The pool in Clairton Park will open June 6 through Aug.17 from noon to 7 p.m.

Certified operator Jessica Marlow said the opening was pushed back from Memorial Day to allow for more work to be done.

Mike Sedor Electric and Leon Cho­cinsky installed new lighting and did electrical work in the pump room and bath houses.

Pittsburgh-based Seabees from the Naval Construction Force repaired roofs and bathhouse dividers.

Other local businesses chipped in with donations for materials for other repairs.

“It was a massive amount of work,” Marlow said. “It was an impressive way of the city pulling together.”

Swim lessons and aqua aero­bics are available. There will be no night swims.

City manager Howard Bed­nar  said the pool employs 13 or 14 lifeguards, and the city is looking
into showing movies there, among other activities.

Season passes are $50 and available on-site. Daily admis­sion  is $5. Those 36 inches tall or shorter are admitted free of charge. Call 412-233-8123 or 412-233-8113 for information.

DiCresco-Parsons Ladies Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 803, will host its annual flea market on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the post, 911 N. State St. in Clairton.

Vendor table rentals are available at $10 for one table per day or $15 for two tables per day.

For more information or to reserve a table, call Francie Scruggs at 412-233-0845.

Clairton school official explains final figures all depend on assessments 

BY MICHAEL DIVITTORIO

Clairton City School District resi­dents are expected to see a reduction in their real estate tax rates, but may pay a higher bill because of Allegheny County reassessments.

School directors unanimously approved a preliminary budget at Wednesday night’s meeting with a millage rate of 75.4 mills for land and 7.5 mills for buildings. It reflects reduc­tions  of 4.6 mills for land from the current 80-mill rate, and no change for buildings.

Proposed revenue is listed at $14,296,146 with expenses at $14,490,407, leaving a $194,261 shortfall. The district is filling the financial hole with money from its $526,001 fund balance.

District business manager Chuck Lanna said residents should focus on their property assessments and not
just the millage rate when it comes to factoring their tax bills.

“The single biggest factor as to whether it’s going to be higher or lower is not the millage rate, it’s going to be the assessed value,” Lanna said. “If someone’s assessed value went up by more than 25 percent, and a lot of people’s did, their total tax bill is going to go up. If their assessed value went up by less than 25 percent, chances are it is going to go down ... If someone gets an 80 percent increase in their assessed value, no matter what you do with mill­age rates, their taxes are going to go up because their assessed value went up so
much.”

Lanna said the total assessed value of the district’s 5,000-plus taxable proper­ties  went up by roughly 23 percent.

Lanna said the district hopes to get updated figures from the county prior to the budget’s scheduled final adop­tion  on June 25.

He anticipates a slight reduction in millage for buildings, and setting 77 mills for land at that time.

School board president Richard Liv­ingston said the district may need to look into reopening the budget or seek some form of relief through Allegh­eny  County courts should the county figures and millage rates prove trouble­some.

“I don’t want to pass a budget that we’re requiring a millage rate, and that millage rate is not going to cover the bills we have,” Livingston said.

Lanna said there are “strict limita­tions”  on reopening a budget.

One significant assessment decrease currently being appealed is that of U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works
plant.

Livingston said its assessment dropped from $14.5 million to $2.5 mil­lion,  changing the payment to the dis­trict  from $360,000 to $20,000.

The district hired Ira Weiss earlier this year as special counsel for the appeal, and to perform an appraisal of the U.S. Steel property.

Tax bills will be sent out the first week of July.

Michael DiVittorio is a staff writer for Trib Total  Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext.  1965, or
[email protected].

 

REMINDER:  CLAIRTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 5KRUN / 2 MILEWALK IS TOMORROW MORNING.

SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

Registration begins 8AM at Clairton Park Swimming Pool

Run begins promptly at 9AM

Entry Fees: 

$25 – Adult Registration
 
$15 – Age 17 and under

You can find your Ballot and Voting Poll at the following site.  Just enter your street address and zip code.
Remember that Republicans need to "write-in" their choices for Clairton's elected positions as the candidates are running as Democrats.

http://www.smartvoter.org/

Information from the Candidates can be found on the page:  http://www.myclairton.com/election-2013-blog.html

MAY THE BEST CANDIDATE WIN!

Was a great day at the KABOOM playground project.  A lot of the people there were from our neighboring communities.  Thank you all
for your support!  Loved seeing the young kids there doing what they could to help.

http://triblive.com/mobile/4040851-96/playground-clairton-kaboom

The Redevolpment Authority meeting scheduled for May 23 has been moved to May 30 at 6pm. This is allowing a little more time to get things in order for the June 3rd tax sale.

Time to check the community calendar to see what has been added.  Mark your personal calendars for those events you are interested in attending.  Click on the events for the details.  Note that many of these events don't list an "end time" so the default is 1 hour.

http://www.myclairton.com/calendar-of-events.html

MAYORAL CANDIDATE RICHARD L FORD III

CANDIDATE FOR COUNCIL THIRD WARD - LEE (LEVINA) LASICH

Clairton mayoral contest a race to the bitter end (Daily News Article)

A letter from Candidate Rich Lattanzi

Introduction to Election 2013 Blog

http://www.myclairton.com/election-2013-blog.html

Clairton's PNC bank is scheduled to close in August. 

A Town Hall meeting is being held on Thursday, May 16th at 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:30)

Come hear the details and sign the petition to keep PNC in Clairton

In an attempt to provide information about the 2013 Election, another page was added to this site.
The main page lists the candidates, and a Blog was added to list on-going information concerning this election. 

Information to date was obtained via the Daily News newspaper, and only one letter was found; a letter from candidate, Mayor Lattanzi.  

If you know of any other published information from the candidates regarding their campaign, please submit to [email protected].  Also, please encourage the candidates to submit something.  Please provide contact information for verification purposes.

Links are:
Candidates:  http://www.myclairton.com/elections-2013.html
Blog:  http://www.myclairton.com/election-2013-blog.html


 

To view the latest zoning update, visit the link provided below to the city's website.

http://cityofclairton.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Presentation_pubmtg.pdf

TOWN CRIER 

Clairton Chamber of Commerce’s 5K run/2 mile walk is scheduled for May 25 at Clairton Park.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the pool. Run begins at 9.

Runners will proceed to the missile along Woodland Avenue and back. Walkers will follow runners and will proceed to the Rite Aid and back.

Fees for participants regis­tering by Wednesday are $20 for adults and $12 for those ages 17 and younger. Cost goes to $25 for adults and $15 for youths after that. People can register online at active.com or by a paper form. All children must be accompa­nied by an adult. No dogs or bikes are permitted.

The event will occur rain or shine. Contact Kathy Tachoir at 412-233-9570 or email [email protected].

Clairton Hill AARP Chapter 2862

Connie Kovka is col­lecting lap throws, stuffed animals and jewelry for nursing homes, and white socks and sweat pants in size large and extra-large for “Presents for Veterans.” Reservations for the Spring Luncheon at Ascen­sion Hall on June 12 must be made by June 3; Lazar is taking reservations.

Planned trips include: 

• June 26, Wheeling Island. Cost is $25 with $30 in free play and $5 in food at the buffet. Bus leaves Ascension at 9:15 a.m.

• June 10, “Unforgettable Journey — A Tribute to Nat King Cole” and a stop at Idlewild Park.

• July 18, West Virginia Mountain Jubilee at Elkins, W.Va., and lunch at Grace­land Inn.  

• Sept. 26, “Fall Senses Sensations” at Punxsutaw­ney-Smicksburg and din­ner at Marshall House in Dayton.  

• Oct. 17, Brown Bag Tour in Middlefield, Ohio, including an Amish wed­ding feast and a stop at Nauvoo Market. 
 
• Dec. 2, Market Square Holiday Market in Pitts­burgh, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to see the Christmas display, and dinner at the Spaghetti Warehouse.

For information or res­ervations, contact Lazar at 412-384-6203.

Wilson Presbyterian Church, 400 North Fourth St. in Clairton, will host a flea market and bake sale on Friday from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Use the side entrance with red doors.

For more information, call 412-233-5996.

TOWN CRIER

CLAIRTON

St. Clare  of Assisi preschool signups 

Registration is under way at St. Clare of Assisi Montessori Preschool for children ages 3-5. Preschool, located at 622 Delaware Ave., is three or five days. Tuition grants for eligible families have been made available through U.S. Steel and the Bridge Educational Foun­dation for the upcoming school year. For more information, call 412-233-7870 or visit the website at www.saintclareschool­clairton.parishesonline.com. Call Frances Bindas at 412-226-1296 to schedule a tour.

Nonprofit KaBOOM! grants fire chief ’s plea for another facility 

BY MICHAEL DIVITTORIO 

Clairton is looking for vol­unteers who want to have a “dynamite” time building a new playground in the Wil­son neighborhood.

This month, the city will get a second recreational facility from KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organiza­tion that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

Needed are about 30 volun­teers for a prep day on May 16 star ting at 8 a.m.

The playground will be built on May 18, when the city hopes at least 200 vol­unteers turn out at the work site by 8 a.m. A kickoff cer­emony is scheduled for 8:30.

Those 18 and older will do the construction. Younger volunteers can assist with side projects, games and activities. Food and drinks will be provided.

Fire Chief John Lattanzi applied for the playground about 10 years ago when the city’s first KaBOOM! playground was built in the Southside development along Reed Street.

He said he received a notice from the organiza­tion around Easter this year, inquiring if interest remained in a new facility at the former N. Third Street Playground.

“It’s  going to bring some­thing to the children in this area that they don’t have now,” Lattanzi said. “We’re hoping we can build from this thing. We’re hoping we can put a playground some­where else in the city.”

The area now is used for basketball. The fire depart­ment acquired the land from Clair ton City School District about 12 years ago.

Lattanzi represented the fire department when the Southside playground was built.

“It was a very hectic day, but everybody seemed to know what they were doing and everything got accomplished,” Lattanzi said.

To prepare for the new playground, said city manager Howard Bednar, KaBOOM! had conference calls with city officials and residents every Wednesday, and a site coordinator visited Clairton to get input from youngsters and their parents.

“I’m glad it’s being built in a part of town where it will not be destroyed,” resident Jared Anthony said. “My son Mason is 2, and it would be really nice to have a new playground right here in town for him to enjoy. I’d like to see chimes for the younger kids to play with. I’d also like to see a revolving tic tac toe board. I think there needs to be at least a couple baby swings there, too, the ones with the one-piece seat.”

“We are excited to be able to provide the children of Clairton a new playground,” Councilwoman Kathy Tachoir said. “Fire Chief John Lattanzi has tried for years to make this happen.
He never gave up on his idea. The fire department donated the land on which the playground will be built.

“It is another activity that shows, by working together, we can improve the city of Clairton.”

Resident Laura Crouch said she would allow her four sons and two daughters to use a playground in that part of
town.

“We’ve been taking the kids to Pleasant Kingdom behind the Pleasant Hills police station,” Crouch said. “It’s really neat. It’s in the shape of a castle. I’d like to see tunnels and sandboxes and more stuff for the kids 2 and younger, and maybe even a shelter with tables for parents to sit and watch their children.”

The playground is sponsored by Clairton Volunteer Fire Department, Clairton Unity Group, The Heinz Endowments and KaBOOM!

More information is available by calling 412-233-8113 or emailing manager@cityof­clairton. com. More information about KaBOOM! is available online at kaboom.org.


Michael DiVittorio is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1965, or mdivittorio@ tribweb.com.

DAILY NEWS

Clairton’s state champi­onship high school football team received another acco­lade Tuesday on the floor of the state Senate.

Sen. James Brewster, D-McKeesport, welcomed Terrish Webb and Titus How­ard, two of the seniors on the 2012 PIAA Class A champion­ship squad, and their coach Tom Nola.

“I am equally pleased to honor these exemplary young men and their coach for overcoming extraordi­nary odds to achieve aca­demic and athletic success,” Brewster said. “Everyone in southwestern Pennsylvania is a fan of
Clairton football.”

Brewster, whose 45th District includes Clairton, noted how Terrish, Titus and their teammate Tyler Boyd
accepted scholarship offers from the University of Pitts­burgh.

He also noted how at least seven other seniors from Clairton also signed schol­arship offers. “It takes exceptional forti­tude to stay on the right path of academic and athletic suc­cess,” Brewster said. “I look forward to watching these young men enter college to continue their academic and football careers.”

Brewster also honored the Bears for their 63-game win streak, a state record and the longest ongoing high school football win streak in the country.