The application deadline has passed. Thank you to everyone who turned in an application.
Hello blog readers,
It’s been a while since my last post, and I have exciting news!
Last Friday, a few people from the BYP, GASP, and a busload of children from Propel Homestead and McKeesport went to the old Carrie Furnace Site, just outside of Braddock. We all went for a tour of the old blast furnaces, led by a man that once worked at the site 30 years ago. His way of explaining the processes that took place at the site made the tour very interesting and personal.
Some background on the Carrie Furnace: It was built in 1881. It was purchased in 1898 by Andrew Carnegie and was incorperated into U.S. Steel three years later. It was shutdown in 1978. Now Allegheny County owns the site, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006.
We’d like to thank GASP for arranging this event for the BYP.
For more information on touring the Carrie Furnace, contact Stacy Drane at 412.464.4020 ext. 32 or sdrane@riversofsteel.com. $25 per person. More info can be found at www.riversofsteel.com/things-to-do/tours/
Shine On!
R.G.
Recently BYP members have completed more air quality monitoring around the Braddock area. Tests were done by Good Shepherd, next to the steel mill, at the river bank, and a few other places. We hope to post the results of the tests sometime this week.
Also, on Thursday, February 24, members of the BYP went to the August Wilson Center to learn about the vibrant culture and history of African-Americans in Western Pennsylvania and throughout the world. There were many facts about various achievements and historical moments for African-Americans such as the Emancipation Proclamation, the Thirteenth Amendment (which abolished slavery in the US), and The Fifteenth amendment (which gave African-American men the right to vote). These laws were not completely exercised for almost another century.
BYP staff member Leila Haidari said that she “really enjoyed the remix room, which allows you to make a multimedia creation by putting various pictures, beats, and sounds together. The personal creation is then displayed on big screen in the room for all to see and admire.” For more information about the August Wilson center, go to http://www.augustwilsoncenter.org/
Shine On!
R.G.
Its such a nice day out today! I’m sure most of you will be out and about, enjoying this awesome weather.
I have some advice that could increase your life expectancy. Why wouldn’t you want to live longer? So listen up!
If you are going to be outside, it is better to stay away from busy streets. A lifetime of exposure to diesel vehicles can shorten your life by up to 20 years, so stick to the residential streets if you can.
Also, have fun out there!
Shine On!
R.G.
Recently, with the help of Jamin Bogi from GASP, BYP members went out into the Braddock community using a particulate monitoring machine, which measures the amounts of different particles present in the air.
We were looking specifically for PM 2.5, which is a particle type emitted my diesel vehicles which is less than 2.5 micrometers. These types of particulate matter can be absorbed from your lungs, and directly into your blood stream, exposing you to the harmful carcinogens and toxins in diesel emissions very easily. Being exposed to diesel emissions for long periods of time can have adverse effects on your health, and it contributes to and makes worse many existing conditions like, asthma, heart disease, and atherosclerosis.
You can read about all of our finding and see the results of our air quality monitering research in braddock in our upcoming edition of Watz up Doc!
Shine On!
R.G