NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PITTSBURGH, PA Permit No. 2403 Volume 32, No. 6 Serving Bloomfield, Friendship, Garfield, East Liberty and Lawrenceville since 1975 June 2007 Peabody Event Builds Community, Addresses Gang Violence By Paula Martinac Westinghouse High School, said, The Bulletin “You can do anything you want to do, if you believe you can. I’m a living On Saturday, May 12, more than 800 example of it.” Wheatley impressed East End community members con- upon the parents in the audience that vened at Peabody High School in East “the future of our children depends Liberty to take part in “Excellence for upon the actions of adults today.” All,” a free, all-day community-build- The representatives shared the dais ing event addressing issues such as with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and health, safety, jobs, housing, and gang School Superintendent Mark violence. Roosevelt. The mayor emphasized “This is a new day for Peabody, and Pittsburgh’s new school safety zone a new day for our community,” program (see page 2) and stressed that announced Peabody Principal John “the success of a community depends Vater, as he greeted an auditorium on a good public school system.” To packed with parents, students, com- hearty applause, Roosevelt pledged munity activists, political leaders, and that, beginning with the class of 2008, concerned citizens. any student who graduates from a city Photo by Paula Martinac/The Bulletin Following a complimentary break- high school will not be held back from CLE “BONE” SLOAN (CENTER) TALKS TO ATTENDEES OF “EXCELLENCE FOR fast, the program kicked off with attending college for lack of funds. ALL” AT PEABODY HIGH SCHOOL. remarks by Principal Vater and Pa. Roosevelt introduced the keynote and author and star of the award-win- viewing a clip from the film, Sloan State Reps. Joseph Preston and Jake speaker – and the man many had come ning HBO documentary Bastards of proved a powerful, yet unpretentious Wheatley. To the students in atten- to hear – Cle “Bone” Sloan, an inac- the Party. Although technical difficul- speaker who told his own story and dance, Preston, a graduate of tive member of the L.A. Bloods gang ties prevented the audience from See PEABODY, Page 7 Garfield Gators Hope Barlow Will Impact Young Athletes While the coaches and players in by Michelle Burton-Brown other men who worked to start the Garfield prepare for another intense For The Bulletin league. “We worked as a team to get season, the talk around the neighbor- the League started and to get it to hood is about former Garfield resident city, the very place from which many where it is today. We all share in the Kevan Barlow signing with the of them come. Despite the fact that a success that we’ve had.” The other Pittsburgh Steelers. The Peabody lot of talent has come out of Western founders of the league are Frank High School and University of Pennsylvania, since our league’s Chatman, who died two years ago, Pittsburgh star will compete with inception 15 years Tony Walls, Chris “More often than not, the pro- Najeh Davenport for the role of back- ago, we have not Woodward, Harold The players are grouped by ages, fessional athlete is far up to Pro Bowl running back Willie been able to get a Hamlin, and Garth ranging from five to 14 years of age. removed from the inner city, Parker. professional ath- Taylor. Jones said that the Gators also work the very place from which The Gators’ program director, Bob lete to agree to The Garfield with children from the East Hills. many of them come.” Jones, who helped start the league speak at our annual Gators belong to an “We’ve worked out a deal with a local when he was only 24, expressed frus- awards banquet. With the exception of organization that represents youth bus company to transport the players tration with his efforts to introduce his Charlie Batch, there has not been a from the neighborhoods of Lincoln, from East Hills, but what we really young athletes to professional players. great deal of giving back to the com- Homewood, North Side, East Liberty need is our own van,” stated Jones. “More often than not, the professional munity.” and the Hill District, plus clubs from athlete is far removed from the inner Jones is quick to give credit to the suburban Clairton and Wilkinsburg. See GATORS, Page 7 JULY The FINAL DEADLINE for the July 2007 issue of The Bulletin is Friday, June 15, 2007 This includes ALL classified ads, Bulletin Board announcements, story submissions and ad space DEADLINE! reservations. Information is accepted on a space-available basis. For more information, call 412- 441-6915. Page 2 • The Bulletin • June 2007 PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE REPORT The following is a summary of some of the recent work of the city’s Impact and Vice Squads in dealing with street-level crimes occurring in the City Crew “Redds Up” Garfield and adjacent areas. Around Fort Pitt ALA • On the night of April 12, Impact • On the evening of April 20, Impact detectives arrested a 17-year-old male detectives arrested a 28-year-old male On Friday, May 4, a “Redd Up” crew ing vacant buildings. Ft. Pitt ALA was for possession of a controlled sub- for possession with intent to deliver came to Ft. Pitt Accelerated Learning one of the first schools on the list to stance (Ecstasy) in the 5200 block of crack cocaine in the 5300 block of Academy in Garfield as part of the get the “Redd Up” treatment. The Hillcrest St. after detectives made a Cornwall St. Pittsburgh Safety Zone Partnership public works crew cleaned up consid- routine traffic stop. Shuman Juvenile (SZP). On hand was Mayor Luke erable debris from Brown Way, an Detention Center declined to admit • On the evening of April 23, Vice Ravenstahl, who, along with alley within the school’s safety zone. the arrestee, and he was released to his detectives arrested a 43-year-old Superintendent Mark Roosevelt, had Unfortunately, within just two weeks, parents following processing. female for prostitution and loitering announced the creation of the partner- landscaping debris had once again for the purpose of prostitution at the ship in March. The SZP will maintain been illegally dumped in the alley. • On the afternoon of April 13, Vice corner of Penn and N. Atlantic a 1000-foot “safety zone” radius The public works crew also “redd detectives placed a 32-year-old male Avenues. around all city school buildings, look- up” N. Winebiddle and were back two under arrest for possession with intent ing in particular at problems such as weeks later demolishing a flight of to deliver crack cocaine in the 6200 • On the evening of April 23, Vice abandoned houses and cars, over- hazardous steps leading up the street block of Broad St. The arrest was detectives arrested a 24-year-old grown lots, cracked steps and side- to the school. The second flight of made following a search of his vehi- female for prostitution and loitering walks, hypodermic needles, and concrete steps will be repaired and put cle. Detectives identified the suspect for the purpose of prostitution at Penn crime. in good working order. as a recent parolee from state prison. Ave. and N. Graham St. A key component of the SZP is to Thanks to the “Redd Up” crew for a improve each school community’s job well done – and to the city and • On the afternoon of April 20, • On the night of April 26, Vice detec- physical safety by cleaning up vacant school system for this important ini- Impact detectives arrested a 19-year- tives arrested a 20-year-old male for lots, removing debris, and demolish- tiative to make our schools safer! old male for providing false identifi- possession of a controlled substance cation to officers in the 5100 block of (heroin) in the 1100 block of N. Columbo St. The detectives had Negley Ave. in the Highland Park observed the individual engaged in neighborhood. The suspect had earlier gambling activities, and upon making been observed in the Garfield neigh- the arrest, learned of other outstanding borhood attempting to purchase a con- warrants against him. The suspect was trolled substance. then taken into custody. Reverse Phone Book Warning Did you know? There’s a feature on the Web that enables you to type a telephone number into a search engine and find out not only the person’s name and address, but get a map to his or her house - a nationwide reverse Photos by Rick Flanagan telephone book! The safety issues are obvious. In particular, if a child gives out his or her phone number, and the number is a listed one, the accompanying house address can easily be found and mapped. You can look up your number and block it from being listed. First, go to “REDD UP” DAY AT FORT PITT ALA INCLUDED A CLEAN SWEEP OF N. http://www.whitepages.com/10583/search/ReversePhone, type in your 10- WINEBIDDLE STREET AND BROWN digit number (area code + number), and hit enter. To block your information, WAY, AND A VISIT FROM THE MAYOR. go to the lower righthand corner and click on “Is this you? Remove your list- Photo by Paula Martinac/The Bulletin ing.” Then follow the instructions for removal, which takes takes approximate- BROWN WAY AFTER “REDD UP” ly 3-5 days. DAY Zone Meetings If you would like to stay up-to-date with police efforts in your area, then please attend one of the monthly zone meetings, held by each zone’s police dept.