Oct. 2021 Est. 1985
The Northside Chronicle
Volume 37 Issue 10 - FREE -
The Community Newspaper of Pittsburgh’s Historic Northside
Pittsburgh's Premier Destination for Local Beer
Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe celebrates 40 years
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A family friendly mindfulness movement is starting in Pittsburgh’s Northside By Ashlee Green Mindfulness doesn’t have to be exercised in silence. According to Cityview Church Pastor Leeann Younger, who is starting a family friendly mindfulness pilot program this fall with facilitator Mark Williams, there’s an aspect of it that can be “practiced while your kids are running See Mindfulness, Page 8
INSIDE
Photo: Lauren Stauffer
A frequent haunt of Northside politicians, Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe in Allegheny West started 40 years ago with just three staff members and a menu of classic sandwiches including Reubens and Dagwoods. Over the years, Founder and Owner Nick Mastros has embraced a spirit of experimentation and continues to bring 'fresh talent' into the kitchen. Full story below. By Sylvan Lebrun After weathering the first stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and reopening early this year, the Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe is back in full swing as they ring in 40 years of business on the Northside. Founder and owner Nick Mastros still works in the place every day, side by side with his 93-year-old mother Helen. When he was just 23, Mastros bought and rehabilitated the building at 822 Western Ave—previously an electrical repair shop—in order to create his own restaurant inside, which opened just a year later. His only prior experience was washing and
- Northside Business Briefs, Page 10 STORIES, COLUMNS, - Northside Fall Guide, Page 11 FEATURES & MORE - Science of Being Scared, Page 17
bussing dishes at a few of Pittsburgh’s highend restaurants, but he felt that the time was right to make a bold move. With this, Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe was born— and as Mastros describes it, it was “pretty smooth sailing” until the pandemic hit. Starting with just three staff members, the Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe expanded in time to reach a peak of about 30 employees. While at the helm of the restaurant, Mastros was able to hone his skills as a businessman and meet local celebrities and fellow restaurateurs who helped “propel [him] to the next level.” Mastros, who also operates an event parking business on the Northside, said that at one point, he was
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running four other restaurants throughout Pittsburgh, all through local government contracts. He has since reduced his workload back down to one other location—a restaurant located in the Allegheny County Family Division government office, which is, at the time of printing, still closed due to COVID-19. He has a staff of nine at the main restaurant on Western Avenue, which is currently open Tuesday through Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A resident and a business owner in the historic Allegheny West district, Mastros See Sandwich, Page 9
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THE NORTHSIDE CHRONICLE
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Managing Editor: Ashlee Green, editor@thenorthsidechronicle.com Business Manager: Lauren Stauffer, advertising@thenorthsidechronicle.com Distribution: 4,000 copies monthly in 15212, 15214, 15233 zip code areas. FREE weekly e-newsletter delivered to your inbox, subscribe online. Order monthly newspaper delivery to your door by using the form below to begin your regular 12 month mail subscription for only $45/year. Use the form below to subscribe or online at thenorthsidechronicle.com/subscriptions Become a Townhall Subscriber for $60/year. What does it mean to be a Townhall Subscriber?
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Order mail subscriptions available online using a credit card will includes online fees* 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 2021
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October 2021
Community Meetings
After Care/Prison Ministry Support Mondays, 6-7 p.m. Allegheny Center Alliance Church 801 Union Place, first floor 412.321.4333 ext. 397 Allegheny City Central Association 2nd Monday, monthly Call for more details - 412.465.0192 Allegheny West Civic Council 2nd Tuesday, monthly, 7:30 p.m. Calvary United Methodist Church Now via Zoom | 412.323.8884
Brighton Heights Citizens Federation 2nd Thursday, bi-monthly, 7 p.m. Morrow Elementary School Now via Zoom 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 Now via Zoom 412.758.3898 Charles Street Area Council 1st Monday, monthly, call for times Pittsburgh Project, 2801 N. Charles St. Now via Zoom 412.886.6786 Community Alliance of Spring Garden/ East Deutschtown 2nd Tuesday, monthly, 6:30 p.m. Fuhrer Building of St. Michael’s Church 412.228.0376 Deutschtown New Hope Council 3rd Thursday, monthly, 6:30 p.m. Community Center, 623 Suismon St. East Allegheny Community Council 2nd Tuesday, monthly, 7 p.m. Call for more details 412.321.1204 Fineview & Perry Hilltop Citizens Councils 4th Tuesday, monthly, 6-8 p.m. Contact for location info@ourfuturehilltop.org 412-238-7528 Mexican War Streets Society 3rd Monday, bi-monthly, 6:30 p.m. 1400 Buena Vista St. 412.323.9030
If this is a gift, please write the name of the recipient’s information on the form and include your phone number with your check or money order. Mail the form with payment to The Northside Chronicle at 922 Middle St. Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
Manchester Citizens Corporation Quarterly meetings, call for times MCC Center, 1319 Allegheny Ave. 412.323.1743 Manchester Public Safety Meeting Quarterly meetings, call for times Northside Leadership Conference 412.323.1743 Northside Rotary Club Every Friday, noon Cardello Building, 2nd Floor NS Coalition for Fair Housing Board 2nd Monday, monthly, 6 p.m. 1821 Brighton Rd. 412.321.5527 NS Coalition for Fair Housing Members Monthly, call for times 1821 Brighton Rd. 412.321.5521 Northside Leadership Conference 1st Wednesday, monthly, 6 p.m. MCC Center, 1319 Allegheny Ave. Now via Zoom Call to confirm - 412.231.4714 North Side Lions Club 2nd and 4th Tuesday, monthly, noon Max’s Allegheny Tavern 412-366-8512 North Side Public Safety Council 1st Thursday, monthly, 5:30 p.m. 1319 Allegheny Ave. 1st floor meeting room 412.231.4714 ext. 201, Now via Zoom Northside Toastmasters 2nd & 4th Thursdays, monthly, 6:30 p.m. Carnegie Library, 1230 Federal St. Now via Zoom http://northsidetoastmastersclubs.org Observatory Hill, Inc. 3rd Wednesday, monthly, 7 p.m. Byzantine Seminary, 3605 Perrysville Ave. 412.736.2489 http://www.observatoryhill.net The Promise Group Every other Tuesday, 6 p.m. Western Pa. Humane Society 412.321.1019 Troy Hill Citizens June 10, Aug. 12, Oct. 14, Dec. 9., 6 p.m. Most Holy Name School Hall 1515 Tinsbury St. 412.321.2852 Spring Hill Civic League Sept. 13, Oct. 4, Nov. 1 6 p.m, Spring Hill Elementary School auditorium, Now via Zoom, contact@shcl.org Summer Hill Citizens Committee 3rd Tuesday, monthly, 6:30 p.m. WPXI Television Station community room
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October 2021
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Allegheny Commons Park News: October 2021 Hello Friends, Fall is finally here! That means sweaters, warm drinks, and a beautiful time of change. Fall can really speak for itself, so we wanted to chat with you all about the thing everyone has been talking about: Our newly overpopulated neighbor, the Spotted Lantern Fly (SLF). As many of you have heard, the SLF is here in the city of Pittsburgh and is slowly infesting Allegheny Commons and other nearby places. It is especially prevalent near the train tracks, where there are trees of heaven and grapevines. The SLF is an invasive plant hopper, which means it can't actually fly but rather hops and glides. The SLF, native to Asia, was first discovered in Pennsylvania in Berks County in 2014. The Spotted Lantern Fly feeds on the sap of a number of different plants such as the grapevine, maples, black walnut, birch, and willow. All of these are extremely important to the state’s economy. A 2019 economic study estimated that, uncontrolled, this insect could cost the state $324 million annually and more than 2,800 jobs. You may be asking: How can this bug that is only one inch in size cause such great problems? The SLF excretes honeydew, a sugary waste that attracts bees, wasps, and other insects. Any surface that is below the SLF then becomes covered with their waste. As time goes on, the waste builds
up and leads to the growth of sooty mold and black-colored fungi. If you would like to see this for yourself, you can go to the patron bridge that takes you to Ridge Av-
building closest to the construction towards the train tracks. In this location, there are a number of trees of heaven (also an invasive species). As you approach the area you
Photo: MTSOfan via flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Spotted lanternflies are invasive insects that feed on the sap of a number of different plants important to the state's economy, including grapevines and maples. enue. Once you get to Merchant Street, you will walk back along the right side of the Department of Public Works (DPW)
will notice all of the grapevines, and then you will notice the black fungi on all of the plants. The trees overhead are trees of heav-
en which is where you will notice the SLF everywhere. As a community, you may be asking: What can we do? The best thing to do is stay vigilant when going from one place to another. Check yourself, check your belongings, and check your vehicle. SLF will often lay their egg sacs on vehicles. Thus, the insects are transported and spread to new places. This could explain why the train tracks are a hot spot for them. If you see an SLF, you are going to want to squash it. "See ‘Em, Squash ‘Em" is the saying for these little buggers. The reason for this is that the City does not allow for the use of pesticides and these insects don't have many predators. Lastly, you can report it to the Department of Agriculture by calling 1-888-422-3359. There is also a link on their website: https://extension.psu.edu/ have-you-seen-a-spotted-lanternfly In closing, a quote from Terri Guillemets: "Autumn mornings: sunshine and crisp air, birds and calmness, year’s end and day’s beginnings." Stevie Smith is a City of Pittsburgh Park Ranger in the Northside’s Allegheny Commons Park. n
Read more news about your Northside parks at nschronicle.com
Halo Award Dinner October 21, 2021 Rock through the ages and celebrate generations of successful Angels' Place families served by committed community members! Information for reservations, silent auction, and Louis Vuitton handbag raffle information can be found at angelsplacepgh.org.
HONORING
Kathy and Richard Yost HONORARY CHAIR COUPLE
Peggy and Richard Watson MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES
Meghan Schiller KDKA-TV
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Get The Good Guys
October 2021
Dist. 1 News: Councilman Wilson Hello everyone, This month, I wanted to share some news about two bills that I advanced through the City Council recently. The first bill requires the City of Pittsburgh, as a major employer in southwestern Pennsylvania, to offer paid bereavement leave to every non-union employee who has suffered a loss of pregnancy. The second bill prohibits the declawing of cats within the City of Pittsburgh.
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Photo: Office of Councilman Wilson
This month, Councilman Wilson discusses two bills he recently advanced through the City Council: one in support of paid bereavement leave for pregnancy loss, and the other to prohibit the declawing of cats. The City of Pittsburgh is now the first government in the United States to offer paid bereavement leave in the event of pregnancy loss. My bill recognizes that pregnancy loss can occur in any of the following forms: miscarriage, stillbirth, termination, failed in vitro fertilization procedures, or surrogacy loss. Miscarriages are especially common, occurring in about 1 out of every 5 pregnancies. In Pittsburgh, per the Gender Equity Commission’s 2019 report “Pittsburgh’s Inequality Across Gender and Race,” pregnancy loss is twice as likely among Black women in Pittsburgh compared to white women. Additionally, according to the same report, the rate of pregnancy loss for both Black and white women in Pittsburgh is over 90 percent higher than the rate of pregnancy loss
for Black and white women in similar American cities. It was time the City of Pittsburgh set an example—in southwest Pennsylvania, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and across this country—as a compassionate workplace for employees who have lost a pregnancy. Such loss carries a heavy stigma because of how personal and how painful it can be. The least we can do is to provide paid leave so that our colleagues in these situations have the time and resources to grieve and heal without feeling pressured to put on a brave face and return to work. My office is now working to expand this leave so that the City’s union employees have the same access to this bereavement leave. We are also seeking commitments from other employers in Pittsburgh, especially large employers, nonprofits and foundations, and quasi-governmental authorities, to join the City of Pittsburgh in offering similar leave to their employees. My second bill seeks to protect cats in the City of Pittsburgh from the inhumane procedure of declawing. Declawing a cat does not just mean removing its nails. When a cat is declawed, the last bone on each of the cat’s toes is amputated. If this happened to one of us, it would be like cutting off each finger and toe at the last knuckle. This is a cruel procedure that causes our cats a lifetime of pain and discomfort. And there are plenty of humane alternatives to declawing. As most cat owners well know, these alternatives include capping a cats’ nails with nail caps, regularly trimming cats’ nails, and providing ample appropriate scratching surfaces to cats. The City of Pittsburgh is now the first government in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to ban the declawing of cats. We set an example as a humane city by prohibiting this procedure. How we treat animals speaks to our deepest values. This bill puts the City of Pittsburgh on a path to treating our cats humanely. If you have any thoughts regarding these two bills, or ideas for legislation that would make Pittsburgh a more compassionate city, please feel free to contact my office. You can reach my staff at (412) 255-2135, email us at district1@pittsburghpa.gov, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We look forward to hearing from all of you. Councilman Bobby Wilson 412-255-2135 Email: District1@pittsburghpa.gov Twitter: @Dist1Pgh Facebook: @CouncilmanBobbyWilson Instagram: @councilmanbobbywilsonn
Read more from your local representatives on our website: nschronicle.com
October 2021
The Northside Chronicle
District 19 News: State Rep. Wheatley It’s no secret minority-owned businesses have faced an uphill battle from the beginning. Throw in the impacts of a global pandemic, and the odds are even more heavily stacked against their favor. With a drastic increase in COVID-19 cases fueled by the Delta variant, it is clear the pandemic is not over, and neither are the challenges so many of our local businesses continue to face. The reality is, systemic barriers— like a lack of the financial resources that are consistently available to white businesses—are obstacles Black business owners faced well before COVID-19 came along, and these struggles have just intensified because of it. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York found small business ownership in the United States dropped between February and April of last year, but Black ownership fell 41%—the greatest decline among all racial groups. Minority-owned businesses are not only facing financial struggles, but they also face disparity when it comes to being selected for work. We’ve heard from 63 different testifiers during five public hearings regarding the impediments that small and minority-owned businesses face relating to obtaining a fair share of the state work funded by taxpayer dollars. But much-needed help could soon be on the way. I’m proud to stand next to the Wolf Administration as they introduce legislation to create the Pennsylvania
Participation Program for Construction and Design Professional Services. This
Photo: Office of Rep. Wheatley
This month, Rep. Wheatley discusses legislation to help minority-owned businesses by counteracting systemic barriers such as lack of access to finances.
would develop race and gender-neutral measures to facilitate the participation of all firms in the commonwealth’s procurement activities, create a directory of small businesses and diverse businesses, and ensure these businesses are solicited on procurements for which they may be suited, among other provisions. This legislation will make it so that small, minority-owned businesses aren’t pushed to the bottom of the list when the commonwealth seeks companies to complete any construction and/or design projects. This legislation will make sure all companies are considered by the commonwealth, regardless of size or who the owner is. That’s the way it should be. I’ve long been a champion for small business inclusion. I’ve chaired the House Select Committee on Minority Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (MWDBE) and appointed a seven member select committee to investigate the awarding of commonwealth contracts, and to ascertain the degree to which non-traditionally owned businesses have been awarded contracts by the commonwealth in contracting and procurement activities. That’s why I support the Administration’s efforts to rid our state of these exclusionary practices. With what we are seeing from the pandemic and its impacts on minority-owned businesses, now more than ever we must open business opportunities. n
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October 2021
District 20 News: State Rep. Kinkead Did you know that most tick-borne illnesses are contracted in the fall and not the spring or the summer? Adult deer ticks, the most common carrier of Lyme disease, emerge during the fall and are typically active during the winter months on days where the temperature is above 40 degrees. In addition to Lyme disease, these ticks also can carry several other illnesses, such as Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and Powassan Virus, that have been reported in the state. Ticks typically thrive in tall grass, brush, and wooded areas, but deer ticks have been found in every county in the state and can live in any habitat. That’s of particular importance in Pennsylvania, which reported 73,610 tickborne disease cases between 2004 and 2016—the highest of any state in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As yet another side effect of the extended warm weather months related to climate change, tick-borne illnesses are on the rise across the United States, and that means prevention needs to be on everyone’s mind. So, as you, your loved ones, and your pets spend more time outdoors this fall, please be aware of the risk and know how to protect yourselves! That means wearing appropriate clothing, using environmentally safe insect repellent, and taking other precautionary
measures. It takes 24 hours to transmit microbial diseases from the tick to a host, so it’s best to check yourself or your pet’s hair and body for ticks immediately after
Photo: Office of Rep. Kinkead
In this month’s column, Rep. Emily Kinkead shares with readers how they can help flatten another curve in Pa.: tick-borne illness.
outdoor time, particularly if that time was around wooded areas, bushes, high grass, or leaf litter. Also, be on the lookout for symptoms associated with tick-borne illnesses, which can include body and muscle aches, fever, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, rash, and more. If you find a tick attached to you or your pet, do not panic. Remove it as soon as possible. The easiest way to do so is with fine-tipped tweezers, with which you should grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible, then pull upward with steady, even pressure. Clean skin thoroughly afterward with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Never crush a tick with your fingers. If you can, save the tick! You can send the tick to be tested, which makes identifying—and therefore treating—tick-borne illnesses much easier. To do so, place it in a sealed plastic bag. Make note of when the bite occurred and where you most likely acquired the tick. Visit ticklab.org and choose which diseases to test the tick for, and then mail the tick to the Tick Lab at East Stroudsburg University. Once the tick is received, you should receive your results within three business days. This information will be invaluable to your doctor if you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing the tick. Call your doctor and share the Tick Lab’s
report with him or her. Knowing the possible tick-borne illness exposure will assist your doctor as she or he determines the most appropriate treatment for you (or your pet). You’ll also want to report all tick-borne diseases—confirmed or suspected—to the Pennsylvania Department of Health disease surveillance system, PA-NEEDS, at https:// www.nedss.state.pa.us/nedss/default.aspx. So while I encourage you to enjoy the nice weather and outdoor spaces to the fullest, please be safe while you do so this fall! And feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or need assistance, whether it be related to this or any state program or service, by calling my office at 412-3215523 or emailing me at RepKinkead@pahouse.net. My team and I are here to help you! n
More news from your local representatives is available at nschronicle.com
October 2021
The Northside Chronicle
Chamber Chat: Priory Fine Pastries
Years ago, I encountered the most delectable pastry at a breakfast offered by a Northside boutique hotel. The pastry— dare I say heavenly treat—was a fluffy, white, cream-filled, powdered sugar-dusted donut that captured my attention and taste buds. It was reminiscent of the donuts my sister and I used to scarf down from our hometown bakery while walking home from school and, at the chagrin of our mother, before dinner. (Our mother always knew we’d each had one because of the powdered sugar ring around our mouths.) At the time, I wondered where the hotel purchased those wondrous powdered sugar-blanketed delicacies. Frequent visits to the local hospital brought me back to the same hotel for overnight stays and each time I dreamt of the mouthwatering sweet morsels with hopes that one may still be waiting for me. Many times, they all disappeared by the time I was ready for breakfast. As a result, I became so driven to snag the coveted creamy confectioneries that it led to a ritualistic hunt by my dear husband who would get up extra early for breakfast to swipe a “white donut” (my term for this tasty treat) for me before they were all taken. Eventually, I discovered the source of the elusive “white donut”: Northside’s very own Priory Fine Pastries. Priory Fine Pastries has a historical beginning. In the mid-1880s, it was the original home to D.L. Clark
Candy Company, which manufactured the famous Clark Bar, developed to meet the demand for candy by U.S. soldiers in World War I. In October 2004, Priory Fine Pastries
when my North Carolinian work colleagues wanted to send red velvet retirement cupcakes from the best bakery in the neighborhood where I lived, they chose Priory Fine
Photos: Priory Fine Pastries
Freshly fried beignets, left, and Halloween cupcakes are both hot commodities at Priory Fine Pastries on East Ohio Street. joined the other retail stores in the Historic Deutschtown neighborhood to serve local families and businesses. Its wide selection of heavenly pastries, cookies, specialty and wedding cakes, and gourmet cupcakes are some of the very best in the region. All of your sweet needs are under one roof! As a matter of fact, they are so well known that
Pastries to deliver them. This delivery solidified my second favorite pastry from Priory Fine Pastries: the scrumptious gourmet red velvet cupcake. So, when I feel I am in the mood for something sweet for breakfast, yet feel I must deny myself (because many of us gained weight during the pandemic), my
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husband will sneak down to Priory Fine Pastries and surprise me with my favorite “white donut.” Living on the Northside also means that my husband no longer needs to get up extra early to snag the last one: I know where they are and can have them all I want! (Yet, be forewarned: This popular pastry does sell out quickly.) Whether you are a neighborhood resident looking for a breakfast pastry or party cake, or a business looking to order a large, unique quantity of delectable goodies, Priory Fine Pastries is the bakery for you! By the way, on their website Priory Fine Pastries claims they are the “Best Bakery in Pittsburgh.” I can truly attest: For my palate, the “white donut” and red velvet cupcakes are the finest in the world! Priory Fine Pastries was started by the Graf family, who owns the Priory Hotel and Grand Hall banquet facility. Priory Fine Pastries is currently owned by former Steeler Joe Cugliari, the owner of Prantl's bakeries. Prantl’s and Priory Fine Pastries has retained all staff and will continue to be located at 528 East Ohio St. Anna Yoder is the Membership Director of the North Side/Shore Chamber of Commerce. Established in 1897, the Chamber’s mission is to “promote, connect and support the growth and success of businesses.” If you have questions about the Chamber or are interested in becoming a member, contact Anna Yoder at anna@ northsidechamberofcommerce.com. n
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The Northside Chronicle
October 2021
Noticeable difference between teaching mindfulness to adults vs. children From Mindfulness, Page 1 circles around you.” She’s found hints of mindfulness while chopping vegetables, preparing meals in her kitchen. “I’ve come to understand it as a practice of focusing,” Younger said. “Focusing for the purpose of learning to pay attention in a way that disarms the part of us that we all have— the part of our brain that’s constantly on guard and looking for threats.” Williams, a “father, elementary educator, mindfulness student-practitioner-teacher, musician, and community gardener,” according to his website, KinderNeighborhood, holds a master’s of mindfulness education from Antioch University New England and a bachelor of arts in elementary education from Wheaton College. He was already leading music programming at Cityview and sharing mindfulness techniques with its congregation; Younger reached out to him with an idea to take his talents to the community at large. “We don't want it to be a Cityview Church thing,” Williams explained. “We wanted to actually do something in the neighborhood for neighbors—[something] that neighbors wanted.” If a group is associated with a church, Younger said, it can sometimes create a barrier for nonreligious people. After surveying surrounding neighbors and members of the Cityview congregation, it was decided to refer to the building where the mindfulness program will be held—formerly The Limbach Community Center on Tripoli Street—as, simply, “The Community Center.” “We wanted to be very intentional about creating a space where people could engage and practice together regardless of their religious convictions,” Younger said. “It’s decidedly nonsectarian.” People can also rent the space for birthday parties; Alcoholics Anonymous groups meet there; and it serves as a women’s drop-in center once a week. Starting on Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m., the mindfulness group will meet for eight weeks. Two or three families, Younger said, have already committed to the free program. “Kids are more than welcome, they’re not just tolerated,” Younger said, and coloring books are available for children who don’t want to participate in the group’s main activities. “If you’re a parent that wants your child to practice mindfulness, all of the research says that you should develop your own practice,'' Williams said. “Showing up as a parent who is mindfully present is the best way to encourage your own children to develop a practice… Benefits from mindfulness only come from practicing it because you want to.” There’s typically a marked difference between teaching mindfulness to adults versus children. Adults, Williams said, often learn mindfulness in a class or retreat setting. They can progress faster because they already come with self-discipline. With children, though,
you have to “lay the groundwork and set the scene for that to happen.” “You have to earn the right for them to trust you enough to try out what you’re say-
Photo courtesy of Mark Williams
Williams: 'If you're a parent that wants your child to practice mindfulness, all of the research says that you should develop your own practice.' ing,” Williams explained. For him, this means incorporating singing, movement, reading stories, and playing games, all “with a mindful theme.” He’s a self-described “child at heart,” and always “leads with [his] childlike tendencies.” While each week’s mindfulness session will build on the previous one, Williams said people can join at any time. The practices he teaches can benefit practitioners of any age. “Once I fell in love with mindfulness, I realized it’s the only thing I wanted to teach to kids,” Williams said. “Once they develop their own practice, it gives them the ability to access their own inner resources so that they can focus on whatever it is that they want to learn.” In other words, it gives children the “scaffolding they need” to navigate school, listen to their parents, and handle the ups and downs of friendship. “The value of mindfulness for families, I think, is critical,” Younger said. “I am finding adults benefiting from learning these skills and really thinking that it would've helped all of us to learn them earlier in life.” Williams pointed to research that proves eight weeks of mindfulness practice is all people need to start seeing neurological benefits related to improved memory, self-awareness, empathy, and stress. He called his eight-week program a “way to encourage each other to try out the practice,” and an “experiment where our own minds are the research place.” See Mindfulness, Page 15
October 2021
The Northside Chronicle
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Navigating the pandemic a 'Herculean effort' for Sandwich Shoppe staff From Sandwich, Page 1 spoke proudly of the growth of the area over the past 40 years. “Now, this is kind of like ‘the place’ to live!” he remarked. The Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe’s location has made it a frequent haunt of Northside politicians and executives alike, who often use the casual spot as a site for meetings. Notable guests include the Rooney family and former Mayor Tom Murphy. “This has always been a place where you never know who's gonna be sitting next to you,” Mastros said. “Could be a judge, could be a councilman, could be the mayor. It could be a business owner who does $100 million a year in business. I don’t know if that would have happened anywhere else in the city.” Even with their often star-studded clientele, the Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe remains a family business to this day, and focuses on cooking food “as you want to do it at home.” Helen has worked with him since retiring from her career with Saks Fifth Avenue 25 years ago, running the restaurant’s register and interacting with customers. Mastros’ 21-year-old daughter, his wife, and his uncle have also helped out at the restaurant over the years. When the pandemic struck, it was Mastros’ wife who helped him navigate getting
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to keep his staff employed. The restaurant had to temporarily close for four months amid the pandemic and reopened on Jan. 11 this year to what Mastros described as
sales figures that Mastros said were down by 70%. Mastros attributes the restaurant’s survival to PPP loans and the ability to expand into outdoor dining, which is now running for the second summer in a row.
Photo: Lauren Stauffer
Nick Mastros, founder and owner of Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe, works side by side daily with his mother, Helen. Following the trials of the COVID-19 pandemic, business at the Shoppe is largely back in full swing. a “slow start.” Originally, they tried shifting to a takeout-only model, but that soon proved unsustainable due to health concerns and
Navigating the pandemic was a “Herculean effort,” he said, for him and his team. “I can't tell you how many months I went to work and didn't make any money…
just to keep things going,” Mastros said. “Sometimes people say when you're in business you have to pay yourself first—not in this rodeo. You have families that depend on you, you have to make a payroll every week, you have fixed overhead that has to be paid, you have to pay your purveyors. If you can't do that balancing act on a razor blade, you're gonna be out.” As of now, things are largely back in full swing at the Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe, with customers packing both the indoor and outdoor seating areas to order their favorite classic dishes. Although the restaurant’s menu has evolved significantly since the 80s, a few traditions remain constant: Meatloaf Thursdays, Friday seafood specials, and beef and turkey roasted in-house daily. Their grilled chicken salads are still served topped with French fries, a holdover from when this was “all the rage” in the Steel City. According to Mastros, when the restaurant first opened, customers mainly sought out classic sandwiches like Reubens or Dagwoods. In time, he embraced a spirit of experimentation despite his own lack of formal culinary training, learning as much as he could along the way. He remembered calling his chef friends while working in the kitchen and described holding his phone on a long cord while leaning over a pot asking,
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See Sandwich, Page 10
The Northside Chronicle
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Enjoy Specials in October to Celebrate BreadWorkS
42nd Birthday
Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe a 'marriage of tradition and innovation' From Sandwich, Page 9
Pittsburgh Born & Bread Monday - Friday 8am-4pm Saturday 8am-2pm Sunday closed for now. Curbside pick-up. Order online! 2110 Brighton Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (412) 231-7555 www.BreadWorksPgh.com
Chocolate Babka Special Available on Saturday, October 16th.
Now Taking Pre-Orders, Call or Order Online
Follow us on Facebook for ongoing specials and promotions: facebook.com/BreadWorkS
October 2021
“OK, so now what do I put in?” In the early 80s, Mastros went out for lunch with a few friends in Long Beach, California, where he was told to try swordfish ceviche, a South American seafood dish where diced cubes of raw fish are diced, marinated, and cured in citrus juices. He had never heard of ceviche before, but loved it on the first bite, and with that, decided to try to recreate it in his own restaurant. “I brought it back here and put it on the menu as a special back in like ‘84, ‘85, and nobody even knew what it was,” he said, laughing. Today, Mastros continues to bring “fresh
talent” into the kitchen to learn about new methods and dishes, while also ensuring that his customers can get those long-time classics that brought them to his restaurant 40 years ago. In this way, the restaurant exists as a marriage of tradition and innovation—a true labor of love for Mastros, his family, and his staff. “To have thought when I built this place at 23 that I'd have a daughter working with me, my mom… my wife… my uncle… Life takes you down a road, you know. You think you're going one direction and then you go another,” Mastros said. “This is like a perfectly worn pair of shoes or [a] pair of jeans now for me. I enjoy coming to work every day.” n
Northside Business Briefs: October 2021 By Ashlee Green
New Hazlett Theater wecomes fall CORNINGWORKS production with updated vaccine policy in place
Divine Pleasures, Heavenly Treats
This October, the Northside’s New Hazlett Theater is presenting “the other shoe,” and guests will be subject to an updated COVID-19 policy. “the other shoe” runs from October 20-24, 2021. According to a press release, it’s “a mix of unflinching monologues,
Photo: FRANK WALSH c. corningworks
"the other shoe," a new CORNINGWORKS production, will take place at New Hazlett Theater Oct. 20-24, 2021.
PrioryFinePastries.com | 412-321-7270 | 528 East Ohio St., North Side
choreography by some of the field's top names, seasoned with a dry wit” and “an acute commentary on our country’s moment in time.” Choreographer and dancer Beth Corning and actor and director Kay Cummings created the “original dance theater work” for and by themselves. The performances will take place as New Hazlett enacts an updated COVID-19 vaccine policy: Guests must show proof of full vaccination to enter any performance and everyone must wear masks indoors. According to the New Hazlett website, an alternative to proof of vaccination is either a negative COVID-19 PCR test or a nega-
tive antigen test; the PCR test results must be taken within 72 hours of the performance and the antigen test, within 24 hours of it. Adults must also show a photo ID. You can read more about upcoming New Hazlett performances as well as the details on their COVID-19 safety protocols at https://newhazletttheater.org/news/covid/.
RP Day postponed this year, but bicycle race still on RP Day: Our Day in Riverview Park, has been postponed this year due to COVID-19, but the Month of Mud at Riverview Cyclocross bicycle race, sponsored by Bear Dog Bikes, is still on. Sponsored by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, the Northside Leadership Conference, and Friends of Riverview Park (FORP), RP Day is an annual celebration of Riverview Park that started in 2018, complete with live music, food, activities for children, and adventure hikes. This year’s event was originally scheduled for October 17. “The decision to postpone RP Day was not taken lightly,” said Mark Masterson, Chair of FORP. “However, RP Day is a family-focused event with attractions that are designed to appeal to families with children under 12 years of age. These kids cannot yet get a vaccine. With the rising COVID-19 infection rate in Allegheny County, we did not want to put anyone at risk and decided to postpone the event until the spring of 2022 or until such time as the pandemic is no longer a factor.” Masterson said the cyclocross race will still occur because the “vast majority of participants are eligible for the vaccine and those participants can also socially distance.” You can register for the race online at: https:// www.bikereg.com/month-of-mud-at-riverview-cyclocross. See Briefs, Page 20
October 2021
The Northside Chronicle
Northside Fall Guide 2021
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The Northside Chronicle - Fall Guide 2021 The Northside Chronicle
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Discover Businesses, Events, and Resources this Fall! Deutschtown
7. The Northside Chronicle Newspaper Box Allegheny Commons Northeast Fountain at the corner of Cedar and North Avenues 8. Elks Lodge #339 400 Cedar Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 | 412-321-1834 | www. elks.org 9. Northside Farmer's Market Allegheny Commons Park. Every Friday 3-6PM. Last Market is November 19, 2021
Allegheny West
1. The Farmer's Daughter Flowers 502 E Ohio St. Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412.231.1238 | www.thefarmersdaughterflowers.com Full service floral shop and botanically inspired gift shop filled with magical curiosities. Come visit us at our new shopfront across the street from our previous location! Pre-order your fall wreath, now shipping!
10. Gus & YiaYia's W Ohio Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Next to the West Park Tennis Courts in Allegheny Commons. Open daily from 11AM-7PM. Hand-shaved ice balls, fresh hot popcorn and peanuts available at the cart. Take a trip down now through Halloween for a traditional treat at one of Northside's most iconic family businesses. 11. T Rankin Agency - State Farm Insurance 838 Western Ave #1, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 | 412-322-1064 | www.trankinsfinsurance.com 12. The Northside Chronicle Newspaper Box Corner of Western and Allegheny Avenues
Manchester
13. Northside Leadership Conference 1319 Allegheny Ave floor 2, Pittsburgh, 15233. 412-231-4714 | www.pittsburghnorthside.com 14. Pittsburgh Community Television PCTV21 15. The Northside Chronicle Newspaper Box Manchester Elementary School at the corner of Manhattan and Juniata Streets 2. Wagsburgh 632 E Ohio St. Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412.904.3459 | www.wagspgh.com We are going online this year with our Halloween Costume Contest for your pets. Visit our events page on Facebook to learn how you can enter your creepy, furry loved one, and a chance to win a $100 Wagsburgh Gift Card...and bragging rights. 3. Priory Fine Pastries 528 E Ohio St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-321-7270 | www.prioryfinepastries. com 4. First National Bank ATM 517 E Ohio St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 www.fnb-online.com 5. The Priory Hotel 614 Pressley St. Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412.904.3459 | www.nschc.org 6. Northside Community Development Fund 922 Middle St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-322-0290 | www.nscdfund.org
Chateau
16. Bicycle Heaven 17. Johnny Angel's Ginchy Stuff & Music Museum
North Shore
18. First National Bank 100 Federal St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. 412-359-2627 | www.fnb-online.com 19. The Northside Chronicle Newspaper Box Across from PNC Park at Federal and Isabella Streets 20. LIFE Pittsburgh
Allegheny Center
21. Brooke Rockwell Hair Designs 22. LIFE Pittsburgh
East Deutschtown
Box E Ohio and Chestnut Streets ⭐Vista Street City Steps Recently renovated, while preserving the mosaic mural by resident Linda Wallen, these steps include a bike runnel to assist cyclists in pushing bicycles up city steps making Pittsburgh's hilly geography more accessible.
Central Northside
25. Allegheny General Hospital 320 E North Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-359-3131 | www.ahn.org 26. First National Bank 490 E. North Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. 412-231-3500 | www.fnb-online.com 27. Allegheny Health Network 1307 Federal St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-359-375 1| www.ahn.org 28. The Northside Chronicle Newspaper Box Randyland at the corner of Arch and Jacksonia Streets 29. Carnegie Library - Allegheny Branch
Observatory Hill
October 2021 43. Tom Friday's Market 44. Lynn Williams Apartments
Troy Hill
⭐Rialto Street City Steps Recently renovated these steps include a bike runnel to assist cyclists in pushing bicycles up city steps making Pittsburgh's hilly geography more accessible.
Spring Hill
45. The Northside Chronicle Newspaper Box Rockledge and Aslyum Streets at Waisenhaus Park.
McKees Rocks
46. Szal Valerian Funeral Home
Downtown
47. NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania P.O. Box 101097, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-281-9773 | www.neighborworkswpa. org 48. 3rd Avenue Boxing Gym
30. First National Bank 3908 Perrysville Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.| 412-231-3144 | www.fnb-online.com
49. Urban Redevelopment Authority 412 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 | 412-255-6600 | www.ura.org
31. The Northside Chronicle Newspaper Box Across from Perry Traditional Academy at corner of Perrysville Ave. at Baytree St.
50. Allegheny County Health Department
Perry Hilltop
32. Steelworkers Tower 33. Reformed Presbyterian Home 37. Angel's Place, Inc.
Marshall-Shadeland
34. SSB Bank 2470 California Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 | 412-482-9010 | www. ssbpgh.com 35. Carnegie Library - Woods Run Branch
Charles Street Valley
36. BreadWorkS 2110 Brighton Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-231-7555 | www.breadworkspgh.com 38. The Northside Chronicle Newspaper Box Charles St. at Brighton Rd. at Sprout Park
Brighton Heights
39. The Northside Chronicle Newspaper Box Brighton Heights Blvd at California Ave 40. Dirt Doctors Cleaning Services
23. The Garden Cafe
41. Riverview Manor
24. The Northside Chronicle Newspaper
42. Goodrich & Geist, P.C.
Bellevue
51. Matthew D. Gailey & Associates, LLP
Millvale
52. Lloyd McBride Court
Lawrenceville 53. IW Abel Places
COVID Vaccine Clinics on the Northside Allegheny County Health Department Friday, October 1st and Friday, October 8th (FLU Shots and Pfizer Boosters available) 12-4pm Project Destiny PGH Manchester location (1810 Fulton Street) https://vax4.alleghenycounty.us/patient/s/ *More dates will be added soon Manchester Citizens Corporation Block Party 10:30am-1:30pm at Manchester Field Allegheny County Health Department Saturday, October 2nd https://vax4.alleghenycounty.us/patient/s/ Allen Place Community Services, Inc. Free Diabetes Symposium 10am-4pm Allegheny Commons Park Northside Christian Health Center and Allegheny Health Network Every Friday 3pm-6pm A Place to Start Northside Weekly Clinic (Northside Farmers’ Market - Allegheny Commons Park)
October 2021
*More clinic dates will be scheduled soon.
The Northside Chronicle - Fall Guide 2021 The Northside Chronicle
Follow NSLC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for daily updates. Facebook: @pittsburghnorthside Twitter: @PGHNorthside Instagram: northsidelc
59% use TV as a primary source, 42% use news websites as a primary source, 41% use social media as a primary source, and 36% use radio as a primary source. 32% answered newspapers were not a primary source.
Newspaper Project Survey Results
Local news sources frequently mentioned: Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Tribune Review, City Paper, WESA, Public Source, KDKA, WPXI, WQED.
Thank you to our readers who took the time to respond to the Newspaper Project Survey. The survey was available in both print and our website, www.thenorthsidechronicle.com/survey, from July-September 2021. What we learned from our readers and how newspaper audiences' access and consume news today: 21% of respondents mailed their survey answers in physical form by postal mail.
Frequent news sources survey responders utilize 66% listed newspapers as a primary source and of that % of newspaper users, 60% listed some form of digital communication as a primary source.
Communication platforms frequently mentioned as sources: PATCH, NextDoor, and Facebook neighborhood groups/communities, other local officials/departments social media feeds (Twitter).
Demographics of survey responders 38% grew up and continue to live/returned to the Northside, 29% moved from another part of city/county to the Northside, 14% moved from another part of the state to the Northside, 11% moved from another part of the country to the Northside, while 7% grew up on the Northside and moved elsewhere. 63% identified as she, 30% he, 4% they, and 3% non-response. 46% of survey takers are 65+ years old, 30% are 44-64 years old, and 23% are 22-43
years old. Residents from these neighborhoods responded: Allegheny City Central, Allegheny West, Brighton Heights, California-Kirkbride, Chateau, East Allegheny, Historic Deutschtown, Fineview, Manchester, Marshall-Shadeland, Mexican War Streets, North Shore, Observatory Hill, Perry Hilltop, Ross, Spring Garden, Spring Hill, Troy Hill. 80% owned a home and car, and of these respondents, 80% transported themselves only by their cars while others had a mix of alternatives in order of popularity: manually biking/walking, riding public transportation, and ordering private transportation services. 12% rent their housing with only half of these respondents owning a car. 14% preferred not to share their household income, 23% earn $100,000 or more, 26% household income is between $50,000$99,999, while 33% of households take home $45,000 or less per year.
Thoughts from survey responders "I look forward every month to the Chronicle. It's a very good (excellent) paper! To read and follow all that is going on around the area. I also send two copies to former friends that lived on the Northside. They love the paper also. Keep up the good work."
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"With proper editing skills you might be able to rely on residents for local coverage." "I enjoy your monthly paper. I wish it was available in more locations. Any chance it can be semi-monthly? You have in-depth reporting on every article you publish- great job!" "I am very grateful that we have a free Northside paper. Thank you!" "I think you do a great job with the resources you have." "I enjoy having a publication that is special to my neighborhood." "I think newspapers can cut down on printing, but print newspapers should never go away entirely." "Please continue the local paper." "The days of one comprehensive newspaper are gone forever it seems. Now we are forced to get our info from multiple sources, each covering one area: arts, hard news, opinion, etc. And not everyone wants the hassle of Facebook (which is not all that reliable). Too bad there aren't enough resources to grow the Northside Chronicle!" Do you have thoughts you'd like to share about this publication and the future of news? Take the survey online: www.thenorthsidechronicle.com/survey
The Northside Chronicle - Fall Guide 2021 The Northside Chronicle
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October 2021
Elks Lodge Keystone Grant Challenge In 2021, the Allegheny Elks Lodge #339 and our partnering organization, the Allegheny Historic Preservation Society (AHPS), were awarded a Keystone Historic Preservation Grant to prepare a building study to address the structural and mechanical needs of our 95-year-old building. The $25,000 grant requires a dollar-for-dollar match. Please help us reach our goal by making a tax-deductible contribution made payable to: Allegheny Historic Preservation Society 971 Beech Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233.
NOVEMBER 6 & 7
4400 FORBES AVENUE
Please note on the check or correspondence that your donation is for the Elks Building Fund. Or, to contribute electronically through PayPal, visit https://tinyurl.com/ahps339 or scan the QR code below.
Join Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh for a celebration 125 years in the making! We’re celebrating our anniversary by opening up our historic Oakland
(412) 321-1834 | 400 Cedar Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15212
campus to the community... FOR FREE. Experience our spaces like never before. Fun for the whole family. Take part in activities, performances,tours, and more!
CRASH in on the fun!
CrashtheCarnegies.org
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October 2021
Younger: Mindfulness that starts in the family can heal the world
From Mindfulness, Page 8 Mindfulness that starts in the family can ultimately, Younger believes, help to
Page 15
YINZBURGH! COMICS By Nils Hanczar
neighborhoods and even the disagreements we have differently can build the world that we want.” If you are interested in joining Younger
Photo courtesy of Mark Williams
Mark Williams incorporates singing, movement, and games into his mindfulness curriculum for children. 'You have to earn the right for [children] to trust you enough to try out what you're saying,' he says. heal the world. “Just look at the news: We’re a society at war with each other, constantly unsure of where we stand with our neighbors,” she said. “Learning to see our neighbors and
and Williams for an upcoming mindfulness session, email cityviewpgh@gmail.com, or visit KinderNeighborhood.com for more information. You do not need to have children to participate. n
Visit our website: www.thenorthsidechronicle.com for news about Northside real estate, events, & more.
Tom Friday’s Market since 1955
3639 California Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 | tel: 412-766-4500
Help Wanted: Janitorial
Monday - Saturday 8:00AM - 5:00PM | Closed Sunday Last butcher shoppe in Pittsburgh city limits to carry fresh hanging sides of beef. Call us with your order Wholesale, Retail, & Restaurants Welcome! Daily home delivery $2.50 for $25 Min Purchase • Delivery Areas Vary • Includes Freezer Meat Specials
Save Big Now!
Neville Island Area, Warehouse Cleaning Monday-Friday 9AM to 1PM | $12.00 per hour
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McKees Rocks, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Weekends 2.5 hours each evening | $11.00 per hour
Whole & Half Pigs Only $2.49/lb.
Beef Hindquarters and Beef Sides are $3.29/lb. Cut and wrapped to order.
HINDQUARTER: T-bone Steaks Porterhouse Steaks Sirloin Steaks Rump Roast Sirloin Tip Roast Flank Steaks London Broils* Eye of Round Roast* Bottom Round Roast (roast or chopped)* Shank Beef (for soup or ground) *OR Full Cut Round Steak
BIG SAVINGS
FOREQUARTER: Chuck Roast Chuck Steaks Stew Beef or Ground Beef Bone-in Rib Eye Steaks or Delmonico Steaks Short Ribs of Beef Beef Brisket Skirt Steak Ground Beef Beef Sides include Hindquarter and Forequarter cuts.
#1 FREEZER SPECIAL $189.00
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Must have own car and be able to pass a criminal background check.
Voted Best Butcher Shop in Pittsburgh!
Thank you!
10 lb Ground Beef, 3 lb Weiners, 5 lb Chicken Legs, 2 Slices of Ham (center cut), 2 lb Sirloin Steak, 1 Slab Spare Ribs or Meatloaf, 3 lb Center Cut Chuck Roast, 2 lb Round Steak,
412-931-3490 By City Paper
3 lb Box of Beef Patties, 1 Whole Cut up Chicken, 1 lb Boiled Ham, 2 lb Center Cut Pork Chops, 3 lb Country Style Spare Ribs, 3 lb Chuck Steaks, 2 lb Box Sliced Bacon. (3 substitutions allowed)
Great Prices, Quality Cuts, and Friendly Service Every Time Weekly Specials Every Thursday www.tomfridaysmarket.com
Help support the Northside community newspaper’s mission to provide hyperlocal coverage for our neighborhoods, neighbors and their future.
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Why did the reporter talk to the ice cream? .poocs eht rof gnikool saw ehS
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October 2021
Where Senior Life is about Valued Living
Join our team!
Apply today to become part of our team of heroes who have served the North Side Community for 124 years! Positions Available Include: Nursing (CNA, RN, LPN)
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Environmental Services (Housekeeping and Maintenance) Personal Care (PC Aide, Med Tech) Reception Desk
Faith Hope Love
Affordable, Comfortable Retirement Living • Spacious one-bedroom floor plans • Rent is based on income • Controlled access building • On-site Laundry • Service Coordinator
Northside owned and operated, we guarantee your satisfaction with every office visit!
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1500 Letort St. Pittsburgh, PA 15212 | 412-734-0741 www.nationalchurchresidences.org Dave Carlton, Property Manager
Trust Dirt Doctors for all of your cleaning and disinfecting needs. Call us to schedule your next cleaning with a free, no obligation quote today. 1272 Benton Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15212 dirtdoctorscleaning.com (412) 726-0800 Named Brighton Heights Business of the Year in 2017 by the Northside Leadership Conference, Best Northside Small Business Cleaning Service by The Northside Chronicle’s Reader’s Choice Awards in 2019 & Active Community Member for over 15 years, proudly serving the Northside!
The Northside Chronicle
October 2021
Page 17
Pittsburgh’s haunted haunts and the science behind being scared By Sonu Babu In the 1860s, a wealthy man named Charles Congelier built his dream mansion in Pittsburgh’s Northside. By the end of the 20th century, the stately home, located at 1129 Ridge Ave.—now a parking lot— was referred to as the “most haunted house in America.” According to legend, Congelier lived with his wife Lyda and maid Essie. It is said that Lyda murdered the two of them when she saw that they were having an affair. Historian and Northside Chronicle contributor David Rotenstein tells the story on his blog, History Sidebar. He adds that in 1927, storage tanks at the Equitable Gas Company along the Ohio River exploded and killed close to 30 people, including a woman named Mary Cancelliere, who lived at that same address. Although the “Congelier House” is no longer standing, many believe the original location of the home to be a hotspot for supernatural activity. East Hills Paranormal Journey Pittsburgh has its fair share of haunted places with rich histories such as the Congelier House. There’s Spring Hill Brewing, formerly the Workingmen’s Beneficial Union social hall, for example, which was featured on the Travel Channel’s show Ghost Bait. Photo Antiquities on East
Ohio Street, too: The museum includes exhibits of post-mortem photographs, popular around 1840, and “spirit” photos, which The Northside Chronicle reported “require a double-exposure technique which gives the illusion that someone or something in a particular photo is
unsolved crimes and history throughout the Northside and surrounding areas. For Josh, who has been ghost hunting for about 13 years, it’s about the excitement of the hunt. “History these days seems to be covered up and falsified,” said Shelton. “Allegheny County is rich in mystery.” He became interested in the supernatural by watching ghost hunting TV shows. Once East Hills started to get their name out, a lot of people began to call the group and ask them to do investigations. According to Shelton, the group uses digital cameras, voice recorders, and radiofrequency devices to look for changes in temperature, or Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), which can serve as answers to questions or an order for the group to leave. East Hills members, Shelton said, Photo: ScareHouse usually ask spirits if they can return to the ScareHouse, located inside the Galleria at investigation site using radio frequency Pittsburgh Mills, is, according to its web- devices, and try to be respectful to spirits if site: an "annual tradition for fright fans" they hear a negative response. When the East Hills team, made up celebrating "twenty years of fears." of five or six regular members, sets out to translucent or ghost-like.” investigate Dead Man’s Hollow located in From haunted mansions to horror McKeesport, they bring along their gear movies, people enjoy getting scared and to try to hear and talk to spirits through it learning more about creepy occurrences. and aim to uncover what really happened While some simply stumble upon unset- in an area with the help of EVP. In 1874, tling incidents, others, like Josh Shelton Dead Man’s Hollow, an eight-mile hiking from East Hills Paranormal Journey, enjoy trail, sparked its own mystery. Legend has seeking them out. The objective of the it that the conservation area got its name afgroup is to uncover the truth behind ter a group of teenagers found a dead body
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there hanging from a noose. People could not figure out who the victim was and no one was charged for the murder. East Hills’ most recent investigation took place at the former Union Sewer Pipe Company, also in Dead Man’s Hollow. A fire burned it down, and according to Shelton, people reported being pushed and scratched and hearing voices and footsteps as they walked around in empty areas. Haunted Pittsburgh For history buffs or anyone interested in Pittsburgh’s past while wanting a good scare, Haunted Pittsburgh is a popular organization. The team at Haunted Pittsburgh calls themselves “the curators of Pittsburgh's nightmares, the archivists of its fears, and the trustees of all things that go ‘bump in the night’ in Western Pennsylvania.” It came to life when Michelle Smith discovered Victorian-era accounts of ghost stories in old newspapers. Haunted Pittsburgh provides downtown tours of haunted places that are mostly from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The tours incorporate Pittsburgh history; they have taken place in Oakland, Mount Washington, and the Southside. Their guiding stories often come from newspaper accounts of when the incidents first occurred. “Victorians were heavily into See Scared, Page 23
• Do you need help with Medicare? • Are you struggling to pay for your Part D prescription drugs or other healthcare costs? • Do you need help understanding your coverage?
The PA MEDI Program can help people with Medicare by screening them for assistance programs, such as: • Extra Help Program – which helps lower the cost of Part D prescription drug costs • Medicare Savings Programs – which covers the payment of the Medicare Part B premium
PA MEDI can also help you understand your Medicare coverage, preventative benefits, and give you free, accurate, unbiased advice. The Annual Open Enrollment Period is between 10/15 and 12/7, schedule an appointment with a PA MEDI Counselor.
call PA MEDI at 412.661.1438 or visit wfspa.org/service/pamedi Effective July 1, 2021, APPRISE is now Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight, PA MEDI – Same Program, Same Services for Pennsylvania’s Medicare Beneficiaries, now with a New Name. This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001PAMISH-00, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.
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Financing Northside Small Businesses since 2000
Flexible low-interest financing for · Start-up costs
· Working capital · Inventory or supplies · Furniture or fixtures · Equipment or machinery · Real estate acquisitions · Leasehold improvements
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www.nscdfund.org Contact Rich Newell, Loan Officer
412-322-0290 ext. 101 | newell@nscdfund.org
Contact Miauna Connor, Loan Officer
412-322-0290 ext. 102 | connor@nscdfund.org
922 middle street, pittsburgh, PA 15212 t: 412-322-0290 | www.nscdfund.org Small Business Administration Micro Enterprise Lender
October 2021
October 2021
The Northside Chronicle
Rain garden rehab, redesign of Mairdale entrance plans in the works at Riverview Park By Ashlee Green Progress is taking place in two parts to better manage stormwater in Riverview Park. Construction of the PWSA’s Landslide Remediation Project, which is part of the first phase of the Woods Run Stormwater Project, has begun. Back in October of 2019, just as PWSA put phase one of their stormwater management plan in Riverview Park into action by constructing rain gardens along Riverview Avenue, excessive rainfall gave way to a landslide. In turn, the rain garden along Horseshoe Bend was clogged. On September 14, crews from Eisler Landscapes started to both stabilize the hillside above Horseshoe Bend and restore the rain garden itself. According to Ana Flores, project manager, and Rebecca Zito, senior manager of public affairs for PWSA, work should be completed by the end of the year. Phase two of the project, which aims to mitigate flooding through stream restoration and rain gardens at the Mairdale entrance to Riverview Park, is undergoing a redesign. The redesign is taking place in response to ALCOSAN’s Consent Decree and Clean Water Program from early 2020. The goal of the ALCOSAN plan is to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSO) into
Pittsburgh rivers, and includes construction of a tunnel along the Ohio river to reduce CSOs. “Given the new information, PWSA temporarily suspended the Woods Run
“We shifted the project goals away from CSO reduction and instead emphasized priorities to reduce basement sewage backups and overland flooding.” “Although the features within the revised plan may look the same, the project has changed from a combined sewer overflow focus to localized flood mitigation.” Some planned features of the new project include: “rain gardens constructed below the Riverview Park Soccer Field, stream restoration and extension down Mairdale avenue, parking lot modifications, amenities, tree plantings, and storage facilities.” Once the final design and permitting is approved, construction can start. Flores and Rendering: PWSA Zito estimate this will take place in 2023. A A rendering shows what the stream community meeting is tentatively planned restoration and extension down Mairdale for early 2022 to update the public on this project. Avenue will look like. Check out the project website for more Phase 2 project to re-evaluate our priorities information. n for this project, ensuring it was consistent with ALCOSAN’s plan, and cost effective for our ratepayers,” Flores and Zito wrote in an email to The Northside Chronicle. ALCOSAN going forward with its plans, Flores and Zito explained, meant that the original second phase of PWSA’s stormwater project would have “duplicated efforts.”
Visit our website to stay up-to-date on what's happening in Riverview Park: nschronicle.com
Page 19
Technology used to detect COVID-19 brings hope for Lyme disease too By Sonu Babu and Ashlee Green This year more than ever, Lyme disease has skyrocketed, and Pittsburgh is a hotspot for it. A new technology from Adaptive Biotechnology, though, brings hope for early detection. According to an article in the Frederick News-Post, a survey of more than 5,000 adult blacklegged ticks statewide indicated that 58 percent were carrying Lyme disease. By mid-July of this year, WTAE reported that more than 40 children had been treated for severe and acute symptoms of Lyme at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh alone. Dr. Shari Rozen, a doctor at Preferred Primary Care Physicians of Pittsburgh, is working with Adaptive Biotechnology on an investigational test taking place in the city as part of the ImmuneSense™ Lyme Study. See Lyme, Page 22
The Northside Chronicle
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October 2021
Photo: TREK Development Group
Neighbors celebrated the relighting of the Garden Theater Sign on Sept. 15. n
Ask An Attorney By Matthew D. Gailey, Gailey Law Group Small business is the engine that drives our economy, and the concerns of small businesses have very important implications in the law. This article will focus on some aspects small businesses should take into account. Firstly, small businesses have many choices to make at their formation: Which corporate form should your business choose? Should your business be an incorporation, a limited liability company, a sole proprietorship, a partnership, etc? The decision about which corporate form to use for your small business will have wide ranging effects on its success. It is important that businesses choose a corporate form which is best for them and register their corporate form with the Pennsylvania Secretary of State for two reasons.
The first reason is to protect an individual's assets from lawsuits by providing corporate protection for small businesses. The second reason is for tax planning. Depending on the size of your business, the decision about the corporate form will affect how to file your taxes. It may make a great deal of sense, for example, for smaller, self-employed individuals to file their taxes as an S-Corporation. By doing so, the small business can avoid paying a good portion of onerous self-employment taxes. As always, it is important to discuss with an attorney any concerns of dealing with the law so that businesses can formulate plans to best position themselves for success.
Allegheny City Brewing marks five-year milestone From Briefs, Page 10
Allegheny City Brewing celebrates fifth anniversary Save the date: Allegheny City Brewing (ACB) in Historic Deutschtown is celebrating its fifth anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 2. The brewery, located at 507 Foreland St., is hosting an all-day event featuring the debut of a collaboration beer with Dancing Gnome Brewery, grub from Just Roll’d Up food truck, and live music from Sierra Sellers and Cam Chambers.
But, we're most proud of how many true friends we've made, dogs we've met, fundraisers we've hosted, couples who met at ACB, and families that formed and have grown over these years.” Grasso said that while the ACB team “want to always get better at our craft,” he’s glad that the brewery today is “very close to what we wanted to be.” The owners have been focusing on navigating the pandemic safely, Grasso explained, and because of that, future ideas for ACB have been put on hold, but he welcomes new suggestions and feedback. “We are starting to have some of those future discussions now.”
The Garden Café debuts plant library in conjunction with one-year anniversary
Photo: Allegheny City Brewing
Allegheny City Brewing's "Observatory Hill Haze" is made from fresh hops grown and harvested on two vacant lots in the Northside.
OUT NOW! The Northside Chronicle’s
Best of Northside Small Business 4th Annual Readers Choice Awards Nomination form is on the back page + online until October 22, 2021.
“It is certainly a milestone we are proud of,” said ACB co-owner Al Grasso. “When we opened, our vision was to be a place that made great beer and also provided a true neighborhood atmosphere. “Thankfully, we are in an amazing neighborhood with so many people who were ready to take this journey with us. We're very proud to reach five years, and we're proud to have seen growth through these last couple crazy years.
The Garden Café is turning one year old, and in addition to their rotating fall menu, they’re celebrating with a take-one, leave-one plant library. The first cuttings in the collection are from a cerveza ‘n lime plant. “Feel free to take a cutting whenever you stop by for a coffee…,” a post on the café’s Facebook wall reads. “Let’s keep each other’s houses green this fall & winter!” Sharing a cutting from your own plant in exchange for one you take is encouraged, the post explains, but not necessary. Located at 1022 Chestnut St. on the corner of Chestnut Street and East North Avenue in East Deutschtown, The Garden Café coffee shop serves coffee and espresso drinks and pastries, including seasonal pumpkin cream nitro cold brew and pumpkin pecan muffins from Threefiftyº Bakery. The Café’s takeout window is open seven days a week: Hours are Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check out their website for more information: https://gardencafepgh.com/. n
The Northside Chronicle
October 2021
Page 21
Northside Real Estate Transfers Allegheny City Central
Marshall-Shadeland
Joshua Suhey to Nathan Yesko at 1402 Sherman Ave. for $258,000.
James Martin to Fox Chase Solutions at 1242 Dickson St. for $45,000.
Richard Garzony to Michael and Meghan Spezialetti at Loraine St. (VACANT LAND 23-G-118) for $2,091.
Pittsburgh City to Philip Bohr III and Katherine Bohr at 2925 Hartman St. for $5,400.
Richard Garzony to Michael and Meghan Spezialetti at Loraine St. (VACANT LAND 23-G-119) for $2,091.
Estate of Howard Domke to Jared Dale Ondovchik at 3236 Rothpletz St. for $53,000.
Kathleen Chase to Mazzarini Real Esate Group LLC at 136 E Jefferson St. for $16,000.
Kenneth Hollihan to 226 LLC at 961 Woods Run Ave. for $30,000.
Winston Rajakumar to Jacob Finkler and Susan Slater at 1502 Federal St. for $450,000.
Nelson Birkhimer to M2 & M3 Capital Funding LLC at 2711 Brighton Road for $4,300.
Northside Properties Residences 2 LLC to Todd Meyer at 248 Alpine Ave. for $14,197.
Ibuypittsburgh Inc. to Redo Consulting LLC at 1034 Rothpletz St. for $38,900.
Allegheny West
Observatory Hill
Standard Holdings LLC to Astrobotic Real Estate Holdings LLC at 1127 Western Ave. for $3,000,000.
Aaron Baker to Erica and Jason Snyder at 3362 Delaware St. for $94,950.
Brighton Heights Robin White to Benjamin Brode at 3529 Gerber Ave. for $190,000. Timothy Campbell to Christopher Campbell and Meredith Douthett at 3536 Massachusetts Ave. for $74,999.
Anthony Balawejder to Akil Blount Exclusive Enterprises LLC at 27 Semicir St. for $10,000. Stilts & Stones LLC to Sochet Sao at 3810 East St. for $108,000. Andrew Clausen to Kurt Alan Schmidt at 345 Gould Ave. for $125,000.
Kelli Bradford to Brandi and Hannah Hahn Hollee at 1017 Pemberton St. for $278,000.
Perry Hilltop
N. William Good to Good & Moore Real Estate Holdings LLC at 1017 Reiss St. for $60,420.
John Churay to LSRB LLC at 1950 Lithgow Ave. for $9,000.
Gary Eckhardt to Sarah Reed Souders at 1112 Termon Ave. for $169,000.
Steel City Observer Investment Group LLC to VB One LLC at 617-1/2 Danbury St. for $95,000.
Christopher Kramer to Tanya Bass at 2027 Termon Ave. for $66,000.
David Lister to Taje Freeman at 2300 Osgood St. for $245,000.
Constance Sambroak to Eric Andrew Gentzler at 4028 California Ave. for $174,900.
Chad Cagey to Golden Key Development LLC at 2727 Perrysville Ave. for $20,000.
Kyle Sutton to Harold Wood II and Stephanie Shea at 1314 Orchlee St. for $238,500.
Arthur Williams to Ang Li at Suffolk St. (VACANT LAND) for $2,000.
JBN Investments LLC to Silver Rock Properties PA 1 LLC at 3441 Fleming Ave. for $127,000.
Jeffrey Blair to Derek Schnaitmann Roberson at 105 Venture St. for $43,500.
Macario Hing Glover to Titan HG Holdings LLC at 3755 Atkins St. for $45,600.
JT Global Ventures LLC to SFR 3 LLC at 2815 Veteran St. for $68,000.
PPREF B LLC to Timothy Kotlensky and Claire Logsdon at 3256 Bainton St. for $226,300.
Gary Imbrogno to Michael and Deanna Butler at 1773 Perrysville Ave. for $215,000.
Robin James Walton to Chad Vogler and Avery Thomas at 3442 California Ave. for $250,000. John Urbanek to Liam and Sarah Flynn at 1822 Morrell St. for $240,000.
California-Kirkbride
Spring Garden Estate of Patricia Panion to Justin Sovak at 1109 Spring Garden Ave. for $175,000.
Estate of Raymond Waters to David and Deborah Wisnick at 1303 Stranmore St. for $14,500.
Spring Hill
Raynard Glymph to ALMD Realty LLC at 2314 Atmore St. for $52,500.
Brian Dawson to Aaron and Catherine Basskin at 931 Haslage Ave. for $295,000.
Pittsburgh Investors Group Inc. to Golden Key Development LLC at 1306 Stranmore St. for $29,900.
PGH Investors Inc. to Lawrenceville Property Group Inc. at 1026 Shreve St. for $74,000.
East Deutschtown Rachel Harriott to CJ Real Estate Management GP at 846 Blossom Way for $42,000. PinRE Holdings L.P. to Avissarim LLC at 837 Peralta St. for $50,000.
Manchester
Paul Hendricks to SFR3-000 LLC at 1104 Fabyan St. for $87,000. Pittsburgh City to Darian Balcom at 19 Woessner St. for $2,900. Elise Sierer to James Smith at 2145 Donora St. for $50,000.
Summer Hill Bruce Barger to Austin Ramsey and Jenna Grogan at 122 Montville St. for $220,000.
Pittsburgh City to Calvin Sheffield at 1010-1012 Decatur St. for $3,300. Landmarks Development Corp. to Jeffrey Cooper at 1403 Pennsylvania Ave. for $250,000.
Troy Hill
Robert Edmunds Jr. to Michael Geeter II and Lia Shaffer at Sheffield St. for $304,000.
Robert Fallon to Joel Sinclair at 1825 Elbow St. for $242,000. Ronald Boyd to Sadie Paradise at 2013 Veronica St. for $167,000. Virginia Almara to Babak Firouzi at 1333 Lowrie St. for $90,000. Nicklaus Schubert to Brabek Properties LLC at 1110 Brabec St. for $72,500. Peter Albrethsen to Eric Giles and Stephanie Stahovic at 2009 Straubs Lane for $165,000.
Real estate transfers also listed at www.nschronicle.com
The Northside Chronicle
Page 22
T-cells the immune system's 'first responders' From Lyme, Page 19 The key to detecting Lyme disease is understanding the immune system’s “first responders,” which are T-cells. T-cells can detect any virus. The investigational test aims to measure the body’s natural T-cell response to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease from a sample of blood. Starting earlier this year, T-cell tests have already been used as an alternative to antibody tests to detect past infections from COVID-19. According to STAT News, T-cells “help the body remember what its viral enemies look like.” This new technology is exciting: According to a press release, existing lab tests only pinpoint about 20-40% of people experiencing early acute Lyme infections. Additionally, as Rozen explained, antibody tests are the current norm for detecting Lyme, but “antibodies don’t develop instantaneously, so there can be a delay in diagnosis…” The T-cell tests, on the other hand, could potentially work faster to improve the speed of diagnosis, thereby decreasing long-term health consequences, such as arthritis, facial palsy, and irregularities in heart rhythm. Early detection can help prevent more serious symptoms, which can happen easily if people miss a rash, or do not notice a tick because it is too small. Lyme is a tick-borne disease; its classic symptom is a bullseye rash. It can be benign or cause more severe symptoms, but according to Rozen, it should always be taken seriously. While most patients who contract Lyme are successfully treated with antibiotics and feel completely better within weeks to months, Rozen said about one in 20 still experiences pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking that lasts more than six
October 2021
Mexican War Streets Yard Sale 2021
months after finishing treatment. “The best thing you can do is find the tick and remove it. Because if the tick is removed within the first couple of days before it becomes engorged, you don’t even have to treat it,” said Rozen. To date, the ImmuneSense™ Lyme Study has enrolled over 700 participants
Photo courtesy of Dr. Shari Rozen
Dr. Shari Rozen, a doctor at Preferred Primary Care Physicians of Pittsburgh, is the principal investigator for the ImmuneSense™ Lyme Study.
from across the nation. Patients who have Photos: Randy Strothman a bullseye rash and would like to participate can directly reach out to the test- The Mexican War Streets Yard Sale took place on Saturday, Sept. 4. A total of around ing site at 412-650-6155. Learn more at 109 vendors participated in the sale, which included plenty of neighbor meet-andImmuneSenseStudy.com. n greets. The event was organized by the Mexican War Streets Society. n
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October 2021
The Northside Chronicle
Page 23
Fear can cause 'natural high' From Scared, Page 17 spiritualism,” explained Smith. They even traditionally told ghost stories on Christmas, and old newspapers would often record these stories.” Smith and her business partner, Tim Murray, were motivated to show people Pittsburgh’s history with an interesting twist, so they researched haunted occurrences and history for two years before launching the tours. “Pittsburgh is teeming with ghost stories,” said Smith. “We’ve researched our stories pretty carefully. We don’t rely on urban legends and have some type of factual basis for our stories.” Smith’s favorite tale is the account of Pittsburgh industrialist Henry Clay Frick’s attempted assassination. Anarchist Alexander Berkman burst into Frick’s office and shot at him three times at point-blank range; two of the bullets hit Frick in his neck. Spectators asked Berkman how he missed, and he claimed that he was blinded by sunlight. This was strange, Smith noted, because apparently there was no sunlight coming through the nearby window.
said that they have done private tours for Girl Scouts. According to her, tourists primarily come to learn more about Pittsburgh in the summer, while people who are local book a tour during Halloween. Around 20 people attend each tour. “I think people like well-crafted stories,” Smith said in regard to why there’s such interest in the tours. Finding truth amidst the tales, she said, is the hardest part of her job. Smith needs to sift through popular urban legends and find the facts. Her organization also has to take location into account to narrow down the stories, since some places are too spread apart to be included in the tours. When asked why she thinks people enjoy hearing scary stories, Smith said, “I think it’s human nature. I think people like adventure, but in a safe environment.”
Community TV on the Northside
The science behind being scared So why do people enjoy being scared? Storytelling is one of the oldest ways
Discover how to produce your own TV show with us!
Watch on Comcast 21, Verizon 47, pctv21.org & now on Roku! Call 412-322-7570 to learn more or visit www.pctv21.org
www.AllingAgencyllc.com Photo: Dr. Margee Kerr
Dr. Margee Kerr, the former staff sociologist at Pittsburgh's ScareHouse, explains in her Ted Ed lesson that fear is an elevated emotional place that the brain can easily 'relabel' to joy.
Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ggbain-07131 (digital file from original neg.)
According to Michelle Smith of Haunted Pittsburgh, Victorians were passionate about spiritualism. Henry Clay Frick, for example, claimed that the celestial glow of his deceased daughter Martha saved him from being assassinated. Frick refused to speak of what he said really happened for decades. Toward the end of his life, he revealed the claim that he saw the celestial glow of his deceased daughter Martha, which may have blinded Berkman and saved Frick’s life. Haunted Pittsburgh tours attract many people, but their key demographic is made up of seniors and families. Smith also
to incite fear, an emotion that is activated by the brain’s amygdala. Surprisingly, feeling scared can be similar to feeling excitement and happiness. According to a Ted Ed lesson by Dr. Margee Kerr, an author and sociologist who studies fear and the former staff sociologist at Pittsburgh’s ScareHouse, the fight or flight response shuts down unimportant functions of the body, such as pain and critical thought, during a dangerous situation. The lack of both feeling hurt and overthinking can cause a “natural high” or euphoria. When people are riding roller coasters, for example, they may start in an elevated emotional place of fear, but can easily “relabel” their emotion to joy. Just as Smith said, many people like to seek a thrill in a safe environment. That safe environment makes all the difference between having an enjoyable experience or a terrifying one. The thrill of hearing a scary story, ghost hunting, or watching a horror movie are done in safe or controlled environments, which makes it easier to enjoy them. n
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Official Rules/Disclaimers: Readers have the ability to submit nominations for ‘Best of’ Award Contest through October 22, 2021. Submissions may be submitted online or by post-mail. Use this page to nominate by writing in a Northside business for each category. Post-mail your entry to: The Northside Chronicle, c/o Readers Choice Awards, 922 Middle St. Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Online voter forms can be obtained by becoming a subscriber to The Northside Chronicle’s free weekly e-newsletter on the website at www.nschronicle.com or by following @nschronicle on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Official voting for the Best Northside Small Business in The Northside Chronicle’s 5th Annual Readers Choice Awards begins November 1st through November 20th until 5:00PM through printed ballots and online voting. There are no drawings/winnings for voters in this contest. Small businesses entered into Award Contest are organized by category and listed in order of first nomination entry. Nominations of closed, moved, or unidentifiable businesses were excluded, including businesses that were verified to be located outside of area (15212, 15214, 15233), non-fit for category nominated in, or other reasons. Nominated Northside small businesses will be printed in the November issue and winners will be revealed in the December 2021 issue of The Northside Chronicle.
