Volume 26 No. 4 April 2010
MCC partners with Chicago businessman to provide100 jobs to area
The steady vision of a volunteer
By Henry Clay Webster At a community meeting on March 29, Manchester Citizens Corporation announced that it was in talks with a Chicago businessman who wants to convert the old Reinhold Ice Cream factory on Western Avenue into a manufacturing and packaging plant for his recycled antifreeze and oil products. Rodney Burrington’s Pinnacle, LLC is investing in the building and in more equipment, with the hope of opening for business within 30 to 60 days. Burrington’s Chicago-based plant already produces his antifreeze product, which he said is “geared toward a lower end market,” with a gallon costing about $5.99. Burrington expects to hire as little as 25 and as many as 100 employees from the nearby area and said the jobs will pay between $10 and $11 an hour. MCC Executive Director Stanley Lowe announced that MCC might create a for-profit entity to help Pinnacle with distribution. MCC is in charge of scouting out potential employees. If you’d like to apply, call 412-323-1743.
For the full article, go to www. thenorthsidechronicle.com and click on “News.”
Northside Pittsburgh’s Best Kept Secret
Photo courtesy Audrey Glickman City Council President Darlene Harris pitches in at a Spring Hill neighborhood cleanup in April of 2009.
By Kelly Thomas Friends and community members describe her as selfless, hardworking and dedicated to getting the job done, whether it takes a day or a year — or 10. But Darlene Harris, who was elected city council president in January, will most likely shrug off the compliments and keep working. “As I accomplish something I just move on to the next task,” said Harris. “If I see a job that needs done, I just do it.” Observatory Hill, Inc. chair board Moses Carper has worked
with Harris on many a community project, including setting up a visitor education center and getting flower beds at the entrance of Riverview Park. “She’s a get-it-done person. Once you point her in a direction, she’s very tenacious,” Carper said. Harris works from the bottom up rather than the top down. She goes to the community and asks them what they need, and then works to get it, he added. She’s also a strong advocate for community involvement. It’s not enough for her to accomplish something, she wants the community to take over the project and make it their own.
Perhaps her desire to get the community involved stems from one important lesson she’s learned over three decades of service: Never turn down a volunteer. “Everyone doesn’t have the same talents, but never turn down anyone who wants to help. You can never do it yourself. You need others to get things done.” Harris started her long career of community service at Perry High School where she took on any volunteer activity she could find. One thing that stands out to her now, 40 years after graduation, was during the 1960s when racial
Harris, page 13
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