August 2009 - test-neighbhorhood@test.highlandparkpa.com

[Highland Park] Fwd: Housecleaning available
by jackpotmj＠aol.com 02 Aug '09

02 Aug '09

-----Original Message----- From: jackpotmj(a)aol.com To: neighborhood(a)highlandparkpa.com Sent: Fri, Jul 31, 2009 12:30 pm Subject: Housecleaning ? My name is Marilyn Hough. I have over 17 years of experience in the housecleaning business. With an extensive reference list of clients in Highland Park and Shadyside.If you are in need of personalized housekeeping services please contact me at 412 559-1079. Thank You. An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps!

1 0

RE: [Highland Park] Fwd: Rental Registration Ordinance Water Down
by Andrea Mudd 01 Aug '09

01 Aug '09

Thanks for bringing the recent work on this problem to our attention. Having given the issue alot of thought, I am committed to a resolution better than the original Ravenstahl version or the "new" proposal--both of which I find odious for different reasons: the original because of its underlying disregard for any privacy rights, the recent re-write because it lets landlords off the hook of responsibility for their properties. I would rather see a rational version emerge: charge landlords a more meaningful but non-punitive fee--$100-200 per unit per year--and WAIVE the fee for owner-occupied properties. Thanks again! Andrea From: JudyBeck_35(a)MSN.COM To: AndreaMudd9(a)msn.com Subject: Fw: [Highland Park] Fwd: Rental Registration Ordinance Water Down Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 10:14:19 -0400 Rental Registration Ordinance Water Down ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Eversmeyer To: D.Hance(a)perkinseastman.com ; neighborhood(a)highlandparkpa.com Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 9:50 AM Subject: [Highland Park] Fwd: Rental Registration Ordinance Water Down Michael Eversmeyer Michael Eversmeyer Architect, PC 1124 N. Euclid Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-443-4727 Jul 31, 2009 12:45:16 PM, rob(a)pfaffmann.com wrote: Dear Community Design & Planning Partners, As you may have read in the Post-Gazette, the City is engaged in a negotiation with landlord and real estate interests regarding a reduction in the requirements for Landlord Rental Registration program the City of Pittsburgh passed in 2008. The article “City, landlords to iron out registration ordinance” buried in the paper’s local section should have been front page news. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09212/987650-53.stm The discussion as framed by the Post-Gazette is gutting an importance new ordinance (one of the best new initiatives of Mayor Ravenstahl, by the way) that would require landlords register properties, identify tenants, and maintain an occupancy permit. The Law department, without and citizen input or notice has decided to let the Landlords have a severely watered down version that reduces the fee to $5, not require tenant names and most importantly, require an occupancy permit! This effectively kills the purpose and impact of the law. As a professional and citizen fighting everyday to maintain our neighborhoods health and vitality, this puts the City at a competitive disadvantage as well as potential unintended detrimental impacts to City residents and neighborhoods. Whatever the outcome of this case with the Court of Common Pleas, the implications for our neighborhoods and quality of life in the City is sure to be long term. We are asking that you make your opinion known to the Mayor's Office, your City Councilmember, and the media. What does a continuation of the status quo mean to your home, your neighbors, your block, etc.? Please pass this on to those you think could help. Thank you, Rob Pfaffmann, AIA Lisa Haabestad 604 Filbert Street Pittsburgh ps: the landlords in our neighborhood have told us they are very happy with the new version. Just on our block alone we have two confirmed landlords with no occupancy permits or other violations of occupancy, effectively running the houses as rooming houses for students, drug dealers, parolees etc. Sound like this would be in a struggling defenseless neighborhood or Oakland? No, it is Shadyside! -- <http://lists.highlandparkpa.com/mailman/listinfo/neighborhood>

1 0

[Highland Park] Want to set up a worm compost bin?
by Nicky Leon 01 Aug '09

01 Aug '09

So when I was in Grade 5 my classroom had a worm compost (vermicompost) bin. I thought it was pretty much the coolest thing ever. Now that I'm a "grown up" and can do pretty much whatever I want, I have one of my own. Someone in the neighbourhood was kind enough to help me set up my bin, and I'd love to return the favour to others in the community. All you need is some sort of bin to keep the worms in (I use a plastic storage container - long and shallow is best) and some newspaper - about two City Paper's worth. I will provide you with some free starter worms and whatever information I've learned about worm-herding in the past year or so. For the record, my bin does not smell, nor have I had problems with other pests getting into it. Worm castings are great for your garden and if you start now, you'll have great material for next spring. Let me know if this is something you're interested in. Additional information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicomposting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbjX2tt-oQw _________________________________________________________________ Attention all humans. We are your photos. Free us. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9666047

1 0

[Highland Park] Free to good home
by Laura Myers 01 Aug '09

01 Aug '09

We've left a few items out on the curb - free to anyone who wants them. 1128 Winterton St. Toilet - just removed from our house - drained as much as possible, but there is still a little water in the bowl. It's wrapped in a trash bag and should not leak as long as it's not tipped over. Full box spring - box spring half of mattress set. Lift & Lock Gate - Safety 1st gate - never been used but kept too long to be returned. Can be pressure mounted (no installation) or swing mounted. Thanks! Laura

1 0

[Highland Park] Fwd: Rental Registration Ordinance Water Down
by Michael Eversmeyer 01 Aug '09

01 Aug '09

2 1

[Highland Park] Storm drain stenciling
by David Passmore 01 Aug '09

01 Aug '09

Hello HP neighbors, I am interesting in starting (or participating in an existing) storm drain stenciling project in our neighborhood. I wanted to reach out to the community and see how much interest there might be in participating. Perhaps there is already an ongoing effort, or an effort that needs only be resumed and invigorated by new interested participants. If anyone knows of such an effort, please respond so that a coordinated effort might best be assembled. There are many resources available on the web for such a project. The Allegheny County Health Department apparently offers free resource kits: http://www.3riverswetweather.org/f_resources/f_stencil.stm Perhaps a stenciling project could lead to further community involvement regarding the stormwater management problem that looms in our region. Again, I doubt this issue is new to most of you, but perhaps it might be time to huddle up and see what we can do. Personally, I think I can find an hour or two on the weekend to get out and stencil some drains, and maybe even gather a little trash while I'm at it. There is a renewed focus on the state of our beloved neighborhood, so any way we can gather together, walk around, and engage in building a spirit of community responsibility would certainly be productive. My opinion is that too often we sit back and demand that our community be secured by law enforcement, kept clean by public works, and beautified by taxpayer-funded organizations...while we just watch. It just isn't going to happen that way, we ALL need to try and become involved. Maybe simply stenciling drains can lead to bigger and better things, and maybe not...but either way I want to get out and get started, so if you can help (even just with warnings and advice) please do so. Also - I work for the City on the municipal website, so ultimately, if an effective participation model for ANY such project could be realized in our neighborhood, we could even put together a site or just some resources for others in the city who might be like-minded and put it on the city website as a point of entry for willing community builders. That might provide a direct participation mechanism for City Council offices, the Department of Public Works, the office of Neighborhood Initiatives, our Zone 5 Public Safety Council, the Bureau of Building Inspection, and hopefully so on. Dave Passmore 919 N. Euclid 412-414-6570

1 0

[Highland Park] Complete Fall Schedule of Classes for Chop, WOK & Talk!
by Dorothy Tague 01 Aug '09

01 Aug '09

Check out the new classes, menus, 'gift certificate' program and the class schedule from September through January at www.chopwoktalk.com<http://www.chopwoktalk.com/> (control & click for the link) If you have any questions please e-mail of call Dorothy at 412-362-0679

1 0