Whatever holidays you celebrate, the conclusion of Hanukkah, Christmas (Dec 25 or Jan 7), Kwanzaa, New Years, or any others, may you and yours be happy and safe! Welcome 2015!
12/24 2014
Month: December 2014
Central Page with Research Project Links
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UPDATE 2/18/15
The hydroponics workshop will be 3-4pm Sunday 2/22 at Frazier Fieldhouse.
Workshop Flyer============================
UPDATE 2/13/15
Check out update to specifications with pictures at new post
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UPDATE 2/9/15
We are asking for input on the Hydroponics Workshop date and time. Please contact SONG through the contact page to request the link to those choices.
Click here for SONG Contact Page
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UPDATE 1/18/15
We have received a couple of inquiries about being a host site. Obviously the more the merrier, but also the better to help improve the project, so if you are interested, definitely let us know.
Several changes or clarifications that came from questions so far on the installations and introductory workshop:
- The installations will assume using fluorescent grow lights since there are very limited windows with enough direct sunlight.
- The plants grown will be a last minute decision of Bib, Romaine or similar lettuce that does just fine with artificial light.
- The design can be somewhat smaller area than originally thought, and some customization for each site. If you are interested, let us know and the students can discuss with you in more detail.
- The workshop “Hydroponics 101” will be delayed till later in January or early February. Please let us know if you or someone you know would be interested in attending.
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Hi everyone!
Recently, a group of students at Pitt has been accepted into the Honors College Community-Based Research Fellowship program for the spring semester and the community group they chose to partner with is SONG! The project is focused on implementing hydroponics, or the growing of plants without soil, in our community over the winter. Developing an effective way to cheaply grow food over the winter can begin to empower and assist communities with limited fresh food access.
How does it work?
Plants are started as seedlings in a growth medium within a greenhouse tray for a few days and then transplanted into a PVC piping system for culturing and harvesting. This hydroponic piping system carries a mineral nutrient-rich solution within water to stimulate plant growth. With a few weeks of good water circulation, the plants will be ready for harvesting. The specific plant we’ll be using is bibb lettuce, because it’s been proven as a successful hydroponic plant.
What role does SONG play?
From early February to early April, three SONG community members (see below) will have one of these hydroponic systems installed in their residences. Every week, at a time of the residents’ choosing, one of the students will visit and make sure the equipment is running properly and get feedback about system improvements. If you’d like to get involved, here are a few ways to engage:
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Introductory Workshop “Hydroponics 101”: Tentatively January 20th at 6pm. The students will be presenting an introductory workshop for the community to learn about hydroponic cultivation and growing their own food!
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WE NEED VOLUNTEERS: February through April – Three interested South Oakland residents will be housing a hydroponic system. Participants will get to keep any of the lettuce harvested, gain valuable hydroponics experience and help with the research and development of more affordable, easy-to-use hydroponic systems and food production. The only major requirements are:
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a 3’ x 6’ floor space near a window (preferably facing south, but not required)
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room temperatures over 60°F
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Able to meet one hour weekly so the students can check the system, collect data and feedback.
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Let us know if you have any questions. We would like to hear from those willing to volunteer to host these systems as soon as possible to go over other details of the project and plan for the installations. If you know any other South Oakland neighbors that might be interested in learning more about hydroponics, or this project, please let them know and have them contact us to get involved.
Check back for any new details.
Sincerely,
South Oakland Neighborhood Group
12/22 2014
Do something this holiday season that will make all the difference! Sign up with Snow Angels. It will mean the world to your neighbors.
Snow Angels matches neighbors with neighbors to shovel the walks of those who are unable to do this on their own. Volunteers impact lives in our community by ensuring our more vulnerable neighbors continue to have access to essential services such as home-delivered meals and medications during the harsh winter months.
Allegheny County Snow Angels Program Website
12/19 2014
Peggy at SOCD 2013
One of our neighbors, Virginia “Peggy” Johnson passed away Wednesday morning. She was a regular attendee to SONG meetings and her help and contributions were invaluable to a number of activities and events including South Oakland Community Day. She will be greatly missed. Please check back for more info as we get it on arrangements.
- Viewing at 2-6 pm Sunday is at White Memorial Chapel 7204 Thomas Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
- Funeral is Monday a 11:00 am at White Memorial Chapel
- Repast after the service is at St Benadict The Moor Church at 1500 Centre Ave (at Crawford Street)
Public Meeting: Joncaire Steps Project
January 15, 2015 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works (DPW) recently received $384,000 in federal funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to demolish and rebuild the Joncaire Street Steps. The steps connect from Panther Hollow to Central Oakland near Schenley Plaza. For years, the steps have been unlit, enclosed by vegetation, and crumbling.Reconstruction will include doubling the current steps’ width, installing new lighting and two bike ramps or ‘runnels’, and making landscaping improvements to the surrounding area.
Oakland Planning and Development Corporation and OTMA will work with DPW to engage the Oakland community and gather input at three points during the design process. The first of these public meetings is Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 6:00 pm in the Oakland Career Center at 294 Semple Street. Join us to discuss the preliminary designs for reconstructing the Joncaire Street Steps.
Get your questions answered and learn about your options under the Affordable Care Act.
Hosted by JobLinks in association with University Of Pittsburgh Dept Of Family.
Tuesday, January 13, Noon.
Career Center, 294 Semple St.
12/18 2014
Topics include:
- American Eagle Outfitters supports OPDC’s School 2 Career program through education tax credit
- Joncaire Street to benefit from federal grant, community beautification project
- Mellinger Beer Distributor joins Oakland “Good Neighbor” effort
- Oakland landlords organize
- Development updates: Skyvue Apartments, Schenley High School redevelopment, UPMC’s master plan, and former Oakland School
- New stop signs enhance safety in Central Oakland
- Oakland Green Team updates: A new orchard, hundreds of daffodils, and a rain garden
- Oakland property spotlight: 241 Meyran Avenue
- Oakland façade grant recipients complete home restoration projects
- West Oakland’s The Corner looks to renovate cafe and performance space through crowdfunding
- Board spotlight: Meet Abass Kamara
- Eye on elected officials: An update from Pennsylvania District 19
- We’re hiring a Financial Coach
Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh — working in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University — will build joint technology infrastructure that will provide leaders and citizens with data-driven tools to improve the effectiveness of local government.
The Richard King Mellon Foundation has awarded $1.8 million to fund the first 18 months of the effort, supporting three major initiatives.
The city and county will create a Government Solutions Engineering team of data experts to seek ways to spur local government modernization and supply data-driven management tools to government leaders. The team will work on ways to make government more efficient and customer-friendly for residents; standardize data formats; better track public spending via performance-based budgeting; and synthesize data on tax delinquency and code enforcement to better track problem property owners.
Read the full press release:
12/17 2014
A few hours late for the start, but…
Pittsburgh City Council introduced dynamic pricing for parking meters in the City to start next year. This measure will set rates according to the economics of supply and demand for areas that have high rates of traffic. Please note that these rates are adjustable and can fluctuate.
In order to address concerns about the negative impact on Downtown businesses, Councilman Lavelle has provided amendments to help alleviate this change. The original version of the ordinance saw nighttime enforcement of parking meters in Downtown extend to 10 pm; however, the District 6 Councilman Dan Lavelle raised questions to eliminate this change and keep enforcement until 6 pm . This measure succeeded in passing, subsequently keeping enforcement until 6 pm. To see a copy of the final language for the ordinance, please click here.
On Monday Pittsburgh and 10 other cities will formally join Cities for Citizenship, an initiative launched by Los Angeles, New York City and Chicago in partnership with Citi, the founding corporate partner, which aims to increase citizenship among eligible U.S. permanent residents to forge more inclusive and economically robust cities.
Leading officials from Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chattanooga, Denver, Milwaukee, Nashville, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. will announce their active participation in this growing initiative at a special event during the National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC 2014).
Read entire article:
12/10 2014
Life in Pittsburgh: Secrets from Steel City
Each month the BBC Pop Up team embeds in a new city. In November they travelled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Residents described to the BBC what it means to be from the city.
Mayor William Peduto’s plan to overhaul the Bureau of Building Inspection and make it more efficient for neighborhoods, businesses and city residents was finally approved today by Pittsburgh City Council.
The new Department of Permits, Licenses & Inspections — to be overseen by current BBI Chief Maura Kennedy — will keep working closely with Public Safety bureaus while also upgrading technology and establishing a modern permitting department better suited to a growing city.
Read more about it:
Help provide quilts for people in a housing crisis this winter Join CHS, the United Way of Allegheny County, Annie and Griffin of the Home Lost Project this December 5th for the 2nd annual Home Lost Sew-in. They’re looking to recruit 150 volunteers to gather t-shirts, cut them into squares, and sew them together into quilts that they can share with people CHS serves through our housing programs and street outreach. The Sew-in will be held at the United Way’s offices at 1250 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Adults, teens and children 8 and older are welcome to help. Sewing or quilting skills not required!
See more at:
West Oakland Light Up Night!
Friday, Dec 5th
6:30-8:30 @ The Corner, 202 Robinson Street
Christmas carols, LIVE music performance by Anqwenique Wingfield, crafts and Santa’s Workshop for kids to buy gifts for family, the 2nd Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, hot chocolate and cookies!!! You can experience all of this at West Oakland’s Light Up Night, Friday, Dec. 5th at 6:30 at The Corner, 200 Robinson Street. This event is FREE and open to all.