News Around the Neighborhood
Has Your Child Ever Wanted to Write Their Own Story?
Let’s Spin a Bedtime Story
Thursday July 30th 7:00 pm
Attention to children of all ages! The New Hazlett Theater needs your help. We’ve brought together three amazing creators to spin a brand-new tale, but they are missing some of the details. Bring your pajamas and your popcorn and join storyteller Parag S. Gohel, cartoonist Joe Wos and musician David Bernabo on The Show Must Go(Online), to help them bring this new bedtime story to life. Wos will illustrate the story live to screen with prompts from the audience. Don’t miss the collaborative adventure for the whole family.
Mayor’s Office Follow Up: Allegheny Circle Public Meeting
City and County Offering Rental Assistance
While Governor Tom Wolf has extended protections for homeowners and renters from foreclosure or eviction through August 31, eligible residents of Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh should be aware they can apply for rental assistance if needed.
The chart above describes both programs more completely. Those seeking assistance may find more information on County programs here and about URA programs here. Pennsylvania residents may also seek help here from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. (Please also note this press release from Allegheny County.)
Letter from the President – July 2020
“Each person must live their life as a model for others.”
– Rosa Parks
AWCC’s inaugural General Membership Informational meeting in June was a big success over 25 neighbors joined and heard presentations from the City of Pittsburgh Mayor’s Office, the City of Pittsburgh Department of Infrastructure and Mobility, our own Cathy Serventi, AWCC Treasurer and our own John DeSantis, Northside Leadership Conference Bridge Committee.
The July 14th General Membership Informational meeting will also take place via Zoom and has another packed agenda: COVID-19 impact on AWCC Budget, Norfolk Southern Update/Bridge demolition, Allegheny Commons Park Update.
There is so much happening all over the area/country/world, maybe an hour or so of neighborhood-focused news will offer a nice distraction. You can find the Zoom meeting details on the next page. I hope to see you there!
One of the most significant discussions occurring right now at our dinner tables, Zoom meetings, social media platforms and almost every other place where people gather is the Black Lives Matter movement. I’d like to take an opportunity to highlight two recent, local items.
One is a statement from the Northside Leadership Conference that begins: “Racial discrimination is immoral. Four simple words. The frustration of black residents is real and sadly justified because some people cannot recognize and honor the truth of those four words.”
AWCC is a NLSC member, has representation on the Executive Committee and stands in support of the statement, which you can read in its entirety here.
Second is the historic legislation passed unanimously on July 7th by Pittsburgh City Council that commits that “Black Pittsburgh Matters.” Pittsburgh is the first city in the nation to officially state that their Black Citizens and the Black communities they live in matter.
These are difficult times in general let alone to answer Rosa Parks’ call to live our lives as a model for others. It seems it’s most essential now.
Black Lives Matter.
Ann Gilligan
President, AWCC
AWCC Informational Meeting – July 14, 2020
Via Zoom (details)
Tuesday, July 14th at 7:30 pm
- 7:30 – Gather, Say Hello, Talk about Weather (It’s hot!)
- 7:35 – Update: City of Pittsburgh, Mayor’s Office
- 7:45 – AWCC 2020 Budget/COVID-19 Impact (Cathy Serventi)
- 8:00 – Allegheny Commons Park Update: Playground Equipment (Tom Barbush)
- 8:15 – Norfolk Southern Update: Bridge Demolition (John DeSantis)
- 8:30 – Conclusion
AWCC Membership Informational Meeting
AWCC Membership meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of every month.
Membership meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89969724081?pwd=dGFWNTRaalpJZThHNjBWQmswenNYQT09
- Meeting ID: 899 6972 4081
- Password: 979088
Join By Phone: 1-301-715-8592
Problems connecting? Text (do NOT call) Cathy at (412) 418-2027.
COVID Testing Resources on the Northside
Northside Christian Health Center
816 Middle St, 15212
Offering free oral self-swab Coronavirus testing. Must pre-register: alleghenycovidtesting.com / (412) 321-4001 option * for assistance
Allegheny Health Network
(Former Divine Providence) 1004 Arch St, 15212
A doctor’s prescription is needed for this site. For more information: ahn.org/coronavirus / (412) 687-7348
Central Outreach and Wellness Center
127 Anderson St, Ste 101, 15212
The onsite testing is suspended, but they can assist you if you do not have a PCP or insurance: call (412) 515-0000
Fall 2020 Tree Planting
According to Jeffrey Bergman, Director of Community Forestry and Tree Vitalize at Western PA Conservancy, there will be tree-planting in the fall. The intention is to move forward with the plantings for approved Tree Vitalize applications in Pittsburgh. They are finalizing assessments for the fall this summer and will follow up with applicants in late August.If you did not apply to have a tree planted, it may not be too late. Call or email me at (412)-321-5951 or callismar@gmail.com and I can provide the application form.
Pittsburgh Here for Good Fundraiser to Help Local Small Businesses
Before the pandemic, 595,000 small businesses close each year in the United States. More than 100,000 small businesses across the country have closed for good because of the coronavirus.
Pittsburgh Here for Good is a T-shirt fundraiser for Pittsburgh area small businesses by a Pittsburgh-area small business. Small businesses in the 412 have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and are creatively exploring alternative ways to generate revenue. A T-shirt fundraiser is one way to do that!
Like you, I am a small business owner. Pre-pandemic, I printed apparel for youth sports teams. With sports being shelved, I had to pivot to keep good. Enter the “Pittsburgh Here for Good” fundraiser for small businesses. The Pittsburgh Here for Good fundraiser is an opportunity for Pittsburgh area small businesses to add a revenue source without taking on risk or adding expense.
It’s simple. You, the small business owner, sigs up on our website, upload your logo or motto, and we turn it into a premium T-shirt to sell online. You’ll earn $10 from the sale of each shirt – without risk, without cost.
We sent out weekly payments, and these can add up. Since the start of the fundraiser, we’ve sent thousands of dollars to Pittsburgh small businesses.
So, what’s the catch? There isn’t one. All we ask is you make your customer base aware this fundraiser exists and that it will have a positive influence on keeping your business alive! We ask you to commit to pushing the information out through your website, email, and social media.
People want to help out their favorite local businesses, but they don’t know how. This fundraiser is a win for all involved: the small business can generate revenue through shirt sales, their customers get a premium T-shirt for a good price all for helping their favorite business, and the business printing the shirts is helped also.
Your customers, your fanbase, your tribe…They want you to survive this. They want you to make it to the other side, and they want to help.
Visit https://www.itsforthekids.net/pittsburgh-here-for-good-lp.html#/ or scan the code.
You’ll be glad you did!
—
Mr. Kris Schemm
It’s For The Kids, llc
www.itsforthekids.net
(412) 414-0492
Allegheny Commons Park Updates + Events
Playground Removal
The Department of Public Works will be removing the playground in the West Commons (near the deer pit/Gus & Yia Yia’s) due to safety concerns. The Swings were replaced a few years ago so they will stay open. DPW will be putting the replacement of the safety surface and playground in the 2021 capital budget request.
WHAT THE MUCK!?
(volunteer clean up of Lake Elizabeth)
The Parks Conservancy in partnership with Allegheny CleanWays and the City are hosting a cleanup of Lake Elizabeth in Allegheny Commons Park on the Northside. Volunteers will be working alongside staff to remove debris from the recently drained lake on the following days/times:
- Tuesday, June 23rd – 9:00 am-12:00 pm – FB Page for 6/23 – Registration link for 6/23
- Thursday, June 25th – 9:00 am-12:00pm – FB Page for 6/25 – Registration link for 6/25
West Ohio Street Bridge Construction
PITTSBURGH, PA (June 18, 2020) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) is pleased to announce the start of construction on the new West Ohio Street Bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad in Allegheny Commons Park in the Allegheny Center neighborhood of the City. The bridge has been closed to traffic since January 2018 due to deterioration of the 117-year-old structure. When construction is completed in the Fall of 2021, the new West Ohio Street bridge will support a full return of service between Allegheny Commons and Allegheny West.
In the coming weeks, a temporary pedestrian bridge will be installed to allow for continuous pedestrian access over the railroad during the project.
For questions, please contact the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure at zachary.workman@pittsburghpa.
gov.
Erin Tobin
Community Engagement Manager
