Happenings in Pittsburgh!! (Bethel Park, Lebanon, Upper St. Clair: luxury, schools, closing)

[fleetiebelle]

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato this afternoon unveiled a $1 billion plan to connect Oakland, Downtown and the airport corridor by light rail.

This would be awesome. Of course, it probably won't happen in my lifetime, but still.

[guylocke]

This would be awesome. Of course, it probably won't happen in my lifetime, but still.

The way they are pushing it seems that they want the ball rolling on this in a timely manner. They announced this for immediate-future growth of the region, so if it happens at all, I imagine it will happen sooner than later (or never).

[guylocke]

More on Pittsburgh going green!

Pop City - Phipps Conservancy taps wind-power for welcome center

Phipps is one of three Pittsburgh businesses that purchase wind power in Pittsburgh through Community Energy, explains spokesman Paul Copleman. Carnegie Mellon University and Giant Eagle also purchases wind power credits, which essentially adds available wind power to the available pool of energy generated in the state.

“We’re not delivering electrons from the Wind Farms (located in Somerset near the Pennsylvania Turnpike) into the Phipps facility,” Copleman says. “They’re paying the premium to put wind power on the grid on their behalf. By definition, a mix of all power sources goes into a pool. Phipps makes the pool cleaner for everyone by expressing a demand for wind energy to be a part of the grid. It’s about local economic development from generating clean energy in Pennsylvania.”

The cost of wind energy credits is higher than traditional electricity; residents pay on average 2 ½ cents per kilowatt hour more and businesses can secure lower prices than residential customers.

Phipps opened the Welcome Center in March 2005 and earned Silver LEED-certification for its eco-friendly innovations. Designed by IKM, Inc., the Welcome Center is the first visitor’s center in a public garden to achieve LEED status.

[guylocke]

This is sort of interesting, Pittsburgh Paints has created Eco-conscious hues to fit the "growing and going" green lifestyle as well as environmentally friendly paint.

Pittsburgh Targets Green Consumers With New Paint Hues - Environmental Leader: Green Business and Corporate Sustainability News

Pittsburgh Paints is launching a new line of paint hues. The EcoEcho color palettes, part of Pittsburgh Paints’ The Voice of Color program, are designed to echo the growing interest in the ecological/environmental movement.

Eco-consciousness is being broadcast from every angle-spanning fashion, home decor, automobile design, even food trends, according to Josette Buisson, artistic director of Pittsburgh Paints. “From paint to cosmetics, jeans to kitchen flooring, our preference for greener options makes a statement about who we are, and our new way of life,” said Buisson.

Pittsburgh Paints does offer Pure Performance Paints, an environmentally friendly paint line with zero VOCs.

The article also describes the new hues by category, Fair Trade, EcoTechno, EcoLoco, and Vintage. Some sound really beautiful, I think I'll actually look into this further.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by guylocke

This is sort of interesting, Pittsburgh Paints has created Eco-conscious hues to fit the "growing and going" green lifestyle as well as environmentally friendly paint.

Pittsburgh Targets Green Consumers With New Paint Hues - Environmental Leader: Green Business and Corporate Sustainability News



The article also describes the new hues by category, Fair Trade, EcoTechno, EcoLoco, and Vintage. Some sound really beautiful, I think I'll actually look into this further.

I tried to give you points for all the work you do on this post, but I have to spread more love first...
Thank you for all you do concerning Pittsburgh and helping others find the good in this city. You deserve a paycheck.

[guylocke]

I tried to give you points for all the work you do on this post, but I have to spread more love first...
Thank you for all you do concerning Pittsburgh and helping others find the good in this city. You deserve a paycheck.

Aw thank you! That is very sweet of you. I get that message a lot, too - "spread the love first" !!

lol!

[guylocke]

Remember how Pittsburgh was and still is largely unscathed from the "housing crisis" and how our market is the second most stable in the country and has a slow-but-steady appreciation year after year?

Well, some areas are appreciating faster than others, and the results may surprise you. Over the last decade, the Southside Flats and Slopes come in first place with an average appreciation of 10% and Lawrenceville a close second at 8%!

Real estate prices higher in some places

Homes in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill are solid bets for long-term price appreciation, but a recent study of real estate trends in and around Pittsburgh concluded the hottest place to own a home is the South Side.

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[londonbarcelona]

Thought I'd lend you a hand today.

The city of Pittsburgh's annual "Light Up Night" will be held on Nov. 16.

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership held a news conference Friday morning to announce all of the plans for the big day.

Events will take place in and around Market Square and Station Square, starting as early as 6 a.m. and leading up to the annual downtown fireworks show at night.
Also, the traditional Santa's Spectacular, Macy's window displays and ice skating at the PPG rink will all return this year.

Here are some of the scheduled highlights:

6 a.m. to 10 p.m. "Spirits Of Giving From Around The World" Exhibit, PPG Place Wintergarden
Life-sized Santas, original paintings.

9 a.m. to midnight Station Square - The Fountain at Bessemer Court Holiday Show


9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Gingerbread House Display/Competition Two PPG Place
All houses will be sold to benefit Free Care Fund at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

11 a.m. to midnight Ice skating - The Rink at PPG Place

Noon Opening of Crèche Display, U.S. Steel Plaza
Larger-than-life replica of Nativity scene from St. Peter's Square in Rome, Italy

4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sounds of the Season
Fifth Avenue Place, Center Court Atrium
Seasonal entertainment by a variety of performers

5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Harry and Hermie's dueling pianos
Two PPG Place, Food Court

5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tribute of Light Ceremony/Plaza Tree Lighting
PPG Place Plaza

6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Window Unveiling
Macy's holiday windows on Smithfield Street

7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Charlie Brown and Snoopy Santa arrival, Meet and Greet
Main Stage and Fountain on Station Square Drive

9 p.m. Fireworks Finale, Gateway Center corridor

Get the full list of events at downtownpittsburgh.com.

[fleetiebelle]

Free Saturday parking highlights holidays

The city and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership will kick off the start of the holiday shopping season with Light Up Night Nov. 16 and then serve up another special treat -- six days of free parking -- to keep visitors coming back.

Shoppers will be able to take advantage of the free parking at eight city Parking Authority garages and the One Oxford Centre garage starting Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

Free parking also will be available at those garages on the five Saturdays before Christmas -- Nov. 24, Dec. 1, Dec. 8, Dec. 15 and Dec. 22. The private Oxford Centre garage also will offer free parking on two Sundays -- Dec. 16 and Dec. 23.

[guylocke]

Not that his word really means a whole lot, but President Bush once said he believed that the Pittsburgh region should become known as "knowledge valley" in reference to "silicon valley." Can you blame him, though?

CMU robot drives itself to $2 million prize

Carnegie Mellon University's Tartan Racing team rode away with a $2 million prize for coming in first in this year's Pentagon-sponsored robotic vehicle race held Saturday in Victorville, Calif.

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