homestead Archives

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Made Available

Costa displays carbon monoxide detectors

Sen. Costa talks about the carbon monoxide detectors available. Also pictured is Homestead Mayor Better Esper (far left); An Lewis, executive director of the Steel Vally Council of Government; and West Homestead Mayor Ray Bodnar.

HOMESTEAD – Homestead Mayor Betty Esper was lucky to escape with her life in November 2010 when a blocked vent pipe in her home caused a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide that sent both her and a tenant who lived in the home to the hospital for treatment.

Upon her recovery, she vowed to do make sure that Mon Valley residents understood the dangers of carbon monoxide and the importance of having a CO detector in the home.

Now, thanks to a $5,000 state grant secured by Sen. Costa through the state Department of Health, Mon Valley residents who cannot afford a detector can obtain one of 412 units available at their local borough building. The detectors are free of charge for needy families and senior citizens and are available in the municipal buildings in Boroughs of Braddock Hills, Dravosburg, Homestead, Munhall, West Elizabeth, West Homestead, West Mifflin and Whitaker, and the City of Clairton.

Esper worked with West Homestead Mayor Ray Bodnar, president of the Steel Valley Council of Governments, to get a discounted price from Lowes Home Improvements, located in the Waterfront development.

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Costa Joins Local Officals to Honor the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords

HOMESTEAD — Sen. Costa joined local mayors, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Josh Gibson Foundation to unveil 18 new bridge signs honoring the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawford Negro League baseball teams.

The signs are mounted at various locations on the Homestead Grays Bridge and highlight seven players from each team.

“Some of the greatest players in the history of the game played for the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords,” Costa said.

“This is a fitting tribute to what these great men accomplished on the baseball diamond and what they still mean to the communities in this area.”

Sen. Costa has received the Regional Partnership Award from Mon Valley Initiative

: Sen. Costa was among this year’s co-recipients of the Regional Partnership Award, which was presented to members of the Mon Valley Initiative’s Community Investment Fund Committee. The committee works diligently to ensure the continued growth and stability of MVI’s assets. Among the members of this year’s committee are: (from right to left) Amy Merritt (PNC Bank), Jeffrey Schaffer (Congressman Mike Doyle), Art Tintori (Catalyst Connection), Harold Hribal (Standard Bank), Matthew Matyasovsky (Senator Jay Costa), Ellen Kight (Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development), and Sonya Tilghman (Citizens Bank).