February 2010 - test-neighbhorhood@test.highlandparkpa.com

[Highland Park] Queen box spring, $25 OBO
by Anna Montano 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Hi everyone, I am selling a used Queen-size box spring (sorry, no mattress). It is in decent shape, very sturdy. I'm asking $25 OBO, you haul. Let me know if you're interested! -Anna M 5642 Bryant St.

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[Highland Park] Please help! Vote for GTECH!
by Claire Miziolek 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Dear Friends, Here's the deal - as many of you may know, GTECH is in a national competition through Pepsi and Good magazine. We have a shot at winning $50,000! What would we do with that money? We'd do more projects to reclaim vacant land in Pittsburgh and New Orleans. Can you imagine how many sunflowers can be grown with that money?! And how many neighborhoods could have reduced blight!?! And how much oil could come from those seeds?!?! (Not sure what I'm talking about? Check out: http://gtechstrategies.org/10/reclamation ) How can you help these two amazing cities?? Vote for GTECH for the rest of February - one time per day for the next 6 days. How else can you help?? Send this to your friends! We're right now getting beat out for some cool ideas, but we think our idea is cooler. We need to be in the top ten, and we're currently 15th. This is doable - completely doable - but we need a big push! How can you do this? A few easy steps: 1. Go to: www.refresheverything.com/gtech 2. Sign in: you can totally lie on your info - don't give Pepsi you're name, I sure wouldn't, but please sign in! 3. Click "Vote" 4. When the arrow pops up, telling you to spread the word, you've done it right! Facebook users - you get an easier sign in using your Facebook account - just click the Facebook button on the sign-in page... Get an error message? Use a different browser - old versions of Firefox have been having trouble voting... Thank you so much for all your support! -Claire -- Claire Miziolek SCA Green Cities Fellow GTECH Strategies Claire.Miziolek(a)gmail.com <m.copeland(a)gtechstrategies.org>412.241.1013 x5 www.gtechstrategies.org

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[Highland Park] central air conditioning
by h w 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

warm weather seems like it will never come... but we are thinking about installing central air conditioning. Anyone have any recommendations? Thank you

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[Highland Park] Off the Floor
by Alfred Mann 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Off the Floor Pittsburgh is a local nonprofit organization that recycles used furniture and delivers it free of charge to very needy families in western Pennsylvania. These families are vetted by regular relief agencies but haven't been served otherwise because of limited resources. Recipient families are most grateful for these donations, which literally help them get up off the floor and begin to live more normal lives. I coordinate a team of volunteers from Highland Park who serve to pick up and deliver furniture on a Saturday morning once every six weeks or so. To join the team, contact Al Mann, 412-661-5947, alfred.mann(a)verizon.net. Furniture donations are always welcome. Contact Michele Kach, 412-818-3228, mkach(a)offthefloor.org. Al Mann

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[Highland Park] bathroom tiles
by h w 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

We are interested in replacing teh old bathroom tiles. Any recommendations for person who can pick up the tiles instlal new ones? Thank you

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[Highland Park] Can anyone recommend an allergist?
by B H 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good allergist around town? I would like to get tested for allergies; I think there's a little more at work on my sinuses than just the winter weather. Thank you. Ben Portland St.

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[Highland Park] "100 year old pipe organ"
by Leonard Houston 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Hello all! I saw the following Craigslist ad a week or so ago and was curious (click on link below to see ad): http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/msg/1593160038.html As you can see, there is no information at all about the organ or the building in which it is housed, no contact information, etc. Of course I replied to the ad and haven't received a reply. I figured they're still too busy digging out of the snow to answer any questions. I can't think of any 150 year old churches in Highland Park currently being restored (St. Andrew's?). Does anyone out there know anything about this church and/or this organ? Many thanks for your help in this matter! Leonard

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[Highland Park] Potholes in the city
by David Passmore 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

As other posts have noted, potholes are now a big problem...and the situation is going to get far worse. For example, N Euclid Ave., which was totally repaved in Spring 2004, is now showing many new cracks and fissures newly formed in the past couple of weeks which will very surely grow to be problematic. I am sure that most roads in the city have this problem, recent repaving or not. The city of Pittsburgh relies on the 311 Center to relay pothole repair requests to Public Works. The most direct way to let the city know about potholes on city streets is to report them to the 311 Response Center. This is done by calling 311, or better yet, by filling out the 311 Web Form (available 24-7, of course): http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/mayor/html/311_request_form.html Submissions to the 311 response form go into an information management system, where staff can compile them, organize work lists based on Public Works Division, and relay those lists to those tasked with the work. Those who submit in this way receive a receipt and a ticket number, and 311 staff can reply directly. While the reporting tool that is on the wpxi website is neat, I would suggest that it might not be the best way to relay requests to the city for service. It may be a good way for citizens to share existing pothole information on a regional basis, and that is valuable - but from what I can see, many of the reports that have been made are outside of the city. The tool sends information to the city even if the incident reported is in another municipality. As these reports mount and are forwarded to 311, the task of sifting though them in order to find incidents that the city can act upon becomes weighty...and thus response is slowed to a certain degree. Perhaps one day the municipalities of SW PA will be able to consolidate weather-related emergency response efforts. This winter is definitely making the need for better regional response clear to all. Snow means potholes, potholes mean repaving...everything ultimately points back to the need for streamlined solutions to municipal organization and funding and management. Even if some of us don't care about all of that, and just want to report dangerous potholes, it should be noted that the 311 Web Form is probably the most efficient way to do so - and will probably result in the most rapid response. On Sun, Feb 21, 2010 at 12:00 PM, <neighborhood-request(a)highlandparkpa.com>wrote: > Send Neighborhood mailing list submissions to > neighborhood(a)highlandparkpa.com > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.highlandparkpa.com/mailman/listinfo/neighborhood > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > neighborhood-request(a)highlandparkpa.com > > You can reach the person managing the list at > neighborhood-owner(a)highlandparkpa.com > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Neighborhood digest..." > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Report Potholes (Missy Harvey) > 2. Re: The Avalanches Have Begun... (William Ghrist) > 3. baby items for sell (Debbie Hoza) > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Missy Harvey <harvey(a)andrew.cmu.edu> > To: Highland Park Neighborhood <neighborhood(a)highlandparkpa.com> > Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:32:29 -0500 > Subject: [Highland Park] Report Potholes > Report potholes that have become dangerous. When you file a report, > emails are also sent to: > > * PCRG - Transit Working Group (beta) > * Snadburgh > * SeeClickFix Pittsburgh Area Nonemergency Issue Watch > * PGH 311 > * Pothole Watch > > http://www.wpxi.com/pittsburgh/18702167/detail.html > > - Missy > > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: William Ghrist <ghristwd(a)verizon.net> > To: neighborhood(a)highlandparkpa.com > Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:02:06 -0500 > Subject: Re: [Highland Park] The Avalanches Have Begun... > I have been trying very hard to keep my sidewalks clear, along with some of > my neighbors' (which altogether amounts to quite a bit of sidewalk). > Unfortunately, not only is the city not "doing more to keep the...sidewalks > clear," they have been actively blocking the sidewalks that are clear. > Twice now this week I have found that the city has plowed a huge mound of > snow blocking my sidewalks at Bryant and Sheridan, not to mention plowing a > huge amount of snow onto the sidewalk itself at the intersection of Bryant > and Farragut. The corners of just about all the intersections around here > have been barricaded by plowed snow. It becomes increasingly frustrating to > be asked by the city to clear our sidewalks when they make it difficult or > impossible to get to the ones that have been cleared. I realize they need > to put the snow somewhere (although by now they should be doing more to > remove it rather than just push it around), but there seems to be a basic > lack of common sense involved in choosing to put it where it makes the > sidewalks inaccessible. > > Bill Ghrist > > On 2/19/2010 10:33 AM, Eric or Sue Randall wrote: > >> Hello Neighbors. >> >> This morning I woke to discover that my 3-story, sloped-slate roof had >> finally given up its 2-week burden of ice and snow. Yesterday I had spent >> some time shoveling around the back of my house; had I been doing so when >> the ice came down, I easily could have been injured or killed. Some of the >> chunks of ice were almost as big as my torso. >> >> I would encourage you to take a good look at your home and determine if >> any of your doors/exits are significantly safer from falling icicles than >> the others; if so, please stick to the safer doors until the ice falls! >> Please also be on the lookout for your neighbors and do what you can to keep >> your sidewalks, steps and (as applicable) your piece of the back alley safe >> for walking on. If you are able to do so, I'd also ask you to go the extra >> mile - clear a little sidewalk or alley beyond the sides of your house. If >> your next-door-neighbor's path is unsafe but yours is safe, and there's a >> feasible way to do so, encourage your neighbor to use your path. I recognize >> that many of us are tired of shoveling snow and wish the city were doing >> more to keep the roads and sidewalks clear. But a little effort on our parts >> will go a long way - and while it may not seem so now, this snow will >> eventually pass. >> >> Be safe, keep warm and be sure to take advantage of your extra time >> outdoors to get to know your fellow neighbors battling the snow! After the >> first snow two weeks ago, I met a neighbor, shoveled a bit of snow for her >> and was handsomely rewarded with a mug of hot chocolate and some shortbread >> cookies! :-) >> >> Eric D. Randall >> President, Highland Park Community Council >> >> >>

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[Highland Park] Custom Metal Work Built Just for Your Home
by Meredith Knight 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Would you like a custom railing, staircase, firescreen, gate, fence, or piece of furniture designed to compliment your home? Highland Park neighbor Colin Carrier is now designing custom metalwork through his studio, London Pattern. Able to work with various metals, Colin can design a one-of-a-kind piece for your home just in time for spring! He can be reached at 412-996-8555 or londonpattern(a)gmail.com. General information can be found on his website, www.londonpattern.com (which is under construction now!). -- Meredith Knight

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[Highland Park] Dermatologist Recommendations
by Kate Freed 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

WOW - this request garnered a lot of activity - thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences! Kate SHADYSIDE DERMATOLOGY - Mary Sheehan (8 people) / Grace Lee (3 people) . We love Mary Sheehan and her practice in Shadyside. . I really like Dr Mary Sheehan. She's at Shadyside Place near Shadyside Hospital. Her phone number is 412-681-1072 . I highly recommend Dr. Mary Sheehan, who is located on Aiken Avenue in Shadyside. She is delightful and an excellent diagnostician. Only one problem: there's a big waiting time to get an appointment. I think the other people in her group are probably pretty good. . I went to four dermatologists including chair of dermatology at UPMC and none of them could diagnose a strange facial dermatological proble. Mary Sheehan at Shadyside Dermatology diagnosed and is treating it. She's Irish and a delight, too. Shadyside Dermatology 412-681-1072. Unfortunately, you probably won't get an appointment with her for too long. Make it and keep it and if you need to see someone else in the meantime, but see her. Once you're in, you're in forever. She has seen me on the same day when I had an emergency. I swear by her! . Dr. Sheehan- located at Shadyside Professional Building - good, getting an appt. with them is difficult, up to a 6 mo. wait. Dr Sheehan at UPMC is terrific - but hard to get an appointment - 412-681-1072 . Shadyside Dermatology - Dr. Sheehan! . We have long gone to dermatologists connected to UPMC's Dept. of Dermatology. Dr. Mary Sheehan is the doctor I see; my husband sees Dr. Grace Lee. We have both been very satisfied. They are at Shadyside Place, Suite 201, 580 So. Aiken Ave. 412/681/1072 if you want to follow through. . Try Grace Lee and her associates. She just removed some bad stuff from my forehead. Did a nice job. They are the Univ of Pgh Dermatological Associates on S. Aiken ave. . I used to go to Nancy Neiland who was very good before she left practice. I transferred to Grace Lee in the same practice, Shadyside Dermatologists, who is fantastic. 412 681 1072 It's a busy office at 580 Aiken Ave, which is sort of behind Shadyside Hospital. Highly recommended. FOX CHAPEL DERMATOLOGY - Margaret Lally (3 people) / Rebecca Caserio (5 people, 1 negative) . Dr. Margaret Lally is one of the best in the city. - 1382 Old Freeport Road - Pittsburgh, PA 15238 - (412) 967-1192 . We have had good experiences with Dr. Margaret Lally in fox chapel. Good luck. . Dr Margaret Lally- located in Fox Chapel - good, getting an appt. with them is difficult, up to a 6 mo. wait. Margaret Lally in Fox Chapel and Rebecca Caserio in Aspinwall. I use Dr. Lally but have seen Dr. Caserio. Both terrific. You'll wait if just a routine check because they have such successful practices. . Although it is difficult to get an appointment I do recommend Fox Chapel Derm. The Dr. is Rebecca Caserio and the number is 412.784.1606. It is very convenient to us because it is right across the bridge in Aspinwall and there is plenty of meter parking. . Dr. Caserio in Fox Chapel. Hard to get an initial appointment, but worth the wait. . Rebecca Caserio on Freeport Road in Aspinwall is excellent... . Rebecca Caserio is terrific... She's in aspinwall. . I can very strongly suggest you avoid Rebecca Cassario in Aspinwall. Without wanting to disparage her skills as a practitioner she has an openly-admitted policy of double or even triple-booking appointments so wait times of 90 min are the rule. She is also very openly "in it for the money" which I find objectionable, if understandable. The office packages brand-name products then resells them to her patients with a label reading her name, at far above what can be found elsewhere. Melanie Costa (8 people) . Dr. Costa on Friendship Ave . I recently saw Dr. Costa, 4727 Friendship Ave Ste 300. She was very thorough and efficient. . Dr. Melanie Costa @ 412-683-5211 office on Friendship . Melanie Costa is really good and very nice and one can get an app't fairly quickly, and close: Friendship Ave. 412 683 5211 . I really like Dr. Melanie Costa. She's got an office in Bloomfield. Easy. 412-683-5211 . I see Dr Melanie Costa on Friendship Ave. You can look her up. She is excellent, and convenient! . I have rosacea and recently switched to Melanie Costa at Associates in Dermatology and I've been really pleased with her. She's located in Bloomfield at 4727 Friendship in a new medical building. A nice plus is they have their own (pay) parking lot so parking is never a problem. Side street parking looks like it wouldn't be hard either. The number is 412-683-0737. The staff is really nice and responsive, too. . Excellent physicians and their Physician's Assistant is also wonderful.- http://www.wpahs.org/patients/physician/index.cfm?mode=Bio <http://www.wpahs.org/patients/physician/index.cfm?mode=Bio&physician=303> &physician=303 Other Recommendations . Kristen Stephen, is a dermatologist in Sewickley . I called the UPMC derms in Oakland and tried to make an appointment, but couldn't be seen for 4 months. I called another practice in Bloomfield, and was able to be seen in two weeks and they were very good - Associates in Dermatology, 4727 Friendship Ave, Ste 300, Pgh, 15224; Phone: 412.683.5211. George Francis - Excellent physicians and their Physician's Assistant is also wonderful. - http://www.wpahs.org/patients/physician/index.cfm?mode=Bio <http://www.wpahs.org/patients/physician/index.cfm?mode=Bio&physician=456> &physician=456 . If the problem is rosacea, try Dr. Obaji. Her office does laser treatments and is excellent for this. Location is Wexford area. . Although she is located in Monroeville, I highly recommend Lisa Pawelski, 412-824-9600. My entire family has used her and think she is really terrific. The only complaint is that there is usually a wait time regardless of the appointment time, so I recommend you try to get an early morning appointment. . I see Dr. Welsh at: Dermatological Associates - 4727 Friendship Ave., Suite 300 - Pittsburgh, PA 15224 - Phone: (412) 683-5211. My experience with this doctor has been pretty satisfactory. I have not had to wait too long for my appointments and am happy with the results of the treatment he prescribed me. The only complaint I have is that I typically feel a little rushed, but I think that's how they manage to limit the wait time in the lobby. If I have questions though, Dr. Welsh always makes sure he answers them and is patient and amicable. He's the first and only dermatologist I've seen so I don't know if he's particularly great compared to others, but I've not had a reason to switch or look elsewhere. Also, the services were much more affordable than I had expected. . Laura Ferris, MD, PhD at Falk Clinic, Univ Pittsburgh (they have valet parking) is awesome. She is brilliant, low key, caring, not a glamor person, etc. I have been going to her for several years. very rational, not one to spend a lot of money, etc.

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