Everyone from the Mayor down agree digging out of the blizzard of 2010 caused the people of our city a lot of pain, suffering, inconvenience, frustration, anger, disgust and many more hurts. The first plan did not work. The second plan worked a little better. Lessons were learned along the way. And unless we have short memories and "go back to the old ways" there are promises of a fresh start in the form of a task force that will critique the crisis plans and recommend new ones.

Take me. I live on Ellsworth Ave. in Shadyside. Walnut Street is two blocks south. Giant Eagle, Shadyside Hospital and places to eat are two blocks north. Everything I need in an emergency is within easy reach. One problem. Forget the roads being treacherous. The sidewalks are even more treacherous. On February 11, I tried walking to Walnut Street. Except for a half dozen buildings with multiple dwellings sidewalks were not cleaned. I walked one block to the right. Two blocks to the left. One block to the right. Finally I reached my destination. On the trip I walked on clean sidewalks, ice-covered sidewalks. Snow covered sidewalks. Impassable drifts. In the middle of three streets and up a plowed alley.

We need a plan to get the sidewalks clean so should Public Works stumble cleaning the streets, our citizens are able to get out of their homes and walk to destination places. Let's drop the threats that property owners will be fined if sidewalks are not cleaned 24 hours after a storm. That's okay if you're going to punish the mayor and everyone in Public Works if they don't have the streets cleaned 24 hours after a storm. Let's forget the idle threats. Instead let's think out of the box and come up with solutions.

Many laughed six years ago when Citizens Against Litter came up with the bright idea to turn to citizens in all 90 neighborhoods and give them responsibility to recruit volunteers to pick up everyday litter. We now have Redd Ups twice a year with 10,000 volunteers--school kids, college kids, young people, old people. We do this for pennies. I believe it is possible to keep sidewalks cleaner in crisis if such a plan as city government support and cooperation and cooperation of the media.

I propose something similar to Citizens Against Litter. I propose "Citizens Against Snowstorms: Take Back Our Sidewalks".

The definition of crisis is: a crucial point or situation in the course of anything. Therefore, when schools and businesses are closed thousands of people join a pool of available resources for crisis duty for sidewalk shoveling.

Consider legislation to specifically deal with sidewalk cleaning and maintenance during snowstorms.

Recruit an army of volunteer shovelers in the city who would be paid by property owners to clean their sidewalks. A payment schedule would be recommended.

Create a network of neighborhood Clean Sidewalk Stewards to recruit, organize and direct volunteers for their neighborhood sidewalk clean ups.

Tap into these and other crisis situation resources: public schools, colleges, unemployment offices, social networking organizations, service groups.

Investigate federal and state funded emergency programs to recruit shovelers.

Redirect parking meter maids during the crisis to visit neighborhood businesses to remind them to clean their sidewalks.

Appeal to print, radio and TV executives to engage in a media blitz appealing to the public to clean their sidewalks and volunteer as crisis shovelers.

Appeal to media to balance dissemination of snowstorm news and information between weather forecasts, negative road condition reports with positive action the public can take to clean sidewalks.

-- Boris Weinstein

The third annual Meet n' Greet Mixer, organized by the Clean Pittsburgh Commission, will be held Thursday, March 25, at the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink Lodge from 6 to 8 p.m. Many City Council members and City department heads are expected to attend.

Awards and recognitions will go to neighborhoods, groups and individuals including the 2009Volunteer of the Year. Three neighborhood awards will recognize Most Connected, Most Improved and Best Newcomer neighborhoods.

"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 2009 State of the City Report detailing activities involving litter prevention/cleanup, illegal dumping, vacant lots and buildings, abandoned cars, graffiti, recycling and greening.

Home Depot is the corporate sponsor of the Meet n' Greet Mixer.

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

Where's the litter?

Gone but not forgotten for awhile. Litter is out of sight under more than 40 inches of snow in February. On cue, expect litter to sprout like flowers in a few weeks.

Attacking Greenfield's illegal dumps

"Stash The Trash is a community based organization looking to clean up the city through supporting litter pick-up programs and cleaning up overgrown sidewalks and lots. In addition, they are working diligently to eradicate illegal dump sites and while they serve the entire city, they plan to focus on the Greenfield neighborhood in 2010 and clean up our 15 illegal dumpsites. (They have already cleaned up 5 over the past 12 months.)

"In 2009, PA CleanWays did a survey assessing the city's illegal dumpsites on public property. They found 279 dumpsites throughout the city. Twenty of them were in Greenfield, one of the highest amounts for a neighborhood! You can view the entire report at http://bit.ly/cPq4QK.

"The Greenfield number is now 15 due to the efforts of the group and Joe Divack, a retired citizen, who has been working through Stash the Trash to clean up the sites.

"Please check out the Stash The Trash website and consider signing up to help them clean-up the city and the neighborhood. Connect Greenfield will keep you posted as to their plans and future opportunities to assist in Greenfield clean-ups. Thanks."

Pat Hassett

Name game

Add "Litter Gitters" and "Litter Angels (or something like that)" to the list of names to call people who are against litter. Those suggestions came from Newslitter readers last month. Another one was "Litter Busters." Previous entries were "Litter Ridders," "Redders," "Litter Retrievers," "Picker Uppers" and "Litter Fighters." Any others?

Undercover Boss fired

CBS-TV unveiled a new reality show after the Super Bowl to an audience of millions. It's called Undercover Boss. Larry O'Donnell president and CEO of Waste Management, was featured in the first show. He performed a variety of jobs, separating trash on the recycling line, picking up neighborhood garbage, cleaning public Mr. John toilets and chasing down litter on a windy hill near a dumpsite. He failed at that job. In fact he was fired. Any litter gitter could tell him that in that situation you don't use a stick with a nail head to fill a 20 gallon plastic bag being tossed in the wind. You bend. Pick up. And stuff the litter in the bag with your gloved hands. Waste Management expects its litter gitters to fill three bags in 10 minutes. Its rookie president collected half a bag in that time.

Pittsburgh's finest and cleanest to mix

The gathering of Pittsburgh's finest and cleanest is expected to attract most of the Clean Pittsburgh Stewarts from 90 city neighborhoods on Thursday, March 25. The event is the third annual Meet & Greet Mixer at the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink lodge. Neighborhoods, groups and individuals will be recognized with Bob Awards, named for our late Mayor Bob O'Connor. Home Depot is the major underwriter.

Pick It Up PA Days

The official dates for Pick It Up PA Days have been tweaked to include Earth Day. The dates are April 17 through May 1. Pick It Up PA Days is the spring event sponsored by The Great American Cleanup of PA, the name you may be more familiar with.

World Environment Day

Our Spring Redd Up has been registered as an event of World Environment Day (April 22-June 5). Participation of 15,000 volunteers will easily be the largest single turnout locally and probably the largest anywhere.

Spring Redd Up sign-ins at 135

Leaders and community councils in 82 city neighborhoods say they will participate in the spring Earth Day Redd Up on Saturday, April 17 or April 23-25 weekend. Contact with communities in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Washington counties has been stepped up. Westmoreland County participating communities appear on the Great PA Cleanup website.

"Our goal is for participation of most of the 90 city neighborhoods and another 100 communities in the region," said Citizens Against Litter. "This year is extra special because Pittsburgh will be the North American host city for the United Nations-sponsored World Environment Day, kicking off on Earth Day (40th year) and continuing for six weeks until June 5." Participating is:

PITTSBURGH: Allegheny Courts Day Probation, Allegheny West, Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Banksville Road Corridor, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Bon Air, Bluff, Brighton Heights, Brightwood (Marshall-Shadeland), Brookline, California-Kirkbride, Carrick, Central Northside, Chartiers City, Crafton Heights, Downtown, Duquesne Heights Duquesne University Evergreen, East Allegheny, East Carnegie, East Hills, Elliott, Esplen, Explorers Club, Fineview, Friendship, Friends of the Riverfront (Jail Trail), Garfield, Glen Hazel, Greenfield, Harriet Tubman Terrance Tenant Council, Hays, Hazelwood, Highland Park, Homewood, Larimer, Lawrenceville, Lincoln-Lemington, Lincoln Place, Lower Hill, Manchester, Middle Hill, Morningside, Mount Washington, Mount Oliver, Mexican War Streets, New Homestead, North Point Breeze, Nine Mile Run Watershed, North Shore (Pirates), Oakland, Observatory Hill, Overbrook (Fairhaven), Perry Hilltop, Pittsburgh Job Corps, Polish Hill, Ridgemont, Regent Square, Schenley Heights, Shadyside, Sheraden, Squirrel Hill, South Point Breeze, South Side Flats, South Side Slopes, Spring Garden/Deutschtown, Spring Hill-City View, Stanton Heights, Strip District, Swisshelm Park, The Academy System, Troy Hill, Uptown, West End Village, Westwood and Windgap

ALLEGHENY COUNTY: Carnegie, Dormont, Duquesne, Etna, Findlay, Forest Hills, Heidelberg, Homestead, Leetsdale, Marshall, Millvale, McKees Rocks, Monroeville, Mount Lebanon, Mount Oliver, Harrison (Natrona Heights), North Fayette, Penn Hills, Pine, Pitcairn, Robinson, Ross, Scott, Shaler, South Park, Stowe, Tarentum, Verona, West Homestead, White Oak, Wilkins and Wilkinsburg.

BEAVER COUNTY: Ambridge, Beaver, Center (Aliquippa), Industry, New Brighton and Ohioville

WASHINGTON COUNTY: Cross Creek, Coal Center, Hanover, McDonald, Nottingham and Robinson

WESTMORELAND COUNTY: Ligonier, Unity and West Newton

For information and to register your community contact boris.weinstein@verizon.net or call 412-688-9120.

Volunteer help

Need volunteers for your neighborhood Redd Up? We all do. Look to Pittsburgh Cares. Visit the website, http://www.pittsburghcares.org. Complete the volunteer request form for your group's effort in April. Phone number for information is 412-471-2114.

Pirates pickoff play

Volunteers from the Pittsburgh Job Corps and The Academy System will team up with Pirates and pickoff litter from North Shore streets on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22. Volunteers also will be guests of the Pirates for the afternoon game with the Milwaukee Brewers.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses/groups are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets. No awards given for a second month.

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets, alleys and places in Shadyside that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff. Here are some.

• 5525-27 Ellsworth Ave. (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer St. (side)
• 5505 Elmer St. (side)
• 727 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 816 Ivy St. (front and rear)
• 918 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 922 Ivy St. (side)
• 636 Maryland Ave. (front and side)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 5217 Fifth Ave. (front and side)
• 816 S. Negley Ave. (front)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Ave. (parking lot)

Squirrel Hill standout

Squirrel Hill Litter Patrol singles out the apartment building at 5536 Kamin Street as a "Garbageville." Photos show a real mess.

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 Squad (412-323-7818)
• Graffiti (412-255-28720
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605)

Dates to remember

The second open Clean Pittsburgh Commission meeting -- known as "Community Conversation" -- bringing together Clean Pittsburgh Stewards from all 90 city neighborhoods is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the CCI Center on the South Side.

The fall Redd Up dates will be October 15-17, and are wrapped around Pitt Make A Difference Day on Saturday, October 16. More than 2,500 Pitt students teamed with volunteers in more than 55 neighborhoods last year on its community service day.

Drowning in water bottles

Use and refill a single water bottle, thermos or canteen, when you travel. The average person drinks eight ounces of bottled water per day. Considering that plastic is derived from petroleum, it takes 1.5 million barrels of oil annually to satisfy America's demand for bottled water. If this oil were converted to gasoline, the total could fuel 500,000 station wagons to take their families on coast-to-coast road trips.

Citizens Against Litter expects more than 15,000 volunteers to take to their streets in 200 neighborhoods and communities clean ups in the area.

Weinstein said, "The response has been terrific, but it's far from automatic. We've been talking to community leaders for six months. We think there'll be more than 200 communities involved and we probably will not know of all of them."

Citizens Against Litter, PA Resources Council, Allegheny CleanWays, PennDOT and all the public works departments have worked very hard over the years to help organize, put supplies in the hands of volunteers and collect several hundred tons of bagged litter.

Citywide Redd Ups in the spring and fall are supported and endorsed by the Clean Pittsburgh Commission.

Community leaders who want to sign up and individuals who want to be matched with neighborhood groups should contact Boris Weinstein at 412-688-9120 or boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

Participating Pittsburgh neighborhoods and groups

Allegheny Courts Day Probation, Allegheny West, Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beautify Banksville Road, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Bluff, Bon Air, Brightwood (Marshall–Shadeland), Brighton Heights, Brookline, Carrick, California–Kirkbride, Central Northside, Charters City, Crafton Heights, Downtown, Duquesne Heights, Duquesne University Evergreen, East Allegheny, East Carnegie, East Hills, East Liberty, Elliott, Esplen, Explorers Club, Fineview, Friendship, Friends of the Riverfront (Jail Trail), Glen Hazel, Greenfield, Harriet Tubman Tenant Council, Hays, Hazelwood, Highland Park, Homewood, Larimer, Lincoln–Lemington.

Lawrenceville, Lower Hill, Lincoln Place, Pittsburgh Kiwanis, Mt. Oliver, Mt. Washington, Mexican War Streets, Middle Hill, Morningside, New Homestead, Nine Mile Run Watershed, North Point Breeze, North Shore, Oakland, Observatory Hill, Overbrook (Fairhaven Greenway), Perry Hilltop, Pittsburgh Cares, Pittsburgh Job Corps, Pittsburgh Pirates, Polish Hill, Regent Square, Ridgemont, Schenley Heights, Shadyside, Sheraden, South Side Flats, South Side Slopes, South Point Breeze, Spring Garden/ Deutschtown, Spring Hill–City View, Squirrel Hill, Stanton Heights, Summer Hill, Swisshelm Park, The Academy System, Troy Hill, Uptown, West End, Westwood and Windgap.

Allegheny County communities

Dormont, Duquesne, Etna, Findlay, Heidelberg, Homestead, Marshall, Monroeville, Mt. Oliver, Millvale, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Mt. Lebanon, Harrison (Natrona Heights), North Fayette, Penn Hills, Pine, Pitcairn, Robinson, Ross, Scott, Shaler, Stowe, Tarentum, Verona, West Homestead, Wilkins and Wilkinsburg.

Beaver County

Ambridge, Beaver, Brighton, Center (Aliquippa), Industry, New Brighton.

Washington County

Coal Center and Robinson.

In 2009, PA CleanWays did a survey assessing the city's illegal dumpsites on public property. They found 279 dumpsites throughout the City. Twenty of them were in Greenfield, one of the highest amounts for a neighborhood!

The Greenfield number is now 15 due to the efforts of the group and Joe Divack, a retired citizen who has been working through Stash The Trash to clean up the sites.

Please check out the Stash the Trash web site and consider signing up to help them clean-up the City and the neighborhood. Connect Greenfield will keep you posted as to their plans and future opportunities to assist in Greenfield clean-ups.

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

Snow job

Forget green. It's the white stuff that's responsible for the appearance of less litter on our streets and sidewalks and covering up a lot of sins.

We need a jazzy name

We know what they call people who litter. They're either litterers or litterbugs. But what should we call the good guys? How about LITTER RIDDERS or REDDERS? I think those are better choices than anti-litterers, litter fighters or picker-uppers. Let's reserve litter retrievers for dog owners. I'm open to your suggestion. Here's one that just came in: litter carriers.

Save the date

E-mail and snail mail went out last month to neighborhood Clean Pittsburgh Stewards -- the city's finest and cleanest -- for the third annual Meet and Greet Mixer, an evening of camaraderie and networking. The mixer will be held Thursday, March 25 at the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink lodge. Highlight of the evening will be volunteer recognition. Judy O'Connor, wife of our late Mayor Bob O'Connor, and son Corey will hand out Bob Awards for neighborhoods, groups and individuals.

Pick It Up PA Days

The official dates for Pick It Up PA Days have been tweaked to include Earth Day. The dates are April 17 through May 1. Pick It Up PA Days is the spring event sponsored by The Great American Cleanup of PA, the name you may be more familiar with.

Spring Redd Up sign-ins top 125

Leaders and community councils in more than 80 city neighborhoods say they will participate in the spring Earth Day Redd Up on Saturday, April 17 or April 23-25 weekend. Contact with communities in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Washington counties was stepped up this month. "Our goal is for participation of all 90 city neighborhoods and another 100 communities in the region," said Citizens Against Litter. "This year is extra special because Pittsburgh will be the North American host city for the United Nation-sponsored World Environment Day, kicking off on Earth Day (40th year) and continuing for six weeks until June 5."

Participating is:

PITTSBURGH: Allegheny Courts Day Probation, Allegheny West, Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Banksville Road Corridor, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Bon Air, Brighton Heights, Brightwood, Brookline, California-Kirkbride, Carrick, Central Northside, Chartiers, Crafton Heights, Downtown, Duquesne Heights, East Allegheny, East Carnegie, East Hills, Elliott, Esplen, Fineview, Friendship, Friends of the Riverfront (Jail Trail), Glen Hazel, Greenfield, Harriet Tubman Terrance Tenant Council, Hays, Hazelwood, Highland Park, Homewood, Larimer, Lawrenceville, Lincoln-Larimer, Lincoln Place, Lower Hill, Middle Hill, Morningside, Mount Washington, Mount Oliver, Mexican War Streets, New Homestead, North Point Breeze, North Shore (Pirates), Oakland, Observatory Hill, Overbrook (Fairhaven), Perry Hilltop, Pittsburgh Job Corps, Polish Hill, Ridgemont, Regent Square, Schenley Heights, Shadyside, Sheraden, Squirrel Hill, South Point Breeze, South Side Flats, South Side Slopes, Spring Garden, Spring Hill, Stanton Heights, Strip District, Swisshelm Park, The Academy System, Troy Hill, Uptown, West End Village, Westwood and Windgap.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY: Dormont, Duquesne, Etna, Findlay, Heidelberg, Homestead, Millvale, McKees Rocks, Monroeville, Mount Lebanon, Mount Oliver, Natrona Heights, North Fayette, Penn Hills, Pitcairn, Robinson, Ross, Shaler, South Park, Stowe, West Homestead, Wilkins and Wilkinsburg.

BEAVER COUNTY: Beaver, Center, Industry, New Brighton.

WASHINGTON COUNTY: Coal Center, Robinson.

For information and to register your community contact boris.weinstein@verizon.net or call 412-688-9120.

Volunteer help

Need volunteers for your neighborhood Redd Up? We all do. Look to Pittsburgh Cares. Visit their website, http://www.pittsburghcares.org. Complete the volunteer request form for your group's effort in April. Phone number for information is 412-471-2114.

Illegal dumpsite attention

Expect to hear about more attention to eliminate illegal dumpsites in the city this year. A recent survey by PA CleanWays said there are almost 300 identified illegal sites in Pittsburgh. Word is that citizen groups will be working with Allegheny CleanWays in Greenfield, Homewood, West End, Mt. Oliver, East End, Squirrel Hill, and Mt. Washington. Let's hear from other neighborhoods about their plans.

Wild Art Wild Trails

Coordinators for the second annual Wild Art Wild Trails Event are seeking members to serve on the planning committee. Wild Art Wild Trails seeks to raise awareness for illegal dumping, inspire artists to explore "found object" art, and encourages residents from all over the city to explore outdoor activities in the Grand View Scenic Byway Park (GVSBP), Pittsburgh's fifth regional park.

Wild Art Wild Trails begins with a volunteer clean up in a challenged neighborhood in one of the GVSBP anchor parks, Mt Washington Park. This area served historically as a dumpsite. The dumpsite needs to be cleaned up to establish a healthy park ecosystem and an environment that is safe for park users. However, one can't help but acknowledge that these sites are brimming with artifacts. From washing machines, to old bicycle parts, to beer cans and entire cars, these dumpsites act as repositories of historic items from life in Pittsburgh over the past five or more decades. To simply dredge a hillside and cart all the items to another dump seems a mindless endeavor especially given the opportunity this presents to learn and celebrate.

The general idea is that while there are many clean ups throughout Pittsburgh each year and the method of creating artistic pieces from discarded items is certainly not new, uniting these activities in a community celebration of art and urban green space is unique. Both of these activities -- park clean ups and art-from-trash -- are of high interest to city residents, and bringing them together will allow Pittsburghers with a variety of interests to converge and celebrate. We intend the symbolism to be explicit: the renaissance of formerly industrialized and degraded land into the Grand View Scenic Byway Park is echoed by the process of birthing a piece of art from objects discarded in the park.

Wild Art Wild Trails will take place July 30-August 1, and will include two dumpsite clean-up days during which artists will select materials and work on pieces. The event culminates with a Sunday afternoon festival to celebrate the community art, park use as part of a healthy, active lifestyle, and green space stewardship. Advisory committee commitment includes monthly meetings February through May, two meetings a month in each of June and July, and e-mail correspondence February through August. Committee members are encouraged to volunteer during Wild Art Wild Trails. Contact Rebekah Keating at 412-481-3220, Ext. 200 or rkeating@mwcdc.org.

Committee members may also serve as festival artists.

If interested, please respond with your name, contact information, and a few sentences that speak to why you would like to be involved. The first meeting will be held Monday February 8, at 6 p.m.

Anti-litter, not anti-smoking

FARGO, ND (AP)

A program that aims to curb cigarette trash is being launched in Fargo.

The "Don't Flick It" public awareness campaign (began January 19) encourages smokers to dispose of their cigarette butts in receptacles rather than on the ground. Norm Robinson's advertising company came up with the campaign. He plans to market it to cities around the country. Robinson and City Commission Mike Williams stress that it's not an anti-smoking campaign but rather an anti-litter effort.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses/groups are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets last month. The list is getting shorter and we love it for whatever reasons. No awards in January.

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets, alleys and places that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff. Here are some.

• 5525-27 Ellsworth Ave. (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer St. (side)
• 5505 Elmer St. (side)
• 727 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 816 Ivy St. (front and rear)
• 918 Ivy St. (front, side)
• 922 Ivy St. (side)
• 636 Maryland Ave. (front and side)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 5531 Howe St. (front)
• 5217 Fifth Ave. (front and side)
• 816 S. Negley Ave. (front)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Ave. (parking lot)
• Wendy's, Baum Blvd. (parking lot and street)
• Blockbuster's, Baum Blvd. (front, side, rear)

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 Squad (412-323-7818)
• Graffiti (412-255-28720
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605)

5 cents make sense

D.C. is the first city in the nation to levy a 5 cent charge on each plastic bag consumers takes out of a supermarket. The law took effect January 1 -- an effort to discourage the use of plastic bags and encourage the use of reusable ones.

D.C. distributed 122,000 reusable bags free to the elderly and low-income families. Evidence is plastic bags littering streets, clinging to tree branches, power lines, polluting rivers and clogging storm drains. It will be the consumers who bear the brunt of clean up costs. Do you think Pittsburgh is ready for a program like this?

About graffiti

Picked up this info from a recent column by Mike Seate in the Pittsburgh Trib: It costs $300 to remove the first square foot of graffiti; $50 more for each additional square foot; and $7,000 to clean graffiti from those bus-size murals.

Go green

In Westfield, Mass., 120 eighth-graders drew up proposals to redesign their school's classrooms, auditorium, cafeteria, library, gymnasium, and the entry hallway stairwell to be green.

Fishy tale

"After Jane combs the scraggly hair of Mr. Rochester and tells him, 'There, sir, you are redd up and made decent'"

"When I read this quote on "redd up" from Jane Eyre," said Keith Knecht of Brookline," being a lifelong fisherman I remembered another use of the expression "redd".

"Certain fish, most notably those in the sunfish family (i.e. bass and bluegills) make "redds" in the shallows during the spring spawning season. The male works very hard to clean out the silt and debris so that the female's eggs can be deposited on clean gravel, which he dutifully guards from intruders. I'm sure this term came from the fish cleaning up an area to mate."

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

Happy New Year

These resolutions will make a lot of us happier and reduce litter in 2010.

• More people bending and picking up everyday litter.
• More smokers thinking twice before they flip their butts.
• More users of ATM machines stuffing receipts in their pockets.
• More drinkers keeping empty bottles, coffee, drink containers, straws and lids off the street.
• More people tucking used tissues and napkins into their pockets and purses.

Spring Redd Up sign-ins near 100

Leaders and community councils in more than two-thirds of city neighborhoods say they will participate in the spring Earth Day Redd Up on the April 23-25 weekend. Contact with communities in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Washington counties will be stepped up this month. "Our goal is for participation of all 90 city neighborhoods and another 100 communities in the region," said Citizens Against Litter. "This year is extra special because Pittsburgh will be the North American host city for the United Nation-sponsored World Environment Day, kicking off on Earth Day and continuing for six weeks until June 5."

The following neighborhoods, boroughs, and towns have make a commitment to take part:

City of Pittsburgh: Allegheny West, Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Banksville Road Corridor, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Brighton Heights, Brightwood, Brookline, California-Kirkbride, Carrick, Central Northside, Chartiers, Crafton Heights, Downtown, Duquesne Heights, East Allegheny, East Carnegie, East Hills, Elliott, Explorer Club, Esplen, Fineview, Friendship, Friends of the Riverfront, Glen Hazel, Hays, Hazelwood, Highland Park, Homewood, Larimer, Lawrenceville, Lincoln-Larimer, Lincoln Place, Lower Hill, Middle Hill, Morningside, Mount Washington, Mount Oliver, Mexican War Streets, New Homestead, North Shore (Pirates), Oakland, Observatory Hill, Polish Hill, Ridgemont, Regent Square, Schenley Heights, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, South Point Breeze, South Side Flats, South Side Slopes, Spring Garden, Spring Hill, Stanton Heights, Strip District, Swisshelm Park, The Academy System, Troy Hill, Uptown, West End Village, Westwood and Windgap.

Allegheny County: Dormont, Duquesne, Etna, Findlay, Heidelberg, Homestead, Mount Lebanon, Mount Oliver, North Fayette, Penn Hills, Robinson, South Park, West Homestead and Wilkinsburg.

Beaver County: Beaver, Center, Industry, New Brighton.

Washington County: Coal Center, Robinson.

For information and to register your community contact boris.weinstein@verizon.net or call 412-688-9120.

Flemington Street dumps history

The Stash and Trash gang, focused on eliminating illegal dumps in Pittsburgh, has tackled two of them on Flemington Street in Greenfield as the year came to a close. Volunteer Joe Divack has taken the lead along with Derek Green's volunteers in this cleanup. "After we cleaned the first and smallest of the dumps," Joe told us, "we tackled the larger dump below Monterero Street. We've pulled out close to 10 tons of litter from an area covering hundreds of yards which extends down the hill behind Boulevard Drive off Beechwood Boulevard."

Some litter history. Mr. Litterman got his start disliking litter on Flemington Street during World War II. He was a boy of 12 when the Junior Commandos was started. "All us kids went down the hill behind our houses and dragged out tires, tire rims, appliances, water heaters and more. Stuff was hauled away and turned into planes, tanks and bullets for the war effort," recalled Mr. Litterman. "That was way before the word 'recycled' was ever used."

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. These businesses/groups are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets last month. The list is getting shorter and we love it for whatever reasons.

• Wheel Deliver

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets, alleys and places that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff. Here are some.

• 5525-27 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer Street (side)
• 5505 Elmer Street (side)
• 727 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 816 Ivy Street (front and rear)
• 918 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 922 Ivy Street (side)
• 636 Maryland Avenue (front and side)
• 5505-07 Howe Street (front)
• 5531 Howe Street (front)
• 5217 Fifth Avenue (front and side)
• 816 S. Negley Avenue (front)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Avenue (parking lot)
• Wendy's, Baum Boulevard (parking lot and street)
• Blockbuster, Baum Boulevard (front, side, rear)

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 Squad (412-323-7818)
• Graffiti (412-255-28720
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605

Classic Jane Eyre

You read it here. You can read it yourself in Chapter 37 of Jane Eyre. It says, "After Jane combs the scraggly hair of Mr. Rochester and tells him, 'There, sir, you are redd up and made decent'" (See it's not "Pittsburghese," but the patois of the Scots and border English who settled here.)

50 billion piece of litter

• There are 50 billion pieces of litter on 3.8 million miles of roads in America. That's 6,700 pieces per mile on both sides.
• Cigarette butts account for 38%; paper products 22%; plastic 19%.
• Blame motorists for 53%; pedestrians for 23%; and improperly-covered loads 16%.
• Litter prevention and cleanups cost $11.5 billion each year (that's too low).
• Surprisingly, the amount of litter is 60% less than it was in 1970.

The above facts are from Keep America Beautiful research conducted within the past two years.

On page 14, a picture of a smiling Mr. Litterman accompanies his article "Turning Litter into GLitter." In it, Mr. Litterman talks about how, with the addition of the letter "G", some careful planning, community involvement, and, most importantly, frequency and consistency, communities can take back their littered streets and turn them into something to be proud of again.

We've seen it work here. We're happy and honored to see others around the world taking up the cause.

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

Summit on blighted and abandoned properties

This year's focus of Sustainable Pittsburgh's Regional Equitable Development Summit is "Going Regional on Addressing Blighted and Abandoned Properties." According to the group, "the presence of blighted and abandoned properties is among Southwestern Pennsylvania's most pressing threats undermining sustainable communities and regional equitable development." Needless to say, we agree.

The summit is on Tuesday, December 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration is $10 for Sustainable Pittsburgh members and $15 for non-members. All are invited to attend.

Registration and more details are available on the Sustainable Pittsburgh website.

10 Steps to a Cleaner Neighborhood

Are you looking to start a neighborhood litter-busting program but don't know where to start? May we humbly suggest the Citizens Against Litter approach? What started as an opinion piece by one man in 2005 has inspired thousands of others to do their part to keep their neighborhoods clean.

Mr. Litterman has compiled another one of his famous top ten lists to help you get started. Called "10 Steps to a Cleaner Neighborhood", it is a succinct primer to the Citizens Against Litter approach, and contains many useful tips for those dealing not only with litter but also abandoned cars, vacant and dilapidated dwellings, illegal dumpsites, and graffiti.

Tale of two businesses

The good one is at Avenue B Bistro on Centre Avenue & South Graham, Shadyside. I watched the owner bend and pick up, with bare hands, napkins, scraps of paper and cigarette butts in front of her restaurant and Consignment on Centre next door. Not just once but several times. She deposited the litter in a city waste container.

The other merchant on Walnut Street did half a job. He started out great, sweeping the sidewalk. He swept the stuff into the street and that was that. Would you agree he did a half a job?

Throw the book at litterers

"Why are the citizens expected to clean up after these lazy jerks that chose to throw stuff out their windows. Why not fine the crap out of them. Or make them spend a sunny Saturday and Sunday along the highways with cars and trucks flying by at 65 miles an hour. [I'm for] putting a bounty on littering. They will never stop if someone keeps cleaning up after them. Our highways look terrible. Worse than anywhere. Especially Rt. 60 from Tonidale to McDonald. Someone is at fault for this mess. Thanks for listening."

Furious

Our reply:

"We share your frustration. Unfortunately, there seems to be a limit to what the long arm of the law can and will do. We're probably an overly optimistic group, but we hope that through local efforts in each community, the people who care most about the places where they live and work will set an example of cleanliness for others to follow. It's been shown that litter-free places tend to stay litter-free, as the social stigma of littering in an otherwise pristine place is high. It's getting our streets and sidewalks to that litter-free state that is the challenge."

Three illegal dumps eliminated

"On Sunday, Oct. 8, our crew of volunteers (Stash the Trash) set out to eliminate three illegal dumpsites.

"Landview Road, Squirrel Hill -- This site was completely cleaned up. Approximately 1 1/2 truckloads of debris and litter were removed from the hillside in two hours. Neighbors told us this dump has not been active. Most of debris we collected had accumulated years ago (before the city installed guard rails and no dumping signs a few years ago). We dropped off flyers to residents that live adjacent to the site. Flyers contained info on dumping, what to do and who to contact should dumping resume.

"Ober Street, Swisshelm Park -- This site was also completely cleaned up. Like the Squirrel Hill dump, the city also has installed fencing and guard rails to deter future dumping. Two truckloads of debris were removed. Flyers were also distributed to neighbors.

"Oak Grove Avenue, Swissvale -- This cleanup was extra difficult because of the slope. Neighbors were so excited about what we were doing, they joined in. It's very inspiring to see people in their 80's loading trucks with debris. Neighbors told us they have been cleaning what they could over the summer. It was evident because there wasn't much for us to clean except some very large items that residents were unable to move. Some residents dispose of grass clippings and leaves on the hillside. We removed one truckload of debris. Like the other sites, the city installed no dumping signs and guard rails following community complaints.

"For all three sites volunteer stewards who live nearby have been requested by our organization to ensure that these areas never become dumping grounds again. They will monitor these areas regularly to make sure they remain as clean as the way we left them. They have made a commitment to us and their community to keep these areas litter free and dump free. Our volunteers will be there should problems too large crop up. The follow-through clean up site maintenance advice and 'our offer to help' are part of our overall strategy."

Derek Green
http://www.stashthetrash.org/

Earth Day Redd Up April 23-25

Circle April 23, 24, and 25. These are the weekend dates of the spring Earth Day Redd Up which also coincides with the Great PA Cleanup. Earth Day is Thursday, April 22. Earth Day also is the beginning of World Environment Day, launched by the United Nations in 1972. Pittsburgh is the 2010 North American host city for the six-week event from April 22 to June 5.

"With 20,000 volunteers in 200 communities expected to participate in neighborhood clean ups in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland counties this will easily be the largest launch ever of the World Environment Day international event to bring attention to environmental issues," said Boris Weinstein, founder of Citizens Against Litter and chair of the Clean Pittsburgh Commission.

For information and to register your community contact boris.weinstein@verizon.net or call 412-688-9120.

Clean Pittsburgh Stewards Mixer set

Clean Pittsburgh Commission has set the date for its third Meet & Greet Mixer. It will be held on Thursday, March 25 at the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink lodge from 6 to 8 p.m. The hope is most of Pittsburgh's finest and cleanest leaders from all 90 city neighborhoods will attend. A highlight of the event, like last year, will be the presentation of the Bob Awards, named for the late Mayor Bob O'Connor who created the internationally-acclaimed Redd Up concept.

Catch this fever

"October 17 was probably the coldest Clean Up Day ever but thankfully the rain held off until after we were finished," said John Engle of Mexican War Streets.

"Six projects were completed with the help of eight team leaders and 30 University of Pittsburgh students. Alida Baker led a group that spruced up the East Commons. Becky Coger guided a team that spread soil and planted at the garden located on Brighton Road above the Zone 1 Police Station. Leslie Ward headed a group of students that mulched along the Aviary wall. Colleen D'Addario and Randy Burns commandeered a team that cleaned up Alpine Gardens and the Alpine Avenue corridor. Kathy Deis worked alongside a group that cleaned up Mechanic's Retreat Park and Tom Cihil and yours truly teamed up with a group that spread three yards of top soil and four yards of mulch at Drovers Repose Garden. We also pruned shrubs and planted over 100 perennials and 100 spring blooming bulbs along Brighton Road and Taylor Avenue. Over 30 bags of litter and yard debris were collected across the neighborhood.

"Special thanks to Randy Casciola for lending his truck and wheel barrow. Thanks also to my Aunt Judy, Doug McCloskey, Dan Vogel, Greg Mucha, Becky Coger and The Urban Gardener for plant and bulb donations.

"A couple of pleasant surprises occurred, the first being the arrival of a crew from Perry Hilltop who offered us welcomed cups of hot chocolate. The biggest surprise was Franco Harris who stopped by Drovers to personally thank the students for their hard work. It was a fun photo opportunity for them and he treated them to Wilson's ribs and chicken. All in all, a foreboding and bone chilling day turned out to be a memorable heartwarming event and a great success story for the University of Pittsburgh and our neighborhood. Next spring, thanks to a little hard work, we should all be able to enjoy a beautiful addition to our cherished neighborhood gardens."

John Engle
Central Northside/ Mexican War Streets

Getting dirty for beauty

GREEN n'at, the South Side volunteer group, has a web site. Check it out. GREEN n'at is a South Side Flats beautification effort getting residents, business owners and stakeholders involved. It asked the question, "Wanna help? Contact terra@southsidegreennat.com."

Their slogan is "Getting dirty for beauty." GREEN n'at was featured in the South Pittsburgh Reporter several times last month.

Partner with Pittsburgh Cares

Need some serious firepower for your next clean up? Consider Pittsburgh Cares. This nonprofit organization maintains a large roster of volunteers who can be mobilized to assist with your next event.

For ideas about how to begin, first read "Clean Pittsburgh Stewards: Ways to Engage Pittsburgh Cares". Then visit the Pittsburgh Cares website to get started.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. These businesses/groups are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets last month. The list is getting shorter.

• The Union Project (African Drum and Dance Class)

Joker's Wild

He/she dropped or emptied a deck of cards onto Elmer Street between Copeland and Bellefonte. How 'bout 52 bends to pick up 52 cards. The joke was on me.

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets, alleys and places that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff. Here are some.

• 5525-27 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer Street (side)
• 5505 Elmer Street (side)
• 727 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 816 Ivy Street (front and rear)
• 918 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 922 Ivy Street (side)
• 636 Maryland Avenue (front and side)
• 5505-07 Howe Street (front)
• 5531 Howe Street (front)
• 5533 Howe Street (front and rear)
• 5217 Fifth Avenue (front and side)
• 816 S. Negley Avenue (front)
• Vacant Children's Home, Negley & Kentucky (front, side)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Avenue (parking lot)
• Wendy's, Baum Boulevard (parking lot and street)
• Blockbuster's, Baum Boulevard (front, side, rear)

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 Squad (412-323-7818)
• Graffiti (412-255-28720
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605

Have litter. Need help?

I met a guy who sounds like someone after my own heart. He's a senior like me. He wants to help other seniors who can't pick up litter around their property or pull up sidewalk or gutter weeds. If you live in Squirrel Hill or Shadyside, give Joe a call. 412-521-4056. No Charge.

Nominate a Redd Up star

Next March the Clean Pittsburgh Commission will again honor outstanding city neighborhood volunteers for their community service in Redd Ups and for their year-'round anti-litter activities. Honorees will receive Bob Awards, named for our late Mayor Bob O'Connor. Tell us about deserving volunteers for consideration to receive 2010 "Bobbies." E-mail boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

Think before you drink

DROWNING IN BOTTLES

It used to seem the world was packed
With broken glass and plastic sacks
But now the streets are always mottled
With paper cups and water bottles.

It seems that now folks think of water
As a drink that always oughta
Be bought at stores because of course it
Comes from bottles, not a faucet.

And in this world of waste and plenty
Once that water bottle's empty
It's tossed away, but not disappeared -
It'll be around for a thousand years.

It's strange because we're really lucky
Our public water's clean, not mucky.
We pay water bills, then get it free,
So why buy bottles shipped from Fiji!

Please friends, help the world stay clean
Those bottles are made with gasoline!
Before you buy bottled water - Think!
Then go to the tap to get your drink!

Hazel Cope, 8-14-07

Mr. Litterman sticks around

Boris Weinstein has been elected for a second two-year term as Chair of the Clean Pittsburgh Commission. Also elected to continue in their positions are Dave Mazza as Vice Chair and Patty Chavez as Secretary.

Registration is $10 for Sustainable Pittsburgh members and $15 for non-members. All are invited to attend.

Registration and more details are available on the Sustainable Pittsburgh website.

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

Stewards' Community Conversation

Members of the Clean Pittsburgh Commission thought it would be a worthwhile change to sit around and talk shop with a few dozen Clean Pittsburgh Stewards in place of a regular meeting. Their ideas and comments get our attention. Our stewards are the glue in a network of passionate citizens who help keep our neighborhoods litter free. The occasion was the first Community Conversation. It was held at the CCI Center on the South Side Oct. 21, four days after the city's fall Redd Up that brought 10,000 people onto the streets in 80 neighborhoods. The four top topics were: How neighborhoods can get their hands on supplies (beyond bags and gloves) like weed wackers, hedge cutters, picker uppers and brooms? Sources to get more volunteers. The city cleaning up city-owned vacant lots more regularly. And the city taking down more dilapidated buildings that become eyesores, disease carriers and drug-user havens. Stewards were told starting a Zero Tolerance Litter Policy program and moving more aggressively to eliminate illegal dumpsites are CPC priorities in 2010.

Hail to Pitt students

(This letter to the editor appeared in the Post-Gazette Wednesday, October 21.)

"Neither rain nor snow nor the threat of both could deter 3,000 Pitt students from 'Making a Difference' on their community service day and the city's fall Redd Up on Saturday.

"Soon after Pitt buses rolled into 55 neighborhoods on an overcast, dreary day, local residents were singing the praises of Pitt boys and girls who picked up litter and trash, tackled a few illegal dumpsites, mulched gardens and planted bulbs.

"The weather apparently frightened a few neighborhoods that rolled up their sidewalks and cancelled.

"But it was a great day in the neighborhoods for citizens against litter, who thanked Pitt students for their community service. Pittsburgh is a cleaner city because of them."

Boris Weinstein

Large Stash the Trash turnout

Several thousand students at more than 30 schools participated in the fall Redd Up Stash the Trash last month. Among them were: Miller, Milliones, Dilworth, Arsenal, Manchester, Concord, Greenfield, Fulton, CAPA-12, Carmalt, Westwood, Linden, Banksville, Pittsburgh Student Achievement Center, Montessori, Mifflin, Beechwood, St. Rosalia, St. Cyril of Alexandria, St Benedict Moor, St. John Neumann, Community Day, St. Edmunds, Taylor Allderdice, Colfax and Hillel Academy.

Shadyside, Mt. Lebanon both #1

At noon on Saturday, October 17, Richard Rattner, president of the Shadyside Chamber of Commerce, made his neighborhood the first in Pittsburgh to sign on for the spring 2010 Earth Day Redd Up that will coincide with the World Environment Day event to be hosted by Pittsburgh. On Sunday, October 18, Rob Papke signed up Mount Lebanon as the first Allegheny County community, saying that many of its 10-school PTA units are already making plans. Citizens Against Litter began contacting communities even while the fall Redd Up was in progress.

Illegal Dump Survey must reading

There are 279 illegal dump sites in Pittsburgh. They are identified by neighborhood. Contents are identified too (like numbers of tires, white goods, TVs, vehicle parts). Since 2005, to date surveys in 37 counties conducted in 37 PA counties by PA CleanWays reveal there are 4,159 sites containing an estimated 15,000 tons of trash. Clean Pittsburgh Stewards can view completed surveys. Visit http://bit.ly/1Tlt0F.

Duck Hollow dumped

I've just learned of a new local non-profit organization, Stash the Trash, and its first project. They cleaned up 70 per cent of an illegal dumpsite in Duck Hollow along the Mon River in Squirrel Hill. Six of their volunteers and other volunteers of Friends of the Riverfront gathered up 12 full truckloads of trash and debris in four hours October 17. Public Works hauled away the stuff the following Monday. This group means business. Welcome.

TLC from BBB

"Boris. Just a huge hug and thank you from BBB (Blitz on Banksville Beautification) for asking that we be included in the Pitt Make a Difference Day. The kids (39 young men) were wonderful, and we got 1,500 daffodil bulbs planted, trash removed, gardens mulched, etc. Altogether, it was a very energizing experience for all of us. 'Hope the kids enjoyed it as much as we did."

Carol Knox

Brookline live wire

"It's wonderful to hear that the cleanup was a success in Brookline. I was able to repair and rewire the new gateway sign at Whited and Jacob due to the recent vandalism. There remains one broken bulb in the center that will be replaced as well."

Jack Stanizzo

G-20 Partnership missed a few

Belated thank-yous to individuals and groups in the G-20 Clean Up omitted from the G-20 Partnership "Thank You" ad in the Post-Gazette October 11: Allegheny CleanWays, PA Resources Council, Citizens Against Litter, Clean Pittsburgh Commission, Clean Pittsburgh Stewards, Friends of the Riverfront, The Academy System, Pittsburgh Job Corps, Allegheny Courts Day Probation, and Duquesne University Evergreen.

Sidewalk stimulus

I don't know what's going on with sidewalks in your neighborhood but there's a mini sidewalk stimulus happening on Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside. To the music and lyrics of "Cement Mixer, Put-Ti, Put-Ti" there several dozen property owners having sidewalks replaced, including mine. Cause of much of the replacement is tree roots pushing up the cement that creates unsafe conditions. It's music to my ears taking place along Ellsworth Avenue from St. James to Ivy. Usually there are two, three, four workers involved and a cement truck ("See the mellow roony come out slurp, slurp, slurp"). Imagine the economic and beautification boost this could be for the whole city. Hope the Bureau of Building Inspection has sufficient manpower and time to cite many more property owners in Shadyside and in other neighborhoods. This mini sidewalk stimulus could develop into a boom for the city.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. These businesses are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets last month. Could the list be getting shorter?

• City-Wide Boutique Crawl
• Yellow Pages

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets, alleys and places that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff. Here are some.

• 5525-27 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer Street (side)
• 5505 Elmer Street (side)
• 727 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 816 Ivy Street (front and rear)
• 918 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 922 Ivy Street (side)
• 636 Maryland Avenue (front and side)
• 5505-07 Howe Street (front)
• 5531 Howe Street (front)
• 5533 Howe Street (front and rear)
• 5217 Fifth Avenue (front and side)
• 816 S. Negley Avenue (front)
• Vacant Children's Home, Negley & Kentucky (front, side)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Avenue (parking lot)
• Wendy's, Baum Boulevard (parking lot and street)
• Blockbuster Video, Baum Boulevard (front, side, rear)

What a difference a day makes

Dumpster Alley in Shadyside (behind the Walnut Street shops) was transformed from Garbageville to garden-like during the Redd Up. No kidding. The alley has been taken off the "Garbageville most not-wanted list" at least for the month. We're rooting merchants like the new look so much they keep it that way.

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 Squad (412-323-7818)
• Graffiti (412-255-28720
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605

Have litter; need help?

I met a guy who sounds like someone after my own heart. He's a senior like me. He wants to help other seniors who can't pick up litter around their property or pull up sidewalk or gutter weeds. If you live in Squirrel Hill or Shadyside, give Joe a call. 412-521-4056. No Charge.

Nominate a Redd Up star

Next March the Clean Pittsburgh Commission will again honor outstanding city neighborhood volunteers for their community service in Redd Ups and for their year 'round anti-litter activities. Honorees will receive Bob Awards, named for our late Mayor Bob O'Connor. Tell us about deserving volunteers for consideration to receive 2010 "Bobbies." E-mail boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

This dentist got drilled

True story. A dentist from Carlisle -- with roots in Pittsburgh -- got drilled by a litter law for dropping a toothpick on the home grounds of a police officer he was "kinda' feudin'" with. The $300 fine seems excessive. Maybe he should have demanded a court case and protested on the grounds that he was just putting down one of the tools of his trade while adjusting the mask over his mouth.

Young Eco-Hero Awards

Action for Nature International Young Eco-Hero Awards recognizes the individual accomplishments of young people whose personal actions have significantly improved the environment. Maximum award: $500. Eligibility: youth ages 8-16. Deadline: February 28, 2010. See http://bit.ly/4bjry6 for more information.

Flower power

November.
Thick branches toss and sway
Bending in unison to invisible powers
Leafless.

Bare leaved also
The rose bush bows
But still retains its fragrant flowers.

Hazel Cope, 2008

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

Your votes really count

PA Resources Council's Uptown Education and Beautification Project is a finalist for one of five Tom's of Maine Sponsorships of $20,000.

The Uptown Education and Beautification Project is a series of one-day community beautification and recycling events, planned for Pittsburgh's Uptown neighborhood where residents will increase their neighborhood involvement and learn useful skills for their own community improvement. With vacant lot cleanups, recycling collections, and composting classes, participants will work together to enhance where they live. PRC feels that facilitating public support and involvement in beautification and recycling efforts will result in a cleaner Uptown.

This will improve quality of life and drive economic development in an area adversely affected by an urban renewal campaign in the 1960's and it has been slow to recover. The end goal is for residents to gain pride in their community as they become stewards of the environment and neighborhood renewal.

PRC is one of 50 projects selected to be in the running for a scholarship. People can go online to Tom's of Maine to vote for their favorite project (up to five times a day) and the top 5 vote getting projects win the Sponsorship!

Voting started September 23 and runs through October 30. Please help PRC to attain the sponsorship and fund the Uptown Education and Beautification Project! Visit http://bit.ly/u899W to vote!

G-20 Clean Up wrap up

One thousand strong. "They cleaned up and beautified like they were a million," say I. Wherever I went, whatever I heard about the September 12 Clean Up, it was the same story. The 20 high visibility places volunteers roamed picking up litter and trash were made absolutely spotless. Public Works estimates our haul as "easily more than 10 tons." And that's a conservative estimate. On Banksville Road alone, for example, where there were about 40 volunteers, PennDOT told Carol Knox, the project leader, that "you guys filled an 8-ton truck." Oakland and South Side attracted the most volunteers, more than 150 each. Two Adopt-a-Highway groups on I-376 East -- one with 16 volunteers and the other with 8 -- collected more litter than ever for a single clean up. G-20 visitors had a litter-free experience if they ventured up to the West End Overlook in Elliott for what some think is the best view of Downtown at the Point. About 100 Home Depot volunteers transformed the vacant lot at the top of the Parkway West at Greentree Road from dirty dirt to lush plantings.

Hanging in there the whole time -- eight weeks before and during the one-day G-20 volunteer effort and after -- were City Public Works, County Public Works, PennDOT and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. This was a stellar city-county-state project.

Shadyside revisited

The streets around Walnut Street were still litter-free four days after the Big G-20 Litter Lift, except for the single-sheet flyers from litterer The Hypnosis Center. If you're pointing fingers for littering, aim at businesses putting their business on the street.

"Pitt Make A Difference Day" October 17

The second "Pitt Make A Difference Day" promises to have a huge impact on city neighborhoods and Allegheny County communities participating in the Fall Redd Up on Saturday, October 17 -- a little more than one month after the G-20. As many as 2,400 student volunteers are expected to take part in Pitt's day of community service. They will join residents and swell participation to a projected 10,000 volunteers. "Our plans are to bring a busload of 44 volunteers to each neighborhood," said Terry Milani, Director of Student Outreach. "Our kids loved the interaction with residents last year. Neighborhoods told us we made a difference."

Most of these communities (and groups) have confirmed their participation:

Allentown, Banksville Road, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Brookline, California-Kirkbride, Carrick, Crafton Heights, East Liberty, Fineview, Eliza Furnace Bike Trail, Friendship, Garfield, Greenfield, Hays (with Lincoln Place and New Homestead), Hazelwood, Hill District, Homewood (with North Point Breeze), Larimer, Lawrenceville, Knoxville, Manchester, Mt. Oliver, Central North Side (with Mexican War Streets), Mount Washington (with Duquesne Heights), Oakland, Perry Hilltop, Polish Hill, Shadyside, Sheraden, Strip District, South Side Flats, Spring Garden and Summer Hill, Troy Hill and Westwood.

Outside the city, Aspinwall, Dormont, Etna, Homestead, McKees Rocks, Mount Lebanon, Penn Hills, West Homestead, Wilkinsburg and Wilkins will have Pitt volunteers.

All but six of the 90 city neighborhoods are expected to participate in the October Redd Up.

Pittsburgh Public Schools, private and parochial schools will participate in Stash the Trash Day Friday, October 16. In the past, as many as 4,000 to 4,500 students and more than 45 schools have turned out to make the event successful.

Vote to "Gee Whiz" ourselves

Eileen Papale of Brookline is right. G-20 Clean Ups are fine to impress visitors but Pittsburghers should "Impress Yourself! You're Worth It!" Brookliners redded up the neighborhood all last month and will participate in the city-wide Redd Up Saturday, October 17.

We're with you Eileen. We want to feel that Gee Whiz buzz year 'round.

Let's hear it from our stewards

Pittsburgh is cleaner these days because a network of Clean Pittsburgh Stewards organizes Redd Ups regularly in most of our 90 neighborhoods.

The four-year old Clean Pittsburgh Commission will bring stewards together at its first "Meeting-on-the-Go" Wednesday, October 21 at the CCI Center on the South Side. "We want feedback," said Boris Weinstein, CPC chair. "We hope they give us an earful of good stuff as to how we can help them do their job better."

Illegal Dump Survey must reading

There are 279 illegal dump sites in Pittsburgh. They are identified by neighborhood. Contents are identified too (like numbers of tires, white goods, TVs, vehicle parts). Since 2005, surveys conducted in 37 Pennsylvania counties by PA CleanWays reveal that there are 4,159 sites containing an estimated 15,000 tons of trash. Clean Pittsburgh Stewards can view completed surveys. Visit http://bit.ly/1Tlt0F.

Best Buy may be best bet

A reader shared her experience of keeping her own discarded TV set far away from a dumpsite. "I didn't want it in a landfill", she wrote. "I learned Best Buy recycles TV's for free. Just take it to them. The mini catch is, I had to pay $10 but Best Buy then issued me a $10 gift card." Other retailers may have similar programs.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. These businesses are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets last month.

• Cipriani Pizza
• Hypnosis Center
• L'Azur Salon/Spa
• New Dumpling & Sushi House
• Wheel Deliver
• WPTS-FM

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets, alleys and places that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff. Here are some.

• 5400 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5525-27 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer Street (side)
• 5505 Elmer Street (side)
• 700 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 702 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 727 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 816 Ivy Street (front and rear)
• 918 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 922 Ivy Street (side)
• 636 Maryland Avenue (front and side)
• 5505-07 Howe Street (front)
• 5531 Howe Street (front)
• 5533 Howe Street (front and rear)
• Apt. house, Fifth & Negley (back)
• 5217 Fifth Avenue (front and side)
• 816 S. Negley Avenue (front)
• Village Pizza, Ivy Street (front, side)
• Vacant Children's Home, Negley & Kentucky (front, side)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Avenue (parking lot)
• Wendy's, Baum Boulevard. (parking lot and street)
• Blockbuster's, Baum Boulevard. (front, side, rear)
• Centre Avenue (Millvale to Negley)
• Centre Commons, Centre Avenue (front)
• Walnut Street Dumpster Alley
• Shadyside Village Guardhouse, Aiken Avenue

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 Squad (412-323-7818)
• Graffiti (412-255-28720
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605

Nominate a Redd Up star

Next March the Clean Pittsburgh Commission will again honor outstanding city neighborhood volunteers for their community service in Redd Ups and for their year 'round anti-litter activities. Honorees will receive Bob Awards, named for our late Mayor Bob O'Connor. Tell us about deserving volunteers for consideration to receive 2010 "Bobbies." E-mail boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

How litter happens

Most times litter happens when someone throws or drops stuff on the ground. Not so with a serviceable green garden sprinkler can that has been on a small plot in front of a house at 619 Copeland Street in Shadyside. It's been there since spring. The can gets no respect. No one seems to want it. I pass it daily. I've done everything but put it on the porch. Now I'm been tempted to pick it up and get rid of it. Help me, is it litter yet?

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

G-20 Redd Up Saturday, September 12

Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PennDOT, Western PA Conservancy and Friends of the Riverfront have been focused on the G-20 Summit (September 24-25) for many weeks. They've been planning, planting and Redding Up business districts, highways, bridges, intersections, traffic circles, trails and the riverfront. These activities will continue throughout September.

Allegheny Conference and Pittsburgh Cares are coordinating volunteer recruitment and assignment to neighborhoods and other strategic places in the city and county for the G-20 Redd Up Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Some dates and start times vary).

This is the Strategic Plan the city and county adopted to make the area shine as Pittsburgh welcomes thousands of world economic leaders, staffs and media.

Strategies: Focus on Downtown. Focus on high profile, high visibility neighborhoods, business districts, highways, roads and bridges. Focus on routes into Downtown from International Airport and County Airport. Focus on the casino, North Shore and new arena construction site.

Tactics: Downtown Partnership to do what it always does but as its executive director says, "Even better." URA to ask "Main Street" programs to get businesses to clean sidewalks, streets and gutters in front of their stores. Public Works to clean heavy-traffic roads, intersections, traffic circles, bridges that require lane closures. Special emphasis on Bigelow Boulevard, Boulevard of the Allies, McArdle Roadway, East and West Carson Streets, Ohio River Boulevard, Fifth Avenue, and Forbes Avenue through Uptown.

County to work with PennDOT and Adopt-A-Highway groups on Routes 376, 279 and 79. County to work with boroughs and townships along the Parkway, interstates and Route 51 to clean roads and hillsides of litter and trash.

Citizens Against Litter to work with Clean Pittsburgh Stewards in neighborhoods that will attract most of the visits from delegations and media. These include Mt. Washington, Elliott (West End Overlook), Strip District, North Shore, Shadyside, Oakland and South Side.

Citizens Against Litter to contact all Clean Pittsburgh Stewards in the city to clean their main streets and shopping centers.

Citizens Against Litter to help coordinate efforts by Allegheny Conference and Pittsburgh Cares to assign more than 750 volunteers into city neighborhoods and other places.

Public Works, County Public Works, PennDOT and Allegheny CleanWays to distribute gloves safety vests and bags to volunteers.

Getting the word out

TV, radio and newspapers have responded well to requests to invite the public to volunteer for clean up and beautifications projects in the city and county. Thanks go out to Comcast Newsmakers, WPXI-TV's Our Regions Business, KDKA-TV's Pittsburgh Today, WTAE-TV, KDKA Radio and others, of course. Volunteer signups are being taken through http://www.pittsburghg20.org.

"Pitt Make A Difference Day" October 17

The second "Pitt Make A Difference Day" promises to have a huge impact on city neighborhoods and Allegheny County communities participating in the Fall Redd Up on Saturday, October 17 -- a little more than one month after the G-20. As many as 2,400 student volunteers are expected to take part in Pitt's day of community service. They will join residents and swell participation to a projected 10,000 volunteers. "Our plans are to bring a busload of 44 volunteers to each neighborhood," said Terry Milani, Director of Student Outreach. "Our kids loved the interaction with residents last year. Neighborhoods told us we made a difference."

Most of these communities (and groups) have confirmed their participation: Allentown, Arlington, Banksville Road, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Brookline, California-Kirkbride, Carrick, East Liberty, Esplen, Fineview, Eliza Furnace Bike Trail (along 2nd Avenue), Friendship, Garfield, Greenfield, Hays (with Lincoln Place and New Homestead), Hazelwood, Hill District, Homewood (with North Point Breeze), Larimer, Lawrenceville, Knoxville, Manchester, Mt. Oliver, Central North Side (with Mexican War Streets), Mount Washington (with Duquesne Heights), Oakland, Perry Hilltop, Polish Hill, Shadyside, Sheraden, Strip District, Stanton Heights, South Side Flats, Spring Garden and Summer Hill.

Outside the city: Aspinwall, Dormont, Etna, Homestead, McKees Rocks, Mount Lebanon, Sharpsburg, Penn Hills, West Homestead, Wilkinsburg and Wilkins.

All but six of the 90 city neighborhoods are expected to participate in the October Redd Up. The latest neighborhood to join in is West End Village.

Pittsburgh Public Schools, private, and parochial schools have been contacted to participate in Stash the Trash Day Friday, October 16. In the past, as many as 4,000 to 4,500 students and more than 45 schools have turned out to make the event successful.

Illegal Dump Survey a must-read

There are 279 illegal dump sites in Pittsburgh. They are identified by neighborhood. Contents are identified too (like numbers of tires, white goods, TVs, vehicle parts). PA CleanWays compiled the survey for 37 counties in the state where there are 4,159 sites containing an estimated 15,000 tons of trash.

Results of the survey can be found on the PA Cleanways site

One down, 278 to go

Bob McKinley, Executive Director of Allegheny CleanWays, told us that his group and volunteers removed 13 tons of litter, trash and construction materials plus tires from an illegal dump at 8434 Frankstown Avenue. in Homewood on August 15. Now there are 278 dumps in the city.

Shadyside's Top 10 reasons for litter

And the Number One reason:

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. These businesses are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets last month.

• Sprout Fund
• Vocelli Pizza

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets, alleys and places that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff. Here are some.

• 5400 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5525-27 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5500-08 Elmer Street (side)
• 5505 Elmer Street (side)
• 700 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 702 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 631 Ivy Street (rear)
• 727 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 816 Ivy Street (front and rear)
• 918 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 922 Ivy Street (side)
• 636 Maryland Avenue (front and side)
• 5505-07 Howe Street (front)
• 5531 Howe Street (front)
• 5533 Howe Street (front and rear)
• Apartment house, Fifth & Negley (back)
• 5217 Fifth Avenue (front and side)
• 816 S. Negley Avenue (front)
• Village Pizza, Ivy Street (front, side)
• Vacant Children's Home, Negley & Kentucky (front, side)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Avenue (parking lot)
• Wendy's, Baum Boulevard (parking lot and street)
• Blockbuster Video, Baum Boulevard (front, side, rear)
• Centre Avenue (Millvale to Negley)
• Liberty School, Ellsworth Avenue
• Centre Commons, Centre Avenue (front)
• Walnut Street Dumpster Alley
• Shadyside Village Guardhouse, Aiken Avenue

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 Squad (412-323-7818)
• Graffiti (412-255-28720
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605

Nominate a Redd Up star

Last March the Clean Pittsburgh Commission honored outstanding city neighborhood volunteers for their community service in Redd Ups and their year-'round anti-litter activities. They received Bob Awards, named for our late Mayor Bob O'Connor. Tell us about deserving volunteers for consideration to receive 2010 "Bobbies." E-mail boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

True or false?

The guys in yellow who keep downtown sidewalks, gutters and streets clean picked up almost 47,000 bags of trash in 2008. At 20 pounds per bag, that equates to around 500 tons. Let's compare this number with the 2009 total when it's available. We'll see if it's true that people litter less when an area is litter-free. It seems to be true at amusement parks and ball parks. Even in supermarket parking lots and around post office boxes.

Seattle says no

Seattle voters rejected a 20-cent fee on plastic and paper bags. It's a defeat for other cities to limit the use of throwaway bags. The Progressive Bag Affiliates spent $1.4 million to defeat the ordinance. Supporters raised less than $100,000.

The value of a volunteer

One hour of a volunteer's time is now worth $20, so we're told. When the projected 1,200 volunteers spend three hours making our city and county look better for the G-20 Summit crowd on Saturday, September 12, their in-kind contribution will total about $72,000. Some say their efforts will help contribute a billion dollars in positive PR for Pittsburgh.

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people in grades 5 through 12 who have demonstrated exemplary voluntary service to their communities. The maximum award is $5,000 for the honoree and a $5,000 grant from the Prudential Foundation to a nonprofit, charitable organization of their choice. Students in grades 5-12 who have conducted a volunteer service activity within the past year are eligible. The deadline is November 2, 2009. For more information, visit http://spirit.prudential.com/.

On August 8, a site in the East Hills was targeted and cleaned. Special thanks to Bob McKinley and Myrna Newman of Allegheny CleanWays for their efforts.

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

A good guy moves on

Public Works Director Guy Costa is no friend of litter but he's been our friend. As a volunteer group, Citizens Against Litter -- 10,000 of us at peak times -- works because of Guy's leadership of the Public Works Department. We pick up litter in the city's 89 neighborhoods. Public Works carts it off. Litter picker-uppers lose a good man when Guy moves on. Thanks Guy, we couldn't have come this far without you.

Illegal Dump Survey released

There are 279 illegal dump sites with 676 tons of waste in Pittsburgh. They are identified by neighborhood. Contents are identified too (like numbers of tires, white goods, TVs, vehicle parts). PA CleanWays compiled the survey for 37 counties in the state where there are 4,159 sites containing an estimated 15,000 tons of trash.

Completed surveys can be found at the PA Cleanways site.

Pick One

I tested and lost. Two days before -- under a bench at the corner of Filbert and Walnut in Shadyside -- I noticed an empty beer bottle and a ball of aluminum foil, probably wrappings from a hot dog. The bottle and foil, now officially classified as litter, were still there when I returned. I removed a dollar from my pocket and placed it under the bottle and left. One of those $1,200 waste containers was around the corner about 25 feet away. I would've bet my $20 picker-upper that the next day the dollar, the bottle and the foil all would be gone. I lost. The picker-upper (he or she) picked up the buck but not the litter. Incentives don't always work either.

Saturday at Arsenal Park

Matthew Kelso, a resident of Lawrenceville, invited neighbors in a Post-Gazette editorial to join him for the "First Annual Bag in the Burgh Day" at Arsenal Park Saturday, July 25. Mr. Litterman was there. I didn't see anyone else except Matthew and his infant daughter. Shame. A tip for others with the same idea. Contact a few neighbors directly and don't rely solely on the power of the press. Mr. Letterman spent a little more than an hour in the park. Arsenal is well maintained. Hats off to the neighborhood. Still there was enough litter there to collect five supermarket bags of litter.

Sunday on the South Side

"I would like to thank all the volunteers who came out Sunday, July 12. What an incredible crew! We even picked up a new person as we were gathering at the parking lot. To recap.

"We had 11 volunteers which are a new record and a great accomplishment after only three outings. We covered more ground than ever, hitting side streets and alleys between 17th and 21st on both sides of Carson. We did it all in just 2 hours. I lost count of the number of bags of trash and recycling that we gathered but there was a lot!

"I think this might be the best part. Three of our volunteers were given $5 each by an appreciative resident! He absolutely insisted they take the money, which is incredibly generous. Thank you random man!

"We've decided to start a pool with the 15 bucks of "seed money" to purchase a Green N'at wagon that can be used every time we go out. This is a great opportunity to begin brainstorming ideas how to raise a little more money. Should we look into sponsorship? Should we go door-to-door for a buck here or there?

"I am so proud of everyone. Aside from the occasional, 'Let the City pick up that stuff!', I have heard nothing but positive feedback about what our group has done so far. And I am so pleased that every time we go out, we have one or two more people on the street than we did before."

Terra Youngblood

Mayor on CNBC

Mayor Ravenstahl was a guest on CNBC Tuesday morning, July 14, talking about Pittsburgh hosting the G-20 Summit. "Pittsburgh: one of the Top 10 Cleanest Cities in America" was flashed on the screen, seen by a national audience.

September G-20 Month

The mayor has proclaimed September "Pittsburgh G-20 Month". That's our invitation to Redd Up.

Volunteers for G-20

If you want to volunteer to make our city shine for the G-20 go to http://www.pittsburghg20.org/ and sign up for the neighborhood you want to help clean and beautify or contact boris.weinstein@verizon.com.

Redd Up right

The headline of a Post-Gazette editorial on Saturday, July 18 is right on. What we do to eliminate eyesores and litter/trash problems as we put on our best face for the G-20 Summit has to be done properly. This is something we can do and the White House can't.

Things like: "Main Street" merchants in neighborhoods cleaning their sidewalks and street gutters from September 21 through September 25; removing litter/trash from heavily-traffic roads that require lane closures like Bigelow Boulevard, Crosstown, McArdle Roadway, Liberty Bridge approaches; and doing the same at the West End Circle and Highland Park Bridge interchange. We're "the City of Bridges" so all the bridges should get star treatment. Busy streets like Forbes, Fifth, Penn, East and West Carson, East Ohio have to be addressed. The city and county should coordinate and cooperate with PennDOT and Adopt-A-Highway sponsors to clean Routes 376, 279 and 79. The sides of roads and hillsides of these routes are covered with litter.

Citizens Against Litter is contacting Clean Pittsburgh Stewards in all 89 city neighborhoods to call out their volunteers and Redd Up G-20 Week, especially main streets, business places and popular visitor attractions like the North Shore, Strip District, Mt. Washington, Elliott, South Side, Shadyside, Uptown new arena construction site and Oakland.

Big picture

"The wide-angle effort you want to make for the G-20 is a good idea. Delegates will be spread out in their lodging. They'll see much more than the Downtown area. Good thinking!"

Frederic B. Sargent

Sheraden and Knoxville "counciled"

Hats off to City Council members Theresa Smith and Bruce Kraus. They and their staff people spearheaded community support for neighborhood litter/trash cleanups in Sheraden and Knoxville. Volunteers within the community and outside responded. Council people were hands on. Public Works was there too. We need more of this.

"Blight to Beautiful" launches

That's the name of a project spearheaded by Uptown Partners, Duquesne University and Pennsylvania Resources Council on the Fifth Avenue side of the Birmingham Bridge. Efforts are underway to spruce up that unattractive corner with litter-control, clearing, plantings and signage. The partners are talking about a makeover for a more appealing "Gateway to the Hill". The city's Green Up Initiative and American Eagle are the early funders. The project was announced in the Post-Gazette July 2.

Think Green. Think Redd

The hot colors today are green and redd. Green is the way to think these days. Some call it the 4R's -- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover. Keep thinking Redd too. Pittsburghers are on a roll redding up their neighborhoods. They do it in a big way in April and October. We encourage residents to make Redd Up a daily thing.

Adopt-A-Neighbor

Citizens Against Litter recommends a new painless Redd Up initiative. You can do this day in and day out.

Individuals are not likely to Adopt-A-Highway. That's left to businesses and groups and many of them do it and it's effective. However, "Adopting a Neighbor" should be right up your alley. It's do-able. Look to your right, look to your left or look up or down your street. I'm recommending you cross property lines. At the same time you're redding up your own property, you go the extra few steps and pick up your neighbor's litter. That kind of redding up will make your place look twice as good. Your neighbor will appreciate it, and guess what? He/she will probably do the same for you.

Pitt Make A Difference Day

The second "Pitt Make A Difference Day" promises to have a huge impact on city neighborhoods and Allegheny County communities participating in the Redd Up on Saturday, October 17. As many as 2,400 student volunteers are expected to take part in Pitt's day of community service. They will join residents and swell participation to a projected 10,000 volunteers. "Our plans are to bring a busload of 44 volunteers to each neighborhood," said Terry Milani, Director of Student Outreach. "Our kids loved the interaction with residents last year. Neighborhoods told us we made a difference."

Most of these communities (and areas) have confirmed their participation:

Allentown, Arlington, Banksville Road, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Brookline, California-Kirkbride, Carrick, East Liberty, Esplen, Fineview, Eliza Furnace Bike Trail (along 2nd Avenue), Friendship, Garfield, Hays (with Lincoln Place and New Homestead), Hazelwood, Hill District, Homewood (with North Point Breeze), Larimer, Lawrenceville, Knoxville, Manchester, Mt. Oliver, Central North Side (with Mexican War Streets), Mount Washington (with Duquesne Heights), Oakland, Perry Hilltop, Polish Hill, Shadyside, Sheraden, Strip District, Stanton Heights, South Side Flats, Spring Garden Summer Hill, Aspinwall, Dormont, Etna, Homestead, McKees Rocks, Sharpsburg, Penn Hills, West Homestead, Wilkinsburg and Wilkins.

More communities may be added. Contact boris.weinstein@verizon.net. Or call 412-688-9120.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. These businesses are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets. Under a new pending litter law they would be fined IF CITED.

• Kiski Junction Railroad
• Guardian Storage
• Gumps
• Vocelli's Pizza

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets, alleys and places that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff. Here are some.

• 5400 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5525-27 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5535 Ellsworth Avenue (front and side)
• 5500-08 Elmer Street (side)
• 5505 Elmer Street (side)
• 700 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 702 Bellefonte Street(front)
• 727 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 816 Ivy Street (front and rear)
• 918 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 922 Ivy Street(side)
• 636 Maryland Avenue(front and side)
• 5505-07 Howe Street (front)
• 5531 Howe Street (front)
• 5533 Howe Street (front and rear)
• Apt. house, Fifth & Negley (back)
• 5217 Fifth Avenue (front and side)
• 816 S. Negley Avenue (front)
• Village Pizza, Ivy Street (front, side)
• Vacant Children's Home, Negley & Kentucky (front, side)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Avenue (parking lot)
• Wendy's, Baum Boulevard (parking lot and street)
• Blockbuster's, Baum Boulevard (front, side, rear)
• Centre Avenue (Millvale to Negley)
• Liberty School, Ellsworth Avenue
• Centre Commons, Centre Avenue (front)
• Walnut Street Dumpster Alley

Halket Street gets attention

Speaking of Garbagevilles. Halket Street in Oakland from Panera's on the Boulevard of the Allies to Magee Hospital entrance and beyond has littered sidewalks and gutters. The street gets a lot of foot traffic. It's a shame residents have to deal with the litter. Well, they really don't...that's why Mr. Litterman pulled his picket-upper, gloves and bags from his car and spent about an hour picking up a half dozen bags. Halket Street was litter-free July 21.

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 Squad (412-323-7818)
• Graffiti (412-255-28720
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605

Nominate a Redd Up star

Last March the Clean Pittsburgh Commission honored outstanding city neighborhood volunteers for their community service in Redd Ups and their year 'round anti-litter activities. They received Bob Awards, named for our late Mayor Bob O'Connor. Tell us about deserving volunteers in your neighborhood for consideration to receive 2010 "Bobbies." E-mail boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

Newslitter fan

"I love the latest Newslitter: Garbagevilles and Redd Up stars go on our list of ways to promote a clean-up program here in Wilmington, DE. Slow going, but we have new leadership in our neighborhood associations, so I'm feeling hopeful today."

Steph in Bidenland

Butts

If it's true 20 per cent of Pittsburghers smoke that means about 60,000 people here, smoking an average of ten cigarettes a day and littering our streets with 600,000 butts. Too high? Cut the estimate in half to 300,000. Happy now? Butts and discarded packs/boxes are why we have a growing litter problem.

Another country heard from

"Dear Mr. Weinstein, I was on the internet searching out anti litter info or anti litter campaigns, keyed in a new search words "anti litter crusaders" and came across articles related to the wonderful contributions you have made!

"My name is Canada Litter King, a legal name change made in Canada many years ago as my heart decided I wanted to dedicate my life towards being dedicated against litter proliferation!

"I have test driven an approach in Canada that has (had a) promising effect to reduce littering. It's more to do with marketing when it comes to reducing litter than any other reduction form.

"I used to be one of the people who would go out gathering litter as (simply dressed in work-like clothing, wearing a safety vest, carrying a plastic bag to place my found litter).

"During litter clean up (90% volunteer) I would often ponder what the public perceives us litter pickers. Did they think I was a convict doing community work? Mainly I used to have the view (talk about being considered a community taken for granted service!)

"I decided maybe a change of what the public witnesses or perceives would be in order.

"Let's try this litter clean up dressed as a King, throw in a Patriotic look, no more plastic bag to place that litter (let's make a mobile singing talking trash bin on wheels complete with hidden stereo system in it) and let's turn litter clean up into an entertaining show of environmental dedication with great creativity, And so I did! Effect was being featured on National News as Success Story...and now I want to unite with people like you, and see if this method can be compounded!

"My theory is this (if you can produce a means of clean up that harnesses both media attention and public witnessed attention, corporations may just view being far greater involved as a new means of marketing used by them!).

"Please contact me, I would like to share some anti litter food for thought. I now live in Georgia USA and just prefer being called Litter King. Perhaps I can share where the name Litter King was discovered and how?"

Canada Litter King

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

You, us and G-20

All roads to the diplomatic world stop in Pittsburgh on September 24 and 25 for the G-20 Summit.

All of us have our work cut out. City and county public works, merchant associations, neighborhood Clean Pittsburgh Stewards, Adopt-A-Highway sponsors and their volunteers, and residents like you and me.

Citizens Against Litter has shared some recommendations with the city to make us shine for G-20. We've urged the city to think "shine" beyond Downtown. Rest assured that the Downtown Partnership will do its part before and during the summit. We've requested "Main Street" participating business districts to redd up their sidewalks, gutters and streets; Public works departments to remove litter/trash from heavy-traffic roads that require lane closures (like Bigelow Boulevard, Crosstown Boulevard, McArdle Roadway, Ohio River Boulevard, Route 28); interchanges like Highland Park Bridge and West End Circle; and key city streets like Fifth and Forbes in Uptown and East and West Carson.

Citizens Against Litter will contact Clean Pittsburgh Stewards in all 89 city neighborhoods to call out their volunteers and redd up the week before G-20, especially main streets, business places and popular visitor attractions like the North Shore, Strip District, Grandview Area, South Side, Shadyside, the new arena construction site and Oakland.

We'll leave the big ideas to the White House and City and County event planners. Citizens Against Litter groups will stick to housekeeping 'cause the world's coming to our place.

Think Green. Think Redd

The hot colors today are green and redd. Green is the way to think these days. Some call it the 4R's-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover. Keep thinking Redd too. Pittsburghers are on a roll redding up their neighborhoods. They do it in a big way in April and October. We encourage residents to make Redd Up a daily thing.

Pirates batting for Redd Up

"Now batting for Redd Up are the Pittsburgh Pirates." That could be the announcement over the PNC PA system. The Pirates are working with Citizens Against Litter and a growing number of neighborhood groups and schools. The Bucs are giving free game tickets to young people who volunteer for extra Redd Ups and who normally would find it difficult to go to games. About 20 groups are participating. "We're advancing the program slowly to make sure we get it right," said Boris Weinstein. "The Pirates' Diversity Initiative Program Manager Chaz Kellem has been terrific." For information contact Boris at 412-688-9120 or boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

South Side "Green N'at" start up

"Hopefully you have heard of the South Side Community Taskforce beautification team, Green N'at. Our group is small, so we're starting out small. We have established clean-up days every two weeks throughout the summer, the first was Sunday, June 7.

"Over just two hours, three gals with a cart succeeded in picking up six bags of garbage and two bags of recyclables, four pairs of men's underwear (we subscribe to the don't ask, don't tell philosophy) and five "thank-yous". We felt pretty accomplished. Did we solve all of South Side's litter issues? Who cares? We did SOMETHING. And for that the day was a success. Just imagine if we had six people. Or 10. Or more!

"We hope to see more volunteers for our next clean-up days. Clean-up days are typically scheduled on Sundays. We start at 9 a.m."

Terra Youngblood

Adopt-A-Neighbor

Citizens Against Litter recommends a new painless Redd Up initiative. One that you can do day in and day out.

Individuals are not likely to Adopt-A-Highway. That's left to businesses and groups and many of them do it and it's effective. However, "Adopting a Neighbor" should be right up your alley. It's do-able. Look to your right, look to your left or look up or down your street. I'm recommending you cross property lines. At the same time you're redding up your own property, you go the extra mile and pick up your neighbor's litter. That kind of redding up will make your place look twice as good. Your neighbor will appreciate it, and -- guess what? He/she will probably do the same for you.

Pitt "Make A Difference Day"

More than 40 city neighborhoods and communities have been contacted about getting student volunteers on Pitt "Make A Difference Day" Saturday, October 17. Pitt's day of community service coincides with the fall Redd Up weekend, October 16-18. Students work with neighborhood volunteers. The goal is to place 44 volunteers -- a busload -- into each neighborhood. "More than 2,400 Pitt students may take part," says Terry Milani, Director of Student Volunteer Outreach. More neighborhoods and communities may be added.

"I saw it! I saw it!"

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Neither of these. A volunteer at Family House witnessed it...an employee at Shadyside Hospital with a broom and dustpan sweeping and gathering litter from the pavement, gutter and street along Centre Avenue. Good for him. We need more of that daily.

"I Litter" Award

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. These businesses are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets.

• Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
• Brito

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets, alleys and places that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff. Here are some.

• 612 Aiken Avenue (front)
• 614 Aiken Avenue (front)
• 5400 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5525-27 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5535 Ellsworth Avenue (front and side)
• 5500-08 Elmer Street (side)
• 5505 Elmer Street (side)
• 700 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 702 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 712 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 727 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 816 Ivy Street (front and rear)
• 918 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 922 Ivy Street (side)
• 636 Maryland Avenue (front and side)
• 5505-07 Howe Street (front)
• 5531 Howe Street (front)
• 5533 Howe Street (front and rear)
• 5217 Fifth Avenue (front and side)
• 816 S. Negley Avenue (front)
• Village Pizza, Ivy Street (front, side)
• Vacant Ronald McDonald House, S. Negley Avenue (front)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Avenue (parking lot)
• Wendy's, Baum Boulevard (parking lot and street)
• Blockbusters, Baum Boulevard. (front, side, rear)
• Centre Avenue (Millvale to Negley)
• Liberty School, Ellsworth Avenue
• Centre Commons (front)
• Walnut Street Dumpster Alley
• Enfield Way

Village Pizza takes the prize

Adding to the unattractiveness of the store front of Village Pizza on Ivy Street, the litter -- mostly cigarette butts and pizza parts -- tops all. This is a true garbageville and if there were such a thing as a Garbageville Tour, this would be the first stop to set the mood. A sign on a building on Aiken Avenue near Walnut Street announces the coming of Village Pizza. There goes the neighborhood...unless other stores on the block put their collective feet down.

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 Squad (412-323-7818)
• Graffiti (412-255-28720
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605

Nominate a Redd Up star

Last March the Clean Pittsburgh Commission honored outstanding city neighborhood volunteers for their community service in Redd Ups and their year 'round anti-litter activities. They received Bob Awards, named for our late Mayor Bob O'Connor. Tell us about deserving volunteers in your neighborhood for consideration to receive 2010 "Bobbies." E-mail boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

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

Think Green. Think Redd.

The hot colors today are green and redd. Green is the way to think these days. Some call it the 4R's -- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover. Keep thinking Redd too. Pittsburghers are on a roll redding up their neighborhoods. They do it in a big way in April and October. We encourage them to Redd Up even more often.

Citizens reach out for help

"I got your name from the Redd Up Pittsburgh website. I'm hoping you can help me. The residence next to a townhouse that I own in the Sheraden area has been abandoned. The property is completely overgrown with grass, weeds and debris. There are rodents in and around the property. The owner of the house uses it as storage and does not reside there. There is an abandoned car with an expired license plate in the driveway that hasn't been moved in years. The house is on Ladoga Street. I have contacted the owner on several occasions to try and resolve the issues, to no avail. If you are not the correct person to contact I would greatly appreciate it if you could point me in the right direction."

(Name withheld)

A letter to the editor in the Post-Gazette April 26 from another citizen read in part, "I recently moved into a home in Beechview. The house next door is vacant; the grass is knee-high, the front steps are crumbling and there is trash strewn about the side and back yards. The house is an eyesore. The broken glass is a danger to my children; it's a magnet for criminal activity. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the owner is actually...the city of Pittsburgh."

(Name withheld)

Let's see how long it takes for these complaints to be resolved.

Stash the Trash recognition

More than a 100 school kids spent the morning Friday, May 8 at City Hall. They were representatives of more than 3,500 students in 46 city schools who took part in April's Stash the Trash Day. The kids assembled in Council Chambers and met with Council members Darlene Harris, Bruce Kraus and Bill Peduto who talked with them and answered their questions. Kids also sat around the large table in the Mayor's Conference Room where they accepted certificates and Litterbug bobbleheads for their schools. They also had pictures taken in the Mayor's Office with the Litterbug and Buster mascots.

School kids comprised about 35% of all city residents who participated in April Redd Ups in 86 neighborhoods. Primanti's and Eat 'n' Park provided lunch for the kids. Pennsylvania Resources Council manages Stash the Trash for the Clean Pittsburgh Commission with Pittsburgh Public Schools and other schools.

Pirates batting for Redd Up

"Now batting for Redd Up are the Pittsburgh Pirates"

That could be the announcement over the PNC PA system. The Pirates are working with Citizens Against Litter and a growing number of neighborhood groups and schools. They are giving free game tickets to young people who volunteer for Redd Ups and who normally would find it difficult to go to games. About 20 groups are participating. "We're advancing the program slowly to make sure we get it right," said Boris Weinstein. "The Pirates Diversity Initiative Program Manager Chaz Kellem has been terrific." For information contact Boris at 412-688-9120 or boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

Above and beyond

It seems like there are more people actually picking up litter than spotting people who litter. Many of these people travel the extra mile. Carol Knox of Beauty on Banksville relates this litter tale about her friend Sandy.

"I had a luncheon at Nevillewood today (April 25) and on the way there -- from Giant Eagle to Route 50 -- people in fluorescent vests were picking up trash on both sides of the highway during their Redd Up. Coming home from the luncheon it was so beautiful and clean until the Giant Eagle on Cochran Road. It was so bad there that I came home, changed clothes, grabbed my bag and orange vest, went out and cleaned up the mess. I emptied my big bag a couple of times at the GetGo dumpster. It was so hot I thought at one point I wasn't going to be able to make it back home. I got water a couple of times from the gas station and had to lie down and rest in the shade."

Adopt-A-Neighbor

Citizens Against Litter recommends a new painless Redd Up initiative. One that you can do day in and day out.

Individuals are not likely to Adopt-A-Highway. That's left to businesses and groups and many of them do it and it's effective. However, "Adopting a Neighbor" should be right up your alley. It's do-able. Look to your right, look to your left or look up or down your street. I'm recommending you cross property lines and at the same time you're redding up your own property, you go the extra mile and pick up your neighbor's litter. That kind of redding up will make your place look twice as good. Your neighbor will appreciate it and -- guess what? -- he or she will probably do the same for you.

Pitt "Make A Difference Day"

More than 40 city neighborhoods and communities have been contacted about getting student volunteers on Pitt "Make A Difference Day" Saturday, October 17. Pitt's day of community service coincides with the fall Redd Up weekend, October 16-18. Students work with neighborhood volunteers. The goal is to place 44 volunteers -- a busload -- into each neighborhood. More than 2,400 Pitt students may take part says Terry Milani, Director of Student Volunteer Outreach.

New trash cans in Polish Hill

"Have you noticed the new trash cans on Brereton and Dobson Streets? Have you noticed more trash cans just in general in Polish Hill? A nice round of applause for Mayor Ravenstahl and Neighborhood Initiative for these handy containers!"

More at BLOGSKI, a Polish Hill Blog, at http://blogski.phcapgh.org/?p=817.

Glitter after litter

The area around Wendy's and Blockbusters and the big church -- bounded by Baum Boulevard, South Graham, Dapper Way and Centre Avenue -- has never been cleaner. Thanks to Citizens Against Litter and after two hours of picking up. The area will glitter for a couple weeks. True, the businesses don't produce the litter. Customers do. But it would be appreciated for businesses to send crew members out on their property once in a while to pick up their paper products that put their business on the street -- in an unflattering way.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. These businesses are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets.

• Korean Central Church
• 5700 Fifth Ave (garage sale signs)
• Tweek Clothing
• Vocelli's Pizza
• Wheel Deliver
• Zipcar

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets, alleys and places that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff. Here are some.

• 612 Aiken Avenue (front)
• 614 Aiken Avenue (front)
• 5400 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5525-27 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5535 Ellsworth Avenue (front and side)
• 5500-08 Elmer Street (side)
• 5505 Elmer Street (side)
• 700 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 702 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 712 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 727 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 816 Ivy Street (front and rear)
• 918 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 922 Ivy Street (side)
• 636 Maryland Avenue (front and side)
• 5505-07 Howe Street (front)
• 5531 Howe Street (front)
• 5533 Howe Street (front and rear)
• 5217 Fifth Avenue (front and side)
• 816 S. Negley Avenue (front)
• Vacant Ronald McDonald House, S. Negley Avenue
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Avenue (parking lot)
• Wendy's, Baum Boulevard. (parking lot and street)
• Blockbusters, Baum Boulevard. (front, side, rear)
• Centre Avenue (Millvale to Negley)
• Liberty School, Ellsworth Avenue
• Centre Commons (front)
• Walnut Street Dumpster Alley
• Enfield Way

Garbageville tour

A friend, Arthur Spiegel, is fascinated by the Newslitter's monthly listings of Garbagevilles and has suggested creating a Garbageville Tour. It would be on the order of Hollywood's Celebrity House Tour or the Pittsburgh Trolley Tour. "This one," pipedreams Arthur, "would visit the most interesting Garbagevillle attractions...like Dumpster Alley, the Howe, Bellefonte and Ivy street houses and the most littered places in the city. Mr. Letterman would narrate from the mike. Proceeds would go toward purchasing gloves, bags and safety vests for Redd Ups.

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)
• Report Littering (412-255-2621)
• State Littering Hotline (1-888-548-8372)
• Report Abandoned Houses (412-255-2175)
• Report Neighbor Litter/Trash Messes (412-255-2175)
• Building Inspection (412-255-2175)
• Public Works (412-255-2726)
• Refuse/Recycling (412-255-2773)
• Potholes (412-255-2621)
• Graffiti Squad (412-323-7818)
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605

Nominate a Redd Up star

Last March the Clean Pittsburgh Commission honored outstanding city neighborhood volunteers for their community service in Redd Ups and their year-'round anti-litter activities. They received Bob Awards, named for our late Mayor Bob O'Connor. Tell us about deserving volunteers in your neighborhood for consideration to receive 2010 "Bobbies." E-mail boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

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

In Scotland, they should say "Redd Up"

Michelle McCallum of Community Green Initiatives, a volunteer group in Scotland, e-mails that Citizens Against Litter continues to be an inspiration to folks in Central Scotland and sends along a nice article that appeared last month in the Falkirk Herald.

When Redd Ups were mentioned to her, she asked, "What's a Redd Up"? Michelle was equally surprised when told Redd Up's origin can be traced from the 15th Century to the present, particularly in dialects of Scotland and the north of England. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the term" Redd" came to the American midlands from the Scottish immigrants who settled there. So if Redd Up should be used any other place else in the world to describe cleanup, it's in Scotland. I'm sure Pittsburghers will gladly give up their exclusive rights.

Esplen needs volunteers

"Esplen will have its Redd Up on Saturday, May 16 beginning at 9 a.m. We will clean from Edgecliff to Earl. With more volunteers," says Karen Kirchner, Esplen's Clean Pittsburgh Steward, "we will also do two lots on Sagamore Street. We'll meet at Betson on West Carson Street. We have 10 volunteers so far. We can use more. Please have groups or individuals contact me at kkirsh1946@hotmail.com or 412-331-4049."

Spring Redd Up was huge

When all is said and done, Citizens Against Litter tracked more than 200 Pittsburgh neighborhoods and communities in five counties as participants in spring Redd Ups in March, April and May. There were many more cleanups untracked. From reports received from 20 city neighborhoods, it is projected that about 10,000 adults and school kids were volunteers. Volunteers picked up over 100 tons of litter. Projections of the five-county total, based on over 200 cleanups: 17,000 to 20,000 volunteers who hauled away over 350 tons of litter, trash, tires and assorted items.

Largest reporting haulers: Monroeville (680 volunteers, 13 tons), Steel Valley (450 volunteers, 8 tons), Hill District-Uptown (300 volunteers, 9 tons), Collier (160 volunteers, 5.5 tons), Squirrel Hill (325 volunteers, 4 tons), Sheraden (50 volunteers, 2 tons), Oakdale (52 volunteers, 2 tons), South Side (125 volunteers, 1 ton).

Thanks for Stashing the Trash

More than 3,500 kids in 43 Pittsburgh schools picked up litter on their campuses Friday, April 24. The event is conducted by PA Resources Council in partnership with Pittsburgh Public Schools and other schools.

Pirates/Earth Day Redd Up on the North Shore

Volunteers of Pittsburgh Job Corps, Academy System and Renew Pittsburgh teamed up with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Citizens Against Litter on Earth Day. They picked up litter from the one end to the other on the North Shore for a couple hours and then enjoyed the Pirates and Marlins game courtesy of the Bucs.

Who do we appreciate?

We appreciate the thousands of volunteers -- how about 17,000 to 20,000 of them -- who made time available to join neighborhood/community groups or went out on their own and picked up litter during spring Redd Ups. Their time, love of community and energy are worth a fortune.

Each hour of a volunteer's time is valued at $19, according to the Independent Sector, a non-profit, non-partisan coalition representing thousands of charitable groups. When a volunteer gives two hours of time to make his/her community cleaner, those efforts are worth a lot: over half a million dollars. But let's say you're not buying the $19 volunteer's value. Cut it to $10 and that's $360,000!

Beechview students in monthly cleanups

Our monthly pick-ups have been growing with 60 volunteers in April, including students from Beechwood Elementary and student council members from Brashear. We found a boat trailer, car hood, tires, bedroom set with mattresses, air conditioner, construction waste and a mountain of trash bags full of debris.

Zone 6 Police Commander Schubert has assigned a patrol car to our monthly pick-ups, allowing us to start cleaning busy through streets. These heavy traffic areas have typically been the most cluttered with litter. We are very thankful for his assistance.

Mt. Lebanon PTA leads Redd Up

"Over the weekends of April 17-18 and 24-25, PTA volunteers in the Mt Lebanon School District organized parents, students and neighbors to pick up litter, trash and debris in and around all of the district's 10 school buildings. In some cases, such as Foster Elementary, the cleanup effort was extended to areas outside the school zone and, in this case, the Connor Road corridor. The PTA's Environmental Concerns committee was the driving force behind this effort with the goal of empowering our children to a Greener future. The clean-up was done in conjunction with Redd Up campaign in Pittsburgh and the County campaign."

Rob Papke, one of the organizers

Verona Adopt-A-Street works

"We're getting real positive response about the April 25 clean up from the community, school and scout groups. We've typically just had a good core group that shows up every event a few times a year and that small group has always got a lot done. Hopefully this will be our biggest group effort so far.

"Some other good news in Verona is the borough has a good street sweeping machine again. That makes a difference. We also have an Adopt-A-Street program in place with about 2/3 of streets being picked up on a regular basis. We still have some problem areas, but our town is looking good.

"Verona is now part of the Allegheny Together Program. Hopefully that program will help our community find some funds to update and increase the number of trash receptacles in our downtown area.

"See http://www.alleghenytogether.com/ for more information."

Luke Mattocks

Adopt-A-Neighbor should work too

Citizens Against Litter is recommending a new painless Redd Up initiative. One that you can do day in and day out.

Individuals are not likely to Adopt-A- Highway. That's left to businesses and groups and many of them do it and it's effective. However, "Adopting a Neighbor" should be right up your alley. It's do-able. Look to your right, look to your left or look up or down your street. I'm recommending you cross property lines and at the same time you're redding up your own property, you go the extra mile and pick up your neighbor's litter. That kind of redding up will make your place look twice as good. Your neighbor will appreciate it. And guess what? He/she will probably do the same for you.

State of the City Report available

Clean Pittsburgh Commission issued its 2008 State of the City Report. The report details activities involving litter, illegal dumping, vacant lots and buildings, abandoned cars, graffiti, greening, fines and enforcement. You can access the report online at http://www.prc.org/documents/SofC_Report.pdf.

Pitt "Make A Difference Day" set

It's a firm date. "Pitt Make A Difference Day" will be Saturday, October 17, coinciding with the dates of the Fall Redd Up, October 16-18. As many as 2,400 Pitt students may be involved. Citizens Against Litter is coordinating the Pitt effort with Terry Milani, Director of Student Volunteer Outreach at Pitt.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. These businesses are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets.

• Cipriani Pizza
• Dean Salon
• Pizza Palermo
• Pizza Pronto
• Verizon phone directories

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets, alleys and places that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff. Here are some.

• 612 Aiken Avenue (front)
• 614 Aiken Avenue (front)
• 5400 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5525-27 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5535 Ellsworth Avenue (front and side)
• 5500-08 Elmer Street (side)
• 5505 Elmer Street (side)
• 700 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 702 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 712 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 712 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 727 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 816 Ivy Street (front and rear)
• 918 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 922 Ivy Street (side)
• 636 Maryland Avenue (front and side)
• 5505-07 Howe Street (front)
• 5531 Howe Street (front)
• 5533 Howe Street (front and rear)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Avenue (parking lot)
• Wendy's, Baum Boulevard (parking lot)
• Centre Avenue (Millvale to Negley)
• Centre Commons (front)
• Walnut Street Dumpster Alley
• Enfield Way

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)
• Report Littering (412-255-2621)
• State Littering Hotline (1-888-548-8372)
• Report Abandoned Houses (412-255-2175)
• Report Neighbor Litter/Trash Messes (412-255-2175)
• Building Inspection (412-255-2175)
• Public Works (412-255-2726)
• Refuse/Recycling (412-255-2773)
• Potholes (412-255-2621)
• Graffiti Squad (412-323-7818)
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605

Ask Mr. Litterman

Q: What are the top ten pithy remarks/actions when someone drops a piece of litter in front of you?

A: My advice is full of "Don'ts". Many people today are hostile, angry and oblivious. You don't want to engage a stranger because you don't know their reaction to being confronted and criticized by a stranger -- in this case YOU.

So...

• Don't intrude on his/her space.
• Don't confront
• Don't accuse
• Don't criticize
• Don't lecture
• Don't raise your voice
• Don't embarrass him/her in front of others
• Don't pick up the litter immediately
• Ignore him/her
• Resist temptation to say something
• Avoid eye contact
• Go on your merry way

We applaud her efforts and wish her the very best of luck.

To inspire people throughout the city and region to collect litter and connect neighborhoods.

Spring Redd Up update

The official date of the Great PA Cleanup is Saturday, April 25. Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22. For Pittsburgh's three-day Redd Up weekend, Stash the Trash for school youngsters is Friday, April 24. Most neighborhood volunteers will clean up Saturday, April 25. Other neighborhoods have scheduled their cleanups before and after.

Redd Ups in 150 communities

The number of communities and groups that will participate in the spring Redd Up continues to grow. Citizens Against Litter has heard positively from over 150, including 84 city neighborhoods. Allegheny West, Allentown, Arlington, Beautify Banksville Road, Bedford Dwellings, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Bluff, Bon Air, Brightwood, Brighton Heights, Brookline, Carrick, California-Kirkbride, Central Northside, Chartiers, Crafton Heights, Crawford Square, Downtown, Duquesne Heights, Duquesne University Evergreen, East Allegheny, East Carnegie, East Hills, East Liberty, Elliott, Esplen, Explorers Club, Fineview, Friendship, Friends of the Riverfront (Jail Trail), Friends of Route 28, Garfield, Glen Hazel, Greenfield, Hays, Hazelwood, Highland Park, Homewood, Larimer, Lawrenceville, Lincoln-Larimer, Lower Hill, Lincoln Place, Knoxville, Manchester, Mount Oliver, Mt. Washington, Mexican War Streets, Middle Hill District, Morningside, New Homestead, Nine-Mile Run Watershed, Northview Heights, Oakland, Oakwood, Observatory Hill, Overbrook (Fairhaven Greenway), Park Place, Perry Hilltop, Pittsburgh Cares, Pittsburgh Job Corps, Polish Hill, Regent Square, Renew Pittsburgh, Ridgemont, Schenley Heights, Shadyside, Sheraden, South Side, South Side Slopes, South Point Breeze, Spring Garden, Spring Hill, Squirrel Hill, St. Clair, Stanton Heights, Summer Hill, Swisshelm Park, Troy Hill, Uptown, West End, Westwood and Windgap.

Allegheny County communities:

Aspinwall, Avalon, Bethel Park, Carnegie, Chalfant, Crescent, Dormont, Dravosburg, Duquesne, Edgewood, Elizabeth, Etna, Findlay, Fox Chapel, Franklin Park, Glassport, Hampton, Harrison, Heidelberg, Homestead, Indiana, Leetsdale, Lincoln, Marshall, Mount Oliver, McCandless, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Mount Lebanon, Monroeville, Moon, Munhall, North Fayette, O'Hara, Oakdale, Oakmont, Ohio, Penn Hills, Pine, Pitcairn, Pleasant Hills, Reserve, Richland, Robinson, Ross, Scott, Shaler, South Fayette, South Park, Stowe, Tarentum, Upper St. Clair, Verona, West Homestead, West View, White Oak, Wilkins, and Wilkinsburg.

Beaver County:

Ambridge, Beaver, Brighton, Center, Darlington, New Brighton, Ohioville, South Beaver, North Sewickley, and Vanport.

Butler County:

Butler (city), Butler Twp. and Summit.

Washington County: Charleroi, Cross Creek, Fallowfield, Nottingham, Robinson, Washington City, and West Pike Run.

Westmoreland County: Arnold City, Delmont, Derry, Donegal, Penn, Rostraver, Unity, Ligonier, Loyalhanna, Jeanette, Smithton, West Newton and Youngwood.

Need gloves and bags?

Allegheny CleanWays invites groups in city neighborhoods, boroughs and townships to contact them for gloves, bags and safety vests for their Redd Ups volunteers this month. E-mail myrnan@alleghenycleanways.org or call 412-381-1301.

Making a difference in Stanton Heights

"During a nine-day 'staycation' last week, I resolved that every day that the weather cooperated, I'd pick up a bag of litter in Stanton Heights. (As you know, this usually doesn't take very long -- but I wanted to ensure that I didn't hurt my back from too much bending.) It rained just once, overnight, and I picked up at least 10 or 11 bags. The city cooperated by dispatching street cleaners to "redd up" Stanton Heights, too, and I'm not sure that my part of the neighborhood has ever looked so clean. (Still, I'm just one person, and I couldn't clean the entire neighborhood by myself.)

"I'm hopeful that the new Stanton Heights community group can help promote a cleaner neighborhood."

Stanton Heights resident

Brookline takes the 5th

South Pittsburgh Development Corp. is rallying volunteers for its 5th annual Earth Day clean up. The clean-up date is Saturday, April 18 at 9 a.m. Volunteers will meet at Brookline United Presbyterian Church, 1036 Brookline Boulevard. There will be gloves and supplies for volunteers, as well as a pizza lunch at Antonio's Pizza.

Sponsors believe Brookline rivals most neighborhoods for most volunteers and most litter and trash collected and are anxious to stay on top of the heap. New volunteers should contact Keith Knecht at 412-391-6036 or 412-561-4482 to sign or report littered sites.

Steward Mixer big success

Approximately 150 people attended the second Meet n' Greet Mixer for Clean Pittsburgh Stewards on March 19. Sixty of the city's 89 neighborhoods were represented. (Below is the list of neighborhoods, groups and volunteers who were recognized with "Bob Awards", named for the late Mayor Bob O'Connor.) The Clean Pittsburgh Commission, sponsor of the event, used the occasion to issue its 2008 State of the City Report. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl spoke. Judy O'Connor, widow of the late mayor, attended and thanked volunteers for their Redd Up activities. PNC was the corporate sponsor. Other sponsors were Coors Beer and Starbucks. Stewards and guests found long-handled litter gatherers in their "goody bags", compliments of PA Resources Council.

Redd Up "Bob Awards"

The Clean Pittsburgh Commission handed out its first "Bob Awards". The Redd Up Coalition of Homewood/Squirrel Hill/Point Breeze was singled out as Most Connected Neighborhood, Carrick as Most Improved and Larimer as Best Newcomer.

Twelve volunteers received "Bobbies": Angelique Bradford (Beltzhoover), Beverly Baggio (South Side Slopes), Ed Brandt (Brightwood), Elmer Clark (Elliott), Candy Cybator (Strip District), Ken Hale (Brightwood), Pat Hassett (Greenfield), Deb Joswik (Polish Hill), Sam Palombini (Sheraden), Josie Ramsey (Polish Hill), Ann Rose (Squirrel Hill) and Mary Savage (Homewood).

Other awardees were: Pittsburgh Public Schools for Stash the Trash, Pitt for Make A Difference Day, Duquesne University Evergreen for its annual cleanups, Allegheny CleanWays, PA Resources Council, Public Works and Citizens Against Litter. Judy O'Connor also received a "Bobby".

Award recipient's take

"Thank you for the amazing award. I will cherish it forever. I have been passionate about keeping the environment clean my whole life. I was taught to leave a place in better condition than how I found it, and I have lived by that rule. I never expected to be acknowledged for this and to accept this most precious 'Bob Award' has been over the top emotionally for me. I am overjoyed, humbled and know that I did not earn it alone. This was a community effort, my community, and I am very proud of the people in Carrick because they are worthy of such accolades. We are honored to be a part of your "Citizens Against Litter". Together we have made a difference and it's catching."

Dawn Harder, Clean Pittsburgh Steward in Carrick

State of the City Report available

Clean Pittsburgh Commission issued its 2008 State of the City Report. The report details activities involving litter, illegal dumping, vacant lots and buildings, abandoned cars, graffiti, greening, fines and enforcement. You can access the report online at http://www.prc.org.

Pitt Make A Difference Day set

It's a firm date. "Pitt Make A Difference Day" will be Saturday, October 17, coinciding with the dates of the Fall Redd Up, October 16-18. As many as 2,400 Pitt students may be involved. Citizens Against Litter is coordinating the Pitt effort with Terry Milani, Director of Student Volunteer Outreach.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. These businesses are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets.

• Larry & Carol's Pizza
• Pizza Pronto

Garbagevilles

Garbagevilles are houses, buildings, streets, alleys and places that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff. Here are some.

• 612 Aiken Avenue (front)
• 614 Aiken Avenue (front)
• 5400 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5525-27 Ellsworth Avenue (rear)
• 5535 Ellsworth Avenue (front and side)
• 5500-08 Elmer Street (side)
• 5505 Elmer Street (side)
• 700 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 702 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 710 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 712 Bellefonte Street (front)
• 727 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 816 Ivy Street (front and rear)
• 918 Ivy Street (front, side)
• 922 Ivy Street (side)
• 636 Maryland Avenue (front and side)
• 5505-07 Howe Street (front)
• 5531 Howe Street (front)
• 5533 Howe Street (front and rear)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Avenue (parking lot)
• Wendy's, Baum Boulevard (parking lot)
• Centre Avenue (Millvale to Negley)
• Centre Commons (front)
• Walnut Street Dumpster Alley
• Enfield Way

Special Garbageville

Hat's off this month to a very special Garbageville -- the Bloomfield Post Office. It gets the prize. There's a lot of litter at the front of the building, in the bushes and especially in the parking lot. It's bad enough that the public has to tolerate the mess and ugliness on a daily basis but what does it say for the pride of the station's employees and the post office supervisor? The Postal Service in Pittsburgh will not permit community groups from removing graffiti from mail boxes but what's the excuse for not removing litter from its property?

Super Bowlers community service

About two dozen misguided Super Bowl celebrants will perform a total of 1,250 hours of community service in Oakland picking up litter and other cleanup projects.

St. Patrick's community service

Meanwhile on the South Side, 50 volunteers, organized by Judge Gene Ricciardi, participated in a special cleanup from the St. Patrick's Day celebration following the after-downtown parade festivities.

Human street cleaner

There should be more apartment managers like the one at the four-story 5420 Ellsworth Ave. building at Copeland. The sun was out recently and so was this manager sweeping the street gutters around his building. He filled two large bags with litter, tree droppings and dirt. You just don't see that too often. Imagine -- a human street cleaner.

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)
• Report Littering (412-255-2621)
• State Littering Hotline (1-888-548-8372)
• Report Abandoned Houses (412-255-2175)
• Report Neighbor Litter/Trash Messes (412-255-2175)
• Building Inspection (412-255-2175)
• Public Works (412-255-2726)
• Refuse/Recycling (412-255-2773)
• Potholes (412-255-2621)
• Graffiti Squad (412-323-7818)
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605)

Trash talkers, join us

In his unflattering Letter to the Editor (Post-Gazette, March 11) on "City Litter", Bob Gold of Mt. Lebanon says "there must be some way to allocate some small measure of our limited and meager resources to cleaning up this mess."

There is and there isn't. Trash talkers like Mr. Gold would be welcomed with open arms (with gloves and trash bags) by thousands of Citizen Against Litter volunteers who Redd Up everyday litter when they can.

Maybe Public Works could fund removing litter from heavily-traveled roads like Bigelow Boulevard and the Highland Park Bridge interchange where it's too dangerous for volunteers.

We're all embarrassed by litter for ourselves and visitors. Many Pittsburghers are doing something about it. I suggest trash talkers join one of our community Redd Ups April 24-26 when 15,000 volunteers will pick up several hundred tons of litter in 150-200 city neighborhoods and area communities.

Boris Weinstein, Citizens Against Litter

Highlights from the past year include:

• A 30% increase in schools participating in litter prevention programs;
• $296,315 savings in land fill costs due to recycling;
• 6,399 tons of debris removed from lots through the Redd Up program;
• 9,437 square feet of graffiti removed.

The complete report is available online.

Awards went to five neighborhoods. The Redd Up Coalition of Homewood, Squirrel Hill and Point Breeze, started in 2006, was singled out as Most Connected. Carrick was recognized as Most Improved and Larimer as Best Newcomer.

Twelve neighborhood volunteers, who were recommended by Public Works division managers, received awards. Awardees are: Angelique Bradford (Beltzhoover), Beverly Baggio (South Side Slopes), Ed Brandt (Brightwood), Elmer Clark (Elliott), Candy Cybator (Strip District), Ken Hale (Brightwood), Pat Hassett (Greenfield), Deb Jozwik (Polish Hill), Sam Palombini (Sheraden), Josie Ramsey (Polish Hill), Ann Rose (Squirrel Hill), and Mary Savage (Homewood).

The Pittsburgh Public Schools were recognized for supporting and expanding the spring and fall Stash the Trash program that involved more than 8,000 students in 2008.

Pitt's "Make A Difference Day" community service event that brought 1,500 students to 33 city and area communities earned an Award as did Duquesne University's Evergreen and Spiritan Campus Ministry. For several years, 500 Duquesne students have joined residents and business owners in Uptown, the Hill District and South Side neighborhoods in their spring cleanups.

Other groups, recognized for their ongoing support of clean-up efforts, included Allegheny CleanWays, Citizens Against Litter, PA Resources Council and the city's Public Works Department.

The "Bob Awards" were a highlight of the Clean Pittsburgh Commission's second annual Meet n' Greet Mixer honoring neighborhood leaders called Clean Pittsburgh Stewards.

The Clean Pittsburgh Commission also took the opportunity to present its 2008 State of the City Report. The annual report details activities involving litter prevention, illegal dumping, vacant lots and buildings, abandoned cars, graffiti, greening, fines and enforcement. The report can be accessed online at http://www.prc.org.