State of the Watershed

On Saturday, November 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Environmental Charter School at Frick Park, 829 Milton Street the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association (NMRWA ) will host its second State of the Watershed. This event is designed to inform the public about the ongoing monitoring efforts and current data from the professionals of the NMRWA Monitoring Committee. In addition, participants will learn about innovative programs to improve the water quality in Nine Mile Run as well as take part in hands-on activities to engage in a greener and brighter future for the watershed.

Tom Biebighauser, wildlife biologist for the US Forest Service Center for Wetlands, will be the keynote speaker. Tom began restoring wetlands in 1982 and since then has established over 950 such sites throughout Minnesota, Kentucky, Ohio, and British Columbia. In 2003, he wrote and published the book A Guide to Creating Vernal Ponds in cooperation with Ducks Unlimited, Inc. and the Izaak Walton League of America. Tom will be conducting workshops on rain gardens and ephemeral wetlands. This event is free of charge. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Space is limited! Pre-register by contacting Lisa at 412-371-8779 ext. 15 or e-mail lisa@ninemilerun.org.

Halloween Festivities Set For Borough

The Borough will hold a Halloween Parade starting at the Borough Building on Friday, October 30, at 5pm. After the parade, there will be a party for kids at the Borough Building that will go until 8pm.

Trick or Treat is set for Saturday, October 31, from 6pm to 8pm Borough wide.

Healthier Choices for WIC Families

The Allegheny County Health Department today announced that the federally-funded Women, Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental food program will offer participating families more healthy food options starting in October.

In addition to the foods traditionally available such as milk, eggs, cheese, cereal and juices, WIC will begin providing families with vouchers redeemable for whole grains, soy milk, tofu, fresh fruits and vegetables, jarred baby foods, canned beans and pink salmon or sardines.

WIC provides food vouchers and nutrition counseling for pregnant women, postpartum mothers, breastfeeding mothers, and children under the age of five.

Nearly 100 local grocery stores accept WIC food vouchers, and about 16,700 county residents are served by the program. Eligibility is based on income and nutritional risk.

The income limits are an annual gross income of $20,036 for a family of one; $26,955 for two; $33,874 for three; $40,793 for four; $47,712 for five; $54,631 for six; $61,550 for seven; and $68,469 for eight. Add $6,919 for each additional member beyond eight. The unborn infant is counted when a woman is pregnant.

For information about WIC and how to apply for benefits, please call the Allegheny County Health Department WIC Program at 412-350-5801. If this number is a toll call or you live outside Allegheny County, please call the statewide toll-free number, 1-800-WIC-WINS.

Bundle of letters reveals century-old message from Wilkinsburg father

By James Breig

Ohio-born and now a New York resident, I had never heard of Wilkinsburg, until I recently opened a bundle of letters I bought on eBay. Now I know something about a resident who lived there precisely a century ago.

In retirement after decades as a newspaperman, I have been researching a nonfiction book about World War II. As part of my research, I have been purchasing old letters through eBay, the online auction service (www.ebay.com).

When a recent box full of deeds and letters arrived, I began combing through the contents and discovered that the oldest item was a letter from a Wilkinsburg man. It was odd to see the date: 11-4-09. Of course, the “09” referred to 1909, exactly 100 years ago.

Written by “your old Papa” to “my dear Daughter,” the letter expresses an old man’s affection for his child, who has moved away. Without an envelope to go with the letter, I don’t know his name or hers, nor where she lived. However, many of the items in the box are from Colorado, so she could have moved there, about 1,300 miles away from Wilkinsburg.

There are only a few clues in the letter as to the recipient or sender. For example, the letter mentions two names, Mr. Deering and Jean Ferguson, which could be clues for those with long memories or an interest in Wilkinsburg history.

I am hoping the text of the letter might stir some remembrances in Wilkinsburg as to who the loving father and daughter were and what happened to them.

Here is the text of the letter, with only minor corrections to clarify some sentences:

Wilkinsburg, Pa

11-4-09

My dear Daughter

I received your welcome letter with John’s and was glad to hear from you both. I get very loansome to see you at times. I wonder how you are and am allways glad to hear from you. This afternoon I am so lonely I hardly know what to do. I get tired reading and do not have any pleasure going out for I will start to cough or I cant get my breath. I was sorry to hear and glad to[o] of Mr. Deering Death. He don’t have to suffer any more. We have had very nice weather so far this fall but perhaps I shall feel better when it gets colder. At least I hope so. I go out to East Pittsburg to Uncle Charley often and see your old schoolhouse and think I can see you running home. Then I wonder if I shall be permitted to see you once again if I am living next Summer. I want to try and get a trip out and see you but many changes may turn before that time. I am glad John likes his work but I did wish that he could of had two years more schooling. I hope that he will study hard that by the time he has learned his trade he can stop working and start in some kind of business and not have to work hard like I have done and make an old man before he is 40 years old. Tell my baby to hurry up and learn to write so she can beat Jean Ferguson. Jean writes very nicely now. Well dear I must stop now. I suppose you got the card I sent you.

With much love and kisses from your old Papa

John         Sara         Baby

XXX         XXX         XXX

Anyone who has information relevant to the letter is invited to share it with the author by emailing jbreig1@nycap.rr.com. A descendant of parents who were born in Vandergrift, Pa., he lives near Albany, NY.

Pittsburgh Foundation Matches Donations

Through the generosity of The Pittsburgh Foundation, you have a one-time opportunity to significantly leverage your donations to nonprofits that are featured on a new online giving Web site: PittsburghGives.org.

Please consider making an online donation to Sustainable Pittsburgh through this Web site on Wednesday, October 28, at 10 a.m. sharp. Your donation will be matched 50 cents on the dollar by The Pittsburgh Foundation up to a maximum of $2,500!

Sustainable Pittsburgh will designate your donation and the match funds you leverage toward conducting a sustainability assessment of the Borough of Wilkinsburg.

A sustainability assessment is a niche service we offer to municipalities and businesses to assess and recommend practical means to save money, conserve resources, and integrate sustainability into management systems for the long haul.

Wilkinsburg is on the cusp of a transformation. Through collaboration with the state, county, local businesses and nonprofits, the community is laying the foundation for future prosperity where sustainability is the framework for maximizing social, economic, and environmental wins. The sustainability assessment is  timed to complement the borough’s comprehensive plan, which will be completed soon.

In anticipation of making your on-line donation promptly at 10 am on October 28, there is a pre-step that will speed your access. Well in advance, please pre-register as a user on the Pittsburgh Gives Web site. This will set you up with a password that will speed your log-in.

To pre-register, go to www.pittsburghgives.org. On the top right hand side, click the button “Login.” Then click “Create Login,” fill in your information and click “Register.” A confirmation will appear.

For more information call Sustainable Pittsburgh, 412-258-6643.

Chamber news

Chamber Does Seminar With Pitt

On Thursday, August 20 The Wilkinsburg Chamber of Commerce held the first in a series of business seminars presented in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence (IEE). Ray Vargo, who is the IEE’s director and teaches at Pitt’s Katz Graduate School of Business presented the class, “Understanding the Financial Condition of Your Business.” One attendee said that despite years of being in business and giving continuous attention to his finances that in just about an hour and a half the seminar gave him information and tools in which he can better run his business and control his finances.

As well as offering seminars with the chamber, The IEE offers consulting to businesses in Wilkinsburg free of charge. The IEE offers personalized, focused support to start your business, take it to the next level, and navigate challenges or plan for the future. Contact the IEE at 412-648-1544 for further information.

The chamber and the IEE is offering a seminar each quarter. The fee for each seminar is $15 for members of the Wilkinsburg Chamber of Commerce and $25 for non-members. For further information contact The Chamber at 412-242-0234.

Wilkinsburg Business Helps to Inspire at Tour de France

When Paul Gruber at Pennwood Paint received an unusually large and unexpected order for 350 gallons of specialty paint a few months ago he was not quite sure what to make of it. Pennwood Paint is one of the few dealers in the country that handles the specialized water-soluble theatrical paint. Pennwood has been supplying theatrical paints to the CLO, Pittsburgh Ballet and the numerous theater companies in Western Pennsylvania for many years. However, this order was to go to France. As it was, the paint was part of a promotional program related to Lance Armstrong’s return to the international bicycle race, Tour de France.

Traditionally, messages of support and inspiration to the racers have been painted or chalked onto the roadway of the 2,200-mile course of the race held each July. For the 2009 race the Lance Armstrong Foundation (Livestrong), whose mission is to inspire and empower people with cancer, along with Nike developed a campaign to “chalk” messages along the course with a robot. The Chalkbot, developed by Pittsburgh’s DeepLocal and StandardRobot, is likened to a giant dot-matrix printer on wheel printing individual messages up to 40 characters each.

Via Web site, texting and Twitter messaging people from around the world offered words of support to the racers, but mostly words of hope and encouragement for those who have cancer. The Chalkbot received the messages, painted the message onto the roadway, took a photo of the message, and then sent the photo back to the message sender along with the GPS coordinates of message.

Over the three weeks of the race some 100,000 messages were “chalked” by the Chalkbot. Now, that’s a lot of paint!

PT Center Outgrows Space

Allegheny Chesapeake Physical Therapy recently moved from their West Street location a just a few blocks down Penn Avenue and across Braddock Avenue to The Factory at 7501 Penn Avenue. Dr. Scott Rosen, director of the Wilkinsburg office, said that having outgrown the first floor facility in the PennWest Building they needed to find another location in the Wilkinsburg area. Unfortunately, they were not able to find anything suitable within Wilkinsburg, but found the Penn Avenue location available. The former bicycle shop has been newly renovated into a spacious, light and comfortable facility that makes the rigor of physical therapy more enjoyable.

Save The Date: Thanksgiving Breakfast

The Chamber’s annual Community Thanksgiving Breakfast will be Tuesday, November 20 at 8 a.m., at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.

October 17th Clean Up Announced

Wilkinsburg Annual Fall Clean Up

Where: Wilkinsburg Fire Dept. (Hay St. side of Borough Building)

When: Oct. 17 9:30am to 1pm

Come out and help volunteers from Wilkinsburg Weed and Seed, Wilkinsburg Rotary and University of Pittsburgh Students clean up Wilkinsburg.

Bags, vests and gloves courtesy of PA Cleanways.

Hunter Park Goes Green!

Hunter Park in Wilkinsburg has gone green with the recent completion of Phase 2 of the Park Improvement Project. L.E.D. security lights have been installed in the park, illuminating the parking lot, basketball courts, playground area and ballfield. A total of 8 light fixtures were installed at a cost of $35,035 by Imbue Technology Solutions, Inc. of Pittsburgh, a minority owned and operated company. These lights use only 70 watts of power but emit light equivalent to a 400-watt conventional fixture. Therefore the lights use 85% less energy than conventional lights with the same lighting output. Phase 2 also included a walking trail and benches constructed by East Coast Paving Company of New Castle, PA at a cost of $66,313.70. Funding for the project was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Borough of Wilkinsburg.

Wilkinsburg HOOPS Drills and Skills Camp

Wilkinsburg HOOPS will be presenting a 5-week Drills and Skills Camp at the Wilkinsburg Boys and Girls Club starting October 5, 2009.  This camp is open to boys and girls ages 7 – 13 and will teach the fundamentals of basketball.  This will be the first camp in a series of 2 that will prepare the youth to play in the summer basketball league.  The cost of camp is $30.  If interested, please call 412-867-5882 or stop by the Wilkinsburg Boys and Girls Club to pick-up a registration form.

Join The Celebration at WPSD

Join the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf on Saturday, October 10th from 1 p.m. to 4 p. m. for the 3rd Annual Community Block Party celebrating community and friendship.  The block party will stretch along Swissvale Avenue from the WPSD campus to the Three Rivers Center for Independent Living campus (TRCIL).

How can you be a part of this event?
•    Promote your organization/business by hosting a table.
•    Provide an activity for children or seniors.
•    Invite your family and your neighbors to enjoy an afternoon of fun and friendship.

There is no charge for participation only your commitment to the well-being of Wilkinsburg, Edgewood and Swissvale.  For more information or to reserve a space, contact:  Gregg Bowers at gbowers@wpsd.org , Vicki Cherney atvcherney@wpsd.org, or calling 412-371-7000.  The event is sponsored by the Commitment to Community Committee and hosted by the Three Rivers Center for Independent Living and the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.