News Around the Neighborhood
Reds, Whites & Brews – Benefitting the Allegheny YMCA
Join City of Asylum for a Reading with Raza Rumi
Delhi by Heart: Impressions of a Pakistani Traveler
In Delhi by Heart: Impressions of a Pakistani Traveler, Raza explores the idea of home from a very complex set of experiences: “Why does the capital of another country feel like home? How is it that a man from Pakistan can cross the border into ‘hostile’ territory and yet not feel ‘foreign’?”
Raza Rumi fled his native Pakistan weeks after an attempt on his life that killed his driver in March 2014. A leading public voice in Pakistan’s fight against extremism and human rights violations, he is the newest writer in residence of Ithaca City of Asylum.
During this evening Raza will read from Delhi by Heart: Impressions of a Pakistani Traveler and from his new manuscript memoir; he will also speak about violent extremism in Pakistan.
Join us for an evening with Raza Rumi
Thursday, May 5th
330 Sampsonia Way
7:00 pm: Reception
7:30 pm: Presentation and Questions
8:30 pm Dessert and Informal Discussion
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Raza Rumi is a visiting international scholar in residence in the honors program of the School of Humanities and Sciences at Ithaca College. He is also affiliated with the New America Foundation and the United States Institute of Peace.
Following his work as an analyst for the Pakistani government and the Asia Development Bank, he joined Pakistan’s liberal weekly The Friday Times as a writer and editor in 2008 and has been a broadcast commentator and talk show host. He also served on the United Nations mission in Kosovo in 2000, is a former director and senior fellow at the Jinnah Institute public-policy think tank, and was a director at Justice Network, a coalition of NGOs. As a freelance policy professional he has advised international development organizations, governments, and NGOs.
CSA Tickets for Northsiders: The Silent Spring Project
Part of the New Hazlett CSA Performance Series
Thursday, April 14 | 8PM
The Community Supported Art performance series continues on Thursday, April 14 at 8PM with Trillium Ensemble’s The Silent Spring Project. As Northside community members, we’d like to offer you a special discount to this new show.
The Silent Spring Project is an immersive musical experience, surrounding the audience with sound, light, music, and storytelling. Inspired by Pittsburgh native Rachel Carson, The Silent Spring Project explores our ideas of environmentalism, sustainability, and humanity’s role in the natural world. Trillium Ensemble works with composer Mark Stanley Fromm to craft this unique musical soundscape.
Special $15 Tickets for Northsiders
Coupon Code: NorthsideCSA
Use this coupon code at check out to apply the discount.
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Letter from the President – April 2016
I love the season of flowering trees, even if it means I can’t breathe for the duration – darn allergies – but totally worth it!
So I was involved in a long and complicated email discussion about neighborhood development priorities and strategies (don’t feel sorry too for me, as far as hobbies go it’s actually cheaper than my current coloring book habit), which, as is generally par for the course, didn’t actually yield a particular decision (we need a vote for that anyway). What it did do was really help to clarify what I think the Civic Council’s primary agenda should be for any given real estate matter. If you said “More Parking” this is probably your first time reading the President’s message. If you chose “Historic Preservation” then you’ve probably been chatting trapped with me at the appetizer table next to the chocolate covered Pringles someone keeps bringing to neighborhood get togethers. (If “Paperwork” was the first thing you thought of, I’ve apparently cornered you after having a couple of cocktails at one of the previously mentioned get togethers.) And, yes, I will proudly admit that Historic Preservation is very definitely one of my personal motivations for being involved with the Civic Council, or heck, even why I live in the neighborhood in the first place. However, my personal motivations are not the same thing as what I think the Civic Council’s agenda should be. I realized that for any given issue the Civic Council’s main agenda should be a transparent and accountable process for deciding what “our” agenda should be. “Transparent” in the sense that it’s clear when and how we arrived at a particular position that we take whether it’s about zoning or, (sigh) parking. “Accountable” in that the Board is responsible for documenting the decisions of the membership and making sure they are actually carried out. As neighbors, our primary responsibility then becomes to clearly and passionately stand up for our own points of view while, at the same time, at least making a good faith effort to understand the impacts those points of view have on other folks in the neighborhood. Transparent and accountable processes are completely dependent on the folks involved in those processes being willing and able to clearly state their own needs and preferences even if there’s a possibility that they might be unpopular.
And have I got just the opportunity for you to be able to passionately yet respectfully communicate your point of view. As part of the Buhl One Northside Grant that AWCC received, Jim Pashek has been meeting with City and County offices to address some of the issues identified in our original community meetings. He will be returning on April 12th at 6:30 pm to report back and get our feedback and our next steps. Please join us at 6:30 pm at Calvary, before the Membership Meeting to continue the discussions we started this winter.
As the weather turns nicer get ready for all the great outdoor events. Tour tickets are on sale! Carrie will be hosting a Tour meeting on Monday April 11th for anyone wanting to be involved. Scott will be setting up a giant Membership Committee meeting, to discuss picnics and art shows and 50th anniversary celebrations (oh my!). Neighborhood cleanups start soon, too. I’m looking forward to hearing your well-reasoned and enthusiastic points of view of what main courses we should be serving at the 4th of July picnics (or even about parking). Happy Spring everyone!
Catherine Serventi
President, AWCC
Local Business Spotlight: Physique Rx’d
By Karen Beer
Trainer and Pilates Teacher,
Lynsey Arch
Visitors to the studio receive personal attention. She wants to give fitness a personal feel, and to give our neighborhood a welcoming, community fitness experience: not what you get at a large, corporate gym. Lynsey offers group Pilates sessions, personal Pilates sessions, and basic dynamic personal training in the studio, as well as in-home personal training. A dancer since childhood, Lynsey suffered a debilitating back injury that kept her off her toes for a while in college, where she was pursuing a BA in Dance and Human Movement. She credits the practice of Pilates – defined by her as strength and stretch – for curing her injury. “Pilates saved my spine and pelvic alignment, and it prevented many injuries that come with dancing,” says Lynsey. Pilates helps strengthen and bring balance to both the body and the mind.
Clients agree Physique Rx’d offers a unique, individualized Pilates experience. Lynsey understands that her clients are coming in at all different fitness levels, and she doesn’t want them to feel the trepidation that often accompanies a new fitness experience. She offers undivided attention whether students are in group or individual sessions. “Everyone is on their own personal fitness level,” says Lynsey. “Anyone can perform the movement. My goal is to have no intimidation for anyone who walks through my door! I want you to feel like it’s your own personal class, even in a roomful of other students.”
Physique Rx’d’s website offers information on the classes and services offered. The studio also features different events, including a Pilates Day on April 1, sponsored by Lucy Active Wear and Dick’s Sporting Goods, and led by celebrity trainer Kit Rich. A Pilates for Hotties fundraiser class is being held on April 9 at 11:00 a.m., to raise funds for Lending Hearts, a charity that supports youth suffering from cancer and their families. Check out the studio’s website and the AWCC e-Newsletter to learn more about Lynsey’s events. But don’t wait for a special event – that new, more fit and energetic you can be found right around the corner! “It’s music to my ears when my students feel better and have more energy, confidence, and power in their everyday lives,” says Lynsey. “I feel it’s that time of day to give back to our bodies and take care of them.”
Physique Rx’d: 835 Western Ave
www.physiquerxd.com
physique.rxd@gmail.com
(724) 467-0524
Planning Time for Our Summer Fundraiser – California Dreaming!
Daffodils and tulips are up and the trees are blooming – Spring is finally here! As we see the signs of a new season in the neighborhood, it’s planning time for our Summer 2016 fundraiser, A Tour & Tasting in the Homes and Gardens of Old Allegheny. This year, the tours will take place on Friday evening, June 3rd, and Saturday evening, June 4th. It’s a house and garden tour, a wine tasting and a great evening of entertainment.
This year, our tour will be highlighting California, featuring both red and white wines, hors d’oeuvres and desserts paired to complement the wines in six homes and gardens in our neighborhood.
We need many volunteers to:
- Be tour guides
- Help homeowners (serve, pour, clean up)
- Help tour weekend
- Be on the committee (yes, wine will be tasted at each meeting!)
If you would like to help with this year’s tour, please contact us at tours@alleghenywest.org or call Carrie Doyle at (412) 337-6020 or email: cadpgh@gmail.com. Our first meeting will be held on April 11th @ 7:30 pm at Carrie’s (950 Beech Ave, #1). Join the fun! Tickets can soon be purchased online.
News Round Up
Allegheny West is officially on Instagram – Follow us @AlleghenyWest_pgh. Share (or continue to share) your pictures of our beautiful neighborhood by tagging them #AlleghenyWest or more directly with us by tagging us, putting @AlleghenyWest_pgh in the comments of your pictures on Instagram.
House History Project – Remember to share any House History information as soon as possible. The archival team at Pitt has agreed to scan and archive our histories. Documents, photos and other materials can be sent electronically or left at 806 Western Avenue. More information is available at: www.alleghenywest.org.
Office Hours – Beginning in May, the AWCC office at 806 Western Avenue will be open for office hours. Feel free to drop off materials – or just come by with questions or just to say hello. Hours: Mondays from 11:00 am-2:00 pm, Tuesdays from 9:00 am-12:00 pm, Thursdays from 9:00 am-12:00 pm and Fridays from 11:00 am-2:00 pm.
Allegheny West Gazette Editor – Please submit all entries by the first of each month to Karen Haller Beer at gazette@alleghenywest.org.
Get Involved: GTECH Urban Trail Project
Last year, GTECH worked with One Northside to complete a comprehensive survey of cultural, environmental, transit and entertainment assets in the Northside. A group of student researchers walked down every street in the Northside, interviewed over 300 residents, attended dozens of community meetings, and ultimately collected information about 1800 assets. A map of those assets can be found at http://www.northsideaim.org.
Now, the Buhl Foundation has asked GTECH to start the initial planning phases for a trail that would connect all 18 Northside neighborhoods and feature some of those 1800 assets. Such a project would focus on One Northside’s Quality of Place goals, including creating safe connections between neighborhoods, beautification and placemaking, enhancement of existing assets and the promotion of the Northside as a hub for arts and culture. That said, the purpose of the trail would be to both improve pedestrian and bike infrastructure for those living in the Northside, connect the neighborhoods to each other, and to make the Northside an inviting place for visitors. Funding for the actual design and implementation of the project would come from the Buhl Foundation, federal grants and other sources yet to be determined. We are currently attending community meetings to inform neighborhoods about the project, and to see who is interested in being more involved in the planning process.
International Award Goes to Allegheny West
Submitted by John DeSantis
The National Ornamental Metals Association has honored a recent Allegheny West project among the finest in the world. The newly installed massive iron gates along Galveston Avenue at the corner of Western have been recognized with the international organization’s second-highest award – The Silver Medallion.
Representing more than 9,000 shops in a dozen countries, the members of NOMA gathered in March for their annual MetalFab Conference. One of the highlights of the Conference each year is the competition among hundreds of projects seeking to be recognized by their peers for excellence in design and execution. The 600 iron artisans who vote for the selection are looking for complexity and difficulty, originality, and craftsmanship.
detail of the prize-winning iron gate
For iron artist Bob Thomas, whose forge is located in Charleston South Carolina, his first submission to the competition turned out to be a winner. Thomas had been commissioned to design and construct the ornamental iron gates and fence by The Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show, whose offices are located on that corner. When he first met his clients, they took him on a walking tour of the neighborhood – pointing out the extraordinary collection of authentic 19th century ironwork that has survived and been preserved in Allegheny West. Considering that much of this original architectural detail was commissioned for the homes of robber barons who owned their own iron and steel mills, Thomas immediately understood the magnitude of the task before him. He was expected to design and fabricate a set of gates that could hold their own in the company of some of the finest iron work ever made.
Bob Thomas expressed gratitude to the Home & Garden Show for providing the opportunity to create such an extravagant work of art. And he notes with pride that his gates will be enjoyed and admired for generations to come, by visitors who photograph and sketch them alongside their historic 19th century counterparts.
Above & Beyond
If you’d like to recognize a neighbor who went above-and-beyond for you or the neighborhood this month please send a note to president@alleghenywest.org or give Cathy a call at (412) 418-2027 and we’ll make sure they’re recognized in the Gazette.
First up: thank you to the neighbors who have taken the time to let the police know about suspicious activity or to call in 311 reports- even if the City can’t take action right away, reporting issues means that more resources can be allocated down the road. (For obvious reasons, I’m jut going to leave individual names out of it. 🙂 )
Thanks to the efforts of current Property chair, Ann and previous chair Howard, much needed repairs to 806 Western’s gutters have finally been completed. Special shout-out to Eleanor who not only had corbels made to match the current ones, but she personally painted them too. (Before they were installed – not while they were on the roof.)
When you see the flower baskets on Western Ave and they make you smile (or sneeze!), give an extra smile to Trish and Holly have again stepped up to wrangle the flower baskets for Western Ave.
Not only are Karen and Nick now holding informal office hours at 806 Western, they did an amazing job of sprucing up the place.