The major Pittsburgh Public Schools reorganization and the North Side's struggling Sarah Heinz House community center were the big winners as The Heinz Endowments awarded 220 grants totaling nearly $26 million yesterday.

The Sarah Heinz House board got $3.1 million -- $1.1 million for operating support and $2 million to cover unanticipated costs connected to an expansion. The aging North Side facility has grappled to serve some 800 Pittsburgh youth, about a third of whom live below the poverty line.

The next largest award, $2.1 million to advance education reform in the city's public schools, will fund neighborhood and family support systems, after-school programs and creation of an improved data-management system for the district.

The funding also will support expert planning and evaluation services, school-readiness programs and efforts to increase family involvement in the schools.

After 2 years in FEMA trailer, Gifford family gets new home

GIFFORD Â- Ozie Dillard, 85, just waited and waited in her chair in the sand along 43rd Street, as the sun beamed down.

The hurricanes of 2004 toppled her large pecan tree, leveling the wooden home she and her husband moved into long ago, when the newlyweds left Georgia. The storm also destroyed the pictures of her deceased husband, who was a farm laborer.

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Mercury Computer Systems Reports First Quarter Revenues of $48.9 ...

CHELMSFORD, Mass., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY - News) reported results for its first quarter ended September 30, 2006.

First quarter revenues were $48.9 million, a decrease of 27% from the prior year's first quarter. Cash flows from operating activities were a net outflow of $5.4 million in the first quarter. Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of September 30, 2006 were $152.7 million.

First quarter GAAP operating losses were $13.7 million. First quarter GAAP net losses were $11.7 million. GAAP diluted losses per share were $0.55 for the first quarter. GAAP net losses include $7.8 million in charges, consisting of $2.2 million in stock-based compensation costs, $1.8 million in amortization of acquired intangible assets, $3.1 million of in-process research and development charges, and $0.7 million in restructuring costs.

Show treasures in clever displays

The challenge that faces anyone who wants to display collections of little objects is that unless the pieces are artfully arranged, they can make a room feel cluttered.

Before you part with a prized collection because you think it doesn't work in your close quarters, consider these possibilities. Collections will allow you to keep your treasures on display while at the same time saving valuable storage space where you might have been tempted to stash them.

Put tiny items, such as matchbox covers, shells or coins of modest value, into jars and display them on narrow photo shelves of 3 to 4 inches in depth. .

Wireless Smoke Detectors protect residences.

October 27, 2006 - Used with 1100D series receivers and XRSuper6, XR20, and XR40 control panels, Model 1161 Smoke Detector and Model 1162 Smoke/Heat Detector are available with sounder. Models feature 2-way wireless communications, enabling one person to confirm transmitter communication with receiver. Red Survey LED turns on when transmitter sends data to receiver and turns off when receiver sends acknowledgement. Model 1162 provides built-in fixed and rate-of-rise heat detector. .