Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 4

'1 POST-GAZETTE: Tuesday, May 20, 196 CityArea It's Hands Across Three Rivers Stadium after all tu 'jo 1 A 11 Earlier plans, which had the line cutting across the playing field at 3 p.m., might have meant a delay of 10 to 20 minutes an interruption that prompted worries about a pitcher's arm going cold." The Pirates hope the new scenario could draw an extra 10,000 to 15,000 fans. Each spectator will receive a pledge envelope which can be used to mail money to the fund-raiser for the hungry and homeless. At the half-inning following the 3 p.m. chain, the theme song's chorus and details on pledging will be flashed on the scoreboard. Billy Price and the Keystone Rhythm Band will perform in the stadium lot before the game.

will include a symbolic line stretching between the left and right field foul lines, the playing of the Hands Across America video, and a selection of patriotic songs. An estimated 150 Little Leaguers will take part, and the Pirates hope the chain will spiral through the park before play begins at 1:35 p.m. No indication was given yesterday whether Pete Rose, one. of four national co-chairmen of the event, or other players would join that first line, although a Reds spokesman said it was likely. "I'm fairly sure he Rose will be participating," said Jim Ferguson, Reds vice president of publicity.

This "solution," as it's been termed by Natasha Green of Hands Across America, was announced yesterday at the stadium. Responding to questions about the apparent on-again, off-again participation of the team, Pirate spokesman. Joe Gallagher said, "It's not a change of heart The change is, basically, we had been approached to do one thing we felt was logistical-ly unfeasible to do. "We've come up with a formula that enables us to adopt a meaningful role in Hands Across America." State coordinator Green, based in Pittsburgh, said she was delighted with the news. "Because of keeping the door open, I thank you very much.

I think we will get the exposure we want we will make people aware of hun ger and homelessness in the way of a very large audience, not just with 30,000 people in a ballpark, but by getting extra coverage nationally." So far, an estimated 2.5 million of the 6 million spots from ocean to ocean have been assigned. At least 180,000 of the 400,000 Pennsylvania spaces are taken. Gallagher said the Reds had not been notified of the change because the plan calls for no game delay. He acknowledged, though, that "If I were the batter or maybe the pitcher, I would possibly initially -want to step back. I think it would be a very momentary thing" while the line shuffles through the park.

He said he anticipates that the detour will take only a few minutes. By Barbara Vancheri Post-Gazette Stafl Writer The Pirates and Hands Across America have decided to play ball and permit a section of the coast-to-coast chain to detour through Three Rivers Stadium during Sunday's game with the Cincinnati Reds. The compromise, which would not interrupt the game, centers around a line of Little Leaguers that will enter Gate A shortly before 3 p.m., split in two and travel down the aisles near the first and third bases. The young layers, who will be in uniform, will linked on the dugout roofs to form a large triangle behind the stadium's protective screens. A pregame ceremony at 1:15 p.m.

This railroad trestle is in the path Old railway By Ken Fisher Post-Gazette Staff Writer A previously unknown railroad trestle foundation in the path of the East Street Valley Expressway on the North Side will cost at least $2 million to remove and will virtually wipe out any chance for a portion of the highway to open during 1987. A partial opening of the expressway from the Golden Triangle to Ohio Township in the North Hills had been predicted for late next summer by a senior planner for the state Department of Transportation. But James Pecora, PennDOT's -----l4 a' Mark Murphy Post-Gazette of the East Street Valley Expressway on the North Side, and will cost at least $2 million to remove. trestle stalls East Street expressway sBil(Cs will have teir hands full U4 TOj I'm. glad to see that things are -MpgwelJ tor "Hands Across Ameri-UpaJ, the" historic fund-raiser that will the country Sunday.

i rue, a large pa ten oi oeser oui it nas Deen, declared unlit tor lan hand-holding. But everything falling into place. Locally, the jtQQd hews is that the more rhbre "the good, hands people" yfiace" Dale Berra's departure, are T36k in it. The human chain will go jfoUiinigh Three Rivers Stadium dur- Sunday's game after all. jrfoThe Bucs had taken a hands-off )itJaroach for fear that a 15-minute interruption would throw the players nooiirr- an odd objection in a game marked by pitching changes, rain delays and other forms of wait-fcJnaroore qften associated with PAT tiding.

But yesterday the Pirates came Junwith a compromise. They will ve their hot dog (or is it stale j)retzel?) and eat it too. The Hands Across America line, consisting of Little Leaguers, will enter the stadium near home plate and stretch across the tops of the dugouts. The kids will be standing there for a few minutes while the game is in progress, helping the poor by blocking the view of the people in the expensive seats. Look for the kids directly behind home plate to start gyrating wildly to break the concentration of the opposing pitcher.

Two things to watch out for here: Let's make sure the kids don't get waylaid at the nacho stand. And let's make sure they've got their baseball gloves, and not just for protection against foul balls. If things don't go well for the Bucs, they may well be pressed into service. Although the planning for the cross-country chain is going well, we've had to put up with the lousy jokes. I'm sure by now we've all heard about the guy in Maine who's going to rub his foot on the carpet to whip up enough static electricity so the guy in Los Angeles can stick a balloon to his head.

And, right, no one wants to stand next to the goof in the lightning rod hat. And there are questions that can't be answered beforehand. For example, the singing. The 6 million Americans holding hands along the 4.000-mile route are supposed to sing. "We Are the World," and "Hands Across America." They are supposed to sing in unison and sound terrific.

How are we going to organize this? altos, please report to Anyone who's ever tried to join in on the national anthem at a sporting event knows what we're up against here. It gets very ragged. The people in the back hear later than the people in front. With the chain across America, the time lags will be far worse, particularly for the people straddling time zones. And God help us if Kansas gets caught up in the rhythm and starts tOsway.

But all in all everything looks promising for Sunday. Still, these are perilous times. That's why I'm sharing this letter from Michael Murphy of Munhall, who has endorsed "Hands Across America" even though the chain will not go through Munhall. Taking the sociopolitical approach, he writes: "You are to be strongly commended for your continuing support of the 'Hands Across America' deal. However, there is a downside to this thing, and I think the hand-holding public should be informed of the potential dangers involved: "1) Libyan subversion Rumors are rife in the intelligence community that Khadafy has dispatched secret agents with instructions to infiltrate the line and, at a predetermined signal, stick their toes into light sockets.

This elite band of saboteurs or 'shock troops' will take advantage of the ensuing confusion by singing, 'We Are the Third World' on nationwide television. CIA coun-. ter-insurgency units are working to short-circuit the threat. "2) Body Slams Across America Project organizers have expressed their concern that angry participants" in New Jersey, jockeying for choice positions near McDonald's and the. Dairy Queen, may provoke a shoving match capable of decking everyone from Teaneck to Encino.

Pentagon experts versed in the so-called 'Domino Theory' have been called in to consult. "On the bright side, we can be thankful that project organizers had the good sense to schedule the event to occur after the primary. Otherwise, politically active participants might have been tempted to rally support for their candidates by whispering, 'Rendell is a jerk pass it or, 'Casey is a fathead pass it "Come to think of it, the potential for word-of-mouth advertising is rather formidable. A few strategy cally placed family members whis-' pering, 'Read Peter Leo pass it on could produce quite a ground-swell in the circulation department." Well if it happens, it happens. It's out of my hands.

Turkey gives prize ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Former NATO Secretary General Jo-; seph Luns received the first Ataturk International Peace Prize yester- Tipster: I know killers' names By J. Kenneth Evans Post-Gazette Staff Writer A man claiming to know who killed a rabbinical student in Squirrel Hill last month has offered to reveal the information for $50,000. The man made the demand in an anonymous call to the Beaver County CrimeSolvers at 6:08 p.m. May 8, three minutes after Anthony Ho-venac, Beaver Borough police chief and head of CrimeSolvers, announced a $30,000 reward on television. "He said 'If you up the reward to $50,000, I'll give information on the homicide, Hovenac said yesterday.

"He said, 'When you get the 50 grand, I'll call back. The rabbinical student, Neal Ro-senblum, 24, of Toronto, was shot and killed April 17 on Pittcock Street near Phillips Avenue. A Pittsburgh family is offering a $30,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Rosenblum's assailants. Residents of Toronto have been asked to come up with another $20,000 to satisfy the caller. The Toronto and Regional Crime Stoppers, a group similar to the one in Beaver County, sent out a plea last Friday for the extra money, said Gregory Deacon, its chairman and president.

Deacon said his organization received about 25 phone calls over the weekend pledging donations. The calls came in slowly, he said, because yesterday was Victoria Day in Canada, and Canadians celebrated the queen's 187th birthday with a three-day holiday weekend. "I don't think we will have difficulty raising the money by the end of the week," he said. Toronto Crime Stoppers has donated $1,000 to the fund, the maximum it can give, Deacon said. The $30,000 already in the reward fund will be paid when a person is arrested in the case, Deacon said.

The $20,000 from Toronto will be paid if the person is convicted, he added. CrimeSolvers and Crime Stoppers offer anonymity to callers, so police have no way of knowing the identity of the man with the new information. A person who calls CrimeSolvers' is assigned a number. If he calls back, he identifies himself by the number, not by his name. John J.

Norton, Pittsburgh public safety director, said he doesn't believe the May 8 caller has substantial information. "I have no idea if it's legitimate or a prank," he said. "I don't put a lot of stock in it." But he admitted that police are stumped. "I don't like to use that word," he said, but leads in the case nave been few. Deacon does not share Norton's pessimism.

He said Anthony Hovenac, Beaver Borough police chief and head of the Beaver County CrimeSolvers, is convinced that the caller has information not released to the public or police. Pittsburgh police have canvassed the East End handing out flyers containing information on the shooting. They said they received several phone calls in response but that the investigation has offered no major change. Rosenblum was visiting his inlaws in Squirrel Hill and was walking back to their home after attending services at the Kollel Bais Yitzchok Torah Institute Study Center, 5741 Bartlett Street, when he was shot. The victim was the only witness to his shooting, Norton said.

Before he died, he told police his assailants were two white men who were driving a black Corvette or some other sports car with pop-up headlights. They stopped to ask directions and, as he approached the car to respond, opened fire, hitting him six times, police said. Police have found no motive for the killing. Keystone Oaks director resigns Keystone Oaks school director Dennis C. Martin, of Castle Shannon, resigned last night for personal reasons.

Martin had been a director since January. His resignation becomes effective June 30. Airport complex may lose U.S. aid The remaining contracts to finish the highway, a north-south bypass to 1-79, will be awarded by the end of this year, Pecora said. Construction crews from S.J.

Groves Co. were digging footers for a temporary trestle to carry Conrail freight trains when they discovered unexpected layers of foundation for the old trestle, which was constructed in the 19th century. The old concrete-arch trestle, which is the northern approach to the Fort Wayne Railroad Bridge across the Allegheny River, is being replaced with a steel bridge so the expressway can pass underneath. "The original plans for the tres golf course were also part of the plan. However, on the Evankos' application for the HUD grant in 1984, plans had been scaled down to a four-story, 61,000 square-foot office building.

In 1984, county commissioners approved $3.7 million in Industrial Development Authority loans for the project. The Evankos used this IDA loan to apply through Coraopolis for the $1.1 million Urban Development Action Grant in 1984. HUD gave preliminary approval and required the developers to submit additional information before finalizing the loan. At that time, the cost of the first building was estimated at $5.7 million. Financing included $3.72 million from the IDA and $608,000 in private funds.

Money also was committed by the Appalachian Regional Commission, Allegheny County Community Development Block Grant and Moon Township, to make sewer improvements. Richard Altomare, head of Alta Enterprises Ltd. of Mineola, N.Y., was listed as general partner to the Evankos and had committed the $608,000 in private funds. HUD officials approved a financial statement that showed that Altomare had a net worth of liquid assets at least three times greater than the amount he had committed for the Evanko's project, said Donahoe of HUD. project manager, said yesterday that it's more likely that the partial opening will be delayed until sometime in 1988 because of the trestle problem.

And that schedule could be further delayed if artifacts are uncovered from the Pennsylvania Canal, an old cross-state navigation network. Federal law requires construction projects to be halted until archaeologists can examine historical artifacts. Pecora said the entire $400 million Interstate 279 project from Downtown to the interchange with 1-79 in Franklin Park will be opened by the end of 1988 one year behind the original schedule announced in 1982. have cleared Sands of any mob involvement. He has also denied any link.

But several discrepancies that surfaced last week in the cargo building proposal prompted the county commissioners to rescind a May 1 authorization to negotiate with Mattone on his proposal, one of four submitted for consideration. One of the discrepancies was the listing by Mattone of Richard and Robert Evanko as vice presidents in the cargo project. The two brothers, who operate the West Hills Par 3 and Pro Shop, which went bankrupt in 1982, denied involvement in the cargo project. They acknowledged that Mattone was a partner in their office complex until recently. Plans for the office complex proposed for three acres off the Beaver Valley Expressway near the airport have been revised several times.

Originally named Midfield Gates in 1982, the project is now called Airfield Gates. According to records at HUD, in its grandest form the project began with an eight-story, office building. It was to be joined by another 200,000 square feet of office space, a heliport, a 500-' room airport hotel and a nostalgic "Ye Olde Tavern" restaurant. The restaurant was to be developed from a 150-year-old farmhouse that still-had its original log beams and windows. A mile jogging track, an outdoor physical fitness course and on-site Hafer then offers Mattone her support and that of her then-top aide, John Casey.

Hafer said last night that the support referred to Airfield Gates and not the air cargo terminal project that Mattone bid on later. The Evanko brothers were listed by Mattone as part of his development team. Hafer's 1985 contributions also include $500 from Michelle Bruzzese of Coraopolis, an officer in Beacon Motor Freight, another firm linked to the Mattone proposal. The Evaokos and Beacon presi tle were destroyed in a fire and the tracks have been raised several times," Pecora said. "We hit 15 feet of solid concrete in some spots where we were drilling." Plans have been redesigned to correct the problem, but the delay means traffic won't be able to cross the Fort Duquesne Bridge, turn east and head toward the East Street Valley or East Ohio Street until sometime in 1988.

Pecora said the mainline of the expressway past St. Boniface Church on the floor of the East Street valley likely won't be finished until 1988 either, because of additional work caused by a sanitary sewer being installed on Howard Street. But in project changes proposed by the Evankos late last year to county officials, Alta Enterprises was replaced by Mattone Group Ltd. as general partner. In a letter dated Aug.

5, 1985, to the Allegheny Department of Development, Mattone agreed to commit $608,000 for the project. The next day, Richard Evanko wrote a letter to the IDA asking to have his IDA loan increased to $5.7 million. Evanko explained that professional appraisers had suggested the size of his office building be increased to 75,000 square feet. This raised the project cost from $5.7 million to $7.4 million. That request was approved by the county commissioners and the state Commerce Department in October.

The Evankos have not yet submitted an amendment to HUD detailing the changes. Donahoe said the whole project would have to be re-evaluated before HUD finalizes funding. But. because so much time has the project is being reviewed for termination of funds, she said. Last week, Richard Evanko said Mattone no longer was involved in the office complex.

The brothers said they negotiated for about 10 months with Mattone, but when no funding came through they severed the relationship in November. Sands, of the Mattone Group, said Mattone gave the Evankos at least $20,000 and that Mattone pulled out when the brothers kept demanding more money. Mattone, accused Hafer of double speaking on the Mattone controversy. Baskin, whose law firm also contributed $1,000 to Hafer's campaign, said the Republican commissioner encouraged the Mattone group, voted for it and then covered up her support after the New York magazine article surfaced. "Her staff was the first to deal with Sands and encourage the Mat-tone group, long before we were involved in any way," Baskin wrote in letter to the Post-Gazette.

By Virginia Linn Post-Gazette Staff Writer Airfield Gates, a proposed office complex near Greater Pittsburgh International Airport, may lose its federal financing if developers don't quickly find more money. The complex, being developed by Richard and Robert Evanko of Cora-opolis, is being reviewed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington for possible termination of its $1.1 million Urban Development Action Grant, said Jerilyn Donahoe, a HUD official. The Evankos recently lost a main investor Joseph M. Mattone of New York and are scrambling to fund $608,000 of the project, whose cost is estimated at $7.4 million, according to county and federal officials. The Evankos yesterday did not return telephone calls from a reporter.

Mattone has come under public scrutiny during the last two weeks in his proposal to construct a cargo building at Greater Pitt. Mattone is chairman of Mattone Group Ltd. of Flushing, N.Y. County officials became concerned after New York magazine linked Nicholas M. Sands, a principal in the cargo project, to organized crime and the notorious mobster, the late Carlo Gambino.

Mattone identified Sands as vice president and consultant in the project. Allegheny County police so far Commissioners given funds by developers dent Michael Bruzzese have not returned numerous phone calls in recent days. But last week, all three claimed that their listing as officers on Mattone's proposal to build the cargo terminal were unauthorized. But County Aviation Director Stephen A. George yesterday produced a log sheet dated Oct.

23, 1985, that shows Richard Evanko and an Evanko" registered as affiliates of the Mattone Group for a conference on the cargo terminal project. Also yesterday, Pittsburgh lawyer Philip Paskin, whose firm represents (Continued from Page 1 ers after negative publicity about possible mob ties to Sands, a consultant to Mattone. Hafer was largely responsible for that publicity when she went to the local news media May 9 with copies of a New York magazine article that said Sands was a godson of the late mobster Carlo Gambino. In the April 8 letter, which begins "Dear Joe, Hafer says, "Your plans are ambitious and worthwhile and deserve more than cursory attention please extend my best regards to Nick.".