Before a campaign was envisioned,
Denise had a long history of speaking up on behalf of Ross Township residents.
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Ever since a private investment firm became the new owners of the Northway Mall and Northway Elementary parcels, Denise has protected the surrounding neighborhoods.
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She's attended numerous commissioner, planning, and zoning board meetings to advocate for the community.
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She also organized neighbors to attend these meeting along side her, as well as write the commissioners to influence zoning decisions.
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When Ross Township approved BJ’s Warehouse, Denise was onboard, but she advocated for more greenery, taller trees, noise buffers, sidewalks on Browns Lane, closing the Northway Elementary entrance, and rerouting gas trucks away from residential areas.
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When virtual meetings took place during the pandemic, she was there, speaking up for her community.
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"The integrity of our community is at stake. We have been granted a part in these negotiations, and this is the time to speak up."
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Most recent sources on the issue:
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Source 1: BJ Development Commissioners Meeting (Denise quoted)
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Source 2: Post Gazette BJ (Denise quoted)
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"I also care about issues beyond my own backyard"
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Denise raised awareness during a recent attempt to rezone a residential property to an apartment building next to the Chapel Hill neighborhood.
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Despite a letter sent out from the Township, residents in the surrounding area were not aware this change was going to impact them.
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In an effort to empower the community and ensure transparency, Denise investigated the issue, created a map educating the residents on the location of the proposed Babcock Boulevard rezoning, and distributed it to impacted residents in-person and online.
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Most recent source on the issue:
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Source 5 Rezone Residential R1 to R4 pg19 (Denise quoted)
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"We need better transparency and communication for our residents, business owners, and local government.
No one should be caught off guard on a development or change that impacts our township’s residents and business owners."
"A long-time Ross Township resident is who I am, and helping neighbors is what I do."
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For 6 years, Denise served as President of the Ross Township Keown Heights Civic Association.
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Having been chosen by her peers to serve in this role, it was important to her that this committee be re-created to ultimately build a sense of community.
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To effectuate this change, she led efforts in organizing neighborhood parties with local businesses and over 100 households so that neighbors were no longer strangers, but part of a strong community.
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While her daughter Vanessa graduated from North Hills, she still advocates for the children in her community and their public safety.
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In 2018, neighbors were concerned about the dangerous school bus stop at Browns Lane. Denise contacted the Ward 8 Commissioner to have the bus stop rerouted to a safer area for our neighborhood kids.
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Denise is a woman of faith, and is actively involved at her church as a Minister of Hospitality/usher, and Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.
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Also part of Core Christ Life program: database administrator and communication outreach. Volunteer at the St. Teresa of Avila festival.
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"It's is my sense of duty that I am involved"
Denise Fighting for THE Elderly
Denise Rickenbrode raises awareness of nursing home crisis.
When local nursing homes were facing closure, passion and determination had Denise seeking all avenues in making the situation public. She put into motion a plan of action, motivating people to write to political leaders and voicing her own story. This determination led to an on-air interview and investigation with KDKA's Andy Sheehan.