NewsBreak Original

4900 block development concepts aim to be accessible, sociable and active. By Juliet Martinez with additional reporting by Sarah Kanar. The updated concept drawings for developing the 4900 block of Second Avenue reflect feedback the architects received in December. Community members stressed the need for accessible, sociable spaces that can invigorate the neighborhood and its economy. Kate Tunney of Rothschild Doyno Collaborative presented designs that revolved around building a three-story addition to one side of 4901 Second Avenue, which stands at the corner with Flowers Avenue.

Straight Outta Hazelwood is a series of profiles written by Andrea Coleman, a lifelong Hazelwood resident and founder of the Garden of Different Abilities. Bill Muldoon on vacation in Iceland in 2017.Photo by Beth Muldoon.

Erika "E" Johnson is a Pittsburgh native, a singer-songwriter, writer and founder of Beata Beatus Co. Find out more at www.erikadenaej.com.Photo courtesy of Erika Johnson. I have a coworker who laughed at my comment that Juneteenth should be a national holiday. How do I deal with a response like this and microaggressions at work regarding my cultural viewpoints?

The Hazelwood Food Recycling Site is one link in a self-contained neighborhood supply chain that is helping address poverty and protect the environment using community currency.

Sen. Jay Costa, 43rd district representativePhoto courtesy of the office of Sen. Jay Costa. From the office of State Senator Jay Costa, representing the 43rd district. As you’ve traveled around Pittsburgh over the last few years, you have undoubtedly seen the signs of our City’s burgeoning driverless car industry, also known as highly automated vehicles (HAVs). We are lucky to host a wide array of HAV companies and inventive people at our local universities. Because of this, we are well positioned to be a leader as this new industry develops.

Pittsburgh District 5 Councilman Corey O'ConnorPhoto courtesy of Councilman Corey O'Connor's office. From the office District 5 Councilman Corey O’Connor. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) ongoing regional bridge and road work includes improvements and modifications to the Route 885 corridor, including areas in and near the neighborhood of Hazelwood.

Greater Hazelwood is changing, and some residents have reported getting calls from people asking to buy their homes. Investors who want to buy older or distressed properties that are not on the market yet take the direct approach of asking, “Do you want to sell your house?”

If you have questions about sexuality, gender, safer sex or birth control, but you don’t know who to ask, you’re in luck. The Planned Parenthood drop-in center at 5125 Second Avenue in Hazelwood is open again.

On April 26, Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) hosted a meeting via Microsoft Teams to kick off public engagement on its Sylvan Avenue Multimodal project, presenting early plans and fielding questions from community members.

The weather was perfect for Three Rivers Village School and Arts Excursions Unlimited’s open house celebration in April. There was fun for all ages at the Arts Excursions Unlimited and Three Rivers Village School open house.Photo by Lauren McNulty.

The architectural designs for the interior and courtyard renovations are complete and we are extremely excited about them. We hope to start construction this summer and serve our first customers by next spring.

In 2017, Pittsburgh led the way among U.S. cities by announcing its Climate Action Plan to prepare and protect against effects of climate change. The plan lists urban ecosystems strategies for achieving its goal to “increase carbon sequestration by 100% by 2030.” One of these strategies is to “halt the conversion of forest canopy to development.”

By Matt Peters, Hazelwood Initiative Community Gardens Manager. This year, Hazelwood Initiative is teaming up with Arts Excursions Unlimited to grow pumpkins for a neighborhood Pumpkin Carving Party in October. If all goes well, we will have free pumpkins for folks to carve!

Squonk Opera (below) performed its “Hand to Hand” show with gigantic puppet hands before an enthusiastic crowd as the finale of the Hazelwood Earth Day celebration on April 23. The festival happened at the former S&R Market site on the 4900 block of Second Avenue.

The loss of affordable housing stock to flippers and other speculators has accelerated during the pandemic, according to Leilani Farha, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing, and University of Pittsburgh H.J. Heinz Foundation Visiting Fellow in the Global Studies Center.

May is National Foster Care Month, a time to acknowledge the tremendous need for foster parents throughout the country. TRAC Services for Families helps foster kids and families stay on a positive path through a range of supportive services.Photo by Ja-Neen Jones.

I have a difficult relationship with my mother that makes Mother’s Day a challenge, to say the least. How do I handle my conflicting feelings around this time of year?. Any time there is a difficult situation, especially one that involves emotions, healing and boundaries, you must be kind to yourself. Give yourself grace. During Mother’s Day, be gentle with yourself and try not to allow your emotions to beat you up. Your emotions are here for a reason, and you are meant to feel them because you need to realize something, process it and release what’s inside. Don’t ignore them. Look for ways to understand, process and release your conflicting feelings.

Straight Outta Hazelwood is a series of profiles written by Andrea Coleman, a lifelong Hazelwood resident and founder of the Garden of Different Abilities. I lost my first-born son, Aaron Tyrone Lamont Dennis five years ago this May 30, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Councilman Corey O'Connor's office. Recently, Pittsburgh City Council passed an ordinance to prohibit retail establishments from providing a single-use plastic bag at the point of sale or through delivery. Council Member Erika Strassburger introduced the legislation and Councilman O’Connor was proud to lend his support as a co-sponsor from the time that it was introduced until the bill was passed. The ordinance will go into effect in April of 2023.

To strengthen health protections for Pennsylvania workers, State Rep. Dan Frankel and I have introduced the Protecting Workers from Secondhand Smoke Act. The state’s Clean Indoor Air Act allows smoking inside casinos, private clubs and certain drinking establishments. But if passed, our legislation would eliminate those exemptions and expand protections for the employees inside those businesses.