Theresa Smith goes to Grant Street. Day 1 remarks and becoming chair of the Urban Recreation Committee!

She did well. Enjoy!



She, like me, cares about kids. She, like me, will listen and not offer stiff arms so as to not meet and choose to be alone. She, like me, talks of responsibility. She, like me, is a parent and knows what it means to parent and treasure the next generation and their hopes interwoven with ours.

Today was one of the best days in the city's history, as per my watching of dealings since the mid 1990s. Sure, we've got a new President in Washington DC. But my hopes are more centered upon the neighborhoods where we play and raise our kids. Those places and programs that are near to us, often not present yet, are much closer to the possibility now.

Hope is a four letter word, isn't it.

Also, check http://Rauterkus.blip.tv and http://Viddler.com/rauterkus.

In other news, the Dow closes at its lowest level in more than six years. Well, playing with our kids isn't that expensive. It can be done on the cheap. It is a time investment, much more than a financial investment. When and as the economy slows -- it makes sense to re-set priorities and choose to spend the time and efforts to play with our kids.

Girls On The Run -- a program for kds -- looking for participants in these sites

Hard to get more "Running Mate" friendly than girls on the run. Well, it could get better if there were boys or kids "on the run."

Spring programs start March 2, 2009. Some sites need MORE girls, grades 3, 4 and 5.

Those sites are:

* Avalon Elementary – Northgate
* Beaver YMCA – New Brighton
* Burchfield Elementary – Shaler
* Central Elementary – Hampton
* Community Day School – Squirrel Hill
* Eden Christian Academy – North Hills
* The Ellis School – Shadyside/East Liberty
* First Presbyterian Church – Monongahela
* Franklin Park Borough – North Allegheny
* Independence Elementary – Hopewell
* Kerr Elementary – Fox Chapel
* Kingsley Association – East Liberty
* Marzolf Elementary – Shaler
* Baker Elementary – Upper St. Clair Parks & Rec.
* Verner Elementary – Riverview
* Winchester Thurston – Shadyside
* West Mifflin Middle School (grades 6-8 Girls on Track)

Both a registration and program poster (2 PDF files) are posted and available for you to print.

Meredith Colaizzi, Program Coordinator Girls on the Run at Magee-Womens Hospital, 3339 Ward St. Pittsburgh, PA 15213, ph. 412.641.1596 fax. 412.641.8902 http://www.girlsontherun.magee.edu

Swim Quick

We all respect and honor Richard Quick.

USA Swimming - Lanelines After the legendary Coach Quick was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer last year, Swim Across America launched the “Swim Quick” fundraiser to raise money for cancer research. On Valentine’s Day, swimmers across the country traded in their club caps in favor of sunny, yellow caps to show their love for Quick.

When athletes weren’t in the water, they continued to wear their hearts on their sleeves with “Swim Quick” shirts. At the Missouri Grand Prix, National Teamers, coaches and USA Swimming staff all honed blue shirts with a favorite Quick quote, “Believe in Belief” to demonstrate their belief in Quick’s fight against cancer.

'Richard's biggest strength is his enthusiasm and his intensity,” Olympian Misty Hyman said on the Swim Across America Web site. “The way that Richard inspires our team is that he believes that anything was possible if we work hard and believe in ourselves.'After the legendary Coach Quick was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer last year, Swim Across America launched the “Swim Quick” fundraiser to raise money for cancer research. On Valentine’s Day, swimmers across the country traded in their club caps in favor of sunny, yellow caps to show their love for Quick.

When athletes weren’t in the water, they continued to wear their hearts on their sleeves with “Swim Quick” shirts. At the Missouri Grand Prix, National Teamers, coaches and USA Swimming staff all honed blue shirts with a favorite Quick quote, “Believe in Belief” to demonstrate their belief in Quick’s fight against cancer.

'Richard's biggest strength is his enthusiasm.

Old trivia. Once upon a time, 1982, I was on a highway in Wisconsin, north of Millwauke, with my thumb out hitch-hiking. A van pulls up to offer me a ride, and the driver was Richard Quick, head swim coach of the Auburn War Eagles. We were all headed to the swim meet in Brown Deer, Wisconsin. I got a ride the rest of the way with them.

Our paths crossed a number of other times in the swimming world, but I was always thankful for that one day in March when he pulled over, stopped and said, "Come on, get in." He had a fine team then and many more since.

Carnegie Library of Homestead gets $150,000 grant

Carnegie Library of Homestead gets $150,000 grant: "Mr. Lloyd also announced a new web site and new ticket sales service for the Carnegie Library Music Hall, which will be easier for those who want tickets to use and will increase the music hall's profits by about $1,000-$1,500 per show. The Web site is www.Librarymusichall.com."

McDonald's(R) All American Games 2009 Team Rosters Revealed

McDonald's(R) All American Games 2009 Team Rosters Revealed The 2009 McDonald's All American Girls Team also boasts a talent-rich roster including Brittney Griner (Nimitz High School - Houston, Texas), who holds the National High School record for blocks in a game and is widely known for her incredible dunking skills. Also suiting-up for the girls will be Kelsey Bone (John Foster Dulles High School - Sugar Land, Texas), Skylar Diggins (South Bend Washington High School - South Bend, Ind.), Markel Walker (Pittsburgh Schenley High School - Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Cokie Reed (Waco Midway High School - Waco, Texas). The Girls Game begins at 5:30 p.m. ET April 1, and will broadcast live on ESPNU.

Swimmers less intense away from Olympics - Columbia Missourian

Swimmers less intense away from Olympics - Columbia Missourian “Well right now, I’m kind of fulfilling obligations to sponsors,” said two-time U.S. Olympian Mark Gangloff at Saturday's competition at the Missouri Grand Prix at the MU Student Recreation Complex.
Gangloff said those commitments include putting on swim clinics and giving talks at schools. The popularity that swimming received at the 2008 Olympic Games has allowed him to go into schools and deliver positive speeches and be a role model for children.
But other than speeches and swim clinics, Gangloff and his fellow Olympians said non-Olympic years consist mostly of training, just a little more relaxed than what they have to do to prepare for the Olympics.

New Factor In Teen Obesity: Parents

New Factor In Teen Obesity: Parents: "There may be a reason teenagers eat more burgers and fries than fruits and vegetables: their parents.

In a new policy brief released today by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, researchers found that adolescents are more likely to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day if their parents do. Contrarily, teens whose parents eat fast food or drink soda are more likely to do the same."

City tosses strikes at some landlords, but mostly home owners

This is what gets people mad in this city about these public servants. The law was passed in 2007 but it took a year for these early letters to be mailed. Where were they last year? Everything was hunky dorry without any problems?

City tosses strikes at some landlords The letters mark the city's first use of an ordinance passed in late 2007 that, along with ongoing registration of rental housing, is meant to give public safety officials a better handle on neighborhood quality of life.

Enforce what is already on the books before more is done with over-reaching legislation.

Penn Hills moves ahead with high school plans

So, Penn Hills is getting a new High School for grades 9 to 12 and it will cost $70-million. Shrinking enrollment too. And, the school will be bigger than the present high school. However, the present school is not grades 9-12, but 10 to 12, I think.

Meanwhile, in the city we can't do the touch up some plaster and ceilings at Schenley for half that cost????

Penn Hills moves ahead with high school plans: "Costs for the new building will be under the $70 million estimate stated at a previous board meeting, he said. The district will use state reimbursements and a bond issue to cover the cost.

The school board took no action on proposals for reconfiguring middle and elementary schools.

The district is in the midst of long-term planning to bring expenses in line with revenues and declining enrollment.

Two elementary schools were closed in 2008."

What's 8 inches to you?

I'm watching this blog: http://www.pittblather.com to get the scoop on Walt Harris and his new job, QB coach at Youngstown State.

Bill Gates on Education Reform in Feb 2009 - Moving at the Speed of Creativity

Bill Gates on Education Reform in Feb 2009 Moving at the Speed of Creativity February 5, 2009, Bill Gates gave a twenty minute talk at the TED conference and spoke on the topic, “How I’m trying to change the world now.” He spoke about two issues: malaria and education reform. If you forward the video to the 8:00 mark, you can immediately start listening to his remarks about education.

Sports of The Times - For the Spring’s Biggest Event, It’s Regrets Only - NYTimes.com

Sports of The Times - For the Spring’s Biggest Event, It’s Regrets Only - NYTimes.com: "State of the Dixie Cup lecture to be delivered this year by Alex Rodriguez"

Dangerously Irrelevant: Our temples of knowledge are lost opportunities

Dangerously Irrelevant: Our temples of knowledge are lost opportunities: "Our temples of knowledge are lost opportunities

Robert Fried says…

We have opted not to create schools as places where children’s curiosity, sensory awareness, power, and communication can flourish, but rather to erect temples of knowledge where we sit them down, tell them a lot of stuff we think is important, try to control their restless curiosity, and test them to see how well they’ve listened to us. [The Game of School, pp. 58–59]"

Speaking of closing schools:

On Feb 3, Ed Rendell has announced that he is going to close Scotland School for Veteran's Children, a school that has been in existence since 1895, originally set up as the "Soldier's Orphan's School" for veterans of the Civil War. Continuing since their original purpose, it has serviced children of honorably discharged veterans ever since.

About 35 students are children of members actively serving in the military today.

Gov Rendell's "budget conscious nature" would "save" 0.04% from his proposed $29 B budget - while also placing 186 employees in the unemployment line and ~288 students (ranging from grades 3 to 12) back in the Phila school system!

Links:
Article on closing in local paper: http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=215943&format=html

Scotland School: http://www.milvet.state.pa.us/DMVA/987.htm

Save Scotland School: http://www.ssvcalumni.org/savessvc.html

Alumni: http://www.ssvcalumni.org/index.html

Details:

The school is not full-time military, but there is a strong JROTC program, has military roots, and produces many members of the Armed Forces, including Angelo Adams, West Point Class of 2001. John Thornton, Scotland '93, West Virginia '97, has just finished his 10th year in the NFL, starting 90% of his games as a linebacker.

Students are admitted based on a family member who was honorably discharged from the military.

As recently as 2004, Gov. Rendell visited the school and said (words to the effect): "military institutions such as Scotland School will become more important as military service becomes less popular"

Direct quote: "Three years from now, or maybe four or five [which would be NOW], this nation is going to have a crisis. We won't have enough young people going into the military."

The school has a $13.5 M budget, $10.5 from the state, $2.4 from school districts, and $.5 in federal funds.

Gov. Rendell projects a $2.2 B deficit by the end of the fiscal year in June. On Feb 4 he presented a $29B budget to the legislature. I wonder how much fat is in THAT budget.

At Scotland School, there are 186 paid staff, all of whom will be in the unemployment line in June unless this is stopped.

70% of the students are from the Phila area, and Eddie's plan is to ship them back to the public schools in . . .

Scotland is located just outside of Chambersburg, about 30 miles west of Gettysburg.

On the front page of the Public Opinion where the closing of the school was announced, there was another article about the porkulus package creating "152,000 jobs in Pennsylvania". Yet he has to claim 186 jobs at Scotland School.

From W.P. (see comments)

New site

Check it out:

pghoverlook.com

Dowd says he'll run against Ravenstahl for Pittsburgh mayor

Giving new meaning the the expression, it is all academic, Dr. Dowd is going to stand for office.

Dowd says he'll run against Ravenstahl for Pittsburgh mayor: "Pittsburgh Councilman Patrick Dowd will challenge Mayor Luke Ravenstahl in the May 19 Democratic primary, he said today.

Here is the question for Pittsburgh. What nonprofits and community groups are going to step up and sponsor candidate nights so as to begin the process of public discussion of ideas. And, there are three candidates, so I've heard. We'll see if Carmen's name is even mentioned in the news article in the paper on Tuesday.

Research: The United States Military Academy Prep School - Home Page

Doing more research into the concept of Prep Schools in advance of my public comment tongiht to the Pgh Public School Board about the concept of 13th Year as part of the new I.B. School framework.

Welcome to The United States Military Academy Prep School - Home Page The U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School, known as USMAPS, the Prep School, or West Point Prep, was formally established in 1946, but the 'history' of 'prepping' of soldiers for West Point has been done since Congress enacted legislation in 1916 authorizing appointments for soldiers to West Point. The school exists today as an 'avenue of opportunity' to a carefully selected group of soldiers and civilians by providing them the academic, leadership and physical skills that will prepare them for success as cadets at the United States Military Academy.

Steelers kicker arrested after towel tussle

Steelers kicker arrested after towel tussle towel tussle

You should have heard the heartbreak outside of Reed's house on Halloween when he wouldn't play with kids on a trick-or-treat mission. Glad we didn't push it.

But next year, we'll know what to deliver in our 'reverse trick-or-treating' efforts.

Kellogg and Michael Phelps, update

From Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director Drug Policy Alliance Network:

Thanks to you, the campaign against Kellogg's for dumping Michael Phelps has gotten the media's attention. We've been the subject of hundreds of news articles, as well as a segment on CNN.

Now is your chance to increase the heat: http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=e7qCxfef2lT9ib75PCLUIA..

We've swamped Kellogg's with comments on their phone lines, and
now we can make sure they listen by sending an email urging them to
retract their statement on Phelps:
http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=eWqEO4XzM2xNKly4TJN3LA..

DPA Network has already contacted Kellogg's asking for a meeting, and I'll let you know what we hear. With thousands of drug policy reformers like you taking action, they'll have to respond:
http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=qiiuL4sVk34F-p306fhHMw..

Believe it or not, a South Carolina sheriff is considering going after Phelps himself and has already arrested eight people associated with the party last fall at which he was photographed. So it's more important than ever to stand with Phelps and make our voices heard: http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=pqIz9Sgio0a06HG4vYYgDQ..

There should be no more marijuana arrests for Michael Phelps or anyone else. And Kellogg's should renew their contract with him. Contact them today to keep this concern at the forefront of Kellogg's -- and the public's -- minds: http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=9L7HdXFen3Q8WsrJ-6fXTw..

For more insights, you can check out this thread.

Petition for Independent Inspection and Evaluation of certain schools concerning asbestos

Print it, sign it, return it.

Petition as a Google Document is here. It's not an attachment -- it's stored online at Google Docs. To open this document, just click the link above. Content of the petition below. The forces at work on these efforts are fellow volunteers with great concern about the Pittsburgh Public School district. They publish and gather online at another blog, PURE Reform and website. PURE Reform stands for Parents United for Responsible Education Reform.

---

Petition
for Independent Inspection and Evaluation

February 16, 2009

GIVEN
that incidents of asbestos plaster failure at the Schenley High
School facility in 2007 caused the Pittsburgh Public School district
to arrange for an “Asbestos Plaster Potential Hazard
Inspection” report on the Schenley building, obtain a
consultant’s opinion as to the risk of danger in connection
with asbestos plaster in the building, and adopt an enhanced
monitoring and maintenance program at the building, and

GIVEN
that extensive asbestos plaster with a history of significant failure
has also been found to exist at the McKelvy, Vann, and Woolslair
buildings, and

GIVEN
that there is no indication that asbestos plaster potential hazard
inspections were arranged, consultant opinions as to plaster risk
were obtained or enhanced maintenance programs were adopted for the
McKelvy, Vann, or Woolslair buildings, and

GIVEN
that the consultant’s stated opinion that the plaster in the
Schenley building had “maintained its integrity for
approximately 90 years, and then started to fail almost universally
across the building” is contradicted by inspections and reports
by the district’s environmental consultants,

WE,
the undersigned citizens of the City of Pittsburgh, hereby
petition the School Board for the Pittsburgh Public Schools for
an asbestos plaster inspection and opinion of risks, dangers and
relative condition of such plaster by an independent expert, of four
school buildings: Schenley, McKelvy, Vann, and Woolslair.

FOR
purposes of this petition an “independent expert” is a
qualified individual or company that has not performed work for the
Pittsburgh Public School district at any point during the past five
years and that at this time has no arrangement to begin performing
work for the Pittsburgh Public School district, and who is mutually
agreeable to both the Pittsburgh Public School district and to a
community group to be designated by the undersigned petitioners.