Squirrel Hill Magazine Summer 2013

A Publication of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition

Magazine

Summer 2013

The a Home a

and

Garden Issue

Aeropostale ropostale

Eagle Giant Eagl

Marshall’s

Rock Bottom Brewery

Vitamin Shoppe

AMC MC Loew’s Theatre

Well GNC Live W

Mattress Discounters

Wet Seal

Gordon’s Shoes

Men’s Wearhouse

Sing Sing Dueling Piano Bar

Yokoso Japanese Steakhouse

Custard Crossing

Aspen Dental

Dave & Buster’s

AT&T

Michael’s Arts and Crafts

Sprint

Bar Louie

Dick’s Sporting Goods Gran Agave H & R Block Dress Barn/

Mitchell’s Fish Market

Starbucks

Barnes & Noble

Dress Barn Woman

Improv Comedy Club

New Balance Pittsburgh

Steak-N-Shake

Bath & Body Works

DSW Shoes

Journey’s

Office Depot

Sunglass Hut

Bed, Bath & Beyond

Eat’n Park

Justice

Old Navy

Target

Best Buy

Express

King’s Jewelry

Omaha Steaks

TGI Friday’s TJ Maxx

Bravo! Cucina Italiana

Eyepolis

Lane Bryant

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro

Carter’s

Famous Footwear

Lintons

Panera Bread

Ulta Salon & Cosmetics

LOFT

Pennsylvania Wine Cellar

Uno Chicago Bar & Grill

Chick-fil-A Children’s Place

First Commonwealth Bank Gap

Longhorn Steakhouse Petco PNC Bank Lowe’s Home

Venetian Salon & Spa

Claire’s Boutique Costco Wholesale

GapKids/BabyGap

Improvement

Radio Shack

Victoria’s Secret

Courtyard Marriott

GetGo

Macy’s

Red Robin

Visionworks

Yankee Candle

Verizon Wireless

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Inside

Squirrel Hill In Every Issue 3

SHUC President’s Message Coming Soon to Our Parks

5

What’s New From Our Advertisers

7 22 30

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

This Just In Squirrel Hill Historical Society The Homes of Squirrel Hill Events Calendar

Features 8 10

Good News from Our Schools

12

Squirrel Hill Feature Energy Efficiency in Our Homes

14

Squirrel Hill Feature Gardens in Our Neighborhood

15

Squirrel Hill Feature Rooftop Garden

17

Squirrel Hill Feature Rachel Carson Homestead

18

Squirrel Hill Spotlight Community Gardens

20

Squirrel Hill Spotlight Stormwater Planters

24

Squirrel Hill Update The Gateway Project

26

Squirrel Hill Spotlight Go Climb a Tree

29

Squirrel Hill Litter Patrol Stormwater Planters

Squirrel Hill Feature Space for Art Cover art: “Rolling Hills of Flowers” paper cut by Rochel Schiffrin.

Above: “Beauty Beneath,” right: “Sparks (Detail).” Learn more about Rochel on page 7.

Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/SquirrelHillMagazine Follow us on Twitter @SquirrelHillMag

Murray the Squirrel

Editorʼs Corner We’re enjoying summer here at the Magazine, and we’re already hard at work on our fall issue. Tell us what you’d like to see in future issues! Please send comments and suggestions to Adrienne Block at editor@squirrelhillmagazine.net.

If you’re interested in advertising, please email marketing@squirrelhillmagazine.net, or you can call us at our new phone number: (412) 223-7584. Advertisers can now pay with Visa, MasterCard or Discover.

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 Home & Garden Issue PAGE1

SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION OFFICERS: Raymond N. Baum, President Richard Feder, Vice President Lori Fitzgerald, Vice President Ceci Sommers, Vice President Francine D. Abraham, Secretary Chris Zurawsky, Assistant Secretary Peter Stumpp, Treasurer James Burnham, Assistant Treasurer Jennifer Nicholson-Raich, Assistant Treasurer Steven Hawkins, Immediate Past President BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Francine D. Abraham, Raymond N. Baum, James Burnham, Norman Childs, Andrew J. DeWitt, Vivian Didomenico, Andy Dlinn, Richard Feder, Judy Feldman, Lori Fitzgerald, Harry M. Goern, Ed Goldfarb, Barbara Grover, Steve Hawkins, Ryan W. Hopkins, Lois Liberman, David Miles, Jennifer Nicholson-Raich, Tracy Royston, Ceci Sommers, Sidney Stark (Director Emeritus), Peter Stumpp, Brandon Trombatt, 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 neighborhood’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.

MAGAZINE STAFF: Adrienne Block, Editor Max Schlosser, Intern Merle Weitz, Administrative Assistant CONTRIBUTORS: Raymond N. Baum, Adrienne Block, Robin Colin, Maren Cooke, Elizabeth Edelstein, Barbara Grover, Cassidy Gruber, Aisha Hallman, Ini Hazatones, Christine Hucko, Erin Hutton, Mardi Isler, Frank Izaguirre (photography and editing), Carolyn Ludwig, Lisa Osachy, Cindy Reppe, Luke Stamper, Helen Wilson DESIGN & PRINT: Patricia Tsagaris, Pinkhaus Design, Creative Director Typecraft Press Inc., Printer Printed with soy—based ink!

Magazine

A Publication of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition

Spring 2013

The Parks Issue

Squirrel Hill Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 2, 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 advertisers—their ads solely finance this magazine!

Reserve your space today for the Fall 2013 issue!

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PAGE2 The Home & Garden Issue

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shuc presidentʼs message

Coming Soon to Our Parks

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

S

quirrel Hill is a superb place to live and work for a lot of reasons. Right at the top of the list are Frick Park and Schenley Park.

If you spend as much time going through the parks as I have, you will notice the incredible job that the Pittsburgh Department of Public Works does maintaining the trails, playing fields, open spaces and other amenities of Frick and Schenley, two of the most intensely used parks in America.

However, two of the most visible and important features of Frick and Schenley have been languishing unused for nearly a generation, unkempt and blighted shells of their former splendor and well beyond the capacity of the City to fix on its own. One is the burned out Frick Park Nature Center which has sat for over 10 years as the victim of an arsonist.

The other is Panther Hollow Pond, a place where we used to skate and fish but is now an ugly mud hole. But there is great news for the Frick Nature Center and hopeful news for Panther Hollow.

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, in cooperation with the City of Pittsburgh and a lot of community input and help, has designed and raised half the funding for a splendid new Frick Environmental Center. See the artist’s rendering (above) by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. The new environmental center will: • use the latest green technology so it will be a “Net Zero” energy user through the use of energy saving building techniques and solar energy panels • capture and treat stormwater and sewage on site • have a similar footprint (6,000 sq ft) but more usable space (15,000 sq ft) than the old Nature Center • include space and programming for child and adult environmental education and activities, an outdoor amphitheater, and a sustainable outdoor fountain • include restoration of the historic gatehouses and formal entrance landscape • improve the nearby meadow and woodlands • include a new entry drive, redesigned parking lot, and indoor public restrooms

• fit unobtrusively into the hillside now occupied by the old building • support environmental camps and activities and programs for our schools

In short, it will be another reason to love and enjoy Squirrel Hill and Pittsburgh.

The good news for Panther Hollow and its lake is a little farther down the road. Panther Hollow is not the victim of an arsonist; rather its condition is the result of urbanization and years of stormwater runoff and siltation. The surface and subsurface waterways are clogged with mud and debris and dysfunctional.

The fact is that stormwater runoff, much of it from the western part of Squirrel Hill, has completely overwhelmed the ecosystem of the entire Panther Hollow Watershed, a situation that is most visible near, but far from contained to, the lake.

Thankfully, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and its partners are conducting hydrological and ecological studies and compiling a report that will help us understand the exact parameters of the problem and what we can do to remedy it. We will all have to work together to devise and support the solutions.

One more piece of good news for you and our parks. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has, with funding from UPMC Health Plan, created the MyPGH Parks mobile app for iPhones and Androids. This free app will let you search for special events and activities, navigate even the newest park trails, locate off-leash dog areas, find restrooms, report park issues and more.

The app, designed by Deeplocal, a Pittsburgh-based innovation studio, can be used in Frick, Schenley, Highland, Riverview, and Emerald View parks.

Enjoy our parks.9 The Home & Garden Issue PAGE3

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Whatʼs New Paula Martinac Paula Martinac, MA, MS, is a holistic health and nutrition educator who is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition® (cand.) and a member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals.

She spent the first 20 years of her career as a writer and editor, until a cancer diagnosis changed her life forever, making her view food as central to health and well being. She survived cancer through conventional surgery and medicine, but thrived thanks to nutritional healing and complementary treatments. “I am a living testimonial that if you want to be healthy, you can overcome challenges and lead a life free of symptoms and pain,” she says. Paula now helps people in midlife to reverse the symptoms of metabolic syndrome – weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and high triglycerides – naturally, without medications, so they can feel younger and live longer, free from chronic illness.

Paula sees clients at the Nuin Center in Highland Park and Hampton Holistic Center in the North Hills. She is also available for group presentations. For an appointment or more information, call 412-760-6809 or email paula.nutritionu@gmail.com. Visit her online at www.nutritionu.net.

We are proud to continue to serve the needs of the community, and are looking forward to offering items for older children in the fall!

Truschel Insurance Ann Truschel, owner of Truschel Insurance, is proud to announce that Marc R. Kimelman joined her firm on April 1, 2013 Please stop in to the office at 1709 Murray Avenue, steps from the corner of Forbes & Murray, to wish him well.

Save the Date The Third Annual Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards, Honoring: Karla Boos Founder and Artistic Director of Quantum Theatre

Kidz and Company Kidz and Company offers adorable and unique children's clothing, gifts, toys, and accessories from around the world. Recent additions include Djeco puzzles from France, adorable rattles from Lilliputiens of Belgium, clothing from Toobydoo New York, and See Kai Run shoes. Starting in the fall we will be introducing a contemporary boys’ line, Bitz Kids of Japan, and our ever so popular Mayoral Infantil clothing from Spain will be expanded through Size 10!

Rabbi James Gibson of Temple Sinai celebrating 25 years of service

Wendell Freeland, Esq. an original incorporator of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition and a revered Tuskegee Airman

The historic WPA mural at the Squirrel Hill Post Office this year’s Place Treasure

bbb Thursday, October 17, 2013 Pittsburgh Golf Club 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

The Home & Garden Issue PAGE5

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fresh off the street

This Just In Jules Boutique

I grew up in the Orthodox Jewish community in Squirrel Hill.

After graduating from Yeshiva Schools, I attended a Jewish women’s seminary in Florida where I learned a deeper appreciation for my religion and how to lead my life through the teaching of Chassidus. While in seminary I also realized my appreciation for the arts, and how I can combine these two passions. Subsequently, I returned to Pittsburgh where I attended Chatham University and earned my BA in Visual Arts with a concentration in Studio Arts, graduating summa cum laude.

Congratulations to Squirrel Hill native Julia Weiskopf on the recent grand opening of Jules, a high-end boutique Credit: Adam Milliron. Styled by Nicole Barley. for men and While at Chatham I rediscovered my love for cutting paper and experimenting women located at 45th and Butler in Lawrenceville. with this other form of drawing. When I cut paper, it is an intuitive and natural A graduate of Taylor Allderdice and Northeastern reaction for my love of detail, care and intricacy. As a creative technique, paper University, Weiskopf spent seven years in the fastcutting is not only cathartic to me, but it also allows me to illustrate concepts paced Public Relations world in New York City and designs that are near and dear to my heart. I hope to continue exploring before returning to Pittsburgh. Jules carries clothing, where this creative art form can take me! shoes and accessories, and also acts as an art gallery, with new work displayed on a quarterly basis.

For more info visit www.RochelSchiffrin.com or like me on Facebook!

Weiskopf says she wants the space to feel like someone’s living room, and she’ll have espresso and other refreshments on hand to help customers feel at home. The store’s decor was inspired by the oriental rugs, rich red tones and gorgeous leathers Weiskopf fell in love with during time spent at Sundance Film Festival during her PR days. Designers featured at Jules include: DL1961, Baren, Hazel, C&C California, Botkier, Fred Perry, Velvet, Dogeared, Ladakh, Pendelton, Joe's Jeans, Bed Stu, Benson, Volley and more. www.julespittsburgh.com 412.687.2000

Cover Artist Rochel Schiffrin Discusses Her Work Paper cutting not only reflects the intricate nature with which I enjoy operating, but it also enables me to express deeply rooted ideas and concepts. I work with various themes such as nature, dance, circular designs, as well as Jewish religious motifs; however, I always strive to instill an uplifting aesthetic.

Pittsburgh Center For Creative Reuse Looking for beads, yarn or paint? Need something odd or unusual to complete a project?

You can find these materials and more at Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse (PCCR).

Located at 214 N. Lexington Street, this unique shop is full of inspiration.

Like its neighbor, Construction Junction, PCCR sells donated materials, promoting resource conservation and creativity through material reuse.

PCCR encourages people to look at non-traditional materials in new ways and fosters a community where artists, teachers, designers and tinkerers can explore artistic possibilities and share their discoveries with one another. Additionally, PCCR offers in-store workshops and off-site hands-on art programs for community engagement.

Stop in and peruse the bulk section where you can fill a bag for as little as $2, check out repurposed card catalogues filled with an array of small treasures, or stop by at 6 PM every second Thursday for the free crafty potluck, Meet n’ Make.

Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse is open Tuesday - Sunday, 11 AM - 6 PM. For more info go to pccr.org or call 412-473-0100.

The Home & Garden Issue PAGE7

good news from our schools Cub Scouts Clean Up

By Cindy Reppe

On a warm Monday evening in mid-April, Cub Scout Pack 109 conducted their annual trash clean-up hike in Frick Park. The boys, ages 6 to 11, from East End schools including Colfax, Minadeo, Environmental Charter School, Community Day, St Bede’s and Pittsburgh Urban Christian School, hiked upper Frick Park, collecting over 10 large bags of trash and recycling in the process. Pack leaders Steve DeFlitch and Bob Reppe led the boys on the two hour hike to help fulfill their citizenship requirements.

The 20 boys, as well as their family volunteers (including brothers and sisters), were outfitted with gloves and trash bags and set off to clean the park. From the Blue Slide Park to the Boy Scout Area, they found the expected discarded bottles, cans, baseballs and a bat and many candy wrappers. But, there were surprise items found as well, including a rusty exhaust pipe, a single Croc shoe and several pieces of clothing, including one unmentionable!

The boys mentioned that they were surprised and saddened that they found as much trash as they did, and they wish that people would not litter so much. But by separating the recycled items from the trash items collected, they were able to keep over half of all found items out of the landfill. Most of all, the boys were proud of themselves and their families for doing a good deed, all while enjoying a great hike in one of our great City parks. 9

Cub Scout Pack 109

PAGE8 The Home & Garden Issue

Day School Buddies

By Ini Hazatones and Robin Colin

This year at St. Edmund’s Academy, the 4th Grade Community Service initiative is a buddy program with children who have special needs who attend the Day School at the Children’s Institute. Throughout the year, students from St. Edmund’s Academy and the Day School exchange notes and seasonal banners. They also participate in organized play dates at the Day School and on our playdeck. These play dates include snacks, crafts, and fun activities, such as a puzzle piece scavenger hunt, charades and sign language bingo. Watching St. Edmund’s Academy students break out of their comfort zones as they get to know and care for their new friends is a heartwarming and rewarding experience for everyone involved. Community service projects bring students together to celebrate the worthiness of service to others, one of St. Edmund’s Academy’s six Core Values.

The Children’s Institute is dedicated to promoting the well-being of children, young people and their families and to providing services that meet their special needs. To learn more, visit www.amazingkids.org. 9

Wake Up the Garden!

By Carolyn Ludwig

On April 7, the Colfax community, supported by Grow Pittsburgh, kicked off the spring season with a fabulous Wake Up the Garden event, led by Colfax parents Anne Marie Kuchera and Rachel Rosenfeld. Included highlights were garden tours of the Colfax Edible Schoolyard, instruction in seed planting and dirt excavating.

Families participated in activities at the Frick Environmental Center tent and the “bring your own salsa” and “make your own salad dressing” stations. Live music was provided by Mr. Brian Lee, our instrumental teacher, along with student musicians. Raffle prizes were given and we even had a visit from Murray the Squirrel.

The Edible Schoolyard at Colfax provides an on-site outdoor classroom to all students, especially grades K-2, where they can learn and explore organic plant life, plant spacing, companion planting and garden designs. The Edible Schoolyard was created by the Colfax community and Grow Pittsburgh approximately five years ago. The Colfax Garden Committee has just initiated the Colfax Garden Club in an effort to expand garden opportunities for the third through eighth graders. 9

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squirrel hill feature

pace for Art

By Adrienne Block

Just steps from the intersection of Forbes and Murray, the Condominiums at 1660/1680 Murray Avenue have been a presence in the neighborhood since 2000.

The 25-unit building is quietly elegant, tucked back from the street and situated in a courtyard that it shares with the neighboring Sixth Presbyterian Church. Walking past, it’s easy to notice the building’s smooth stone outlines and shaded arcades.

But few passersby probably realize that the building houses a private curated collection of museum quality art in its lobbies and hallways.

Mel Berkovitz has been involved in the selection of artwork from the start, and also oversees the hanging and placement of all works. Founder of Concept Art Gallery, which is now run by his son, Sam, Berkovitz was one of the building’s first residents. Along with two other early residents, Ray Gindroz and John Haughwout, both architects, Berkovitz put plans into motion for the art collection and began acquiring works soon after the building was completed.

Since 2001, Berkovitz has tried to add between one and three new pieces each

Douglas Cooper, “First Sight of Westinghouse Bridge,” vine charcoal drawing

year. The collection now comprises 30 to 40 works of fine art and is still growing. All of the art is funded collaboratively from the residents’ condo fees and owned by the Condo Association, except for two works by Doug Cooper and a couple of pieces that are on loan. When a new piece is added, Berkovitz sends out a notice to residents to announce the addition.

The collection is eclectic in terms of medium and subject matter. It includes serigraphs, fiber art, collage, etchings, pastels, watercolors, oils, photographs and architectural prints, and everything from cubic forms to California landscapes. Many of the artists represented are internationally known, and hail from countries including France, Japan and Vietnam.

Berkovitz says he doesn’t buy a work just because it’s a certain color, subject or size; he chooses each piece based on its individual merits.

Berkovitz has observed that apartment buildings and condos rarely seem to prioritize the purchase of artwork in their budgets. The buildings may be beautiful architecturally and offer extensive amenities, but display either no art or low-quality art.

“To create energy for art in a building is important,” says Berkovitz. “This building is a work of art itself, although it is a made object. The goal is to continue that effort by installing original work in the hallways. Art contributes to people living in the building.”

Although the collection is not open to the public, Berkovitz receives many compliments from visitors. The collection also helps to attract potential buyers.

Barbara Grossman, a former docent at the Carnegie Museum of Art, is one of the newest residents. She says the art collection did influence her decision to buy, but it was more the overall effect of the space, subtly created by the presence of the art. “My first impression was that the building was beautiful, but I didn’t really know why. The walls were a nice color, the slate floors – it was the full effect, and most people don’t realize why there is that effect, it just happens, and maybe later they realize why.”

Grossman says she couldn’t live without art in her living space. “It can affect a person differently every day; it has so many stories to tell. Each time you look you see something different. Paintings can affect mood in addition to rational thoughts.”

Mel Berkovitz with Andrew Braitman’s “A Physical Negotiation,” oil on canvas PAGE10 The Home & Garden Issue

Dr. Joe Charny, President of the Condo Association, likely speaks for many residents when he says, “Sometimes I love to just wander the halls. It’s like having your own little art gallery.” 9 Images courtesy of 1660/1680 Murray Ave Condominiums.

“I feel like I have the freedom to make this place my home.”

-Ed Bires, retired postmaster

Caring communities, close to home.

“There’s so much going on here.

It’s easy to stay busy.”

-Marie Divis, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother

At UPMC Senior Communities, we focus on improving and enriching each resident’s life. From independent living and personal care, to assisted living and skilled nursing, we make every resident feel cared for and at ease. For more information or to schedule a complimentary lunch and tour, call 1-800-324-5523, or visit UPMCSeniorCommunities.com.

UPMC Senior Communities

Heritage Place Skilled Nursing Squirrel Hill 412-422-5100

Canterbury Place Personal Care and Skilled Nursing Lawrenceville 412-622-9000

Lighthouse Pointe Village Independent Living Fox Chapel 412-781-2707

Seneca Hills Village Independent Living Penn Hills 412-793-1700

Seneca Manor Assisted Living Penn Hills 412-798-6000

Seneca Place Skilled Nursing Penn Hills 412-798-8000

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squirrel hill feature

Energy Efficiency in Our Homes

By Elizabeth Edelstein

When Steve and Suk Hernandez’s Squirrel Hill home was built in the 1930s, resources were inexpensive and abundant. Homes of this era were designed without insulation. Today, people are considering energy efficient techniques to remedy existing buildings’ high energy usages. Properly insulating a building can bring down heating and cooling costs and results in an increase in comfort level. Use of low wattage light bulbs and high efficiency appliances can also help to reduce operational costs.

Based on these observations, Stones followed up with a strategic, comprehensive plan using a calculated, holistic approach. His team installed an intentional return air connection and this immediately made a huge difference in the family’s comfort level. They also sprayed foam insulation into the underside of the attic crawlspace and blew cellulose insulation into the hard to reach areas. After these preliminary renovations, the heating bill was reduced to $300 per month.

The Hernandez couple is taking major steps to increase their home’s energy efficiency. During the winter, the heating bill for their 3000-square-foot home reached about $500 per month, but they were still cold. Recently, they began renovations hoping to increase their comfort level and save money.

The homeowner is not ending projects there; he is adhering to the scope of the recommendations made during the consultation.

Hernandez’s goal is to get the monthly heating bill close to $200 per month.

In order to learn how to improve their home’s energy efficiency, the owners scheduled a consultation with Master Green Remodeler, AJ Stones. Stones thoroughly evaluated the house and found a number of glaring problems.

In contrast to the Hernandez’s home, the newly-constructed home of Lou and Amy Weiss has been energy efficient from the start.

Resting on a ridge overlooking the Monongahela River, this home is known locally and beyond for its innovative, eco-friendly construction and design.

Since the Weisses decided to build an energy efficient home, they were able to spray the open walls with foam insulation during construction. Their heating system involves an electric pump that pulls heat out of the outside air when the temperature is above 20 degrees. Below 20 degrees it switches to gas. They also installed a tankless water heater that provides heated water on demand, as opposed to water heaters with tanks that lose heat over time. For a 4800-square-foot home, the combined gas and electricity bills are between $300 and $400 per month.

The energy efficient home of Lou and Amy W eiss.

The home had undergone a previous renovation in 1980, which might have been an overall improvement from the 1930s, but also made certain conditions a lot worse. The haphazard approach included removing the boiler and radiators and replacing them with a furnace and a duct system that leaked air along its seams and joints. The duct system was undersized and the furnace had been installed without a connection to the return air register. The eaves under the roof on the third floor were separated by poorly installed pink fiberglass insulation.

PAGE12 The Home & Garden Issue

The home’s surrounding landscaping serves purposes beyond beauty and simplicity. The plants are indigenous and drought resistant, so they don’t require frequent watering, and stormwater is reclaimed on site. The water from the roof and a few underground channels flows to a rock water cistern where it is stored for use in the toilets.

Although the Hernandez and Weiss homes differ in their construction, they are both examples of buildings that have achieved a high level of energy efficiency. The goal of reducing energy usage and increasing comfort can be reached with a “whole home performance” approach. An integrated remodeling plan that is created by a professional energy auditor or a professional remodeler who has had extensive experience with building performance techniques is critical. Working on energy efficient projects that don’t relate to one another can result in costly mistakes and can make living comfortably a challenge. 9

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FALL 2013

Chatham University ’s new 388-acre Eden Hall Campus is underway.

Eden Hall Campus in Richland, Pa., will be the first in the world built from the ground up for the study of sustainable living, learning, and development. The latest in environmentally responsible technology, design, and innovation will help make Eden Hall self-sustaining in every way. It will strengthen Pittsburgh’s leadership in green innovation and serve more than 1,500 students (online and on-campus) in the fields of sustainability, health sciences, business, and more. As the alma mater of environmental icon Rachel Carson and as an internationally recognized leader in sustainability, Chatham University is bringing big thinking to life at Eden Hall Campus, starting fall 2013.

Visit chatham.edu/edenhall for the latest information.

squirrel hill feature

Gardens in Our Neighborhood

Visit www.squirrelhillmagazine.net for easy summer energy savings tips from Ellie Gordon, Squirrel Hill Ambassador for ReEnergize Pittsburgh.

By Cassidy Gruber

Creative Responses to Garden Challenges Building a garden in Squirrel Hill comes with its challenges. When they moved here five years ago, Michael Henderson and Sam Taylor faced a small plot of land, a sloping back yard and Pittsburgh’s notorious clay soil. But rather than shy away from the challenge, the couple built a terraced garden and began to cultivate a diverse and vibrant collection of potted and hardy in-ground trees and plants.

Now they grow everything from cacti to orchids to an Abyssinian Banana tree.

Henderson and Taylor come at gardening from a unique blend of experiences. Taylor, former director of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, is a scientist by training, while Henderson is more experienced with the cultural history of parks and gardens, having worked in National Parks and as a historic preservation consultant.

Together their know-how has helped them to fill their garden with a unique and aesthetically pleasing selection of flowers, trees, succulents and some potted herbs.

They keep their gardens flourishing late into the planting season.

Starting in July, the pumpkins they grow above their garage begin to appear on the vine. By late fall, the vines have curled their way to the edge of the garage roof, and the pumpkins have grown to their fullest.

every detail of her garden into account, coordinating color and style, and rotating pots, annuals, and perennials so that there is something growing almost year round.

Ann Posch’s back garden.

While Posch’s garden is her own labor of love, she gets input and inspiration from a community of friends and neighbors, including fellow gardeners and artists. Through this group, she has learned more about the art and science of gardening, how to choose plants that will complement each other, and how to strive for a healthy garden year after year. 9

Insuring our neighborhood for over 70 years

Bringing Beauty to a Small Space Walking along the busy block of Wilkins between Wightman and Bellerock Streets, you may notice a delightful pop of summertime color, courtesy of the gardens of Ann Posch. For three seasons of the year, Posch fills her small front and back yards with a mix of potted and bedded plants and trees.

Now that she has retired, gardening has become more of a priority in Posch’s life. When she and her husband first settled into their “starter” home about thirty years ago, it was enough to keep the lawn mown while raising their two young children. Now she takes PAGE14 The Home & Garden Issue

Contact us for a quote on your home and auto 412.681.2700 www.wagneragency.com Pittsburgh • Sewickley • Penn Township

Going Green, One Rooftop at a Time

By Maren Cooke

We were fortunate to find a house on the edge of Frick Park, close enough to bike to work and yet almost in the woods. We’ve been renovating it for several years using mainly local, recycled, reused and nontoxic materials to make it more comfortable, functional and energy efficient. Outside, a biodiverse landscape produces food almost year round, with the help of rainwater harvesting, season extension, composting, and elbow grease.

As part of an effort to grow as much food as possible on our property, we decided to include our roof as productive space. What’s growing up there? Pretty much everything you can imagine, from annual garden crops (leafy greens like lettuce, sorrel, chard, kale, and collards; broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage; squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, and gourds; beans, peas and carrots; beets, potatoes, garlic and onions; peppers, tomatillos, ground cherries; basil and cilantro for pesto and salsa along with dozens of varieties of heirloom tomatoes) to grape and kiwi vines, rhubarb, strawberries, dwarf fruit trees, and lots of perennial herbs. Edible flowers such as nasturtiums and violets, and ornamentals like tulips, which wouldn’t survive the Frick Park deer down below. And even some wild edibles, like lamb’s quarters, purslane, dandelion, and pigweed (a native amaranth).

The roof garden is contained in raised beds of different depths, in order to take advantage of varying weight-bearing capacity across the roof, as well as to allow clear space for solar panels. The beds are constructed out of hollow recycled plastic timbers. Some beds are insulated, to moderate temperature extremes for dwarf fruit trees, which would normally be planted in the ground. A grid-tied solar photovoltaic system, which produces about half of our total electricity use over the course of the year, is nestled among the raised garden beds. 9

For the past year and a half, I’ve hosted a monthly series of gatherings called Sustainability Salons, which feature local speakers on important topics like air quality, climate change, solar power, watershed issues, green building and local food – along with lively discussion, potluck food and homemade music. The next two Salons are scheduled for July 6 and Aug 10. These and many other local environmental and social justice events are posted online in MarensList (marenslist.blogspot.com). Email maren.cooke@gmail.com if you’d like to be on the Salon mailing list.

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squirrel hill feature

Exploring Rachel Carsonʼs Roots

By Christine Hucko

hen Rachel Carson’s parents moved to Springdale, Pennsylvania, in 1900, the town of 1,200 people was depicted by a local newspaper as a place of “woods and farm land, picturesque streets … and pretty little frame dwellings set amidst overhanging apple trees and maples.” It was here, on her parents’ 64-acre property, where a young Rachel had her first encounters with nature as she wandered the family’s bucolic grounds full of curiosity.

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Carson, widely credited for helping to set the environmental movement in motion, was born in Springdale in 1907. Along with her parents and two older siblings, she lived in a clapboard house situated on a hillside bordering the Allegheny River. The house consisted of four rooms: a dining room and parlor on the first floor, and two bedrooms on the second. There was a lean-to kitchen in the back.

Maples stood in the front of the home, in addition to a lilac bush and a weeping mulberry. Behind the house was an orchard made up of apple and pear trees, and woods that at the time of Rachel’s birth were still “wild and untouched.”

Scattered about the yard were outbuildings including a stable, chicken coop, and springhouse.

With her older siblings at school and her father away for work, Rachel often got the undivided attention of her mother, Maria, who is said to have delighted in Rachel from the start. The mother-daughter pair regularly took walks in the woods, read, talked, and sang together. Maria Carson realized that her daughter had “exceptional gifts” and made it her task to cultivate Rachel’s talents so that Rachel could escape small town life and domesticity.

From an early age, Rachel seemed to be drawn to books and to the earth’s creatures in equal measure. When she wasn’t turning a sharp eye toward birds, flowers, and insects near her home, she was engrossed in books that educated and inspired her while also stoking a budding desire to create stories of her own. Carson’s dazzling literary life began at the tender age of eleven when a story she wrote was published in a children’s magazine called St. Nicholas, and culminated in the publication of her momentous book Silent Spring.

In 1925, Carson left Springdale to study English at the Pennsylvania College for Women—presently Chatham University—determined to become a writer. A fortuitous encounter with a dynamic young biology professor fanned the flames of Carson’s other passion:

science. After much agonizing, she decided to switch majors. She feared a switch would require her to forsake writing forever. Little did she realize at the time, however, that science would form the basis of her literary work to come.

When Rachel returned to her hometown in 1929, it was clear that a once-charming Springdale had yielded to industry. What stood out now were not the town’s farms and woods but rather its polluted air and water. The dirtiness made it easy for Rachel to say goodbye when the time came later that summer to depart for Massachusetts to conduct research.

The Carson family had spent their entire time in Springdale without sufficient means. So when Rachel left the house in 1929, her family went with her. At different times in 1930 and 1931, mom, dad, sister, and brother left Springdale “somewhat abruptly,” leaving debts in their wake. After they relocated, the home had several new owners and changed in appearance through the removal of the porch and the addition of rooms in the back.

In 1975, the Rachel Carson Homestead Association acquired the house and has been looking after it ever since. The organization plans to restore the home to its original form and to turn the inside into a museum. The aim in both cases is to educate the public about Carson’s roots, early inspirations, values, and impact, while also leaving guests with the sense of wonder she is famous for.

“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction,” Carson once said. For the renowned scientist and nature writer, a sense of wonder first struck right here in Western Pennsylvania near the Allegheny River. 9 Special thanks to Linda Lear, author of Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature and administrator of www.rachelcarson.org, and to Patricia DeMarco for their assistance.

Christine Hucko is a writer and editor living in Squirrel Hill. You can visit her on the web at www.christinehucko.com.

The Home & Garden Issue PAGE17

squirrel hill spotlight

Homewood Community Garden

By Cassidy Gruber

Nestled behind a squat stone wall and a barrier of trees, The Homewood Community Garden is one of Squirrel Hill’s most bountiful treasures. Started in 1979 as part of an urban gardening initiative, The Homewood Garden provides the space to grow herbs, vegetables, and flowers for residents at any level of green thumb expertise.

The Garden features about 95 plots that are leased annually. The waiting list is quite long, because each gardener gets to keep his or her plot until they are ready to give it up. Evan Schmidt of Point Breeze is currently serving his second year as Garden Captain. He says he was drawn to the Garden by its convenient location and the opportunity to supplement his at-home growing.

time to scare off vampires), it seems there is always someone toiling away at a variety of seasonal vegetables or cutting fresh flowers.

For many, the season starts in early spring, when gardeners begin to clean up their plots and start early cultivation. From St. Patrick’s Day planting to the harvest of Halloween garlic (in

Walking through the quiet lushness of the gardens, you can spot a number of wooden owls placed to scare off birds, wheelbarrows for hauling soil, tools, and trimmings, and the personalities of

Squirrel Hill Library Garden

By Aisha Hallman

It’s Gardening Thyme at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Squirrel Hill! Thanks to a grant from the Mary Jane Berger Memorial Foundation, we and thirteen other CLP locations have community gardens which provide handson gardening education and experience for all. Our garden also gives us a chance to offer garden-related programs. Some of the programs we’ll be having at Squirrel Hill this summer include school-age crafts like making seed paper and creating fairy/gnome houses, and adult programs on herbs and food preservation. Other programs can be seen at: http://carnegielibrary.org/events/programs/gardeningthyme/. Cherry tomatoes, chives, red peppers, lavender, and cilantro are just a few of the things growing in our garden. As it is harvested, free produce and herbs will be available at the library and we will also donate items to local food banks. We’re always looking for volunteers to help weed, water, and harvest so if you’re interested, please stop by the library or call us at 412-422-9650.9 PAGE18 The Home & Garden Issue

Mellon’s Elizabethan Herb Garden

By Erin Hutton

The Elizabethan Herb Garden in Mellon Park is a tiny gem of a garden cared for by the Western Pennsylvania Unit of the Herb Society of America. Chair of the Elizabethan Herb Garden, Liz DePiero, and a group of volunteer gardeners tend the various plants in themed beds. If you take the time to explore the Garden, you’ll find several varieties of roses, medicinal herbs, edible plants, and one bed devoted solely to plants mentioned in the works of Shakespeare. The Garden is walled with hops vines climbing up a big brick wall on one side. The walls are in need of repair and, while still beautiful, their upkeep is essential to ensure that this lovely, serene place continues to thrive. 9

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each plot owner reflected in the gardening styles. Some plots are meticulously planned and organized. Some are studded with mini birdhouses and lawn chairs, a rural oasis for the urban gardener. And some plots have been left to their own devices. But most gardeners are focused on the overall wellbeing of the land. Already this year there have been two official cleanups; in April, a cemetery cleanup, and in May a Garden cleanup.

The Garden has its set of uninvited visitors as well. Squirrels, rabbits, deer, moles—and even some humans—tend to help themselves to whatever produce they can get their paws on.

Even the birds take some liberties. One gardener tells of a cardinal that yearly makes her nest in a climbing bunch of Autumn Clematis.

And while the Homewood Garden is technically on land belonging to the Homewood Cemetery, the only thoughts gardeners have are of lush, green life. 9

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squirrel hill spotlight StormWorks Explores a New Rainfall Management Solution: Stormwater Planters

By Luke Stamper

Mockup showing the NMRWA office with a stormwater planter.

Credit: Sara Madden

StormWorks is in the beginning stages of a pilot project for a new product that they hope to add to their suite of innovative rainwater management techniques: stormwater planters.

They will be designing and installing the first stormwater planter at Biddle’s Escape, a local coffee shop on Biddle Avenue in Regent Square. A stormwater planter manages rain and stormwater through infiltration and evapotranspiration, or detention and slow-release when the planter does not connect to underlying soils or allow for infiltration. The planters benefit our streams and rivers by reducing peak stormwater flows into overburdened sewer systems, and also benefit the community by greening a significant sidewalk area and enhancing neighborhood aesthetics.

There are many types of planters that are used to slow down stormwater. The StormWorks pilot project starts with a 2’x2’x6’ galvanized metal tank. The stormwater from a downspout is directed into the tank, which is filled with alternating layers of gravel, sand, and soil. Plants that are able to thrive in periods of both saturation and drought are planted at a depth of six inches from the top of the planter, which allows for some ponding of water during periods of high rainfall, and there is an overflow system to ensure that water will not spill out over the top of the planter. 9 If you are interested in learning more about stormwater planters or would like to schedule a property consultation, please contact Sara Madden at 412-371-8779 ext. 117 or sara@swpgh.com.

PAGE20 The Home & Garden Issue

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squirrel hill historical society

The Homes of Squirrel Hill

By Helen Wilson Vice-President, Squirrel Hill Historical Society

Its broad paved streets, 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 writer is talking, of course, about Squirrel Hill. The passage comes from a curious little book called Squirrel Hill Homes, produced by Reed B. Coyle & Company. It is undated but can be ascribed to the early 1900s because of references in the text saying the area had recently been “electrified” and that trolleys had just begun to run up Forbes Avenue, down Murray Avenue and across Brown’s Bridge to Homestead, and that another trolley route was under construction along Forbes Avenue to Wilkinsburg and East Pittsburgh.

The book is a window into that specific point in time around the turn of the twentieth century when large farms and estates in Squirrel Hill were being bought up by developers and divided into smaller residential lots. Pittsburgh was expanding rapidly, and those who could afford it, mostly wealthy businessmen and industrialists, were moving their families outward to where the air was (relatively) cleaner and the land more pastoral. The advent of trolleys and paved roads made rural Squirrel Hill ripe for development, and the book gives a picture of how it was done: “Large tracts of land have been bought by shrewd business men. These have been laid out in lots. Streets and boulevards have been cut through them. Thousands of dollars have been spent in paving and grading and sewering, and although almost all of this has been done in the last year or two, a great many of the building lots have already been sold.”

The phrase, “in the last year or two,” suggests the rapidity of the transition. But it wasn’t haphazard. The hundreds of houses being built had to conform to strict building regulations that ensured they would be of a “uniformly high character” and set back a “proper distance from the street.” Sidewalks were wide, and the broad streets were lined with trees. Everything was designed to make Squirrel Hill an ideal residential neighborhood.

The southern side of Squirrel Hill has a slightly different history. Large tracts of land were subdivided into lots, but in general the lots were smaller and the buyers not as affluent. That area developed a bit later, in the 1920s, when automobiles were more common and the opening of the Boulevard of the Allies brought an influx of Jews from Oakland and the Hill District PAGE22 The Home & Garden Issue

The house at the corner of Forbes and Murray A venues, from the book Squirrel Hill Homes.

into the heart of Squirrel Hill, giving it its distinctively Jewish character.

Although most of the nineteenth-century farmhouses and mansions are now gone, Squirrel Hill almost miraculously still has some relics from the eighteenth century. When Schenley Park opened in 1889, about a dozen structures from pioneer days were scattered around the grounds. Now only two are left. The Robert Neill log house is located on the northeastern edge of the golf course. It was built around 1769 near the rudimentary road that later became Forbes Avenue. It had been restored in 1969 but now seems to be left to decay again. The yard around it is overgrown with brush and weeds, and a high chain-link fence closes off the property. The Martin log cabin, dating to around 17601770, is more visible at the foot of Overlook Drive leading up to Schenley Oval, but is not open to visitors.

No trace at all is left of the first occupants of Squirrel Hill—the Native Americans—except for a few arrowheads and spear points.

No evidence has been found to indicate they ever had permanent settlements in the area, although an “old Indian fort” was said to have existed in Nine Mile Run valley. The Native Americans used the hill as a seasonal hunting ground and perhaps constructed temporary camps while they were there.

Returning to that small book, Squirrel Hill Homes, the writer says, “Everything has been planned and carried out with the one idea of enhancing the natural beauty of the district and making it an ideal residence spot.” It can be argued that Squirrel Hill was always the ideal residence spot for those who lived there at different times and for different reasons throughout its history. 9 Anyone interested in learning more about Squirrel Hill history is invited to attend the meetings of the Squirrel Hill Historical Society held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave. Go to www.squirrelhillhistory.org to view upcoming lectures and events. Also, consider joining the SHHS. Membership is only $10 per year. There is no charge for attending the meetings.

Helen Wilson can be reached at historysqhill@hotmail.com.

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squirrel hill update Gateway Project Update Councilman Corey O’Connor, SHUC President Ray Baum, Design Center Board President Ken Doyno and Gateway Committee chair Mardi Isler.

By Mardi Isler

You have probably seen it by now – the beautiful clock on Murray Avenue near Phillips designating “O’Connor’s Corner.” This is one of the enhancements that was proposed when the Squirrel Hill Urban coalition received a grant in 2008 from the Design Center and formed a committee to implement aesthetic improvements to provide a proper welcome to our neighborhood.

We hoped that through improving the Squirrel Hill “Gateway” entrance, we could reflect Squirrel Hill’s image as a vibrant neighborhood for residents, shoppers and visitors.

Achievements also included the adoption of the “Forgotten Garden,” establishing a colorful display at the Parkway Entrance/Exit with the help of the Western PA Conservancy and substantial annual contributions from Sestili’s Nursery.

Streetlights and trees from Forward to Phillips were also part of this original initiative.

In the spring of 2012, the potential for progress was stepped up with a second grant from the Design Center to focus on designs for the additional significant business district corners at Phillips, Beacon, and the Post Office Parklet.

Funds were also provided to design and create construction drawings for the much needed “Welcome to Squirrel Hill” sign. A community meeting was held in April to review plans and to provide input on concept drawings.

Construction will begin soon after the tunnel renovation is completed.

the way up Murray Avenue to meet those at Forbes, connecting the two main business corridors. This was made possible by funding from Councilman O’Connor and the commitment from City PublicWorks to help us reach our goals. Also look for work to begin on the Post Office Parklet and other Murray “corner” beautification efforts. In the fall the next phase is to consult with the merchants about planting trees from Phillips to Forbes in the spring of 2014. 9

As you walk the neighborhood this summer, you will see changes, including streetlights all Remembered Garden after weeding and planting.

PAGE24 The Home & Garden Issue

Plans for the new Post Office Parklet have been approved! Construction to begin soon.

Proposed design for the Post Office Parklet.

Courtesy Pashek Associates.

Thank you to the supporters of the Squirrel Hill Gateway Project

Prep work to install streetlights on Murray A ve.

Come see the beautiful final results for yourself!

Squirrel Hill Gateway Project Help SHUC purchase large planters and specialty shrubs not covered by current funding by donating to the Gateway Project Fund! Donations will be matched by a generous grant provided by the Seeders & Weeders Garden Club for our Murray Avenue beautification and greening efforts.

Please make out your check to: Squirrel Hill Gateway Project And send to: Peter Stumpp, Treasurer The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition 5604 Solway Street Pittsburgh, PA 15217 The Home & Garden Issue PAGE25

squirrel hill spotlight Go Climb a Tree

By Lisa A. Osachy, Psy.D.

D

uring the last few weeks of school when I picked my daughter up at the bus stop, Sarah and her friend would either be sitting up in a tree with long legs dangling over the branches, or whooping and rolling down the grassy hill. Our little white dog, Tiki, would flip over on her back and wriggle delightedly in the grass.

Watching the children and dog revel in their freedom usually led me to join in, not quite rolling down the hill, but at least sitting barefoot in the grass for a few moments. On those days, I noticed I felt more relaxed just from that short break outside after being inside all day.

Research shows that being in nature is critical not just for our children’s emotional and physical development, but as an essential part of all of our well-being and positive mental health. Children and dogs know this intuitively. Think about the most enjoyable days of your childhood. Chances are they are memories of outdoor experiences — summer days playing outside with other kids, building forts or tree houses, running through sprinklers, or playing freeze tag and capture the flag.

One of my favorite things to do as a child was to collect caterpillars and lightning bugs, observing them and safely returning them to the wild of my backyard.

When we play outside, our senses engage, our creativity and imagination spark, and our bodies move freely. As a psychologist doing a guided imagery relaxation with clients, I ask people to recall a place where they feel relaxed and safe. People usually choose a beach or spot in the woods.

During the exercise, I invite my clients to feel the sun and wind on their faces, listen to the buzz of insects and songs of birds, smell the fragrant blossoms and visualize the bright blue sky and glorious colors of the trees. Evoking the sounds and sights of nature in our minds brings a relaxation response in our bodies. Being surrounded by nature when we are outside calms our worries, lifts our spirits, and brings a feeling of peace and contentment to our hearts.

For great family nature activities and to learn more about the benefits of the outdoors, check out Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. 9

Lisa A. Osachy Psy.D. can be reached at 412-848-1923 or at laot22@yahoo.com.

PAGE26 The Home & Garden Issue

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A distinctive condominium collection.

Mt Washington I $895,000 elevated luxury 1trimontunit1140c1140.howardhanna.com Marie L. Vaughn (412) 833-3600

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Mt Washington I $849,000 two stories of design & style 6neffstreeta.howardhanna.com Brian Sergi-Curfman (412) 421-9120

Fox Chapel I Chapel Pointe modern living & classic style 100vistacircle507.howardhanna.com Lori Hummel (412) 687-6000

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Visit us today at one of our three great locations!

Squirrel Hill

Shadyside

Oakland

5885 Forbes Ave. (412) 521-8100

5825 Ellsworth Ave. (412) 362-6666

420 South Craig St. (412) 681-1101

squirrel hill litter patrol Litter Patrolʼs Spring Clean Up

By Barbara Grover

Ban the Bottle winner Hailey Shevitz with her teacher Ms. Erin Roth at Community Day.

On April 21, 2013, a wonderful Sunday afternoon, 60 volunteers picked up about 100 bags of trash and 40 blue bags of recyclables in the business and residential areas of Squirrel Hill.

THANK YOU ALL! You made our neighborhood not only more aesthetically attractive, but saved a lot of debris from entering our streams and sewer systems and creating health hazards.

The Squirrel Hill Litter Patrol, under the auspices of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, provided bags, gloves, safety vests, brooms, and grabbers to help the volunteers. Food and drinks were also provided to give everyone the energy to ‘carry on’!

A dedicated group of volunteers manned the registration table, gave out supplies, identified assignments, took photographs, and drove volunteers to distant locations. These volunteers along with students from Taylor Allderdice and Community Day School, Americorps members, and residents joined together for a successful event. Winners of the Ban the Bottle competition from Minadeo and Community Day were recognized at a special

ceremony.

Murray the Squirrel put in an appearance to the delight of old and young alike.

A BIG THANK YOU also goes to our sponsors: First Commonwealth Bank for providing water; Giant Eagle for the blue recyclable bags; Starbucks, for coffee; and the JAA Center for Rehabilitation for providing a van to transport people and pick up recyclable bags throughout the afternoon. 9

For more stories and photos from the event and to find out how you can join the attack on litter, please visit www.shuc.org/litter-patrol.html

Ban the Bottle winner Dantae McKenith with his teacher Ms. Sabina Berger at Minadeo.

The Home & Garden Issue PAGE29

events & happenings

Calendar The Squirrel Hill Sidewalk Sale Is July 18-20!

Join with local businesses in a weekend of festivities!

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 p.m.

On July 17, join us at Gullifty’s, 1922 Murray Ave, at a special time, 7 pm. We’ll be discussing Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.

On August 21, we’re back at the library and our regular time to discuss the graphic novel Tales from Outer Suburbia

by Shaun Tan. Monday, July 29 at 6:30 pm Gardening Thyme: Preserving Food - The Basics of Canning, Drying, and Freezing Correctly preserving herbs, fruits, and vegetables for later use is an exceptional way to save money and to serve delicious and healthy foods from the garden or farmer’s market all year long. Preserving is easy, fun, and satisfying.

Come to this class and learn the basics of canning, drying, and freezing. Recipes are included and instructive handouts will be provided. Registration is required. Please contact the library at 412-422-9650 or squirrelhillprograms@carnegielibrary.org to register.

Presented by Susan Marquesan, Penn State Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver.

For Kids & Families...

Summer Reading Club began June 10 and runs through August 11. Your child can join the club any time between now and then. Come into the library or go to www.carnegielibrary.org/summer to sign up!

Our Read-to-Me program is for babies and children up to age 5. Enjoy the experience of sharing books with your babies or children, while providing them with the six early literacy skills that research suggests all children need to know to become strong readers.

Our Readers program is for children in kindergarten through grade five. Research suggests that students who read at least six books over the summer maintain their reading skills, while reading more than six books leads to gains in reading skills.

Our Weekly Storytimes: Pre-K Storytime (3-5 years) Mondays at 1 pm Family Storytime (all ages welcome) Saturdays at 11 am Terrific Tales for Toddlers (18 mo. –3 yrs.) Tuesdays at 10:30 am and 11:30 am Baby & Me (birth – 18 mo.) Thursdays at 10:30 am and repeats at 11:30 am School-age Craft Club (5-12 yrs. old), Wednesdays at 4 pm Featuring projects like pet rocks, beaded keychains, sharpie tie dye, origami, a magic show and even a dog safety program!

Friday, September 6 at 2:30 pm Gardening Thyme: Four-Season Garden Urban Gardener Pittsburgh will share tips for making your garden beautiful all year round.

Please register by calling 412-422-9650 or email sqhillchildrens@carnegielibrary.org

Saturday, September 7, 10:30 am – 12 pm I WANT TO WRITE! (a free seminar) Whether you’re starting out or are already a seasoned writer, come and learn secrets and techniques of writing to sell (or just for yourself and loved ones) from a team of local, published and produced writers. I Want to Write! will feature tips from award-winning writer Michele Poydence with short dramatic readings from her humorous and inspirational novel I Want a New Life. Post Gazette essayist and professional counselor Eileen Colianni will discuss nonfiction writing and how writing can help heal and direct you, and other writers will discuss a variety of other writing forms.

5738 Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill For more information, please call (412) 521-8010 or visit JCCPGH.org

PAGE30 The Home & Garden Issue

Jewish Community Center

A Stitch in Jewish Time: Provocative Textiles Fine Perlow Weis Gallery and Berger Gallery Now through July 28 A Stitch in Jewish Time: Provocative Textiles is a group exhibition organized by the Hebrew Union College Museum that explores work by contemporary artists from the United States and abroad who employ textiles to explore conceptual, social, religious, historical or identity issues. Challenging the long history of Jewish textiles and their utilitarian uses as Torah covers, prayer shawls, rugs, challah and matzah covers, the artists here use textiles primarily as an expressive medium.

Continued on back cover

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events & happenings cont.

Support Groups Free and open to the community Manic Motherhood Thursdays, 11 am July 25, August 15 Meet at Dunkin’ Donuts, Forbes Ave @ Shady Ave Manic Toddlerhood Thursdays, 10:30 am July 11, August 1, August 29 Meet in Family Place Manic Preschool Years Thursdays, 11 am July 18, August 8 Meet at Dunkin’ Donuts, Forbes Ave @ Shady Ave

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. August: No Meeting — have a great summer month!

Tuesday, July 9: “History of Duquesne University” Speaker: Tom White, University Archivist Duquesne University was founded in 1878 by a group of Catholic missionaries also known as the Spiritans. From humble beginnings as a school for the children of Pittsburgh’s poor immigrants, Duquesne today is an educational and economic powerhouse comprising ten schools of study that serve more than 10,000 students.

Tuesday, September 10: “Remembering Walter Forward” (of Forward Avenue and Forward Townships in Washington and Butler Counties) Speaker: Dr. Miles S. Richards, Historian Walter Forward was born in East Granby, Connecticut, he attended the common schools. After moving with his father to Aurora, Ohio, he settled in Pittsburgh in 1803. There he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1806. He practiced in Pittsburgh and also served for several years as editor of the Tree of Liberty. He also served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. In 1822, he was elected to the 17th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Henry Baldwin, and was reelected to the 18th Congress.

He died in Pittsburgh and is interred in Allegheny Cemetery.

Bach, Beethoven and Brunch Mellon Park – at Fifth and Shady Avenues Sundays through August 11, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Sponsored by Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, Bagel Factory, WQED-FM 89.3 and the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. For more information, call 412-255-2493.

Summer Events at Schenley Plaza in Oakland www.pittsburghparks.org/schenleyplaza Oakland Farmers’ Market Fridays 3-6 pm, now through October (closed on July 5) http://oaklandfarmersmarket.org Free Carousel Rides Second Sunday of the month from noon to 2 pm Free Tai Chi and Yoga Through September, Folding Space Yoga will lead yoga classes on Saturdays from 10-11 am and Mondays from 12-1 pm (closed Labor Day). On Sundays from 10-11 am, tai chi with the Tao Applied will be offered. There is no cost for participation.

Lunchtime Music Every Tuesday from 12-1:30 pm beginning July 9. Live lunchtime music is gearing up for the 2013 season at Schenley Plaza. This year, music will be provided by BOB FM 96.9 and Q 92.9 FM. WYEP Final Fridays Final Friday of the month in July, August and September from 7-9pm. Enjoy free concerts under the tent at Schenley Plaza with WYEP Final Fridays!

Squirrel Hillbillies Fridays from 12-1 pm on July 12, August 23 and September 13. Schenley Plaza will be filled with acoustic folk, country, and blues this summer with performances by the Squirrel Hillbillies. Meet under the tent for a free lunchtime concert. www.squirrelhillbillies.com

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