Environment/Health

05/17 2013

Oakland Green Team meeting Thur, June 20, 6:00pm – 7:15pm

Oakland Green Team Monthly Meeting Thur, June 20, 6:00pm – 7:15pm, Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213   (Use Louisa St entrance)

The Oakland Green Team seeks to put the oak back in Oakland, improving trail connections and creating attractive open spaces. The team will identify, guide and implement greening activities throughout Oakland. They meet the third Thursday each month–all are welcome!
Contact David Zwier at dzwier@opdc.org or 412.621.7863 ext. 14 for more information.
05/17 2013

Pittsburgh “Green” House

The Pittsburgh Green House, a project of ACTION-Housing, Inc., is a 110-year-old home that has been renovated as a weatherization training and educational facility where contractors and the general public can learn about residential energy and water savings and making homes healthier. Visitors can browse the resource center for information on do-it-yourself projects, contractors, and retrofit financing; engage in interactive educational activities; discover useful facts on informational signage throughout the building; and interact with our knowledgeable staff.

ACTION-Housing staff, regional experts, and a variety of local nonprofits and product specialists will teach a range of classes geared toward the general public on a rotating schedule. Contractors can receive hands-on training including building science, weatherization skills, blower door technology, and Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification in a typical regional home preparing them for career opportunities in the residential weatherization and retrofit market. Some courses are free, while others have associated fees. Take a look at the calendar to find a class that interests you.

308 North Sheridan Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
(412) 362-4PGH

Pittsburgh Green House Website

05/09 2013

Yard Debris Special Collection Saturday 5/18

(PITTSBURGH) May 3, 2013 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced that City Environmental Services crews will hold a special fall yard debris collection on Sat., May 18. Bagged leaves, tree branches and bushes will be picked up and recycled for compost as long as those items are properly packaged.
The following items will only be accepted if properly packaged:

  • Bagged leaves: 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.
  • Tree branches and bushes: Cut, bundle and tie branches and bushes in lengths not exceeding five feet. Tree branch diameter should not exceed four inches.

City residents must place materials out for residential collection by City refuse/recycling crews on Fri., May 17. Please note that 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.

05/09 2013

Final Public Meetings for OPENSPACEPGH 5/7 – 5/15

Residents are invited to share ideas, comments about open space planning in their neighborhood; Meetings from May 7th through 15th
(PITTSBURGH) May 6, 2013 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced the opening of the public comment period and the final public meetings for OpenSpacePGH – the City’s open space, parks and recreation planning effort. The public comment period for the draft of OpenSpacePGH will be available from May 7 to June 7 and can be accessed at http://exchange.planpgh.com/portal, with paper copies of the plan available at all Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh locations. Draft recommendations were created with public input from nearly 3,000 residents and experts in the field. OpenSpacePGH is part of PLANPGH, the City’s 25-year comprehensive growth plan, which includes 12 components and is projected to be completed in 2015.

Closest meeting: Tuesday, May 14th, 6 to 8 p.m. Schenley Ice Rink, Overlook Drive

More info

OpenSpacePGH

05/08 2013

Mayor announces 24 new “Love Your Block” Grant Projects to begin this weekend (May 8)

Community volunteers will beautify and restore city blocks this spring with help from City departments and The Home Depot Foundation
(PITTSBURGH) April 23, 2013 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced the 24 recipients who will receive funding through the fourth round of his servePGH initiative’s “Love Your Block” grant program – bringing the total number of projects to 64. From Garfield to Elliott, and Beltzhoover to Spring Garden, resident volunteers will partner with the City to transform blighted lots into community assets. Thanks to the generous support of The Home Depot Foundation, organizations will be awarded $1,000 to purchase supplies and equipment. Additionally, a special $2,000 prize will be given to the organization with the most impressive block transformation. Spring project implementation will begin this weekend in Highland Park and the South Side, and will continue through the end of June.

More info

05/02 2013

Ride for PGH in 2013 National Bike Challenge

Biking is a fantastic way to help keep the air clean and get exercise. A short, four-mile round-trip by bicycle keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe.

That’s why we are thrilled to help promote the 2013 National Bike Challenge, sponsored locally by Bike Pittsburgh and OTB (Over the Bar) Bicycle Cafe in the South Side.

Inflate those tires, oil those chains and gear up for the challenge, which kicks off May 1 and ends September 30. This free and friendly competition encourages Pittsburghers to get out and ride–whether as daily commuters, weekend warriors or somewhere in between. The challenge helps riders realize the health, economic and environmental benefits of riding a bike.

Riders can choose to participate as individuals or teams and see how they stack up against others in the Pittsburgh region and nationwide. This year, Bike Pittsburgh and OTB Bicycle Cafe are working to register 1,250 people to help our region pedal to the top spot in the country.

Participant points favor daily riding–20 points per day, plus 1 point per mile logged. Smartphone users can download a free app to directly track and log trips for the National Bike Challenge. Challenge yourself, your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues to get moving, log miles, earn points and be eligible to win prizes at the national level. Pittsburgh riders even earn free drinks at OTB Bicycle Cafe just for participating.

Sign up at nationalbikechallenge.org and start logging your miles today!

05/02 2013

The Air We Breathe – Regional Summit on Health Effects of Air Pollution Tue May 7

May 7 World Asthma Day Event Includes First-Ever Review of Scientific Literature on Health Impacts of Air Pollution in Pittsburgh, Finding Serious Implications for Area Residents

PITTSBURGH – Local and national health experts are convening in Pittsburgh on May 7 for the second annual regional Summit on asthma and other health concerns associated with poor air quality. The day-long symposium will address Pittsburgh’s asthma epidemic, as well as newly presented findings about how air pollution affects birth outcomes, cancer and cardiopulmonary illness and mortality rates.

Organized by Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) and the Breathe Project, with the support of The Heinz Endowments and the Suburban Health Foundation, “The Air We Breathe: A Regional Summit on Asthma and Other Health Impacts of Air Pollution” will be held from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.

05/01 2013

Frazier Farms Community Work Day Sat 5/11 10am-2pm (repeats every 2 weeks)

next to Frazier Fieldhouse, Frazier St and Dawson St

A community garden.  Priority given to residents for limited space.

All the planting beds are taken, but everyone welcome to come help and learn.  Be sure to ask about the “wet club”, for helping to water during dry spells.

Check the calendar for scheduled dates.

 

farms

04/26 2013

National Drug Take-Back Initiative This Weekend 4/27 10AM – 2PM

NATIONAL DRUG TAKE-BACK INITIATIVE

Upcoming Take-Back Day — April 27, 2013 (10:00AM – 2:00PM)
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.

  • CMU Police Dept, CMU Police Dept, 300 S. CRAIG ST, Pgh PA, 15213
  • UPMC Police, Children’s Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy, 4401 Penn Ave, Floor 1, Pgh, PA, 15224
  • Pgh Police
    • Zone 2 Station, 2000 Centre Ace, Pgh, PA, 15219
    • Zone 4 Station, 5858 Northumberland St, Pgh, PA, 15217
    • Zone 3 Station, 830 East Warrington Ave, Pgh, PA, 15210
    • Zone 5 Station, 1401 Washington Blvd, Pgh, PA, 15206
    • Zone 1 Station, 1501 Brighton Rd, Pgh, PA, 15212

More Details

04/23 2013

Green Team Meeting FIELDTRIP May 2013 Thu May 16 5:45PM

This meeting will be taking a field trip to a “green” house in East Liberty next to Home Depot so arrive at 5:45.

Oakland Green Team Monthly Meeting

Thu, May 16, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213  (Use Louisa St entrance)
The Oakland Green Team seeks to put the oak back in Oakland, improving trail connections and creating attractive open spaces. The team will identify, guide and implement greening activities throughout Oakland. They meet the third Thursday each month–all are welcome!

 

Contact David Zwier at dzwier@opdc.org or 412.621.7863 ext. 14 for more information.

 

04/20 2013

Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum “Love Your Block” event Saturday 5/25/13

Saturday 5/25/2013 Hours 9:00 a.m. To 2:00 p.m.
Event Name: Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum “Love Your
Block” event
Event Type: Litter Cleanup Event
Event Location: 4141 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Sponsoring Group: Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall &
Museum Trust, Inc.
Contact Person: Jamie Pavlot
Phone: 412-621-4253 x 226
E-mail: jamie@soldiersandsailorshall.org
Municipality: Elizabeth Borough
Event Notes: We encourage volunteers to bring garden gloves and
garden spades or tools.

Great American Cleanup – PA