News Around the Neighborhood

Letter from the President – March 2016

Mar 6, 2016 |

Just a few quick updates: Round two of the meetings for the Buhl Foundation One Northside Grant will take place at 6:30 pm at Calvary Church before the meeting Membership meeting on Tuesday, March 8. Jim Pashek, the consultant we’re working with, has been meeting with various City departments and needs our feedback on what issues we want to emphasize. We closed on 930 Western this week! Please welcome Dr. James Worry to the neighborhood. He’s already got all of his approvals and permits, and he’s ready to start making amazing things happen! (Maybe we should get him to teach a workshop on how to navigate bureaucracy?) Do you think I should tell him now that we snuck a clause into the sales agreement that he’s required to be on the Christmas Tour by 2018? I’m joking, of course, about any “requirements” to be on the tour (although I make no promises about not resorting to peer pressure), but this is a good time to remind folks that planning is underway for the June Wine & Garden Tour. If you’re interested in volunteering or having your house/garden on the tour, please contact Carrie at tours@alleghenywest.org. The tour is scheduled for the first weekend in June. We’ll also be taking orders for this Spring flower baskets along Western. We need to confirm prices for sponsorships this year, but stay tuned for more information, and definitely let us know if you want to sponsor a basket (or 2 or 4). E-mail us at: flowers@alleghenywest.org. Thanks to Trish and Holly who offered to take this on for another year! Catherine Serventi President, AWCC — P.S. Greetings from India! There’s nothing quite like traveling in faraway lands to make you appreciate home. I think I’m going to start our meeting on Tuesday (where parking and traffic are bound to come up) with the video that I took from my hotel window of the traffic. Lane lines or even traffic direction(!) are really more of a suggestion here. (Although I’ll still be chasing after drivers going the wrong way on Beech and N. Lincoln.)

Local Business Spotlight: Motive Salon

Mar 2, 2016 |

Contributors: Sara Sweeney & Karen Beer

As a new feature of the Allegheny West Gazette, we are spotlighting new local businesses that are making our neighborhood more vibrant. In this month’s issue, we’re featuring Motive Salon. Owners and master stylists Breanne Kochmanski and Sara Harris opened the salon in 2014. Since then, business has been booming! The staff has expanded to include five stylists.

Motive Salon

Prior to opening Motive, Breanne had studied here in Pittsburgh, as well as in New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. Sara initially worked for her mentor at Salon Vivace. Breanne and Sara met while working at Capristo Salon and Wellness Spa in Shadyside.

So what do they like about Allegheny West? The people and the potential. “The restoration of Allegheny West is a labor of love for everyone here,” says Breanne. “I saw myself in the fabric of this neighborhood.” Sara agrees. “I’ve truly never worked in such a diverse, friendly, communal and supportive neighborhood in all of the many places that I have been throughout my career,” she says. “In a year and a half, I’ve made lifelong friends here. It’s something special.”

The only disadvantage? “Parking,” says Breanne. “Two-hour metered parking doesn’t allow for much wiggle room—but everyone seems to make it work!”

Luckily, we’re all neighbors, so we can access the salon’s many services without the parking woes. Are you looking for a new look? Motive specializes in cuts and color. In fact, if you’re looking for the trendiest style, Breanne recommends Ombre and Ecaille highlighting and coloring. Breanne, Sara and their stylists will work with you to find the style that’s right for you. When giving a cut, they consider everything from face shape, skin and eye color, to the image the client wants to portray, their home-styling skill level and even the time they have to style. “It’s important to take someone’s lifestyle into consideration when discussing the look they want,” says Breanne. “We don’t want to put a high-maintenance cut on a person that doesn’t have time to style it!”

Looking forward, Breanne, Sara and their team are getting ready to participate in one of the largest cut-and-color competitions in the country. They’re also heading out to classes in Nashville and Philadelphia to keep watch of the latest styles. And keep an eye out for their new advertisements: they recently completed a professional photo shoot showcasing the styles of some of their current clients. In the meantime, you can see their creative styles on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Motive Salon: 910 Galveston Avenue
Hours: T/W 10–7, Thu 11–8, Fri 10–6, Weekends 10–4 (Closed Mondays)
Appointments recommended, but walk-ins are accepted with availability
http://www.motivesalon.com
(412) 904-4606

We Want to Hear From You

Mar 2, 2016 |

Did your child win the science competition? Get accepted to college? Did you just get married? Promoted? Celebrate a milestone birthday? Let’s recognize our neighbors in the Gazette. If you would like to feature a family member, a neighbor or your own accomplishment in the Gazette, please e-mail information to gazette@awcc.org. All entries must be in by the 1st of each month.

The House History Project: We Need Your Help!

Mar 2, 2016 | ,

In an effort to not only preserve the fantastic house histories that were created by Carol Peterson but to update them for the digital era and make them available for the public, Allegheny West is embarking on a new project centered on our website. We are hoping to build out a really robust house histories/Before & After section of the Allegheny West website as materials arrive, and then to also explore putting together a walking tour that could include an interactive, mobile device-driven component. This will allow visitors (and residents!) to dig deeper into the homes around them and their long, glamorous pasts as well as the hard work that went into – and goes into – keeping them beautiful.

Neighbor and friend, Jim Wallace and webmaster, Nick Smerker are asking for anyone who has a house history (these are key), photos of their home or the neighborhood over the years, video recordings of folks talking about their homes or other interesting materials to get in touch via Nextdoor or directly at webmaster@alleghenywest.org. Hard copies of any materials can be dropped off at 806 Western Avenue. More information is available on our Website: www. alleghenywest.org.

Port Authority Public Comment Period

Mar 2, 2016 |

Port Authority of Allegheny County is considering eliminating its multi-zone system and switching to a single-zone, $2.50 flat fare, pay-on-enter system that would give riders a financial incentive to use their ConnectCard and make getting from A to B a better overall experience and value.

A second public hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 from 3:00pm – 7:00pm in Alumni Hall, Connolly Ballroom, 4227 Fifth Avenue, Oakland. Those wishing to speak should pre-register by calling (412) 566-5187 (or (412) 231-7007 for TTY) weekdays from 9:00am – 3:30pm.

Farewell and Best Wishes to Lisa!

Mar 2, 2016 |

For the last 17 years, neighbors on the Allegheny West route have received friendly, prompt delivery from our mail-carrier, Lisa. Unfortunately for us, Lisa has decided that it’s time to move on. Her last day was February 19. We’ll all certainly miss her conscientious service, cheerful conversation, and pleasant smile! Thank you and best wishes, Lisa!

Tickets for Northsiders: A Lesson Before Dying

Feb 29, 2016 |

A Lesson Before Dying

Presented by Prime Stage Theatre
Sunday, March 6 and 13 | 2:30 PM

“I want you to show them the difference between what they think you are and what you can be.”

Jefferson is condemned for a crime he didn’t commit. Desperate, his godmother persuades a teacher to visit Jefferson and teach him to die with dignity. Romulus Linney adapts Ernest J. Gaine’s powerful drama about the value of human life.

Special Free Tickets for Northsiders

Coupon Code: NSS
Use this coupon code at check out to apply the discount.
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