This is still a couple of weeks away, so get it on the calendar.  The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church is doing a fish fry dinner on Ash Wednesday, February 22.  It’s from 3:00 p.m. to 8 p.m., and you can eat in or take out.  Dinner includes a fish sandwich, french fries, and coleslaw, for $8.00.

If this one goes well, they’ll do more dinners at the church — please consider stopping by!

The next Polish Hill community meeting will be on Tuesday, February 7 at 6:30 pm in the senior room on the lower level of West Penn Recreation Center.  Please come out if you would have concerns to share, if you’d just like to get an update on what the PHCA is doing, or find out about neighborhood happenings.  All are welcome — you don’t have to be a PHCA member, or even a Polish Hill resident, to attend.  We hope to see you there!

The public comment period for Port Authority’s proposed service reduction and fare increase begins this Sunday, Feb. 5.

Starting Sunday, a form will be available on Port Authority’s website (www.portauthority.org) for riders and community members to leave their comments on the proposal. The form is accessible via the “Proposed Service Cuts” banner on the homepage. Port Authority will also accept comments by mail at Port Authority Fare & Service Proposals, Heinz 57 Center, 345 Sixth Avenue, Floor 3, Pittsburgh PA, 15222-2527.

The public comment period ends Friday, March 9 at 4 p.m. A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 29 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown Pittsburgh.

During the public comment period and hearing, Port Authority will also take comments on proposed changes to service and fares for the ACCESS paratransit program.

For more information on proposed service and fare changes, as well as the public hearing, visit portauthority.org or call Port Authority Customer Service (412-442-2000 / TTY: 412-231-7007).

(chart of Port Authority service cuts from the Public Transit 4 Pittsburgh blog)

NEWS AND UPDATES

Announcing the New District 7 Website

With the assistance of our City’s excellent webmaster David P., District 7 has just completed the content of their new website which was launched January 31, 2012. Within it you will find up-to-date stories and links to media articles about the District and initiatives promoted by Councilman Dowd. You can also find media releases, upcoming events, District 7 projects, contacts for community groups and city offices, and reports that impact our neighborhoods.

Please take the time to peruse the new site, which is part of an ongoing effort to update all of the City’s web pages. Our new address is district7.pittsburghpa.gov.

We have also taken this opportunity to feature photos unique to our neighborhoods and submitted to us from around the District. If you are a shutterbug and would like to see your work online, please submit your own photos for posting to district7@pittsburghpa.gov.  All photos will be credited to the photographer.

2012 and 2013 County Property Reassessments – Update

An improved website for 2013 court-ordered reassessment values for the City of Pittsburgh and Mt. Oliver is now available. The site includes full information on each property, including general information, building information, images of the property, and comparables used to set the value. It is accessible from Allegheny County’s website.

A court order handed down on January 12, 2012, ensures that your current base-year value will be used to calculate your county, municipal and school district real estate taxes for 2012. It is the value listed under “CURRENT” on the notice you received in the mail. You may also view this value by searching for your property on the Allegheny County Real Estate website. The new assessment values will not be used until 2013.

Should you have any further questions regarding your 2012 or 2013 assessment, please go to the County’s FAQ. There you will find answers to many common questions as well as how and why to schedule informal or formal reviews of your case if you disagree with either assessment value.

Fundraising for Bernard Dog Run in Full Swing with Lawrenceville Gourmet Spaghetti Dinner

The Lawrenceville Gourmet Spaghetti Dinner, founded by the Boys of Lawrenceville in 2004, marks its return on Friday, March 2, 2012 at the Teamster’s Temple in Lawrenceville. This event will benefit the Bernard Dog Run community initiative, aimed at building an off-leash dog park for the residents of Lawrenceville.

The Bernard Dog Run initiative started in 2008 with the mission of establishing a community-based, off-leash dog park that is well-maintained, safe and enjoyable for the dogs and dog owners of Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood. The initiative, supported by Lawrenceville United, District 7 Councilman Patrick Dowd and the City of Pittsburgh, is continuing its momentum as all clearances and approvals have been secured; now, raising funds to cover construction and maintenance costs remains as the final step in launching this much-needed community asset.

The off-leash exercise area will be named in honor of the late Jay Bernard, a Lawrenceville resident, businessman and abandoned dog advocate. Mr. Bernard pioneered neighborhood involvement in Lawrenceville, serving as a catalyst for community activities including Art All Night, the Joy of Cookies Tour and the Lawrenceville House Tour. He founded The Boys of Lawrenceville, a benevolent organization of gay men in Lawrenceville, and created its Gourmet Spaghetti Dinner fund-raiser to benefit local families and organizations.

February 20th-25th Marks the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Customer Appreciation Days

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh customers will now have greater access to programs, materials and facilities. Beginning Monday, February 20, most Pittsburgh library locations will have expanded hours, opening more evenings, after school and weekends for customer use. In total, library customers will gain an additional 119 hours per week, with all neighborhood libraries open for service Mondays and Fridays. Hours at CLP – Main in Oakland, CLP – Downtown & Business and the Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped will remain unchanged.  The new hours are in direct response to feedback from customers who were previously affected by cuts in library service due to budget constraints and shortfalls.

To celebrate the restoration of hours, several Friends of the Library groups will host Customer Appreciation Open Houses at their respective neighborhood libraries during the week of February 20.  For event details and to locate hours of operation for all Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh locations please visit carnegielibrary.org.Council members Patrick Dowd, Bruce Kraus and Natalia Rudiak will soon sponsor a proclamation in honor of the restoration of services at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS

Council to Go

Join Councilman Patrick Dowd at Council to Go, his mobile district office, to voice your concerns, ideas, and questions about local government and services.

Lawrenceville — Friday, February 17, 7:30am-9am — Perk Me Up, 4407 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Bloomfield — Tuesday, February 21, 7pm-8pm — Big Idea Bookstore, 4812 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Morningside — Thursday, February 23, 7pm-8pm — St. Raphael’s Multi-Purpose Room, 1118 Chislett Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Community Events

Friday, February 3 – Penn Avenue Arts Initiative Unblurred – 4800-5500 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. 6pm-11pm. Walkable gallery and venue tour featuring artists and performers along the way. FREE to the public.

Saturday, February 4 – Night at the Races – St. Mary’s Lyceum, 330 45th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, Lawrenceville. 7pm-10:30pm. $10 entry fee benefits Lawrenceville’s 68th annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration.

Tuesday, February 14 – 100.7 STAR and the City of Pittsburgh present Valentines on Ice – Schenley Park Skating Rink, Overlook Drive. 7pm–10pm. $4 per couple includes a rose to the first 200 couples compliments of Alex’s Flowers in Oakland; assorted chocolates to first 200 couples courtesy of Betsy Ann Chocolates; mini-massage compliments of Massage Envy of Squirrel Hill; free dance lessons courtesy of Jeff & Colleen Shirey of Salsa Pittsburgh; chance to compete in “Go for the Heart” puck shooting contest; free slice of pizza compliments of Lucci’s Pizza in Squirrel Hill; and a keepsake photo with your sweetheart.

Tuesday, February 14 – Zone 5 Citizen’s Public Safety Council – Union Project, Stanton and Negley Avenues, Pittsburgh, PA  15206 (please use side entrance on Stanton). 7pm. The primary purpose of the Zone 5 Public Safety Council is to enhance the quality of life within the geographic area covered by the Zone 5 Bureau of Police and associated public safety personnel.

February 20-25 – Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Customer Appreciation Days – Check out their website for specific events at the libraries in East Liberty and Lawrenceville.

Friday, March 2 – Lawrenceville Gourmet Spaghetti Dinner – Teamster’s Temple, 4701 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201. 4:30pm-9:30pm. $11 advance ticket price; $13 at the door. Children under 10 FREE. To benefit Lawrenceville’s Bernard Dog Run.

If you know of any community-oriented events in your District 7 neighborhood that we should publicize through our monthly newsletter and District 7 website, please email Jennifer Thoma by the 1st of each month.

DID YOU KNOW?

Attention: Women of District 7

During February, many of us celebrate romantic affairs of the heart— with our spouse, partner, children, family and friends. But this February, District 7 asks that you also love yourself by considering the physical affairs of your heart. Heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. This means women — mothers, sisters and friends — are dying at the rate of one per minute. Unfortunately, this killer isn’t easy to see. Heart disease is often silent, hidden and misunderstood.  But you can do something to make a difference.

February 3 marks National Wear Red Day sponsored by the American Heart Association in partnership with Macy’s and Merck. This event is part of the Go Red for Women Campaign, a social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health. For every free Valentine heart sent from Macy’s Facebook page through Feb. 14, Macy’s will donate $2 – up to $250,000 – to help fight heart disease in women.

Know the risks for heart disease and take action to reduce personal risk by visiting your doctor regularly and by learning more at the American Heart Association website.

For information on District 7 concerns, contact:  Jennifer Thoma, Administrative and Communications Director
at 412-255-2140 or Email. 

Allegheny County recently sent out this reminder to property owners:

Per Judge R. Stanton Wettick’s court order on Thursday, January 26, 2012, informal hearings that were previously requested by property owners in the City of Pittsburgh and Mt. Oliver Borough will be rescheduled between now and March 2, 2012.

An informal hearing is a one-on-one meeting with a representative of the Office of Property Assessments who will review information on the value of your property.  You may bring pictures and written documentation supporting a change in assessment, as well as provide corrections to your property characteristics that may have an effect on your value.

If you wish to request an informal hearing of your property for the 2013 court-ordered reassessed value, you may do so online at http://apps.alleghenycounty.us/InformalReviews/ or by calling the office at 412-350-4600.  You will need your parcel ID number when scheduling.  ALL requests for informal hearings must be made by February 15, 2012.  If you wish to schedule multiple parcels at once, you should make the request by telephone (412-350-4600).

Please be advised that if you were requesting an informal hearing for the purpose of correcting data or property characteristics, you also have the option of doing so through the Real Estate Web Site or by e-mailing your parcel ID, contact information and data correction request to fixerrors@alleghenycounty.us.

If you aren’t satisfied with the results of your informal hearing, you can apply for a formal appeal.  The application form can be found online, or at the PHCA office.

Tree Pittsburgh announces the schedule for its popular Tree Tender Course—this year the environmental non-profit expects to train its thousandth resident in the course that covers urban forestry, tree planting, and proper tree maintenance.  Could you be the 1000th Tree Tender?  Tree Pittsburgh is an environmental non-profit organization protecting and growing our urban forest through tree maintenance, planting, education and advocacy.

Tree Tenders help newly planted street trees survive and live longer, healthier lives in the city of Pittsburgh.  Tree Tenders learn tree biology basics, tree identification skills, proper pruning techniques, tree planting practices, and how to organize tree planting and care in their communities.  Voted by the City Paper in 2011 as the “Best Way to Get Your Hands Dirty”, the Tree Tender Course teaches the basics of urban forestry in Pittsburgh, guides residents in how to plant trees in their communities, and care for them once they are in the ground.

Tree Pittsburgh is offering Tree Tender Courses on Saturdays throughout the year:

Saturday March 10th, 9am-4pm  Carlow University Tiernan Hall, off Fifth Avenue, Oakland

Saturday June 16th, 9am-4pm, Rothschild Doyno Collaborative, 2847 Penn Avenue, Strip District

Saturday September 15th, 9am-4pm  Western Pennsylvania Conservancy  800 Waterfront Drive, Washington’s Landing

Tree Tender Courses count towards ISA Certified Arborist CEUs and toward Phipps Master Gardener Certification Continuing Education Credits.

As more trees are planted, the need for young tree care grows exponentially.  Tree Pittsburgh has taken the lead role in caring for trees planted through the TreeVitalize program in addition to caring for trees that were planted over the last decade.   Tree Pittsburgh and the City Forestry Division are working to improve the urban forest, but residents can play an important role in increasing its health and reversing its decline.

Registration is open now at www.treepittsburgh.org/become-tree-tender. The cost of the course is $40 and includes materials, a meal at each session, and a t-shirt upon completion. A reduced rate option is available for those on a limited income—Contact Caitlin Lenahan for details at Caitlin@treepittsburgh.org or call 412-362-6360 for more information.

Dear Neighbors,

Keeping our streets safe and adopting green technology to save taxpayer dollars remains a priority as we begin 2012 in the City of Pittsburgh. As you may have noticed, Pittsburgh’s business districts are looking brighter, safer and cleaner this year.

In December, we began replacing streetlights in more than 40 business districts with improved, energy-efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlights. This enhancement will make our business districts safer and better-lit as residents and visitors visit our local shops and restaurants. The new streetlights produce a brighter, cleaner light that improves visibility for drivers and pedestrians and have a longer life than standard bulbs. In addition, the City will reduce its energy usage by more than 60 percent, saving taxpayers approximately $110,000 per year.

This is the latest in my efforts to restore, revive and reinvest in our business districts. Through the Taking Care of Business Districts program, crews responded to a list of action items delivered by 311 callers and businesses, including graffiti removal, painting road lines, problematic sidewalks and other property citations. The TCOB program also provides neighborhood businesses districts with clean sweeps, infrastructure improvements and long-term strategies to renew the neighborhood lifelines.

If we want to continue to grow and improve Pittsburgh, we have to keep our local businesses strong and vibrant. Keep an eye out for these improvements in your community and take this opportunity to walk through your local business district and visit some of our City’s great businesses.

Sincerely,

Luke Ravenstahl

Mayor, City of Pittsburgh

MOVEPGH is the transportation component of PLANPGH, the City of Pittsburgh’s first comprehensive plan.  The planning process launched last year and will be Pittsburgh’s gameplan for growth over the next 25 years.

Transportation is a vital element in growth.  As the PLANPGH  site says, “Urban transportation is all about moving people. Residents, commuters, and visitors need to get around efficiently for Pittsburgh’s economy to keep moving. Walking, biking, driving, transit, waterways…they all have to work together.”

MOVEPGH will provide a blueprint for livable communities and sustainable systems, and what kind of transportation network we need to keep them moving.

MOVEPGH will coordinate and prioritize investments that impact transportation, land use and the environment.

MOVEPGH will guide a complete multi-modal transportation system for our future.

There will be a public kick-off meeting for MOVEPGH on Thursday, February 2, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Carnegie Mellon University.  The meeting will be in building #38 (Porter Hall), off Frew Street.  For more information, email patrick.roberts@pittsburghpa.gov.  Here is a printable flier about the meeting.

(informational graphic from the Checks and Balances website page about fracking)

Polish Hill resident Mark Knobil is trying to organize a protest at WQED, which is airing a forum ‘this Thursday at 8:00 p.m. about Marcellus Shale production.  Mark says that the problem with this ‘forum’ is that there is no studio audience  — the only input is taken electronically.  Mark feels that this forum  is stacked on the side of the fracking (hydraulic fracturing) industry, and asks that anyone who cares about this issue come out to WQED, at 4802 5th Avenue, on Thursday evening at 8:00 p.m. with a flashlight, to symbolically shed light on the corruption caused by the fracking industry’s money in state government.  He also notes that this forum is paid for by a foundation that is totally funded by the far right-wing Scaife family.

Here is how WQED is describing the forum (see their website page on the program):

“As part of a special series of programs under the banner “Managing Marcellus” — WQED will be present a LIVE forum on Energy & Economic Impact on Thursday, January 26 at 8pm. Viewers will be invited to participate prior to and during the live broadcast via email, facebook and twitter. WQED hosts Michael Bartley and Tonia Caruso will convene a panel of economic and Marcellus Shale experts including:”

Dennis Yablonsky, CEO of the Allegheny Conference

Michael Krancer, PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary

Jan Jarett, President & CEO of PennFuture

Tom Murphy, Co-Director of the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research

Matt Pitzarella, Range Resources Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs

Some of the people on the forum are in fields relating to environmental concerns, but as the new governor has been quite forthright about his support for the industry, there’s reason to wonder how balanced this will be.  People who have been trying to spread the word about the protest report that WQED’s face book page is taking down postings about this gathering.  Hopefully, WQED will allow for the expression of dissent, which is natural in a situation such as this — and should be acknowledged, rather than suppressed.

Our organization has heard from many residents that this is an issue that they are are deeply concerned about.  We have all heard news reports of problems with fracking, the environmental damage this process causes, and the human cost that has already been seen in other areas – some very close to Pittsburgh.  We hope this debate will continue, and in a public forum, not behind closed doors.

District 7 Councilman Patrick Dowd invites you to join the Zone 2 Public Safety Council for a meeting this Thursday evening.  Director Michael Huss of the City’s Public Safety Department will be in attendance.  Everyone concerned about public safety in Zone 2 neighborhoods is welcome.  The Zone 2 neighborhoods within Council District 7 are Central Lawrenceville, Lower Lawrenceville, Polish Hill, the Strip District, and the Upper Hill.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, January 26, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Hill House, Conference Room A (2nd Fl), 1835 Centre Avenue, in the Hill District.