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The Confluence

County Department of Children Initiatives director is prioritizing stability in child care

By Kevin Gavin,

Marylee Williams, Laura Tsutsui, Rebecca Reese

Published December 7, 2021 at 9:20 AM EST

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In this Sept. 16, 2021, file photo Pre-K teacher Vera Csizmadia teaches 3-and 4-year-old students in her classroom at the Dr. Charles Smith Early Childhood Center in Palisades Park, N.J.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: The first director of Allegheny County’s Department of Children Initiatives Rebecca Mercatoris lays out her vision for the department; The North Allegheny School District board has voted to make mask-wearing optional, but the decision could be overruled by the state Supreme Court; and author Yaa Gyasi discusses about her second book, “Transcendent Kingdom,” which is included as part of the Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures Ten Evenings Series.

The Confluence

Kevin Gavin

See stories by Kevin Gavin

Marylee Williams

See stories by Marylee Williams

Laura Tsutsui

See stories by Laura Tsutsui

Rebecca Reese

Rebecca Reese is a production assistant for The Confluence.

See stories by Rebecca Reese

Arts, Sports & Culture

The history of Squirrel Hill, Frick Park fire hydrants & the first Black and female City Councilors

Katie Blackley

Pittsburgh’s East End has some of the city’s largest parks, historic buildings and has long been home to trailblazers in city government. We’ll visit Squirrel Hill and answer some of your questions about the community’s past; we’ll hear the stories of two firsts in Pittsburgh City Council: Paul Jones, the first Black councilor, and Irma D’Ascenzo, the first female councilor; and we’ll walk through Frick Park, where old fire hydrants pop out of the woods.(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by Eisler Landscapes, the CPA firm Sisterson and Company and Baum Boulevard Automotive.)
Development & Transportation

The East Busway’s history, 40th Street colorful seals, and the scenic Allegheny River Boulevard

Katie Blackley

From streetcars to scenic Sunday drives, this episode looks at the transit projects that continue to shape our region. Episode four explains why the 40th Street Bridge has colorful seals; how the East Busway was routed and what led to those decisions; and we take a trip along Allegheny River Boulevard, complete with picnic pull-offs with picturesque views.(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by Baum Boulevard Automotive, Eisler Landscapes, and the CPA firm Sisterson and Company.)
Arts, Sports & Culture

Pronouncing ‘Carnegie,’ Schenley bench art, and the origins of the Pirates’ name

Katie Blackley

Welcome back to 90.5 WESA’s Good Question! podcast. We’re thrilled to launch season two and bring you even more stories about Pittsburgh history and culture. Our first episode highlights city staples. We’ll visit the mind behind the colorfully painted benches in Schenley Park; we’ll look into how the Pirates got their marauding moniker and the team’s trendsetting past; and, why do locals say “Carnegie” when the rest of the country has a different pronunciation?
Arts, Sports & Culture

Pittsburgh’s panthers, Civil War fort remnants, and a trip to West View Park

Katie Blackley

Turn right where the Isaly’s used to be! Sound familiar? Pittsburgh loves to remember things that aren’t there anymore. For this episode, we learn about actual panthers that once roamed this region and how they live on at Pitt and throughout Oakland; we travel to the woods of Stanton Heights to find the remnants of a Civil War fortification; and we ride the dips at old West View Park.(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by Baum Boulevard Automotive, Eisler Landscapes, and the CPA firm Sisterson and Company.)
Development & Transportation

Downtown wharfs, river depth, and the history of Czechoslovakia’s creation in Pittsburgh

Katie Blackley

If you’ve spent any time in Pittsburgh, you’ve likely been on or near its three rivers. Follow along with WESA’s Good Question podcast as we walk along the riverfront trails and remember the bustling wharfs that once occupied the space; take a dive into how river depth is measured; and, did you know the groundwork for the creation of the country Czechoslovakia took place in Downtown Pittsburgh?(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by Baum Boulevard Automotive, Eisler Landscapes, and the CPA firm Sisterson and Company.)

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