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Commons East Park from Dec
We often fantasize about holiday celebrations. We think of gathering our families, seeing loved ones, and expressing love through gifts, good food, and music. Some of us include times of worship, using our faith to become kinder, more generous, and more concerned about those who are less fortunate. We imagine snow-covered roofs, lights throughout the city, and peace and goodwill for all.
And yet, the first Christmas was starkly different. The city was filled with strangers: people who traveled from their homes to register for the census, travelers who did not know each other, and a young pregnant couple that could not find a place to stay. The government was oppressive to its citizens and strange men from the East appeared looking for a different king than the one who currently occupied the throne. There was fear, anxiety, frustration, and uncertainty in the land. The threat of a new king caused the current king to issue a decree for all male children under the age of two to be murdered. Parents were in mourning and the hope of freedom from tyranny was buried alongside their precious babies.
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The first Christmas was much like our world today, signaling that history indeed repeats itself. The true meaning of Christmas, however, is embedded in the truth of the story rather than the idyllic Christmas we keep trying to create. A breakthrough came in the midst of this tense situation: Hope arrived in the cry of a newborn. Peace came to shepherds in a field working the midnight shift. Music came to the city through a chorus of angels. Truth came to comfort those who lost much. Love came to show a brighter future. Power came to show the evil king a
Photo courtesy of Rev. B. De Neice Welch, Ph. D.
In this month’s message of inspiration, Rev. B. De Neice Welch, Ph.D., senior pastor of Bidwell Presbyterian Church, explains how the joy of this holiday season will be different from holiday seasons of the past.
new way to rule had arrived.
It feels like this season will be difficult to celebrate, but we can learn much from the first holiday. Rather than looking at what we do not have and cannot do, let’s focus on those things that offer us hope, joy, love, peace, and power. Let’s turn our attention to the things that can break through our sadness. Hope assures us that how things are right now is not how they will always be. Love is not only to be received but also given away. There are many who would like to receive a gift of love. Peace can be found as we look forward to vaccines that will arrive soon. The new administration will surely be installed soon. Joy can be found as we let go of 2020 and welcome 2021. Power can be experienced as we excitedly make decisions about our future.
The joy of this season will be different. Maybe it’s time for us to work from the truth and appreciate what we have: finding joy that exists in our present and our hope for the future. The gift of this season could be letting our minds see the breakthroughs rather than trying to create a holiday that never measures up to our commercialized creations.
Rev. B. De Neice Welch, Ph.D. is the senior pastor of Bidwell Presbyterian Church. n
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first year on Council. In Troy Hill, the City completed major repairs on the Rialto Street steps and invested $600,000 to replace the Lowrie Street Bridge. My office worked with DPW and the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs to present proposed designs for the Cowley-Goettman Recreation Center in Troy Hill to community members. After completing an extensive $430,000 redesign of the Fineview Park, which included a new walking track, a renovated picnic shelter, and a new playground, the City opened this park to the public this summer. I am sure Spring Garden and Spring Hill residents have noticed the brand new $650,000 City steps at Vista Street, which are almost complete. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is working on a nearly $2 million renovation of the North Promenade at Allegheny Commons. So far, the Promenade between Sandusky and Federal Streets has been replaced and furnished with new benches and historically appropriate lighting, diagonal pathways were widened, and 59 trees were planted along the Promenade. Thanks to a new mid-block crossing, a crosswalk, and curb cuts on both sides of Federal Street, park users can now safely continue on the Promenade while crossing this busy street. At another end of the Commons, the West Ohio Street Bridge is being built right now at a cost of The Northside Public Safety Coun$5.2 million. It should hopefully be open by cil (NSPSC) members would like to fall of 2021, in time to make it easier for wish our fellow Northsiders happy and safe everyone to catch the last ice balls of the holidays. Stay aware and vigilant to avoid year at Gus & Yia Yia’s. As I help build out becoming a victim. the City’s 2021 Capital Budget this month, I “Porch Pirates” look forward to launching quite a few more If you do not have a safe place for infrastructure projects across the Northside packages to be delivered to your home, next year. here are a few tips for alternative deliveries:
Finally, I am proud to announce the al- 1. Have packages delivered to the home location of $60,000 in Public Service grants of a neighbor, family member, or friend. to organizations that provide essential ser- 2. Deliver the package to your workplace. vices across the Northside. Recipients of 3. Have packages held for you at your these grants included Cityview Church, post office. 4. Take advantage of “ship Northside Common Ministries Food Pantry, to store” options. 5. Require a signature to Sarah Heinz House, Northside North Shore leave packages. 6. Set up notifications to Chamber of Commerce, and the wonder- track your packages. ful newspaper in which you’re reading this Phone and email scams column—The Northside Chronicle. I was Do not give any personal information also pleased to allocate $80,000 in Neigh- to anyone you don’t know or are unsure borhood Economic Development grants to of. Do not open your door to anyone you Perry Hilltop & Fineview Citizens Councils do not know or who arrives unannounced: and the Northside Leadership Conference Folks can pose as utility agents, social to fund their staffs’ work on increasing af- service workers, etc. Most are legitimate, fordable housing and development on the but it’s not worth taking a chance that Northside. someone will enter your home. When
If you have any other questions or con- you are out exercising, keep your senses. cerns, call us at 412-255-2135, email us at Be alert and aware of your surroundings district1@pittsburghpa.gov, or find us on at all times when out in public. There has Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. My staff not been a better time during these tough and I wish all of you a joyous holiday sea- and challenging times for us to all look out son and a Happy New Year, and we look for one another: neighbors, seniors, people forward to hearing from you in 2021! n who are homeless, those with disabilities,
Can you lend a hand? Allegheny Elks Lodge #339’s
YELLOW GLOVE
PROJECT
Allegheny Elks Lodge would like YOUR help keeping our Yellow Glove Project going strong and assisting our neighbors via the Northside Community Food Pantry.
The Yellow Glove Project is funded by grants from the Elks National Foundation and is supplemented by community donations. Please help support this valuable program by visiting http://ygp.alleghenyelks.org.
Overview: SNAP/Food Stamps do not cover personal and household cleaning/hygeine products. Allegheny Elks Lodge provides these types of products to clients of the Community Food Pantry, and the volunteer labor to procure and pack them for distribution.
More information, and a way to donate online via PayPal or major credit/debit card, is available at http://ygp.alleghenyelks.org. and people who are less fortunate.
COVID-19
Please stay informed of the latest COVID-19 recommendations and restrictions as information can and does
Photo: Pexels
Northside Public Safety Council President David Stacy warns residents about phone and email scams: Do not give personal information to anyone you do not know, he says.
change daily.
NSPSC meets on the first Thursday of every month at 5:30 pm via Zoom. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. You can reach us at zone1psc@gmail.com or 412-321-0295.
Warm regards,
David Stacy is the president of NSPSC. n
David Stacy
100% of every dollar donated is used solely for the purchase of the items distributed. Help us help the hundreds of Northside families who are in need of these supplies.
Allegheny Elks is a 501(c)8 nonprofit corporation operating under the Lodge system. All charitable donations are tax deductible per Internal Revenue Code 170(c)(4).
Tom Friday’s Market
since 1955 3639 California Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 | tel: 412-766-4500
Updated Hours: Monday - Saturday 8:00AM - 5:00PM | Closed Sunday
Last butcher shoppe in Pittsburgh city limits to carry fresh hanging sides of beef. Call us with your order Wholesale, Retail, & Restaurants Welcome! Daily home delivery • $2.50 for $25 Min Purchase • Delivery Areas Vary • Includes Freezer Meat Special •
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10 lb Ground Beef, #1 FREEZER 3 lb Weiners, 5 lb Chicken Legs, 2 Slices of Ham (center cut), SPECIAL 2 lb Sirloin Steak, 1 Slab Spare Ribs or Meatloaf, $169.00 3 lb Center Cut Chuck Roast, 2 lb Round Steak,
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A history of horse riding in Riverview Park: A guest column by Park Ranger Nancy Schaefer
It’s a fascinating feature of Riverview Park that four miles from downtown Pittsburgh, you may encounter people riding horses. It’s an activity that’s occurred here since the park opened in 1894. While that would have been a common sight 60 years ago, they are only found in two places on the Northside now, thanks to two very dedicated families.
Riverview Valley Stables is located on Grand Avenue, at the southern end of the park, in the Woods Run neighborhood. It was founded by Joseph Walter Himmelstein and wife Caroline, who immigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1875 to start a new life as dairy farmers in Allegheny City.
Himmelstein Dairy served the community for more than 65 years, delivering milk in horse-drawn wagons and employing neighboring families. Four generations of Himmelsteins continued the dairy, supplying desperate families with milk during the milk strike of the fifties. During the Great Depression, the Himmelsteins worked with the City of Pittsburgh and the Works Progress Administration to map and construct more than 30 miles of bridle trails in Riverview Park. Joseph III created Riverview Valley Stable & Riding Academy, providing opportunities for boarding horses, taking riding lessons or renting a horse to ride in the park. For over 40 years, Pittsburghers enjoyed the sights of Riverview Park from horseback.
While that opportunity is no longer available, in 2019, Riverview Valley Stables became home to the Pittsburgh Police Mounted Patrol Unit.
Chiyou (Children & Youth) Corral is located northeast of the park in an area known as the Hollows, a racially diverse neighborhood made of steep ravines. (William) Moses Carper, born in 1931, grew up in the Hollows, where most families had animals, including horses. Moses reported that “we didn’t have
Photos courtesy of Riverview Park Ranger Nancy Schaefer
Top: A group of horsemen from the "Hollows," located northeast of Riverview Park, where Moses Carper grew up. Bottom: A shot from one of the day camps Carper organized from 1982 to 2000 to teach people the joy of horse riding.
enough to eat ourselves, there was no way we could afford horses,” so he cleaned stalls for $1 per day to earn money to ride.
In 1966, Moses created Chiyou Corral, a program dedicated to teaching children responsibility, respect, and love for nature and to believe in themselves through working with horses. Chiyou provided horse programming for 72 day camps across the city. When day camps were eliminated, Moses organized his own camps in Riverview Park, took the horses to city lunch sites and neighborhood festivals and organized a City Round Up program from 1982 to 2000.
Moses became well known for his ability to reach children through the joy of riding and the discipline required to care for an animal. Amazingly, most of Moses’ programs were provided without charge to youth or families, as he was determined to provide opportunities he never had. In 2003, Moses received the Senator John Heinz award in recognition of his work to strengthen and preserve families for over 40 years.
Moses crossed over in 2012 but several horses remain, cared for by his family, in the same meadow where Moses grew up. Thanks to Saturday Light Brigade, you can learn more about his life, directly from Moses, at https://neighborhoodvoices.org/allegheny-voices-2.
Nancy Schaefer is a City of Pittsburgh Park Ranger in the Northside’s Riverview Park. n
Read more Riverview Park news at www.nschronicle.com
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