda was a notice that a major property within the school district has had its assessed valuation drastically reduced, which will not only take a big chunk out of future school district budgets, but require the school to actually refund money already collected for 2019.

That would be the Fairfield Inn property on Neville Island. Previously assessed at $6.4 million, the property has been reduced to $4.370 million by the Allegheny County Assessor's Office. That is more than $2 million cut. The reason was that Fairfield Inn claimed its income was down. The Board members had several questions about this. Several wanted to know when the income a property generated affected its assessed valuation. No previous case could be found where because a business experienced less income its property taxes were reduced. But Board attorneys advised against an appeal, which would cost money and probably be denied.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Neville Island Commissiones and Island Manager Jeanne Creese must feel like they're trapped in a remake of the movie Groundhog Day, in which the same events keep recurring over and over. This version can be titled Salt Days. Every month, the Commissioners come to a meeting and discuss Salt.

For half a century the Island took Salt for granted. Every Fall they purchased a season's supply, and then used it up slowly during the Winter months as ice and snow covered streets and roads. Then PennDot informed the Island that it wanted the acre of land the Salt was stored on. So a new site had to be located, and a new facility built. Thus ensued nine months of discussions, seeking a new site, and planning.

New stormwater runoff laws controlled where the salt could be stored and what kind of facility had to be built. Now, at their September caucus meeting, the Commissioners finally approved contracts for the building. It will be located at the northeast corner of Neville Park where the public pavilion has stood for the last several decades.

Engineer Ned Mitrovich (photo, right) presentd the three finalist bids in each category and the Commissioners approved the winner.

Stefanik Contracting was awarded the $86, 890.00 bid to prepare the site, which will include removal of the existing public pavilion. Coverall Buildings was awarded the $26,982.70 bid to build the galvanized steel canopy, since Salt can no longer sit exposed to the element. Keystone Concrete Products was awarded the $35,802 contract to erect the walls. They'll be precast, brought in by truck and set in place.

The new salt storage facility should be ready for use by January 1, 2020. PennDot has agreed to help in the transitiion. It will include Neville's salt with its own collection, measuring how much the island had. Then, if ice and snow in December require salt, PennDot will supply the island from its own stores. Neville will order salt for delivery January 2.

Creese informed Council that the cost would use up the remainder of 2019 road and street repair money. But the year is nearly over and no new projects are planned.

One Commissioner observed that PennDot salt was terrible, that Neville was giving up really good salt in exchange for vastly inferior salt later on. But no one could see any alternative.

To the pleasure of everyone the Upper Neville Island Bridge, officially called the Fleming Park Bridge, reopened the last week of August. This means traffic will no longer be detoured around through Coraopolis, Robinson, Kennedy and Stowe Townships.

The final problem the Commissioners discussed was the unkempt lawn issue. Several Commissioners noted that citizen complaints about local lawns not being mowed or maintained are growing louder, more wide spread and angrier. Some cases involve deceased residents and some elderly or disabled residents. But some involve young, healthy people who just don't care. Creese explained that all the Island can do is file a citation and refer the case to the County Magistrate. if the Magistrate grants a 30 day extension, and then next month extends it again, there is nothing the Island can do.

Council discussed the advisability of going in, mowing the lawns and cleaning up any debris, and billing the owner by a lien on the property. At the time the owner tried to sell, he would owe the bill before the sale could occur.

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Coraopolis Borough Council spent most of its September work session pondering two new sofrware programs. But it opened and closed with other details.

First District Council Woman Melissa Walsh has resigned, citing personal reasons. She had only served part of one term, having won her seat for the first time in the most recent election. Council called for nominations. Only one name was submitted, that of former Councilman Ed Pitassi, who also serves as Chairman of the Shade Tree Commission. He was approved by unanimous vote, sworn in by Mayor Shawn Reed, and seated for the meeting. Ironically, Pitassi had already been a long time Councilman but lost his seat to Walsh.

Council also discussed the old Van Balen Laundry property on 5th Avenue. The laundry has long been closed, and the building is in serious decline to the point where it presents a danger. The owner lives in Moon Township. Council has a CDBG grant to demolish the building, and place the land up for sale so it can be developed. Council has filed an appeal with Allegheny County for permission to proceed with the demolition. A court decision is expected by the October Council meeting.

Council also approvd roadwork for the rest of 2019. Pennsylvania Avenue, First Avenue and barious other streets should be completed by December 31. Kendall Street will be completed in 2020. The total cost is $600,000 but the Borough's share is only $370,000, since Buckeye Pipeline and Columbia Gas are paying parts of it. Meetings are scheduled with Columbia Gas, Buckeye Pipeline and the Coraopolis Water & Sewer Authority to coordinate efforts, since their lines run under the streets.

Council approved Erin Doyle as a part time Police Dispatcher.

Council then heard a presentation by Elliott O'Ryan from Braddock (photo, left) on the "Meter Reader" cell phone app Council is considering.

The app would eventually replace parking meters in downtown Coraopolis. Cory currently has 322 parking spots, all controlled by "steelhead" parking meters.

Meter Feeder currently operates in 25 Allegheny County towns plus certain areas of Pittsburgh. Its client communities include Sewickley, Etna, Dormont, Brentwood and McKeesport. It also serves Erie and Greensburg. When installed, it does not immediately allow for the removal of meters, because not everyone has a cell phone and even for those who do, it takes time to teach everyone how to download and use the app.

The Meter Feeder program would allow a user to pull into any parking space, register under their license plate, and pay online by credit card. A police officer checking parking would then check the license plate of a parked vehicle and see that it had paid.

But that is only a basic function. The program offers a long list of added options. For instance, a driver could program his app so when he pulled into a parking space, it would begin paying and when he pulled out it woild stop paying, so the driver would pay exactly what time he used and no more.

If a user paid for a specific time, the app would beep when only five minutes remained.

Council members worried about people pulling in, paying for eight hours, then riding the bus into Pittsburgh. If enough people did this, it would totally tie up parking in downtown Coraopolis so no one could visit the businesses. But O'Ryan explained that the app could prevent this by setting a varying rate. Parking could be, say, $1.00 an hour for the first two hours, then skyrocket to $10 an hour for the rest of the day. No one would pay $60 a day to park to ride the bus into Pittsburgh.

Coraopolis would pay $2000 PLUS 4.9% of all parking fees every year, plus a one time $1200 for each police officer app, which allows the officers to cross reference data, see parking histories, etc. Only two officers would need those apps.

Council members worried about Cory's elderly population, many of whom do not own smart phones. O'Ryan suggested those people could pay at the stores they were visiting.

Council President Robb Cardiman emphasized that the ultimate goal was to get rid of the parking meters in Coraopolis, so "we look like a 21st century town, not one stuck in the 1950s."

If Council set a parking rate of $1.00 an hour, five cents of that would go to Meter Feeder. The actual setting of the rate would require calculations, further discussions, and an official Council vote at some future meeting. It would become an ordinance.

Meter Feeder would post signs throughout the downtown instructing everyone how to download and use the app. The company could offer Cory a six month trial period.

Council agreed to discuss this issue further, but expressed defnite interest.

Then Council heard a TRAISR presentation on a software package that would allow Coraopolis to precisely track its utilities. The TRAISR uses satellite, google and other Geographic Information Services to provide Coraopolis with a live, constantly updating map of every parcel of land within the borough (see photo, right).

The major emphasis would be on the water and sewage pipes. Photos by a company that photographs the insides of lines would be immediately uploaded (see photo, left) so eventually McCutcheon, any member of Council, anyone at the Coraopolis Water & Sewer Authority, or even a property owner, could see any problems needing attention. But those would be future options. At the beginning, only a few people, presumably within the Water & Sewer Authority, would be using the software. The software does have other abilities. The Borough could add street lights, street signs, pavement, traffic lights, sidewalks, trees, or other infrastructure items to its database. The software accesses satellite images, google streetview videos and other information sources. Cory would not be the first community to purchase the TRAISR system but using it would put the Borough on the cutting edge of 21st Century infrastructure management. TRAISR stands for Tracking Real Time Assets & Infrastructure Systems Reporting. The company is headquartered in Philadelphia. The software would require an initial investment but would save thousands of dollars yearly by allowing preventive maintenance rather than costly after the fact repairs.

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation continues to work on Montour Street. This week, a crew of three trucks and six men were busy applying lines and signs to the street. The crew in the photo at right was applying a large arrow indicatung a sharp turn, and a large SLOW sign, both above and below the turn at the Montour - Grace Street intersection. The new lines and signs are not paint. They're plastic. The hot plastic melts onto the pavement and is supposed to last longer than paint.

The final item on the Council agenda was the new megatruck Waste Management Corporation has introduced to Coraopolis trash pickup. The $600,000 truck is the largest garbage truck ever built. But it is causing problems in Cory. The 60,000 pound weight is offset by its natural gas fuel, which weighs far less than gasoline or diesel. But its height and width make it difficult to squeeze down some of Cory's narrow streets, where people park on both sides of the streets and utility lines and tree branches cause problems overhead. Council agreed to look into the issue further and discuss it with Waste Management.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Coraopolis Borough Council expressed its frustration with several road repair projects at its July meeting. First, however, Council had the difficult task of denying a tax exemption for the Coraopolis Railroad Station Project on Mill Street.

Vince Cuteri (photo, left), representing the Coraopolis Community Development Association, requested the exemption from the $2004 back taxes the group owes on the station property. The station is currently tax exempt because the CCDA is a nonprofit. It has been tax exempt since 2017. Taxes were paid on it until 2011 under previous ownership. But for the years 2011-2017, no one had ever filed for a tax exemption. $7800 in school property taxes are also owed. Cuteri explained that Cornell School District has agreed not to object to granting the tax exemption. He pointed out that the station is a historic property and its restoration a benefit to the community. He also reminded Council that every dollar the CCDA has to pay in taxes is that much less it has to pay for the restoration. He explained that the CCDA is filing a petition with Allegheny County requesting the exemption from County taxes and would like Council to "not object" to the petition.

Lengthy discussion ensued. Various Council members made it clear they favored the restoration project. However, Council Attorney Richard Start reminded Council that in recent years Cory has collected $600,000 in delinquent taxes, which has helped the Borough in street repairs and other priorities. The success of the delinquent tax collection program has been that no exceptions have ever been granted. "It must by its nature be a completely inflexible process," Start insisted. "If you make one exception --- no matter how noble, no matter how justified --- at your next meeting you will have a line out the door of everyone else wanting an exception." He recited cases of people who had to borrow money, had to mortgage their homes, had to give up going on vacation or buying a new car, to pay those back taxes. Some of those residents are elderly living on a fixed income. People's homes, some of which have been in their families for a century, are critical. A historic restoration is a wonderful project but it is a luxury.

Reluctantly, Council voted against the request.

Council is also not satisfied with work done on streets which contractors claim is complete but Council says does not meet its requirements.

Which brought Council to Penn Dot and its recent Montour Street work. Penn Dot did do an acceptable job of backfilling and repairing Montour Street along the cliff section. But it was the rest of Montour Street that was unacceptable. Penn Dot used an inexpensive technique called "Oil & Chip." It spread a layer of oil on the road all the way out to the Hassam Road intersection in Moon Township. Next it laid down two inches of gravel. Then it came along with a roller and pressed the gravel tightly. This was followed by a truck (photo, left) which smoothed the gravel further with a brush, visible in the photo, then applied a sealer coat, the spray mechanism visible just ahead of the rear wheels. Finally, a paint truck came along and reapplied the yellow lines. Small rubber reflectors (photo, bottom left) were embedded in the pavement, which gleam at night in vehicle headlights to indicate the sides of the street.

None of this made Council very happy.

The "Oil & Chip" treatment is notoriously short lived, especially given the heavy rains and then ice and snow Montour Street is subject to, not to mention the heavy bus and truck traffic. The pavement shows cracks everywhere and needs a stripping down to base and a total new roadbed.

The yellow lines in several places weaved back and forth as if the driver had not been paying attention.

But the final straw came at the Grace Street Bend seen in the photo at right. This is perhaps the worst traffic hazard in town. That white house in the distance has been run into numerous times, which is why there is now that row of posts along the sidewalk. Vehicles come down the hill much too fast and cannot make the bend. Rain, ice and snow make it much worse. Previously, Penn Dot officials had spent a day observing the bend and agreed it was a hazard. They applied a special high traction pavement to allow tires to grip much better. This greatly reduced the number of accidents. Now, the new Oil & Chip surface has covered up the high traction pavement, replacing it with gravel.

Chairman Robb Cardimen suggested Council needed to ask Penn Dot to send someone out to join Council members on an inspection tour of Montour Street and Route 51, which Penn Dot also repaired, and which has already begun to crack again.

In other business, David Pendel proposed using $300,000 from the Reserve Fund to reduce the principle on the Borough Building bond to cut the yearly interest payments. He said doing this would increase Cory's chance of moving from an A to a AA Standard & Poore rating. Mayor Shawn Reed announced that in August Council would honor the Coraopolis Bike Shop for 50 years of outstanding service to the community. Borough Manager Roy McCutcheon reported that the Hollow Oak Land Trust Trail System looping from Cornell School down to McCabes Hollow and back up was progressing nicely. Council had invested $5000 in this project. He also announced that a film company would be shooting a film on Mill Street on July 23 from 8 a.m. til 9 p.m. Council created a Property Maintenance Appeals Board and named Michael Engle, Diallo Bryant and Dallas Stewart to serve on it. It approved the closing of Chestnut Street July 14-21 for the annual St. Joseph Festival and closing of Alder Alley (off School Street) for Mt. Olive Baptist Church Vacation Bible School July 9-11. It approved the Mt. Olive Church's use of Shelley Jones Memorial Park for Church In The Park August 11 9 am - 5 pm., but the church would need to obtain an official permit so police, the fire department and maintenance personnel knew what was happening. Council approved Ordinance 1809, which establishes rules and regulations for peddling goods, services or merchandise within the Borough. Residents may display "No Soliciting" stickers on their doors, which prohibit anyone from bothering them.

The Neville Township Board of Commissioners at their July meeting approved a request from Carmody's Restaurant to close First Avenue from 3 pm til dark on August 17th to hold a boxing match. Admission will be $20 but ringside seating will be $40. Proceeds will go to the Warriors Fund for wounded veterans. First Avenue is seen in the photo at right. The dark gray building at right is the new expansion of Carmody's Restaurant. The actual boxing ring will be set up in the parking lot barely visible beyond the trees to the left. First Avenue will become a sort of pedestrian mall, with concession stands, etc. Carmody's will hire two policemen to provide security. The alley behind Carmody's will remain open.

Township Engineer Ned Mitrovich explained to the Commissioners that several leaks have been found in the Neville Road pipeline but the line is scheduled for replacement anyway. The pipelines have all been removed from the old Shenango property, which is now owned by Ashland and Calgon. Columbia Gas has committed to bring its property into line with state and county requirements.

The Fleming Park Bridge (photo below, taken from the Stowe Township side) continues to meet requirements. Another inspection is scheduled. Current unofficial estimates are that the bridge might be completed by mid September. Rain and storms continue to hamper work.

Rain has also hampered Neville Township ground crews. Commissioner Rick Rutter pointed out that Neville has three extra workers for Summer and is trying to get as much work done as possible. The photo below left shows a work crew planting a triangle along Grand Avenue.

The official police report from Ohio Township Chief Hanny shows 17 alarms and 91 traffic citations. Ohio township has upgraded three part time officers to full time.

Audience members expressed dissatisfaction with potholes in the alley off Second Street, saying that they were putting rocks in the holes to save their vehicles from serious damage while they waited for Township work. Council explained it only had $100,000 to spend, had to prioritize their projects, and that streets took precedence over alleys.

Residents also alerted Council to a collapsing storm sewer on 3rd Street near the old school. An orange cone has been set there, but the problem is getting worse.

Audience members questioned Council about why their monthly water bills show high levels of Nitrates but there were no farms or industries on the island. Mitrovich explained that Neville's water is processed at West Point and piped over onto the island. He said tests have shown there are no leaks in the water lines. Therefore, the Nitrates have to have entered the water supply back at the West View water purification plant. Mitrovich went on to point out that the levels were still within official state and county limits so were not cause for alarm. The allowable percentage of Nitrate is 2.0, and Neville's is 1.87.

Mitrovich also explained that the state has recently mandated an increase in Chlorine, so much that now some people smell Chlorine in their drinking water. But the Chlorine is there to kill microorganisms.

In a conversation after the meeting was officially adjourned, Chairman Bill Leon and Solicitor Charles Means acknowledged that Emsworth residents had filed a complaint against the recycler Metalico. On the former Neville Metals property, Metalico collects, shreds and reprocesses scrap metal. It is two miles from the residential neighborhood on Neville Island but directly across from Emsworth homes built on the river. Residents have photos and video of the noise and loud explosions at Metalico, which apparently come from cars being crushed with gasoline still in their tanks, and scrap metal being loaded onto barges. Much of this occurs at night, waking Emsworth residents and keeping them awake. Smoke and foul odors also drift across the river. The County Health Department has received 55 complaints and has fined Metalico in the past. But Leon and Means explained that this was a matter that could only be dealt with at the County and State level. That part of the island is defined as "industrial." Metalico has the permits to do what they're doiung, and some of those permits were grandfathered from former owners of the property. Courts have ruled that living near an industry, railroad or airport inherently involves noise. It was an issue beyond the ability of Neville Township to pursue.

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An electrical fire forced the evacuation of The Greatest Hit Boxing Fitness Gym at 943 4th Avenue at 6:30 p.m. Monday evening.

The Coraopolis, Neville Island and Robinson Township Fire Departments responded. 4th Avenue traffic was detoured around the site by policemen. Since the fire was in the basement, firemen donned masks, oxygen tanks and specialized gear, opened the metal sidewalk trap doors, and descended the stairs (see photo below left). Duquesne Light was contacted to have the power turned off.

The fire was first detected as gym owner Deane Watson was conducting a women's fitness class, which began at 6 pm. Smoke began pouring out of the vents. Watson led the students outside and called the Fire Department. He and his students then carried exercise equipment out to the sidewalk (see photo, below right).

"They'll have to conduct an investigation to determine the exact cause," he explained to repoeters. "Then the landlord will have to make the necessary repairs. We'll be out of business for at least a week. Hopefully, it won't be much more than that."

By 7:10 firemen began packing up their equipment.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Kuhlman's and other Coraopolis area lawnmower and small engine appliance service centers are being swamped with equipment which starts, stalls and won't restart.

The problem is Ethanol. Over the Winter, government requirements moved the percentage of Ethanol in gasoline from 10% up to 15%.

Small one cylinder engines are not equipped to deal with that percentage of Ethanol. The corn based extract separates out from the gasoline and turns into a jelly. It clogs carbuerators so fuel cannot pass through.

Ethanol is ethyl alcohol, the same alcohol used in alcoholic beverages. Ethanol is produced by fermenting the sugar in corn (or some other sucrose heavy plant), then distilling the mash to extract the liquid snd leave the solids behind. But the Ethanol molecule is hygroscopic, which means it bonds eagerly with water. Left alone, like you might do with a can of gasoline, the Ethanol will draw water out of the humid air and use it to dilute down the gasoline content.

The photo below shows a typical small engine carbuerator after jelled Ethanol has deposited on the surfaces.

When you bring a mower, tiller, or other small appliance in to a dealer, he has to first remove the carbuerator. Then he has to separate the various parts of the carbuerator and clean them. There are also pipe and hoses to clean.

The only long term solution is to stop using straight E15 fuel. Either find a place selling E10 Ethanol. Or buy a can of additive and mix it with the usual gasoline coming from the nearest gas station.

If you own a two cylinder mower, hedge trimmer, etc., just buy a regular can of two cylinder oil, which has the additive already mixed in.Then you mix the oil with the gasoline.

Local servicemen also highly recommend you begin buying higher octane gas at the gas station. "Regular" gasoline has the highest amount of Ethanol.

Ironically, if you have a much older mower, tiller, etc., you may avoid the problem. Those older devices had much larger carbuerators and other elements and will not be clogged as easily.

An elderly man in a late model Nissan was struck by a CSX freight train just after noon Friday and pushed a block and a half until coming to rest behind the Cash Market.

The driver was extracted from the vehicle by emergency workers and transported by ambulance to Presbyterian Hospital. He was alive and conscious and apparently suffered no life threatening injuries, although his left shoulder appeared injured and he showed numerous bruises.

As can be seen in the photo below, all the airbags inflated and apparently protected the driver from more serious injuries. He apparently did have his seat belt on.

What prevented this from being much more serious was that the train had already slowed to a crawl. Railroad tracks are divided into blocks, with signals entering each one. If a train is already on the track in the next block, a red light will flash on a signal to the right of the tracks.

An engineer will see that signal and stop. But this was a very long CSX train, with four engines and close to 200 cars. It would take a long time to stop. So the engineer, suspecting there was a train in the Aliquippa Block, had begun slowing well before the signal so he would be able to stop if needed.

Neighbors reported seeing the Nissan parking at the Broadway Street crossing at 9:30 a.m. One train passed, and the Nissan then pulled inside the crossing gate. When the next train came into view, the Nissan pulled onto the tracks. The engineer saw the car about the Montour Street station and reduced the train's speed even lower than he already had. Instead of knocking the car into the air, the engine merely pushed it down the tracks. The driver's identity was not known. No one recognized him.

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At its June meeting, the Cornell School Board hired two new teachers and approved a Vision to Learn program that will provide free glasses to students who otherwise could not afford them. Vision to Learn will begin when school resumes in August.

The Board approved the hiring of Tara Geouque as an English Learners teacher and Joshua Brunner as a Health & Physical Education teacher. She has a Masters degree. He has a B.A.

In other business, the Board approved Phase I of a brick repointing on the outside of the building. Phase I involves brickwork above and along the swimming pool area.

The Board gave Spanish teacher Sarah Sleasman and French teacher Fiona Clements its spproval to attend the 2019 Foreign Languages Exposition in Washington D.C. November 22-24.

It noted the July 8-25 Extended School Year program, the Kindergarten Boot Camp program (35 students are enrolled), and the Summer Reading Program at the Coraopolis Public Library.

Superintendant Dr. Aaron Thomas announced that the STEAM Catalyst Grant application had been submitted. STEAM stands for Scientific, Technical, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.

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The Laurel Pipeline running underneath Coraopolis, the Ohio River and Neville Island has been repaired.

For the last two weeks large holes on Chestnut Street in Cory and on the Robert Morris property on Neville Island have been used to access the pipeline. A barge has also been located in the Ohio River with divers probing the pipeline under the river bottom.

By Wednesday, efforts had shifted to filling the holes back in, although that is a slow process. On Neville Island, the "cap" separating the clean top soil from the toxic deep soil must be rebuilt. A backhoe punctured the gap last Thursday.

On Neville Island, there are also eight large steel containers sitting on the paved parking lot. They have been filled with toxic sludge brought up from the river's edge. The containers must be taken to decontamination and disposal.

Laurel Pipeline usually transports gasoline or diesel fuel from refineries in New Jersey westward to the Ohio Valley and Ohio.

But they recently decided to reverse the flow of the pipeline and transport gasoline or diesel fuel from refineries in Ohio back into Pennsylvania. To do this, they needed to flush the lines with water and test the pipeline via Hydrostatic Pressure. On May 20, inspectors noted a sudden drop in water pressure in the segment between the upper end of Neville Island and the Buckeye Coraopolis Terminal. Closer inspection narrowed the "anomaly," as the company refers to it, to a segment between the Robert Morris property on Neville Island and Chestnut Street in Coraopolis. To gain access, Buckeye opened two holes, one on Chestnut Street and the other at Robert Morris. They received federal permission to puncture the "cap" separating toxic soil further down from clean soil near the surface on Robert Morris property.

Robotic devices with cameras were then sent through the pipeline to find the exact weakness. Testing has determined that at no time did any diesel fuel or gasoline leak, because when the leak was found only water was in the line. The leak only developed during testing because that was when the pressure was increased. Normally the pressure is much lower.

Buckeye Pipeline's efforts to find the leak in its Laurel Pipeline running under Cory, the Ohio River and Neville Island took a much more difficult turn Thursday.

When Hillman Co. donated the land to Neville Island an inspection uncovered the fact that the soil was toxic from fluids being dumped and drained there for 50 years. This was why a proposed park was abandoned and the state would not allow newly merged Cornell School District to build there. When Robert Morris bought the land, they were required to haul away 12 feet of soil, place a cap on what was left, and then replace it with 12 feet of clean fill.

When Buckeye officials realized they had to dig at that location, they obtained permission to puncture the cap from the Environmental Protection Agency. As expected, Instruments immediately indicated the presence of toxic material.

Workmen digging down on the Coraopolis side of the river and divers in the middle of the river do not face that problem.

Officials erected a fence all around the site and brought in a dozen blue steel containers, visible in the photo above. All toxic sludge brought up must be placed in the steel containers, sealed, and trucked to a decontamination facility.

This is slowing the work crews, who still have not found the exact location of the leak. They know it is somewhere between Chestnut Street in Cory and the Dome on the Sports Center.

These events could not have come at a worse time for the Buckeye company. This week, in Pittsburgh, the Public Utility Commission is meeting to decide whether to add more scrutiny of pipeline companies and require them to inspect their pipelines far more often.

The Laurel Pipeline has historically transported gasoline and diesel fuel from Philadelphia refineries to Pittsburgh and Ohio. Owner Buckeye now wants to reverse that flow and ship gasoline and diesel fuel from Ohio back to this area and Central and Eastern Pennsylvania.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

Storing a pile of road salt for use when it snows or ices would seem to be a relatively simple task.

It's not.

The Neville Island Commisioners have been struggling with this issue for several months. They discussed it again at their Thursday meeting. Then, as the meeting was adjourned, Township Engineer Ned Mitrovich asked that they stay after to discuss the matter further.

"I don't want the public to think we're doing anything behind closed doors," Mitrovich explained. "There are so many different issues here and whatever we do somebody is going to be unhappy. So we need to discuss it right here in front of this audience."

For years Neville has stored its road salt underneath the I-79 bridge, as seen in the photo at right. That is what's left over from the 2019 Winter.

But Penn Dot has informed Neville that it has to move the pile.

After considering all the possible locations, the Board decided on the lot it already owns at the north end of the public park where the old high school football field was, shown in the photo at left.

But they can't just move the pile. New state and county regulations now cover road salt storage. As part of the new Storm Water Regulations, the salt cannot be stored anywhere rain, runoff or snowmelt might contact it, dissolve some of it, and carry it off into the river or soak into the soil. So wherever they store it, they must erect a building to enclose it and it must have a solid concrete floor.

However, all of Neville Island is a flood plain. Previous floods have risen and covered the entire island. New regulations require that road salt and other substances be stored above the 100 year flood level. That will mean building some sort of platform with ramps where trucks can load and unload the salt.

Meanwhile, if vehicles are stored on a flood plain, where in high water they would be submerged or damaged, the insurance rates are going up. Neville stores its street sweeper (photo, right), backhoe, truck and other vehicles at the other side of the lot shown above. So they also need to be parked on a raised platform. Mulch can no longer be stored in the open as seen in the photo, and streetsweepers can no longer discard debris in the open or on bare ground.

To cover all these issues, Mitrovich proposes removing the Pavilion in the photos above and below. It has been there for decades and is rented by various families and groups for picnics, reunions and other occasions. In its place he proposes a raised building with entry ramp for both the salt, the mulch and the vehicles.

However, the people living along Phillips Avenue expressed their concern about this idea.

Jennifer Mihalyi, shown below in orange sweater, lives nearby. "So," she argued to the Board, "in the Winter, every night that it snows or ices, we're going to have the truck out there at 4 a.m. not only loading up with salt, but grinding up and down that ramp. All of us are going to be awakened in the middle of the night."

Board members tried to explain that, first of all, the building was all the way at the other end of the parking lot and loading salt was not all that noisy a process, and, second, the last several Winters have not had very many snowy or icy nights, as shown by the large amount of salt never used last year.

Other residents objected to losing the pavilion. "Everyone on the island uses that at one time or another. It's a really great pavilion."

Mitrovich emphasized the pavilion would not be discarded, just moved to another location, such as out near Grand Avenue, or toward the middle of the park.

Other Commissioners pointed out that the money used to build such a building would take away money that had been planned for road paving, that the Board would be forced to make some very difficult choices.

An architectural diagram of such a building was shown to the Board and to audience members. No vote was taken but there is a deadline to move the salt pile so action will need to be taken in July or August.

In other news, Mitrovich announced that the water line expansion plates on Fleming Park Bridge (photo, right) have been successfully replaced at a cost of $34,000. He informed the Board that the ones removed were not in good shape and would have collapsed very soon, probably costing $134,000 instead of $34,000. Curent projections have the bridge being completed by mid August, but if there are any delays, such as continued rain, it could be as late as September or October.

As is done every meeting, Mitrovich went down the list of companies on the island and noted whether they were in compliance, were working on it, were late, or were ignoring requirements that they bring their property into compliance with stormwater regulations. Pennske is not responding. Columbia Gas has not begun work. Neville Chemical is stabilizing banks but one Council member asked if their wells are cross connected to other water sources so contamination could occur.

Township Attorney Charles Means informed the Board that Ohio Township has loaned the Island use of its rescue boat but the Island needs to insure it. He also pointed out that the Board needs to officially vote to authorize fees and a shut off option for those not following regulations or answering notices.

Mary Ann Monski came to the podium to complain about door to door solicitors. Others agreed they had become numerous and annoying. Means informed her that Ohio Township now handles all of Neville's police work, so Ohio Township handled the permits and their enforcement. She can call them and ask if a particular salesman has a permit. Regardless, the Board reminded her never to let anyone in the house.

Carolyn Yagle spoke to the Board about a Multi Municipal Zoning Grant in conjunction with McKees Rocks. She explained that Neville and Rox could share land use. Rox could host some uses and Neville other uses. For instance, they could zone Rox for Tattoo Parlors and Adult Entertainment Stores while Neville could be zoned for heavy industry. She promised to have a final document ready for reading and approval at the July meeting.

The Board recognized John Yuknavich on his 100th birthday. Yuknavich and his wife raised three daughters on the island, living in their Front River Road home for more than half a century. He spent six years in the Navy, then was a Duquesne Light Supervisor.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Several major infrastructure issues occupied Coraopolis Borough Council at its regular June meeting Wednesday night.

First, however, they addressed several more basic issues.

Councilman Calvin Jackson reviewed for Council the heavy use of the Shelley Jones basketball courts (photo, right) on 1st Avenue. But he explained that once darkness fell at around 9:00 or 9:30, all games had to stop. In fact, many Coraopolis residents have begun driving out to Moon and other communities to play, because their courts are lighted and can be used after dark.

Jackson proposed lighting the courts. He pointed out that light poles are already in place because the adjacent Little League field is lighted. So it would be a simple matter to mount additional light racks facing toward the courts.

Council agreed to consider the proposal.

Councilwoman Melissa Walsh explained that residents in her district, and she assumes elsewhere in Cory, are being pestered by door to door solicitors. She proposed that Council design a "No Solicitors" decal that residents could purchase at the Borough Office and post on their door so it could be seen from the street and/or the sidewalk. Once posted, if salesmen ignored the sign and still knocked on the door, they could be fined.

Discussion ensued. Councilmen agreed that unwanted solicitors were a problem. Council Attorney Richard Start said the law did allow such a decal and allowed a fine up to $300 for the first violation. However, he cautioned, the law exempts religious and political representatives. So it would warn salesman to stay away, but politicians running for office or missionaries could still legally knock on the door.

Council directed Start to draw up a law for reading at the July Council meeting.

The design for such a decal, how much it would cost, and how much the fine would be, could be discussed if the ordinance was passed in July.

Chad Kraynyk announced that the Shade Tree Commission would hold a weeding and tidying up session Friday evening. Volunteers should meet at the Dairy Queen.

David Pendel announced that $145,175 in delinquent taxes have been collected so far in 2019.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon announced that (l) new traffic signals are being installed at the corner of 4th and Mulberry, and (2) Coraopolis needs to establish an Appeals Board for someone who owns delinquent property and wishes to contest Borough proceedings involving that property.

Mayor Shawn Reed announced that there will be another work session on Thursday evening on the hiking trail being laid between Cornell School and Brook Street. Machetes, shovels, weed whackers, loppers and other tools are being used to blaze the trail in the vacinity of Wildcat Rock and the old Girl Scout Lodge. Once down in the hollow, the trail borders McCabe's Run for a while, then switchbacks back up the hill to the school property. The trail is part of a Hollow Oak Trust project to build a trail network in Coraopolis and Moon Township. Eventually, in Coraopolis, the system will begin at Thorn Hollow Road, follow Thorn Run up to Maple Street, track along the bottom of the Cemetery property, cross Cornell School and then Borough property, and presumably follow the Power Line Trail up to Montour Street and down to the Montour Trail.

Reed emphasized the historic nature of this project. "We've been surrounded by all this woods for our entire history," he told Council, "and we own this land. Kids have always played out in the woods. But we've never developed trails or anything to encourage the adults in town to take advantage of them. With established trails, families could spend a weekend afternoon out there, Cornell School could take classes on short hikes during class or immediately after school to collect specimens or observe, and adults could take walks or go jogging after work in the evening. This is a great resource and it's way past time for us to utilize it."

Police Chief Ron Denbow delivered the monthly Police Report. There were 1520 calls, 307 complaints, 122 criminal investigations, 20 arrests, $350 in property recovered, 19 traffic citations issued, 26 grass/weed compliance citations issued, Eight alarms went off.

Stacie Christie, the new Historical Society President, announced that the Society is compiling a database of historical homes in Coraopolis. Anyone whose home dates back more than a century should contact the Society.

The Mayor also announced that Coraopolis is applying for grants through Connor Lamb's office for Police Department needs.

At this point in the meeting, Steve Gunther (photo, left) of Buckeye Co. was introduced. Buckeye operates Laurel Pipeline, which runs under Coraopolis, the Ohio River and Neville Island and carries gasoline and diesel fuel. Several days previously, Buckeye discovered that they had a leak in this pipeline. They still have not found exactly where the leak is, but they have narrowed it down to somewhere between Chestnut Street or Birch Alley in Coraopolis and the entrance to the Robert Morris Island Sports Center. Gunther emphasized that at this point nothing is flowing through the pipe.

Since the leak might be under the river, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers have joined the effort.

Two large holes have been dug, one extending almost all the way across Chestnut Street (photo, right) and the other on Robert Morris land. Huge sections of the pipeline have been removed so the men can run cameras through. Chestnut Street, of course, is entirely blocked.

The pipeline was built in the 1960s. Gunther explained that the helicopter that has been flying low over Coraopolis, Neville Island and the river and the divers people have seen descending from a boat down into the river are both part of their investigation.

He emphasized that whatever they disturb they will eventually put back "in better condition than we found it." The leak was discovered during Hydrostatic Testing. During the testing only water was in the line, so only water escaped.

Next, Eileen Provins and several neighbors came to the podium with a complaint about a Vulcan liquefied nitrogen tank (photo, below) at the company's 4th Avenue offices.

The tank is leaking. Provins explained that it has been leaking constantly and doing so with a hissing noise so loud people living on that block can not sleep at night.

She and her neighbors have gone to Vulcan's offices and been treated rudely and told not to worry about it.

She insisted Council do something about the situation.

Council Chair Robb Cardimen explained that there is no immediate danger from the nitrogen. He explained that both at his work and in his role as a Fireman, he has been trained in hazardous substances and Nitrogen is not flammable. The leaking is a safety device to prevent pressure build up. He explained that the Fire Department had already gone to the site and turned the tank off. However, he agreed the leaking tank is an issue, if only due to the noise.

Provins explained that after Cardimen and the Fire Department had been there, the company had refilled the tank and turned it back on.

Police Chief Ron Denbow volunteered to go down to the site after the meeting and check it out. At the least, a nuisance citation could be issued.

George Carr (photo, below) then came to the podium to complain about harassment. He had come to the Police Station to file a complaint about people parking on the sidewalk near his house. He explained they were not parking with two wheels in the street, but were parked all four wheels on the sidewalk. He commended the Police for sending an officer out to check on the situation. The officer found that people really were parked on the sidewalk and issued several citations. However, people then began knocking on Carr's door and threatening him because he filed the complaint. They even followed him to the bus stop, took his picture, and continued to harass him. Police Chief Denbow promised to follow up.

Finally, the situation on Euclid Avenue (photo, below)was discussed. Euclid Avenue is on the very edge of Coraopolis, running between Cliff Street and Sacred Heart Academy. The street is half in Moon Township. It runs directly above the Pump House and Pump House Woods. After a very rainy Winter and Spring, the hillside along which Euclid Avenue runs is basically sliding down, taking the street with it.

Euclid Avenue is currently blocked off at both ends. Work crews have been hindered by the continually rainy weather. Both trees and utility lines have come down. If anything, the situation has steadily worsened, despite workmen trying to stabilize it.

Fortunately, Euclid Avenue is not a major connecting street. It was merely a path until late in the 20th century, when it was finally widened and paved. Residents of Cliff Street can drive out Devonshire Road to Vine Street and turn either right or left to Route 51 or Montour Street. Moon Township residents at the top of Euclid can drive out Bryndale and Woodcrest Avenue to Montour Street. There are no houses along most of it, and none along the damaged section.

Pittsburgh Motor Speedway

Pennsylvania's Finest Dirt Track Racing On The Big Half Mile

Sprint Cars - Late Models - Sportsmen - 6 & 4 Cylinders

Every Saturday Night : 7 -11 pm

Just Beyond Robinson Town Center On Route 22/30

PennDot has completed repairs on Montour Street and the throughway is once again safe to drive on.

Work crews pumped concrete into the cave that had opened up beneath Montour Street, filling it to the top, so that the surface of the street once again rests on a solid base. For extra protection, they built an extra ledge out from the cave opening and filled it with concrete (see photo, right).

They then filled in the long, wide crack that had opened across half of the street. The cave had become so big and the crack so wide that daylight was showing up through the crack. The scar where the crack had been is still there, but it's solidly filled in and not in danger of separating.

Crews admitted that this is probably a temporary fix. There are other cracks along the "cliff section" of Montour Street. The entire block will probably need stripped out and repaved at some point, especially if we continue to get heavy rains and then freezing temperatures. PennDot, not Coraopolis, is responsible for Montour Street.

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

The former Embassy Suites Hotel just off Coraopolis Heights Road and the Parkway West has undergone a year long renovation and will open this week as Tapestry Senior Living Moon Township.

The 224 apartments are already being rented even though the occupants will not move in for another six weeks. There are choices of basic units with one bedroom and slightly larger units with a den or a patio. (There are no more den units available.)

The facility will include a swimming pool, various recreation areas, and a full medical unit. A nurse will be available 24/7 and doctors will visit weekly.

Units begin at $5300 a month. That is all inclusive. Once a resident or their family pays the monthly rent, there are no other costs. For additional care, such as the Memory Care units, the cost is more.

Dining facilities are open from 7 am until 7 pm.

The photo here at left shows the restaurant, serving three meals a day. A pub serves drinks and light snacks. The coffee shop (photo below left) and grille serve everything from burgers to grilled cheese sandwiches to wraps to soups and salads. The restaurant includes side rooms for family visits or special occasions like birthdays and holidays.

The Moon Senior Connection Center, currently housed at Robin Hill, will move into Tapestry this month. Their facility and all their programs will be open to Tapestry residents.

A chapel, hair and nail salon, and movie theater are also included.

The Sewickley YMCA and Lifespan of Imperial will provide various exercise and recreational programs.

John Sciulli, Business Development Coordinator, emphasizes that Tapestry wants residents to remain as active as possible because that is the key to sustained good health.

Tapestry will host trips to movies, plays, concerts and other nearby attractions.

Tapestry requires its staff to be trained in TEEPA Snow technique for dimentia caregiving. Those residents are more carefully monitored 24 hours a day.

A music therapy plan is available. Research has found that music can often unlock memories in Alzheimer's patients.

The Silver Sphere monitoring systemis also in effect for all residents. SS equips every room with infrared cameras which alert staff in the event of a fall or other mishap. Tapestry also equips every resident with a pendant (women usually wear them as a necklace, men as a wristwatch). They can press the pendant at any time 24/7 to summon a staff member to assistance.

This is not Tapestry's first Assisted Living facility. The company already has facilities in Florida, Minnesota and Cleveland. It is planning more in New Jersey and Cincinnati. All are remodelled former hotels. But this one in Moon Township is the largest with capacity for 224 residents.

Michele Santicola and Max Feldman survived primaries and advance to the General Election in November in the District Judge race.

Santicola won the Democrat nomination with 1183 votes out of 2601 cast. Feldman won the Republican nomination with 695 votes out of 1667 cast.

The deciding factor in the General will be the 977 votes cast for Corrie Woods and two write in candidates. Those votes will go to either Santicola or Feldman. The campaign between now and November will be an attempt to win those votes. If Feldman can win 700 of them, he can win the election. If Santicola can win just 400 of them, she will win.

Santicola would seem to have the advantage. There are approximately twice as many registered Democrats as Republicans in Coraopolis and a small number of Independents. She begins with a 1183-695 edge.

In the Cornell School Board primary, Linda Solecki, Michael Griffith, Karen Murphy and Caryn Code advanced.

In Coraopolis Borough Council races, Ed Pitassi won 128 of 134 votes cast, David Pendel won 120 of 122 votes, Lucinda Wade won 108 of 156 votes, and Robb Cardimen won 141 of 143 votes.

Pitassi was a prior Council member who lost his seat in the last election. Wade would be new to the Council and only its second woman. Pendel and Cardimen are current members.

In Neville Island's Commissioner primaries, David Kerr won 114 of 171 votes cast, Jill Ammon won 47 of 62 votes, and James Brown won 61 of 63.

In Moon Township's Auditor primaries, Josh Sektnan won on the Democrat side with 1231 out of 1243 votes cast, and Jeff Wink won the Republican slot with 929 of 935 votes.

In Moon's Supervisor races, James Vitale won the Democrat nomination with 1218 of 2184 votes and Al Quaye won the Republican slot with 818 of 1464 votes.

Robin Gilligan

Custom Home Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Remodeller

One of the most fascinating events in years is in Coraopolis this week until Thursday. It's the annual K-9 Police Dog Recertification Drills.

Police dogs have to re-earn their certification every year to continue working. They have to prove they can still meet the demanding requirements, that they still have the skills needed.

This is no easy task. It takes four days of different drills at various locations around town.

Coraopolis residents have already been startled by turning a corner or driving down a street and suddenly seeing eight or nine police vehicles with officers and dogs in the area. Some residents have slowed down to look more carefully, have stoppped to ask what the emergency was, or have asked if they could watch. It's not really a spectator event --- there are no bleachers or scoreboard --- but the public is welcome to watch if they wish.

Coordinating headquarters is at the Masonic Lodge on Maple Street. Some of the outdoor locations are at the Cornell baseball, softball and football fields, and in the woods along McCabes Run. Indoor locations include the now abandoned St. Joe's Elementary School and an abandoned church for sale on the west end of town. The drills are scheduled from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., ending in time that they do not conflict with Cornell baseball, softball and track practices or with kids playing in the woods after school.

There are eight basic skills areas : Tracking, Pursuit and Containment, Article Search, Building Search, Area Search, Vehicle Search, Drug Detection, and Explosives Detection. Each skills area requires about half a day to test.

Monday morning after a brief welcome and orientation session, dogs and their handlers got to work on Tracking.

Prior to the dogs arrival, one official stood in one place shuffling his feet for a minute, then took off walking. First he zigzagged several times, throwing in a few tricks by starting in one direction, then backtracking on his exact steps and heading off in another direction, creating a Y for the dog to puzzle over. One long straightaway was included. Some of his trail was in grass, some over dirt (the baseball and softball infields), and some over pavement (parking lots, sidewalks, etc.) The final phase involved a few obstacles.

One by one, the dogs were allowed to thoroughly sniff the spot where the official had shuffled his feet, to pick up his scent (see photo below). Then they were off. The dogs were all amazingly accurate. They trotted with a rapid back and forth head sway, to check the main scent and then check several inches to the left and several inches to the right to "frame" the trail. Some of them guessed the "Y" trick correctly and kept going. Some guessed wrong and went several yards in the wrong direction, realized they'd been duped, backtracked to the "Y," then headed off in the right direction. Every dog reached the end accurately and in short time.

Dogs can track either on leash or off leash. Obviously, they're much faster off leash, but often circumstances require that they be kept leashed.

These are not your average dog. Police Dogs are specially bred in Europe. They come with guarantees. If a dog develops hip dysplasia or other health conditions, or is not a good worker, or can't concentrate, the Department is provided with a replacement.

And that's a good thing, because Police Dogs cost from $12,500 - $18,000 including training.

Each dog is pretrained by itself for eight weeks. Then the dog and its future handler are trained together for another eight weeks. By the time they're done, the trainer knows his dog and knows how to command it, the dog knows its trainer and can read quick, subtle signals, and the two have bonded for life. The dog will live with the trainer and his family when not working, and when the dog retires he will live out his days as the family pet.

The average Police Dog career lasts 9-10 years. They spend 16 hours each month in "maintenance training," meaning they refresh their skills. Then they spend one week each year in recertification to prove they can still do the job.

A typical Police Dog is two years old when he begins work. Quick learners occasionally begin a few months earlier.

What usually ends a Police Dog's career is, just like a professional athlete, his reactions begin to slow, his stamina begins slipping, and his athleticism begins fading. But sometimes a dog just burns out. The burnouts tend to occur in high crime areas where the dog is in intense action almost every day. In smaller towns and suburbs burnout is not common.

Police Dogs are prime athletes, and like any prime athlete, their diets are important. The ideal diet would avoid grain, wheat and corn and include some raw meat every day. This eliminates many commercial dog foods, which contain a lot of grain, wheat and corn as filler. The raw meat can be as simple as a quarter chicken tossed to the dog. Some handlers feed their dogs steak at least once or twice a week.

But not all handlers follow these recommendations. "I'm not being paid enough to afford steak for my dog," one grins. "I can't even afford steak for myself too often." Another handler had a different standard. "I'm not feeding my dog any better than I feed my kids," he said.

The dogs are amazingly well behaved. They're kept leashed "just in case," but in fact the "just in case" situations rarely occur. The dogs sit or lay at their handlers' feet, awaiting a command. If none comes, the dog is content to alertly survey his surroundings, ears up, eyes wide, but not trembling or pacing or impatient. The photo at top right is a good example. The dog at left has turned to look at a loud motorcycle coming down the hill, but he's not too concerned about it.

Interestingly enough, however, the dogs do not like being photographed. These photos were taken with a zoom lens from a respectful distance. We could approach the dogs with the camera off and down, but if we raised and aimed the camers, they began alerting their handlers.

They seem to see the camera as a weapon, which they've been trained to focus on and go after.

Of all the drills, the most exciting are the pursuit and containment runs, seen in the photo to the right and the one below right. Police refer to these as "bite drills." An official will dress in heavily padded costumes and attempt to escape. Upon command, the dog's job is to catch them and bring them down. These drills show the dogs at their most aggressive. Fangs bared, muscles rippling, eyes flashing fire, they go on the attack. They're trained not to try to harm the target, but to very forcefully bring him to the ground and keep him there. The more he tries to resist, the more savage the dog becomes. This is definitely the most violent demonstration of the week's drills.

The most suspenseful of the drills are the Article searching and Search and Rescue drills. Article searching asks the dog to find a specific article, such as a knife, gun or club, in either a large open area or a wooded area. Officials hide the items well and the dogs have to use a grid approach to search for them (see photo below).

Search and Rescue asks the dog to find a missing person. These drills are conducted in wooded areas or inside buildings.

Most people assume all Police Dogs are German Shepherds but this is not true. Other dogs can perform certain skills better than a Shepherd. Blood Hounds, for example, are by far the best trackers. Rotweilers are by far the best crowd control dogs. Beagles are better at sniffing out luggage. Labs are good at tracking and drug and explosives detection. These dogs may show up for only one or two drills, get certified in their areas of expertise, and go home.

The Belgian Malinois, which was originally bred as a herding dog like the Shepherd, is just as good as the Shepherd all round, and are used as Police Dogs in many foreign countries. But for some reason they've never caught on in the U.S.

So the Shepherd is by far the most common K-9 dog here.

That doesn't mean they're everywhere. Less than 25% of Police Departments nationwide have a Police Dog. Money's tight, most Police Departments are underfunded, and that $12,000 - 18,000 price tag is more than they can afford.

30 Departments had pregistered for this week's Coraopolis Recertification Drills. Most are from Pennsylvania, but there were entries from Florida, Arkansas and California. If the recertification week in their own area conflicted with their schedule, they had to find one somewhere in the nation that did fit it, and Cory was the one.

Many motels do not allow dogs, so special arrangements had to be worked out. Marriott was generous enough to offer the visiting officers and their dogs not only admittance, but a special rate. So the Marriott will be Dog Central for four nights this week.

Most handlers transport their dogs in SUVs specially equipped for them. The dog occupies the rear compartment, where he can see out, move around and quickly exit and enter through the hatch. Coraopolis and most of the departments in this area have these customized SUVs. But some police use small trailers with windows so any vehicle can hook up and tow the dogs at any time. There are some of these present in Coraopolis this week.

The dogs are not owned only by Police Departments. Airports, railroads, private detective agencies, the military, large public arenas, factories, businesses, parks, estates, farms, ranches, schools, warehouses and other locations that value security will purchase the dogs. Often they will be housed on site and allowed to roam free, so if an intruder tries to break in he will be confronted at the fence or door by an angry defender or a team of them. Often these dogs will be trained to use a paw to press an alarm when an intruder is detected. Either an owner or the police will respond to the alarm.

The Coraopolis Police Department K-9 Officer is Amore. When the former canine retired, Amore was purchased from a police dog breeding and training center in Holland. However, Amore's presence in Coraopolis did not just happen. The cost of Amore was raised by Beth Miles, who also does Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training.

Coraopolis is one of the smaller towns in Pennsylvania to have its own dog. Most small town police departments are in trouble, as costs have risen and tax bases have declined. They are having trouble paying adequate wages and maintaining vehicles and police buildings. Many of them have reduced their forces to only one or two officers or gone to a part time department. In many communities, departments have merged or one community has just dropped its police entirely and contracted a neighboring force to patrol its streets, as Neville has done with Ohio Township. In such cases, paying for a dog is beyond their budget.

But the dogs do work officers simply could not do, and handle other tasks much more efficiently. Trainers, handlers, police chiefs and other officers love the dogs and wouldn't want to do without them.

"In the dog world, you're looking at the best. These are the best cross of smart, fast, quick, strong, athletic, disciplined, durable, energetic and devoted dogs in the world. The breeding is very scientific, and after they're born, dogs are eliminated because they don't meet physical requirements, can't learn quick enough, can't perform at a high enough level, or have personality issues. These dogs have to be gentle with kids just passing by, tolerate other dogs, be obedient, suddenly turn on their intensity and ferocity when needed to protect their handlers and themselves, then in an instant flip that switch and go back to being gentle with kids and very calm. It's a tough balance and only a select few dogs can do it. Those are the dogs you're seeing here this week. These are the best of the best."

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

Long before he entered politics, Shawn Reed adopted Coraopolis as his hometown. Originally from McKeesport, Reed came to attend Robert Morris and fell in love with the place. His 100 year old house on Montour Street backs up to the forest of McCabes's Hollow. Deer, Raccoon, Possum, Rabbits and Groundhogs prowl his backyard. This is where Reed retreats from his busy days.

Much of his backyard is consumed by Cory's only Bocce Court. Bocce is an Italian bowling game. There was a court at a park where he grew up and he came to enjoy the gsme. Between local meetings and work travel, Reed doesn't have time for golf or other sports, so he plays Bocce. "There's a large Italian population here," he says. "We should have Bocce courts. Maybe we can install one in a local park."

His days are so busy because he basically has two full time jobs : Mayor of Coraopolis and Senior Vice President at True Sense Marketing. One day he's at the new Borough Building holding office hours, and the next day he's in New York or Los Angeles or somewhere in between. Reed majored in marketing at Geneva College and Robert Morris, and sees the world through a marketing perspective. As Mayor, he sees his job as marketing Coraopolis to the world. This week, on a beautiful Spring day, he paused to reflect on his first 15 months in office.

"I underestimated the slowness of government,:" he admits. "The wheels turn verrry slowly. In the business world, you can turn a project on a dime. In government, even in a small town like this, everything just takes time."

But he still rates his first 15 months as a success.

"You have to look at the first third of a political term as a time for planting seeds. You have to establish relationships, lay groundwork, build connections." He's been making the rounds of local businesses, the Cornell School, Police, Fire Department and various other agencies. "I explained that it's not my intent to do their jobs or tell them how to do their jobs but rather to understand how they do their jobs and continually ask how I can help them do their jobs. We are so lucky here. We have so many great and talented people who are working very hard to keep this town running smoothly." Reed is thrilled with the buzz about Coraopolis. "We get several calls a month from businesses interested in locating here. Just this week one of our old Victorian houses went on the market for $250,000. We have people interested in partnering with us on various projects. The word is out there that Coraopolis is a town on the rise, and people want to come here and be part of it."

Some projects are moving slowly. Reed had the idea of removing the parking meters. But he and a councilman learned that if they did, people would grab downtown parking spaces in the morning and stay parked there all day, so customers couldn't get to the small businesses. So the parking meters are still there. However, he and several councilmen are in talks with companies to replace the coin meters with new ones using credit csrds. "A lot of people don't even carry pocket change anymore."

His big priorities right now are to improve borough communications, and to establish committees led by residents, not council members. An Arts Committee just had its first meeting. "I've visited other small towns with murals on the sides of buildings. In some cases, the murals themselves have become attractions; people visit the towns just to see all the murals. There's no reason we can't do that here. I'm no artist, but we have artists here, and I believe they could come up with a plan to use art to beautify the town."

Regular website updates and a newsletter "let us control our own narrative." He is determined people in Cory need to know on a regular basis exactly what their government is doing.

He's been heartened by the number of people who have come forth to volunteer for various tasks but believes there are a lot more out there who could be drawn into working on one committee or another. "I'm a collaborative Mayor. I'm an enabler. Government is a participant sport. The more people we have working on projects, the better our town can become."

Reed is an enthusiastic supporter of Hollow Oak Trust's plans for local trails. He wants the Ohio Valley Trail from the Montour Trail to the Sewickley Bridge, the Coraopolis Trail up Thorn Run and McCabes run, and the Robin Hill Trail connecting Thorn Run to Montour Woods, to become realities. "People can use these trails for jogging, hiking, biking, nature study, any number of things. Studies show that people and businesses are attracted to towns with trail networks."

Reed took great pride in being one of the workers blazing a trail from Cornell School to McCabes Run and back up.

"These trails are going to happen. Never before have we designated borough woodlands for public use, AND made them accessible. That'll be another opportunity for local residents to volunteer for work crews. Laying a trail requires a lot of volunteer labor."

One thing he's proud of and intends to maintain is Cory's budget condition. The borough is solidly in the black. Statewide, 80% of all towns and townships are in the red. That, he mentions, is due to Ray McCutcheon. "He's a very frugal Borough Manager, one of the best around."

But Reed also thinks McCutcheon could use some help. "I would like to hire a combination grant writer, marketing specialist and communications manager. Some Council members are already in favor of this. Could this person pay for their own salary? Could they bring in enough grants and attract enough businesses that whatever we paid them was more than balanced by income? I'n hoping to move on this in the next six months." Long term, he would like to find some way to add more downtown parking and more green space.

He is disappointed with the disconnect between reality and what is said on social media. "We have people who take Facebook, Twitter and other sites much too seriously. I see businesses moving in, our Shade Tree Commission planting trees and setting out flowers, a committee staging a Halloween Festival, the Riverfront Park, trails and other projects moving right along, the train station in progress, our really progressive school system, all these great things happening every day, and then I go online and read dozens of negative comments. We've done millions of dollars in street and road work over the last few years and people are online complaining that their alley has potholes. It takes time to get around to every street and alley and it will take time for Riverfront Park to become a reality and so on, but the critics on social media want to paint a negative picture that is just not true."

This, he emphasizes, is another reason why the Borough needs its own Newsletter. "We have to let the people know the positive things that are happening. If we're silent, those negative voices will prevail." But he's optimistic. "This is a great job. How many people get to spend their time as the spokesman, the advocate, for a town as exciting, as promising, as Coraopolis? I feel very very blessed."

Kevin Edwards

Licensed Physical Therapist

19 Years of Experience

412-262-1256

1541 State Avenue

Residents of Coraopolis will see dozens of out of town police vehicles, officers and dogs arriving in town Sunday.

Don't panic. There's no major crime scene.

A major police dog certification is being held in Coraopolis beginning at 8 a.m. Monday and extending through Thursday afternoon.

K-9 units from across Pennsylvania will be here for the trials.

Headquarters for the week will be at the Masonic Lodge on Maple Street. Various fields in town will be used for the different kinds of competitions.

The Coraopolis Police are hosting the event.

Spectators are welcome but this is not primarily a spectator event and no seating or other provisions are set up for those wanting to watch.

Evaluating candidates for District Judge is difficult because all three candidates are well qualified. But two qualities Max Feldman offers that separate him from the other two are Longevity and Business Background.

The Western Hills District Judgeship has been vacant for almost two years. To fill the void, the County has rotated other judges in every month. While the men and women rotating through have all been good judges, they have had different styles and backgrounds, so local rulings have been inconsistent. And since those judges have not been from this area, locals have complained they have not always worked the entire day and not always worked five days a week.

Feldman promises to change that.

He's been in Coraopolis 30 years. He's run the same law practice in the same 5th Avenue building all that time, raised his family here, and represented Cory, Moon, Neville and Crescent clients all that time.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm 56. I have no ambitions to become a Common Pleas Judge or State Superior Court Judge or anything else. If I'm elected, I'll be the Western Hills District Judge for the long term. I'll establish a consistency that's been missing here."

Feldman also promises to extend working hours. "We need late afternoon and evening hours. Adults in this community work, and most of them work during the daytime. Kids here go to school. A night court one or more evenings a week would allow those people to take care of their legal issues without missing work or school. I've worked long hours ever since I opened this law practice, so working evenings is nothing new to me."

Feldman also feels his business background would be an asset. "We came here with $4000, two sons and a baby on the way. A law practice is a small business, and we started this one from scratch. We had to remodel the building. We have to maintain records, file taxes, supervise employees, do all the things any small business does. The District Judge, in addition to hearing cases, has to administer the court. It's like running a small business. You have to keep records, file reports, supervise employees, all the same tasks. My background qualifies me to do those things."

Feldman sees a District Judge almost as a parent figure. "Sometimes you have to impose consequences, but other times you have to show compassion. We have repeat and violent offenders and they need dealt with. But for light offenses or first time offenders, sometimes community service, counseling and therapy are better alternatives."

He also sees Respect as a key component. "A District Judge has to earn the respect of the community. But he also has to respect the people who come before him, treat them professionally, listen to their side of things. Another important aspect of this is a District Judge has to respect the Police. We have good Police in this area. They work hard and sometimes risk their lives. When they bring a case to the Judge, they deserve to have that case taken seriously. So does the community."

Fortunately, he sees the Western Hills as a great community. "This is a safe community. We have good Police and good people. The drug flow through here worries me, and I think a lot of the other activities, the thefts, vandalism, violent confrontations, and even traffic violations, stem from drugs most of the time. But for the most part, what we have are kids and adults who make less than good decisions more than chronic offenders trying to get away with serious crime."

One issue people are asking candidates about this year is the location of District Court in the old Volante's Building. Feldman doesn't see that location as a problem. "It's central. There's plenty of parking. It's easy to get to. It's right on the bus line."

He does see the position as coming full circle. "This position would allow me to give back some of what Cory has given to my family and to me."

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Michele Santicola stopped in briefly at Cory's Anchor & Anvil coffe shop on her way from a court hearing in Pittsburgh to her branch office in Beaver. Her life right now is a whirlwind of activity as she is both a practicing attorney and a candidate for the vacant District Judgeship for Coraopolis/Moon/Neville/Crescent.

A lot of people think Santicola is out of her mind for even considering walking away from a successful private law practice for the much lower paying Judgeship. She doesn't see it that way.

"How much money do you need?" she asks. "I like making a difference. I've worked in both the public and private sectors. The most excited I ever was to go to work every morning was when I worked in the public sector."

She sees the District Judgeship as an opportunity to do good. "You have the ability as a judge to pull together all sorts of resources and help people. Yes, you meet some rather unsavory characters, and some incorrigibles, and you have to deal sternly with them. But you also have this kid standing before you who is in for his first offense. He might have a good job opportunity, or a chance to go to college. If you sentence him to community service, he still gets to take that job or go to college and five years down the road he's a useful citizen. If you send him to jail you wipe out those opportunities. Five years down the road, for lack of any other opportunities, that kid may be standing before you again, this time a habitual offender. The law's important. But the way we administer the law makes a huge difference."

The District Judgeship has been vacant for two years. Judges from around the county have been rotating through, each one spending one week every several months in Cory hearing cases.

Santicola doesn't like this. "These judges don't know the communities. And they're not consistent. One judge is a hardliner, the next judge lenient. So what kind of sentence you get depends on your luck in which week your case comes up."

Right now, a temporary courtroom sits in the Volante's Building. It's too small and not well designed. Santicola wishes the new Coraopolis Borough Building had included a courtroom. Some local businesses wish the County would move the court entirely out of town, but she doesn't see this happening. When newspapers and TV stations repeatedly report cases as being in Cory, it sounds as if Coraopolis has a serious crime problem. The truth is, most cases come from Moon Township. But cases from Moon, Crescent and Neville are all tried in Cory, in addition to the few cases originating in the borough.

Santicola would be an activist judge. "I'd go talk to schools. We have to work with kids before they come before a judge. I would explain to them, 'Look, we love you, but this is a nation of laws. We obey laws here. You do not want to come before me."

While in private practice, she has adopted Mooncrest as a personal project. She has spent hours there as a volunteer. At Christmas, she set up a program that let kids buy presents for two adults, either their parents or whoever was caring for them.

"Every kid thanked me. They'd never before been able to actually give anything to any one. These are good kids. They just don't have anything. I mean nothing."

Santicola leans forward, getting intense. "People ask me how I can find the time to work up there when I'm busy with my law practice and my own family. Listen : Kids Are Going Hungry. They Don't Have Enough To Eat. This Is America. This Is Unacceptable. We Have to FIND Time."

She gets impatient with people who tell her various programs aren't possible. "Don't tell me why we can't do these things. Tell me how we can."

Santicola is trying to talk local schools into saving their unused cafeteria food, refrigerating or freezing it, packing it, and sending it home with kids Friday for the weekend. Other school districts in Pennsylvania already do this. "So I have people telling me, well, there are these regulations, and we don't have room, and all these reasons why we can't do it. I said, hold it, other districts had the same problems and found a way around them. Our kids are just as hungry as theirs were and we're throwing away all this good food. We Can Do This."

District Judges schedule one day a week for criminal cases, one day for civil cases, one day a week for traffic cases, and so on. It's a busy caseload. And every single case tests the judge's judgement, sensitivity, patience and faith in people. "I'm old enough I like to think I've learned to read people. I can usually tell who just made a single really bad decision and needs a break, and who is a habitual offender and deserves consequences."

Santicola is also a strong advocate of local teen jobs programs. "Kids can work. They need to work. Kids who are working and earning money are not getting in trouble."

Former Coraopolis Borough Council Member Ed Pitassi has announced his candidacy for the First Ward seat being vacated by Calvin Jackson.

Jackson is not running for reelection.

Pitassi was a former Council member but lost in the last election to Melissa Walsh. Each Ward has two seats. Jackson has held the other seat.

While not on the Council for the last two years, Pitassi has busied himself on the Coraopolis Shade Tree Commission and with various issues concerning the Coraopolis Library. As the County and State have concerned themselves with stormwater runoff and air quality, they have become concerned with the number of trees per acre and have issued new requirements. Towns are using various strategies to meet these requirements. Coraopolis is doing it with its Shade Tree Commission, which cares for existing trees and continually plants new ones.

Among its duties, the Shade Tree Commission hosts the annual Arbor Day Trash Pickup Day, which this year is April 27. "When we started several years ago we would get five people," Pitassi says. "Now we get 60-70. It's become a good event."

Pitassi admits with the Shade Tree Commission and the Memorial Library he's kept busy since losing his seat. So why bother to run again?

"Voice," he says. "When I approach people as a volunteer worker, I have limited input. As a member of Council, my voice means so much more."

His will not be a negative campaign. "Council has been doing a great job. Ray McCutcheon is a great Borough Manager. There's no political foolishness. They see problems and they set about solving them. McCutcheon does the work of three people. I don't know how he does it. As a small town, we have a limited budget, but he goes after those grants and we've been able to leverage a small amount of money into an awful lot of street and road work and other projects."

Still, Pitassi sees issues nobody else seems to be prioritizing and he'd like to address.

"I'd like to go after Streetscape Grants. I've been to other towns that have done such wonderful things with their streetscapes, and I'd like to do those things here. People like to live and shop in towns with aesthetically attractive streets. Businesses like to locate in those places. This is a great town but we could dress it up a little. We've already done some things, but we could do more."

He'd like to tie in street work, water projects and the Shade Tree Commission. "The County and State are aggressively promoting the idea that each town should control the water flow, not just the drinking water and sewage, but all water, the water from rain and snowmelt and streams flowing through town, the guy watering his lawn or garden, the water sucked up by trees and bushes. Well, you can't do that in isolation. Our water lines are under our streets. Every water project has to tear up the streets. When we tear up our streets and then repave them, we should be including trees in the planning."

And that extends to the woods around town. "We are so lucky here. The Hollow Oak Land Trust is hoping to build hiking trails in the woods around town. We should look at those for more than trails. Very few towns have these woods on all sides. We've taken them so much for granted. They beautify the area, soak up water and release it slowly, offer recreation, reduce air pollution, all sorts of things. But we should be paying more attention to those woods, protect them, make sure they're safe, here for the future. For example, we had that wonderful park, and then we used it for the school. It's a nice school, but surely we could have built it somewhere else and not sacrificed that park."

He'd like to make hiring a grantwriter a top priority. "Ray can't do every thing. Right now, he's meeting with officials from various agencies, filling out all the paperwork for every project in town, handling all the office duties, taking care of the budget, and then trying to write grants. He's gotten us lots of grants but imagine how much more we could do with someone who only sat in the office and wrote grant applications. If we ever lost Ray we'd have to hire three people to do what he does. We can't go on like this."

As he talks to people around town, Pitassi has learned that there are lots of residents who would like to get involved with one project or another. "There are a lot of talented people in Cory. All of us together can accomplish so much more than each of us acting individually."

Pitassi was born and raised in Coraopolis and has lived here all his life. "This is a great town. I love it here. I didn't fully appreciate it until I became an adult. People don't realize how much planning and decision making goes into every little detail of life in Coraopolis. The Memorial Day Parade, the Little League, snow removal, maintenance of the parks, Christmas ceremonies, every detail, has people behind the scenes making sure they run smoothly. I have the time and energy and good health to contribute and I want to do it."

Coraopolis Borough Council worked its way through an extensive agenda at its April work session and business meeting.

Heading the priority list was the condition of Montour and Vine Streets and the need to begin their repair and reconstruction immediately.

The Montour Street situation is complicated by the fact that it is officially a county/state road and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, not Coraopolis, is responsible.

The location is along the cliffs between Highland and Ferree, where to the right the terrain drops steeply down to McCabes Run and Brook Street. At some point a crack opened up in the foundation of Montour Street and over a year or so it widened, allowing rainwater and snow and ice melt to erode the dirt on which the street rests. Now, there is literally a small cave (photo, right) extending under the street with the pavement being the roof of the cave. Fracture lines are extending across the street and one crack is lengthening daily.

Council members have visited the spot and Borough Manager Ray McCuteheon has notified PennDot, which has sent inspectors out. They agree the situation demands immediate attention and have promised to send crews out to (l) pump concrete into the cave, and (2) strip away and redo the surface of Montour Street. They promise to do both by mid May. The problem is 20 school buses travel up to Sacred Heart and back down twice each day, passing directly over the hole. So do a dozen dump trucks loaded with fill from construction sites, plus the usual traffic as people go to and from work and to and from downtown Coraopolis.

And it gets worse. When those PennDot crews arrive, they will close off Montour Street at Vine Street and Vance Avenue, detouring all traffic to Vine. But Vine is also in very bad shape. Councilman Danny LaRocco receives complaints every day from his constituents demanding to know when he's going to get something done about Vine Street. The photo at left shows the intersection of Vine and Ridge Avenue. There have been patches on top of patches on top of patches. A complete reconstruction is needed, to include sidewalks, curbs and storm sewers.

The problem with Vine Street is it was never intended as a major street. Until recently, Vine above Vance Avenue wasn't even paved. It was a gravel alley. Longtime Cory residents can recall sledriding down Vine. Suddenly, it's being used as a major shortcut from Moon Township to Route 51. The paving was never intended to handle this much traffic, especially school buses, dump trucks and commercial vehicles. This reconstruction should strengthen it considerably, but with its tight turns, steep grade and narrow width, Vine is still not suitable for the traffic using it.

Council also reviewed paving work to be done on Cable Way, Prospect, Chess and Southern Avenues.

Council's next issue involved Guinea Hens loose on Vance Avenue. Two neighbors (that's Kim Daniels handing out materials in the photo at right) explained to Council that a local resident has acquired the birds. There is no coop, no fence, no enclosure. The birds are free ranging. They squawk and call all day and night, drop waste on sidewalks and yards, and peck at dogs and cats.

"I have guinea hens roaming around my backyard," Daniels explained. "I don't own any birds. Why do I have guinea hens in my yard?"

Council admitted it has no ordinance referring to free ranging domestic birds and may need to create one.

In the meantime, Police Chief Ron Denbow promised his men would be notifying the birds' owners that they must confine the birds to their own yard and should control the nighttime squawking.

Council discussed the 2019 grass cutting contract. The two bids were for $10,825 and $8,550. One company promises to cut the banks (as the Library bank, shown at left) with weedwhackers. Several Council members pointed out that previous companies trying to mow the slopes with regular mowing equipment dug deep ruts which are unsightly, a problem since the Library sits on State Avenue and the bank is highly visible. The ruts also lead to erosion.

Cub Scout Pack #358 and Abundant Life Ministries asked Council to waive their fees for renting Little League Park and the Fifth Avenue Gazebo. Council members pointed out that the $200 deposit was to guarantee that groups clean up after themselves and as long as that is done they get their deposit back. After a lengthy discussion Council voted not to waive the fees.

Council approved a plaque honoring Randy Cosgrove to be placed at Bliwas Park. Cosgrove was a longtime Little League administrator and advocate but died recently.

Danny LaRocco brought up the issue of parking on George Street between Vance and Ridge. He explained that cars and trucks parking there on both sides make the street too narrow for police, fire and ambulance vehicles to get through.

Major Shawn Reed explained to Council that he had recently attended a meeting of the Regional Asset Agency, where he learned that Moon and Cory could combine park acreage and apply for a single develoipment grant.

This would help them qualify for the grants, which have a minimum park size and previously neither Moon nor Coraopolis could qualify

Reed also talked about trails. Cory has paid $5500 to the Hollow Oak Trust to develop a Thorn Run Hollow - McCabes Hollow trail (see photos, right and below). Thorn Run Hollow begins near the far western corner of Coraopolis, where Thorn Run (Creek) passes under Route 51 and 5th Avenue and empties into the Ohio River. Thorn Hollow Drive follows the creek up the hollow for two blocks, then dead ends. A trail would begin there and go up the hollow, behind and far below Southern, Summit and St. Clair Drives. The trail would follow the edge of the Cemetery, cross to the Cornell School District campus, and drop into McCabes Hollow. Exactly where it would go from there is uncertain, but one option would be to follow McCabes Creek up the wooded hollow into Moon township, then follow the Power Line Trail up to Montour Street and down behind Sacred Heart to the Montour Trail.

The Montour Trail would bring a hiker back into Coraopolis. The Ohio Valley trail, now under construction, would continue through Coraopolis back to Thorn Run.

The Ohio Valley Trail's future is uncertain. The original route across the Sewickley Bridge was been vetoed due to heavy traffic. So Coraopolis may be building a trail which dead ends at the western edge of town. Nevertheless, both Mayor Reed and Council believe in the Ohio River Trail concept. It could stand alone just as a pleasant trail from one end of town to the other along the river, especially if the Coraopolis Riverfront Park becomes a reality.

In a final item of business, Ray McCutcheon pointed out that Coraopolis has paid Waste Management $16,000 to take all old electronics, so local residenrs should take advantage.

Council approved Arbor Day and Drug Recycling programs. For details see separate stories below.

The annual Coraopolis Arbor Day Trash Pickup will be held this year on Saturday, April 27 from 9 am til noon.

Volunteers should report to Riverfront Park (1st Avenue & Broadway) at 8:30 am, hopefully with a pair of rubber gardening gloves and trash bags. (If you forget yours, or don't have one, officials will have extras at the Park.) Light refreshments will be available.

This is a work session so crews will be working rain or shine.

The idea is to walk streets and/or alleys from one end of town to the other and pick up any trash found.

Vehicles will be available for bulky items, like abandoned furniture.

Coraopolis does not really have a major litter problem, but it may be days like this that make sure one doesn't develop.

Cory's annual pick up day has far surpassed original expectations. "We were lucky to get five that first year, and now we attract 60-70 on a sunny day," explained Ed Pitassi of the sponsoring Shade Tree Commission.

The Coraopolis Police Department is hosting a Drug Take Back Day Saturday, April 27, from 10 am through 2 pm at its 4th Avenue station.

The goal is to rid Coraopolis of old drugs sitting in medicine cabinets, bedroom drawers, on night tables, in the kitchen or in purses.

Those drugs pose a huge problem. Sometimes kids or pets find and use them. Sometimes people think the drugs are still good and take them. Sometimes well meaning family members, while cleaning the house, find them and flush them down the toilet, throw them in the trash or dump them down the garbage disposal.

All of these are dangerous. The drugs can harm or even kill pets and kids. Not only are old drugs no longer effective, but they may have begun to deteriorate and can cause harm. They can also interact with other, newer drugs. Disposing of them in the sewer system, trash or garbage disposal can put the drugs in the water system. Water purification plants do not remove pharmaceuticals, so the chemicals in the drugs end up in drinking water.

The Police turn the drugs over to the DEA, which is equipped to destroy the drugs, reducing them to basic, harmless, chemicals.

The Neville Board of Commissioners has learned the simple process of installing a cell phone tower is a lot more complicated than they thought.

Neville's original cell phone tower was part of a factory facility which is being dismantled, so they need a replacement. Federal regulations do not permit a cell phone tower in a residential area, so they need to find a site elsewhere. They chose an open acre of land behind the Speedway station next to I-79, and contracted Windstream to build it.

Then, as required by law, they searched the history of that acre all the way back to 1905. Turns out it has a complex history. Harry Dravo owned it at one point. The old Neville Railroad, whose assets are now owned by CNN, had a right of way through that acre. Duquesne Light, Columbia Gas and Buckeye Pipeline all have easements. There are lines running underground and overhead. Neville will still get its cell phone tower, but it may have to be moved to one side of that acre to avoid all the easements. The Board may try to schedule a meeting of all easement owners so they can resolve the various issues quickly.

The Board discussed a new regulation requiring each tenant in a multi-tenant building to have their own trash container not to exceed 96 gallons in capacity. Waste Management Company also asks that residents stop using wooden slat platforms for trash containers, as trash falls down between the cracks and attracts animals. WMC also reminded everyone that trash must be bagged.

The Board approved a new chain link fence to replace the Memorial Park fence that was destroyed by wind over the Winter. Pieces of the old one have been removed.

Bids for the meeting room sound system came in too high and another round of bids will be invited.

The Board discussed the new parking restrictions on parking near the I-79 intersection on Grand Avenue. Signage has been erected.

General reconstruction of the Fleming Park Bridge is on schedule and the bridge should reopen no later than August. But an emergency has arisen. Sandblasting damaged the water lines running along the side of the bridge. 40 bolts on the dresser couplings must be replaced immediately. The Board authorized $2,720.72 to pay Mosites Construction Company to replace the bolts. Engineer Ned Mitrovich had warned the Board at the February meeting that these pipes were overdue for replacement anyway.

The Commissioners repealed an out of date regulation and passed a new one governing design, location, placement, building and maintenance of wireless communications towers or other devices.

The Solicitor pointed out that the new 5G routers are often installed atop existing utility poles but each one only serves four or five houses in the immediate vacinity.

The Police Report listed 105 traffic citations.

Columbia Gas has revised its stormwater runoff plan for its parking lot. The new plan has been properly submitted.

A problem has been discovered at the West View Water Treatment plant. A sludge layer has developed which must be transferred to the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN).

The Solicitor pointed out that the Commissioners needed a law requiring a back flow device on water lines. A new regulation requires that the township enforce this standard. Because of events in places like Flint Michigan, Martin County Kentucky, and the city of Pittsburgh, water quality regulations are being tightened. More frequent sampling will now be required. The backflow devices are part of this tightening process. Because of low pressure events caused by frozen pipes, rapid emptying of water hydants while fighting a fire, or leakage from a broken pipe, contaminated water can flow backward into a home's clean water reservoir. The backflow device prevents this, mostly by maintaining an air gap in the pipe. Inspection is needed to guarantee compliance, and a data base must be maintained which an inspector can ask for at any time. To deal with this, most communities outsource the job of installing the backflow devices and maintaining the backflow database.

Mitrovich informed the Board that they needed to resume their policy of checking 20 meters a month. This policy had been temporarily suspended due to a manpower shortage.

Considerable discussion focused on the Salt Storage & Maintenance Building. The Commissioners had talked about this in previous meetings. Several liked the idea of T Walls. It was decided two members would visit the building and help Mitrovich decide which type of walls to install. However, several members also asked if the building could not be remodelled so the island street sweeper could be housed there during the Winter months. New regulations about highway salt storage discussed at the February meeting are forcing the township to build a new building.

Sue Etters (photo, above right) wanted to know why properties and alleys were allowed to deteriorate. She particularly objected to deep potholes in alleys in her neighborhood. She was told work is prioritized and the street crew gets to each job as quickly as possible. The holes in her alley have, in fact, been fixed. Finally, she asked about a cell phone tower harming area residents. She was told the proposed cell tower will be across the interstate from the nearest house and there is no record of a cell phone tower emitting waves strong enough to affect anyone that far away.

The Commissioners approved $14,395.50 to Independent Enterprises for the Walnut Street Drainage Improvement Project.

Commissioners were made aware of a sinkhole which has opened up at the corner of Grand and Second.

Official notification has been sent to Pennske about it being in violation of several standards.

Calgon is on schedule in revising its compliance policy and should have completed that process by the end of the month.

The final item discussed was the issue of broken glass during trash pickup in the Mansionettes. The large amount of broken glass damaged the seal on the Waste Management Truck. This broken glass was in the trash. The truck has been repaired, but WMC would like for this not to happen again.

They also encouraged volunteers to participate in the annual Earth Day Litter Pickup Saturday April 27 from 9 - noon. Volunteers should meet at the Fire Station.

And they reminded everyone of the upcoming Memorial Day Parade in Coraopolis on Monday at 1:30, during which commemorative services will be held, and the services at the Neville Island Honor Roll at 3 pm Sunday.

District Representative Anita Kulik opened the Neville Board of Commissioners February meeting by offering to help in whatever ways the Board might need. For example, she offered to add a letter from her office to any grant applications the Island might file. She mentioned possible riverfront park grants or public safety grants. Kulik (photo, right) said she was the only member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to have an inhabited island in her district and she took great pride in that. Kulik is a Carnegie native whose district includes much of the Western Hills.

Township Engineer Ned Mitrovich then went over a long list of items needing approval or attention. One of the major items was Highway Salt. The Island has been storing its salt in a facility under the I-79 inrerchange. But they have been notified that will no longer be possible. They are planning a new facility on Front River Road. But there are new 2019 regulations. Tarps or temporary covers are no longer allowed. Salt must be stored in a facility rain can no longer reach. Salt must not be able to mix with water and drain either along the surface or through the soil. Dissolved salt can no longer enter the river or the aquifers. This requires a paved floor in the storage facility. The floor must be sloped so it drains away from the doors, not toward them. Neville stores about 80 tons of salt each year, which it gradually draws down as the Winter progresses. A quonset hut was mentioned. A large tent is a possibility, but in all likelihood the state will not approve that because during a storm the tent could be torn or blown away and rain could reach the salt. A cone is a possibility. The structure must be high enough for equipment to load the truck. Neighbors expressed concern that they would be wakened by noise in the middle of the night as crews loaded the salt onto trucks. But they were assured that each snow only takes one truckful, and the truck is usually loaded the previous afternoon in anticipation. The fact the salt facility would be extremely close to the river poses problems which must be carefully considered and planned for.

The second major item Mitrovich mentioned was the replacement of water pipes, expansion joints and hanging brackets along the side of the Fleming Park Bridge now under a year's reconstruction. He told the Board those items were way overdue for replacement anyway. There's a walkway that runs along the pipeline so replacement will not be difficult.

He also informed the Council that the 2" water lines running along streets and roads will need upgrading to 6" lines. All the water lines run down the middle of the streets and roads under the pavement. Sewage lines run along the shoulders of streets and roads, sometimes under pavement, like sidewalks or curbs, but sometimes under dirt or gravel surfaces.

Shawn Carmody (photo, left), representing Jola Properties LLC, requested that the Board reduce the bond issue his client carries from $312, 843 to $75, 242. The bond is to guarantee Jola install fencing, lights, a traffic light, handicap ramp, landscaping and a properly paved and sealed parking lot. The lot under discussion was the former Biofuels building and grounds which front on Neville Road. Carmody explained that Jola had a tenant moving into the property March 1 and will have all the required details finished by sometime in March except for the landscaping, which has to wait for Spring. After some discussion, Council decided it had imposed a low bond to begin with and has never increased it due to inflation during the last four years. They explained they follow an ordinance and the purpose of a bond was to guarantee companies finished the job. So they declined to reduce the bond.

The Board discussed a new ordinance to govern installation of wireless antennae. Verizon had applied for a permit to install such antennae and the Board realized they had no regulations covering this. The main purpose of the ordinance was to cover how high and wide an antenna could be.

The Police report noted 18 alarms and 115 traffic citations, mostly for speeding on Neville Road. Some residents asked the Police about impatient drivers travelling through the traffic light then making a very extended left turn onto the I-79 entrance ramp rather thsn waiting for the left turn signal.

The Board approved a Frank Bryan plan to subdivide and develop several industrial lots between Neville Road and the Ohio River's Back Channel.

Coraopolis Borough Council breezed through a light list of topics at its February meeting but did focus on an ADA ramp and a pavement rupture on Neely Heights.

Council members convened at 6 pm and watched a Black History Month presentation before a packed chamber.

Then, at the very beginning of the actual meeting, Michael Williams of Fawcett Street (photo, right) regretfully submitted his resignation as a Council member. His growing family has required Fawcett to find a larger house so he is moving out of the community.

Both Council member Calvin Jackson of Highland Avenue and Roosevelt Jones (photo, below) of First Avenue expressed concern about the ADA ramp at Shelley Jones Park. At the intersection of First and Mill, there have been two ADA ramps. Jones and Jackson have noticed that the one ADA ramp has been eliminated, replaced by a high curb. The Engineer explained that the ADA ramp in question was not in compliance with current ADA regulations, so had to be replaced.

Furthermore, Mill Street gradually descends from the railroad crossing, and there has been a problem with water flow building up and flooding into the park. A high curb was needed to address this issue. So a new, compliant ADA ramp has been installed about two car lengths further down. It does require a little maneuvering around but offers a better slope. The park and the pavillion are still 100% handicap accessible.

John Pessy of Summit Street informed Council that there is a growing problem on Neely Heights. The Woodlawn Drive pavement is erupting, bad enough to be a traffic hazard, and the eruption is daily moving further down the street toward Main Street. The bulge is already a block long. Pessy said he believed the water line running below the street has burst. Because of the cold temperatures water is not reaching the surface but is freezing and pushing up the pavement. As soon as temperatures warm, the water will flow freely. He suggested a crew needs to inspect the site immediately and begin work.

Pessy also noted the rising costs of car repair on a police vehicle, pointing out that every month he is seeing these costs appearing on the invoices presented to Council. He was told that a new police car has been ordered and will replace the aging car needing all the repairs.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon reported that as soon as the weather breaks, work will begin on traffic signal replacement at the 4th Avenue and Mulberry intersection.

Police Chief Ron Denbow reported 1522 phone calls, 278 complaints, 144 criminal investigations, 18 arrests, 12 accidents, one injury, 15 moving vehicle violations and 16 alarms for the month.

Mayor Shawn Reed reported that he has been asked to join a University Boulevard Planning Commission because even though the boulevard is in Moon, any changes may impact Coraopolis and Route 51. Reed also informed Council a developmental planning organization had visited Coraopolis earlier that day.

Because of the weather, no street or road work has been done, but road crews have been working 20 hour shifts to keep streets and roads salted and plowed.

Longtime Moon resident and local attorney Corrie Woods announced this week he will seek both the Democrat and Republican nominations for Magisterial District Judge.

The judgeship would preside over Coraopolis, Neville Island, Crescent Township and Moon Township.

Woods promises not to seek or accept contributions or endorsements from political parties, candidates, committees or interest groups.

"I want the support of the voters themselves," he explained. "I believe our community deserves a judge committed to serving them, not to serving politicians, donors and other insiders. I plan to run a grassroots campaign, ignoring typical paths to political success."

Woods went on to say that "once in office, I would dedicate myself to performing my duties, not running for reelection or running for some other office. Therefore, if elected, I would serve a single full term, and not try to use the position as a stepping stone to a higher public office. I am not interested in trying to amass political power."

Before founding Woods Law Offices, Corrie served as a judicial staff attorney with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and a judicial staff attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of West Virginia. He has earlier legal experience with the Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender, as well as state consumer protection and civil rights law enforcement agencies. Corrie graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he served on the University of Pittsburgh Law Review and received awards for excellence in the study of constitutional law and criminal appeals. Corrie also graduated summa cum laude with valedictory honors from West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences.

The primary election will be May 21.

The Judgeship has been vacant since former District Judge Mary Murray was named to the Pennsylvania State Superior Court in 2017.

At its February work session, the Cornell School Board approved the hiring of Jeff Korczyk as a Law Enforcement Liaison Officer. Korczyk (seated at right in photo below) is a 37 year veteran of the Bethel Park, Allegheny County and New York City Police Departments who retired in December.

His official title with Cornell will be School Resource Officer. Korczyk will be armed and in the event of an armed attacker at the school, he is authorized to intervene in whatever way is needed. He is trained and experienced in dealing with active shooters. However, he will not wear an official police uniform. He and Cornell administrators are designing a more civilian dress style.

Korczyk explained to the Board that he will not be there to enforce daily discipline. It will not be his job to tell students to remove their hats or sun glasses. Instead, he will serve in an educational capacity. He will meet with classes to talk about cyberbullying, internet behavior, behaviors to avoid, how to respond when adults behave in suspicious ways, what to do in crises, how to react to uniformed police officers, etc. With students in grades K-12, there are lots of classes to meet with on lots of different topics.

Korczyk majored in Education at Thiel College, but upon graduation he found out schools were cutting back and there were no teaching jobs. So he took a job in law enforcement while he waited for teaching jobs to open up.

Then he began rising in the law enforcement ranks and just stayed with it. He worked in homicide, narcotics and drug enforcement, becoming a Lieutenant.

Korczyk became acquainted with Coraopolis Police Chief Ron Denbow (seated at left in the photo at left) through various drug sting operations in the Western Hills.

"With Jeff's help, we took 85 drug dealers off the streets," Denbow told the Board. "We really cleaned up western Allegheny County. There's a lot less drug traffic here now because of him."

Denbow has been advising Cornell Superintendant Aaron Thomas to hire a permanent on campus laison officer because no matter how fast he and his men respond, they cannot get to the hilltop school in time to deal with a shooter.

"To think it can never happen here is a very dangerous attitude," Denbow explained. "We've learned it can happen anywhere."

Denbow used Tree of Life as an example. "Who in the world would have imagined we would see an attack on a synagogue? These school attacks have happened in suburban communities filled with good kids. We have to realize : It Can Happen Anywhere."

Korzcyk will work closely with the Coraopolis and Ohio Township Police. "I'm here to protect our kids," he emphasized. "Whatever it takes. We want our kids to feel safe. We want our parents to know their kids are safe."

Cornell is already a fortress. During the school day, any visitor must come to the door and buzz in. Once a school official admits them, they first pass through a small room adjacent to the office and sign in. Then they must come down a long narrow hall before reaching classrooms or other areas where students might be. So it's already difficult for a shooter to get to the students. Now, they'll be met at the door by Korzcyk, who will add an additional safeguard. As a certified police officer, he has the power to arrest.

"We have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst," Thomas said. "Better safe than sorry."

Korzcyk will conduct drills to prepare students for emergencies. He's trained in how to defuse dangerous situations without using his firearm.

"My Dad worked for Chester Engineering," Korzcyk explained. "When I started Chief White was in charge here. So I'm familiar with the town. I like it here."

In other business, Peter Vancheri (photo, above), representing the firm of Hosack, Specht, Muetzel and Wood, reviewed the recent audit of school finances. Cornell saw revenue of $14 million and $15 million of expenditures. The revenues were 65% local, 29% state and 6% federal. So the district overspent by $817 thousand. But such an "overage" is not unusual. Some property taxes are late in coming in, and were not yet in by the time the audit closed the books. It is not possible to accurately forecast substitute teacher costs, or to forecast how many students will choose to attend Parkway West Vocation Center (to which Cornell then pays tuitions), how many students will enroll in cyberschool courses, or how many students will be classified Special Education.

"Small school districts routinely have swings. Some years they're over and some under. There's nothing here to worry about, no weaknesses, no noncompliance. The district is in solid financial shape."

Vancheri also reported that Cornell has a $20 million 900 thousand net pension liability, meaning the eventual future projected payouts for retirements. This is within the expected range of what would be expected of a school district of this size.

Stephanie Mazzocco reported that the Parkway West Vocational Center is adding a program in Diesel Engine Servicing. Dealers and repair centers across Western Pennsylvania are demanding trained specialists in this field. Currently there is a critical shortage. Parkway West is also adding a Veterinarian Assistant program. The Vocational Center serves 12 school districts.

The Board approved the annual Biology field trip to Wallops Island, Va. to the Chincoteague Bay Field Station. Students will spend four days at Wallops Island (photos above and right) studying Marine Biology. The Board also approved the ninth grade trip to Gettysburg National Park, the band trip to Cedar Point, and Miriam Klein's trip to the Book Expo in New York City.

Local attorney Michele Santicola this week declard her candidacy for District Judge, seeking the nomination of both Democrat and Republican parties.

Ms. Santicola is a graduate of Duquesne University and the Dickinson College of Law. She has practiced law for 20 years.

Santicola began her career as a Deputy Attorney General in the office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General. She handled both civil and criminal cases, directed and supervised invesrigations, and presented cases to the Pennsylvania Grand Jury. She also argued cases before the Superior and Commonwealth Courts.

She then went into private practice. She has also worked for Corporate Security Investigations (CSI). In 2012 Santicola was appointed as the Hearing Examiner for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. She held that job for four years, then returned to private practice.

She has recently served on the Moon Township Board of Supervisors, as a trustee on the Moon Area Education Foundation and as a member of the Moon School Board's Superintendant Search Committee.

She and husband Mike and their two children reside in Moon Township, where they attend St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.

The primary election will be held May 21.

Rosetta Perry will be honored this week at the National Newspaper Publishers Conference in Orlando. She will be given the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ms. Perry attended McKinley Elementary and Coraopolis Junior High and graduated from Coraopolis High School in 1952 as Rosetta Miller. She was the daughter of the late Anderson and Mary Irvin Miller. The family, which included nine children, lived at 866 First Avenue.

Upon leaving Coraopolis, Ms. Perry entered the Navy, eventually being assigned to the Adjutant General's Office in Germany and then to the Pentagon. After her military service, she earned a degree in Chemistry from the University of Memphis and continued her education at Meharry Medical College and Tennessee State University. In 1960 she became involved with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Dr. Martin Luther King. She was assigned to cover the Memphis Garbage Strike as a reporter and later covered the FBI investigation of Dr. King, his assassination, and the events that followed. In 1975 she was named Director of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Perry retired from the Commission in 1990 to found the Tennessee Tribune, which she still runs. In 1998 she created the Cebrun Journalism Center to train young Journalists. Memphis State University created the Rosetta Miller Scholarship in her honor.

Coraopolis attorney Max Feldman annouced this week he would be seeking the position of District Judge.

Feldman has practiced family, civil and criminal law in the Western Hills for 29 years.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Feldman earned his B.A. from Penn State, then his law degree from the University of Dayton. While there, he was editor of the Dayton Law Review. He served as Law Clerk for Judge Shad Connelly in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas for two years, then returned to Allegheny County to go into private practice and become a Moon Township resident.

The local judicial district includes Coraopolis, Neville, Moon and Crescent Townships. The Judgeship has been vacant since former District Judge Mary Murray was named to the Pennsylvania State Superior Court in 2017.

Feldman and wife Carolyn have four sons, two of whom practice law with him. One is an assistant wrestling coach at Moon Area High School.

"I have the legal experience and judicial temperament to be a fair and impartial judge," Feldman said in a prepared statement. "I have spent a great deal of time in family law and I know how difficult it can be for families to appear before a judge. I am a good listener. I know how to work with people."

Feldman is seeking both Democrat and Republican nominations for Judge.

The primary will be Tuesday, May 21st.

Saturday, August 11 from noon to 3 pm, Coraopolis Youth Creations will host its annual Back 2 School Bash at which they will distribute FREE day packs filled with school supplies.

In addition to the day packs and school supplies, food and games will be provided.

The food will include soft drinks, Snow Cones, hot dogs and popcorn.

A professional face painter will be there, along with a bounce house, prize wheel, football toss, plinko, tug of war rope, froggy fly fling, giant connect 4, animal toss, duck pond, bowling, pop bottle toss, spin art, corn hole, hamster ball and gaga ball.

There will be no admission. The event is possible thanks to donations by residents and businesses in Coraopolis.

The Fleming Park Bridge, which connects Neville Island with Stowe Township, will close next week and remain closed for a full year.

While closed, repairs and upgrades will be made to pavement, sidewalks, trusses and other details.

Coraopolis and Neville residents driving into McKees Rocks are advised to use Route 51 through Robinson, Kennedy and Stowe Townships. Those travelling into Pittsburgh are advised to use the I-79 Bridge over to the Ohio River Boulevard, and enter the city through the North Side.

The original Fleming Park Bridge was built in 1894. The current one replaced it in 1955

The former Coraopolis Municipal Building has sold for $150,100, it was announced Wednesday night at the Borough Council Meeting.

Several Council members commented that this was more than they had expected to get for the building, which will need a significant investment to remove mold and remodel it for any new use.

However, the back, facing State Avenue, does contain the old Fire House, which housed the fire engines, and that space could be rented right away for storage or indoor parking. And the parking lot next door, which was included with the building, could be rented for parking right away.

The building ssrved as the center for Coraopolis government and housed the Police and Fire Departments from 1929 until 2017, when all of those moved to the new Municipal Building on 4th Avenue. The Coraopolis Public Library was also housed in the basement from 1929 until 1952, when Leonard Cahen and Harry Houtz spearheaded a drive to raise the funds to build the Memorial Library on School Street.

The building could be torn down. It is not on the historic register and is not protected. But its interior spaces would be ideal for boutique outlets such as barbers, hairdressers, manicurists, tattoo artists, travel agents or specialty stores selling comic books, cigars, cards, or other items not requiring a full size storefront.

In other news, Police Chief Ron Denbow, shown at left, honored three members of the Coraopolis Canine Unit. Officer Shawn Quinn, shown at left, and canine partner Amore have received their certification for patrol, tracking, and narcotics detection. These certifications have to be earned again every year. On a sadder note, Chief Denbow told Council retired canine Rebel died last week. He has been cremated and his ashes will be retained in an urn. Chief Denbow emphasized that Rebel had served long and well in his duties and will be fondly remembered.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon announced that he and his staff are in the process of properly disposing of records going back 100 years. He emphasized that these are records of no value. Records that do have value, such as meeting minutes and tax records, are kept.

Denbow reported that for the last month Police had received 403 complaints, made 43 arrests, recovered one vehicle, issued 139 parking citations, and mailed 15 grass and weed letters.

The Borough Engineer reported that the contract for paving the Shelley Jones basketball court has been issued to Hilltop Paving.

Council learned that no company had bid for the paving of Brook Street. The job is being readvertised for rebid. Council approved $35,000 to finish repaving Chestnut Street below the tracks. Council discussed using concrete or asphalt on paving Main Street between 4th and 5th Avenue. Due to heavy traffic, Chairman Robb Cardimen recommended concrete. The bid will include curbing and sidewalks.

Charles Spencer of Hiland Avenue informed Council the public staircase between Hiland and Edgewood is being neglected, that the concrete and guardrails are deteriorating and weeds, especially Knotweed, are taking over (see photo, right). Council agreed to look into it.

Mayor Shawn Reed announced that his Communication Committee is creating a borough Facebook page, wants to update the town website more quickly, and would like to hire an intern from Robert Morris.

Melissa Walsh said she is working with Mayor Reed to plan an electronic recycling pickup. But there will be a cost per item.

Moon Township officially broke ground Wednesday on a new playground at Moon Park.

The afternoon ceremonies at the Saturn Pavilion included short speeches by local administrators and politicians. Then a dozen officials posed with shovels in hand in a simulated ground breaking.

The playground will totally replace the old playground, which has been located on the hillside at the back of the park. Certain iconic pieces, like the space rocket, will be relocated to other areas of the park where kids can continue to climb on them or otherwise enjoy them.

Many pieces, however, have been deemed obsolete and will simply be junked. These include the spider, which is actually a carefully disguised climbing apparatus.

The new playground, which will cover a much larger area, will include age specific play areas, one for 2-to-5 children, one for 5-to-12 children, a splash pad, an obstacle course and an adult fitness area. The photo at right shows a similar splash pad already in use at another park.

The splash pad will be located on the level land at the top of the slope where the road is now. The road is being relocated to run along the back boundary of the park.

The present playground has remained almost untouched, except for an occasional repainting, for 50 years, since the park opened.

The idea behind the new playground is that parents can exercise on their own while watching their children close by. Each area is designed to allow children to explore and play undirected, making decisions, moving at their own pace, and trying new things.

The playground is only part of a complete updating of 280 acre Moon Park. The overall plan includes relocation of the through road, creation of a sledriding hill, a skateboarding area, a total renovation and possible reorientation of DiVenzio Little League Field, and the creation of two new baseball fields, one for Pony League, one for high school baseball.

A "Miracle Field," designed to let handicapped children participate in various activities, is being built.

The wooded parts of the park, which include hiking trails, will be left alone, although a mountain biking trail is being added.

Moon Park is the largest and most extensively developed of the Moon park system. It includes a fishing lake, soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts, amphitheater, picnic tables, and picnic shelters.

It is probably most known for its annual Fourth of July Festival, a major event which includes live music, celebrity appearances, concessions, games and a fireworks display at dark. As other area communities have abandoned their fireworks displays, Western Hills residents have made a tradition of going to Moon Park in the afternoon with a picnic basket and lawn chairs, letting the kids enjoy the park's other facilities, watching the concert, and then gathering together at dark for the fireworks. The new playground will become a part of this annual ritual beginning in 2019.

Scott Mills (photo, below) of Cobblehaus Brewery appeared before Coraopolis Borough Council Wednesday night requesting authorization for food trucks to once again park adjacent to the Brewery during Summer evenings. The Brewery is not a restaurant so the food trucks serve a legitimate need, he explained. On nights the food trucks are in town he draws from 50-100 additional customers. Mills pointed out that some of the food trucks are so popular they have their own loyal following. Next to the Brewery is a large parking lot.

Various Council members had concerns. The pavement was not intended to support heavy trucks. Trucks block the view of people trying to exit the parking lot onto busy 5th Avenue (Route 51). The benches and planters would have to be moved. Trucks would interfere with people who just like to walk downtown and sit in the Gazebo.

Rudy Boleo (photo below) emphasized that he welcomed food trucks to town but would prefer they park alongside the building and not over near the Gazebo. Some suggested the trucks park out on the street. But it was pointed out that there is a state regulation forbidding food trucks parking on the pavement of a state highway. Council President Robb Cardimen added that food trucks would need a specific permit each time they showed up. Mills reminded the Board the trucks would not be in town every night but only once a week or even once every two weeks. Board voted to approve the food trucks.

Second, Council approved the acquisition of three addresses : 1013 Birch Way, 1000 First Avenue, and 105 Kendall. The lots will be cleared and sold. Members worried that someone could buy the properties and build a storage facility, or simply store materials on it. But it was mentioned that the neighborhood is zoned Light Industrial, which allows storage facilities and storage piles. The Zoning Board could not deny an application to build a storage facility. The 1013 Birch Way property was controversial; it had been abandoned when the owner died, and borough inspection found that one wall was filled with Bees.

John May informed the Council that his department had bought a zero turn lawn mower and would now be cutting its own grass rather than hiring someone else to do it. May also proposed buying a used truck for $4,000. He informed Council he was having trouble attracting bids on new garage doors.

Manager Ray McCutcheon told Council the Open House was a success with 125-150 visitors. Mayor Shawn Reed and McCutcheon conducted tours of the Municipal Building, and Chief Denbow and Officer Litterini conducted tours of the Fire and Police Wings.

McCutcheon also announced the bid for replacing the roofing on the dugouts, concession stand and rest rooms at Ronnie Bliwas Field came to $3925. The new roofing will be metal. Council approved that and a $750 cost for nine new police uniforms. McCutcheon informed Council there would soon be new traffic lights at 4th & Mulberry and 4th & Mill.

A 30 car parking lot was approved for Little League parents. Until now, they have been parking on the street, taking up residential parking. The parking will also serve the planned Riverfront Park.

The most controversial decision of the evening was to approve the closing of Chestnut Street for the week July 8th - July 15th for the St. Joe's Festival. Chief Denbow had already warned Council that with the new Fire Station right across 4th Avenue, his fire trucks need the street kept clear for fast response to a fire alarm. He also reminded them that state law required that streets leading away from the fire station be kept open. But Denbow was not at this meeting, and most council members voted to close it.

Vine Street residenrs continue to complain about the deteriorating state of their street. Council assured them it was on the list but others had priority.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the meeting was the Mayor's Report. Shawn Reed first discussed the need to review the Borough's permitting system to make sure the permit forms in use are up to date, and, more importantly, fit 21st Century laws and ordnances.

Reed also reminded Council that he has a committee forming which will work on efficient means of communicating Borough business to residents as quickly and accurately as possible.

Reed then explained an initiative he is very excited about. Coraopolis native Jimmy Swartz (photo, left), a venture capitalist with degrees from Harvard, Princeton and Carnegie Mellon, has recently given a $31 million grant to CMU for the founding of Enterpreunership Studies. Swartz, who was a star halfback on Cory's last undefeated championship football team, no longer lives in the area but returns frequently and has retained an interest in Coraopolis. Reed has had conversations with him about ways in which this Enterpreunership program could help people or companies in Coraopolis. The dialogue right now is in very preliminary stages, but Reed would like to match local enterpreneurs with venture capital. This would not be government grants but private equity money. Reed will update Council as the dialogue continues.

Their building's roof mostly repaired, the Coraopolis VFW is turning its attention to the Memorial outside.

They raised the $35,000 needed for the roof via a GuFundMe campaign, but it's not certain how they'll raise the money for the Memorial. It will be a much smaller amount.

The Memorial is not to be confused with the famous Doughboy Statue, which sat in front of the Borough Building for 10 years, the high school for 50 years, the Library for 30 years, and has now resided in front of the VFW for 10. It commemorates World War I dead.

The problem with the Memorial is that its brick foundation is crumbling, as can be seen in these photos. "It's pretty serious," noted Jack Cairns, American Legion Service Officer and VFW Parade Marshall.

The only work remaining on the roof is the "pointing" of the brickwork around the edges.

But the Monument may have to be totally dismantled and redone to correct the decaying brickwork.

Making matters worse, before the VFW can start on the monument, it has to take care of crumbling curbs, sidewalks and part of the brick surface on Mulberry Street. Homeowners or business owners are responsible for the sidewalks and curbs in front of their places. An old water line may be collapsing under the street, which is causing the caving in there. Because of potential liability, that project has moved to the top of the VFW priority list.

However, that's OK, because they need time to do some research on the memorial. The original plans were to include large plaques with names of all Coraopolis residents killed in combat in the two world wars, in Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm. Since then, there may also be names from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The World War I names are on plaques on the base of the Doughboy.

There was once a statue at the front of the Key Bank parking lot when it was Union National Bank. That statue carried the names of all World War II dead. The plaques from that statue, and a book with those names in it, were taken for storage to the Coraopolis Library. A VFW member is now searching for either the plaques or the book. Joe Divito of the Historical Society is also seeking a photo of that old statue, if anyone has one. A VFW committee will have to track down the names of Korean, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq dead. There are ways to do that using military records.

The monument has long been due for updating anyway. It was never done the way it was intended. Two out of town bricklayers were hired for the job and disappeared halfway through it. They had been paid up front and the VFW did not have the money to hire someone else. So the plates with the names were never mounted and the top half of the momument never done.

Formal fundraising has not yet begun but anyone wishing to donate to the effort should contact John Radcliff at the VFW.

Robin Gilligan

Construction & Remodelling

412-262-2913

marybeth@robingilligan-construction.com

The Western Hills' Premier Custom Home Builder

Coraopolis honored its war heroes on Memorial Day 2018 with the annual parade and special ceremonies.

This parade was the 88th consecutive, making it the second longest continuously running such event in Pennsylvania. Lawrenceville in Pittsburgh has the longest, dating back to the 1800s. Cory's was first staged in 1930. Several communities began their Memorial Day marches earlier, mostly in the 1910s or 1920s, but did not hold theirs during the World War II years. Cory continued to hold its during the war.

The usual large crowd lined 5th Avenue for the bands and fire engines, but the day's most important events were held at the cemetery and the reviewing stand, where those who gave their lives during the various wars, and those veterans who passed away during the previous year were honored.

Since Memorial Day 2017, Coraopolis has lost 27 more veterans. They include Jim Noyes, Joe Balogh, Bill Weisser, Anthony Lioi, Gerald Felix, Bob Fleet, Beverly Howard, Bob Hetherington, Al Miller, Carl Trulli, John Shubert, Richard Foster, Ken Morrison, Bob Oberleitner, Bill Lottes, Joe Dichko, John Fallat, Frank Handlovich, John Pawlik, Stanley Pyrdowski, Louis Scalise, Joe Topol, Russell Musta, Ed Tomasil, Jim Couse, Stanley Keefer and Karl Ceyrolles.

In addition to honoring those men who gave their lives during the wars or have died since, Coraopolis also honored the ones still with us.

The two oldest members of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter, Bob Massimini and Danny Larocco, rode in uniform in convertibles at the head of the parade.

Massimini (photo, left) served in the Navy as a Marine (Marines back then were a branch of the Navy, and technically still are). He served in the Pacific, most notably Corregidor and Iowa Jima. He paused before the parade to reminisce with a Record reporter.

"I loved it," he said, "And I'd do it again. But while we were in the middle of it, it was Hell multipled several times over. We were in danger every minute of every day. You just got to the point where you took it for granted and didn't think about it. I lost a lot of good friends over there."

Possibly his most vivid memory was the day he returned home. Men arriving in Coraopolis before him rode into town on special trains decorated with red, white and blue bunting and were greeted by huge crowds at the Coraopolis Station. But by the time he got back from the Pacific and was discharged, all that was over. His train arrived in Pittsburgh at 2:00 a.m. and just dropped the men off. There were no special trains to take them out to their smaller towns. The buses and taxiis weren't running in the middle of the night. So he just sat on a bench in the station, in his Navy uniform, with his duffel bag, figuring he'd sleep until dawn when the buses began running again. His nap was interrupted by a woman tapping on his arm.

"Pardon me," she asked. "Are you lost? Is everything OK?" He explained to her that he had to wait for daylight til the buses began running.

"Where are you from?" She asked. He told her Coraopolis. She insisted on putting him in her car and giving him a ride to his front door in Coraopolis. He tried to get her name so he could somehow pay her back for her kindness. She refused. "You served our country," she said. "This is the least I could do."

The other elder veteran is Danny Larocco, seen in the photo at right. He served in the infantry in the Philippines and Korea. Larocco admits he was rather a free spirit as a kid. "I started working at the Glass House at age 12," he laughs. "I wasn't much for school. I lied about my age and forged my parents signatures and enlisted at age 16. I dropped them a postcard just before I boarded the train. I was gone for three days before they found out where I was."

He had some narrow escapes. "The LSTs were dropping us off at the beaches. We had to hold our guns over our heads and wade ashore. But they assumed everyone was six feet tall and the boats could only come in so close. I was short. I had that heavy pack on, and the gun. I was in way over my head. I came close to drowning. Some guys around me held me up and towed me to shallow water."

As they invaded the islands, one by one, there was hand to hand combat. Larocco shows a vicious looking wound on his left hand and wrist. "One of the Japanese soldiers got me with his bayonet before I killed him. We were in battle. There were no medics. I just wrapped it with a handerchief and kept going. Later on, medics came around and asked if anyone was in need of medical attention. I didn't even say anything. It took a while to heal, but since I got out of the army it hasn't given me any trouble."

Larocco is proud of the fact this is his 71st consecutive Memorial Day Parade to march or ride in. He'll turn 90 in a few months.

The parade this year included 44 units and cost $6000 to stage. Residents assume the Coraopolis Borough puts it on, but actually it has always been a project of the Keith Holmes Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. They rely on donations from merchants and residents and hold Car Cruises and Bar Crawls to fund it. The Borough chips in with an annual check.

This year's parade took 60 minutes to pass a given point. Spectators came early and set up beach chairs and sometimes tents. Fifth Avenue on both sides was lined for the two mile parade route.

Over the years the exact makeup of the parade has evolved. Traditionally it has included marching bands from all the Western Hills high schools plus drum and bugle corps from around the Pittsburgh area. This year fewer bands participated but now there are dance teams and a Scottish Bagpipe band, which has been a major hit the last several years. Western Hills fire and police departments drive their vehicles. The fire truck at left is a 1939 model owned by the Coraopolis Volunteer Fire Department.

The truck at right is a 1945 version owned by the Groveton Volunteer Fire Department.

Costumed characters from popular films have become part of the parade. This year, there were Darth Vader, Storm Troopers, Ghost Busters (with a Ghost), and various others.

Politicians also rode or marched in the parade. In addition to Cory's own Mayor, Shawn Reed, they included State Representative Anita Kulik and Congressional candidate Conor Lamb (photo, below right).

A recent tradition has developed in which passengers in vehicles toss candy out to kids along the way. The tradition has become so entrenched that many kids now bring bags with them to collect it, like a second Halloween.

It was a 92 degree, very humid day, and ice water was a prized item.

Tootsie's

The Place For Breakfast & Lunch

701 5th Avenue, Coraopolis

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sundays

The Pittsburgh Business Times has ranked the Cornell School District #1 in Pennsylvania in a unique study that determines how students perform compared to how predictions say they should perform. The Times used a mathematical formula that considered the percentage of students on free and reduced lunch, average family income, parental education level, and other socioeconomic factors to predict how well a district would do on standardized tests, then checked to see if the students lived up to those expectations. Many wealthy districts underperformed. Some districts exceeded expectations. But Cornell exceeded them more than any other district, meaning Cornell teachers and programs are doing the best job in the state of helping students fulfill and surpass their potentials. Dr. Aaron Thomas, Cornell Superintendant, presented this information to the Board Thursday evening at its May meeting. The Coraopolis Record obtained a copy of the Business Times article. Beaver Falls, New Brighton, Montour and Uniontown also ranked high in this part of the state. The PBT study may be the best indicator of which school districts are the most effective.

In other news, 18 have enrolled in the Pre Kindergarten program for the 2018-19 school year.

Cornell students will be featured in an upcoming Post Gazette article on "Remake Learning," a campaign to help them adapt to rapidly changing technology.

Dr. John Collins of Stanford was at Cornell recently to work with teachers on the teaching of writing.

90 students attended the 2018 prom, the most in 20 years.

79 students grades 7-12 were recognized at the Academic Awards Break- fast.

The publication "The Scene" visited Cornell recently to film a story on STEAM (science, technology and art) learning.

A popup art exhibit was held recently, and a Computer Science Showcase in science fair style is scheduled.

Stephanie Mazzocco was named Treasurer for the coming year.

Agreement with the Cornell Education Association has been reached on a new contract, well ahead of the deadline.

Baccalaureat will be held Tuesday, May 29, graduation Thursday June 1, the final day of school June 6, and the Kennywood picnic June 11.

At its regular monthly meeting for April, Cornell's School Board recognied teacher Amy Palo and student Cymoni Harrison and extended the contrtacts of Athletic Director Bill Sacco and Trainer James Peters.

Social Studies teacher Amy Palo has been awarded a $24,000 James Madison Fellowship to pursue her Masters Degree in American History with an emphasis on Constitutional Law. She can pursue the degree at any major college but must include 12 credits in the U.S. Constitution.

"I'm not sure yet where I'll go," she told reporters. "First, of course, I have to be admitted to a school. It'll be tough to decide where to go, but I'm really excited."

Harrison, a senior, received the Founders Award at the Digital Media Arts Consortium held recently at Peters Township. The DMAC is sponsored by Robert Morris University to promote online journalism.

In routine business, the Board approved $5,990 for the A. G. Mauro Company to inatall inside vestibule doors at the Elementary School entrance.

A request was approved for $250 for Miriam Klein to attend the National Book Expo in New York City May 30th - June 1st.

James Peters is a graduate of Wayneburg University who has served as Cornell's Athletic Trainer for the last several years. Peters, who played football at Western Beaver HS and Waynesburg, is at all football and volleyball, boys and girls basketball, and baseball and aoftball games, plus at as many practices as possible since they often overlap with either games or with other practices. He is not a doctor but is trained in the medical procedures that involve sports injury prevention and treatment. From August through May the job demands long hours, evenings and weekends. It is the official recommendation of the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations that every high school have a qualified, certified trainer present at all games, but small schools often find this difficult, since trainers are in short supply.

Bill Sacco has served as Cornell's Head Basketball Coach and Athletic Director for 20 years. Prior to coming to Cornell, he was head basketball coach at West Allegheny, Moon and Ambridge.

Sacco is past retirement age and no longer teaches classes. Under his supervision, despite being the smallest public high school in western Pennsylvania, Cornell has continued to field teams in baseball, softball, track, swimming, volleyball, football, and girls and boys basketball. Very few similarly sized high schools field as many teams.

The Board approved the hiring of Dorian Maynard as Assistant Track Coach, and Susan Wilkinson and Crystal Maynard-Smith as Secretaries.

The Board approved a five year financing agreement with First National Bank to cover the high school classroom renovation project discussed and approved at prior meetings. When Cornell School was designed and built back in the 1970s, it was an innovative school without walls. But that concept did not work. It was necessary to go back and install walls, but they were only temporary. Now, Cornell is going back, removing those temporary walls and replacing them with permanent walls that will include wiring and fixtures to meet 21st Century building codes.

Melanie Turner was recognized for winning the local Spelling Bee. She will represent Cornell in the state competition.

25 middle school students attended a Google conference on staying safe online. The experience included work on coding.

13 students have registered for Head Start and 16 for Pre-Kindergarten.

A parent workshop will be held on April 25 as part of the SNAP program to control behavior. On May 24 Cornell will also host a grant writers conference.

The next time you visit Moon Park you may find it looks like a different place. Bulldozers, backhoes and other heavy equipment are hard at work reconfiguring rhe landscape.

The road that runs through the park is being relocated. It will still enter and exit at the same places, but a new road is being built which runs closer to the outside boundary. When the new road is finished, the old road will be jack hammered out of existence and in many places grass and trees planted to replace it.

However, along the ridge near DiVenzio Field a children's water park will be built along the location where the road has been.

A new water line has already been laid into the park, and the excavation filled back in.

The soccer field just to the right of the park entrance is being moved. It will be recreated at the far back of the park.

In its place a new Miracle Field will be built. This will allow handicapped children to play baseball. The surface will be soft rubber to cushion falls. The lines will be wide and bright so vision impaired children can see them. The dugouts and rest rooms will be wheelchair and walker accessible. Basepaths and the batting box will be designed for wheelchairs and walkers. There will also be a specially designed handicap accessible playground and walking trails designed for wheelchairs and walkers.

The lingering Winter weather had slowed the project, but officials are hoping to have everything finished by Fall. The Miracle Field will be available for 2019.

Coraopolis Borough Council began its April meeting by honoring long time resident Joe Divito and three men who went into a burning building to rescue sleeping residents.

Mayor Shawn Reed presented Divito with a plaque. After a lifetime of living on Montour Street, the 81 year old Divito and his wife are moving. He served in the Marine Corps, then came home and worked at Shenango and Quest. He also served on Council, became its President, then was elected Mayor. More recently, he has served as President of the Cory Historical society and produced two books on Coraopolis.

Police Chief Ron Denbow then honored Sergeant Robert Litterini, Detective Jason Stewart and Dispatcher Zachary Barravechio for their courage during the recent apartment building fire at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Montour Street. After the building was engulfed in flames and most residents had been evacuated, the three officers went back into the building. Despite the heat and smoke, they knocked on each door and went into apartments. They found one resident still asleep and helped him and others out of the building. Denbow told the Council and audience that there is absolutely no doubt the man and the others would have died had it not been for the rescuers. They risked their lives and Stewart was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Denbow and Mayor Reed presented each man with a plaque.

The rest of the meeting was routine.

Denbow presented the monthly Police report. They received 1295 calls and 510 complaints. They conducted 123 criminal investigations and 45 arrests and issued 80 parking violations, including one vehicle towed.

Much of the discussion dealt with street and road maintenance. It has been a particularly bad Winter for concrete and asphalt, with recurring cycles of bitter cold and warming. With the weather finally stabilizing, potholes are beginning to be repaired and other work is underway. First and Second Avenues are a special focus as they are badly deteriorated. The Council voted to invite bids but for three different levels of work, representing three different degrees of excavating down and repaving.Workers cannot simply add asphalt or concrete on top of the existing surface because it would affect curbs, drainage, catch basins and driveways. They also need to consult with water authorities because under the surfaces are 100 year old water lines. This might be the appropriate time to update those lines. Unlike most Coraopolis streets, First and Second Avenues are not built atop brick foundtions.

The Regional Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court have upheld the new voting map drawn up by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Stanford University Law professor Nathan Persily.

The new map, which takes effect immediately, places Coraopolis, along with the rest of western and northern Allegheny County, in the 17th District along with all of Beaver County.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which is controlled by Democrats, announced back in December that the existing map favored Republicans and had to be redrawn. The Court then hired Persily to draw up a version. If the court did not like any maps the Pennsylvania State Legislature drew up, it would declare the Persily map official. That is what happened.

Republicans appealed, arguing that the U.S. Constitution assigned each State Legislature the duty of redrawing the state's maps every 10 years to adjust to population change as revealed by the 10 year census. They argued that the Constitution could have assigned the courts the task of drawing the maps but it did not.

But the higher courts ruled that the Pennaylvania Supreme Court map could stand.

Temporarily, Democrat Conor Lamb is the Congressman for Coraopolis, Moon and the Western Hills.

Lamb (photo, left) defeated Republican Rick Saccone last week in a special election called to replace Tim Murphy, who was forced to resign after he urged his mistress to get an abortion. That special election was held in the old 18th District, which began at Coraopolis and wrapped around Pittsburgh in an odd shape. Both Saccone and Lamb received heavy funding from their national parties. Lamb presented himself as a moderate Democrat with many Conservative leanings. For instance, he disavowed Nancy Pelosi, gun control, and open borders.

The Pennsylvania controversy over gerrymandered voting districts is just part of a larger national debate. Whichever party is in power each 10th year has always drawn the voting districts in such a way as to give them a poltical advantage. But that trick has lately become more extreme, until many states now have wildly absurd districts. Lawsuits have been filed in several of those states, but Pennsylvania was considered the top example. It was described as "the most ridiculously gerrymandered state in national history." Democrats want voting maps redrawn in as many states as possible to give them control of Congress, or at least the House of Representatives, so they can initiate proceedings to impeach President Donald Trump or, if that fails, at least block his agenda.

The Montour Creek is back to normal this week with flow down and color restored. As the photo at right (obviously taken between snows) shows, along its banks some bushes are already budding out, although the trees are still waiting for warmer weather.

Last week, it was overflowing its banks and running a whitish green. The creek drains 37 square miles out beyond Imperial and Clinton. The area includes a series of long abandoned and sealed coal mines active between 1900 and 1960. There is sulfur remaining in those coal seams. The heavy rains fill the mines with water. The water dissolves the sulfur and creates sulfuric acid, which then dissolves traces of aluminum. That mix causes a whitish color in the water. When the mines fill, the water pours out and drains into Montour Creek. Hikers and bikers on the Montour Trail last week called in reports. Montour Creek usually runs surprisingly clean and is a popular trout fishing stream. A quick survey found no dead fish, crayfish, insects or other life along its shores (animals retreat back under banks, under rocks or down into the sand to escape storm conditions), so wildlife biologists are hopeful the stream may have escaped damage. The Forest Grove Sportsmans Club has a tagged fishing contest planned from April 14 to May 13th.

Coraopolis Borough Council began its February meeting Wednesday night by joining with a delegation from the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, the Abundant Life Ministry and the Black Community to celebrate Black History Month.

Although the 45 minute ceremony, which included a film and oral presentations by several children, the highlight was Mayor Shawn Reed presenting 102 year old Thelma Dickerson with a key to the city (see photo, right). Mrs. Dickerson spent many years as a secretary at the junior high school. She reminisced about her years in Coraopolis and her travels to Israel, Hawaii and other places.

"I'm not travelling any more," she laughed. "I just enjoy relaxing here in Coraopolis now." Councilman John Pessy recalled how he had been at the junior high during her tenure there. "When I got out of hand she'd give me that glare," he grinned.

Council members and those in the audience were each given a "Soul Food Sampler" of historic Black American foods.

Anita Kulik, local Representative to the State Legislature, was present. Kulik, a Carnegie native who graduated from Duquesne University, is running for reelection.

The meeting itself was routine.

Chief Ron Denbow delivered the monthly Police Report : 1307 calls, 475 complaints, 112 criminal investigations, 26 arrests, one vehicle recovered, 16 accidents, 53 parking violations and 139 moving violations. Denbow reminded everyone that during this tax filing season, scams are common. He pointed out that the IRS does not --- ever --- deal by telephone.

Rudy Bolea reminded Counciul that the company doing the street work on 1st and 2nd Avenues were supposed to be maintaining the streets all Winter until work could resume in the Spring. But, Bolea pointed out, the streets are "undriveable." Council agreed to remind the company of its responsibility.

Borough Manager Ray McCutcheon observed that the Borough now has an extension on its Multimodal Grant for building the trail connecting the Montour Trail to the Ohio River Trail. The grant is for $200,000 and the extension now gives Coraopolis until 2019. The holdup is on the part of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDot). If the trail is not completed the grant may be lost. The segment needing completed is from the base of Montour Street to Ambulance Way (which is actually in Moon Township). McCutcheon emphasized that it is urgent to complete this segment to get bicyclists off 4th Avenue. Advocates of the Railroad Station Restoration Project also want the trail completed because their long term plan envisions bicyclists stopping at the station.

McCutcheon also announced that the Borough has received a $27,000 grant for upgrading the stream bank walls along Brook Street.

Danny LaRocco reminded residents that if they park along the streets they must park close to the curb so they do not narrow the throughway and prevent emergency vehicles from getting through.

A couple of audience members asked Council to do something about the deteriorating storm sewers on Chestnut. The openings are crumbling and residents are afraid some vehicle's wheels are going to drop through.

Will Christie of Montour Street asked that signs on Route 51 advertising businesses no longer existent be removed.

Michael Blair, VFW Poat Commander, aasked for help with the curbs in front of the VFW Building on Mulberry Street. They're disintegrating, but a contractor told the VFW the curbs cannot be repaired until the street surface is repaired. Council agreed to look into it.

Ed Pitassi asked about permits for signs listing donors for the flower beds at three entrances to town. Council asked for a picture of what the signs would look like.

Even a casual observor driving through Coraopolis on Route 51 can see that the town is in the midst of a historic revival. Storefronts are filling up with new businesses, downtown parking is full, the sidewalks are busy and building fronts are being refurbished.

What the casual observor does not see is that all of this is not an accident. It's the convergence of several factors, all feeding each other.

Determining exactly which came first is like the old chicken and egg question. But a good place to begin is a guy named Brian Diggins and a small company named Birch Holdings.

Diggins (photo right) was born and raised in Moon Township, graduated from Moon High, then Westminster College. He went to work for Hosanna Industries, a nonprofit similar to Habitat For Humanity, focused on providing housing for low income families. It was noble work but paid little.

"Several of us figured out we needed to start something on the side which could generate a good income." Diggins and two partners created Birch Holdings as a small construction company. But they soon decided to get into the bigger field of real estate development.

"We needed to find real estate which was undervalued, which we could buy, upgrade, then rent at a profit." They started looking around and quickly zeroed in on Coraopolis. "There were all these vacant storefronts, nice locations, good buildings, but being used for storage. You looked in the windows and saw stuff just stacked in there, storefront after storefront. So we tracked down the owners."

What they found astonished them. A huge percentage of downtown Coraopolis was owned by one man. That was Danny DiNardo. He had bought up the buildings, one by one, back during the town's decline in the 20th Century. DiNarrdo then maintained the buildings and collected rents for several decades.

"Coraopolis owes DiNardo a huge debt," Diggins says. "If he had been an irresponsible absentee landlord, neglecting the buildings and squeezing what rents he could from them, the roofs would have deteriorated and water damage would have begun. These buildings would have gone into serious decline and by now would either have collapsed or had to be condemned and torn down. Look at a lot of these other river towns in Allegheny County. That's exactly what has happened to them.

"But instead DiNardo meticulously maintained these buildings. He kept the roofs in good shape, invested money back into windows and doors and stairwells, kept the heating and plumbing and wiring in good shape. The reason the downtown today is in such great condition is because of this one man."

But DiNardo did make one mistake.

He was a good hearted guy and hated to raise rents. So he kept them low as everything else kept going up. Eventually, the storefront rents were far below where they should have been. As storeowners retired or went out of business, the rents were so low they or their families just continued to pay the rent and left their furniture and supplies in there. It was cheaper to rent a Coraopolis storefront than rent a storage compartment. So the town was full of vacant storefronts maintained for nostalgia's sake.

"Once we cleaned out these storefronts, did some modernizing and made them available for rent, small businesses could begin coming in. And we advertised online so people knew we had spaces available."

Now, Birch Holdings receives at least a call a week from a small business asking about space in Coraopolis.

Of course, all those buildings have apartments on their second and third floors. One by one, Birch Holdings has been remodeling those. The big change is they've been pulling the wall to wall carpeting and replacing it with state of the art hardwood floors, as seen in the photo above. They've been updating bathrooms and kitchens.

They've kept the rents reasonable : $600 for a one bedroom, $800 for a two bedroom, with a few larger or special apartments renting for $900 and one very large one for $1000.

There are 46 apartments in all. More than half were already inhabited when Birch Holdings bought the buildings. Birch has modernized the empties, then invited tenants to move into a new one while Birch redid theirs.

"If they want to, then they can move back into their original apartment. We just want the entire downtown filled with state of the art units."

Presently, Diggins and his partners are making their living from their construction jobs. Every penny from rents and leases goes back into the buildings.

The apartments have been filling up with young professionals. "Robert Morris College students prefer to rent rooms in houses up on the hills. We get mostly airline flight attendants, young college graduates working for Apple, Uber, Google, or one of the other high tech companies."

Diggins wants a bookstore. "We even offered to give a bookstore one of our storefronts if they'd come here." He hasn't been able to lure one yet, but it remains a goal.

Birch Holdings does background checks on each tenant who applies to rent an apartment. "We want a positive population. We don't need problems."

There was a limit to what Birch Holdings was able to buy from DiNardo. Another development company has now purchased a block of buildings from the Turret Building (photo, right) up to Fifth Avenue excepting the two Antique Store buildings, which Birch owns. "We've been talkiing about a joint project, since between the two of us we own everything all the way up Mill Street. We could create a single, unified facade which would be really attractive."

Diggins sees the public mood shifting away from the big box stores of complexes like Robinson Town Center or Settlers Ridge. "People are coming back to the smaller stores where they can get some individual attention, some customer service. People want an old fashioned small town experience. Coraopolis is uniquely positioned to offer that. We don't have to build a fake small town. We still have the original, with buildings from way back in the early 1900s. The downtown here is just a treasure."

He takes us on a quick tour of the White Building (photo above). "We have work to do here on the outside," he says, gesturing to paint flaking off the bricks. "But we've done the apartments, we have a solid tenant on the first floor in Brown & Abbot Accountants, and we have Chris Jaquay running a boxing gym in the basement. This is another of our anchor buildings."

5th Avenue and 4th Avenue are now pretty well occupied. Mill Street is the next focus. "We're going to fill these storefronts," Diggins promises.

Fire Departments from Cory, Neville, Moon and Robinson Townships were called out at 2:30 a.m. for a fire at the boarding house at the corner of 4th Avenue and Montour Street (across the street from the Montour Hotel).

The building has numerous rooms but a shared kitchen and rest rooms. The fire apparently started in the kitchen.

Neighbor Brandon Finch first noticed the fire and ran through the building knocking on doors and waking residents. Several had to jump out windows because the one exit was blocked by flames.

Some minor injuries, mostly from jumping out windows, were incurred but no deaths or serious injuries happened. Two firefighters were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

President Donald Trump spoke in his State of the Union address of funding several trillion dollars of infrastructure repairs, including highway and bridge repairs.

According to a newly published report, he can start by funding bridge repairs in Western Pennsylvania.

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association says the state is second in the nation in structurally unsound bridges.

According to Dr. Allison Black, author of the report, "There are more than 54,000 bridges in the U.S. in critical disrepair, and more than 4000 of these are in Pennsylvania, about 1500 in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The list includes the Liberty Bridge in Pittsburgh, eight bridges on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and three on I-70.

The estimated cost of repairing or replacing the bridges is more than $2 billion.

Fortunately, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the city of Pittsburgh, and various towns have been trying to address some of the worst cases.

Allegheny, Beaver and Washington Counties are some of the oldest communities in the U.S. and many of the bridges were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The original construction was solid and done so well that it lasted all this time. But nothing lasts forever, especially bridges subject to vibrations from tens of thousands of cars, heavy trucks and trains.

And no one around 1900 expected so much traffic or such large, heavy trucks.

Pennsylvania is also subject to heavy rains, snows, ice storms, changes from bitter cold to 50 degrees and back to bitter cold, plus tons of salt, which corrodes both steel and concrete.

Concrete is not merely an outside decoration. A length of concrete is like a steel girder. It supports weight and distributes stress. When a section of concrete begins to crack, its strength is greatly reduced.

Poured concrete is an engineering miracle. When lined with reinforcing steel bars ("rebar"), it has a high compression ratio plus a high tensile and tortion strength. But once the concrete begins to decay, it loses those qualities. If you can see the steel rebar, or see cracks or crumbling in the concrete, it has lost its strength and needs replaced. Several vehicles at once passing over such a bridge, especially if one of them is a truck carrying any sort of cargo, places tons of weight on that concrete. It's a miracle hundreds of bridges haven't collapsed given their age and heavy use.

But many of them are way past their intended lifespan and it's only a matter of time.

When President Barack Obama began his first term and the economy was its worst since the Depression, he proposed and Congress passed a Stimulus bill to put people back to work. Among other projects, it directed money to states for bridge repair and replacement. Over 200 in southwestern Pennsylvania were either replaced or totally rebuilt. But the money ran out and neither Obama nor Congress replenished it.

Engineers and officials are hoping Trump's initiative will send another wave of money into states and local communities.

Many of the bridges have already been closed, made into pedestrian and bicycle only spans, had barriers installed making them one lane to reduce the amount of weight that is on them at one time, or had bars installed allowing only cars, not trucks, to cross.

But there are still quite a few in full daily use. People driving over the bridge see only the top surface and guard rails, which may look OK. It's underneath the bridge, as these photos show, that you can see the cracks, criumbling and gaps.

Bridges in highly visible places tended to be first on rhe list to be rebuilt or replaced. Coraopolis residents driving into Pittsburgh have watched as the south side of the McKees Rocks Bridge was totally redone over about two years. But bridges off the main routes, either in towns or townships, tend to be neglected. Some of these are heavily used, by commuter traffic, trucks carrying fill to or from construction sites, school buses or PennDot buses, and tractor trailer trucks delivering groceries or other supplies to local stores.

Anyone knowing of local bridges needing repair should report them.