Squirrel Hill Magazine Summer 2014 by Squirrel Hill Magazine

A Publication of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition

Magazine

Summer 2014

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Our counselors are available to prearrange your burial services with you thereby eliminating the added grief to a surviving spouse or child when a death occurs with no plan in place. This unselfish act by you will not only relieve grief to your loved ones at the time of death, but it can also save you hundreds of dollars by purchasing in advance and locking in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cost even though it may be years before those necessary burial items are used. To learn more, contact us at 412.821.1822. 1599 S. Dallas Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Email: info@thehomewoodcemetery.com

Inside

Squirrel Hill For more great content visit our website at www.squirrelhillmagazine.net!

Features

In Every Issue

Moving Forward at Forward/Murray By Richard St. John

SHUC President’s Message By Ray Baum

Ice Cream Guide to Squirrel Hill By Ryan Rydzewski

What’s New From Our Advertisers

Summer Fun in Squirrel Hill By Barbara Shema

Special Summer Camps By Elizabeth Waickman

Dining al Fresco By Barbara Shema

Your Summer Garden By Bob Madden

Cleaning Up Squirrel Hill By Michael Jehn

Tula Organic Salon By Lindsey Albracht

Teach Your Child to Be a Songwriter By Alex Stanton

Commander Degler’s Tips

6 8 23

This Just In

29 30 40

Neighborhood Notes

Good News from Our Schools Squirrel Hill Historical Society Bygone Summers By Helen Wilson

Events Calendar I Can Help With That! Volunteering Opportunities

Cover art: Fresh produce is a

summertime staple, the perfect compliment to your summer activities. Make sure to support local farmers by buying your produce at open markets! Check out This Just In for info about our own local market! Photography: iStock Images.

Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/SquirrelHillMagazine Follow us on Twitter @SquirrelHillMag and at Pinterest.com/squirrelhillmag

From the Editor For my first issue as Acting Editor of Squirrel Hill Magazine, I can’t think of a better theme than that of Summer Living. Between sampling icy treats with our intern to wandering the neighborhood in search of the perfect shot for our cover art, the entire process has been a pleasure. Since I moved to Pittsburgh three years ago, I’ve loved Squirrel Hill for all it has to offer. There are so many exciting changes on the horizon and I’m honored to share this journey with our readers. If you have comments or suggestions for future issues, please send them to Meghan Poisson-DeWitt at editor@squirrelhillmagazine.net. If you’re interested in advertising, please email Carolyn Jones, our ad sales coordinator, at marketing@squirrelhillmagazine.net or call her at 412-223-7584. Advertisers can now pay with Visa, MasterCard or Discover.

Murray the Squirrel

Murray is available free of charge for visits and events to local organizations and schools. Give SHUC a call at 412.422.7666 or email marketing@squirrelhillmagazine.net

The Summer Living Issue PAGE1

SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION OFFICERS: Raymond N. Baum, President Richard Feder, Vice President Gregg Roman, Vice President Lori Fitzgerald, Vice President Ceci Sommers, Vice President Chris Zurawsky, Secretary Barbara Grover, Assistant Secretary Peter Stumpp, Treasurer James Burnham, Assistant Treasurer Steven Kijanka, Assistant Treasurer Steven Hawkins, Immediate Past President BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Francine D. Abraham, Raymond N. Baum, James Burnham, Norman Childs, Vivian Didomenico, Andy Dlinn, Richard Feder, Lori Fitzgerald, Ed Goldfarb (Board Member Emeritus), Barbara Grover, Steve Hawkins, Michael D. Henderson, Karen Hochberg, Lois Liberman, Cynthia Morelock, Gregg Roman, Tracy Royston, Ceci Sommers, Sidney Stark (Director Emeritus), Erika S Strassburger, Peter Stumpp, Erik Wagner, Roger Westman, Chris Zurawsky

Our Mission The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition is a non-profit community organization dedicated to preserving, improving and celebrating the quality of life in the 14th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh. Volunteer-supported standing committees provide leadership to our community by studying, debating, and advocating positions on issues affecting our neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vitality. Our mission is implemented through a long range planning process, which fosters community-based initiatives in the areas of education, public safety, transportation, parks and open spaces, and commercial, institutional and residential development.

Richard St. John, Executive Director MAGAZINE STAFF: Meghan Poisson-DeWitt, Acting Editor Carolyn Jones, Advertising Sales Coordinator Ryan Rydzewski, Intern CONTRIBUTORS: Lindsey Albracht, Raymond N. Baum, Chris Fletcher, Heather Frye, Barb Grover, Mardi Isler, Michael Jehn, Carolyn Ludwig, Bob Madden, Meghan Poisson-DeWitt, Lynn Rosenthal, Ryan Rydzewski, Barbara Shema, C.J. Simpson, Richard St. John, Alex Stanton, Elizabeth Waickman, Helen Wilson

Carnegie Squirrel Hill Upper St. Clair 412-429-2122 www.pghma.com

DESIGN & PRINT: Patricia Tsagaris, Pinkhaus Design, Creative Director Knepper Press, Printer Printed with soy inks and 100% wind energy!

A Publication of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition

Magazine

Spring 2014

The Well-being Issue

Squirrel Hill Magazine, Vol. 12, Issue 3, is published through the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, 5604 Solway Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. Please direct any questions or comments to SHUC by calling 412.422.7666 or emailing info@shuc.org. To inquire about advertising, please contact marketing@squirrelhillmagazine.net. Please support our advertisersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;their ads solely finance this magazine! Reserve your space today for the Fall 2014 issue!

PAGE2 The Summer Living Issue

Now offering private and group music lessons at our new East location in Squirrel Hill at 5700 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217

shuc presidentʼs message

Squirrel Hill is Hot! By Raymond N. Baum, President, Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition info@shuc.org

ny local real estate agent will tell you that the residential real estate market in Squirrel Hill is hot. Most homes are selling quickly and at rapidly increasing prices. The homes being developed at Summerset at Frick are selling as fast as they can be built. Nearly 500 units have been built there since construction started in 2001. Half of the new residents are from outside the city. Why is this happening? It’s location, quality of life and the success of Pittsburgh: n Safety

and walkability – Squirrel Hill is safe, diverse, friendly and livable.We enjoy an excellent central business district and several convenient neighborhood commercial areas.You can walk anywhere. n Transportation and accessibility – Squirrel Hill residents have easy access to all key areas of the city. Commuting is a breeze compared to the suburbs.While bus service has been reduced county-wide, we have been much less affected than the suburbs not served by the T. Bicycle and pedestrian connections continue to expand.We hope to soon connect Forward and Murray with a direct, protected connection to the Eliza Furnace trail, and thus all the way to Washington. n Eds, Meds and Techs – Pitt, CMU and our many other great schools have been in a major growth mode bringing undergraduates, graduates and faculty to the city and spawning new businesses. UPMC and Google continue to mushroom and draw people from all parts of the world. High earners no longer automatically go to Fox Chapel. Squirrel Hill is seen as a strong option. Sixty to seventy percent of our residents have college or post-graduate degrees.About 58% of our population is between 20 and 59. n Community Institutions – Squirrel Hill is blessed with many strong institutions.The Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh and its many affiliates decided about twenty years ago to buck the trend seen in most other large cities, investing about $50 million in Squirrel Hill (the JCC,Weinberg Terrace,Weinberg Village, Riverview Apartments, Community Day School, etc.) rather than escape to the suburbs.The Jewish Community Center provides crucial support services to families with children and people of all ages and backgrounds.After school, the buses go directly to the JCC. Our Public schools are also a major asset.They are led by strong principals and involved parent groups. Private schools such as

Community Day School, St. Edmund’s Academy, Ellis, Hillel Academy and Yeshiva add diversity to the educational options that parents can select for their children.The age 5 to 19 population of Squirrel Hill North is 28.3%. In Squirrel Hill South it is 11.8%. n Parks and Recreation – Squirrel Hill is served by two major

parks and many convenient, modern, safe and attractive playgrounds that would be the envy of almost any community. Our parks are very heavily used but also very well maintained by the City Department of Public Works and supported by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Construction on the new Frick Park Environmental Center will start very soon and will add to the mix. Homewood Cemetery also offers even more high quality green space. n Progressivity - Pittsburgh recently elected a new administration that we expect will provide more effective government and greater economic growth. Pittsburghers, unlike the citizens of many other towns, recently voted in a small tax increase to support and stabilize the Carnegie Library System.The Google generation lives and loves it here. Pittsburgh’s worldwide reputation continues to soar. There are, of course, some soft spots.Wage taxes in the city are higher than in the suburbs but the time and money saved commuting as well as the convenience and accessibility to rest of the city, more than compensate. Our housing stock and infrastructure are aging. Some buildings are vacant or in need of investment. Lot sizes are generally small.The great majority of the homes were built before 1960 and more than half were built before 1940. Still, for the most part, homes are sound and well maintained. At its peak in 1950, Squirrel Hill’s population was about 33,000; in 2010, it was about 24,500. It is now increasing slightly.The population drop resulted not from an increase in vacancies but a decrease in household size. The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition is partnering with everyone it can to help to maintain, improve and celebrate our quality of life. We welcome you to join, contribute and participate in one of our many active task forces and committees. For more data on any Pittsburgh neighborhoods go to http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/snap/ R The Summer Living Issue PAGE3

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Whatʼs New Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh At a presentation on June 18th, community leader Meyer “Skip” Grinberg was named the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh's 2014 Gerald S. Ostrow Volunteer of the Year.The Ostrow Award recognizes the special efforts of a volunteer leader who has dedicated significant service to the community and has fostered partnerships among the Federation and its agencies. Long active at the Jewish Federation, Skip is presently Chair of the Community Relations Council. He served as Co-Chair of Partnership2Gether, which connects the Pittsburgh Jewish community with Karmiel and the Misgav region, in Israel's Galilee, for a wide range of educational, cultural and regional development initiatives. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and has served as a campaign solicitor and on the Israel and World Jewry Commission.

Mandyʼs Pizza By C. J. Simpson

Mandy’s Pizza has been a Pittsburgh tradition since 1979, when they opened their first location in the town of Westview, just 10 minutes north of Pittsburgh. After the original owners retired, new owners Steven Negri and his wife Veronica turned it into the award-winning pizzeria that it is today. While being known for their traditional menu, along with their award-winning white, and award-winning Buffalo chicken pizzas, their latest claim to fame is being the first pizzeria in the U.S. to offer an allergen-free menu. Mandy's allergen-free menu was developed out of need by their son while he was a mere 7 1/2 years old. Brandon suffers from life-threatening food allergies and couldn't eat traditional pizza, so he set out to develop a pizza everyone could eat. Since then, Brandon has been working hard to expand the menu and recently developed his own allergen-free hoagie/sub roll. Mandy's is coming to Squirrel Hill due to high demand. Customers in this area want more out of a pizzeria, and for those who eat very specific diets, such as allergen-free, gluten-free, vegan, and even Paleo, Mandy’s is sure to satisfy! Check out their story and menu at www.mandyspizza.com

Truschel Insurance Truschel Insurance has just been appointed to represent Dominion Dental, the dental carrier chosen by UPMC Health Plans for their customers.This new relationship complements the other Dental Insurance plans that we offer: United Concordia, Sterling, Medico and Security Life Dental.We would be glad to help you evaluate these options so stop into our office at 1709 Murray Avenue for a free consultation.

Mineoʼs Pizza House and Bar Mineo’s Bar jumped head first into the pool of Squirrel Hill bars when it opened on St. Patrick’s Day 2014. The opening was a culmination of 18 months of planning, renovation and a complete interior design overhaul.The Mineos wanted to bring a little bit of Italy to Murray Avenue, creating a warm, friendly neighborhood bar atmosphere with “al fresco” dining. Mineo’s Bar features twelve beer taps and a full bar that seats more than 42 people. A wide variety of Italian wine, including Prosecco, is a welcome addition the Squirrel Hill bar scene. Recently, Mineo’s Bar sold out its first Wine Tasting event which featured six different Sicilian Wines paired with authentic family recipes such as Caponata, Pasta Forno, Shrimp Salad and Cannoli. The bar also welcomes the addition of a variety of fried foods, including Lemon Rosemary Wings and Arancini Rice Balls. The first few months were really exciting as ideas for Mineo’s Bar were developed and allowed to flourish. Now, it’s up to customers to decide if Mineo’s Bar will become as legendary as their pizza. The Summer Living Issue PAGE5

fresh off the street

This Just In Amazing Books Opening Squirrel Hill Location

Transfer) cards and FMNP (Farmers Market Nutrition Program) coupons, these delicious local wares are available for everyone. Further partnerships are in the works with the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry, Friendship Circle, and Jewish Family & Children’s Services to provide even more expansive services to Squirrel Hill residents.

When Barnes and Noble closed its doors in 2009, Squirrel Hill lost a valuable local business. Erik Ackland, owner of Amazing Books in Lawrenceville, decided to remedy that. Their second location at 2030 Murray Avenue opened on June 9th and is hoping to fill the gap that Barnes and Noble left.Amazing Books will offer high quality used books as well as current and perennial best sellers, kids’ books, locally produced greeting cards, and literary gifts. But that’s not all. By fall, their basement space will host classes in writing —including (but not limited to): novel and short story writing, creative non-fiction, and screenwriting. Stop in to browse, chat, or trade in your used books today!

Pittsburgh Music School

New Summer Farmers Market Rustbuilt and the Pittsburgh Parks Conversancy have joined together to open a new farmers market in Squirrel Hill, located in the Beacon/Bartlett parking lot behind Friendship Circle. Every Sunday from 9am to 1pm, over 20 independent farmers will be offering their organic vegetables, fresh cheese, and handmade baked goods from now until late November.With vendors accepting even EBT (Electronic Benefit PAGE6 The Summer Living Issue

Local music enthusiasts seeking to learn a new instrument or improve their technique now have another venue to turn to. The Pittsburgh Music Academy has just moved into the neighborhood. Located inside the Church of the Redeemer at 5700 Forbes Avenue, PMA offers both private instruction and group classes. They specialize in piano, violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, and guitar lessons. Classes are offered at your convenience, with open availability depending on the instructor.Their advanced students perform locally at community outreach concerts and are always looking for more opportunities.They welcome students of all ages! For more information, visit their website at www.pghma.com.

Are you a Pinterest addict? Follow us @pinterest.com/SquirrelHillMag!

The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition welcomes the following organizational members: Jewish Residential Services (JRS), Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Rodef Shalom Congregation, Eyetique and Littles Shoes. If you or your organization would like to become a member, please contact the Coalition at (412) 422-7666 or info@shuc.org.

Squirrel Hill Sidewalk Sale

July 17th - 19th

Support local businesses and celebrate our neighborhood! Food, Sales & Family Fun

Enter to win Neighborhood Raffle with prizes from particpating businesses

good news from our schools Minadeo Students: Inspiring Us All!

Want to share good news from your school? Email editor@squirrelhillmagazine.net

By Heather Frye

John Minadeo Elementary School has many students who inspire us with their hard work and dedication. These students work daily to make our community a better place for everyone. Our Minadeo Chorus deserves special recognition for their outstanding performances, and dedication. They gave up their recesses and their time after school to practice. This year, the chorus was invited to perform at the Steel Building, the City County Building, the Children’s Festival and many other venues.As a culmination of all of their hard work, the Chorus, which consists of fourth and fifth grade students, was invited to perform at the Fiddlesticks Family Concert,“A Salute to America,” with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall on May 17. Their performance earned them a standing ovation! A special thank you to Adrianne Kelly, our wonderful Choir Director. Her hard work, dedication and all the extra time she has devoted to these children makes all of this possible.A quote from the program:“Thank you, Pittsburgh Symphony, for recognizing the talent that lives at Pittsburgh Minadeo K-5 and giving our students this magical opportunity to shine.” April was Autism Awareness Month. Last year one of Minadeo’s Autistic Support teachers, Michele Scott-Blum, and her paraprofessionals, Kate Flot and Ebony Latham, started a group called the Minadeo Munchkins that raised money for Autism Speaks.Autism Speaks is an organization investing millions of dollars to fund research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cures of autism.This year, our Minadeo Munchkins have raised $593.00 for Autism Speaks. On June 14th, some of our Minadeo Munchkin teachers and families will be walking in the Walk for Autism around Heinz Field. If you are interested in donating directly to Autism Speaks on behalf of Minadeo, please go to www.walknowforautismspeaks.org. Click on “Search for a Team” and put in Minadeo Munchkins.

Litter Patrol Contest Winners at Minadeo By Lynn Rosenthal

Mrs. Berger’s third grade class at Pittsburgh Minadeo entered the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition’s 2014 Litter Patrol poster contest. Mrs. Berger had her students make how-to posters about protecting the environment titled “Clean Up- Green Up.” These contest entries were the students’ culminating activity for their Unit 4 Reading “Neighborhoods” theme. The projects were so wonderful that the local artist who judged them had a difficult time picking just one winner – so four winners were awarded a copy of The Lorax provided by the Litter Patrol. Congratulations to our winners! PAGE8 The Summer Living Issue

Dancing Classrooms at Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 By Carolyn Ludwig

Ready to “swing” to the challenge, our 5th grade students at Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 have been preparing to dance the merengue, foxtrot, rumba, and tango, among other classic ballroom dances, with Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh.This program uses a curriculum-based teaching approach – with dance as the tool – to achieve social awareness and build selfesteem. Students take part in a 10-week program offered through Pittsburgh Mercy Health System. Our student’s fantastic endeavors were capped by a city-wide competition. Colfax students entered the “Colors of the Rainbow Final Team Match” alongside eight other elementary schools. Advancing to the finals as one of ten schools, twelve 5th grade students proudly and enthusiastically represented Colfax. The team earned a respectable silver in the competition. The 8th grade class will join this program next year. Learn more at www.dancingclassroomspgh.org. Arts education continues at Colfax with our first Cabaret Middle School Musical, Annie, Jr. Performances were held May 10 & 11, under the direction of Bridgette Perdue and leadership of Lori Goldstein, and received support from our families and PTO! Accolades go to the chess club, the girls’ soccer team and boys’ soccer team. Colfax’s two chess teams fared well in city tournaments.Two trophies are on display. The boys’ soccer team made it to the first round of playoffs, and Colfax’s girls’ soccer team won the city championship on May 28!

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squirrel hill feature

Moving Forward at Forward/Murray By Richard St. John

ood things are happening in the Forward/Murray area, which the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition (SHUC) hopes will lead to even more positive developments in the future. Squirrel Hill is fortunate to have the cooperation of local institutions and some private property owners who recognize that greening our neighborhood enhances quality of life and maintains our property values. This latest TreeVitalize planting included five cherry trees on Murray at the 6th Presbyterian Church, four elms at Shaare Torah and two tree lilacs on Shady at properties owned by the Brandywine Agency. The Brandywine Agency also planted an additional maple on Forbes as part of their sidewalk improvement. “It’s a vision steadily becoming true -- restoring a lovely tree canopy throughout the business district,” explains Mardi Isler, chair of SHUC’s Gateway Committee.“Together with new street lighting, banners and the clock at Murray and Phillips, it all adds up to more than $400,000 in new investment from a wide range of City and private-sector partners.”And there’s more to come, including a new “welcome” sign at the Forward Avenue Parkway entrance and a major renovation of the Post Office parklet at Darlington Road. Beyond these streetscape and “public realm” improvements, what’s happening on the private development front? As many residents will recall, a 2008 plan for a hotel, retail shops and condominiums at the Forward/Murray intersection fell through, leaving the area in a deteriorated state for years. In September 2013,ACTION-Housing Inc. acquired the Poli Resaturant site and a related parking lot across Murray Avenue, but was not able to secure additional parcels to create a largerscale development plan. In partnership with Jewish Residential Services (JRS),ACTION-Housing is planning a mixed-use development that would include 33 units of affordable residential apartments, including several designated for renters with disabilities, an expanded Howard Levin Clubhouse (which will move from next door to open up new potential retail space), and

PAGE10 The Summer Living Issue

offices for JRS.The team is still finalizing its design and will apply for low-income housing tax credits in the fall. If the development moves ahead, it will replace a vacant, blighted structure and return the site to tax-paying use. For more information about this specific development, contact ACTION-Housing at (412) 281-2102. “The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition would like to encourage more comprehensive, high quality development for the entire Forward/Murray area,” says Richard Feder, chair of SHUC’s Master Planning Committee,“but that’s a real challenge because properties there are controlled by many different private owners.” In response to this challenge, SHUC has secured the involvement of the Carnegie Mellon University Remaking Cities Institute’s Urban Design Studio. Beginning this fall, 8 to 10 urban design students from the School of Architecture will explore “place-making” opportunities for an area surrounding the Forward/Murray intersection (details still to be determined).The hope is to articulate a positive vision -- with input from property owners and the broader community – that could encourage multiple partners to invest in a larger whole. As Feder puts it, “We believe the community can do more together than if everyone tries to go it alone.” R If you’d like to participate in the visioning process or simply to share your hopes for the area through a brief questionnaire, please contact the SHUC office at (412) 422-7666 or via info@shuc.org.

“I’ve been so happy since I came here. I wouldn’t change a thing.” -Dorothy York, retired flower show judge

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squirrel hill feature

Ice Cream Guide to Squirrel Hill By Ryan Rydzewski

ummer is now in full swing and we know you’re craving a cool treat. Use this handy guide to find the taste you’re craving!

Coldstone, a summer favorite in Squirrel Hill, serves up kosher ice cream, sweet sorbets, and five seasonally-rotating signature treats.The Forbes and Murray mainstay also caters everything, “from Steelers events to weddings,” says Nick Russell, General Manager of Coldstone’s Squirrel Hill location. Order online or stop in to try the creamery’s most popular flavor—cake batter—or any of the handcrafted combinations you can invent yourself.You might even find Russell mixing up his own blends behind Coldstone’s trademark counter.“Lately, my favorite has been banana and butter pecan.They’re delicious together,” he says with a smile. (Editor’s note:We checked. He’s right.) Coldstone Creamery 5800 Forbes Avenue, (412) 422-2291 Fri-Sat 11:00AM11:00PM Sun-Thu 11:00AM10:00PM

Looking for something sweet and summery with a healthy twist? Razzy Fresh on Murray Avenue has you covered.With a rotating lineup of ten flavors and tons of fresh fruit toppings, this fro-yo shop is another Squirrel Hill gem.Their yogurt ranges from traditional (Alpine Vanilla) to exotic (Taro) to downright decadent (Triple Chocolate). Or try the Original flavor, a staff favorite.Throw in some blueberries, pineapple, kiwis and watermelon and you’ve got a perfect summer treat. (Oh, and they’ve got plenty of candy toppings, too.) Razzy Fresh 1717 Murray Ave. (412) 521-3145 Mon 12:00PM11:00PM Tue-Sun 12:00PM11:30PM PAGE12 The Summer Living Issue

Ten flavors of delicious frozen yogurt. Eighty creative toppings to mix and match.What could be better? “The people,” says Joel Kaufman of Tutti Frutti. “Everyone’s so nice and courteous.We have a lot of repeat customers.” It’s easy to see why. Two-and-a-half years after opening on Forbes Avenue, this fro-yo stand is still going strong thanks to perfect summer flavors like Very Berry Sorbet, Peanut Butter, and Strawberry Banana. Need your event catered? Not a problem. Be sure to try the Sea Salted Caramel Pretzel—a yogurt concoction that tastes so much like its namesake, it’s uncanny. Or would be, if it weren’t so delicious. Don’t forget to grab a punch card and take advantage of Tutti Frutti’s Buy-8Get-1-Free deal! Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt 5874 Forbes Ave (412) 421-8999 Fri-Sat 12:00PM-11:30PM Sun-Thu 12:00PM-10:30PM Local favorite Rita’s Italian Ice is open for the season again, serving fresh flavors daily through their classic walk-up windows. “Our milkshakes are really popular right now,” says Zach Johnson as he hands one to a customer and dishes out a sample of mango gelati (Rita’s most popular flavor). Known for its famously tasty Italian Ice, Rita’s has always been synonymous with summer. “We started in March, and we’ll be open right up until Halloween, when you can wear a costume and eat for free,” Johnson says. But it’s not just the Forbes Avenue passers-by that love Rita’s.“We get to eat as much as we want while we’re working,” Johnson says.“It’s really nice.”We think so, too. Rita’s Italian Ice 5880 Forbes Avenue (412) 421-1941 Open daily 12:00PM-9:00PM

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squirrel hill feature

People On The Street Photos and Interviews by Barbara Shema

n early May, artist/writer Barbara Shema visited Forbes and Murray Avenues and asked folks what they were looking forward to in the Summer months. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what they had to say:

Elizabeth Sanford

Sorley & Irv Rosenthal

They enjoy playing tennis in Schenley Park and going to movies at the Manor.

She is happy to be able to exercise and walk outside after a long winter. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ready to be out of hibernation.

David looks forward to running through Squirrel Hill without extra layers of clothing. Amanda enjoys the summer sidewalk fair in Squirrel Hill, getting waffles and ice cream, and gardening at home. David & Amanda Perini

PAGE14 The Summer Living Issue

Nick Krieger & Isabella Griffiths

Nick likes when the business district gets busier in the summer and the streets come alive. Isabella looks forward to more consistent sunshine and hanging out with friends outdoors.

Abigail Cox & Eleanor Bush

They canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see the outdoor movies on Flagstaff Hill in Schenley Park.

Margy Whitmer

She enjoys hiking the trails in Schenley Park and going swimming in the Schenley pool after work.

Marcia & Lila Kelson

Marcia is looking forward to going swimming at Edgewood pool. Lila likes to play outside, ride her bike and scooter, and go places where they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to drive. The Summer Living Issue PAGE15

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our twins needed life-saving surgery before they were born. That meant my wife needed surgery, too.â&#x20AC;? - Nathan

squirrel hill feature

Summer Camp Opportunities for Children with Social and Emotional Challenges By Elizabeth Waickman

arents of children with social and emotional challenges may hesitate when considering summer camps. For many families, programs like Quest Therapeutic Camps can be life-changing. Robin Gretz’s son Evan, 14, struggled with attention deficit disorder throughout his childhood. He had difficulty focusing in school and didn’t benefit from typical summer camp programs. She endlessly searched for an appropriate program that would offer Evan summertime enrichment while he learned to manage his challenges. “We were searching for something that didn’t seem to exist, so when I started to read through the information on Quest, it seemed like this magical, perfect fit.” Gretz said.“Evan was really struggling emotionally and mentally, and we knew he needed something structured.” To help children with challenges such as autism, attention deficit disorders and anxiety or depression thrive in a summer camp environment, Squirrel Hill Psychological Services (SHPS) partnered with Quest Therapeutic Camps to bring the program to Pittsburgh in the summer of 2012. Quest Camp, located at Community Day School in Squirrel Hill, provides a highly-structured and therapeutic curriculum with the look and feel of a typical summer camp for children ages 6-18.The program includes daytime activities such as swimming, field trips, sports, drama, music and science classes, while following a cognitivebehavioral approach designed to teach skills and reinforce positive changes in behavior.

“Quest Camp is a first-of-its-kind camp in Pittsburgh.The program is different from the typical summer camp experience; it is a therapeutic program designed to address children’s specific emotional and social challenges while setting them up for future success throughout the school year, which typical summer camps are not equipped to do,” said Jordan Golin, director of SHPS.“Additionally, Quest Camp provides a middle-ground for children who might slip through the cracks or have occasional struggles in a typical summer camp but who do not have the level of need that warrants a strictly special needs program.” April Artz, LPC, director of Quest Camp and the Quest AfterSchool Program, said one of Quest’s primary focuses is helping children build relationships with their peers while making positive, lasting behavioral changes. “The goal of Quest is to connect campers with other kids.We’re facilitating the connections between the kids, and they work

together to help each other. Everyone is able to learn and grow from one another,”Artz said. “We work with all of the kids, their peers, parents and the camp staff to create a structured, positive and supportive environment that helps campers have fun while working on individual behavioral goals. This structure helps kids prevent or A Quest camper gets help with her aim manage the behavioral issues that would typically cause them to slip through the cracks or, worst case scenario, get kicked out of other programs.” Because many children with autism and related challenges typically experience difficulty connecting with peers, the Watson Inclusive Summer Program (WISP), like Quest, focuses on socialization and interaction between children.WISP places children on the autism spectrum in typical summer camps with the accompaniment of trained staff facilitators, to encourage socialization and inclusivity within their peer groups.WISP partners with the Chatham University Music & Arts Day Camp in Squirrel Hill and several additional camps throughout the city. “Our staff are trained to be facilitators between our children and children in the camp,” said Kristine Gorby, service coordinator for the Psychological Services Department of The Watson Institute.“A lot of programs won’t allow children in the programs without our support staff because they feel their staff don’t have the expertise to deal with any issues that might come up—or if they do let the kids in, the kids are just ‘there,’ but they’re not really getting the most out of what they could get with one of our aides.” Programs like Quest and WISP are not only designed to help children during the summer, but also provide continuing support throughout the school year. Quest Camp participants have the option of continued participation throughout the regular school year through the Quest After-School Program, a once-aweek after-school program designed to build on the gains made by campers during the summer.At WISP, camp participants have access to ongoing behavioral health support services available year-round. For Gretz, Evan’s participation in the Quest summer program helped him mature socially and develop communication skills while providing long-term benefits for the entire family. “Quest has transformed our family. It’s made improvements for Evan and it’s made improvements for all of us,” Gretz said.“Our lives have definitely changed because of Quest and we’re forever grateful.” R The Summer Living Issue PAGE17

squirrel hill feature

Dining al Fresco

ne of summer’s greatest pleasures is al fresco dining. Enjoying the summer sun over a delicious meal or a cool drink is worth the wait. Our business district rises the occasion, setting out chairs and tables every sunny day. Here are some outdoor dining highlights!

1 2 8

10 5

PAGE18 The Summer Living Issue

1 Sun Penang...5829 Forbes Ave. 2 Gaby et Jules...5837 Forbes Ave. 3 61C Café...1839 Murray Ave. 4 Starbucks...2345 Murray Ave. 5 Dobrá Tea...1937 Murray Ave. 6 Pamela’s Upstreet Diner...1711 Murray Ave. 7 Mineo’s Pizza & Bar...2128 Murray Ave 8 The Greek Gourmet Marketplace...2130 Murray Ave. 9 Aiello’s Pizza...2112 Murray Ave. 10 Coffee Tree Roaster’s...5840 Forbes Ave.

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Contact Greg Esposito gwe@englishlanenursery.com 412.654.5440

www.englishlanenursery.com Thank you Squirrel Hill for the pleasure of serving you for 107 years!

squirrel hill feature

Keep It Growing: Your Summer Garden By Bob Madden

Worried about keeping your garden fresh in the summer heat? Here’s a few tips to keep it growing strong.

plant or seed when you know that you will be available to give your plants a steady amount of moisture until they establish deeper roots.

Garden Review First, take a good look at your garden.What elements have been challenging? What has gone well? It would be good to set goals for the hot months of summer. Maybe you simply want to keep everything watered and harvested or perhaps you want to grow as much as possible. Defining your goals can help guide your summer gardening.

What to Plant Now Beans, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers and flowers are perfect for summer planting because they are warm weather crops with short growth periods. If you plant tomatoes, peppers, corn, melons, okra or eggplants, they will have time to produce, but your yield will be smaller than May plantings. Unfortunately, it is too late to start tomatoes, peppers, or eggplants from seed, so look for starters from your local plant nursery.

Watering The summer can be both dry and rainy in turns. The main task of gardening is to supply the right amount of moisture to your plants. If it has been raining steadily for several days, you may not have to water every day but brief storms can be deceiving in their amount of rainfall. Make sure to check your soil regularly by sticking a finger about 2 inches below the surface to feel for moisture and water deeply every few days.Adding 2-3 inches of straw or leaf mulch also helps hold in moisture.

Visit a Local Nursery One of my favorite parts of summer is going to my local nursery. I am very fortunate to work at Garden Dreams Urban Farm & Nursery. We have a large demonstration garden, chickens, a mini-CSA (community supported agriculture; similar to a buying club) and have hundreds of varieties of vegetables, herbs and fruit plants grown with organic methods on reclaimed vacant lots. Garden Dreams is a beautiful space.We have created a pleasant environment where customers can stroll freely and ask questions about their garden challenges.We have a wide variety of organic gardening supplies and are close to Squirrel Hill, only a few blocks off of Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg, at 806 Holland Ave. Come visit us with all your garden questions! R

Supporting Your Current Crops Supporting your crops could mean many things including: clearing out the weeds around your peppers, building supports for your tomato plants or thinning your beets. Sometimes a few minutes of maintenance can greatly improve your overall yield. Watch for Pest & Disease Damage If your plants appear to be nibbled on or damaged by disease, it is a good practice to try to identify what is happening.A simple online search for “eggplant leaf damage,” for example, can produce images for comparison.You can also search the Plant Diseases Database on the Penn State Extension website. Make sure to narrow it down to something common to our area. Many ‘controls,’ or homemade recipes, to combat these issues are available online. You can also contact your local Penn State extension agent or come to Garden Dreams to find the right treatment. Filling Spaces At this time of the year, it is important to focus on adding warm weather plants in place of wilting or dying spring plants.This can be done by seeding in the garden directly, seeding into small containers or buying starters from a local nursery. It can be challenging to plant this time of year due to the moisture requirements of seeds and seedlings. Be sure to

Bob Madden is the outreach manager at Garden Dreams Urban Farm and Nursery, a local business providing Pittsburgh with a wide range of specialty vegetable and fruit seedlings and organic gardening supplies. Find them on Facebook, Twitter and at mygardendreams.com. The Summer Living Issue PAGE21

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squirrel hill historical society

Bygone Summers: Summer Fun in Old Squirrel Hill By Helen Wilson Vice-President, Squirrel Hill Historical Society

ometimes a subject is so vast it can’t be shoehorned into a short article. Such is the case with summertime activities in Squirrel Hill.All I can offer are some reminiscences from various sources.

In the valley between the lake and Oakland runs the still-active B&O (now CSX) railroad tracks. A neighbor told me that when she was a teenager it was a rite of passage to sneak into the tunnel near the Forbes Avenue Bridge, memorizing train schedules so you had time to press yourself into one of the tunnel’s niches when a train came barreling through.

First, one from me: In the 1950s, my parents took us to the lower entrance of Frick Park on Beechwood Boulevard near Forbes RRR Southern portal of the railroad tunnel near the Forbes Avenue.A fountain played a short disAvenue bridge in Oakland tance up the broad stone walkway.We A sense of daring and exploration strolled up the hill and darted through the trees, playing at being permeates the stories people tell about their childhoods.A cowboys and Indians, reflecting what we watched on TV at the man said when he was young, paddle-wheel steamboats still time. None of us knew the place had once been called Gunns pushed coal barges down the Monongahela River, and he and Hill, named for the family said to have been massacred in their his friends bobbed in their wake on planks of wood while the cabin there by Native Americans in the late 1700s. Henry Clay men on the steamboats shook their fists at them. The man Frick later bought the hill from the Wilkins family. He renamed it added they would deny it when their mothers asked them if “Clayton,” intending to build a mansion on it to house his fabulous they had gone swimming in the forbidden river, but their smell art collection. It didn’t happen. Frick took his art to New York gave them away. City, a great loss for Pittsburgh, but the recompense wasn’t bad. RRR Following his daughter Helen’s suggestion, Frick willed the land A woman recounted that she and a friend were so intrigued by to the city for a public park where children could roam and dream. the newly opened Squirrel Hill Tunnels they hatched a plot to Frick Park plays a big part in people’s memories of summertime walk through one of them on the walkway beside the traffic in Squirrel Hill. The blue slide playground, a mile or so up lanes. They scrambled down the steep slope to the entrance, Beechwood Boulevard, has entertained generations of children. where they were stopped by a burly official who told them to Beyond the playground, open fields stretch into the distance, get lost.The climb back up the hill wasn’t nearly as much fun. with shady trails leading off in all directions. In their teenage RRR years, my sons and their friends, like others before them, explored those trails, not caring that the area was once an The great outdoors extended beyond Squirrel Hill for its exclusive golf course reserved for the wealthy, who rode their children. I heard many stories about going to summer camp at fine horses along those same trails. Emma Farm in Zelienople.“I loved it,” said one friend.“We did all kinds of activities.We swam and canoed and did crafts and rode RRR horses and had a great time.” Squirrel Hill’s other large park, Schenley, still has its golf course, “I hated it,” said her husband.“They made me stop doing things as well as tennis courts and a running track. In the early 1900s, when I was having a good time and made me do other things. I Schenley Oval was a thoroughbred racetrack with a grandstand. wanted to keep playing softball, but they made me stop and do Its last vestige was the riding stable that gave city kids the chance crafts.We guys would escape and hike into town.” to experience what it was like to ride a horse along wooded paths, a popular summer activity until the stable burned down in Anyone interested in learning more about Squirrel Hill history is invited 1972.The trails still go deep into the ravines of Panther Hollow, to attend the meetings of the Squirrel Hill Historical Society held on down to the lake where people once boated in summer and icethe second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave. Go to www.squirrelhillhistory.org skated in winter under the graceful arch of the Panther Hollow to view upcoming lectures and events. Also, consider joining the Bridge. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is spearheading a SHHS. Membership is only $10 per year. There is no charge for drive to restore Panther Hollow Lake and the wetland area that attending the meetings. feeds into it.

The Summer Living Issue PAGE23

squirrel hill litter patrol Cleaning Up Squirrel Hill By Michael Jehn

If you happened to pass the Squirrel Hill Carnegie Library several Sundays ago, you may have noticed numerous citizens, young and old, assembled there—many of them wearing neon orange safety vests and wielding long-handled tools and garbage bags. You may also have noticed similar volunteers collecting trash and discarded recyclables throughout the central Squirrel Hill business district or along sidewalks in the surrounding residential areas. Certainly, if you had passed through that busy intersection in the late morning or early afternoon that day, you couldn’t have missed the six-foot gray and white squirrel entertaining kids and high-fiving teenagers. Not ringing a bell? Totally confused? All of this was part of the Squirrel Hill Litter Patrol’s annual community spring cleanup, which took place on Sunday,April 27th. It has become almost a given that the weather will cooperate each year and, sure enough, we could not have had sunnier skies or happier people. This year, about 125 volunteers participated in the cleanup. These included families and individuals, Cub Scouts from Pack 1818, an AmeriCorps work team, and a group of about 20 volunteers from Community Day School. In total, approximately 700 pounds of trash and 355 pounds of recyclables were collected. Donuts, fruit, bottled water, and coffee provided by generous sponsors kept everyone’s energy level up. Murray the Squirrel, official mascot of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, amused volunteers and locals alike as he posed for photographs and waved at passing cars, all while enduring the heat of the day. It is certainly true that volunteerdriven community events such as these are nearly always the-morethe-merrier affairs; but it is the involvement of our younger citizens that arguably creates the most profound impact and leads to lasting positive change. As volunteer and organizer Barb Grover put it,“The best part of the cleanup was to see so many young children involved. We had middle school students, Cub Scouts, families with their children. Those children will not litter now or in the future!” The event was a success on many fronts. R PAGE24 The Summer Living Issue

The Squirrel Hill Litter Patrol is extremely grateful for the support of its sponsors, without whom the event could not have been such a success! • • • • • •

Allegheny Cleanways Dunkin Donuts Councilman Corey O’Connor First Commonwealth Bank Giant Eagle Jewish Association on Aging—Center for Rehabilitation • Squirrel Hill Wine & Spirits • Starbucks With special thanks to: • Pittsburgh City Public Works for providing tables and chairs for cleanup headquarters, as well as collecting the piles of bagged trash assembled by volunteers • Pittsburgh City Recycling Division for providing recycling containers • All the volunteers who set up, registered volunteers, distributed supplies, offered food and drinks, and helped clean up!

Woman and Scarecrow By Marina Carr

July 10–Aug 2

Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme By Frank McGuinness

September 4–20

Macbeth By William Shakespeare

schoolhouseyoga.com squirrel hill

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October 9–25

Great Expectations By Charles Dickens Adapted by Hugh Leonard

December 4–20

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squirrel hill feature Get ʻBlown Awayʼ this Summer By Lindsey Albracht

Thank You Pittsburgh For Voting Us Best Deli! 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014

If you’re looking for a spot to spiff yourself up for a special summer soiree,Tula Organic Salon might be just the place to add to your “summer fun” agenda. Friends and co-workers Emily Askin and Becky Spitler opened their environmentally-friendly Murray Avenue salon in 2012. With sustainably sourced Aveda products, an interior full of upcycled Construction Junction finds (the front desk is made out of a giant door and metal bleachers from a high school stadium, and the salon mirrors are framed with salvaged barn wood), wind-powered website hosting, and even recycled business cards, Tula is seriously committed to its sustainability goals. But the salon doesn’t take itself too seriously. In fact, one way that Tula puts the “fun” in “summer fun” is through its Blow Dry Bar: a pick-me-up for hair where you can choose from a spicy, pun-irific menu of options including “Cayenne You Take It?” (a style that features loose curls),“Thyme-less” (which is sleek and smooth), or “Salt of the Earth” (a straight style with body).According to Spitler, the purpose of a blow dry bar is to give clients that “I Just Went To The Salon” look without necessitating a haircut. “We have groups of women who come in to get ready for a night on the town,” she said.“Or you can also come in by yourself if just you want to look a little more put together and polished.” If you’re on the way to other types of summer fun – going to a wedding, an event, or the beach, for example – Tula also offers a wide variety of salon and spa services to give you an extra beauty boost. After all, according to Askin:“It’s not all about how you look. But how you look does affect the way that you feel!” R

PAGE26 The Summer Living Issue

Deli and Catering Squirrel Hill 1912 Murray Ave. 412-421-DELI (3354) FAX 412-421-3374 Hours: M-S 9am - 9pm Sun. 9am - 8pm

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neighborhood notes Minedeo Playground Ribbon Cutting Most Squirrel Hill parents know the playground at Minedeo has been open for play since the students returned from spring break earlier this year.All the hard work and dedication invested in the project was finally commemorated at a ceremony held on Friday, May 30th as part of a family fun night.“I am so thankful for our collective awareness and appreciation of just how important play is in the lives of children,” said Minedeo principle Melissa Wagner. The product of six years of planning, fundraising, and community organization, the playground is a wonderful addition to the school. Included in the construction are monkey bars, ladders, gliders, and two slides. Councilman Corey O’Connor, never one to be left out of the fun, told us the largest slide was “faster than I was expecting.” The ribbon was jointly cut by Councilman O’Connor and dedicated project volunteer Tracy Royston to the shouts and cheers of dozens of Squirrel Hill’s youngest residents.

SAVE THE DATE! On Thursday, October 23rd, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition celebrates the Fourth Annual Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards. This year’s ceremony will honor Mayor Bill Peduto, Pamela’s Restaurant, Hebrew Free Loan Society and the 2014 Place Treasure, The Homewood Cemetery.

than ¼ inch triggering large quantities of untreated sewage to discharge into our rivers. To help combat that overflow, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has taken the lead on projects in Squirrel Hill along Bartlett and Beacon Streets.You may notice that the grass on the hillside in between those streets is changing color and drying out.We had to remove this section of grass in preparation for a new meadow. Today is a monochromatic field and hard lawn will be turned into lush, native meadow that, in addition to looking beautiful, will be an important first step in improving the surrounding watershed by reducing the amount of runoff from the hillside. To enable the new plantings to take root, we’re asking people not to walk on the soon-to-be-reseeded areas, which will be clearly marked by signs and eventually construction fencing. The area was cleared and prepped for seeding in the spring so that the new plants will establish roots and be better suited for the upcoming winter. The reseeding is scheduled for early to mid-June. We anticipate that the field will be green again by mid to late summer. Also this summer, a second project will be installed within the Bob O’Connor Golf Course.There, small bumps, or retentive grading, will be built on the course. Taller, no-mow lawn mix will be seeded and dead trees will be replaced across 13 acres of the course. These projects mark the first stage of a plan to reduce the volume of water flowing through the watershed.This summer and fall, infiltration trenches and berms will be created along the street.Together, these projects will remove an estimated 1.7 million gallons of water from the combined sewer system.

Tickets are $90 per person and include access to the event as well as catered dinner. In lieu of speeches, a short film produced by Pittsburgh Filmmakers will celebrate the contributions of the treasures. The event takes place at the Pittsburgh Golf Club.All proceeds from the Treasure Celebration support the ongoing work of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition. For further information, or to purchase tickets for the event, call 412-422-7666 or email info@shuc.org

Parks Update By Chris Fletcher of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Like many older cities, Pittsburgh has a combined sewer system in which both stormwater and sewage flow through the same pipes.The system is prone to overflows, with rainfalls greater

Schenley Park photos by Melissa @ PPC. You can follow our progress and get updates at our website, www.pittsburghparks.org. The Summer Living Issue PAGE29

events & happenings

Calendar Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Squirrel Hill Branch 5801 Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill (412) 422-9650 or www.carnegielibrary.org squirrelhill@carnegielibrary.org Genre Book Club Meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm July 16– Rustic Recipes for a Year of Incredible Food by Ian Knauer • We will meet out in our community garden (weather permitting) and you are encouraged to bring in a dish made from one of the book’s recipes using ingredients from your or our garden. August 20– Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier • We will meet at Crazy Mocha, 2100 Murray Avenue, 15217 for this meeting. September 17– Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver CLASSES: One-on-one Computer Assistance Make an appointment to let us know what you’d like to learn and a knowledgeable staff member will guide you. Appointments are available on Tuesdays at 1 pm or 2 pm. Evening appointments are also available. Pre-registration is required at least one week before your appointment. Classes end July 29. Writing a Legacy of Life 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 1:00 pm Begin a journey of personal exploration, learning and adventure that will result in lasting memories for your family and others. Ellen Dehouske, Ph.D., will help you organize your memories and get the stories of your life down on paper. No previous writing is necessary, but veteran writers are welcome. Registration is required. Space is limited. Classes end August 19. Tips for Aging Well – Thoughts from a Geriatric Psychologist Thursday, July 31 at 3 pm We can’t stop the aging process and many of the physical changes that occur. But there are psychological “tricks” that can ease one’s passage toward longevity. Eve Markowitz Preston, Ph.D., a New York City-based psychologist and coach who grew up in Squirrel Hill, will describe these simple strategies and how to incorporate them into one's lifestyle. Dr. Preston welcomes a lively discussion and encourages questions from the audience. PAGE30 The Summer Living Issue

Origami: Beginner Class 3rd Saturdays of the month at 12 pm Classes continue through fall Origami: Open Folding 3rd Saturdays of the month at 1:30 pm Classes continue through fall Language classes will be starting in September after summer vacation. Contact the library for days and times. The Buzz Mondays Our program series is your new way to learn about a variety of interesting, timely and worldly topics! Every Monday at 6:30 pm: 1st Monday of the Month—Culture Night 2nd Monday of the Month—DIY/Crafting Night 3rd Monday of the Month—Lit Night 4th Monday of the Month—Radical Home Economics Night Tuesday Teen Scene Every Tuesday from 3:30-5 pm This is the day of the week to be in the teen space! Stop by for snacks, gaming and a fun activity. This program is available to teens age 12-17 or grade 6-12. For more information call 412-422-9651 or email siegelm@carnegielibrary.org

Continued on page 32

Many thanks to the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition for more than three decades of leadership.

Sincerely,

Please visit us at our new location! 5867 Forbes Ave. (Formerly Dales Maxima)

Mayor William Peduto

$25.00 Gift Certificate

towards any purchase of $100 or more.

5867 Forbes Ave. 412-422-4225

Not good with any other offer. Excludes sale items. Exp. Aug. 31, 2014 www.capriccioboutique.com

Save the Date The Fourth Annual Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards, Honoring: Mayor Bill Peduto Pamela’s Restaurant Hebrew Free Loan Society The Homewood Cemetery this year’s Place Treasure

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In lieu of speeches, a short film produced by Pittsburgh Filmmakers will celebrate the contributions of the Treasures.

bbb Thursday, October 23, 2014 Pittsburgh Golf Club

REAL ESTATE SERVICES 5996 Penn Circle South, Suite 301 Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Owned and operated by NRT, LLC.

barbara.rabner@pittsburghmoves.com

Proceeds from the Treasure Celebration support the ongoing work of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition For further information call 412-422-7666 or email info@shuc.org

events & happenings cont. Squirrel Hill Vintage Race Car Parade & Show

Cinema in the Park

Friday July 18, 2014 Cars will stage race on Beacon Street Friday night at 6:30 pm. A police escort will lead the racers into Squirrel Hill, six blocks away.They will come down Forbes Avenue, creating a race car show, then circle Squirrel Hill and come back down and park for 90 minutes.At 8:30 pm, racers will depart to the paddock on Prospect Drive. For more information, visit http://www.pvgp.org/race-parade-car-show-in-squirrel/ or call 412-422-6523.

Schenley Park at Flagstaff Hill in Oakland Sundays and Wednesdays through August 31 at Dusk

2014 Pittsburgh Comedy Festival: Comedy n’at August 21-23 Henry Heymann Theatre - Stephen Foster Memorial Bigelow Blvd. at Forbes Ave. in Oakland

Squirrel Hill Historical Society The Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Avenue Events are held on the second Tuesday of each month FREE at 7:30 p.m. *No Meeting in August Tuesday, Sept. 9: “Some Observations on 20th Century Architecture in Pittsburgh” Speaker: Al Tannler, Pgh. History & Landmarks, Historical Collections Director

Squirrel Hill Active Senior Network Squirrel Hill Library, Meeting Room C Connecting Seniors to Great Social/Civic Destinations Fridays from 3 - 4 pm Social/civic destinations will be generated from the calendars of sharing active seniors. That’s what makes them so great! Come to give or get information. It’s that easy to make plans to get out more and build your friendship network.The program/events are neither sponsored nor endorsed by Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. No charge. For more information, contact Jean at (412) 242-8603 or Linda at (412) 521-3494

July 20 – Mary Poppins (not rated) July 23 – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG-13) July 27 – Big Miracle (PG) July 30 – 42 (PG-13) August 3 – Frozen (PG) August 6 – The Great Gatsby (PG-13) August 10 – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (G) August 13 – The Hobbit:The Desolation of Smaug (PG-13) August 17 – The Smurfs 2 (PG) August 20 – All Is Lost (PG-13) August 24 – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (PG) August 27 – Oblivion (PG-13) August 31 – Planes (PG)

First Fridays at the Frick The Frick Art & Historical Center, 7227 Reynolds Street 7:00 pm, $5 suggested donation One of Pittsburgh’s most popular and enduring summertime events, First Fridays at the Frick, takes place on the first Friday of the months August and September on the Frick Art & Historical Center’s Great Lawn.This summer's 20th anniversary season program promises to be as exciting and delightful as always, with a diverse selection of musical performances by artists from Pittsburgh. First Fridays provide Frick visitors several opportunities each summer to spend evenings under the stars, enjoying music, friends and delicious food in one of the city’s most beautiful outdoor settings. Friday,August 1 – Jerry Grcevich Tamburitza Orchestra Friday, September 5 – Sean Jones Quartet Continued on page 35

Have you heard about

The Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program?

It’s where vacant houses become loving homes and it’s working in Wilkinsburg. Fill out an application today— you could be living happily ever after—tomorrow For more information visit www.wilkinsburgcdc.org/vprp

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Tyler Novak, Manager 5835 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill • (412) 521-2868 Northwest Direct: 1-877-672-5678 • www.northwestsavingsbank.com Member FDIC

ST. EDMUND’S ACADEMY Personalizing Education to Maximize Success

call 412.521.1907 x 121 visit stedmunds.net

Age 3-8th Grade Private | Independent | Co-Ed | Nonsectarian 5705 Darlington Road, Squirrel Hill Minutes from Oakland’s Medical & University Communities

Thank you... for college decisions. It’ It’s s har hard d to c choose hoose w when hen y your our options ar are eg great reat colle colleges. ges. W Wherever herever our students decide to g go o next, next, the they y ha have ve the dri drive ve and intellect to shine brightly brightly.. We’ve We’ve developed developed a rig rigorous orous cur curriculum riculum that c challenges hallenges at e every very level level to ensure ensure success at the ne next. xt. When y you ou rreceive eceive those acceptance pac packages, kages, y you’ll ou’ll thank us us..

Call for Open Open Houses House dates and– details. Spring April 30 Ma y 7. May www.ShadySideAcademy.org/VisitUs RSVP online a att www www.ShadySideAcademy.org/VisitUs .ShadySideAcademy.org/VisitUs

Explor Explore e • Eng Engage age • Ex Excel cel PK-12 • T Three hree Campuses Admissions: 412-968-3180

Keystone By Design, Inc.

events & happenings cont.

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Squirrel Hill Sidewalk Sale July 17th - July 19th Join local Squirrel Hill businesses as they showcase their best wares! Be on the lookout for discounts, sales, and Sidewalk Sale only finds all throughout the Squirrel Hill Business District.

Bach, Beethoven, and Brunch Rose Garden, Mellon Park, corner of Fifth and Shady Ave

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CONSTRUCTION JUNCTION PRESENTS THE 8th ANNUAL

STEEL CITY BIG POUR SEPTEMBEER 6, 2014

www.constructionjunction.org

Sundays, 10 am The “Bach, Beethoven, and Brunch” concert series will be held this summer on Sunday mornings near the Rose Garden in Mellon Park, which is bordered by Fifth Avenue, Shady Avenue, and Beechwood Boulevard. Each concert starts at 10 am and is two hours long. Sleep late and bring a brunch to the park with you. Join the hundreds gathered every weekend to enjoy great music. Coffee and refreshments provided by The Bagel Factory. Street parking available around the perimeter of Mellon Park and in the metered lot behind the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. July 13 – Tom Roberts Harlem Stride Piano July 20 – Matt Murchison Mutiny July 27 – Amadeus Piano Quartet August 3 – Carnegie Brass Band August 10 – Klezlectic

Steel City Big Pour Construction Junction 214 North Lexington St. Saturday, Septembeer 6th Thousands agree: from Construction Junction’s unique warehouse ambience, to the live music and art, to the wide selection of the highest quality local craft beers and food from the finest area restaurants—there is NOTHING like the Big Pour! Tickets regularly sell out within minutes, raising funds to sustain Construction Junction and their mission to promote conservation through the reuse of building materials. There are two sessions to choose from: Session 1, 12:00 - 3:00 pm and Session 2, 5:00 - 8:00 pm. Reuse Enthusiast Tickets go on sale through ShowClix.com at noon on Monday, July 14, 2014. $120. Includes t-shirt and $30 donation to Construction Junction. Regular Tickets go on sale through ShowClix.com at noon on Monday, July 28, 2014. $75 Regular Admission & $35 Designated Driver. Continued on page 36 The Summer Living Issue PAGE35

events & happenings cont.

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Schenley Park Outdoor Pool 1 Overlook Drive, Schenley Park For information on purchasing a tag at a pool location, call 412-323-7928. Weekdays 1 pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:45 pm Weekends and Holidays 1 pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:45 pm Open until September 1

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Treat yourself to th at te eeth w h itening or any other special service y ou ha av e been h oldin g off on. You m ay use this g ift yourself y or pass it on to a friend or fa am ily m ember. This gift is redeemable toward ds your dental tr eatment of choice. (excluding hygiene and insur ed se r vices - No cash v alue. One per patie nt)

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squirrel hill spotlight Teach Your Child to Be a Songwriter By Alex Stanton

Songwriting is the perfect tool to help kids understand and appreciate music. The idea is to create a fun experience that will encourage creativity. Before the songwriting process begins, your child should learn to play some of his or her favorite songs on a musical instrument.This task motivates them to practice and perfect the necessary musical skills. Once they can play some of their favorite songs, songwriting can be introduced. Kids might think this task is too advanced for them but actually, it’s quite simple.The goal of the following 17 step exercise is to create a basic song in 25 minutes. Step 1– Choose a song your child can already play, one with several chords.Write these notes on paper.Why? Chords— which are three or four musical notes played simultaneously— are the backbone any song.They create structure and context for the melody. Step 2– Ask your child to rearrange the chords and play them in different configurations. See if they can identify a specific order they like. Step 3– Help them create a four chord pattern. Encourage them to have fun! Step 4– Choose a rhythm, tempo and/or strumming pattern from a different song.Ask the child to use this rhythm and tempo with their new chord arrangement.This is the seed of their new song! Step 5– Identify a note that sounds good with the first chord. Have the child sing it with a hum, an “ahh,” or any random word. Step 6– Help your child identify additional notes which fit with the next chords in the sequence. Step 7– Ask the child to strum the chords, while simultaneously singing these notes. Encourage them to move from one note to the next, using “la, la, la.” Step 8– Once they’ve chosen enough notes to pass through the chord progression, repeat the process, changing a note or two to make four lines. It’s best to record this step so nothing is lost or forgotten. Step 9– Congratulations! Your child has created the basic outline of a verse or chorus. More importantly, the mood of the song is now apparent. It’s time to consider words.Ask your The Summer Living Issue PAGE38

child to visualize specific images that represent the song’s mood. Compile a list on paper. These images could be personally meaningful to the child, like a family vacation, or simply reminiscent of the song’s mood, like a rainy day. Step 10– Choose words to represent these images and replace the earlier “la, la, la’s.” Ask your child to create the song’s first sentence with these words. The first line can sometimes be the hardest, so you may need to work as a team to craft something your child likes. Step 11– Develop second, third, and fourth lines that fit with the first sentence. Rhyming can make it easier to choose their words, but is not required. Let them be creative! Step 12– Now that the first verse or chorus is completed, encourage your child to write the next section. Mix up the chords and find one or two that fit with the first part. Step 13– Record the piece now so the child does not lose the idea. Smart phones are great for this step! Step 14– Encourage your child to write additional verses that fit with the melody. Change the words to move the story forward. Step 15– At this point, you and your songwriter may want to consider adding a bridge- something other than a verse or chorus. If your child wants to add something new, repeat steps 2 through 8 to create the missing element. Step 16– Ask your child to arrange the verses and choruses into a pattern. Consider this example: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, chorus. Step 17– This last step is my favorite. Have your child play their song from beginning to end. Don’t forget to record it! They have created their first musical masterpiece! Kids will often be concerned whether or not their song is “good.” I like to tell them that the best hitters in baseball only hit the ball one third of the time. The best way to become a good song writer is to write, write and write some more. Tell them to focus on the process.Who knows, maybe they’re become a famous songwriter someday! R Alex Stanton is an accomplished musician, teacher and owner of Sunburst School of Music—Squirrel Hill’s first music school which is located on Forbes Ave. For more information, call 412-475-8280 or visit www.sunburstmusic.com.

squirrel hill spotlight Law Ofﬁces of

Wayne D. Gerhold

Stay Safe with These Tips A practice with emphasis From Zone 4 Commander Kathy Degler

on municipal, education and healthcare capital ﬁnance.

412-298-5804

355 Fifth Avenue Suite 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15222

wayne.gerhold@gerholdlaw.com

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Summer is the season we all look forward to the most.The lovely sunshine, the warmth, the free city events. Unfortunately, we can often overlook small safety details in our pursuit of fun. Follow these tips to keep your family and belongings safe this summer! Car Safety- Never leave your valuables unattended in your car! Don’t leave them behind as you walk your dog or wander around our local parks. It is incredibly easy for someone to bust open a window, snag your valuables and walk off. Ladies: if you know you’re going to a place where you’d rather not carry your purse, the best advice is to stow it in your trunk before you leave the house.This will not guarantee the safety of your belongings entirely, but it makes you much less of a target! Home Safety- Though the nights may be cool, do not be tempted to leave the windows on your ground floor open while you sleep. If you are not in the room and attentive, you’re putting yourself at risk. A thin metal screen is not much of a barrier against intruders! During the day, make sure to lock your doors and windows when you’re not home. Even if you are only running to the store or picking up the kids, that ten minutes can cause more damage than good.The same can be said about your garage door. If you’re not in your garage, make sure the door is secure. Don’t give thieves the opportunity to break into your home while you’re gone! What if your windows don’t lock? If you can’t repair them, your next best solution is to wedge a board or short pole diagonally above the bottom half of the window to keep them securely closed.

ANN TRUSCHEL MAKES INSURANCE MAKE SENSE.

Simply put, insurance for your business, home, health, auto, kids, life and everything else.

Lastly, never let anyone into your home regardless of what business they claim to have. Call their company if you weren’t expecting anyone or stall them and call 911. Ask for a police officer to be sent. We will be glad to assist you. Our major goal is to help keep you safe! R

Truschel Insurance 1709 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217 412-434-8200

The Summer Living Issue PAGE39

squirrel hill volunteering

This feature is made possible by a generous grant from the

Thomases Family Endowment of the

I Can Help With That!

Youngstown Area Jewish Federation When you contact one of these organizations, please remember to tell them that you heard about the opportunity in Squirrel Hill Magazine!

Share the Gift of Literacy The Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council (GPLC) is a nonprofit agency that provides free literacy instruction to American-born and foreign-born adults throughout Allegheny County, focusing on ESL, GED prep, reading, writing, math, computers and workplace skills. GPLC, a community-based and volunteer-based organization, currently serves over 1,000 adult students.

Keep Pittsburgh Beautiful The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s mission is to improve quality of life for the people of Pittsburgh by restoring the park system to excellence through community and government partnerships. Projects and programs are conducted with respect for the environment, historic design, and the needs of our diverse region and you can help! Join one of their upcoming Weeding Wednesday sessions in the Highland Park Entry Garden. They provide the necessary tools, training, gloves and water. You’ll weed and learn how to grow healthy flowers. Sessions run from 5-7pm on the following dates: July 2nd, 16th, and 30th August 13th and 27th September 10th and 24th Keep Pittsburgh Beautiful—Email volunteer@pittsburghparks.org or visit www.pittsburghparks.org to find out more about getting involved.

The Squirrel Hill area is in need of volunteer tutors. Tutors receive a free 12-hour training.Testing, study materials, and technical support is provided by the area’s Program Coordinator. Tutors meet with their students in public spaces 3-4 hours a week, helping them improve their language skills and their lives. Share the gift of Literacy—Call their main office at 412393-7600 or sign up on their website www.gplc.org

Share Your Time with A Senior For over 100 years, the Jewish Association on Aging (JAA) has offered a full spectrum of both residential and home-based services to enable seniors of all faiths to live rich, full lives while maintaining connections to the community they helped build. They invite community members to join them in meeting and mingling with their patrons. Come to share stories, assist with craft projects, play board games or even show off your talents of song and dance! They are family friendly and encourage visitors of all ages! You will leave every visit with the knowledge that you are truly making a difference—one person at a time. Share your time with a senior—Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Sharyn Rubin at 412-521-1171 or srubin@jaapgh.org for more information. PAGE40 The Summer Living Issue

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID PITTSBURGH, PA PERMIT NO. 2796

Your Squirrel Hill

For All Your Upcoming

Holiday Needs Kosher Pareve Bakery on-site for special orders

Store: 412-421-8161 Fax: 412-422-3128 1901 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217