The Northside Chronicle, Pittsburgh - December 2022

The Northside Chronicle

The Community Newspaper of Pittsburgh’s Historic Northside

Northside benefits from RACP funds

to renovate the Allegheny YMCA is set to receive $2 million from Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assis tance Capital Program (RACP).

Multiple Northside renovation and construction projects are receiving a big boost in funding, thanks to Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Pro gram (RACP).

From the Northside to Mars: Science Center unveils new exhibit

By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor

The Carnegie Science Center’s new est exhibit, Mars: The Next Giant Leap, may deal with a planet millions of miles away, but one of the central aspects of the exhibit was shaped right here in the Northside.

During a press event on Nov. 17 showing off the new exhibit, Carnegie Science Center Director Jason Brown said the museum began planning the ex hibit by reaching out to local business leaders, students and the Center’s own “Northside neighbors.”

“So this guidance from students and from others drove our plans to de velop what you’re about to see, this

7,400-square-foot exhibit experience,” Brown said. “It helped us realize that what makes space exploration relevant to our community here is ultimately the same set of issues that will enable us to thrive right here in Pittsburgh.”

Marcus Harshaw, Senior Director of Museum Experiences, elaborated more on how the Northside helped shape the exhibit in an interview with The Chron icle.

Harshaw said the Science Center as sembled a focus group of Northside resi dents while planning for the exhibit was still in its early stages.

“What we were most surprised about is our Northside group really wanted to know ‘Why Mars?’” Harshaw said.

“That one question is the bigger ker nel that really bloomed into what you see here today,” he said later.

Members of the Northside group asked why spend money and energy go ing to Mars when there were issues right here on Earth still to be solved. The fo cus group discussed problems like food insecurity, poverty and man-made cli mate change.

In addition to the Northside focus group, there was also a focus group of Pittsburgh students. This younger group, Harshaw explained, raised con cerns about the socio-economic issues of sending people to Mars, such as how to

In the latest round of grant funding from the program, which was announced in the fall, a total of nine Northside-cen tric projects were identified as receiving funding. The amounts given ranged from $500,000 to $10 million, according to a spreadsheet released by the state.

The RACP is administered by the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget, and is used for the “acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, rec reational, and historical improvement proj ects,” according to the Office of the Budget website.

For the Allegheny YMCA, located at 600 W. North Ave., the money is an “ab solutely critical” piece of a wider fundrais ing campaign, according to Carolyn Grady, chief development officer for the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.

The Allegheny YMCA is set to receive $2 million out of a requested $5 million for a major renovation of the 97-year-old building. Grady said the YMCA anticipates

Attendees to the Carnegie Science Center’s new exhibit, titled Mars: The Next Giant Leap, use joysticks to control Mars rovers. The exhibit was unveiled at a press event on Nov. 17, and opened to the public on Nov. 19. A focus group made up of Northsiders helped inform the design of the exhibit.

Photo by Sean P. Ray

By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor

Contributed photo

A project

THE NORTHSIDE CHRONICLE

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Cheryl Casciola, Contributing Editor.

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Community Meetings

After Care/Prison Ministry Support

Mondays, 6-7 p.m.

Allegheny Center Alliance Church 801 Union Place, first floor 412.321.4333 ext. 397

Allegheny City Central Association 2nd Monday, monthly Call for more details - 412.465.0192

Allegheny West Civic Council 2nd Tuesday, monthly, 7:30 p.m. Calvary United Methodist Church Now via Zoom | 412.323.8884

Brighton Heights Citizens Federation 2nd Thursday, bi-monthly, 7 p.m. John Morrow Elementary School 412.690.0918

Brightwood Civic Group 1st Tuesday, monthly, 6 p.m. Pressley Ridge, 2611 Stayton St. 412.732.8152

Brightwood Community Emergency Response Shelter 3rd Thursday, monthly, 6 p.m. 3219 Central Ave.

California-Kirkbride Blockwatch 3rd Thursday, monthly, 7 p.m. 1601 Brighton Rd., 3rd floor

California-Kirkbride Neighbors 2nd Thursday, monthly, 7 p.m. 1601 Brighton Rd., 3rd floor Now via Zoom 412.758.3898

Charles Street Area Council 1st Monday, monthly, call for times Pittsburgh Project, 2801 N. Charles St. Now via Zoom 412.886.6786

Community Alliance of Spring Garden/ East Deutschtown 2nd Tuesday, monthly, 6:30 p.m. Fuhrer Building of St. Michael’s Church 412.228.0376

Deutschtown New Hope Council 3rd Thursday, monthly, 6:30 p.m. Community Center, 623 Suismon St.

East Allegheny Community Council 2nd Tuesday, monthly, 7 p.m. Call for more details 412.321.1204

Fineview & Perry Hilltop Citizens Councils 4th Tuesday, monthly, 6-8 p.m. Contact for location info@ourfuturehilltop.org 412-238-7528

Mexican War Streets Society 3rd Monday, bi-monthly, 6:30 p.m. 1400 Buena Vista St. 412.323.9030

Manchester Citizens Corporation

Quarterly meetings, call for times MCC Center, 1319 Allegheny Ave. 412.323.1743

Manchester Public Safety Meeting

Quarterly meetings, call for times Northside Leadership Conference 412.323.1743

Northside Rotary Club Every Friday, noon Cardello Building, 2nd Floor

NS Coalition for Fair Housing Board 2nd Monday, monthly, 6 p.m. 1821 Brighton Rd. 412.321.5527

NS Coalition for Fair Housing Members Monthly, call for times 1821 Brighton Rd. 412.321.5521

Northside Leadership Conference

1st Wednesday, monthly, 6 p.m. MCC Center, 1319 Allegheny Ave. Now via Zoom Call to confirm - 412.231.4714

North Side Lions Club

2nd and 4th Tuesday, monthly, noon Max’s Allegheny Tavern 412-366-8512

North Side Public Safety Council

1st Thursday, monthly, 5:30 p.m. Propel Health Center In person & via Zoom zone1psc@gmail.com

Northside Toastmasters

2nd & 4th Tuesday, monthly, 5:30 p.m. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Allegheny 1230 Federal St. northsidetoast@gmail.com 412.204.6018

Observatory Hill, Inc. 3rd Wednesday, monthly, 7 p.m. Byzantine Seminary, 3605 Perrysville Ave. 412.736.2489 http://www.observatoryhill.net

The Promise Group

Every other Tuesday, 6 p.m. Western Pa. Humane Society 412.321.1019

Troy Hill Citizens June 10, Aug. 12, Oct. 14, Dec. 9., 6 p.m. Most Holy Name School Hall 1515 Tinsbury St. 412.321.2852

Spring Hill Civic League March 7, May 2, Sept. 12, Oct. 3, & Nov. 7 7 p.m, Location TBD (either Spring Hill Elementary School or via Zoom) contact@shcl.org

Summer Hill Citizens Committee

3rd Tuesday, monthly, 6:30 p.m. WPXI Television Station Community Room

If this is a gift, please write the name of the recipient’s information on the form and in clude your phone number with your check or money order. Mail the form with your $45 payment to The Northside Chronicle at 3925 Perrysville Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15214.

Neighborhood Community Development Fund luncheon returns

By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Neighborhood Commu nity Development Fund was able to hold its annual community and business luncheon.

The gathering was held at Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall at The Priory on Nov. 18, and fea tured representatives from various businesses and organizations around the Northside.

The fact it had been so long since the last luncheon did not got unremarked upon.

“It sure doesn’t seem like it’s been three years ago since we last gathered at this event,” said Mark Masterson, executive director of the Neighborhood Community Development Fund, during his speech. “That was a few months before many of us had heard the term COVID-19.”

Masterson said once the COVID-19 shut downs came, the fund reached out to all of their current and former loan customers to see if they needed help. The fund suspended all of its loan payments at the time and rushed out “a dozen” emergency loans in less than 45 days, according to Masterson.

“Prior to that, we had never closed more than two loans in any month ever,” he said.

During the pandemic, Masterson said the fund was able to help more than 2,500 local businesses apply for grants to make it through the financial troubles caused by the shutdowns, with 679 of those businesses getting grants to taling $11 million. Of that amount, 58 percent went to minority-owned businesses.

The fund also did Paycheck Protec

tion Program (PPP) loans and emergency bridge loans.

Masterson said in total, the fund ended up with more than 5,000 small businesses in need of help, most of which were not on the Northside. That, he said, was the reason the fund has begun to expand its area of operations to all of Allegheny County.

A surprise during the luncheon came when two members of the United States Small Business Association, District Director Dr. Kelly Hunt and Deputy District Director An gel Marschik, showed up to present Masterson with a certificate of appreciation for his com mitment to the small business community and work to provide access to capital during the pandemic.

The keynote speaker for the luncheon was Lieutenant Governor-Elect of Pennsylvania Austin Davis, who noted that this was his first event since picking up that title during the fall elections.

In his speech, Davis touched on the im portance of supporting underserved communi ties, and creating an economy that was fair and equal for all.

“I’ve seen firsthand what happens to com munities that struggle due to economic dev astation and the lack of economic empower ment,” Davis said. “That is why the work you do is so important not just for the future of the Northside, but for the future of the region and the future of our great commonwealth.”

Davis said in such matters, it is not a “ze ro-sum game,” and one group of people does not have to do worse for another to do better.

In particular, he pushed for community lead ers to tear down economic barriers for Black Pennsylvanians.

“Right now, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 13 percent of our statewide unemployment is Black Pennsylvanians,” he said. “While overall we have a 5.7 percent unemployment rate. Seven-point-six percent

fewer jobs in the Pittsburgh region than before the pandemic, with Black and female workers suffering disproportionately the share of those job losses.”

In closing, Davis gave a call for action for those in attendance to work with him and Gov ernor-elect Josh Shapiro to help build a better Pennsylvania. n

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U.S. Small Business Association District Director Dr. Kelly Hunt, second from left, gives a certificate of appreciation to Neighborhood Community Development Fund Executive Director Mark Masterson during the fund’s annual luncheon on Nov. 18. Flanking the pair are the fund’s Resource Development Officer Andrew Cheeseboro, left, and Small business Association Deputy District Director Angel Marschik.

Photo by Sean P. Ray

Mars exhibit examines social, economic issues of space exploration

From Mars, Page 1

form a new society on the planet or the difference between private space travel, such as those undertaken by companies like SpaceX, versus ones done by gov ernment agencies like NASA.

These perspectives helped shape and transform Mars: The Next Giant Leap. Rather than just giving science facts, Harshaw said the exhibit attempts to an swer why going to Mars is important and how space travel to the red planet can af fect things here back on Earth.

For example, the exhibit discusses the Martian climate, and how observing it might just teach humanity about the Earth’s climate changes.

The exhibit also looks at popular cul ture’s view of Mars, with references to science-fiction works from “War of the Worlds” to “Star Trek.” The entrance to the space also has a clock which keeps track of how many Earth days and Mar tian Sols, the equivalent of a day on Mars, have passed since the exhibit opened.

As a new permanent exhibit, Mars:

The Next Giant leap will be worked into the Science Center’s educational pro gramming. Hannah Powell, STEM Ed ucation Coordinator at the Center, said summer camps and career-oriented field trips focused around the exhibit are in the works. STEM stands for science, tech nology, engineering and math.

The potential for the exhibit to help promote scientific education for the next generation is a source of great excitement for Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, who gave a speech during the press event.

“I was sharing with somebody when I came in, I wish when I was younger, that this would have been here for me,” Gainey said. “Think how many minds we’re going to educate. Think about how much knowledge we’re going to deposit. Thank you for what we’re going to do for the next generation.”

Mars: The Next Giant Leap opened to the general public on Nov. 18, with a grand opening on Nov. 19. The exhibit is available with general admission to the Carnegie Science Center. n

Photo by Sean P. Ray

One major feature of Mars: The Next Giant Leap is a model of a theoretical Martian colony. Ringed around the model are pieces of text offering various perspectives on colonizing Mars and examinations of what building such a colony could involve.

District 1 News: Councilman Wilson

Councilman gives update on city budgeting process

Hello!

As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to share a few updates from our of fice about budgetary allocations coming to the Northside in the new year.

As I am writing to you now, Council is meeting twice daily to finalize the City of Pitts burgh’s allocations to essential services, per sonnel and departments in next year’s Capital and Operating budgets. I’d like to share some of those proposals here, as well as news of oth er public dollars that shall be flowing into the Northside this winter.

Currently, Council is considering about $6.2 million in proposals for capital projects on the Northside. These include general court up grades at Allegheny Commons Park, construc tion of the Davis Avenue pedestrian bridge to connect Brighton Heights to Riverview Park, renovations to the Brighton Heights Healthy Active Living Center, upgrades to the lights at Fineview Field, intersection improvements at Brighton Road and Jacksonia Street, and a fea sibility study for the design and construction of the Cowley Recreation Center in Troy Hill. I want to highlight that the upgrades to the lights at Fineview Field will be funded by $250,000 generated by the parks tax.

Just before Thanksgiving, the City of Pittsburgh’s STOP the Violence office also announced six Northside awardees of its first round of STOP the Violence grants. This office

attempts to promote, assist, and connect the anti-violence activities sponsored by the City of Pittsburgh with other governmental and pri vate anti-violence activities and with citizens who want to eliminate violence in their neigh borhoods.

City-sponsored activities include Com munity Violence Intervention (CVI), the Pitts burgh Police Community Engagement Unit, and youth and adult diversion programs. On the Northside, the STOP the Violence office awarded over $90,000 in grants to six recipi ents: Mike Dixon’s Basketball Dreamz, Cece lia Ware’s Infinite Lifestyle Solutions, Audie Chapman’s Northside Steelers Youth Athletic Association, Project Destiny, Northside Part nership Project and PROMISE.

Council is currently deliberating, and seeking public input, on a broad array of pub lic safety budget proposals that seek to accom plish three objectives.

First, these proposals want to increase spending on public safety to ensure that we have enough officers available on every shift.

Second, they aim to grow the community violence intervention team so that the City’s public safety personnel can get to and prevent potential criminal activity, especially gun vio lence, before it occurs.

Third, these proposals intend to strength en the City’s Office of Community Health and Human Services so that police officers are only

deployed for violent incidents and, otherwise, trained social workers are available and able to respond to calls for help from our neighbors seeking it.

If you would like to share your thoughts on any of these proposals, or any other part of the 2023 Capital and Operating budgets, I in vite you to offer feedback to myself and my colleagues on Council by calling the Pitts

burgh City Clerk’s Office at (412) 255-2138 and registering for public comment to speak at Council’s Regular and Standing Committees meetings, as well as its Public Hearings.

I am happy to share with all of you that we’ve added a new staffer, Julianne Hluska, representing District 1 as the new Community Relations Manager.

Many of you have likely already met Julianne at your neighborhood’s most recent monthly meetings. With over a decade of experience in the communications field, Juli anne will be instrumental in helping us share resources and updates from the City of Pitts burgh with all the neighborhoods in District 1.

As a native Northsider who previous ly worked in the City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Special Events, she brings a valuable and unique perspective and skillset to our office. If you would like to discuss any concerns you have about City services, please contact her directly at julianne.hluska@pittsburghpa.gov.

If you have any questions or concerns, call us at (412) 255-2135, email us at dis trict1@pittsburghpa.gov, or find us on Face book and Twitter. My staff and I wish all of you a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year, and we look forward to hearing from you in 2023! n

WILSON

BOBBY

COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT 1

Photo courtesy the Office of Councilman Wilson Pittsburgh City Council is seeking public input on its 2023 Capital and Operating budgets.

Democrats win thin majority in PA House

Democrats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appear to have turned 16 seats across Pennsylvania from Republican to Democratic control. With four seats pre viously held by Democrats now slated to be represented by Republicans, Democrats will have taken the net 12 seats necessary to se cure a majority for the first time in more than a decade.

While only a one-seat majority — 102 Democrats to 101 Republicans — the shift in power will likely have a major impact on how legislation moves through the General As sembly. Democratic-led bills to create better jobs, better schools and better communities in Allegheny County and throughout the Com monwealth now stand a much greater chance of passing through the House in the 2023-24 legislative session.

In the 2021-2022 Session, just three bills sponsored by Democrats were passed through both chambers to become law. That kind of partisan disenfranchisement means that though millions of Pennsylvanians chose to be represented in our General Assembly by Democrats, their voices were utterly silenced when it came to actually affecting policy and laws in our Commonwealth.

The state Senate, however, remains under a Republican majority — 28 Republicans to 22 Democrats — so partisan gridlock within the legislature is likely far from over. The main

thing that will change under a Democratic ma jority in the House is that Democratic-spon sored bills will finally receive the consider ation in committee that they deserve. And with a Democrat in the governor’s mansion, we are in a much better position to negotiate past partisanship to pass bills that will provide

meaningful change for all Pennsylvanians.

The process of a bill becoming law in Pennsylvania involves many steps. It can be a long and quite complicated process but con stituents’ ideas and feedback often have a sig nificant impact on new laws, so it’s very im portant that members of the public understand the process.

Once a bill is introduced, it is then as signed to a committee where members of that committee will vote on whether to advance the bill to the House chamber. But not all bills receive a vote in committee.

After a bill is assigned to a committee, the majority chair of that committee has the sole authority over which bills get brought up for a vote. This is why almost zero Democratic bills moved out of a committee under a Re publican majority in the House.

Under a Democratic majority, the ma jority chairperson of each House committee would be a Democrat. No longer will bills that address common sense topics like safe nurse staffing levels, LGBTQIA+ rights, gun safety, voting rights and more be summarily ignored despite broad support from our Pennsylvania residents. If these bills are voted through com mittee, we will finally be able to get members of the General Assembly on record as support ing or opposing for all Pennsylvanians to see.

One bill that I’m particularly excited to see move under the new majority is my bill

to create a new insurance program for proper ty owners living in landslide-prone areas, of which there are many in Allegheny County. The bill would add coverage of landslides, slope movement and sinkholes to an existing program in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection that currently cov ers only mine subsidence assistance and in surance.

Previous versions of this legislation, in cluding a bill I introduced last year, are prime examples of Democratic bills that have lan guished in committee with no “political will” to help Pennsylvanians with nowhere else to turn. I recently worked with Rep. Valerie Gay dos (R-Allegheny) to update and streamline the proposed program and re-introduced it as a new, bipartisan bill that will help Pennsylva nians avoid financial ruin through freak acts of nature.

Seeing that this bill becomes law will be one of my top priorities in the 2023-24 legisla tive session, and I am looking forward to mak ing it happen under a new Democratic House majority.

My district office recently relocated to Bellevue and the new address is 658 Lincoln Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15202. Stop by and see us, call my office at (412) 321-5523 or email me at RepKinkead@pahouse.net. My team and I are here to help you! n

District 19 News: State Rep. Abney

Multiple local projects receive grant funding

Hello to my Northside neighbors! I’m ea ger to share with all of you some of the import ant work I’ve been doing in Harrisburg and here at home.

Nearly two weeks prior to Election Day, I led a roundtable with my House Democratic colleague Rep. Donna Bullock of Philadelphia, chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, and acting Secretary of the Common wealth Leigh M. Chapman at the Capitol. We wanted to educate people about the rights they have as voters and things to be aware of at the polls once Nov. 8 arrived. I’m proud of all the work I’ve done on behalf of All Voting is Lo cal before I became state representative, and I continue to advocate for voting rights in my current role.

Allegheny County has been awarded a $2 million state grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development. The funds will allow homeowners to make renovations and improvements to their hous es. Leaky roofs and compromised foundations are just two kinds of projects these funds will be able to address, ensuring the safety and well-being of many households.

Speaking of state grants, a combined to tal of nearly $47 million was allocated to lo cal projects throughout the district I represent, made possible by the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

The commonwealth grant program, overseen by the Office of the Budget, assists with regional, cultural, economic, civic and historical projects that improve a communi ty’s economic growth by creating jobs and opportunities.

I’m excited to announce that North Side projects I’ve fought hard to secure addition al funding for have received $20.5 million of these dollars!

Astrobotic, the space robotics firm, re ceived $3 million to fund construction of a four-story facility, adjacent to their current headquarters, to house labs, cleanrooms and offices.

The Carnegie Institute was allocated $1 million to help build the Pop District Live per formance and event venue. An expansion of the Andy Warhol Museum, the space will fea ture a new, live performance and event facili ty, a six-square-block public art initiative and a scalable workforce development program focused on creative economy training for un derserved, regional youth.

A $2 million grant went to the Allegheny YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh to update and renovate pool and fitness facilities, as well as rental units.

Allocated for a project along the river front, $10 million will be utilized towards what will be called the Esplanade. Features of the recreational complex to be constructed include a Ferris wheel, amphitheater, splash

park, ice skating trail and multiple restaurants and retailers.

A $3 million grant was awarded to Horace Mann Village for the redesign and renovation of the Horace Mann School into residential and commercial spaces.

The National Aviary received $500,000 to construct a state-of-the-art veterinary hos pital, equipped with viewing areas for visitors to observe doctors at work, and a learning space to engage with animal ambassadors.

Finally, $1 million was allocated to the Urban Impact Foundation, a multi-faceted community outreach organization, to renovate two buildings at their North Charles Street campus and construct a parking lot.

An additional state grant was made pos sible by the Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund which falls under the Redevel opment Authority of Allegheny County and the state Commonwealth Financing Authori ty. A total of $100,000 went to the North Side Animal Shelter to reconfigure their veterinary clinic layout by relocating and downsizing cer tain areas to increase the number of animals that can be treated and updating the building’s community room.

I also want to give a shoutout of apprecia tion to the North Side Christian Health Center for allowing me to deliver keynote remarks at its annual fundraiser weeks ago. They pro vide critical health care services for uninsured individuals and those who are only partly in sured. Thank you for extending your valuable resources to everyone in need of care!

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, a happy holiday season and look forward to see ing and talking with you in the new year! n

Photo courtesy of the Office of Rep. Abney Rep. Abney dives into various grants which have been awarded to projects in Allegheny County.

Urban Impact Foundation receives $1M in funds

From

spending between $15 to $16 million for the entire project, but the RACP funding was needed to attract new market tax credit investors, who will likely fund the majority of the project.

Grady said the YMCA needed to show “significant support” for the project before they would be able to attract such investors, and it’s important for the organization to amass as much funding as possible before going public for investors or other fundraising.

Despite falling $3 million short of their maximum re quest, Grady said the YMCA is very happy with the amount they received.

“I would never say no to more, but we were very pleased with the outcome,” she said. “We knew it was a very competitive process.”

The YMCA’s total project will see a “top to bottom renovation” of the building, Grady said. Changes will in clude making the building more accessible to people with disabilities and renovations to allow the YMCA to offer childcare at the building at some future point.

“The Northside has changed a lot and this is a wonder ful opportunity for the Y to continue to be relevant,” Grady said.

One major area of renovation will be to the building’s third, fourth and fifth floors, which consist of 105 single room occupancy (SRO) rooms. The current SRO rooms lack HVAC systems and have communal bathrooms, in cluding shared showering spaces. Grady said the YMCA hopes to install proper heating systems and private re strooms for its residents.

“It’s important we continue to maintain as many of the rooms as possible because this is a significant number of the city’s SRO population,” she said.

Current residents at the facility will be able to continue living there during renovations. Work will occur one floor at a time, so the residents will simply move floors to avoid being in the way of construction.

The YMCA hopes to have funding finalized for the project by November of 2023, with construction to start around March of 2024.

The Urban Impact Foundation is set to receive $1 mil lion of RACP funding out of a requested $2 million for the renovation of the group’s North Charles Street Campus. Urban Impact purchased two buildings from The Pittsburgh Project in May, and plans to renovate them into a central ized space for the foundation to work out of, according to Director of Development Peter Ward.

“We were spread out across four different locations since before the pandemic, and so securing this location and renovations that we will be doing will give us a perma nent home,” Ward said.

Urban Impact is a faith-based organization which runs programs mainly focusing on Northside youth. The foun dation has around 1,500 students enrolled in its programs yearly, Ward said, and its programs are centered around the fields of athletics, performing arts, education and work force development.

Ward said Urban Impact was not even aware of RACP as a concept until July of this year, and the group is “de lighted” to receive the support that it did, even if it wasn’t the full $2 million. The renovations as a whole are expected to cost more than $2 million, and the group is pursuing oth er avenues of funding.

Urban Impact hopes to have their renovations complete by the end of 2024. Although the buildings were purchased from The Pittsburgh Project, that group is still operating at the campus and Ward said the renovations will benefit both organizations.

Another Northside entity to receive RACP funding as part of a wider fundraising campaign is the National Aviary, which is the beneficiary of $500,000 of funding from the program out of $5 million requested to help fund a new veterinary hospital, as well as new habitats and program ming space.

Laurie Nicholl, director of philanthropy at the National Aviary, told The Chronicle in an email that the project is “part of a multi-year capital improvement plan” of which the aviary is still in the planning stages.

The new veterinary center the funding will help sup port will include viewing areas, where visitors will be able to watch as animal care experts provide routine care to the aviary’s birds.

“This new veterinary care and advancement center will help the National Aviary maintain and further our high standards of care for the more than 500 animals living here,” Nicholl wrote in an email. “The state-of-the-art de sign and equipment in the new facility will help us contin ue our work to make advancements in avian medicine that helps birds around the world.”

Nicholl said the National Aviary is “grateful” to have received support from the RACP, and will continue to seek further funding sources for the project moving forward.

One of the listed projects is not for a Northside or ganization, but will end up benefiting the neighborhood. Verland — a non-profit agency in Ohio Township, Penn sylvania — is set to receive $500,000 to help fund the con struction of a “Signature Home” in the Northside.

Signature Homes are one-story residences Verland builds which are made from the ground up to accommodate people with disabilities, according to Abigayle Tobia, vice president of philanthropy for Verland. Such accommoda tions could include oversized garages for easier wheelchair

art, exhibits, workshops for youth + teens

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh has grown along with your family, creating MuseumLab as a place where kids 10+ can have cutting-edge experiences in art, tech and making.

MuseumLab is located right next door to the Children’s Museum, in the former Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny.

Learn more at museumlab.org

From Gina Grone - Executive Director, Northside North Shore Chamber of Commerce

The Northside North Shore Chamber serves the business community in and around the Northside and has been do ing so since 1897. We currently have 250 member businesses, and we serve them by promoting, connecting and supporting. Here are some of our recent activities and updates.

Members

Renewed Members: The following six companies or organizations renewed their membership in the past month: Alleghe ny City Brewing, Faros Properties, Light of Life Rescue Mission, Mattress Factory and Priory Hospitality

New Members: We were pleased to welcome the following 18 companies or organizations as new members in the past month: Affordable Elegance Catering, AmSpirit Business Connections, Carne gie Library of Pittsburgh, DittoHQ, DX Performance, Enspra, Fedora Intertech, Fineview Inn, Good Deed Closings, Ham ma Jack Foods, Haus.Media, Helping Hands Home Health, Hyatt Place Pitts burgh-North Shore, Joey Studios, North Shore Kitchen Design Center, Providence Engineering, The Government Center and Union Fitnessings. Grone provided the small business and community perspec tive, discussing the chamber’s workforce development program (NorthSideWorks!), planned tourism initiatives and public safety work.

Public Safety Update

The chamber has been heavily rep resenting the business community in

conversations about public safety. We’re collaborating with a wide variety of con tacts and focusing on the drug markets, tent encampments and gun violence. We have had numerous meetings with cham ber members and communicated regularly with the Deutschtown businesses.

Recent activity centered around con versation with Mayor Gainey:

l In September, chamber board members met with Mayor Gainey’s staff, to better understand the city’s plans and activities.

l In October, the chamber joined four Northside community organizations to send a letter to the mayor expressing our thoughts and requesting a meeting.

l In early November, that small er meeting with the mayor occurred. The mayor and several of his staff and public safety personnel attended. We focused on solutions and accountability; it was a fair ly constructive meeting.

l Later in November, there was a public meeting to hear updates on the city’s Plan for Peace and specific informa tion related to the Northside.

In addition to conversations with the mayor’s office, we are also in regular com munication with the Zone 1 police force, the county, and several social service or ganizations. We have been learning about opportunities to address public safety is sues and we have been relaying thoughts and experiences from the business com munity to the appropriate agencies.

The Northside North Shore Chamber prides itself on being approachable and genuine as we promote, connect, and sup port our members. Learn more today at our website northsidechamberofcommerce. com, contacting us at (412) 231-6500 or info@northsidechamberofcommerce. com, or stopping into our office on Middle Street in Deutschtown. n

Other Northside grant recepients detailed

issues. The home will be the third Signature Home built by Verland once completed.

Pittsburgh Born & Bread

Monday-Friday 8am - 4pm Saturday 8am - 2pm Sunday closed for now. 2110 Brighton Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (412)231-7555

Sweet Egg Bread

Our famous Sweet Egg Bread will be available on Friday, December 23rd and Saturday, December 24th

Curbside pick-up. Order online today! www.BreadWorksPgh.com

navigation or the installation of smart tech nology.

“The funding is critical to the project,” Tobia said of the RACP grant. “We find that philanthropic support is necessary for each of the Signature Homes that we build.”

Verland is still working to determine where exactly in the Northside the home will be built. Tobia said the non-profit tries to look for relatively flat areas of land, something she said is a challenge in Pitts burgh.

Once a site is chosen, Tobia said con struction generally takes around six months, but delays could occur due to supply chain

Other Northside projects receiving RACP funds include: $1 million to the Andy Warhol Museum for a live event and pro gramming venue; $3 million to Astrobotic for a new, four-story facility; $729,987 to Brighton Heights Healthy Active Living Center for renovations to the second floor; $10 million for the Esplanade Development by Piatt Companies, for a riverfront recre ational complex; and $3 million for the re design and renovation of the former Horace Mann School into residential and commer cial spaces.

The Chronicle reached out to several of the other organizations receiving funding, but did not receive replies by press time. n

With 24 full-time RNs on staff, Pennsylvania Elks Home Service Program supports and promotes the independence of individuals with developmental disabilities by providing advocacy services in their home environment.

Despite the pandemic, our nurses continued to serve 3,500 Pennsylvania households across every county by making 14,458 visits, both in-person (pre-pandemic) and virtual, throughout 2020. Of those, 377 were in support of families right here in Allegheny County.

The program’s annual operating expenses total $1.4m, half of which is provided entirely by fundraising efforts and donations from local Elks Lodges, with the remainder covered by grants secured by program staff.

Donations to help support this valuable service may be made via https://paelkshomeservice.org/give/ or through Allegheny Elks Lodge. Please join us in keeping this wonderful program thriving for another 50+ years.

The Northside Chronicle’s

Featured Northside Businesses

The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers

502 E Ohio St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412.231.1238

www.thefarmersdaughterflowers.com

Full service floral shop and botanically inspired gift shop filled with curiosities. Come visit us at our new shopfront across the street from our previous location! Pre-order your Christmas Wreath, now shipping!

Commonplace Coffee

1501 Buena Vista St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-932-2433

https://commonplacecoffee.com/mws/ Founded in 2003, Commonplace Coffee operates a roastery and four communi ty-based coffeehouses in Pittsburgh. Com monplace offers handcrafted coffee and pastries in a neighborhood atmosphere. Commonplace provides cafe consultation, wholesale coffee, equipment, service, and training to a diverse cross-section of busi nesses looking to start a coffee program.

Calvary United Methodist Church

971 Beech Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15233 412.231.2007 | CalvaryPGH.com 10th Annual Messiah Sing-Along Concert / TWO PERFORMANCES - Saturday, December 17th and Sunday, December 18th at 4PM / Hallelujah! Bask in Handel’s inspiring Messiah while surrounded by candlelight and Calvary’s magnificent Tif fany stained-glass masterpieces. Join us for Pittsburgh’s holiday tradition - since 2011, this concert has been practically a sell-out!

National Aviary

700 Arch Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Monday-Sunday 10 am – 5 pm 412-258-9445 | www.aviary.org

Celebrate the season while highlighting a Northside favorite’s history with a copy of the National Aviary’s 70th anniversary book of colorful photos and interesting stories. Add on a stocking stuffer ornament. Purchase online at aviary.org or onsite.

Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff

1800 Preble & Columbus Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233 | (412) 322-1830

Friday-Sunday 11am–4 pm facebook.com/jaginchystuff/ Great Gifts For Your Hard-To-Buy-For Hol iday List! Rock & Roll Collectibles, Sports Memorabilia, Vintage Toys, and a whole bunch of Ginchy Stuff!

EYV Restaurant

424 East Ohio Street, Pittsburgh Pa 15212

Instagram: @eyv_restaurant www.eyvrestaurant.com

EYV is a vegetable forward restaurant locat ed in Pittsburgh’s Deutschtown Neighbor hood focusing on making vegetables the center of the plate with meats & seafood playing a supporting role while utilizing the bounty of Western Pennsylvania & East Ohio Farms whenever possible.

Bicycle Heaven

1800 Preble & Columbus Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233 | Monday-Sunday 10am-7pm www.bicycleheaven.org | (412) 734-4034

Worlds Largest Bicycle Museum and Bike Shop! Large selection of antique collectibles

Little Sisters of the Poor

1028 Benton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412.307.1100 www.littlesistersofthepoorpittsburgh.org The Little Sisters of the Poor are selling Christmas Cards (prices: 7 for $10 ($2 shipping), 12 for $15 ($3 shipping) or 30 for $25 ($8 priority shipping)), along with unique Christmas crafts and ceramics made at the Home. Visit www.littlesistersoft hepoorpittsburgh.org or call (412) 307-110 for more information.

Randyland

1501 Arch St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Open every day from Noon until Dusk facebook.com/randylandpgh (412) 734-4034 Visit the all outdoor courtyard museum to witness the power of love and paint or stop by the online gift shop for your own piece of

Upcoming Community

Observatory Hill Annual Holiday Light Up Festival

Perrysville & Mairdale Ave. parking lot Friday, December 2 @ 5-7PM https://www.5pmgroupobh.org/

Troy Hill Holiday Tree Lighting

Troy Hill World War I Memorial Sunday, December 4 @ 5-6PM http://troyhillpittsburgh.com/

Mexican War Street Society Holiday Decorating Contest

Neighborhood-wide. Sunday, December 4 - Sunday, December 11. http://www. mexicanwarstreets.org/

Spring & Tree WBU Waisenhaus Sunday, http://shcl.org/ Allegheny - Train Friday, Saturday, pm Open alleghenywest.org/tour/old-alleghe ny-victorian-christmas-house-tour/ train-museum/

EYV Restaurant

FROM THE ARCHIVE

Photo by Allegheny Studio. Printed in the The Northside Chronicle. Notes from the R: Marcus Ptomey. Students at Schiller School on Islay’s window.”

Local stores to find that perfect holiday gift

By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor

With the onset of December, it’s officially the winter holiday season, with many people now out shopping for Christmas, Hanukkah or other holiday gifts.

the season. The promotion started on Nov. 26.

Lora, however, believes in giving customers a positive experience no matter whether it’s the holiday season or not.

“Like I always say, our goal is to have whoever comes through the door have a nice time,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, that is what we try to do.”

Over at record store The Government Center on East Street, own er Josh Cozby is feeling “cautiously optimistic” heading into the season.

“It’s been a pretty good year overall, but things still feel sort of unpredictable in terms of shopping patterns,” Cozby said.

While the season isn’t “make or break” for The Government Center, Cozby said the holiday shopping season is an important time of year for the store. In particular, he sees an increase in gift certificates and turntables during December when compared to a typical month.

As to what products are most sought after as gifts, Cozby said older records and Christmas records usually see a spike. What he calls “old reliable titles,” such as works by the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Outcast or Notorious B.I.G. see an increase in sales compared to more contemporary albums.

Additionally, the larger value products also receive a jump in attention.

For many local business owners, this part of the year is among the most important for their finances. Even for stores that don’t rely on holiday sales to make their year, December can represent a major boost in business.

Arlan Hess, owner of City Books on Galveston Avenue in Allegh eny West near Allegheny Commons Park, said the sales period from Octo ber through December is “crucial” for book stores due to holiday giving.

“I’m always a little nervous about the holidays, because you never know if people are going to turn out,” Hess said. “People are so used to shopping online.”

When it comes to popular gifts from City Books, Hess said contemporary fiction and works by local writers are always really popular. Hess has an entire section dedicated to that latter category, featuring books like “Mirth” by Northsider Kathleen George, or “Kaufmann’s: The Family That Built Pittsburgh’s Famed Department Store” by two journalists who have written for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Marylynne Pitz and Laura Malt Schneiderman.

Hess recommended the book “Our Missing Hearts” by Celeste Ng, which she described as a “book about books” taking place in a dystopi an society.

In addition to reading material, City Books also offers gift bags which can include other items, such as a miniature candle, soaps or Christ mas ornaments. Hess takes pride in these side items all being locally made.

“They’re all made in Pittsburgh, because I say I like to keep the city in city books,” she said.

At some businesses, the holiday season is not the major jump up in sales as it is at other stores. Cecilia Lora, manager at Refucilo Winery on Western Avenue, said her store sees less business during the holidays because their back terrace is not open due to the weather.

Still, that doesn’t mean the winery can’t get into the spirit of the holidays. This year, Refucilo is offering a “12 Wines of Christmas” promo tion, where they’ll have a certain wine on sale every day they’re open for

“I think when you see people in and looking for gifts, they’re more likely to buy a big ticket item like a box set or turntable speaker set up,” he said.

For Cozby, the best part of the holiday season isn’t the sales, but getting to see a lot of The Government Center’s customer base during a relatively brief amount of time.

We have a big community between the record store, the live shows, and now we’ve added coffee and the bar,” he said.

For anyone having difficulty picking out an exact item as a gift, the following Northside businesses confirmed to The Chronicle that they are offering gift cards and/or certificates: Four Points Brewing Taproom, City Books, Allegheny City Brewing, Oliver Flower Shop, Ida’s Sandwich Shop, Prantl’s Bakery, Flavors Street Food, ShadoBeni, Wagsburgh, The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers, Commonplace Coffee, Monterey Pub, Brooke Rockwell Hair Design, Pittsburgh Acupuncture & Massageworks, The Garden Café and Live Fresh Juicery.

City Books owner Arlan Hess stands by a shelf holding books from local writers in her store. Hess said such books are always a popular item. Photo by Sean P. Ray

Josh Crosby, the proprietor of The Government Center, showcases some vinyl Christmas albums available in the store. Crosby said Christmas albums typically see an uptick in sales during the holiday season. Photo by Sean P. Ray

Y o u a r e i n v i t e d t o d i s c o v e r a m o r e m e a n i n g f u l h o l i d a y s e a s o n b y c e l e b r a t i n g A d v e n t a n d C h r i s t m a s a t C a l v a r y L e t t h e w o r d s o f b e l o v e d c a r o l s a n d s c r i p t u r e s s e t t h e f o u n d a t i o n . S t i r r i n g c h o r a l a n d o r g a n m u s i c w i l l s e t t h e s c e n e T h e p e a c e f u l i l l u m i n a t i o n o f A d v e n t b u i l d s t o a n u n f o r g e t t a b l e C h r i s t m a s E v e S e r v i c e a s b o t h y o u n g a n d o l d r e m e m b e r t h e b i r t h o f J e s u s , o u r S a v i o r

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Northside Business Briefs: November 2022

PGH Candle opens first brick-and-mortar store

PGH Candle, a Pittsburgh-based company specializing in all-natural scented candles, opened its first physi cal storefront in the Northside this No vember.

PGH Candle’s store is located at 839 Phineas St., in East Deutschtown. A grand opening celebration was held on Nov. 26. The candle-makers have offered their candles online and at various stores across Pittsburgh in the past,

such as Pageboy Salon on North Ave nue, or Northside’s own The Farmer’s Daughters Flowers. However, the clos est the business has had to having its own storefront beforehand was a pop-up shop last winter at the Ross Park Mall, according to owner Kayla Hefferman.

Hefferman said the reason PGH Candle sought its own location was to enable the business to offer its full col lection all at one place, and due to the advantages of selling candles in-person versus online.

“Candles are one of those things you can fall in love with in person,” she said. “It’s harder when it’s online.”

Hefferman told The Chronicle that the grand opening went well, and she was “blown away” by the amount of people who came and supported the store.

PGH Candle is open Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. The business can be contacted at (814) 881-5611 or through its website, at pghcandle.com.

National Aviary reveals renovated Wetlands area

itat on Oct. 31.

The renovations included the re placement of the glass panes lining the habitat’s walls and roof — many of which were original to the 1969 con struction, according to the National Aviary — with 20,000-square-feet of bird-friendly glass by Vitro Architec tural Glass.

the Aviary said in a press release.

“As the National Aviary continues our year-long celebration of our 70th anniversary, we are thrilled to welcome our guests back to our second oldest, and our largest, habitat,” said National Aviary Executive Director Cheryl Tra cy in the release. “Every element of this renovation was designed to support the excellent welfare of our birds, while en hancing the immersive experience of our guests.”

Other improvements include a re surfaced walkway, energy-efficient en hancements and the inclusion of new plant and bird species. Some new birds include the Blue-billed Curassow and Scarlet-faced Liocichlas. Longtime spe cies to the habitat have also been re tained, such as the American Flamingos and Brown Pelicans.

New book set in Northside released

Northside resident Lauren Peterson has recently released a children’s book, titled “Lemons in Pittsburgh.”

26.

The National Aviary held a grand opening for its renovated Wetlands hab

In addition, a 20-foot custom sculp tural tree with “immersive elements for guests and birds alike” was installed,

The book, which is Peterson’s first children’s book, takes place on the Northside and follows the story of a

Photo by Sean P. Ray PGH Candle owner Kayla Hefferman, left, stands with her store’s lone employ ee Amma Calabrese during the store’s grand opening on Nov.

Contributed photo by Kristen Migliozzi American Flamingos wade through the waters of the National Aviary’s newly renovated Wetlands habitat. A grand opening for the space was held on Oct. 31 and is now open to the public.

Allegheny West Brighton Heights Brightwood Calbride Central Northside Charles Street East Allegheny Fineview Manchester Northview Heights Observatory Hill Perry Hilltop Spring Garden Spring Hill Summer Hill Troy Hill

Applications also available at www.pittsburghnorthside.com

NORTHSIDE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2023 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Purpose of Scholarship: To recognize and award high school seniors who volunteer their time to improve the Northside community.

Eligibility for Scholarship: ANY Northside resident in the 12th grade, who performs volunteer service in their community and who is attending a college or training program after high school.

Award: $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Candidates will be recruited through neighborhood groups and high schools, both private and public. The individuals must reside on the Northside, but they need not attend a Northside high school.

Awardees: Will be selected by the NSLC Dinner Committee, which is made up of representatives of the neighborhoods and participating sponsors. The number of scholarships will be determined by sponsor commitments.

Criteria for Selection: The student should prepare an essay of 500 words or less, which describe his or her volunteer activities and future educational plans. In reviewing the student essays, the Committee will take into account spelling and grammar and their overall volunteerism. Consequently, students applying for a scholarship should check their spelling and grammar. Students are encouraged to use the spell check on their computer, and/or to have a teacher, parent or friend review their essay. On the application form, the applicant should include their name, address, phone number, school, and neighborhood in which they reside. Your name, gender or reference to race should not appear on your essay. Also, include a copy of your high school academic records.

Letters of Reference: Two letters of reference are required. Your school principal, guidance counselor, or teacher should submit one letter. The second should be a letter from someone who is familiar with your volunteer activities (not a family member).

Applications: All applications must be submitted by Friday, March 31, 2023

Additional Requirements:

Upon selection of an award, you must provide proof of enrollment with a college or technical/vocational school. You or a parent must also attend the Annual Dinner event and receive your scholarship in person.

Mail to: Northside Leadership Conference Scholarship Committee

Attn: Kelly MacKay

120 Parkhurst Street– 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15212

• D o you need help wit h M edicare?

• Are you st r u ggling t o pay for your Par t D prescr ipt ion dr ug s or ot her healt hcare cost s?

• D o you need help u nder st anding your cover age?

T he PA MEDI Progr am can help people wit h M edicare by screening t hem for assist ance progr ams, such as:

• Ex t r a Help Progr am – which helps lower t he cost of Par t D prescr ipt ion dr ug cost s

• M edicare Savings Progr ams – which cover s t he payment of t he M edicare Par t B premiu m

PA MEDI can also help you under st and your Medicare coverage, prevent at ive benef it s, and give you free, accurate, unbiased advice.

The Annual Open Enrollment Period is between 10/15 and 12/7, schedule an appointment with a PA MEDI Counselor.

E ective July 1, 2021, APPRISE is now Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight, PA MEDI –Same Program, Same Service s for Pennsylvania’s Medicare Beneficiaries, now with a New Name. This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001PAMISH-00, from the U.S. A dministration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.

By Nils Hanczar

girl named Emma as she attempts to grow a lemon tree in Pittsburgh while dealing with the area’s hectic weather.

The story takes place entirely on Pittsburgh’s Northside, and features several notable people and places as sociated with the area, such as Allegh eny West Park or the food cart Gus and Yiayia’s. The path they follow is one Peterson herself has walked many times during her six years of living in the Northside.

Illustrations for the story are done by April Hartmann. “Lemons in Pitts burgh” is Peterson’s first children’s book.

The book is available for pur chase at Mayfly Market & Deli, locat ed at 1327 Arch St., or online at lem ons-in-pittsburgh.square.site. n

Contributed photo

The cover and interior art of ‘Lemons in Pittsburgh’ are done by April Hartmann.

Contributed photo

Northside on Nov. 8 at Allegheny City

season for the community.

Northside Real Estate Transfers

Allegheny City Central

Jeff Trebac to Yean Nian Willy Chen and Jessica Lee Bellian at 605 W Jefferson St. for $600,000.

Frank Quinn to Laura and Matthew Quinn at 1216 Monterey St. for $200,000.

Quinn Frank Construction Corp. to Frank and Matthew Quinn at 1529 Saturn Way for $20,000.

Gregory Coll to Doris Short at 946 W. North Ave. for $10,000.

David Kieran to Fiona Margaret Kelman at 1225 Arch St. for $370,000.

Pamela Grove to Carolyn Elisabeth and Lynn Volker Holmgren at 409 Alpine Ave. for $422,000.

Carl Freedman to Doug Lindsay and Linda Steinhardt at 414 Sampsonia Way for $10,000.

Austin Eckenroth to Leonard and Diane McCausland at 1350 Federal St. for $500,000.

Allegheny West

Patrick Wagner to Adrian Skinner and Sarah Cook at 913 Beech Ave. for $777,500.

Brighton Heights

Andrew Emig to Forest Alexander Kennedy at 1106 Cornell St. for $175,000.

Nathan Russell Lavalla to Matthew Jon Yoder at 3633 Fleming Ave. for $425,000.

Bank Of America NA to Kashawn Riley at 3363 Harbison St. for $136,000.

Lawrence Whitaker to Karl Gough at 120 San Pedro Pl for $220,000.

RAAB Inc. to Sean and Claire Daugherty at 1157-1159 Davis Ave. for $255,000.

Robert West to Rebecca Bissonnette at 3640 Harbison Ave. for $335,000.

Carol Bender to Skyline Recovery at 1712 Termon Ave. for $179,000.

Eric Cornell to Mark and Kelsey Crawford, vacant lot 0114-N-00076-0000-00, at Wilksboro St. for $16,285.

Adam Kronebusch to Natthew Arunthamakun and Daisy Wu at 919 Benton Ave. for $376,000.

Jessica Onyshko to Zachary August and August Carlino at 262 Cliffview Road for $320,000.

Gregory Lou to JR PA 2022 Rental 2 LLC at 3419 Fleming Ave. for $112,500.

Zachary Madden to Gabriel Michael Marchetti and Krista Marie Mobley at 3537 Gerber Ave. for $376,000.

Robert Michael Austin to 2:25 Investments LLC at 3326 Brighton Road for $25,000.

Kaila Kuchur to Timothy Finnegan at 4005 Northminister St. for $125,000.

Preston Hunt to Preston and Brittany Lee Hunt at 3328 Rigel St. for $70,000.

Estate of Carlos Ayala to Anthony Nwadike at 1419 Beckham St. for $23,000.

California-Kirkbride

Pittsburgh City to Bruce and Jana Thompson at 926 Morrison St. for $25,600.

Wayne Joyce to Todd Meyer at 811 Jacksonia St. for $300,000.

Charles Street Valley

Amy Pettis to Daniel Pritchett at 2459 Perrysville Ave. for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $41,328).

Mustapha Mustapha to Joseph Root and Alicea Folio at 56 Kenwood Ave. for $115,000.

Brian Borodaty to WAP Properties LLC at 2636 Linwood Ave. for $44,000.

East Deutschtown

Pluto Holdings LLC to Sue Le Tran at Peralta St, vacant lot 0024-J-00435-0000-00, for $20,000.

McIvor Properties LLC to Anthony Braxton at 858 Lovitt Way for $217,000.

Fineview

Christopher Cooper to Katherine Murray Mundell at 154 Henderson St. for $270,000.

Carol Keller to SFR 3040 LLC at 311 Marsonia St. for $83,000.

Fineview Citizens Council Inc. to City Bridges CLT at 17 Lanark St. for $100,000.

Fineview Citizens Council Inc. to City Bridges CLT at 5 Lanark St. for $90,000.

Historic Deutschtown

Estate of Sylvia Marie Goncar to HHF3 LLC at 1106 James St. for $100,000.

Tomayko Properties GP LLC to NSWW2 LLC at 902 James St. for $100,000.

Tanner Ilkin to Steven and Caitlin Janet Werth at 514 Pressley St. for $335,000.

Christian Vagley to Nathaniel Wetzel and Jennifer Paliani at 607 Avery St. for $525,000.

502 East Ohio Street L.P. to Mockingbird Realty LLC at 502 E Ohio St. for $875,000.

Manchester

Melinda Mullen to Glen and Lashawn Burton Faulk at 1619 Manhattan St. for $175,300.

October Real Estate Holdings LLC to Caleb Benjamin and Emily Jane Sawyer at 1105 Liverpool St. for $430,000.

Vanessa Davis to Michael and Melissa Watson at 1330 Liverpool St. for $340,000.

Marshall-Shadeland

Scott Mikulla to Spaceflow LLC at 3102 Frederick St. for $24,000.

3143 Shadeland Ave LLC to Vincent Ian Phloyd Miller at 3143 Shadeland Ave. for $87,000.

RRD Properties LLC to Shawntel Yates at 1220 Woodland Ave. for $158,000.

Jesse Justice to Buy Box LLC at 3108 Shadeland Ave. for $28,000.

Buy Box LLC to Tyche Properties LLC at 3108 Shadeland Ave. for $41,800.

Raymond Conners to Braydon Haun at 1218 Thelma St. for $7,000.

Angel Ojeda Estevez to Logen Fogal at 1047 Woods Run Ave. for $25,042.

Observatory Hill

Riverview United Presbyterian Church Pittsburgh to Pittsburgh Higher Ground Praise Ministry at 3505 Perrysville Ave. for $250,000.

Billie Gailey to Ryan Cavaliere at 3661 Perrysville Ave. for $350,000.

Joseph Martrano to Basel Termanini at 3913 Evergreen Road for $57,500.

Steven Werth to Robert Mersky and Caitlin Rebecca Wertz at 48 Perryview Ave. for $250,000.

Christina Grace Bui to Rae Driscoll at 3973 Evergreen Road for $110,000.

Paul Carter Ira to VB One LLC at 50 Bascom Ave. for $49,600.

Donna Lee Jones to Miller Property Ventures LLC at 3754 East St. for $61,000.

George Siebert III to Dorian Alexander and Arianna Lewis at 400 Milroy St. for $89,900.

Kenneth Layton to T Lyle and Betty Ferdberber at 29 DeFoe St. for $90,120.

Victor Sears to Project Affordable Properties LLC at 104 Dunlap St. for $65,000.

CZ Investments LLC to M&M Realty Solutions LLC at 3109 Perrysville Ave. for $113,000.

Estate of Donald Barie Jr. to Connor Bowen Sites at 18 Perryview Ave. for $190,000.

Perry Hilltop

Estate of Phoebe Buchanan to Wiley Properties LLC at 307 Marshall Ave. for $50,000.

Mustafa Laswad to Wilsons Bar-B-Q LLC at 2615 Perrysville Ave. for $165,000.

Y&Q Management Inc. to Davis AL Rentals at 1965 Federal St. for $35,000.

Spring Hill

Estate of Robert Zarko to Kevin Chung at 7 Solar St. for $50,000.

June Lloyd to Justin Iler and Leah Plemons at 1104 S Side Ave. for $175,000.

Summer Hill

Michael Trombly to Ryan and Alyssa Vanston at 137 Ivory Ave. for $351,600.

Anthony Pitell to WNT Daniels Real Estate LLC, vacant lots 0163-R-00034-0000-0, 0163-R-00043-0000-00 and 0163-R-00065-0000-00, at Maplewood Drive for $80,000.

John Francis Fleming Jr. trustee to Max Milan at 4544 Valley View St. for $200,000.

Troy Hill

Daniel Delcampo to KWW Properties LLC at 1717 Lowrie St. for $725,000.

Jeffrey Bergman to Andrew Treloar Jones and Mikala Frances Reasbeck at 1806 Harpster St. for $370,000. 1535 Lowrie St. LLC to NSWW2 LLC at 1535-1537 Lowrie St. for $615,000.

William Gramc to Ashley Horton at 2106 Lautner St. for $10,000.

Patricia Renwick to John Gillespie and Ralph Jorge Ramon at 1615 Froman St. for $330,000.

Shawn McMahon to Uerd Inc. et al. at 1832 Ley St. for $115,000.

Dexter Group Trust to Go Get It Title Holding Trust at 1957 Straubs Lane for $30,300.

Riverbend Properties LLC to 1080 River Holdings LLC at 1062-1080 River Ave. for $15,000,000.

William Russell to Elizabeth Lauren Lust at 1113 Goettman St. for $343,000.

Estate of Robert Miller to Gregory Lou and Jiangyan Zhang at 2101 Lowrie St. for $100,000.

John Rogler to Tyler and Dana Nichols at 43 Waterfront Drive for $515,000.

Timothy Russell to Tyler Branca and Kayla Heffernan at 1603 Wickline Ln for $287,500.

Ask An Attorney

By Matthew D. Gailey, Gailey Law Group

The holiday season is a time for fam ily and friends to share love and joy. This year takes on added meaning for me, as Emily and I were fortunate enough to wel come our new son Derek, born this Octo ber. Instead of talking about what I did as a child around Christmas growing up on the Northside, like riding a sled down Obser vatory Hill, baking of cookies, playing the clarinet at Christmas Eve service at Riv erview Church and watching the Steelers play poorly, (it smarts that they stink this year too), I will focus on the new family traditions we are making.

One of the new traditions for our family involves cutting down a Christmas tree. My daughter Gabby enjoys every thing about Christmas. While I was cutting down the nine-foot Christmas tree that sits in our living room, my wife was taking pictures for posterity. Unfortunately, I was cutting the tree down while the pictures were being taken and the kids had to scatter away to not get hit by the falling tree. My daughter helpfully told my mother-in-law that she and her brother were almost killed by the Christmas tree.

Gabby is leading the charge on making new Christmas traditions. She insists on watching a Christmas movie every night. She wants to go see Santa Claus at the Elks Christmas party this year. She loves going through cooking magazines with us and pointing to everything that she is going to

make or bake. Every morning she wakes up she sends out an all-points bulletin for the Elf on a Shelf and conducts an intensive search for that diminutive doll. It is infec tious to see her ongoing enthusiasm for the Christmas season and all that it brings.

Derek is too young to appreciate the joy of the Christmas season. None theless, he is dragged to all the Christmas festivities. For instance, the picture you see here was taken shortly before the chil dren had to escape a falling Christmas tree. Life is made up of these moments and they should be savored. I hope you all enjoy your own special moments this year. From my family to yours, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.