Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 4

4 POST-GAZETTE: Monday. Nov. 3, 10M CityArea No batteries in smoke alarms at fatal fire Tom Hritz during cooking, immediately after they should be put back in." She said she has met with tenants and tried to instill in them that they have to keep the batteries in. Tenant Council president Cheryl Ulrich said the alarm in her apartment goes off when she cooks. But she just gets a towel and swings it to clear the smoke.

She said perhaps the Allegheny County Housing Authority should do spot checks and cite people if batteries have been removed. Ulrich said 25 to 30 residents met with Harris Saturday to discuss improving exits from the buildings, such as installing fire escapes, windows that are easier to get out of, or rope ladders that could be used to get out of the upper floors. Talbot Towers has 203 units in five, seven story high-rises on a 4V4-acre site on Washington Avenue. In the past 10 years, the complex has been plagued with problems of excessive garbage and graffiti in hallways, vandalism, crime and fires. In 1983, county Commissioner Tom Foerster called the units a "disgrace" and said he had discussed the possibility of demolishing them.

Officals estimate it would take $5 to $6 million for renovation. In the last year, the county has spent $100,000 on short-term improvements. Petrovic said the fire department used to get calls every other week from Talbot Towers but in the past four years the rate has dropped dramatically. He said the Tenants Council and the Housing Authority have worked to improve conditions. Yesterday, from his hospital room, Moody recounted his frustrating attempts to save his children.

Once LeRoy Jr. had awakened him, he said he went to the living room and saw the fire by the stereo. He ran back to the bedroom and told his wife, "Let's get the kids out of here." He went to the door, but, he said, "by then there was so much smoke I could barely see. I got the chain off but there was a dead bolt and I couldn't turn it. I could not breathe and things were getting black.

I ran back to the bedroom because I thought if I got some air then I could come back." He said he left the children by the door. By the time he got to the bedroom, he said, the only way to get air was to climb out the window. "I held onto the ledge, and I heard my wife call my name. I looked up and she was climbing out. I saw her fall, she hit the railing and then hit the ground.

When I saw her fall I almost panicked and fell myself." He said a woman from the apart- trovic said cause of the fire is likely an overheated stereo left on all night. But Moody said he is sure he turned the stereo off, although he does not know if his wife turned it back on. The children, Leroy Jr. 3, Christopher, 2, and Starr Lynn, 1, died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the coroner's report. Leroy Jr.

had extensive burns. The couples' fourth child, Justin, 3, was staying overnight with his godmother. Mrs. Moody, 20, was in the trauma center of Allegheny General Hospital where she was taken by Life Flight helicopter. She is suffering from head and neck injuries which she sustained when she slipped from the ledge of the sixth floor window and hit an iron railing on the ground.

The father, 27, was in Braddock General Hospital with minor burns. Petrovic said the smoke detectors in the apartment had no batteries in them. He said the alarms were properly installed by the county a few years ago. But, he said, the apartments have no exhaust fans so the alarms are set off easily. Talbot Towers manager Calvina Harris said the problem is pervasive in public housing all over the county.

"The alarms are sensitive," she said, "but there is no excuse for removing the batteries. If they are removed I i x-R total -fis By Eleanor Bergholz Post-Garette Staff Writer Like other Talbot Towers apartments, D-65 on the sixth floor has two smoke detectors, but Leroy Moody found the one in the hall, by the living room and kitchen, a nuisance. "Every time you cook even a grilled cheese sandwich it would go off." Moody said. So Moody, like a lot of public housing residents, took the batteries out. On Saturday, shortly after 8 a.m.

three of Moody's four children died in a living room fire in the public housing complex in Braddock. The children's mother, April, was in critical condition. The oldest child, Leroy who would have been 4 years old this month, went to his parents' bedroom and told them the living room was hot but they did not get up until he persisted a second time. Moody tried to get the family out but was overcome by smoke. The parents escaped through a bedroom window.

The fire was brought under control within minutes after firemen arrived, but by then the children were dead. The only exit from the apartment is from the living room. The building has no fire escapes. Braddock Fire Chief Robert Pe- Fair aids jobless for holidays By Marcia Dunn Associated Press Writer Unemployed workers hoping to pay bills and stash away a little extra for the holidays showed off homemade knits, ornaments and woodwork during a Pittsburgh handicraft fair designed for those with plenty of time and talent. "I am so thankful.

God is good," a glowing Karen Reich said after selling virtually all her merchandise for $150 on Saturday. The 23-year-old chiropractor's assistant has been busy making pine cone wreaths, lace potpourri and Christmas tree ornaments since she lost her job lVk months ago. "I'm like, she said. "I'm just so tickled with my sales." "It's nice to come here instead of knocking on doors," said Kathryn Gregorich, 44, an unemployed key punch operator who sold $200 worth of miniature cloth snowmen. More than 12,500 bargain hunters jammed into the third-floor ballroom of the Soldiers Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland Saturday to scan row after row of tables loaded with items handcrafted by southwestern Pennsylvania's unemployed.

The two-day fair, which ended yesterday, was Equitable Gas second attempt in as many years to help brighten laid off workers' holidays and to spotlight unemployment in this once bustling steel valley. Unemployment in the Pittsburgh area hovered at 8 percent in August, the latest month for which figures are available. Aggravating the region's economics has been a work stoppage by the United Steelworkers union against USX Corp. The dispute entered its third month Saturday. "It the fair brings attention to the fact that there are still a lot of people who are out of work," said Equitable spokesman Mike The Pittsburgh-based utility quickly filled up its 71 exhibition spaces for each day of the fair after advertising in local newspapers in early September.

The company, which rented the ballroom for $900, had offered free space on a first-come basis to any unemployed worker or family member. Sixty-seven applicants were placed on a waiting list, and 66 others were turned down because they applied too late. Those who managed to obtain space considered themselves fortunate. "It's always better to work for what you get than to take a handout," said Art Campbell 22, a laid off computer programmer who along with his father sold about $54 worth of hooked rugs, beaded ornaments and candle mugs during the fair's first five hours. "I can hold my head up and say, 'Look, I'm helping my family agreed Art Campbell 46, an unemployed maintenance man.

That kind of support and encouragement is crucial, according to Chester Dixon, 41, an unemployed steel worker who helps manage the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. "In this area the need is still there. I don't believe we're reaching out as much as we could," he said, nodding at the crowd. Henry Barnhart said he was hoping to do just that when he and his wife, Kathryn, stopped by to do some early holiday shopping. "I figure these people have to have a nice Christmas, too," Barn-hart, 73, said, holding up a bagful of purchases.

"It makes me feel good to buy them because I know the situation," said Kathy Yunecko, 45, who took a break from selling silk floral arrangements to do a little of her own Christmas shopping. Even though they couldn't afford to buy anyone else's crafts, the Campbells came away feeling just as proud and pleased. "At least I'm putting forth an effort," Campbell said. ment below grabbed his feet He told her to let go and then he eased himself into her apartment He ran upstairs to his apartment and a neighbor had already kicked the door in. He tried to enter the apartment but there was so much smoke his brother pulled him out and dragged him downstairs.

Petrovic said he found LeRoy Jr. lying on top of Starr Lynn next to the couch and Christopher on the other side of the couch. He said the children were already dead when he found them. Even though the buildings have no fire escapes, in the past residents have been rescued from the upper floors by an aerial ladder, Petrovic said. He said these are the first fire-related deaths in Braddock in his 14 years as a volunteer.

"After it was over, I sat on the truck and cried my eyes out." Ulrich and a few others spent six hours yesterday collecting money to bury the Moody children. She said $90 was collected from Talbot Towers and $48 from the surround ing community. Anyone who wishes to donate may sent a check, co Mr. Leroy Moody, Talbot Towers Tenant Council, Washington Avenue, Braddock 15104. Unions protest project By Marylynne Pitz Post-Gazette Staff Writer A labor leader disagrees with Mayor Caliguiri's statement that local unions have resolved a dispute with the contractor renovating the Pennsylvania Railroad Station, Downtown.

"Mayor Caliguiri's statement was misleading and totally untrue," said Leo Puma, business manager of the Pittsburgh Building Trades Council, yesterday. According to Puma, "We did not have an agreement" when a meeting attended by union officials, Caliguiri and the contractor, Thomas Mistick, ended Friday night. Leaders of organized labor are angry that Thomas Mistick Sons Inc. is using non-union workers on the $20 million renovation of the 84-year-old landmark train station, Puma said. The building is being converted into a 242-unit apartment, shopping and rail transportation center.

Puma said members of 28 building trade unions will demonstrate Downtown today against the use of non-union labor in that and other local construction projects. Neither Mistick nor Caliguiri could be reached for comment yesterday. Retired Common Pleas Judge Emil Narick suggested yesterday that union officials had planned to hold the demonstration even before Friday's meeting. "I think they had a commitment even before they met with the mayor that they were going to have this kind of demonstration," said Narick, who acted as mediator at the meeting. Puma charges that the railroad station project was never put out for bid.

Instead, he said the Philadelphia-based developer, Historic Landmarks for Living, "just went right out and gave it to Mistick. All we were asking was to be given an opportunity to bid on it." Puma said during Friday's meeting that Mistick told him union contractors would be given a chance to bid if they could come within budget. But Puma said when he asked Mistick what the budget was, the contractor replied that he didn't know. Son returns, questioned in father's death A 23-year-old Donora man wanted by state police for questioning about the shooting death of his policeman father returned home yesterday after a six-day absence. State police in Belle Vernon said Brian Calzacorto returned to his Donora home sometime between 8 a.m.

and 8 p.m. and was interviewed by them. The criminal homicide investigation into the Oct. 27 shooting death of his father, Alfred Calzacorto 60, is continuing, state police said. They would not release any more information last night An all-points bulletin for Brian Calzacorto and his father's 1984 Chevrolet Celebrity was issued to law enforcement agencies along the East Coast when the son couldn't be found after his father's body was discovered.

The 32-year veteran of the Donora Police Department was found dead in his bed, shot once in the head with a bullet. State police said the son was "not necessarily" a suspect, but they needed to interview him. Brian Calzacorto lived in the 200 block of Allen Avenue with his parents, his twin brother and a sister. Alfred Calzacorto, who was buried Friday, also was the father of two married daughters. 0 i.

CT' .1 Turning back hands of time I saw this guy in a bar the other evening. He was all hunched over and bleary-eyed. Looked sort of like he had been shot at and missed. About 20 times or so. He must have been reading my mind.

"You're probably wondering why I look like I've been shot at and missed," he said. "Not really," I lied. "I'll tell you, anyway," he said. "It's been a week since we changed from daylight-saving time back to standard time. I can't get used to it, and it's slowly killing me.

Every time I think I'm getting used to having that extra hour, I get in my car and I lose it again. It's tearing me apart." "Your I said. "You lose an hour when you get in your car?" "Yeah," he said. "The clock on the dashboard of my car. It's still on daylight-saving time.

I'm a salesman, and I drive a lot. I leave the house in the morning at 8:30, and as soon as I start my car, it's 9:30. Then when I get to work, it's back to 9 o'clock. When I go out on the road, it gets to the point where I'm never sure what time it is. It's driving me batty." "C'mon," I said.

"Get serious. Just move your clock back an hour." "I can't," he said, his eyes widening. "It's one of those digital clocks one of those things that also gives you the day, the month and the year when you push certain buttons on the dash. I'm 48 years old, and most people my age can't cope with adjusting digital clocks. It's not in our genes." "Your owner's manual I began.

"I tried that," he said. "I dug out my owner's manual and I followed the directions for adjusting the clock and all I did was change the date to November 2233. I figured that if I kept fooling around with it, I'd change it to Pacific Standard Time. Then I'd be in real trouble. I'd come home from work every evening with jet lag." "Why not take it into the dealers and have them do it," I suggested.

"Oh, I tried that, too" he said. "They said they'd do it, but that it would take three days. And they told me I couldn't have a loner because it wasn't covered by the warranty. I'm telling you, I'm at my wit's end." "I'll let you in on a little secret," I told him. "I had the same problem.

I have a digital clock in my car, too, and I never have any problems adjusting it anymore." His eyes brightened. "Will you adjust mine? Please? I'd be so grateful. I'm right out here in the parking lot." "Don't get your hopes up," I said. "You were right about 48-year-old people not being able to cope with digital things. I'm 48, too, and I still don't know how to adjust the digital controls on our microwave oven for defrost.

But I don't let it bother me anymore. I solved the problem a long time ago. I can't adjust your clock, but I know who can." "Who?" he gasped. "One of your kids. My youngest son adjusts all the digital stuff in our house.

It's great when he's around because we can defrost all the stuff we want in our microwave oven. You have any kids?" "A daughter," he said. "She's in college." "That's perfect," I said. "She'll be able to adjust your digital clock before you can blink an eye. She'll get it back to 1986, too." "Yeah, you're probably right," he said.

"I don't know why I didn't think of it myself. I know my daughter is great with digital clocks. You know what? She doesn't even know what 'a quarter to five means. The only problem is that she won't be home until the Thanksgiving weekend. That's almost a month away." "No problem," I said.

"Any kid can do. As soon as a kid learns to talk nowadays, he also knows how to adjust digital stuff. I guess it's in their genes. Just get some little kid in your neighborhood to adjust your clock." He started looking worried again. "I can't do that," he said.

"It's too embarrassing. But if I have to keep losing that hour and getting it back again for another month, I'm afraid I'll crack. There must be something I can do." "There's one other thing," I said. "What?" he said, brightening again. "Trade your car in on a new one," I said.

"The new one will have Eastern Standard Time on its digital clock." He went right back to looking like he had been shot at and missed. "I can't do that," he said. "That's what I i did last April. When we switched to daylight-saving time." No charges filed Authorities say they won't file charges against an unidentified 13-year-old North Side resident who gave birth to a baby whose body was found in a trash bag. Assistant District Attorney Joseph Ruddy said Friday that Allegheny County Coroner Joshua Perper "couldn't say for sure that the death didn't occur during the natural birth process." Two recently arrived Japanese Darrell Sapp Post-Gaze cranes take a graceful stroll yesterday at the Pittsburgh Aviary.

Gazette Hundreds hail new Bloomfield Bridge By The Associated Press The city's new Bloomfield Bridge opened amid festivities over the weekend following an 8 Vi-year delay caused, in part, by lawsuits and the discovery of toxic waste at the construction site. Hundreds of people turned out for a parade marking the opening of the span, which links Bloom A' Lr Merchants are hoping for improved business as a result of the opening of the new $33 million bridge. "I think we're going to see a little bit of a boom here now," said David Meyers, whose father operates a lumber supply company on the Bloomfield end of the bridge. "Now we're in the middle of everything." Both Joe and Josephine have traded their Camels for a can of Iron City. Beer drinking is up among both sexes, although it has increased faster for women.

In 1965, 53 percent of all freshmen reported drinking a brew now and then, compared to 66 percent today. Women were twice as likely to use sleeping pills or tranquilizers in 1965. Pill use has dropped since then and is now about even for both sexes with 4 percent using tranquilizers and 3 percent sleeping pills. Today's students are less liberal than they used to be, but they're far from Reaganites, the survey shows. Those who consider themselves liberal declined from 37 percent to 22 percent since 1970, while those counted as moderate increased from 45 percent to 56 percent.

Conservatives have remained stable at 15 percent to 20 percent. About half of today's students favor legalized abortion. Large majorities favor national health insurance, higher taxes for the rich, greater government action in environmental and consumer protection and less defense spending. Voice of the freshmen They're less liberal, more geared to business field with the Oakland and Polish Hill neighborhoods. Among those celebrating were Albert Palmiere III, 25, and Renee Beimel, 19, who were married on the Bloomfield end of the bridge, recreating a similar ceremony performed when the span first opened in 1914.

The original bridge was later torn down. female freshmen wanted to be' teachers, compared to 9 percent today. Teacher salaries may be part of the reason. One of the biggest trends in the survey has been the increase in students who say their goal is to be "very well off financially." Today, 71 percent of freshmen give money as a major goal, compared to 44 percent in 1965. Students today also put higher value on power and status and becoming a supervisor.

That may help explain why 25 percent of today's freshmen want to be businessmen compared to 14 percent in 1966. The number of women planning to have business careers quintupled in that time. Science also has lost popularity. Math majors declined from 4 percent to 1 percent while science majors fell from 3 percent to 2 percent. Today, Josephine is much more likely to smoke than Joe, a dramatic switch from years past.

Smoking among college men. dropped two-thirds over the past 20 years to today's 7 percent. The decline has been slower among women, 11 percent of whom now smoke. By Jim Gallagher Post-Gazette Staff Writer Joe College and his sister, Josephine, today smoke less, drink more beer, pop fewer pills and are less liberal than students of years past. They are much less likely to become schoolteachers or scientists and more likely to go into business than students of the 1960s.

They also have a greater yen to be rich. Those are the results of a 20-year survey of college freshman attitudes conducted by the American Council on Education. For the nation's public school system, one trend would appear to be a concern. Only 6 percent of freshmen today plan to be teachers, compared to 23 percent in 1968. The trend away from teaching comes at a time of a growing teacher shortage in the South, West and parts of the Northeast.

The shortage is expected to hit Pennsylvania in the 1990s if patterns continue. Josephine especially is turning her back on teaching, the result perhaps of women's liberation and increased career opportunities for women. In 1968, 40 percent of 1,.