Working to make South Pittsburgh a Better Place, Every Day...
Earth Day Volunteers Needed - Saturday April, 22, 2017
Overbrook to host Open House and Watershed Day! Saturday April 22 at noon
South Pittsburgh Development Co Hosts Anti-Litter Art Contest in Brookline|
Leadership Development Pittsburgh's Carrick Project -- 5/6 at 11am
Beechview Affordable Real Estate Covered by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Parkfield/Brownsville Intersection to get Art Crosswalk
Brookline Block Watch April meeting replaced with special event to honor Judge Charles McLaughlin
Carrick Branch of the Library
Seldom Seen News
McKinley Park Improvements Coming!
Crime Trends: Decreasing in Carrick--Come to Block Watch on 5/1 to Learn
More
Citywide Public Safety Meeting to Discuss the Opioid/Heroin Epidemic--4/19
Lifeguards Needed
OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program's Walk for Literacy Festival
Pittsburgh Public Schools Strategic Plan Launch Event -- 4/27
Heritage Players Presents: Sense and Sensibility
Department of Permits, Licenses, Inspections Holding Monthly Forums
Apprentices Needed: Occupation Laborers, Finishing Trades
Duquesne Light--Electrical Distribution Technology Certificate Program
Paving Update for 2017
Art Expressions: Bringing Art to Schools
Pennsylvania Women Work
Meetings and Events
Working to make South Pittsburgh a Better Place, Every Day....
Every month, our South Pittsburgh newsletter highlights neighborhoods news, project updates, and major developments. Much of our everyday work that goes into the bigger accomplishments goes untold. Here are just a few things that Councilwoman Rudiak and staff did in March!
- Our office attended the Carrick-Overbrook Block Watch, where the police presented information about crime trends in Carrick and Overbrook. The Leadership Development Initiative presented about their Carrick p
hoto art project called Inside Out happening on Saturday, May 6 at the Dairy District Pavilion Read more below [LINK}!
- Councilwoman Rudiak and staff met with neighbors of Fairhaven Greenway in Overbrook and our Open Space Coordinator for the City in order to work to improve the greenway and make sure it is preserved for future generations! We will be meeting again in April to talk about specific improvements (like trails and signs) that can be added.
- Councilwoman Rudiak attended the Parent School Community Council meeting of West Liberty Elementary school in Brookline to talk about how parents, community groups, and the City can work together to make the neighborhood a better place. We talked about everything from the Brookline Block Watch to the Teen Outreach program, and how to get more involved.
- The following night, Councilwoman Rudiak was the guest speaker at the West Liberty Elementary School National Honors Society Induction Ceremony, where she spoke on the qualities of a scholar and the qualities of a leader. Congratulations to the 4th and 5th graders who are our special scholars!
- We attended the Carrick Community Council's Open Meeting, where we heard about a study undertaken by the Department of City Planning to determine the historic nature of Carrick's housing and business and districts. We also heard about clean up efforts, the efforts to do a master plan for Phillips Park, and the update to the emergency generator at the Verizon building at the corner of Overbrook and Brownsville Road.&n
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- Our office attended the City of Pittsburgh Land Bank Meeting to learn about how the program will work and how we can utilize the Land Bank to help South Pittsburgh neighborhoods reduce blight of vacant and tax-foreclosed properties. You can read more about the land bank here: http://pittsburghpa.gov/landbanking.
- Councilwoman Rudiak was honored as A Woman Who Makes A Difference by the Executive Women's Council and Zonta Pittsburgh; an international organization committed to advancing the status of women.
- Chief of Staff Ashleigh Deemer joined residents and Beechview Athletic Association parents Beechview Clean Up to clean up the community garden and Alton Field
- Ashleigh also toured the under-construction Beechview Senior Center which should be opening up again this summer...check out our Facebook page for photos: https://www.facebook.com/PghDistrict4/posts/1416005711805114
- Our office attended the Dairy District Programming Committee Meeting—the first of th
e season! We are very excited for all the events coming to the Dairy District pavilion this year. Stay tuned...
- We also meet with Allies for Children, an organization focused on providing health care and education programs across the county, CONNECT, an organization of communities neighboring the City of Pittsburgh, on how to work together to combat the heroin epidemic, Pittsburgh UNITED, on how to fund affordable housing, the Department of City Planning on n
ew community planning initiatives, and more … !
Time to redd up Carrick! Don't worry, coffee, donuts will fuel us as we start, with a delicious pizza lunch once we wrap up. To participate, sign up here:
Or folks can call the Carrick Community Council number to RSVP. It is 412-339-0808.
Brookline Lit
ter Clean Up—Earth Day 10am
Meet at Cafe de Noir (802 Brookline Boulevard) to be with neighbors as we redd up Brookline!
- Find out about water in new and unexpected ways
- Watershed Games
- Become a Water Reporter using an interactive mobile app
- Learn about rain gardens and rain barrels
- And much more!
Come out and get to know Overbrook!
Hundreds of students from Brookline-area schools are emphatically telling the world through artwork why littering their neighborhood is uncool.&nbs
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Four area schools—Brookline PreK-8, Carmalt PreK-8, West Liberty PreK-5, and St. John Bosco Academy—are participating in an anti-litter artwork contest sponsored by the South Pittsburgh Development Corporation, in partnership with the Brookline Chamber of Commerce and the Brookline Area Community Council.
All official entries will be displayed at an awards ceremony at the end of April, and winning artwork will also be shown in businesses along Brookline Blvd. Every participating student will receive a goody bag to recognize his or her creative effort in saying “no” to litter. The Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 29 at 1pm at the Brookline Memorial Recreation Center.
Leadership Development Pittsburgh's Carrick Project –Saturday 5/6 at 11am
Leadership Development, Inc (http://www.lpinc.org/) is working closely with the Carrick community, our office, and Economic Development South to host a PopUp! Pittsburgh Event on Saturday, 5/6 from 11am to 2pm at the Historic Dairy District Pavilion. This event will feature a public art installation that captures some of the faces of
Carrick, and those who symbolize its past, present and future.
The art installation will be a part of INSIDE OUT, a global art participatory project started by TED prize winner and French artist JR and inspired by his large-format street pastings, which place empahsis on the people and their stories. To date, more than 260,000 people in 129 countries have participated in INSIDE OUT, and LDI is thrilled to work with the community to add Carrick to the map! The art installation will be unveiled at the 5/6 PopUp! Pittsburgh Event. Save the Date and we will see you there!
Parkfield/Brownsville Intersection to get Art Crosswalk
The first art crosswalk in South Pittsburgh will be at home in Carrick! The intersection of Parkfield and Brownsville Roads is a busy intersection featuring businesses, pedestrians, a bus stop and residential homes. Beginning this summer, the intersection will be made safer and more visible.
The safety enhancements at the intersection will include the installation of pedestrian signals, upgraded ADA ramp and new sidewalk/curb, and the third pedestrian crosswalk. The installation of the artistic design within the crosswalks is a community place-making feature that may add visual interest to the intersection, but will not provide safety enhancements beyond that of a traditional crosswalk.
Our office will work with the Department of Public Works to hold public meetings to make sure that community values are represented in the design. Call our office to learn more at 412-255-2131.
Brookline Block Watch April meeting replaced with special event to honor Judge Charles McLaughlin
Instead of the normal April meeting of the Brookline Block Watch, this month, the group will host an event to honor District Judge Charles McLaughlin and to unveil a portrait of the judge commissioned by Judge Motznik. Judge McLaughlin's family will be in attendance and a reception will follow. Please join us at 7pm on Tuesday, 4/11 at Judge Motznik's office, located at 736 Brookline Boulevard 15226.
Carrick Branch of the Library
Councilwoman Rudiak sits on the board of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and has been working hard to advocate for the new updated branch. Through a community process that wrapped up last year, a new library concept was born. The new library will be DOUBLE the size of the current one, and will take up half the block. (Yes, the library is buying and demolishing the dental lab.)
If you missed the planning meetings for the Carrick branch of the Library, you can still see the rendering of what this building will look like once it's complete. Just navigate to: http://www.nkarch.com/projects/carrick-library/ and you can see the photo. In addition, this building will be highly energy efficient, which means it will cost the Library less to run than a conventional building. In fact, it will be the GREENEST library in North America right in our backyards! We are very excited to see construction start this summer!
Seldom Seen is the greenspace that stretches around Beechview along Route 51, accessible via the jug handle near the salt dome. This 90 acre gem of undeveloped land offers the best access to the stream. Already home to a variety of species, Seldom Seen is also a prime location for one of the Green beads along Route 51. Seldom Seen is a major focus in the City of Pitts
burgh’s Greenways 2.0 Plan to be completed this summer. We are working with Economic Development South and City Planning to create a cohesive group of stewards for Seldom Seen. Having official stewards will allow us to take advantage of funding opportunities for improvements in Seldom Seen. If you are interested in learning more, call us at 412-255-2131 or email district4@pittsburghpa.gov.
McKinley Park is 79 acres of green space split by Bausman that drains to Saw Mill Run. There are a number of opportunities to use green stormwater mitigation practices in McKinley Park. Working with the surrounding communities and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, we received $1M for park improvements in the Chicken Hill area of the p
ark. These improvements will incorporate Stormwater Best Management Practices, including green infrastructure. Construction will begin in this summer.
Please join us at an upcoming community meeting, where the project design team will be presenting conceptual designs and seeking input. Light refreshments will be provided.
Crime Trends: Decreasing in Carrick –Come to Block Watch on 5/1 to learn more
According to analysis by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Part 1 crimes have been decreasing since 2010. These crimes include: homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, theft of vehic
le, and arson. If you would like to know more about crime trends in Carrick, Police will be presenting further information at the Carrick-Overbrook Block Watch at 7pm on Monday, May 1st at Concord Elementary School.
Citywide Public Safety Meeting to Discuss the Opioid/Heroin Epidemic--4/19
Heroin can affect anyone, and if you live in South Pittsburgh, you know how hard it is hitting our neighborhoods. This Spring's citywide public safety meeting will focus on the heroin epidemic and will feature a presentation and discussion by victims, first responders, and health care providers regarding the tell-tale signs and consequences of opiate addictive drugs, along with the impact they have on families, businesses, and communities.
The meeting will be held Wednesday, 4/19 at 6:30pm at the Jewish Community Center's Katz Theater, 5738 Darlington Road 15217 (Squirrel Hill). A light dinner will be served.
Lifeguards Needed
Citiparks is now seeking Lifeguard
s. Pay starts at $9.09/hr. Lifeguard training courses are being held at the Oliver Bath House, 38 South 10th Street 15203. Trainings will run Tuesdays & Thursdays, May 9 through June 1 from 6pm to 9pm PLUS Saturday, May 20 from 9am to 5pm.
For more information, please call the Aquatic Division office at 412-323-7928
The Walk for Literacy Festival will take place rain or shine on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Schenley Plaza Tent in Oakland on 4100 Forbes Avenue from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The free event a comfortable walk and a day full of fun with ongoing activities including entertainment; free rides on the Carousel; numerous arts and crafts; and informational tables for seniors, children and families of all ages. There will be free books for children, door prizes and basket raffle.
For more information, please contact John D. Spehar, Program Director, at (412) 393-7648 or by email at jdsp...@oasisnet.org. OASIS is an Affiliate of Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Strategic Plan Launch Event -- 4/27
Please join Superintendent Anthony Hamlet and the Pittsburgh Public School (PPS) Board of Directors as they launch a bold new strategic plan. Expect to be excited when listening to the five-year plan and meeting Dr. Hamlet's Cabinet Members and future PPS graduates!
Doors open at 8am and the breakfast buffet begins at 8:30am. Please register to attend at: http://bit.ly/2noycXp. Parking will be available in Gold Lot 1 for $7.00.
Heritage Players Presents: Sense and Sensibility
The Heritage Players are proud to present Sense and Sensibility, adapted by Jon Jory, based on the novel by Jan
e Austen, and directed by F.J. Hartland. Performances are May 12-13 & 19-20 at 8:00 pm and May 14 & 21 at 2:00 pm. All shows are held at the Seton Center, 1900 Pioneer Avenue, Brookline.
Children’s Show TBD, August 4-6 and 11-13;
Lost in Yonkers, by Neil Simon, September 8-10 and 15-17;
Into the Woods, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George 
;Lapine, November 3-5 & 10-12.
The Heritage Players is a non-profit community theatre group now in their 20th year and have been performing at the Seton Center since 2013. Their mission is to provide quality theatrical entertainment to the residents of South Pittsburgh as well as educational opportunities to children and adults alike. Please call (412) 254-4633 or email heritag...@yahoo.com with questions.
Department of Permits, Licenses, Inspections Holding Monthly Forums
If you've had to work with the department of PLI, you know that the work they do is complex and sometimes hard to understand. Thankfully, the department has begun holding monthly forums to help clarify processes. The April forum will be held on Wednesday, April 12th at 9am in the first floor conference room at 200 Ross Street 15219. For April's forum, Deputy Director Erik Harless will discuss the permit application and review process.
Apprentices Needed: Occupation Laborers, Finishing Trades
Occupation Laborers
Western Pennsylvania Laborers' Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program is accepting applications on a continuous basis for apprenticeship opportunities in its Building and Heavy/Highway Program. Applicants will be notified as to when selection testing begins. Applications must be returned to the Western PA Laborers' Education and Training Fund, 317 Deer Creek Road, Saxonburg, PA 16056.
Applicants will be selected according to written testing and interview. Final selection will be made according to the needs within the 33 counties of Western PA covered by the Training Program.
For more information and a list of requirements, go to www.laborpa.org or call 1-800-442-8868. Applications can be picked up in person at the Western PA CareerLink Offices, all laborers' local union offices, and the Western PA Laborers' Education and Training
Center in Saxonburg. To complete the virtual pre-apprenticeship program, go to futureroadbuilders.com.
Finishing Trades
The Finishing Trades Institute of Western Pennsylvania District Council #57 Join Apprenticeship and Training Program will be accepting applications for apprenticeship in the Painters/GlaziersDrywall Finishers program for the year 2017.
Applications are accepted year round, however, we will be accepting applications in person and the Council District #57 office: 101 Ewing Road, Carnegie, PA 15106 on the following dates and times:
-April 18, 2017 from 8:30am to 2:30pm
-April 20, 2017 from 8:30am to 2:30pm
Selection process will be intent to hire. Selection will be made according to the needs within the 32 countries of Western Pennsylvania covered by the Training Program.
For more information, call Council District #57 at 412-276-6061.
The Electrical Distribution Technology (EDT) program is a joint partnership between CCAC and Duquesne Light Company. Trainings cover: basic skills, knowledge and abilities that applicants would need in order to apply for skilled craft positions in the electrical utility industry.
Upon completion, potential careers include lineworker and underground splicer. Program is tentatively scheduled to start in August, 2017. Applications will be accepted through April 2.
- 1 year certificate program
- Obtain a Class A CDL
- 2 paid Internship Opportunities for all students
- 3 Available scholarships
- Successful graduates will be considered for positions with Duquense Light, however, completion does not guarantee employment.
Paving Update for 2017
Although the paving list for this year has not yet been released, we have received some details about the program and wanted to share them! This year, the City of Pittsburgh will spend over $15 million on paving. These funds have a variety of sources, from bonds that the city takes out to federal funds. $11.8 million will be used for resurfacing an estimated 52 miles of city streets.
The remainder will be utilized for: handicap ramps, concrete/block/brick restoration, crack sealing, pothole material and thermoplastic line striping/crosswalks. As in previous years, the City coordinates paving very closely with the utility companies, in order to maximize the paving every year. This year, expect to be notified by Robocall if your street is going to be milled and paved.
Streets are being selected came from multiple sources:
-data from Cartegraph Pavement Management System (which drove the entire street system in 2016 to evaluate)
-observations and unput from Streets Maintenance Supervisors
-data from 311 response line
-Google street view
-Council office
We will have more on paving in next month's newsletter. Stay tuned!
Art Expressions: Bringing Art to Schools
Art Expressions, a nonprofit focused on eliminating social inequalities in schools by offering inclusive after-school programming, recently ran a program at West Liberty Elementary School. The program, called EcosmART, teaches participants to apply creative problem-solving skills and innovating design though a weekly, art-based enrichment program that aims to promote positive self-esteem and inspire intere
st in the worlds of science and technology.
Students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and the Facilitator made the following observation on how the students felt about the exercise:
"They gushed over the variety of supplies...This group worked hard to complete their projects. They naturally showed each other what they were working on, and I encouraged them to visit other tables as they finished up, to help clean and exhibit their work. They were very complimentary to each other, asking questions and pointing out aspects they liked about each other's artwork."<
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Pennsylvania Women Work
Pennsylvania Women Work is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women in career transition and helping them to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Their programs provide career development assistants, computer training, job placement, and career mentoring—all at no cost to clients!
Pennsylvania Woman Work seeks to deliver personalized career development programs that result in family-sustaining wages for displaced homemakers and individuals in career transition across the state of Pennsylvania. With programs for developing brand new careers, for low-income parents aged 18-35, mentoring for work-ready women, customer service classes, and for those in crisis: free case management, legal services, and career development.
Thursday, 3/30 @ 6pm - McKinley Park (Chicken Hill) Community Mee
ting, McKinley Activities Center, 900 Delmont Avenue
Monday, 4/3 @ 7pm – Carrick-Overbrook Block Watch, Concord Elementary School Auditorium, 2350 Brownsville Road 15210
Thursday, 4/6 @ 7pm – Beechview Area Concerned Citizens, Beechview United Presbyterian 1621 Broadway Ave 15216
Tuesday, 4/11 @7pm – Ceremony honoring Judge Charlie McLaughlin (in lieu of Brookline Block Watch), Office of Jud
ge Jim Motznik 736 Br
ookline Boulevard 15226
Monday, 4/17 @ 6pm – Zone 3 Public Safety Meeting, Zone 3 Station 830 East Warrington Avenue 15210
Wednesday, 4/19 @ 6:30pm -- Citywide Public Safety Meeting to Discuss the Opioid/Heroin Epidemic, Jewish Community Center's Katz Theater, 5738 Darlington Road 15217 (Squirrel Hill)
Thursday, 4/20 @ 5:30pm – Beltzhoover Community Forum, Beulah Baptist Church 201 Chalfont Street
15210
Saturday, 4/22 @ 10am – Brookline Cleanup, Café de Noir 802 Brookline Boulevard 15226
Saturday, 4/22 @ 10am – Carrick Cleanup, Phillips Park 201 Parkfield Street 15210
Saturday, 4/22 @ noon – Overbrook Community Council's Open House and Watershed Day, Accamando Center 2410 Saw Mill Run Boulevard 15234
Tuesday, 4/25 @ 7pm – Overbrook Community Council, Fairhaven Church 2415 Saw Mill Run Boulevard 15234
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