News Around the Neighborhood
Saturday Night at City Books: Doug Rice
Please join us on Saturday, March 17th at 7:00 pm when City Books welcomes Doug Rice back home to the Northside. A book signing will follow the reading. Limited seating.
Doug Rice is the author of Here Lies Memory, the first book of a Pittsburgh trilogy. Born in Pittsburgh, he currently lives and teaches at Sacramento State University. His fiction, memoirs and creative nonfiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and journals and he is the author of eight novels. Doug is currently working on Daughters of the Rivers, the second novel of the trilogy. 4th Annual Art Show + Sale
Interested in Being in the Show?
Work must be 2D or 3D and ready to be displayed (free standing if 3D and wired if 2D). There is no entry fee but we ask that artists bring a snack or beverage to share on opening night. Any sales will be handled by the artist (we will connect any interested buyers with the artists).
Contact: Dennis Bergevin
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Letter from the President – March 2018
So what are you doing on Tuesday evening? Join your neighbors on Tuesday, March 13 at 7:30 pm at Calvary Church for the meeting of the Allegheny West Civic Council. This is where the important decisions about our neighborhood are made – and your voice can’t be heard if you’re not in the room. Find out what’s going on, speak up and get involved!
For our March membership meeting, we’ll have a presentation by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy of their final recommendations for implementation of the 2002 Allegheny Commons Master Plan. There are some significant changes to “our end” of the park included in the proposed document. Over the next two months, AWCC will be determining which components we support and which we would like to see removed from the implementation plan before it moves forward.
Join us for this important discussion – and much more. Everyone is welcome – second Tuesday of each month, in the Calvary Church social hall, corner of Beech and Allegheny (use the Beech Avenue entrance). The meeting is usually over by 9:00 pm. It’s also a great way for newer folks to meet your neighbors and get involved!
We hope to see you on Tuesday evening!
AWCC Membership Meeting Agenda – March 13, 2018
Calvary United Methodist Church, 971 Beech Ave
Tuesday, March 13th at 7:30 pm
- Visitors
- Councilwoman Harris’s Office
- Mayor Peduto’s Office
- Zone One Police
- New Neighbors & Guests
- Minutes
- Treasurer’s Report
- Recommendation for Allegheny Commons: Presentation by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
- Membership
- Bowling at the Elks
- Volunteers for the Memorial Day Picnic
- Ways and Means
- Update on Five Year Plan with Calvary
- 2018 Wine & Garden Tour (June 22 and 23)
- Friends of Allegheny West
- Green Space
- Property
- Housing and Planning
- Parking and Traffic
- North Avenue Lighting
- Western Avenue Revitalization
- Light of Life: Ridge Avenue Project
- Revised AW Film Guidelines
- Allegheny Commons Update of 2002 Master Plan
- Expansion of Historic District (LRC Report)
- Historic District Enforcement Issues (old cases)
- Medical Marijuana Dispensary
- Comprehensive Guidelines for New Construction on Vacant Sites
- Airbnb Issues/Impacts on AW
- Railroad Bridge Replacements
- Allegheny Center Master Plan
- North Shore Impacts
- Nominating Committee
- 2018 Membership Chairperson
- Northside Leadership Conference
- Allegheny General Hospital Master Plan
- Other Business (Old & New)
Alleys, Axles & Ales 2018
This year’s Alleys, Axles & Ales tour will be held on September 29th. Cecile Canales will chair this tour and Tom Barbush will co-chair. If you are interested in having your garage on tour or would like to volunteer, please email Cecile at ccanales13@icloud.com. An initial meeting is scheduled for May.
2018 Wine Tour and Tasting : A Toast to the Central Coast
The wine tour is coming up soon, and work is underway. This year, we’ll feature California wines, specifically from the Central Coast of California.
Details About this Year’s Tour
- Price and dates: $75 pp, Friday 6/22 5:00–9:00 pm and Saturday 6/23 1:00–5:00 pm and 5:00–9:00 pm.
- Showcase Event at Holmes Hall: $150 (max 50 tickets available), Saturday 6/23 7:00–9:00 pm.
- Note that the dates are later in the month than normal due to competing events in Pittsburgh and other calendar conflicts, but good for the gardens to thrive!
How can you help? Please email me directly (carolgomrick@gmail.com) if you are interested in any of the following.
- Homes: If you would like your home on the tour (focus on the garden). A total of 6 properties needed. The home must have a garden space.
- Advertising and Social Media: Work with local media outlets, promote through social media and help secure program advertisers.
- Food Committee: Work with friends to confirm the pairing menu and prep food for the event.
- Tour Guide Lead: Make sure the docents know the route, their shifts and neighborhood history to lead the guests.
- Volunteers Lead: Oversight of tour volunteers (help for the homeowners). We will need additional volunteers for the Showcase event.
- After Party Planners: Always one of the most fun volunteer opportunities!
Discounted Tickets for Northsiders: Inside Passage
A Quantum Theatre Production
March 2nd – 25th
Provident Charter School
1400 Troy Hill Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Based on playwright Gab Cody’s true experiences, Inside Passage meshes Gab’s patchy memories of her early childhood in Alaska spent with her parents, step-siblings, and Tlingit foster-siblings with family lore and her true quest for reunification 35 years later. An ensemble of six performers play a multitude of characters, exploring Gab’s return to Alaska in search of siblings who may not wish to be found. Innovatively combining live performance and documentary film footage shot both in Pittsburgh and on-location in Alaska, Inside Passage is intimate, heartfelt, and funny.
Get $5 off the price of general admission and family packs with the discount code:
QTNORTHSIDE
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NOTE: Inside Passage is an off-site production.
“This tale of sacrifice, exploitation, and reclamation is not to be missed.
Shobha Rao
Monday, March 19th
8:00 pm
Award-winning author Shobha Rao presents Girls Burn Brighter — a searing, electrifying debut novel about the extraordinary bond between two girls driven apart by circumstance but relentless in their search for one another.
“Rao layers her debut novel with issues that face many young women worldwide, from street harassment and domestic abuse to oppressive societal norms.”
―Ms. Magazine
Poornima and Savitha have three strikes against them: they are poor, they are ambitious, and they are girls. When a devastating act of cruelty drives Savitha away, Poornima leaves behind everything she has ever known to find her friend.
Her journey takes her into the darkest corners of India’s underworld, on a harrowing cross-continental journey, and eventually to an apartment complex in Seattle. Alternating between the girls’ perspectives as they face ruthless obstacles, Girls Burn Brighter introduces two heroines who never lose the hope that burns within.
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The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Celebrates Women Artists at Alphabet City
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Presents
Inspiration and Tenacity
Thursday, March 15th
8:00 pm
In honor of Women’s History Month, join the musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (lead by conductor Christine Hestwood) for a program celebrating female artists.
Inspiration and Tenacity honors Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon in anticipation of the world premier of her Tuba Concerto at Heinz Hall on March 16th & 18th. The program, featuring PSO clarinetist Victoria Luperi and trombonist Rebecca Cherian, will showcase the talent and musicianship of these women soloists.
ARThouse’s Vanessa German and PEN/Fusion Emerging Writers Prize-winner Adriana E. Ramírez will complement the evening with readings responding to the issues of the day.
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The Vibrancy Funds Initiative Launches
New Sun Rising commits to providing financial and technical assistance to accelerate
ideas aimed at addressing social and economic inequities in neighborhoods.
PITTSBURGH – In the Greater Pittsburgh region there is a persistent opportunity gap that exists amongst neighborhoods. New Sun Rising, a nonprofit based in Millvale and serving Southwestern Pennsylvania, aims to address these inequities through their latest initiative, the Vibrancy Funds. Throughout 2018, New Sun Rising will be administering loans, grants, and financial awards to applicants from across the region with ideas that promote innovation, engagement, and equity through the generous support of the Henry L. Hillman Foundation. People who run social businesses, nonprofit projects, and collaborative initiatives in areas of Culture, Sustainability, and Opportunity are encouraged to apply.
“We truly believe that citizens are the experts in their communities, and hold the wisdom and talent to develop their own opportunities,” said Scott Wolovich, founder and Executive Director of NSR. “With the Vibrancy Funds initiative, NSR will partner with cross-sector leaders on all levels who are addressing priority issues in their neighborhood – from those who have an idea that they need help getting off the ground to established organizations who want to grow their impact and reach.”
Successful applicants will receive both financial and development resources as part of the initiative. Although everyone is invited, leaders focused on building Vibrant Communities in Allentown, Beltzhoover, Etna, Knoxville, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Northside, Sharpsburg, Stowe Township, and Wilkinsburg are strongly encouraged to apply.
The first round of Vibrancy Funds will be issued through $5,000 in total awards during the Ignite Culture mentoring workshop on March 24, 2018. Individuals creating culture with their community will receive support to develop a plan, identify resources and make connections to get to action. Registrations are due on March 16, 2018 and interested individuals can visit:
newsunrising.org/project/ignite-culture (space is limited)
In the coming weeks, New Sun Rising will post a calendar of information sessions and deadlines related to additional opportunities for funding in the areas of Culture, Sustainability, and Opportunity.