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The Northside Chronicle, Pittsburgh - July 2018

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July 2018 Est. 1985

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The Northside Chronicle

Volume 34 Issue 7 - FREE -

Meet Deutschtown Music Fest “Dream Team” Co-founders Cody Walters and Ben Soltesz reflect on how event took off By Chloe Burkart It all began when Cody Walters, co-founder of the Deutschtown Music Festival (DMF), noticed a vacant lot behind his home. He and his wife have lived in the Northside since 2009. He wanted to transform the lot into a cross between a garden and a place to park but initially thought it was owned by the City of Pittsburgh. As he began to delve deeper, he learned it was owned by the East Allegheny Community Council (EACC). Walters pitched his idea for the lot to the council, but was turned down: they thought the space would

serve more purpose as another house. This experience motivated Walters. It wasn’t long after when he found himself elected as a member of the board at EACC. He served on the board for five years before obtaining his current position as Main Street Director at the Northside Leadership Conference (NSLC). While on the board, he worked on events and programs, orchestrating holiday parties and selling advertisements. “I was really good at throwing parties when I was

19,” Walters said with a chuckle. This party planning turned out to be crucial experience when he went on to organize what would become the Deutschtown Music Festival. “I told people I was from Deutschtown and they had no idea what the h--- I was talking about,” said Walters. But DMF helped put Deutschtown on the map. The first Deutschtown Music Festival wasn’t a festival at all. At least it wasn’t intended to be. In 2011, still a member of the EACC board,

Protests for Antwon Rose Jr. reach the Northside Story and Photos By Sarah Gross Protesters continue to confront the people and police of Greater Pittsburgh demanding justice for the death of Antwon Rose Jr. On Friday, June 22, outside of PNC Park, a protest for Rose was held during a Pirates game with the intent to stop traffic. Over 400 protestors were counted, all working to block

See DMF, Pg 6

INSIDE

-PGH Lesbian Correspondents, Pg 5 STORIES, COLUMNS, -City of Asylum Photos, Page 9 FEATURES & MORE -Education, Page 22

ONLINE

See Protesters, Pg 17

-Latest Northside news -Weekly real estate transfers WWW.THENORTHSIDE CHRONICLE.COM -Event coverage and photos


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THE NORTHSIDE CHRONICLE

922 Middle St. • Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Managing Editor, Ashlee Green editor@thenorthsidechronicle.com Advertising Manager, Lauren Stauffer advertising@thenorthsidechronicle.com www.thenorthsidechronicle.com Phone 412-321-3919 • Fax 412-321-1447 Mail Subscriptions are available at a rate of $45.00 per year. Distribution: 8,000 copies

2018 Print Advertising Rates have been updated. Additional print sizes and new digital options now available. Visit www.thenorthsidechronicle.com/advertise for rates, specs, and ongoing specials. Discounts of up to 20% off rate card price for multiple-insertion contracts

Support Northside’s one and only free, local newspaper by becoming an advertiser or sponsor of a monthly guide. Specialty Editions January Year In Review February Celebration Guide March Summer Youth Guide April Homebuyers Guide May Health + Wellness Guide June Outside Guide July Culture Guide August Back-to-School Guide September Fall Map + Guide October Harvest Guide November Shop Small Guide December Holiday Guide 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 2018

Community Meetings

After Jail & Prison Ministry Support Mondays, 6-7 p.m. Allegheny Center Alliance Church 412.321.4333 ext. 127 801 Union Place, first floor Allegheny West Civic Council 2nd Tuesday, monthly, 7:30 p.m. Calvary United Methodist Church 412.323.8884 Brighton Heights Citizens Federation 2nd Thursday, bi-monthly, 7 p.m. Morrow Elementary School 412.734.0233 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 412.758.3898

July 2018

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, 6:30 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 Call to confirm 1st Wednesday, monthly, 6 p.m. MCC Center, 1319 Allegheny Ave. 412.231.4714 North Side Lions Club 2nd and 4th Tuesday, monthly, noon Max’s Allegheny Tavern

Central Northside Neighborhood Council 2nd Monday, monthly, 7 p.m. Allegheny Traditional Academy 412.231.7742

North Side Public Safety Council 1st Thursday, monthly, 5:30 p.m. 1319 Allegheny Ave. 1st floor meeting room 412.231.4714 ext. 201

Charles Street Area Council 1st Monday, monthly, call for times Pittsburgh Project, 2801 N. Charles St. 412.321.5567

Northside Toastmasters 2nd & 4th Thursdays, monthly, 6:30pm Carnegie Library, 1230 Federal St. 412-204-6018

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

Observatory Hill, Inc. 3rd Wednesday, monthly, 7 p.m. Byzantine Seminary, 3605 Perrysville Ave. 412.231.2887

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

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

East Allegheny Community Council 2nd Tuesday, monthly, 7 p.m. Arnold’s Tea 412.321.1204

Troy Hill Citizens Council March 8, June 6th, Sept. 12, Dec. 12. 1515 Tinsbury St. 412.321.2852

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

Spring Hill Civic League March 5, May 7, Sept. 10, Oct. 1, Nov. 5 6 p.m, Spring Hill Elementary School auditorium, contact@shcl.org

Mexican War Streets Society 3rd Monday, bi-monthly, 6:30-7 p.m. 1400 Buena Vista St. 412.323.9030

Summer Hill Citizens Committee 3rd Tuesday, monthly, 6:30 p.m. WPXI Television Station community room

Free weekly e-newsletters available by email, visit online to subscribe.

Mobile friendly for on-the-go reading and discovering. Find classifieds, calendars, and more. http://nschronicle.com/


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July 2018

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Letter From the Editor Hi everyone, My name is Ashlee Green and just last week, I took over for Neil Strebig as the new Managing Editor of The Northside Chronicle. When my colleagues briefed me on the history of the Chronicle, I was upset to learn it was close to collapse in 2005. The financials were dire. But shortly before the passing of Chronicle founder John Lyon, The Northside Community Development Fund (NCDF) invested in the paper to help stabilize it. If it weren’t for the NCDF and the tenacity of neighborhood volunteers rallying together to protect this Northside institution, the Chronicle would not exist. The NCDF values what all of you do: shared information and ideas, community interaction, and a sense of identity and purpose. As a former Library Assistant, I too understand and strive for these values. I invite you to think of the Chronicle as a yearbook, only monthly, with personalized notes from your next-door neighbors; a panoramic photo spanning all 18 neighborhoods; a bulletin board at your favorite cafe. While we’re a small publication, we’re here to introduce you to one another, to share your stories, and to celebrate what makes this side of the river so grand. I’m excited to carry on Lyon’s legacy and curate the stories of the Northside culture through this long standing, trusted publication. If you see me at an event, don’t hesitate to say hello. I’m here for you electronically, too: Drop me a line at editor@thenorthsidechronicle.com. This publication is a collaborative effort: Without all of you, there would be no content. I’m just here to find the right words. Thanks for reading, Ashlee Green

July Newsletter from Councilwoman Darlene Harris On Friday, June 22, 2018, my office sponsored a Will of Council for National “Take Your Dog to Work Day.” Together with the Office of the Mayor, City Council led the initiative for “Take Your Dog to Work Day” for all City of Pittsburgh employees. With support from both

sides of the City government, we made “Take Your Dog to Work Day” a fun and spectacular success! Each dog that showed up was eligible for awards in categories such as best-dressed, largest, smallest, and best-behaved. Animal Friends and Humane Animal Rescue brought

adoptable dogs to the Grant Street portico, which added to the excitement for many pets (and prospective owners). All in all, everyone involved had a wonderful time, including the dogs! I’m extremely grateful to the Mayor, Council, and the City for making this event such a huge

success. Hopefully, this “Take Your Dog to Work Day” will be the first in a long series of yearly events! Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at darlene.harris@pittsburghpa.gov or call at 412-255-2135.


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35th Annual NSLC Awards Dinner By Lauren Stauffer

Over 330 guests attended the 35th Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner held at the Grand Hall at the Priory on Thursday, June 14 2018. Those honored included 16 Northside high school students, 10 neighborhood volunteers, 3 Northsiders for lifetime achievements, and Allegheny Center Alliance Church received the 2018 Ser-

vice Provider award. At the beginning of each new year, the Northside Leadership Conference (NSLC) releases applications for high school senior students residing on the Northside to enter an essay about how they personally give back to their communities through volunteer service. This year’s recipients were awarded electronic tablets cour

tesy of Rotary Club of Pittsburgh’s Northside and $1,000 scholarships sponsored by a variety of invested community sponsors for student’s college or training programs after high school. To date, NSLC has awarded $252,000 in scholarships to Northside students who volunteer their time to improve their neighborhoods.

2018 Awardees Scholarship & Electronic Tablet Awards Andrew Knight, Perry Hilltop Blaise Canning, Perry Hilltop William Johnson, Taylor Alderdice Kaitlin Heil, Observatory Hill Malcolm Bowman, Brighton Heights Leo Baumbach, East Allegheny Bryce Chisom, Manchester Austin Burnett, Brighton Heights Chandler Searcy, Perry Hilltop Elijah Fitch, Brighton Heights Elias Reay, Fineview Ali Mganga, Brighton Heights Summer Love Helvy, Brighton Heights Emoni Jones, Manchester Maya Smallwood, Central Northside Margaret Walker, Manchester Neighborhood & Business Awardees Doris Short & Greg Coll, Allegheny West Civic Council

John Norman, Brighton Heights Citizens Federation Robert Koster, Charles Street Area Council Madison Nester, Community Alliance Spring Garden East Deutschtown (CASGED) Arthur Perkins, East Allegheny Community Council Bonny Kwolek, Observatory Hill Incorporated James Rizzo, Spring Hill Civic League Jacob George, Summer Hill Citizens Committee Patrick Duffy, Troy Hill Citizens Incorporated Lifetime Achievement Awards Donna Allison, Spring Hill Roy Redman, East Allegheny Robin Rosemary Miller, Spring Hill Service Provider Awardee Allegheny Center Alliance Church

July 2018


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Sue Kerr blogs to #AMPLIFY LGBT experience in Pittsburgh By Sarah Gross In the middle of a cafe in the Northside, Sue Kerr, 47, looks like anybody else wandering through. She wears casual clothes and her hair tied back in a ponytail. The only item that draws attention is her rainbow bag. But behind the scenes, and with a keyboard, she is a force to be reckoned with. Kerr is the creator and primary blogger for the website PGH Lesbian Correspondents. In a time of inclusivity, and speaking up for lost voices, this Northsider is doing as much as she can to help bring attention to LGBT people and issues. PGH Lesbian Correspondents was created in December 2005. Since then, Kerr has been working on it religiously. A social worker, her original goal wasn’t to become the community organizer she is now. She just wanted to sit in her attic and spread information, though she knew it would be

LGBT-centric. Thirteen years, two additional bloggers, and one dedicated fanbase later, the blog has evolved into a large center for LGBT content, with Kerr still at the heart of it all. People are noticing the impact Kerr and her blog has throughout Pittsburgh, especially to those in the LGBT community. Dan Gilman, chief of staff to Mayor Bill Peduto, said, “She has called attention to issues from conversion therapy to transinclusive benefits to advocating for same sex marriage, back before it was legalized.” Sheila May-Stein, the sponsor for the Gay-Straight Alliance at Pittsburgh Perry Traditional Academy, called Kerr an “unsung hero” of Pittsburgh. Kerr currently lives in Manchester, with her partner Laura Dunhoff, another blogger on the site. They live with two cats and

one dog. Kerr describes her partner and herself as “middle-aged pool ladies.” Kerr landed in the Northside after periods of living in West Mifflin, and D.C. One section of her blog involves genealogy and researching her past. Hunting through her family tree, Kerr discovered deep Northside roots. She found distant cousins, grandmothers, and

Photo by Shannon Kenyon

other historical relatives throughout the area. “When I say deep, I’m talking—some of these folks were here in 1820,” she says. An active feminist, Kerr is fascinated with the women who came before her, whose stories were untold for so long. Her face Continued Kerr , Pg 10––––


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From DMF, Page 1

July 2018

DMF began as Northside neighborhood bar crawl

Walters dealt with a plethora of complaints about nuisance bars around the area. Residents thought the local bars were annoying, an eyesore. The party planner in him came up with the perfect solution: a bar crawl. His idea was to get the locals into the bars they detested, so they could see they weren’t a nuisance at all but rather just another facet of the community for them to enjoy. Soon, the planning and organization process was underway. The first year four bars and 12 local bands participated. It was so much of a success that the community demanded another one the following year. And the year after that. The “nuisance bar” problem faded fast. As the crawl grew, more bars wanted to be involved. More bands wanted the chance to play. More people wanted to volunteer. Cody Walters needed a business partner. Enter Ben Soltesz of Spring Hill. Soltesz has always been a music lover. As his kids grew older, he began indulging in his passion for live shows once again. He and his

wife started attending banjo night and bluegrass night on the Northside, and was inspired to find a way to take part in live music as more than a bystander. Soltesz started poking around the music scene and talking to people, which is how he met Cody Walters. The began to chat and found out their ideas meshed so well it was like they shared a brain. Soltesz started messaging his favorite bands to see if they would play the festival for free. Interest skyrocketed: Everyone wanted in. Walters’ party planning expertise combined with Soltesz’s sheer love for live performance to create an unstoppable force. That year, they hosted 50 bands. The numbers continue to grow exponentially. DMF was voted “Best Music Festival” in 2016 and 2017, and “Best Street Festival” in 2017 by Pittsburgh City Paper. But what makes Deutschtown Music Festival so successful is not the awards or accolades. It’s not the more than 325 bands that will perform at this year’s festival, nor is it the thousands attendees. It’s Cody

Walters and Ben Soltesz themselves: Their love for Pittsburgh’s Northside is unrivaled, and that love overflows from every detail of this festival. They’re a music festival dream team. “I wanted a way to make the Northside a better place,” Soltesz said. And at that, he and Walters have continually been successful. The two-day festival brings residents from all parts of the city and its suburbs to Deutschtown, fostering a sense of community and a feeling of togetherness. It also gives Northside and Deutschtown locals yet another reason to be proud to hail from this part of the city. Beyond that, Walters explains a three-fold gross self-promotion that is built into the structure of the festival. The neighborhood, the businesses, and the bands all benefit with the existence of DMF. New to this year’s festival is the Skyline Stage: One of two family friendly stages at the event, it offers a beautiful view of downtown Pittsburgh. Parkland Stage is also family friendly. The rest of the festival

is only accessible to those at least 21 years old. In addition to the music, expect over 30 food trucks and dessert options, free park activities, a beer garden, and an artists’ market. Visit the festival website to filter festival activities by date, venue, and age requirement. Use its searchable content to sync can’t-miss performances to your phone’s calendar. And look out for last minute additions to the lineup: You never know what tricks Walters and Soltesz have up their sleeves. “I want to create an experience that people will walk away from and say, ‘Wow, that was really unique,” said Walters. He emphasized that matter who you are or how you’re involved in the event, whether you’re a resident of the neighborhood or a musician trying to break into the industry, you have a voice through DMF.


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From top to bottom, City of Asylum “house publications”: “Winged House,” “House Poem,” and “Jazz House.” Photos by Sarah Gross

City of Asylum in Central Northside offers residency to writers-in-exile. Writers live in these homes and pursue their craft while transitioning to more secure lives in exile. “Winged House” includes text from Nigerian author Wole Soyinka, a tile mosaic by artists Laura Jean McLaughlin and Bob Ziller, and a sculpture by Thaddeus Mosley; “House Poem” was created by Huang Xiang; “Jazz House” was a collaboration between Oliver Lake and Than Htay Maung.


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July 2018

Blogger Sue Kerr on a mission to fight injustice

From Kerr, Page 5 lights up and her head shakes in astonishment as she talks about ending up in almost the exact same place as some of them. Her ancestors may have even helped settle the land. Kerr doesn’t hesitate to call these ancestors “colonizers” in her blunt way, refusing to romanticize older times and rather choosing to be honest about history. Her passion for history turns to appreciation as she discusses stories of a different group of people who came before her: not blood relatives, but LGBT communities. “Really, [pride] should be about—I try to make it about revisiting the tenants of Stonewall, and what our history has been like,” she says. This determined candor translates into Kerr’s blog and work. She is an advocate for all things intersectional and makes sure to elevate transgender voices

and the voices of people of color, which she believes are often left out of traditional media as well as LGBT groups and spaces. Kerr is not someone to avoid a topic just to play nice. She talks about anything she finds crucial for people to hear, whether or not they particularly want to hear it. Some of these more controversial topics include: bringing attention to the overlooked death rates for transgender people (particularly high for trans women of color), calling out large magazines for silencing voices and writing biased political pieces, and discussing constructive actions people can take to help the LGBT community, rather than just participating in the commercialized “fun and fancy ” part of LGBT culture. She talks about these topics loudly and passionately: She’s not afraid to go on a tangent to discuss what she cares about. Other topics she doesn’t shy

away from are the need for LGBT voices, her love for her work, and the connection between her blogging and her queer identity. Some of her biggest critics, Kerr says, are actually gay men and lesbians, who sometimes get offended about how she criticizes the LGBT community for excluding transgender people, bisexual people, and LGBT people of color. “One of the big things people say to me is, ‘Nobody reads your blog’,” she says. People make this comment with one goal in mind, she says: to make her and her work feel like they don’t matter. But Kerr posts about current events and real-world news; crucial pieces of information for people to hear. She is quick to block abusive comments and reach out to friends for support and slow to give up. Despite the hate, she has never considered quitting, except

for a brief hiatus in 2011, due to health reasons. When asked why, Kerr put it simply: “I just pick myself back up and keep doing it because somebody has to.” “She will fight for injustice and equality, no matter what,” said Dan Gilman. Kerr works almost nonstop, churning out several posts a day. She has a constant social media presence and appears on the occasional media interview. But the project that means more to her than anything else is a part of the blog she herself doesn’t even write. It’s called #AMPLIFY, and it has grown so much that this year it has received a $4,000 grant from the Three Rivers Community Foundation. #AMPLIFY initially started as a Q&A with local LGBT people while Kerr was doing a residency with Most Wanted Fine Art. It has turned into a large portion See Blogger, Page 19


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JULY EVENTS Tuesday, July 3rd: Live on the River at the Rivers Casino Amphitheater: Free Summer Concert Series- Beatlemania Magic at 7PM Wednesday, July 4th: Live on the River at the Rivers Casino Amphitheater: Free Summer Concert Series- No Bad JuJu at 7PM Friday, July 8th: Northside Farmer’s Market from 3-7PM in Allegheny Commons Park East. Saturday, July 7th: Stars at Riverview Jazz Series & Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park: RED from 7-8:30PM then Jumanji (2017) (PG-13) at Dusk Free Yoga in Park- 10:30AM in Allegheny Commons West at Brighton Rd. & Ridge Ave. Free Sahaja Meditation- 11AM at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- Allegheny Branch, 1230 Federal St. Wednesday, July 11th: Solar Concert Series 2018 in Buhl Community Park at Allegheny Square from 12:15PM - 1PM - 1Hood Media Pittsburgh based collective of socially conscious artists and activists who utilize art as a means of raising awareness about social justice matters affecting people around the world. The 11th Annual Solar Concert Series is a project of The Saturday Light Brigade and Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Friday, July 13th: Deutschtown Music Festival: 6th annual FREE two-day indoor/outdoor music festival. Voted “Best music Festival and “Best Street Festival”, enjoy 300+ bands, 11 outdoor stages, and 26 indoor venues with familyfriendly programming, food trucks, arts market, and beer garden for 21+ guests. Free school bus shuttle with multiple stops will be available. www. deutschtownmusicfestival.com Northside Farmer’s Market from 3-7PM in Allegheny Commons Park East. Saturday, July 14th: Deutschtown Music Festival: 6th annual FREE two-day indoor/outdoor music festival. Voted “Best music Festival and “Best Street Festival”, enjoy 300+ bands, 11 outdoor stages, and 26 indoor venues with familyfriendly programming, food trucks, arts market, and beer garden for 21+ guests. Free school bus shuttle with multiple stops will be available. www. deutschtownmusicfestival.com

CULTURE Guide 2018 Stars at Riverview Jazz Series & Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park: Roger Humphries from 7-8:30PM then Miles (PG-13) at Dusk Free Yoga in Park- 10:30AM in Allegheny Commons West at Brighton Rd. & Ridge Ave. Free Sahaja Meditation- 11AM at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- Allegheny Branch, 1230 Federal St. Wednesday, July 18th: College Kickstart Day Open House Events at CCAC from 3PM-6PM Free open house event provides the perfect opportunity to learn about educational options, career and transfer programs, financial aid and scholarships, campus facilities, and more. Solar Concert Series 2018 in Buhl Community Park at Allegheny Square from 12:15PM - 1PM - Avi Diamond - Avi is inspired by a wide variety of genres and draws inspiration from artists ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Radiohead and more recently Brandi Carlile and Lianne la Havas. Thursday, July 19th: Live on the River at the Rivers Casino Amphitheater: Free Summer Concert Series- Badfish A Tribute to Sublime at 7PM Priory July Wine Party from 6:308:30PM. Join wine host Cory Hart of Winebow for an evening of great wine and food. Our Wine Parties are in the Priory Hotel’s garden courtyard weather permitting. Friday, July 20th: Live on the River at the Rivers Casino Amphitheater: Free Summer Concert Series- The Bill Henry Band at 7PM Roving Art Cart- Riverview Park 10AM - 1PM Children paint, sculpt, bead, and create a summer of magical fun. Weather impacts the type of projects chosen for the day. Northside Farmer’s Market from 3-7PM in Allegheny Commons Park East. Sommerfest & Wild Boar Roast at Teutonia Mannerchor from 5-11PM. Featuring pit roasted wild boar, authentic German food, bands, dancing and bier! Saturday, July 21st: Live on the River at the Rivers Casino Amphitheater: Free Summer Concert Series- Totally 80’s & Old Skool at 7PM Sommerfest & Wild Boar Roast at

Teutonia Mannerchor from 11AM11PM. Featuring pit roasted wild boar, authentic German food, bands, dancing and bier! Free Yoga in Park- 10:30AM in Allegheny Commons West at Brighton Rd. & Ridge Ave. Free Sahaja Meditation- 11AM at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- Allegheny Branch, 1230 Federal St. Wednesday, July 25th: Solar Concert Series 2018 in Buhl Community Park at Allegheny Square from 12:15PM - 1PM - Scott and Rosanna - Acoustic duo, Scott and Rosanna, stamp their signature folk / jazzy style on their wide repertoire of tunes elevated through the use of guitar looping. Roving Art Cart- Jefferson Recreation Center 10AM - 1PM Children paint, sculpt, bead, and create a summer of magical fun. Friday, July 27th: Live on the River at the Rivers Casino Amphitheater: Free Summer Concert Series- Chris Higbee & The Hobbs Sisters at 7PM Northside Farmer’s Market from 3-7PM in Allegheny Commons Park East. Saturday, July 28th: Stars at Riverview Jazz Series & Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park: Jay Vonada Quartet from 7-8:30PM then Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (PG-13) at Dusk Free Yoga in Park- 10:30AM in Allegheny Commons West at Brighton Rd. & Ridge Ave. Free Sahaja Meditation- 11AM at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- Allegheny Branch, 1230 Federal St.

AUGUST EVENTS Wednesday, August 1st: Solar Concert Series 2018 in Buhl Community Park at Allegheny Square from 12:15PM - 1PM - Afro Yaqui Collective - The Afro Yaqui Music Collective is a multicultural big band that explores the intersection of Indigenous musics within the language of jazz. The 11th Annual Solar Concert Series is a project of The Saturday Light Brigade and Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Thursday, August 2nd: Roving Art Cart- Marmaduke Playground 10AM - 1PM Children paint,

July 2018 sculpt, bead, and create a summer of magical fun. Weather impacts the type of projects chosen for the day. Friday, August 3rd: Live on the River at the Rivers Casino Amphitheater: Free Summer Concert Series- Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers with Billy Price at 7PM. Northside Farmer’s Market from 3-7PM in Allegheny Commons Park East. Featuring A Place to Start health + wellness activities, demos, giveaways, and more. Saturday, August 4th: Pittsburgh VegFest 11AM-5PM in Allegheny Commons East Park. Voted “Best Food Festival”, Pittsburgh VegFest is an outdoor ‘go-to’ summer festival bringing together the best veg food in Pittsburgh, music, shopping, cooking demos, animal welfare orgs, & kids activities in the Steel City. www. pittsburghvegfest.org/ Northside Old Timers Annual Northside Reunion at West Park from Noon-9PM. Saturday Live music (Tubby Daniels Trio, Bill Henry Band, and House of Soul). Sunday Praise in the Park. Both days vendors, giveaways, contests and more! Come out, pack a basket, and enjoy seeing and reconnecting with other original NorthSiders. Stars at Riverview Jazz Series & Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park: Bobby Short from 7-8:30PM then Wonder Woman (PG-13) at Dusk. Free Yoga in Park- 10:30AM in Allegheny Commons West at Brighton Rd. & Ridge Ave. Free Sahaja Meditation- 11AM at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- Allegheny Branch, 1230 Federal St. Sunday, August 5th: Northside Old Timers Annual Northside Reunion at West Park from 9AM5:30PM. Saturday Live music (Tubby Daniels Trio, Bill Henry Band, and House of Soul). Sunday Praise in the Park. Both days vendors, giveaways, contests and more! Come out, pack a basket, and enjoy seeing and reconnecting with other original NorthSiders. Wednesday, August 8th: Solar Concert Series 2018 in Buhl Community Park at Allegheny Square from 12:15PM - 1PM - Sierra Sellers - Seirra Sellers grew up on a steady stream of R&B, rock, country and gospel thanks to her family’s eclectic taste. Friday, August 10th: Live on the River at the Rivers Casino Amphitheater: Free Summer Concert


July 2018 Series- Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute and Temptations Tribute at 7PM Northside Farmer’s Market from 3-7PM in Allegheny Commons Park East. Saturday, August 11th: Stars at Riverview Jazz Series & Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park: Boilermaker Jazz Band from 7-8:30PM then Ping Pong Playa (PG-13) at Dusk. Free Yoga in Park- 10:30AM in Allegheny Commons West at Brighton Rd. & Ridge Ave. Free Sahaja Meditation- 11AM at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- Allegheny Branch, 1230 Federal St. Wednesday, August 15th: Solar Concert Series 2018 in Buhl Community Park at Allegheny Square from 12:15PM - 1PM - Dan Getkin & the Twelve Six - Dan Getkin and the Twelve Six are a rocking alt-country band from Pittsburgh drawing inspiration from Ryan Adams, Jackson Browne, and Wilco.

CULTURE Guide 2018 Free Sahaja Meditation- 11AM at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- Allegheny Branch, 1230 Federal St. Wednesday, August 22nd: Solar Concert Series 2018 in Buhl Community Park at Allegheny Square from 12:15PM - 1PM - Chet Vincent - Chet Vincent is a singer-songwriter with folk, country, and rock influences. Friday, August 24th: Northside Farmer’s Market from 3-7PM in Allegheny Commons Park East. Saturday, August 25th: Bicycle Heaven Annual Bicycle Show & Swap Meet! 9AM - ?? Rain or Shine! Food, Drinks, & Music! FREE. Bike groups welcome! Stars at Riverview Jazz Series & Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park: Clare Ascani from 7-8:30PM then Spider-Man: Homecoming (PG-13) at Dusk. Free Yoga in Park- 10:30AM in Allegheny Commons West at Brighton Rd. & Ridge Ave.

Thursday, August 16th: Priory August Wine Party - South Africa from 6:30-8:30PM Join wine host Deb Mortillaro of Dreadnought Wines & Spirits for a an evening of great wine and food featuring wines from South Africa. Our Wine Parties are in the Priory Hotel’s garden courtyard weather permitting.

Free Sahaja Meditation- 11AM at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- Allegheny Branch, 1230 Federal St.

Friday, August 17th: Northside Farmer’s Market from 3-7PM in Allegheny Commons Park East.

Wednesday, August 29th: Solar Concert Series 2018 in Buhl Community Park at Allegheny Square from 12:15PM - 1PM - Tim Vitullo Band - Tim Vitullo is a bit different. One of Pittsburgh’s most promising young talents exudes Americana blues and roots rock peppered with jazz and a dash of folk

Saturday, August 18th: Stars at Riverview Jazz Series & Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park: Rick Finkelstein from 7-8:30PM then Black Panther (PG-13) at Dusk. Free Yoga in Park- 10:30AM in Allegheny Commons West at Brighton Rd. & Ridge Ave.

Sunday, August 26th: Bicycle Heaven Annual Bicycle Show & Swap Meet! 9AM - ?? Rain or Shine! Food, Drinks, & Music! FREE. Bike groups welcome!

Friday, August 30th: Northside Farmer’s Market from 3-7PM in Allegheny Commons Park East.

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CULTURE Guide 2018

July 2018

Northside Culture Scene: Food, Music, and Community


July 2018

CULTURE Guide 2018

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CULTURE Guide 2018

July 2018


July 2018

The Northside Chronicle

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From Protests, Page 1

Protesters call for justice

the streets. Friday’s protest was a response to the fatal shooting of Rose, a 17-year-old black teenager, by police officer Michael Rosfeld on Tuesday, June 19. Rosfeld was reportedly sworn into the East Pittsburgh police force a few hours before the incident. Footage taken by a bystander shows Rose was fleeing a car the officer was investigating when he was shot three times. He was unarmed. Rose was a student at Woodland Hills High School. His funeral was held Monday, June 25 at Woodland Hills Intermediate School in Swissvale, and marked a pause for the protests that had gone on for four straight days following the shooting. Friday’s protest started on Wood Street at 5:30 p.m. It briefly circled over to the North Shore before coming back downtown, where speeches and a moment of silence were held. The protestors then moved back to the North Shore, declaring they were willing to stay the night. They marched down East Ohio Street where they met a second group. Together the groups formed a sit-in outside of PNC Park. “I appreciate all of the protestors.” said Michelle Kenney,

Rose’s mother, in an ABC exclusive interview. “I just want them to protest peacefully.” While protesters marched, the police were close behind, rerouting traffic. Some drivers were furious about the protest, while others raised fists out of their car windows in solidarity of the cause. Most police officers at Friday’s protest did not engage with protestors or reporters. Protesters chanted, “Three shots in the back, how do you justify that?,” “No justice, no peace, no racist police!” and sang Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us.” Around 11:00 p.m., a driver in a black sedan broke through the crowd of protesters. According to reports and several witness recordings, the car was driven over a barrier and through the crowd of people. No injuries were reported. At the time of printing, police are still looking for the vehicle and driver. Friday’s protest ended with at least three people arrested on a charge of failure to disperse. One motorist was arrested on East Ohio Street after yelling racial obscenities at protestors. On June 27, Rosfeld was charged with criminal homicide.


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The Northside Chronicle

July 2018


July 2018

The Northside Chronicle

Blogger showcases LGBT voices

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From Blogger, Page 10 of her blog, where hundreds (262 currently) of LGBT Pittsburghers are included. It gives information about their lives and features every identity from “Ace” to Z. Guests answer open-ended questions and write their own stories through their answers. Kerr’s primarily formats this content for the web, but she believes there’s an incredible value in showcasing these voices. She is even currently in the works to create a hyper-focused initiative of #AMPLIFY, where all the voices highlighted are Northside residents. Kerry Kennedy, of gayowned K.S. Kennedy Distinctive Floral, said, “I think that she gives [LGBT people] a space, and validates their existence.” “I love those posts. I love every one of them. It makes all the hard moments and the frustrating moments [worthwhile] to be able to be in the position, to highlight these voices.” said Kerr. Kerr shows pride not only in her work, but also in her identity.

She likes going to pride events to meet new people and reconnect with old friends, though she expresses disappointment over lost opportunities to express important LGBT issues like homelessness and hunger. LGBT people, she says, are more likely to dropout of school or be kicked out of their homes. Living on the streets is a terrifying reality for many of them. “I always laugh at the phrase ‘happy pride,’ because what the heck does that even mean,” says Kerr. Nevertheless, she is determined to use her following to bring light to issues like racism, transphobia, and homelessness. Referring back to her colorful handbag, Kerr says, “A lot of people don’t even understand that this is a pride purse. [They] just see it as a pretty rainbow purse.” She looks forward to the reopening of the Riverview pool. She has important things to do, but after all, she’s still a pool lady.

Images from 21st Annual Urban Garden Party at the Mattress Factory Museum. See more on our website: www.northsidechronicle.com Photos By Chloe Burkart


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Allegheny City Central Capital Homes LLC to TWJS & JYC LLC at 1610 Brighton Road for $112,000. Allegheny City Central Assn. to Frank Quinn Construction Corp. at 108 Carrington St. for $2,000. John Lamb to Branton Properties LLC at 614 Jacksonia St. for $225,000. Anthony Foster to Dana Kemmerle Gunn at 610 Sampsonia Way for $270,000. Blest Investment Group LLC to Pittsburgh Property Guy H2 L.P. at 1437 Sandusky St. for $50,000. Allegheny City Central Assn. to Robert Beckham at 227 Alpine Ave. for $3,500. Barbara Berry to Abigail and Thomas Jolley at 1403 Arch St. for $170,000. Estate of Oma Lois Walton to Leonard Walton at 1436 Loraine St. for $95,000. Sandra Gough to Richard Pipak III and Tori Fondrk at 1223 Reddour St. for $319,900. Anna Ahronheim to Joseph Kalinoski and Linda Hagen at 1501 Federal St. for $512,500 Matthew Dennis Carter to Stephen Bowen and Maria Chavara at 1409 Monterey St. for $265,000. Brighton Heights BLN Properties LLC to Chinh and Thy Tran at 3541 California Ave. for $265,000. Christ Hope Ecumenical Catholic Church to New Life Family Worship Center Pittsburg at 1301 Davis Ave. for $168,118. Paul Morack Jr. to Todd Wermager and Melissa Ford at 1132 Pemberton St. for $215,000. Jason Beggarly to Shouf Holdings LLC at 1446 Reuben St. for $20,000. Brandi Rosselli to Mitchell and Leigh Young at 184 Richbarn Road for $210,000. S2C LLC to Cory Ballard and Kelly Doerr at 3239 Bainton St. for $115,900. Estate of Mary Jane Ehrler to John and Carrielee Hemington at 3535 Fleming Ave. for $125,000. Steven White Jr. to Michelle Grover at 1909 Marmaduke St. for $184,000. Robert Lersch to Ricardo and Robin Williams at 121 San Pedro Place for $222,500 Edwin Gumban to Cathleen Komorowski and Frank Taylor at 1801 Marmaduke St. for $59,000. James Founds to Michael and Jocelyn Hartnett at 1625 Orchlee St. for $290,900. Sherri Searight to Justin Salinetro at 3846 Wilksboro St. for $100,000. Divakaruni Bellevue LLC to FOF Properties LLC at 3596 Brighton Road

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for $205,000. Anthony Laush Jr. to Timothy and Stephanie Murphy at 4055 Brighton Road for $135,000. Marlex Properties LLC to Aung Thang at 3226 California Ave. for $127,900. Jamie Beechey to Kellie Cominsky at 1845 Chellis St. for $150,000. Shoniece Hall to JLA Properties L.P. at 3443 Fleming Ave. for $30,401 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $72,732) by sheriff’s deed. Thomas Clarke to US Bank NA trustee at 3459 McClure Ave. for $8,959 by sheriff’s deed. Joseph Grimes to Timothy Meckey at 201 Peddler Place for $157,500. California-Kirkbride Dennis Campbell et al. to Emilia Wiles at 1109 Island Ave. for $239,900. Paul Remsen Henry to Corey Rook at 2420 Ridgeland Place for $126,000. Estate of Natalie Buchanan to Bank New York Mellon trustee at 1703 Brighton Place for $2,644 by sheriff’s deed. Emmanuel Taylor to Northside Properties R&S LLC at 842 Kirkbride St. for $17,500 Central Northside Drozd Development & Construction Corp. to Shahrzad Bozorg at 1689 Perrysville Ave. for $23,000. Charles St. Valley KJN Grant LLC to Yalanda Ferguson at 2535 N. Charles St. for $110,000. East Deutschtown Mark Fassy to Pittsburgh Property Guy H3 L.P. at 849 Concord St. for $36,000. Historic Deutschtown Northside Worldwide Inc. to Daniel Bobovnyik and Cheryl Kakurai at 1202 James St. for $295,000. October Real Estate Holdings LLC to Aniket Hirebet and Sarah Andrews at 742 Middle St. for $50,000. October Real Estate Holdings LLC to John McNamara and Adele Armann at 808 Middle St. for $100,000. Amy T Jones Norton to Rachel and Matthew Ahn at 520 Avery St. for $320,000. Isaiah Sawhney et al. to Euan and Ann Morgan at 1002 Middle St. for $330,000. Fineview Pittsburgh City to Elaina Chisom at 2018 Letsche St. for $400 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $2,280). Louis Sanders to Avid Holdings 1802 LLC at 4 Carrie St. for $4,500. Manchester TYP 2 LLC to Jonathan Jordan at 1115

Fulton St. for $320,000. Lee Van Voorhis to Irfan Khan and Wioleta Lisowska at 1010 Liverpool St. for $250,429. Coralie Kartesz to Kenia Lewis Johnson at 1014 Abdell St. for $25,740. MCC MCS LLC to Paul Bowman Root at 1215 Columbus Ave. for $313,000. Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group to Manchester Citizens Corp. at 1309 Columbus Ave. for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $38,874). Marshall-Shadeland Diane Annis Dixon to Tazia Dixon at 1044 Grand Ave. for $95,000. Nancy Ann Welsh to Seth and Anne Newcomer at 3709 Hiawatha St. for $58,000. Nancy Ann Welsh to Seth and Anne Newcomer at 3711 Hiawatha St. for $63,000. Edna Bruce to Ivy Ferrell at 3111 Shadeland Ave. for $87,500. Marvin Nelson to Urban Impact Foundation at 1360 Oakhill St. for $75,000. Christina Patrono Smith to Jeffrey Mihelcic and Jason Watkins at 935 Smithton Ave. for $92,500. Allegheny Columbian Assn. to Thomas Conroy at 3219 Central Ave. for $62,000. Robert Lersch to True Vine LLC at 1232 Dickson St. for $45,000. Sherry Cochenour Goodman to Douglas Kiefer at 1015 Smithton Ave. for $40,000. High Return Pittsburgh MultiFamily Fund to Big Babec 33 L.P. at 3152 Sorrento St. for $10,000. Observatory Hill Steven Negri et al. to Babcock Commons LLC at 3906 Perrysville Ave. for $100,000. Russell Laubach trustee to Bernadette Hairston Rosser at 261 Watson Blvd. for $9,600. Observatory Hill Development Corp. to Philip and Melissa Hnatkovich at 29 Bonvue St. for $185,000. Sareeta Sims et al. to William Manley at 27 Montana St. for $180,620. Castlerock 2017 LLC to Emmanuel Niyibizi at 3816 Baytree St. for $26,099. Bank America NA to Mica Lee Williams at 36 Watson Blvd. for $56,000. Michael Lanick III to Christopher Mrozowski at 251 Bascom Ave. for $125,000.  Perry Hilltop Jane Clark to Charlyn Horton at 16 Ellzey

July 2018

St. for $75,000. Ross Paullet to Victoria Jordan at 2714 Perrysville Ave. for $132,500. Mary Jane Spooner et al. to Bank New York Mellon trustee at 2652 Norwood Ave. for $16,554 by sheriff’s deed. Federal National Mortgage Assn. to Antionette Jones at 227 E. McIntyre Ave. for $39,900. Triple Helix LLC to Cayce Woodson at 423 Marshall Ave. for $189,900. Marlene Penny to Perry Hilltop Farm LLC at 2226 Wilson Ave. for $6,307. Spring Garden Jeffrey Bailey to Youba Ait Hamoudi at 1420 Firth St. for $41,000. Lutheran Service Society Western PA to Spring Garden Storage LLC at 1270 High St. for $900,000. Jacqueline Johnson to New Direction IRA FBO Carolyn Metcalf IR at 2 Mauch St. for $12,000. Spring Hill Christina Scott to Dan Essig at 916 Vista St. for $15,000. Michael Cersosimo to Jonathan DaSilva at 1208 Itin St. for $119,500. Kathryn Waldschmidt estate et al to US Bank NA trustee at 1035 Shreve St. for $3,597 by sheriff’s deed. Summer Hill David Lee Stevens to Andrew Dice at 110 Montville St. for $84,000. Bonita Maier to Bonita Maier and William Karner at 3443 Sirius St. for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $42,237). Anita Thomas Brown to Federal National Mortgage Assn. at 3529 Sirius St. for $12,573 by sheriff’s deed. Alice Schultz estate et al. to Olivia Horning at 4469 Scherling St. for $142,900. Troy Hill William Novak to Emily Brown at 2060 Straubs Lane for $54,900. Estate of Margaret Christopher to No Good Deed LLC at 1909 Tours St. for $33,000. James Pele to Cameron Stauffer at 2144 Straubs Lane for $10,000. Susan Barnes to Robert Davis and Charles Leskowak at 1537 Hatteras St. for $49,500. Michael Filkosky to Robert Brandl III at 1418 Lowrie St. for $120,000.

Sign up for our weekly Thursday e-newsletter to stay up-to-date on real estate transactions on the Northside. Visit our website: www.nschronicle.com


July 2018

Ask An Attorney By Matthew D. Gailey Gailey Law Group One of the largest legal issues in our country today focuses on interaction between criminal suspects and the police. The main issue concerning this interaction revolves around what level of force is appropriate when dealing with a particular citizen. As a criminal attorney, I often deal with these types of issues. This month’s article will focus on this important area of criminal law practice. Generally speaking, police are empowered to use enough force to obtain compliance with lawful police instructions. In order to determine if the amount of force employed by an officer was reasonable, there must be an intensive and fact specific investigation of the interaction between the officer and the citizen. The Supreme Court has also held that force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer

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on the scene and not with the 20/20 vision of hindsight. Police officers are also empowered to use deadly force in rare occasions. In fact, less than 1% of all police interactions are deadly force used upon citizens. In order to use deadly force, an officer must be judged on the totality of circumstances and meet a standard of objective reasonableness. Additionally, an officer can only use deadly force on a fleeing suspect when the officer has probable cause to believe that an individual poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others. Given the deferential nature of the standards of force, it is always in a individual’s best interest to comply with lawful police instructions. Individuals should call their attorney and allow their attorney to fight their battles for them in a court of law. If you have any questions about this area of law, please feel free to give my office a call.

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The Northside Chronicle

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July 2018

Art and science combine with the Carnegie Science Center’s newest exhibit, the “Art of the Brick”

Artist Nathan Sawaya revealed “Three Sisters Bridges,” a piece inspired by Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol, and Rachel Carson bridges.

Photos by Sarah Gross

By Sarah Gross Days after the Carnegie Science Center revealed its new Scaife Exhibit Gallery, its first traveling exhibit, “The Art of the Brick,” premiered there. Inspired by the work of artist Nathan Sawaya, the show, which officially opened to the public on Friday, June 16, is the world’s largest display of LEGO art. The complete exhibit contains over one hundred pieces of art, and uses more than one million LEGO bricks. It has visited over one hundred cities and 22 countries. As Sawaya put it, “It all starts with one brick.” Previously a New York lawyer, Sawaya says he chose LEGOs

as his medium because they are child friendly and introduce kids to art history. They were also a favorite toy throughout his life. Despite being in Greenland 24 hours prior to it, Sawaya insisted on attending the exhibit in Pittsburgh himself. He revealed his brand-new piece, created for and inspired by Pittsburgh, called “Three Sisters Bridges.” It contains over twelve thousand bricks and is inspired by the Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol, and Rachel Carson bridges. “It combines engineering, design and creativity together,” Carnegie Science Center co-director Ron Baillie said of the exhibit.

The show contains over seven themed sections, starting with “Painting by Brick,” which contains imitation pieces of famous works of art. “In Pieces” is a mix of LEGO art and photography and a collaboration between Sawaya and world famous photographer Dean West. As visitors progress through the exhibit, the pieces get gradually more abstract, and represent Sawaya’s interest in feelings and nightmares and his struggles to fight negativity. Some memorable pieces include Sawaya’s most iconic work, “Yellow,” featuring a yellow man tearing his chest open, and “Di-

nosaur Skeleton,” a 20-foot long sculpture containing over 80,000 bricks, created for his young fans. “My favorite piece is my next piece,” artist Sawaya said. Partnered with, and traveling with the exhibition, is an interactive LEGO portion called “The Science of the Brick”, where adults and children can play with LEGOs to learn more about art and science. The “Art of the Brick” runs through Jan. 7, 2019. Visit the Carnegie Science Center anytime between 10:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.. Tickets start at $19.95 for adults, $15.95 for children, and $17.95 for seniors.


The Northside Chronicle

July 2018

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Three young men make “Eagle Scout” history By Sarah Gross On Saturday, June 9, at 12 p.m., three young men were awarded the rank of “Eagle Scout” at the St. Cyril of Alexandria church. Most Eagle Scouts hold the official ceremony alone, but Jermaine “JJ” Younger Jr, 18, Malcolm Bowman, 18, and Derek Johnstone, 18, chose to receive the honor together. “This is the first time in history that three Eagle Scouts have been awarded at the same time.” said Scoutmaster Bill Kunz. “This moment is priceless and deserves all the respect it is due.” “Eagle Scout” is the highest rank a Boy Scout

can achieve. According to Kunz, only four percent of Scouts make this rank. This is due to the long-term dedication that goes into it. Most Scouts join young, since candidacy for the Eagle Scout award ends at age 18. For a Scout to make the Eagle Scout rank, requirements include: earning all 21 merit badges, completing a project to better the community, undergoing an interview process, and successfully completing the board of review. The board of review is a trial of the council advancement committee, who all vote on the Scout’s candidacy. If approved, a Scout officially

Pictured, from left to right are Eagle Scout awardees Jermaine “JJ” Younger Jr., Derek Johnstone, and Malcolm Bowman Photo by Sarah Gross

graduates to an Eagle Scout. While earning the Eagle Scout award is an enormous honor in itself, this particular ceremony is one-of-a-kind. It is sacred and held the attention of everyone in the room. The young men received neckerchiefs for their new rank

and awards for their supportive parents. Each mother stood in front of their son and read a poem they had written about them and their journey. “It’s a really special event because three of us are getting the Eagle Scout,” said Younger of the event. “Usually it’s just one,

but we decided to all do it together,” This is due to the incredibly close bond between Bowman and Johnstone, and the decision all three made to have Younger join the ceremony. When asked what made them stay with the Scouts, Johnstone said, “I just like camping.”

Annual Heritage Day Festival celebrated in Riverview Park

Photos by Chloe Burkart


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