News Around the Neighborhood
Thanks Cleanup and Garden Volunteers!
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.
We ran into Carol S. and her mom walking past with bags of weeds and clippings that turned out had come from the garden on Brighton & North. Loved her observation that she caught herself thinking that that “wow, someone should really trim those peonies that were squashed in the rain” quickly followed by “wow, I could take 20 minutes and trim those peonies”.
Michael S. has been a litter fighting MACHINE over the last few weeks. If you felt a little disappointed that Kenny Chesney turned out to be pretty much a non-issue and so you missed out on an opportunity to get snarky about folks from the suburbs, you can thank Michael. He spent that weekend walking around talking to folks, modeling proper behavior by preemptively picking up litter and leading a clean-up so that the neighborhood looks awesome for the tour.
So picture this, Tom B, chaining himself to an Allegheny West light post facing off a group of probably pretty confused electrical workers, until Councilwoman Harris swooped into rescue him (and us). Basically, rather than listen to Fran B explain where the conduit for the light poles was buried in the gutter, the power company, after drilling some random holes in the sidewalk, was planning to put in a “temporary” fix for the Beech Ave lights that have been out for a few weeks. It involved a random telephone pole and very un-decoratively strung wires (all wildly historically inappropriate). Everyone is back to focusing on actually fixing the lights.
“Many hands make light work.” – John Heywood
Nonie sends a big “Above and Beyond” to the committee who worked together for the Memorial Day Block Party. Chairwoman, Mary Callison, Michael Shealey, Trish and John Burton, Gloria Rayman, Howard Brokenbeck, Tom Barbush and Greg Coll (Sorry if I missed anyone). Their efforts gathered many neighbors together to welcome “unofficial summer” to Allegheny West. For those of you who have never helped or chaired this committee, you may not realize how much hard work, mentally as well as physically, is involved. The work begins before the day of the party, and as many of the helpers are aging, the schlepping, hauling and lugging is really a hard task. Nonie hopes that at the next party, those who are on hand could lend a hand during the set-up and clean-up. This would be GREATLY appreciated. It would be terrific to have more people get involved. Again, many thanks to this wonderful committee. For those of you interested in helping with the July 4 party, please contact Mary Callison by e-mail at: callismar@gmail.com.
You’re Invited!
32nd Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner
Northside Leadership Conference
June 11, 2015
Begun in 1984 as a fundraiser to pay an overdue phone bill, the Annual Dinner has grown to be the largest such community gathering in the region, with close to 400 attending annually. It is a celebration of Northside neighborhoods, volunteers, students and partners. NSLC and its sponsors have recognized over 360 community volunteers and awarded over $187,000 in scholarships!
RSVP by June 8: http://www.pittsburghnorthside.com
June Membership Activities
Submitted by Mary Callison
June neighborhood mixer will be at Peppis on Western Ave, Friday the 19th at 6:30 PM. If it is not raining we will meet in the patio at the back of the restaurant. Bring your own wine or beer or you may order fountain drinks there and anything else you want from the menu.
Bocce will begin on Thursday, June 11th, 6:30 at the court on Western Ave. Everyone is welcome to play, no prior experience is necessary. We will play every Thursday unless it is raining. In prior years we played on Wednesdays, because several indicated conflicts with the day we are trying Thursday.
The 4th of July 4th Block Party will be on Saturday the fourth in the 900 Block of Beech.
Many thanks to Dennis, Doug and Linda Iannotta for all they did for the May Mixer/1st Annual Allegheny
West Art Show. An added attraction was Ann Gilligan’s sorbet. There was a great turnout, around 70
persons. Already there is discussion for the 2nd Annual Art Show for next year.
The Memorial Block Party had a great turnout and we were fortunate no rain came as was predicted. It
would not have been possible without the help of the following: Tom Barbush and Greg Coll for all the
grilling; Gloria Rayman and her brother John who moved paper supplies; food and beverage; Doug Lucas
who personally patted out all the burgers; John Burton who secured the wine and beer; Howard Brokenbek
for moving tables and trucking supplies back to the office. Several others helped with setting up and
cleaning up, and since I did not keep a list that day I cannot list everyone. Thank you to all the helpers.
Free Tickets for Northsiders: My Good Side and RETREAD/together/apart
Part of the CSA Performance Series
May 11 | 8PM
Two Shows, One Night…
The Community Supported Art performance series concludes its current season on Thursday, June 11 with our first ever double feature: Teena Marie Custer’s My Good Side and fellow Northsider Roberta Guido’s RETREAD/together/apart.
My Good Side examines how we create personas on social networks, “curating” our lives for general consumption. Using the street dance styles of wacking, breaking, house, and locking, Teena explores how lines of privacy, fantasy, and reality are blurred.
RETREAD/together/apart focuses on ways sense memory, particularly touch, affects human emotion. There’s a very visceral sense that the skin isn’t a barrier to these experiences but is permeable and affected, as individuals and as a collective.
You’re Invited
Thanks to the generous support of the Buhl Foundation, Northside residents are invited to attend The Mousetrap for free. A limited number of tickets are available online. Reserve your seat today!
[ebor_button style=”alizarin” url=”https://www.eventbrite.com/e/csa-dance-double-feature-tickets-17185407015″] Thursday, June 11 at 8:00 pm [/ebor_button]
Last Call: Tickets for A Tour & Tasting in Old Allegheny on June 5 & 6
We wanted to make sure folks who signed up for notifications had one last reminder to purchase tickets for the tour before the write-up about the tour runs in the Post-Gazette this weekend. There are only a few places left for Friday. Saturday afternoon has the most openings if you’re hoping to bring a larger group. There will be no tickets available at the door; advanced purchase required.
It’s a house and garden tour.
Guests will visit some of the most lavishly decorated homes and gardens in the Pittsburgh area. Learn about French architectural and literary influences in the neighborhood.
It’s a wine tasting – featuring wine from France.
Guests will sample a variety of regional reds and whites from France, one at each stop on the tour, and hors d’oeuvres to accompany them.
Dates & Times
Friday, June 5
5:00 – 9:00 pm
Saturday, June 6
12:30 – 4:30 pm or 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Free Parking
We have made arrangements for free parking for people with tickets attending the tour.
Learn More
[ebor_button url=”/about/contact” style=”sea” target=”_self”] Questions? Contact Us [/ebor_button] [ebor_button url=”/tour/a-tour-tasting-in-old-allegheny/getting-here” style=”sea” target=”_self”] Getting Here [/ebor_button] [ebor_button url=”http://www.showclix.com/event/3818483″ style=”sea” target=”_self”] Buy Tickets → [/ebor_button]
Workshop: Vegetable Gardening
Saturday, May 26, 2015
6:00 pm — 7:30 pm
Growing your own food is one of the most satisfying forms of gardening. Vegetable gardening provides the opportunity to select varieties you like, plus it provides your family with fresh produce that is free from harmful pesticides. This class will cover the basics of planning your vegetable garden, preparing the soil, selecting plant and seed varieties (including hybrids and heirlooms), starting plants from seed, planting, tending your plants, troubleshooting problems, extending the season, and getting the most out of small plots.
About the presenter: Martha Swiss is a garden writer, designer, and speaker. She is a regular contributor to Pennsylvania Gardener magazine and the publications editor for the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. Her articles have also appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Fine Gardening. She is a graduate of Chatham University’s landscape design program and a Penn State master gardener.
Landmarks Preservation Resource Center
744 Rebecca Avenue
Wilkinsburg, PA 15221
This workshop is free to PHLF Members. Click here for more information about PHLF membership and please join! Non-members: $5
RSVPs are appreciated. Contact:
[ebor_button url=”tel:4124715808″ style=”pumpkin” target=”_self”] Mary Lu Denny – (412) 471-5808 x 527 [/ebor_button]
Free Tickets for Northsiders: The Last Five Years
Presented by Front Porch Theatricals
May 24th and 28th
A Powerful Musical…
An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. The Last Five Years’ unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically. Here’s the twist, though — the two characters only meet once!
You’re Invited
Thanks to the generous support of the Buhl Foundation, Northside residents are invited to attend The Mousetrap for free. A limited number of tickets are available online. Reserve your seat today!
[ebor_button style=”pomegranate” url=”https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-last-five-years-may-24-at-2pm-tickets-17015356389″] Sunday, May 24 at 2:00 pm [/ebor_button] [ebor_button style=”pomegranate” url=”https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-last-five-years-may-28-at-8pm-tickets-17015357392″] Thursday, May 28 at 8:00 pm [/ebor_button]
Lecture: Transit as a Development Tool
Thursday, May 19, 2015
6:00 pm — 7:30 pm
Nationwide, people are driving less and taking more about transit. It’s not a fluke – it’s now a 10-year-long trend. Why? And, more importantly, what does it mean to the historic preservation movement and community development? In this lecture, we’ll explore the huge shift in national transportation trends, their positive urban revitalization impacts, Pittsburgh-area development and the streetcar, its implications for our neighborhoods’ continual rebirth today, and how both everyone from DIY-ers and large-scale investors can identify and capitalize on quality transit assets.
About the presenter: Chris Sandvig is the regional policy director for the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG). He works on regional and state issues impacting PCRG’s member communities and manages its GoBurgh program. He is a long-time transit advocate, Morningside resident, and commutes to work via bike or bus almost every day. Prior to PCRG, Chris spent nine years in corporate business development for industrial and commercial engineered HVAC systems. He holds Industrial Engineering and Public Policy degrees from Penn State and Carnegie Mellon University.
Landmarks Preservation Resource Center
744 Rebecca Avenue
Wilkinsburg, PA 15221
This lecture is free to PHLF Members. Click here for more information about PHLF membership and please join! Non-members: $5
RSVPs are appreciated. Contact:
[ebor_button url=”tel:4124715808″ style=”pumpkin” target=”_self”] Mary Lu Denny – (412) 471-5808 x 527 [/ebor_button]
Free Downtown Walking Tours – Fridays in May
12:00 pm — 1:00 pm
With its concentration of major historic buildings and modern skyscrapers, Grant Street is downtown Pittsburgh’s showcase thoroughfare. You’ll explore some of Pittsburgh’s grandest buildings—the Allegheny County Courthouse, City-County Building, Frick Building, Union Trust Building, and William Penn Hotel, among others—and enjoy views from two urban spaces: Mellon Green and Mellon Square. Grant Street is rich in history and full of architectural details that delight the eye.
Grant Street & Mellon Square
Advanced bookings are appreciated. For more information or to make reservations, contact:
[ebor_button url=”tel:4124715808″ style=”pumpkin” target=”_self”] Mary Lu Denny – (412) 471-5808 x 527 [/ebor_button]