Environment/Health

02/13 2015

WindNest Project At Schenley Plaza – ZBA Hearing CHANGED

They are postponing the ZBA hearing regarding the WindNest project, pending the outcome of design revisions that will have an effect on the scale.

The project will no longer be on the March 5th agenda. We will continue to pass along any updates we receive regarding the project.

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pdf icon WindNest-OnePager.pdf

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There is a renewable energy/public art installation planned for Schenley Plaza. They need setback and height approvals at zoning board – hearing is March 5 at 10 AM, 200 Ross Street 1st Floor.   Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is partnering with the artists on this project.
From the artists:
“Please encourage people to get in touch with us directly if they have any questions or would like to learn more.”
02/13 2015

Update on Hydroponics Project

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.

pdf icon Workshop Flyer
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Update:  With some work on actual installations now done, and since there probably aren’t many “ideal” windows in South Oakland, the specs and guidelines have changed a bit for site installations.  There will be fluorescent lights on all installations, and the size has been significantly reduced.

For anyone that was interested in hosting a hydroponics installation, but didn’t contact us yet, here’s a few pictures of the 2.5’x6′ system and a CAD sketch of the 22″x32″ system that’s going into two locations so far:

The first two are the same system in progress, planned to have three channels, each with 5 plants in it. The PVC pipes above are for holding lights not shown in pic.

​Click here to read original post​

 

 
The third picture is a much smaller installation with four U-shaped tiers and a vertical post that will hold two fluorescent tube lights. 
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02/11 2015

Date Changes For City Facility Rentals And Love Your Block Grant

The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works has announced that park shelter reservations will be accepted online and in person starting Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.
See full press release for more info on facility rentals
The Office of Mayor William Peduto announced that the application deadline for the spring 2015 Love Your Block grant award program has been extended until Friday, February 20, 2015.
See full press release for more info on LYB Grant
01/27 2015

Green Team Mtg – Thur 2/19 6pm – Oakland Career Ctr 294 Semple St

Next meeting: Thursday, February 19th, 2015, 6pm, Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple Street.
Tree Pittsburgh is helping the Oakland Green Team educate and prepare residents about fruit tree maintenance to ensure this community orchard in South Oakland is sustainable and successful. Saturday, March 14 at 10:00 am Tree Pittsburgh will lead a pruning and maintenance workshop at the orchard; 3213 Parkview Avenue, all are welcome.

01/23 2015

Zone 4 Public Safety Council Meeting – Thu Feb 5 6pm – Jewish Comm Ctr.

Zone 4 PSC meeting is held the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Jewish Community Center at 5738 Forbes Avenue in room #307
 
February’s meeting is going to be a First Aid presentation by Pittsburgh EMS.  It may also include a CPR demonstration and they are also going to provide information on The Envelope of Life as well.
Seating may be limited so please RSVP to Zone 4:
01/21 2015

East End Food Co-op Events

Upcoming Events
Setting and Achieving Realistic Resolutions

Vanessa Broers, Sweat & Butter
Wednesday, February 4th at 6:30 PM – Gemini Theater
  The Food Disconnect Sarah Trafican, Clinical PsychologistWednesday, February 11th at 6:30 PM – Gemini Theater
Environmentalism Starts on Your Plate 

Jeffrey Cohan, Jewish Vegetarians of North AmericaWednesday, February 18th at 6:30 PM – Repair the World Workshop
Getting to Know Our Food Policy Council 

Dawn Plummer & Dora Walmsley, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council
Wednesday, February 25th at 6:30 PM – Gemini Theater
These events are FREE; just call 412-242-3598 to reserve your spot!
For more information, visit our Events Page.
01/16 2015

City Office Closings, Refuse Collection Changes For MLK Jr Holiday Tue 1/20

The City of Pittsburgh offices will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2015 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, January 20, 2015.
Refuse, bulk waste and recycling collection will not take place on Monday, January 19, 2015. The Department of Public Works has released the following schedule for the week:
  • If your scheduled day of collection is Monday, January 19th you will be serviced on Tuesday, January 20.
  • If your collection day is Tuesday, January 20, you will be serviced on Wednesday, January 21.  
  • If your collection day is Wednesday, January 21, you will be serviced on Thursday, January 22.
  • If your collection day is Thursday, January 22, you will be serviced on Friday, January 23.
  • If your collection day is Friday, January 23, you will be serviced on Saturday, January 24.
If you should have any questions concerning your collection, you may contact Environmental Services at (412) 255-2773.
01/14 2015

Spring 2015 Love Your Block Grant Applications Due 2/13

Applications are available for the servePGH Spring 2015 Love Your Block grant award program. The block revitalization program gives organizations up to $1,000 in funds and donated supplies for a neighborhood block improvement project that mobilizes community volunteers. Projects will be implemented from April 25 to June 30, 2015. Applications are available online at:  http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/servepgh/loveyourblock.
Applicants for the spring 2015 program must be a qualified nonprofit organization (or have the support of a nonprofit fiscal agent) and the impacted area must be within city limits. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on February 13, 2015. Late applications will not be accepted. Applicants will be notified of their status by March 2015. A mandatory grantee orientation will take place in early April 2015.
An information session will be held at 6 p.m on January 20, 2015 in the City County Building, 414 Grant Street (Room 646).  At this session, applicants can ask question about project ideas and grant proposals.
To date, grantees have impacted approximately 389 blocks by collecting 34,527 pounds of litter, creating 255 green spaces, leveraging almost $473,000 in donations and recruiting around 4,571 volunteers through the program.
For more information and application, visiti the full article, or the link listed above.
http://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/release?id=3940
01/08 2015

City Opens Warming Centers Due to Frigid Temperatures

CITY OPENS WARMING CENTERS DUE TO FRIGID TEMPERATURES
PITTSBURGH, PA (January 8, 2015) – The City of Pittsburgh has activated emergency response protocols due to severe weather and extreme cold temperatures hitting the area this week.
Warming centers at four Senior Center locations are currently open throughout the city. Facilities are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until further notice. The locations include:
  • Greenfield Senior Center – 745 Greenfield Ave. (412-422-6551)
  • Homewood Senior Center –  7321 Frankstown Ave. (412-244-4190)
  • Sheraden Senior Center – 720 Sherwood Ave. (412-777-5012)
  • South Side Market House Senior Center – 12th St. and Bingham St. (412-488-8404)
Public Safety personnel have been instructed to notify and assist the homeless with access to the shelters.
City residents are advised to keep their pets indoors this week. New and approved changes to the animal care ordinances are also in place. Owners are not permitted to leave a dog outside, subject to the weather and elements, for more than thirty (30) minutes at a time when temperatures are below thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit. Any violations to the animal care ordinances should be reported to Animal Care and Control by calling 412-255-2036 during business hours or 412-255-2935 outside of business hours.
01/07 2015

Pgh Bike Share Plans To Start Up In Spring 2015

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"The first of the planned 50 docking stations might go up in the city as early as March, with a hard launch of the bike rental program tentatively set for April, said Beth Hazlett, Pittsburgh Bike Share board chairwoman, but this bike rental program will be nothing like you experienced on your last vacation at the shore."

Post Gazette Article:
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2015/01/05/Bike-Share-plans-to-start-up-in-the-spring/stories/201501050019?ClearCache=1
Pgh Bike Share website:
http://www.pghbikeshare.org/

01/01 2015

2015 Christmas Tree Recycling

2015 City of Pittsburgh Christmas Tree Recycling

Take Your Tree to one of the following City Drop-Off Locations
Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to have it composted:

  • Year Round
    • East End – 2nd Division of Public Works, North Dallas Ave at Hamilton Ave, 412­-665-­3609
    • Hazelwood – 3rd Division of Public Works, Melanchton Ave. off 5200 block of 2nd Ave, 412­-422-­6524
    • West End – 5th Division of Public Works, 1330 Hassler St. off Hershel & Steuben (near Herschel Park), 412-­937-­3054
  • January Only!
    • Strip District – Environmental Services Lot, 3001 Railroad Street (next to recycling drop­off), 412-­255-­2773

Remove all ornaments, lights and stands.
No trees in plastic bags or netting will be accepted.
Christmas trees set out at the curb will be sent to the landfill.
http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/dpw/2015-12-23ChristmasTreeCollection.pdf

  • Allegheny County Parks through Saturday, January 17, 2015
    • The Allegheny County Department of Parks is again offering its Annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program this holiday season. Residents of the county can drop off their Christmas trees beginning today, Friday, December 26, 2014 through Saturday, January 17, 2015 at all nine regional parks during regular hours of operation (dawn to dusk).

For more info go to
http://www.alleghenycounty.us/2014/20141226.aspx

12/23 2014

Hydroponics Research Project In South Oakland – Host Volunteers Needed

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.

pdf icon Workshop Flyer

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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:

  • 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!

  • 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:

    • a 3’ x 6’ floor space near a window (preferably facing south, but not required)

    • room temperatures over 60°F

    • Able to meet one hour weekly so the students can check the system, collect data and feedback.

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

12/19 2014

Public Mtg: Joncaire Steps Project 1/15, 2015, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

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.