Brownsville Holiday House Tours & Events
Thanks to an amazing rescue dog named Lucky, a.k.a. TurfMutt, a lucky teacher will win a trip to the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) annual conference, an elementary school will win a $10,000 grant, and thousands of children in grades K-5 will learn science and how to take care of the environment. Lucky is the real-life rescue dog behind the cartoonized superhero, TurfMutt. Through classroom materials developed with Scholastic, TurfMutt teaches students and teachers how to “save the planet, one yard at a time.” To win the “Be a Backyard Superhero” contest, students in grades K-5 submit essays on how they are helping TurfMutt and his band of superheroes, the Outdoor Powers, combat the environmental villains (Carbon Creep, Dust Demon, Dr. Runoff and Heat Freak). Entries are due January 23, 2017, and contest entry deadlines and rules are available at TurfMutt.com. “We are thrilled to create the new TurfMutt Teacher Award where we will send one teacher to the NSTA annual conference next year. Highlighting teaching success and investing in professional development leads to better learning for students,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and Lucky's rescuer. “The $10,000 grant gives the winning school enough money to do a significant project - like install an outdoor classroom, a teaching garden, or another environmental education project
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of their choosing.” Selecting winning schools based on the strength of the student entries, the TurfMutt program has awarded $35,000 to schools nationwide since 2010. This year, a teacher at the winning student's school will also be awarded a trip to the 2017 NSTA conference. The TurfMutt environmental education and stewardship program has touched more than 62 million children, educators and families, since 2009 and was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute's (OPEI) Research and Education Foundation. TurfMutt program materials are free and aligned to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) standards for grades K-5. In 2017 TurfMutt will once again appear on the Lucky Dog show, and TurfMutt's personal, home habitat will also be featured in the 2017 Wildlife Habitat Council calendar. TurfMutt is an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. FMI: TurfMutt.com
The Brownsville Northside Beautification Committee will showcase its neighborhood Dec. 10-11 when doors will swing open on seven festively decorated homes to raise funds for community projects in the historic district. This year's self-guided tour will include three properties that are new to the bi-annual event - 300 Front St., 103 Barnett Ave. and 502 Market St. The Front Street home was built in 1855 by Congressman John Littleton Dawson and later served as the residence for Adam Jacobs, a riverboat captain and boat builder, and the Robinson family, local merchants. The Barnett Avenue home is fully constructed of recycled materials from razed structures in the area. Built by “Gypsy Steve” and “Uncle Charlie” for a local businessman in the 1970s, unusual features include marble, slate and wood from torn down structures in Brownsville, Belle Vernon and Washington, beams from long-gone schools and bathtubs from a nowdemolished early 20th century hotel. The third stop is Market Street Emporium, built in 1902 and currently an eclectic retail shop, which will extend its business hours for the tour. The tour also includes a collection of 19th century homes built by some of Brownsville's wealthiest businessmen, whose lifestyles are reflected in the rich finishes and architectural embellishments on the interior and exterior of their residences - Tiffany-stained glass windows, marble mantles, beveled-glass windows, inlaid hand-made parquet floors, grand and circular staircases, a
turret and mid-1800s “painted glass” window. The period homes are 131 Front St., 209 Front St., 212 Front St. and 514 Market St. Each home will be festively decked out for the fundraiser. Decorating at some of the larger homes has been underway since late September. The varied interiors will feature Victorian decorations, live greens and a variety of themed trees and rooms, such as Western and hunting motifs at the Barnett Avenue home. Tickets are $15 per person for the selfguided tours. The properties will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 10 and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 11. Tickets will go on sale 30 minutes prior to the start of the tours at Brownsville Fire Co. 1, 520 Market St. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Also that night, the congregation of the 156-year-old Christ Church Anglican, 305 Church St., will be holding a special service, beginning at 7 pm. It is based on the first American prayer book written in 1789. Brownsville Historical Society also will be conducting candlelight tours at Nemacolin Castle, a National Trust landmark located at 136 Front St. The December calendar for the 22-room house mansion calls for doors to be open Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Dec. 28 and Dec. 29 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and closed Dec. 24, 25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for children 12 years old and under.
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