Author Archives: houndsbay

Meeting for volunteers on Oct 23: help us slow traffic so kids can trick-or-treat safely

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The PHCA is organizing a costumed traffic calming trick or treat volunteer effort for Halloween evening. So many cut-through, speeding drivers come through our neighborhood during rush hour that we wanted to do something to calm rush hour traffic and help keep kids safer while they’re trick-or-treating.

Costumed volunteers will be posted at busy intersections with signs, to create awareness for drivers who think of this as a shortcut, not a neighborhood.

We’ll be having a meeting at the PHCA office on Wednesday, Oct 23 from 6-7 to talk strategy, pick locations and costumes, and so on. If you’re interested in helping out, please call 412.681.1950 or  email, and please come to the meeting!

(Photo by Mark Knobil)

Forum for District 7 Pittsburgh City Council Candidates on Thursday October 17

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This week, the Highland Park Community Council (HPCC) will provide voters with the opportunity to hear from the candidates seeking to fill the District 7 Pittsburgh City Council seat recently vacated by Patrick Dowd.  The HPCC and the League of Women Voters are holding a District 7 Candidates’ Forum on Thursday, October 17, 2013 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Union Project (801 Negley Avenue, Highland Park).  All five candidates on the ballot in the November special election will be participating in the event:

Tony Ceoffe of Lawrenceville

Tom Fallon of Morningside

Deb Gross of Highland Park

David Powell of Morningside

James Wudarczyk of Bloomfield

Carol Emerson, past president of the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh, will serve as the moderator.  HPCC and the League of Women Voters have solicited questions from members of the public prior to the event via social media. Attendees at the event will also be able to submit questions for consideration. Emerson will pose questions to all of the candidates, who will each be given an opportunity to respond. Candidates will also be allowed to offer rebuttals to responses from their opponents.

The event is free and open to the public.

Call for volunteers: help weed and plant on Sunday, October 13

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If you’re looking to get outside on Sunday, here’s a great way to do that and to help transform the Melwood Avenue gateway to the neighborhood.  The Student Conservation and neighborhood volunteers will be will be planting native perennials and getting the site ready for winter as part of an ongoing effort to create biodiversity.

This site has been the focus of a multi-year process to clear an overgrown, knotweed-covered hillside and reclaim the site as a public space.  Last year, 25 native trees were planted, and the work continues. For more information on this project, email valerie@phcapgh.org.

Today is the Day of Giving!

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Today, Thursday October 3, 2013, donations made through Pittsburgh Gives to the Polish Hill Civic Association will be increased with a percentage of matching funds from the Pittsburgh Foundation.

Why donate to the PHCA?  Because we’re a small organization that does a lot.  In the last year, the PHCA has:

Awarded 7 grants to homeowners to renovate the façade of their property,

Kicked off Brereton-Dobson Fire Site development planning,

Organized over 15 neighborhood clean-ups and gardening days to maintain a dozen green spaces and community gardens,

Worked as an advocate for Polish Hill residents with City and local officials, and adjacent neighborhoods on traffic calming, public safety, development, zoning and liquor license applications,

Organized the 6th Polish Hill Arts Festival, holiday events, One Young World welcome dinner and the historic photo archive, and more.

We hope you will show your support for our work in the community today.  Here are the basic rules for giving:

– Only Mastercard or Visa credit card donations received through www.pittsburghgives.org during the 24 hours of October 3, 2013 will be matched for this event.  No donations via check, cash or stock will be accepted.  Discover and AMEX donations will not be accepted or matched.
– Each gift is 100% tax deductible.  The credit card charge will display as a donation to ”The Pittsburgh Foundation” on the donor’s credit card statement.
– The minimum gift per organization is $25.  All gifts up to $1,000 per organization will be matched.

More information in the complete rules for the Day of Giving.  You can check here to see which organizations are eligible.  And  for more information, here is a FAQ.

Pittsburgh Gives is an amazing yearly event in which millions of dollars are raised for local nonprofits.  It’s really easy and your donation to your favorite nonprofit is maximized during this event.  Please consider donating today — to the us, or to another worthy cause.

Excerpts from the District 7 Newsletter – October 2013

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NEWS AND UPDATES

Happy Halloween from the District 7 office

Get ready for another spooky Halloween season in Pittsburgh! The official trick-or-treat hours in the City of Pittsburgh will be held on Thursday, October 31st from 5:30-7:30 p.m.  Check out the Department of Public Safety on the City’s official Halloween information page .

Planning Commission to review Produce Terminal historic designation nomination

On October 15, 2013, the Pittsburgh Planning Commission will hear and review the Historic Review Commission’s briefing on the Produce Terminal’s nomination to be designated an historic structure by the City of Pittsburgh.

There will also be an opportunity during the meeting for public comment. The Planning Commission meeting will begin at 2 PM on the first floor of the Robin Civic Building located at 200 Ross Street in Downtown Pittsburgh. Take a look at the Planning Commission’s website for more information about the Commission and its responsibilities.

City of Pittsburgh fall seasonal yard debris collection day

Clean up your yard and garden this fall by taking advantage of the Department of Public Works’ Environmental Services Division’s fall 2013 yard debris collection day to be held on Saturday, November 9th.

Please note the following guidelines for debris collection:

Bag Leaves for Collection: Residents must bag leaves in paper bags only and place them out at your normal refuse collection site. Bags should NOT exceed 35 pounds.

Leaves in plastic bags will not be accepted. Paper yard debris bags can be purchased at local hardware or department stores.

Tree Branches and Bushes: Cut, bundle and tie branches and bushes in lengths not exceeding 5 ft. in length. Tree branch diameter should not exceed four (4) inches.

Please note that City crews will NOT collect dirt, rocks, stones or cement. Yard debris left at the curb by contracted lawn care workers or independent contractors will not be collected by city crews.

Yard debris not meeting the collection guidelines will not be collected by city crews.

If you have any questions please contact Environmental Services at (412)-255-2631 or (412)-255-2773.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS

Council to Go

Join District 7 staff for Council to Go, City Council District 7’s mobile district office, where residents are encouraged to voice their concerns, ideas, and questions related to city government and services.

Polish Hill – Wednesday, October 9th, 7pm-8pm, Polish Hill Civic Association, 3060 Brereton Street

Community Events

There will be a public meeting regarding the liquor license application of a proposed business, Beer on Butler, to be located at 4811 Butler Street in Lawrenceville. The owners of the proposed business will be on hand to speak with the community about any questions or concerns related to the business or its liquor license application on Thursday, October 10th at the Boys and Girls Club (4600 Butler Street) at 6:00 PM.

It’s almost time for the Polish Hill Civic Associations’ fall yard sale, which will be held on Saturday, October 12th from 10:30 AM to 6 PM.

Yard sale donations will be accepted from Monday, October 7th through Friday, October 11th. The PHCA is looking for useful things, odd things, and old things; household items, tools, books, records, toys, art and craft materials, and more. Appliances must work, and furniture must be in good shape. The PHCA cannot accept clothing, shoes, or upholstered furniture.

[PHCA note:  It’s a bake sale too, so we’re also seeking donations of cookies and other tasty items]

For more information, call the PHCA at 412-681-1950, or email phca@phca.org.

Did you know?

The voter registration deadline to vote in the upcoming municipal election (which includes the race to fill the current City Council District 7 vacancy) is Monday, October 7th.

Individuals needing to register to vote may apply in person Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM at the Office of the Registration Commission in Room 609 of the County Office Building located at 542 Forbes Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh. The Elections Division will remain open until 5:00 PM on October 7th to accept hand-delivered voter registration forms. For more information  about registering to vote, take a look at the Allegheny County Elections Division’s website.

 

Call for volunteers for a neighborhood Halloween event

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We’re working on two events for Halloween evening.  A neighborhood resident and parent came up with a great to make trick or treating safer for neighborhood kids.  To make this idea work, we need help!

Here’s the plan:  busy intersections will be marked with signs and decorations to make drivers aware that they’re passing through a residential neighborhood during official City trick or treat hours.  Volunteers would be posted at intersections to help make sure that kids cross safely, and to hand out candy to safe drivers.  The more volunteers we get, the more intersections can be included.  If your street has a lot of kids and a busy intersection, please consider helping out!

The second event is an open house at the PHCA office.  We’ll have a make-and-take Halloween activity for kids, and refreshments for everyone.

For more information, or to volunteer or donate items, call the PHCA at 412.681.1950, or email leslie@phcapgh.org.  And please share this with anyone else you know who might be interested in helping.  Let’s make this a great Halloween evening!

(Above:  kids during the PHCA Halloween event in 2010.  Photo by Mark Knobil)

 

Get your garden ready for winter: free workshop on Oct 17

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Grow Pittsburgh just announced a new workshop:  Putting the Garden to Bed.  It’s time to get your garden ready for winter.  If you aren’t sure what needs to be done, stop by this workshop hosted by the Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County for helpful tips and tricks to make sure your garden is ready for next spring.  The workshop will be presented by Heather Mikulas at their Edible Teaching Garden.

The workshop will take place on Thursday, October 17 from 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. at 400 North Lexington Street, Pittsburgh.  To register, email gtilove@phipps.conservatory.org or call 412.441.4442 x 3925.

And here’s more information about getting your garden ready for winter from The Daily Green, Gardening Know-How, and the National Gardening Association.

(Above:  the Harmar garden in the winter.  Photo by Leslie Clague for the PHCA.)

Donate on October 3 — and your donation will be increased with matching funds

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On Thursday October 3, 2013, donations made through Pittsburgh Gives can be designated for your favorite local nonprofit — and your donation will be increased with a percentage of matching funds from the Pittsburgh Foundation.  Many local organizations, including the PHCA (hint, hint), are eligible for matching funds.

Here are the basic rules:

– Only Mastercard or Visa credit card donations received through www.pittsburghgives.org during the 24 hours of October 3, 2013 will be matched for this event.  No donations via check, cash or stock will be accepted.  Discover and AMEX donations will not be accepted or matched.
– Each gift is 100% tax deductible.  The credit card charge will display as a donation to ”The Pittsburgh Foundation” on the donor’s credit card statement.
– The minimum gift per organization is $25.  All gifts up to $1,000 per organization will be matched.

More information in the complete rules for the Day of Giving.  You can check here to see which organizations are eligible.  And  for more information, here is a FAQ.

Pittsburgh Gives is an amazing yearly event in which millions of dollars are raised for local nonprofits.  It’s really easy and your donation to your favorite nonprofit is maximized during this event.  Please consider donating on this day — to the us, or to another worthy cause.

Another RADical Days weekend!

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RADical Days 2013 is still going strong!  This annual event celebrates local assets with free admission, musical and dance performances and family activities offered by arts and culture organizations, parks and recreation, and sports and regional attractions that are funded by RAD.  Continuing through November 10, each week a different set of attractions will participate in this event.  Here are just a few of the free things to do this weekend:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

Bulgarian-Macedonian National Education and Cultural Center
Free Admission: 9am-3pm

Fort Pitt Museum
Free Admission: 10am-5pm.

City Theatre Company – Theater Workshop
STORYTELLERS with Dance, Mime, & Movement
Free Admission: 2:30-4:30pm – Limited to ages 11-18

Pittsburgh Filmmakers
Free Admission: 7:30pm (Program B) and 9:15pm (Program A)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 6

Senator John Heinz History Center & Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum
Free Admission: 10am-5pm

National Aviary
Free Admission: 10am-5pm

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts
Free Admission: 1-4pm

City Theatre – Theater Workshop  “LET’S GO GREEN!” Puppetry workshop
Free Admission: 2:30-4pm – Limited to ages 11-18

Some events require registration.  Click here for more details and a full schedule of all RADical Days events.  You can also join  the email alert list for RADical Days 2013 to get updates.  To get text message alerts on your mobile device, text RAD to SMASH (76274); message and data rates may apply.  You can also follow RAD and RADical Days announcements on Facebook.