Laurels & lances: Schools, hotel, arts center

Laurel: To being proactive. The Jeannette City School District scheduled emergency drills for Wednesday. It is the kind of thing that every school does, trying to keep the kids ready to follow directions and stay safe in the event of something unexpected.

The unexpected happened a day early. Jeannette and Norwin schools were threatened with an active shooter and bomb attack that turned out to be a hoax as part of a planned robbery. The high schools affected were dismissed early and the drill will be rescheduled.

But the schools reacted promptly and proactively for student safety. The fact that there was no real threat doesn’t mitigate the fact that schools have to act like there could be.

Laurel: To coming in under budget. The Belvedere Hotel’s demolition cleared out the remains of the historic structure that burned in a July fire. That’s good news.

What’s great news is that after Westmoreland County and Oklahoma Borough dug up $85,000 for the cleanup, the final bill came in at just $48,700.

Laurel: To preserving cultural treasures. It might just be a house on Bedford Avenue in the Hill District, but the red brick building is a lot more. The August Wilson House was the childhood home of the celebrated playwright behind productions like “Fences.”

On Monday, Duquesne University and the city announced a National Park Service grant for $499,626 will help finish renovations on the house that will allow it to be a center for arts and culture.

“We’re going to witness a rebirth of the spirit of August Wilson and the spirit of his birthplace in the Hill, a place where art, music, theater and literature will once again be brought to life,” said university president Ken Gormley.