Briefs: Man dies after being shot in head and neck
A North Side man died after being shot in the head and neck early Sunday, the Allegheny County Coroner’s Office said.
Clyde Dean Jr., 31, was walking on North Charles Street on the North Side when he was shot about 2 a.m., police said.
No one has been arrested, police said.
Larimer
Gas leak forces evacuation of homes
A gas leak forced the evacuation of several homes Sunday evening in Larimer, according to an Equitable Gas spokesman.
Gas, electricity and phone services were cut shortly after 5 p.m. to five Sentinel Way row houses, two of which were vacant, after a resident and utility company crews detected an odor of gas, said Dave Spigelmyer, Equitable Gas spokesman.
“With an odor of gas, anything that causes a spark increases the risk,” he said. The leak was traced to a severed line inside one of the vacant units, he said. Residents were allowed back in their homes about four hours later, and power and phone service were restored to the other four units, he said.
Oakland
Bus Rapid Transit forum Wednesday
The Allegheny County Transit Council will host a second Bus Rapid Transit forum Wednesday in Oakland. The forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the ballroom of the University of Pittsburgh’s William Pitt Student Union along Fifth Avenue in Oakland. Port Authority of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh planning officials are among those expected to attend. The forum, which follows a similar gathering in April, is intended to focus on ideas for faster bus service through the busy Oakland corridor. One idea is to give buses priority at traffic signals.
Head Start, pre-K registrations begin
Pittsburgh Public Schools is registering children for the Head Start and pre-kindergarten programs for the 2005-06 school year.
The programs, for children 3 to 5 years old, include curriculum, individual instruction, field trips, activities, health screenings, meals and snacks. Services are also available for children with disabilities.
Parents or guardians must provide immunization records, physical and dental exam records, birth certificate and Social Security number for the children and proof of the parent’s or guardian’s income at the time of registration. For more information, call James Saunders at 412-488-4540.
Hill District
Foundation names executive director
A Hill District foundation has tapped a former official of Carlow College to be its executive director. Veronica Morgan-Lee will oversee student assistance at the Crossroads Foundation, which provides financial aid to low-income Catholic high school students and support services for students and their families.
Morgan-Lee earned a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Pittsburgh and served as director of black Catholic ministries with the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Free pool passes provided for some
Free pool passes are available for children whose parents are on public assistance and live in the district of state Rep. Jake Wheatley Jr., D-Hill District, who is providing a limited number.
The pool passes are valid through June 1, 2006, at every city pool.
Parents who want the passes must go to Wheatley’s Hill office at 2015-2017 Centre Ave. and show photo identification and a printout from the Department of Public Welfare. They must be reside in the 19th Legislative District, which includes at least parts of the Hill District, North Side, South Side, Allentown, Hazelwood, Downtown, the Strip District, the Bluff, Beltzhoover, Manchester, Arlington, Arlington Heights and Oakland. For more information, call 412-471-7760.
Downtown
Education center gets accreditation
The Greater Pittsburgh Early Care Development and Education Center has recently been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a leading organization of early childhood professionals.
The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh-run center offers programs for infants and children up to 5 years old in a small group setting.
The center also serves parents and the community through its monthly Family Night activities.
Highland Park
Zoo to hold safari fundraiser Friday
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will hold its annual fundraiser, Summer Safari, Friday evening.
Tickets are $50 in advance, $55 at the gate and $75 for VIP tickets. All tickets include five drink vouchers, food from more than 20 Pittsburgh restaurants and live entertainment. VIP tickets also include reserved parking, VIP lines at bars, a private reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m., photo opportunities with animals and a best-dressed contest for those wearing animal prints.
The event is open to people 21 and older, from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. For more information, call 412-365-2543 or visit www.pittsburghzoo.com.
North
Cranberry
Route 3016 closed during construction
Route 3016 in Cranberry will be closed for part of the day Tuesday through Thursday for construction, PennDOT said.
Weather permitting, part of Route 3016 will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. so crews can replace a steam pipe under the road, east of Hope Road.
Detour signs will direct traffic onto Route 3021 (Franklin Road) to Route 3014 (Callery Road).
South St. Clair Hospital has toll-free number
Mt. Lebanon
St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon now has a toll-free telephone number.
The number is 866-248-4500. Callers can use the number to reach patients and hospital staff or for general information. Those who would like a free magnet with the new number can call the number and dial ext. 1025.