The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition gives voice to the hopes and concerns of our residents, institutions, businesses and visitors and works to preserve, improve, and celebrate the quality of life in our vibrant urban Squirrel Hill neighborhood.
ON THE COVER: Davis Park on Hobart Street. Photo by Melissa Eppihimer.
FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Contact marketing@shuc.org. All other communications can be directed to editor@shuc.org or (412) 422-7666.
2025 is just around the corner. That means it’s been 25 years since we all pondered what the new millennium would bring. While there’s no Y2K to worry about this year, a quarter of a century is still a milestone.
It’s time to look ahead, whether that’s to the excitement of the upcoming holidays or to the work that’s going to preserve Squirrel Hill as a flourishing community for everyone.
SHUC welcomes your input as our community envisions the future of our neighborhood.
MELISSA EPPIHIMER Editor, Squirrel Hill Magazine
SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION OFFICERS
PRESIDENT Dalia Belinkoff
VICE PRESIDENT Lisa Murphy
VICE PRESIDENT Erik Wagner
SECRETARY Raymond N. Baum
TREASURER Jeremy Kazzaz
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Mardi Isler
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Raymond N. Baum, Justin Berk, Dalia Belinkoff, Guy Costa, Lori Fitzgerald, Marshall Hershberg, Melissa Hiller, Martha Isler, Jeremy Kazzaz, Rachel Lecrone, Vida Passero, Jon Prince, Mary Shaw, Lisa Steindel, David Vatz, Erik Wagner
The Squirrel Hill Magazine is a publication produced by the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition (SHUC), a nonprofit organization. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, donations to SHUC are tax-exempt, and SHUC complies with all 501(c)(3) rules and regulations.
CONTRIBUTORS
Dalia Belinkoff, Julien Cohen, Maria Cohen, Melissa Eppihimer, Larry Gerson, Melissa Hiller, Mardi Isler, Kimberly Kweder, Jim Rogal, Helen Wilson
EDITOR Melissa Eppihimer
DESIGNER Karen A. DeTurck
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Maria H. Cohen
Squirrel Hill Magazine, Vol. 22, Issue 3, is provided by the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition as a free publication for the residents and businesses in the 15217 zip code. Subscriptions are available for $25/year. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without permission. Printed by Knepper Press.
Greetings from the SHUC President
By Dalia Belinkoff, SHUC Board President
HELLO, SQUIRREL HILL!
I WRITE TO YOU AS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION. I need to begin this introduction by saying thank you to Mardi Isler, our Immediate Past President, for doing a stellar job as President for the past five years. Mardi is more than just an astonishing role model. She is a formidable mentor to me as I learn this job. Thank you, Mardi! I also thank Maria Cohen, our Executive Director of the past five years. Maria is my mainstay. Ever so deftly, she guides me in the ins and outs of what I should have learned already. Thank you, Maria!
To introduce myself—I have lived in Pittsburgh (always in Squirrel Hill) for a long time. Although I’m not a native, I do know where Poli’s used to be! My husband and I have three grown children who went to private and public schools in the city. I am an attorney and spent my working career at the National Labor Relations Board, a federal agency, with an office downtown. As a true city dweller, I took a PAT bus (now PRT) to work every day. I have a lot of opinions about bus riders and bus pathways!
So, how and why do I come to be President of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition? The ‘how’ is that I have served on the Board of the Coalition for more than five
years. I understand how the Board functions, who its members are, and what it needs to succeed as a Board. Far more important, though, is why I serve in this position.
In 2023, the Coalition conducted a study to determine what was important to our residents and what they wanted to see in Squirrel Hill in the future. The community focus groups determined that there were three significant areas: beautification, health and wellness, and development. We are now embarking on initiatives using the power and determination of our own community to make changes and improve the quality of life in Squirrel Hill in these three areas. The improvements we anticipate will help residents, visitors, shoppers, diners, and anyone else who is passing through.
What might beautification mean for Squirrel Hill? We have benches and flower planters along our business district streets. We have hanging baskets of flowers in the summer and snowflakes and other decorations in the winter. We have parklets, and we have murals on many walls. But we need more ideas and a fresh outlook on what amenities would spruce up Squirrel
Hill. According to one study, Squirrel Hill actually has 23 smaller neighborhoods. I would love to have a beautification project in each of these smaller pieces of our larger community. Become engaged! Let us know what you would like to see.
A small group of community members is already working on initiatives to improve health and well-being. This is a large and diverse area that requires thoughtful consideration of our community and its needs. The committee is currently looking for locations to install Narcan dispensers. Narcan is a drug used to counteract the effects of a drug overdose. It is safe, and it is legal. We would be fooling ourselves if we believed that overdoses did not happen in Squirrel Hill. They do, and we can take steps to prevent deaths from those overdoses.
The group is also hoping to find a place in Squirrel Hill for a community garden. While a garden is not a medical intervention, it does provide multiple healthy benefits for those who participate. Gardening requires
strength and mobility, it moves people out of doors, and it creates a community of like-minded gardeners. Of course, it provides nutritious and delicious food as well! Do you have ideas about health and well-being for the community? Let us know.
Perhaps the most challenging initiative we are undertaking is the creation of a neighborhood plan for Squirrel Hill. Our previous neighborhood plan was completed in 1993. Our neighborhood has grown and evolved since then, and we have different concerns for the future of our neighborhood. With professional help, we are thinking about streets, roads, housing, and business. We’re asking, for example, how densely populated should Squirrel Hill be? How can we entice businesses to Squirrel Hill? How do we ensure that more city residents use those businesses? Are the zoning rules of the City productive for our community? You remember those 23 smaller neighborhoods I mentioned? They all need to be examined for ways to develop them individually and within the whole community. Ideas are needed here too!
There’s so much we can do together! I haven’t even touched on more trees and safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and cars, or safety nets for our senior citizens, to name just a few.
So, to finally answer my own question, the ‘why’ of being President of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition is that I want to work on all these projects and initiatives! I’d like to make Squirrel Hill more engaging, more vibrant, and more communal than it ever has been. I think it’s worth my free time as a volunteer.
Dalia (right) with SHUC board members Mardi Isler and Melissa Hiller.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR SQUIRREL HILL?
By Maria Cohen and Dalia Belinkoff
WThere is truly something good for everyone in our neighborhood.
ITH 2025 JUST AROUND THE CORNER, THE SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION (SHUC) IS BEGINNING A PROCESS THAT WILL RESULT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN FOR THE COMING YEARS. This plan will set a foundation for what we want our community to be for those who call it home and those just passing through, for those who come for work and those who visit one of our amazing shops or restaurants.
Our Squirrel Hill community is one of if not the most diverse neighborhoods in Pittsburgh. It is truly a melting pot of Jewish history, Asian culture, and Pittsburgh lore. It includes community members of all ages, various cultural and religious backgrounds, and a wide range of economic levels. This diversity creates an authentic culture of collaboration and care for our neighbors and neighboring communities.
As we think about what comes next for Squirrel Hill, it’s important to acknowledge how collaboration and community partnerships have been at the core of what SHUC has accomplished in recent years and what we have in mind for the future.
SQUIRREL HILL IN THE CITY: A CONVERSATION WITH MAYOR GAINEY
It’s clear that the future of Squirrel Hill is tied to the future of the City of Pittsburgh. To that end, Maria Cohen sat down with Pittsburgh’s mayor, Ed Gainey, earlier this summer to discuss how Squirrel Hill fits into Pittsburgh’s future.
Mayor Gainey emphasized that his vision for Pittsburgh is “to create a safe, welcoming, and thriving city.” The mayor added that these three principles apply across Pittsburgh, in all neighborhoods. From neighborhood to neighborhood, he said, “the three things don’t change when it comes to building a city.”
But where does Squirrel Hill fit in?
On the issue of safety, Gainey said, “We’ve met with a lot of the leaders in Squirrel Hill to discuss public safety strategies. It’s important that we talk to the leaders because the more we communicate, the more of a relationship we build. The more of a relationship we build, the more we know how to serve you.”
Behind the scenes on the matter of public safety, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition works with our Zone 4 police station, the business association Uncover Squirrel Hill, Shawn Brokos at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, the JCC’s security team, our Councilmembers, and the City to keep things safe.
SHUC is also currently working with Stephen Vinansky, our local Zone 4 commander, and his team to determine better ways to support our unhoused population. This is a city-wide effort that we hope will have positive outcomes for those in need.
City-wide solutions are also key to addressing deer overpopulation. On this issue, SHUC’s past Board President Mardi Isler made it her mission as co-leader
of a task force to develop a solution to an increasing deer population that has spilled out of the parks and into our neighborhoods in recent years. The result is a city-wide deer management plan approved by City Council members earlier this year.
SQUIRREL HILL AND ITS NEIGHBORS
Gainey also stressed the importance of building connections between communities.
“I think you need to know more than just the neighborhood you come from, because at the end of the day you’ll find out that you have more in common than you don’t,” he said.
This is something that SHUC is already working on. Last year, the communities of Hazelwood, Greenfield, and Squirrel Hill came together for the first annual Holiday Mingle, a fun, family-friendly event where we embraced each other’s holiday traditions and celebrated together. The idea for the event sprang out of kinship. Reverend June Jeffries of Hazelwood and Maria Cohen of SHUC met at a memorial for George Floyd where Jeffries was speaking. We bonded and formed a friendship that led to the Holiday Mingle.
“For me this is what community looks like,” said Jeffries about inter-neighborhood connections. “I’m a lifetime resident of Greater Hazelwood, I’ve shopped in Squirrel Hill, and my son played football for Greenfield, but I never really thought of them as my neighbors—now I do!!!”
We will maintain our existing collaborations and build new ones across the City.
Last year’s Holiday Mingle was so successful that the Urban Redevelopment Authority agreed to support us with a small sponsorship grant, and we are excited to host our second event on Wednesday, November 20 at Propel Community School in Hazelwood. We hope that the model will be adopted by other neighboring communities in Pittsburgh hosting their own Mingles.
Beyond getting to know our neighbors, we also hope to help other neighborhoods by sharing our successful strategies and, likewise, learning from theirs. When the pandemic hit, Squirrel Hill needed to find a way to host our annual community clean up. SHUC developed a plan for neighbors to lead their own small-group and individual clean ups during Earth Week. It worked so well that not only did Squirrel Hill continue to offer this option after the pandemic, but City Councilmember Barb Warwick shared it with Greenfield and Hazelwood so that their communities could do the same.
Speaking about the benefits of connecting communities in her council district, Warwick said, “In terms of diversity of thought, experience, race, religion, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, District 5 is a microcosm of the whole city. So it’s important for D5 residents to understand the needs, history, and experiences in neighborhoods other than their own. For this reason, I’m a huge supporter of cross-community engagements. Not only does it help us collaborate to repair historic inequities and disinvestment at a hyper-local level, it helps us learn about each other’s experiences and create new partnerships that benefit everyone.”
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Whether working to increase safety, improve lives, or simply open doors so that people can get to know one another, Squirrel Hill and the Urban Coalition rely on partnerships—partnerships between people, partnerships with the City at large, and partnerships with other community organizations.
SHUC regularly partners with our neighboring communities to keep us connected. After the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed in January 2022, our BikePed and Design-Build committees partnered with the Briar Cliff Road Association and Regent Square in meetings with PennDOT for the bridge redesign effort. Remarkably, the bridge was replaced within a year with productive community input.
On the opposite side of the neighborhood, Greenfield and Hazelwood share with Squirrel Hill a desire for safe streets. To that end, the Bike-Ped committee works with the Hazelwood Initiative and the Greenfield Community Association to make our streets safer. All three organizations have identified key intersections that desperately need traffic calming efforts and are working together to get our proposal in the city budget and comprehensive plan.
City Councilperson Erika Strassburger acknowledged the benefits of this kind of collaboration. “Our communities are stronger when we collaborate. The partnership between SHUC, neighboring associations, and key stakeholders has brought meaningful progress, like the swift reconstruction of the Fern Hollow Bridge and traffic calming efforts,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see SHUC expand its reach with these initiatives, and I look forward to facilitating more such arrangements in the future.”
SHUC’s partnerships also preserve our history and will make it more accessible in the future. In 2021, SHUC’s longtime partnership with the Squirrel Hill Historical Society resulted in the creation of a nonprofit, Friends of the Neill Log House, to restore to
historic preservation standards the oldest log residence in the city. The Neil Log House—built ca. 1795 and located in Schenley Park—had a public opening this month, with announcements of visitor and school tour opportunities to follow. A more permanent schedule is currently under development. SHUC and Friends of Neill Log House have partnered with student interns from Chatham, Carnegie Mellon, and Pitt to develop educational materials for use at the log house.
A COMMUNITY FOR ALL
What’s next for SHUC? We will maintain our existing collaborations and build new ones across the City. We will continue to strengthen the ties between Squirrel Hill and our neighboring communities. We will work to keep our neighbors feeling safe and welcome in the amazing place called Squirrel Hill.
Immigrants, students, anyone transferring to Pittsburgh: everyone should be able to find their place in Squirrel Hill. At the beginning of this year, our community celebrated the ribbon cutting for Action Housing’s Flats on Forward, an affordable housing project in the gateway entering Squirrel Hill. Looking ahead, the comprehensive neighborhood plan will include more affordable, mixed use, and market rate housing options.
Many community members stay here their whole lives because Squirrel Hill offers everything they need to thrive through each phase of life. Whether just starting out or in a later phase of life, with a family or an empty nest, there is truly something good for everyone in our neighborhood. Our community offers many types of cuisine, a culturally rich history, parks for respite, a bustling business district, and neighbors who still care for each other. Join us as we, together, support this beautiful community.
WHAT IS IT?
Enhance neighborhood safety using home security cameras. Virtual Block Watch is a volunteer initiative using exterior home security cameras to prevent, deter and solve crimes through collaboration.
Register to participate at the link below.
Should a crime occur near your camera, Federation Security or law enforcement will contact you to voluntarily share footage to aid investigations.
You control what you share.
Federation securely stores your registration and contact information, sharing it with law enforcement only during relevant investigations and with your consent.
jewishpgh.org/info/virtual-block-watch
If you move, no longer want to participate in Virtual Block Watch or need to
your information, please contact Shawn Brokos at sbrokos@jfedpgh.org (412-992-5229) or Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org (412-992-5252).
COMMUNITY CHAMPION: SCOTT BLUMAN
By Jim Rogal
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THE NEXT TREES IN SQUIRREL HILL SHOULD BE PLANTED? Or are you in need of somebody who could completely redesign and execute your organization’s entire digital infrastructure? Or maybe you want to find out about the latest plans under consideration by the Bike-Ped committee in Squirrel Hill? Or are you curious to know about some of the latest products being designed by Google?
Four very different questions. One person who has all four answers. His name is Scott Bluman, and ten years ago he moved to Pittsburgh with his wife and two sons. In that time, he has become an integral thread in the fabric of the Squirrel Hill community.
Bluman grew up in southern Florida as a self-described “computer freak.” He and his wife, Michelle, were high school sweethearts. Bluman earned a degree in computer science from the University of Central Florida. Shortly thereafter, Michelle got a job in Atlanta,
I took for granted just how much work goes into making Squirrel Hill a great neighborhood.
so Bluman moved there with her. He didn’t really know what he would be getting into, but he wasn’t the least bit hesitant to find out. That would be a common characteristic of his for the next 25 years and counting.
In Atlanta, Bluman was hired by Verint Systems/ Acquired Witness Systems. He spent more than 15 years there doing … nothing—rather, nothing that can be explained to a non-computer-freak civilian. It’s up to you to figure out what his job entailed: it involved Enterprise Intelligence Solutions, SaaS OEM partners, and Workforce Optimization integration with companies like Aspect, Alcatel, inContact, Echopass, and others that you probably have very little knowledge of, if any. In his spare time Bluman developed Activity Rollup and initiated incubation projects such as voice biometrics and text acquisition. Got that? Good. Let’s move on.
It’s no surprise that Google came calling ten years ago, recruiting him to take a job in Pittsburgh essentially with his name on it. Now mind you, neither he nor his wife knew anything about Pittsburgh. They’d never been here, had no idea what Pittsburgh had to offer. But as we’ve learned, that didn’t stop Bluman from jumping in headfirst. “A leap of faith,” as he called it.
There’s no reason to even try to understand his job at Google. Thankfully, he dumbed it down by explaining it as “product management.”
Bluman at work for the Tree Committee.
How does all this lead to Squirrel Hill? “When we explored Pittsburgh, we knew what we wanted,” Bluman explained. “We looked for a walkable neighborhood with good public schools and as close to work as possible. Squirrel Hill was the perfect fit.”
And then along came SHUC Board member Ray Baum, whose grandson was in the same class as one of Bluman’s sons (typical Pittsburgh). Baum told him about the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition and said SHUC was having “some computer issues.” Baum “cajoled me to connect with the organization to help with their website.”
“The next thing I knew I’m working nights and weekends to rebuild SHUC’s digital integration structure, migrating their emails and documents to Google Workspace, so everything is all in one place,” he said. A heavy volunteer lift, to be sure, but Bluman wasn’t done yet.
“Then I joined SHUC’s Tree Committee,” he said. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved trees. Not sure why, but I was just drawn to them.”
That led, inevitably, to his creation of a digital schematic for all of Squirrel Hill showing where every tree is and indicating where new ones should be planted. Then he
decided to add yet another volunteer effort. An avid bike rider, Bluman began attending meetings of SHUC’s Bike-Ped committee.
So, what motivates Bluman to be such a devoted volunteer? “I didn’t appreciate the breadth of work that SHUC does and how it improves our community in so many ways,” Bluman said. “I took for granted just how much work goes into making Squirrel Hill a great neighborhood. It all depends on the involvement and passion of the community of volunteers. With SHUC being a small non-profit, volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization.”
Finally, let’s get to the really important stuff. Who did he root for when the Steelers opened their season in Atlanta? “After 10 years, I’ve gotta go Steelers,” he answered … correctly, of course. “My sister was at the game, and she said she felt like she was in the ’Burgh. There was a lot of black and gold in the stands.”
“That’s one of the things I love about Pittsburgh, the city spirit,” Bluman added.
Okay, there has to be something about Pittsburgh and Squirrel Hill that he doesn’t like. What is it? “Well, I had to learn how to shovel snow.”
Bluman created a slideshow on Squirrel Hill’s tree canopy for SHUC’s Tree Committee.
State and City Council Corner
State and City Council Corner shares reports submitted by the elected members of Pittsburgh City Council and the Pennsylvania Legislature that represent Squirrel Hill.
FROM STATE SENATOR JAY COSTA
The future of Pittsburgh is bright and vibrant, thanks largely to many critical investments made in the 2024-25 PA Budget signed by Governor Shapiro in July. This budget includes historic investments in our public education systems, economic development, community safety, and healthcare. In practice, this means that our children will go to well-funded and safe schools full of well-paid teachers and administrators. Businesses and manufacturers will have the funding, infrastructure, and workforce necessary to deliver family-sustaining jobs in PA. Organizations that promote community will continue to reduce violence and keep our neighborhoods safe. And our families, seniors, and veterans can get the care they need when they are sick or injured. As we look ahead to the 2024-25 session, we will expand on this work and ensure that our democracy is safe, our transit systems are fully funded, and our workers are valued and protected.
FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN FRANKEL
Every Pennsylvanian deserves access to essential health care without the fear of financial ruin. This is particularly true for those with chronic conditions or serious illnesses who might otherwise face overwhelming medical bills. A crucial safeguard is the prohibition of annual and lifetime limits on medical coverage, allowing patients to receive uninterrupted care. Federal protections under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have been key in preventing these limits, but recent rulings, like a Texas court decision striking down the ACA’s preventive care mandate, highlight the vulnerability of these protections. State Representative Dan Frankel introduced HB 2562 which would enshrine in state law a prohibition annual and lifetime coverage limits, protecting residents from shifting federal laws and ensuring financial stability for families across the Commonwealth.
FROM CITY COUNCILPERSON ERIKA STRASSBURGER
Over the past year, public officials from the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, Public Safety Department, City Council, the Mayor’s Office, PennDOT, and local advocates have been working together to bring Automated Red-Light Enforcement (ARLE) to Pittsburgh. Now that ARLE has been officially passed by City Council, the next steps involve selecting high-risk intersections for the cameras using data and finding a vendor to operate the system.
From Top to Bottom:
State Senator Jay Costa; State Representative Dan Frankel; City Councilperson Erika Strassburger; City Councilperson Barb Warwick.
This is a key part of Pittsburgh’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to reduce traffic fatalities and make our streets safer for everyone. The ARLE program is designed to focus on safety, with fines capped at $100 and no points added to drivers’ records. Revenue will be reinvested into transportation safety projects across the Commonwealth.
With ARLE in place, the City is one step closer to protecting pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers at some of our most dangerous intersections.
FROM CITY COUNCILMEMBER BARB WARWICK
Councilmember Warwick introduced legislation, approved by City Council this fall, adding medical marijuana cardholders to Pittsburgh’s list of protected classes. The bill classifies drug testing for cannabis as a condition for employment as discrimination against cardholders.
The legislation includes exceptions for for-cause drug testing and drug testing after a workplace accident, and for positions required to drug test by state and federal regulations. The bill was also, unfortunately, amended to exclude positions which have established medical marijuana drug testing requirements in a collective bargaining agreement.
If you believe you have been discriminated against by an employer, housing provider, or public service within the City of Pittsburgh, reach out to the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations at 412-255-2600 or human.relations@pittsburghpa.gov.
Reducing barriers to good, family-sustaining jobs is crucial for future of our city and the future of our residents, and Councilmember Warwick looks forward to further work in this area.
Carnegie Mellon University is proud to partner with our neighbors at the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition. Congratulations to the 2024 Treasure Awardees for your steadfast commitment to education, the arts and our community.
cmu.edu
ROCKWEL REALTY CELEBRATES THE 2024 TREASURES
Dr. Stanley Marks Maggie Feinstein Rev.
Squirrel Hill’s Treasures2024
with contributions from Melissa Hiller, Mardi Isler, and Helen Wilson
Maggie Feinstein
Executive Director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership
The Reverend Canon Natalie L.G. Hall Rector of Church of the Redeemer
Dr. Stanley M. Marks Chairman of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Neill Log House Squirrel Hill’s oldest structure
EACH YEAR, THE SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION RECOGNIZES THREE INDIVIDUALS AND ONE PLACE AS “TREASURES” OF OUR COMMUNITY. This year, we honor Maggie Feinstein, the Rev. Canon Natalie L. G. Hall, and Dr. Stanley M. Marks as exemplary humans and the Neill Log House as a distinguished site in Squirrel Hill.
Our newest Treasures were celebrated at the annual Treasure Dinner on November 7th. We thank everyone who attended or contributed to the dinner and extend our hearty congratulations to the 2024 Treasures!
Maggie Feinstein, Director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership, Pittsburgh’s resiliency center, is a healer at her core. Established in the aftermath of the Tree of Life massacre, the 10.27 Healing Partnership guides community healing efforts for those recovering from the shooting’s trauma and from hate-based violence. Ms. Feinstein and her team focus on collective healing and resilience, fostering impactful service, and building strong, supportive communities. Her approach is rooted in compassion and a deep commitment to guiding individuals and groups toward healing in the face of tragedy.
. . . a unique skill set of care, optimism, connectivity, and focus . . .
No community wants to find itself in the position of joining a “club” that necessitates building healing and resilience in the aftermath of violence. Yet, when tragedy strikes, the strength of a community is often revealed through its collective efforts to recover and rebuild. Understanding the complexities of these efforts—and creating resources to guide individuals and communities through devastating circumstances—requires a unique skill set of care, optimism, connectivity, and focus that Ms. Feinstein distinctly possesses. A true treasure, her work through the 10.27 Healing Partnership continues to influence how we approach collective healing in the face of tragedy.
Through numerous behind-the-scenes and public programs, Ms. Feinstein and the 10.27 Healing Partnership team provide vital support and
resources to individuals directly or indirectly affected by the synagogue shooting.
While the 10.27 Healing Partnership is the community hub for activities related to the shooting, the spokes are formed, and reinforced, by the abundant individual organizations across our community that strengthen the mission. This collective work has left an indelible mark on Squirrel Hill and the Southwestern Pennsylvania region.
Extending beyond our region, when other communities across the country experience violence, the 10.27 Healing Partnership serves as a powerful beacon during dark times by sharing valuable information and guidance. Their efforts help these communities better support victims in the aftermath of mass violence incidents.
Guided by Ms. Feinstein’s vision for promoting long-term healing and resilience beyond its planned sunset in 2028, the 10.27 Healing Partnership is committed to ensuring that our local community and communities across the country continue to benefit from the invaluable lessons learned since the 2018 synagogue attack. Educational initiatives are being developed in collaboration with community stakeholders and partners to address hate and bias-motivated violence, ensuring that these critical conversations remain at the forefront of public discourse and action.
Squirrel Hill’s Treasures
The Rev. Canon Natalie L. G.
Hall is Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer next to St. Edmund’s Academy on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill, a community she has served since June 2021. She was ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) in September 2009 after earning dual master’s degrees in Systematic Theology and Divinity from Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN).
Hall and her congregation perceive a unique call to collaboration . . .
After serving two congregations in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA (2009-2015), she was recruited as Canon for Faith Formation and Evangelism (2016-2022) for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, where she developed diocesan theological education together with ecumenical and interfaith dialogues. With a Jewish mother and Lutheran father, Hall’s formative childhood years were spent outside of Frankfurt, Germany. There, she and her family joined Church of Christ the King under the jurisdiction of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, where she was warmly welcomed and invited to serve in church leadership for the first time as a child.
Hall’s commitment to ecumenical and interfaith dialogue extends through multiple local and national committee appointments, projects, and publications. She seeks to build faith connections into common structures of daily life, communicating God’s promises in contexts outside the liturgical assembly and fellowship hall. Hall seeks to equip communities
and neighborhoods for crossgenerational faith practices in places of worship, at home, and more. She works to welcome both those familiar and unfamiliar with faith expressions into unifying visions of practice and commitment, empowering diverse gifts to strengthen the community.
A primary focus of her ministry at Church of the Redeemer looks outward to the surrounding community of Squirrel Hill, cultivating a practice of being a good neighbor. As a Christian congregation in an historic Jewish neighborhood in which others of many different faith and philosophical traditions call home, Hall and her congregation perceive a unique call to collaboration that does not seek to change any one person, yet instead supports neighbors in their own faith and practice so the neighborhood might flourish.
Among her professional and academic interests, her attention to Lutheran-Episcopal dialogue goes the extra mile, having promised a lifetime of mutual reformation with her husband, Daniel, a bi-vocational Episcopal priest and practicing general surgeon. They have three daughters, Grace, Maryam, and Evangeline, who share Natalie’s commitment to being good neighbors in Squirrel Hill and beyond.
Squirrel Hill is lucky to have a neighbor as committed to community as Natalie Hall!
Stanley M. Marks, MD, is Chairman of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, one of the largest integrated cancer networks in the country with more than 70 locations, and the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in western Pennsylvania. He is Director of Clinical Services and Chief Medical Officer of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He was intimately involved with the design and opening of the Hillman Cancer Center at Shadyside in 2003 as well as the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers in 2012.
He’s that rare person who combines extraordinary capability with abundant compassion.
Dr. Marks is regarded as a national thought leader in hematology and oncology and is highly recognized for the personal attention and care that he provides to his patients. His clinical expertise, compassion for his patients, and enthusiasm for teaching are evidenced by his receipt of a multitude of local and national awards for his excellence in teaching and leadership.
Dr. Marks’ charitable work has forever changed this community. Throughout his professional career, he has served on numerous nonprofit boards and as President of the Allegheny County Medical Society and President of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He was one of the founding members of Allegheny/Forbes Hospice and a co-founder of the Cancer Caring Center, dedicated to assisting patients and their loved ones cope with the emotional impact of cancer. Dr. Marks is most proud to have been a cofounder of the Western Pennsylvania Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation chapter. Almost 35 years ago, his son Jordan was diagnosed at 18 months old with Type 1 Diabetes. Dr. Marks and his wife, Nikol, are avid supporters of the Pittsburgh Humane Animal Rescue, Lending Hearts, Chatham University, and the Neighborhood Academy.
The Dr. Stanley M. Marks Endowed Research Fund at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center was founded by grateful patients in 2006 and has raised over $18 million for cancer research.
Dr. Marks received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1973. He completed his residency training at UPMC Presbyterian and fellowship training in clinical medicine and research medicine at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Center.
Most importantly, for those who appreciate Dr. Marks professionally or are grateful to have him as a friend or neighbor, they know he is a skilled and caring doctor who helps people in ways that go beyond their medical challenges without regard to thanks or acclaim. He’s that rare person who combines extraordinary capability with abundant compassion. With all his success, all his renown, Stan cares about you as a person, not just a patient. That has never changed. It’s genuine. It’s authentic. It’s what makes him such a treasure!
Treasures
The Neill Log House in Schenley Park is arguably the oldest of Squirrel Hill’s many treasures. Its story spans the entire length of the community’s history and is one of only a handful of buildings from the 18th century still existing in Pittsburgh.
Constructed by Robert Neill in 1795, it was built at a time when Native Americans skirmished with the European settlers moving in. Squirrel Hill wasn’t even part of Pittsburgh back then. (That happened in 1868 when the city annexed it.) In 1803, Meriwether Lewis is believed to have stopped by the house on his way to the Point to begin his epic journey west with William Clark. By then the house was being rented to tenant farmers who farmed the tract, which was named “Highland.” Col. O’Hara bought Highland and “Mt. Airy,” the tract just south of it, and some smaller ones, at some point before his death in 1818 and consolidated the properties.
Its story spans the entire length of the community’s history . . .
Mt. Airy was inherited by Mary Schenley when her father, William Croghan, Jr., died in 1850, and she continued to rent it to tenant farmers. In 1889, Schenley donated 300 acres of Mt. Airy to the City and sold another 100 acres at a reduced price to be used as a city park. The Neill Log House remained standing as a golf course was built around it. It was used as a rest stop and equipment shed by the golf course, but as time went on, the house deteriorated, and by the 1960s it was in deplorable condition, collapsing in 1967.
by Helen Wilson
Photo
Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation stepped in and did a thorough reconstruction in 1969. The Junior League of Pittsburgh furnished the house with period furniture and planted a garden around it. Archeologist Kirke C. Wilson wrote a detailed archeological report, enumerating the thousands of small objects excavated on the site as the house was being worked on. After the house was finished, it was opened for tours so people could learn what life had been like on the frontier in the late 1700s.
As time passed, however, the house deteriorated again because it wasn’t maintained, so it was closed until Preservation Pittsburgh did its own preservation project on the house in the 1990s, allowing it to be reopened to visitors for a while. But again, the house deteriorated, so it was closed yet again until a contractor working for the National Park Service contacted the Squirrel Hill Historical Society (SHHS) in 2020, wanting to add the Neill Log House to the Lewis and Clark Travel website, lewisandclark. travel, which seeks to highlight historical sites and amenities along the trail.
The SHHS visited the house with members of the City’s Department of Public Works and found the house to be in danger of collapse. The SHHS teamed up with the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition to form Friends of Neill Log House and assembled a stellar board comprised of members of local preservation organizations, historians, and architects to restore the house. The rest is history!
The house is now beautifully restored, with new steps from E. Circuit Road installed and a garden planted, and ready for new visitors.
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Chatham University is proud to support the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition and congratulates the 2024 Squirrel Hill Treasures honorees
STORE LOCATED IN HIGHLAND PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES
By Melissa Eppihimer and Kimberly Kweder
NEW BUSINESS NOTICES
MANGO MANGO
Although the weather is crisper and chillier, Mango Mango (5845 Forbes Avenue) brings a vibrant and refreshing taste of the tropics to Squirrel Hill with its splash of bright and cheerful Asian desserts.
“There doesn’t exist a sit-down dessert place in Squirrel Hill,” said Shirley Yeung, Partner/Manager of the franchise store on Forbes Avenue.
Mango Mango opened in June in Squirrel Hill, but it has its roots starting around 10 years ago in Hong Kong. The store now operates 16 locations throughout the United States.
Yeung explained that Hong Kong is known for its fresh fruit. Pomelo, a type of sweet grapefruit, is a fruit native to Southeast Asia and goes with mango in some of Mango Mango’s dessert dishes. Rice balls, durian, herbal jelly, and red bean are some of the other ingredients you might find on the expansive menu.
There are 24 types of smoothies and bubble teas, and 46 dessert items that include hot desserts, waffles, ice cream, mango sticky rice, mango mochi, mango pancakes, and cakes. Yeung said most items are made in-house except for the cakes, which come from a
central kitchen in New York City’s main location. She said business is booming in Squirrel Hill—they go through 120 boxes of mangoes per week.
The most popular item on the menu, said Yeung, is “A1”: Special Mango Juice Sago & Pomelo, consisting of mango ice cream, mango juice, sago (clear tapioca balls), and pomelo.
Another guest favorite, “A3,” includes mango ice cream, mango slush, and strawberries, topped with lychee jelly and sago.
While many stores in Squirrel Hill close early, Mango Mango stays open late. Friday and Saturday nights the shop closes at 11pm. It’s a popular time when waits for tables often occur, although online ordering with takeout is always an option.
“It’s a good place to get something last minute. Sweet cravings hit at night for people, at least for me!” Yeung said.
Another new store visitors to Forbes Avenue will see next to Mango Mango—Yeung manages it as well—is Tiger Sugar, which opened its doors in September, serving boba drinks.
STUNTPIG
For many, the intersection of Forbes and Murray is the heart of Squirrel Hill. For Ariel Alexander and Cody Maze, chefs and co-owners of Stuntpig (1707 Murray), it was a dream come true to open their “Sandwich Spot” at the intersection.
Both had previously worked in nearby kitchens, and the corner was where they started making “hot takes on classic sandwiches” back in 2020. At that time, Stuntpig was a black and pink food truck that supplied the
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES
neighborhood with a muchneeded boost of good food and good feelings during the pandemic.
Now, in a pintsized storefront on Murray Avenue just steps from Forbes, Alexander and Maze have a permanent home for their larger-than-life flavors.
“We’re excited to be here,” said Alexander. “Squirrel Hill is the best food neighborhood in the city.”
Squirrel Hill’s small business spirit is another reason Maze and Alexander brought their talents here. Doing their part, they prepare as many ingredients as they can in house, including meats. Vegetables are sourced from local farms, and bread (including a gluten-free option) comes from East End purveyors. The baguettes for the “Murray Turkey,” Stuntpig’s take on a turkey sandwich, arrive daily from Allegro Bakery down the street.
For spicier palates, there’s the “Mr. Orange,” with smoked and pulled chicken dressed with spicy piri piri sauce, briny cucumbers, and chimichurri aioli.
Taking inspiration from American and global cuisines, Stuntpig’s menu changes seasonally, but one sandwich—the “Pitt Beef”—was brought back by popular demand.
And, according to Alexander and Maze, the potato salad is here to stay.
“Our goal is to keep it fresh and serve people who need lunch every day, who pass through on the bus, who need a weeknight dinner,” said Maze.
To that end, orders can be placed online with a scheduled time for pickup. Step inside the brightly colored shop, grab your sandwich, and enjoy.
THE MEDITERRANEAN TABLE
Behind the counter at The Mediterranean Table, a landscape picture of Mt. Ararat is the focal point for Welat Esiyok, restaurant owner. It reminds him of how far he’s come with upholding longstanding family traditions in other restaurant and hoteling businesses across the globe.
The name Ararat, as it appears in the Bible, is the Hebrew equivalent of Urartu, an ancient kingdom in eastern Anatolia. Ararat is associated with the site where Noah’s Ark came to rest at the end of the Flood.
There’s a 3-person team operating the small restaurant next to Aiello’s pizzeria. It’s family run— the chef, Ciya Esiyok, is Welat’s cousin; his name means “mountain” in Kurdish. He has over 15 years of experience.
The restaurant opened in August, and Welat Esiyok said he chose Squirrel Hill because of its multiculturalism. It’s a neighborhood similar to his past experiences abroad living and working in Turkey.
“I chose the Squirrel Hill neighborhood because I am living here. Second, it’s friendly and I enjoy the hospitality—people feel like family,” he said.
The Mediterranean Table offers marinated chicken and lamb meats in pitas and platters with rice and fresh roasted vegetables. Other popular items are the fresh
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES
soups—the avgelemono is a creamy lemon chicken soup—salads, and seafood, including salmon, branzino, and shrimp entrees.
Customers will be greeted with an open kitchen concept because they want people to feel safe and comfortable with the cooking, especially after the pandemic.
“We want to be clear and honest people to customers; that means they can see everything. They can feel safe and comfortable with a transparent cook,” said Esiyok. “It’s more important than ever before to be clean and hygienic post pandemic.”
Another great feature of the restaurant is the affordability, Esiyok added.
“Our prices are super affordable compared to other Mediterranean restaurants in the city,” he said.
Customers can grab a chicken, lamb, or falafel wraps/ gyros for under $11. The restaurant also offers a dessert selection made fresh and by hand. There are Turkish delights, two kinds of baklava (one with pistachio and the other with walnuts), and vanilla tiramisu. In the near future they will add kunefe, a cheese pastry soaked in syrup.
To enjoy an experience of the Mediterranean on a dreary fall day, be sure to stop by for flavorful dishes that brighten the day and check out the landscape pictures from Ararat and other landmarks in Turkey.
CHATHAM TEAMS WITH PARKS CONSERVANCY FOR ARBORETUM
The campus of Chatham University sits as a place of considerable beauty and respite near the top of Squirrel Hill. It’s also a nationally accredited Level II arboretum, meaning that it houses at least 100 species of “woody plants.” In fact, there are currently more than 115 tree varieties on campus.
To sustain this leafy paradise and enhance its utility to the university and its visitors, Chatham has entered into a partnership with the Pennsylvania Parks Conservancy. Their tasks include assessing the health of the arboretum and improving signage and educational materials.
When announcing the plans, Catherine Qureshi, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, said “By working together to care for the Arboretum, we are honoring the legacy of this historic landscape and ensuring that it remains a vibrant, accessible space, fostering education, reflection, and community.”
For more information about the Chatham arboretum, including a tree guide and walking map, visit www. chatham.edu/locations/shadyside-campus/arboretum.html.
POGOH PLANS
NEW BIKE-SHARE STATIONS IN SQUIRREL HILL
POGOH, Pittsburgh’s community bike-share system, is expected to expand back into Squirrel Hill in the coming year. An earlier iteration of the system, named Healthy Ride, once maintained docking stations in Squirrel Hill, but these were deactivated several years ago.
Now, POGOH has announced expansion plans that include multiple stations in the neighborhood. In addition to docks in the Squirrel Hill business district, proposed stations are located near the Blue Slide Playground, the “five points” intersection near Linden School, Beacon and Wightman, and CMU’s campus.
The program is operated by Bike Share Pittsburgh, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and offers both
traditional pedal bikes and E-bikes. You can learn more about the expansion plans at pogoh.org/expansion.
Each of these boxes holds a fabulous holiday gift from one of Squirrel Hill’s amazing businesses.
Can you guess what shop they’re from? Turn the page to “unwrap” the gifts and learn more about why we love them and why your friends and family will love them too.
5850 Forbes Avenue
We can all use more beauty in our lives. Treat someone to a pair of masterpiece socks from Little’s Shoes featuring their favorite painting. For the less serious among us, there are humorous socks too.
HOLIDAY
2 3 6 7 8
SQUIRREL HILL FLOWER SHOP
1718 Murray Avenue
An indoor potted plant can lift spirits during the dark, cold days of winter. Squirrel Hill Flower Shop has a wide variety of species and sizes to choose from, each promising to brighten the day.
RIVERSTONE BOOKS
5841 Forbes Avenue
Check out the “Pittsburgh Pages” section of Riverstone Books for good reads with ties to our city. Featuring local authors and local stories, these shelves are full of surprises that will delight booklovers.
DOBRA TEA
1937 Murray Avenue
Tea connoisseurs will rejoice when they receive a special tea like the Sa Bang Laotian Mao Cha, available at Dobra Tea. Pair it with a glazed ceramic teapot and teacup for a perfect gift.
TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES
5820 Forbes Avenue
These richly colored capiz shell wind chimes would make a gorgeous addition to any Squirrel Hill porch or patio. Find these handcrafted treasures at Ten Thousand Villages.
STEAL CITY VINTAGE
1918 Murray Avenue
Give the gift of team spirit! Jerseys, sweatshirts, and tees from Pittsburgh’s many sports teams are among the treasures of yesteryear at Steal City Vintage.
Gift Guide
S.W. RANDALL
5856 Forbes Avenue
The littlest in your family will hold on tight to a soft, plush Sesame Street character from S.W. Randall. Let them snuggle up to Big Bird or have a chat with Bert and Ernie.
AMAZING BOOKS AND RECORDS
5858 Forbes Avenue
GIVING GUIDE 2024 SQUIRREL HILL
4 5 9 10
Don’t judge a book by its cover—unless you’re browsing the old and rare shelves at Amazing Books and Records. The colors, patterns, and charming titles will transform any coffee table into a display space.
CHEEKS AND GLASSWORKS
5873 Forbes Avenue
The pastel pajamas and lingerie at Cheeks are cozy just to look at— imagine how wonderful it would feel to open a box and find one! Better yet, wrap one of Glassworks’ tablewares inside for a bonus surprise.
GAMES UNLIMITED
5876 Forbes Avenue
3D battlefield? Colorful figurines? Hours of fun? What more could we ask for? Games Unlimited is the place to find the newly revived, customizable battle game Heroscape.
Sometimes the most meaningful gifts don’t come in boxes. A contribution to one of the many non-profit organizations operating in Squirrel Hill and our neighboring communities is a great way to support people and programs doing good. Share your joy this holiday season by volunteering or donating to organizations like:
Community Kitchen Pittsburgh, based in Hazelwood, is “cooking up opportunity” through its culinary training and placement services for community members. ckpgh.org
The Friendship Circle creates a more inclusive community by bringing together people of all abilities in work and play. fcpgh.org
League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh offers nonpartisan support for voters and the democratic process. lwvpgh.org
Literacy Pittsburgh improves lives through learning, with programs for people of all ages. literacypittsburgh.org
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy tends to the city’s parks for the benefit of all living things. pittsburghparks.org
And in honor of the 2nd annual Holiday Mingle bringing neighbors together, we highlight the neighborhood associations of Greenfield, Hazelwood, and Squirrel Hill: Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, shuc.org Hazelwood Initiative, hazelwoodinitiative.org
Greenfield Community Association, gcapgh.org
shuc snapshots
NOTES FROM YOUR SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION STAFF
Update from SHUC
Executive Director, Maria Cohen
As we glide into the holiday season, we look forward to What’s Next for our neighborhood during the holidays and in the coming year.
For this issue, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mayor Ed Gainey and two of his team members, Olga George and Zeke Rediker, to discuss what’s next for Pittsburgh and how our Squirrel Hill neighborhood fits into that landscape. The mayor shared a threepart vision for Pittsburgh where the city is 1) Safe 2) Welcoming and 3) Thriving. In my article, you can read more about how Squirrel Hill is working toward a safe community where everyone feels welcome and has the opportunity to thrive.
Based upon community feedback, the Coalition will focus its work in the near future on developing a new neighborhood plan, healthcare initiatives, and neighborhood beautification. Summerset at Frick Park and several other key projects were developed as a result of the last neighborhood plan approximately 30 years ago. A new plan would help us to create a more livable, inclusive neighborhood that will better support those living and working in Squirrel Hill and our aging population in particular. Our country is facing an isolation epidemic, and Squirrel Hill is no different. We are looking into more ways to bring our community together and to make neighbors feel more comfortable coming out to enjoy all that the neighborhood has to offer. The Coalition is planning for several key health-related initiatives in the coming
year. Thanks mainly to the efforts of Uncover Squirrel Hill’s Jamison Combs and SHUC Board Member Mardi Isler, more benches and planters are being installed in our business district, and, thanks to a grant from the Pa. Department of Community and Economic Development, the shopping district will soon have new banners and better holiday lights.
We will continue to celebrate our Squirrel Hill community with fun, family friendly, inclusive events. In partnership with La Escuelita and Riverstone Books, the Coalition re-engaged our Day of the Dead Celebration earlier this month. The event included performances, face painting, crafts, delicious Mexican food, incredible music, and a wonderful parade. We hope to do it again next year.
Hazelwood, Squirrel Hill, and Greenfield will host our second Holiday Mingle on Wednesday, November 20th at Propel Neighborhood School in Hazelwood. Join us there from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This year, the group secured a modest sponsorship grant from the Urban Redevelopment Authority to help support the event. Stay tuned for more details about the 2025 Squirrel Hill Lunar New Year Parade and more events in 2025.
We are thankful for good community partners, volunteer groups, merchants, schools, and organizations that help support us as we plan for What’s Next in Squirrel Hill and our neighboring communities. We look forward to joining together for an exciting 2025 and beyond!
Please reach out to share with me what you would like the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition to continue, feedback about changes that you would like to see in our Squirrel Hill community, and your thoughts and ideas to help support us in preserving, improving, and celebrating the quality of life in our vibrant Squirrel Hill community. You can connect with me at mcohen@shuc.org.
SHUC SAYS THANKS!
Our Squirrel Hill and neighboring communities are incredible! We here at SHUC really appreciate all you do!
Thank you to all who worked to quickly plan the Squirrel Hill National Night Out! Special thanks to Erica Heide, Senior Park Ranger, and Helen Wilson, of SHHS, who made sure that SHUC was included in this wonderful event. Erica and her team did an amazing job of adapting when the first scheduled event was rained out. Way to go and thank you to our Park Rangers!
Thank you to Rachel Lecrone for heading up Squirrel Hill’s participation in the Garbage Olympics, our volunteers from CMU, and our super volunteer Kaxandra Novales, who always steps up with extra support.
Our litter patrol, board volunteers, Jamison Combs, Carrie Nardini, Uncover Squirrel Hill, and I Made It!
Market contributed to an outstanding 2024 Night Market season. The team had to regroup a few times and did an amazing job! St. Edmunds allowed our volunteers to park in their lot—thank you!
Thank you to all who helped make our 4th annual Hazelwood Safe Halloween collection of coloring books and crayons a success, including Jacquelyn Cynkar and Amy Mann of Steel City Helping Hands; Patti Holupka, who graciously offered to be Murray for the Mt. Royal pop-up happy hour; and Tim Joyce, Eveline Castillo, Paul Peffer, our Mt. Royal neighbors.
We were very happy to re-engage our Day of the Dead celebration. Thank you to Mardi Isler for securing a grant and her tireless planning efforts and to Ellen Tafel, her team at La Escuelita, and the families who worked
Night Market
National Night Out
very hard to make this a successful event. We could not have done this without the help of Alex and Sunburst School of Music, special help from Ivan Silva with the stage, CMU PACE volunteers, and our SHUC volunteers. Thank you to everyone!
We thank our sponsors, treasures, committee members, volunteers, and guests for making the 2024 Treasure Awards Dinner an incredibly special event celebrating our very deserving treasures Maggie Feinstein, Rev. Canon Natalie Hall, Dr. Stanley Marks, and the Neill Log House! The Dinner has grown significantly under Ray Baum’s leadership, and we couldn’t be more thankful to him for leading a celebration where our neighbors can mingle and honor their peers. Ray has turned over the reins to Dalia Belinkoff, who is now the Treasures Committee Chair.
Thanks very much to Reverend June Jeffries, Hazelwood Initiative, Greenfield Neighborhood Association, and the sponsors and volunteers who are helping us host the 2nd annual Holiday Mingle at Propel Neighborhood school in
Hazelwood. The group is very grateful to have received a sponsorship grant from the URA.
Thanks very much to Lisa Baker and Ten Thousand Villages for again giving us space and supporting our non-profit during the Ten Thousand Villages Holiday Shopping Event.
Many thanks to everyone who helped relocate our SHUC office space within the Wightman building. We are especially grateful to Lisa Murphy who not only donated her time but also artwork from Barron Batch. Mardi Isler secured a grant for new furniture and helped organize the office. The office looks and feels like an incredible space to work and welcome guests.
Thank you, team!
Thanks very much to Xitai Wang, our 2023 summer intern who has continued to support SHUC behind the scenes. We also really appreciate our Pitt Urban Studies intern Lola Hodgins, who helped to plan the Neill Log House Ribbon Cutting, and our CMU intern Alexandra Garay Sandoval, who jumped in immediately to support SHUC’s many initiatives.
Our Merchants are so supportive whenever we ask with gift cards for our Treasure Awards raffle and other events; litter clean ups; tree care; and more. Extra applause for Little’s annual Silver Treasure Awards sponsorship and multiple generous donations; our local Starbucks for extra support during our clean ups; Games Unlimited for being wonderful hosts and constant contributors; and Sunburst School of Music for always supporting us with incredible live music.
Finally, we thank Scott Bluman, our incredible volunteer for technical support and Tree Tender. You can read more about his many contributions in the Community Champion article in this issue.
If you would like to be added to our lists of special thanks, please reach out to volunteer or contribute to our wonderful Squirrel Hill Community. Thank you to our neighbors!
NEW
LED HOLIDAY
SNOWFLAKES
COMING TO THE BUSINESS DISTRICT
The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, in partnership with Uncover Squirrel Hill, is thrilled to announce that 35 dazzling LED holiday snowflakes will soon adorn the streets of our Business District. Thanks to the dedication of Past President Mardi Isler, who successfully secured grant funding, and the support of Jamison Juda-Combs from Uncover Squirrel Hill, the festive installations will illuminate Forbes, Murray, and Forward Avenues, adding a touch of holiday magic to our community.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our generous sponsors and donors, whose support made this project possible:
• The Juda-Combs Family
• Brandywine Communities
• The Chocolate Moose
• Sunburst School of Music
• Little’s Shoes
• Rockwel Realty
• Games Unlimited
• Gaby et Jules
• Riverstone Books
• Orr’s Jewelers
As we prepare for the holiday season, we invite everyone to stroll through the Business District and experience the illuminating display. Together, let’s celebrate the spirit of community and the joy of the season in Squirrel Hill!
Dear Neighbor,
SHUC has developed a Neighborhood Tree Captain position for residents who are interested in helping increase their street tree canopy. We’ve seen this concept work in an unofficial way, which is why your Tree Committee decided to create the Squirrel Hill Neighborhood Tree Captain. Captains can sign up for a block or multiple blocks.
Here is a brief description of the responsibilities:
• collect tree request forms for submission to the biannual Tree Vitalize Grant application
• communicate tree-related concerns and requests to the Tree Committee for review and action
• keep neighbors informed about the status of their tree requests
Captains can help the broader community learn proper tree care practices, including pruning, watering, and mulching. (We are on a mission to avoid volcano mulching by our neighbors and by landscapers!)
Captains can also be tree advocates by raising awareness about the importance of trees and their benefits.
Preferably, Captains should be a Certified Tree Tender (Tree Pittsburgh offers this course), but we welcome all who are interested.
To sign up as a Tree Captain, contact parks@shuc.org.
Your Tree Committee looks forward to your support.
Sincerely, Mardi Isler, Scott Bluman, Jeremy Kazzaz, and Eddie Shaw
ALLDERDICE HIGH SCHOOL
Allderdice Dragons Football started off the year looking a bit different. Earlier this summer the beloved head coach Jerry Haslett passed away suddenly. The legacy he left behind was unmatched, and with that came big shoes to fill. Coach Matson was named head coach, and with heavy hearts starting the season, the Dragons
ST. EDMUND’S ACADEMY
On August 22, 2024, SEA awarded the annual Teacher Award to a phenomenal colleague, Third Grade Teacher Connie Martin.
To support its commitment to recruiting, recognizing, supporting, and retaining a diverse and extraordinary faculty who care deeply for children and offer a uniquely St. Edmund’s Academy learning experience, the school has established The St. Edmund’s Academy Teacher Award through the generosity of long-time friends and supporters of the school.
The Award annually recognizes teachers that positively uplift the school community through their demonstration of core values and exemplification of the culture of teaching excellence. Awardees will have a dedication to the social-emotional and cognitive growth of children and serve as a model for the entire school community. Given at the beginning of the school year
were fueled with motivation to put in the work for something bigger than themselves. With help from Giant Eagle and The Pittsburgh Steelers, the Dragons were surprised with a visit from Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. Bishop provided incredible support and encouragement to help the Dragons get back on their feet. Allderdice has been able to band together not only as a school, but as a community to help each other get through the toughest of losses, and this special surprise was a great way to start the school year for the Dragons.
In other news, the Allderdice PTO launched a new school and community fall fundraiser—Dice Dragon Drive—and all donations will benefit the students by funding enrichment and educational needs. The PTO has a lofty goal of $5000 by Thanksgiving! Allderdice PTO parent volunteers were having fun and busy
to acknowledge the commitment of returning faculty, this award both recognizes the excellence in the work they’ve done and their dedication to the work ahead.
Connie Martin has been a dedicated, compassionate, and effective educator for over forty years. Since joining St. Edmund’s Academy in 2021, the school has benefited from her wisdom, her commitment, and her kindness. She is an exemplary teacher, explaining everything calmly and clearly so that her students know exactly what is expected of them. Her adeptness at implementing new curriculum seamlessly enhances the learning experience for her students. She is a lifelong learner who always strives for excellence in her teaching, classroom environment, and wider community.
A passionate advocate for her students and colleagues alike, Mrs. Martin’s tireless commitment to her profession has rightfully earned her the nickname “The GOAT.” However, it is Mrs. Martin’s humility and desire to keep growing that truly sets her apart.
promoting this fundraiser as well as selling spiritwear and green and white cookies at the last Squirrel Hill Night Market of the year. Allderdice friends, family, alumni, and local community members can always check out what is going on, donate, or buy spiritwear on the PTO website: www.allderdicepto.org.
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Our trigger point technique (Nimmo) is unique among chiropractic. Through our muscularbased approach, we are able to treat pain in any joint in your body.
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Join the Behavioral Health (BH) Fellows Program and make a difference.
A JOB + LOAN REPAYMENT UP TO $45,000
Join the Behavioral Health (BH) Fellows Program and make a difference.
BH Fellows is an educational loan repayment and training program for new and existing community behavioral health workers in Allegheny County.
The BH Fellows program is a new initiative sponsored by Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) in partnership with - Community Care Behavioral Health, and Jewish Healthcare Foundation. The goal of the initiative is to strengthen the County’s public behavioral health system by providing educational loan repayments, competitive salaries, and career development experiences to behavioral healthcare staff.
Join the Behavioral Health (BH) Fellows Program and make a difference. The BH Fellows program is a new initiative sponsored by Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) in partnership with - Community Care Behavioral Health, and Jewish Healthcare Foundation. The goal of the initiative is to strengthen the County’s public behavioral health system by providing educational loan repayments, competitive salaries, and career development experiences to behavioral healthcare staff.
With over $15MM in funding, this program is designed to attract and retain individuals dedicated to improving the lives of the County’s most vulnerable. After being accepted into the program, BH Fellows will be eligible to receive:
With over $15MM in funding, this program is designed to attract and retain individuals dedicated to improving the lives of the County’s most vulnerable. After being accepted into the program, BH Fellows will be eligible to receive:
The BH Fellows program is a new initiative sponsored by Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) in partnership with - Community Care Behavioral Health, and Jewish Healthcare Foundation. The goal of the initiative is to strengthen the County’s public behavioral health system by providing educational loan repayments, competitive salaries, and career development experiences to behavioral healthcare staff.
Competitive pay
After being accepted into the program, BH Fellows will be eligible to receive: LEARN
With over $15MM in funding, this program is designed to attract and retain individuals dedicated to improving the lives of the County’s most vulnerable. After being accepted into the program, BH Fellows will be eligible to receive:
Educational loan repayment (up to $25,000 for a bachelor’s degree or up to $45,000 for a master’s degree) or free access to an approved certificate program
Educational loan repayment (up to $25,000 for a bachelor’s degree OR up to $45,000 for a master’s degree) OR free access to an approved professional certificate program
Competitive pay for a job at a participating employer
Educational loan repayment (up to $25,000 for a bachelor’s degree OR up to $45,000 for a master’s degree) OR free access to an approved professional certificate program
Paid training and leadership development experiences through a cohort model
Training and leadership development through a cohort model
Paid training and leadership development experiences through a cohort model
In return, Fellows agree to complete two years of employment in a specific behavioral health role with a program-eligible provider.*
Educational loan repayment (up to $25,000 for a bachelor’s degree OR up to $45,000 for a master’s degree) OR free access to an approved professional certificate program
bhfellows.jhf.org/apply
In return, Fellows agree to complete two years of employment in a specific behavioral health role with a program-eligible provider.*
BH Fellows will be hired into key positions in the following areas:
Paid training and leadership development experiences through a cohort model
•Blended Service Coordination
BH Fellows will be hired into key positions in the following areas:
•Family-Based Mental Health
•Blended Service Coordination Competitive pay
14th Ward Baseball Goes to PNC Park
By Julien Cohen, 11th grader at Central Catholic and Squirrel Hill resident
I’VE BEEN PLAYING BASEBALL ALL MY LIFE, BUT THIS SEASON WAS SPECIAL. I got to play at a place that feels like my second home: PNC Park. It was the finale of a great season.
I play at the Super Colt level of the Pittsburgh City League. It is for kids ages 17–18 that live in the city, but you can have up to two players per team that live outside the city. This is my second year playing Super Colt for the 14th Ward Youth Baseball Association. Our 14th Ward team should have been playing at the lower Colt level, but we were good enough to play up at a level higher than what we should have for our age.
This meant that I got to face my brother. He plays for a different team in the league, Squirrel Hill. It was his last year of eligibility to play in Super Colt, and in his last game our teams faced each other at PNC Park for the Super Colt RBI & Pittsburgh Citisports Mayor’s Cup Championship Game.
On the day of the game, in August, the weather worked out—sunny and blue skies, although it was very hot. Many of my family and friends came to the game to support me. With two sons playing, my parents wore clothes for both teams and sat between the two dugouts.
Sitting
I could see the whole skyline of Pittsburgh.
The PNC Park scoreboard honors the team.
We were there, playing on the field at PNC Park. It was very cool to think about how I go to this stadium as a fan of the Pirates, but now I’m the player. It was an honor to be playing on the same baseball field that many of my idols have played on as well. I once saw Shohei Ohtani battle against Paul Skenes here. I also saw Aaron Judge hit home runs on this field.
When I first stepped onto the field, I couldn’t help but be excited. I had to look around for a sec to take it all in. They say that PNC Park stadium has the best view in the MLB, and they are right. I’m the catcher, so I had the best view. Sitting behind home plate I could see the whole skyline of Pittsburgh. The scoreboard looked huge. I couldn’t look at it too long because I had a game to play, but believe me when I say it was beautiful.
First pitch brought me back into reality and told me I needed to lock in and pay attention. I was excited the first time my brother came up to the plate. Although he’s my brother, I wanted to win so badly that I even wanted him to get out. His first at bat was luckily unproductive. My first, I was too amped up thinking
about the greats that have stood in this very batter’s box. I ended up grounding out to the second baseman on the ball I should have crushed. I was angry at myself. Having to focus on catching prevented me from wallowing in self-pity.
Our pitcher was very good and kept us in the game the whole time. We were finally able to score near the end of the game. Our games are seven innings long, and this one was scoreless until the bottom of the six. It was a clutch double from our big lefty that scored us two runs. We then scored an insurance run in the same inning.
That was enough to get us through the rest of the game victorious. The score at the end was 3-0. It was a great ending to a fun season, and the icing on the cake was beating my brother—even though I kind of felt bad about it because it was his last game in Super Colt.
I will never forget the award ceremony. It was on the field, right behind home plate. They announced my name across the whole stadium; I got to shake the
The 2024 Super Colt champions from the 14th Ward.
commissioner’s hand, and he handed me a medal. I followed it up with pictures with my team and family. Two other 14th Ward teams also won championships: Pony AA and Colt. All and all, it was a great day that I will never forget.
14th Ward Baseball has been around so long that my father, who played there, knew people older than him that played there. My team in particular has been playing with each other since we were 7 years old. Kids have come and gone, but the core has stayed the same.
I’ve also met a lot of kids from different neighborhoods. Pittsburgh City League is a great way for kids across the city to get an opportunity to play baseball. As you get older you travel and play kids further away from you. I have many friends from all over the city because of baseball, the City League, and the 14th Ward teams. And now I can say I’ve played baseball at PNC Park.
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LANDSCAPING – SNOW REMOVAL – CONSTRUCTION
LANDSCAPING – SNOW REMOVAL – CONSTRUCTION
RETAINING WALLS – LANDSCAPE DESIGN
RETAINING – LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Landscape Design
Plant and Shrub Installation
Lawn Mowing
Lawn Maintenance
New Lawns
Reseeding
Spring and Fall Cleanups
Mulching
Retaining Walls
Pavers
Patio Design and Installation
Sidewalks
Walkways
Paver Driveways
Pond Installations
Storm Cleanups
Snow Removal
French Drains
Land Clearing
Power Washing
Overseeding
Now
Julien and his teammates celebrating their victory.
What’s Next in Veterinary Medicine?
By Lawrence Gerson, VMD
LONG AGO, MANY VETERINARY GRADUATES
WORKED FOR A PRACTICE AS AN ASSOCIATE AND THEN, AFTER GAINING SOME EXPERIENCE, opened their own practice as a one-doctor facility with less than 2000 square feet of clinical space. Being your own boss had wonderful advantages but also some big drawbacks, like long hours and stress from managing all sides of the practice. As times changed, practices often grew in efficiency, with 3 to 5 veterinarians working together in a larger hospital with up-to-date equipment—and some quality family time as a bonus for the doctors.
… fifty percent of all veterinary visits will be at a practice owned by a corporation.
Thirty five years ago, corporations started purchasing these larger practices, and the trend has continued. There are an estimated 70 different businesses purchasing and reselling veterinary practices. Among them, Mars Petcare is a large, multinational company with holdings in general pet practice, specialty veterinary hospitals, veterinary laboratories, and pet food. (Yes, it’s the same “Mars” that makes M&M candies.) Mars now holds an estimated 20% of the veterinary marketplace. We are approaching a time soon when fifty percent of all veterinary visits will be at a practice owned by a corporation.
The news is not all bad. Many corporate operations have high standards of clinical practice. Unfortunately, other corporate practices do not set such a high bar for clinical competency.
This change in veterinary medicine has caught the attention of some perhaps surprising people. A very interesting article—in Rolling Stone magazine of all places—quoted Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard
Photo from freepik.com
Blumenthal—of all people—as saying, “Private equity rollups of veterinary practices harm veterinarians and customers alike.”
To meet demand, these corporations offer attractive employment options to veterinarians and technicians willing to work in a corporate practice. High salaries may be good for a young veterinary graduate with crushing school loans, but increased veterinary fees follow the high cost of employees. Corporate practices have different goals and expectations from employees than the traditional, family-owned veterinary practice.
How does a pet owner navigate the high cost of veterinary care in this context? Specialty veterinary hospitals owned by a large corporation usually offer the ultimate in veterinary practice, but that care is often very expensive. Operations on pets can run many thousands upon thousands of dollars for a workup and surgery. With 24-hour aftercare and critical care specialists, costs rise quickly. Cancer care with radiation or chemotherapy and advanced diagnostics like ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI studies can get very expensive very fast.
Pet health insurance is slowly catching on as an option to make pet care affordable for complex cases that
might wreck a family’s budget or force an owner to make extremely difficult decisions. Insurance can help them avoid economics playing a role in decisionmaking for a loved pet. Budgeting for pet insurance can be difficult, and picking a plan requires some research.
Earlier this year, Nationwide Pet Insurance canceled 100,000 policies on pet owners in an attempt to remain profitable. Many of these policies were for older pets who now had pre-existing conditions and therefore would not likely be able to get coverage elsewhere. The policy cancellations sent shock waves through the veterinary insurance marketplace. Be careful when purchasing pet health insurance. Check the State of Pennsylvania’s pet insurance website for important information and how to file a complaint.
Beyond corporate care and pet insurance, there are other new trends in veterinary medicine. Telemedicine is taking hold with after-hours consultations offering advice, guaranteed next-day appointments with the owner’s regular veterinarian, or directions to an emergency hospital for clients with a critical problem.
Artificial Intelligence is also impacting veterinary care. New AI programs are beginning to “read” X-rays instead of a human radiologist. A computer program is already scanning for pathology in images from small digital microscopes used in general practice. Computergenerated images transmitted to a specialist can now make diagnosing cases with pathology easy with a simple click.
It’s not a surprise that the way veterinarians work and care for patients continues to change. Keeping informed is vital to finding your way in today’s veterinary landscape.
What’s Next After What’s Next in Squirrel Hill
By Helen Wilson, Vice-President, Squirrel Hill Historical Society
WHEN WRITING ABOUT HISTORY, THE QUESTION “WHAT’S NEXT?” GOES HAND IN HAND WITH “WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER TO CAUSE THAT ‘NEXT’ TO HAPPEN?”
Consider the history of coal in Squirrel Hill. A neighbor recently painted the iron coal chute door on his basement wall black and detailed the raised words on it in bright gold: “NEBO BROS HOMESTEAD PA.”
My mind went back to my childhood in the early ’50s, when coal was delivered to my parents’ house through just such a door. I remember my dad cleaning the ashes out of the furnace every cold winter morning.
Coal mining was done in the higher elevations in Squirrel Hill, and although mining ended by the 1930s, the tunnels left behind still sometimes cause mine subsidence problems. There is also a small community around Desdemona Avenue at the southern end of Squirrel Hill South, on the western side of Browns Hill Road, that began as a “coal patch” where W. H. Brown’s miners lived when they mined coal in the area. Some of the houses are still there.
The people who lived and worked in Squirrel Hill throughout its history continually dealt with challenges brought about by advances in utilities, transportation, warfare, growth of business and industry, political events, and residential development. Squirrel Hill was, is, and will continue to be shaped by the sequence of occurrences that make the neighborhood what it is at any given time.
Native Americans came first. How long ago can’t be determined, but Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Avella, Pa., is dated to 19,000 years ago and is only an hour’s drive away. A succession of Native Peoples roamed Squirrel Hill before settlers arrived from Europe in the 1700s. They would have built temporary encampments of wigwams surrounded by a protective fence of upright sharpened tree trunks. They used the hill as a seasonal hunting ground and didn’t establish permanent settlements. Only scattered arrowheads and reports of destroyed ancient mounds hint of their presence.
What came next for the hill? The European settlers who moved here in the mid-1700s claimed the land and cleared it for farming. Log cabins were scattered through Squirrel Hill, showing up as small black squares on an 1862 map. The only one still standing is the newly restored Neill Log House in Schenley Park, dating to c. 1795.
The other log structure in Schenley Park, the Martin Log Cabin, illustrates how the function of a building changes as the community around it does. Probably constructed in the late 1700s, it was completely rebuilt in 1938 and is not considered to be authentic. However, prior to Schenley Park’s creation in 1889, it was lived in by tenant farmers. After it was rebuilt, it was repurposed as a place where social events took place and then became Camp David L. Lawrence, where summer camps for children were held until around 1970. Today it is closed to visitors.
The function of a building changes as the community around it does.
Squirrel Hill’s original farms began to disappear as wealthy people, including Judges William Wilkins (1779–1865) and George Forward (1786–1852), bought huge tracts of land for country estates in the European tradition of having a bucolic retreat where they could go to escape the increasing pollution of the city. As time went on, these country estates were subdivided into smaller but still sizeable lots, and substantial houses were built on them by the rising entrepreneurial class.
Development quickened when electric trolleys came to the hill in 1893, making it easy for those who could afford it to live in a beautiful neighborhood to commute to their places of business in more densely populated areas. Care was taken to avoid ruining the developers’ vision of what Squirrel Hill should look like (and to attract those wealthy buyers). Squirrel Hill Homes, a small real-estate circular from around 1900, says, “The old charm of the place has been intensified by the march of improvement, and Squirrel Hill is to-day the very embodiment of all that is beautiful and inviting and healthful as a home spot. Its broad paved streets,
Detail from 1862 map of Allegheny County with black squares indicating log cabins in Squirrel Hill. The black square above the second ‘e’ in E.W.H. Schenley is the Neill Log House. Historic Pittsburgh http://digital.library.pitt.edu/maps
UPCOMING EVENTS
SQUIRREL HILL HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Anyone interested in learning more about Squirrel Hill history is invited to attend the programs of the Squirrel Hill Historical Society, held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Programs are live at the Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave. and are also on Zoom. Go to www.squirrelhillhistory.org to request a link to the Zoom program and for updates and announcements of upcoming lectures and events. Please consider joining the SHHS. Membership is only $15 per year ($25 for families). There is no charge for attending the meetings.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10
“Friends of Neill Log House Update”
TONY INDOVINA, president of the Friends of Neill Log House (FONLH), and some members of his board will report on the results of the project to restore the house, landscape the area around it, and welcome visitors to it once again.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14
“The Squirrel Hill Historical Society— Celebrating 25 Years of Its Own History”
The SHHS was founded in 2000 and has been going strong ever since, engaging in a wealth of programs and activities that have striven to keep Squirrel Hill’s history alive. SHHS Vice-President HELEN WILSON talks about the history of the SHHS and what is has accomplished in its 25 years of existence.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11
“Our Futuristic Murray Avenue Neighbor: An Overview of CMU’s Robotics Institute”
Dr. MATTHEW JOHNSON-ROBERSON, Director of the Robotics Institute and Professor of Computer Science in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), will discuss the origins of the Robotics Institute, the Institute’s role in recent developments in robotics, exciting challenges for the future, and societal concerns about robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).
TUESDAY, MARCH 11
“Treasures in the City of Pittsburgh’s Archives”
CHARLES SUCCOP, City Archivist of Pittsburgh and SHHS board member, will talk about his ongoing discoveries as he delves into the city’s archives. Charles is a local historian who runs several Instagram accounts dedicated to Pittsburgh history.
its magnificent sloping lawns, the splendid boulevards winding in and out through its hills and valleys, make it just what nature has always intended it to be, the garden spot of this great bustling, busy city of ours.”
The trolley route through Squirrel Hill to Homestead via Forbes and Murray Avenues was soon joined by one to Braddock and another to East Pittsburgh, and their effects on the neighborhood multiplied. The business district began to develop when the trolley routes came through. Bridges were needed, so Brown’s Bridge was built across the Monongahela River at the mouth of
Nine Mile Run in 1895, and the first Fern Hollow Bridge was built over Fern Hollow in 1901.
Squirrel Hill’s development was limited by proximity to trolley lines until automobiles came along in the early 1900s. As streets were cut and paved, developers bought large lots and subdivided them into as many smaller properties as they could. The bulk of Squirrel Hill’s housing stock dates to the 1920s and 1930s. But if you look closely, you might see older, larger houses among them—the original homes on the lots. Automobiles opened Squirrel
…vestiges of the past are left behind, like markers leading back in time
Hill to development, and they are still an important factor today for many residents.
Squirrel Hill took on its Jewish character as Jews moved in from Downtown, the Hill District, and Oakland, using the new modes of transportation. They came for much the same reason as the earlier wave of new residents in the late 19th century: to take advantage of Squirrel Hill’s pleasant surroundings while being able to commute to their business establishments.
The Squirrel Hill business district is the most visible demonstration of how the past shapes the present and future in the neighborhood. Murray Avenue had been
Gullifty’s restaurant—and before that movie theaters—once occupied the Friendship Circle building. Photo by Patricia Hughes, Squirrel Hill Historical Society, 1990.
The Bunny Bakes and Friendship Circle buildings have storied histories.
Helen Wilson
residential before the trolleys came. The homes along the avenue were often reused by businesses, and many of the houses are still there. If you look up, you can see them above or behind the storefronts. Key Bank at the corner of Murray Avenue and Darlington Road is one example. Another is the row of houses behind Mineo’s Pizza House.
Most of the business district’s commercial buildings, though, are the first on their site. Yet they too have been repurposed, sometimes many times. Look at the building that now houses Friendship Circle, 1922 Murray Avenue. It began as the Princess Theater, which opened sometime before 1937, when new owners renamed it the Beacon Theater. It was renamed the Guild Theatre in 1954, known for showing controversial films until 1979. After a short stint as the Guild Restaurant and Deli, in 1982 it became Gullifty’s restaurant, “A Unique Eatery” with scrumptious desserts. Now it is Friendship Circle, a Jewish nonprofit organization that pairs teen volunteers with children with special needs. The renovated building has classrooms, offices, and a kitchen.
The small building next to Friendship Circle has an interesting history of its own. In the 1940s, the upstairs rooms housed the Beacon Club, a gambling joint. Friendship Circle bought the building in 2017 and turned those rooms into The Beacon, a place focusing on wellness for high-school students, and the downstairs into Bunny Bakes, a bakery and coffee shop owned and run by Friendship Circle. In between, it was a Subway.
Squirrel Hill is changing again as its population continues to diversify, demonstrated by the multiethnic restaurants and stores, especially Asian, now lining Forbes and Murray. What is interesting about Squirrel Hill’s development is that as the neighborhood changes, vestiges of the past are left behind, like markers leading back in time. Almost every building in the business district has a story to tell about its transformations. The Squirrel Hill Historical Society is researching their histories. Some of our findings are presented on the SHHS’s display board at the Squirrel Hill Branch of Carnegie Library.
