Non-profit Organization U. S. Postage 5344 Second Avenue PAID Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh, PA 15207 Permit No. 5333 Serving the communities of Greenfield • Hazelwood • Lincoln Place • Hays • New Homestead Volume 3, No. 4 PUBLISHED BY HAZELWOOD INITIATIVE, INC. 5344 SECOND AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15207 April-May 2015 Dave “Rooster” Fleming Honored DeWayne Murray Appointed HI For Playing And Coaching Football Planning Committee Chairman We are pleased to announce the appoint- ment of DeWayne Murray as Chairperson of the Hazelwood Initiative Planning Commit- tee. DeWayne is the son of Howard and Mary Louise Murray who migrated to Hazelwood in 1948. He is the sixth of ten children. His father worked for Jones & Laughlin Steel and his mom worked for H. J. Heinz and later for the Pittsburgh Board of Education. DeWayne attended Burgwin Elementary School for seven years. He started to play the cello in 7th grade while attending Glad- stone High School and continued while at- tending Taylor Allerdice High School. Dave Fleming of West Mifflin is flanked by one of his former players, Francis While at Gladstone High School he Joseph “Monk” Bonasorte of Hazelwood, now the associate athletic director played football, basketball and soccer. In at Florida State University, and his life-long friend, former law enforcement the ninth grade a counselor realized De- of Hazelwood, sometimes solving problems officer Jack Munsie. Photo by Jim O’Brien Wayne had potential and asked his parents after unsuccessful attempts of other electri- to consider sending him to a school that cal contractors who were not familiar with the museum in The Strip District, and when By Jim O’Brien would challenge him. They determined Tay- the Carter System of electrical wiring. he climbed the stairs to the stage he walked lor Allerdice was such a school. He attend- Later he went on to IBEW Local Union Dave “Rooster” Fleming finally can flex as ram-rod straight as the old soldiers on ed for three years and graduated with High 5 where he completed a four year appren- his muscles about his outstanding career as the sidewalk outside on Smallman Street. Honors. ticeship program at Community College of a coach and player in minor league football There were old jeeps and even tanks lined DeWayne attended a career day in high Allegheny County. After completion, De- in Pittsburgh, and for his ten seasons as an up along the street. school, where he met a representative of Wayne received a Journeyman Wireman outstanding defensive back for the Ham- Fleming felt they overdid it as far as pro- Duquesne Light Company who recruited Certificate. During his employment at Lo- ilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football viding security at an event where there were him for employment after graduation be- cal 5, DeWayne participated in the construc- League. guys from Hazelwood and McKees Rocks cause of his grades in electronics. He was tion of the South Hills Junction Light Rail He has several plaques to prove he had in the same room. hired at the age of 17 by Duquesne Light Transit system for Port Authority. quite a career. Old soldiers and old football players can Company but could not start work until he After its completion he was hired as a su- Fleming, at age 72, required a cane to still puff up their chests and wear their med- turned 18. pervisor in its Rail and Maintenance Depart- get around on the fourth floor of the Heinz als and honors with great pride. DeWayne worked in the Transmission ment. DeWayne held various supervisory History Center this past Saturday at induc- Fleming, a boyhood friend of mine and Distribution Department for five years. positions and ultimately retired as Assistant tion ceremonies for the Minor Pro Football from our early days in Glenwood and Ha- Duquesne Light was in need of nuclear Manager of Facilities Systems (PAAC). Hall of Fame. It coincided with the open- zelwood, and a long-time resident of West physicists to operate the new Three Mile DeWayne volunteered at John Minadeo ing of a new display about World War II at Continued on Page 19 Island Nuclear Power Plant. DeWayne at- (1998-2004) performing such duties as fun- tended a training program and was awarded draising, lunch guard, playground guard, a certificate of Nuclear Physicist in Power chaperoned field trips and decorated for Youth Dek Hockey League To Be Plant Operations. He declined the position holiday events. After his youngest son grad- Organized in Hazelwood due to his concerns about the safety of nu- uated Minadeo, DeWayne later went onto clear technology. During his employment at volunteer at Taylor Allerdice (2008-2011). Duquesne Light, DeWayne attended tech- There he performed such duties as chap- nical school and received his City of Pitts- eroned field trips, teacher’s assistant, hall burgh Electrical Registration License. monitor and facilitated meetings for student At the age of 20 he married Millie Lee conflict resolution. Shorter, the daughter of Nathaniel and Win- DeWayne was elected as Vice President nie P. Shorter who migrated to Hazelwood of the Greater Hazelwood Development from the state of Mississippi in1956. They Initiative in or around 2003. Shortly after, had four children, 3 boys and a girl. being elected as vice president, DeWayne At the young age of 23 DeWayne real- resigned to become the caretaker for his ized a need for affordable housing in the family and wife Millie of 30 years who later community. He purchased a three story passed away in March, 2006. apartment building on Second Avenue for- In 2008 he volunteered for Youth Places The Pittsburgh Penguins installed a dek girls welcome. Parental involvement is crit- merly known as Joseph A Stephens Beer as Head Coach of the youth football team. hockey rink at Lewis Playground on Irvine ical in the success of this league, including Distributor, a duplex on Sylvan Avenue and They went on to win a championship. Street in Hazelwood. The rink is currently coaching and refereeing. a single family residence on Monongahela DeWayne is excited to once again serve being run by the YMCA and we are hop- Please contact Monique Wingfield at Street. He renovated the properties and the community of Hazelwood. He wants to ing to develop a league, and to bring all of 412-773-7317, email mwingfield@ymcap- rented them to Section 8 tenants and other participate in guiding future developments the surrounding communities (Hazelwood, gh.org, or Leah Hardaway, lhardaway@ Hazelwood residents. Any day of the week, in the community in a direction that would Greenfield, Lincoln Place, Hays & New ymcapgh.org should you or your child be in- DeWayne could be seen painting or repair- be consistent with the wants and needs of Homestead) together to provide good fun terested in joining. More details will follow ing one of his properties. He used to fondly the residents. He hopes to restore Hazel- and instruction to all involved. once we have an idea of how much interest be referred to as the “Baron of Hazelwood.” wood to the sustainable and viable commu- The league will consist of multiple teams there is in the league. He also did of electrical work for residents nity it was during his childhood years. ranging from ages 7-15, with both boys and What’s Up? Community news ....................................Page 3 Greenfield Grapevine Basketball champions ........Page 9 Councilman O’Connor News ................................Page 2 Hazelwood Library Upcoming events ...................Page 17 31st Ward Wire News and notes ..............................Page 5 Hazelwood Accessibility Bike trails ....................Page 19 Page 2 THE HOMEPAGE April-May 2015 Raised Wages = Free Advertising By Corey o’Connor country have lost some essential City Council, District 5 purchasing power. I’ve been work- ing in Congress to increase the As an increase in the minimum federal minimum wage to $10.10 wage continues to be a subject of ____________________________________________ an hour, but until that effort’s suc- debate at both the federal and state cessful, this is an innovative way H____________________________________________AzelwooD • GReeNFIeLD • 31st WARD levels, I have proposed legislation to give some hard-working low- to provide an incentive opportu- The Homepage is published by the Hazelwood Initiative, paid Pittsburghers some additional nity for local small businesses to much-needed purchasing power,” Inc., and is made possible by generous support from receive citywide promotion if they Councilman Corey O’Connor and State Representative said Congressman Mike Doyle (D- raise the wages of full-time em- Pa). Harry Readshaw along with advertising from local ployees to a minimum of $10.10 organizations and businesses. Sam Williamson, Western PA per hour from the current mini- Area Leader of 32BJ SEIU (Ser- mum of $7.25 per hour. editor emeritus vice Employees International The city’s Finance Department Union) talked about the program Lucille Kennedy will administer the program and from the employees’ perspective. fer this incentive because of the make it available to businesses He said, “This is a step in the right City of Pittsburgh’s Market Based executive editor with 15 to 250 employees. Busi- direction for real, progressive, Revenue Opportunity Program Jim Richter nesses that have fewer than 15 and robust public policies that (MBRO) that affords marketing employees will be able to apply positively impact working people opportunities on city-owned assets editor, Strange Visitor From Another Planet for special consideration. In cases across the City, brings respect and at no cost. where workers are tipped, an em- dignity to jobs, and helps improve Greg Matecko Since the legislation was intro- ployee’s hourly wage would be our communities.” duced, we have received an over- proportionally raised to $3.93 per I’m excited about this legis- Contributing Writers whelming positive response from hour.