Diana Nelson Jones’ Walkabout: Pittsburgh Is Tops Again As A Great Home For Big Crop Of Trees

A map of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with its neighborhoods labeled. For use primarily in the list of Pittsburgh neighborhoods. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With the flurry of national press Pittsburgh has been getting, we’d better step up the pace of hotel construction, get our spare bedrooms advertised on AirB&B and send a buzz through the network of couch surfers. We’re sure to get more company in the coming years.

Our little gem of a city has been at or near the top of lists of places to invest in and raise a family and that have the most public art, best housing prices, best cost of living, best view, most breathtaking entry point and best (and maybe most) neighborhoods.

But of all the lists I’ve seen, Pittsburgh’s status in a recent report by National Geographic makes me the proudest.

Of the cities featured in an article headlined “Nine Cities That Love Their Trees,” Pittsburgh was cited as having the greatest canopy among New York, Philadelphia, Austin, Detroit, Washington, Baltimore, Portland and Tampa.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/diana-nelson-jones/2014/04/29/City-is-tops-again-as-a-great-home-for-big-crop-of-trees/stories/201404290060#ixzz30KFQnaue

MOSAIC COMMUNITY LAND TRUST Home Garden Contest

MOSAIC Community Land Trust

Calling All Pottstown Homeowners and Residents of Rental Properties! Enhance the appearance of your home and neighborhood with a beautiful garden or by having decorative containers or window boxes of flowers and plants for a chance to win a cash prize! Eligible contestants include all Pottstown residence located within the area bordered by North Charlotte St. on the west, North Adams Street on the east, East High Street on the south and Beech Street on the north.
Now…Let’s Get Growing!

Click here to get all the details and get entry form:  MOSAIC Contest Flyer 2014

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Steamtown Mall Goes To Sheriff’s Sale June 10 With $43.7M Asking Price

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lackawanna County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The asking price for the foreclosed downtown shopping center will be $43.7 million, according to a list released Monday by the Lackawanna County sheriff’s office.

The sale begins at 10 a.m. in the first-floor jury lounge at the Lackawanna County Courthouse, said Robert Moore, a deputy sheriff. Although the mall is the first item on the list, the auction will follow bidding for other properties held over from earlier sales, the deputy said.

Mall principal Al Boscov continues to put together financing to try to make the acquisition, said Scott Esterbrook, a Philadelphia lawyer who represents the department store magnate in the foreclosure.

“Albert is still working on a lot of details relating to the foreclosure sale,” Mr. Esterbrook said. “He is trying to raise the capital to pull it off.

Read more: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/steamtown-mall-goes-to-sheriff-s-sale-june-10-with-43-7m-asking-price-1.1676862

Race Street Connector Project Back On Track With $1.1 Million Grant

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Philadelphia County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Walking or biking from Old City to Race Street Pier will become twice as nice later this year, as improvements to the north side of Race Street are set to begin this fall with a new $1.1 million state grant.

The Central Delaware Waterfront Corporation, the quasi-city agency that oversees both the city’s long-range plans for the waterfront and the development of the publicly owned parcels there, opened the south side of the Race Street Connector project more than two years ago.

Improved lighting, landscaping and hardscaping are designed to make traveling from neighborhood to waterfront more obvious and pleasant. The Race Street Connector was the first of a list of connector projects up and down the Central Delaware, all called for in the city’s long-range waterfront vision.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Race_Street_Connector_project_back_on_track_with_1_million_grant.html#fpfCMS41IBdxleUq.99

NBA: Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Banned For Life, Fined $2.5 Million

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Clippers owner Donald Sterling will be banned for life from any team activities and forced to pay a fine of $2.5 million, the maximum allowed by NBA rules. This decision comes after racist comments caught on tape by his mistress, V. Stiviano, were published on TMZ.com on Friday night.

Silver also said that he and the league will urge Sterling to sell the team.

According the NBA’s investigation, which is now complete, the voice on the tape was that of Sterling, and more importantly, the views expressed on the tape are those of Sterling.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/Donald_Sterling_Clippers_NBA_punishment_racist_remarks_Adam_Silver.html#YeBsbAVfqlEEKDSg.99

Container Gardens Spring Up In Pottstown, Great Alternative For Beginners

POTTSTOWN — The sun is shining on some days and the rain is pouring on others, which makes it the season of gardening.

Although it’s the season to grow, gardening can seem intimidating for people who’ve never done it before.

Garden manager Laura Washington of the MOSAIC Pottstown Community Gardens said container gardening is a great option for beginners.

“It allows for gardeners to contain their garden in a small space,” she said.

Container gardening is also preferable for people with limitations such as arthritis in their knees, Washington said. People can place their carton on a stool or tabletop and work sitting down, she said.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/lifestyle/20140429/container-gardens-spring-up-in-pottstown-great-alternative-for-beginners

Canton Man’s Bail At $1.5 Million After Police Chase

Map of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, USA with township and municipal bondaries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

TROY, PA – A Canton man was jailed in lieu of $1.5 million bail after he fled from police and crashed his truck Saturday in Canton, according to Magisterial District Judge Jonathan Wilcox of Troy.

Wilcox said John Edward Gundaker, 44, of West Main Street, Canton, had a preliminary arraignment at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, and was unable to post bail. Gundaker faces a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. May 7 before Wilcox.

According to court papers, Gundaker is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude officer, a felony of the third degree. In addition, he is charged with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor of the second degree; simple assault – attempt, a misdemeanor of the second degree; and two summary counts of reckless driving. In addition, he is charged with a violation of “driving vehicle at safe speed,” a summary offense; and a disorderly conduct offense.

According to an affidavit, Canton police officer Joshua Heckman was contacted by the Bradford County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and was asked to respond to a domestic disturbance at Gundaker’s apartment. The EOC reported that the incident was called in by a man, who was on the phone at the time with the victim in the incident, Desiree Rios, no age or address given, when she was at Gundaker’s apartment and a fight broke out between Rios and Gundaker.

Read more: http://thedailyreview.com/news/man-s-bail-at-1-5-million-after-police-chase-1.1676619