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Volume 28 No. 1 January 2012

St. Nicholas application of economic hardship denied By Kelsey Shea

Photo courtesy The Children’s Museum Work on the T tunnel that runs under the river continues as its March opening date draws closer and closer. The Stadium Authority and ALCO Parking voted to sponsor free rides.

North Side station finds sponsorship for free rides By Kelsey Shea On December 21, The Stadium Authority voted to sponsor free rides from the North Side T Station, which will open in March of 2012, to Downtown Pittsburgh for the next three years. The Stadium Authority, who owns much of the land the T runs through, and ALCO Parking, a private parking company that own lots on the North Shore, have agreed to pay Pittsburgh Port Authority a lump sum of $160,000 this year to cover the cost for riders departing or arriving at the North Side Station adjacent to PNC Park. The three-year deal will increase

INSIDE

by $5,000 annually, and the Stadium Authority and ALCO will have the option to expand the contract beyond the initial three years. Though ALCO and the Stadium Authority hope that free fares will utilize parking space on the Northside for Downtown workers and visitors, Jeremy Waldrup, CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, predicts it will bring more people, business and foot traffic to the Northside. “A free, frequent and fast transit link will have the effect of essentially extending the borders of

See T Station, page 6

-Holidays on the Northside 4 STORIES, COLUMNS, -Cooking with Cans 7 FEATURES & MORE -Chef Alfredo 9

Last week, the city Historic Review Commission denied St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic parish’s application for economic hardship, which would have allowed for the demolition the old church. The parish, which is now located in an historic church building in Millvale, was denied permission to demolish the old church because it had a buyer with plans for its reuse. The Northside Leadership Conference is interested in purchasing the church and turning it into a Croatian immigrant museum, a project supported by the Preserve Croatian Heritage Foundation and the Croatian Ambassador. NSLC marketing studies show that the museum would see around 25,000 visitors a year. The NSLC’s plan for the site also includes a bike and pedestrian loop trail that will go through Troy Hill and Historic Deutschtown as an extension of the North Shore trail. The marketing study estimates that the trail would attract an additional 25,000 visitors. “If we are able to pull this off, it’s 50,000 visitors to the Northside,” said Mark Fatla, executive director of NSLC. “And the beautiful thing about 50,000

people is that they all have wallets.” Father Dan Whalen, administrator of the St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic parish in Millvale, said he was not shocked by the Historic Review Commission’s decision and is focusing on moving forward, noting that “you have to live with the decisions that were made.” He said that a museum would be an acceptable reuse of the church. “We’re still, and always have been, negotiating with the Northside Leadership Conference,” said Father Whalen, but noted they are “keeping all legal options open” as well. The old church sits along Route 28, where it was once the center of Pittsburgh Croatian community on the Northside. It became an historic landmark at the wish of several parishioners in 2001, but was vacated in 2004, when the church moved to Millvale due to dwindling size of the parish. Initially when Whalen took the position, he said he hoped to make a profit for the parish by selling the old church, but that is no longer the case. “At this point, I’m just trying to stop the financial bleeding,” he said. He estimates that maintaining the church costs the parish about $1,800

See St. Nicholas, page 6

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THE NORTHSIDE CHRONICLE 922 Middle St. • Pittsburgh, PA 15212

January 2012

Community Meetings To have your community meeting included, email editor@thenorthsidechronicle.com Allegheny West Civic Council 2nd Tuesday, monthly, 7:30 p.m. Calvary United Methodist Church 412.323.8884

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

Brighton Heights Citizens Federation 2nd Thursday, bi-monthly, 7 p.m. Morrow Elementary School 412.734.0233

Manchester Public Safety Meeting Quarterly meetings, call for times Northside Leadership Conference 412.323.1743

Managing Editor Kelsey Shea E-mail: editor@thenorthsidechronicle.com

Brightwood Civic Group 3rd Tuesday, bi-monthly, 7 p.m. Pressley Ridge, 2611 Stayton St. 412.732.8152

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

Advertising Manager Kaitlin Balmert E-mail: advertising@thenorthsidechronicle.com

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

www.thenorthsidechronicle.com Phone 412-321-3919 • Fax 412-321-1447 Mail Subscriptions are available at a rate of $30 per year.

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 412.758.3898 Central Northside Neighborhood Council

2012 Advertising rates: SIZE Black & White Color 1/8 page $56 $68 1/4 page $118 $157 1/2 page $229 $295 Full page $452 $585 Back Page $616 Center Spread $965 Discounts of up to 20% off rate card price for multiple-insertion contracts

DISCLAIMER: The viewpoints and opinions of the writers and contributors that appear in The Northside Chronicle do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints, opinions, beliefs or positions of The Northside Chronicle’s publishers, editors, staff and/or affiliates. The Northside Chronicle is not affiliated with any formal political, social, religious, educational or philosophical organization or party of any kind. The materials comprising The Northside Chronicle are provided by various organizations, community groups, advertisers, entities, writers and contributors and are provided as a service to the readers of The Northside Chronicle on an “as-is” basis for informational purposes only. The Northside Chronicle assumes no responsibility for any copyright infringement, errors or omissions in these materials and expressly disclaims any representations or warranties, express or implied, including, without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose regarding the correctness, accuracy, completeness, timeliness and reliability of the information provided. The Northside Chronicle is not responsible for damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance upon such information. Reference herein to any commercial product, process or service does not constitute or imply endorsement or favoring by The Northside Chronicle. © The Northside Chronicle 2012

2nd Monday, monthly, 7 p.m. Allegheny Traditional Academy 412.231.7742

Charles Street Area Council 1st Monday, monthly, call for times Pittsburgh Project, 2801 N. Charles St. 412.321.5567 Community Alliance of Spring Garden/ East Deutschtown 2nd Tuesday, monthly, 6:30 p.m. Fuhrer Building of St. Michael’s Church 412.977.1979 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. Bistro Annex 412.321.1204 Ex-offender Aftercare Support Group Saturdays, 4-5:30 p.m. Allegheny Center Alliance Church 801 Union Place Fineview Citizens Council 3rd Wednesday, monthly, 6:30 p.m. Reformed Presbyterian Home Pennsylvania Ave. 412.231.0330 Mexican War Streets Society 3rd Tuesday, monthly, 7 p.m. AUU Church, Resaca Pl. and North Ave. 412.323.9030

Northside Coalition for Fair Housing Board 2nd Monday, monthly, 6:30 p.m. 1821 Brighton Rd. 412.321.5527 Northside Coalition for Fair Housing Membership Monthly, call for times 1821 Brighton Rd. 412.321.5521 Northside Leadership Conference Call for times 4 Allegheny Center, Suite 601 412.330.2559 North Side Lions Club 2nd and 4th Tuesday, monthly, noon Max’s Allegheny Tavern North Side Public Safety Council 1st Thursday, monthly, 5:30 p.m. Northside Leadership Conference 412.330.2559 Observatory Hill, Inc. 3rd Wednesday, monthly, 7 p.m. Byzantine Seminary, 3605 Perrysville Ave. 412.231.2887 Perry Hilltop Citizens’ Council 4th Monday, monthly, 7:30 p.m. Angel’s Place, 2605 Norwood St. 412.321.4632 The Promise Group Every other Tuesday, 6 p.m. Western Pa. Humane Society 412.321.1019 Troy Hill Citizens Council Sept. 15, Dec. 15 North Catholic High School 412-321-2852 Spring Hill Civic League Sept. 12, Oct. 3 and Nov. 1 Spring Hill Elementary School contact@shcl.org Summer Hill Citizens Committee 3rd Tuesday, monthly, 6:30 p.m. WPXI Television Station community room

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News Briefs MLK angel tree Last month, Martin Luther King school angel tree organizer Julie Peterson worried about the lack of presents underneath the school’s tree for neighborhood kids in need. After two weeks, there were only 80 donated gifts, but volunteers’ pleas for donations for the 480 students at MLK were quickly answered. By this morning, they had nearly quadrupled the amount of gifts they needed. Allegheny General Hospital responded to its neighborhood school’s need by taking 200 angels off the tree and replacing them with toys. Soon after, South Fayette School District donated 1,500 brand new toys to MLK’s tree, creating an excess of donations. “It’s all about letting these kids know they’re appreciated, and we want them to keep coming to school,” said Peterson, who noted that this was an excellent supplement to the school’s first year as a teaching academy. Chamber of Commerce Gala Last week, Northside community members dressed up in their holiday best for The Northside/Northshore Chamber of Commerce Holiday Gala. About 250 people attended the formal event at the Priory Grand Hall on Thursday for dinner, drinks and dancing to the music of Uptown Rhythm and Brass, who performed live. “It’s our signature Northside event,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Robin Rosemary Miller. Many guests also brought unwrapped toys for Urban Impact, who will distribute them to local children in need. Rev. Ed Glover told the audience Urban Impact had an “attitude of gratitude,” for their donations and also promoted a performance Urban Impact hosted on Friday, called Light the Night. A soloist from the program performed as well. The Northside Chamber of Commerce promotes, maintains and provides services to local businesses and business owners in the Northside. “This has been a wonderful year for the NorthSide/NorthShore chamber of commerce,” Miller

wrote in her greetings. “We have had an increase in membership and an increase in attendance to our North Side programs. I am thankful for all of your support throughout the year and am happy for all that you do for the entire community.” Neighborhood leaders take a tunnel tour This month, a handful of representatives from Northside cultural entities saw a different side of the neighborhood – underneath it. Representatives from The Children’s Museum, Saturday Night Light Brigade, The New Hazlett Theater, Venture Outdoors, Carnegie Libraries, The Allegheny Commons Initiative and Riverquest got a unique tour of the station and the underground tunnels that were recently built for the Port Authority’s North Shore Connector, which will open in the spring. The tour was arranged by the public relations and marketing department of the Port Authority during discussions regarding a collaborative project for the new T stations. The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Science Center reached out to the Port Authority with the idea that Northside and North Shore cultural organizations could partner with the Port Authority of Allegheny County to develop, design and install promotional pieces of art at the North Side Station and the Allegheny Station. As a first step, the Port Authority offered the organizations an exclusive tour of the underground tunnels. “The intent is to enrich the station’s appearance as well as promote the range of cultural attractions on the North Side / North Shore,” said Chris Siefert, deputy director of the Children’s Museum. “Optimally, this partnership would include artistic and design oriented enhancements reflective of the high quality, family oriented cultural offerings of the North Side.” Though the project discussions are still in initial phases, the Port Authority is in the process of developing more specific plans for the opening of the station.

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Holidays on the Northside... Last month, the Northside had great music, fun parties and Northsiders coming together to help those in need for the holiday season. Some familiar faces were seen in Brightwood last month when City Council President Darlene Harris stopped by along with Mr. Clause himself ! Woods Run Library hosted an open house that featured a life-sized candy land with about 50 local kids in attendance. The Brightwood Civic Group arranged for the visit from Santa to the Brightwood business district and the Woods Run fire station where Santa greeted the children and heard all their Christmas gift requests. Photo Courtesy Brightwood Civic Group

Above: On Friday, December 9, Urban Impact had its annual holiday concert, Light the Night, at Allegheny Center Alliance Church. The concert included multiple choir performances, this one led by Mathew Mason, and had an audience of almost 1,000 people.

Pittsburgh paramedic and contestant on TLC’s “Next Great Baker” Megan Hart dropped off a holiday cake she made to share with Light of Life’s guests on December 23. The decorated three-tier cake looked like three presents stacked on top of one another. Megan said that she is happy for all that has happened for her this year so she wanted to pay it forward and give to a cause for the less fortunate. In addition to meals and cake, over 1,000 winter coats were available to anyone who stopped by a tent located outside of the North Avenue mission. Men, women and children could also get winter hats, gloves and blankets that were available.

Photo courtesy Urban Impact volunteers

Photo courtesy Light of Life

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Business owners and community members got dressed in their very best for the Chamber of Commerceâ€™s holiday gala at the Priory Hotel on December 1. Photo courtesy North Side/North Shore Chamber of Commerce Historic Deutschtown shook up their holiday party at Bistro Soul with schnapps sampling. Photo courtesy East Allegheny Community Council

Light of Life Rescue Mission served over 1,000 turkey dinners during its Thanksgiving Day festivities to homeless and those who could not afford a meal. More than 100 volunteers, including Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, served the meals at the Northside Mission from noon to 6 p.m. Volunteers also assisted in a coat giveaway and delivered turkey dinners to over a dozen area senior care facilities. Photo courtesy Light of Life

Rivers Casino donated 70 hams for New Years celebrations that were picked up by volunteers from the Spring Garden Community Food Pantry. Photo by Kelsey Shea

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Historic church along Route 28 will remain standing From St. Nicholas, page 1

Photo by Blaine Zehmisch St. Nicholas’ old church is a daily sight for many communters using Route 28. The Northside Leadership Conferences hopes to transform the vacant building into an immigrant museum.

the church costs the parish about $1,800 a month. Under the current general sales agreement states the two organizations are discussing, the NSLC would purchase the church for $1, contingent on a geotechnical study of the hillside where the church sits. “Part of the problem is that everything has always been contingent on other things,” said Whalen regarding the hillside study. Once a sales agreement is signed, engineers can begin the study, which will be paid for by the Preserve Croatian Heritage Foundation. If the hillside is stable, the NSLC will purchase the property. The NSLC estimates that the study could take 6 to 9 months, and is heavily dependent on weather. “It’s a continuing saga,” Whalen said. “Stay tuned.”

Stadium Authority and ALCO parking sponsor free rides from North Side Station to Downtown From T Station, page 1 Downtown Pittsburgh,” said Waldrup, who noted that the ride from Downtown to the Northside Station is only four minutes which makes it easy for people Downtown to cross the river for lunch breaks, happy hours or special events on the Northside. The free fare will only apply to riders traveling to and from Downtown and the Northside Station, though Waldrup noted that they hope to find a sponsor for free rides to the Allegheny Station by Heinz Field as well. It will cost the standard $2.25 fare to travel from the North Shore to Station Square. Port Authority of Allegheny County’s board will vote to approve the sponsorship at its January meeting. “Free T rides between North Side Station and Downtown will encourage more people to use public transit, provide a convenient link between these two areas and contribute to the continuing development on the North Shore,” said Steve Bland, CEO of Port Authority. The two North Shore stations and the extension of the T are expected to open in March of 2012. The Port Authority expects trains to leave from the stations every 4 minutes at peak hours.

Photo courtesy of The Children’s Museum Members of local arts organization got an exclusive tour of the T tunnel and tracks being built along the North Shore.

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NS food pantry wins grant to Cook with Cans By Kelsey Shea

Northside’s CaliforniaAn average can of corn has Kirkbride around 21 grams of sugar and neighborhood over 600 mg of sodium, making and operates the it more sugary, salty and largest food pantry starchy than its fresh produce in the city of counterpart. Pittsburgh. Northside Common It relies on Ministries’ Food Pantry, which local food drives distributes similar canned and and the Pittsburgh preserved food to 950 clients Food Bank rather monthly, saw this as a problem than government which sparked the idea for its money. In the past innovative Cooking Well with year, like other Cans program that just received food pantries a $25,000 grant from the across the country, Walmart Foundation. NCM has seen Cooking Well with Cans is about a 30 percent an initiative to help clients learn Photo by Kelsey Shea increase of clients to cook healthily using items NCM will built healthy diet plans using canned food commonly found in food pantries. in need. commonly found in the food The grant pantry. preserved food often donated to food hungry. We also want to be sure from Walmart Foundation was part “The low-income community pantries that will be made available we’re helping them eat in a manner of nearly half a million dollars is disproportionately affected by that helps them get healthy and stay for clients. Walmart distributed across the state obesity and diabetes --- and clients “The goal of the program was healthy.” to fight hunger. of food pantries even more so,” said to come up with ways to help our NCM plans to bring local Jay Poliziani, director of Northside clients eat healthfully in culturally nurses, nutritionists and dietitians Common Ministries. “We not only respectful ways,” said Poliziani. to create healthy recipes, tips and See Cans, page 17 want to ensure we’re feeding the NCM is located in the cooking videos using canned and

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Habitat for Humanity renovates a home in Observatory Hill

Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity

Habitat’s Observatory Hill house, located on Orleans Street, still needs an owner for Spring 2012. By Kelsey Shea Habitat for Humanity is on the lookout for a Northside family, who needs a home and isn’t afraid of a little hard work. One of Habitat for Humanity’s first projects in the Northside area, a house in Observatory Hill, recently became available, and Habitat is accepting applications. Though the house was planned for a family that was previously selected by the board, their financial status changed, and because Habitat requires their homebuyers to have a steady salary, the house at 3219 Orleans St. is now available. “It’s a good neighborhood,” said Jeremy Martin, community outreach & faith relations coordinator. “This is a good step towards having a presence in the Northside. We’d like to explore opportunities there and help families there.” The estimated sale price of the Observatory Hill home is between $78,000 and $82,000, and an estimated 30-year mortgage, which will be interest free, of between $470 and $493 each month. Habitat for Humanity is

a nonprofit Christian housing ministry that works to eliminate poverty housing in over 100 countries and across the United States. The organization renovates and builds homes and sets up affordable, interest-free mortgages for families in need. Habitat Pittsburgh has built homes for about 70 families since 1986. The 1,254 square foot and three bedroom house will be finished and available to move into by spring of 2012. Interested buyers may submit an application online. If selected by the family selection committee, they will set up interest-free mortgage payments which must be approved by the board. If selected, families are required to put in 350 hours of work on the house that Habitat calls “Sweat Equity.” According to Habitat, the labor gives new owners “learn to maintain their new home and fosters a sense of pride, accomplishment and responsibility to their community.” Applications and qualification requirements are online at pittsburghhabitat.org.

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Chef Alfredo cooks up Cajun buffet for the NS

Chef Alfredo sautées shrimp at Bistro Soul. By Elaine Short It was a Wednesday, but customers continually asked the clerk at Bistro Soul if Chef Alfredo’s $10 New Orleans Buffet was available.

Chef Alfredo Russell has been cooking at Bistro Soul and Bistro To-Go since 2007, but it was not until this past December owner Nikki Hechman decided to spotlight his cuisine with a buffet from 11 to 2 on Thursdays and Fridays.

“Where did Chef Alfredo go? That was good, tell him,” a man said at the counter as he and his dining partner exited the restaurant. “We’ve been getting some good responses from [the buffet],” said Nate Wigfield, a coworker of Chef Alfredo’s, who promised several customers that he would tell Chef Alfredo they had stopped by. The buffet, which features Chef Alfredo’s special-blend cuisine of Caribbean, Cajun and Creole, has even been accompanied a few times by a jazz band performance, said Wigfield. Bistro Soul is a restaurant where customers get a meal and meet the owner, the clerk and the chef. A conversation happens, usually about food and, so, Chef Alfredo’s name seems to come up a lot. He is always respectfully referred to as Chef Alfredo. Originally from Andros, a small island in the Bahamas, Chef Alfredo came to America to cook at the New Orleans Houlihan’s Old Place on Bourbon Street. He came to Pittsburgh on an offer to cook at a restaurant that was never realized. “I was stuck,” he said. But over the years he has spent cooking in Pittsburgh, Chef Alfredo has turned his predicament into an opportunity. He says he has worked so much in Pittsburgh, he is “known all over the city,” and customers come to Bistro Soul for a buffet that features his special-blend style of Caribbean, Cajun and Creole cuisine. After working at several restaurants in the area and operating his own catering service in Homewood, Chef Alfredo built a name for himself that has

culminated into signature dishes and a following. The buffet includes dishes like red beans, gumbo and Chef Alfredo’s famous Chicken Isabel and salmon with fried rice. Chef Alfredo brought his unique cooking perspective to the Northside in 2007 when a friend introduced him to Hechmen, the Bistro’s owner. “She like me, I like her,” he said. Other trials have challenged Chef Alfredo, including a car accident in 2009 that required 17 months of rehabilitation. “I had to learn to walk all over again, but here I am, cooking again.” Chef Alfredo personally serves at the buffet, altering the spice of his cuisine according to the customer’s taste. “A lot of people say Cajun meaning hot,” but, “in the bayou,” the cuisine indicates a richness and variety that developed from an influx of immigrants in New Orleans in the 1700s. His own weightily named spice, “The Gold Dust,” helps him adjust the spice and flavor on the buffet line. Now recovered and with the current spotlight on his cuisine at the New Orleans Buffet, the chef is focused on expansion. He has demonstrated two of his signature dishes at a Shop N’ Save, and hopes to put his products on the market soon, first locally and then nationally. With 54 years of cooking experience, Chef Alfredo is confident and ready for the next climb. “People are looking for something different,” he said of his buffet’s cuisine. “I’m quite positive it’s going to be a hit.”

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Local nonprofit will recruit community leaders to help bring some ‘green’ practices to the Northside By Kelsey Shea A local nonprofit group is looking to bring a handful of representatives from Northside neighborhoods to work towards a common goal – making the Northside a greener place. GTECH Strategies, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit, is recruiting community members from 13 Northside neighborhoods to act green organizers in a leadership development program they hope to kick off in early 2012. “By bringing together folks from different neighborhoods, we hope to spark cross neighborhood conversations and build a stronger, more cohesive Northside,” said Claire Miziolek, education and outreach programs manager of GTECH Strategies. GTECH Strategies works to better neighborhoods with green practices by reclaiming vacant land

Photo courtesy GTECH

GTECH reclaimed this Northside lot and created a sunflower garden.

and creating local green jobs. They also run a program that helps restaurants recycle used cooking oil into fuel. GTECH has reclaimed vacant lots throughout the city, including two unused lots in Perry South and one in Manchester, and turned them into sunflower gardens. Neighborhood leaders will be paid a small stipend to continue these initiatives and are free to create some of their own. They will be expected to hold neighborhood meetings and forums and identify areas of improvement and even host local green job fairs.

See GTECH, page 17

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Northside Community Development Fund receives $250,000 grant

By Kelsey Shea A nonprofit loan fund for many small businesses on the Northside received a $250,000 award grant from the State Small Business Credit Initiative this month. The Northside Community Development fund, a subsidiary of the Northside Leadership Conference, was notified of the award grant by the Pa. Department of Community Economic Development. “We are thrilled to be recognized as a leader in our field,” said Mark Masterson, executive director of the NSCDF. “This is very exciting news. We were able to leverage our resources so that we can provide more financing to small businesses on the Northside of Pittsburgh.” The money comes from the Small Business Jobs Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law in September of 2010. The Act created the State Small Business Credit Initiative, which supports

lending to small businesses and manufacturers. It is expected to spur around $15 billion of lending. More than 29 million dollars in federal funds have been allocated to the state of Pennsylvania to help leverage private lending, $250,000 of which will go to the Northside. The Northside Community Development Fund finances many Northside Staples like Bistro To Go, Rita’s Italian Ice, J Francis Company and Bookminders Inc. “All of these funds will go into low-cost loans to small businesses here on the Northside. The best source of hope in a neighborhood is a decent job,” said Masterson. “By supporting and investing in Northside businesses, we can help entrepreneurs and grow living wage jobs for Northside residents.” Since 2000, the NCDF has financed over 120 Northside businesses and eight real estate projects and created over 700 jobs in the Northside.

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How kids make things

Photo by Kelsey Shea

By Karin Baker This winter, The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, has taken kids’ intuitions of tinkering with Legos and Play-dough and turned it into a new exhibit that explores how things are made. How People Make Things is a new installation at the Children’s Museum. Running through February, the exhibit features hands-on activities to show children how products are manufactured. Hands-on experience allows visitors to create actual products using equipment from the factories. “This exhibit brings children close to the real stuff, the nuts and bolts of how products are manufactured, which is very easy

to feel removed from these days,” says Jane Werner, the executive director of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh’s Mister Rogers, who featured a factory tour segment on his show, inspired the series. The exhibit takes the complex engineering of manufactured items and makes it accessible to children. Visitors have the opportunity to use a vacuum former to make a bowl, assemble parts of a golf cart, and a die cutter to make a box. Locally made products are also featured, with a display of 10,000 Crayola Crayons and an “exploded” bicycle from Cannondale Bicycle Corporation.

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Program connects Northside men to Marcellus Shale jobs By Kelsey Shea

The jobs the program will place graduates into pay between A recent initiative of Mentors $50,000 and $55,000 per year, Consulting and Training is and only require a high school connecting young Northside men education. Kirk noted that there to jobs in the natural gas industry. is longevity in the jobs, unlike Mentors, a career training similar construction work. company headquartered on “These jobs are going to be the North Shore, along with around for 50 years,” she said. the Initiative for High Priority There is no initial cost for the Occupation are offering a sixclasses. Once graduates are placed week program for in industry jobs, young, primarily they will pay back African American 10 percent of their men with high $8,000 scholarship school educations back into the who are looking for hese jobs scholarship fund. jobs. must are going To Candidates Though the pass a drug test. two companies January be around for are usually will kick off the competitors, pilot year for the anoTher both agreed initiative, and that connecting years Mentors plans to job seekers in train 40 individuals -Kris KirK low-income for these jobs in MenTors owner and classes of 10. The communities throughout presidenT first four weeks of the city of training will focus Pittsburgh to jobs on the gas industry, in the emerging Marcellus while the last two will address Shale gas industry in Western wealth management and jobs Pennsylvania. skills. “It’s shameful, but we have The first round of classes one of the highest poverty will start this month, and there is rates among African-Americans already a waiting list for the next in Pittsburgh,” said Mentors session. Mentors will be actively President and Owner Kris Kirk recruiting through the next year who noted that this was a wealth and starting by focusing on the building program that would Northside. They are working help individual families and the with the POISE foundation community. “That’s why we’re to find grant money for more targeting this demographic. This scholarships. is a real solution.”

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December 5- Reading volunteers needed December 7- Santa visits Brightwood December 14- Children’s Museum’s “How People Make Things” exhibit December 20- Aviary recieves Silver LEED Certification December 27- Elks Lodge Banjo club video

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Jazz returns to James Street with new restaurant By Kelsey Shea Inside of 422 Foreland St. in Historic Deutschtown, there are old photos of The Boilermaker Jazz Band, Bo Diddley Jr. and Kenny Blake hanging on the wall. The black and white photos, found in an upstairs room of the historic building, commemorate Pittsburgh Jazz artists who played there there over the years when the building was the home of the James Street Tavern, a center of Pittsburgh’s Jazz community. Though James Street Tavern closed several years ago, and several other restaurants have since opened James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy is a restaurant, full bar and live and closed, the venue’s new owners music venue. are looking to recreate the vibe and “It’s almost what the buildings culture of James Street Tavern with back to James Street.” beckons us to have,” said Johnston. The new owners, Lisa Saftner the brand new James Street Gastroand Adam Johnston, left their jobs “This is such a rich, rich area for pub and Speakeasy, which opened last year with the intention of starjazz. It’s unbelievable.” last month. Saftner and Johnston said they “The James Street Tavern use to ing their own restaurant, but the idea of a jazz venue only came when researched neighborhoods carefully be a haven for jazz,” said Tony Mothey saw the James Street venue in before choosing the James Street wod of the Pittsburgh Jazz Society. location, and have been welcomed “It’ll be an advantage to draw people the Northside.

warmly by their neighbors, who they say are “almost as excited for us to be here as we are.” “We want to be a part of the neighborhood,” said Saftner. There will be live jazz music every Friday and Saturday, and the Pittsburgh Jazz Society will play at James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy every Sunday night from 6 to 9 p.m. Saftner and Johnston said that though it’s a music venue, it’s primarily a restaurant. They offer a large menu with traditional pub food and several special items ranging in price between $8 and $30. The restaurant officially opened in late December, and live music will begin the second weekend in January. The final project the owners are working on is a banquet space that will accommodate 120-150 people, which they anticipate will be finished in summer of 2012. “We want to do right by this building,” said Saftner.

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Cooking with Cans on the NS

Photo by Kelsey Shea

From Cans, page 7 Poliziani said representatives from Walmart were particularly impressed by NCM’s proposal and granted them the full amount they requested. The money will be used to hire a temporary nutrition intern to help develop a program which will encourage local restaurant owners to offer cooking classes and recipes, distribute nutrition information in the pantry, create healthful cooking videos and build an on-site garden that will encourage growing and using fresh produce said Poliziani. “Walmart is unwavering in

its commitment to help people live better, healthier lives,” said Nick Bertram, Walmart Regional General Manager for Pennsylvania. “As a company, we operate globally but give back locally, and there is no better way to do that than by providing direct support to the organizations that are working so hard to improve their communities and strengthen their neighbors in need.” The Cooking with Cans program will kick off on March 24 with a cook off at Bistro Soul where local chefs will compete to create the best brunch using food pantry items.

GTECH recruits on the NS From GTECH, page 6 Once chosen, community leaders will undergo four months of leadership training to give them the skills and preparation they need to engage the neighborhood and complete relevant projects. Miziolek said the ideal candidates would be long-time residents who are invested in their communities and want to make a difference. “Our ideal candidate would be someone who’s lived in the community a long time, who sees problems, wants to makes a difference, wants to do great things, but just doesn’t have the training or skills to do so,” said Miziolek. “We’re looking to really capitalize on caring community members to make a

difference.” GTECH worked with another nonprofit on a similar and successful project in the Hill District that engaged neighborhood leaders to pursue green initiatives, and they decided to bring the concept to the North Side. Miziolek said that GTECH is using multi-level recruitment and collaborating with the Northside Leadership Conference to reach out to the community, and they are using their office as a temporary hub for their organizations. Community members interested in becoming a GTECH green leader should contact Claire Miziolek for an application and more information at c.miziolek@gtechstrategies.org or 412.361.2099 extension 5.

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Allegheny West NS Parking Inc. to NS Property L.P. at 1010 Beech Ave. for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $43,758). Brighton Heights Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. trustee to Charles Beck at 3533 Campus St. for $37,099. Brian Weck to David McGee Jr. and Monique McGee at 1824 Perrott St. for $135,000. Robert Meta to Michael Berry at 316 Lamplighter Circle for $92,000. Gertrude Ann O’Brien to John Buggey II at 3824 Atkins St. for $70,000. Nicolle Ferris to Michael Joseph Murgi at 1835 Viruth St. for $105,000. Pittsburgh City to Todero Corp. at 3811 Bonaventure Way for $8,900. Dayday Properties LLC to Two Left Shoes LLC at 3571 Elmhurst Ave. for $7,800. Matthew Goodworth et al. to

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Ricardo Lopez at 3531 Simen Ave. for $144,720. Dayday Properties LLC to Two Left Shoes LLC at 3571 Elmhurst Ave. for $7,800. Matthew Goodworth et al. to Ricardo Lopez at 3531 Simen Ave. for $144,720. Brightwood Shawn Hennigan to Gilbert Kowalski and Andrew Hinzman at 1330 Gifford St. for $48,000. Barbara Vioral to Elizabeth Davis at 1303 Ingham St. for $57,000. Estate of Rose Lawyer to Slam Home Properties LLC at 12 Mitchell St. for $27,000. Grace Bonant Murtha to Peter Blatt and Eileen Byrnes at 1200 Superior Ave. for $50,000. Henry Jones to US Bank NA at 1116 Hodgkiss St. for $1,659 by sheriff ’s deed. Bruce Walter trustee to Diana and Dennys Horn at 3230 Mitchell St.

for $50,000. Doreen Fleming to Sandra Jordan at 2615 Shadeland Ave. for $79,000. California-Kirkbride Pittsburgh City to Project Destiny Inc. at 1318-1320 Sigel St. for $4,000. Pittsburgh City to Project Destiny Inc. at 1324 Sigel St. for $2,000. Central Northside Melinda Miller to Michael Cole at 1203 Filson St. for $72,000. John Serak et al. to Erin Powers at 103 Sampsonia Way for $175,000. Karl Owens et al. to Susan Christensen at 124 Carrington St. for $17,500. Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. trustee to Thomas Berna at 1534 Garfield Ave. for $80,000. Literary Ventures LLC to City Asylum Pittsburgh at 1406-1408 Monterey St. 1410 for $18,400. David Kelley et al. to CAMA FBO Karen Perry’s IRA at 530

January January 2012 2012

Armandale St. for $25,000. Blue Moon Capital LLC to Nizar Dayoub at 1616 Buena Vista St. for $50,000. East Deutschtown Robert Lutz to Holdings Ltd. LLC at 811 Peralta St. for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $54,756). Youcef Djedid to October Real Estate Holdings LLC at 815 Phineas St. for $42,000. Edward Myers to Marc Anthony Management Co. L.P. at 821 Lovitt Way for $33,000. Madison Avenue Assoc. L.P. to Marc Anthony Management Co. L.P. at 824 Lovitt Way for $3,300. Madison Avenue Assoc. L.P. to Cassique Properties L.P. at 818 Madison Ave. for $513,700. Pittsburgh City to Cornelius Poillon at 836 Concord St. for $2,900. Pittsburgh City to Cornelius Poillon at 840-842 Concord St. for $3,500.

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Fineview Donald Marshall to Michael Erdlen at 1938 Meadville St. for $10,000. Historic Deutschtown Laura Cummings to Christopher Haselhoff at 510 Cedar Ave. for $150,000. Team Properties LLC to Jessica DeYoung at 1206 Middle St. for $85,000. Kimble Hicks LLC to Candice Kobetich and Patrick Scott at 533 Tripoli St. for $148,971. Manchester ATL Holdings LLC to Ahmed Martin at 1327 Liverpool St. for $105,000. Mariners Strategic Fund 2 LLC to Robert Maravalli at 1103 Sheffield St. for $60,000. Julia Scrivens et al. to Federal National Mortgage Assn. at 1215 Juniata St. for $2,378 by sheriff ’s deed.

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Ann Arbor Assoc. LLC to Peter Wright LLC at 912 Behan St. for $225,000. Observatory Hill Kenneth Peindl to Richard Lehtonen at 319 Venture St. for $75,000. Judith Morello to Stuart Barish at 3747 Baytree St. for $78,000. William Troy Duncan to Joseph Patrick O’Malley Jr. and Erin Adams at 3827 Evergreen Road for $29,000. Visio Capital 2 LLC to Mba Ogochukwu at 1 Semicir St. for $2,000. Kara Reid to Timothy Benz at 3108 Norwood Ave. for $139,000. Ashcroft Holdings LLC to Regan Thompson at 3425 Delaware St. for $69,400. AA Holdings 2005 LLC to Evan Mendenhall at 3931 Vinceton St. for $57,578. S & G Holdings 2004 LLC to D & B Investments LLC at 4031 Vinceton St. for $60,000.

Jay Mowery to Greg Broskey Jr. at 297 Venture St. for $34,000. Charlotte Ebert to Michael Miller at 240 Bascom Ave. for $45,000. Perry South Larry Lobster International LLC to Adriana Garcia Duran and Marcelo Castano Garcia at 2713 Norwood Ave. for $11,000. Rienzi Suero to John and Sarah Lozecki at 157 Marshall Ave. for $67,000. David Kelley to Michael Cutler at 6 Matson St. for $12,000. Cheryl Morris to Patricia Pullen at 2524 Maple Ave. for $30,000. Taras Yatsishin to Jamie McElroy at 444 W. Kennedy Ave. for $60,000. Housing & Urban Development to Claudette Hogan at 315 Elsdon St. for $6,000. Spring Garden Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Robert Moore at 58 Schubert St.

January 2012 Page 20

for $8,000. Summer Hill Estate of Gloria Gross to Matthew Meeder at 4208 Harpen Road for $83,000.

Troy Hill Nicole Theresa Kaib to Brittany Rall at 2014 Ley St. for $75,000. Nancy Schlicher et al. to US Bank NA trustee at 1420 Claim St. for $3,594 by sheriff ’s deed. Brian Bonidie et al. to Derek and Heather Soose at 1845 Ley St. for $33,000. Kathryn Borman to Kyle Pratt at 2009 Straubs Lane for $8,000. First National Bank Pennsylvania to JHS Goodlads Corp. et al. at 21232127 Straubs Lane for $55,000. Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>. Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

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From the office of State Sen. Wayne Fontana

EITC Eligibility

I recently introduced Senate Bill 1347 (SB 1347), legislation that would require employers to post and provide written notification to employees of their potential eligibility for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a federal tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families. SB 1347 is aimed at raising awareness of this program so those who are eligible for this tax credit claim and receive it. If you make less than $49,000 annually you should inquire as to your eligibility. It is important to raise awareness about the EITC as this is the time of year when we begin seeing advertisements for refund anticipation loans. These loans often times charge consumers high interest rates and administrative fees. The

EITC can put money back in the hands of families, without having to worry about high interest rates and fees, or going into debt while awaiting your tax return as individuals who take out refund anticipation loans often times do. My hope is SB 1347 will be considered in the very near future. In the meantime, it is important that employers

provide information about EITC to their employees now to help make a positive difference in the lives of their hard-working employees and their families. Each year, millions of workers risk not receiving the credits they’ve earned because they don’t know they have to file and claim the credit to receive it.

“It Is Important to raIse awareness about the eItC as thIs Is the tIme of year we begIn seeIng advertIsments for refund antICIaptIon loans.”

Many people will qualify for EITC for the first time this year because their income declined, their marital status changed, or they added children to their families. In Allegheny County, the Money in Your Pocket Coalition will be assisting eligible working individuals and families with free tax preparation in the coming months. Through their work, $23.8 million in tax refunds have been claimed for Pittsburghers, including $9.2 million in EITC. For more information about EITC eligibility, and to learn about where to find free tax help, please visit www.pghfreetaxes. org. Senator Wayne D. Fontana 42nd Senatorial District www.senatorfontana.com

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Sudoku

The Game Page

Hard

Last Month’s Puzzle Solutions 9

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www.sudoku-puzzles.net

T O R

P A G E S

First published in a U.S. puzzle magazine in 1979, Sudoku caught on in Japan in 1986, and became internationally famous in 2005.

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www.sudoku-puzzles.net 70

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4. Capital of Zimbabwe 3 6 2 9 5. Bond, for one 6. "Seinfeld" uncle 7. Finishes 7 9 5 8 8. Adversary 9. Somewhat pale 1 4 8 7 10. Plantain weed 11. Drug-yielding plant 12.8Small mountain 1 7 lake 3 13. Needle hole 21. Hawaiian native dance 3 6 2 23.9Abstruse 25. Words of denial 26.5Rotates 2 4 1 28. Goes astray 29. Metal spikes 8 bribery 9 6 30.2Open to 31. Delight 33.6Loincloth 5 worn3 by Hindu 4 men 34. Lout 7 old-style 1 5 37.4Between, 39. Threadbare

al use only. Not for publication.

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The aim of Sudoku is to enter a number from 1 through 9 in each space on a 9×9 grid made up of 3×3 subgrids (called “regions”). Some of the numbers have already been given. You may not use the same number twice in a single row, column, or region of the grid. Completing the puzzle requires patience and logical ability.

8 1 4

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

BestCrosswords.com - Puzzle #4 for August 27, 2010

Crossword puzzles provided by www. bestcrosswords.com / Used with permission.

Across

Chronicle Crossword 1. Aha! 5. Horrors! Across 9. Dull 1- Aha!; 5- Horrors!; 9- Dull finish; 14- Dissolve; 15- finish Listen to; 16- Pertaining 14. 19Dissolve to birds; 17- ___ breve; 18- Commedia dell’___; Leases; 20- Where you find teachers and pupils; 22- Small stream; 23kwonto do; 24- Devotee; 2515.___ Listen Indian millet; 29- Soup utensil; 32- Willows; 34- Celestial body; 39- Whistle 16. 43Pertaining to 45birds blowers; 40- Come together; 42- Some are pale; False show; Plunder; ___ breve 47- Grind together; 49- “See ya!”; 50- Small17. three-legged table; 54- Surgery sites, briefly; 56- Convocation of witches; 57-18. Message sent by mirrors; Commedia dell'___63Pong maker; 64- Earthen pot; 65- Ambience; 66- Judges’ garments; 67- Ob19.70Leases served; 68- Blind part; 69- Sudden convulsion; Fruit-filled pie; 71- Soccer 20. Where you find teachers legend; and pupils Down Small 1- Apple product; 2- Exchange for money; 3-22. First namestream in scat; 4- Greek let23. ___ kwon do 1949; 8- City ters; 5- Butler’s love; 6- People of courage; 7Defense grp. since near Provo; 9- Radio pioneer; 10- Deflect; 11Fungal infection; 12- Spud; 24. Devotee 13- Exalt; 21- Celestial body; 24- Nose bone; 25- A small town; 26- Consumer; 25.Escape; Indian33millet 27- Widespread; 28- Breather; 30- Layers; 31Nice days, usually; 29. Soup 35- California wine region; 36- Came down to earth; 37-utensil Actor Auberjonois; 38- Belgian river; 41- Code-breaking org.; 4446- “______ sprach 32.Conceit; Willows Zarathustra”; 48- Shout; 50- Rips; 51- Bar, legally; 52- Addis ___; 53- Trims; Celestial body 55- Cheerful; 57- Party-thrower; 58- Zeno’s 34. home; 59- Breathe convulsively; 60- Dominion; 61- Asian sea; 62- Spouse; 39. Whistle blowers 40. Come together

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