Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review back issues from November 2008:
November calendar of events
Nov 01, 2008 ... Nov. 1 Start your month off musically with Bob Weir and Ratdog, 8 p.m.at Carnegie Music Hall, Homestead (412-323-1919); Charlie DanielsBand, 7:30 pm. at Pepsi-Cola Roadhouse, Burgettstown (412-323-1919)and Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, 8 p.m. Mr. Smalls, Millvale ...
Studying in the fields
Nov 01, 2008; ... Somehow, while I wasn't paying attention, I became the old guywho owns the cornfield. I'm not sure when it happened, exactly. Oh, I know when we becamethe owners of the corn. That was back in 2003. The "old" part is theone that sneaked up on me. While I'm not "old" by ...
Wait till next year to prune rhododendrons
Nov 01, 2008; ... Question: I have two very large rhododendrons in front of myhouse. They've grown up to cover part of the windows and I'd like toprune them down quite a bit. Would it be better for me to do thisright now or wait until the spring? Answer: Neither spring nor fall is the proper pruning ...
They just don't get her
Nov 01, 2008 ... There is something strange going on in our country for the youngto witness, but not at all strange for those of us from back in theFDR era. We were used to seeing our heroes as wholesome and patriotic,both men and women. Even on the silver screen, we expected to ...
Getting ready now is the best way to beat winter's chill
Nov 01, 2008; ... Autumn is the time to prepare for winter's cold grip. "Winter is the riskiest time of year," says Tim Shafer, assistantprofessor of heating, ventilation and air conditioning atWestmoreland County Community College. It is a season that can see money disappearing through roofs ...
Miniatures collection evokes historical moments, personal memories
Nov 01, 2008; ... Helene Smith was just a 5-year-old when she dug in her Ohiobackyard and found tiny buried treasure: a half-dozen miniatureteacups and saucers. Fascinated by their diminutive size, sheaccumulated more miniatures over the years, even as she grew. Trips abroad as an adult netted more ...
Different water absorbers tackle different problems
Nov 01, 2008; ... In a typical American household, you can find four things thatabsorb or eliminate moisture: towels, silica gel, diaper crystalsand dehumidifiers. Let's take a look at how they work, because allfour are different. Let's start with towels. Whether we are talking about papertowels ...
Briefs: Phipps gears up for master gardeners
Nov 01, 2008 ... Phipps Garden Center is taking applications for its 2009 MasterGardener program. Master Gardeners are active horticulture volunteers who sharetheir knowledge, experience and training through Phipps. They mustdonate 36 hours of volunteer time per year, plus 12 hours of ...
One out of three ain't bad in Simpsons' latest 'Treehouse'
Nov 01, 2008; ... It's time for the annual "Treehouse of Horror" special featuringthe Simpsons. This year's edition, number XIX, is like going trick-or-treating and getting a huge candy bar and two apples. There'snothing wrong with apples. It's just the other offering is muchsweeter. As usual, the ...
Start a tradition: Take kids along to vote
Nov 01, 2008; ... NEW YORK -- With a little advance work, taking your kids to thepolls on Election Day can help unscramble the complexities ofpolitics, government and the presidential showdown. It can even be fun. Myrna Blyth, who oversees the online initiative Take Your Kids 2Vote and wrote ...
A race to the finish
Nov 01, 2008 ... I was sitting quietly at home minding my own business when I gota knock at my door. It was a young black girl who wanted to speak tome about whom I was going to vote for in the race for president. Itold her I wasn't quite sure because I wasn't too sure about Sen.Barack Obama's abilities, ...
A race to the finish II
Nov 01, 2008 ... In J. Andrew Smith's letter ("The politics of race," Oct. 22 andPghTrib.com), he states that Barack Obama is 50 percent black and 50percent white, and then he says Obama represents a 100 percentchange from President George W. Bush. He needs a math lesson or two. He then states that ...
A race to the finish III
Nov 01, 2008 ... Recently national newspapers and television news programs haveinterviewed Western Pennsylvanians who said that they were notvoting for Obama because he is black. As a former resident ofPittsburgh, I think this is uncharacteristic, but it needs someresponse. People who are wary of ...
Nein!
Nov 01, 2008 ... I read a letter comparing Barack Obama to Hitler ("Ich bin einBerliner?," Oct. 29 and PghTrib.com). Have we sunk so low that wewill start comparing anyone to anything we can get our hands on? Hitler has nothing to do with Barack Obama. It is just the ...
Established U.S. socialism
Nov 01, 2008 ... I thoroughly enjoy the Trib every day online after reading theother Pittsburgh daily paper to gain some sort of balance whilereading the day's headlines. But I don't understand the constantwarning of impending socialism should Barack Obama get elected. Aren't we in what could only ...
Scraping bottom
Nov 01, 2008 ... Barack Obama admits that the goal of an Obama presidency will beto make sure we've got "bottom-up" economic growth here in theUnited States. But such an ...
They just don't get her II
Nov 01, 2008 ... A mother has a critically ill child in a hospital. There is aninternational emergency. She is president of the United States ...
The Boss hands out treat for families
Nov 01, 2008; ... Every year, Bruce Springsteen mounts a huge Halloween display athis home in Rumson, N.J. But this year, he posted a message on hisWeb site about his decision to do away with the decorations becauseof "catastrophic success." It seems Bruce's love of Halloween causedmassive traffic ...
Briefs: 'Godspell' added to Pittsburgh Musical Theater's lineup
Nov 01, 2008 ... Bad news for Broadway audiences is good news for PittsburghMusical Theater and its audiences. Due to the recent cancellation of plans for a Broadway revival of"Godspell," Pittsburgh Musical Theater has obtained the rights toproduce the show here. The family-friendly musical ...
Matchup: Pitt vs. Notre Dame
Nov 01, 2008; ... PITT (5-2) AT NOTRE DAME (5-2) 2:30, today Notre Dame Stadium TV/radio: WPXI-TV (Channel 11); 3WS 94.5 (WWSW-FM), Fox SportsRadio 970 (WBGG-AM) and the Pitt ISP Sports Network. Series: Notre Dame holds a 44-18-1 edge in the series, whichdates to 1909. The ...
Pitt's plan should begin, end with McCoy
Nov 01, 2008; ... The approach Pitt needs to obsessively embrace today at NotreDame was revealed Sept. 20. That was the day the Fighting Irish visited Michigan State. That was the day a television sideline reporter asked Spartanscoach Mark Dantonio how many times running back Javon Ringer ...
Inept offense baffles Penguins
Nov 01, 2008; ... GL
Scouting the Blues
Nov 01, 2008; ... Penguins vs. Blues 8:30 p.m. today Scottrade Center TV/radio: FSN Pittsburgh/WXDX (105.9 FM) Last game: loss, 4-1, to the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arenaon Thursday Season series: 1st and only meeting; did not play last season About the Penguins ...
Penguins utilize new injury policy
Nov 01, 2008; ... ST. LOUIS -- Sidney Crosby has an injury. That much is known. Whether it's a rib injury, as some broadcast reports suggest, oranother type of ailment, isn't as clear cut. The Penguins aren'tcommenting on Crosby other than to say their franchise player is"day to day" heading into ...
Duquesne set to face St. Vincent
Nov 01, 2008; ... Focus is one of the traits Duquesne coach Ron Everhart will bescrutinizing when his freshman-laden men's basketball team opensexhibition play today. "With young guys, there's a lot of things that come into playthis time of year," Everhart said. "Guys' minds are thinking abouttoo ...
Pitt picked No. 5 in AP poll
Nov 01, 2008 ... Pitt equaled its third-highest preseason ranking in the program'shistory when the Panthers were picked No. 5 in The Associated PressTop 25 men's basketball poll, released Friday. Pitt was fourth in 1987-88 and 2006-07 and fifth in '02-03. Pitt, which returns three starters from ...
Teams shift focus toward playoff picture
Nov 01, 2008; ... A pair of college football games in the district today coulddecide conference championships and provide a clearer picture of thepostseason race. California (Pa.) visits Mercyhurst with the NCAA Division IIPennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division title atstake, ...
Matchup: West Virginia at Connecticut
Nov 01, 2008; ... West Virginia (5-2, 2-0) vs. Connecticut (6-2, 2-1) Noon today Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn. TV/Radio: Big East Network, WTAE/Mountaineer Sports Network,Sirius Radio Broadcast (game can be heard live on Sirius Channel 123with MSN broadcast) Series: ...
Moon football coach retires
Nov 01, 2008; ... Former Steelers coach Chuck Noll cut Mark Capuano during the 1969training camp, but Capuano is one up on him today. Capuano spent 24 years as the head football coach at Moon. Nollonly lasted 23 seasons with the Steelers. Finally, both men have reached their retirement ....
Some folks obsessed with tracking volatile stocks
Nov 01, 2008; ... Pam Toubo calls it an "obsession." Since the federal government a month ago began promising billionsof taxpayers' dollars to bail out the country's financial system,Toubo, 51, of Imperial, rises before 7 a.m., and immediately headsfor her computer. Toubo wants -- needs -- to ...
Marcellus gas estimate swells
Nov 01, 2008; ... The Marcellus Shale region of Western Pennsylvania and borderingstates could contain more than double the amount of recoverablenatural gas than initially thought, a Pennsylvania State Universityprofessor who is a nationally known authority on the topic saidFriday. Terry ...
LeNature's trustee files suits seeking $46M
Nov 01, 2008; ... LeNature's Inc.'s former CEO Gregory Podlucky funneled more than$7.7 million from the bankrupt company to a nonprofit corporationthat he created to honor the memory of his late daughter, accordingto a lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Bankruptcy Court inPittsburgh. The ...
Steelers' Hoke is ready at moment's notice
Nov 01, 2008; ... Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton returned to the practice fieldFriday, which meant Chris Hoke was back on the sideline. Hampton, who suffered a turf toe injury against the New YorkGiants, proclaimed himself ready to start in Monday night's gameagainst the Washington ...
Plum's Yurovsky courting big rematch
Nov 01, 2008; ... HERSHEY -- Plum freshman tennis player Ronit Yurovsky would likeanother shot at Latrobe junior Joelle Kissell. Kissell defeated Yurovsky in the WPIAL finals last month, andYurovsky has been waiting for the rematch. She may get it if she andKissell can pull off victories in the ...
Pitt evaluates tuition, projects
Nov 01, 2008; ... Officials at the University of Pittsburgh are evaluating how WallStreet's financial crisis and a $7.25 million cut in its stateappropriation could affect next year's tuition and building program. "Obviously, whenever state support declines, there is pressure toincrease the tuition ...
Hunters may get shot at Beaver County park geese
Nov 01, 2008; ... The peaceful suburban smorgasbord in Beaver County's Bradys RunPark may soon be over for a flock of geese and their bacteria-ladenby-products. County Commissioner Charlie Camp has proposed a controlled huntto cut down on goose droppings in the 2,000-acre park, where a lakehad to ...
Hill District church warms up to geothermal project
Nov 01, 2008; ... An old mine that once threatened a Hill District neighborhoodmight help resurrect it by turning the area into the city's firstcommercial and residential district developed entirely throughsustainable building practices. In the shadows of John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church on ...
FAA seeks to recover Washington County copter's wreckage
Nov 01, 2008; ... Federal investigators were trying to recover the wreckage of acrashed helicopter in Washington County as they started piecingtogether Friday what caused it to dive into a steep hillsideoverlooking the Monongahela River. The Federal Aviation Administration was going to attempt ...
Newsmaker: Richard Rubinoff
Nov 01, 2008; ... Residence: Oakland Age: 74 Family: Wife, JoAnne; daughters, Amy and Caryn; sons, Michael andDan; and 11 grandchildren Occupation: Founder and former president of The Rubinoff Co., adeveloper of commercial, light-industrial and residential propertiessuch as ...
WPIAL champs fare well at PIAAs
Nov 01, 2008; ... HERSHEY -- WPIAL singles champions Sarah Shashura of California(Class AA) and Joelle Kissell of Latrobe (Class AAA) turned indominating performances Friday during the first day of the PIAAgirls tennis championships at the Hershey Racquet Club. Both players breezed to easy ...
Shadyside man to stand trial in roommate's slaying
Nov 01, 2008 ... A Shadyside man accused of strangling his roommate during anargument and leaving her body on the couch for nearly a week willstand trial. During a preliminary hearing Friday, a city police detectivetestified that David Wayne Alexander, 40, confessed that hestrangled Dawn McGuire, ...
P.J. Dick chosen to build Hill District YMCA center
Nov 01, 2008 ... The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh has selected P.J. Dick Inc. ofWest Mifflin to build a YMCA in the Hill District. The facility, named for lifelong community activist and volunteerThelma Lovette, will occupy an entire block on Centre Avenue betweenHemans, Addison and Elmore streets ....
Votes online to decide which charity wins $15K
Nov 01, 2008 ... Womansplace in McKeesport is participating in Allstate's YourChoice Charity program, which allows people to vote for the charitythat will receive a $15,000 donation from Allstate. The charity that generates the most ...
Bell Acres recreation complex gets $1M gift
Nov 01, 2008; ... For at least a decade, some teams in the Quaker Valley RecreationAssociation have played soccer next to a glass factory in anindustrial park. "We never know, from one year to the next, if that space will beavailable, or if we might have to cut our soccer program," Tim ...
Extensive raids target gangs, drug trafficking
Nov 01, 2008; ... Fifty people have been indicted and another 26 are being soughtas part of a two-and-a-half-year investigation into an extensivedrug and gang network operating in parts of the Mon Valley,authorities said Friday. More than 250 agents from local, state and federal agenciesrounded up ...
Judge appointed for second Wecht trial
Nov 01, 2008; ... A new public corruption trial against Dr. Cyril H. Wecht appearsimminent, this time with a federal judge from Erie presiding. U.S. District Judge Sean J. McLaughlin received the case Friday,nearly two months after the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruledthe case could move ...
Video gambling legalization urged
Nov 01, 2008; ... Video gambling machines would be legalized in Allegheny Countyunder a bill introduced this week by state Rep. Frank Dermody, anOakmont Democrat. Proponents say up to half the county's small taverns -- whichhave been hurt by the county's 10 percent alcoholic drink tax andstatewide ...
Heroin-toting teenager shot to death in North Side
Nov 01, 2008; ... The family of a Manchester teen who skipped school Friday and wasgunned down while carrying about $600 worth of heroin said they kepttrying to get him to turn his life around. Jonathan Touchstone, 16, a sophomore at Oliver High School, waswalking up the city steps in the 2400 block ...
ACORN investigation won't hinder voters
Nov 01, 2008; ... The Allegheny County District Attorney said an investigation intovoter registration fraud will not prevent any registered voters fromcasting ballots Tuesday. Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said Friday that detectives from hisoffice and county police continue to investigate nearly ...
Allegheny Technologies layoffs to affect hundreds
Nov 01, 2008; ... Allegheny Technologies Inc. will lay off several hundred workersat three local plants and a research center beginning Sunday becauseof falling demand for stainless steel from automotive, housing andappliance producers, the company said Friday. The layoffs at the Allegheny Ludlum ...
Zappala to seek warrants for records in boy's death
Nov 01, 2008; ... Allegheny County detectives and Upper St. Clair police areplanning to obtain search warrants for school and social servicerecords concerning a 9-year-old boy who was shot to death Oct. 18 byhis twin brother, District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. saidFriday. Christian Lanese ...
Auto executive excelled in various careers
Nov 01, 2008; ... Donna Kane's life was marked by successes ranging from a stint ashost of the children's television show "Romper Room" to a career asan executive in the automotive industry. But whenever she was asked about her greatest achievements, shedidn't hesitate to say it was raising her ...
Judge dismisses parts of man's suit against Energy Department
Nov 01, 2008 ... A federal judge Friday dismissed parts of a lawsuit filed by aHighland Park nuclear physicist who accused the U.S. Department ofEnergy of revoking his national security clearance in December afterhe publicly criticized the Iraq war and the FBI's treatment ofMuslims. Moniem ...
Security cameras may lead to Jeannette park vandals
Nov 01, 2008; ... Jeannette officials are hoping that surveillance camerasinstalled this past summer will help lead to the arrest of fourpeople who vandalized a city playground this week. City Councilman Mark Clark and Nancy Peters, recreation director,said Friday that surveillance footage from ...
Airport bond issue authorized
Nov 01, 2008; ... The Westmoreland County Airport Authority voted this week toapprove a resolution to permit PNC Bank to solicit orders frominvestors for a $3 million bond issue to help finance a variety ofprojects. The funds will provide local share contributions to roughly $17million in planned ...
CMU pushes into frontiers of 'cloud computing'
Nov 01, 2008; ... Research under way at Carnegie Mellon University might some dayhelp children "talk" to their deceased grandparents. No, "cloud computing" has nothing to do with the supernatural.Millions of people take advantage of it every day by sending andreceiving e-mail, doing a Google search ...
Vikings win for fallen teammate
Nov 01, 2008; ... Central Catholic opened its WPIAL Class AAAA playoff game againstPenn-Trafford with only 10 players on offense. There was no tailback. Heavy-hearted Central Catholic played in the memory of fallenteammate Kyle Wilson on a night in which WPIAL postseason footballwas secondary ...
Baby boy leaps into Ravenstahls' lives
Nov 01, 2008; ... Pittsburgh's first family welcomed an addition Friday. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's wife, Erin, gave birth to son Cooper LukeRavenstahl, who weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces and is 21 incheslong. "This is the happiest day of our lives," Ravenstahl said in astatement. "Both Erin ...
Ohio Democrats cotton to McCain
Nov 01, 2008; ... STEUBENVILLE, Ohio --- Farmer John Dewell drove 40 miles onFriday to hear Republican presidential nominee John McCain'simpassioned plea for Buckeye State voters to propel him to the WhiteHouse. Dewell, 74, of Scio, who raises beef cattle on a 157-acre farm,showed up for a rally ...
Palin declares Obama's 'socialism' won't fix economy
Nov 01, 2008; ... Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin told acrowd of 2,600 gathered at a hangar at Arnold Palmer RegionalAirport near Latrobe Friday morning that the GOP ticket is the bestfor solving the nation's economic woes. "Our country is facing tough times, and now more ...
Young pianist excels at Mozart
Nov 01, 2008; ... Contrasts are the life of music, that is unless minimalism isinvolved. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's concert Friday night at HeinzHall consisted of just two pieces, but each was full of internalvariety and the two could hardly be more different. Young pianist Jonathan ...
Yough students get winnings in pumpkin drop
Nov 01, 2008 ... Four seniors at Yough High School finished third at a pumpkin-drop competition held Friday at West Virginia University. The team, consisting of Amy Federoff, Emily Forejt, VictoriaGrimm and Kaylee Mozgawa, dropped a pumpkin from the 11th floor ofthe university's engineering ...
McKeesport holds off USC
Nov 01, 2008; ... McKeesport senior fullback back Nico Price scored threetouchdowns and 189 yards, including the game-winner in the finalminute, and the Tigers survived a controversial ending for a 34-28victory over Upper St. Clair in a WPIAL Class AAAA first-roundplayoff game Friday at Weigel-Schaeffer ...
Two who used stolen credit cards sought
Nov 01, 2008 ... State police are looking for a white man and white woman who usedtwo stolen credit cards at a Sheetz store in North Huntingdon onSept. 26, about two hours after they were taken from a vehicle inHempfield. The cards were in a purse reported stolen from a car in theparking lot of ...
Trooper among 3 injured in North Huntingdon collision
Nov 01, 2008 ... A state police trooper suffered a minor injury when a motoristcrashed into his car in North Huntingdon Thursday night as he wasresponding to a vehicle crash in Sewickley Township. Police said John D. Schwartz, 57, of North Huntingdon, pulled outfrom Indian Lake Park and struck ...