As we continue to highlight one of the AWCC’s standing committees each month to encourage greater participation in the organization, this month we feature the Membership Committee.
According to AWCC’s Bylaws:
“The Membership Committee shall be responsible for adding new members to the roll and for maintaining present membership. It is also responsible for maintaining contact with all residents of Allegheny West, both members and non-members of Civic Council, to keep them informed of neighborhood and Council activities.”
In addition to the duties outlined in the bylaws, the Membership Committee is better-known for its role as the neighborhood social committee, which brings you such events as the Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day block parties, the monthly neighborhood mixers, the weekly Allegheny West bowling night during the winter months and the weekly bocce nights during the summer months. Committee meetings are held on an as-needed basis, usually prior to major neighborhood events. If social events and party planning are your forte, this is the committee for you.
The current chair of the Membership Committee is Timothy Zinn, a resident of the 900 block of Western Avenue. Please contact Tim at (412) 260-7389 or tzinn106@msn.com for additional information or to volunteer for our upcoming events.
As a reminder, Allegheny Bowling Night is every Wednesday until the end of April, beginning at 7:00 pm at the Allegheny Elks Lodge, 400 Cedar Avenue. The next monthly mixer will be at Leo. a public house, at 1207 Allegheny Avenue on Saturday, March 14th, beginning at 6:30 pm.
Submitted by Carol Gomrick
Happy Spring! OK, not really spring yet, but the weather is breaking and the sun is peeking through the clouds, which starts getting folks out of the winter cocoon and outside. This raises the excitement for the summer tours. I’m really happy to share some updates below:
Tour & Tasting in Old Allegheny
Friday June 19th and Saturday June 20th
The Valentine’s Day promotion paid off. We already have 88 tickets sold and it’s only March. This is a great indicator that this tour is an event that folks get excited about and want on their calendar. We will be doing additional marketing but can always use your help in spreading the word and awareness of the event.
Pour & Plates – A Wine Showcase Event
Saturday September 12th
Deb Mortillaro of Dreadnought Wines will host an intimate evening in the beautiful gardens of Holmes Hall, discussing personally selected wines she’s pairing for each of the five courses. All in Good Taste Productions, the premier caterer in Pittsburgh, is currently working on a menu to bring guests classic dishes from the great wine regions of the world. No doubt this will be a spectacular culinary and wine experience. This event sold out in 2018 and I’m thrilled to offer this unique experience again.The menu has already been selected and will be posted on line shortly. Deb has started to select the proper wines. I’m sure it will be a tremendous experience for all.
Note: New this year the event is offering a full vegetarian option for guests. Guests will enjoy a full pour to pair with their menu selection, but also enjoy a small taste of the alternate wine pairings.
Some additional news about this event: The caterer provides staff for the food prep and coordination. This is a low-impact event from a volunteer perspective. The last time this event was held, there were 4 volunteers in addition to the caterer. Two of those volunteers were from the neighborhood. I am always grateful for the volunteer support from the neighborhood. If you have any questions concerning this event, or have any interest in volunteering please contact me.
Your feedback is needed! Tuesday March 24th 7:00 pm, AWCC Office: I will be holding a meeting to kick off discussions on volunteer opportunities, to identify tasks for the Wine Tour and to answer any questions the neighborhood may have. Please mark your calendars and come on over to discuss. These tours cannot be successful without your help and I greatly appreciate all that the neighborhood does to make them successful.
Thank you for your help in 2019 and I’m looking forward to a successful 2020. CHEERS!
Submitted by Carol Gomrick
Happy New Year Allegheny West! I hope you all enjoyed a blessed holiday season. I’m back from an amazing trip in Africa. Safari in Tanzania and wine tasting in the Stellenbosch region, Capetown South Africa. Speaking of wine …
We have the dates for two wine events this year. I’m very excited about how these events are coming together. Tickets already available for sale on AWCC website for both events!
Tour & Tasting in Old Allegheny: Friday June 19th and Saturday June 20th
- (We’ve already sold 4 tickets!)
- The tour will seek food and wine sponsorship from various eateries
- If you are interested in having your home on tour, please confirm with me
- Future communications will go out about various volunteer opportunities to help pull this together
Pour & Plates – A Wine Showcase Event: Saturday September 12th
Deb Mortillaro of Dreadnought Wines will host an intimate evening in the beautiful gardens of Holmes Hall discussing personally selected wines she’s paring for each of the five courses. All in Good Taste Productions, the premier caterer in Pittsburgh, is currently working on a menu to bring guests classic dishes from the great wine regions of the world. No doubt this will be a spectacular culinary and wine experience.
- This event sold out in 2018 and I’m thrilled to offer this unique experience again.
Your feedback is needed! Tuesday, February 18th 7:00 pm | AWCC Office – Western Avenue
Please come to this meeting to discuss the tours of 2019 (Wine and Christmas). I’m seeking your feedback on what went well, what needs to improve and creative ideas to enhance the upcoming 2020 tours. If you are new to the neighborhood, please come and learn about the tours and meet your new neighbors. All are welcome.
These tours are only successful because so many contribute. Thank you for your help in 2019 and I’m looking forward to a successful 2020. CHEERS!
Submitted by Diane Caruso
Our neighborhood parklet continues to grow and improve with the help of a few neighbors and Babb Insurance company’s annual volunteer day. We will soon begin our monthly clean-ups along Western Avenue, as well as weeding and working in the parklet this spring. Please watch for notices in our e-newsletter for our first clean-up. Clean-ups always take place on Saturday mornings at 9:00 am, and fresh donuts are supplied!
Last year we added a brick walkway to the parklet with donated bricks from neighbors. This year, we plan on placing a beautiful metal sign in the garden, with another sign being placed at the corner of Allegheny and Western Avenues. We have a sign committee that has been working on the design of these signs. The signs will read “Allegheny West National Historic District.” We love our neighborhood and we need and appreciate your help in continuing to beautify our exceptional and unique community.
Submitted by Mary Callison
Plans are underway for planting trees in our neighborhood this Fall. We will be working with Tree Vitalize and the City Forester Lisa Ceoffe on this project. In 2016, a Neighborhood Rejuvenation Plan was developed by Pashek Associates in response to issues voiced by the neighborhood. One concern voiced was the condition of our trees. I am using the section on trees in this report as a guide for this project.
Neighbors have volunteered to help contact property owners to explain the plan and ask them to fill out the application for a tree in front of their property. If you would like to help with this part of the project or later in the Fall with the planting, contact me at (412) 323-5951 or email callismar@gmail.com. The deadline for submitting a request for the 2020 Fall Planting is March 13th at 4:00 pm.
It’s not too late to sign up for the Tree Tender Training on February 22nd, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Contact joe@treepittsburgh.org or call (412) 781-8733 x 204. You need to pre-register for the class. Call me if you have difficulty registering.
Submitted by Robin Zoufalik
Hello Allegheny West Neighbors and Members of the AW Civic Council: Happy New Year 2020!
As Chair for the Housing & Planning Committee, here is a message for the coming year of meetings and activities anticipated. Past Chair, Ashley Webb, has briefed me on various items on the agenda for the committee that have been discussed over the last few months and are anticipated for the coming year. Having attended a couple of the meetings the most recent being on Dec 17th, I believe a message to the neighborhood and members of the AWCC is appropriate, at this time, prior to the 1st meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 21st (3rd Tuesday of the month) starting at 7:30 pm at GoRealty, 848 W North Avenue.
The AWCC Bylaws have the following mandate for the standing committee:
The Housing and Planning Committee shall be responsible for the physical planning and housing conditions in Allegheny West. It should be as representative as possible of residential, business, and institutional sectors of the neighborhood.
Additionally, the committee members are to be chosen as follows:
Standing committee chairmen shall select from between two and ten members for their committees.
Please let me know if you are interest in being a member of the H&P Committee. Everyone is welcome to attend any of the H & P meetings and participate in discussions and votes, whether or not a member of the committee.
Prior to the 1st meeting, I would request all of you to provide input as to any items you would like the committee to address in the coming months that may not be on the current list relayed to me as follows:
- Western Ave Neighborhood Improvement District (WANID)
- Northside Leadership Conference (NSLC) Bridge Committee & Opposition to double-stacked trains
- Code Enforcement Concerns
- Historic District Expansion
- Galveston Ave. Traffic Calming
- Stables Development
- Value Added Properties
- Scrap Yard
- CCAC Workforce Development Center
- Allegheny Commons Master Plan and Noise along Brighton Road
- Light of Life Ridge Ave Facility
- HIP at the Flashlight Factory
The meetings will be conducted in an orderly manner to have productive discussions and allow everyone to actively participate. However, personal attacks by attendees will not be acceptable and non-factual statements will be questioned. We are all neighbors and should have equal opportunities to speak and listen in a respectful manner.
All comments, feedback and suggestions are always welcome!
Either email me at housing-planning@alleghenywest.org or call (412) 216-0207.
Submitted by Mary Callison
In 2016, a study was done by Pashek Associates, funded by the Buhl Foundation, to address four issues in our neighborhood: 1) sidewalks, 2) trees, 3) traffic and 4) street lighting. The report was 60 pages in length.
I have been asked by Diane Caruso, chairwoman of the Friends of Allegheny West, to work on neighborhood trees. The goal is to have a plan completed to submit to Pennsylvania Conservancy by March 13th for the fall 2020 planting.
If you are interested in working with me on this project, please call me at (412) 321-5951 or email callismar@gmail.com. I would love to have at least one person from each street in the neighborhood. Thank you!
The 2019 Tour is quickly approaching! The tour dates are Friday December 13th and Saturday December 14th. The tour committee is thrilled to share that we currently have ALL houses for the tour! Thank you to all of the homeowners. The tour committee will be reaching out to you concerning expectations, as well as to answer questions. We are available for anything you need, even a hand for decorating.
Beech Avenue will be closed to traffic during the tour. Parking will be open to Allegheny West residents in the lower Babb parking lot starting on Friday the 13th at 4:00 pm and continuing through the tour on Saturday. Please keep our tour guests safe and utilize this lot. For residents who park on N Lincoln, please consider parking in the Babb lot as well to clear the street during the tour.
New This Year: Carriage Rides
This year we will be offering horse-drawn carriage rides for an additional fee during the Saturday afternoon tours (weather permitting).
Volunteers Needed
SWAG BUILDING AND HANGING
Saturday, December 7th (Cathy and Gene’s Garage) starting at 9: 00 am, coffee and donuts provided. We need a few (actually several) good men to help hang – please consider lending your time and ladders.
TRAIN TOURS
We will need volunteers for the train tours. A link will be sent in upcoming email blasts or if you are interested, please contact Cecile Canales at ccanales13@icloud.com.
TOUR GUIDES
Tour guide* sign up shifts now available. Doug Sprague leading the effort again this year. A link will be sent in upcoming email blasts. If you’re interested, you can contact contact Doug directly at doug.osrg@gmail.com.
* Please note, tour guides are required to do a tour route walkthrough. Check future email blasts for walkthrough schedule.
GUEST GREETERS/TOUR ANNOUNCERS
We will need tour announcers and guest greeters at Calvary during tour times. Brandon Williams will be leading the volunteer sign-up for this. Please check future email blasts for schedule opportunities or contact Brandon at brandonpwilliams@hotmail.com.
Thank you all for your participation and we’re looking forward to another successful tour!
Submitted by Trish Burton
Thanks are in order . . .
. . . to the loyal group of volunteers who last week helped to put 7,435 labels on the lovely Christmas Tour mailers. A special thanks to Amelia Beer, who helped with set up and clean up, in addition to labeling about 3,000 mailers herself!
. . . to another small group who helped to do the fall clean-up for the Parklet. Tony and Diane Caruso, Sally Graubarth, Carol Schramke and Emilio Diendomi pulled out the annuals, transplanted perennials and moved bricks.
. . . and Cindy and Rich Fraer from Washington County loaded up the 15 bags of yard debris to dispose of them!
Thanks to all! Your time and energy are much appreciated!
Remember the dates are set for this year’s Christmas Tour: Friday, December 13th and Saturday, December 14th.
The planning process has begun. Much of the tour will remain as in past years, with Calvary UMC as the starting point (with an antique and vendor show!) and concluding at Holmes Hall with the Train Tour available to guests. The tour committee is actively seeking houses to be on tour. If you would like to offer your home, or to get more information about what is involved in being on tour, please contact Carol Gomrick or Annette Trunzo.
Please continue to check the weekly eNewsletters and the monthly Gazette for updates, committee meetings and volunteer opportunities.
Carol Gomrick: carolgomrick@gmail.com | Annette Trunzo: act1@pitt.edu
