PennDOT College Student Summer Workers
PennDOT is seeking hardworking college students for employment during the summer months for the 2021 Summer Maintenance Program. If you enjoy working in an active, fast-paced environment while performing a public service, check out this opportunity and apply today. 
 
Opportunities exist statewide. However, opportunities are based upon operational needs, so there may not be open positions in every county. To be eligible for employment, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

  • Must be a high school graduate or college student enrolled (or intending to enroll) on a full-time basis in a 2- or 4-year post-secondary education program for the fall semester.
  • Must be in good academic standing (as defined by a 2.0 GPA or higher).
  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Special Requirement: Upon verification of a valid Pennsylvania Class C Driver’s License without incident, some positions may be authorized to operate Department vehicles as part of this job.

To learn more about these positions and to apply, please click here
 

Engineering Internships with PennDOT
PennDOT is accepting applications for its Engineering Internship program. This program offers statewide paid internship opportunities during the summer to students in a variety of majors, predominantly in engineering, science, and technology fields; however, PennDOT does more than just road construction and snow removal. PennDOT is a customer-driven service organization responsible for the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of Pennsylvania's multimodal transportation system. 
 
PennDOT Interns enjoy opportunities in various areas of PennDOT operations. Internship opportunities associated with this posting will be headquartered throughout PennDOT's Engineering Districts. Although all assignments may not be offered in every location, additional examples of work and special projects may be available. 
 
For more information on these internship opportunities and how to apply, please click here.

Elections Office to Offer Expanded Hours October 26 through Election Day 
 
The Elections Division today announced that it will be offering expanded hours for its office and the lobby for voters to apply for and receive their mail-in or absentee ballot, or to return their completed ballot. This is in addition to the additional election offices open this coming weekend, October 23 and 24, throughout the county. 
 

Additional Election Offices

Ballot return and in-person application for mail-in and absentee ballots remain open this coming weekend. 
 
On Election Day
All 1,323 polling places will be open on Election Days. Hours are from 7 AM to 8 PM and anyone in line at 8 PM will be allowed to vote. Voters are asked to wear a face covering in compliance with the state order. Those who arrive without a face covering will be offered one. 
 
See attached letter for more info.
Absentee/Mail-In Ballots
Please note, if you plan to vote using an absentee or mail-in ballot in the 2020 GENERAL ELECTION held on 11/03/2020, your completed application must be received in the county office by 5:00 PM on 10/27/2020. The deadline to return your voted absentee or mail-in ballot is 8:00 PM on 11/03/2020. If your ballot is postmarked by 8:00 PM on Election Day and received in your county office (or drop off centers) by 5:00 PM on 11/6/2020 it will be considered timely.
Click on link below for more info.

For Individuals & Families
Walk-up and drive-through distribution will be available to individuals and families for the duration of the event. Vehicles should be instructed to pull up to the Schenley Drive curb behind the plaza tent, where parking spaces are reserved for loading. Volunteers will assist in loading meal kits into vehicles. Be advised that meal kits are somewhat bulky; those without a vehicle should expect to carry only one kit at a time if possible, or use a pulled-cart for transit. Signs will be clearly marked for onsite walk-up and drive-through food distribution. 
 
All who attend are asked to wear a face covering, practice physical distancing and depart after receiving their meal kit – following CDC guidelines – to ensure a safe, effective distribution event. 
 
Volunteers needed
In addition we are seeking volunteers for the food distribution event in Oakland! Volunteers are needed to: Unload, setup, and breakdown distribution site, assist in loading meal kits in vehicles, help with directional flow of individuals and vehicles, clean and organize site. Volunteer shifts are 1pm-4pm and 4pm-7pm. Pitt in Action shirts and bottled water will be provided. Volunteers will be expected to wear a face covering and follow all CDC guidelines. To Sign up to volunteer, please email Alex Toner, Assistant Director of Community Engagement, at alexjtoner@pitt.edu ASAP 
 
See the attached flyer
or visit the link below

The Oakland Plan 
 
The Oakland Plan will create a 10-year plan with a shared vision for Oakland's future and the projects and programs necessary to make that vision a reality. 
 
Once adopted by the Planning Commission, the Oakland Plan will become City policy and guide public and private investments in the area. New land use regulations, transportation and infrastructure improvements, and public programs may also be recommended by the plan. The plan area generally includes the neighborhoods of North Oakland, Central Oakland, South Oakland, and West Oakland. 
 
Click on the link below for the flyer.
For more information visit
Saturday December 2nd  from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ODPC is co-hosting a pop-up event with two Pitt students at the Oakland Career Center 294 Semple St.. This event is open to all Oakland residents and invites you to bring items, such as clothing, knick-knacks, small appliances, and non-perishable food items, to sell/donate. We are prepared to transport any items that are not sold/donated throughout the day to various donation centers (Goodwill, etc.).   
 
See attached flyer for more info.

Water Test Results and Call to Action
 
One South Oakland residence's water recently tested at a 25 ppb for lead, well over the 15 parts per billion (ppb) considered a high level of lead based on government standards. That particular house is fairly newly constructed, so the source is likely the connection to the house or the main supply lines. We encourage everyone to have their water tested in South Oakland. 
 
For more information on getting a free testing kit, visit
 
PWSA is currently mandated by DEP and EPA to replace seven percent of publicly-owned lead service lines per year. With a unanimous vote, City Council recently passed legislation that positions the city to help Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority customers replace private lead service lines when PWSA completes adjacent line work, but no funding yet.  If more people get their water tested in South Oakland, and the readings are similarly high, we as a neighborhood can appeal to Council President Kraus to make South Oakland a priority when the City plans any action. 
 

The Port Authority is accepting service requests for the 2017 fiscal year through the end of the month. For those of you who want to advocate for improved routes it is important to go to the website and complete the request survey, the link is below. It is a quick and easy survey that only takes a couple minutes. The requests can be made both as a group and as individuals. It is important to spread this information to all your members if there are any requests that you have in mind.  For example, re-implementing the 84B in South Oakland. Advocacy for this route can continue, and if there are any other requests it is important that they be submitted by November 30th. 
 

Artist Darrell Kinsel (Pgh Native, Schenley Grad, Contributor to OPDC Evening Of Storytelling ) needs 2-3 Oakland residents willing to volunteer to be “models” for this exhibit. Any volunteers? The volunteer must be willing to let Darrell go through your recycling can and include elements of it in the installation described below. 
 
Shells of Our Former Selves 
 
The pieces will serve as sculptures, trash statues that represent different people of Pittsburgh.  Connecting with students, neighbors, and professionals that operate in Oakland.  These iterations of our community will be created out of the refuse materials collected directly from each of the models.  Conceptually, Shells of Our Former Selves serve as vessels for spiritual reflection, a shell or skin shed for the purposes of personal growth.   Each sculpture will reflect ideas, techniques, and physical items that have been disposed of or left behind.  This exhibition will present a collection public sculptures piled into the storefront window.  The Humanoid sculptures will present omni gendered wide ranging  body types created out of recyclable materials.  The recyclable materials will be sourced from 50 pre selected models that will serve as the base shapes for each sculpture.  Shells of Our Former Selves will represent the amount of waste collected from the model, a personal reflection of brand preferences, habits, and what different people identify as "waste". 
 
‘Student Move-in’ for Fall 2016 Term 
Below is a list of local University move-in dates.
  • Carlow University – August 23-24, 28, 2016
  • Carnegie Mellon University – August 20, 24-25, 2016
  • Chatham University – August 24, 2016
  • Duquesne University – August 16, 2016
  • Point Park University – August 22, 25, 27, 2016
  • University of Pittsburgh – August 22-28, 2016

pdf icon YogaClasses2016.pdf

Come join our yoga classes!   Every Tuesday Evening @ 7pm. Starting Tuesday July 5 at the South Oakland Community Orchard, 3213 Parkview Ave, Pgh, PA 15213

Instructor: Nicole Pruss.
Donation: $5 per class Who: Ages 16 yrs and up.

PS: Bring your own mat.

If you have any other questions, click here to use the SONG contact page

or check out the events page at SouthOaklandPgh.org/Events

Organizers of the Pittsburgh Bicentennial Celebration are welcoming all residents of the greater Pittsburgh region to come Downtown for Bicentennial events throughout the day on Saturday, July 9.  
 
The day begins with a 11 a.m. parade on Liberty Avenue, starting at 11th Street and ending at Point State Park, continues with a showcase in Market Square, and ends with a concert and fireworks that evening in the park. 
 
The Bicentennial Parade is organized as a "human timeline," beginning with the first indigenous residents of the region, and proceeding through the City's history of immigration from Europe and newly arriving immigrants, from Latin America, Africa and Asia. The Bicentennial year forms a bridge from Pittsburgh’s first 200 years to the future. 
Inline image 1

Oakwatch : The Oakland Code Enforcement Project
Third Wednesdays
July 20 Noon at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, located at 234 McKee Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15213​. They ask you to please RSVP.​
No outside food/drink, no backpacks/briefcases
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
Guest Speaker:  Maura Kennedy – PLI director
Oakwatch webpage 

Green Team : Putting the “oak” back in Oakland
Third Thursdays
July 21, 6pm, Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple St, Pgh, PA 15213.
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
Green Team webpage

1 EQ Fireworks 7/4, 2. Gallery Crawl 7/8, 3. Pogopalooza 7/8-9,
4. Pgh Vintage Grand Prix 7/8-17,
5. PGH200 Bicentennial Parade, Showcase & Fireworks 7/9 & ongoing
6. Night at the Tropics at the National Aviary 7/9
7. Picklesburgh 7/15-16, 8. Polish Hill Arts Festival 7/17
9. Third Thursday: CINEMA at Carnegie Museum of Art 7/21
10. ReplayFX Arcade & Gaming Festival 7//28-31

Last month the City, Uptown Partners, Oakland Planning & Development Corp., and neighbors had a hugely successful OPEN HOUSE to kick off the Uptown/West Oakland EcoInnovation District planning process! This event signaled the start of robust community engagement to create the City’s most sustainable and equitable district plan.

If you missed it, there will be another chance to share your thoughts about the neighborhood!
Public Open House #2 will be
Wednesday, March 30th, 6-9 pm at 300 Gist Street
See the attached flyer for more info or visit the main website at ecoinnovationdistrict.org

pdf icon EID_flyer_033016.pdf