October 2020 - test-neighbhorhood@test.highlandparkpa.com

Fwd: Reminder: Fall Yard Waste Collection Day is Saturday, November 14, 2020
by Highland Park Pittsburgh, PA 30 Oct '20

30 Oct '20

*Published:* 10.30.2020 *Contact:* Reminder: Fall Yard Waste Collection Day is Saturday, November 14, 2020 PITTSBURGH, PA (October 30, 2020) Pittsburgh residents are encouraged to compost their leaves, grass, branches, and other yard debris on Saturday, November 14, 2020. Your participation in this program helps the environment by diverting valuable resources from the landfill. Yard waste must be left at the curb at your usual trash/recycling pick up spot before 6:00 a.m., following the simple guidelines below. Yard debris must be in brown paper bags and not weigh more than 35 pounds. Branches must be bundled with fiber twine or natural rope in branch lengths of 5 feet or less. What is accepted? - leaves - branches (4-inch diameter or less) - brush - grass What is not accepted? - plastic bags - metal or wire - rocks, blocks, bricks - dirt or gravel - glass, metal or plastic What to do with that yard waste year round? The City of Pittsburgh has three drop-off centers that accepts yard debris. Call each center for details and hours: East End Drop-Off Center (2nd Division) 6814 Hamilton Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15208 412-665-3609 Hazelwood Drop-Off Center (3rd Division) 40 Melanchton St Pittsburgh, PA 15207 412-422-6524 West End Drop-Off Center (5rd Division) 1330 Hassler St Pittsburgh, PA 15220 412-937-3054 Yard waste that does not meet the collection guidelines will be left at the curb. More information and additional resources for yard debris disposal are available here <https://pittsburghpa.gov/dpw/leaf-waste>. ------------------------------ . LaptopCupGreenMarker -- *Highland Park Community Council* Visit our website by clicking here. <https://hpccpgh.org/>

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Fwd: Infographic on 5 Reasons to Cast a Provisional Ballot...Please share
by Sofia Sunseri 30 Oct '20

30 Oct '20

PA VOTERS - THIS WAS CREATED BY THE STUDENTS OF CITY OF BRIDGES HIGH SCHOOL HERE IN PITTSBURGH TO HOPEFULLY CLARIFY QUESTIONS AROUND PROVISIONAL BALLOTS...PLEASE SHARE.

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FS: Framed Sam McBratney prints
by Dora Magovern 30 Oct '20

30 Oct '20

2 framed Sam McBratney prints. Would be great for a nursery or kids room. 25.5” wide by 23.5” deep with frames. Asking $50 for both. Sent from my iPhone

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Fwd: Blue Bin Announcement
by Highland Park Pittsburgh, PA 30 Oct '20

30 Oct '20

>From the Office of Community Affairs, October 26, 2020 Mayor William Peduto today announced the plans to distribute 32-gallon blue curbside recycling bins to City residents as part of the Bureau of Environmental Services’ first phase bin distribution. The first phase will cover the neighborhoods of Garfield, Highland Park, and East Liberty. Distribution of blue curbside recycling bins is scheduled to begin Nov. 2, 2020 and will cover 5,500 homes over the span of 10 days and is based on the bureau’s Monday central collection route. Each bin will be scanned and linked to a service location and delivered with an information packet describing how to properly use the bin. In addition, each blue curbside recycling bin will be manufactured in Pennsylvania by Rehrig Pacific Company with at least 5% recycled plastic as part of the Government Demand Champions Program <https://plasticsrecycling.org/recycling-demand-champions/government-demand-…>. This program exists to stimulate and drive domestic markets for recyclable plastics and thereby drives sustainable plastic recycling. “Pittsburgh is adapting to a stronger culture of waste reduction and material reuse. Our strategic plan for purchasing and deploying blue recycling bins over three years will make that culture change more accessible and equitable for all,” Mayor Peduto said. Prior to receiving their new recycling bin, residents will receive a notification via U.S. Mail letting them know to anticipate their new blue curbside recycling container, along with information on what can and cannot be placed in the bin. The 32-gallon blue curbside recycling bins will consolidate recyclables into one container, making it more convenient for recyclers and the recycling crews who empty them. After receiving their new curbside recycling bins, it is important for residents to remember to put their recyclables in their bins loose and not bagged. This will support the City’s efforts to reduce contamination (when non-recyclables make it into recycling bins), save on costs, and provide high-value recyclables to the circular economy. As a reminder the following recyclables are accepted for single stream curbside collection by the City: - Cardboard, flattened and place into your bin or another box if needed - Glass bottles jugs and jars, caps and lids removed - Aluminum and steel cans - Mixed paper such as junk mail, newspapers, old books and cereal boxes - Empty plastic bottles, jugs and jars, caps and lids removed -- *Highland Park Community Council* Visit our website by clicking here. <https://hpccpgh.org/>

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Warning: Phone Call Harassment
by Highland Park Pittsburgh, PA 30 Oct '20

30 Oct '20

Hello Neighbors, We want to alert the community that someone has been making harassing phone calls to people in the neighborhood, pretending to be with the HPCC or the Mayor's Office. We want to assure everyone that this is the work of a prankster. The calls may look like they are coming from a phone number you recognize. This practice is called "spoofing." Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Spoofing is a federal crime. This activity has been reported to the local police and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for investigation. If you believe that you have been called by this person, please email the HPCC at HPCCPgh(a)gmail.com. You can also file a complaint with the Pittsburgh Police Department by calling 9-1-1. As a reminder, do not provide any sort of personal information (e.g., email address, credit card number, social security number, voting information, etc.) to individuals that you don't know over the phone. If the caller claims to be from a legitimate company or organization, hang up and call them back using a valid number found on their website or on your latest bill if you do business with them. For additional tips on protecting yourself from spoofing,visit https://www.fcc.gov/spoofed-robocalls. Thank you and stay safe! -- *Highland Park Community Council* Visit our website by clicking here. <https://hpccpgh.org/>

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Custom woven wands
by Joy 30 Oct '20

30 Oct '20

Dear neighbors. I have been weaving wands, and I have begun doing commissions. I love creating them. They range in price depending on size. I use hand-spun, hand-dyed wool from Japan, Scotland, and from local sheep and alpacas; each pattern depends on the shape and color of the branch. They are intricate and joyful pieces of design. If you are interested in commissioning a wand (these are all sold), email me. Joy [image: Wand1.jpg] [image: Wand2.jpg] [image: Wand3.jpg]

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For sale - Eagle Creek internal frame travel pack with removable zip off day backpack
by Kate Freed 29 Oct '20

29 Oct '20

$50 - Eagle Creek internal frame travel pack with removable zip off day backpack. Lots of pockets and storage space. Large capacity Comfort Zone Carry System. Hide-away backpack conversion, Easy packing panel load design, Comfortable DuraGrip handle, Lockable compartments, Compression straps/Internal cinch straps, Padded shoulder straps, Front carry clips. Women's fit. Contact if interested - thanks. Kate Freed kmfreed(a)gmail.com

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Looking for apartment to rent under $800 a month
by Elizabeth Criss 29 Oct '20

29 Oct '20

A responsible friend is looking for a quiet apartment to rent that preferably would have some outdoor space/yard and would allow a small, well behaved dog. It does not have to be in the Highland Park area if you know of something elsewhere. Please let me know if you have properties or know of something. Thanks! Liz

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Vacuum Sweeper Repair?
by THOMAS WATERS 29 Oct '20

29 Oct '20

Something got sucked up into the vacuum sweeper ( I didn’t do it) but it is making it overheat and won’t work. I’ve try to clean out everything I have access to. I think I need a pro. Do you have a repair shop to recommend?

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Making Sure Your Vote Counts: The Latest on Mail-in Ballots, Voting at the Polls, NOT SPOILING Your Ballot, and More
by janet jai 29 Oct '20

29 Oct '20

Hi, Neighbors, I attend Bethany Hallam’s voter zoom meetings every Tuesday evening (Bethany is a great Allegheny County Board of Elections member) so this is up-to-date information on your voting options with the election only a few days away. 1. MAIL-IN BALLOTS: - The deadline for requesting a Mail-in ballot was October 27 so you can NO LONGER request a mail-in ballot. - If you requested a Mail-in Ballot but didn’t receive one, you can go downtown to the Elections Office, 6th floor, County Office Building, and they can re-issue your ballot there, and you can fill your votes in (privately) and turn the ballot in immediately. Elections Office hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on Thurs Oct. 29, Fri Oct 30, Mon Nov 2, and Tues Nov 3. The Elections Office is NOT open this weekend. - If you need to return your Mail-in ballot, it is too late to mail it and be sure it will get there in time. You also CANNOT return your Mail-in Ballot at your polling place. Therefore, THE ONLY GOOD OPTION FOR RETURNING YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT RIGHT NOW is to TAKE IT DOWNTOWN to the County Office Building, where you can drop it off in the LOBBY on the first floor. This lobby drop off area downtown is open late and on the weekend. Lobby hours are: 8 am to 8 pm every day (including Saturday and Sunday) now through November 2, and 7 am to 8 pm on November 3. The County also says: "Voters who have made errors on or misplaced their security or declaration envelopes may get replacements at the window.” Note: They are only talking about the envelopes NOT the ballot itself, which can only be replaced upstairs at the Elections Office during the day on a weekday. - If you are dropping off your ballot downtown, there is free parking on Forbes Avenue next to the back entrance of the County Office Building and guards to direct you where you can park with flashers so you can run in and hand in your ballot and get the cute little I Voted Sticker. I did this on a Wednesday afternoon and it was easy. - Remember you can only drop off YOUR OWN ballot, not your husband’s or anyone else’s. But he can wait in the car while you go in, and you can wait in the car while he goes in, or with the flashers on, you can both go in at the same time. - If you need a ride downtown to drop off your mail-in ballot, you can get a free ride from B-PEP (call 412-212-8775 before Election Day or 412-434-0919 on Election Day). 2. VOTING AT THE POLLS: - Every polling place (there are 1,323 polling places in Allegheny County) is open on Election Day, Nov. 3 from 7 am to 8 pm. Most of these are your old regular polling place, but a few have had to change because of Covid. The County is sending you a letter telling you where your polling place is located. You can also verify your polling place using this link I’ve copied from an Allegheny Votes e-mail: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/pollingplaceinfo.aspx <https://alleghenycounty25048.lt.acemlnb.com/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=a…>. The state’s site is set up to use your mailing address, NOT your municipality. - If you have NOT requested a Mail-in Ballot, you can go to your polling place and vote normally on a paper ballot that you will scan into the new voting machines. Because of Covid, it is best to wear a mask and take your own blue or black ballpoint pen to mark your ballot (not a sharpie or felt-tip pen). Also take food and water in case you need to wait in line. - If you did request a Mail-in Ballot, you CANNOT vote at the polls normally unless you return your ballot (3 pieces: the ballot itself, the inner security envelope, and the outer declaration envelope) and have poll workers spoil it. It is NOT RECOMMENDED that you have your ballot spoiled and vote in person at the polls. Here’s why Bethany suggests that you do NOT spoil your ballot. 1. Returned Mail-in Ballots will be the first ballots counted in Allegheny County. They will be counted BEFORE the ballots voted at the polls because the County will start counting Mail-in Ballots at 7 am on Election Day, and they expect to finish counting the Mail-in Ballots within 10-11 hours, which is before the polls close. Results from the polls won’t be counted until the polls close. 2. Spoiling a ballot takes time, which could be as much as 10-15 minutes. If poll workers have to spoil a ballot so you can vote, other voters are waiting longer in line. If a lot of voters have their ballots spoiled, a lot of other voters will wait in line a lot longer. By afternoon this past Tuesday, Allegheny County had approved and sent out 410,909 mail-in ballots. At that point, only 269,118 of these had been returned. If all or most of those non-returned ballots have to be spoiled at the polls, voters could be there waiting in line a very very very long time. - If you requested a Mail-in Ballot and don't return all 3 pieces to be spoiled, you CANNOT vote normally at the polls. You can however vote a Provisional Ballot. While it will take some time for a Provisional Ballot to be counted (the County needs time—up to 7 days—to determine whether you are eligible to vote and whether you have voted in some other way), you should NOT leave the polls without at least voting a Provisional Ballot. When you vote provisionally, they will give you a numbered receipt that enables you to check online to see if your Provisional Ballot was counted. If you mailed your Mail-in ballot but are concerned that it won’t arrive in time to be counted, you could go to the polls and vote a Provisional Ballot. However, a better option is NOT to mail your Mail-in ballot but to take your Mail-in ballot in person to the drop box in the lobby of the County Office Building downtown (see above). - If you need a ride to or from the polls on Election Day, you can get a free ride by calling B-PEP at 412-434-0919 or VEEEM at 412-242-1998. VEEEM asks that you call 24 hours in advance. - If you are in line at your polling place at 8 pm on Election Day, you must be allowed to vote. - If you experience or see any voter intimidation at the polls, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE. This number is run by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civll Rights under Law. There are also people doing Election Protection outside many of the polls. You can also call voter intimidation to the attention of the Judge of Elections or other poll workers including the Constable inside the polls even if it is happening outside. Be safe, be well, Vote! jai janet jai, MLA Vision and Values https://vision-and-values.com <https://vision-and-values.com/> Author, Saving Our Public Libraries: Why We Should. How We Can, and Tree’s Song (for Jenni) about the lifelong love between a girl and a tree.

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