– Orange County’s Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District is set to team up with Evans High School for a community clean-up and local organizations are invited to volunteer and take part in making a positive impact on the neighborhood This trash pick-up initiative is part of the Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District’s ongoing efforts to support neighborhood revitalization business development and encourage civic engagement PINE HILLS – What started as a neighborhood eyesore is now a clean corner thanks to a tip from a News 6 viewer and quick action from Orange County leaders a massive pile of illegally dumped trash — including furniture rags and even parts of a boat — was taking over the corner of Kerry Street and Concord Avenue in Pine Hills The site had become a growing concern for residents and nearby business owners “This is a problem that’s been happening for a few years,” Sleiman said we get to the point that it’s cleaning up and they’re taking action.” Lisa Beckner was one of the first to raise the alarm, reaching out to the News 6 Results Desk for help. The difference from last week to this week,” Beckner said and I thank you for making this a priority.” After News 6 shared Beckner’s concerns with Commissioner Mike Scott of Orange County District 6 Scott said while the cleanup is a major win it’s only the first step in addressing a long-standing problem “We’re trying to focus on long-term solutions,” Scott said lighting and cameras to discourage illegal dumping.” County officials also said they’re looking at improved enforcement and community outreach to stop the problem before it starts The effort is a reminder that change often starts with a single voice. If you spot illegal dumping in your neighborhood, you can contact the News 6 Results Desk by clicking here. Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group The Pine Hills Correctional Facility in Miles City has returned to its roots as a juvenile facility after the last of its adult inmates were transferred elsewhere the Montana Department of Corrections stated in a news release Friday the corrections department has moved its juvenile female population into Pine Hills from an Idaho facility The juvenile females range between 10 and 18 years old the facility has seen a rising number of violent juvenile offenders prompting the state to move out the adults to create more space and separation for the youths “Our juvenile offenders are more violent than ever Approximately 42% of our population are affiliated with two gangs This is incredibly challenging for our workforce because the offenders must be separated creating another challenge with the offenders that are not gang members," DOC Director Brian Gootkin said in the news release Renovations made to Pine Hills to accommodate adult and juvenile populations several years ago allow sight and sound separation between the juvenile male and female populations Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Infrastructure improvements are underway in the Pine Hills community to make it easier for people to get around The Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District (NID) has been working on these changes to help revitalize the area and promote economic development said he believes the improvements will transform the neighborhood Haberkamp has been a part of the community longer than his restaurant has “I actually started here at the same time they opened it when I was 9,” Haberkamp said my first day of working here was the day before we opened a restaurant He grew up in Pine Hills and graduated from Evans High School nearly 50 years ago He reminisces on photos of what it looked like before the area was built up around them One single-lighted intersection,” he explained you gotta get people to reinvest and rebuild — just like a residential area where they’re tearing out houses and building new ones.” Haberkamp jumped at the chance to be the NID chairman, focusing on public safety and neighborhood revitalization along the major business corridor in Pine Hills “I can use my history of being in the community and what’s happened to kind of direct people so we don’t make the same mistakes twice,” Haberkamp said he said he is excited to see projects he worked on come to fruition Among those are making pedestrian and bicycling safety improvements by widening sidewalks in areas like Pine Hills Road. There is also an ongoing septic to sewer project which is currently converting five to six blocks at a time “That’s going to allow the developer that wants to build a nice new facility to prove the area the infrastructure it needs to start right off the bat,” Haberkamp said A new Lynx Pine Hills transfer station will also open near Haberkamp’s restaurant The transfer station will offer 10 local routes which will bring new people to the area and make it safer for residents to catch their bus in a safe it’ll keep a lot of people from walking in between traffic and that kind of stuff,” Haberkamp said said she’s excited to see the end results after keeping residents informed of the changes and getting project feedback from the community “They could prioritize things that they wanted to see in the community and then we put it together and discussed it,” Johnson said She said she believes the upgrades will improve the quality of life for Pine Hills residents in every aspect.  the opportunity for eyes and ears to be on our community and put a positive spin on Pine Hills,” Johnson said “So I see this in the future as just a stepping stone and more importantly but I see the investment that the county has put into these projects meaning that they’re just not here for right now Haberkamp said he hopes that all the improvements will help build connections for residents in the Pine Hills community creating a sense of pride in the place they all call home every building that’s remodeled or rebuilt or whatever all just shows them that they’re living in a newer area and something to be proud of,” he said said he is excited about the changes coming to town He became more involved in the community after he started attending NID meetings Walker said he and his wife have already been taking advantage of some improvements and he can’t wait to use the transfer station when it opens He said he appreciates learning about the transformation projects at NID meetings “This is so cool that now there are steps that are being taken to improve the infrastructure for the current and future growth that is coming to Pine Hills For those interested in attending NID meetings to learn more about improvements in Pine Hills they occur on the first Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m where breaking news in Montana State Government is posted for various state agencies five female juvenile offenders under the supervision of the Montana Department of Corrections returned to Big Sky Country from Idaho where the DOC has been housing its juvenile female population for approximately nine years Moving the female juvenile offenders to Pine Hills Correctional Facility in Miles City is possible thanks to Governor Gianforte and the legislature funding out-of-state beds for male adult inmates “The DOC has seen significant changes in its juvenile population over the past few years,” said DOC Director Brian Gootkin “Our juvenile offenders are more violent than ever.  Approximately 42% of our population are affiliated with two gangs.  This is incredibly challenging for our workforce because the offenders must be separated.  This creates another challenge with the offenders that are not gang members.” the department has restored Pine Hills to its previous status as a juvenile-only facility the department has the capacity to move the adult offenders to other facilities throughout the state “By moving the adult males out of Pine Hills we created a great opportunity to get these female juveniles back to Montana,” Director Gootkin said Renovations made to Pine Hills to accommodate adult and juvenile populations several years ago also allow the sight and sound separation required to keep the male and female juvenile populations separated within the facility — The Montana Department of Corrections has announced that Pine Hills Correctional Facility in Miles City is back to a juvenile facility The department moved its juvenile females from the Idaho facility Pine Hills was used to hold juveniles and adult males however the department has moved those adults to other facilities across the state The Department of Corrections sent out the following statement: To meet the constantly evolving needs of its juvenile population the Montana Department of Corrections has restored Pine Hills Correctional Facility to its former status as a juvenile facility the department moved its juvenile female population from the Idaho facility where that population has been housed for about nine years Pine Hills has been used to hold juvenile and adult males The department moved the adults to other facilities throughout the state “The DOC has seen significant changes in its juvenile population over the past few years,” said DOC Director Brian Gootkin Approximately 42% of our population are affiliated with two gangs This is incredibly challenging for our workforce because the offenders must be separated creating another challenge with the offenders that are not gang members.” The space made available by moving the adult population at Pine Hills will allow for more opportunity to meet those separation needs Renovations made to Pine Hills to accommodate adult and juvenile populations several years ago allow the sight and sound separation required to keep the male and female juvenile populations separated within the facility “By moving the adult males out of Pine Hills we created a great opportunity to get these female juveniles back to Montana,” Director Gootkin said Copyright 2025 Central Florida Public Media Tamara Johnson never misses an opportunity to talk about the exciting things happening in Pine Hills She’s so eager to spread the news that she often goes door-to-door in the community encouraging residents and business owners to attend monthly meetings to engage Johnson is passionate about this area of West Orange County for many reasons she’s been a frequent visitor since childhood she’s the executive director of Orange County’s Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District “I do have a fondness for Pine Hills,” she said I’m in a unique opportunity where I can make an impact We want people to know that [Orange County] is here and we are committed to this community.” Orange County has invested more than $67 million in Pine Hills one of Orange County’s oldest and largest neighborhoods Here’s a snapshot of what’s happening in Pine Hills: –Bicycle and pedestrian safety efforts – Four new sidewalks will be added in the next five years while 35 additional sidewalk projects are in the pipeline pedestrians and cyclists will see other changes in the community including the addition of a 7-foot-wide dedicated bike lane from Colonial Drive to Silver Star Road located between Colonial Drive and Bonnie Brae Circle will be reconstructed with a raised median –Economic Development – The County is undertaking a major project to convert up to 93 parcels from septic tank to county sewer along Pine Hills Road from W This project includes 70 percent commercial and 30 percent residential parcels within the project space The utility improvements began in September 2024 and the project is scheduled for completion January 2026 This will create redevelopment opportunities along Pine Hills Road -Public Transportation – Lynx is nearing completion on a bus transfer station near the intersection of Belco Drive and Silver Star Road and a full-access signal will be installed there; and the Pine Hills Trail will be extended through the site The project also furthers the vision for town center development by providing additional commercial or office space –Beautification initiatives – A new pocket park has opened at the corner of Silver Star Road and Golf Club Parkway This includes eight new trees that have been planted through the efforts of Orange County –Public Safety – The Pine Hills NID continues to implement additional safety measures by allocating $20,000 annually for off-duty deputies to patrol the NID corridors and maintain a visible presence at community events The deputies patrol for eight hours during various days and times of the week respond to calls and assist citizens within the NID boundaries The Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District was created in December of 2011 as a recommendation from the Pine Hills Business Redevelopment Task Force The Orange County Board of Commissioners authorized an annual allocation of $125,000 for the PHNID until 2032 This PHNID focuses on public safety and neighborhood revitalization along the major business corridor within Pine Hills Want to learn more? Community meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Pine Hills Community Center, 6408 Jennings Rd., Orlando, FL, 32818, or visit Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District – A growing movement is pushing for Pine Hills to break away from Orange County and become its own municipality following in the footsteps of cities like Belle Isle and Winter Park Advocates claim the change would allow Pine Hills to establish its own city council and police department addressing concerns about local governance and public safety a longtime resident and leading advocate for the movement are not very good at managing this community at all,” Dimache said Supporters of incorporation argue that a dedicated police force could help curb crime in the area a lot of the criminals are coming from places that are already incorporated,” Dimache said “They feel like this is a safe place to commit crime because Pine Hills doesn’t have anyone protecting them at the moment.” University of Central Florida senior lecturer and News 6 political analyst Jim Clark noted that discussions about Pine Hills incorporating date back nearly 60 years He said forming a city government would give residents more control over their community’s future They would be able to look at their own problems they depend upon the county for all their services,” Clark said Residents would likely see an increase in property taxes to fund city services “People there would have to be willing to pay more in taxes,” Clark said “And that’s what the residents are going to have to decide.” Dimache said he plans to file paperwork with the county to initiate the annexation process the proposal would ultimately go before voters for a final decision he continues knocking on doors to rally support “The future I envision for Pine Hills is a future where the respect that we’ve demanded for so long is finally realized A Pine Hills where everyone is safe,” Dimache said Troy graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication He has reported on Mexican drug cartel violence on the El Paso/ Juarez border nuclear testing facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory and severe Winter weather in Michigan a neighborhood on the west side of Orlando has seen its fair share of growth and transformation Once considered a shining example of suburban success the community’s history is as rich and complex as its diverse population From its early days as a destination for middle-class families to its current status as a minority-majority community Pine Hills is a place where both pride and painful memories coexist Developed by British immigrant Gordon Barnett the area quickly became one of Orlando’s first suburban neighborhoods attracting workers and families seeking a better life a golf course and a Hilton hotel where even Walt Disney himself once stayed The steakhouse in the area was also considered one of the best in town whose family moved to Pine Hills in the 1950s His parents bought one of the homes in the area when it was a thriving Dunaway even wrote a book called History of Pine Hills The upbringing was marked by drive-in movies and trips to the store Pine Hills began to feel the impact of national trends including the desegregation of public schools and the shifting racial demographics and Pine Hills entered a new chapter of its history marked by economic decline and racial tensions vividly remembers the racial tensions that marked his early years in the neighborhood raising his children in a yard where he now tends a mini farm Walker was one of the first African-Americans desegregated into Evans High School “I’m very proud of this place,” said Walker standing amid rows of peppers he’s growing in his garden But his experience with the neighborhood is layered with complexity Pine Hills represents both opportunity and division He recalls a time when racial lines were sharply drawn There were certain areas you weren’t welcome in you had to deal with the consequences,” said Walker reflecting on the struggles faced by many African-American residents in the 1970s Walker’s story is part of a larger trend that began in the 1980s and 1990s when many white middle-class families left the neighborhood in what’s often referred to as “white flight.” As African-American families began to move in Property values fell and businesses closed he reflects on the parallels between gardening and the community he’s a part of “Gardens and communities are very similar,” he said Pine Hills still has the potential to heal and grow “We need to acknowledge the fact that things are not as they were We need to find out how to live on this planet together,” Walker said Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved – “Our neighborhood has become a trash dump,” Donald Holibut told News 6 He is a local business owner frustrated by the illegal dumping near his office He is among several residents in the Pine Hills area who have reported the growing problem of trash accumulation A viewer alerted News 6 to the situation through the ClickOrlando Results Desk Commissioner Mike Scott from Orange County District 6 responded right away to our request to help them get results “We have had a problem with illegal dumping across the county specifically in District 6,” Scott told News 6 [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) ’ PINIT! Share your photos] the commissioner contacted the county’s Public Works Department to arrange for cleanup efforts Plans include deploying trucks to remove the debris and exploring long-term solutions such as additional lighting and surveillance Scott emphasized the safety risks posed by the trash “This should be a place to park a fire truck for emergency services Holibut hopes for strict consequences for those responsible for the dumping suggesting that surveillance cameras could deter offenders Authorities are working to clear the trash as soon as possible utilizing specialized trucks equipped with claws to handle the large debris News 6 will continue to monitor the situation Laverne McGee joined WKMG-TV as a reporter in March 2024 Work is underway to install speed cameras in front of Pine Hills Elementary School on North Allen Street The speed cameras are intended to help enforce the city's 20 mph speed limit in school zones.  the speed camera will operate in a “warning mode” for 30 days motorists who speed through school zones will be sent notices via postal mail informing them of the violation and reminding them that the school zone speed limit is 20 mph motorists caught by a camera speeding in a school zone will be mailed a $50 violation per offense This is expected to begin in early January Speed cameras are currently in place at Eagle Point Elementary School on Western Avenue Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School and Albany School of Humanities on Whitehall Road and William S Hackett Middle School and Thomas O'Brien Academy of Science and Technology on Delaware Avenue. When the project is complete the city will have expanded the use of speed cameras to serve 20 school zones throughout Albany “We are grateful to Mayor Sheehan for her leadership in bringing these important new traffic safety measures to our school communities," Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter said "This will bring significant and much-needed safety improvements for our students the speed limit on most streets outside school zones also will drop from 30 mph to 25 mph beginning Jan This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software The mission of the City School District of Albany is to work in partnership with our diverse community to engage every learner in a robust educational program designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for success The district serves about 8,800 students in 16 schools: 12 elementary schools three middle schools and Albany High School a comprehensive high school with a career and technical education center The district also offers additional innovative academic opportunities for students in support of our vision Principal Meghan D'Alessandro is thrilled to kick off 2025 at Pine Hills Elementary School She spent her first day in her new position - Jan 2 - meeting students and staff and making classroom visits D’Alessandro had been the assistant principal at Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST) since 2021 she worked as a sixth-grade ELA teacher at William S Hackett Middle School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and middle school social studies from Russell Sage College and a master’s in adolescent literacy from Sage Graduate School She also holds school building leader certification from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts "Pine Hills is a tight-knit community and I am so excited to be a part of this school This building is wonderful and has deep roots with the Leader In Me program and my goal is to uplift that initiative in any way possible," said Principal D’Alessandro D’Alessandro will join Assistant Principal Allisen Brodie on the administrative team at Pine Hills and replaces Tia Corniel who departed in October for a position in another school district — A new youth drop-in center opened its doors in Orange County’s Pine Hills neighborhood on Friday youth ages 16 to 24 with the resources they need to get back on their feet The project was made possible by an $8.4 million grant from the U.S Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) which was awarded to the Homeless Services Network will fund a variety of services — including the one-stop shop in Pine Hills — for 2-1/2 years’ worth of work What makes this particular center unique is that it was inspired by the ideas of young people “They came up with the plan on what they want to see their dream for a drop-in center and our team put everything together and worked with SALT Outreach and here we are now,” said Homeless Services Network’s Youth Project Coordinator Valerie Perez The SALT Outreach organization, which provides mobile drop-in centers to the homeless, will oversee daily operations at the facility the Homeless Services Network revealed that roughly 6,700 children and youth were experiencing homelessness or housing instability in Orange County alone Among the services the new center will provide include: SALT Outreach Executive Director Eric Camarillo said he believes this new space will be beneficial for the community they’re in fight-or-flight mode," Camarillo said "They need a place to get out of the elements.” He also emphasized how important it is for the homeless youth to have their own allocated space because their needs differ from the adult homeless population “Then navigate them through what’s often a fragmented homeless services system," Camarillo said "Everyone has kind of all these resources We're helping to teach them how to tap into these resources.”  He understands firsthand what it's like because he was homeless when he was 20 years old there is a direct correlation between the frequency of visits to a SALT drop-in center and the percentage of unhoused people being moved into housing Homeless advocacy experts said youth homelessness can be a result of many factors from family conflict to youth exiting or transitioning out of foster care or the child welfare system Albany County's plan to purchase the former College of Saint Rose campus is a step closer to completion The Pine Hills Land Authority's Board of Directors voted unanimously on Thursday to approve a $40 million bond to purchase the former College of Saint Rose campus The college in Albany closed in June after more than a century of operation The Authority had submitted a $35 million bid on the property in late 2024 with the bond covering the purchase price and any ancillary costs associated with acquisition of the property Albany County Pine Hills land Authority CEO Kevin O'Connor said "The Albany County Pine Hills land Authority authorized me to enter into a contract with M&T BANK to accept the term sheet that they issued for some $40 million plus or minus dollars for the issuance of bonds to secure the acquisition of the former college campus of the College of Saint Rose and that was approved unanimously by the board and we are looking at a closing sometime on or about the week of March 10 which would convey the campus of the College of Saint Rose over to the Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority." The terms include financing up to $50 million A $4 million reserve fund would be established Pending any details requiring further finalization the financing agreement is subject to approval from the Albany County Legislature Paul Burgdorf is the Deputy Minority Leader I've had a bit of an epiphany on this project I personally voted against it a couple of times I wasn't sure that Albany County should be in the real estate business But now that we are the successful bidder for the Pine Hills Authority and the Saint Rose properties would be for the legislature to be asked by the county executive for approval that that will ultimately be given," Burgdorf said Burgdorf says hope remains that most of the Saint Rose campus can be turned into chunks of taxable properties that would enhance the tax rolls "But one of the things that we are hearing preliminarily from the county executive is that he is looking about putting some county functions there the Social Services Building and perhaps even the probation building And as long as those go on the private tax rolls and add to Albany County's tax base we would go from having two sets of tax exempt properties to one and I think that could potentially be a financial advantage is I would like to see what the overall game plan is for the campus and how much money it would take to retrofit the campus," said Burgdorf.  Downtown Albany Business Improvement District Executive Director Georgette Steffens says county offices' moving uptown a plan favored by County Executive Dan McCoy  "Some of the buildings will end up presenting as opportunities There's definitely buildings that are poised for residential conversions and it could be great opportunity for that residents spend more money in a downtown area than a daytime worker just by being here on the weekends and the evenings and so I think it will create some opportunity," Steffens said Be one of the first to know what's coming up on WAMC See additional subscription options — Jacquie Alexander has been teaching etiquette and life skills to youth at the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida in the Pine Hills area for the past five years.  “As a volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club I’m so excited to fill the toolboxes of life teaching etiquette and life skills to these beautiful youngsters,” Miss Jacquie “J-love” Alexander said She said she wants to make sure the students learn all they can now at a young age “My ultimate goal is to teach them how to be empowered and have confidence presentation of their life skills and also table manners,” Alexander said a seventh-grader at College Park Middle School said he enjoys soaking up all the life lessons she has to offer “It helped me learn how to be a better person toward people and how to treat people how they want to be treated,” Bell said Alexander has helped over 500 students since starting her small classes Boys and Girls Club Volunteer Resources Manager Brianna Laurenceau said they are mighty and have great impact on the students “I see the smiles on the kids’ faces when she enters into the room," Laurenceau said "She is somebody who embodies a leader and I’m very grateful to have her in our club.” – A 20-year-old Orlando man died after the sedan he was driving through Pine Hills struck a concrete pole Sunday morning the man was driving southbound when he lost control of the sedan while negotiating a curve in the outside lane The sedan ran off the roadway to the right and struck a concrete utility pole Troopers believe he was wearing a seat belt during the crash Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: joined the ClickOrlando team in November 2021 Chanel bags, auto memorabilia, crystal, antiques and a 1997 Detroit Parade clown suit are primed for the taking at the estate sale of esteemed former Ford Motor Co. CEO Donald Petersen. Petersen’s Bloomfield Hills home with his wife, Jo Anne Petersen, is open to the public April 25-27 for one of the most breathtaking estate sales its organizer has had, according to the online postings by the group AOM Estate Sales. The group is also known as Antiques on Main The home, dubbed “Aerie,” was the longtime abode of the Petersen couple. They died at the ages of 97 just weeks apart at the home in 2024, according to their obituaries. Donald Petersen has been called one of the most successful auto executives in history and is credited with saving Ford in the 1980s More: Former Ford CEO Don Petersen, who spent 41 years with automaker, dies at 97 The Taurus was launched during his tenure, and the Thunderbird was redesigned, the Free Press previously reported Petersen was praised at the time of his death for having worked closely with the union and encouraging equal treatment between the lowest worker on the assembly line and management Outside of his work in the auto industry, Donald Petersen and his wife are known for the Jo Anne and Donald Petersen Sculpture Garden at the Marshall M Fredericks Sculpture Museum at Saginaw Valley State University Donald Petersen befriended the famed sculptor and displayed the artist’s work throughout his Michigan and California homes, according to his obituary. Petersen established a nonprofit foundation and support group for breast cancer patients and survivors called Sharing and Caring at what is now Corewell Health She also funded a program for gerontology at Oregon State University Jo Anne Petersen was also remembered in her obituary for “transforming spaces with her expertise in interior design,” “nurturing vibrant landscapes” and collecting work from graduates of the nearby Cranbrook Academy of Art The estate sale includes numerous pieces of art, including a Marshall Fredericks "Model T" bronze relief and miniature bronze sculpture, according to an event listing at EstateSales.net. Ferragamo and Polo Ralph Lauren will be available Hermes and Giorgio Armani will also be available Other items for sale include Louis Vuitton vintage suitcases each day from April 25-27 at the home at 703 Lone Pine Hill in Bloomfield Hills The staff at a Pine Hills transitional housing program is ensuring their 22 residents get to open presents on Christmas morning Ministries opened its first building in March and its second one in September to help formerly incarcerated men readjust before re-entering society Some of them spent as many as 18 years behind bars before being released And to be able to come out and have someone show love until they get on their feet is a blessing,” she said said she understands how intimidating it can be to get back out and rejoin society Some of these men are coming out to new technologies and into a post-pandemic world A lack of proper adjustment to life outside of carceral institutions can lead people to reoffend. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, former inmates are re-arrested at a rate of nearly 60% A proven way to reduce this recidivism is through supportive Some key components of a successful transition include finding community it’s so important that the residents get to gather and open presents this Christmas with its beliefs concerning second chances encourages us to show love to those less fortunate It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of giving and understanding our interaction with others,” she said Chisholm said the event is possible thanks to donations and contributions from people who responded to the organization’s call for help The staff asked the men to come up with a wishlist of three items they would like to receive as gifts Chisholm was hoping to be able to get them at least one gift each such as getting a job and managing finances as well as anger This event follows the organization’s first Thanksgiving dinner for the men held last month Lillian Hernández Caraballo is a Report for America corps member – Visitors entering the Pine Hills community at the intersection of Silver Star and Pine Hills Roads have recently been welcomed by new lighted pillars and directional signs highlighting landmarks like Evans High School construction crews are in the process of widening sidewalks and enhancing roadway medians to make the commercial areas along Pine Hills Road and Silver Star Road safer and more attractive In the next few months, Lynx will open a new transfer center in Pine Hills that is expected to reduce commute times for bus passengers These are just a few of the projects that have been championed by the Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District a special district created by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners in 2011 to help expand commerce in the community and revitalize the major business corridor and a voice to residents and citizens alike,” said Tamara Johnson on what needs to happen within the community and take it in a positive direction.” The Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District attempts to identify businesses and services needed by the community such as grocery stores or health care facilities “We’re reaching out to businesses to set up meetings to discuss “We (also) partner with other agencies that have the desire to meet those needs and make our dream become a reality.” Two years ago, the Pine Hills community celebrated the opening of Hawthorne Park an affordable housing complex for residents 55 and older that replaced an underutilized shopping center along Silver Star Road “This is an example of where we’re going,” said Johnson as she stood in front of the $27 million housing community the NID’s advisory board meets at the Pine Hills Community Center to solicit ideas from citizens and business leaders as it charts the future of Pine Hills During this month’s meeting, the NID board was briefed by Orange County Utilities about a year-long project now underway to install a sewer system in the district that will replace aging septic tanks used by businesses and residents. “I see great things coming to the community,” said Johnson And I see Pine Hills truly being a place where people will come to live Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter Mike DeForest has been covering Central Florida news for more than two decades the Pine Hills community gathered Wednesday evening to discuss ways to combat rising crime in West Orange County T’Yonna Major’s father spoke to the audience about his daughter’s vibrant spirit and deep love for learning emphasized the need for concrete action to prevent future violence [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] “I hope we are able to put together an action plan a plan that is going to move forward and keep the community safe,” Peoples said She also expressed concerns about the lack of school lockdowns on Feb 2023 — the day of the shootings — noting that the violence occurred near Pine Hills Elementary and Evans High School “We know a lot of the wealthier neighborhoods are going to be safe They are going to be on lockdown,” Peoples said T’Yonna’s aunt echoed the importance of unity and collective action in addressing crime “We started this to bridge some gaps and network with people so we could stop this T’Yonna’s uncle made a passionate plea for more community involvement “What I want to say to those that are not here Another speaker encouraged attendees to spread the message and invite others to future meetings the small group of us probably knows 10 people we can talk to,” they said The discussion marks a continued effort by Pine Hills residents to find solutions and ensure their community remains safe for future generations This website is unavailable in your location It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States therefore access cannot be granted at this time NY (WRGB) — Albany Police are investigating an armed robbery that reportedly took place at Pine Hills Market on Hudson Avenue officers responded to a reported robbery at the market and armed man left with an unknown amount of cash and police are asking anyone with information to contact the Albany Police Detective Division at (518) 462-8039 – A man was shot Tuesday night in Pine Hills according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to a shooting reported out of the 4900 block of Homestead Road deputies located a man in his 20s who had been shot adding he was taken to the hospital in serious condition No further details had been shared or confirmed at the time of this report Note: This map depicts the general area of this scene and not necessarily its exact location – A man died after Orange County deputies responding to a report of aggravated battery late Thursday found him “with obvious signs of trauma,” according to the sheriff’s office Deputies located the injured man — described as in his 30s — while responding around 11:30 p.m to the 5600 block of Silver Chase Way in Pine Hills the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement The man was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital The sheriff’s office is still investigating No further details were available at the time of this report Note: This map depicts the general area of the scene and not necessarily its exact location You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: Albany County leaders on Monday named six people to serve on the seven-member land authority created to redevelop dozens of former College of Saint Rose properties left vacant by its recent closure County Executive Dan McCoy announced four appointees to the Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority, while county Legislature chair Joanne Cunningham selected two. The final seat will be filled by Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan who has decades of government experience in New York state vice president for real estate development and planning at Empire State Development “I am pleased so many people were interested in serving and it was difficult to select only four members,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P McCoy. “I’d like to thank these qualified individuals in advance for what will be a challenging task." former president and CEO of Capitalize Albany Corporation a fifth-generation resident of Pine Hills and COO of GLS an economic development and public affairs consulting firm A bill signed by Gov Kathy Hochul in June created the authority If the authority exercises a right to purchase the campus and is the successful bidder operation and development of the facilities The authority is charged with "creating a sustainable blueprint that will benefit the community for years to come," McCoy said.  Pastor David Pironneau is preaching from the New Testament’s book of Colossians on a recent Sunday morning at The Kingdom Church Kreyol in Pine Hills The passage calls on Christians to be “bonswa kodiyal’’ – “graciously cordial’’ – when confronted by people who are angry with them Gliding gracefully between Haitian Creole and English Pironneau’s message to the 80 congregants in front of him – many of them Haitian immigrants – strikes a chord He is attempting to do away with birthright citizenship by executive order and on Thursday ended temporary protected status – known as TPS – for 500,000 Haitians in the United States The Biden administration had extended TPS through Feb. 3, 2026, for eligible Haitians. But on Thursday, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem rescinded that extension and announced TPS would end for Haitians on Aug. 3 of this year.  “President Trump and I are returning TPS to its original status: temporary,’’ Noem said in her announcement Thursday night With the climate in the country shifting against refugees and asylum seekers Pironneau is trying to lead his church through an uncertain time and urging them to cling to their faith and remain Christlike in the face of insults or threats “How I respond to a conflict is more important than the content of the conflict,’’ Pironneau tells his congregation That’s why the way we respond matters.’’ Church members respond with calls of “amen’’ and “Mési The Kingdom Church Kreyol is located at the epicenter of Central Florida’s Haitian community, which at 41,000 is the second-largest Haitian immigrant community in the state. Within the 11 square miles of the church’s front door lives 11,613 Haitians For those Haitians who are members of Pironneau’s church many are fearful of deportation – even if they have legal status Pironneau says these fears have been inflamed and exploited by social media influencers and have caused some church members to stay home and not come to services He has tried to counter these fears by bringing in immigration attorneys and other government officials who have conducted Know Your Rights sessions with church members “My job is to reassure them that God is with them and that God is already aware of things because nothing is outside his control,’’ Pironneau said It’s a message that resonates with church member Marsha Jean-Mary who has attended Kingdom Church Kreyol for two years She’s an educator at an Orlando charter school and in the past taught English to speakers of other languages – including Haitian children whose parents “I am someone who holds birthright citizenship But even through the regular process and even if someone were to come here not illegally the process of becoming a citizen or even a resident is so arduous and so difficult that there needs to be a lot of reform done.’’ Jean-Mary says with protected status for asylees and refugees from perilous countries being swept away, many of her fellow church members are afraid. For example, last week, during debate on the sweeping immigration bill passed by the Florida Legislature, Haitian-born Rep. Dotie Joseph offered an amendment that would have extended protected status to Haitians in Florida but it was rejected by her Republican colleagues “The setbacks are enormous,’’ Jean-Mary said “And on top of that legislation that changes as they’re coming in And coming in with an opportunity but then finding that opportunity being ripped away from them can be very hard There’s a lot of fear – an immense amount of fear And even while you’re holding on to your faith you go out on Monday still hoping that you are able to live freely.’’ Albany Police are investigating an armed robbery at Pines Hill Market The suspect entered the store at 504 Hudson Ave They had a handgun and demanded cash out of the register The store employee handed over the money and the suspect left with the cash Anyone with information is asked to contact Albany Police at (518-462-8039 The station representative that can assist any person with disabilities with issues related to the content of the public file is Brittany Moroukian. She can be contacted at bmoroukian@wnyt.com or 518-207-4710 The City School District of Albany Board of Education approved the appointment of Meghan D’Alessandro as the next principal at Pine Hills Elementary School at its meeting Wednesday A former sixth-grade ELA teacher at William S D’Alessandro has been the assistant principal at Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology since 2021 she has helped lead a building-wide effort that has seen strong gains in student achievement since returning from the pandemic D’Alessandro will join Assistant Principal Allisen Brodie on the administrative team at Pine Hills and will replace Tia Corniel who departed recently for a position in another school district D’Alessandro will begin in her new role Jan “I am excited for this new opportunity and looking forward to joining the Pine Hills community,” D’Alessandro “Pine Hills is a tight-knit community and I can’t wait to be a part of it.” D’Alessandro earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and middle school social studies from Russell Sage College and a master’s in adolescent literacy from Sage Graduate School and Medina advance to state as a team; Liam Curtis of Roosevelt and Leo Carey of Brecksville as individuals Liam Curtis of Roosevelt is medalist with 68 Qualifiers *: Top 4 teams and 4 individuals not on a qualifying team Pine Hills Nature Preserve is one of the first nature preserves dedicated in the state of Indiana by the Nature Conservancy but was first dedicated as a National Landmark in 1968 The trailhead to access this preserve is found inside of Shades State Park off Ind The trail that runs through the preserve is about 3-1/2 miles in length and is a loop trail  I decided to explore this preserve this past week but decided to check it out in the warmer temperatures to explore the summer landscape the weather was almost perfect: Sunny skies with temperatures in low 80s I drove to the park and made my way to the trailhead I passed through some beautiful hardwoods and pines as I walked the path through the forest (a tributary of Sugar Creek) along with Clifty Creek I had to cross the creeks a couple of times and I was very fortunate the water was shallow This preserve is known for its high cliffs and rock formations It did not take long before I got to my first big cliff The trail led up and across a very high cliff that had wooden steps leading up to it There were wood rails along the sides of the narrow path that made up the trail on top of the ridge It was easy to see how the preserve got its name after crossing this part of the trail There is an abundance of white pine and hemlock trees that surround the cliff that I crossed over I was literally as high as the tree tops.I continued on after descending the trail and soon found myself in an area where an old wool mill use to operate in the late 1800s There are no signs left that the mill even existed The beautiful creek and rock slides were still present I stopped many places along the trail to take photographs I soon came to a part of the trail that I had been looking forward to: "the Devil's Backbone." To get to it you have to cross Clifty Creek but there were also signs that guided me along the trail The backbone trail has a rock base and is about 100 feet high and only six feet wide in places so I took caution when I climbed and crossed over the rock solid trail beneath my feet I would not recommend this part of the hike It was pretty awesome up there amongst the tree tops It was an interesting visit high up on that rock but I was ready to climb back down pretty quickly I followed the trail a short way and came to the “Honey-Comb" rock This is a big sandstone wall that has weathered over time so it looks like a honeycomb When I finally made my way back to the parking lot and to my car I was feeling quite exhilarated It had been a good hike and a wonderful day at this beautiful and unique place.To get to this place: Take U.S then turn left on county road West 800 South In 0.8 miles turn right onto South 890 West A quote for your week about nature: "History is meant to be carved into stone but the most magical of memories are those that exist only in our imagination Time will erode away the etchings — but the heart never forgets.” — Anonymous The Albany County authority created to purchase the shuttered College of Saint Rose campus in Albany has been handed a defeat The College of Saint Rose shuttered under financial pressure after the spring semester The 104-year-old private college faced declining enrollment and financial pressures The closure of the 48-acre campus prompted the state legislature to create the Pine Hills Land Authority tasked with working to determine the future of the property The Authority's intention to buy the property have so far been thwarted It had offered what's called a "stalking horse bid," an initial bid on a bankrupt entity's assets put forth by an interested buyer of the insolvent establishment's choosing 10th Ward Albany Common Councilor Owusu Anane says a behind the scenes effort is under way to foster the best outcome  "We are open to all options," Anane said I know there are other entities that have also applied I believe that the Authority is going to make the best decision and the stakeholders and the trustees are going to make the best decision for the Pine Hills neighborhood sponsored and supported the legislation to create the Authority "And I am hopeful that eventually they will be successful I think having one owner of a whole campus provides the greatest opportunity for not only the city residents the neighborhoods The stalking horse bid approach is something that is commonly used whether it was going to work or not," McDonald said.  The Authority met Thursday night in effort to come up with new bid to be submitted by the close of business Friday "I think the county executive and the legislature are moving ahead with a very comprehensive proposal," said McDonald "And obviously the mayor and us elected officials are also supporting it because we want to see the best opportunity come out of what really would be considered a tragic situation." Friday morning Land Authority CEO Kevin O’Connor answered a request for comment with a written statement that says in part: "The Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority submitted a bid this morning to purchase the former College of Saint Rose campus in its entirety." He added "The authority will not release any additional details of its bid until after the auction is complete." Democratic Senator-elect Pat Fahy responded to a request for comment in writing saying she "understands why the initial rejection of the bid for the campus is unsettling for many but understands this is part of a delicate negotiation process and remains optimistic the Authority will be able to secure the college property at a reasonable price." The auction is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m December 12 at the Albany law offices of Cullen and Dykman ORANGE COUNTY – A man walking across Silver Star Road in Pine Hills was struck by an SUV and killed on Friday the man was walking south across Silver Star Road when he entered the direct path of an SUV being driven eastbound by a 54-year-old Apopka man The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene The Apopka man was not injured and remained at the scene adding he was wearing a seat belt during the crash Note: This map depicts the general area of this crash and not necessarily its exact location