September 2013 Community Council Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE: Highland Park A Letter from the 2 President July Meeting 4 Minutes Be A Middle 5 School Mentor Taking a Closer Look at the 6 Southwest Quadrant of Highland Park Around 7 St. Andrew’s Back to School ALetter from the President The beginning of September normally bridge around November 1st, when the marks the end of our busiest season in temporary roadway is complete. The Highland Park, but fall is lining-up to be project will take a full year to complete. almost as exciting as the summer. This project will no doubt present First-up is the Heth’s Run Bridge challenges for Highland Park and replacement project. PennDOT will Morningside residents, but it is a begin construction on a temporary detour temporary and necessary inconvenience. roadway through the lower Zoo parking For more information on the project lot at the end of September. This two including renderings of the bridge design lane roadway will divert traffic from the and a detailed construction timetable, Highland Park side of the bridge, through visit the HPCC website. the parking lot behind the gas station and out onto Baker Street, just below the The diagram below demonstrates the Zoo entrance. PennDOT will close the detour well. 2 Next up on the calendar We instead prefer to is the election of a new provide a forum for our City Council person for members and friends District 7. in the communities surrounding our Patrick Dowd’s resignation neighborhood to from City Council this meet all candidates summer was a surprise. and develop their I worked closely with own opinions. Patrick on many projects and appreciated For those who are his service to Highland not familiar with Park and the City. I wish City Council and may him the best of luck in not understand the his new endeavor. Although Patrick is gone, you importance of this seat to the neighborhood, will see in this newsletter that his staff is still hard the following from the city’s website might at work in District 7. be helpful: That said, it is now up to the District 7 Pittsburgh's City Council is composed of nine communities to elect someone new to members. Each member represents one council represent us in city government. district, and is appointed to be the chairperson of a committee which corresponds to a city I am pleased to announce that all five department. A one council representative candidates vying for the District 7 seat have per district system has not always been the agreed to attend the October HPCC meeting electoral procedure for this legislative body. to present their platform to the neighborhood. Formerly members were elected to Pittsburgh's This is the perfect opportunity for you to meet City Council by way of at large elections them and ask questions that are pertinent to where no particular member represented any Highland Park or one of the other neighborhoods specific district, but instead the entire council in District 7: Lawrenceville, Morningside, Polish represented the whole City of Pittsburgh. In Hill, Stanton Heights, parts of Bloomfield, East 1989, this form of representation was changed Liberty and Garfield. in order to insure that all Pittsburghers receive adequate representation that they could The meeting will be held October 17 at the choose individually. Union Project at 7:00 p.m. All of the District 7 communities are invited to attend. City Council is the legislative branch of government. It carries out duties in accordance Candidates include: with the Home Rule Charter and the laws of the state, and is primarily responsible for making Tony Ceoffe of Lawrenceville laws which govern the City of Pittsburgh. Thomas Fallon of Morningside City Council proposes, debates, and votes on Deb Gross of Highland Park legislation governing and/or affecting the city. This body also approves appointments David Powell of Morningside as provided by the Charter, regulates revenues James Wudarczyk of Bloomfield and expenditures, incurs debt, and approves the final operating and capital budgets for the city. Our goal at the HPCC is to function in an unbiased Council is responsible for the introduction of and non-partisan manner for all of Highland Park. legislation generated by the administrative We strive to have good relationships with all branch of city government. Council may also candidates and elected officials so that we can introduce legislation generated by individual ably serve the community. Per our bylaws, the Council Members or Council as a body. HPCC will not be endorsing any candidate for any office in the City of Pittsburgh. Monica Watt HPCC President 3 The pedestrian safety study has been reviewed HPCC July by the City, but there are no dates on when/if Meeting Minutes the suggestions will be implemented. Nominations are needed for the 2013-2014 year Monica Watt, HPCC President, called the meeting Officers and Board members. The current to order at 7:15 pm with a quorum present. Officers, Monica Watt (President), David Atkinson (Vice President), Paul Miller (Treasurer) and Monica spoke about the House Tour, which is being Bob Staresinic (Secretary) were nominated for planned in conjunction with the Junior League on another term. Three Board positions are open Mother’s Day weekend next year. The Junior for the coming year, and elections are held at League has agreed to partner with the HPCC in the September meeting. doing a house tour where the planning of the event and the proceeds will be split between Carol Spencer Royall, Director of Quality the two organizations. Volunteers will be needed Experience at the Union Project, spoke about to assist with this event. recent upcoming events, as how the small staff continues to encourage community in the East End. A walking tour of the area bounded by Portland, Wellesley, Jackson and N. Euclid was held in early A meeting to discuss the Heth’s Run Bridge project August, where representatives from the Police, will be held on August 27th at St Raphael School Building Inspection, Council District 7 and the on Chislett street. Mayor’s Office took note of issues in the area. Council District 7 office organized the walk to The meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm. The next alert City officials of problems/issues, and for meeting will be Thursday, September 19th, the Police and BBI to report on current efforts at the Union Project, 801 N. Negley Avenue, to remedy the issues. starting at 7:00 pm. 4 Be A Middle School Mentor at the Obama Academy this Fall By David Atkinson Share your knowledge, time and work Many middle school students view the world experience with a child and you’ll both gain through a lens the size of their daily lives. something important along the way. Join the By exposing students to people and careers biggest mentoring project in the region’s history beyond their everyday experiences, they're and show our local kids that anything’s possible open to a broader range of opportunities for when they know the education and career their own futures. opportunities that await. This program is run by the United Way of Be a mentor at the Obama Academy for an hour Allegheny County. Call 412-456-6770 or go to a week and not only will a child gain critical www.beamiddleschoolmentor.org to fill out real-world experience, you’ll see the joy that an online application. comes with making a difference. Meetings will be held Thursdays during the students’ lunch hour (12:35-1:26) from October until May. The Obama Academy of International Studies is located at the intersection of N. Highland Ave. and East Liberty Boulevard in the former Peabody High School. Middle school students are at a crossroads, so this program is designed to help those in Pittsburgh Public Schools understand how many options they have when they stay in school and stay involved. No longer "little kids", middle school students are faced with a world of decisions. Research proves that mentors can influence good choices such as staying focused in school and making plans for the future - including college and a career. middlebe school a mentor.org 5 Taking a Closer L K at the Southwest Quadrant of Highland Park By Moira Egler On a beautiful August day, community stakeholders for criminal activity. Specifically, Pittsburgh met with City officials for a walk-through organized Police Zone 5 Commander Timothy O’Connor by the District 7 staff of an area of Highland Park noted a large number of arrests made in the currently going through a substantial transition. 900 block of a particular street this year. Known as the Southwest Quadrant, the focus area He also arranged to have 2 cars towed that of the walk was contained within the 800 and 900 were identified during the walk. blocks of Portland, Mellon, North St. Clair, and North Euclid, as well as the 5600-5800 blocks of One primary goal of the tour was to open Wellesley and Jackson streets. Representatives dialogue regarding this transitional area of from Pittsburgh Police, the Bureau of Building Highland Park between representatives from Inspection (BBI), Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s office, the City of Pittsburgh and the neighborhood. and the City Council District 7 office staff joined Many participants agreed that the walk was a representatives from the Highland Park Community success, noting that the tour brought varied Development Corporation (HPCDC) and Highland stakeholders together to work toward improving Park Community Council (HPCC) to review the the quality of life for residents of the area. area on foot. The District 7 office looks forward to witnessing Participants followed a the further growth and transformation of this pre-determined route beautiful and historic section of through the Southwest Highland Park.