Month: November 2014

11/26 2014

City Offices Closed For Holiday 11/27 & 11/28

City of Pittsburgh offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow and Friday, Nov. 28.
There will be refuse collection Friday however.
The Department of Public Works advises that there will not be any refuse, bulk waste or recycling collection on Thursday in observance of Thanksgiving Day.
The schedule will proceed as follows:  If your scheduled day of collection is Thursday, Nov. 27, you will be serviced on Friday, Nov. 28. If your collection day is Friday, Nov. 28, you will be serviced Saturday, Nov. 29.
If you should have any questions concerning your collection, you may contact Environmental Services at 412-255-2773.
11/24 2014

the Door Campaign – For Healthier Local Food Choices – Thu 12/11

​The Door Campaign is hosting its 2nd annual signature event, Unlocking Doors.  This year is “healthier local food choices”.   The event will have 8 local chefs creating delicious and healthy dishes.  Bobby Fry of Bar Marco will be accompanied by some local surprise celebrity chefs including Kevin Sousa, Mix Salad concepts, and more. This will be a night of unique chef creations and local beer and wine exploration. Donations of exceptional original art pieces will be auctioned off by artists including Ryan Lammie and Barron Batch. There will be live music, and an opportunity to meet some of The Door Campaign’s students. 
 
Please click here to visit the following link to learn more about the event and purchase your tickets today!​
​​

 

11/22 2014

Oakland Leadership Celebration – Mon 12/15 5:30-7:30pm

5:30pm Cocktail Reception
6:30pm Panel Discussion
Monday, December 15, 2014
Alumni Hall
4227 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA

(Click here for directions)

The Oakland Leadership Celebration will honor two major community milestones: the 175th anniversary of our community along with all new leadership at the helm of five of Oakland’s anchor community institutions. The Oakland Task Force in partnership with the Oakland Business Improvement District is hosting a community wide gala event to mark this momentous year for Oakland and for the greater Pittsburgh region. The event will include a community social hour followed by a moderated panel presentation.
  • Leslie C. Davis – Senior Vice President of UPMC, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Health Services Division
  • Patrick D. Gallagher – Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh
  • Suzanne K. Mellon – President of Carlow University
  • Jo Ellen Parker – President of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
  • Subra Suresh – President of Carnegie Mellon University
Moderator: Bill Flanagan, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Relations for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
Make sure to register today!  Space is limited and registration is required.
11/21 2014

Application Assistance For Healthcare Marketplace and Medicare

The next Open Enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace (Affordable Care Act) began November 15, 2014 and will end February 15, 2015.
Returning and new consumers who want to have coverage starting January 1, 2015 must enroll no later than December 15, 2014.
Enrollment for Healthy Pennsylvania (the Medical Assistance expansion program) will begin on December 1, 2014. The opportunity to enroll is continuous, there is no end date.
Healthy Pennsylvania will serve consumers at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level. As an example, the annual income limit for a family of four is $32,913.
New and returning consumers can find more information and help applying for coverage at www.healthcare.gov, 1-800-318-2596,  or TTY: 1-855-889-4325.
For free local in-person assistance, consumers can contact the University of Pittsburgh Outreach and Enrollment Team. Consumers can be seen at various sites, by appointment, by calling 412-383-2359.
11/21 2014

City Art Commission To Hold Hearings Wed 12/10 2pm

The Art Commission of the City of Pittsburgh will hold a hearing on December 10th at 2:00 p.m. in the first floor hearing room at 200 Ross Street in Downtown.
This hearing will review projects that were postponed from the November 26th hearing, due to lack of quorum.
Questions or more information can be obtained by emailing or calling the public art manager listed below.
Morton Brown, Public Art Manager
(412) 255-8996
11/20 2014

City Holiday Tree Lighting Festival Downtown THIS Friday 11/21 at Noon.

The City of Pittsburgh will officially kick off the holiday season with the annual City Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday.

Festivities begin at Noon on the City-County Building Portico. The Salvation Army Brass Ensemble will entertain with seasonal favorites and Pittsburgh’s own “3TG” will sing carols. Following the ceremony the Sonorilo Handbell Choir will perform. Local mascots including Santa, the Pirate Parrot, Iceburgh and Buster will be in attendance.

Mayor William Peduto is attending the National League of Cities Congress of Cities in Austin, Texas this week and will not be in attendance to light the tree. In partnership with Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, AJ Mendoza, 3, has been selected to perform the honors of lighting the city holiday tree this season. Mendoza’s parents, Kristina and Alex Mendoza, will also be in attendance.

Complimentary refreshments will be provided by the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Starbucks. The Salvation Army will be present until 1:00 p.m. collecting non-perishable food items or monetary donations for their annual drive.

WHAT:

The City of Pittsburgh Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

WHERE:

City-County Building Portico – 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh

WHEN:

Noon, Friday, November 21, 2014

11/20 2014

Update On Demolition/Construction at Former Health Dept Site at 3333 Forbes

Update from Massaro regarding demo and construction of Skyvue, 3333 Forbes.  I'll post the project sheet in the file section of this basecamp site.  The email from massaro is as follows: 

·  We are still in the midst of demolition for the ACHD site. We expect to complete ACHD demo by the end of November. We are currently sifting through the now demolished building,completing foundations removal, and then will start demo to the 2 neighboring houses. They should be done by mid-December

·  Shoring of the site is expected to begin in December.

·  As for impacts to pedestrians and vehicle traffic, we will close the Fifth Avenue sidewalk in November to allow for water and gas services to 3342 Fifth to be relocated. This will result in detouring pedestrians to the opposite side of the street. When excavation starts, probably in December, we will close the Forbes Ave sidewalk and the Forbes Ave parking lane. This seems to be the safest and most efficient way to keep the project moving with minimal disruption to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. An MPT plan (maintenance and protection of traffic) has been prepared and approved for both closures by Pgh DPW.

11/17 2014

Oakwatch Meeting THIS Wed 11/19 12pm Jewish Federation 234 McKee Pl

Oakwatch is this Wednesday (November 19) at 12pm at the Jewish Federation (234 McKee Place). Guest speakers from both the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Pittsburgh Action Against Rape will join us. If you haven’t already, please RSVP at 412.621.7863 ext. 27 so they know how many will be attending. The Jewish Federation asks that you leave outside food and drinks outside.
These hearings will go before Magistrate Ricciardi (1700 E Carson Street, 3rd floor) on Thursday, November 20, at 10am:
  • 418 Semple Street (continuance): Violation: Sidewalk disrepair Owner: Susan and James R Connors
  • 342 Meyran Avenue: Violation: Couch on porch Owner: Jamil Khalil
  • 3612 Frazier Street: Violation: Overgrowth on property Owner: Lavaughn Williams
  • 21 Oakland Square (continuance): Violation: Work without a permit Owner: Stephen P Pellegrino and Mary V Shea
  • 19 Oakland Square: Violation: Deteriorating exterior walls/ Structurally unsound porch/ Improper roof drainage/ Improper handrails Owner: Stephen P Pellegrino and Mary V Shea
  • 3325 Parkview Avenue (continuance): Violation: Garbage and debris throughout property/ Incorrect handrails on front entry steps, exterior steps and interior basement steps/ Deteriorating roof drains, gutters and downspouts Owner: Peter Kamaras
11/14 2014

Kids Under 13 Get In Free To Pgh Zoo Through 11/30

The Pgh Zoo announced Friday that kids will be admitted free to the zoo for the next two weeks.

Children ages 13 and under receive free admission with a paying adult starting Saturday through Nov. 30.

 "During this time of year we all have much to be thankful for, and this is a great way for the Zoo to thank everyone in the community for their support," says Jaime Szoszorek, director of marketing and public relations. "Visiting in November is a great time. The cooler temperatures mean the animals are more active, plus we do have indoor areas such as the Tropical Forest, PPG Aquarium, Water's Edge, and Worlds of Discovery for families to enjoy."

The zoo is closed on Thanksgiving Day. 

http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/pittsburgh-zoo-offering-free-admission-kids/nh7GT/

11/14 2014

“Pothole Blitz” Scheduled For Mon 11/17 – Wed 11/19

The City of Pittsburgh announced today that a three-day Pothole Blitz will take place next week, starting on Monday, November 17th and lasting through Wednesday, November 19th.

Crews from the Department of Public Works will work extended 12-hour shifts from6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. each day to prepare city streets one final time before winter weather arrives. In the instance of inclement weather, work schedules may fluctuate.

Residents are encouraged to submit pothole repair requests to the City of Pittsburgh 311 Response Center. The “Blitz” efforts will be based on 311 submissions.

All calls to 311 are answered by a live operator from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In the City of Pittsburgh, dial 3-1-1. Outside of Pittsburgh, call 412-255-2621. Voice or text messages can be submitted by dialing or texting 412-573-9736. Online submissions can be sent at any time via Twitter to @Pgh311 or the online form on the city website: http://pittsburghpa.gov/311/form.

11/13 2014

No Adult Night For November

The Adult Night that was discussed for this Saturday 11/15 has been cancelled.  We’re hoping to have one Saturday 12/13.  That date was picked to avoid any problems with holiday preparations.  Please let us know if you are interested in participating so we have some idea of what to expect.  If we don’t see you, we hope you all have happy and safe holidays!
11/13 2014

Solarize Allegheny Project To Increase Solar Technology Use

Solarize Allegheny is a unique and exciting community-based outreach and marketing campaign that inspires residents and small businesses go solar. The goal of the campaign is to double the amount of solar in Allegheny County over two years through a series of Solarize campaigns.
The project is made possible by the generous support of the Heinz Endowments and with assistance from our wonderful partners – Congress of Neighboring Communities (CONNECT), Conservation Consultants, Inc., GTECH Strategies, and the Solar Unified Network of Western Pennsylvania.
Below is a description of the project with links to even more information and the application.
==============

 About Solarize Allegheny

We’re Bringing The Solar Store to You.

 Over the next two years, Solarize Allegheny will launch multiple 20-week local community campaigns. We’re expanding solar across our county by making the purchase of solar more affordable and convenient for residents and businesses. Be a part of this exciting effort to bring more clean energy to our communities.

 With Solarize Allegheny, our goal is to double the amount of solar installed across our county over the next two years by using SmartPower’s proven on-the-ground community outreach that demonstrates that solar makes sense for residents and business owners.

 Phase 1 of Solarize Allegheny will launch in three communities (or coalitions of communities) in January 2015. Phase 2 will launch in late spring of 2015.

 Any Allegheny County municipality or City of Pittsburgh neighborhood is eligible to participate. Solarize Communities and will be selected through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

 The RFP from Communities for Phase 1 can be found at www.SolarizeAllegheny.org.   The deadline for submitting an RFP for Phase 1 is Friday, December 12, 2014