First, Quick News Updates!

Allegheny County officially has campaign finance rules, the jury is set for the synagogue shooting trial and testimonies start today, and the Three Rivers Arts Festival kicks off this Friday. [Public Source / City Cast Pittsburgh / TribLIVE]

Artists Are Upset About Color Park

South Side’s Color Park, one of the few legal graffiti walls in the city, was painted over by Friends of the Riverfront, and street artists aren’t happy. One critic spray painted, “You painted over dead artist work. Be ashamed” over the primed concrete. Artist Baron Batch created the park following his illegal graffiti conviction; he acknowledged some were upset, but said the walls are now “an invitation to participate” for others. [90.5 WESA]

Shell Pays Up For Air Pollution Violations

The Beaver County ethane cracker plant agreed to pay $10 million to the state for over a dozen air violations since the beginning of 2022, including civil penalties that will go toward the local community and environmental projects. The Breathe Project’s Matthew Mehalik told Allegheny Front: “We cannot allow another entity to engage in pay-to-pollute behavior that comes at the expense of our region’s residents and allow the fines to be perceived as charitable donations to our communities. Our region deserves better.” [Allegheny Front]

• 🎧 Learn how temperature inversions make pollution worse. [City Cast Pittsburgh]

School Board Member Speaks Out

After a shooting outside of Oliver Citywide Academy in Marshall-Shadeland killed a student last week, Pittsburgh Public Schools board member Kevin Carter expressed his frustrations with Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent Wayne N. Walters and called on him to offer solutions. Carter told the Trib: “The superintendent has not called me, checked in or responded to my requests for information regarding the concerns of my parents, students, and community members.” [TribLIVE]

Your backyard garden is only as healthy as the soil it grows in. Here’s how to test your land for lead, other heavy metals, and nutrients, with the help of our friends at Grow Pittsburgh — who joined us on the City Cast Pittsburgh podcast for a guide to backyard gardening.

Gather

Using clean, non-galvanized tools, gather a dozen soil samplings — about 4 to 8 inches below the soil’s surface —  across your garden site. (The zinc in galvanized tools can affect your sample.)

Mix

Once you have the samples, place them in a bucket or bag and mix them together; then, separate them into two so you have an extra sample in case you need to re-test later.

Dry

Remove debris and clumps from one half, and spread it out on clean paper to dry; this could take a few days.

Label

Once dry, mix it again, and use a sieve to filter out any rocks or plants. Place a cup of that soil in a zip-lock bag with your name, address, and sample ID labeled on the outside.

Ship

Grow Pittsburgh recommends sending your sample to UMass Amherst’s Soil and Plant Testing Lab. Their test kit costs $15 and includes results for pH, basic nutrients, heavy metals, and aluminum. They’ll also give you suggestions on how to adjust the nutrient and pH levels through organic methods. Penn State Agriculture Analytics Laboratory also offers testing.

Tip: Keep an eye out for the Allegheny County Conservation District’s free soil screenings throughout the year.

Repeat

Make sure to test the soil before expanding your garden to a new area, and test all plots every few years to keep up with their nutrient levels.

It’s time for our weekly game where I show you a close-up photo and you tell me what it is / where you can find it. As always, the photo challenge gives you a little sneak peek into tomorrow’s neighborhood feature. Hint: Neighborhood guides can go outside city limits too. 😉

🎶 ​​The Jam Lab | Wednesday | 9 p.m.

Take your instrument to The Bridge Music Bar for a collaborative jam session, plus food and drink discounts. [free, East Liberty]

🌱 Ramp Wine Dinner | Thursday | 6:30 - 9 p.m.

Join The PA Market to celebrate the beloved Appalachian allium with a six-course menu, plus, specially crafted cocktails and wine pairings. [$120, Strip District]

🎤 Nerd Nite Powerpoint Karaoke | Thursday | 6:30 - 10 p.m.

Head to Spirit Hall for a social mixer and night of improv comedy / TED talks. [$10, Lawrenceville]

🍻 Wicks & Sips | Friday | 7 - 9 p.m.

Make candles with PGH Candle while sipping on beer flights from Sly Fox Brewery at The Highline. [$40, South Side]

When Andrew Carnegie began opening libraries in southwest Pennsylvania in the 1890s, he wanted to bring books and knowledge to everyone — not just those who could afford to pay. Now libraries are taking that spirit beyond the printed word, offering everything from power tools to ukuleles to genealogy databases. We’re exploring the unique collections available for you to check out at local libraries.

Have a great week!

– Francesca Dabecco