Who Benefits from the Census? You - Bloomfield-Garfield

The deadline for all articles, ads, and Bulletin Board items for the February 2010 issue isFRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2010. For more information, call 412-441-6915.

Volume 35, No. 1 Serving Bloomfield, Friendship, Garfield, East Liberty and Lawrenceville since 1975 January 2010

NON-PROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPITTSBURGH, PAPermit No. 2403

Who Benefits from the Census? You Do!

Conversion of Penn Circle Designed to Improve Circulation in East LibertyAt a public meet-

ing on November16, Ernie Hogan,the deputy director of development ofEast Liberty Development Inc., andPat Hassett, assistant director of theCity of Pittsburgh's Bureau ofTransportation and Engineering, pre-sented plans for the conversion ofPenn Circle into a two-way street tomore than 40 East Liberty communitymembers. The reconstruction of PennCircle South and Penn Circle East intoa bidirectional roadway will begin inthe spring of 2010, and is expected tobe completed by the summer of 2011.

Penn Circle, a major one-way ringroad created during the "urban renew-

al" efforts of the1960s, has causedconfusion for driv-

ers and constricted major investmentin the neighborhood’s commercialcore ever since it was built. In 2002,part of Penn Circle South was recon-figured during the construction of theEastside development. The City ofPittsburgh is now working with ELDIto convert the next major section ofthe road into two-way traffic fromSouth Highland Avenue to PennCircle North. Parts of Penn Avenueand Broad Street near Penn Circle willalso be reconstructed.

By Tiffany ClarkEast Liberty Development Inc.

See Penn Circle, page 12

What do the national school break-fast and lunch programs, the LowIncome Home Energy AssistanceProgram (LIHEAP), the unemploy-ment insurance program, Medicaid,and new home construction all have incommon? They are among the manyprograms that benefit local residentsevery day, and that require U.S.Census data in order to determinewhere billions of federal dollars aredistributed.

Is It Any of Their Business?If you think the U.S. Census is just

about the government poking its noseinto people’s private business, thinkagain. The census, which takes placeevery 10 years and will be conductedagain this year, provides informationused to fund many of the programsthat community members rely on andtake for granted. For example, if your

child participates in the school lunchprogram, or if you or a loved one hastaken advantage of programs for sen-iors, census figures help to determinewhat the level of need is in your com-munity.

Census data also help local govern-ments and agencies decide where tolocate new roads, public transit routes,schools, and hospitals. The informa-tion also guides corporations in decid-ing where to set up new businesses,based on population density.

That’s why, said Aggie Brose,Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation’sdeputy director, “it’s so important thatresidents in our neighborhoods fill outthe census form.” Brose was recentlyappointed to the Complete CountCommittee, a local working groupconvened to make sure that Pittsburghneighborhoods are thoroughly includ-ed in the census. “A complete count ofall our residents is the only way toensure we receive the congressionalrepresentation and federal funding

this region deserves,” Mayor LukeRavenstahl said in establishing thecommittee with County ExecutiveDan Onorato.

Who Should Be Counted?Mandated by the U.S. Constitution,

the census provides a snapshot of thecountry’s population. All residents,citizens and non-citizens, must becounted. Households will receive aquestionnaire in the mail in February,consisting of 10 simple questions thattake about 10 minutes to answer. Inthe spring and summer, those house-holds that did not respond will receivea visit from a census worker, who willask the same questions as appear onthe form.

For those who do not get a form bymail, the questionnaires will also beavailable at selected public sites. Inthe East End, for example, theEastside Neighborhood EmploymentCenter (ENEC), located at 5321 PennAvenue, will have questionnaires

available and staff who can help any-one needing assistance to fill out theform.

Can the Information Be UsedAgainst People?

Questions on the census forminclude whether a unit is rented orowned, and the names, genders, andraces of those living in the house-hold. Answers to the census ques-tions are confidential. By law, theCensus Bureau is not permitted toshare people’s responses with any-

See Census, page 12

ARTIST’S RENDERING OF PENN CIRCLE CONVERSION (HIGHLIGHT-ED IN GRAY).

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By Paula MartinacThe Bulletin

• The Bulletin • January 2010

P U B L I C S A F E T Y T A S K F O R C E R E P O R TP U B L I C S A F E T Y T A S K F O R C E R E P O R T

Bob Gradeck and other staff from the University of Pittsburgh’s Center forSocial and Urban Research offered a workshop to East End community organi-zations about how to use the Pittsburgh Neighborhood and CommunityInformation System. PNCIS is an online database that collects information oncommunity conditions and makes it available to local stakeholders and groups.

The information helps community leaders, Gradeck said, because “they don’thave to chase down data” on such topics as foreclosures, tax delinquency, crime,property ownership, the housing market, and land use in a particular neighbor-hood. Gradeck’s team worked with East Liberty Development Inc., for example,to identify real estate for acquisition “before it fell into the hands of absenteeproperty owners.” PNCIS also enabled Lawrenceville Corporation to identify“the worst of the worst” absentee property owners and “put together a strategyto get them to adopt better practices,” Gradeck reported.

“There are a lot of speculators scooping up property in low-market areas,”Gradeck said, “and it’s not always the best thing for residents.” The informationavailable through PNCIS can make the job of community groups working forneighborhood stabilization a lot easier.

Community Groups Gain Tools forNeighborhood Stabilization

OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT A DUMPING GROUND!Recently, PA

Cleanways re-leased a 2009dumping survey identifying 14 ille-gal dumping sites in Garfield and anestimated 17 tons of waste. Of the14 sites identified, eight are fullyvisible from surrounding roadways,and the remaining six are partiallyvisible. There were also three sitesidentified in Bloomfield at an esti-mated three tons of waste.

When the BGC went out to surveythe sites, we noticed a mixture oflandscape debris, personal trash, andlarge item waste. On ShamrockWay, we found mattresses; onJordan Way, a futon; on the corner ofAlhambra and Evaline, a bunch ofgarbage bags and two sinks left in avacant lot; and on Brown Way, amuch larger mixture of landscapingwaste, personal trash, household fix-tures, and furniture.

We cannot tolerate this activity inour neighborhoods. Any form of lit-tering or dumping is illegal and sub-ject to fines. It has the potential todestroy the environment in ourneighborhood and bring down prop-erty values. We are asking neighborsto keep their eyes and ears out forthis activity. If you see somethingsuspicious, or are able to get thelicense number of someone dump-ing, please report the activity to the

BGC office at 412-441-6950 x 15. Wewill make sure that

the incident is reported. And, if youhire a contractor to perform somerenovations, ask him where he’ll behauling the debris generated by thework.

Together, we can start to crackdown on illegal dumping, and sendthe message that we will do what ittakes to keep our community clean.

Here are some of the streets withidentified dump sites:

Garfield:Corner of Alhambra Way and N.

Evaline Broad Street Brown Way Corner of Shamrock Way and

Elora Way Jordan Way, between N. Evaline

and Winebiddle Mora WayCornwall Street Kincaid StreetN. Negley Avenue

Bloomfield: Juniper Juniper at Edmond Aloe at South Matilda

By Kathryn VargasBloomfield-Garfield Corp.

Twice a year, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police sponsors an opportuni-ty for members of the community to become closely acquainted with theroles and responsibilities of the Police Bureau. The Pittsburgh Citizen’sPolice Academy (CPA) brings the police and the community closetogether in a setting that offers a sample of police training to each par-ticipant.*

The next session of the Citizen’s Police Academy will begin Tuesday,February 2, 2010, at the Allegheny County Adult Probation DayReporting Center, located at 2320 Arlington Avenue. The program willbe held each Tuesday evening, from 6 to 9 p.m. for 15 weeks.

Class size is limited to 30 participants. All interested persons mustcomplete a written application, available online, and give permission forthe Pittsburgh Bureau of Police to conduct a background check to deter-mine if they have a criminal record. All applications must be received byJanuary 15, 2010.

For more information on the City of Pittsburgh Citizen’s PoliceAcademy and/or an application, please go to http://www.city.pitts-burgh.pa.us/police/html/citizens_police.html, or contact LieutenantJennifer Beidle at: Pittsburgh Police Headquarters, 1203 WesternAvenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233; phone: 412-323-7844; email:[email protected].

*Please note: this program is not an accredited certification course to become a swornpolice officer.

ILLEGAL DUMP SITES ONBROWN WAY (TOP); SHAMROCKWAY AND ELORA WAY (MID-DLE); AND ALHAMBRA WAY(LEFT).

Participate in the Pittsburgh Citizen’sPolice Academy

Paula Martinac/The Bulletin

January 2010 • The Bulletin •

As part of the City of Pittsburgh’snew “Small Business Bicycle RackProgram,” 200 bike racks were addedthis fall to neighborhoods aroundtown. New racks cropped up inBloomfield, Lawrenceville, Friend-ship, and Garfield, including one infront of the Bloomfield-GarfieldCorporation’s community develop-ment office at 5149 Penn Avenue (seephoto). The design follows the origi-nal Bike Pittsburgh model, created byWall-to-Wall Studios, and representsthe convergence of Pittsburgh’s threerivers at The Point. Each sleek rackcan accommodate two bikes, one oneither side. The program falls underthe City’s “Taking Care of Business”initiative, which aims to revitalizebusiness districts.P

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Tour the East End on Two Wheels

In 2008, my officelaunched a uniqueprogram calledCouncil to Go – a mobile district office– to better serve you in the neighbor-hoods where you live, and to betterrepresent you downtown. DuringCouncil to Go, my staff and I go toprominent places in your communityto meet with you; we can help youlearn to use 311, discuss legislationbefore City Council, answer yourquestions about city services, or checkon any previous requests you havealready made through our office.

Since we started this program,we’ve met and answered questions forover 300 constituents. We’ve accom-plished this without spending a singlepenny of your tax dollars. Space forCouncil to Go is generously donatedby our hosts.

We have tried to schedule ourCouncil to Go sessions in places youalready like to visit, like neighborhoodcoffee shops or farmer’s markets. Withsites across the district, from PolishHill to Lawrenceville to Highland

Park, we found thatwe can service 20percent more

requests than we could by phone oremail from our downtown office. In2009, we talked to constituents aboutissues like nuisance properties, the G-20 and its effect on our neighborhoods,residential permit parking, streetpaving, and dozens of other topics ofinterest to you and your neighbors.

“Where is your district office?” is aquestion I used to hear pretty often.Council to Go is my district office andkeeps me active in the communities Irepresent, allowing me to get out andtalk to folks where they live and work,not just downtown. We’ve been verypleased with the success of this pro-gram, and in 2010 might try Councilon the Go – a chance for me to take awalk around your community with youand your neighbors.

Please join me and my staff in 2010at a Council to Go in your neighbor-hood. We look forward to meeting youthere!

Polish Hill

Polish Hill Civic Association,3060 Brereton St. January 20, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Lawrenceville

Perk Me Up 4407 Butler St. February 19, 7:30 – 9 a.m.

Highland Park

Enrico’s Tazza D’Oro1125 N. Highland Ave. January 27, 5:30 – 7 p.m.

Morningside

Morning Glory Coffeehouse 1806 Chislett St.February 24, 5:30 – 7 p.m.

Bloomfield

Farmers' Market Friendship Ave. & Edmond St. May – November only

Council To Go 2010 Schedule

By Patrick DowdCity Council - District 7

Mobile Council Office Continues Service to District 7

COUNCILMAN PATRICK DOWD TALKS TO A CONSTITUENT AT THE DECEMBERCOUNCIL TO GO AT PERK ME UP IN LAWRENCEVILLE.

serving Bloomfield, Garfield, East Liberty,Friendship, and Lawrenceville since 1975


The Bulletin

January 2010 • Vol. 35, No. 1

Total circulation:

20,000 copies 16,700 mailed

3,300 dropped

Editorial and Advertising Offices:

5149 Penn Ave.Pittsburgh, PA 15224Phone: 412-441-6915Fax: 412-441-6956Email: [email protected]

Editor: Paula Martinac

Advertising: Martin Pochapin

Proofreading: Rick Swartz

Bookkeeper: Mary Anne Stevanus

Distribution: Garfield CISP

The opinions expressed herein are

not necessarily those of the publisher.

© 2010 by Bloomfield-Garfield Corp.www.bloomfield-garfield.org

We Would Like to

Acknowledge the BGC’s NPP

partner, PNC Bank.

Thanks also to BNY Mellon,

Pittsburgh Partnership for

Neighborhood Development, The

United Way, Allegheny Valley Bank,

Dollar Bank, Citizens Bank, and all

our advertisers.

The Bulletin is published by theBloomfield-Garfield Corp. to:• serve the incorporated territory ofthe BGC and surrounding commu-nities• report on activities and ideasaffecting those communities• offer an opportunity to expressopinions and exchange ideas

Don’t forget to visit TheBulletin’s blog at

www.bgcbulletin.blogspot.com for the latest events

and happenings!

E Y E S O R E O F T H E M O N T HE Y E S O R E O F T H E M O N T H

The property at 5010 PennAvenue, City of Pittsburgh, 8thWard, was nominated as January’sEyesore Property of the Month. Therecorded owner, according to theAllegheny County Real Estate web-site, is Harold J. Bauer Jr. Mr. Baueracquired the property in September1992 for $6,000. The mailingaddress for the tax bill is 4623Friendship Avenue, 8th Ward. Thetaxes are current. The property wascondemned on May 11, 1992.

Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation(BGC) staff called the Record Roomof the Bureau of Building Inspection(BBI) and found that Mr. Baueracquired an electrical permit in1996. He then acquired a buildingpermit on January 28, 2009, for inte-rior and exterior renovations toabate the condemnation notice. Thebuilding permit, however, expiredon July 27, 2009.

The BGC contacted Mr. Bauer toinquire what his plans were for theproperty, since the property has hadscaffolding and an 8-foot chain linkfence in front for quite a number ofyears, and there is no visible sign ofrepairs to the property. Mr. Bauerexplained that he acquired the build-

ing after it had been abandoned. Hesaid it was once a drug house andhad been accidentally set on fireabout 25 years ago. To the best ofthe BGC’s knowledge, the househas remained unoccupied since thatfire.

According to Mr. Bauer, the prop-erty is under repair, but he could notgive the BGC a time frame for whenthe repairs would be completed. Hestressed that he has finished a lot ofwork, citing these improvements:repointing of the entire building;rebuilding of the front box gutters;installation of new windows; com-pletion of electrical work; abate-ment of termite damage; and addi-tion of a new driveway and doors.He also reported to the BGC that heis working on the shed roof, and hasplans for a metal roof on the frontporch to keep the architecturalintegrity of the building.

Mr. Bauer told the BGC that heis a life-long resident of the area. Hesaid he has used sweat equity torepair the property when he has hadtime away from his regular job. Hesaid he is dedicated to finishing therepairs, moving in with his family,and calling it home as a single-fam-

Home Improvement: 18 Years and Counting?

ily dwelling. We look forward toseeing the completion of thedecades-long project very soon.

To nominate a property for eitherEyesore or Showcase of the Month,call 412-441-6950 x 15 or [email protected].

5010 PENN AVENUE IS IN ITS SECONDDECADE OF BEING “UNDER REPAIR.”



Lee Robinson, a musician with the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, educatedthe children at Child's Way® - a day care for medically fragile children at TheChildren's Home & Lemieux Family Center on Penn Avenue - about instru-ments from around the world. An accomplsihed musician for 25 years,Robinson played saxophones and percussion as well as selected musical record-ings. After his performance, Robinson helped the children make their ownmusical instruments using recycled materials. In the photo above, AleynaUcargonul and Cody Clegg, both 3 years old, make their own musical instru-ments with a nursing student during Robinson's visit.

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M u s i c t o T h e i r E a r s

Lauren Byrne, the brand-new exec-utive director of LawrencevilleUnited (LU), says she wanted to beinvolved in community organizingsince age 4. “I didn’t actually knowwhat it was,” she laughs, “but Ithought my grandmother’s job wasreally cool. I was always with her andshadowing her.” Her grandmother isAggie Brose, longtime deputy direc-tor of the Bloomfield-GarfieldCorporation. In fact, Byrne says, shecomes from “a long line of peoplewho think it’s important to give backto the community.”

A lifelong resident of Pittsburgh’sEast End, Byrne started training forher future career early on. For a spe-cial project at Ellis School, she wrotea history of Garfield, the neighbor-hood where she was born, whichentailed talking to residents and com-munity leaders. “That was the firsttime I threw myself into studying aneighborhood,” she explains.

At Allegheny College, Byrne dou-ble-majored in political science andEnglish. A freshman seminar called“How Communities Work” got herhooked for good on communityorganizing. During the summers, sheinterned in State Sen. Jim Ferlo’sLawrenceville office, doing con-

stituent relations; after graduating, shewent to work in Mayor BobO’Connor’s office, as assistant tothen-Policy Manager Yarone Zober.

When Luke Ravenstahl becamemayor and Zober rose to Chief ofStaff, Byrne continued working as hisassistant for a while, then eventuallyassumed the job of NeighborhoodInitiatives Coordinator. In that capaci-ty, she says she “hit the ground run-ning,” traveling to each ofPittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods,attending community meetings as themayor’s liaison, and bringing backpeople’s concerns to Grant Street.

Two city initiatives that started onher watch were Green Out Pittsburghand Taking Care of Business. GreenOut Pittsburgh seeks, among otherthings, “to stabilize publicly ownedvacant lots,” says Byrne, and to trans-form them into green spaces. “Wemade happen what community mem-bers envisioned for the lots,” sheexplains. Since 2007, when the pro-gram began, 120 parcels have beengreened.

Under the Taking Care of Businessinitiative, which began in 2008, Byrneworked with community leaders tofigure out what features make busi-nesses want to locate to a neighbor-hood and to try to make them a reali-ty. “Those are my expensive garbagecans,” she smiles, referring to the pub-

lic trash cans placed along PennAvenue in 2009 to help keep litter offstreets and sidewalks. Handsome newbike racks throughout the East Endare also part of the program. (Seephoto, page 3.)

Although Byrne says she “reallyenjoyed” her job in the mayor’soffice, she jumped at the chance toapply for the position atLawrenceville United that had beenheld by Tony Ceoffe, who was electeda district judge. “I was always work-ing on the government side” of com-munity development, she notes.“Now I can take everything I’velearned and apply it to one neighbor-hood. I’m excited that I’ll become anexpert on Lawrenceville.”

Byrne exudes enthusiasm and pas-sion when she talks about her newjob; she says that “every time I meetsomeone I get a new idea” about whatcan be done. While she credits LUunder Ceoffe with implementing verysuccessful public safety initiatives,she says she thinks there is even morework to be accomplished. She hopesto “explore new ways to tacklecrime…and [deal with] slum land-lords” and “to help create communityplans” based on what stakeholders

Lawrenceville United Welcomes New LeaderBy Paula Martinac

The Bulletin

TWO GENERATIONS OF COMMUNITYLEADERS: AGGIE BROSE ANDGRANDAUGHTER LAUREN BYRNE.

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would like to see transpire in theneighborhood.

Lawrenceville, according to Byrne,is an exciting place because it “has arich history and tradition, but youngpeople are moving in, too,” helping toshape the future of the community. Atjust 25, Byrne can count herself in thenew generation of change-makers.Luckily for Pittsburgh, she intends tostay. “I love everything aboutPittsburgh,” she says. “I don’t seemyself leaving.”


Tiffany Clark (above), Community Outreach Coordinator for East LibertyDevelopment Inc. (ELDI), organized a December bowling party at ArsenalLanes for staff of various community groups. The purpose, she said, was“to increase the unity among [the groups] as well as strengthen our rela-tions.” In attendance were staff from ELDI, Bloomfield-Garfield Corp.,Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, Pittsburgh DowntownPartnership, Lawrenceville Corp., and Lawrenceville United.

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In November 2009, recommenda-tions for when to get mammograms todetect breast cancer changed. Whatdoes this mean for you?

What is a mammogram?

A mammogram is an X-ray of thebreast. It is used to check for breast can-cer in women (and also in men) whohave no signs or symptoms of the dis-ease. A mammogram usually involvestwo X-rays of each breast. From the X-rays, a doctor can detect lumps toosmall to be felt or tiny dots of calciumthat may indicate cancer.

The National Cancer Institute recom-mends:

1. Women ages 40 and older shouldhave mammograms every 1 or 2 years.

2. Women who are at higher risk ofbreast cancer should talk to their doc-tors about having their first mammo-

gram before age 40 and how often tohave them.

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

If you have any of these risk factors,talk to your doctor about when to havemammograms:• Personal history of breast cancer –Women who have had breast cancer aremore likely to have a second breast can-cer. • Family history – The risk increasesfor women whose mother, sister, and/ordaughter had the disease, especially ifthey were diagnosed before age 50, orwhose close male blood relative hadbreast cancer.• Menstrual and childbirth history –Women who started to menstruatebefore age 12 or who startedmenopause after age 55 are at higherrisk. Having the first child after age 30or never having a child also increasesrisk. • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Viewpoint: When Should I Get My First Mammogram?for more than 5 years increases the riskof developing breast cancer. • Overweight or obesity increases risk. • Low physical activity level through-out life also increases risk of breast can-cer. Being active helps decrease breastcancer risk itself, and also becauseactivity helps decrease or prevent obesi-ty.• Alcohol – Studies indicate that themore alcohol a woman drinks, thegreater her risk of breast cancer.

Controversy about Mammograms

As per the U.S. Preventive TaskForce, the new recommendations havechanged from 40 years to 50 years forinitial screening. Women between theages of 40 to 49 need to talk to theirphysicians about their risk factors andthe need for a mammogram.

The change from age 40 to 50 for thefirst screening mammogram is becausethe risk for cancer increases with age,and the risk in women ages 40 to 49 issmall. Also, mammograms in women40 to 49 years old often have findingsthat lead the doctor and patient to be

concerned and do more studies, such asa biopsy or MRI.

The very few patients who are diag-nosed with cancer by mammograms atan early age make the news – but whatabout the many younger women whowent through extensive work-ups andthe anxiety of these tests? Although thework-ups may have shown there was nocancer, these patients continue to worrythat something was missed. Such anxi-ety may lead the person to stop gettingmammograms altogether – and not hav-ing mammograms at all is a real healthrisk!

So, I believe that the U.S. PreventiveTask Force and National CancerInstitute recommendations are helpful –because they recommend talking toyour doctor "to make an informed deci-sion about whether mammography isright for you, based on your family his-tory, general health, and personal val-ues"(http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/USpstf/uspsbrca.htm).

Dr. Komerally can be reached at 412-622-6409.

By Sangeeta Komerally, MDBloomfield Medical Associates

MEMBERSHIP IS NOW ONLINE!

Did you know that the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation is amembership organization, composed of people like you whowant change and improvement in their neighborhoods? Nowyou can become a member of the BGC or renew your mem-bership online! Just visit www.bloomfield-garfield.org, clickon “Donate / Become a Member” on the front page, and fol-low the easy process. If you prefer to donate by check, thereis also a membership form to print out and mail in. Twooptions - two easy ways to support your community! Wehope you will join us and your neighbors in our commitmentto the revitalization of Garfield, Friendship, and Bloomfield.

A Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) advisory committee has begun the work ofdeveloping recommendations for serving the educational needs of students andfamilies in the East Region, which includes Bloomfield, Friendship, Garfield, EastLiberty, and Lawrenceville. The East Region Advisory Committee is comprised ofparents, community leaders, and District staff.

The committee is working on a plan that advances student academic achieve-ment while considering how to make the most efficient and effective use of facili-ties and financial resources. As part of the process for gathering public input, threecommunity forums for public comment will be held:

• Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 7 p.m., Reizenstein facility, 129 Denniston Ave. • Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 7 p.m., Pittsburgh Peabody High School, 515 N.

Highland Ave. • Thursday, February 25, 2010, 7 p.m., Pittsburgh Westinghouse High School,

1101 N. Murtland Ave. Each forum will begin with a short overview of the East Region Advisory

Committee’s work, followed by an opportunity for public remarks. Interested citi-zens may speak for three minutes, and speakers are asked to provide 15 copies oftheir remarks. Call the PPS Superintendent’s Office at 412-622-3600 beginning oneweek before the date of each forum, until noon on the day of the forum, to be placedon the agenda.

Forums on Possible Changes to East End Public Schools


TAX MANTAX MANby Patrick N. Price

Tax ConsultantInternal Revenue Service

For tax years 2009 and 2010, the American Opportunity Credit makesmany temporary changes to the Hope Education Credit. Textbooks,computers, software, and required course materials are now consid-ered qualifying educational expenses, in addition to tuition and fees.Qualifying expenses must be reduced by any grants or free scholar-ships. The maximum amount of the Hope Credit has been increasedto $2,500. Taxpayers can now claim the Hope Credit for the first fouryears of post-secondary education. Taxpayers with little or no incometax may be able to claim part of the Hope Credit now as a refundablecredit. For more information, visit www.irs.gov.

Visit The Bulletin’s blog atwww.bgcbulletin.blogspot.com

for all the latest news and events!

2010 - a new year with new oppor-tunities to become involved in better-ing local government.

All of Pennsylvania’s state repre-sentatives face re-election this year.In our area, that includes stateRepresentatives Dom Costa andJoseph Preston. Don Walko is notseeking re-election to the state House,as he has been elected as a judge inthe Court of Common Pleas. StateSenator Jim Ferlo is also up for re-election.

For those wishing to try their handat local political life, running for com-mittee member is a good way to start.In 2010, all Democratic Committeemembers are up for election.Registered Democratic voters canvote for their committee membersonce every four years. I say “can”because many voters do not bother totake the “trip” down the ballot to seekout candidates running for committeeseats. For example, in the 9th Ward,which is central Lawrenceville, fewerthan 150 people voted in any individ-ual Democratic Committee race.(Note: Republican Committee mem-bers are up for election in 2012.)

Here’s why committee membersare important. Politically, Pittsburghis made up of wards, which are furtherbroken down into election districts,called “precincts” in other parts of theUnited States. For example,Pittsburgh’s 9th ward, which is centralLawrenceville, consists of nine elec-tion districts. Each election district inturn holds several hundred voters.Democrats elect both a female and a

male committee mem-ber per district.

These small elec-tion districts are veryimportant on more than just a locallevel. They are combined with others,forming voting districts for mayor,state representatives, U.S. Senate, andso forth.

A Democratic Committee memberis an elected representative and, assuch, has duties to fulfill. Their bestknown duty is to vote for candidatesduring the endorsement process. Howdoes a committee member decidewhich candidate to endorse? By ask-ing their constituents for their opin-ions and representing their con-stituents’ wishes at the endorsementmeeting. It’s no secret that it doesn’talways happen this way.

Think you’d be good for the job?Want to try?

Here are the basics: A DemocraticCommittee candidate must be regis-tered as a Democratic voter and a res-ident of the election district.Committee members serve for fouryears. In addition to the endorse-ments, they attend periodic meetings,perform get-out-the-vote activities,and volunteer at the polls on ElectionDay.

If you would like to run forDemocratic Committee this spring,the first day to circulate and file nom-ination petitions is February 16, andthe filing deadline is March 9, givingyou three weeks to collect signatures.

First, visit Allegheny County’sElection Division, downtown at 542

Get Your Feet Wet in Local Politics This YearForbes Avenue,Room 604; phone: 412-350-4500. Pick up

petitions to get on the ballot. Note:You need a minimum of 10 signaturesfrom registered Democratic voters liv-ing in your election district. Be smart- aim for at least twice that many sig-natures. Pick up a list of your electiondistrict’s registered Democratic vot-ers.

Next, take every opportunity tomeet voters in your district, before theprimary election, Tuesday, May 18.Here are some tips for doing that:

1. Let friends and acquaintances inyour district know you’re running.Ask them to help you by introducingyou to their neighbors, door-knockingon their street with you, or calling vot-ers they know in the district.

2. Attend community functions in

your district, such as block watchesand clean-ups.

3. Knock on every voter’s door inyour district; this is a reasonable anddo-able goal. There are only severalhundred voters per district, and youhave 10 weeks in which to reachthem.

4. Send a letter/postcard to voters inyour district the week before the pri-mary.

5. Collect voters’ email addresses.Send them regular updates (every twoweeks) on your campaign.

Good luck! This is the last in my series on vot-

ing and politics. Thanks to TheBulletin for giving me this opportuni-ty to share my insights with you.Please contact me if you have ques-tions: [email protected].

By Gloria ForouzanBulletin Contributor

Santa Claus’s sleigh touched down in Garfield onFriday, December 4, for the Bloomfield-GarfieldCorporation’s annual holiday party. Volunteershelped Santa by serving cookies and hot cocoato the children, parents, and other communitymembers who filled the BGC’s CommunityActivity Center on N. Pacific Avenue. Cookieswere generously provided by UPMC St.Margaret, the Western Pennsylvania Hospital,and Whole Foods Market.

Adam Flanagan/BGC


Spreading Holiday Cheer

UPCOMING COMPUTER CLASSES ATEASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD EMPLOYMENT CENTER

Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center (ENEC) is conducting free computer classes atits offices at 5321 Penn Avenue in Garfield. Computer equipment used in these classes hasbeen supplied by the City of Pittsburgh’s Operation Weed and Seed. The class schedule inJanuary includes:

Tuesdays: Wednesdays: Thursdays:Intro to Computers Intro to Windows Working with E-ApplicationsIntro to Windows Intro to WordIntro to PowerPoint Intermediate WordIntermediate Word Intro to Access

Intro to ComputersIntro to Excel

For class times, descriptions, and pre-requisites, or to register for a class, call ENEC at 412-362-8580 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Maximum class size is 10, so register early! No admit-tance to class if more than 10 minutes late. Classes are FREE to Allegheny County residents.


If you passed the intersection ofBaum Boulevard and Penn CircleWest in East Liberty this fall and werein awe of the beautiful field of sun-flowers there, you have the ParentalStress Center’s Green Space Projectto thank.

The brainchild of PSC’s programdirector, Bob Feikema, the GreenSpace Project provides young peopleaged 13 to 18 with an opportunity tolearn environmental concepts and gar-dening from local experts, and toexercise leadership skills in determin-ing the future use and layout of thespace.

Dominique Reed, a Pittsburghnative and Americorps VISTA workerassigned to PSC through August2010, is at the helm of the greeningproject. “This is an amazing opportu-nity for me,” said Reed, a recent PennState University graduate inInternational and African-AmericanStudies. “It’s a way to empower thecommunity to transform this lot intosomething positive.”

The one-half-acre space adjacent toPSC’s offices formerly held a loftbuilding; after that structure wasdemolished, it was an unsightly lotfilled with weeds. Envisioning anopportunity to teach greening con-cepts, Feikema convinced the ownerof the lot to lend it to PSC for the new

youth project. This fall, volunteersfrom BNY Mellon and the TepperSchool of Business at CarnegieMellon University helped clear outthe overgrown weeds and build araised flower bed.

Reed explained that there are threedistinct parts of the project. One sec-tion with a picnic bench, flower bed,and winding walk is a parklette, orminiature park. In this area, the stu-dents are working with PittsburghPark Conservancy experts to learn thebasics of landscaping and design.

Second is a vegetable garden, inwhich students get hands-on experi-ence in the basics of organic garden-ing. In addition to deciding what toplant, students will also get to practiceentrepreneurship skills, determiningwhether the vegetables grown will begiven away or sold at a farmer’s mar-ket.

Third is the sunflower field, anenvironmental-learning exercise toteach how sunflower oil can be con-verted into biodiesel fuel. GTECH, alocal company that works to empowerthe community through innovativegreen strategies, led the harvest ofsunflower seeds at the end of Octoberand demonstrated how to turn the oilinto alternative energy.

Future plans include a possible api-ary to house honey bees, under thedirection of Burgh Bees. The apiarywould further the entrepreneurshipsegment of the project, by providing

Youths Learn Gardening and Environmental Practices from Local Experts


STUDENTS IN THE PENN CIRCLE WEST GREEN SPACE PROJECT WORK OUTTHE DESIGN OF THE GARDEN AT PENN CIRCLE AND BAUM BOULEVARD.

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honey for sale and wax for candlesand lip balm.

“The hardest part is recruitment,”noted Reed, who has been activelytrying to entice high school studentsfrom around the area to join the after-school program, which takes placeevery Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m.Four students are currently enrolled;the goal is to have 12 to 14 in the pro-

gram. No special skills or knowledgeare required.

“We’re just looking for kids whowant to learn and can commit for ayear,” said Reed. “And who aren’tafraid to get their hands dirty.”Interested students and volunteers canreach her at [email protected] or412-361-4800 x227.

During the 10th annual “Joy ofCookies” Cookie Tour in Lawrence-ville in December, gingerbread menwere hung throughout the shoppingdistrict designating which shops hadsamples of home-baked cookies andfree recipes for visitors. “This year,some businesses reported salesincreases by over 40 percent from lastyear’s tour,” said cookie tour organiz-er Mary Coleman of Gallery on 43rdStreet. Cookies were baked byBernadette Ogurchak of Heaven’sScent Pastries.

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Laurentian Hall Boasts Twenty Years of Serving SeniorsMary Ann

McGill can make anunusual claim: Shenow lives in thesame room where she attended secondgrade back in the 1950s. McGill is theresident manager of Laurentian HallApartments for seniors at 5321 PennAvenue, a building that originallyhoused the St. Lawrence O’Toolegrade school and high school.

“Talk about coming full circle!”said McGill, noting that a number ofthe current residents also attendedschool in that building. The all-girls’high school closed in 1968, and thegrade school in the early 1980s. Whenthe building was vacant, the parish-ioners “took a look at the neighbor-hood,” McGill explained, “and said wedon’t have so many young people any-more, but we have a lot of older peo-ple.” The early 20th-century structurewas reconfigured into 35 apartments,and Laurentian Hall opened its doors toits first tenants in December 1989.

The three-story, elevator buildinghouses efficiencies, one-bedrooms, andtwo-bedrooms; some have been adapt-ed to accommodate wheelchairs andwalkers. Each apartment has emer-gency cords that residents can pull incase of falls or other crisis situations.The apartments are open to rent for

those 62 or older, orthose under 62 whoare mobilityimpaired. Some

income restrictions apply, and rents areestablished according to income.Utilities are included in the rent, andeach unit can regulate its own temper-ature. A free, brightly lit laundry roomon each floor is another perk.

The hallways are wide and spa-cious, harking back to the building’sdays as a school. “We kept the integri-ty of the hallways,” McGill said.“People actually do their circuits upand down them,” getting in a dailywalk without having to leave the build-ing. There is ingoing and outgoing mailservice for residents five days a week.

Although residents can preparetheir own meals, a dinner plan is avail-able for an additional $180 a month;Nova Café caters the evening meal inthe common dining room. There areoccasionally group activities in thecommunity room, including movies ona large-screen TV.

Laurentian Hall’s maintenancesupervisor, Chuck Mahan, keeps thebuilding in shape. He has been slowlyrenovating each apartment as vacan-cies occur, painting, installing newtile, and replacing old built-in galleykitchens with new, freestanding appli-

ances and modern cabinets. “He takespride in his work,” McGill noted. “He’smeticulous about it.”

The facility is classified as inde-pendent living, which means that thereare no medical staff on site, and resi-dents who need assistance mustarrange for it on their own or throughthe Area Agency on Aging. They alsodo their own grocery shopping andhousekeeping, just as they did in theirformer homes.

McGill said she is proud of thefacility’s excellent safety record.Windows only open to a certain height,and the main door is equipped with analarm system. In addition, there is no

directory of residents in the mainentrance to attract pranksters or intrud-ers. “Visitors have to know the roomnumber of the person they’re visiting,in order to get in,” she explained.

“If you want a room where you canfeel secure, this is it,” said residentJoyce Miller, who used to have a homein Bloomfield but found as she gotolder that she needed to live on onelevel. “They really watch out for ushere.”

For more information about living atLaurentian Hall, call 412-361-4462.


A SPACIOUS,NEWLY RENOVATEDONE-BEDROOMAVAILABLE FORRENT.

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The Bulletin Board publisheslistings of volunteer opportu-nities, free or low-cost eventsand classes, announcements,fundraising events, and serv-ices that are of particularinterest to our neighbor-hoods. Send announcementsto [email protected] or mail to TheBulletin, 5149 Penn Avenue,Pittsburgh, PA 15224, by the15th of each month. We donot accept listings on thephone. Information is pub-lished on a space-availablebasis.

T H E B U L L E T I N B O A R DT H E B U L L E T I N B O A R D

FREE TO FREE TO THE PEOPLETHE PEOPLEwww.carnegielibrary.org

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh -

Lawrenceville Branch

279 Fisk St. 412-682-3668

Preschool Storytime

Ages 3 to 5; Thursdays, January 7,14, 21, 28, 10:30 a.m.Adult Book Discussion

Monday, January 11, 5 p.m.The Humbling, by Philip RothBaby/Toddler Storytime

Ages birth to 3; Tuesdays, January5, 12, 19 , at 11 a.m.Family Fun Storytime

For all ages. Saturdays, January 9,23, 30 at 11 a.m.Family Fun Artful Stories:

Georgia O’Keeffe

For all ages. Saturday, January 16,11 a.m. to 2 p.m.The Family Playshop

For 6 months to 3 years. Tuesday,

January 26, 10:30 -11:30 a.m.

East Liberty Branch Events @

Borders EastSide

Storytime

Ages 3 to 5. Wednesdays, January6, 20, 10:30 a.m.Family Fun Storytime: A Winter

Wonderland of Reading

For all ages. Saturday, January 16,2 p.m.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh -

Main PC Center

4400 Forbes Avenuehttp://www.carnegielibrary.org/locations/pccenter/main/For more information about all ourfree computer classes, call the PCCenter-Main Library at 412-578-2561.

Do you have a few extra hours amonth to help a neighbor in need?Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (IVC)needs your help to serve seniors inyour community. Through IVC, vol-unteers like you provide non-medicalservices such as rides to appoint-ments, assistance with grocery shop-ping, friendly visiting, help sortingmail, and home safety checks to olderadults free of charge. In many casesthis simple assistance makes it possi-ble for the elder to remain living intheir own home when they might nototherwise be able. To learn moreabout how you can help, visit ourwebsite at www.ivcswpa.org or callIVC at 412-345-7420.

VOLUNTEERS TO WORKWITH SENIORS

Now in its 13th year, Art All Night,Pittsburgh's most unique and populistart event, will take place on April 24and 25, 2010. Anyone interested intaking on a leadership role for Art AllNight 2010 is invited to attend thefirst planning meeting, to be held onJanuary 20 at 7 p.m. at the StephenFoster Center, 289 Main Street inLawrenceville. For more informationabout Art All Night, or to sign up tovolunteer for the event, please visitour website at www.artallnight.org.

ART ALL NIGHT 2010PLANNING SESSION

Vintage Senior Community Center,401 North Highland Avenue, EastLiberty (across from Home Depot),will offer a FREE 6-week "HealthyView" Chronic Disease Self-Management Course designed byStanford University. The course is

FREE “HEALTHY VIEW”CLASS FOR SENIORS

New classes and auditions atPittsburgh Dance & Theatre Arts! Thewinter session begins January 4 atPittsburgh's most diverse dance underone roof. Please join us for dance,theatre, voice, and fitness classes forkids and adults of all levels. Newclasses include: Tumbling for kids,African Dance for kids and adults,and Samba. Please call or visit ourwebsite for days and times: 412-681-7523 or http://www.pgh-dance.com.Also, auditions will be held forPittsburgh Jr. Theatre's production of"Beauty and the Beast" on January 18and January 25, or by appointment.Students should prepare a one-minutemonologue and song; be prepared tosing!

DANCE CLASSES FORKIDS AND ADULTS

Mark your calendar now for the ninthannual Shake Your Booties! Join TheChildren’s Home of Pittsburgh &Lemieux Family Center for our signa-ture special event on Saturday, March20, 2010 in the beautiful Hyde ParkPrime Steakhouse, located onPittsburgh's North Shore. Shake YourBooties will be an exciting eveningfilled with 1940's Hollywood glam-our, great music, sumptuous tastingstations and live and silent auctions.For more information or sponsorshipinfo, please contact Audrey Tierney at412-441-4884, ext. 2046 or [email protected].

SHAKE YOUR BOOTIES IN2010!

designed to help self-manage ongoinghealth conditions such as arthritis,diabetes, chronic pain, high bloodpressure, stroke, heart disease, asth-ma, cancer, or any other conditionthat affects your daily life. New class-es start in January 2010. Space is lim-ited. Preregistration required. Pleasecall 412-361-5003 x106.

On Saturday, January 9, 2010, OurLady of the Angels will hold a com-muity flea market at the St. AugustineSocial Hall, 204, 37th Street inLawrenceville. The flea market willrun from 8 a.m to 2 p.m., and thenreopen after the 4 p.m Mass (from 5to 7 p.m.). There will be both new andused items for sale.

FLEA MARKET INLAWRENCEVILLE


Do you have an itch to volunteer forthe neighborhood? FriendshipDevelopment Associates (FDA) islooking for new committee members,volunteers, and board members.There are several ways to getinvolved and support the revitaliza-tion efforts in Friendship:

• Join a committee: FDA commit-tees include: Executive, Real Estate,Marketing Communications andFundraising, Design and Planning,and Finance, as well as several sub-committees.

• Volunteer: Whether you’d like tohelp out at our annual events or organ-ize a community clean-up, every littlebit helps make Friendship a betterplace to live and work.

• Support our local businesses andartists: Come to Unblurred: FirstFridays on Penn, where galleries andstudios open up their doors and show-case a variety of artwork and perform-ances. Visit Penn Avenue for a cup ofcoffee and some international cuisine,or take a class at Dance Alloy Theateror the Pittsburgh Glass Center.

GET INVOLVED WITH THEFRIENDSHIP COMMUNITY

T H E B U L L E T I N B O A R DT H E B U L L E T I N B O A R DTo get involved, visit our website,

www.friendship-pgh.org, and join ouremail lists for information aboutneighborhood events and happenings.

Leslie Park Pool in Lawrencevillewas decommissioned by the City ofPittsburgh in 2003. Now is the time tobegin planning for the future of thesite. Be a part of the process! Bringyour memories, ideas, energy, andenthusiasm to four communityforums. Everyone is welcome! Forumdates: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 6:30-8:30p.m., CYA Stephen Foster Center,286 Main Street; Saturday, Jan. 23, 10a.m.-noon, St. Matthew Parish, St.Kieran Church Hall on 53rd andCarnegie Streets; Wednesday, Feb.17, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. MatthewParish, St. Kieran Church Hall;Sunday, Feb. 21, noon-2 p.m., CYAStephen Foster Center. Sessions willbe facilitated by community residentsand planners as well as those investedin Lawrenceville. For more informa-tion contact Jennifer Kiley at 412-327-7848 or [email protected]

THE FUTURE OF LESLIEPARK POOL


A Hauling Job?We clear basements, yards, garages,

attics, estates

Fast, Reliable, ReasonableAlso demolition work, minor repairs,

grass cutting, salvage credit.

412-687-6928 Call Walt 412-773-0599

SERVICES

ALL TEXT ADS are $5 for 15 words,and 10 cents for each additional

word. We DO NOT run personal ads.

BLOCK ads (2.5” x 1.5”) are $15;DOUBLE BLOCKS (2.5” x 3”) are $30.

Please send ad with full payment to: The Bulletin, Classified Dept.

5149 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Ads will not be run until payment is received.

C L A S SC L A S S II F I E D SF I E D S

Your ad wouldlook great here!

Call 412-441-6915!

As a part of the project, PortAuthority’s bus loop at the intersec-tion of Penn Avenue and Penn Circlewill be replaced with new develop-ment, which will include a combinedretail and transit center as an expan-sion of the Eastside development. Busstops will be created on Penn Avenueto replace the bus loop, and the City ofPittsburgh is exploring innovative busshelters that will incorporate roofsthat capture rainwater runoff.

The restructuring of Penn Circle isexpected to be complete in time forthe grand opening of a new Target

department store at the corner of PennAvenue and Penn Circle East. "WhenTarget opens, we want everyone to beable to come and go and see a revital-ized Penn Circle," said Hassett.

As community members askedquestions to learn more about theproject, Hogan confirmed theinevitable. "It's going to be a year offrustration," between the Penn Circlework and the construction of theTarget, but "It's really all towards thefuture progress of East Liberty," hesaid.

Penn Circle, from page 1

Census, from page 1

Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day onJanuary 18, 2010!

one, including local law enforcement,the FBI, the IRS, or the Immigrationand Naturalization Service. In fact,census workers can be heavily finedor imprisoned for five years for dis-closing people’s private information.

How Else Does the Census HelpPeople?

Another advantage of the census,according to Bill Woodward, programmanager of the ENEC, is that “it cre-ates thousands of temporary jobs forcensus takers, and they pay well.”Census takers receive an hourlysalary (in this area, the jobs start at$15.75/hour) and are also paid fortraining. Applicants must take a brief

test to determine their eligibility andpass certain security checks. For moreinformation, go to http://2010.cen-sus.gov/2010censusjobs, or call thelocal census office at 412-770-3380.The ENEC can also provide assis-tance with census employment appli-cations; the phone number is 412-362-8580.

“The census is a big undertaking,”said Brose, “but we can get a com-plete count if we all understand thevalue of it. The questionnaire isn’t auseless form to throw away. If youdon’t fill it out, you shortchange your-self and the whole neighborhood. Thecensus helps all of us.”

Who Benefits from the Census? You - Bloomfield-Garfield

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Transcript of Who Benefits from the Census? You - Bloomfield-Garfield