Local Leaders Discuss Development, Upcoming Events

Local leaders gathered Thursday morning for a Commitment to Community meeting, re-capping summer events, upcoming commercial developments and differences in culture at the

led the meeting, which began with a discussion of summer events and happenings.

meetings serve as a forum for local leaders from , and Wilkinsburg to gather and share information. The group meets every other month during the school year.

“Since we last met, a lot has happened,” Bowers said.

, Swissvale Police Chief Greg Geppert, Swissvale Mayor Deneen Swartzwelder and Edgewood Mayor Mal Hellett were among the attendees.

The Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation has moved forward with a program that will refurbish street lights, while the success of Art in the Park also was a topic of discussion.

Local news was discussed with the recent and upcoming issues with the November election. Bowers said that a potential .25 mill increase in taxes for libraries will be voted on in Allegheny County.

“Libraries are a key part of any community and at the same time, you have a limited amount to support them,” Bowers said.

Community Days & Upcoming WPSD Block Party

Swartzwelder said changing the date of this year gave the event momentum on Fourth of July weekend.

“Community Days was fantastic and this was the first year it didn’t rain,” she said with a laugh.

Edgewood Borough Manager Warren Cecconi said , held in August, also was a great success.

“It’s one of the best we have had in years,” he said. “By the time the fireworks started, that field was full.”

Bowers discussed WPSD’s own annual event, which is being held in conjunction with a yard sale and talent show on the grounds of the school Oct. 1.

“We really want to bring those communities together so people from Edgewood, Swissvale and Wilkinsburg interact,” Bowers said. “It’s a great way to bring communities together and things work out in the long run.”

Edgewood Towne Center Developments

Bowers said an exciting local topic recently are the developments at Edgewood Towne Center, with the , along with the openings of Burton’s Total Pet, CW Price and the

“We need that to be a viable part of the community and this should help,” Bowers said.

Cecconi said the entire plaza is 100 percent full in terms of businesses and renters.

Swissvale Business and Fundraisers

It was announced Thursday that Swissvale firefighters recently raised more than $12,000 for muscular dystrophy. The recent opening of UCP/CLASS, which employs more than 100 people in the Regent Square building on South Braddock Avenue, also was discussed.

Swartzwelder also told the attendees about , a tourist trap located on Juniata in Swissvale that is a haven for all things creepy.

“They were recently on MTV Cribs and it is just amazing,” she said. “It’s like a museum of oddities.”

Geppert announced that security cameras would be installed in the Regent Square area in the next two weeks, provided by District Attorney Stephen Zappala’s office. The move came after a string of robberies occurred in the business district in January.

Differences in Deaf Culture, Scranton School Opening

The meeting closed with two presentations from WPSD staff, the first from Todd Behanna, the human relations specialist.

Behanna presented two videos regarding differences in deaf and hearing culture when it comes to technology, particularly with the use of e-mail and text messaging.

While many deaf people refer to texting, their main source of communication by phone, as paging, Behanna also said an immediate response to a text is often expected, as that is their form of talking on the phone.

“This can lead to a misunderstanding,” he said.

Cathy Rhoten, WPSD director of outreach, presented a slide show of photos from the new Scranton School, which relocated to a refurbished building in July.