Letter to the Editor: "Love you, Swissvale"

Dear Swissvale,

My name is Carol Hill. I have lived in for 62-plus years and a few in Point Breeze.

In the July-Aug. issue of Swissvale News, I read “At Home in Swissvale” by Miss Wirth—a great story about a wonderful community. If you did not pick this issue up in one of the paper boxes on the streets of Swissvale, you missed a very positive and informative issue.

I agree with Miss Wirth. I, too, live on one of the great blocks of Swissvale where all the neighbors are a blessing, but, you know, I believe we all want to get along, too. We all work at it. Also, it does not hurt to pray for a good new neighbor. So far, my prayers have been answered.

For the last six years, I was sent on a mission to pick up trash all over Swissvale. I have to say I argued with God about this task—it was an embarrassment, I knew my back would hate it, and I felt no change would ever come from it. God yelled at me, “DO IT.” I always did it with joy and privilege because I strongly felt God was in on this walk. After two years of hitting the same area once a week and different areas five to six times a week, I finally began to pick up less and less trash. WOW! Who would have thought?

I met more nice people than I can count. I was filled with joy every day because of how great the streets looked without trash and because of the people that stopped to talk to me. I always shared my positive story of this privileged hike.

I had to give up some streets because my back did complain, but, amazingly, those streets still look very good. I believe someone took over, and people are beginning to notice what clean looks like. I tried to make it look so clean people do not want to dirty it. I am often drawn to tears as I walk in areas that where I have seen, learned and experienced the privilege to work with our public works crew and Carmine Russo and our code enforcement, Iva Russo. They even worked with me in areas where I was 100 percent sure it was a particular resident or business creating a trash mess for months. I was always patient with them because I see them on the streets often, they are busy. I am not the only apple on the tree.

I truly believe it takes everyone to decide that you can do to make a better home—and home is more than just the roof above your head. Home is you community, your town, and the U.S.A.

You each have at least one thing you can do to make it BETTER. Think OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Try to be good to someone even though they are a pain. I have had people in my life that are a pain, and I went the extra mile to treat them like a friend. Be careful of strangers and on guard, but be nice. People have eased up that were once a pain.

I try to focus on what would Jesus do.

Love you, Swissvale.

Your neighbor,

Carol Hill

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