New Whitehall Fire Station Ahead of Schedule (and Other Notes from Wednesday's Borough Meeting)

Fire Station Update

Mark Edelmann, architect for the new, $2.5-million station being built along Route 51, told the Council on Wednesday night that construction is ahead of schedule despite some difficulty caused by recent poor weather.

The council approved continued payments to DiMarco Construction, and other companies working on the project.

During a discussion with Duquesne Light, Edelmann found a way to reduce the cost of electricity supplied to the new station by relocating a transformer.

Overall, the council was pleased with Edelmann's report.

He ended with a smile before reiterating, “It's moving along.”

Parks and Recreation

Rain was a factor in Councilman William J. Veith's Parks and Recreation report. Veith noted that Whitehall's at was well-attended on Thursday, Sept. 29, but that rain hampered the festivities on Friday and Saturday.

"The Stickers (an area band that includes teacher Jim Wodarek as its drummer) did really well (on Friday)," Veith said.

Chief Donald R. Dolfi agreed with Veith's assessment of the Fall Fest.

"The carnival was a really nice event," Dolfi said. "There was a constant line for the Whitehall fire truck's bucket rides."

Borough Code Online?

"We want to get the borough code (ordinances/laws) online," Councilwoman Kathleen N. DePuy said.

Borough Manager James E. Leventry is tasked with reporting back to the council what the full expense will be to format the borough's code and to get the large document onto the borough's website.

Library Fundraiser

DePuy spoke about the 's upcoming to commemorate the formation of the Friends of the Library and their subsequent 50 years of help.

The event will held at the  this Sunday, Oct. 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Special entertainment will be provided by writer, composer and director Jason Coll.

Whitehall's reigning Citizen of the Year, , was on hand at Wednesday's meeting to sell tickets to the event. Cost per attendee is $20.

Baldwin-Whitehall Friends of the Theater Arts

Whitehall Mayor James F. Nowalk reported that he has been donating the money that he receives for performing marriages to the Baldwin-Whitehall Friends of the Theater Arts. Nowalk donated approximately $450 in September.

The B-W Friends of the Theater Arts are committed to raising the funds necessary to build an orchestra pit at the Baldwin High auditorium. The orchestra-pit project is part of the Rally for Shalley campaign to build the pit and name it after Dr. Regis V. Shalley, who served as choral director at Baldwin from 1954 to 1981.