"What we wanted to do is put a call out for community volunteers to lead groups of students to sections of the South Side for the cleanup. The main goal is to have these new students come, do some community service and meet the residents of the South Side, with the idea that they will know the South Side as not just a place to party but as a community. And starting such a relationship early (since these students will be a part of this area for at least the next four years) is important."

Contact Sarah at saraha@ccicenter.org or 412-488-7490 ext. 236 for more information.

The second event is the 2010 "Hard to Recycle" collection, which will be held on Saturday, September 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the City of Pittsburgh's Environmental Services Facility, 3001 Railroad Street. See the event flyer for more details.

Visit the CONNECT website to learn more about the group.

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

Report mail box graffiti

Pittsburgh Postmaster Rocco D'Angelo is asking the public for help to stamp out mail box graffiti. "Any mail box that is tagged or in need of repair should be reported to us by calling 412-359-7845." The Postal Service here has addressed graffiti and repairs to more than 60 boxes in Carrick/Mt. Oliver, Strip District and Bloomfield/Friendship. It is currently working in Oakland and South Side.

Stop counting sheep

Rather than counting sheep, Mr. Litterman suggests you count litter on a few streets where you live. See how your streets stack up against a compulsive litter gitter. Mr. Litterman did it on two blocks of four streets in the heart of Shadyside from Walnut to Ellsworth. His were not fancy-schmancy streets. These are streets -- among others -- that Mr. Litterman has adopted to keep clean. Many houses, many parked cars, many pedestrians. Copeland -- 27 pieces; Bellefonte -- 40; Filbert -- 40; and Ivy -- 52 (20 of them were in the street gutter on the side of Jitters coffee shop). Mr. Litterman's tally should be lower. What's yours?

"What can I do?"

A Mount Washington volunteer wannabe asked us, "What can I do to help?" He also told us he walks to work, either down McArdle Roadway or Sycamore Street. We suggested and he accepted this plan. "Call it 'Adopt-A-Route'. Carry plastic shopping bags and plastic gloves in your pockets. Pick up litter along the way and place the one or two bags of litter at the bottom and top of those streets. Weekly share your tally and we'll pass the idea and tally on to other volunteer wannabes." A lot of people do this. The moral? You don't have to be involved in one-time or two-time giant-size neighborhood Redd Ups to make a dent in getting rid of litter. Just carve out a niche for yourself. It beats talking a good game.

What did 500 volunteers do June 19?

They participated in the 20th annual River Sweep, sponsored by the Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission, and collected more than 40 tons of junk, debris and garbage. That's less trash picked up than in previous years. The multi-state effort covered 26 sites along shorelines of the Allegheny, Mon, Beaver and Yough rivers. And if you're saying, "Gee, if I would have known they needed volunteers...", there's always next year. Volunteer wannabes should call 1-800-359-3977 for local coordinators.

What did you do over the July Fourth holiday?

Two 26-year old high school buddies -- one who lives on the South Side, and the other from D.C. -- spent part of their weekend cleaning up an eyesore on a vacant lot off East Carson St. 30 feet from a large dumpster. Their haul was a dozen large bags of the usual -- pizza boxes, napkins, drink cans and general trash.

In another part of the city -- Central Oakland -- Mr. Litterman was picking up litter on Ward St. and Zulema St. on Monday after surveying citizens' complaints about litter and general garbage mess on adjacent Wellsford St. Volunteers from The Academy School answered the call for help also. They converged on Wellsford St. Sunday morning, July 11 and returned the following three Sundays. City services have also responded.

Is this the end of illegal dumping on Enfield?

Time will tell. A combination of factors has resulted in a cleaner, less-littered Enfield St. between Centre Ave and Baum Blvd. in North Oakland. An illegal dumpsite across from CVS is now a cindered off-street parking area. Waste containers were moved to a different location and lids chained shut. A private parking section is maintained next to Pizza Hut. A new high fence was erected, discouraging dumping down the hillside. Mr. Litterman put the finishing touches on Enfield by picking up about 10 bags of litter. He revisited the site a week later and picked up a little litter around the empty waste container. Let's see if CVS, the other businesses and their customers continue to keep fresh would-be litter to themselves. So far so good.

Do as Deloitte does

In June, 450 volunteers of Deloitte, an accounting and consulting firm, converged on the South Side and South Side Slopes picking up litter, removing graffiti, painting railings, planting flowers, cleaning tree wells and dozens of other neighborhood projects. They even took inventory and assessed conditions of most of the 3,100 parcels in South Side Slopes. Deloitte's "Impact Day" was an incredible outpouring of community service. The firm has been doing this in other neighborhoods for years. South Side Local Development Co. and Pittsburgh Cares supported the Deloitte effort.

Bloomfield gets clean over

"Thought you might like to know that the Bloomfield Development Corporation organized a clean up Saturday, July 10. Twenty-eight volunteers turned out for two hours, cleaned and trimmed our tree beds and collected 10 bags of litter, including tons of cigarette butts. One business donated coffee at the start and another donated lunch at the end. It was a big success! Liberty Avenue looks fabulous! Thanks for all your hard work. Cleanups are planned every two months."

Terry Ford Aiello
Main Street Manager

Matches made in CPC "heaven"

Last month, the Newslitter told you about an upstart group, Rock the Block, gathering support in eight city neighborhoods to improve quality of life issues in Sheraton, Esplen, Chartiers City, West End, Windgap, Crafton Heights, Elliott and Westwood. This month we want to tell you about another group. The Work Center, a division of EDSI, is a re-employment transition center providing its clients with an opportunity to learn skills in the workplace through participation in a Paid Work Experience (PWE) program funded by the Department of Welfare. Principals of both organizations were guests at last month's Clean Pittsburgh Commission meeting. Rock the Block needs volunteers for programs it is planning. The Work Center -- with 400 clients -- will assign many volunteers to the "Rock" group. Specific projects are being discussed. The Work Center will also be discussing illegal dumpsite cleanup projects with Allegheny CleanWays.

CONNECTion made

Litter is one of the common problems Pittsburgh shares with its neighbors. This is the reason Citizens Against Litter is connecting with the Congress of Neighboring Communities, known as CONNECT. "We already work with more than half of the 35 'burbs that border Pittsburgh during the Spring and Fall Redd Ups involving 250 communities in five counties," said Boris Weinstein. "We are interested in improving and establishing more contacts with community leaders."

Citizens has had positive meetings with Kathy Risko, CONNECT Associate Director, and Kristen Michaels, project coordinator. "Our goal is to encourage all 35 townships and boroughs to have twice-a-year Redd Ups with Pittsburgh on the same weekends."

Redd Up cook out

Planners of the Homewood-Squirrel Hill-Point Breeze Coalition that oversees twice-a-year Redd Ups in which hundreds of adults and school kids participate had a cook out at the home of Jackie Dixon in late June. The coalition has been together for four years. It's a great example of how collecting litter grew into connecting neighborhoods.

Stash the Trash volunteers needed

Check out the Stash the Trash web site. Consider signing up to help them clean illegal dumps. Stash the Trash says, "If we would have 40 to 50 volunteers we could clean 150 of the 279 known Pittsburgh dumps within a year." I bet they could.

Fall Redd Up signs ups near 100 communities

For the third year Pitt Student Volunteer Outreach and Citizens Against Litter will partner for "Make a Difference Day", Pitt's terrific community service day. The goal this fall is to place 3,000 student volunteers in more than 55 city neighborhoods and Allegheny County communities on Saturday, October 16 during the fall weekend Redd Up on October 15-17. Terry Milani, Director, Student Volunteer Outreach, said students look forward to the interaction with residents as they work together to remove litter and trash. Some communities involve the students on planting and beautification projects.

Pittsburgh neighborhoods/groups and Allegheny County communities confirmed are: Allentown, Arlington, Beautify Banksville Road, Beechview, Bedford Dwellings, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Bon Air, Brookline, California-Kirkbride, Central Northside, Crawford Square, Elliott, Carrick, East Liberty, Esplen, Fineview, Friendship, Eliza Furnace Trail, Garfield, Greenfield, Hays, Larimer, Lincoln Place, Hazelwood, Homestead, Homewood, Lawrenceville, Lower Hill, Manchester, Mexican War Streets, Middle Hill, Mount Oliver (city and borough), Mount Washington (Duquesne Heights), Morningside, North Oakland, New Homestead, Oakland, Oak Hill, Perry Hilltop, Polish Hill, Schenley Heights, Sheraden, Shadyside, Strip District, South Side Flats, Spring Garden, St. Clair, Stanton Heights, Stowe, Summer Hill, Troy Hill, West End, Dormont, Etna, McKees Rocks, Penn Hills, West Homestead and Wilkinsburg.

Other neighborhoods and communities that will participate in the Oct.15-17 Redd Up are Arlington Heights, Banksville, Bellevue, Bluff, Brighton Heights, East Allegheny, East Carnegie, Downtown Pittsburgh, Fox Chapel, Glassport, Observatory Hill, Ohio River Blvd., Pine, South Side Slopes, South Park, South Point Breeze, Spring Hill, Squirrel Hill, Swisshelm Park, Uptown, and Upper St. Clair,

Participating communities are approaching 100.

Next Community Conversation October 20

Clean Pittsburgh Commission has scheduled its next open meeting Wednesday, Oct. 20. Clean Pittsburgh Stewards and others are invited to participate in this conversation about neighborhood problems and challenges on litter cleanups and prevention. The meeting will be held at the CCI Center, 14th & Sarah streets, South Side from 6 to 8 p.m.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses and sometimes non-profits are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets. June's awards are:

• Crisco Disco
• Pacific Ring
• Pizzutti's
• S. Aiken Bar & Grill

Garbagevilles

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

• 5525 Ellsworth Ave. (front & rear)
• 5527 Ellsworth Ave. (rear)
• 630 Bellefonte St. (side)
• 710 Bellefonte St. (front)
• 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)
• 5528 Alder St (rear)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 5525-27-29-31 Howe St. (front)
• 816 S. Negley Ave. (front)
• Sherwin-Williams/Subway, Center Ave. (parking lot)
• Negley Ave. (street between Ellsworth and Walnut)
• Victoria's Secret, Walnut St. (rear)
• CVS Pharmacy, Enfield St. (side)
• Leonard Staisey Building, Enfield St. (parking lot)
• Jetters, Walnut & Ivy St. (side)

Important phone numbers

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

• Mayor's Office (412-255-2626)
• Littering (412-255-2621)
• State Littering Hotline (1-888-548-8372)
• Abandoned Houses (412-255-2175)
• Abandoned Cars (412-255-4776)
• Weeds/Litter/Bad Sidewalks (412-255-4155)
• Building Inspection (412-255-2176)
• Public Works Main # (412-255-2790)
• Refuse/Recycling (412-255-2773)
• Potholes (412-255-2720)
• Graffiti Watch (312-496-2272)
• Graffiti Busters ((412-255-2872))
• Report Graffiti Happening to You (9-1-1)
• Report Graffiti in Neighborhood (3-1-1)
• Report Mail Box Graffiti (412-359-7845)
• City Planning (412-255-2200)
• Parking Authority (412-560-7275)
• City Council (412-255-2142)
• Environmental Services (412-255-2780)
• Police, Zone 4 (412-422-6520)
• Police, Zone 5 (412-665-3605)

Pied pipers of pick up

Help us find more "best-of-the-best" litter gitter volunteers roaming our city neighborhood streets. They're all around us. We want to recognize their community service at the next Clean Pittsburgh Commission Meet n' Greet Mixer in March. Send their names, neighborhoods and contact information to boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

One last word

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

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

Stamp out mail box graffiti

Clean Pittsburgh Commission, U.S. Postal Service, Totally Against Graffiti (TAG), South Side Graffiti Watch, City Graffiti Task Force and City Graffiti Busters have formed a partnership to remove graffiti from street mail collection boxes and relay boxes. The program begins immediately in Carrick/Mt. Oliver, South Side, Strip District, Oakland and Bloomfield/Friendship.

Most mail boxes are graffiti tagged. It's a citywide problem. Removing graffiti can only be done by Postal Service maintenance people.

However, Pittsburgh Postmaster Rocco D'Angelo is asking the public to help. "Any mail box that is tagged or in need of repair should be reported to us," said the postmaster. The number to call is 412-359-7845.

At the CPC June 10 meeting Postmaster D'Angelo, CPC members and Carrick resident Missy Rosenfeld of TAG agreed to organize a group that would deal with the problem. A follow up meeting of the new group, named "Stamp Out Mail Box Graffiti," was held June 24. The third meeting will be held Thursday, July 15.

Ms. Rosenfeld has been waging a crusade against mail box graffiti for some time in Carrick. She researched best case programs on the internet and found a helpful one used in Bakersfield, CA. She also contacted Post Office officials in Washington D.C. and here. The postmaster and Ms. Rosenfeld have adopted the motto: "One box at a time. One neighborhood at a time."

Ms. Rosenfeld credits a number of people that have been helpful in the anti-graffiti mail box initiative startup: Frank Rende, Dan Sullivan and Alphonso Sloan of Graffiti Task Force, Patty Chavez of City Traffic, Wendy Urbanic of the Mayor's 3-1-1 Response Line, and Steve Root of Graffiti Watch.

The program here has kicked into a higher gear. More neighborhoods could be targeted every six months.

Introducing Rock the Block

"Rock the Block" organizers Tara Bailey and Kelly Carter of Sheraden are attempting to connect eight city neighborhoods to work together to spruce up their communities and improve the quality of life for residents and local businesses. This is a noble mission and they will need all the help they can get...from Citizens Against Litter, the Clean Pittsburgh Commission, the City and generous businesses and foundations.

The eight neighborhoods are Sheraden, Esplen, Chartiers City, West End, Windgap, Crafton Heights, Elliott and Westwood.

A Rock the Block meeting was held Saturday, June 26. Tara and Kelly will meet with the Clean Pittsburgh Commission on Thursday, July 8.

The group's focus has a lot of "get" to it: getting litter off streets, getting vacant lots cleared, getting after problem landlords, getting code violators cited and fined, getting volunteers and pursuing all that is positive for seniors and veterans.

Thanks. Win some. Lose some.

Mr. Litterman tips his Pirate cap to all for his votes in this year's People All Stars Among Us recognition. Close but no cigar. He appreciates the support for Citizens Against Litter to engage thousands of volunteers to redd up their neighborhoods. Our work goes on.

Renew Pittsburgh renewing

Renew Pittsburgh is back in action. The all volunteer non-profit group cleaned up and refurbished the Armstrong Playground on the South Side, Saturday, June 12. Volunteers worked with various community leaders and City Councilman Bruce Kraus. A second project was the Lewis Playground in Hazelwood tackled on Saturday, June 26. On Saturday, July 17 the group will clean up a vacant lot in Beltzhoover.

"Greenfield's looking pretty clean"

Greenfield Connect, the very active and successful anti-litter neighborhood group, asks its volunteers for monthly activities reports. The one for May was as follows: "With 94% of volunteers reporting, we picked up 28 bags of litter in May, 19.5 white and 8.5 blue. Top pickers were Kate/Rick with 8 bags from Magee Field and Mimi with 6 off Beechwood Blvd. Thanks to everyone. Things are looking pretty clean. Enjoy June!"

Pat Hassett

Stash the Trash volunteers

Check out the [Stash the Trash web site][1]. Consider signing up to help them clean illegal dumps. Stash the Trash says, "If we would have 40 to 50 volunteers we could clean 150 of the 279 known Pittsburgh dumps within a year". I bet they could.

[1]: http://www.Stash theTrash.org

West End Village beautifying

"Volunteers have been hard at work making West End Village a more beautiful neighborhood. On May 8, 17 volunteers came to plant the West Pittsburgh Partnership/Western PA. Conservancy garden. In addition to local volunteers, planters came from Grove City College, North Allegheny High School and Monroeville.

"The following weekend, May 15, West End Village partnered with Allegheny CleanWays to clean up two illegal dumpsites along Planet St. Over 20 volunteers from all over Pittsburgh removed 7.6 tons of trash from the hillside. Most of the trash was wooden industrial pallets, which were taken to Irwin where they were turned into mulch. If you witness dumping, record the license plate number and call 9-1-1. There is a $10,000 fine for dumping.

"Starting in late June the WPP began hosting high school volunteers from 10 a.m. to noon to tend to the garden, clean up trash and make the Village brighter. Students are also looking for opportunities to volunteer at local businesses and organizations. Contact WPP for more information."

High or low score for your neighborhood?

I wrote the following in the April, 2007 Newslitter about a Pittsburgh neighborhood. My question today is: "Has this happened in your neighborhood?"

"Here's a shocker, at least to me. The BLEEP neighborhood of yesteryear of clean streets and even cleaner alleys is no more. It wasn't too long ago that clean was synonymous with BLEEP. Forget it. What happened? Did all the clean, proud homeowners die? Move? Give up? BLEEP is a mess. It's not only the BLEEP main street and side streets. It's the streets around the BLEEP signature building, around the parking lots and the other streets. Litter in BLEEP is everywhere. "Please, BLEEP wake up. Many of the neighborhoods around you are organizing anti-litter groups, scheduling weekend cleanups, and doing their best to renew Pittsburgh. Your litter, BLEEP, is what we call Everyday Litter. It doesn't take much to get rid of it. It doesn't take City Public Works crews and heavy equipment. It takes average citizens with neighborhood pride organizing and cleaning up...not waiting for someone else to do it for them.

"If a group of you contact me, boris.weinstein@verizon.net, I will help. I will be more than a cheerleader and blowhard."

Marching orders worth repeating

In the last two months Shadyside merchants, property owners and community leaders have been challenged to take care of unfinished litter-causing business. It's a challenge worth repeating.

• Our merchants -- on Walnut, Ellsworth, Centre and Highland -- can follow the lead of a few and begin sweeping their sidewalks and street gutters daily.

• Our Chamber and other influential citizens can get after Public Works, Public Safety and Parking Authority to coordinate their efforts to remove cars from street cleaning zones so street sweepers can properly do their job.

• Property owners -- single and multiple -- and businesses should take inventory of their waste container needs. Increase where necessary. Replace where necessary. Keep these areas clean. Avoid overflowing garbage. Above all else, keep lids on tight and keep litter from flying all over the place.

• Let's start our own model Zero Litter Policy program in Shadyside. Can the Chamber, Urban Coalition, Citizen Against Litter, Councilman Bill Peduto's Office and Clean Pittsburgh Commission, working together, get after big and small litterers and dog owners with warnings, fines and enforcement when they are in violation of policy?

Newest Clean Pittsburgh Stewards

Welcome to new stewards in four neighborhoods. Stewards are neighborhood residents who accept leadership responsibilities for issues involving litter, graffiti, vacant lot cleaning and beautification and participate in a communications network that connects neighborhoods. They are Rebecca Mizikar in Friendship, Ryan O'Donnell in Oakland, Loralyn Fabian in East Liberty and Julie Ewing in Troy Hill.

Pitt Make a Difference Day October 16

For the third year Pitt Student Volunteer Outreach and Citizens Against Litter will partner for "Make a Difference Day", Pitt's terrific community service day. The goal this fall is to place 3,000 student volunteers in more than 55 city neighborhoods and Allegheny County communities on Saturday, October 16 during the fall weekend Redd Up on October 15-17. Terry Milani, Director, Student Volunteer Outreach, said students look forward to the interaction with residents as they work together to remove litter and trash. Some communities involve the students on planting and beautification projects.

Neighborhoods/groups confirmed are: Allentown, Arlington, Beautify Banksville Road, Beechview, Bedford Dwellings, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Bon Air, Brookline, California-Kirkbride, Central Northside, Crawford Square, Elliott, Carrick, East Liberty, Esplen, Fineview, Friendship, Eliza Furnace Trail, Garfield, Greenfield, Hays, Larimer, Lincoln Place, New Homestead, Hazelwood, Homestead, Homewood, Lawrenceville, Lower Hill, Manchester, Mexican War Streets, Middle Hill, Mount Oliver (city and borough), Mount Washington, Morningside, North Oakland, Oakland, Oak Hill, Perry Hilltop, Polish Hill, Schenley Heights, Shadyside, St. Clair, Strip District, South Side Flats, Spring Garden, Stanton Heights, Stowe, Summer Hill, Troy Hill, West End, Dormont, Etna, McKees Rocks, Penn Hills, West Homestead and Wilkinsburg.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses and sometimes non-profits are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets.

One non-profit -- Schenley Heights Community Development -- blitzed Walnut St. in June, putting dozens of flyers on car windshields for their 6th annual Jazz on the Hillside. I haven't picked up that much litter from Walnut in many months. There's an ordinance against what was done.

Other notable litterers include:

• S. Aiken Bar & Grill
• The Hideout

Top 10 litter tosses

In my Shadyside world, facial tissues, plastic water bottles, cigarette packs and boxes, plastic lid cups, straws, beverage cups, small plastic bags, parking meter receipts, ATM receipts and shopping receipts lead the lit parade. It's been this way for years.

Garbagevilles

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

• 5525 Ellsworth Ave. (front & rear)
• 5527 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)
• 5528 Alder St (rear)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 816 S. Negley Ave. (front)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Ave. (parking lot)
• Ellsworth Ave. (street between Negley and Aiken)
• Negley Ave. (street between Ellsworth and Walnut)
• Victoria's Secret, Walnut St. (rear)

Good, bad & ugly on Howe St.

The intersection of Howe and Ivy in Shadyside is looking great with one new home on one corner and two homes being renovated on the other. Unfortunately, the multi-residential houses at 5525, 5527, 5529 and 5531 Howe St. decorate their fronts with garbage cans. The same is true with several of the houses on the other side of Howe. starting with 5522. Is it asking too much of you people to keep your garbage to yourselves, hide the cans in the rear and bring them to the sidewalk on pick up day?

Important phone numbers

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

• Mayor's Office (412-255-2626)
• Littering (412-255-2621)
• State Littering Hotline (1-888-548-8372)
• Abandoned Houses (412-255-2175)
• Abandoned Cars (412-255-4776)
• Weeds/Litter/Bad Sidewalks (412-255-4155)
• Building Inspection (412-255-2176)
• Public Works Main # (412-255-2790)
• Refuse/Recycling (412-255-2773)
• Potholes (412-255-2720)
• Graffiti Watch (312-496-2272)
• Graffiti Busters ((412-255-2872))
• Report Graffiti Happening to You (9-1-1)
• Report Graffiti in Neighborhood (3-1-1)
• 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)

Pied pipers of pick up

Help us find more "best-of-the-best" litter gitter volunteers roaming our city neighborhood streets. They're all around us. We want to recognize their community service at the next Clean Pittsburgh Commission Meet n' Greet Mixer in March. Send their names, neighborhoods and contact information to boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

One last word

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

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

"We're people of action"

We said 2010 would be a year of action and focusing greater attention on cleaning up illegal dumpsites. And we meant it.

At 1:17 p.m. Friday (May 21), an e-mail from Diane Marshall, a Larimer homeowner on Auburn St., arrived. The e-mail was accompanied with many photos of Tyler Way, the alley behind her home, with a deplorable mess. The entire alley was an illegal dumping place -- tires, construction materials, bagged garbage, tree branches, even an abandoned truck. There was plenty of litter too but it was the least of the problem.

Diane's note asked, "Any help getting this cleaned will be appreciated". Within two hours -- not two days, not two months -- Citizens Against Litter was in contact with Diane. So was Allegheny CleanWays and Stash the Trash's super volunteer Joe Divack. Joe surveyed the mess within another two hours. The cleanup was scheduled the week of May 24. At least three neighborhood families said they would join in the cleanup. Diane would contact the police to remove the abandoned truck. Diane promises to keep Tyler Way dump-free and litter-free. Agree "we're people of action"?

More community conversations

The Clean Pittsburgh Commission's successful second open meeting -- called A Community Conversation -- was attended by 30 neighborhoods on May 5. That's one-third of the city's 90 neighborhoods. Speakers represented the Mayor's Office, Public Works, Allegheny CleanWays and Operation Better Block in Homewood. Improving redd ups, cleaning up illegal dumpsites, vacant lots and graffiti, removing abandoned cars, promoting litter education for kids and getting city service departments to respond quicker were subjects highest on neighborhood "want to know" lists. The next meeting will be this fall, probably before the October 15-17 Redd Up.

Mr. Litterman, All-Star

Citizens Against Litter founder Boris Weinstein, more commonly known as Mr. Litterman around these parts, has been nominated for People Magazine's "All-Stars Among Us" award, and is one of the top three finalists from Pittsburgh. The top vote-getter from each major league city will be recognized at the All-Star game and one lucky winner will be featured in People Magazine.

Your vote could make the difference. A vote for Boris is a vote for all of us. Help spread the word about the power of citizen-driven clean ups.

Vote today! Click on "Pittsburgh Pirates", then look for Boris' smiling mug.

Shadyside can do more

(This article was written by Boris Weinstein. It appeared in May's Shadyside Action Coalition Newsletter.)

We're enormously different than Las Vegas. For example, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in Shadyside goes outside.

Six years ago Citizens Against Litter's experiment with a program in litter removal, reduction and control in a single neighborhood took off. Within two years a network of stewardships took hold in most of the city's 90 neighborhoods. For the past four years an army of 10,000 volunteers -- school kids, college kids, young adults, seniors, renters, property owners, home owners and businesses -- have pitched in for spring and fall Redd Ups and have removed hundreds of tons of litter and trash from city streets, sidewalks, lots, playing fields and parks.

A case can be made that Pittsburgh's bid to become one of America's cleanest cities had its roots in Shadyside. Please, no bows yet. There's much still to do. Check out this starter list.

• Our merchants -- on Walnut, Ellsworth, Centre and Highland -- can follow the lead of a few and begin sweeping their sidewalks and street gutters daily.

• Our Chamber and other influential citizens can get after Public Works, Public Safety, and Parking Authority to coordinate their efforts to remove cars from street cleaning zones so street sweepers can properly do their job.

• Property owners -- single and multiple -- and businesses should take inventory of their waste container needs. Increase where necessary. Replace where necessary. Keep these areas clean. Avoid overflowing garbage. Above all else, keep lids on tight and keep litter from flying all over the place.

• Let's start our own model Zero Litter Policy program in Shadyside. Can the Chamber, Urban Coalition, Citizen Against Litter, Councilman Bill Peduto's Office and Clean Pittsburgh Commission, working together, get after big and small litterers with warnings, fines and enforcement when they are in violation of policy?

Can we show the city again that what works well in Shadyside will work in other neighborhoods?

"He gets people to enjoy litter removal"

Citizens Against Litter founder Boris Weinstein received the Neighborhood Leader Award, in memory of the late Mayor Bob O'Connor. Presenting the award at the annual meeting (May 26) of the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group were the Mayor's widow, Judy, and son Corey. A champion of Mayor O'Connor's Redd Up concept, Boris was nominated by Dawn Harder, a litter steward in Carrick, who calls him a "true inspiration" and says he is "infectious" in the way he gets people to enjoy litter removal.

Dumps away in Beltzhoover

"Wanted to let you know that Councilman Bruce Kraus held a clean up in Beltzhoover on Saturday, May 8. We worked in conjunction with the Arlington Adult Probation Center. They were able to provide us with 35 volunteers to clean up listed dumpsites in the PA CleanWays Illegal Dump Survey. We were able to pull out 50 tires from one area. The sites we cleaned were Climax at Montooth, a 2 ton dump, and Proxim Way & Delmont, a 10 ton dump.

"Our next clean up is May 22, and we will be tackling two more active dumpsites in St. Clair and another in Beltzhoover. We have volunteers for June 5 & 19 clean ups as well.

"We look forward to stopping the dumping that has gone on in Beltzhoover far too long. We appreciate the efforts of Public Works in handling the pickup of the trash so quickly".

Matt Hogue
Councilman Bruce Kraus' Office

Stash the Trash volunteers

Check out the Stash the Trash web site. Consider signing up to help them clean illegal dumps. Stash the Trash says, "If we would have 40 to 50 volunteers we could clean 150 of the 279 known Pittsburgh dumps within a year". I bet they could.

Kids Against Litter

Sarah Alessio of the Clean Pittsburgh Commission accompanied 400 kids from 15 city schools who attended the Pirates-Reds baseball game last month at PNC Park. It was their reward for participating in Stash the Trash Day on April 23. The Pirates were great hosts.

New Arlington, Manchester Oak Hill stewards

Debra Morgan is the new Clean Pittsburgh Steward for Arlington, taking over for Teri Cataldo. Maureen Neary and Pat Torrey are on the job in Manchester as stewards where they had a very successful Redd Up last month recruiting 150 neighborhood volunteers who collected 3 1/2 tons of litter/trash and 130 tires. Phyllis Ghafoor will answer the call in Hill District's Oak Hill.

Pitt Make a Difference Day October 16

For the third year Pitt Student Volunteer Outreach and Citizens Against Litter will partner for "Make a Difference Day," Pitt's terrific community service day.

The goal this fall is to place 3,000 student volunteers in more than 55 city neighborhoods and Allegheny County communities on Saturday, October 16 during the fall weekend Redd Up on October 15-17. Terry Milani, Director, Student Volunteer Outreach, said students look forward to the interaction with residents as they work together to remove litter and trash. Some communities involve the students on planting and beautification projects.

Neighborhoods/groups already confirmed are: Allentown, Arlington, Beautify Banksville Road, Beechview, Bedford Dwellings, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Bon Air, Brookline, California-Kirkbride, Central Northside, Crawford Square, Elliott, Carrick, East Liberty, Esplen, Fineview, Eliza Furnace Trail, Garfield, Greenfield, Hays, Larimer, Lincoln Place, New Homestead, Hazelwood, Homestead, Homewood, Lawrenceville, Lower Hill, Manchester, Mexican War Streets, Middle Hill, Mount Oliver (city and borough), Mount Washington, North Oakland, Oakland, Oak Hill, Perry Hilltop, Polish Hill, Schenley Heights, Shadyside, St. Clair, Strip District, South Side Flats, Spring Garden, Stanton Heights, Summer Hill, Troy Hill, West End, Dormont, Etna, McKees Rocks, Penn Hills, West Homestead and Wilkinsburg.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses/groups are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets. Only one this month. Hope it stays that way.

• Pizzutti's

Garbagevilles

• 5525 Ellsworth Ave. (front & rear)
• 5527 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)
• 5528 Alder St (rear)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 5217 Fifth Ave. (front and side)
• 816 S. Negley Ave. (front)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Ave. (parking lot)
• Ellsworth Ave. (street between Negley and Aiken)
• Negley Ave. (street between Ellsworth and Walnut)
• Victoria's Secret, Walnut St. (rear)
• Shadyside Nursing & Rehab, Fifth Ave. (parking lot)

Orr else

The former vacant Orr Flower Shop building at 731 N. Aiken Ave. at Walnut is no longer a Garbageville. The new owners did considerable renovation to the building including landscaping the front.

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)

Pied pipers of pick up

Help us find more "best-of-the-best" litter gitter volunteers roaming our city neighborhood streets. They're all around us. We want to recognize their community service at the next Clean Pittsburgh Commission Meet n' Greet Mixer. Send their names, neighborhoods and contact information to boris.weinstein@verizon.net.

One last word

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

Saturday was an amazing day. The Urban Impact Foundation mustered 37 students instead of the planned 45, so we adjusted our projects a little. The kids were a lot of fun, very well behaved, and hardworking. Their leaders were great and really worked hard to keep them on task. One youth group drove all the way from Cleveland while the other group hailed from Carnegie. The weather, though a little hot, cooperated and we didn't get the predicted thunder showers till after the projects were completed.

We filled about 100 large contractor trash bags with a lot of litter but mostly with Japanese Knotweed. We also collected three tires, a car battery, a mattress spring, a couple of doors, and miscellaneous trash. By the end, there were also three large piles of organic debris that we didn't bag because we literally ran out of trash bags.

One group tackled a vacant lot overgrown with bamboo about sixteen feet tall. From the waste, they actually harvested a lot of poles that, when dried, will be great for garden stakes or screening. We also planted four trees that were purchased by the Mexican War Streets Society and about a dozen various shrubs donated by Gavin Deming. The various projects that were completed are listed below.

Thanks to all of you who worked so hard, thanks to Sara Van Kirk of the Urban Impact Foundation for coordinating the Global Impact program, and thanks to the Mexican War Streets Society for funding this project! A walk around the neighborhood will prove that it is money well spent. I love this neighborhood.

See some pictures of the event with some before and after shots.

Projects completed

1. City Steps - Zandrea Ambrose with seven students cleared litter, debris and vegetation from areas around the steps including the area near the top at Perry Avenue; swept the steps afterwards; cut and bagged Japanese Knotweed.

2. 1526 Arch Street - Michael Beigay with four students planted a small street tree in front of the vacant lot; cleaned up litter and knotweeds around the vicinity.

3. Historic Alleys - Jana Thompson with seven students cleaned and greened some historic brick alleys and walkways as greenways between Allegheny Commons and the green slopes.

4. Saturn Way Projects - The Donovans and the Kosys with seven students cleared, cleaned, and mowed a group of vacant lots, pruned trees, cut and bagged Japanese Knotweed.

5. 400 Jacksonia Street - Cleared and bundled bamboo and removed litter and garbage from a vacant backyard.

6. Ornamental plantings - Tom Cihil with six students planted corners of Family Dollar parking lot at Brighton and Jacksonia, raked mulch, planted trees and shrubs, put mulch back in place; also planted tree and mowed at Drover's Repose garden.

7. Weeding at Brighton Road Garden - Becky Colger with six students did some massive weeding.

Upcoming Clean Up Days

Upcoming North Side cleanup days are as follows:

• Saturday, June 12
• Saturday, July 10
• Saturday, August 7
• Saturday, September 18
• Saturday, October 16 - Pitt Make a Difference Day

With reports from 20 per cent of the 250 known neighborhood and community redd ups, approximately 7,000 adults and 3,000 school kids turned out in Pittsburgh collecting 90 tons of bagged litter.

Monroeville topped all with 650 volunteers, collecting 12 tons of litter.

Hill District, Uptown, South Side with 600 volunteers from Duquesne University collected 6 tons.

New Brighton (Beaver County) reported 262 volunteers, collecting 3 tons.

Manchester neighborhood in Pittsburgh went from no redd up last spring to a huge effort last week with 150 volunteers who removed 3.5 tons of litter and 130 tires.

Others: Squirrel Hill (179 volunteers and two tons); Collier (100 volunteers, 400 tires and 300 tires; South Park (64 volunteers, 1.5 tons); Natrona (53volunteers,2.5 tons and 65 tires); Etna (67 volunteers, ¾ ton of litter and 36 tires); clean up and planting in Panther Hollow attracted 192 volunteers where they bagged one half tons of litter.

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

The lady in Stanton Heights

For some time I have been hearing about "a lady in Stanton Heights who picks up litter every day." A person after my own heart. A person very much like Ann Rose who does the same thing in Squirrel Hill. There are others like them that I'd love to know about because they are true inspirations for all of us.

I met Monique Diet of Stanton Heights on the phone last week. A mutual friend gave her my card and she called me. What a woman! She's been picking up litter daily for 30 years -- the last 20 in Stanton Heights, Morningside and Lawrenceville. She walks every day. She's out about an hour and collects a bag of litter. Every two weeks there are 14 bags for garbage men to take away. "When I walk into East Liberty," Monique told me, "I pick up 4 or 5 bags."

She's a real "Pied Piper of Pick Up." A very special person.

Eyewitness to craziness

I saw it with my own eyes last Tuesday. But I've seen it before and often. A street sweeper truck traveling the two blocks of Ellsworth Avenue from Morewood to Amberson. The primary purpose of the street sweeper was to clean the street gutter but cars were illegally parked bumper-to-bumper the entire length. This meant the sweeper could not and did not sweep the gutter. Believe me, Ellsworth Avenue is not the only street where this scene is repeated. In many places, illegally parked cars are not cleared. Cars are not ticketed. Streets are not cleaned. Time wasted, wear and tear on equipment and waste of money and man hours must be huge. I think we need a new plan.

Dumps are targets

Dump destroyer Derek Green in his own words: "Stash the Trash has had an amazing start in 2010. We are now working with 25 volunteers. With all the recent press and (receiving) a Bob Award, things are really looking up for 2010. Our relationship with Public Works is outstanding. We have had the help of (super volunteer) Joe Divack and some other eager folks as well. We began focusing on the Greenfield Area in the winter and since then we have eliminated and adopted eight of 20 dumps in Greenfield: Winterburn Street, Braywood Way, Flemington Street, Montiero Street, Ibex Way, Moose Way, Greenfield Avenue and Lydia Street, and Wasser Way. These dumps are clean now. In addition, we continue to do work in Duck Hollow (Squirrel Hill) and have organized a large scale clean up along Brown's Hill Road (Squirrel Hill) that is already underway."

Stash the Trash volunteers

Check out the Stash the Trash web site. Consider signing up to help them clean illegal dumps. Stash the Trash says, "If we would have 40 to 50 volunteers we could clean 150 of the 279 known Pittsburgh dumps within a year". I bet they could.

Thanks, every buddy

There's no taking for granted the community service of thousands of men, women and kids in several hundred neighborhoods and communities who participated in Redd Up events in Pittsburgh and five counties. Citizens Against Litter thanks every buddy for what they've done to make our little part of the world a little cleaner in March and April clean ups and those happening in May.

The 20 to 25% feedback we are receiving doesn't give us an exact report card. Our educated guess is that upwards of 15,000 volunteers collected several hundred tons of litter from highways, parks, other grassy places, roads, streets and sidewalks. They removed everyday litter from business districts and schoolyards; from towns and townships; from walking trails and bike trails; from rivers and streams. They removed litter, hundreds of tires, teevees, appliances, grocery carts and discarded construction materials from illegal dumps.

Again we figure that 15,000 volunteers, spending an average three hours of their time picking up litter at a volunteer's rate of $20 an hour, adds up to almost $1 million bucks. Not bad for a day's work.

I'd say the Pittsburgh area is doing itself proud this spring as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the kickoff of World Environment Day, our own Redd Up and Stash the Trash Days. One more time. Thanks every buddy for cleanups in 250 city neighborhoods and communities:

Pittsburgh:

Allegheny CleanWays, Allegheny Courts Day Probation, Allegheny West, Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights,Banksville, Banksville Road Corridor, Bedford Dwellings, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Bon Air, Bluff, Brighton Heights, Brightwood (Marshall-Shadeland), Brookline, California-Kirkbride, Carrick, Central Northside, Chartiers City, Crafton Heights, Crawford Square, 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), Park Place, Perry Hilltop, PA Resources Council, Pittsburgh Job Corps, Pittsburgh Parks (Panther Hollow), Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Public Schools, 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, Stash the Trash, Strip District, Swisshelm Park, The Academy Schools, Troy Hill, Uptown, West End Village, Westwood and Windgap.

Allegheny County:

Allison Park, Aspinwall, Bellevue, Bridgeville, Carnegie, Chalfant, Collier, Dormont, Dravosburg, Duquesne, Edgewood, Elizabeth, Etna, Findlay, Forest Hills, Glassport, Hampton, Harrison, Heidelberg, Homestead, Leetsdale, Lincoln, Marshall, Millvale, McKees Rocks, Monroeville, Moon, Mount Lebanon, Mount Oliver, McCandless, Harrison (Natrona Heights), North Fayette, North Versailles, Penn Hills, Pine, Pitcairn, Pleasant Hills, Port Vue, Rankin, Regional Environmental Education Center (Boyce Mayview Park), Robinson, Ross, Rosslyn Farms, Scott, Shaler, South Park, Stowe, Tarentum, Verona, Upper St. Clair, West Homestead, West View, White Oak, Wilkins, Wilkinsburg and Wilmerding.

Beaver County:

Ambridge, Beaver, Center (Aliquippa), Bridgewater, Chippewa, Ellwood City, Industry, Midland, New Brighton, Ohioville, Patterson Heights (Beaver Falls), Rochester, Vanport and Wild Waterways Conservancy.

Butler County:

Cranberry, Butler City, Butler Twp., Center, Parker, Winfield and Washington.

Washington County:

Buffalo, California, Canonsburg, Canton, Charleroi, Chartiers, Cross Creek, Coal Center, East Bethlehem, East Washington, Fallowfield, Hanover, Morris, Mount Pleasant, McDonald, North Strabane, Nottingham, Peters, Robinson and Washington City.

Westmoreland County:

Allegheny, Bovard, Delmont, Derry, Donegal, Fairfield, Greensburg, Hempfield, Ligonier, Lower Burrell, Loyalhanna, New Alexandria, New Kensington, Smithton, Unity, West Newton and Youngwood.

Pirates/volunteers sweep North Shore

For the second year, Citizens Against Litter teamed up with the Pirates for an Earth Day Redd Up on April 22. Participating were 30 volunteers from the Pittsburgh Job Corps and The Academy Schools. Volunteers attended the Pirates-Brewers game following the Redd Up as guest of the Pirates.

Welcome Clean Pittsburgh Stewards

Kathie Scrabis has stepped forward to become the first steward of the North Oakland neighborhood...Kathryn Vargas takes over for Grady Roberts Jr. in Garfield...Maureen Neary is the new litter leader in Manchester...Sadly, though, we lose Jared Delaney in Regent Square. The Delaneys have moved to Morningside.

Haiti's no Pittsburgh

"I lived in Pittsburgh for 14 years and still own a home in East Liberty. I now live in Haiti doing restoration. I just wanted to let you know that I saw in a recent e-mail that you continue to your work against litter. YOU GO! Haiti has not had the privilege of any trash or waste management and it's hard to see such a beautiful place covered in trash. I can't help clean up like I used to with my four kids (find a bag, fill a bag) but we are doing what we can here and I am glad to know you are doing what you can and more there"

Nicole Carlin

Kudos from Egypt and Pakistan

Three Global Pittsburgh guests from Egypt and Pakistan, here to learn more about volunteerism, observed a neighborhood Redd Up on the North Shore on Earth Day. Boris Weinstein and Patty Chavez of Public Works met with them. Observers witnessed the sign in, distribution of gloves and bags and discussion of cleanup targets and litter bag collection points.

Mt. Washington adopts zone defense

Mt. Washington Community Development Corp. has introduced a zone concept for the neighborhood. With an eye to using the zone approach to tackle litter cleanup and control issues block-by-block, the community hopes to attract zone leaders to mobilize volunteers for various projects such as graffiti removal, illegal dump identification and crime prevention.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses/groups are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets. The mess increases with nicer weather.

• App Deco
• BIKE Pgh
• Kangaroo Plumbing
• Shiraz
• Urban Active Fitness
• Wheel Deliver

Garbagevilles

April's Dirtiest Place Award in Shadyside goes to Victoria's Secret on Walnut Street. The rear of the store wins hands down. Actually, Victoria's Secret could have won this dirty award for other months because it's been that way for a long time. Let's see if things improve now that their secret is out.

• 5525 Ellsworth Ave. (front & rear)
• 5527 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)
• 5528 Alder St (rear)
• 5505-07 Howe St. (front)
• 5217 Fifth Ave. (front and side)
• 816 S. Negley Ave. (front)
• Sherwin-Williams, Center Ave. (parking lot)
• Ellsworth Ave. (street between Negley and Aiken)
• Negley Ave. (street between Ellsworth and Walnut)
• Victoria's Secret, Walnut St. (rear)
• Shadyside Nursing & Rehab, Fifth Ave. (parking lot)

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)

Inspiring intersection

Have you been by the intersection of Maryland and Elmer lately? Major rehabbing at 702 Maryland and 688 Maryland houses has turned these properties into real lookers. New porches, scrubbed brick exteriors, new landscaping, new cement walks, upgraded garages. And, of course, the absence of litter and yard clutter on the properties.

So what else is new?

The top five marine debris items found in the 2009 International Coastal Cleanup are the same we find on Pittsburgh streets: cigarette and cigarette filters, plastic bags, food wrappers/containers, caps and lids and plastic bottles. One hundred and eight countries were involved in the litter survey. The United States yielded by far the most debris. No surprise there either.

Bet you didn't know

A regular litter gitter from Penn Hills is soon to become a dealer at Rivers Casino. While in training she promotes community cleanups to her new friends during breaks. "Most never thought to carry a small bag to clean up during walks in their community," she said. "It's the little things that add up to big changes."

One last word

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

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

Street cleaning begins April Fool's Day

My April Fool's Day wish is that operators of street cleaner trucks and ticketers get on the same page and issue tickets for vehicles illegally parked in street cleaning zones. I don't know about your neighborhood, but in Shadyside streets remain unswept for the most part because access is denied. Ellsworth Avenue between Negley and Aiken is especially full of litter and leaves-turned-to-trash and mud. The same is true on Negley Avenue between Ellsworth and Walnut. But before you can sweeper-clean the street you have to get the cars removed. Sound logical? It doesn't happen. This kind of ticketing would benefit neighborhoods.

Meet n' Greet "Bob Awards"

Joe Divack, a retired resident of Squirrel Hill who relishes cleaning up illegal dumpsites all over the city, was selected Volunteer of the Year by the Clean Pittsburgh Commission. Divack along with five neighborhoods and five organizations were presented "Bob Awards", named for the late Mayor Bob O'Connor, Thursday, March 25, at the third annual Meet n' Greet Mixer saluting the city's Clean Pittsburgh Stewards in 90 neighborhoods.

Judy O'Connor, the Mayor's widow, and son Corey presented the Most Connected Neighborhoods award to Crafton Heights, Ridgemont and Westwood (Beth Ann Hanis); Knoxville (Sharlee Ellison) for Most Improved; and Esplen (Karen Kirchner) for Best Newcomer.

Stash the Trash, a volunteer group (Derek Green) that focuses on illegal dumpsite cleanups, was recognized. Three groups -- The Academy System (Nate Gillis), Pittsburgh Job Corps (Dorothy Sweeney) and Allegheny Courts Day Adult Probation (Dan Sommers) -- were recognized for providing their clients for many neighborhood Redd Ups. The Pittsburgh Pirates (Chaz Kellem) received a special award for hosting hundreds of school kids at this year's Stash the Trash Recognition Day at PNC Park May 12 (Pirates-Reds afternoon game).

Other volunteers nominated for the Volunteer of the Year award were Max Hurwitz, Beechview, Keith Knecht, Brookline, Carol Knox, Banksville Road, Terra McBride, South Side.

Clean Pittsburgh Commission issued its third State of the City Report detailing litter prevention/cleanups, illegal dumping, vacant lots and buildings, abandoned cars, graffiti, recycling and greening initiatives (The report is accessible online).

Almost 200 people attended the Meet n' Greet Mixer. Mingling with stewards and volunteers from more than 50 neighborhoods were Mayor Ravenstahl's administration officials, Public Works people and City Council members and staff.

Home Depot Mixer Sponsor

Home Depot was corporate sponsor of this year's Meet n' Greet Mixer. Pam Narvett, Team Depot Captain, attended the Mixer with associates James Meridian and J. B. Redd. No name could be more appropriate for an event about Redd Ups than J.B. Redd.

Reed on

Boy would I love to have Steeler kicker Jeff Reed on my litter team. Imagine the publicity possibilities.

• Jeff Reed kicks off Redd Up later this month!
• Jeff Reed plays "kick the can" into a recycling bin to raise money for Citizens Against Litter.
• Jeff Reed changes name to Redd on Redd Up Day and joins litter gitter volunteers.
• Jeff Reed talks trash with reporters and makes headlines.

Stash the Trash volunteers

Check out the Stash the Trash web site. Consider signing up to help them clean illegal dumps. Joe Divack and Derek Green were featured in a Post-Gazette front page article on Monday, March 29. They said "if we would have 40 to 50 volunteers we could clean 150 of the 279 known Pittsburgh dumps within a year".

You can find links to the Stash the Trash story, and more, on the Citizens Against Litter website.

Redd Ups now at 220

Community leaders in 85 city neighborhoods say they will participate in the spring Earth Day Redd Up on Saturday, April 17 and April 23-25 weekend. Many communities in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland and Washington counties are also participating. "Our original goal was for Redd Ups to occur in most of the 90 city neighborhoods and another 100 communities in the region," said Citizens Against Litter. "We've already topped that. We're looking at more than 250 communities and groups now."

"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."

Mayor Ravenstahl's April message to neighborhoods suggests groups and individuals who want to redd up after the hard winter should contact Boris Weinstein at boris.weinstein@verizon.net or call 412-688-9120. Participating communities and groups are:

Pittsburgh:

Allegheny Courts Day Probation, Allegheny West, Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beautify Banksville Road, Bedford Dwellings, Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bloomfield, Bluff, Bon Air, Brightwood (Marshall-Shadeland), Brighton Heights, Brookline, Carrick, California-Kirkbride, Central Northside, Charters City, 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), Garfield, Glen Hazel, Greenfield, Harriet Tubman Tenant Council, Hays, Hazelwood, Highland Park, Homewood, Larimer, Lincoln-Lemington, Lawrenceville, Lower Hill, Lincoln Place, Pittsburgh Kiwanis, Manchester, 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 Parks (Panther Hollow), 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, Stash the Trash, Stanton Heights, Summer Hill, Swisshelm Park, The Academy System, Troy Hill, Uptown, West End, Westwood and Windgap.

Allegheny County:

Allison Park, Aspinwall, Bellevue, Carnegie, Chalfant, Dormont, Dravosburg, Duquesne, Etna, Elizabeth, Findlay, Forest Hills, Glassport, Hampton, Heidelberg, Homestead, Leetsdale, Lincoln, Marshall, Moon, Monroeville, Mt. Oliver, Millvale, McKees Rocks, Mt. Lebanon, Harrison (Natrona Heights), North Versailles, North Fayette, Penn Hills, Pine, Pitcairn, Pleasant Hills, Port Vue, Rankin, Regional Environmental Education Center (Boyce Mayview Park), Robinson, Ross, Scott, Shaler, South Park, Stowe, Tarentum, Upper St. Clair, Verona, West Homestead, West View, White Oak, Wilkins, Wilkinsburg and Wilmerding.

Beaver County:

Ambridge, Beaver, Bridgewater, Brighton, Center (Aliquippa), Industry, Chippewa, Midland, New Brighton, Ohioville, Patterson Heights (Beaver Falls), Rochester, Vanport and Wild Waterways Conservancy.

Butler County:

Butler City, Cranberry, Center and Winfield.

Washington County:

California, Canonsburg, Canton, Charleroi, Chartiers, Cross Creek, Coal Center, East Washington, Fallowfield, Hanover, McDonald, Mount Pleasant, North Strabane, Nottingham, Peters, Robinson and Washington City.

Westmoreland County:

Delmont, Fairfield, Lower Burrell, Greensburg, Hempfield, Loyalhanna, Ligonier, New Kensington, Smithton, Unity, West Newton and Youngwood.

Beaver County's Project Greensweep

Hundreds of volunteers in eight Beaver County communities in Project Greensweep will again participate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 24. The communities are listed above. To volunteer contact Maryanne Peluso at maryannpeluso@comcast.net or call 724-728-0500.

Register your event

Please register your Spring Earth Day Redd Up on the Great American Cleanup of PA web site. The more groups that register means communities will get more funding and supplies from the state and Keep America Beautiful.

Redd Up kids will see the Reds

Stash the Trash Recognition Day moves to PNC Park this spring. The Pirates will host hundreds of Pittsburgh school kids who participate in Stash the Trash Redd Ups on Friday, April 23, picking up litter around their schools. Redd Up kids will see the Pirates play the Cincinnati Reds (how appropriate) in an afternoon game Wednesday, May 12. Contact Sarah Alessio at PA Resources Council for details: saraha@ccicenter.org.

Mr. Litterman on litter

Boris Weinstein will speak about litter to the Society for Design Administration on April 14 and the Mt. Washington CDC on April 15.

"I Litter" awards

Advertising flyers become litter in Shadyside and elsewhere. Businesses/groups are responsible and put their business on Shadyside streets. Let's hope the mess they cause is reduced this year.

• LA Fitness
• Verizon Phone Directories

"Dog" man doesn't scoop

I was almost impressed. The hot dog vendor who sets up shop on the Walnut Street sidewalk Saturdays was back at his stand last month. With broom and dustpan in hand, I saw him sweep cigarette butts and other litter into the gutter from around his cart and nearby city waste container. I was hoping the "dog" man would complete his task by scooping up the gutter litter. No such luck...even though the litter was within inches of his cart.

Garbagevilles

March's worst Garbagevilles in Shadyside were at 5525-27 Ellsworth Ave. The mess in the rear of these two apartments was easily the worst I've seen in a long time. I spent two hours cleaning up around Waste Management trash containers, behind buildings, in the alley and in several blocks. Much of the problem is not enough waste containers that are stacked to overflow with lids wide open. The wind kicks up and you can figure out the rest.

Lids on waste containers not secured are easily one of the main causes of litter. And here you thought all the blame for our litter should be dumped on thoughtless, absent-minded littering pedestrian, smokers and beer, soft drink or water guzzlers.

Other Garbagevilles in Shadyside that look awful because of litter, garbage, unswept leaves, cigarette butts and other stuff are:

• 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)
• Ellsworth Ave. (street between Negley and Aiken)
• Negley Ave. (street between Ellsworth and Walnut)

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 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 their community service day. The volunteer goal this fall is 3,000 students.

Litter facts

• Minnesota Adopt-A-Highway volunteers pick up approximately 26,000 tons of litter a year.
• Researchers calculate that 55% of all littering is done unintentionally by people who drop or discard products.
• Since 2007, smokers in England are liable for $160 on-the-spot fines for stumping out cigarettes in the street.

Why people litter?

People litter because they do not feel responsible for public areas like streets and parks. The more they litter, the more it becomes a habit, and the worse the community looks.

People usually litter outside their own neighborhood where the trash becomes someone's problem.

People litter because they believe someone else -- a maintenance worker or a responsible neighbor -- will pick up after them.

Once litter starts to pile up, people feel even less responsible for adding to the litter. If an area is clean, people are less likely to litter.

Remember, we are all responsible for keeping our city clean. Your behavior makes a difference.

(The above was taken from the city of Chicago web site.)

"Call you back..."

Worth sharing. Last month on a Saturday I called Max Hurwitz, one of our Clean Pittsburgh Stewards in Beechview. I had a question. He picked up his cell after six rings. I identified myself. Max's response was, "Boris, can I call you back, we're in the middle of a cleanup." That says it all about the commitment to community service of many of our citizens.

Divack along with five neighborhoods and five organizations were presented "Bob Awards", named for the late Mayor Bob O'Connor, Thursday, March 25, at the third annual Meet n' Greet Mixer saluting the city's Clean Pittsburgh Stewards in 90 neighborhoods.

Judy O'Connor, the Mayor's widow, and son Corey presented the Most Connected Neighborhoods award to Crafton Heights, Ridgemont and Westwood; Knoxville for Most Improved; and Esplen for Best Newcomer.

Stash the Trash, a volunteer group started by Derek Green that focuses on illegal dumpsite cleanups, also was recognized. Three groups--The Academy System (Nate Gilllis), Pittsburgh Job Corps (Dottie Sweeney) and Allegheny Courts Day Adult Probation (Dan Sommers)--were recognized for providing their clients for many neighborhood Redd Ups. The Pittsburgh Pirates (Chaz Kellem) received a special award for hosting hundreds of school kids at this year's Stash the Trash Recognition Day at PNC Park May 12 (Pirates-Reds game).

Other volunteers nominated for the Volunteer of the Year Award were Max Hurwitz (Beechview), Keith Knecht (Brookline), Carol Knox (Mt. Lebanon) and Terra McBride (South Side).

Several hundred attended. Joining stewards and volunteers from more than 50 neighborhoods were city officials, Public Works people and members and staff of City Council.

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

• Joe Divack and Derek Green of Stash the Trash were mentioned on Diana Nelson Jones's City Walkabout blog and were the focus of a March 29 story, "Volunteers try to lift Pittsburgh out of the dumps."
• Joe was also the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award, which is a recognition given out during the annual "Bob Awards" ceremony. The Bob Awards is an event hosted by the Clean Pittsburgh Commission and is named after Pittsburgh's late mayor Bob O'Connor.
• Mr. Litterman's essay "Citizens Against Snowstorms: Take back our sidewalks," also received a mention on the City Walkabout blog.

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)
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• 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."