Meadow Lands road work starts

Work on the Meadow Lands Interchange is under way, and there are a number of traffic pattern changes through November 2012.

The Meadow Lands Interchange project involves the redesign of the Meadow Lands Interchange (Exit 40) on Interstate 79 to a full access split diamond interchange. It includes significant structure work.

Two lanes of traffic will be maintained on Interstate 79 throughout the project during daylight hours. Nighttime work will consist of single-lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Detours are posted.

Contractor on the $23 million project is Swank Associated Companies of New Kensington.

PENNDOT has a 24-hour toll free number to report any concern with this project or any road. Details: 800-349-7623.

Assistant principal hired

Julie Hopp was hired last week as assistant principal at the district's Primary School, effective July 1. She will replace Melva Devin, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Mrs. Hopp comes to the district from Beaver Area School District, where she has been an elementary assistant principal and curriculum specialist. She holds degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, Arcadia University and Rowan University and expects to complete her superintendent's letter of eligibility cohort from Pitt in December.

There will be no board workshop or town hall meeting April 16 because of a conflict with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association conference.

Borough named to Allegheny Together

The borough has been named a participant in the county's Allegheny Together program. Dormont joins neighboring Carnegie in the program that works to improve traditional business districts by encouraging well-planned, well-designed and geographically focused investment.

The focused, five-year approach, led by Allegheny County Economic Development, will provide architects, real estate experts, community planners, community development specialists and project managers who will assist Dormont with designing and implementing long-term improvements to Dormont's Potomac and West Liberty Avenue business districts, among other projects. The program also focuses on preservation of historical architecture and will provide matching grants and low-cost financing for improvement projects, including façade enhancements, streetscaping, business signs and lighting.

Since Together's launch in 2007, the county has provided nearly $1.2 million, leading to 37 new businesses, as well as assistance to 753 small businesses.

Mexican fiesta chosen as theme for hospital gala

Monongahela Valley Hospital's 23rd annual gala will be held May 21 as the health system celebrates a Mexican Fiesta in the Allegheny Ballroom of the Westin Convention Center and Hotel Downtown.

It is sponsored by the Mon-Vale Health Resources Fund Development Committee. Mon-Vale Health Resources Inc. is the parent company of the hospital.

Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at 6 p.m. will be followed by dinner at 7 p.m. There will be music by a mariachi band and by an oldies band.

Tickets for the hospital benefit, open to the public, are $175. Details: 724-258-1097.

Department gets grant for fire truck

The fire department received a $585,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Association to put toward a new $900,000 fire truck. The truck, a Smeal Fire Apparatus 105-foot rear mount ladder truck, has a 500-gallon water tank with a 1,500-gallon per minute pump. It will replace two trucks: a retired 1982 Grumman Pumper and a 1992 Sutphen Tower Ladder, which will be sold.

The new truck should arrive in December. It is expected to respond to 450 calls a year and last 15 years.

David Deramo named principal

The school board named intermediate school principal David Deramo as the new middle school principal, starting July 1.

The board voted 7-0 last week with two members absent, to move Mr. Deramo to grades six to eight, replacing Karen Labutta, who retires June 30.

Superintendent Bille Rondinelli said Mr. Deramo has prior middle school experience and is familiar with South Fayette's middle school building and students.

The district will seek candidates for the intermediate principal position that Mr. Deramo will vacate, she said.

Since November 2009, Mr. Deramo has headed grades three, four and five as intermediate school principal, working with fifth-graders in the middle school and third- and fourth- graders in the elementary school. All three grades will move under the same roof once the district's new intermediate school is built.

Mr. Deramo said splitting time between the two buildings has allowed him to become familiar with the middle school, which will help with the transition.

Mr. Deramo, 36, of West Mifflin, previously worked for 12 years in the West Mifflin Area School District. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the University of Pittsburgh, where he now is working on a doctorate. He holds a superintendent's certification.

He and his wife, Barbara, have three daughters.

Ordinances open to inspection

Two proposed ordinances are expected to see official action next month and are on display at township offices.

The first, which will have a public hearing at 7 p.m. April 26, involves the intent to adopt additional regulations and design standards for driveways, turnarounds and parking pads. The new ordinance would regulate placement and construction, as well as require the payment of $50 building permits.

For example, new parking pads must abut existing driveways, rather than be installed by themselves. New parking areas also must be constructed of impervious surface material instead of gravel or loose surface material.

The second proposed ordinance requires all garbage to be stored in specific lidded containers in all residential-zoned districts and that these containers be shielded by a screened enclosure within 5 feet of the primary house or garage or kept at the rear of the dwelling.

Additionally, garbage containers and bags may be placed at the curb no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before collection and must be removed by 9 p.m. the day collection takes place.

Action on both proposed ordinances is expected at the April 26 voting meeting.

• Officials last week severed the township's relationship with IN Chartiers Valley magazine because an incorrect summer recreation program registration fee was published in the recent spring issue.

The township contends the correct figure was $98 instead of $78, the figure that was printed. Officials also said the pages for proofing arrived too late to read before the publication date.

Board President Pat Caruso complained, too, that Scott was not promoted on the magazine's cover.

Calls to the magazine's publisher, which prints similar magazines for numerous municipalities, were not returned.

Scott entered a five-year contract with the magazine in February 2010 for four quarterly issues. Before that it published its own "Scottopics" that was provided to residents twice annually.

n The board approved a developer's agreement for the new Bottom Dollar Grocery Store that is to be built this year near the Family Video store off Washington Pike.