| Wonderful Twos
In the culinary world of South Beach, where restaurants are as fleeting as an August lightning storm, Laura Cullen is betting that her Irish neighborhood bar will become an institution. Right now, though, Clarke�s is barely a toddler, turning just 2 years old next week. �South Beach is a fickle town for restaurants. Everyone wants to be at the newest place. Even the locals here are transient,� says Cullen, who opened the �south of Fifth� neighborhood spot on Sept. 5, 2005 and plans to mark its second anniversary to the day with a celebration on Wednesday. The eatery, with its brass rail mahogany bar, wall shelves lined bookcase-style with liquor and wine, and handsome vintage-style lamps emitting a gas-like glow, is an anomaly here; there�s not a palm tree, half-naked server or mojito in sight (although I�m sure Mickey Maher, the Irish bartender, can readily mix one).
Bush Promises to Keep Focus on Gulf Coast Rebuilding (Update1)
Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush, marking the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastating landfall on the Gulf Coast, vowed the government will follow through on rebuilding the region and protecting it from future storms. Bush is making his 15th trip to the area, where the storm left more than 1,800 people dead and displaced 1.5 million others. The fumbled initial response to the storm and the pace of redevelopment, particularly in New Orleans, continues to draw complaints from residents and local authorities. The president praised residents of the area who have returned and worked to re-establish schools and services. ``Hurricane Katrina broke through the levees, it broke a lot of hearts, it destroyed buildings but it didn't affect that spirit of a lot of citizens,'' Bush said after meeting with Louisiana education officials at the Dr.
City teachers start new year with old salaries
For teachers in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, the new school year comes with last year's paycheck. The district's contract with the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers expired June 30. That means no raises. It also means no pay bumps of another kind. The 2,966 teachers and other professional employees remain on the same salary-scale steps as in 2006-07, meaning less-senior teachers, social workers, counselors and nurses haven't received the bump -- worth more than $20,000 in some cases -- that traditionally comes from moving up the scale each year. Raises and step movement traditionally have acted as twin components of the compensation system. Raises increase the value of each step. During the last contract dispute, which ended in April 2006, the district and union had a special agreement to move teachers and other professionals along the previously established scale while talks continued.
Sally Ann needs food supplies
Dry goods are needed to weather a dry spell for certain items required by the Salvation Army Food Bank in Burlington. "We're not in a crisis situation," said Major Ken Ritson, executive director for community family services. "But we need dry products like Kraft dinners, Hamburger Helper and pastas, as well as canned fruits and vegetables. Our cupboards aren't bare, but they are lean." He said about 20-30 visits a day are handled at the Salvation Army's new food bank at 1800 Appleby Line, Unit 14. The new site has become very well established since the food bank was moved from Mountainside Drive about a year ago, he said. "We have more people coming to us here," said Ritson about the new site. "We've received almost 200 new families, with more coming from the north and east areas of Burlington.
School and College News
PEPPER PIKE - Michelle Christine Robinson, daughter of John (Patrick) and Marsha Robinson, Marion, and Don and Susan Paroda, Cleveland, graduated May 18 from Ursuline College with a bachelor of science in nursing. She received a four-year scholarship from John Marshall High School in Cleveland in 2002. She finished her fifth year and took her State Board on July 10. .
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