Showing posts with label Come Live Over Here. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Come Live Over Here. Show all posts

Saturday, December 17, 2022

Zappalla throws shade at Gainey at campaign kickoff

https://api.secondstreetapp.com/m_c_t/45135704/93859839

Zappala criticizes Gainey administration, Pittsburgh police over response to city violence
Paula Reed WardPAULA REED WARD | Friday, Dec. 16, 2022 6:14 p.m.

  
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. on Friday criticized Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and the city’s police department for failing to curb violence and ensure that the public feels safe.

  
“You have to have the cooperation of the elected officials,” Zappala said. “The city’s a problem right now. The city was a problem for the last six years.”

  
Speaking to reporters for the first time in months, Zappala spent about 30 minutes taking questions following his announcement that he will seek a seventh term in office. He is the first person to formally enter the race for district attorney.

  
Zappala became the DA in 1998 and was reelected for a sixth term in 2019.

  
For the criminal justice system to work, Zappala said, there has to be collaboration.

  
“I just need to know who I can count on and work together. You’ve got to work as a team,” he said. “(Gainey’s administration has) a very different philosophy about policing.”

  
Zappala referenced shootings in the South Side earlier this year and the perception of violence there, as well as violence in Downtown, where in May an 18-month-old was shot and killed on a Sunday afternoon.

  
“That’s brazen. What would make you feel comfortable enough that you’d go Downtown and kill a child … on a Sunday afternoon?” Zappala said. “That’s a policing matter. That’s an administrative matter.”

  
• 18-month-old's fatal shooting marked 8th homicide of a child in Pittsburgh
• Multiple shooters suspected in 'war scene' that killed 2, injured 8 on Pittsburgh's North Side
• A deadly tide: Officials blame violence in Pennsylvania on relentless flow of guns

  
Zappala said that under the late Mayor Bob O’Connor, and then Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, the city saw a renaissance. Since, under former Mayor Bill Peduto and now Gainey, Zappala said that growth has regressed.

  
“If you talk to the business people Downtown, they don’t have anything good to say about that (Peduto) administration, and they’re optimistic about Mr. Gainey.”

  
Zappala said he wasn’t. Referencing Gainey’s long tenure as a state representative, he noted that Gainey’s district was “routinely considered to be some of the most violent neighborhoods in Western Pennsylvania.

  
“I haven’t seen the background or performance that gives me a lot of comfort,” Zappala said.

  
He criticized the Pittsburgh police structure, as well.

  
“The city police do not have a hierarchy. They don’t have an administration. Everything’s temporary, so everybody is kind of like, ‘Can I make a decision or can I not make a decision?’ When they get your attention, they get nervous.”

  
Maria Montano, a spokeswoman for Gainey, said the city is conducting a national search for someone to replace former Chief Scott Schubert, whose last day was July 1. She said the city recently completed what she called “fairly robust community engagement” to learn what residents are looking for.

  
“This is a major decision for the mayor,” Montano said. “It’s more important that we get it right than get it fast. But we also recognize a sense of urgency.”

  
She said that nobody has been more up front than Gainey about the need to address long-term, systemic issues leading to violence in the community.

  
Among his policy suggestions, Zappala said the city should implement a curfew since much of the recent violence in the city has been committed by juveniles.

  
He also said that progressive policing policies have “failed miserably.”

  
“This is not a game. This is not a political agenda. This is not a political philosophy. This is about hard work, boots on the streets,” he said. “We’ve been undermining the relationship the police need with the community.”

  
Gainey, who attended the event where Zappala announced his candidacy, spoke briefly to reporters afterward. He said that the city’s arrest rates are good but something that continues to hamper progress is the closure of Shuman Juvenile Detention Center in September 2021.

  
“We need a Shuman, there’s no question about it,” Gainey said. “We also need to know when we are making an arrest, that they’re not just getting right back out.”

  
In describing how she thinks the city has made public safety a priority, Montano pointed to the administration’s new Plan for Peace and noted that there will be at least two classes in the police academy next year.

  
The city has also doubled the size of the city’s community violence intervention team and increased police patrols Downtown, including additional “park-and-walks” that provide proactive policing. She said the city also has closed multiple open-air drug markets and is committed to removing illegal guns from the streets.

  
“I’m never going to be one to come and point the finger at anybody,” Gainey said. “I’ve never seen where that strategy works. What I’ve always said is that we want to work with everybody to ensure that this is the safest city in America. We will continue to reach out, we will continue to be good partners.”

  
Zappala said he’s open to working with Gainey.

  
“He’s aware of the problems. My guys have given him my best advice. I’ve talked to him,” Zappala said. “Mr. Gainey is good at winning the hearts and minds of people apparently. He likes the pulpit type of approach. Great, go down there and win the hearts and minds of business people and listen to what they need.”

  
Zappala also addressed the ongoing investigation into the death of Jim Rogers, who died a day after he was tased at least eight times in October 2021 in Bloomfield. Several Pittsburgh police officers were accused in an internal report of failing to properly do their jobs.

  
Zappala submitted that case to a county grand jury early last year. That panel concluded its work, but Zappala has not said whether it resulted in a recommendation of charges.

  
On Friday, he said another agency is currently looking at the case. He would not say what agency.

  
Zappala said he thinks officers should face criminal charges in the case, but said it would be inappropriate for him to take any action on it while another agency is investigating.

  
Paula Reed Ward is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paula by email at pward@triblive.com or via Twitter . 

Friday, June 05, 2020

Fwd: The First Friday | American Chestnut Trees • New Blooms • A Note from Your Gardener

Face plant. And I am not talking about summer bulb planting. 
Talk about a total lack of nuts, except chestnuts. 
These people take $20M of city taxpayers money each year. 
Hello!
PS: My gardener do not write this crap. What about "your gardener?"

Mark R

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy <awenk@pittsburghparks.org>
Date: Fri, Jun 5, 2020 at 7:19 AM
Subject: The First Friday | American Chestnut Trees • New Blooms • A Note from Your Gardener


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The First Friday Email

THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREE

The American chestnut was once considered the largest, tallest and fastest-growing trees. The wood was rot-resistant, straight-grained, and suitable for furniture, fencing, and building. The nuts fed billions of wildlife, people, and their livestock. It was almost a perfect tree. That is, until a blight fungus killed it nearly a century ago. The chestnut blight has been called the greatest ecological disaster to strike the world's forests in all of history.
Pittsburgh serves as the home to 30 American chestnuts, residing in Frick and Highland Park. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy continues planting this rare species for research and experimentation. 
"I am replicating breeding work that the American Chestnut Foundation is embracing by taking advanced genetic hybrids and planting them out with surviving chestnuts trees and letting open pollination occur," Phil Gruszka, Parks Conservancy director of horticulture and forestry said. "I will never see the benefits of this, but my grandchildren might." 
Parks Conservancy advocate and supporter, Kitty Brunkhorst, took a particular interest in this project. 
"I learned that Phil was working with (Parks Maintenance Manager) Dick Wilford to plant American chestnut tree seeds about two years ago. It was somewhat funny to me to think of these two men finding a secret place to plant and tend these seeds, planning to see what did and didn't work," Kitty said. 
"I've been concerned about trees in Frick Park for a long time, as I live nearby and spend many hours in the park. The fact that they were attempting to revive a native species seemed worthwhile," Kitty explained.
To learn more about the American Chestnut and how genetic engineering can potentially revive these trees, click here. If you'd like to explore the work that the American Chestnut Foundation is doing to restore this species, click here

The First Friday tiles (6)
"So you do a lot of planting?" 
This is a question I receive often when people realize I'm a professional park gardener.
Fun fact – we spend most of our time pulling weeds! 
Yes, we plant trees, bulbs, and annual flowers, but this is a small fraction of what we spend our time doing within Pittsburgh's parks. The types of vegetation we plant in the parks have very specific windows in which they can be planted. 
Planting trees takes approximately five days in the spring and five days in the fall. We also spend approximately two days in the fall planting bulbs and spend four-to-six days in May planting annuals. However, we spend days - actually, weeks - pullings weeds!
The flower beds in the parks are planted with perennial plants that bloom year after year, so they don't require planting, but they do require regular weeding. We even pull weeds during the winter months.
In the park woodlands, pulling vines from trees and removing woody invasive shrubs is a form of weeding and this is how we spend our winter months in the parks. We don't use herbicides to control weeds, so it's up to our team of park gardeners and volunteers to remove them. 
Your Gardener,
Angela Yuele 

The First Friday tiles (5)
A compilation of the Parks Conservancy's Horticulture and Forestry team's (also known as the 'Sassies') favorite plants. 
Let's talk about summer flowering bulbs! Plant these underground structures in the spring and enjoy colorful blooms through the summer! Learn about some of our favorite plants below.
Jaci Bruschi, Gardener | CANNA 
This cultivar is a 'South Pacific Scarlet.' It's a great cultivar of Canna from the South Pacific series; it will grow to about four-to-five feet it can be planted in a container and in a garden bed. Though it is not hardy to our zone, you can dig the bulbs up at the end of the season and save for next year's planting.
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Angela Yuele, Horticulturist | GLADIOLUS 
Gladiolus are an old-time favorite. I fondly remember my grandpa being very proud of his Gladiolus!  These are a tender summer bulb, which means they need to be dug up, or purchased, every year and replanted. The bloom time is brief on theses beauties. To prolong the bloom time you can stagger plantings in two-week intervals. This is a popular plant for flower arrangements as well! 
Robin Eng, Restoration Gardener | GRAPE-LEAF ANEMONE
Grape-leaf or Japanese anemone produce great mounding heaps of lush dark green foliage year-round. Then as the major blooms of summer appear to be dying back, they put out great cloud-like plumes of blossoms, raised above to foliage on graceful flower stalks. Although not native to the United States, these great perennials are well worth a spot in any sunny garden. Colors vary from white to shades of pink, and blooms can last for weeks on mature plants. If you're looking for a perennial addition to prolong the flowering season of your garden, this one comes highly recommended! 
pastedImagebase640 (12)
Maggie Herrick, Restoration Gardener | MONTEBRETIA 
A member of the iris family, Montebretia (Crocosmia spp.) is a late summer bloomer that will give your garden interest into the fall. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and birds will be especially happy with the flowers and the seedpods that follow and provide a food source. The strappy, sword-like foliage demonstrates the relation to irises and provide a texture contrast to other plants. These flowering corms come in a range of heights up to five feet and a variety of striking colors. They are salt and drought tolerant, prefer full sun, but can tolerate some shade and make great cut flowers. Mulch these plants heavily or bring them inside during the winter to help them survive. 
pastedImagebase640 (13)

P.S. Remember, parks and greenspaces have never been more vital. The time you spend outdoors during rejuvenates your body and mind. Honor that time and the essential role nature plays in your daily life by choosing to make a donation today to support the parks you know and love. 
Every little bit counts.

My Post-2

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Thursday, June 20, 2019

Play SKWIM with the game's inventor at 1 pm on Saturday, June 22 at Northside pool




A special friend is coming to town for a short visit, and we're going to be hosting a special event -- a SKWIM game with the inventor of SKWIM, Kevin McCarthy, from the state of Washington.

Get your friends and family and join us at 1 pm at outdoor pool at The Pittsburgh Project, 2801 North Charles Street, (corner of Wilson), on Saturday, June 22, 2019. 

All ages and abilities welcome. Pay $3 at the gate to enter or free with your city pool tag.

This summer we got a mini-grant from Pittsburgh Play Collaborative to spread the aquatic game throughout the region -- and champion water safety as well as the concepts of playing well with others, sportsmanship, teamwork and plain-old fun! 

Plus, this summer, we're happy to report that the pool at The Pittsburgh Project is open again -- unlike in 2018 when serious plumbing upgrades became necessary. A wonderful staff has gathered too.

If you can't make it on Saturday, we also gather to play water polo and SKWIM every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6 to 7:45 pm, weather permitting, at Citiparks Ammon Pool on Bedford Ave in the Hill District. 

More updates throughout the summer with our google calendar at https://4Rs.org.

BTW, one of my goals is to get a new bottom on the pool at The Pittsburgh Project for next year -- and a SPORTS COURT bottom seems perfect for UWH and our needs. Come check out the pool and offer your ideas. 

Monday, October 29, 2018

Fwd: 2018 Pittsburgh Dirty Dozen Bicycle Ride

---- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dirty Dozen

Dear riders and friends of Danny Chew:

Another year has gone by and this year's edition of the Dirty Dozen is fast approaching. You are invited to participate in the 36th annual running of the event, which will be held on Saturday, November 24th. Proceeds will benefit Danny, who is overall director of this challenging ride he co-founded. If you register by November 3rd you will receive an additional discount on your entry fee.

Here are some of the changes in this year's ride:

• New starting location. The ride now begins at the Rhododendron Shelter on Lake Drive in Highland Park. By straight-line distance this is less than half a mile to the north and west of the Bud Harris Cycling Track, and can be reached by traveling north on Stanton Avenue.

• Official-finisher ribbons will be mailed out after the event to ensure that all riders who certify their official-finisher status will receive one. Instructions for certifying official-finisher status will be included in your registration packet.

• Separate women's event. Women wanting to compete can choose to ride in either the first group, competing directly against the men in an open event, or in the second group, which is reserved for women only.

Here are the links for this year's ride:

Main 2018 event page: http://www.dannychew.com/ddinfo.html
BikeReg registration page: https://www.bikereg.com/dirty-dozen-2018
The main DD page is here: http://www.dannychew.com/dd.html
Starting location: http://maps.google.com/?daddr=40.4789109,-79.9104809

We hope you will be able to ride this year and conquer all of the hills.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Pratt

2018 Dirty Dozen

Thursday, September 27, 2018

412-Blast Email: Great time for a community cleansing. Schedule enclosed for your consideration.


Some are saying that today is "historic" in regard to the Supreme Court nomination drama unfolding in Washington D.C.

I think it is time to take a deep breath, jump in a swim pool, practice and model "playing well with others," and of course, wrap up by taking a good scrub, shower and cleansing. Let's prepare to live a another day.

I'm on a mission to promote "playing well with others," and can you your help, as soon as tonight and tomorrow and throughout the days to come.

Background:

The focus of my swim coaching for the past decade has been in the city of Pittsburgh, Now, it is growing to a much wider reach. I'm still at some city school pools, but we're offering aquatic experiences at South Park, Mt. Lebanon, Chartiers Valley and Moon.

9/27

Tonight, Thursday, the adult water polo players, https://Renegades.4rs.org, are going to help out with a game night with the new squad of scholastic players we call Pittsburgh Combined, https://waterpolo.cloh.org at South Park High School.

9/28

Tomorrow, Friday, from 7:15 to 9 pm, kids and adults (mentors, guardians, parents, coaches) are invited to our first SKWIM and water polo practice at the new, indoor, high school swim pool at Mt. Lebanon. Rookies welcome. Fun aquatic game play with a disk. Learn and perfect appropriate counter-attacks, offense and defense.

MeetUp page:



Gratis try-outs too.

10/2

Then on Tuesday, from 7:30 to 9 pm we go to another venue for the first time, Chariters Valley's high school pools. There we've got two pools and can play water polo in the deep tank and younger kids can work on teamwork, sportsmanship, fitness and swimming with the SKWIM disk and mentor leaders in the other pool.

MeetUp page:


Summary:

Sign up. SKWIM up. Scrub up and by all means -- live another day in healthy ways in our robust communities.

Peace.

Thanks for the consideration. Hope to see you, squeaky clean, out and about in the community soon.

Call if you have any questions or want to be removed from this list. Feel free to pass along the invite to others as well.

----

Mark Rauterkus Mark@Rauterkus.com

Executive Director of SKWIM USA, a 501(c)(3)

The Pittsburgh Project - swim coach and head lifeguard

Middle School Swim Coach at The Ellis School

Former Varsity Boys Swim Coach, Pittsburgh Obama Academy

Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team, https://waterpolo.CLOH.org



https://CLOH.org



412 298 3432 = cell

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

For the record -- Obama varsity records

Girls 200 free relay, 2013
Nicole, 27.20
Hannah, 28.15
Wendy, 28.24
Sarah, 25.80
Total = 1:49.39


Boys 200 free relay, 2013

Tommy, 23.77
Yoka, 22.94
Ben, 23.10
Erik, 22.83
Total = 1:32.64 = 8th in WPIAL


Boys 400 free relay

Tommy, 52.66
Yoka, 50.12
Ben, 52.89
Erik, 50.40
Total = 3:26.07 = 8th place in WPIAL

Obama swim times will never be the same.

Friday, August 31, 2018

Trib coverage of water polo at Highland Park Pool on Saturday

https://TinyURL.com/water-polo-trib

Pass the word. Bring a lawn chair, snacks and some cold drinks in a cooler. Plus, your swim suit, of course. Pool opens in the shallow end at 1 pm. Just pay the day rate if you don't have a pool tag. 

Saturday, July 07, 2018

Meet Leon Ford

https://theincline.com/2018/07/06/inside-leon-fords-political-awakening-and-his-new-plan-for-political-action/?mc_cid=988d57c28d&mc_eid=34ac9ed7ff

Finally! Putting some political action into the political realm. It isn't just about voting. It is about candidates and policies and practices and more. 

Monday, July 02, 2018

Fwd: Hot in the city -- invite to play well with others




Hi Friends,

A few invites to consider and pass along, mostly wet and cool -- in these hot times in the region.

#1. 
At 6 pm on Tuesday, July 3, we've been invited to an informal swimming time trial and follow-up game of SKWIM at the Greensburg Country Club. 

#2. 
At 7 pm, July 4, is the start of our traditional Independence Day open house at our home on 12th Street in the Historic South Side, Both of our sons are expected to be here too. 

#3.
From 6 to 7:45 pm on July 5, all are invited to Citiparks Ammon outdoor swim pool, corner of Bedford Ave and Memory Lane, for another of our regular Renegades (Masters) Water Polo practices Plus, we've been playing SKWIM in the middle of the pool too for kids and those not up for the full game of water polo. A reporter is expected, so we'd love to have a nice turn-out. 

#4.
Pittsburgh Combined is looking for high school and middle school swimmers who want to play competitive water polo this fall. We have players from South Park and Mt. Lebo and some from the city too. See attached PDF. This is a non-league team, so students from any school can combine to play our pending "club" schedule. Practices are starting. 

#5. 
Our camper kids at The Pittsburgh Project have been going to the pool at Riverview Park and playing some SKWIM, while our Northside pool is under construction still. But, I've also been able to go elsewhere to lead informal game days at other pools as well. We had a great time at the South Hills Country Club last week. If you want to bring your group to us -- or if I can bring our equipment (disks, fins, etc.) and some players to you -- please call or email and let's set up a joint play date.

Stay safe. Hope to see you soon.


--
Ta.


Mark Rauterkus       Mark@Rauterkus.com 
Executive Director of SKWIM USA, a 501(c)(3)
The Pittsburgh Project - swim coach and head lifeguard
Middle School Swim Coach at The Ellis School
Former Varsity Boys Swim Coach, Pittsburgh Obama Academy
Sabbatical for 2018: PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim & Water Polo 
Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team

http://CLOH.org

412 298 3432 = cell

Friday, June 29, 2018

Friday, June 08, 2018

Fwd: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - rally on Sunday

Protect The First Amendment!!  Save Democracy in America!!

Come to the Rally, Sunday, June 10, 11 am34 Blvd. of the Allies

Distribute this notice widely!!   


------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John H


With the advent of the hard-core and proudly neoliberal Keith Burris as managing editor of the Post-Gazette and the censorship of Rob Rogers editorial cartoons which depict Trump in a bad light, perhaps it's time we reconsider whether buying the paper is a priority in our lives.  The recent changes in the Post-Gazette's editorial policies are really difficult to swallow.  See the attached article, which indicates that it has even been noticed in New York City.

John

Article: Trump's assulst on a free press takes a new

Monday, May 21, 2018

Best of Pittsburgh --- Golly I don't even know any of these

The golden age of blogging in Pittsburgh is only a fleeting memory, no pun intended for The Admiral. Today's list from The City Paper.

Local blogger list:
Best local Snapchat has only three selections, but I never use Snapchat:
  • ArtLikeUs
  • Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
Best local Instagram, again, not my thing, but who are these folks, other than the last name, Rick Sebak. 
  • abcseeheardo
  • bambiqween
  • bardlebee
  • idxdnapps
  • keeppittsburghdope
  • lawrencevilleairbnb
  • lunchnotesketch
  • nkoehlerphotography
  • richardchristman
  • ricksebak
My favorite nonprofits are not on the list.
  • Bloomfield-Garfield.org
  • The Pittsburgh Project
  • DePaul School
The CP list
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh
  • BikePGH
  • Casa San Jose
  • CureRock
  • Girls Rock! Pittsburgh
  • Hello Bully
  • Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank
  • The Homeless Children's Education Fund
  • The Society of Saint Vincent De Paul
  • Wicked Pittsburgh Art Collective
Local Twitter:
  • @billpeduto
  • @davedicello
  • @Jlynnstagram
  • @northshorenine
  • @partnerspod
  • @penguins
  • @PGHLiveMusic
  • @pittsburghnerd
  • @socialkimly
  • @ValerieGauvain
Best activist
  • Arielle Cohen
  • Aryanna Berringer
  • Ashley Comans
  • Blak Rapp Medusa
  • Chance Thomas
  • Ciora Thomas
  • Jessica Semler
  • Leon Ford
  • Lyndsey Sickler
  • Monica Ruiz

I don't drink much at all. Even when with the South Side Pops, I often go without. 
  • Aaron Gschwendtner
  • Bill Peduto
  • Joey Spehar
  • Nicholas Supertzi
  • Randy of Randyland
  • Rick Sebak
  • Sidney Crosby
  • The moon baby
  • Vernard Alexander
  • Viva Valezz
Reading this got me to sign in and place my first vote, best public servant. Name might be better called best public employee. Servant, well, sorta. 
  • Bill Peduto
  • Corey O'Connor
  • Dan Gilman
  • Ed Gainey
  • John Fetterman
  • Moira Kaleida

Around the internet

Bram's blog hasn't been updated since September 9, 2017, (posted from May 20, 2018) and the latest post was a weird video. However, Bram's blog has an open thread and this golden gem appears from Anon.




This entire concept that someone is qualified for city council is moronic. You can’t be “qualified” or not qualified for an elected council position. It just shows how insane our local political guardians are that they get to choose who is qualified and who isn’t for these positions. Further, the 8th district is showing how it is probably the most hypocritical district in the City right now. all the Erika supporters champion that she “will get things done” for them. She will get their “constituent services” (read complaints) addressed faster and better than others because she is on the team of Peduto and knows him better. How cynical and selfish can a voting public get? Her supporters quite literally talk about almost nothing else. They call Sonja “idealistic.” What does that even mean? And when did 8th district all the sudden starting being honest about what they really want? Seems like they really want someone who will get them the most services out of city government above all other districts and they want someone who will get their zoning requests approved (since most developers live in this district) around the city and get them the most power. They could care less about social and idealistic objectives until this election is over and those ideals will need to be dug back up to throw in the face of some other political enemy.