Sewickley Herald

              

The Sewickley
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dardanell
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Herald
Suburban Pittsburgh's Largest Audited Paid Newspapers
«eaty Oats
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1777
Voi. 7« No. 4».
Athletics, subject of Quaker Valley meeting
A male dominated audience of some 40 ■eside&is from throughout the Quaker ifrliey School district turhed out to hear he report of QV’s Ad Hoc Athletic facilities Committee at a special public meeting, Dec. 1.
Prefacing her introduction of the chairman, Director Timothy W, Merrill, Jr., Director Ann Phipps told the meeting that the committee was formed in September of *7T out of concern for the school's athletic facilities. It is the board’s attitude, she said, that athletics, as well as the academic, are important to the development of the student From the findings of a two month study involving seven meetings, Merrill presented the committee’s conclusions: (all figures given are rough estimates.)
1.	Rehabilitate the baseball field at the high school - estimated cost $5,000.
2.	Rehabilitate the track at the junior high school - estimated cost $13,000.
3.	Erect a fence to secure the school buses so that the athletic facilities could be opened for community use, providing the football field would ript be harmed by community use of the facilities - cost $4,380.
4.	Baseball field at Bell acres be made playable for community use»estimated cost $4,000.
5.	The tennis court at the high school be renovated and two additional courts added - estimated cost $40,000.
6.	The committee recommends to the Educational Services Committee and the community that a School-Community Recreational Association be instituted whose purpose would be to coordinate all recreational programs and construction of recreational facilities within the confines of the communities of Quaker Valley. According to Merrill, QV spent $2100 on a
survey erf flat land at the senior high. Tins survey along with estimates on the potential of the property and a school owned site in Bell Acres were studied by
Woman assault man arrested
Franklin Park Police, working with the Allegheny County Detective Bureau, arrested a man who gained entrance to a Sewickley brea home and assaulted a woman on Nov. 29. Mrs. Janet Powell, R. D. No. 4, Sewickley was admitted to North Hills Passavant Hospital with facial and eye injuries, and later released.
After following clues, which led to New York City and Pittsburgh, Franklin Park Police arrested Edward C. Gottert, 32, of Fail-mount Church Road on Friday, Dec. 2. Gottert, charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person's life and terroristic threat, remains in Allegheny County Jail. A hearing will be held today, Dec. 7.
According to Chief N. L, Micklos, Franklin Park, Gottert allegedly gained entrance to the Powell home in midaf-ternoon by posing as a salesman. He grabbed Mrs, Powell and assaulted her, threatening to harm her small son. .Before leaving the scene, he choked her and she last consciousness. She told police that after being aroused by her son, she saw her assailant on his way back to her bouse, She managed to lock the door and escape to the home of a neighbor who called the police.
A minor auto accident delayed the accused from leaving the scene, thus police who sped to the home missed the attacker less than a minute.
.the committee as a possible site for track facilities.
While Merrill favors construction of a track and related facilities, because of over crowding at the junior high field and locker room, he was over-ruled by the committee.
Speaking as a committee member, William Trusilo of Quaker Heights, Leet Township, said, “We didn't overrule Tim. But, we’re talking about a lot of money. When we looked at putting in a new track, we also had to consider what facilities for other sports would we destroy. We decided to do something now and also for the future. We asked, ‘What does the community want?’ Our recommendation is to improve the existing facilities and have an all-out community project for a sports complex.”
To this, Michael Fecko, also of Quaker Heights, and representing Ohio Valley Little League on the committee, added that it was the committee’s opinion QV School District was deprived of community recreation facilities in the outlying districts.
With kudos to Leetsdalë' for having , tennis courts, he is hoping for a marriage of the 11 QV communities on a sports program. Referring to the senior high field, he called it the most active area in the district
Another Little League representative and committee member, Dr. James G. Pitcavage of Edgeworth, sees the rehabilitation of the senior high field providing a flat playing field for activities such as soccer.
To answer Director Shirley Barker, Pitcavage said that there would be no rationale in destroying the senior high field and replaceing it with a facility that QV has in the junior high track field.
This destruction, Trusilo said would take the Little League playing field and the adjacent parking facilities. However, Merrill added that it was the alteration of the'Little League field rather than the total destruction that was a part of the committee’s discussions and study.
At this, QV Director Natasha Green reminded the meeting, “This committee has not addressed itself to the most serious condition—The	overcrowding . and
dangerous facilities at the junior high. These points are a good starting place, but they are not the initial conditions the committee was to be concerned about. The problem must be alleviated.’’
The situation at the junior high was discussed by the committee, Picavage answered. The remedy to the situation was that the track members could be dressed at the senior high and bussed to the junior high.
It was noted by Fecko that competitors for track meets arrive in their proper uniforms.
“On the other side of the coin, Merrill said, “The number of kids we would be busing every day is different from the number we would be busing once a week for a meet. We do want to rehabilitate the track.”
According to Merrill’s estimated figures, there are 58 senior high boys in track, 12 senior high girls, 53 boys in the junior high program and 15 girls with 30 junior high students in the co-ed mural team. Answering a question from the audience, he said that boys and girls ha ve used the same dressing room facilities with policing by an adult. His count is: 42 lockers in the boys and girls facilities; 13 showers for the boys; 14 showers for the girls.
However, Trusilo noted that this was the maximum usage and not a day in-day out figure, “I wouldn’t say that the facilities we have now are forever, (QV Superin* tendent) Dr .Kite »aid busing wmtidonly -
help the problem now. Then whatever the public wants to do in the future, would solve the problem,”
On the concept of the community program, director Phipps asked if the community had any suggestions on the program.
“That would take the leadership of individuals,” Merrill answered, “This is a short range report.”
At this point in the meeting, Thom Roberts of Edgeworth told the board, “The athletic facilities are atrocious. The committee has done nothing but save the Little League field. The primary goal was that the school needs better facilities. Little League can be played in other areas.
Wehaven’troom to dress our own teams.” Defending the committee’s attitude, Fred McGaughey, Camp Meeting Road, Leet Township answered, “We have a good football field and an adequate baseball diamond. While the track is not up to par, some communities do not have the facility and must bus the team to other locations.” Again the committee’s recommendation of an athletic complex was brought out by member Joseph Belcastro, a Leetsdale resident.
In defense of the junior high track, Pitcavage said, “It is not poor. The track needs to be refurbished. Why build another track when we have one? The track at the Continued on page 5
Shopping spree
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SOMETHING FOE THE WHOLE FAMILY will be available at the Home and School Assn, Annual Christmas Shoppe at Osborne School on Dec. 13-15. Children can purchase holiday gifts for family members at reasonable prices from among items which range in price from a penny to two dollars. Jackie Wick, Joyce Cortese and Betsy Wilson are project coordinators. In the picture above, Henry Scales, Mrs. Jackie Wick and daughter Jerilyn show some of the items in this year’s Shoppe. Proceeds benefit the Home and School Assn.’s special projects fnnd. A similar sale is in process today and tomorrow, Dec. 7-8, at the Edgeworth School.	(Photo by Barbara Haas)
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