Environment/Health

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.
11/24 2014

the Door Campaign – For Healthier Local Food Choices – Thu 12/11

​The Door Campaign is hosting its 2nd annual signature event, Unlocking Doors.  This year is “healthier local food choices”.   The event will have 8 local chefs creating delicious and healthy dishes.  Bobby Fry of Bar Marco will be accompanied by some local surprise celebrity chefs including Kevin Sousa, Mix Salad concepts, and more. This will be a night of unique chef creations and local beer and wine exploration. Donations of exceptional original art pieces will be auctioned off by artists including Ryan Lammie and Barron Batch. There will be live music, and an opportunity to meet some of The Door Campaign’s students. 
 
Please click here to visit the following link to learn more about the event and purchase your tickets today!​
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11/21 2014

Application Assistance For Healthcare Marketplace and Medicare

The next Open Enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace (Affordable Care Act) began November 15, 2014 and will end February 15, 2015.
Returning and new consumers who want to have coverage starting January 1, 2015 must enroll no later than December 15, 2014.
Enrollment for Healthy Pennsylvania (the Medical Assistance expansion program) will begin on December 1, 2014. The opportunity to enroll is continuous, there is no end date.
Healthy Pennsylvania will serve consumers at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level. As an example, the annual income limit for a family of four is $32,913.
New and returning consumers can find more information and help applying for coverage at www.healthcare.gov, 1-800-318-2596,  or TTY: 1-855-889-4325.
For free local in-person assistance, consumers can contact the University of Pittsburgh Outreach and Enrollment Team. Consumers can be seen at various sites, by appointment, by calling 412-383-2359.
11/14 2014

“Pothole Blitz” Scheduled For Mon 11/17 – Wed 11/19

The City of Pittsburgh announced today that a three-day Pothole Blitz will take place next week, starting on Monday, November 17th and lasting through Wednesday, November 19th.

Crews from the Department of Public Works will work extended 12-hour shifts from6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. each day to prepare city streets one final time before winter weather arrives. In the instance of inclement weather, work schedules may fluctuate.

Residents are encouraged to submit pothole repair requests to the City of Pittsburgh 311 Response Center. The “Blitz” efforts will be based on 311 submissions.

All calls to 311 are answered by a live operator from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In the City of Pittsburgh, dial 3-1-1. Outside of Pittsburgh, call 412-255-2621. Voice or text messages can be submitted by dialing or texting 412-573-9736. Online submissions can be sent at any time via Twitter to @Pgh311 or the online form on the city website: http://pittsburghpa.gov/311/form.

10/31 2014

Call For Volunteers For 2014-2015 Allegheny Snow Angels Program

Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh are putting out a county-wide call for volunteers to help our elderly and disabled residents stay safe this winter through the Allegheny Snow Angels program.
Snow Angels is a program that helps minimize the hardships of winter by pairing volunteers with elderly or disabled residents to assist with snow removal. Snow covered sidewalks can be hazardous for everyone. Along with fostering stronger community relationships, and relieving some of the stress that comes from a snow storm, Snow Angels makes our sidewalks safer for those who continue to serve despite the winter weather – like postal service workers, firemen, and police officers.
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For more info read the full article:
http://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/release?id=3668
10/31 2014

Fruit Tree Planting In South Oakland – Sat Nov 1, 1pm At 3213 Parkview Ave

This is a reminder that this Saturday, November 1st at 1:00 pm we will be planting fruit trees to create a community orchard in South Oakland. Anyone interested in learning about fruit trees and joining in on the fun should register as a volunteer through this form Tree Pittsburgh created: http://goo.gl/XGJ0iC. Volunteers will meet at 3213 Parkview Avenue.

10/27 2014

Pgh DPW Yard Debris Special Collection Fall 2014 – Sat Nov 8

The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works, Bureau of Environmental Services will be collecting leaf and yard debris from all residents in a special curbside collection on Saturday, November 8, 2014.

Yard debris should be placed at your normal collection site on Friday, November 7. All yard debris materials will be collected by city refuse and recycling crews and composted on Saturday November 8. 

Bag Leaves for Collection: Residents must bag leaves in paper bags only and place them out at your normal refuse collection site. Bags should NOT exceed 35 pounds. Leaves in plastic bags will NOT be accepted. Paper yard debris bags can be purchased at local hardware or department stores. 

Tree Branches and Bushes: Cut, bundle and tie branches and bushes in lengths not exceeding 5 ft. in length. Tree branch diameter should not exceed four (4”) inches.

Please Note: City crews will NOT collect dirt, rocks, stones or cement. Yard debris left at the curb by contracted lawn care workers or independent contractors will NOT be collected by city crews.

Yard debris NOT meeting the collection guidelines will NOT be collected by city crews.

If you have any questions, please contact the Bureau of Environmental Services at(412) 255-2773 or (412) 255-2631.

10/23 2014

Information Sessions For Affordable Care Act and Healthy PA

The Consumer Health Coalition will present an information session about the Affordable Care Act and Healthy Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Program.

Consumers and agency staff are invited.

Date:       Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Time:       2 PM to 3:30 PM
Location: Kaufmann Center, Second Floor
               1835 Centre Avenue
               Pittsburgh, PA  15219
To register or for more information, please contact Leslie Bachurski at 412-1877 x200 or lbachurski  (at)  consumerhealthcoalition.org
10/23 2014

Free Dental Screening

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine will offer free dental care to patients with cavities who are available in February and agree to participate in a cavity screening.
The class of 2015 at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine is preparing to take their clinical boards to obtain licensure. Class members have begun screening for patients with specific types of cavities to fulfill requirements on the examination. Individuals with these types of cavities who agree to serve as patients during the board examination will receive free filling(s) for these cavities from a class of 2015 dental student.
You will receive the following free services:
  • Cavity screening and x-rays
  • Report identifying existing cavities
  • Duplication and distribution of x-rays to your private dentist, if needed
  • Fee waiver for initial exam and treatment plan if you receive treatment at the School of Dental Medicine
  • Free oral health kit
Free services rendered are valued at up to $257.
Please note: participants must be available to serve as a patient during one of the board examination dates: February 5th and 6th, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cavity screening process will take only about 30 minutes.
Please use the SONG contact page to request the link to their signup page.
http://SouthOaklandPgh.org/contact/
10/20 2014

Pgh Garbage Pickup Suspended Tue 10/21

From the Mayor’s Office:
The Environmental Services Bureau of the Department of Public Works advises that there will be no refuse collection in the city on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Collections the rest of the week will follow a holiday schedule: residents with regular Tuesday collections should put out their refuse on Wednesday, those with Wednesday collections on Thursday, and so on through the week. The Environmental Services Bureau will work through Saturday to pick up all neighborhood refuse.
Operations are being suspended for the Tuesday funeral of Environmental Services worker Omar Hodges.