News and Updates

City Council Public Hearing

Councilman Patrick Dowd will host an informational public hearing regarding stabilizing the City pension fund next Wednesday, October 6 at 7:00pm at the Stephen Foster Community Center. Topics to be discussed include the Mayor’s plan to lease the parking system and alternative solutions to the pension funding crisis. Another Public Hearing is scheduled in Council Chambers at the City-County Building, Downtown, on  October 11 at 6:00pm. To register to make comments up to three minutes in length at either hearing location, please contact the City Clerk’s office at 412.255.2138.

City of Pittsburgh Receives Award to Hire More Police Officers

U.S. Senator Bob Casey recently announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $3,707,925 to the City of Pittsburgh to hire 25 new police officers. The funding is available through DOJ’s COPS Hiring Program (CHP). CHP funding addresses the full-time sworn officer needs of state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide.  CHP grants go directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new and/or rehire career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.

CHP also provides funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly-hired, full-time sworn officer positions (including filling existing unfunded vacancies) or for rehired officers who have been laid off, or are scheduled to be laid off on a future date, as a result of local budget cuts.

Upcoming Events

Council to Go
Friday, October 15, 7:30am – 9:00am; Councilman Dowd and staff will be in Lawrenceville at Perk Me Up, 4407 Butler Street.
Thursday, October 28, 6:30pm-8:00pm; Councilman Dowd and staff will be in Morningside at Morning Glory Coffeehouse, 1806 Chislett Street.

Community Events

2010 East Liberty History Festival – Saturday, October 2, 10am-6pm – Parking lot behind Eastminster Church, North Highland Avenue at Penn Circle North. More information at the East Liberty Post.

Grand Opening of the Red Theater, a brand new live music venue in Polish Hill – Saturday, October 16, 6pm – 3028 Brereton Street. More information at the Blogski.

2010 RADical Days, Get Culture for Free! – Continuing throughout the month of October – various locations. More information at the Allegheny Regional Asset District.

Trick or Treating for Halloween in the City of Pittsburgh will happen on Sunday, October 31. Time yet to be announced as of creation of this newsletter.

Did You Know?

Why are pumpkins a Halloween tradition?

Using pumpkins as lanterns at Halloween is based on an ancient Celtic custom brought to America by Irish immigrants. All Hallows’ Eve on October 31 marked the end of the old Celtic calendar year. On that night, hollowed-out gourds with candles inside were placed on windowsills to welcome home spirits of deceased ancestors and to ward off evil spirits, including a restless soul named “Stingy Jack.”

Corny Candy Facts

• Each year 2 billion dollars is spent on Halloween candy. Now that’s a lot of candy — and cavities!
• More than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be produced this year. That equates to nearly 9 billion pieces — enough to circle the moon nearly four times if laid end-to-end.
• What’s the most popular Halloween candy? Snickers tops the list for trick-or-treaters.
• Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.
• Did you know that chocolate is better for your child’s teeth than hard candy? Chocolate rinses more easily from the mouth by saliva, leaving it in contact with teeth for a shorter time. Chocolate also contains tannins, which inhibit the action of cavity-causing bacteria. Finally, a good excuse to indulge!

For more fun and freaky facts, you can visit Parents.com.