Clairton varsity basketball team forward Keith Coles was excited when he and his 15 teammates received new tennis shoes before the game against Leechburg Jan. 14.

“It was a relief because if we can have the same shoes it’s going to be worth it. We thought the school was going to be able to get the shoes but they didn’t,” Coles said.

Donating the shoes was the idea of Rev. Jerome Stevenson, senior pastor of Clairton-based Morning Star Baptist Church.

(NNPA)—Dear Gwendolyn: I visited my mother this past weekend and she was quite disgusted. This is the problem: She was looking forward to receiving a raise. You see...she does not draw a lot from her Social Security check. Also, she does not receive any other type of pension—just Social Security.

I told her not to worry about it. I make a fantastic salary and help her often. In fact, starting this month I plan to give her a certain amount on a regular month basis.

Taizé service

JAN. 27—East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Ave., East Liberty, will host a Taizé service at 7 p.m. This hour-long service includes sung prayers, simple, beautiful music, a time of silence, spoken and silent prayers and opportunity for individual prayer and anointing. All are welcome. There will be a fellowship following the service. For more information, call 412-441-3800.

I’ve actually been thinking about cutting off the cable. Now that is a drastic move. I do love television. If I cut the cable I’m sure that I would read more, listen to more music and take long, productive walks.

This latest batch of reality shows put me in this mood. Can you guess what show I’m talking about? “Fantasia For Real.” OMG, this young lady is taking care of her whole family. All six of them. I can understand her taking care of her baby girl and even her mother but she has this older brother who goes by the name of Teeny who doesn’t have a job or a driver’s license.