At the monthly Pittsburgh Board of Education public hearing Jan. 11, 13 members of the Black Political Empowerment Project and the Coalition Against Violence asked the board to implement CAV’s strategies in the Pittsburgh Public School District.

A MOTHER’S LOVE— Valerie Dixon shares the story of her son who died, a victim of street violence.

“It is the strongly held opinion of members of B-PEP and the Coalition Against violence ‘Working Group’ that the end of violence in our schools and in our neighborhoods must become a top priority for the Pittsburgh Public Schools, its teachers, administrators, students, parents and guardians,” B-PEP Chairman Tim Stevens said. “Please remember that more peaceful schools and more peaceful communities logically lead to a more positive learning environment for all.”

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

Spirit of King

JAN. 14—Port Authority of Allegheny County, the Kingsley Association and the Pittsburgh Pirates will host the 2010 Spirit of King Awards ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Kingsley Center, 6435 Frankstown Ave., East Liberty. The special honorees will be Bishop Charles H. Foggie and Jake Milliones, Ph.D. For more information, call Evelyn Newsome at 412-566-5259.

Up until 2004, utilities were forbidden to terminate residential heating in winter months without approval of the Public Utilities Commission. But as it has since its inception in 1982, the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program continued providing more help to vulnerable residents with its cash assistance and crisis grant program.

STEADY REMINDER —Former Steeler great Franco Harris continues to remind Pittsburgh area residents to sign up for LIHEAP during winter heating months.

In November, LIHEAP began accepting applications from eligible families needing help paying their heating bills. It normally runs through March, but the deadline has been extended until April 2. The crisis grant program, which deals with households losing utility service, opened Jan. 4.