The QV School Board Race - A Contrast of Similarities

Before I say anything about the upcoming primary election to determine candidates for the fall race for the Quaker Valley School Board, a couple of things in the interest of full disclosure:

1.   I am presently registered to vote as an Independent. This is a carry-over from my days in Colorado, where just under 1/3 of the state's active voters are registered as "unaffiliated". I would elaborate on my reasons for this, but that would take too long and veer off the topic at hand. Maybe later.

In Pennsylvania, this unfortunately means that I am shut out of the primary election. So as a consequence of my registration, I won't be voting for any of my fellow citizens on Tuesday. I commend them for their willingness to commit to public service, and wish them all the best.

2.   In 1981, I was a candidate for Quaker Valley School Board in Region I. I managed to cross-file for both the Democratic and Republican ballots in the primary.

I ran a campaign like any other - made lots of phone calls, spray-painted signs in the basement and put them up around the area, paid for print ads in the Herald and radio spots on WMBA, and went to at least one 'meet the candidate' night. I thought that I went through at least the motions of a candidacy pretty well.

I came in second out of three candidates in both races. It was for the best - I was a college dropout in his early 20's who didn't have a clue of what he wanted to do with his life. It showed in other ways as well - I didn't see a lot of the most valuable things, many of which were right in front of me.

So it is with a measure of regret that I tried to look at this year's slate of School Board candidates.

In their public statements and advertising, many of them seem to be saying very much the same thing - maintain the existing high quality of education in tandem with an emphasis on fiscal responsibility. There are, however, subtle differences behind the lofty rhetoric that may distinguish them just a little.

Four of the candidates - Mr. Bunde, Ms. Heres, Mr. Warburton, and Mr. Weicht - have aligned themselves into what could be best described as an unofficial coalition, if the full-page ad in the May 2 Herald, which they all paid for together, is any indication of intent.

That this coalition includes Ms. Heres of Region II, the lone incumbent in the race, says to me that these four represent a "status quo" ticket. It should also be noted that the three attorneys in the race make up the remainder of this group. All four have children currently attending QV schools.

These four seem to be saying that if you like the way things have been going, and want more of the same, they're the best choice to stay that course.

The remaining three candidates may have a different view (otherwise why run - right?), and perhaps to a greater degree than the others have included a theme of community involvement and responsiveness to citizens as part of the message they are trying to send.

One of these three, Ms. Wagner, has extensive experience, but has also adopted a hard-line approach toward tax increases that may (or may not) serve her well. Maybe demographics has something to do with it. More about that later.

The remaining two, Ms. Helkowski and Mr. Kuzma, appear to be the only two QV alumni in the race. Ms. Helkowski is an active parent and homemaker - Mr. Kuzma has other credible experience in government operations.

They seek to represent Region I, which includes Leetsdale, from where the most recent and vocal opposition to current board practices has originated.

This opposition is likely to carry over to whomever assumes Board duties after the November elections. The upcoming Traffic and Safety Task Force report, slated to be presented to the Board sometime this spring, is rumored to not have consensus support of the entire Task Force membership.

It would be unfortunate if this supposed effort to achieve understanding and transparency only created more mistrust and/or frustration.

No doubt that the controversy weighs on all of the candidates, even if they haven't said hardly anything about it publicly. The Concerned Taxpayers of Quaker Valley may be small in numbers right now, but there is plenty of potential for growth if those whom we choose to represent us are perceived as unresponsive or aloof.

So what makes something approaching an ideal public servant? For me, it comes down to being able to actively listen, be flexible, and keep an open mind - not qualities at which I excel all of the time, but nonetheless appreciate the value of, whether in relationships personal, professional, or political.

Speaking of (in)flexibility, and keeping in mind my continuing fascination with boundary lines, I couldn't help but notice that the three regions the Quaker Valley School District is divided into for purposes of Board representation are the same as they were back in 1981.

These boundaries are interesting in that Sewickley Borough, on its own as Region II, commands 1/3 of the board representation, but comprises only 27.5 percent of the district's population, according to 2010 US Census Data obtained from Wikipedia.

Compare this with Region III, whose 7 municipalities include Aleppo Township, the district's second most populous. Fully half of Aleppo's population is over 45 years of age, slightly higher than most QV communities. In neighboring Sewickley Heights, 58 percent are over 45. Perhaps this is a factor in the fiscal stance taken by candidate Wagner, who seeks to represent this region.

What is most interesting to me is that the 3 board members in Region III represent a population of 5,867, out a total district population of 13,934 - that's 42.1 percent.

Only Region I - Bell Acres, Leet, and Leetsdale - comprises a population approaching proportionality with its representation - 30.4 percent of the total.

I'm not saying that there has to be perfection or exacting consistency with how many representatives are allocated to each region. I do believe that the rural character of many district municipalities has been impacted by development, and that the potential for additional population growth in these areas is likely greater than in Sewickley.

Does this mean that an evaluation and possible re-allocation of representatives may be in order? Is there justification to explore electing some Board representatives on an At Large basis? These are questions that the candidates may likely face should they be successful on Tuesday, and again in November.

State Rep. Jesse White penned an excellent column last week, in which he urged all citizens to become involved in the political process by paying attention to who is standing to represent their interests, and participating in the primary election. While his column is directed mainly at protecting the rights of communities to apply zoning to energy development, it's nonetheless a timely reminder for all of us.

Rep. White could go a long way toward accomplishing this end by advocating for open primaries in Pennsylvania, but I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for that. It seems that if I want to make a difference, especially in races like this, I'll have to abandon the ranks of the "unaffiliated" and start showing up at the polls in May.

So should you. Get out and vote this Tuesday...if you can.

Have a great week ahead.

Bordering on the Bizarre - The Shopping Center Splits

There are 130 separate municipalities in Allegheny County, dividing up the county's 735 square miles in some unique, and in some cases historic, ways.

Like those boundary lines, some of these communities are anachronisms, struggling to maintain relevance and viability amid economic and cultural upheaval. Others are thriving beyond their ability to manage the amount of people, associated traffic, and service demands that are set upon them. Some of those demands spill over into other jurisdictions, requiring changes to the relationships between existing governments, or perhaps the creation of relationships where none previously existed.

This series is designed to illustrate and educate about some of the more interesting ways these boundary lines affect the lives and decisions of citizens, their leaders, and others who make our towns, counties, and state the place that it is - for better or for worse.

This time, I've found several examples of how shopping plazas, malls, and other similar areas challenge the assumptions we as citizens make about who has responsibility for public safety and other services.

Each illustration below provides a little insight, or links to it, into how a particular area became what it is today, and in some cases how the towns responsible for the area cooperated - or not - in the creation of these areas, and how their existence affects a community's quality of life.

There were more of these areas than I thought there would be, but it's not really surprising. In most cases, the involved towns are benefiting jointly from the revenue that their slice of particular retail pie is generating, which would kind of explain their existence in the first place.

There are also a few jurisdictional quirks unique to the Commonwealth that are near to and/or affect those who may frequent a shopping plaza. I've included some of these as well.

I focused on construction that occurred in the midst of a border line, instead of highways where development crept outward across a municipal, or even county boundary. There are plenty of examples of that (Cranberry, Peters Township, Hopewell) to go around.

Your insights are appreciated, as always. Have a great month ahead.

South Hills Village

The "Grand-daddy" of area shopping malls, South Hills Village has been around since 1965, straddling the border between Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair. That line is a straight one, save for the inexplicable little jog in the middle of the mall. Both communities maintain their own separate public safety dispatch centers.
An extra added jurisdictional bonus is the Blue Line light rail station and adjacent Park and Ride lot and garage. Law enforcement for these areas is the responsibility of the Port Authority's Police Department. Credit: Bing Maps / John Linko

Crafton-Ingram Shopping Center

A lone testament to truth in advertising. The boundary dividing Crafton Borough and Ingram Borough runs right through the middle of the parking lot.  Credit: Bing Maps / John Linko

Wexford Plaza

The shopping center's website describes it as "Wexford's main street for over 3 decades".
Considering that the center is split between two municipalities, and that Wexford is for all practical purposes little more than a mailing address, is it any wonder that there's an identity crisis going on here?
Nevertheless, it's interesting that the border of Pine and McCandless runs right through a little breezeway of sorts, as if the gap between buildings was made for it.
Also, the western boundary of North Park is adjacent to the complex. The Allegheny County Police are responsible for law enforcement there. Credit: Bing Maps / John Linko

McIntyre Square

The site of the former McIntyre Shelter for children, the property was sold by Allegheny County and developed in the early 1990's.
A key consideration for approval by the two townships involved was to assure that traffic could flow through the complex without additional negative impact on McKnight Road, AKA the "McKnightmare". This is probably why the access road through the complex connects McIntyre Road to Peebles Road. Credit: Bing Maps / John Linko

The Mess at "Robinson"

The massive commercial and industrial development starting at Settlers Ridge (bottom right) and extending to RIDC Park West (top left) is collectively referred to by many as "Robinson".
In reality, the complex spans 4 different municipalities, with public safety resources coordinated by 6 different dispatch centers.
This includes the limited access highway that bisects the complex - more about that in the next photo. Credit: Google Maps / John Linko

Exit 59 and Surrounding Area

Driving around in this area can give you a complex, especially if you need help. Knowing where you are can be a challenge, as the line between Robinson and North Fayette Townships basically divides the interchange, as well as the parking lot of Lowe's, just to the south.
If you happen to be on the Parkway or one of the on or off ramps (highlighted in pink), there's a bonus - law enforcement on limited access highways such as I-376 is the responsibility of the Pennsylvania State Police.  Credit: Google Maps / John Linko

The Waterworks - How Not to Do It

A lot of people think that when they're shopping here that they're in Fox Chapel or O'Hara Township - heck, even the company that built the place thought so.
Surprise - the mall, adjacent UPMC St. Margaret Hospital, and the Pittsburgh Water Plant across Freeport Road is actually a somewhat solitary outpost of the City of Pittsburgh, surrounded by the above communities, as well as Aspinwall. The State Police are responsible for nearby Route 28.
The associated traffic, crime and other impacts, without any say in planning or sharing in any of the tax revenue that the City enjoys, was something that had these neighboring towns bristling a bit when the complex was first opened.
Whether or not the situation has improved is unknown, but one thing appears certain - cooperation and coordination didn't appear to be a priority from the start.  Credit: Bing Maps / John Linko

The Waterfront - Making the Best of It

In contrast, redeveloping the land that hosted the historic, mammoth Homestead Works could have been a significant challenge for the three towns that hosted the steel plant. But as Wikipedia notes, "The Waterfront was predominantly a private investment, although there was a tax increment financing of approximately $25 million approved by three separate municipalities, one county, and one school district, a notable accomplishment".
While the complex's sprawling size and lack of pedestrian walkways in many places makes getting around it a little tough, there appears to be a commitment by the towns who benefit from it's operation to keep it safe and attractive to residents across the region.
The complex employs private security that interfaces regularly with the three municipal police forces. Additionally, officers from those departments provide dedicated patrol of the entire complex during peak periods - without regard for jurisdictional boundaries.
Munhall still maintains its own dispatch center, but the level of cooperation between them and neighbors Homestead and West Homestead remains good. It's not perfect (what is?), but it's a step in the right direction.  Credit: Bing Maps / John Linko

Familiar Territory...Again

This is the t-shirt that I pulled out of my closet to wear on Monday morning. By mid-afternoon, its significance to me had changed dramatically.

The shirt is at least 10 years old; I bought it from the crew at Ladder 15 / Engine 33 of the Boston Fire Department, while walking past their station at the corner of Boylston and Hereford Streets in the Back Bay section of Boston - about 3 city blocks from where the bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Theirs is one of the busiest fire stations in the country, and the one closest to this latest example of how freedom isn't as free as we would like.

Boston is a familiar and frequent destination - especially the Back Bay. While I've never been there for the Marathon, I've had the opportunity to experience several times the richness, in both literal and figurative terms, that these few square blocks have to offer. I've walked these blocks, from Boston Common past the Public Library to the Prudential Center, over to the Christian Science Headquarters, Symphony Hall, the Berklee and BU campuses, and eventually to Fenway Park.

There are numerous personal and professional benchmarks for me associated with this small area - too numerous to list here.

That many of these institutions and attractions have had their operations significantly altered or halted by the bombings, as well as the manhunt that unfolded today, speaks not only to the density of the area, but its fragility in the face of the commitment to freedom and liberty that it also collectively represents.

One question that will stick out for me is the amount of disruption that occurred today - a major city basically shut down, house-to-house searches carried out - all to track down one man - I'm wondering how much our society will be changed or de-sensitized to this, or how our priorities as citizens are affected. "They searched the basement? Well that's a shame, but they cancelled the Bruins and the Pens!"

The fact that this attack occurred on Patriot's Day - Massachusetts' official commemoration of the first battles of the American Revolution - should serve as a clarion call for resolve to live as those first patriots did - moving forward, without fear.

This is a most volatile week in our nation's history - our resolve to not cower in the face of terror, regardless of is origins should be strengthened by our recognition of our history and a commitment to keep us safe, peaceful, and free in spite of the cowardly and cruel actions of others.

The Back Bay area, like the metropolitan area around it, is a locus of cultural, tourism, business, historical, and shopping activity that ranks right up there with similar, more famous destinations around the country. That it is suddenly the latest addition to a list of battlefield sites in a war as difficult to understand as it is to fight and prepare for is sad and unfortunate.

I'm hopeful that the apparent quick apprehension of the perpetrators will show not only our resolve as a people to live free and without fear, but also that the freedom that Boston represents for all Americans must be respected by those we entrust with the power to protect and to govern.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those touched by this tragedy.

Reflections on a Closed Balcony

“The Balcony is Closed.”
Roger Ebert, 1942 – 2013
Credit: Twitter via Salon.com

I’ve been trying to hold on to some personal thoughts about Roger Ebert, who died a week ago this past Thursday. I first wrote about Mr. Ebert back in 2010, after finding his exhaustive and popular blog, and its prolific original content and visitor commentary.

The reaction to his death has been significant and heartfelt from across a broad landscape of the national consciousness. If at least one online commentator is to be believed, it seems as if history is prepared to remember Mr. Ebert with the same regard that it holds other observers of the American condition, such asMark Twain, H.L. Mencken, and Will Rogers.

For me, I was a teenager growing up in Sewickley when books and the movies provided a gateway to other places and situations that I was only too happy to lose myself in. I really wasn’t aware of Roger Ebert, even though he was busy winning his Pulitzer Prize at about the same time.

Mr. Wheat and his theatre were still a community staple back then, but the nostalgic charm of the drive-in and the bombast of the multiplex sounded the death knell for little places like his – or so we thought. The Ambridge Family Theatre has been a special place for many years, and the prospect of a new theatre in Sewickley holds hope for the continued emergence of the Village as a place that teems with possibilities.

Roger Ebert has a lot to do with that, over and above his signature turn as Gene Siskel‘s partner and foil on PBS for all those years. Ebert championed the creative and artistic richness of such seemingly obscure film types as documentaries, independents, and Japanese animation.

The resulting increase in interest in “smaller”, independently-produced films has helped to sustain those older movie houses that have specialized in showing these and other films.

There are several local examples of this, including the Hollywood Theatre in Dormont, which featured prominently in one of the most engaging films made in this area, and one which Mr. Ebert recommended highly  - The Perks of Being a Wallflower. As for me, I got to see “Rocky Horror” in all its glory at the old Kings Court in Oakland.

Pittsburgh Filmmakers has also established a successful network of venues for these purposes – and appears to be poised to add Sewickley to its list of locations. Let’s hope they don’t get lost in pretentiousness, and decide to have some fun with it as well.

In the age of DVDs and Internet streaming, when people would seemingly be content to retreat to their homes or tablet devices to watch a movie, Ebert put a great deal of personal capital into the potential that social media and online communities offered those with an interest in film, other passions that Ebert expressed in writing, or both. What remains is an impressive collection of commentary by Mr. Ebert and a variety of associates.

I’ve been touched by much of Mr. Ebert’s volumes of writing on several topics, as well as some of the tributes that have appeared in the wake of his death. Here are a few:

An excerpt from his memoir Life Itself, titled “I Do Not Fear Death“:

“Kindness” covers all of my political beliefs. No need to spell them out. I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn’t always know this and am happy I lived long enough to find it out.

His commentary for the DVD of Citizen Kane - full of insights and love for what Ebert admitted was his favorite film.

His now-famous skewering of Rob Schneider, who deserved it…




                                                                                            – Krishna Shenoi


Ebert corresponded and established meaningful relationships with numerous people of all ages and walks of life. One example is reflected in the above drawing, with a link to an accompanying blog post.

Another is a recent column in a public relations trade publication, by a PR executive who began exchanging letters with Mr. Ebert while in junior high school. There are numerous lessons that this professional marketer tries to impart as part of the example Mr. Ebert set, including this most telling one:

Ebert’s illustrious career mirrors society in profound ways – and it’s no accident that with the changing landscape of media and with his own failing health, he adapted into one of the most avid social media practitioners of our time. He was steeped in two-way engagement long before its mainstream popularity, and he fully leveraged the medium to stimulate great ideas and engage in intense conversation. 

Ebert may have been reduced by illness to someone without a speaking voice, but leveraged the virtual world to gain a lasting presence in it. He was very astute about marketing his product – himself. As a result, there is that much more of him that is left to study and enjoy for generations to come, and a legacy of succession is in place to assure that his beneficial impact on his craft will be a lasting and substantial one.

This must have not been an easy thing for someone such as Ebert, who in his writing seemed to espouse being alone as much as he enjoyed connecting with others. He overcame the spectre of alcoholism, fought back against the ravages of cancer, and while not always on the right side of everyone (who can be?), earned the respect that he got.

He was able to adapt to the times and the attitudes…

When I was a child the mailman came once a day. Now the mail arrives every moment. I used to believe it was preposterous that people could fall in love online. Now I see that all relationships are virtual, even those that take place in person. Whether we use our bodies or a keyboard, it all comes down to two minds crying out from their solitude.

He was most fortunate that he found a loving, equal partner, who he loved deeply and who was there for him.

Ebert saw the Internet as a “godsend” for those, like him, who were unable to connect to others by virtue of debilitating diseases. Yet he also saw the inherent value of relationships that resist a connection to everyone, all the time. This excerpt reads to me like bullet points for building a healthy relationship in later life. The emphasis is mine:

Why do people marry with no prospects of children? Babies are not the only thing two people can create together. They can create a safe private world. They can create a reality that affirms their values. They can stand for something. They can find someone to laugh with, and confide in. Someone to hold them when they need to be held. 

He then concludes this same paragraph with an admonition: A danger of the internet would be if we begin to meet those needs without feeling there has to be another person in the room.

Roger Ebert made a considerable life for himself by understanding and leveraging transformative media – motion pictures, television, the Internet – while showing us at the same time how to live an intimate, graceful existence, especially in the face of personal challenges that bordered on the extreme.

He was active, lucid, and relevant to the end - what more can one hope for in life?

It’s ironic that his example should represent for me a re-evaluation of all things online, but it does. It’s time for an adjustment or two.

See you at the movies..

Cell Phones and 9-1-1: Image vs. Reality

"From the Desk of the Mayor", Leetsdale Borough Newsletter, March 2013

Easter blessings to you.

I don't often write in this forum about the particulars of my profession. Looking back, it's been about a year since I explored the topic in depth.

Besides, I sometimes get the distinct feeling that most people, including those closest to me, have only a certain level of tolerance for the minutiae inherent in making a complex system function with grace and efficiency in the vast majority of circumstances. So when I'm not working, I try to think and write about other things that matter to me.

However, recent developments have me thinking about the potential consequences of communicating misleading, incomplete, or inaccurate information to citizens about this critical service, and especially how it works when using a cell/wireless/mobile phone.

It's Only a Movie..Only a Movie...

With that in mind, a movie came out earlier this month that incorporates 9-1-1, cell phones, and dispatchers as the the heart of the story. The Call stars Halle Berry as a 9-1-1 Telecommunicator forced to confront a critical, career-changing incident not once, but twice.

Too often I look at this type of entertainment and pick apart the differences between it and real-life circumstances. This tends to annoy those around me. Plus I can't in all fairness say whether or not the movie is any good based on just the snippets and hype.

I watched the trailer a couple of times, and came up with the same general observations that come up when film and TV attempt to enter the 9-1-1 realm:

1. Those 9-1-1 operators that work in open space environments, with high ceilings, abundant natural light, and state-of-the-art, ergonomically friendly equipment, are a decided minority in the business. Progress is being made, however - so much so that I actually know people plying the trade in such lovely surroundings - lots of them. Unfortunately, this does not include me.

2. Too often, entertainment vehicles that feature a dispatch center include the best of technologies - things that may not be available in all areas. This movie does it a little differently - it's plot moves along on the premise that a prepaid cell phone, such as those marketed by companies like Tracfone, Net10 and others, cannot be located via Global Positioning System (GPS) trackingas other mobile phones can. This is not true - many of these phones do give their location when calling 9-1-1.   

Cell Phone Reality #1: While technology can help 9-1-1 professionals locate people in need, it's only one part of the solution. Human beings helping other human beings is still what makes thisworld go 'round.

If you're really interested in learning more about the film from a 9-1-1 perspective, the Editor of 9-1-1 Magazine, probably the most informative publication about the profession, is also a film buff. Hiscolumn about the movie is sure to entertain and inform anyone with more than a passing interest in what public safety folks do day-to-day. 

Leetsdale Mayor's Cautionary Tale Highlights Best Practice Challenges

What really got me thinking about things was this month's Leetsdale Borough newsletter, specifically Mayor Pete Poninsky's contribution, which is pictured above. The Mayor focused specifically on the fact that his town sits on the county line, and as such some cell phone calls to 9-1-1 go to neighboring Beaver County, when Allegheny County dispatches the borough's police and fire departments.

This happens because some of the cell phone towers that provide coverage into Leetsdale are located in Beaver County, and are designed to send calls to the 9-1-1 center where the tower is located.

The Mayor's comments raised my eyebrows a bit when he stated "The call will then be transferred to Allegheny County 9-1-1, which will cause a 5 to 6 minute delay".

They stayed up when he suggested that cell phone users dial a 10-digit number, instead of 9-1-1, to reach Allegheny County directly and potentially avoid this delay.

As someone with more intimate knowledge of how this is supposed to work, I was surprised by this allegation. In general practice, the transfer of a call between one county's 9-1-1 center to another should take no longer than 15 to 30 seconds to accomplish. 

Great strides have been made in recent years to make sure that our area's emergency services function in a well-coordinated fashion, beginning with simple, direct access via our nationalemergency number.

To recommend that citizens dial any number other than 9-1-1 in an emergency, regardless of how well-intentioned the reason, constitutes a step backward in these efforts.

I spoke with Mayor Poninsky, and asked him what information he had to support his general statement about call delays. The Mayor admitted that his statement was based not on an identified pattern or trend, but an isolated incident involving an ambulance call in the borough.

This brings up additional factors involving the reason for any delay, as calls for EMS in Leetsdale must also be transferred to Valley Ambulance Authority for response. The ambulance service maintains it's own dispatch center, instead of relying on the county 9-1-1 center for service.

When trying to analyze how things work (and don't) in complex systems such as public safety, it's helpful to break things down into components common to best practices in many industries. For example:

Technology: There's an obvious need for at least one more cell tower in Allegheny County to cover Leetsdale and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, it's difficult to convince mobile phone companies that new towers are needed - more infrastructure cuts into their revenue and profits, and many communities try to resist towers over aesthetic or health-related concerns. 

Leetsdale Police Chief James Santucci, who also has a background in dispatch center management, estimated that the dividing line between cell coverage from towers located in Allegheny or Beaver County is in the area of Henle Park and Victory Lane. 

He also stated this can vary, however, on the user's cell phone carrier and even what type of network they are using. Someone using Verizon's 4G network, for example, may get coverage from a different tower than if they were on their 3G network. 

Regardless of these variations in cell tower and/or network coverage, you as a citizen deserve to have your call processed promptly and efficiently, regardless of which side of an imaginary line you find yourself on. This involves factors that go beyond the physics of radio, or the cold calculus of electronics. 

Cell Phone Reality #2: The person answering your 9-1-1 call may not be anywhere near your actual location, or as familiar with your area as you might be. Be prepared to answer questions as fully and calmly as you can.  

Processes: Even though some towns and agencies choose to do their own dispatching, most of them tell their residents to call 9-1-1 in an emergency. They know that by doing this it will also trigger the notification of agencies that they do not coordinate, but that may also be needed. 

The 9-1-1 centers in turn must quickly gather the required basic information, identify the need for a transfer, and successfully make that transfer. This happens hundreds of times a day in our area.

Unfortunately, at times the information necessary to determine whether or not the call requires a transfer is unclear, or must be repeated to multiple people. Chief Santucci cited this as a possible contributing factor to the incident that the the Mayor referred to in his newsletter article.

This highlights a process that also involves technology - the ability to quickly share data between dispatch centers could speed things up considerably, but would require a solution to connect what are currently different computer systems. 

People: None of the above can truly succeed without the effort of dedicated, well-trained professionals and the cooperation of an engaged, well-informed citizenry. Unfortunately, it's also a given that the amount of dedication, training, cooperation, and awareness varies greatly.  

Challenges like these extend across all of these areas, especially as technology continues to evolve, processes adjust to adapt, and people change their lives in response..or not.

Cell Phone Reality #3: Your brand new, state-of-the-art smartphone may be eclipsed by the next big thing 6 months from now. 9-1-1, however, has been behind the curve from the start. 

Since cell phones first hit the marketplace in the mid-1980's, those of us in public safety communications have been playing catch-up with the industry to assure that citizens who have an emergency situation can use this technology to get the right help to the right place. 

This has been a tough job, especially when popular features such as text messaging, mobile Internet and VoIP phone services, still and video cameras, and the ability to upload information to social media platforms has become commonplace - all without assuring first that public safety and 9-1-1 are prepared to deal with it. 

The primary government agency that holds sway over the mobile phone industry is the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC makes the rules that require the cell phone companies to provide for location information, as well as to promptly report cell service outages or disruptions.

Cell Phone Reality #4: The FCC also made the rule that requires all working cell phones to be able to call 9-1-1, regardless of whether or not there is a service plan for them. In other words, remove the battery from your old cell phone before giving it to a child to play with. Please and thank you...

The Future Is..Wait a Minute, It's Here Already

If you have a modern cell phone, you hold a marvel in your hands. The technology that makes your phone work is revolutionizing telephone systems from the ground up. The foundational world of mechanical, then electronic switching that made our landline telephone network possible is gradually giving way to the Internet as a new foundation - and 9-1-1 is following suit as best it can. 

Next Generation 9-1-1 offers the promise of establishing reliable communications networks that can handle all of the different ways that critical information can be sent today. It also changes the way that 9-1-1 services can be accessed and delivered, allowing for greater efficiency and the potential for reducing long-term operating costs.

The state agency that oversees the provision of 9-1-1 service in Pennsylvania is the Pa. Emergency Management Agency. PEMA appears to have a handle on the needs, benefits, and challenges behind making the transition to this next level of technology, in order to positively address citizens' expectations of both effective service delivery and that government revenue be spent in an efficient, responsible manner. 

This involves processes and people as well. The removal of physical limits related to legacy phone networks creates the potential for consolidation of both dispatch centers and the vendors that provide them with technology and maintenance support. A recent illustration of these potential trends from another industry is the announcement this past week of the rumored phasing out of the US Airways operations center in Moon Township.

Another example of how much things may be changing came to light this month as well, as the FCC posted a notice that they will be looking into the possibility of changing that rule about all working cell phones being able to call 9-1-1.

This is in response to the volumes of accidental calls from those phones that aren't connected to a service provider - we affectionately call these butt dials, pocket dials, purse dials, toddler dials, etc. These tie up both available lines and the personnel responsible for promptly answering them. 

There is no shortage of good public information out there about calling 9-1-1. April is National 9-1-1 Education Month - it also marks National Public Safety Telecomunicator Week.

There are plenty of online resources available for free download by citizens, government officials, and educators to help make sure that, even in the midst of unique local operational practices, a simple, direct, and easy to understand message is being sent. 

Change is a Constant

Regardless of the direction all of this goes, dynamic changes like these will continue to impact the way we live. That may sound awfully simplistic, but I don't know of any clearer way to say it.

This also applies to things that we take for granted even more, and perhaps understand even less about what it takes to deliver them to us. Stay tuned... 

Cell Phone Reality #5: We're doing the best we know how. Your cooperation is essential to our success on your behalf.

Bordering on the Bizarre

Over the last few weeks my family and I have been adapting to a change in my status at work. It's mostly good news - I am now full-time, but am also working a different shift, and serving an area of Allegheny County with which I am less familiar. Like anything else, it's a learning experience.

One thing I have learned from nearly 30 years of doing this kind of work is the effect of boundary lines on how people live their lives - what type of services they receive, where their kids go to school, how much things cost, how well they are informed, how much freedom they really have. 

When I lived in Colorado, I commented extensively on the manner in which cities out there grow by annexation of the unincorporated territory that makes up most of the counties in the state. Boundary lines in this environment changed frequently, dramatically, and sometimes with curious consequences - one example is available here.

In Pennsylvania, most of these boundary lines are much older, and in many cases seemingly cut in stone. In the nearly two years that I've been back, I've noted several examples of how these lines create situations and conditions that approach a different kind of boundary - that distinguishing common sense from what is often something less. 

Every so often I'll highlight one of these quirky situations, and try to dig deeper to figure out just why - from a historical, traditional, or political standpoint - we did this to ourselves.

What's in an Area Code?

An aerial map of the Leetsdale area, with Area Code and County boundaries added. Leet Township, Leetsdale, and Bell Acres are divided between the 412 and 724 area codes.
Credit Bing Maps / John Linko

The amount of telephone numbers that we attach ourselves to has proliferated along with the age of wireless telecommunication and portable computing. Where once we had a home phone number and a work phone number, we now have mobile phones for multiple family members, fax machines, pagers, and even multiple residential lines - all placing a significant demand on the finite numerical resources within a 10-digit telephone number system.

Since the implementation of direct dialing of long distance calls in the late 1940's, the allocation of area codes and phone numbers has been accomplished via the North American Numbering Plan, or NANP.

The administrator of the NANP is responsible for receiving and reviewing requests for telephone numbers by the numerous types of telephone service providers that have proliferated with technologies such as cell phones, Voice over Internet Protocol phone service (Vonage, MagicJack), and Competitive Local Exchange Carriers, or CLECs, that compete with the Incumbent carriers, or ILECs, which are in most areas the legacy phone companies that have evolved from the breakup of the Bell System in the mid-1980's.

Verizon is the ILEC for the Sewickley area. Comcast/Xfinity is an example of a CLEC.

When the amount of local exchange numbers began to approach exhaustion from all of these requests for exchanges and number assignments, the NANP administrator began the process of assigning new area codes to places where this number growth was occurring most rapidly - that being major cities.

Shortly before I moved to Colorado, the 303 area code that stretched across the state was truncated to serve just the Denver area, replaced in areas outside by the 970 area code. Just three years later, demand for numbers required the assignment of another area code in Metro Denver. Administrators there decided to overlay 720 on top of 303 - this meant that your new neighbors across the street could have a different area code, and that dialing 10 digits for local calls was the new normal for using the phone.

That same year, 1998, brought the division of the 412 area code, which served all of southwestern Pennsylvania. Numbering administrators here elected to separate the new 724 area code from 412 along existing geographic boundaries that separated different local phone exchanges.

This was by media accounts at the time a contentious transition, especially in Pittsburgh's northern suburbs and in Moon and Crescent Townships, where the 457 exchange was placed into 724. This created an an issue with emergency services access, as Allegheny County had yet to implement 9-1-1 service county-wide. 

A current map of Pennsylvania area codes, showing the 878 area code overlaid on 412 and 724.
 Credit Whitepages.com

At the same time, NANP administration also assigned an overlay code - 878 - that would cover both 412 and 724 for future assignment. The map above shows the current state of area codes in Pennsylvania.

In the Sewickley area, portions of Leetsdale, Leet Township, and Bell Acres Borough had always been split between the 741 (Sewickley) and 266 (Ambridge) exchanges. The division of 412 and 724 meant that these communities would now also be split between two area codes.

Reviewing maps of the exchange boundaries makes it pretty simple to see why the Fair Oaks section of Leet Township and that part of Bell Acres along Big Sewickley Creek Road were included in the Ambridge exchange. When telephone service started, and lines were strung from central offices to various pockets of population, the closest central office was typically the one that neighborhoods were connected to.

Ferry Street at Beaver Road in Leetsdale, looking west toward Route 65 and the Ohio River. The area code boundary follows this street, across 65 and the railroad tracks, all the way to the river.
Credit Google Maps / John Linko

However, the 266 boundary takes a decided dogleg south along the eastern border of Leetsdale to Ferry Street, where it then follows Ferry west to the Ohio River. This makes for some interesting observations, as shown in two of the illustrations above. Walking along Broad Street north of Ferry, in area code 724, it's kind of strange to look east at the houses along Myrtle Hill Road in Leet Township, which is in area code 412.

Yes, they had to draw the line somewhere..but why there? 

An 1877 E.L. Hayes and Company map showing the town plan of then-unincorporated Leetsdale, circa 1877. Ferry Ave. (now Ferry St.) shows as the southern boundary of residential development. Aside from the railroad tracks and Leetsdale Station (which today houses Red Cap Cleaners), there is very little west of the tracks today that resembles the residential areas depicted. The brickworks, purchased by the Harmony Society in 1888, would be just north of this area along the river.  Credit David Rumsey Historical Map Collection

There are no clear-cut answers, but there are plenty of clues, some of which are provided by those who painstakingly maintain, and make available, historical artifacts and documents.

Part of this includes maps of Leetsdale dating to 1877 (shown above) which display residential plot plans and street layouts showing Ferry Street being the southernmost boundary of the fledgling town's development at that time. This may bolster a theory that there was little organized development south of Ferry Street when the first telephone lines were being run.

Other maps from this same time period show the town of Economy, now known as Ambridge, and the influence exerted both within and outside of that community by the industrial, economic, and religious engine known as the Harmony Society.

The same E.L. Hayes and Co. map showing Economy (now Ambridge), with shading and annotation showing the influence of the Harmony Society. Also shown on the map are Fair Oak (the Fair Oaks section of Leet Township) immediately adjacent, followed by Leetsdale, and across the Ohio River the village of Shousetown, now known as the Glenwillard section of Crescent Township. Credit David Rumsey Historical Map Collection

Founded in 1805, and lasting just 100 years due to their unflagging resolve in following the doctrine established by their founder, George Rapp - which included celibacy - the Harmonists exerted considerable influence in the development of various industrial enterprises along the Ohio Valley and in Beaver County.

In the mid to late 19th century, the remaining Harmonists, becoming impaired by dwindling numbers and old age, began to diversify their operations by acquiring failing industrial concerns outside their immediate area, and hiring outside help to run them. One of these enterprises was an existing brickworks in Leetsdale. 

Steam drier at the Harmony Brick Works in Leetsdale, circa 1898. The site is now occupied by the Leetsdale Industrial Park. Credit US Army Corps of Engineers

The Harmonists sold their brickworks and surrounding land to James Oliver in 1902 for real estate development. Leetsdale, along with her southern neighbor Edgeworth, incorporated as boroughs in 1904.

According to a 1906 map of the borough, Oliver intended to develop the brickworks site for residential land, with streets named after the Presidents. Only Washington Street remains of this intended plan - the remainder of the site eventually became the location of Bethlehem Steel's Leetsdale plant. 

The original brickworks was excavated during an extensive archaeological dig in 2002, prior to the site's re-development as the Leetsdale Industrial Park.

So it would seem that the combination of an early town development boundary, combined with an industrial presence that connected early Leetsdale with what would eventually become Ambridge, drove the placement of telephone wiring that would link the Ambridge area with part of Leetsdale Borough to this day.

It's probably also why Leetsdale has a Rapp Street.

Does It Really Matter Anymore? Yes...

It can be argued, depending on how involved one is with technology, that area codes are rapidly becoming an anachronism of sorts nowadays. There are plenty of ways to associate yourself with an area code of your choosing, whether through dropping landline telephone service in favor of a mobile phone, bring your old number along using Local Number Portability, or use a service such as Google Voice.

Just last week it was announced that the 878 area code was being tapped for the first time to address the approaching exhaustion of numbers in the areas served by 724. The Post-Gazette report also quoted NANP administrators as estimating that there were sufficient number resources in 412 to keep the assignment of 878 numbers there at bay for an estimated 5 years.

It may be fair to say that just as industry drove the shaping of telephone boundaries over 100 years ago, the growth of another industry - the one dealing with natural gas exploration - may be driving more changes today.

Irrespective of what happens down the road, it's really important that we as communities keep track of where we've been. I now regret those moments in elementary school when we collectively groaned at the prospect of yet another field trip to Old Economy. Not anymore... 

There are several other examples I've found of how history, development, population, and politics have created boundaries, relationships, and ways of doing things that seem crazy on the surface. 

I'll be exploring these in the coming months - if you know of something that fits, or have more to add on our local history, I'd love to hear about it.