Summer School dates

Regional Extended Learning Camp dates: June 22, 2009 through July 17, 2009. (No camp on Friday July 3rd.)

Local Newspaper Files Petition in Supreme Court in Relation to Corruption

Corruption in PA looks like this.

Local Newspaper Files Petition in Supreme Court in Relation to Corruption: "Local Newspaper Files Petition in Supreme Court in Relation to Corruption

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- The owners of the Citizens Voice newspaper will file a petition in the state supreme court today claiming that suspended judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan have direct connections to jailed mobster William D'elia. It centers around a multi-million dollar judgment against the newspaper in a defamation lawsuit.

The citizens' voice newspaper is reporting that their lawyers will file a petition with the state supreme court to vacate and throw out a $3.5 million dollar defamation verdict issued by suspended judge Mark Ciavarella in June of 2006 following a non jury verdict, Ciavarella ruled in favor of a West Pitttston businessman, who claimed he was defamed in a series of special reports in 2001. Those reports came after federal agents raided his business as well as homes owned by D'elia and others.

The Pittsburgh Comet: Michael Lamb and the Public Square Project

Gentle as a lamb. Except, our landscape is less than white as snow, regardless of the salt mix.

The Pittsburgh Comet: Michael Lamb and the Public Square Project Michael Lamb and the Public Square Project

"Loosely tethered" = great description, sadly.

Too little and too late on many issues.

Crazy that Mr. Lamb does not control his own web pages.

Crazy that Mr. Lamb would release his audit to the authority boards -- if he tip-toes over to them -- before he shares it with the public. That's not transparent.

Campaign finance reform data that comes out late is worthless. The elections are already past.

The hurdle isn't the donors changing their names. The hurdle is the lack of accountability that he's sustaining.

Now ready to track city contracts by the end of the first quarter of this year.

Mike Lamb needs to hire outside folks when he should be doing it himself.

Did you ask him about the city controller candidates that ran the auto sales program? Did you ask him about the audit of the controller's office he wanted from outside vendors too?

Ken asks for thoughs on this reading list

Please read ANY ONE of the following prior to the Video Marathon for SWEATSHOP EDUCATORS. Contact Kenneth or Amy for copies of any of these.

Paying to Lose our Jobs, The National Labor Committee

Describes with primary resources the connections between trade and foreign policy. Anyone who ever pondered how the Human Rights of apparel industry workers is connected to the campaigns against US militarism, this one is for you.

Bangladesh: The Role of U.S. Universities and Student Solidarity, from National Labor Committee

An early attempt by the National Labor Committee to connect university communities with the people who sew their clothes. Bangladesh is SPECIAL, for so many reasons.

AFL-CIO Solidarity Center Guide for Conducting Workshops with Apparel Industry Workers

What do AFL-CIO Solidarity Center employees talk to workers about? How are these teaching techniques similar to those we use with workers in Pittsburgh or students in the classroom?

Workers Rights Consortium report on Multi-Fiber Expiration

The Multi Fiber Arrangement (1972-2003) was the mother of all the “Free Trade” agreements that proceeded it. It’s implementation created the global apparel industry we know today and its expiration began a new chapter of instability.

Workers Rights Consortium Annual Report for Affiliates

Are the 250 College and University affiliations with the Workers Rights Consortium having an impact? The disclosure and investigatory protocols that the WRC has established are not enough to make a dent.

The Jungle, Upton St Clair

The original piece of mucking raking journalism that uncovered terrible workers rights abuses.

David Zirin – What’s My Name Fool?

Or any other book by David Zirin. Read Zirin’s coverage of the 2006 All Star Game. This is the contemporary sports writer who gets the likes of Dennis Brutus and Roberto Clemente.

Any biography of Mohandas Ghandi

How are the life and ideas of Mohandas Ghandi connected to a contemporary global apparel union organizing drive?

Field of Schemes

What are we up against when we make demands on the Pittsburgh Pirates or try to leverage the people’s ownership of PNC Park to impact their licensing efforts? Why is it important for Pittsburgh’s future that require the Pittsburgh Pirates to honestly address our concerns about an issue so black and white as sweatshop apparel licensing?

Sporting Weekend and More Discussions Perking

I'm heading up a sports task force of sorts with Mark Conner with Pgh Public Schools. I'll be making phone calls on that front starting on Sunday. If this is an interest that is important to you, send me an email: Mark - at - Rauterkus - dot - com.

My questions are simple at first. I think we need to express ourselves as to the state of the OVERALL SPORTS and ATHLETICS in the PPS District. And, as to its OVERALL importance to the community, to the health and wellness of the participants and families, and the impact it can and should have on our school life.

You can send me your thoughts via email -- or -- just think on the topics and I'll talk to you on the phone.

I'm working on a lot of different aspects of this -- and have been for my entire professional career as a coach and volunteer.

Two extras:

Friday night at 6 pm the Fox Chapel Foxes visit Allderdice High School to play Schenley in a girls PIAA basketball game. That's tonight.

Saturday at 1:30 the Mt. Lebo Blue Devils visit Peabody to play the boys team of Allderdice in another PIAA hoops game. That's tomorrow -- as the Pitt vs. UConn game comes to a close (noon tip).

Meanwhile, I'll be on a bus with the women's water polo team from Chatham Univ this afternoon. We're going to play Univ. of Michigan at 9 am and then Indiana Univ Hoosiers in the afternoon. Go Chatham Cougars. This is the first year women's water polo is a varsity sport here. Wish me luck.

So, I won't hit the PIAA hoops games -- but I hope you and your family can attend.

I was at a breakfast business meeting in Mt. Lebo this AM and guy there told me that many in his community were 'scared shitless' (his words) about going to Peabody. Such a sad statement. Let's treat them well.

Funny or Not?

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

City teams tango w WPIAL squads. Allderdice boys regroup for PIAA playoffs

PG East: After City League title game loss, Allderdice boys regroup for PIAA playoffs Allderdice will face WPIAL runner-up Mt. Lebanon (21-5), a familiar opponent, in the PIAA first round Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Peabody. Knowing that a postseason run was possible with his team this year, McDonald scheduled a challenging out of league schedule of games, including a matchup against Mt. Lebanon. Allderdice defeated Mt. Lebanon, 42-40, Jan. 17, 2009.

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Main Feature - Pittsburgh City Paper hits touchy subject

What is going on here? Well, I don't really want to know. But the telling part is the six year delay. Pittsburgh is a smokey city, sadly.

Serving Time - Main Feature - Pittsburgh City Paper Of course, in most sex-abuse allegations there are rarely witnesses apart from the alleged victim and perpetrator. And while delays in criminal cases are 'the rule, rather than the exception,' says Tracey Provident, an associate director of the Center for Victims of Violence and Crime in East Liberty, a six-year delay is rare indeed. Hearing about it, Provident exclaims, 'Wow. We often prepare victims that their case won't go to trial for a year.' A half-dozen years of waiting 'is probably the far end of postponements.'

Mike F talks of this all the time. Here is his latest rant.

Parents and Education -- connections

In the Classroom Connecting with over- and under-involved parents
No matter how much an educator begs, some parents won’t get involved in the classroom; others are so-called “helicopter parents” who hover over their children constantly. Whether you’re faced with too much or too little from parents, it can sometimes be a struggle to develop positive relationships with family members in order to ensure student success.

Advice:

Call parents at the beginning of the year to introduce yourself.

Be clear about when and how it’s appropriate to contact you.

Call, e-mail or send notes home about your students’ positive accomplishments, not just negative happenings.

Send home student-generated newsletters regularly.

Maintain a class Web site.

Send home progress reports for all students.

Let parents know how they can help their children at home.

Publicize classroom volunteer opportunities on a special parent bulletin board.

Encouraging reluctant parents

McDonald says: “Informed parents equal empowered parents, which equal supportive parents; uninformed parents equal frustrated/helpless parents, which equal angry/defensive parents.”

Gateway girls devour Allderdice

Ouch.

Brown, Gateway girls devour Allderdice - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Gateway built a 55-13 lead

View from the BurghChair: 14 to 8.3% -- City vs County

View from the BurghChair: "Fourteen percent of city births are from women under the age of 20 (post). This is compared to 8.3% in Allegheny County (post). Twenty -four percent of African American births in the city last year were to mothers under the age of 19 (post).

Landlords sue city to stop registrations

This is what folly looks like:

Landlords sue city to stop registrations The Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh sued the city of Pittsburgh today to try to overturn the rental registration ordinance that tells landlords to pay a $12-per-unit fee by April 1.

The association, which includes 185 landlords with properties in the city, according to the complaint, believes the law is unconstitutional, unenforceable and an illegal tax.

City council needs to be relevant, again, someday. City council can't get there doing what shouldn't be done. Rather, do what needs to be done. Do that well.

Don't talk to opponents after they file paperwork with the courts. Too late. Too little.

It is impossible to legislate morality -- and responsibility. Plus, these acts of over-reaching are not prudent for a city on the brink. The purpose of government needs to be respected before respect can be delivered by the force of government run a muck.

Auditor General Says State Should Hold Off On Sale Of Building - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

Way to go Jack Wagner.

Auditor General Says State Should Hold Off On Sale Of Building - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh: "Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner said Monday that the commonwealth should postpone plans to sell the State Office Building in Pittsburgh because of the weak economy.

'A financial transaction in these depressed market conditions amounts to a fire sale that is not in the best interest of taxpayers,' Wagner said in a letter sent to James Creedon, secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of General Services.

I'm "sold." Good logic.

However, I'd be happy to sell the Convention Center at a fire sale. Sell it to the slots parlor owner and then he could put slots in a part of the Convention Center next week.

Sell Heinz Field to the Steelers.

Sell PNC Park to the Pirates.

Sell things that cost money to maintain. Sell those facilities at a price that equals what is still owed on the facilities.

Sell the Pittsburgh Airport.

Sell the assets of the Pittsburgh Parking Authority. Don't lease the parking garages for 30 or 99 years -- sell them.

Sell them for fair prices -- and sell them over a course of years, if necessary.

Blast from the past: Patrick Dowd

Tour of University Prep, a new PPS school for grades 6 to 12

The Excellence for All meeting was held at U-Prep. I went. We got an informal tour. Here is the video.



The University Prep School is now only with kids in 9th grade. There are 140 students. They have room for 150.

Next year, starting in the fall of 2009, the school expands as the 9th graders go to 10th and a new 9th class enters. Plus, the school grows to include grades 6, 7 and 8. So, the school will be 6 to 10 in fall of 2009. It goes to 6 to 11 fall of 2010. And, then in the fall of 2011, the school goes from 6 to 12 -- full capacity. The first graduates are in May (early summer) of 2012.

Presently, the kids who want to play sports do so with Schenley. Later, the sports teams will come from joint student bodies -- U-Prep and the new Science and Technology School. Perhaps, one day, the team will have its own sports teams.

Students will be able to enter the school at grades 6 and grades 9. The middles-school has fewer students per grade than what will be in the high school. Half of the kids in the high school grades will come from within the U-Prep middle school and half will come to the school from other schools.

Half of the kids at U-Prep are from the neighborhood. The other half are from around the city. There is a city-wide magnet program at U-Prep. So, regardless where you live, you have a 'chance' to get into that school.

There are a lot of flags and banners around the school devoted to various colleges and Universities. I didn't get much of that on the video tour. Grambling to Ohio State to MIT were represented. College is on the front of everyone's minds, I dare say.

The school's slogan is "We Believe, We Achieve, We Succeed." That is the same slogan as at CAPA, for what its worth. I like the slogan as one like it was used in books on sports psychology I published years ago.

WPIAL team scores

Girls -- AA

1. Oakland Catholic 372
2. Shady Side Academy 317
3. West Allegheny High School 162
4. Mars Area 140
5. Hampton 129
6. Uniontown High School 128
7. Blackhawk High School 127
8. Knoch High School 103
9. Mt. Pleasant 93
10. Greensburg Salem 86
11. Montour 84
12. South Fayette 60
13. West Mifflin 50
14. Derry Area High School 47
15. Burrell 44
16. Indiana 31
17. Northgate 30
18. Brentwood 20
18. Quaker Valley 20
18. Elizabeth Forward 20
21. Belle Vernon Area 19
22. Riverside (Ellwood City) 15
23. Valley 14
23. South Park 14
25. Highlands 7
26. Seton LaSalle 6
27. Carlynton High School 3
28. Freeport Area 2

Boys -- AA

1. Shady Side Academy 277
2. Indiana 237
3. Hampton 234
4. Riverside (Ellwood City) 171
5. Moon Area 142
6. West Allegheny High School 106.5
7. Belle Vernon Area 106
8. Burrell 99.5
9. Carlynton High School 88
10. South Park 81
11. Blackhawk High School 77
12. Highlands 68
13. South Fayette 67
14. Derry Area High School 60
15. Trinity (Washington) 59
16. Montour 54
16. Quaker Valley 54
18. Elizabeth Forward 45
19. Brentwood 41.5
20. Cornell 29
21. Uniontown High School 28
22. South Allegheny High School 27
23. Valley 22
24. Seton LaSalle 18.5
25. Thomas Jefferson High School 17
26. Beaver Area High School 14
27. Chartiers Valley High School 13
28. Knoch High School 10
29. Bishop Canevin High School 5
30. Mt. Pleasant 4
30. Northgate 4
32. Freeport Area 2
32. Washington 2
34. Greensburg Salem 1

Girls -- AAA

1. North Allegheny 372
2. Bethel Park High School 281
3. Peters Township High School 234
4. Hempfield Area High School 168
5. Fox Chapel Area 161
6. Greater Latrobe 135
7. Seneca Valley 130
8. Penn Trafford High School 129
9. Woodland Hills 104
10. Franklin Regional 101
11. Moon Area 92
12. Norwin Area 75
13. Mount Lebanon 70
14. North Hills 63
15. Pine Richland High School 54
16. Plum 35
17. Trinity (Washington) 26
18. Kiski Area High School 16
18. Gateway 16
20. Canon-McMillan 14
21. Butler 13
22. Connellsville Area 11
23. Shaler Area 8
24. Baldwin 6
24. Laurel Highlands 6
26. Chartiers Valley High School 3
27. Upper St. Clair 2

Boys -- AA

1. North Allegheny 433
2. Mount Lebanon 247
3. Pittsburgh Central Catholic 225.5
4. Peters Township High School 183
5. Penn Trafford High School 148
6. Franklin Regional 134
7. Upper St. Clair 110.5
8. Norwin Area 101.5
9. Gateway 98
10. North Hills 95.5
11. Fox Chapel Area 92
12. Hempfield Area High School 91
13. Seneca Valley 71
14. Bethel Park High School 64
15. Penn Hills 50.5
16. Connellsville Area 32
17. Canon-McMillan 25
17. Kiski Area High School 25
19. Greater Latrobe 24
20. Butler 23
21. Shaler Area 22.5
22. Plum 12
22. Woodland Hills 12
24. Baldwin 5

More: PA Swimming || Official Site || Competitive Swimming in Pennsylvania

Info picket after the Bishop's visits

If anyone wants to join Mike F, as he passes out flyers at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in West Mifflin, PA, with the arrival of Bishop Frank Zubik of the Pittsburgh Diocese on Thursday, March 5, 2009 and/or Wednesday March 18 -- call him. He hopes to pass out flyers detailing his investigation into former Catholic priest John Wellinger who served as the parish priest at Holy Spirit in West Mifflin, PA. Wellinger also served as an assistant at Our Lady of Grace in Scott Township.

BISHOP ZUBIK LEADS PENANCE SERVICES, CELEBRATES STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN PARISHES
Bishop David A. Zubik will continue to lead penance services around the diocese and celebrate the Stations of the Cross at parishes during Lent, all beginning at seven p.m.

The penance services with Rite of Reconciliation are as follows:

Thursday, February 26, Saint Catherine of Sweden, Wildwood
Monday, March 2, Sacred Heart, Shadyside
Wednesday, March 4, Saint Barbara, Bridgeville
Thursday, March 5, Holy Spirit, West Mifflin
Monday, March 9, Saint Gregory, Zelienople
Tuesday, March 10, Our Lady of Joy, Holiday Park
Thursday, March 12, Our Lady of Fatima, Hopewell
Tuesday, March 17, Saint Benedict the Abbot, Peters Township
Wednesday, March 18, Our Lady of Grace, Scott Township

More in comments.

We're running a mapping party in Pittsburgh!

Ever heard of Open Street Maps?

I'd like to invite you to the mapping party I'm hosting in Pittsburgh on 3/7/09 and 3/8/09.

Come and meet other mappers, learn more about OSM and have some fun! A GPS unit is not required, we can lend you one. Let me know if you can come or if there's anything I can do to make this party better. Please RSVP on one of the sites below.

You can check out more info at the wiki page or any of the event sites listed below.

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Pittsburgh
http://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-OpenStreetMap/calendar/9837977/

http://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-OpenStreetMap/calendar/9838226/
http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/2112410/

Russ Nelson, Twitter: russnelson

State Rep. DeLuca wants to limit outside income

State Rep. DeLuca wants to limit outside income: "State Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills, wants to limit how much outside income a legislator can earn.