Donahue, Zysk Linda
Linda Donahue of Carrick designated the 2014 Bob Award Volunteer of the Year
City of Pittsburgh Councilman Corey O'Connor, Linda Zysk Donahue, Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak (Photo by John Rudiak)
A number of volunteers, community groups and neighborhoods were honored at the May 28th Clean Pittsburgh Commission’s (CPC) Meet and Greet Mixer at Riverview Park with the “Bob Awards” for their efforts to beautify city neighborhoods. The Awards, a tribute to the late Mayor Bob O’Connor and his dedication to cleaning up the city, were created to recognize local efforts to clean-up, prevent and eliminate litter in City neighborhoods and were presented by Councilman Corey O’Connor and Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak.
The first award of the evening was the 2014 Volunteer of the Year to Linda Donahue from Carrick The award is given to one volunteer each year whose service is exemplary in cleaning and greening. It encompasses not only the actual work was done, but also the volunteer’s ability to mobilize their community, incorporate city resources, and in general raise the profile of clean and green work done in their community. Linda is the Treasurer and Board Member of the Carrick Community Council and Co-Chair of the Beautification Committee. Her primary focus is to promote environmental cleanliness and beauty in the area. This includes working in conjunction with the Carrick Litter Patrol, working in conjunction with the Carrick Tree Tenders, and Carrick Goes Gardening event including tending our various gardens and memorials. She works with Tree Pittsburgh by restoring and protecting City trees, holds a monthly one-day neighborhood clean-up and beautification project called “Carrick last hump of every month cleanups” with community leaders, community groups, and volunteers. These projects not only include work on streets, parks and public property but have spurred community pride and local activism. Linda was also the Tree Pittsburgh Volunteer of the Year of 2014 and has received a proclamation from City Council recognizing her efforts to clean and beautify Carrick and Pittsburgh.
The CPC also presented the Neighborhood of the Year Bob Award to Brighton Heights. This award is given to a neighborhood that routinely works on clean and green initiatives. For this award, the commission looks at collaboration among community organizations and residents, active clean and green initiatives in the community, and work with other local environmental organizations. Brighton Heights has been working in a number of ways to beautify their community. They hold 2 large scale clean-up events per year and from March through November have 30 residents that participate in a neighborhood Adopt-A-Block program. Brighton Heights was also awarded a Sprout Fund grant to clean up their city steps as well as paint the railings and put up colorful signage. Over the past 2 years, the community has cleaned up trails connecting Brighton Heights Park with Riverview Park as well as cleaned up hillsides along Brighton Heights Blvd. and Marmaduke Park.
The event is also a time for the Commission to highlight their work over the past year first through presenting of the Commission’s 2014 Annual Report which details the activities involving litter prevention, illegal dumping, graffiti, and recycling from the previous year. The report can be accessed online at www.cleanpittsburgh.org. The CPC also highlighted their efforts in the Commission’s first Neighborhood of Focus, Hazelwood, while announcing their next Neighborhoods of Focus for 2015, Beltzhoover, Allentown, and Knoxville.
