A national award-winning litter cleanup program led by the United Jewish Federation and Homewood's Operation Better Block will tackle the trash problem in five Pittsburgh neighborhoods from October 12-14.

The Homewood/Squirrel Hill/Point Breeze Redd Up Coalition is again sponsoring this fall's Cleanup, which will be the Coalition's third such event. In addition, 80 city neighborhoods, four other municipalities in Allegheny County and seven in Beaver County, have scheduled their cleanups to coincide with the dates chosen by the Coalition for its Fall Cleanup.

Aliya Durham, the executive director of Operation Better Block, and Boris Weinstein are the Coalition's co-chairs.

The Cleanup was initially conceived last year by the United Jewish Federation during the tenure of the late Mayor Bob O'Connor as a litter cleanup in Squirrel Hill. But the program quickly expanded into a partnership with Homewood.

The term "Redd Up" was incorporated into the Coalition's name as a tribute to the memory of Mayor O'Connor.

The Coalition rapidly grew to include the leaders of six Homewood neighborhood organizations, the two Jewish groups, two secular environmental organizations, the main Squirrel Hill neighborhood organization, the offices of three City Council members, and the mayor's office.

The first Coalition cleanup in 2006 exceeded expectations. Well over 800 adults, teens and school children converged on targeted streets in five neighborhoods, picking up every piece of litter in sight (and out of sight) during the April 27-28-29 Redd Up weekend. The massive volunteer effort included students from a total of 14 schools in Homewood and Squirrel Hill.

The October 12-14 Homewood/Squirrel Hill/Point Breeze Fall Cleanup will follow the same format, but even more volunteers are expected to participate this time.

Litter pickup will proceed, rain or shine.

In addition to the UJF, participating organizations include the East Side Community Collaborative, the Rosedale Block Cluster, the Tacoma Street Block Association, the 5Cs Corporation, Operation Better Block, the Homewood- Brushton Family Support Center, the Jewish Community Center, the South Point Breeze Organization, the Greater Park Place Neighborhood Association, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, PA Cleanways of Allegheny County and Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, as well as Giant Eagle and UPMC.

Also, the Homewood/Squirrel Hill/Point Breeze Redd Up Coalition has received the support of late Mayor Bob O'Connor's Operation Redd Up, the city Department of Public Works, the city Police Bureau's Adopt-a-Block program, and City Council members Shields, Peduto and Carlisle.

As did the Spring Cleanup, the Fall Cleanup will kickoff with students participating in a Friday campus cleanup. On October 12, the participating schools will include Helen Faison Intermediate School, the Student Achievement Center's middle and high schools, Lincoln Primary School, the Homewood Early Childhood Center, Westinghouse High School, Colfax Accelerated Learning Academy, Community Day, Ellis Middle School, Linden School, St. Edmunds, Allderdice High School, and Yeshiva School. More schools are expected to join the effort.

Squirrel Hill is encouraging volunteers to register in advance.

To register in Squirrel Hill, call 412-992-5214. Or register online or on-site registration is also available during cleanup hours at these locations:

October 13--

· Homewood: PNC Bank parking lot at 618 N. Homewood Avenue.Cleanup is from 9:00 a.m. – noon;

· Park Place: Corner of Forbes and South Braddock avenues.Cleanup is from 9:00 a.m. – noon;

· North Point Breeze: Westinghouse Park.Cleanup is from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m; and

· South Point Breeze: The Mellon Park parking lot, located near the playground, basketball courts and tennis bubble, on Fifth Avenue across from Beechwood Boulevard.Cleanup is from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

October 14--

· Squirrel Hill: The corner of Forbes and Murray avenues, in front of the library.Cleanup is from 9:00 a.m. - noon.

9/28/2007