See the event flyer for more information.

Our mission is to inspire people throughout the city and region to collect litter and connect neighborhood.

Fall Redd Up dates already

I know. I know. We just put the spring Redd Up to bed and we're already talking about the fall. All we want you to do for now is schedule the dates on your calendar. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 19, 20, 21. These dates coincide with the popular "Pitt Make a Difference Day" which will be Saturday, October 20. About 2,700 Pitt student volunteers poured into city neighborhoods and Allegheny County communities last October and Citizens Against Litter will again coordinate this volunteer placement with Pitt's Outreach Office.

Stanton Heights soars

Allegheny CleanWays, Comcast Cares, Citizens' Care, Best Buddies and Stanton Heights residents -- 99 volunteers in all -- had a victory of sorts clearing two illegal dumps at Stanton and Woodbine and Christopher and Antoinette. About 12-13 tons. Mike Sturges wrote in with a description of their haul:

"Two tons of mixed unbagged debris, one ton of scrap metal, 36 tires, 28 contractor bags of garbage, and 44 contractor bags of invasive species (Japanese knotweed and garlic mustard). In addition to this, we moved eight tons of concrete to be recycled. Volunteers moved about five tons of wood and brush to discourage future landscaping dumping."

Less litter in Hill District

Michele Cooper from Macedonia Development reported:

"We had wonderful support (as always!!) from Duquesne University students. A couple of our consistent volunteers were very happy that there is actually less garbage to pick up. Overall, the community is very engaged and there is a visible difference. The Hill District Consensus Group is working with the Clean Green Hill collaborative to coordinate efforts in the Hill District and Uptown. We are just starting, but I am excited about this new relationship with the Consensus Group. We encountered a man who told us the volunteers (and the beautiful day) inspired him to work on his side lot. So we provided him with bags, and when we left his block he was hard at work!"

Half the litter in Brookline

Keith Knecht reports in from Brookline:

"We had another good clean up, though it was pretty damp. The good news is that after eight years, we are collecting about half to a third of the garbage we used to deal with. We have a number of people adopting a block and going out on Sundays for trash walks.

"The kids cleaned the park areas but the parks were so clean already that they ventured out and did the surrounding streets and alleys.

"Lunch was provided for adult volunteers (18) and the kids (40) got a pizza party at the Brookline Rec. Center."

Carrick biz corridor looking good

Missy Rodenfeld from Carrick writes:

"Despite the weather, Carrick had a decent turnout. Most important, Brownsville Road and Nobles Lane were cleaned. Carrick's business corridor is looking great. Division 4 Public Works Supervisor John Radcliffe told us what a good job we did. It is amazing what can be accomplished when people work together."

Chartiers Creek cleaned

Melissa Rohm says:

"23 Paddle Without Pollution volunteers pulled 2,100 pounds of bagged litter, 31 tires and lots of un-baggable junk from a 3.5 mile stretch of Chartiers Creek in Upper St. Clair and South Fayette."

They have the photos to prove it. Check them out in our gallery:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/citizensagainstlitter/7113019433/in/photostream

Spring Redd Up over and out

Thirty-six reports show neighborhoods averaging 43 volunteers and collecting 1 1/2 tons of litter, trash and junk. Please get your reports to Mr. Letterman.

Let's hear it one more time for all the Redd Up volunteers. Thank you. More than 250 neighborhoods, communities and groups in Pittsburgh and five counties participated in the Earth Day Weekend Redd Up April 20-22. Redd Ups actually started in March and will continue into May. Mr. Litterman estimated that possibly 15,000 volunteers turned out. A wet day kept many volunteers away. Some neighborhoods rescheduled their clean ups. Eighty-four city neighborhoods and 60 Allegheny County municipalities, boroughs and townships took part. "We know at least 50 communities also participated in Butler, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland counties and we're sure there were more," said Boris Weinstein whose Citizens Against Litter group coordinated the event.

Pittsburgh neighborhoods that participated include Allegheny West, Allentown, Arlington, Banksville, Bedford Dwellings, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Bon Air, Brookline, Brighton Heights, Brightwood, California-Kirkbride, Carrick, Central Northside, Chartiers, Crafton Heights, Crawford-Roberts, Downtown Partnership, Duquesne Heights, East Allegheny, East Carnegie, East Hills, East Liberty, Elliott, Fairywood, Fineview, Friendship, Garfield, Glen Hazel, Greenfield, Hays, Hazelwood, Highland Park, Homewood (3), Knoxville, Larimer, Lawrenceville (3), Lincoln Place, Lincoln-Lemington, Lower Hill, Manchester, Mexican War Streets, Morningside, Mount Oliver, Mount Washington, Middle Hill, New Homestead, North Point Breeze, Oakland (3), Observatory Hill, Overbrook, Perry Hilltop, Polish Hill, Regent Square, Ridgemont, Schenley Heights, Shadyside, Sheraden, South Oakland, South Point Breeze, South Side, South Side Slopes, Spring Garden-Deutchtown, Spring Hill, Stanton Heights, Strip District, Squirrel Hill (2), Summer Hill, Swisshelm Park, Troy Hill, Uptown, Windgap, West End and Westwood.

Pittsburgh groups that took part were Alcoa Green Works Initiatives, Allegheny Commons, Allegheny CleanWays, Beautify Banksville Road, Bull Elephants, Clean Green Hill, Comcast, Corey's Crew, Coro Pittsburgh Public Allies, Explorers Club, Frick Environmental Center, FAME, Friends of the Riverfront, Homewood Agricultural Project, Homewood LAMP, Rapha Ministries and North Way Community, Highland Park Community, Paddling Without Pollution (Cross Creek and Chartiers Creek), PA Department of Environmental Protection, PA Resources Council, Pitt-Ohio Express, Pittsburgh Cares, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Postal Service, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pittsburgh Job Corps, Pittsburgh Tote Bag Project, Starbucks, Shadyside Academy, South Side Graffiti Watch, South Side Tree Project, Tree Vitalize, The Academy School, Totally Against Litter, UPMC St. Margaret's Hospital, U.S. Airways "Do Crew".

Redd Up Adopt-A-Zone groups included Allegheny County Adult Probation, Boy Scout Group #343, East Carnegie Community Council, 400 Block of Jucunda Street Committee, Heinz History Center, Manchester Historical Society, Mount Washington CDC (6 zones), Outreached Arms, PA Resources Council, St. Paul AME, Spring Hill Civic League, West End Children's Center.

Stash the Trash schools: Urban Pathway Charter, St. Rosalia, Immaculate Conception, St. Benedict the Moor, Conway, Sunnyside, Roosevelt, Colfax, Dilworth, Arsenal, Grandview, Miller, Montessori, Fulton, Schiller, Greenfield, Sterrett, Phillips, Carmalt, Carrick and Weil.

Allegheny County communities: Allegheny County Human Services, Aspinwall, Avalon, Baldwin Twp., Bellevue, Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Bradfordwoods, Brentwood, Bridgeville, Chalfant, Collier, Cranberry, Crafton, Dormont, Dravosburg, Duquesne, East McKeesport, Emsworth, Etna, Findlay, Friends of North Park, Friends of South Park, Gibsonia, Glassport, Hampton, Heidelberg, Indiana, Kilbuck, Leetsdale, Marshall, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Moon, Monroeville, Mount Lebanon, Mount Oliver, Natrona, North Fayette, North Strabane, North Suburban Chamber of Commerce, North Versailles, Oakdale, Ohio, Penn Hills, Pennsbury, Pine, Robinson, Ross, Rosslyn Farms, Scott, Shaler, Sharpsburg, South Fayette, South Park, Stowe, Verona, West View, Whitehall, White Oak, Wilkins, Wilkinsburg and Wilmerding.

Butler County: Butler, Center, Thorn Creek, Washington, Winfield

Beaver County: Aliquippa, Ambridge, Beaver (2), Chippewa, Harmony, Patterson, Potter.

Washington County: Canonsburg, Canton, Cecil, Coal Center, Canonsburg (North Strabane), Cross Creek, East Bethlehem, Hickory, Mingo Creek, McDonald, Nottingham, Panhandle Trail, Peters, Ten Mile Creek, Washinton, West Pike Run.

Westmoreland County: Allegheny, Fairfield, Jeanette, Greensburg, Hempfield, Indian Head & Bagdad Rds., Latrobe, Ligonier, Loyalhanna Lake, New Alexandria, New Kensington, Penn, St. Vincent, Unity, Robinson, Sewickley, Smithton, Youngwood.

Clean streets off Ellsworth

Mr. Litterman did some touch up litter removal on some Shadyside streets between Alder and Ellsworth early last month -- a couple weeks before Redd Up Earth Day weekend. Hats off to the residents of these streets. Their streets are litter-free: Emerson, Lehigh, Carron, Greenbrier Way, Yardley Way and Spahr.

Adopt a Redd Up zone

Don't sit on the sidelines. Businesses, corporations and groups are invited to adopt their own Pittsburgh street or zone and agree to pick up litter at least four times a year for two years. Visit for information and application form.

Oakland is in the zone

The most up-to-date number we have for adopted Redd Up Zones is 37. That means 18 miles of streets will be cleaned of litter 4 times a year or 72 miles. An impressive number. Mr. Litterman is most impressed with the commitment made in Oakland. Here is the list of streets that will get TLC: Craft Ave., Joe Hammer Square, Kennett Square, Niagara St. plus Bates, Semple, Lawn, Mackey, Oakland Ave., N. Neville, Ditheridge, DeSoto, Terrace, Blvd of the Allies, Bouquet, Fraser, Boehm, Griffith, Ward, Halket St., Halket Place, Louise, Robinson and Meyran.

Stamp out mailbox graffiti

Pittsburgh Postmaster Joseph Meimann urges citizens to be proactive and call the Postal Service directly at 412-359-7845 to report mailbox tagging or boxes in need of repair. Help the postal service by giving them specific information of locations and crossing streets.

Don't forget River Sweep

The Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission is seeking volunteers for its annual River Sweep 2012 river bank trash cleanup June 16 along the length of the Ohio River and its tributaries in Western Pennsylvania. Information: 1-800-359-3977 or .

5-year State of the City report card

Boris Weinstein, chair of the Clean Pittsburgh Commission, discussed the 5-year performance of city departments, non-profits and city volunteers to control waste and blight in an interview on WPXI-TV's Talking Pittsburgh Saturday, April 28. All A's. 100,000 Citizens Against Litter volunteers removed 1,000 tons of litter; 3,300 Allegheny CleanWays volunteers removed 600 tons of debris from 156 illegal dumps; 23,000 kids removed 37 tons of litter in 210 Stash the Trash cleanups in Pittsburgh schools coordinated by PA Resources Council;

Public Works Redd Up crews removed 22,000 tons of debris from 1,800 vacant lots and boarded up 5,600 vacant buildings; Bureau of Building Inspection demolished 2,400 abandoned/dilapidated buildings; Public Safety removed 8,000 abandoned vehicles from our streets and city-owned property; City Graffiti Busters removed 35,000 square feet of graffiti tags; and Environmental Services recycled 65,000 tons and composted 16,000 tons of garbage while saving the city $1.5 million in costs and generating $3 million in income.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising and promotional materials turn into litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses and sometimes non-profits are often responsible when they put their business on Shadyside streets. This kind of littering is picking up again.

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Sunday Extra
• Fidelity Bank
• Vocelli Pizza
• Yens Chinese

It wasn't always like this

We need another award like we need more litter. But...the double house at 612-614 S. Aiken Ave., near Ellsworth has transformed itself from a "Garbageville" regular to a nice-looking litter-free property. For years this property was a sight for sore eyes. Gone are the buildup of leaf litter, litter on the side of the house and unkempt front. In its place are repaired concrete steps, decorative wall and new landscaping, featuring plants and flowers. What a difference.

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets and places that are a mess. Some because of litter; some because of unswept leaves; some because of trash and junk on their property. Some because garbage cans sit in the front of their houses. Many because of the absence of lids on garbage cans and open waste containers. Some of these Shadyside garbagevilles are always a mess. This is an incomplete list of course.

• 6111 Fifth Ave. (rear)
• 5523 Ellsworth Ave. (back)
• 5525 Ellsworth Ave. (front & rear)
• 5527 Ellsworth Ave. (rear)
• 5432-34 Ellsworth Ave. (front)
• 4830-32 Ellsworth Ave. (front)
• 10 S. Graham St. (side & back)
• 620 Bellefonte St. (side)
• 702 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 710 Bellefonte St. (back)
• 712 Bellefonte St. (front)
• Earle Apts., Elmer & Bellefonte (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer St. (side)
• 5505 Elmer St. (side)
• 631 Ivy St. (rear)
• 703 Ivy St. (rear)
• 705 Ivy St. (rear)
• 727 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 816 Ivy St. (rear)
• 918 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 922 Ivy St. (side)
• 5528 Alder St (rear)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 730 Summerlea St. (front)
• 733 Maryland Ave.
• 200-204 Lehigh St. (front)
• Dumpster Alley (behind Walnut St. stores)
• Victoria's Secret, Walnut St. (rear)
• Convenience Store/Center (Ellsworth & Summerlea)
• S. Graham (between Center & Baum)

Important phone numbers

Need to contact the city about something that's been bothering you, like potholes and graffiti? Call the 311 Response line (alternate number is 412-255-2621). Your request will be logged and sent to the proper department. Want to contact someone directly? The following list may help.

• Mayor's Office (412-255-2626)
• Littering (412-255-2621)
• State Littering Hotline (1-888-548-8372)
• Abandoned Houses (412-255-2175)
• Abandoned Cars (412-255-4776)
• Weeds/Litter/Bad Sidewalks (412-255-4155)
• Building Inspection (412-255-2176)
• Public Works Main # (412-255-2790)
• Refuse/Recycling (412-255-2773)
• Potholes (412-255-2720)
• Graffiti Watch (412-496-2272)
• Graffiti Busters ((412-255-2872))
• Report Graffiti Happening to You (9-1-1)
• Report Graffiti in Neighborhood (3-1-1)
• Report Mail Box Graffiti (412-359-7845)
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Allegheny County Health Dept. (412-578-8390)
• Police, Zone 2 (412-255-2827
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605)

Next to last word

There's enough litter for all of us to pick up.

The last word

Remember. Rome wasn't redd up in a day either.

Says Divack, "[The] debris pile is about two dumptruck loads so far, with more to come." We invite our readers to stop by and lend a hand.

Our mission is to inspire people throughout the city and region to collect litter and connect neighborhood.

CPC 5-year "report card" impressive

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Clean Pittsburgh Commission chairman Boris Weinstein announced that great strides have been made over the past five years to clean up Pittsburgh's neighborhoods. Five years after challenging City residents and organizations to band together to clean up their community, the CPC, at its annual Meet 'n' Greet Mixer for neighborhood Clean Pittsburgh Stewards on March 22 issued its fifth "State of the City Report." The report shows evidence that tremendous progress has been made in the areas of litter, illegal dumping, recycling, graffiti and neighborhood blight. In the five-year period, more than 103,300 volunteers collected an estimated 1,600 tons of litter and cleared 7,000 tires from illegal dumpsites; recycling services resulted in over 65,000 tons of waste recycled into 16,000 tons of compost; and City departments demolished over 2,000 abandoned or dilapidated buildings and removed 8,000 abandoned vehicles.

"I'm proud to see all that our residents and employees have accomplished over the last five years by working together to clean up Pittsburgh's communities," Ravenstahl said. "The hard work of the Clean Pittsburgh Commission, as well as community members and organizations, truly makes an impact on the livability of our City. Through initiatives like the CPC and servePGH, I'm confident that Pittsburgh will continue to get cleaner and safer over the next five years."

The complete news release from the City and the 2011 State of the City report are on the Citizens Against Litter web site.

"Bobbies" for Redd Up announced

Gena Turner, a Clean Pittsburgh Steward in the Elliott neighborhood since 2007, was selected "Volunteer of the Year" for 2011. She organizes and leads spring and fall Redd Ups in one of Pittsburgh's smallest neighborhoods and most visited city-view attractions, the West End Overlook.

Gena and representatives of three neighborhoods were presented "Bob Awards," named for the late Mayor Bob O'Connor, on March 22, at the fifth annual Clean Pittsburgh Commission's Meet n' Greet Mixer, saluting the city's Clean Pittsburgh Stewards in 90 neighborhoods.

Corey O'Connor, the Mayor's son and new District 5 councilman, and Judy, the late Mayor's wife, presented "Bobbies" to three neighborhoods: South Side Flats and South Side Slopes as Most Connected, Allentown as Most Improved, and Lawrenceville as Neighborhood of the Year.

Special "Bobbies" were also presented to the six Public Work Department supervisors who work with 20,000 volunteers in the two annual Redd Ups and throughout the year. They are: Steve Bolar, Dennis James, George McCain, John Radcliffe, John McClory and Bill Crean. The other special award went to Deloitte LLP for its community service in Sheraden and Esplen last year by the Pittsburgh office's 350 volunteers on its annual Impact Day.

Several hundred attended the Mixer at the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink meeting room. Joining stewards and volunteers were city officials and city council members.

Sponsors of this year's Mixer are: the Office of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Kevin Acklin, Citizens Against Litter, Council members President Darlene Harris, Theresa Kail-Smith, Bruce Kraus, Corey O'Connor and Bill Peduto, Frank Fuhrer Wholesale, Giant Eagle, pair Networks, Waste Management and Whole Foods.

CPC gets "Think Green" grant

Waste Management officials, attending the Meet n' Greet Mixer, informed the CPC and neighborhood stewards that the Clean Pittsburgh Commission will receive one of 41 national "Think Green" grants ($5,000) for its Redd Up event later this month. These grants encourage local solutions to improve community environments through hand-on participation and engagement opportunities such as cleanups, beautification, recycling and educational programs.

Redd Up participation goes over 200

More than 200 neighborhoods, communities and groups in Pittsburgh and five counties will participate in the Earth Day Weekend Redd Up April 20, 21, 22. "We're going to come close to our goal of 20,000 volunteers," predicts Boris Weinstein, Citizens Against Litter coordinator. Eighty-three city neighborhoods and 51 Allegheny County cities, boroughs and townships are signed up. "We know of at least 42 communities also participating in Butler, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland counties and we're sure there are more." There's still time for communities to be counted and for individuals to be connected. Contact boris.weinstein@verizon.com or call 412-688-9120.

Pittsburgh neighborhoods: Allegheny West, Allentown, Arlington, Banksville, Bedford Dwellings, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Bon Air, Brookline, Brighton Heights, Brightwood, California-Kirkbride, Carrick, Central Northside, Chartiers, Crafton Heights, Crawford-Roberts, Downtown Partnership, Duquesne Heights, East Allegheny, East Carnegie, East Hills, East Liberty, Elliott, Fairywood, Fineview, Friendship, Garfield, Glen Hazel, Greenfield, Hays, Hazelwood, Highland Park, Homewood (3), Knoxville, Larimer, Lawrenceville (3), Lincoln Place, Lincoln-Lemington, Lower Hill, Manchester, Mexican War Streets, Morningside, Mount Oliver, Mount Washington, Middle Hill, New Homestead, North Point Breeze, Oakland (3), Observatory Hill, Overbrook, Perry Hilltop, Polish Hill, Regent Square, Ridgemont, Schenley Heights, Shadyside, Sheraden, South Oakland, South Point Breeze, South Side, South Side Slopes, Spring Garden-Deutchtown, Spring Hill, Stanton Heights, Strip District, Squirrel Hill (2), Summer Hill, Swisshelm Park, Troy Hill, Uptown, Windgap, West End and Westwood.

Pittsburgh groups: Allegheny CleanWays, Beautify Banksville Road, Clean Green Hill, Explorers Club, Frick Environmental Center, FAME, Friends of the Riverfront, Highland Park Community, Paddling Without Pollution, PA Department of Environmental Protection, PA Resources Council, Pitt-Ohio Express, Pittsburgh Cares, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Postal Service, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pittsburgh Job Corps, South Side Graffiti Watch, The Academy School, Totally Against Litter, UPMC St. Margaret's Hospital, U.S. Airways "Do Crew".

Redd Up Adopt-A-Zone groups: Allegheny County Adult Probation, East Carnegie Community Council, 400 Block of Jucunda Street Committee, Heinz History Center, Manchester Historical Society, Outreached Arms, PA Resources Council, Spring Hill Civic League, West End Children's Center.

Stash the Trash schools: Urban Pathway Charter, St. Rosalia, Immaculate Conception, St. Benedict the Moor, Conway, Sunnyside, Roosevelt, Colfax, Dillworth, Arsenal, Grandview, Miller, Montessori, Fulton, Schiller, Greenfield, Sterrett, Phillips, Carmalt, Carrick and Weil.

Allegheny County: Aspinwall, Avalon, Bradfordwoods, Brentwood, Bridgeville, Chalfant, Collier, Cranberry, Crafton, Dormont, Dravosburg, Duquesne, East McKeesport, Etna, Findlay, Gibsonia, Glassport, Hampton, Heidelberg, Indiana, Leetsdale, Marshall, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Moon, Monroeville, Mount Lebanon, Mount Oliver, Natrona, North Fayette, North Strabane, North Versailles, Oakdale, Penn Hills, Pennsbury, Pine, Robinson, Ross, Rosslyn Farms, Scott, Shaler, Sharpsburg, South Fayette, South Park, Stowe, Verona, West View, Whitehall, White Oak, Wilkins, Wilkinsburg and Wilmerding.

Butler County: Center, Thorn Creek, Washington, Winfield

Beaver County: Aliquippa, Ambridge, Beaver (2), Chippewa, Harmony, Patterson, Potter.

Washington County: Canonsburg, Canton, Cecil, Coal Center, Canonsburg (North Strabane), Cross Creek, East Bethlehem, Hickory, Mingo Creek, McDonald, Nottingham, Panhandle Trail, Peters, Ten Mile Creek, Washinton,West Pike Run.

Westmoreland County: Fairfield, Jeanette, Greensburg, Indian Head & Bagdad Rds., Latrobe, Ligonier, Loyalhanna Lake, New Kensington, Penn, St. Vincent, Unity, Robinson, Sewickley, Smithton, Youngwood.

Pirates Earth Day Redd Up

For the fifth year, Citizens Against Litter, The Academy School, and the Pittsburgh Job Corps will join the Pirates for their annual Earth Day Redd Up on the North Shore on Sunday, April 22. Thirty volunteers will clean up around PNC Park before the game and attend the Pirate-Cardinal game as guests of the Pirates. The Commissioner's Community Initiative Program is a partnership between the Pirates and Major League Baseball.

Phone book litter

Unwanted phone books have become an unwelcome annual sight, littering neighborhoods, marking empty buildings, and creating eyesores. Christine Miller of Penn Hills suggests if you have some extra energy, consider collecting them from your whole street and bring them to recycling places.

Adopt a Redd Up zone

Don't sit on the sidelines. Businesses, corporations and groups are invited to adopt their own Pittsburgh street or zone and agree to pick up litter at least four times a year for two years. Visit http://www.servepgh.com for information and an application form.

8th Brookline Earth Day April 21

South Pittsburgh Development Corporation is having its 8th Annual Brookline Earth Day Clean-up on Saturday Apr. 21. Volunteers will meet at Cannon Coffee (802 Brookline Blvd.) at 9 a.m to sign in. Free coffee and pastries will be provided to get our volunteers revved up for a day of litter picking fun. The cleanup will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m followed by a free lunch.

To continue Brookline's Earth Day celebration, Phipps Master Gardener Lorrie Eusades will conduct a free gardening seminar. Time, place and topic to be announced. Watch for event posters in Brookline local business windows or contact Keith Knecht at kek33@verizon.net or 412-561-4482 for further information.

Pittsburgh Parks volunteer days

Volunteers can sign up to help with various projects this spring Pittsburgh parks. Dates are:

• April 14 (Highland Park)
• April 21 (Frick Environmental Center)
• April 29 (Schenley Park)

Contact Angela at amasters@pittsburghparks.org or 412-682-7275, Ext. 231.

Stamp out mailbox graffiti

Pittsburgh Postmaster Joseph Meimann urges citizens to be proactive and call the Postal Service directly at 412-359-7845 to report mailbox tagging or boxes in need of repair. Help the postal service by giving them specific information of locations and crossing streets.

Rubber band litter

A Newslitter reader and postal service customer writes:

"The rubber band problem also plagues my neighborhood in White Oak. I can't understand why mailmen abandon these rubber bands to the streets they are servicing. Are Post Office officials aware of mailmen who 'mislaid' these rubber bands?"

River Sweep volunteers wanted

The Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission is seeking volunteers for its annual River Sweep 2012 river bank trash cleanup June 16 along the length of the Ohio River and its tributaries in Western Pennsylvania. For information call 1-800-359-3977 or visit http://www.orsanco.org.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising and promotional materials turn into litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses and sometimes non-profits are often responsible when they put their business on Shadyside streets. There has been less of this kind of littering recently. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Sunday Extra and Papa John's Pizza share March's "I Litter" awards.

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets and places that are a mess. Some because of litter; some because of unswept leaves; some because of trash and junk on their property. Some because garbage cans sit in the front of their houses. Many because of the absence of lids on garbage cans and open waste containers. Some of these Shadyside Garbagevilles are always a mess. This is an incomplete list of course.

• 6111 Fifth Ave. (rear)
• 5523 Ellsworth Ave. (back)
• 5525 Ellsworth Ave. (front & rear)
• 5527 Ellsworth Ave. (rear)
• 5432-34 Ellsworth Ave. (front)
• 4830-32 Ellsworth Ave. (front)
• 10 S. Graham St. (side & back)
• 620 Bellefonte St. (side)
• 702 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 710 Bellefonte St. (back)
• 712 Bellefonte St. (front)
• Earle Apts., Elmer & Bellefonte (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer St. (side)
• 5505 Elmer St. (side)
• 631 Ivy St. (rear)
• 703 Ivy St. (rear)
• 705 Ivy St. (rear)
• 727 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 816 Ivy St. (rear)
• 918 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 922 Ivy St. (side)
• 5528 Alder St (rear)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 730 Summerlea St. (front)
• 733 Maryland Ave.
• Dumpster Alley (behind Walnut St. stores)
• Victoria's Secret, Walnut St. (rear)
• Convenience Store/Center (Ellsworth & Summerlea)
• S. Graham (between Center & Baum)

Important phone numbers

Need to contact the city about something that's been bothering you, like potholes and graffiti? Call the 311 Response line (alternate number is 412-255-2621). Your request will be logged and sent to the proper department. Want to contact someone directly? The following list may help.

• Mayor's Office (412-255-2626)
• Littering (412-255-2621)
• State Littering Hotline (1-888-548-8372)
• Abandoned Houses (412-255-2175)
• Abandoned Cars (412-255-4776)
• Weeds/Litter/Bad Sidewalks (412-255-4155)
• Building Inspection (412-255-2176)
• Public Works Main # (412-255-2790)
• Refuse/Recycling (412-255-2773)
• Potholes (412-255-2720)
• Graffiti Watch (412-496-2272)
• Graffiti Busters ((412-255-2872))
• Report Graffiti Happening to You (9-1-1)
• Report Graffiti in Neighborhood (3-1-1)
• Report Mail Box Graffiti (412-359-7845)
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Allegheny County Health Dept. (412-578-8390)
• Police, Zone 2 (412-255-2827
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605)

"Broken windows" legend gone

The name James Q. Wilson is hardly known. His "broken windows" theory idea -- eradicating graffiti, public drunkenness and other public signposts of community decay, crucial to making neighborhoods safer -- is well-known world-wide. Legendary Mr. Wilson died March 3.

Butts go missing

Several neighborhood stewards have contacted us to report a mysterious disappearance from the streets of Pittsburgh: cigarette butts, the ubiquitous scourge of our litter-picking efforts, have simply vanished from sidewalks, yards, and gutters. The tales of the missing butts seem to go hand-in-hand with increased sightings of what we are calling the "considerate smoker." Not a lot is known about these elusive creatures, but they have been spotted doing such extraordinary things as field-stripping their cigarettes and pocketing the leftover filters or disposing of their used butts in nearby ashtrays or garbage cans (after extinguishing them of course). Says one observer, "It's nice to start off April with the hope that our streets could remain clean of cigarette butts. But I hope we don't get fooled into thinking that the battle is over."

The last word

Remember. Rome wasn't redd up in a day either.

Ms. Turner and representatives of three neighborhoods were presented "Bob Awards," named for the late Mayor Bob O'Connor, Thursday, March 22, at the fifth annual Clean Pittsburgh Commission's Meet n' Greet Mixer, saluting the city's Clean Pittsburgh Stewards in 90 neighborhoods.

Corey O'Connor, the Mayor's son and new District 5 councilman, and Judy, the Mayor's widow, presented "Bobbies" to three neighborhoods: South Side Flats and South Side Slopes as Most Connected, Allentown as Most Improved, and Lawrenceville as Neighborhood of the Year.

Special "Bobbies" were also presented to the six Public Work Department supervisors who work with 20,000 volunteers in the two annual Redd Ups and throughout the year. They are: Steve Bolar, Dennis James, George McCain, John Radcliffe, John McClory and Bill Crean.

The other special award went to Deloitte LLP for its community service in Sheraden and Esplen last year by the Pittsburgh office's 350 volunteers on its annual Impact Day.

Several hundred attended the Mixer at the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink meeting room. Joining stewards and volunteers were city officials and city council members.

Sponsors of this year's Mixer are the Office of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Kevin Acklin, Citizens Against Litter, Council members President Darlene Harris, Theresa Kail-Smith, Bruce Kraus, Corey O'Connor and Bill Peduto, Frank Fuhrer Wholesale, Giant Eagle, pair Networks, Waste Management and Whole Foods.

See photos from the event.

(See also: Mayor Ravenstahl and CPC issue joint statement regarding clean-up successes, City cleanup efforts lauded by Ravenstahl.)

Highlights from the 2011 report include:

• 20,000+ volunteers that participated in spring and fall Redd Ups;
• Over 2,500 tons of litter and debris that were removed from streets, vacant lots, and illegal dump sites by citizens, Public Works, and special Redd Up Crews;
• Recycling programs that saved the city over $387,000 in landfill costs and generated $869,000 in income, and;
• The expansion of several "greening" programs that reduced blight, revitalized vacant lots, and connected neighborhood residents.

Above, Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Theresa Kai-Smith holds a copy of the report while speaking at the Clean Pittsburgh Commission's Meet and Greet Mixer on March 22.

Awards and recognitions will go to neighborhoods, groups and individuals including the 2011 Volunteer of the Year. Three neighborhood awards will recognize Most Connected, Most Improved and Neighborhood of the Year.

"These deserving recognitions hardly scratch the surface of the thousands of Pittsburghers who buy into the concept that 'people who care must pick up litter for people who don't", said Boris Weinstein, Commission chair.

The Clean Pittsburgh Commission will also issue its 2011 State of the City Report detailing activities involving litter prevention/cleanup, illegal dumping, vacant lots and buildings, abandoned cars, graffiti, recycling and greening.

Sponsors of this year's Meet n' Greet Mixer are Office of Luke Ravenstahl, Kevin Acklin, Citizens Against Litter, Council members President Darlene Harris, Theresa Kail-Smith, Bruce Kraus, Corey O'Connor, Frank Fuhrer Wholesale, Giant Eagle, pair Networks, Waste Management and Whole Foods.

Our mission is to inspire people throughout the city and region to collect litter and connect neighborhoods.

It's called "littering"

When thinkers or non-thinkers toss stuff on sidewalks/streets/highways or out of vehicles we call it littering. When homeowners/renters and businesses overload garbage cans and open waste containers we call it littering, leading to a stinking and unsightly mess. And when the Post-Gazette week after week tosses its free Sunday Extra circulation promotion sampler on lawns, in bushes and on sidewalks this, too, is littering. One example. Two weeks ago, with a break in the weather, Mr. Litterman was picking up litter in central Shadyside. At 621 Bellefonte St., a house that's being rehabbed, he picked up eight yellow plastic sleeve Sunday Extras from the front lawn and walk. No one is living there.

The message on the plastic sleeve reads: "If you do not wish to receive future editions (it will be delivered each weekend for one year) please visit http://post-gazette.com/pgsundayextra or call 1-800-815-3726." It's a suggestion you might want to accept.

Active & passive littering by any name

Where do you fit?

"Tossers" -- While on foot or while your foot's on the pedal. Active.

"Benders" -- The good guys. Those of us who pick up litter (ours and theirs). Active.

"Blinders" -- People who exit their residences, see litter around them, and ignore it. Passive

"Pretenders"-- My favorite. People who talk and talk a good game against litter, cigarette butts and graffiti and have yet to pick up or cleanup...just once. Passive.

Earth Day Redd Up April 20, 21, 22

The challenging triple goal for the Spring Earth Day Redd Up (April 20, 21, 22) is 250 communities/groups, 250 tons of collected litter and 20,000 volunteers. "We're only halfway there," says Mr. Litterman. "Response from city neighborhoods is strong. We're hoping for more response from communities in Allegheny, Beaver and Washington counties. Contact boris.weinstein@verizon.com or call 412-688-9120.

Pittsburgh neighborhoods: Allegheny West, Allentown, Banksville, Bedford Dwellings, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Bon Air, Brookline, Brighton Heights, Brightwood, California-Kirkbride, Carrick, Central Northside, Chartiers, Crafton Heights, Crawford-Roberts, Downtown Partnership, Duquesne Heights, East Allegheny, East Carnegie, East Hills, East Liberty, Elliott, Fairywood, Fineview, Friendship, Garfield, Glen Hazel, Greenfield, Hays, Hazelwood, Highland Park, Homewood (3), Knoxville, Larimer, Lawrenceville (3), Lincoln Place, Lincoln-Lemington, Lower Hill, Manchester, Mexican War Streets, Morningside, Mount Oliver, Mount Washington, Middle Hill, New Homestead, Oakland (3), Observatory Hill, Overbrook, Perry Hilltop, Polish Hill, Regent Square, Ridgemont, Schenley Heights, Shadyside, Sheraden, South Oakland, South Point Breeze, South Side, South Side Slopes, Spring Garden-Deutchtown, Spring Hill, Stanton Heights, Strip District, Squirrel Hill (2), Summer Hill, Swisshelm Park, Uptown, Windgap, West End and Westwood.

Pittsburgh Groups: Allegheny CleanWays, Beautify Banksville Road, Clean Green Hill, Explorers Club, Frick Environmental Center, FAME, Friends of the Riverfront, Paddling Without Pollution, PA Resources Council, Pittsburgh Cares, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Postal Service, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pittsburgh Job Corps, Redd Up Adopt-a-Zone Groups ( Allegheny County Adult Probation, Heinz History Center, Jucunda Street Committee, PA Resources Council, Spring Hill Civic League, West End Children's Center), South Side Graffiti Watch, The Academy School, Totally Against Litter, U.S. Airways "Do Crew".

Allegheny County: Avalon, Bradford Woods, Brentwood, Chalfant, Cranberry, Crafton, Dormont, Duquesne, East McKeesport, Etna, Findlay, Glassport, Heidelberg, Indiana, Leetsdale, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Moon, Monroeville, Mount Lebanon, Mount Oliver, Natrona, North Fayette, North Strabane, North Versailles, Oakdale, Penn Hills, Pine, Robinson, Ross, Rosslyn Farms, Scott, Shaler, Sharpsburg, South Fayette, South Park, Stowe, West View, Whitehall, White Oak, Wilkins, Wilkinsburg and Wilmerding.

Beaver County: Aliquippa (Center), Ambridge, Beaver, Harmony.

Washington County: Coal Center, Peters, Canonsburg (North Strabane), Cross Creek, Nottingham, Washinton

Westmoreland County: Jeanette, Latrobe, Ligonier, Penn, St. Vincent (Unity), Robinson, Youngwood.

See us on Comcast Newsmakers

Mr. Letterman thanks Comcast Newsmakers for the interview about Citizens Against Litter and the Earth Day April 20-22 Weekend Redd Up that will be aired 50 times in March at 25 and 55 minutes past the hour on HLN (CNN Headlines News). The interview is a shout out for volunteers and communities to register their participation. Comcast has supported Citizens Against Litter over the years. Viewers in the 10-county Pittsburgh Region will see the messages.

There goes the neighborhood

A frustrated volunteer from Kentucky Avenue writes:

What can we do about these rental houses in Shadyside that keep their trash cans in front of their houses? I've about had it with them. Why aren't the landlords being fined? It seems to get worse each year.

You can say that again

Apparently the cleanup of front-of-the-house garbage can blight on Shadyside's Howe Street was observed and made an impression on other residents with similar complaints.

One resident brought to Mr. Litterman's attention the duplex at 4830-32 Ellsworth Ave. (across from Ellsworth Terrace). Mr. Litterman drove by the property on a recent Thursday and he's right. There in the double garage driveway sit the garbage cans. Garage pickup is the following Tuesday/Wednesday.

Other houses with garbage cans and garbage/trash in front yards reported:

• 733 Maryland Ave.
• 624 and 626 Bellefonte St.
• 712 Bellefonte St.
• 5432-34 Ellsworth Ave.

The city is taking action against these properties. The condition has existed for some time. The blight has become part of the everyday scenery. These are not the only properties causing neighborhood blight. Our goal is to eliminate front-of-the-house garbage can problems one property at a time.

Ban rubber band litter

How bad can it be? Mr. Litterman got a note from a Shadyside volunteer who wants mail carriers to stop littering the streets with discarded rubber bands. Apparently streets in his area are pretty clean if he's disturbed by rubber band litter. Can't blame him. though. During the Big War, rubber bands (and other stuff) were reclaimed from streets and recycled.

Adopt a Redd Up zone

Don't sit on the sidelines. Businesses, corporations and groups are invited to adopt their own Pittsburgh street or zone and agree to pick up litter at least four times a year for two years. Visit http://www.servepgh.com for information and application form.

Meet n' Greet/ "Bobbies" March 22

Pittsburgh finest and cleanest -- those would be Clean Pittsburgh Stewards -- will be honored Thursday, March 22 at the fifth annual Meet n' Greet Mixer (6 to 8 p.m.) at the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink Lodge. The event highlight is the presentation of "Bob Awards" to individuals, groups and neighborhoods. "Bobbies" honor the Redd Up creator, the late Mayor Bob O'Connor. His widow, Judy, and son, new Councilman Corey O'Connor, will present awards as they have done since 2009.

Pittsburgh Parks volunteer days

Volunteers can sign up to help with various projects this spring Pittsburgh parks. Dates are March 11 (Highland Park), March 25 (Riverview Park), April 14 (Highland Park), April 21 (Frick Environmental Center) and April 29 (Schenley Park). Contact Angela at amasters@pittsburghparks.org or 412-682-7275, Ext. 231.

Stamp out mailbox graffiti

Pittsburgh Postmaster Joseph Meimann urges citizens to be proactive and call the Postal Service directly at 412-359-7845 to report mailbox tagging or boxes in need of repair. Help the postal service by giving them specific information of locations and crossing streets.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising and promotional materials turn into litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses and sometimes non-profits are often responsible when they put their business on Shadyside streets. There has been less of this kind of littering recently.

February's "I Litter" awardee is Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Sunday Extra

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets and places that are a mess. Some because of litter; some because of unswept leaves; some because of trash and junk on their property. Some because garbage cans sit in the front of their houses. Many because of the absence of lids on garbage cans and open waste containers. Some of these Shadyside Garbagevilles are always a mess. This is an incomplete list of course.

• 6111 Fifth Ave. (rear)
• 5523 Ellsworth Ave. (back)
• 5525 Ellsworth Ave. (front & rear)
• 5527 Ellsworth Ave. (rear)
• 5432-34 Ellsworth Ave. (front)
• 4830-32 Ellsworth Ave. (front)
• 10 S. Graham St. (side & back)
• 621 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 624 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 626 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 702 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 710 Bellefonte St. (back)
• 712 Bellefonte St. (front)
• Earle Apts., Elmer & Bellefonte (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer St. (side)
• 5505 Elmer St. (side)
• 631 Ivy St. (rear)
• 703 Ivy St. (rear)
• 705 Ivy St. (rear)
• 727 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 816 Ivy St. (rear)
• 918 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 922 Ivy St. (side)
• 5528 Alder St (rear)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 730 Summerlea St. (front)
• 733 Maryland Ave.
• Dumpster Alley (behind Walnut St. stores)
• Victoria's Secret, Walnut St. (rear)
• Convenience Store/Center (Ellsworth & Summerlea)
• S. Graham (between Center & Baum)

Important phone numbers

Need to contact the city about something that's been bothering you, like potholes and graffiti? Call the 311 Response line (alternate number is 412-255-2621). Your request will be logged and sent to the proper department. Want to contact someone directly? The following list may help.

• Mayor's Office (412-255-2626)
• Littering (412-255-2621)
• State Littering Hotline (1-888-548-8372)
• Abandoned Houses (412-255-2175)
• Abandoned Cars (412-255-4776)
• Weeds/Litter/Bad Sidewalks (412-255-4155)
• Building Inspection (412-255-2176)
• Public Works Main # (412-255-2790)
• Refuse/Recycling (412-255-2773)
• Potholes (412-255-2720)
• Graffiti Watch (412-496-2272)
• Graffiti Busters ((412-255-2872))
• Report Graffiti Happening to You (9-1-1)
• Report Graffiti in Neighborhood (3-1-1)
• Report Mail Box Graffiti (412-359-7845)
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Allegheny County Health Dept. (412-578-8390)
• Police, Zone 2 (412-255-2827
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605)

311 complaint form

A Newslitter reader writes in:

In your important contact numbers section, you might also make reference to the fact that 311 complaints can be filed on line. The complaint form is on the Mayor's web page. The advantage of filing complaints on line is that you can directly provide the details, and even make suggestions as to what needs to be done about the problem. The staff in the 311 Office can simply forward the complaint to the appropriate agency(ies). We've found use of the on-line 311 complaints to be very helpful.

The form is located at http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/311/form/.

Banned

Those everywhere-you-go-you-see disposable water bottles have been banned from Grand Canyon National Park. Small bottles make 20% of all garbage removed from the park. They account for a lot of our litter as well.

Words to live by

Citizens Against Litter wants you: One person can make a difference. People who care must pick up for people who don't care.

Or, in the words of the late Dr. Seuss, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

The last word

Remember. Rome wasn't redd up in a day either.

As a "thank you" to all participants, the Clean Pittsburgh Commission has partnered with the Pittsburgh Pirates to put on the Stash the Trash Recognition Pirate Game on Wednesday April 25th at 12:35 p.m. against the Rockies. All schools who participate in Stash the Trash are able to attend. See the registration form for more details.

Our mission is to inspire people throughout the city and region to collect litter and connect neighborhoods.

We have a litter problem

Mr. Litterman asks, "If there are 20 pieces of litter in a two-block area and 9 of them are from one source would you say we have a litter problem with that source? The source is not a bar. The source is not a fast food restaurant or coffeehouse. The source is the Post-Gazette and the litter is in the form of yellow plastic bags of the Sunday Extra feature sections and advertising inserts tossed on porches, sidewalks, lawns and into bushes. This was the situation on Copeland Street in Shadyside Monday morning after the Steelers were Tebowed and Mr. Litterman found himself sort of Tebowing to pick up the litter. By the way, in addition to the 9 Sunday Extras there were three cigarette boxes, one plastic bottle, one crushed beer can, three facial tissues, a couple supermarket receipts and assorted scraps of paper.

The message inside the Sunday Extra plastic sleeve reads: "If you do not wish to receive future editions (it will be delivered each weekend for one year) please visit post-gazette.com/pgsundayextra or call 1-800-815-3726."

Shadyside is not the only neighborhood being dumped on.

Redd Up goal 250 communities/groups

The challenging triple goal for the Spring Earth Day Redd Up (April 20-22) is 250 communities/groups, 250 tons of collected litter and 20,000 volunteers. "We're only halfway there," says Mr. Litterman. "Response from city neighborhoods is strong. We're hoping for more response from communities in Allegheny, Beaver and Washington counties. Instead of picking up, response has slowed." Contact boris.weinstein@verizon.net or call 412-688-9120.

Pittsburgh: Allegheny CleanWays, Allegheny West, Allentown, Banksville, Banksville Road, Bedford Dwellings, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Brookline, Brighton Heights, Brightwood, California-Kirkbride, Carrick, Central Northside, Chartiers, Clean Green Hill, Crafton Heights, Crawford-Roberts, Downtown Partnership, Duquesne Heights, East Allegheny, East Carnegie, East Hills, East Liberty, Elliott, Fairywood, Fineview, Friendship, Frick Environmental Center, Friends of the Riverfront, Garfield, Glen Hazel, Greenfield, Hays, Hazelwood, Highland Park, Homewood, Knoxville, Larimer, Lawrenceville, Lincoln Place, Lincoln-Lemington, Lower Hill, Manchester, Mexican War Streets, Morningside, Mount Oliver, Mount Washington, Middle Hill, New Homestead, Paddling Without Pollution, PA Resources Council, Oakland, Observatory Hill, Overbrook, Perry Hilltop, Pittsburgh Cares, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Post Office, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pittsburgh Job Corps, Polish Hill, Redd Up Zone groups: Allegheny County Adult Probation, Heinz History Center, PA Resources Council, Spring Hill Civic League, West End Children's Center, Regent Square, Ridgemont, Schenley Heights, Shadyside, Sheraden, South Oakland, South Point Breeze, South Side, South Side Graffiti Watch, South Side Slopes, Spring Garden-Deutchtown, Spring Hill, Stanton Heights, Strip District, Squirrel Hill, Summer Hill, Swisshelm Park, The Academy School, Totally Against Graffiti, Uptown,Windgap, West End and Westwood.

Allegheny County: Brentwood, Cranberry, Crafton, Dormont, Etna, Findley, Glassport, Heidelberg, Leetsdale, McKees Rocks, Moon, Monroeville, Mount Lebanon, Mount Oliver, Natrona, North Fayette, North Strabane, North Versailles, Oakdale, Penn Hills, Pine, Robinson, Ross, Rosslyn Farms, Shaler, Sharpsburg, South Park, Stowe, West View, Whitehall, White Oak, Wilkins, Wilkinsburg and Wilmerding.

Beaver County: Ambridge, Beaver, Harmony; Washington County-Coal Center.

Adopt a Redd Up zone

Don't sit on the sidelines. Businesses, corporations and groups are invited to adopt their own Pittsburgh street or zone and agree to pick up litter at least four times a year for two years. Visit http://www.servepgh.com for information and application form.

Homewood's Race Street acts

Read Diana Jones' blog (Jan. 24) about how the Race Street Committee meets challenges against blight and crime. A classic case of "one street-at-a-time":

http://bit.ly/zwWxfB

Meet n' Greet Mixer March 22

Pittsburgh finest and cleanest -- those would be Clean Pittsburgh Stewards -- will be honored Thursday, March 22 at the fifth annual Meet n' Greet Mixer (6 to 8 p.m.) at the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink Lodge. The event highlight is the presentation of "Bob Awards" to individuals, groups and neighborhoods. "Bobbies" honor the Redd Up creator, the late Mayor Bob O'Connor. His widow, Judy, and son, new Councilman Corey O'Connor, will present awards as they have done since 2009.

Pittsburgh Parks volunteer days

Volunteers can sign up to help with various projects this spring in Pittsburgh parks. Dates are March 11 (Highland Park), March 25 (Riverview Park), April 14 (Highland Park), April 21 (Frick Environmental Center) and April 29 (Schenley Park) Contact Angela at amasters@pittsburghparks.org or 412-682-7275, Ext. 231.

Q &A's about recycling

Question: "I recently visited Philadelphia, and saw that everyone is given designated containers for their trash... one for recyclables and one for non-recyclables. It seems to me that's a lot better system than the hit or miss arrangement that we have in Pittsburgh. Designated containers are easier to enforce, and they would encourage more recycling.

"Also in a recent issue of the City Paper, they talked about recycling organic materials (basically food wastes). They're doing it in both San Francisco and Seattle, quite successfully. The goal is zero trash for the landfill. I think that gives folks a feeling of empowerment and being in sync with the environment around them."

• Ed Brandt, Brightwood

Answer: "The biggest barrier to both issues would be cost. To purchase 1 or 2 containers for each residence would (cost) over $4 million. One size containers will not work everywhere in the (our) City. The large roll-out carts they have in other locations will only work in a limited portion of the City. The smaller bins that could work with our on street parking would most likely not be big enough. It is something that we keep looking at, but still need to resolve these issues before we move forward.

"Cost is also an issue with the organics. We only have one vendor that is permitted in Western PA to take food waste. As you would expect, this increases the cost of the service. As more compost processors get into the food waste business the price will start to come down and it will be something we can consider."

• Shawn Wigle, Public Works Recycling Supervisor

Stamp out mailbox graffiti

Pittsburgh Postmaster Joseph Meimann urges citizens to be proactive and call the Postal Service directly at 412-359-7845 to report mailbox tagging or boxes in need of repair. Help the postal service by giving them specific information of locations and crossing streets.

A real "How to" challenge

A frustrated neighbor writes:

Any thoughts or suggestions to get the following three properties (in Shadyside) to clean up their front yards cluttered with trash cans?

• 5525 Howe St.
• 5527 Howe St.
• 5529 Howe St.

The above three properties keep their trash cans (without any covers) in the front yard by their steps to either the porch or front door. As the tenants leave the property, they toss their trash in or around the cans. By the time trash day comes along, the yards are full of trash. The cans have fallen over. Lots of loose trash scattered about. The result is a haven for rats and trash blowing along the street.

I have contacted 311 over ten times in the last two years. I am guessing that the complaint is being ignored. We have asked the tenants to clean up the trash, but they say it is not theirs (around 3 to 4 apartments per property)."

Mr. Litterman forwarded the complaint to Environmental Services, Bureau of Building Inspection, 311 and our councilman. Within days the complaint received plenty of attention this time. There were visits, warnings, pending citations and promises of scrutiny by city officials. Environmental Services has resolved the problem. Garbage cans have been removed from the front of the three houses.

Ditto: 5525 Ellsworth Ave.

Environmental Services also resolved a six-month problem at 5525 Ellsworth Ave. The unsightly garbage can at the front door of the apartment building has been removed. Pedestrians and motorists alike no longer have to look at the mess. Citizens can get things resolved when they document problems and bring them to the attention of city departments.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising and promotional materials turn into litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses and sometimes non-profits are often responsible when they put their business on Shadyside streets. There has been less of this kind of littering recently. January's "I Litter" awardee: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Sunday Extra.

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets and places that are a mess. Some because of litter; some because of unswept leaves; some because of trash and junk on their property. Some because garbage cans sit in the front of their houses. Many because of the absence of lids on garbage cans and open waste containers. Some of these Shadyside Garbagevilles are always a mess. This is an incomplete list of course.

• 6111 Fifth Ave. (rear)
• 5523 Ellsworth Ave. (back)
• 5525 Ellsworth Ave. (front & rear)
• 5527 Ellsworth Ave. (rear)
• 10 S. Graham St. (side & back)
• 621 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 624 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 626 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 702 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 710 Bellefonte St. (back)
• Earle Apts., Elmer & Bellefonte (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer St. (side)
• 5505 Elmer St. (side)
• 631 Ivy St. (rear)
• 703 Ivy St. (rear)
• 705 Ivy St. (rear)
• 727 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 816 Ivy St. (rear)
• 918 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 922 Ivy St. (side)
• 5528 Alder St (rear)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 730 Summerlea St. (front)
• Dumpster Alley (behind Walnut St. stores)
• Victoria's Secret, Walnut St. (rear)
• Convenience Store/Center (Ellsworth & Summerlea)
• S. Graham (between Center & Baum)

Tips from Keep Chicago Beautiful

Keep sewers free of debris. A man left his car parked on the street over a sewer grate clogged with leaves and wrappers from a local fast food place. During a torrential storm, the water could not drain for hours. Water was still puddled inside the man's car when he came out the next morning to go to work. He let his community group know of his mishap at the next meeting, and the citizen crime patrol group decided to check and clear sewer grates as the teams made their rounds.

Educate to prevent clogs. Chicago cleans sewer catch basins and gutter boxes on a regular basis. If you are doing a neighborhood clean up, clear these sewer grates of obstructions yourself. Educate your neighbors so that no one dumps leaves, grass clippings, motor oil, or anything else poisonous or bulky down the sewer.

Important phone numbers

Need to contact the city about something that's been bothering you, like potholes and graffiti? Call the 311 Response Line (alternate number is 412-255-2621). Your request will be logged and sent to the proper department. Want to contact someone directly? The following list may help.

• Mayor's Office (412-255-2626)
• Littering (412-255-2621)
• State Littering Hotline (1-888-548-8372)
• Abandoned Houses (412-255-2175)
• Abandoned Cars (412-255-4776)
• Weeds/Litter/Bad Sidewalks (412-255-4155)
• Building Inspection (412-255-2176)
• Public Works Main # (412-255-2790)
• Refuse/Recycling (412-255-2773)
• Potholes (412-255-2720)
• Graffiti Watch (412-496-2272)
• Graffiti Busters ((412-255-2872))
• Report Graffiti Happening to You (9-1-1)
• Report Graffiti in Neighborhood (3-1-1)
• Report Mail Box Graffiti (412-359-7845)
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Allegheny County Health Dept. (412-578-8390)
• Police, Zone 2 (412-255-2827
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605)

Active and passive litterers

Councilwoman Natalie Rudiak on Facebook:

I will never forget what Boris Weinstein said: "There are two kinds of litterers: active litterers leave their trash on the ground, and passive litterers don't pick it up when they see it." I pick up trash around my house and block every single day because I don't want my house and neighborhood to look like crap! And honestly, I do see less litter in front of my house than other properties because people are less likely to litter on a place that looks clean and more likely to drop their trash in a place that already looks like a garbage dump.

2012 Caring Awards

The Caring Institute is now accepting nominations for its annual Caring Awards. Nominees should exemplify caring and serve as worthy role models for others. Award criteria include length of service, scope and impact of work, challenges overcome, and imagination and innovation.

Maximum award: All winners are honored at a special ceremony, and young adult winners receive funds for college.

Eligibility: individuals from nine to 99 years old. Deadline: March 1, 2012.

See http://www.caring-institute.org/caringawards.html for more information.

Gloria Baron Award for Young Heroes

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honors outstanding young leaders who have focused on helping their communities and fellow beings and/or on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment.

Maximum award: $2,500.

Eligibility: youth 8-18. Deadline: Apr. 30, 2012.

See http://www.barronprize.org/ for more information.

The last word

Remember. Rome wasn't redd up in a day either.

Our mission is to inspire people throughout the city and region to collect litter and connect neighborhoods.

Post-Gazette is back to littering

By design, the Post-Gazette Sunday Extra is back on the streets of Shadyside. It started on December 11. Other neighborhoods are targeted as well. Remember last winter when the Sunday Extra -- a free sample of one or two news/feature sections -- began surfacing on city streets? The free Extra turned into a ton of litter because many homeowners ignored the news sections in plastic sleeves and let them sit where they landed or because distributors missed tossing them on porches and they ended up on sidewalks, lawns, bushes and streets. Sunday Extras are back this time with advertising inserts. A message on the sleeve reads: "If you do not wish to receive future editions [get ready for a possible long haul - ed.] please visit http://post-gazette.com/pgsundayextra/ or call 1-800-815-3726." Do what you have to to cut done on more litter in our neighborhoods.

Squirrel Hill hit too

Squirrel Hill resident and subscriber writes:

What can be done to stop the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from tossing the Sunday Extra yellow bags on driveways, bushes, lawns, etc.? When the Trib Review did this a few years ago, the Mayor's Complaint Center got them to stop. Calling 311 has not helped this time, nor has calling the Post-Gazette or e-mailing Chris Chamberlain (P-G President). Why don't our litter laws protect us against such nuisances?

5525 Ellsworth Ave. illegal dumping

Illegal dumping can happen right in front of your eyes. On beautiful tree lined, well-cared for streets. This is what is meant by the expression: "There goes the neighborhood." When it happens in Shadyside, Mr. Litterman gets upset because he spends a lot of time picking up other people's messes. When it happens in your neighborhood you should be upset too.

5525 Ellsworth is an apartment building at the intersection of Ellsworth and South Graham. The garbage area in the rear of this building has always been a mess with overflowing open waste dumpsters and garbage scattered on the building's property and city alley. Mr. Litterman knows because he cleans up the mess often. That's bad enough. But about six months ago, the building super placed a waste container at the front door. (I have no idea why.) As expected, building residents began dropping their trash in the container as they entered the building. ("What did you expect me to do, litter the street?") This practice doesn't stop when the container is full. The result, of course, is that litter is piled sky-high and spills onto the front lawn, walkway and sidewalk. It's a sight for sore eyes. You would think the super would wise up, remove the container and eliminate the residential dumping.

The illegal dumping was reported months ago to Environmental Services and the Bureau of Building Inspection. It has now been reported again. Stay tuned.

Spring Redd Up around the corner

Only 110 days till Earth Day and the Spring Redd Up on April 20, 21, 22. Communities and groups in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities are signing on for the big weekend. Word is getting out and Citizens Against Litter has an aggressive challenge: Reach and exceed 250 Redd Ups; collect 250 tons of litter; engage 20,000 volunteers. Stepping up so far are these 100 plus communities and groups:

Pittsburgh: Allegheny CleanWays, Allegheny West, Allentown, Banksville, Banksville Road, Bedford Dwellings, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Brookline, Brighton Heights, Brightwood, California-Kirkbride, Carrick, Central Northside, Chartiers, Clean Green Hill, Crafton Heights, Downtown Partnership, Duquesne Heights, East Allegheny, East Carnegie, East Liberty, Elliott, Fairywood, Fineview, Friendship, Friends of the Riverfront, Garfield, Glen Hazel, Greenfield, Hazelwood, Highland Park, Homewood, Larimer, Lawrenceville, Lincoln-Lemington, Lower Hill, Manchester, Mexican War Streets, Mount Oliver, Mount Washington, Middle Hill, Paddling Without Pollution, PA Resources Council, Oakland, Observatory Hill, Overbrook, Perry Hilltop, Pittsburgh Cares, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Post Office, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pittsburgh Job Corps, Polish Hill, Redd Up Zone groups: Allegheny County Adult Probation, Heinz History Center, PA Resources Council, Spring Hill Civic League, West End Children's Center, Regent Square, Ridgemont, Schenley Heights, Shadyside, Sheraden, South Oakland, South Side, South Side Slopes, Spring Garden-Deutchtown, Spring Hill, Stanton Heights, Strip District, Squirrel Hill, Summer Hill, Swisshelm Park, The Academy School, Totally Against Graffiti, Uptown,Windgap, West End and Westwood.

Allegheny County: Brentwood, Crafton, Cranberry, Dormont, Etna, Findley, Heidelberg, McKees Rocks, Moon, Monroeville, Mount Lebanon, Mount Oliver, Natrona, North Versailles, Penn Hills, Robinson, Sharpsburg, South Park, Stowe, West View, Wilkins, Wilkinsburg and Wilmerding.

Beaver County: Beaver

Washington County: Coal Center

Adopt a Redd Up zone

Don't sit on the sidelines. Businesses, corporations and groups are invited to adopt their own Pittsburgh street or zone and agree to pick up litter at least four times a year for two years. Visit http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/servepgh/reddupzone/ for information and an application form.

Stamp out mailbox graffiti

In 2010, the U.S. Postal System began an aggressive campaign to remove graffiti, paint and repair mailboxes in these city neighborhoods: Mt. Oliver, Carrick, Oakland, South Side, Bloomfield, Friendship, the Strip and Cultural District. Hundreds of mailboxes got attention. Pittsburgh Postmaster Joseph Meimann met with the Clean Pittsburgh Commission in December and told members that the Postal Service will identify more neighborhoods to target early in the new year.

The Postmaster urged citizens to be proactive and to call the Postal Service directly at 412-359-7845 to report any mailbox tagging or boxes in need of repair. Help the postal service by giving them specific information of the locations and crossing streets.

City seeks exceptional volunteers

Mayor Ravenstahl wants names of exceptional volunteers. He wants to recognize them and their organizations with Citizen Service Awards. The program was started last year.

Awardees do not need to be residents of Pittsburgh, but their service should have a positive impact on the City. You can nominate yourself or another community member who has gone above and beyond to give back to our neighborhoods. Recipients will be honored with a City of Pittsburgh Proclamation and a personal letter of thanks from Mayor Ravenstahl. Recognition will be awarded on a rolling basis.

If you would like to share your volunteer accomplishments, or know of someone who is making an impact in your community, fill out a nomination form. More information may be found at http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/servepgh/ or 412-255-2280.

300 tons of leaves, yard debris collected

November's curbside leaf and yard debris collection by Public Works totaled over 300 tons of compostable material. Leaves and yard debris will be turned into compost by the City's contractor, Diamond Mulch. Much of the material will be returned to the City this year to be used in community parks.

Changing faces

Councilman Doug Shields moves on. Councilman Corey O'Connor moves up. Mr. Litterman has worked with both of them and wishes them the best in their new challenges. District #5 neighborhoods Glen Hazel, Greenfield, Hays, Hazelwood, Lincoln Place, Regent Square, Squirrel Hill and Swisshelm Park will continue to be in good hands with Corey. Both men aren't timid about bending over backwards to help citizens against litter all over the city keep litter off the streets.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising and promotional materials turn into litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses and sometimes non-profits are often responsible when they put their business on Shadyside streets. There has been less of this kind of littering recently. Here is December's one and only "I litter" awardee:

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Sunday Extra

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets and places that are a mess. Some because of litter; some because of unswept leaves; some because of trash and junk on their property. Some because garbage cans sit in the front of their houses. Many because of the absence of lids on garbage cans and open waste containers. Some of these Shadyside Garbagevilles are always a mess. This is an incomplete list of course.

• 6111 Fifth Ave. (rear)
• 5523 Ellsworth Ave. (back)
• 5525 Ellsworth Ave. (front & rear)
• 5527 Ellsworth Ave. (rear)
• 10 S. Graham St. (side & back)
• 621 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 624 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 626 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 702 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 710 Bellefonte St. (back)
• Earle Apts., Elmer & Bellefonte (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer St. (side)
• 5505 Elmer St. (side)
• 631 Ivy St. (rear)
• 703 Ivy St. (rear)
• 705 Ivy St. (rear)
• 727 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 816 Ivy St. (rear)
• 918 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 922 Ivy St. (side)
• 5528 Alder St (rear)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 730 Summerlea St. (front)
• Dumpster Alley (behind Walnut St. stores)
• Victoria's Secret, Walnut St. (rear)
• Convenience Store/Center (Ellsworth & Summerlea)
• Wendy's, Center Ave. & Baum Blvd.
• S. Graham (between Center & Baum)

Important phone numbers

Need to contact the city about something that's been bothering you, like potholes and graffiti? Call the 311 Response line (alternate number is 412-255-2621). Your request will be logged and sent to the proper department. Want to contact someone directly? The following list may help.

• Mayor's Office (412-255-2626)
• Littering (412-255-2621)
• State Littering Hotline (1-888-548-8372)
• Abandoned Houses (412-255-2175)
• Abandoned Cars (412-255-4776)
• Weeds/Litter/Bad Sidewalks (412-255-4155)
• Building Inspection (412-255-2176)
• Public Works Main # (412-255-2790)
• Refuse/Recycling (412-255-2773)
• Potholes (412-255-2720)
• Graffiti Watch (412-496-2272)
• Graffiti Busters ((412-255-2872))
• Report Graffiti Happening to You (9-1-1)
• Report Graffiti in Neighborhood (3-1-1)
• Report Mail Box Graffiti (412-359-7845)
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Allegheny County Health Dept. (412-578-8390)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605)

Keeping Greenfield litter-free

They keep tabs monthly in Greenfield. Last month volunteers of the Greenfield Organization nabbed 64 bags of litter and recyclables. Credit Laura -- with an assist from her dog -- with a record haul of 41 bags from Beechwood Blvd., Murray Ave., Windsor, Welfer, Mirror and Lilac streets. Thanks to Laura and all the volunteers and the information from Pat Hassett.

The litter bag lady from Stanton Heights

Monique Dietz writes in:

I keep collecting a bag a day. Reporting four tires dumped at corner of Duncan St. and Christopher. Happy Holidays and Happy Cleaning! And as always, thanks.

The last word

Remember. Rome wasn't redd up in a day either.

Keep up the good work, Lynn.

Our mission is to inspire people throughout the city and region to collect litter and connect neighborhoods.

If it's not broken...

Citizens Against Litter's Mr. Litterman (AKA Boris Weinstein) will continue as chairman of the Mayor's Clean Pittsburgh Commission. Other members elected for the next two years are: Sarah Alessio Shea (PA Resources Council) and Joe Divack (DumpBusters) as vice chairs; Patty Chavez (Public Works) continues as secretary; and Shawn Wigle (Public Works) as treasurer.

Acklin and Stefanov to CPC

Kevin Acklin, who founded Renew Pittsburgh and has been its executive director all along, has been recommended to fill one of the vacancies on the Clean Pittsburgh Commission. Renew Pittsburgh works with many neighborhoods on more than litter and illegal dumping. Projects include renovation of August Wilson's home on the Hill and the old opera house in Homewood. Nicholas Stefanov, a director with Renewable Manufacturing Gateway, fills the other vacancy.

Redd Up Zone cleanups underway

It didn't take long for the first adopters of Redd Up Zones to go to work. John Heinz History Center volunteers picked up litter on Saturday, November 5 on Penn Ave and Smallman St. from 11th to 14th and Mulberry Way in the Strip. On Tuesday, November 8, about 20 Boy Scout Troop #73 volunteers picked up litter in their zone along Butler St from 34th to 38th and on Mulberry Way in Lawrenceville. Other groups have applied for Redd Zone adoptions in West End, South Side and Arlington.

Don't stay on the sidelines. Businesses, corporations and groups of all sorts are invited to adopt their own city zone and agree to pick up litter at least four times a year for two years. Visit http://www.servepgh.com for information and an application form.

Hearing from Vermont

"Congratulations on your ongoing actions to eliminate littered trash. Bravo for Citizens Against Litter's persistence and longevity! Impressive are your continued refining and creative techniques to involve many instead of just a few. Citizens, those many concerned people who influence others towards an attitude of intolerance for littered trash, not only influence others but take physical action -- one piece at a time -- are inspiring. In their community, they have found metier. They bolster the meaning of community."

Bernie Paquette, Vermont
Author of http://litterwithastorytotell.blogspot.com/

Cleanup in Polish Hill

Allegheny CleanWays will be doing a cleanup on a recently discovered illegal dumpsite on lower Melwood, just outside the eastern border of Polish Hill. It's scheduled for Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you'd like to help, meet on Melwood Ave. just past Pittsburgh Filmmakers. To get there from Gold Way, turn down Denver St. and go left on Melwood, towards the woods at the end of the street. Wear heavy boots and work clothes. Gloves and bags will be supplied.

Two weeks after October's citywide Redd Up, volunteers in Polish Hill teamed up with Allegheny CleanWays on November 5 to remove trash and debris from the Gold Way-Melwood Ave. entrance to this great neighborhood.

Sign of being civilized

"The 'Don't be a litterbug' discipline once upon a time seemed to be gaining traction, but oddly seems to have slipped away in some quarters. Fighting litter is not a matter of being fussy; rather, it's a sign of being civilized. It's important to us all. Keep up the good fight!"

Fred Sargeant, Sargeant Electric

Trash walking in Brookline

Here's a great plan for all neighborhoods from Brookline:

"Want to take a walk with us? We will meet every Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Cannon Coffee. Everyone should bring work gloves. If you have a grabber, bring that too. Depending on the number of participants, we will walk the Boulevard or venture onto the side streets. For an hour or so we will walk, talk and pick up trash. After our trash walk, we will return to Cannon Coffee for a bit of socializing. There are benefits galore in this weekly event. First, we will be removing litter from our community. Then there's the walking, bending and stretching exercise. You can meet new people, and just getting out of the house can improve your mood. Bundle up. Come on out. Walk with us. Then, join us for hot coffee, hot tea, hot cocoa, or have you tried Cannon Coffee's S'more Mocha?"

Spring Redd Up dates April 20, 21, 22

Earth Day 2012 is Sunday, April 22. Keep PA Beautiful has designated Saturday, April 21 as the focus day for the Great American Cleanup in PA. The Pittsburgh area Spring Redd Up weekend will be Friday, April 20 for Stash the Trash Day for public, private and parochial schools. Most neighborhoods and communities will gather volunteers on Saturday, April 21 and other neighborhoods will pick up litter on Sunday, April 22.

South Park (Dave Buchewicz), Squirrel Hill (Barbara Grover), and Brookline (Keith Knecht) are the first communities to sign up. Our goal is participation of 200-250 city neighborhoods, communities and groups in Allegheny, Beaver, Washington, Butler and Westmoreland counties.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising materials turn into litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses and sometimes non-profits are often responsible when they put their business on Shadyside streets. There has been less of this kind of littering recently. Here are November litterers:

• Quaker Steak and Lube
• Pizzutti's
• Yen's Chinese restaurant

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets and places that are a mess. Some because of litter; some because of unswept leaves; some because of trash and junk on their property. Some because garbage cans sit in the front of their houses. Many because of the absence of lids on garbage cans and open waste containers. Some of these Shadyside Garbagevilles are always a mess. This is an incomplete list of course.

• 6111 Fifth Ave. (rear)
• 5523 Ellsworth Ave. (back)
• 5525 Ellsworth Ave. (front & rear)
• 5527 Ellsworth Ave. (rear)
• 10 S. Graham St. (side & back)
• 621 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 624 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 626 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 702 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 710 Bellefonte St. (back)
• Earle Apts., Elmer & Bellefonte (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer St. (side)
• 5505 Elmer St. (side)
• 631 Ivy St. (rear)
• 703 Ivy St. (rear)
• 705 Ivy St. (rear)
• 727 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 816 Ivy St. (rear)
• 918 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 922 Ivy St. (side)
• 5528 Alder St (rear)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 730 Summerlea St. (front)
• Dumpster Alley (behind Walnut St. stores)
• Victoria's Secret, Walnut St. (rear)
• Convenience Store/Center (Ellsworth & Summerlea)
• Wendy's, Center Ave. & Baum Blvd.
• S. Graham (between Center & Baum Blvd.)

Important phone numbers

Need to contact the city about something that's been bothering you, like potholes and graffiti? Call the 311 Response line (alternate number is 412-255-2621). Your request will be logged and sent to the proper department. Want to contact someone directly? The following list may help.

• Mayor's Office (412-255-2626)
• Littering (412-255-2621)
• State Littering Hotline (1-888-548-8372)
• Abandoned Houses (412-255-2175)
• Abandoned Cars (412-255-4776)
• Weeds/Litter/Bad Sidewalks (412-255-4155)
• Building Inspection (412-255-2176)
• Public Works Main # (412-255-2790)
• Refuse/Recycling (412-255-2773)
• Potholes (412-255-2720)
• Graffiti Watch (412-496-2272)
• Graffiti Busters ((412-255-2872))
• Report Graffiti Happening to You (9-1-1)
• Report Graffiti in Neighborhood (3-1-1)
• Report Mail Box Graffiti (412-359-7845)
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Allegheny County Health Dept. (412-578-8390)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605)

Andy Rooney on litter

Commenting on Rooney's death in Time Magazine (November 21), Morley Safer of CBS' 60 Minutes, recalled Rooney always telling him, "When are you going to clean this dump up (office)?" And he should talk, said Safer, he had a pretty messy office too.

Tired of the mess

Roughly 250,000 tires are estimated to be in an illegal dump in Calhoun County, South Carolina. The tire graveyard is visible from outer space. A Florida firm says it will take many months to re-tire the site and haul them away. When tire dumpers are identified, the worst penalty that could be imposed locally is $475.

The last word

Remember. Rome wasn't redd up in a day either.

Boris Weinstein of Citizens Against Litter, coordinator of the event, said goals are ambitious: 250 communities, 250 tons of litter removed from streets, roads, lots and illegal dumps and 15,000 to 20,000 volunteers. "The contact phase has already started", said Weinstein. "We're looking for participation from most of the city's 90 neighborhoods and more than 150 communities in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Pittsburgh public, private and parochial schools kick off the weekend on Friday, April 20 with the Stash the Trash event. To register your school, contact Sarah Alessio Shea at PA Resources Council, the coordinating organization, at saraha@ccicenter.org or call 412-488-7490. Saturday, April 21 will be the day most communities hit the streets, cleaning up litter, sprucing up and planting community gardens.

Communities outside Pittsburgh are encouraged to have their fall cleanups on this same weekend. Register your participation through boris.weinstein@verizon.net. "The area makes a larger statement about the scope and importance of removing litter and trash and documenting the good works of many concerned citizens when we schedule our cleanups on the same day and report these activities," said Weinstein.

Allegheny CleanWays, the organization that assists neighborhoods with eliminating illegal dumpsites, will also be a participating in the Redd Up. Contact Myrna Newman for information at myrnan@alleghenycleanways.org or 412-381-1301. Allegheny CleanWays welcomes volunteers.

Citizens Against Litter. PA Resources Council, Allegheny CleanWys and Renew Pittsburgh are members of the Clean Pittsburgh Commission. Groups and communities lean heavily on Pittsburgh Public Works and other public works departments to haul away collected litter. Pittsburgh Public Works, PennDOT and Allegheny Cleanways provide bags and gloves and in some cases safety vests for volunteers.

Others elected at the Nov. 17 commission meeting were: Sarah Alessio Shea (PA Resources Council) and Joe Divack (DumpBusters) as vice chairs, Patricia Chavez (Public Works) as secretary and Shawn Wigle (Public Works) as treasurer.

The Commission also acted to recommend Kevin Acklin, Executive Director of Renew Pittsburgh, and Nicholas Stefanov, a director of Renewable Manufacturing Gateway, to fill two commission vacancies.

CPC works to improve the environmental quality of life here through litter and illegal dumping prevention, cleanups and enforcement.

Our mission is to inspire people throughout the city and region to collect litter and connect neighborhoods.

Original 12 mad men and women

Recently Mr. Letterman tooted his car horn at two special women: Ann Young and Mary Connolly, and it got him reminiscing. They were among the l2 angry people -- the original ones -- who added the "s" to Citizens Against Litter in Shadyside in April 2005. That's how long we've been around. Obviously, we had one thing in common: We didn't like litter and did something about it. Citizens Against Litter originals are certainly not the only ones or the first ones to pick up litter in our city. But we did our part advancing Redd Ups that now happen in most of the city's 90 neighborhoods and many communities in Allegheny, Beaver and other counties.

Starting the initiative with Mr. Litterman, in addition to Ann and Mary, were: Jake and Arielle Krohn, Leona Paradise, Phil Powell, Kathryn Roeder, Eleanor Slater, Rochelle Solomon and Matt and Marcie Weinstein. Add Gregg Caliguiri (Walnut Grill) and Richard Ratner (William Penn Tavern) of the Shadyside Chamber of Commerce to the list for their encouragement and endorsement and before them City Councilman Bill Peduto.

We can't forget Post-Gazette Editor David Shribman either who wrote us our first letter of support. He was responding to our op ed piece in the PG about removing litter in our city.

Mayor launches Redd Up Zones

The newest weapon to reduce and eliminate litter in our city is the Redd Up Zone initiative. Mayor Ravenstahl announced it October 21. In this program, corporations, businesses, groups of all sorts will be invited to adopt an area, like a 1/2 mile stretch of street, and commit to keeping it clean at least four times a year for two years. The program should be welcomed with open arms by Clean Pittsburgh stewards in all of the 90 neighborhoods. Imagine, when 100 groups of 10 volunteers each adopt a zone this would add 1,000 volunteers to the 10,000 that turned out for last month's Redd Up. There are more than 900 miles of streets in Pittsburgh so when 100 groups adopt 1/2 mile stretches they are committing to clean about 5% of city streets. That's impressive!

Two neighborhoods benefitting immediately are the Strip and Lawrenceville. The Mayor announced that Boy Scout Troop #73 has committed to cleaning four blocks of Butler St. and Mulberry Way in Lawrenceville. The Heinz Historical Center has adopted both Penn Ave. and Smallman St. between 11th and 14th in the Strip District.

Clean Green Hill

Congratulations to neighborhood Clean Pittsburgh Stewards in the Hill District and Uptown. They're connected literally into a collaborative effort under the banner Clean Green Hill. Among their projects are the creation of a multi-area volunteer cleanup coalition, a focused trash survey, identification of problem dumping areas, and 5-10 community memorial gardens/rock gardens. For more information, contact cleangreenhilpgh@yahoo.com. It's original, positive thinking like this that earned the Hill District and Uptown communities a "Bob Award" in 2010 as a "Most Connected Neighborhood."

This takes the cake and litter too

Mr. Litterman sees a lot in his travels around the neighborhood. Most of it goes unreported. But the apartment building at 5525 Ellsworth Ave. in Shadyside has been a fixture on the Garbageville list, both front and rear. Mr. Litterman cleans up the mess often. The super or building manager fails to get the message. Several months ago the super or building manager placed a garbage can at the front entrance. The can fills up. The can overflows. Litter is scattered on the lawn, under bushes, and on the walkway. The can is emptied once in a great while but the damage has already been done. Big league litter on a big league street in full view of hundreds of cars that use Ellsworth Avenue daily. Pretty awful. This situation has been reported to Public Works Environmental Services and the Bureau of Building Inspectors.

October Redd Up a success

Summing up his thoughts, Mr. Letterman wrote: "Sunday morning -- the day after the Redd Up -- I walked clean streets in Shadyside. I'm betting this positive experience was repeated in most neighborhoods by many. Some city residents were volunteers. Most were not. It makes little difference. The bottom line is we got rid of old litter and are in better shape to deal with the fresh litter that will surely drop. My thanks and appreciation to the 10,000 volunteers for a job well done. Among them were 2,525 students participating in 'Pitt Make a Difference Day' -- a turnout that had to be one of the largest by a single group on the National event that attracts three million."

Based on reports from 30% of the participating neighborhoods in and outside the city, volunteers collected about 70 tons of litter and trash.

20 schools stashed the trash

There may have been more, but we have the names of 20 Pittsburgh schools that registered and participated in last month's Stash the Trash event. More than 2,000 kids picked up litter from their campuses. They were: Urban Pathways Charter School, Saint Rosalia Academy, Sunnyside K-8, Carmalt, Liberty K-5, Roosevelt, Fort Pitt ALA, Banksville K-5, Mifflin, Arsenal preK-5, Colfax, Dilworth, Arsenal 6-8, University Prep at Milliones, Grandview, Spring Hill, Immaculate Conception, Faison K-5, Student Achievement Center and Linden.

Think Spring. Think Redd Up

Earth Day in 2012 is Sunday, April 22. Start thinking about our next citywide Redd Up that will probably be that weekend. We're waiting for Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to set the official date for the Great PA Cleanup.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising materials turn into litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses and sometimes non-profits are often responsible when they put their business on Shadyside streets. There has been less of this kind of littering recently. Here are October's litterers:

• Kaplan Career Institute
• Nameless nutrition & weight loss company
• Vybz Machine Reggae

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets and places that are a mess. Some because of litter; some because of unswept leaves; some because of trash and junk on their property. Some because garbage cans sit in the front of their houses. Many because of the absence of lids on garbage cans and open waste containers. Some of these Shadyside Garbagevilles are always a mess. This is an incomplete list of course.

• 6111 Fifth Ave. (rear)
• 5523 Ellsworth Ave. (back)
• 5525 Ellsworth Ave. (front & rear)
• 5527 Ellsworth Ave. (rear)
• 10 S. Graham St. (side & back)
• 621 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 624 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 626 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 702 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 710 Bellefonte St. (back)
• Earle Apts., Elmer & Bellefonte (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer St. (side)
• 5505 Elmer St. (side)
• 631 Ivy St. (rear)
• 703 Ivy St. (rear)
• 705 Ivy St. (rear)
• 727 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 816 Ivy St. (rear)
• 918 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 922 Ivy St. (side)
• 5528 Alder St (rear)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 730 Summerlea St. (front)
• Dumpster Alley (behind Walnut St. stores)
• Victoria's Secret, Walnut St. (rear)
• Convenience Store/Center (Ellsworth & Summerlea)
• Wendy's, Center Ave. & Baum Blvd.
• S. Graham (between Center & Baum Blvd.)

Important phone numbers

Need to contact the city about something that's been bothering you, like potholes and graffiti? Call the 311 Response line (alternate number is 412-255-2621). Your request will be logged and sent to the proper department. Want to contact someone directly? The following list may help.

• Mayor's Office (412-255-2626)
• Littering (412-255-2621)
• State Littering Hotline (1-888-548-8372)
• Abandoned Houses (412-255-2175)
• Abandoned Cars (412-255-4776)
• Weeds/Litter/Bad Sidewalks (412-255-4155)
• Building Inspection (412-255-2176)
• Public Works Main # (412-255-2790)
• Refuse/Recycling (412-255-2773)
• Potholes (412-255-2720)
• Graffiti Watch (412-496-2272)
• Graffiti Busters ((412-255-2872))
• Report Graffiti Happening to You (9-1-1)
• Report Graffiti in Neighborhood (3-1-1)
• Report Mail Box Graffiti (412-359-7845)
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Allegheny County Health Dept. (412-578-8390)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605)

Visit Clean Pittsburgh Commission website

Visit the new CPC website. It will keep expanding with information about what CPC does, how to get involved, resources and news:

Next to last word

Mr. Litterman and Steelers fans have come to expect the Steelers to pick up yards in the Red Zone. Now, though, Pittsburghers can look forward to all kinds of groups picking up yards of litter in the newly-announced Redd Up Zones program.

The last word

Remember. Rome wasn't redd up in a day either.