Sewickley Herald

              Sewickley
A Qatevuay Publications Newspaper
Vol. 95 No. 37
Thii newspoper is printed on teeysW .paper
Serving Aleppo, Bell Acres, Edgeworth, Glenfield, Haysville, Leet, Leetsdale, Osborne, Sewickley, Sewickley Heights, Sewickley Hills
Wednesday, September 16, 1998
The sun shone bright on Sewickley Harvest Festival. Streets were crowded with visitors from all around the region. See Page 11.
▼ CELEBRATION .	/ '	:j-V	^ y>: -V
WELCOMING EVERYONE to the beginning of a new world of learning is Dr. David Hennessey
Library kicksoff building project
: INSIDE
People
■	He's devoted a lifetime to the practice of law in a career spanning 60 years. Community service has also kept his busy.
Page 18
Sports
■	SA Panthers roared through the season's first scheduled home games at Nichols Field. For more, see
Page 25
News
■ The fine is a hefty one for folks who won't keep their dogs leashed ana tidy. Officials in Sewickley ahd adjoining boroughs need pet-owners' cooperation.
Page 4
“This is a remarkable beginning, but much remains to be done,” said Richard P. Simmons, chairman of Allegheny Teledyne Inc., as he addressed participants at the official groundbreaking ceremony for Sewickley Public Library on Saturday.
“In the months ahead, all members of the Quaker Valley community will be asked to participate in the capital campaign to provide for a library that will contribute substantially to the livability, vitality and the overall quality of this community, today and in,the coming century.”
The R. P. Simmons Family Foundation has made a challenge grant of $750,000 toward the project, challenging the community to raise two dollars for every dollar expended by the foundation.
Already $2.8 million in major gifts and pledges has been received toward the $3.6 million project. An additional
$500,000 will be raised for the library endowment.
At the morning ceremony, David A. Murdoch, chairman of the capital campaign, announced several named gifts to the project including the children’s storytime room by Child Health Association of Sewickley, the new history room by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin V, Clarke Jr., the Friends of the Library room by Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Peirce, and the children’s department by Dr. Gustav and Dr. Susan Eles in memory of their son Conor.
Conor’s life was tragically cut short in an accident in 1996,
"Conor was an engaging young boy with a wonderful sense of humor and great enthusiasm for reading and learning,” said Murdoch. “We are deeply honored that the children’s department will bear his name.”
Other speakers at the ceremony were David Hennessey, M.D., president of the library
4
board of trustees; Malachy Whalen, mayor of Sewickley; Samantha Brutout, Friends of the Library board member; Nancy Merrill, president of Friends; and Jack Isherwood, vice-chairman of the capital campaign committee.
Messages were brought forward for a time capsule for the cornerstone of the new addition, to be opened in 75 years on the 200th anniversary of the founding of the library.
Student representatives of each of the Quaker Valley school brought messages from their classmates. Community organizations also presented their messages to the future,
Activities for children followed the ceremony, focusing on the theme of construction.
A bluegrass concert, held on Sunday, added ah estimated $3,000 toward the project.
Photo and text courtesy of Nancy Merrill. More photos on Page 28,
▼ LEETSDALE
Mayor tenders resignation to council
•y lobtrl Welble
__________Staff writer______
Leetsdale Borough Council heralded a changing of the guard as it accepted the resignation of Mayor James T. Bell, effective immediately.
Bell resigned by letter to council citing his upcoming relocation from the borough where he had been a resident for 28 years.
“My apologies to all the voters who supported and elected me as mayor,” his letter read.
“Being a life-long resident of Leetsdale, I wish nothing but good fortune to this wonderful town that gave me many good memories and a fabulous start."
His constituents may feel betrayed at the brevity of his tenure, having only taken office in January.
“I feel very badly about that,” Bell said. “They (the residents) voted me in and .nine months later I leave.”
He and his wife, a QV teacher, had been planning on moving when she retired. Now that she’s nearing retirement, Bell thought it was time.
Low interest rates on home purchases was one reason, out of a number, why he and his wife decided to make the move now. Bell also listed family and friends as another reason for the move.
“I thought it was a great time to move,” he said. “We knew we were going to leave the area.”
Other reasons factored in as well, but Bell declined to explain saying “I’d like to leave on a professional level.”
Mike Zipparo, council president, will assume the role of mayor until a suitable replacement can be found.
Phil Perciavalle, council VP, will step in as president.
Roger Nanni, councilman, suggested that council act on filling the position immediately.
—— Continued on next page
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