Great Falls Civic Center

Civic Center concrete panels are deteriorating, upgrades needed. (Great Falls Tribune, 7/25/2011)

Excerpt: The Great Falls Civic Center, the city government headquarters, has concrete panels that are beginning to crack and may require a $4 million fix, City Manager Greg Doyon said last week.

A springtime report by Great Falls architect Marv Hessler said deterioration of the building, constructed through a federal Works Progress Administration grant more than 70 years ago, "is expected to continue."

"They're not salvageable over the long term," Hessler said Friday of the building's concrete panels. He said the building "looks great" from a distance, but a closer look makes the problems apparent.

Doyon raised the issued while discussing city budget concerns. He added that he plans to schedule an upcoming work session discussion of the building's problems.

Construction of the Civic Center began in 1939, under the Works Progress Administration as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal." City offices in the building opened in March 1940.

Hessler said the construction project unfortunately used calcium chloride to help the mostly concrete structure cure more quickly. The concrete gained its strength faster as a result, but over the years the calcium chloride caused steel reinforcing bars called rebar to deteriorate and rust.

"Basically, the panels were kind of born dead," Hessler said. In the 1950s, experts figured out that calcium chloride can damage rebar, but it was too late to do anything about the Civic Center's panels.

North Warren house may be down, but it’s not out of neighborhood yet

Warren Times Observer, 6/16/2011.

Excerpt: The property was deemed blighted by the Warren County Commissioners, who were being assisted by the Warren County Blighted Property Committee to bring the building down. The committee received the deed to the property days before its partial collapse on May 26.

Joe Edwards, 1949-2011

Joseph R. Edwards, 61 of 1189 Yankee Bush Rd., Starbrick, died May 26, 2011 at home, surrounded by his family.

Joe was born September 9, 1949 in Spangler, Pa., a son of the late Ralf and Catherine (Natcher) Edwards. He was a 1968 graduate of WAHS and then joined the Army during the Vietnam War. Joe had been employed with Ellwood National Forge for the past 40 years.

He served as Past Commander of the Warren American Legion and also served on the board of directors, was a member of the Warren Moose and the Am Vet's in Sugar Grove, a former member of the F&A Masons, and was a founding member of the Allegheny Mountain Area Motorcycle Riders. Joe loved to fish and enjoyed spending time with his friends watching Nascar races. He will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his fiance, Linda (Warner) Reed, and her children, Kurtis Reed, Kelley (John) Peterson and Kristopher Reed; two daughters, Kimberly (Robert) Rodgers of Starbrick and Kelly Berlin and her companion, Michael Cobb, Dunn's Eddy, Irvine; grandchildren, Adam Rodgers, Emma Jo Rodgers, Tyler Gelotte, Alyssa Nuhfer, Abigail Nuhfer, Allison Nuhfer, Madoxx Reed and Devin Reed; two brothers, Clair (Karen) Edwards of Virginia Beach, Va., and Barry Edwards; two sisters, Elaine Larson and Tina Edwards, all of Starbrick; and a special nephew, Jamie Larson and his son, Hunter.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy Edwards.

A celebration of Joe's life will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at the Youngsville American Legion. Members of the Youngsville Legion Honor Guard will conduct full military honors at the Legion. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Warren Co., 2 Crescent Park, Warren, Pa., 16365, or to the Cancer Center in Warren.

Sale of Former Loranger Building Delayed

Warren Times Observer, 5/28/2011.

Excerpt: After a continuance was requested by the seller, the property, which includes the western part of the building from about the middle of the courtyard along Clark Street, will be put up for sale on Aug. 4 with a price tag of about $1.3 million. The original sale was set for June 2.

The location is the site of the proposed convention center.

The property owner is Warren Hospitality Associates, but the bank representing the property and calling for the sale is Manufacturers and Traders Trust of Buffalo, which is associated with M&T Bank.

The last class of Schenley represents bittersweet chapter in a proud history

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 5/29/2011.

Excerpt: It started 95 years ago, in a grand limestone edifice filled with light and fresh air. It will end in a nondescript hallway in a windowless former middle school, likely soon to be demolished itself.

Though the battle over Pittsburgh Schenley High School was fought three years ago, the school will sputter to its end this week. There will be no more DeJuan Blairs bringing the Spartans a state basketball championship, no more Andy Warhols prowling its art classes, no more Ray Browns playing in the orchestra.

What remains are the roughly 190 kids who stuck it out -- forsaking pep rallies, after-school clubs and even a decent lunch hour -- to give Schenley a proper goodbye.

"They fought to stay together and now we're at the end," said principal Sophia Facaros. "The physical space has changed, but what the heart of Schenley is has never changed."

The Pittsburgh school board voted to close Schenley in 2008, after receiving estimates of between $42 million and $87 million to renovate the building, including fixing issues with asbestos and falling plaster. The 5-4 decision didn't go down easy with Schenley supporters, who tried rallies, protests and petitions to keep the school open.

The building has been vacant since the end of the 2008 school year. While there has been interest from several prospective buyers, all eventually decided not to purchase the building.

Obituary: Tom Seymour

Thomas Merle Seymour, 60, of 117 Sixth Street, Warren, passed on Monday at his residence.


Tom was born August 19, 1950, in Warren, the son of the late Merle and Ida Scandreth Seymour. Tom was a lifelong Warren resident and a 1968 graduate of Warren Area High School. He was currently employed with Jones Chevrolet since 1987, and previously with Merle Swift, spanning a thirty year career in the automotive business, holding various positions throughout. Tom used to play floor hockey and bowled at Penn Lanes. He enjoyed family and friends and especially his great nephews. Tom was also an avid collector, and enjoyed antiquing.


He is survived by two sisters, Sandra Paden and her husband Joseph, Meadville, Karen Seymour and her husband Bob Blood, Concord, N.C.; one brother, Richard Seymour and his partner Russell Rogers, Manville, N.J.; two nieces, Wendy Lynch and her husband Steve and Stacy Sherretts and her husband Wayne; and his great nephews, Tyler, Kyle and Nick.

County’s population among oldest in Pa.

Warren Times-Observer, 5/20/2011.

Excerpt:  According to statistics released Thursday from the 2010 Census, 18.7 percent of county residents are over 65, ranking ninth in that category across Pennsylvania. It also tied with three other counties with the third highest of median age at 45.1.