- test-neighbhorhood@test.highlandparkpa.com

[Highland Park] Stormwater issues got you down? Tree Planting is one solution!
by caitlin 13 Aug '10

13 Aug '10

Hello Highland Park Neighbors! This is a reminder from your local forestry org, Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest, that trees can be a part of the solution to the ever-growing stormwater problem city-wide. A street tree in Pittsburgh can take up 4000 gallons of stormwater each year, according to our STRATUM report, which calculates the value of every tree on our streets: http://www.pittsburghforest.org/stratum Several of your neighbors are working hard to get more trees planted on your streets! Please consider filling out this form if you would like a cleaner, greener, healthier neighborhood! http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/pw/assets/forestry/08_tree_planting_reques… Send to the address on the form for it to be included in an upcoming application for trees. While the issue of stormwater runoff and sewage is huge and complicated, every tree can help.. and while it may not seem like it could possibly make a difference now, once you remove several blocks of concrete along the street and allow stormwater to be absorbed by soil and plants, you will see less of that water mixing with raw sewage, backing up into your home or business, and heading into our rivers and drinking water sources. For a look at how Portland Oregon is using trees to help solve their stormwater and aging sewer system problems, see http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?a=192797&c=50367 or http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=47203. They are finding that it is saving the environmental services bureau and the residents a lot of money to include trees as part of the solution. Just a Public Service Announcement about the greatness of trees--not only do they clean our air, improve our business districts and neighborhoods, and give us beauty for a lifetime, they can also work hard to be a part of the stormwater solution! Cheers, Caitlin Caitlin Lenahan Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest Education & Outreach Coordinator http://www.pittsburghforest.org 5427 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Phone: (412) 362-6360 www.pittsburghforest.org -- "Time is how the trees grow. I will fall asleep for a thousand years and a mighty spruce will have raised me high, high into the sky."

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[Highland Park] Looking for a loveseat
by Sean Miller 13 Aug '10

13 Aug '10

----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Sean Miller <smiller15235(a)yahoo.com> To: neighborhood-owner(a)highlandparkpa.com Sent: Thu, August 12, 2010 12:09:38 PM Subject: Looking for a loveseat Hello all... I am looking for a modern loveseat or smaller sofa clean lines and comfortable Email me with pictures and price that you are asking thanks! sean smiller15235(a)yahoo.com

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[Highland Park] FW: Nice 1 bedroom apartment available - $650 / mo + g&e
by Justin J. Cummings 13 Aug '10

13 Aug '10

Nice 1st floor apartment on 1100 block of Portland St available. http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/apa/1890729199.html Available September 1st: My wife and I live on the 2nd and 3rd floor and are renting the first floor apartment in our home. We are a professional couple and we are generally quiet and we expect the same of our tenants. Amenities: - hardwood floors - laundry in the basement - private back porch, yard and perennial garden - remote control ceiling fan in bedroom - gas stove - newer berber carpet in bedroom - central AC - forced air heat with 90% high efficiency furnace - walls and ceilings have been insulated for energy efficiency and noise reduction - a wonderful block with great neighbors - just around the corner from Bryant St Businesses & Taza D'oro - on the bus line to Pitt, CMU, Downtown, Shadyside, Aspinwall - large rooms - high ceilings Justin Cummings - Realtor HOWARD HANNA SHADYSIDE 5501 Baum Blvd Pgh PA 15232 412-361-4000 ext 274 (office) 412-418-0596 (cell) ** Multi-Million Dollar Producer ** ** 110 closed sales within the past two years ** Personal website: http://www.howardhanna.com/justincummings

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[Highland Park] Re: FREE 10-week old kittens!
by Lisa Williams 13 Aug '10

13 Aug '10

> > Forwarding along for my sister-in-law in case anyone is interested (Please > email me and I can forward you pictures if you are interested before > contacting Heather): > > 10 weeks old - born on June 3rd, 2010. I'd love to find a nice home for > three of the kittens before school starts. > Kitten #1 is gray w/ taupe coloring and a little white fur around her mouth > (it looks like she has a moustache). She is really a beautiful cat - I'v > never seen the coloring before. I am almost certain this is a girl. > Kitten #2 is almost solid gray. He's very playful and spunky. This is a boy > for sure. > Kitten #3 is black, and is the smallest one of the bunch. She was the runt > and very cute and a little quiet compared to the others. I'm almost certain > this is a girl. > > All of the cats (or at least most of them) all polydactile (they have extra > toes like their mother). They are all very good w/ small children because > they are around my kids (ages 3-6) all the time and have gotten used to > being picked up and played with *a lot*. They are also currently outdoor > cats, as we found the mother outside and they have now taken residence in > the 3rd bay of our garage. The kittens have not yet been spayed/nutered. > > *If you know of ANYONE that might want a cat, please pass this along.*Anyone is welcome to stop over and see them. We live in Wexford right off > of the 79 interchange. > > Thank you!!! > > > *Heather L. Como* > > *habovick(a)hotmail.com* <habovick(a)hotmail.com> > > 724-940-9014 > > > > > > > > > -- > Lisa C. Williams > Silpada Designs - fine Sterling Silver Jewelry > 412-665-3933 > > Browse my online catalog: www.mysilpada.com/lisa.williams12 > > Want it for FREE?......Party with ME! > > Silpada® ... Find Yourself In It™ > -- Lisa C. Williams Silpada Designs - fine Sterling Silver Jewelry 412-665-3933 Browse my online catalog: www.mysilpada.com/lisa.williams12 Want it for FREE?......Party with ME! Silpada® ... Find Yourself In It™

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[Highland Park] G scale train?
by Jill Miller 13 Aug '10

13 Aug '10

Hi, My 4 year old (who is obsessed with trains) was given a used G scale Bachmann circus engine and a lot of track. He doesn't have any cars for it though, and I'm looking for some train cars. Any train buffs out there interested in parting with some train cars? Don't care how used they are - this lonely engine just needs to pull something around the track! My son would be happy with anything. Looking for something pretty cheap. Cheers, Jill

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[Highland Park] Family Mosaic Making!
by daviea 13 Aug '10

13 Aug '10

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Fwd: [Highland Park] PARK BRUGE delayed again by ongoing sewer problems
by Josephina Jeffers 13 Aug '10

13 Aug '10

Hello Everyone, > > I received an email yesterday that I thought pertinent to address to the > whole list serv. I have omitted the name of the community member as they > emailed me directly and I wish to respect their privacy. Please see below as > I hope that it may provide more information regarding the sewer situation > and my intent in bringing it to community-member attention. > > And to Councilman Patrick Dowd (whose office has been copied on this > email): would you care to assuage the concern that has built up in the > community? A response to your constituents on this list would be greatly > appreciated. Thank you in advance for your efforts. > > > On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 9:46 AM, Josephina Jeffers > josephinajeffers(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Thank you for your response. Below, please find my responses (indented > and highlighted) for each of your talking points. > > Josephina - > > What makes you presume that Patrick Dowd hasn't done anything about the > issue? Having a seat on the board doesn't mean being able to get things > done immediately. > > I do not rely on assumptions to arrive at my position. I am certain that > Mr. Dowd is aware of the situation as he sits on the PWSA board and knows > (well before we do) specifics regarding Pittsburgh's faulty sewer system. I > mention Mr. Dowd as a potential voice for our district in this matter. I'm > not sure why my mentioning of Mr. Dowd elicits such a defensive response > from you. > > If you know anything about city politics - and the acrimony between PWSA > and a number of other city offices - you'd know that the wheels of change > move excruciatingly slow, if they move at all. > > In reference to the slow political process as it relates to a community's > political expectation, I don't exactly follow your logic. Are you suggesting > that just because something *has been*, that it, in effect, *should > or will always be*? Are you suggesting that our community should not > expect a quicker response simply because we are conditioned to settle for > less? I'm sure that if I were slow to pay my utility bill, PWSA would be > quick to turn my water off. > > Furthermore, after at least a year of documented and recorded complaint to > the PWSA, after numerous emails, phone calls, pleas, threats, gnashing of > teeth and rending of garments, etc., etc., only now, only two months ago, > only after the threat of negative publicity (heaven forfend) is there any > hint of motion to fix a painfully obvious problem. > > The PWSA will be installing meters to be able to understand the sewage flow > in the "sewage shed," a necessary step before fixing, and I understand that > over half a million dollars has been slated to remedy the problem. > > To be precise, flow meters were installed on June19th 2010. Additionally, > I was told (in person and over the phone) that the lines would be televised > and the video made available by the PWSA last year. After nearly 9 months > of trying to get an update from PWSA regarding said video, I still have no > answer. > > I also understand that it will probably be completed before the end of > the year. > > Please reference the following: > > The region's sewers are the subject of consent orders involving the federal > Environmental Protection Agency, state DEP, Allegheny County Sanitary > Authority and scores of municipalities. *They have to have a plan in place > by 2012 to stop frequent overflows that push sewage into the rivers -- not > to mention basements* -- when it rains, and *to have the plan implemented > by 2026.* > > Read more: > http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09319/1013619-53.stm#ixzz0wOWjVrAR > > Your email draws an unfair correlation between Patrick and the inability to > solve the Bryant St problem immediately. > > I do not believe that expecting an accomplished and powerful City > Representative to assist in the expedition of this process to be unfair in > the least. The correlation is there whether or not you choose to acknowledge > it as fair. > > I agree, it's frustrating, and I'll be there on opening night to have a > bowl of mussels. > > Right now, there is no “opening night” in the even-remote future. That's > part of my point. > > But this kind of concern-building on the listserv does Patrick a great > disservice,given the hours and effort he puts in advocating for the > neighborhood in a sometimes hostile, often inefficient, city government > structure. There are other ways to rally community support. > > Again, I mention Mr. Dowd as a potential voice for our district in this > matter. Additionally, I was under the impression that the list serve was > meant to build our community's communication regarding important > neighborhood issues. I would think that local business and protection of > local commerce and property value are very much cause for > “concern-building.” > > Would you similarly suggest that local victims of crime who post their > unfortunate experiences on the list serv be reprimanded as well? What if > they mention that the police response was slow or non-existant, is that list > serv appropriate? Would that automatically suggest to you that they were > anti-police? > > A slow or absent political response is completely unacceptable when it > comes to the health and well being families and children. Would you argue > that a public health concern (basements filled with human waste) is not the > business of the residents who will be adversely affected? As I stated in my > original email, The Park Bruge project is merely another example of the city > and the PWSA (after being made aware of a situation for which they are > solely responsible for correcting) not providing this community with a > service that we faithfully pay them to provide. The PWSA and Mr. Dowd are > not being martyred. After all, the PWSA website offers our guaranteed > consumer rights as follows: > > > Customer Rights: As a residential water customer, you have many important > rights and responsibilities which ensure fair dealings between you and The > Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. These rights and responsibilities > include: > > > - Your right to a clear and concise bill > - Your right to know how your water, sewer and ALCOSAN sewage bill > is calculated > - Your right to fair credit and deposit policies > - Your responsibility to pay your bill > - *Your right to question or disagree with PWSA* > - *Your right to receive continuous water, sewer and ALCOSAN sewage > service if you meet your responsibilities* > > _____________________________________________________________ > > Many people have asked for contact information > for the PWSA, Councilman Dowd, Mayor Ravenstahl, etc. > Please find some of this information below. Also, if you have any other > contacts, please share: > > *Office of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl * > City of Pittsburgh > City-County Building - Fifth Floor > 414 Grant Street > Pittsburgh, PA 15219 > Phone: 412-255-2626 > Fax: 412-255-2687 > E-mail<askpgh(a)city.pittsburgh.pa.us?subject=City+of+Pittsburgh+Website+E-mail> > > *Melissa M. Demme * > Senior Administrator to the Mayor > Phone: 412-255-2626; Fax: 412-255-8602 > Email: melissa.demme(a)city.pittsburgh.pa.us > > *Councilman Dowd > *For more information, please phone 412.255.2140 or email > district7(a)city.pittsburgh.pa.us. > > > *The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority* > Penn Liberty Plaza I 1200 Penn Avenue > Pittsburgh, PA 15222 > (412) 255-8800 > > *Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection / Bureau of Water > Standards & Facility Regulation* > 400 Market St > PO Box 8774 > Phone: (717) 783-7416 > >

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[Highland Park] Seeking exterior painter
by Kate Mast 13 Aug '10

13 Aug '10

Neighbors, I need my house stripped and painted. I have the overhang and about 20 windows. I've started on some of the lower level windows, but this will likely be a fairly large job. Does anyone have the name of an exterior painter that they would recommend? As the job involves stripping the paint as well (most of the paint is craked and exposing the wood) I would like someone with some experience. Thanks, Kate Grafton St

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[Highland Park] SOFA FOR SALE - Jennifer Convertible Sleeper Sofa - $200 (Highland Park/Morningside)
by msranders 12 Aug '10

12 Aug '10

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/fuo/1895874324.html SLEEPER SOFA: 85"L x 36"D x 28"H buff color (light yellow-beige) 2 accent pillows included http://www.jenniferfurniture.com/ approx $900 new 6 years old. heavy due to the sleeper mechanism. sofa in good shape. sleeper is uncommonly comfortable (no joke - have slept on it myself several times). original owner. non smoking home. 2 cats in the home, but no cat smell and no spraying. some non-essential fabric damage in the back corner from a project one of our cats has going on... (the project being: to enter the inside of the sofa), but the sofa has not yet been breached. also have a chair and ottoman we will throw in, if you want them. FREE with the sofa. these are not in good shape. however good slipcovers could make them very servicable. for $200, you could take all 3. you haul - with a few strong and well coordinated friends - sofa is heavy. armchair in same color and style is 38"L x 36"D x 28"H ottoman in same color and style is 28" L x 24"D x 16"H (for reference, this set was approx $1600 new)

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[Highland Park] Bryant Street Update from the HPCDC
by David Hance 12 Aug '10

12 Aug '10

Dear Highland Park neighbors, On behalf of the Highland Park Community Development Corporation, I want to thank the neighborhood for your continued support of, and patience with our efforts on Bryant Street. Our first project on the street, restoration of "the dry cleaners building" at the corner of Bryant and N St Clair has proven, as most observers can attest, to be a larger undertaking than we or our partners could have envisioned. When complete, however, the neighborhood will have a new restaurant, a restored historic building with two new apartments on the upper floors, and what we firmly believe will be the anchor for continued development and turnaround in our neighborhood business district. As with any project that remains in construction past the date that the doors were expected to be open, especially when it is to be the home of Park Bruges restaurant, questions and doubts will surface. To the extent that those concerns lead to a desire to find "the guilty party", however, please know that with this project there are no villains. From the beginning we have been extraordinarily fortunate to have the Mayor, Senator Ferlo, Councilman Dowd, and Rob Stephany from the URA behind this project, and to this day their support has remained steadfast. Whenever we have requested cooperation, we have received it, whether from City agencies or a range of other stakeholders. Time and again, this project has presented more than its fair share of various and unexpected challenges. Some of them threatened to undo the project, and very nearly did. While hard work and challenges remain, the completion of the Park Bruges space is now within sight. To get where we are today speaks to the commitment of a strong team. A word about sewer problems: Yes, our basement is subject to flooding when we receives heavy rains. The city's sewer system simply cannot handle large rain events. Billions of dollars will be spent in our city and region in the years ahead to address the CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) problem that now pollutes our rivers. Though this is not an occurrence that is unique to Bryant Street, I suppose that it was only fitting that this project should suffer through this challenge, too. Councilman Dowd made clear to us from the outset that he would be especially helpful in getting us through this. Patrick immediately appreciated the gravity of the situation and acted quickly to bring it to the attention of top officials at PWSA. While not alone in communicating his concerns to PWSA, he has certainly been an effective and strong-willed advocate on the community's behalf, and for that he deserves our sincere thanks. Having concluded the HPCDC's most recent meeting with top PWSA officials yesterday, brokered by Councilman Dowd, I can convey that all the decision-makers were in the room to bring the issue to resolution. Far from being ineffective or obstructionist, PWSA has put significant time, effort, and resources in place to solve an issue that, if unresolved, would not only plague Park Bruges, but would severely compromise the HPCDC's efforts to fulfill the vision of the Community Plan to bring a thriving commercial district back to Bryant Street. The solution is neither just a "patch-job" nor will it be a trivial undertaking. Before we began our efforts on the street, at the behest and urging of the neighborhood and then Councilman Ferlo, Bryant Street had suffered from obvious disinvestment and crumbling structures above ground, and as we are finding, not-so-obvious problems in the below ground infrastructure as well. Very soon, however, Bryant Street will be a much improved place. With amenities like new restaurants beginning to populate our community, there is a brighter future now coming to life. Please take a moment to consider the broad range of team members required to complete this remarkable project. There are many others not mentioned in this message that also deserve great credit, but none of this would be possible without you, the Highland Park community, behind us. Thank you again for your support. Dave Hance President, Highland Park Community Development Corporation This message is sent by Perkins Eastman Architects, PC, and/or its Affiliates, and is intended exclusively for the persons to which it is addressed. This communication may contain information that is privileged or confidential. If you are not the named addressee, you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate any part of this message.

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