If you own a house or other real estate in the City of Pittsburgh or in Mt. Oliver, chances are you have already received a notice of your new property assessment from Allegheny County. (Notices to property owners outside the City are due in your mailboxes sometime in 2012.)

The filing deadline for an informal review of your new property valuation is Jan 13 and the deadline for a request of a formal appeal on your new property assessment is due to the Allegheny County Board of Property Assessment Appeals & Review on Feb 10.

To learn more about this process and the Allegheny County Reassessment of 2012, come for an informational session by Pittsburgh attorney Greg Biernacki of Real Estate Tax Consultants, Inc.

When:   Saturday, Jan 7
Time:   10:00 — 11:30am
Where:   Landmarks Housing Resource Center
744 Rebecca Ave, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221
Click here for a map and driving directions.

RSVPs are appreciated. Contact Mary Lu Denny at 412-471-5808 ext. 527 or marylu@phlf.org

Please note that PHLF does not provide tax or legal advice. This session is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal or tax advice. Please consult your own tax and legal advisors with respect to questions or issues.

On Saturday, November 19, 2011 the Regent Square Civic Association (RSCA) hosted a public safety meeting at the Mifflin Avenue Methodist Church on neighborhood crime prevention. A panel of police department representatives from Wilkinsburg, Swissvale, Edgewood and Pittsburgh discussed 911 calls, the importance of block watches and how to be aware of one’s surroundings.

Tom Montgomery, the chair of the RSCA Public Safety Committee facilitated the meeting. The panel consisted of:  Sergeant Larry Singer, daylight shift commander, Wilkinsburg Police; Officer Keith Nugent, daylight patrol officer, Edgewood Police; Detective Segeant John Corrado, Swissvale Police; Officer Debra Indovina, Swissvale Police; and Officer Matt White, City of Pittsburgh Police.

The panel discussed issues related to calling 911 and provided tips for preventing crime in your neighborhood.

All members of the panel emphasized that residents should always call 911 if they see anything suspicious. No one knows our neighborhoods as well as we do, so if we see something that doesn’t seem right, we should call 911 and report it. It is, however, important for callers to be specific about what is going on and why the police are needed. Explain the circumstances of your call and, if it is safe for you to remain on the phone and continue to report on what is happening, do so. It is particularly helpful to provide accurate descriptions of the person(s) involved, especially their clothing. Even if the dispatcher is not asking you questions, keep telling them what you see and get them to stay on the line. When in doubt—call. Detective Corrado said, “You are not ‘bothering us’—this is why we are here, 24 hours a day.” He emphasized that it is better to allow the police to come check something out than to regret later that you did not make the call. You can remain anonymous when you make a report, so you should not worry that the police will tell the suspect who reported the activity.

Officer Nugent noted that the Borough of Edgewood was the last municipality to move to the county 911 system and he finds that Edgewood residents are sometimes reluctant to call 911 because they want to talk to Edgewood police, however, like the other officers, he emphasized that Edgewood residents must call 911. The Edgewood station does not have anyone at the desk after midnight, so in the morning officers will come in to discover multiple messages about crimes from the night before. Since the callers did not use 911, no one was dispatched at the time, greatly decreasing the chances that someone will be arrested.

Officer Indovina from Swissvale noted that the 911 system is changing. Dispatchers are trained to ask a long series of questions, but callers should be aware that as the operators are talking to you, they are dispatching people. Also, the dispatchers are trained to help you deal with first aid situations.

Officers noted that if you see or hear something, you should call—don’t assume that others have done so. 911 is required to pass along every call that comes in; they will be reprimanded if they do not. Officer Indovina emphasized that, even if you think something isn’t important enough to report, do it—the officers will prioritize their calls.

Audience members asked questions of the panel. A Wilkinsburg resident described a problem with some young boys regularly cutting through her property at the same time of day, but she was concerned about calling the police due to a fear of retaliation. One of the officers suggested that she call and make a report so the police could put a patrol in that area at that time, and if they see the person they can stop him and it would appear as though the police just “happened” to be in area and the kid was unlucky.

In response to another audience question, officers said to make sure that you have clearly marked house numbers, so that first responders can easily identify your house. It is also helpful to turn on your porch light if you are able. The panel suggested that you keep the exterior of your house lit during the night, using motion sensors or dawn-to-dusk photo sensors. If you have a motion light, let your neighbors know so that they will call the police if they see the lights go on suspiciously.

Home security systems are a good idea and there are affordable “self-monitoring” systems you can get for a one-time cost of approximately $100 if you have a home phone line. The panel disabused the audience of some misconceptions. Having a small or modest house is no protection against a break-in, and most break-ins occur during the day, not in the evening. Burglars want to strike when no one is home. If you come home from work and see that your door or window is broken/open—do not go into your house. Call the police immediately.

Other tips included:

• Keep your garages closed and locked.
• Lock your cars. Do not leave merchandise in your vehicle. Lock valuables in your trunk, especially laptops, wallets, purses, bags, GPS, and cell phones.
• When shopping at malls, place merchandise in your trunk and then move your car to a different location.
  • There are criminals who watch parking lots for people putting valuables in their car.
  • Stay aware of your surroundings—don’t walk at night absorbed in a phone conversation.
• Have your keys handy before you get to your car.
• Lock the windows and doors of your house.
• When putting boxes from expensive purchases out for recycling, break them down so they are not so obvious.
• Do not leave wrapped presents visible in your windows.
• Make it as difficult as possible for a burglar to get in to your home. Most criminals are going to look for the path of least resistance. Put your valuables in a safe, if possible. While it is true that anyone can break into your house, you should still make it hard.
• If someone does break in—don’t clean up! You may throw away or ruin evidence.
• Take out ground-level window air-conditioners in winter, secure them in summer with L brackets.
• Do not leave ladders outside of your house.
• Cut shrubs back from the house, keep exterior lights on.
• Big dogs are helpful.
• Most car break-ins are not actually break ins, but rather the car was left unlocked. Don’t let your kids play with your car key fobs—sometimes they will unwittingly unlock the car.

The officers say that Halloween to New Year’s is the biggest time of the year for property crime, so please keep the above in mind and have a safe, happy end to 2011!

Edgewood Police

• Chief of Police, Robert Payne
• Crime Prevention Tips from the Edgewood Police

City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

• Chief of Police, Nathan Harper
• Community Safety web page

Swissvale Police

• Chief of Police, Greg Geppert

Wilkinsburg Police Department

• Chief of Police, Ophelia Coleman

Approximately 1,000 guns are recovered in the City of Pittsburgh every year, most of which have been involved in a crime. The City of Pittsburgh is lucky to have a dedicated Firearms Tracking Unit, so our police have a good idea of where these guns come from. This Unit traces every single gun and works closely with the ATF, schools, and youth groups. The scary thing is that most guns were purchased or stolen in the neighborhoods in which they are later used to commit crimes. This means that guns used to commit crimes in Park Place and surrounding neighborhoods generally come from right here, and many of them were purchased legally.

Detective Joe Bielevicz from the Firearms Tracking Unit met with neighborhood representatives through the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG) Safe Neighborhoods Network (SNN) on Saturday November 12, 2011. Bielevicz reports that half of all American homes have firearms and many are improperly stored. One of the most important ways to prevent crime in your neighborhood is to make sure your own guns are locked up in a secure safe that is bolted to the floor. Trigger locks are important for keeping young children safe from gun accidents, but they won’t do much to keep a burglar from carrying your weapon out of your home. Bedside tables are the first place a burglar will look for a gun. Never leave a gun in a parked car and be sure to lock it up in your safe every time you leave your home.

Another major source of guns used in crimes is called “straw purchasing,” where a person who is legally able to purchase a gun will do so and then give it to somebody who either can’t or doesn’t want to own it legally. Detective Bielevicz explained that wives and girlfriends are frequently the straw purchasers, and that one of the most important things we can do is educate young women about the legality and consequences of purchasing a gun for someone else.

What can you do to keep guns out of the hands of criminals? First, if you own a gun, be sure to lock it up in a secure safe that cannot be carried out of your home. If your gun goes missing or is stolen, report it to the police immediately. This saves the Firearm Tracking Unit a tremendous amount of time in the event that your missing gun is involved in a crime. Educate friends and neighbors about the importance of keeping guns locked up and out of parked cars and urge them to report missing or stolen weapons right away. Finally, be a positive influence on the young people in your lives, especially if you think they may be tempted to buy a gun for a friend or to exchange a gun for drugs. Warn them that getting caught purchasing a gun for someone else has a serious, lasting impact on future employment opportunities.

The Safe Neighborhoods Network meets bi-monthly at the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group building, 1901 Centre Avenue, in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. You can learn more about the Safe Neighborhoods Network at http://safeneighborhoodsnetwork.com.

Monday, December 5th

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Waverly Presbyterian Church Social Hall
(corner of S. Braddock and Forbes Avenues)

Drinks, paper goods, and music will be provided by the Board (we bring food too!). Guests are asked to bring a favorite dish or dessert to share at the party, as well as a healthy non-perishable food item to donate to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

MOST NEEDED Food Drive Items List
~ Cereal (high fiber, low sugar)
~ Tuna, Canned Salmon (packed in water)
~ Fruit, Vegetable Juice (100%, any size)
~ Canned Beans (kidney, black, navy)
~ Canned Vegetables
~ Peanut Butter (15 or 18 oz)
~ Canned fruit
~ Toilet, Facial Tissue
~ Laundry Detergent
~ Diapers (baby & adult)
**Non-perishable items only**PLEASE NO GLASS CONTAINERS**

Holiday fixin’s list: http://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/pdf/holiday_shopping_list.pdf

Supervised children are welcome, activities will be provided.

We hope you’ll join us for this cherished holiday tradition!

The GPPNA Board of Directors

Katy Frey, President
Melissa Neely, Vice President
Khrys Myrddin, Secretary
Sue Breslow, Treasurer
Jim Lenkner
Marlene Green
Mary Hupe
John Mayberry
Marilyn Navish-McCullough
Joni Rabinowitz

Come talk with some of the experts in the field. Brenda Smith (Executive Director of the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association) and a representative from the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority will help us figure out what we can do as individuals and as a community to address these issues.

Join us for a presentation and discussion about stormwater issues facing our neighborhood.
Monday, Sept. 26, 2011, 7:00 pm
Waverly Presbyterian Church Social Hall
(Corner of S. Braddock & Forbes Aves.)

*Refreshments will be served.*

AGENDA
7:00 Doors open/Refreshments
7:30 Presentation and discussion
8:30 GPPNA Annual Meeting:

• Review of the past year’s activities and plans for the coming year.
• Board Elections — there are four 2-year spots open for the GPPNA Board of Directors.

ELECTION INFORMATION
To vote, you must be a paid up member of GPPNA. You can join or renew your membership that evening.

View GPPNA bylaws and read board candidate biographies on the “Join GPPNA” page of our our website www.parkplaceblog.com.

Whether you are new-to-the-neighborhood, a long time resident, home-owner or renter, GPPNA member or not…EVERYONE is welcome at this annual neighborhood event

CANDIDATE BIOS FOR GPPNA ELECTION

Marlene Green

Melissa Neely

I love living in Park Place. My husband and I bought a duplex on S Braddock Ave in 1995. After 13 years, a large dog, and 3 growing boys, we decided we needed to move… next door. We have been converting a 4 unit into a single family house since 2008. Living on South Braddock Ave for 16 years, one of my ongoing concerns is pedestrian safety and our traffic issues.

A lot of my time is spent being a mom and the coordinator of the Neelyhouse. My work hours are spent as print designer for the Software Engineering Institute at CMU. My specialty is taking complex print information and making it easy to understand.

I look forward to contributing to the work of the GPPNA Board: supporting the neighborhood programs and events; helping build a sense of community between neighbors; addressing particular issues of the neighborhood; providing effective communications; and empowering residents to work together to improve Park Place.

Khrys Myrddin

I am a founding member of GPPNA and have served as the Secretary of the Board of Directors since 2006. In that capacity, I have worked to standardize meeting minutes and improve record-keeping for the organization in a way that will institutionalize knowledge so that it may be handed off to future board members in a coherent and organized way. In addition, I have had the primary responsibilty for sending out the Park Place Update for the last several years.

I have been involved in the planning and execution of a number of GPPNA events, most significantly the first three homeowner workshops organized with the CDCP and other East End neighborhoods. For the past two years, I have provided more of a support role with the larger events as I was working on a Master’s of Public Policy & Management (MPPM) degree while continuing to work full-time as the Associate Director of the Conflict of Interest Office at the University of Pittsburgh. I have also represented GPPNA at a City-sponsored S.A.F.E. Neighbhorhood conference and joined the PPND’s Safe Neighborhood Network. Now that I have finished my program, I am eager to spend more time making Park Place even more amazing than it already is!

John Mayberry

A neighborhood resident and home owner for over 10 years, you may know my name from the parkplaceblog.com web site that I currently manage.

I am interested in being on the board for the neighborhood association because I wish to help make our community stronger, continuing down the path of improvement it has been on for the last several years.

I believe that to become a stronger community, we need to draw on the talents of our diverse community members and come together as strong advocates with a vision, guided by our individual strengths and unified under a common purpose.
Our neighborhood’s future is largely of our own making and will continue to be so as long as we do not cede that right to outside interests. I wish to have our community define our own direction for planning and development, and to have the community become its own best advocate in all matters related to it, including zoning, schools, redevelopment, and safety issues.

As a certified project manager with many years experience in electronic media communications, I can help build out some of the infrastructure helpful to those goals.

I’m sad to report that Laurie Balog, a long-time member of our community, died suddenly on Wednesday July 13.  She lived on Peebles, corner of the alley between Lyman and Waverly. Despite her myriad medical problems, Laurie lovingly cared for many cats, most of whom need homes now. She took all comers, so if you’ve lost a cat in recent years, maybe she moved in to Laurie’s.

We are trying to find adopters for her eight cats—indoor-outdoor beautiful felines. Her rent is paid thru August, so we are scrambling to find perfect homes for our friend’s beloved feline family members.  They are all between nine and fifteen years old and are good, long-time companions to each other.

Please help us help them to live out their lives in safety and comfort.

Lyric – A gentle football-shaped cat with large round eyes. Lyric likes to nap inside closets and have her back scratched by kind humans. She enjoys the company of other cats. Lyric would be happy with an indoor only lifestyle as she chooses to spend most of her time inside the house. 10 years old. Spayed.

Minette – Senior short haired brown tabby with a disability in her back legs that she does not acknowledge. She has cerebral hypoplasia, resulting in an irregular stumbling gait, yet runs very well.  She is a bit timid.  Even though she seeks out human companionship, Minette prefers to have conversations from a safe distance, blinking her responses.  She appreciates the comforts of indoor life but has outdoor access.  Minette and all of Laurie’s cats are calm listening to classical music. This petite tabby is believed to be over 15 years of age but she doesn’t  look that old. She comes with a favorite (albeit beat up) padded wooden chair that is her throne.  She is  spayed.

Piper – an outgoing, personable black and white cat who loves to be with people.  She rubs up against legs and wants affection.  Piper’s favorite pastime is working in the garden with a human companion, though she readily adapts to an indoor lifestyle. She currently sleeps inside a home but has deck and garden access. Approximately 9 years old, she still plays like a kitten. Piper is spayed.

Ricky – Friendly grey and white short-haired gentleman. Friend to other cats. Cautious but curious and approachable.  Enjoys being with people.  Slender build despite a hearty appetite. Prefers to drink his water from a stemmed flower vase on the kitchen counter (!) or to lap drips of water from the faucet.  Likes to hang out with Gunther, a more private feline pal. Sleeps inside home and has deck and garden access. He’s neutered and is approximately 9 years old.

Gunther – Handsome short haired brown tabby on white. Excellent mouser. He is an independent fellow who enjoys relaxing in the basement rafters.  Sleeps inside home and has outdoor access.  Approximately 9 years old. Neutered.

Max – This short-haired feline has a distinctive black chin.  Max is intelligent and talkative, wary but curious. He responds to his name being called.   Max can be a real lover but he keeps his distance from people he does not know.  He greatly misses his former owner.  He hid for months while she was in the hospital, reentering the house the day she returned and jumped in her lap.  Now that his owner is gone, he still looks for her.  He hangs out with Lyric, a female feline who is not as adventurous as Max. Sleeps inside home with outdoor access. Reportedly 12 years old but appears to be much younger.  An explorer and athlete, he is very fit.  Max is neutered.

Tina Louise – Beautiful golden-eyed, golden-haired glamour girl.  Her long blonde fur currently is matted from inattention during her former owner’s hospitalization.  She will be groomed into a gorgeous trim lioness for her new forever home.  She used to walk her owner to the bus stop and wait for her return. Miss Tina Louise is sweet, affectionate yet independent.  Around her feline pals she is submissive and respectful.  She is approximately twelve years old, spayed and current on vaccinations.

Beautiful Stranger – We don’t know this lovely long-haired cat’s name…will ask other folks in the neighborhood.  She disappeared last winter when Laurie’s ex died and only reappeared months later while Laurie was in the hospital. Timid but attentive. Brown tabby on white markings. Fabulous plume tail. Seeks out comfortable places in basement when not lounging in the backyard. Can anyone give this beauty a safe and loving home?

For more information about any of these cats, please contact:

Casey:  brownbat74@yahoo.com; cell: 412-303-1974 (after 4pm)

or

Lois:   lois92@verizon.net; cell: 412-951-2630

IF SEEN OR FOUND, PLEASE CALL NATHANIEL DOYNO AT (412) 418-4594

Alba is a friendly, spayed calico, approx 1.5 years old. Distinctive markings include near 50/50 face split, a white breast,& four white paws.

Flyer available here: www.parkplaceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Alba-Lost-Poster.pdf

Submitted by Jim Lenkner

The meeting at ECS focused on the traffic study and plans.  Essentially car pickup and drop-off will be from both sides of the building with reserved loading zones on Waverly and Brashear.  All buses will use the front entrance on S. Braddock Avenue, which will become a no-parking area.  Buses will not wait on S. Braddock Avenue but will be staged from the parking lot near the tennis courts on S. Braddock and called to pick up kids as they are ready to board.  Morning arrivals will drop-off students and depart immediately.  The study and plan was based on a maximum student capacity of 234 with 19 permanent staff.  There will be two kindergartens and one each of grades one thru three.

A parking study conducted on September 15 showed that on the streets surrounding the school, Waverly, East End and Brashear, a minimum of 35 open street parking spaces were counted between the hours of 8 and 4 – suggesting that if parents needed to park for short periods during drop-off times or for daytime meetings, there would be ample on-street parking available.

Evening events will be scheduled with attention given to the Shadyside Academy schedule.  ECS will supply their calendar to GPPNA for posting or linking.  A transportation coordinator will be designated to handle all logistics and issues that may arise.  Any evening event will be conducted with ECS staff outside to facilitate parking.

Traffic plan for Park Place School

(Click on image, and then again to see it larger.)

You can also review the complete Revised Traffic and Parking Study, or see highlights below:

Transportation Management Plan (TMP) (excerpted from full traffic plan)

1. School start time will occur at 9:00 A.M.
2. Off-duty police officers will be provided from 8:15 A.M. to 9:15 A.M. and from 3:45 P.M. to 4:45 P.M. on all regular school days for the purpose of traffic control at the intersections of South Braddock Avenue with Waverly Street and with Brashear Street . Off-duty police officer shifts are served in four-hour increments so other duties that could be provided by these officers will be discussed with City representatives.
3. During all arrivals and dismissals, students will be supervised by ECS staff and escorted to/from the school and/or School Loading Zones
4. Students will use the front entrance on South Braddock Avenue for all arrivals and dismissals, supervised by ECS staff.
5. Parents/guardians will be permitted to drop-off students only at the designated School Loading Zones on Waverly Street and Brashear Street , prior to the start of school.
6. School buses, mini-buses, and vans will be permitted to drop off students only at the designated School Loading Zone on South Braddock Avenue , prior to the start of school.
7. School dismissal time will occur at 4:00 P.M. for school buses, mini-buses, and vans.
8. School dismissal time will occur at 4:15 P.M. for Parent/guardian pick-up.
9. School buses, mini-buses, and vans will be permitted to pick-up students upon dismissal only at the designated School Loading Zone on South Braddock Avenue .
10. All school buses, mini-buses, and vans will be staged on the western side of South Braddock Avenue , between Biddle Avenue and Guthrie Street , prior to student bus dismissal. The school vehicles will be radioed for pick up at the proposed ECS by ECS Staff.
11. Parents/guardians will be permitted to pick up students at the designated School Loading Zones on both Waverly Street and Brashear Street .
12. If School Loading Zones are fully occupied, parents/guardians will be permitted to park and wait in the available existing on-street parking spaces along Brashear Street, East End Avenue, and Waverly Street . Parents/guardians will be directed to the School Loading Zones, as space becomes available, by ECS Staff.
13. Parents/guardians will be instructed not to park along South Braddock Avenue at any time.
14. Parents/guardians will be reminded that no parking is permitted at any time in front of existing residential driveways.
15. Student drop-off and pick-up will only be permitted in the designated School Loading Zones.
16. At the start of each semester, a document will be distributed to all Parents/guardians of the students at ECS with directions detailing the student drop-off and pick-up procedure.A copy of this document will be posted and will be on file in the ECS office.
17. Bus companies will be informed of the transportation management plan aspects that pertain to bus/minivan operations at least annually just prior to the start of the school year.
18. The ECS will designate a Transportation Coordinator to be a point of contact for the neighborhood, parents, bus companies and the City of Pittsburgh for all transportation related questions and comments.
19. ECS will coordinate with SSA regarding scheduling of major evening/special events at the school.
20. After the first 2-3 months of operation of the ECS school facility, ECS will provide a report to the City documenting the effectiveness of the TMP and identifying proposed modifications to the measures specified in the TMP. The evolution of continued use of off-duty police officers will be included in this report. In addition, possible substitution of school crossing guards for the off-duty police officers may be considered at that time.

Notes from Wednesday, December 1 Neighborhood Mtg w/Councilman Burgess on ECS

Submitted by Joni Rabinowitz

On Wednesday Dec. 10, 2010 Councilman Ricky Burgess held a community meeting at St. Bede’s on Dallas to hear the opinions of the community members about the plans for ECS (Environmental Charter School). Since he will eventually be voting on ECS’s request for conditional use of the Park Place School building, Ricky is beginning the process now, to hear from his constituents.

About 75 people were there, and those who spoke in favor slightly out-numbered those who spoke against the plan.  Those in favor (which included about 5 parents or grandparents of ECS students, some of whom don’t live in the council district) made the following points:

• Although ECS is not a neighborhood school, it is a great benefit to the community; good schools increase property value, also
• ECS provides a way for people to meet and interact with their neighbors (18 ECS students live in Park Place)
• ECS wishes to partner with the community to improve the natural environment- they teach about nature- we should work with them
• Altho there will be additional traffic, parking problems, and noise, these are part of city living and shouldn’t prevent us from having a good school. ECS has made some changes in their plans to meet objections by residents. There will be police to direct traffic before and after school.

Those speaking against the plan, who primarily live within close proximity to Park Place School or directly across Braddock, made these points:

• Traffic there is already a nightmare.  With Braddock being the official route from the parkway to Childrens Hospital, and the approved route for 2 years while the Squirrel Hill tunnel is being repaired, this can only get worse.
• Traffic already drives on Waverly and Brashear — esp. during peack hours –to avoid Penn
• Parking spaces will be at a premium during after- school programs (every day) and evening programs.
• There are already 2 accidents a week on Braddock
• It’s wrong for for-profit companies (lilke Imagine!) to be spending our tax monies which should be going to our public schools

Ricky thanked the residents for coming out and making their opinions known. He said although he supports charter schools, he is committed to both sides in this debate. He wants to help us find a middle ground, if there is one. He’s committed to an open, transparent process and is deeply concerned about how we feel. He plans to spend more time in the community learning about how people feel about this, and asked people to invite him to their homes to talk about it. The process now is that Zoning Commission hold a hearing and vote next Tuesday at 2pm. They will consider the immediate neighbors, the broader community and the law, when making their decision. If they recommend conditional use of the building, it then goes to Council. Before Council’s vote, council will hold a public hearing.

Time: 6:30PM
Date: Tuesday November 30, 2010
Location: 829 Milton Street (The current school building in Regent Square)