The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 145

Pittsburgh Press, April 1 8, 1 982 1 11 I tp -A Parking has "always been a problem1' for Vandergrift merchants, one businessman believes. Malls, with free parking, have siphoned off some of the borough's trade. But merchants haven't given up. With a bold new parking plan Vandergrift Comes Out 'VI winging i By MATTHEW BRELIS f-r 5 ii ilin Press Photo by Kent Badger Starting next month, shoppers in Vandergrift will find there is life after time expires on parking meters. they are, we will ask council to retract the free parking." Stump said about half of the 36 merchants in the association are participating in the promotional efforts.1 He said he hopes that number will increase once the campaign gets under way.

And more parking spaces may be available for shoppers soon. Council has been trying to get part of the Wilson Elementary School parking lot converted into a public lot. Kiski Area School Board will make the final decision on that proposal. James Kerr and borough council for going along with the parking promotions. "This is just the first in many, many steps to promote Vandergrift," he promised.

Stump, however, is concerned that some borough residents might try to take advantage of the situation. "There are tenants above the stores, and we would like them to respect the free parking," he said. Merchants have asked their employees not to park in front of the stores so the spaces will be available for customers, Stump added. "These spaces should not be abused. If The plan was devised by the Vandergrift Businessman's Association, the merchant's division of the Chamber of Commerce, and received the approval of borough council.

The enticement tor shoppers will cost the merchants nearly $1,000, said James Stump, a painter and paint salesman in Vandergrift for 26 years. The cost represents the purchase of three meter clocks. The courtesy parking plan will work this way: A shopper whose car has been ticketed for overtime parking will avoid paying a fine if the citation is voided by one of the meter clocks within the 15-minute deadline. The clocks will be displayed prominently, Erobably on Grant, Washington and Colum-ia avenues. Canceled parking tickets can be left in containers near the clocks.

Parking fines will stick for people who are unable to beat the clock. Council also has agreed to waive parking fees on Thursdays, when stores remain open until 9 p.m. The three-month trial period for the plan will begin May 6. Stump said parking has "always been a problem" for businessmen. He said the merchants group is grateful to Mayor ri fTANDERGRIFT merchants vs.

shop- ping malls. There's no marquee announcing that matchup, but the first round is about to begin. And the ring of the cash register bell will determine the winner. In an effort to keep their old customers and attract some new ones, merchants in the borough have come up with a few bonuses for shoppers. Starting next month, a 15-minute grace period for motorists will be in effect daily at all borough parking meters.

Financing OK Advances Harrison Housing Plan Special Olympics Has 700 Entrants V-elMf kfASI arguing instead that there is no need for the development in the community. Wallace Czekalski, a local real estate agent, said he and other opponents of the low-income housing development will continue to fight the construction. The residents fear the complex would create an inordinate amount of traffic in a neighborhood with a school and narrow roads, and cause sewage and drainage problems. They have observed that Stonehenge, a rental complex located near the proposed site of Village Green, has plenty of unrented apartments. Tenants at Village Green, however, will be able to receive federal rent assistance under Section 8.

Section 8 requires the tenant to pay no more than 25 percent of his income for rent, with the federal subsidy making up any difference. "We'd like to keep it (Village Green) out of Harrison," said Czekalski. "We are going to fight it, but as far as what we are doing, that is up to (township attorney) Jon Hogue to discuss." Hogue was unavailable for comment. "We intend to go ahead with it (the project)," said Aaronson. "The last legal impediments with the zoning have been Aaronson said the state Department of Environmental Resources has ordered the township to fix the sewer system and has approved National Development's proposal to hook up with the sewer line.

Aaronson said he was not certain when the paper work will be completed and ground broken. By Matthew Brelis After nearly two years of court fights, ground finally may be broken for the Village Green housing development in Harrison Township. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) recently gave approval for financing to the Pittsburgh-based National Development developers of the controversial housing project for low-income people. The PHFA will act as financing agent for construction of the 100-unit complex, explained Joel Aaronson, attorney for National Development. The township got involved in the dispute in June 1980 when it raised objections to zoning plans for the 12-acre site along Saxonburg Road and Olive Avenue.

The developers went to court to get approval for the subdivision plan, and it was granted in September 1980 by Common Pleas Judge Nicholas P. Papadakos. A Harrison building inspector refused to grant a building permit, but Papadakos overturned that decision last year. Last September the judge ruled that the township's zoning hearing board was incorrect when it sustained the building inspector's denial of a permit. The township appealed to Commonwealth Court and lost, but the court battles may not be over.

Aaronson filed a suit in U.S. District Court in March 1981 charging Harrison officials with racial discrimination and class bias for denying the building permit. A motion filed by the township to dismiss that suit was denied. Aaronson told The Press that if the township continues to delay the housing project he will push for an early court date in the racial discrimination suit. Township officials have denied the charges of racism, Nearly 700 boys and girls from Westmoreland County will participate in the Special Olympics Summer Games Friday and Saturday.

It is the ninth consecutive year that mentally retarded youths representing Westmoreland school districts will compete in athletic contests in five categories. Gymnastics and swimming events will start at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Greensburg YMCA, while track and field activities will get under way at 9 a.m. Saturday at Latrobe Stadium. Before the track and field contests, the 700 special education students, about 600 high school and college students who will assist them during the competition, and area teachers and coaches will parade through the stadium.

They will be accompanied by the Company 28th Signal Battalion Honor Guard from Latrobe and the Mount Pleasant High School Marching Band. Official events are: Track 50-meter dash, 200- and 400-meter run, mile run and pentathlon. an Press Photo by Kent Badger Missy Carter, left, and Chris Helgert hold T-shirts Arnold Junior High students will wear in Special Olympics. Rent, Tax Rebate Help Offered Winners 12 years and older will advance to the state games June 2-5 at Lehigh University. Sponsors of the local Special Olympics are the Westmoreland Special Olympics Advisory Board, Intermediate Unit VII of Westmoreland County, Westmoreland County Jaycee chapters and the Irwin board of directors.

Field softball throw, standing long jump and high jump. Swimming 25- and 50-meter freestyle, 25-meter backstroke, 25-meter breaststroke and 25-meter butterfly. Gymnastics tumbling, free exercise and balance beam. Wheelchair 25-meter dash, 30-meter slalom, 100- and 200-meter race. one photocopy of each rent or property receipt they have for 1981, as well as rebate forms received in the mail.

Copies of the forms will be available at the center. The program is sponsored by Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and the Riverview Community Action Corp. For more information, call the center at 828-1063 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Senior citizens can receive assistance in filing 1981 rent or property tax rebates this week at the Riverview Community Action Center, 619 Fourth Oakmont.

Volunteers will staff the center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow through Friday. Senior citizens should bring with them an original and 3 At Valley Win Business Honors UK nfifflTB tion Mav 2-4 in Lancaster. Three members of the Future Business Leaders of America Club at Valley High School received first-place trophies in the FBLA's annual spring regional competition.

Winners and their categories were: Trisha Snyder, Ms. FBLA; James Pavshak, Mr. FBLA; Karen Sadecky, Clerk Typist I. In addition, Stefanie Hutchison placed third in Shorthand I. The four now advance to the state competi Another Valley High student, Kristen Kandel, was fourth in Accounting II in the regional competition held at Plum High School for students from 13 schools.

Sponsors of the Valley club are Joanne Cecchi and Chris Thurston. POPE JOHN PAUL II, painted by Nat Youngblood, sells for just $1 in The Press public service department. The Haggar Washable Suit. Guaranteed wash after wash after wash after wash after wash after wash ITU IJZ3 U3 WATERBEDS FINE FURNITURE COMPLETE KING SIZE HEATED iMTDnmirrnDV 111! I lAULf UV. I Ul I KITCHEN 95 with 4 Piece Unfinished Frame 1 Stain It Yourself LI 9 CENTER SALE 152 Washington Vandergrift 567-5576 Butler Zelinople HOURS: DAILY 10-5 Sat.

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