Every month, our South Pittsburgh newsletter highlights neighborhood news, project updates, and major developments in our District. Much of our everyday work that goes into these bigger accomplishments goes unseen. Here are just a few things that Councilwoman Rudiak and staff did in April!
-Councilwoman Rudiak
helped 412 Food Rescue (
https://www.facebook.com/412FoodRescue) save good food from Bruegger's Bagels and Consumer Fresh Produce as part of "Inclusive Innovation Week" and delivered it to the Carrick Regency, the senior highrise on Brownsville Road.
-Councilwoman Rudiak and Megan walked the fields at Brookline Memorial Park with the director of the Athletic Association and Allegheny City Electric (which holds the city contract on lighting) to discuss fixing the current lighting and field upgrades for the future!
-Chief of Staff Ashleigh Deemer met with the Department of Public Works to discuss street sweeping and how to optimize the sweeping schedule to get our streets cleaner and more organized for residents.
-Councilwoman Rudiak and Megan met with a representative of the University of Pittsburgh's School of Pharmacy to discuss the South Pittsburgh Opioid Action Coalition; a group our office is forging the with Pitt's School of Pharmacy to address the opioid epidemic in South Pittsburgh (see article below for more info).
-Councilwoman Rudiak, Ashleigh and Megan attended the ceremony in Brookline to
honor Judge Charlie McLaughlin and see the portrait--commissioned by Judge Motznik--unveiled. Judge McLaughlin started the Brookline Blockwatch and was a pillar in the community; it was great to see so many of his family members, neighbors, and law enforcement officials honor the Judge. You can read more about him here:
http://www.brooklineconnection.com/history/Personalities/Charlie.html
-Councilwoman Rudiak, Ashleigh and Bethani attended the Mt. Lebanon Planning Commission meeting to represent Brookline neighbors of the Castlegate Development and give public comment on the ongoing issues related to the demolition of the old Bradley Center on the site. Councilwoman Rudiak requested that the Mt. Lebanon Commissioners appoint a liaison for concerned neighbors and our office. That request was granted by the Commissioners and we are in talks with that liaison to ensure proper supervision.
-Councilwoman Rudiak hosted an initial meeting on the art crosswalk and safety improvements that will be installed at the Parkfield/Brownsville intersection.
-Councilwoman Rudiak drove Director of City Planning Ray Gastil and our new Neighborhood Planner Felipe Palomo on a tour of the district to discuss our possibilities and our challenges. This was the second district tour for Director Gastil.
-Councilwoman Rudiak and Megan met with Assistant Director of Public Works Pat Hassett to resolve drainage issues on a section of Brookline Boulevard that were brought to our attention by a Brookline business.
-Ashleigh met with a manager from the Department of Finance as well as the Small Business Manager from the mayor's office to discuss the future of coffee in Beechview and how the space the Brew on Broadway formerly occupied could be filled.
-Councilwoman Rudiak, Bethani and Megan met with Sergeant Al to discuss the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police traffic study on Dorchester Avenue (near the Castlegate Development) in Brookline and establish a baseline to compare to traffic once the construction of the facility is complete and the building is in use.
-Councilwoman Rudiak attended Dyngus Day (a Polish Easter tradition) in Pittsburgh, hosted by the Polish Falcons Heritage Association and enjoyed some delicious pierogi, kielbasa and live polka!
-Megan attended the Citywide Public Safety meeting to discuss the ongoing heroin epidemic and its far-reaching implications with presentations by victims, first responders, and more. This information will be incorporated into the South Pittsburgh Opioid Action Coalition.
-Councilwoman Rudiak
had a call with the Mayor's office and City Planning to discuss Broadway Avenue improvements, the timeline for design, a walkthrough with engineers, and community outreach. Community meeting should be held late this summer, so make sure to check our Facebook page (
https://www.facebook.com/PghDistrict4/) for updates!
-Councilwoman Rudiak met with Councilman Corey O'Connor to discuss their legislation which will provide feminine-related hygiene products in parks and recreation centers, so that women and girls are unlimited in their ability to participate in our City's recreational life!
-Councilwoman Rudiak and Bethani met with neighbors of the Fairhaven Greenway in Overbrook as well as Josh Lippert, the Greenway and Open Space planner for the City. We discussed naming trails, signs, and how Fairhaven Greenway will be the first greenway in the City to use the new greenway plan.
-Bethani attended the
second Dairy District programming committee meeting. Look out for monthly ice cream social events, live music, food trucks and events all summer long and stay up-to-date by following
https://www.facebook.com/CarrickDairyDistrict/!
-Councilwoman Rudiak and staff met with Penn American Water, which provides drinking water to our whole District, to discuss concerns about lead and PA American's approach to proactively test for lead, how to protect Pittsburgh families, and how to ensure that we have safe pipes in the future.
-Councilwoman Rudiak was honored to be inducted into the Pittsburgh Public Schools Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame along with Dr. Rahmon Hart, Dr. Justin Meyer, Billy Porter, Tamara Whiting, Anna Tarka-DiNunzio and Samantha Paige Davis. #WeArePPS!
-Councilwoman Rudiak and Bethani
attended the closing ceremony of the Carrick Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. In case you haven't heard, this little branch will be torn down and a new, beautiful, and energy-efficient library will be buit. The Carrick branch will be closed until renovations are complete, in Spring/Summer of 2018. Read more:
http://pittsburghpa.gov/district4/newsletter.htm?id=7188#Carrick
-Councilwoman Rudiak attended the Treasurer's Sale of Berg Place, where the City was informed one minute prior to the sale that the owner had filed for bankruptcy in federal court the day before. Councilwoman Rudiak has already been in touch with the URA and City Departments of Law and Finance to discuss our strategy and how best to protect the community from these irresponsible owners moving forward.
-Bethani attended a meeting with the Department of Public Works to discuss lighting the historic Accamando center in Overbrook, or as many know it, the Old Firehouse
-Councilwoman Rudiak and Ashleigh attended the Brookline Little League Parade, the Beechview Little Parade, the South Pittsburgh Development Corporation's Anti-Litter Art Contest featuring the art of local PPS students, and Taste of Brookline!
-And much, much more!...
Please join us for an exciting PopUp! Pittsburgh event on Saturday, May 6th from 11am to 2pm at the Historic Dairy District Pavilion. The class’ PopUp! concept, which was largely shaped by input from Carrick community members and key stakeholders, is INSIDE OUT Carrick, a public art installation that will reflect the faces of those who call Carrick home. This project is intended to honor the past while celebrating current residents and your unique experiences and fostering a sense of togetherness for the 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 emphasis on the people and their stories. To date, more than 260,000 people in 129 countries have participated in INSIDE OUT. The event will highlight these community members’ portraits and will also feature food trucks, on-site photos and children&r
squo;s activities.
PopUp! Pittsburgh (
www.popuppittsburgh.com) is organized annually each year in concert with a local Pittsburgh neighborhood by the Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) class, a program of Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. (
http://www.lpinc.org/). The current LDI class, made up of 50 up-and-coming young professionals, is working closely with the Carrick community, our office, Economic Development South, and Neighborhood Allies in order to highlight the residents and history of Carrick. The art installation will be unveiled at the 5/6 PopUp! Pittsburgh Event. Save the Date and we will see you there!
If you haven't heard, our office, along with the University of Pittsburgh's School of Pharmacy is forming the South Pittsburgh Opioid Action Coalition to find real strategies for dealing with our district's heroin and opioid-related issues.
We have met with representatives from the Zone 3 and Zone 6 stations of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, leaders from Narcotics Anonymous, state legislators, the Allegheny County Health Department, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and representatives from Pitt's Graduate School of Public Health, Institute of Politics, School of Pharmacy, and others. We have also poured over the latest research on this epidemic.
Together with the University of Pittsburgh's School of Pharmacy, our office is working to create a unique local coalition to address the effects of the opioid epidemic in our community at the neighborhood level. This means addressing overdoses, community and neighborhood health, public safety, and other neighbor concerns.
We are currently seeking neighbors to join this new group. This is a massive problem, and in order to find solutions, it is critical that those who have been the most affected by this epidemic have a seat at the table to figure out how to address this issue. When we stand together to tackle problems like this, we are stronger.
If you have been personally affected by this epidemic, we encourage you to share your interest and apply. We expect to hold the first meeting in late spring; with monthly meetings after that. Meetings will be facilitated by personnel from the School of Pharmacy. Members must attend meetings and may be asked to volunteer additional time.
The Carrick branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh closed on April 29, 2017 for renovations. If you haven’t heard: CLP met with our office and residents in the winter of 2016 to discuss plans for a new facility. The community gave a lot of feedback on those plans, and after months of work, the Library was able to purchase the former dental lab next door. Both buildings will be demolished and a new, much larger and incredibly energy efficient library will be constructed. You can see the updated designs here:
http://www.nkarch.com/projects/carrick-library/
Want to earn extra money AND improve the lives of our neighbors? LifeSpan's Knoxville Kitchen is hiring delivery drivers to be a part of the team that packages and delivers meals to home-bound seniors!
Quick facts:
- Part-time: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays -- 7:30am to 3:30pm
- $9/hour plus benefits
- Vehicle provided
- Knoxville Kitchen: 320 Brownsville Road 15210
Requires:
- Valid PA Driver's License
- Criminal and Motor Vehicle Background Check
Remake Learning, nationally renowned for launching educational innovations in Pittsburgh, will host Remake Learning Days from 5/15 to 5/26! The goal is to reach tens of thousands of families, youth, educators, and innovators showing them to how learning is being remade with hand-on, technology-infused, engaging experiences in neighborhoods across southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Remake Learning Days will launch with a kickoff open to the public at PNC park on Monday, May 15th from 3 to 6pm. The Kickoff is a FREE, family-focused, drop-in event that will feature dozens of creative hands-on activities along with light refreshments, supported by Google Geek Street and the 2017 Remake Learning Days Presenting Sponsors!
Other events in District 4:
- Tech-enhanced Learning at Carmalt, Tuesday, 5/16 from 5:30-7:30pm
- Voices Against Violence at McKinley Park Shelter House, Saturday, 5/20 from 11:30am to 4pm
- The Labs Workshop at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Beechview, Tuesday, 5/23 from 4-6pm
The International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local #6 Joint Apprenticeship Committee will accept applications from May 12 through May 26, 2017.
Applicant requirements:
- Over 18-years-old
- High School diploma, GED, or equivalent educational attainment
- Pass an examination designed to test the applicant's reading, math skills, and aptitude for employment in the elevator industry
- Capable of performing physical requirements of the job without posing a threat to the health and safety of themselves or others
- Pass a drug test (upon selection, paid for by employer)
- Photo ID
- $25 Testing Fee required on Test Day (money order or bank certified check ONLY). Fee waivers can be requested and are approved based on financial needs.
Water filters and lead tests are now available for residents of the City of Pittsburgh, including customers of Penn American Water. Priority for filters will be given to those with children under the age of 6 initially, but all City residents are eligible for filters.
To sign up for filters and tests, go to:
http://pittsburghpa.gov/safepgh2o/. Signing up takes about a minute, and when you do, you can opt to receive updates about the program and when your test kit and filter will be delivered!
Stay tuned to our newsletter for updates about lead in pipes and how our office is working to make sure they are replaced!
The Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections is now holding monthly forums to answer common questions and help residents learn about the process. May's forum will feature Fire Inspection Supervisor Corey Derico to discuss the proactive fire inspection program that is targeted toward existing life safety systems in commercial structures. You will learn about what is your responsibility as a property owner as well as the ins and outs of the inspection process.
The May Forum will be held:
- Wednesday, 5/10 at 9am
- 200 Ross Street 15219
On Saturday, May 6 from 10am to 2pm the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers will host Toddlerpalooza—the biggest pro-child event of the year! This is a family friendly event where parents can learn about services and opportunities for kids, and kids will have Make & Take activities, receive free books, and eat yummy food!
Join us this Saturday to meet educators, community organizers, other parents, Pittsburgh Public Schools leaders, early childhood service providers and advocates for children.
- Saturday, 5/6, 10am-2pm
- Lunch served from 11am-1pm
- PFT Building, 10 South 19th Street 15203
Applications for the 2017-2018 Youth Advisory Council are now live. Pittsburgh Cares is looking for students in 9th-12th grade who are enrolled in school in Allegheny County and are interested in becoming active partners in their communities through service and volunteering.
As council members, students will volunteer at various non-profits, plan service projects, participate in workshops aimed at addressing social issues and network with other like-minded yet diverse students.
Summer 17 is a youth-centered campaign for summer programs. It will provide up to 27,000 youth in Allegheny County (grades K-12) with fun, educational learning activities.
The program, now in it's second year, is a collaborative approach to summer youth programming. Summer17 offers resources like a checklist for parents, an activities calendar, and a centralized database of summer programs. Parents can search for #PghSummer17 on social media for opportunities or visit
www.Pghsummer17.com!
Do you know a high school student who is passionate about conservation, likes working as a part of a team, and/or loves being outdoors? The Student Conservation Association is looking for interns!
Join an SCA camping or community crew and plug yourself in to SCA's nationwide network of young conservationists. SCA offers a range of programs for youth ages 15-19. Whether you want to serve your local community or explore public lands across the country, SCA has something for you!
- May 5
- May 25
- June 14
- June 28
- July 12
- July 26
- August 9
- September 13
- October 11
All events will run from 5-7pm and for each session, volunteers will meet at the McKinley Park Activities Center (900 Delmont Avenue 15210).
Councilwoman Rudiak met with Comcast to discuss their Internet Essentials offer. Since access to high speed internet is critical for learning and succeeding in school, Comcast has created a program to provide access to low-income families for $9.95/month!
Eligible households must:
- Have at least one child who is eligible for the National School Lunch Program or receive HUD housing assistance
- Live in an area where Comcast Internet Service is available
- Not have subscribed to Comcast Internet within the last 90 days
- Not have an outstanding debt to Comcast that is less than one year old
The Parking Authority of the City is rolling out a brand new web portal where residents can purchase or renew parking permits completely online! No more coming downtown or mailing documents. Of course, if you prefer to renew by walk-in or mail, those options will remain.
The new portal will also allow the Parking Authority to enforce permit parking and visitor's permits through License Plate Recognition Technology, which will increase the effectiveness of enforcement.
This program is being rolled out one month at a time, as RPP districts come up for renewal. All residents of permit parking areas will be notified of their renewal options by mail. You can view the portal here:
http://gis.pittsburghpa.gov/pghpermitparking/.
Monday, 5/1, 7pm: Carrick-Overbrook Block Watch, Concord Elementary School, 2350 Brownsville Road 15210
Thursday, 5/4, 7pm: Beechview Area Concerned Citizens, Beechview United Presbyterian, 1621 Broadway Ave 15216
Saturday, 5/6, 10am – 2pm: Toddlerpalooza, PFT 10 South 19th Street 15203
Saturday, 5/6, 11am: InsideOut: Carrick, a project of LDI, Dairy District Pavilion, 1529 Brownsville Road 15210
Monday, 5/8, 6:30pm: Carrick Community Council Open Meeting, Concord Elementary School Auditorium, 2350 Brownsville Road 15210
Tuesday, 5/9, 7pm: Brookline Block Watch, Judge Motznik's Office, 736 Brookline Boulevard 15226
Monday, 5/15, 6pm: Zone 3 Public Safety Meeting, Zone 3 Station, 830 East Warrington Avenue 15210
Monday, 5/15, 7pm: South Pittsburgh Development Corporation, 520 Brookline Boulevard 15226
Tuesday, 5/16: Primary Election Day
Thursday, 5/18, 5:30pm: Beltzhoover Community Forum, Beulah Baptist Church, 201 Chalfont Street 15210
Tuesday, 5/23, 7pm: Overbrook Community Council, Fairhaven Church, 2415 Saw Mill Run Boulevard 15234
Monday, 5/29: City Offices Closed for Memorial Day
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