Making South Pittsburgh a Better Place Everyday
Port Authority Reconstruction on Track in Beechview
Meet Megan Neuf: The District 4 Constituent Services Manager
Women-Owned Businesses: How to Win City Contracts!
Support Teens in Brookline with your Volunteer Time
Are You Worried About Lead?
Become a Civic Leader and Learn More about City Services
Heads Up: Duquesne Light Installing New Electricity Meters in 2016
Shout Outs from our South Pittsburgh Schools
Spotlight on Carrick: The Carrick Community Council & How You Can Get Involved!
Updates from the Heritage Players
Job Opportunities
Community Calendar
Making South Pittsburgh a Better Place Everyday
- If you live in South Pgh, you know that the intersection of Rts 51 and 88 have been under construction for years now. Thankfully, the work is now complete! I met with PennDOT, the Pittsburgh Department of Public Works and neighborhood groups to ensure that everything was wrapped up properly and answer any remaining questions from neighbors. We’re currently looking at any landscape improvements that can be done around this intersection.
- The Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation has opened an office on Broadway Avenue in Beechview, and I attended their open house on February 2nd. It was great to see so many people come out in support of Beechview and business development! I met several new people and the ideas for positive investments and volunteerism are already flowing.
- I met with the women driving a campaign for Pittsburgh to adopt the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to discuss what we can do, as a City, to make Pittsburgh a friendlier place for women (and all who love them).
- Following up on legislation I passed in December to create an Office of Early Childhood here at the City, I met with officials from the Mayor’s administration to work on a job description for the Early Childhood Manager. We are working out the details with the Department of Personnel, and look forward to advertising the position soon.
- Last summer, I passed Plain Language legislation requiring that all city documents be written in a simpler, more succinct way to ensure that people both understand, and WANT to engage with the City. This month, I met with administration officials and professors from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh to discuss how to implement the legislation, and how we can involve students in that process.
- I had the honor of speaking with Columbus, Ohio Councilwoman, Liz Brown, about her efforts to pass Paid Family Leave for Columbus employees. I passed a similar bill here in Pittsburgh in 2015, and am thrilled that it has been successful, and we are able to share that model for success with other cities, to ensure more families have the time they need to care for new babies.
- I joined over a hundred Beechview residents at the Port Authority’s Broadway Avenue track reconstruction meeting, where we learned more about the project plans, and worked with Port Authority employees to address specific questions.
- I teamed up with Councilman Dan Gilman, and met with Heather Arnet from the Women and Girls Foundation to discuss ways to encourage gender pay equity in the City of Pittsburgh.
- Last but not least, I met with Matt Smith, the head of the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce to talk about ways that the City and Chamber can work together, rocked out to live jazz music at BREW on Broadway in Beechview (follow BREW on Facebook for information on events) plus I had fun with Councilman Kraus for a good cause at Biscuits Bingo, hosted by Officer Christine Luffey of Zone 3, raising money for animal rescue!
Port Authority Reconstruction On Track in Beechview
On February 18th, the Port Authority held a community meeting in Beechview, where they talked one-on-one with residents about the Broadway Avenue T-track revitalization project, slated to start March 27th and last for 6 months. When the project was first announced, residents and businesses understandably recalled the hardships of the last track reconstruction (1998) that negatively impacted parking, traffic, and commerce for not one, but two construction seasons.
This year, however, the Port Authority is doing its best to listen to the community’s concerns, and they have made several changes to their construction plan to better accommodate businesses and residents. Our office is proud of our role in communicating these concerns and negotiating a better deal. Here’s what residents should expect:
- Construction will last 6 months, or one construction season.
- One lane of traffic in each direction will remain open throughout construction.
- The work will be done in phases-- in other words, work will be done in sections, rather than all of Broadway being under construction at once.
- That means more parking and better pedestrian access throughout the summer.
- There will be at four pedestrian crossings, to ensure people can get to church, the library, their house, or the grocery store.
- There will be two car crossings to ensure that traffic moves smoothly throughout the construction zone.
- Shuttles will run between the Potomac and Fallowfield stations
If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact our office, or contact the Port Authority directly, here:
Red...@portauthority.orgIf you've called our office in the last year, about anything from a pothole to a policy question, you've probably spoken to Megan Neuf, our Constituent Services Manager. Megan joined us after finishing her graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a dual master's degree in social work and public health. Her focus there and in her volunteer work has been early childhood, non-profit advocacy, and grantmaking. After working here part-time for nearly a year, we're so excited to finally welcome her on full-time starting next week. We thought this would be a perfect time for you to get to know her better!
What do you love most about your job?
I really love talking to people in our communities every day. I especially enjoy when I'm able to attend meetings in the neighborhoods to put faces to the voices on the other side of the phone. If I could spend every day outside of the office and in our neighborhoods, I would do it in a heartbeat.
Tell us something zany about yourself.
I don't typically consider myself much of a zany person, a huge nerd certainly, but maybe not quite zany. There are probably some pretty unique things about me though, like that I grew up with four heavily-involved parents, two biological and two step-parents. This meant four of every birthday, holiday, and so on. To add to it, I'm an only child. Let's just say that I was never hurting for attention. Looking back, it may have been pretty zany that last year, I finished up 20 straight years of school. This includes, k-12, four years of undergrad, and three years of graduate school. I'm relieved to be done.
Do you have any pets?
I do have pets! I have two cats that I adopted from the Western PA Humane Society. Their names are Oren and Milo and they are quite a handful.
What's your current favorite lunch spot in District 4?
I have been a huge fan of Las Palmas tacos for a long time. I love tacos, maybe a bit too much. I'll put it to you this way, my boyfriend and I have talked about naming our first dog Taco after our favorite food. Any time we have friends visit us from out of town, they ask us to take them to get Las Palmas' tacos and some jugo de guayaba. I think that I could eat them every day if someone let me.
Women-Owned Businesses: How to Win City Contracts!
Did you know that the City does a lot of its work through contracts? We work with outside firms to do many things, ranging from architects for projects like the Beechview Senior Center, to housekeepers for Recreation Centers. Our procurement team and the Equal Opportunity Review Commission work hard to ensure that all businesses have a fair shot at working with the City. They publicly advertise new opportunities and go out to bid for big projects, ensuring lots of businesses know they’re welcome to work with us, AND increasing competition, so that we can get the best deal we can when spending taxpayer dollars. To that end, there will be an event to educate women-owned businesses on how to work with the city, and where to find these opportunities. If you’re a woman and you own a business, sign up and attend this event to learn more:
Women Business Owners: Win City Contracts
Please note that all businesses can sign up today for potential contracting opportunities at
www.buildpgh.com/beaconSupport Teens in Brookline with your Volunteer Time
Late last year, Councilwoman Rudiak commissioned an inventory of all the programs available to youth in District 4. The results were stunning--despite the fact that Brookline has the highest concentration of teens in the City, there were very few programs available to them outside of school. If a young person doesn’t play sports, there are very few options.
Brookline Teen Outreach was created to provide a holistic approach to serving youth, offering high-quality and modern licensed counseling services, free tutoring, community service opportunities, and dynamic programming. The Center’s innovative and comprehensive programming provides something for every young person who walks through the door. Neighborhood volunteers are an integral part of sustaining that programming, and strengthening Brookline Teen Outreach’s impact in the community.
Join BTO For a Volunteer Information Session!
Saturday, March 5th, 10 AM- 1 PM
520 Brookline Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15226
Coffee and light snacks will be provided.
Are You Worried About Lead?
If you have followed the news about Flint, Michigan, you might be concerned about the quality of your tap water right here in Pittsburgh. Both the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) and Pennsylvania American Water (PAW) do extensive water quality testing on their source water, and the water headed to your homes after being treated. You can learn more about the specific testing methods and outcomes at the links below.
Both agencies certify that the water they send to homes is safe and PH neutral, minimizing the risk for corrosion of old lead or lead-soldered pipes. For more information, and options for having your tap water tested, click the links to the fact sheets below.
PWSA Water Customers:
RECEIVE YOUR FREE TEST KIT BY CALLING THE PWSA LAB AT
412-782-7554Pennsylvania American Water Customers:
PA American Water does not provide free individual testing, but you can do so at your own cost by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act Hotline, here:
(800) 426-4791Become a Civic Leader and Learn More about City Services
The Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) is a FREE ten week course for City residents that provides an inside look at how City departments and authorities operate. Throughout the course, 12 City departments and Authorities give presentations on their day-to-day operations, budgets, new initiatives, upcoming projects, and residents have the opportunity to ask questions, tour facilities, and network with fellow civic-minded people.
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE MARCH 4TH. Thirty students are accepted into the program-- from all different backgrounds, ages, and from neighborhoods all over the city. Classes begin Wednesday, March 30th. Students will be alerted of their acceptance by the third week of March. Classes are held every Wednesday for 10 weeks from 6-8:30 pm downtown as well as various locations throughout the city.
Applications are available here.
If you’re not able to apply or participate, you can see last year’s classes online! All classes were recorded by the City Channel last Spring and are available on youtube
here.
Heads Up: Duquesne Light Installing New Electricity Meters in 2016
Duquesne Light will be installing new “advanced meters” across the City of Pittsburgh starting in March and continuing through 2016. The new meters will not change how your electricity usage is measured, but they will enable customers to be more aware of high-usage activities. Residents will be able to manage their bills online and activate phone or e-mail alerts when electricity usage is particularly high. Over time, in conjunction with other system improvements, Duquesne Light will be able to provide outage alerts and service restoration estimates that will help customers make plans during storm-related service interruptions.
Customers will receive a letter in advance of the work, and a reminder call 3-5 days before the installation. You *will not* need to be home for the work to take place. Click
the link to learn more about what you can expect during the new meter roll-out! If you have any additional questions, you can call and speak to a customer service representative, here:
1-888-928-8539Shout Outs from our South Pittsburgh Schools!
Carmalt Academy of Writing and Communications
Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade are learning Spanish! Younger students use a Spanish computer program through 4th grade, and they continue their learning with Senor Conroy starting in 5th grade, through 8th grade.
All students at Carmalt, from preschool through 8th grade, meet personally with school principal, Dr. Och, to reflect on their monthly writing pieces. The school places a special emphasis on developing writing and public speaking skills in all classes.
Parents should look out for an invitation to Carmalt’s annual Portfolio Review in which middle school students present their best writing pieces to community members.
Concord Elementary School
Register your Kindergarten aged child today! For more information, please call the school at
412-529-7756.
Concord will be celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday the week of February 29th through March 4th. Family Literacy Night will take place on March 10th at Concord from 4:00 - 5:30 PM. All are welcome to attend!
Brookline PreK-8
Brookline Pre-K-8 would like to thank Painting with a Twist Pittsburgh South and Pittsburgh West for their generous award of $500.00 to the school. Brookline was the winner of their Twelve Days of Christmas Facebook contest, due to an outpouring of support from Facebook fans, parents, and community members. The donation will be used by the Art Department for supplies and supplemental programming. Thanks to all who voted!
The Parent School Community Council (PSCC) will meet next on March 16th at 5:30 PM.
Spotlight on Carrick: The Carrick Community Council & How You Can Get Involved!
The Carrick Community Council started a new term for board members in December, 2015, so now seems like a great time to get the word out about the Council, what they do, and how you can get involved! The Carrick Community Council is a group of local residents aiming to “foster a vibrant and dynamic neighborhood through responding to community needs, building strong partnerships, and engaging those who live and work here to positively contribute to the safety and appearance of Carrick to promote an overall sense of pride, ownership, and belonging.” In short, they do a lot of proactive, positive things in the community! They partner with other organizations such as Economic Development South and the Overbrook Community Council to help with neighborhood projects such as the development of the Dairy District market and the planning of the annual Carrick Community Cornfest.
Litter Cleanups are already scheduled for 2016. Come out and lend a hand on any of the following dates! Meet behind the Carrick Shopping Center at 6:00 PM
April 27
May 25
June 29
July 27
August 31
September 28
Updates from the Heritage Players!
The Heritage Players will present Oscar Wilde's classic comedy, "The Importance of Being Earnest" at the Seton Center, Brookline 15226 on March11-13 and 18-20. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8:00 PM and Sunday matinees are at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $12.00 at the door or $10.00 if purchased in advance online at
www.bphp.org/xu35a. Phone:
412-254-4633. For more information, to purchase a season ticket, or to place a business ad in our programs visit
www.bphp.org.
The Heritage Players are holding auditions for William Inge's Pulitzer Prize winning American classic, "Picnic" on Sat., March 5th from 1:00-4:00 PM at the Seton Center, Brookline and Sun., March 6th at 7:00 PM at the Schoolhouse Arts Center, Bethel Park. Seeking men and women ages 16-65. Please prepare a one-to-two minute dramatic monologue. There may also be cold readings from the script. Performance dates are May 13-15 and 20-22 at the Seton Center. Fridays and Saturdays are at 8:00 PM and Sundays are at 2:00 PM. For more information visit
www.bphp.org or phone
412-254-4633.
The Heritage Players are offering theater classes for all ages from five to adult beginning April 4th at the Seton Center, Brookline. An audition preparation class for ages 13-adult will also be offered at the Schoolhouse Arts Center, Bethel Park. Visit
www.bphp.org for course listings and descriptions, and ongoing registration. Phone:
412-254-4633.
Job Opportunities
The City advertises all open positions on the Personnel and Civil Service Commission Website. Check back often to see and apply for new positions!
Featured Job: Citiparks Lifeguard
The City is currently seeking applicants for Citiparks Lifeguards for Summer 2016! If you’re interested, please call the Aquatics Division Office for Information on how to register:
412-323-7928. Starting pay is $8.91/hour. You must be a Pittsburgh resident, and at least 16 years of age by June 4, 2016.
Need Lifeguard Training? We’ve got that, too.
Lifeguard Training Courses are being held at the Oliver Bath House (South Side):
MARCH 19 - APRIL 30, 2016
SATURDAYS
12:00PM - 6:00PM
*NO CLASS MARCH 26
MAY 10 – JUNE 2, 2016
TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS
6:00PM - 10:00PM
AND SATURDAY MAY 21
9:00AM - 6:00PM
COURSE FEE $70.00 ~ PAYMENT PLAN IS AVAILABLE
Community Calendar
You can see all public community meetings and events on our online calendar, here: http://pittsburghpa.gov/district4/district-four-calendar
Beechview Area Concerned Citizens / Beechview Block Watch
Thursday, 3/3, 7 PM @ Beechview United Presbyterian Church (1621 Broadway, basement)
Brookline Teen Outreach Volunteer Information Session
Saturday, 3/5, 10 AM- 1 PM @ 520 Brookline Blvd
Carrick-Overbrook Block Watch
Monday, 3/7, 7 PM @ Concord Elementary Auditorium (2350 Brownsville)
Brookline Block Watch
Tuesday, 3/8 , 7 PM @ Judge Motznik’s Office (736 Brookline Blvd)
South Pittsburgh Development Corporation
Monday, 3/21, 7 PM @ Brookline Presbyterian Church (1036 Brookline Blvd)
Overbrook Community Council
Tuesday, 3/22, 7 PM @ Fairhaven United Methodist Church (2415 Saw Mill Run Blvd)
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