20 Years Ago...

From: Glenn A. Walsh

Today (August 31) at 5:00 p.m. EDT, twenty years ago, Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science (a.k.a. Buhl Science Center) closed as a public museum.

This was Saturday of the Labor Day Weekend in 1991. I had issued a memorandum to Pat Weidman, Director of the Department of Visitor Services and Volunteers, suggesting that the last day of public visitation should be Labor Day, September 2. This would give Pittsburghers two additional days to visit Buhl Planetarium before it closed, as well as give Buhl the additional income from these nostalgic visitors. This would have had no effect on the move to the new Science Center building, as nothing would be moved during the holiday weekend.

However, when Pat Weidman took my suggestion to the Management Committee, it was rejected. It was obvious that Buhl Science Center Director Al DeSena and other Program staff had no interest in giving the public extra time to see Buhl Planetarium. They only thought about the glory of opening the new science center building. Since they had no intentions of being in the Buhl building on Labor Day, the final day of visitation would be the last day they would be in the building for the evening's special member event--that Saturday evening.

The building and most equipment and artifacts continued as the "Allegheny Square Annex, The Carnegie Science Center" until February of 1994 when the building was completely abandoned by The Carnegie Science Center. Science Center science and computer classes, and teacher development programs, were centered in the original Buhl building during this time period.

Originally, the new Carnegie Science Center building had specifically been constructed without classroom space. During Pittsburgh Mayor Richard Caliguiri's Administration, the city and the Science Center had agreed, through what could be called a "gentleman's agreement," that the Science Center would not abandon the original Buhl Planetarium building. However, after a couple years of operation of the "Allegheny Square Annex," and after the untimely death of Mayor Richard Caliguiri and a new city administration, the Science Center's agreement to continue operating the original building was conveniently forgotten.

After abandoning the building, the Science Center attempted to sell-off the historic Zeiss II Planetarium Projector and 10-inch Siderostat-type, Refractor Telescope to a college south of Dallas. The irony is that the college had no intent to actually use the equipment, but only to display them as antique artifacts (but for how long?). Had these pieces of equipment left the city at that time, there might have been an excuse to tear-down the building.

A grass-roots effort, helped by many of you, stopped this sale of historic Pittsburgh artifacts. At this link, you can learn more about the efforts to stop the sale of the Zeiss and Siderostat:

http://buhlplanetarium3.tripod.com/Buhlnews.htm#1995hearing

Although we won the battle to keep the historic equipment, the historic equipment and artifacts remained in an empty and unused building for several years. Proposals to reuse the Buhl Planetarium building, which would have kept the historic equipment and artifacts in-place and occasionally used, were considered but fell-through for both financial and political reasons. Such proposals included a Pittsburgh Public Schools Center for Gifted Children, Italian-American Cultural Center, and an annex of the National Aviary.

In 2000, the Children's Museum started planning an expansion into the Buhl Planetarium building. However, despite strong lobbying efforts, they refused to keep most of the historic equipment and artifacts in the building. The Carnegie Science Center quickly agreed to move the Zeiss Projector, Siderostat Telescope, and the large Mercator's Projection Map of the World into a warehouse, to ensure they would not be used in competition with The Carnegie Science Center.

A couple years later, the city loaned the large U.S. Steel mural, "The Rise of Steel Technology" by Nat H. Youngblood, to the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area/Museum in Homestead.

The first floor's Great Hall was reused by the Children's Museum as a cafe, but the east wall was replaced with a huge window, to view the historic clock tower and entrance to the Allegheny Regional Branch of Carnegie Library. The destruction of this wall included the destruction of an astronomical verse from the Bible, inscribed on the exterior of the wall. The wall remnants of this Bible verse remain in storage, as does the Civil Defense sign that had been mounted outside the building's entrance.

The Great Hall's grand clock continues in use. And, the Children's Museum did return to the Great Hall, from the Science Center, the original Buhl Planetarium Foucault Pendulum.

Bowdish Gallery, which had been home of the Miniature Railroad and Village, was turned into a small auditorium/exhibit gallery, with the reuse of 40 original seats from Buhl's Little Science Theater (LST). The reuse of original LST chairs was the only suggestion I made that the Children's Museum implemented. Radio studios of the weekly Saturday Morning Light Brigade children's radio program were constructed in the former miniature railroad maintenance areas east of Bowdish Gallery.

The Mezzanine Gallery is now used as a temporary gallery/program area. The Octagon Gallery, which did not have good handicapped access, is now used as a workshop. The original Buhl Planetarium Workshop was rented to a small nonprofit organization, as were the Discovery Lab (Lab 1) and Lab 2 classrooms.

The Theater of the Stars (Planetarium Theater) and the Little Science Theater were converted into exhibit galleries. The Hall of the Universe is now used as a traveling exhibits gallery.

The second floor office area and Buhl Library are now used for daily children's classes. The third floor Observatory is now used as a Children's Museum Board Room.

Last year, The Carnegie Science Center finally reassembled the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector as a non-usable, static exhibit at the extreme western end of the Science Center's first floor Atrium Gallery (next to the entrance to their Science Stage theater).

The 10-inch Siderostat-type, Refractor Telescope and the Mercator's Projection Map of the World remain, dismantled, in a Science Center warehouse. The Science Center claims they will be reassembled and reused with an expansion of the Science Center building. The Science Center has filed plans for an expanded Science Center building with the city. However, there have been no efforts toward developing a specific timeline and finding funding for such building expansion.

The original Buhl Planetarium building was custom-built to include the Zeiss Projector (inside a 65-foot diameter planetarium dome) and the Siderostat Telescope. Without replication of these specific chambers, the Zeiss Projector and Siderostat Telescope cannot be reused.

It is obvious that the Science Center has no intentions of replicating Buhl's Theater of the Stars. Although they claim they will replicate Buhl's Observatory, they have no firm plans or funding to do so; such a new siderostat observatory would only spend money replicating a chamber that already exists.

It continues to be the case that the most cost-effective way to reuse the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector and the 10-inch Siderostat-type, Refractor Telescope will be to convert the original Theater of the Stars and Buhl Observatory back to their original functions. Then, these historic pieces of astronomical apparatus, which exquisitely taught science to the public for more than 50 years, can return to teaching science to the young visitors to the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

gaw

Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,
Friends of the Zeiss < http://friendsofthezeiss.org >
Electronic Mail - < siderostat1989@yahoo.com >
SPACE & SCIENCE NEWS, ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR:
  < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#news >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh:
  < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
  < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
  < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries:
  < http://andrewcarnegie.tripod.com >
* Civil War Museum of Andrew Carnegie Free Library:
  < http://garespypost.tripod.com >
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh:
  < http://inclinedplane.tripod.com >


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Ta.

 

 

Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

Fwd: How we got where we are, part 19, June 25, 2008.

Blast from the past about PPS as the school year nears.

Those in 9th grade begins on Wednesday. Westinghouse started last week.

This series generally is published at another blog, http://purereform.blogspot.com.

How we got where we are, part 19, June 25, 2008 continued:

June 25, 2008: In the face of continued enrollment decline, the Board approved:

- Opening "a new 6-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focused magnet school at the Frick facility. The STEM school will be phased in beginning with grades 6-9 for the 2009-10 school year." Oh but wait! What happen to the Westinghouse Science and Math program (SAM) that was so successful? After investing millions of dollars in the renovations of Westinghouse, including the state of the art science labs, PPS decided to abandon them. I hear now some of those expensive class room rooms  that were set up as science labs are being used to teach English and other non science courses. What a waste.

- Opening "a new 6-12 International Baccalaureate (IB) school focused on language and culture. The IB School will be phased in, beginning with grades 6-10 for the 2009-10 school year and be located at the Reizenstein facility at least through the 2011-12 school year. The IB offers a continuum of high-quality education that encourages international-mindedness and a positive attitude to learning." This is a great program for the few. But the reality is less than 20% of the students  who are actually in the program get the IB Diploma. There are major barriers along the way for completion to include the cost of sitting for the exams. 

This IB item was amended to include language that "The Board will work with the Superintendent to create a committee to include Administration, Teachers, Students, Parents, and Community Leaders to determine the best permanent home for the IS/IB Programs." Or better put, lets create a IB site selection committee and take over the Peabody building. But first we must put the Peabody neighborhood feeder pattern kids out of their own building because they are not good enough to be in the same building with the IB students. 

PPS tried blending  two schools. This short lived experiment  was with the remainder of the Schenley students from the hill, with the new IB students who had come over from Frick. There were a few Schenley student loyalist who didn't leave Schenley once PPS broke up their school. But PPS didn't feel the blending worked and it was doomed for the start. PPS separated the Schenley students from the IB student by floors, staff, principals and Pods. So what can we do with the students from, Larmer, East liberty, Garfield, Bloomfield, lawrenceville, Stanton Heights, Morningside and friendship. We have to make way for the new East liberty development and Highland Park?  Someone had a brilliant ideal. Bingo!  It was decided to send the remainder of the Peabody students to Homewood, i.e. Westinghouse, or the Hill, i.e. Uprep, which began the process of re-segregating the schools. But no one will notice or care, will they? Did they notice how PPS did Schenley?

- Closing "the Schenley facility for use as a school effective June 30, 2008. Pursuant to 24 P. S. 7-780 of the Public School Code of 1949, as amended, the Board conducted a public hearing on November 27, 2007 in order to take public comment on the proposed closing of the Schenley facility."

This item was also amended to include language that "The Board will work with the Superintendent to create a committee to include District, community, and other governmental representatives to work together to pursue several long-term options for use, investment and/or renovation of this historic landmark."

- Relocating "Pittsburgh Schenley grades 10, 11 and 12 and to establish Pittsburgh Schenley as a 10-12 school at the Reizenstein facility beginning with the 2008-09 school year. The Pittsburgh Schenley school will be reduced by one grade per year and remain at the Reizenstein facility until its last class graduates in 2010-11....To allow the students of Pittsburgh Schenley to remain together at the Reizenstein facility until the final class graduates in 2010-11." This way we can eliminate the Schenley alumni and legacy because they may rise again as they gave us a little scare. For a minute there it looked like they were going to put up a real fight to save their school. It was only one of the most diverse schools in the district, and lords knows we can have that.

Architects are approved for the temporary relocation to Reizenstein and the Frick renovation for Sci-Tech. And big time money is about to be spent so we can't go back now. Plus why not get the Reizenstein building really ready for who we want to sell it too, with tax payers dollars since we are moving the IB program to Peabody. We just want to make the IB site selection committee think they have a real say so in where they will move the IB program to. Even though PPS paid the Dejong group, a facilities study company, $500,000.00 to tell PPS what facilities were the best and they ranked them. Oh did I say that the Dejong advised that the IB program stay at Reizenstein? Sorry its a secret.

Board member Randall Taylor remarks, "I think it's a very, very historic meeting that we have this evening, and some of the decisions that this Board may have I think may have long-term implications for this District, and it may have again long-term impact on the type of services and the type of choices that we like to be able to offer our students. The District, as we know our finances are not in the greatest of condition, and I believe that some of the proposals on the table this evening are going to exacerbate our I think very poor financial position."

Mr. Taylor makes a motion to move Schenley into the Peabody building.  He notes, "So I think a proposal of Peabody is financially a better proposal than the administration's proposal, and I think educationally it's a better proposal because it preserved Schenley High School as the excellent facility all their teachers and all their programs in another building." 

Mr. Roosevelt contends that Peabody is too small and perhaps it is here that we see why former Chief Operations Officer Richard Fellers was exiled and forced to retire. 

Mr. Taylor continues, "It's a senior person very much involved over the years with our school closing and the number they gave me was 1,700 or 1,800 students that fit in Peabody High School. Absolutely." Oh Randall you don't know what your talking about do you? Opps let me be quiet  I forgot he went there and knows Peabody can hold the students, because that's what it had when he was there, and the building didn't shrink did it?

Solicitor Weiss' comments that the Board has already approved construction contracts for Milliones and Reizensten; his opinion holds sway over the majority. Therefore the thought is I guess we better spend that money now before the people find out that in 2011 and...... we will be broke and having to lay off over 300 people and close more schools. Naw that cant be true can it?

Taylor's motion is defeated 2-7.


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Ta.

 

 

Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

Summer Olympic Games 2012: Ottawa area athletes with a dream

Summer Olympic Games 2012: Ottawa area athletes with a dream

What area athletes are aiming for the Olympics from the greater Pittsburgh area? Any?

We know some swimmers with Olympic trials cuts.

Great video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTjEVUhYqqE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Fw: Back to School

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: "The Nation" <email@thenation.com>

Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:09:30 -0700

To: <Mark@Rauterkus.com>

ReplyTo: email@thenation.com

Subject: Back to School

Please whitelist us here. Not interested anymore? Update your email preferences or unsubscribe from all Nation emails.

ATTENTION: Educators, Students, Parents and Grandparents The Nation is excited to announce the launch of the 2011/2012 Educators Program, bringing America's most incisive writers and editors to classrooms with free teaching material. In this year of economic uncertainty and primary elections, the corporate-owned media will not be offering lessons about: the crisis in higher education; conservatives demonizing teachers, cops, firefighters and public workers; the phony "panic" over debt; vets abandoned by the VA; taxes and the Tea Party and much, much more. Where can students and teachers turn for more than they're getting from mainstream media? The Nation, that's where: the most independent, strong-voiced and fearless champion of democracy in this country. The first of twenty-four weekly teaching guides (available free) will be posted on Monday, August 29, 2011. Check the Educators link on our homepage, or go to thenation.com/educators to view prior teaching guides, to sign up for The Nation's Educator e-mail Newsletter, or to preview our pre-planned Learning Packs. HERE'S WHAT'S INCLUDED: 1. FREE Weekly Teaching Guides Published weekly and offered as a PDF, each guide includes: a student page with reading comprehension, vocabulary, research and writing lessons; a teacher page with answers and suggestions for further activities and discussion; a weekly archive article that compares parallel events over time. 2. FREE Educator Newsletter Sign up here to receive The Nation's FREE Educator Newsletter via e-mail. Beginning next week, we'll e-mail a link to let you know when each free weekly teaching guide has been posted, and highlight articles of special interest and stories that will help you and your students get the most out of The Nation. 3. DISCOUNTED Subscriptions include digital access to every article dating back to 1865 Individual Teacher Subs Individual Student Subs Discounted bulk subscriptions for classrooms are available. Call this toll-free number: (800) 333-8536 4. DISCOUNTED Learning Packs Pre-planned learning packs, culled from our archive, available for just $9.99 each. Click to preview and purchase: The "Brown" Decision; The Scopes Trial; Whom Shall We Welcome (Immigration); The Scottsboro Case; Sacco & Vanzetti; The Kennedy Assassination and many more. IMPORTANT NOTE:  Parents, grandparents and friends of The Nation can spread the word by forwarding this e-mail to any and every teacher you know. Of course to ensure that students you know are reading America's best writers and thinkers, give them a gift subscription to The Nation this school year.

You are receiving this message because you are a member of The Nation community. If you want to stop receiving messages like this from us, replying to this e-mail will not work. Instead, click here to update your email preferences or unsubscribe from all Nation emails. To reach a specific department at The Nation, click here. The Nation, 33 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003

 

Mike F still on the attack

PRESS RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Mike Ference
412-233-5491
mike@ferencemarketing.com

The Last Call: September Protests to "Out" Local Abusers and Sympathizers

Pittsburgh, PA  – August 16, 2011 – Well-known local activist Mike Ference
will stage a series of protests beginning September 11, the 10th anniversary
of 911 and targeting local institutions and individuals associated with the
abuse of children and young adults.

"For two decades I have called on certain institutions and individuals to
come forward and take responsibility for their roles — active or passive —
in child sex abuse," Ference explains. "This is the last call — if they
don't do the right thing in the next couple weeks, then I will 'out' them at
a series of protests where I will publicize incriminating details from my
22-year investigation of such cases. Abusers who have harmed children and
individuals who knowingly covered up the crimes will be named — I want
everyone in our community to know who the bad guys are."

Ference began his investigation in 1989 after his son was shot on a school
bus by a boy who then committed suicide. Although grateful that his son
survived, Ference was disturbed that an investigation into the shooting was
quashed or botched at every turn. Agreeing that the case had been
prematurely closed by the McKeesport police, William Scully, then Public
Safety Director in Clairton, gave Ference notes on the case and encouraged
him to continue investigating on his own. A central starting point was the
possibility that the shooter had been sexually abused by a local Catholic
priest.

Ference's initial investigation has inspired a lifetime of activism against
child sexual abuse and cover-ups. He has written extensively on the sex
abuse scandal within the Catholic church, amd has consistently emphasized
that such abuse can't happen without a lot of other community stakeholders
"looking the other way."

"This is the last call for the Pittsburgh Diocese and its syndicate of
dysfunctional sex freaks who have exploited children and teenagers for
decades," Ference says. "It's the last call for the hospitals and other
institutions who helped cover up crimes against innocent children. It is
time for elected officials and law enforcement to stand up and protect our
children instead of the Catholic church hierarchy, Sicilian mobsters and
corrupt political leaders."

The first protest is scheduled for noon, September 9, on the steps of St.
Paul's Cathedral in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. Ference believes that
Oakland, Shadyside and the surrounding areas have been prominent spots for
Pittsburgh Catholic clergy to abuse children and teenagers.

Additional protests are in the planning stage. Ference says UPMC Hospital in
Oakland is a likely site because of its handling of a clerical abuse case
involving Greg Witkowski. He is also considering the police departments and
municipal buildings of McKeesport, Clairton, and West Mifflin, which were
all central in his initial investigation. District Attorney Stephen
Zappala's office and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette were also mentioned as
stakeholders who have been more interested in protecting the church
hierarchy than punishing abusers and defending children.

For more information on the September 11 protest or other upcoming events,
call Mike Ference at 412-233-5491, or email mike@ferencemarketing.com.



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Ta.

 

 

Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

On snakes, rats, weasels, and Hurricanes.

On snakes, rats, weasels, and Hurricanes.: On snakes, rats, weasels, and Hurricanes.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS CALL FOR AN END TO THE CRIMINALIZATION OF THOSE PROVIDING FOOD TO THE HUNGRY IN ORLANDO'S CITY PARKS

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Julian P Heicklen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 16, 2011

CONTACT:
Food Not Bombs
Keith McHenry - cofounder
575-770-3377
menu@foodnotbombs.net

The Orange County Democratic Executive Committee passed a resolution at their regular August  15th meeting requesting that Mayor Dyer and the Orlando City Council decriminalize food sharing in city parks and refrain from arresting people for food sharing under city codes 18A.09 -1 and 18A.09-2. Mayor Dyer is a member of the Democratic Party and principle supporter of the law restricting the sharing of meals with Orlando's hungry to twice a year per park.

Orlando police have arrested 29 Food Not Bombs volunteers for sharing vegan meals with the hungry at Lake Eola Park. The first criminal trials for violating the Large Group Feeding Permit Law  begin next week. If convicted the defendants face  Food Not Bombs volunteer Palmer B. Harrell, of Orlando, and Francis "Pat" Fitzgerald, an anti-poverty activist from Gainesville, will begin their trial on Monday, august  22, followed by the trial of Food Not Bombs volunteer Jessica L. Cross  on Thursday, August 25th. The trails will take place at Orange County Courthouse, 425 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida.

It is believed that over 10,000 people are homeless in Orlando and many families are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and seek food assistance. Second Harvest reports that many of the programs they serve are forced to turn away as many as 10 percent of those seeking food. While many of the residence suffer extreme poverty the city of Orlando has spent hundreds of thousands of tax dollars defending the Large Group Feeding Permit Law and now plans to spend hundreds of thousands more attempting to convict those who are volunteering to provide nutritious meals to the hungry while advocating for changes in government policies that would protect American's from having to seek food at soup kitchens.

###



The text of the resolution is below:

"RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTY COMMITTEE OF ORANGE COUNTY DEMOCRATS OF ORANGE COUNTY FLORIDA

"REQUESTING ORLANDO MAYOR DYER AND CITY COUNCIL TO DECRIMINALIZE FOOD SHARING IN CITY PARKS AND REFRAIN FROM ARRESTING PEOPLE FOR FOOD SHARING IN CITY PARKS UNDER  CITY CODES 18A.09-1 and 18A.09-2

"WHEREAS, sharing food with the homeless and hungry is a charitable act that should be commended and supported when done by any individual, organization, or agency.

"WHEREAS, such acts of compassion and selflessness must never be criminalized or penalized.

"WHEREAS, our nation is going through a severe economic recession and the growing population of  hungry, homeless, and working poor men, women and children need special care and attention.

"WHEREAS, the passage of this ordinance and its enforcement involving arrests may reflect badly on Orlando, internationally.  Moreover, adverse publicity about these arrests may significantly hurt the economy and reputation of the City Beautiful.

"WHEREAS, as Democrats, we stand firm in our belief in anti-poverty policies and
expect our elected officials to do the same.

"NOW THEREFORE IT IS HEREBY DECLARED, ON THIS THIS DAY, AUGUST 15, 2011,THAT THE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF ORANGE COUNTY,
FLORIDA, REQUEST THAT THE CITY OF ORLANDO, MAYOR DYER, AND CITY
COMMISSIONERS DIAMOND, LYMAN, ORTIZ, SHEEHAN, STUART AND ING,
DECRIMINALIZE THE ACTIVITY OF ORGANIZED FOOD SHARING AND REFRAIN
FROM ARRESTING THOSE WHO ORGANIZE SUCH FOOD SHARING ACTIVITIES
FOR THE HUNGRY IN ANY AND ALL CITY PARKS OF ORLANDO, FL."



ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY

Orlando's homeless ranks grow -- many are falling off economy's
'edge'
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2009-05-14/news/homeless_1_homeless-services-network-homeless-students-homeless-population

Orlando Large Group Feeding Permit Law
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/fnb_orlando_law.html

END THE CRIMINALIZATION PROTESTS SEPTEMBER 16, 2011
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/resist.html


How America criminalised poverty -The viciousness of state officials to the poor and homeless is breathtaking, trapping them in a cycle of poverty
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/aug/10/america-poverty-criminalised

Tampa's homeless get bad news: no free breakfast
http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2011/aug/13/3/tampas-homeless-get-bad-news-no-free-breakfast-ar-250363/


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Ta.

 

 

Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

Did you see the Photos of the Day that featured water polo play in The Hill District at Ammon Swim Pool?

In case you missed it, you can check out the Post-Gazette's Photo of the Day feature from Wednesday, August 15, 2011. http://www.post-gazette.com/photooftheday/

and

It has been great to have some open water polo practices at Ammon Swim Pool, a Citiparks facility.

Kids (mostly) play from 11 am to 12:30 this week, Monday to Friday, ending on August 17, 2011.

Adults are going to try to get one more game in, pick-up style, on Thursday night, tonight, from 6:30 to 8. High school and college kids are most welcome to join us too. And youngsters as well. The pool is open. Kids can come to the shallow end, of course. There is plenty of water.

My invite email:


Hi Fellow South Side Pops, (plus a few other hand-picked friends via BCC)

Let's give this one more try while the catfish are jumping and summer
has yet to fade --- WATER POLO, in pick-up, community style, but with
regulation, floating goals.

Ammon Rec Center has an nice outdoor swim pool. It is with plenty of
shallow and deep water. We'll play in 4 foot, again. So, swim ability
is NOT a real big factor. Bring the kids, as they can kick around in
the shallow end as the pool will be OPEN to the public.

Pay $3 for kids and $4 if over 16 at the gate, if you do NOT have a
Citiparks, annual, pool tag.

Invite everyone and anyone, as we can have bigger squads or else subs.

Patrick, a fellow SS Pop, played goalie in Romania as a kid. He is
something to watch and try to score upon, if he isn't on YOUR team.
Some of lifeguards have stayed to play if their shift(s) are over as
it is so much fun.

Easy parking right by the pool on the street.

To get to Ammon from the South Side, cross the Birmingham Bridge and
go STRAIGHT up, (not to Oakland nor Downtown). Follow Kirtpatrick
Street until it ends, at Bedford, at the corner of the pool. The Josh
Gibson baseball field is behind the pool. Bedford Ave also goes next
to the Civic Arena from Downtown. Go about 6 blocks to the pool at the
top of The Hill. If you bike, it is a steep hill.

My kids are out of town, so we really need a dozen guys (and gals) to
make it 'fun.' The pool closes in a few days, so this will be our last
attempt until I get a school pool made available. Don't hold your
breath for that to happen, sadly. But that's another email for another
month.

FWIW, Wednesday's P-G has photos of the day and two of the images are
from yesterday's water polo practice with the kids.
http://www.post-gazette.com/photooftheday/ See image 5 and 6.

Earlier on Thursday, from 11 am to 12:30, a group of kids from North
Allegheny are going to venture to The Hill and play a game or two with
our kids. I'm still looking for players....

Thanks for the consideration. Come if you can. Bring the youngsters.
Last time was a blast. Right, Scott?????

---

Scott's reply:

Sorry to miss tolorrow's water polo action. I had a great time learning and playing last time and echo Mark's comments about Patrick. On one particular play he dove in one direction to knock back a hard shot. The rebound unfortunately went right back to the shooter who fired on a now empty goal only to see the submerged Patrick somehow rise like phoenix in the opposite direction, knock the ball down, then scoop it up and throw a perfect lead pass the length of the pool to Mark's son Grant who easily scored a breakaway goal on the overmatched opposing goalie, no Patrick he.

Have fun and do let me know when there's another chance to play.

Stop the war on drugs

Charter School seeking K, 1 and 2 grade students

THERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN AT THE NEW IMAGINE PENN HILLS CHARTER SCHOOL OPENING ON AUGUST 24, 2011. IMAGINE ALSO OPERATES THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER AT REGENT SQUARE.

We are accepting kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades.

THE SCHOOL WILL ADD GRADES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS TO BECOME A K-8.

TUITION IS FREE AND TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDED
IF YOUR CHILD ATTENDS FAISON OR WILKINSBURG SCHOOLS YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY TAKE ADVATAGE OF THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.
ALSO RANKIN, DUQUESNE, AND GARFIELD (WITH THE CLOSING OF FORT PITT SHOULD LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS NEW SCHOOL.
GOOD SCHOOLS ARE BECOMING VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND FOR A LOT OF BLACK CHILDREN IN THIS AREA.

WE MAY BE FINISHED ACCEPTING STUDENTS ON FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2011
CALL OR EMAIL THE INFORMATION BELOW ASAP!

RANDALL TAYLOR
FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER EAST END OF PITTSBURGH
412-867-8170




1) Students name
2) Address
1) Date of birth
2) Place of Birth
3) Grade entering
4) Last school attended
5) Students lives with?
6) Mother and Father Name
7) Address
8) PHONE NUMBER
9) E-Mail
Send Info to rxtaylor6501@comcast.net
Call me for any questions at 412-867-8170
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Spit out your gum and all other negative thoughts, such as "I can't do that." Our final exam is a mega challenge.

Dreamers Update - Aug 9, 2011

Water Polo Continues!