- test-neighbhorhood@test.highlandparkpa.com

[Highland Park] Walk in the Woods
by Rudolph T. Maceyko 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

Neighbors, Please join me for a Walk in the Woods (the park) on Wednesday evening, June 24, 2009 at 6:30pm. We start at the fountain, walk in the woods as much as we can, and end back at the fountain about an hour later. The walk is fun for everyone but keep in mind that paths and steps in the park can be uneven. For the full schedule (including walks in the other parks) see the Pittsburgh Parks web site: http://www.pittsburghparks.org/walks-in-the-woods Or print a poster and hang it somewhere as a reminder! :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/werejellyfish/3578461387/ Rudy

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[Highland Park] Free Wood and Beveled Glass Table
by Teresa Bedo 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

48" solid wood and beveled glass octagonal table. Has one 22" wood and beveled glass extension leaf. Brass finish pedestal base. Wood needs to be refinished, but very sturdy and certainly in good enough condition to be used as is. See attached photos. Free. Teresa Bedo tbedo(a)gmx.com

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[Highland Park] Neighborhood Safety Article
by boardwalk_2000＠yahoo.com 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

Greetings neighbors - In the November article of the Highland Park Community Council's newsletter, I wrote an article regarding how we might, as a community, constructively engage on issues of public safety. The article received some favorable feedback, as well as a suggestion to pass it on the listserve. I apologize for allowing the craziness of my personal life to to delay me this long, but the article is below. One positive note that has developed since the time of the article is that a Highland Park resident has stepped forward to take on the role of Public Safety Chairperson for the HPCC. Her name is Lynn Burns and she welcomes any input the community might have regarding public safety concerns. She can be reached at lynn.burns(a)comcast.net. Residents are also welcome to contact me at boardwalk_2000(a)yahoo.com. Sincerely, Eric D. Randall, HPCC Vice President /////// In the summer of 2004, I got to participate in a research project conducted by Carnegie Mellon. The Virtual Agora project was an attempt to study ways in which average citizens could get engaged in affecting public policy. The study’s designers randomly selected several dozen residents from all over the city of Pittsburgh, gave them computers and access to an extensive library of information about several public policy issues, and moderated some forums (both face-to-face and virtual) where people could talk and debate. The study participants first focused on Pittsburgh public schools, later on a group of interesting issues (tax policy, economic development), and so on. The study’s participants survived pretty well through the first four or five rounds, but eventually, the study reached the point where we had to vote on the single most important issue (I think our group picked taxes), figure out what we thought the most plausible solution was, and start getting in touch with our elected officials to talk about it. And that is where the study – which had been going on for several months – died. Many of the study’s participants were happy to study the issues and talk about them in a group, but contacting elected officials went well beyond many people’s comfort zones – they really didn’t know what to do in order to effect meaningful change, or didn’t have the time. It was a painful reminder that there’s a very real difference between caring about an issue and doing something constructive about it. In some ways, our October HPCC meeting reminded me of this experience. The HPCC has seen many Highland Park residents express serious concern about instances of crime in our neighborhood, primarily through the e-mail list and occasionally – especially after a spike in e-mail or media-reported crimes – at HPCC meetings. It’s after such apparent spikes in crime that the meetings become relatively well-attended, and people take the opportunity to vent. Venting has its place; however, I believe we can and should engage on this issue in a more constructive manner. There are plenty of bright, caring, motivated people who live or work in Highland Park. Why shouldn’t we work on figuring out what to do? Our October meeting featured representatives from the police and from the mayor’s office. They brought with them some information (crime statistics plotted on a map of Highland Park and surrounding neighborhoods) and no shortage of tips about how to handle suspicious situations. They also expressed a clear willingness to work with us. This can be part of the foundation of a partnership and strategy to help address crime. I don’t have any magic answer to the crime issue, but there are a number of things I believe. First, we must move beyond ignoring the issue, beyond complaining about it, and beyond any notion that the issue is primarily the police’s responsibility to address. The police serve a vital role, and I in no way mean to understate the value of their efforts. But these are our homes, our businesses, our neighbors. And the police are strapped for resources to the point where they are typically responding to incidents after the fact. I think we should focus on figuring out ways to prevent crime – to strike at the root of why crime happens. As an example, one topic that was discussed in our October meeting was the presence of halfway houses in Highland Park where juveniles were sent to live in order to relieve overcrowding at the Shuman detention center. The police officer present at our meeting indicated that these juveniles sometimes attract out-of-neighborhood friends who commit crimes here in Highland Park. Assuming this all to be true, what might we do? I would argue that trying to drive the halfway houses out of Highland Park – while an understandable gut reaction – only deals with the surface of the issue, not its root. By itself, such a move would have the primary effect of shifting the burden to other neighborhoods. If other community groups took the same approach, we’d just be shifting the problem from one neighborhood to the next without ever solving anything. So what do we do? Again, I don’t have any magic answers. But I would like to see us begin a dialog about the possibilities. And I suspect that the mayor’s office and the police would be willing to both give and receive any reasonable assistance, especially if we are trying to address the issue collectively, as a community. Mike Nadler (HPCC President) and I would like to see the HPCC be a positive force for constructive community, and we want our meetings to move us in the direction of being a better and better neighborhood. Please contact us to let us know your thoughts, and please think about ways in which you can contribute to solution-focused conversations during our meetings and on-line. Eric Randall, HPCC Vice President

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[Highland Park] entertainment cover from yard sale
by Erik Schark 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

Hi, all - This is a very long shot, I know, but here goes: We sold a wooden entertainment/storage center at our yard sale on the Great Highland Park Yard Sale. We live on Callowhill Street, and the people who bought it took it apart and stuffed it in a small red car. We cleaned out our basement a week later and found a very nice cloth (linen) cover that goes with the entertainment center. We'd love to pass it along to the people who now own the entertainment center if at all possible. If you bought the entertainment center and read this, please e-mail me at erikschark(a)verizon.net so we can get it to you. Thanks! Erik

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[Highland Park] Humane raccoon removal
by Denise 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

My daughter has a raccoon infestation in her 3rd floor apartment? Does anyone have experience with this? Denise Petsitpgh(a)gmail.com Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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[Highland Park] Iron Fencing
by WEBER, BRANDEN 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

The Fencing has been spoken for. If anything changes I will contact the next person who called. Thanks Branden Weber PACE Manager NE Region Cell (412)-877-6183 Email (Branden001S.Weber(a)Safeco.com) P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Note: The information contained in this message is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, do not distribute or copy this communication. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the sender. Thank you for your cooperation.

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[Highland Park] Bridal/Formal Dress Sale
by Meg Reilly 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

Hello, I'm just writing to remind everyone of the Bridal Gown/Formal Dress sale to benefit Lydia's Place. The sale will be Friday July 31 - Sunday August 2 at the Mall at Robinson (near Ikea). Thank you to everyone who has donated dresses for the sale! Meg

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[Highland Park] Council to Go in Morningside this Week
by Kropf, Heather 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

Greetings all! Councilman Patrick Dowd and staff are out and about this week with Council to Go. On Thursday, June 25, you can visit with the Councilman in Morningside at the Morning Glory Café (1806 Chislett St), 5:30-7:00 pm. If you've had something on your mind lately, or wanted to discuss issues before Council, Council to Go gives you a chance to visit directly with your representative and his staff. For a full schedule as well as more information about Council to Go and Councilman Dowd, visit www.pghgov.com/district7 or call (412) 255-2140. We hope to see you! Heather Kropf Administrative Assistant Office of Councilman Patrick Dowd City Council District 7 414 Grant Street, 5th Floor Pittsburgh PA 15219 (412) 255-2140 heather.kropf(a)city.pittsburgh.pa.us

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[Highland Park] Looking for a babysitter for this Friday and in the future
by Heather Conrad 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

Hi! I'm looking for a babysitter for occasional jobs through the summer for 1 or more of my 3 children: two boys, 11 and 9 and a 15 month old girl. We live on Heths Avenue between Wellesley and Hampton. I need someone this Friday from 8:30am to 6pm for the 2 boys and for next Thursday for the older boy and the toddler from 8:30 to 3:30. References are required. I have kept many of the old emails to the list with sitters and have contacted a number of them, with little response, so am hoping to get either some references from folks who have used someone good (that they are willing to share! :-)) or from someone who sits with references. You can either respond to this email or call me at 412.606.9263. Many thanks in advance, Heather

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[Highland Park] air conditioning contractor
by Fairfax Apartments 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

Hello All- Has anyone used Fazio Heating and Air Conditioning for work in your home? We are considering using them to install a new air conditioning system and don't know anyone who has used them in the past for a recommendation or otherwise. We would greatly appreciate your input. Thank you, Camille Lurie N. Highland Avenue

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