Help For Flood Victims

Please see the attached pdf if you had flood damage from the June storm. There are SBA low interest loans available through local centers as well as online, and they are available now until September 22. Please pass this information on as widely as you can as there are many residents who were affected by the flood who can’t afford to fix the damage.

FloodHelp

Looking for a job? Prudential might be looking for you

Prudential Insurance Company of America, in coordination with Landmarks Community Capital Corporation, will be having a free information session about some exciting job opportunities at Prudential on Monday, September 14th from 6-8PM at Hosanna House.  Prudential has won numerous awards such as DiversityInc “Top 50 Companies for Diversity”, Executive Female magazine’s “Top Companies for Executive Women”, and Essence Magazine’s “25 Great Place to Work for Black Women”.  Food and beverages will be provided at this event.  Please RSVP to Marilyn at (412) 471-5808 or email marilyn@phlf.org.

Stimulus Program Adds Police Officer

The Wilkinsburg Police Department will be able to put one more officer on the street, thanks to a federal stimulus program.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allocated $1 billion to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for the COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP). This funding allows for the hiring of more than 5,000 new police officers nationwide. Wilkinsburg, which received $210,795 to pay for adding a police officer to the department, was one of nine western Pennsylvania communities to receive a share of the federal funds.

Selection criteria for the grant was divided equally between financial need and reported crime and community policing activities. Applicants were split into two categories based on population—jurisdictions with greater than 150,000 and those with less than 150,000. Of the 419 smaller jurisdictions that applied for grant money in Pennsylvania, Wilkinsburg was one of 18 chosen.

Erie and McKeesport received funding to hire six and three officers, respectively, and other local communities adding an officer are Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, McKees Rocks, Rochester, Sharon and the Southwest Mercer Regional Police Department. Although Philadelphia received $10.9 million, enough to hire 50 new police officers, Pittsburgh did not receive any funding.

The New Wilkinsburg officer is expected to be on the job by the end of the year. The $210,795 represents 100 percent of the approved entry-level salary and fringe benefits over three years  with a one-year retention period.

Test Score Gains

The Wilkinsburg School District is encouraged by gains made on the 2009 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). Kelly and Turner Elementary Schools made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), the state’s standard for achievement, for the third time in four years, while Johnston Elementary School made AYP for the second time in three years. In addition, in grades where the special education population was big enough to measure reliably, students made AYP in reading because of significant growth over 2008 levels. In grade 11, the only grade tested between grades 9 and 12, students’ reading performance fell only fractionally shy of AYP standards, despite exhibiting growth of about 6.5 percent. Finally, using a new method for projecting proficiency rates into the future, 2009 test results revealed that between 60 and 72 percent of students in grades 3-8 are projected to be proficient in math within 1 to 3 years, while between and 74 percent are projected to be proficient in reading.

As a district, Wilkinsburg fell short in its efforts to make AYP for the first time since the 2004-2005 school year, primarily because of math achievement in the upper grades and among special education students. “This is an area where we recognize a special challenge,” said Superintendent Archie Perrin. “And we recognize that change requires time. But we are encouraged by the goals we have met and are proud that our students continue to demonstrate strong capabilities and an appetite for growth. They are the future of our district, our region, and our state.”

“This year’s testing results allow us to sharpen our focus for next year,” said Dr. Patricia Grey, director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. “We intend to move ahead vigorously, in a continuing effort to bolster instruction and learning, beginning with enhanced curricula, an infusion of additional technology into the lower grades, and a renewed commitment from our parents. We are confident and excited. Check back with us in a year.”

For Home Buyers

If you missed the Pittsburgh Housing Development Association’s free home buying workshop in July, mark your calendar for an encore. At 6 p.m., on Monday, September 21, at the Wilkinsburg Borough Building, 605 Ross Avenue, PHDA and Dollar Bank will be  presenting the program to prospective home buyers.

Buying a home, even if the buyer is in the low to moderate income category, need not be an overwhelming or impossible goal. PHDA’s home buying education workshops introduce participants to wealth building, the highest cost investment of most Americans life, a home they do not rent, but own themselves.

Counselors will help with credit enhancement, and give information about how to secure grants for closing cost, down payment assistance. Free credit report provided to participants. Please RSVP by calling  412-687-1197  or at www.phdainc.org.

Historical Society

Monday, September 21 Len Barcousky, a reporter for more than 20 years with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will speak to the Wilkinsburg Historical Society about his Eyewitness series.  An accomplished investigator and writer, Barcousky contributed dozens of in-depth reports about Pittsburgh in the 1800s. He will discuss this fascinating series at the next meeting which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Wesley Room of the South Avenue United Methodist Church. The public is welcome and refreshments will be served following the meeting. For more information, call Joel at 412-244-2941.

Recycle Your Bicycle

The Wilkins School Community Center, just over the border in Swissvale, will hold its third annual EcoFest, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday October 10. FreeRide Pittsburgh will set up a collection center for old bikes, and Goodwill will accept old computers, working or non-working. Other festival highlights include a workshop on how to make inexpensive, safe, environmentally friendly cleaning products for your home; A representative of the Sierra Club  will talk about coal energy; Penn Future is bringing its Black and Gold City Goes Green campaign to Regent Square. Come and see that small steps and efforts by many of us can make a big, big difference. Frick Park Nature Center will return with fun activities for children’s and talk about Frick Park. Also a children’s art show, homemade soup for sale and more. For details, check the Community Center’s Web site, www.wsccpgh.org., e-mail  wsccpgh@yahoo.com or call 412-244-8458.

Diabetes Expo

On Saturday, September 12, the American Diabetes Association will host the Diabetes Expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free one-day event showcases the latest products and services for people with diabetes and features dance, exercise and cooking demonstrations, and health screenings. This highly interactive event includes activities for people of all ages, including a fun Youth Zone with activities and information for children with diabetes and their families. The Diabetes Expo offers a unique opportunity to talk with health care experts and obtain important medical and nutritional information.

Budget Hearing Schedule

The Borough Finance Committee has announced the schedule of budget work sessions for the fall. All budget meetings are open to the public and everyone who is interested in how your tax dollars are spent is encouraged to attend. The meetings will be held on October 14, October 28, and November 11, if necessary. All of the work sessions will be at 7 p.m. and will be held in council chambers on the second floor of the borough building, 605 Ross Avenue.

Sprout Fund Mural Meeting Cancelled

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Sprout Fund September 1st Mural Meeting – CANCELLED

We apologize for the short notice, but the 9/1 meeting at 7:30pm in the Borough Building will need to be postponed. Please check back to find out when the meeting will be rescheduled. – Lazae LaSpina

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