The Northside Chronicle
Sept. 2019 Est. 1985
Volume 35 Issue 9 - FREE -
The Community Newspaper of Pittsburgh’s Historic Northside
Parks ballot referendum confirmed By Ashlee Green It’s confirmed: This November, there will be a city parks tax referendum on the ballot. Jayne Miller, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (PPC), made the announcement at the “Parks Plan” meeting on Aug. 8 at CoLab18 at Nova Place in the Northside. The meeting was a chance to share with the public the results of PPC’s Parks Listening Tour, which started in Dec. 2018 and wrapped up in April of this year. The Listening Tour consisted of 67 community meetings held throughout the city of Pittsburgh to gather feedback on what residents love and dislike about all 165 of their parks. Photo by Ashlee Green
Lindsay Powell, assistant chief of staff to Mayor Bill Peduto, presents Fresh Fest Co-founders Mike Potter, Ed Bailey, and Day Bracey with a proclamation from the City of Pittsburgh, declaring Aug. 10 to be “Fresh Fest Day 2019.” Fresh Fest is the nation’s first Black brew festival and was held at Nova Place for the second year in a row. Story on Page 27.
Local TV host a “one-man production co.”
Photo by Ashlee Green
This November, Pittsburgh residents will vote on a city parks tax referendum. Jayne Miller, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, made the announcement at a “Parks Plan” meeting on Aug. 8 at CoLab18.
By Alexander Oh
Not many people can say they have held the same passion for half a century, but Northsider Timmy Willis can. He’s been drumming professionally for 52 years. Born and raised in Pittsburgh’s Northside, Willis has performed with the likes of Rated X, The Hot According to 3,400 surveys City Band, and The Marcels. He’s taken by residents of Pittsburgh played at some of the most noover a span of five months, the table music venues in Pittsburgh See PPC, Page 5 including Heinz Hall and the Bene-
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dum Center for the Performing Arts. Though an experienced and recognized drummer, Willis continues to approach his craft with the same fervor and passion he had when he was younger. Only the magnitude of Willis’ aspirations has changed through the years. Instead of playing in small clubs for intimate crowds, he now wants to orchestrate larger performances complete with choreography, wardrobe, and musical arrangements. “That’s why you don’t see me
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playing out in the clubs—Not that I think I’m better than that, but it just doesn’t excite me,” says Willis. “If you want to get together, take off six months, go down to the basement, and put a professional act together, then count me in.” Comparing concerts to classrooms, Willis considers himself an expert on the art of entertainment. According to him, it’s a craft that separates the professional from the amateur. Unfortunately, Willis See Willis, Page 9
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