Squirrel Hill Magazine Fall 2018

A Publication of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition

Squirrel Hill Honors Its 2018 Treasures SHUC Celebrates 45 Years Frick Park Bowling Club: East End Tradition

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This year marks the 49th year of A FAIR in the PARK presented by the Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh.

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Our Mission SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION OFFICERS PRESIDENT Richard Feder VICE PRESIDENT Marshall Hershberg VICE PRESIDENT Lisa Crooks Murphy VICE PRESIDENT Joshua Sayles SECRETARY Barbara Grover ASST. SECRETARY Cynthia Morelock TREASURER Gina Levine ASST. TREASURER Lisa Steindel IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Raymond Baum

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dalia Belinkoff, Rita Botts, James Burnham, Vivian Didomenico, Lori Fitzgerald, Heather Graham, Michael D. Henderson, Martha Isler, Lois Liberman, Joseph Ott, Kathryn Schlesinger, Mary Shaw, Ceci Sommers (Director Emerita), Sidney Stark (Director Emeritus), Erik Wagner, Eveline Young, Chris Zurawsky EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Marian Lien MAGAZINE EDITOR Rosemary Bernth OFFICE INTERN Alana Dickey CONTRIBUTORS Jenna Ammer, Jennifer Bails, Raymond Baum, Rosemary Bernth, Rita Botts, Richard Feder, Barb Grover, Jody Handley, Marshall Hershberg, Solange Lebovitz, Carolyn Ludwig, Martha Raak, Ian Rawson, Shayna Ross, Jen Roupe, Kimberly Saunders, Justin Vellucci, Helen Wilson Squirrel Hill Magazine, Vol. 16, Issue 3, is provided by the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition as a free service to the residents and businesses in the 15217 zip code.

Subscriptions are available for $25/year. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without permission. Printed by Knepper Press.

For advertising inquiries, contact marketing@shuc.org.

All other communications can be directed to info@shuc.org or (412)422-7666.

Please be a neighbor and support our advertisers!

4 | shuc.org

The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition is a non-profit community organization dedicated to preserving, improving, and celebrating the quality of life in the 14th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh.

Volunteer-supported standing committees provide leadership to our community by studying, debating, and advocating positions on issues affecting our neighborhood’s vitality.

A Letter from the Editor Rosemary Bernth editor@shuc.org

Celebrating 45 years is certainly an accomplishment for any community organization, especially the Squirrel Hill Urban Coaltion. To learn more about the history of SHUC, check out the Squirrel Hill Historical Society’s article.

Fall has plenty more reasons to celebrate. The school year begins, bringing new beginnings and changes for some of our learning institutions. Also we are celebrating our Squirrel Hill Treasures, our neighbors who have helped shape our community into the wonderful place that it is today.

I am certainly looking forward to what the next 45 years will bring for SHUC and Squirrel Hill. I hope you are, too.

On the Cover: SHUC celebrates its anniversary at an event hosted by the Squirrel Hill Historical Society (Photo by Eveline Young)

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Fall 2018

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in every issue 8 President’s Message

By Richard Feder 12 What’s New From Our Advertisers

features

14 SHUC Snapshots

18 Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards

9 Familiar Faces SHUC Board Members

By Raymond Baum

26 Tradition Is Recipe for Mineo’s Success

By Ian Rawson

38 Neighborhood Notes

29 The Children’s Institute: A Long History of Amazing Care

By Jenna Ammer

32 Good News from Our Schools 34 Squirrel Hill History The Beginning of the Squirrel HIll Urban Coalition

By Helen Wilson 36 Book Review Rust Belt Boy by Paul Hertneky Reviewed by Shayna Ross 42 Events & Happenings

A participant of the 1978 Happening holds up a Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition balloon. See more historic photos in our Squirrel Hill Yearbook on Page 40. (Photo provided by SHUC archives)

30 East End Tradition Since 1938: Frick Park Bowling Club

By Ian Rawson 37 Classrooms Without Borders Teachers Design Book

By Justin Vellucci 39 Visions of Squirrel Hill: The Next 45 Years

By Ian Rawson and Rosemary Bernth Fall 2018 | 7

SHUC President’s Message

Richard Feder, President Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition info@shuc.org

O

n this 45th Anniversary Year for SHUC, this President’s Page is to discuss some of what SHUC does on behalf of the neighborhood. I do so to give you some historical perspective. I am also hoping that you will offer to volunteer on one of our wonderful SHUC committees that greatly facilitate what the organization can accomplish.

Some of what we do is proactive planning that tries to get ahead of issues we face. Proactive planning is that which identifies issues impacting Squirrel Hill today and estimated for the future. It establishes goals and standards for addressing the issues identified; and develops possible solutions to maintain and improve our dynamic and wonderful neighborhood.

An example of a major proactive plan was the Squirrel Hill Master Plan, which stems from 1990 (yes, nearly 30 years ago) and identified nearly two-dozen development projects that have subsequently been undertaken in Squirrel Hill since then. One of the project ideas from 1990 was to clean up the brownfield (slag dump) located at the City end of the Homestead Greys Bridge in order to develop a new residential community, and an expansion of Frick Park. “Summerset at Frick Park” was begun in 1997, and after $250 million of public and private investment, many of the more than 700 planned residential units have been completed. Many of our SHUC committees worked on this plan, primarily Master Plan Committee and the Commercial Development and Residential Quality Committee.

Another example of proactive planning is the Gateway Plan of 2009, which identified the need for significant public space improvements in the “Gateway to Squirrel Hill” that provides entry to our neighborhood from I-376. We are only nine 8 | shuc.org

years later, but much of the Gateway Plan has been implemented, such as the Welcome to Squirrel Hill sign, wall murals, Post Office parklet, new street lights, “chess-set” parklet, etc. These public space improvements were intended to spark private developments, which are starting to occur along lower Murray Ave. such as the Krause Commons building currently under construction.

Whenever a major or significant project is proposed in Squirrel Hill, whether by the private sector, an institution located in the neighborhood, or by the City of Pittsburgh or other public entity, SHUC will advocate for a robust public input process. Often, SHUC will conduct a public meeting where we ask the project developer to present the project, show renderings of what the project will look like, show plan views so that we can see how the project relates to adjoining properties and to streets and intersections, describe how parking as well as storm water and various “green” aspects will be accommodated, quantify the amount of increased vehicular traffic that may be generated by the development and how that traffic will be addressed, and describe how access to the development by pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders will be accomplished. Based on what we hear from the public, as well as our experience dealing with similar projects, we will provide the project designers with our comments relating to the issues listed above.

As examples, there are two major parks projects ongoing in Squirrel Hill, with the proposed new clubhouse at Schenley Park and the proposed renewal of Wightman Park, being led by Councilpersons O’Connor and Strassburger, respectively. SHUC has been involved in the planning of those two projects from their onset and has helped the two City Council offices engage the public in the design of these two projects. Another example is the proposed Bus Rapid Transit project, where the public input process is being led by Port Authority and City of Pittsburgh. After participating in public meetings and hearing public comments when the project was reviewed in Squirrel Hill and other affected neighborhoods in 2017, we provided comments to the proposed initial design. It took some time, but the agencies did change the project in 2018 to accommodate some of the changes that SHUC and other communities had advocated.

By Raymond Baum, SHUC Board Member

T

he Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition and our community are fortunate to have so many generous people who are dedicated to the wellbeing of Squirrel Hill.

Here are two people we all should thank.

Dalia Belinkoff As a community based, community service organization with one full time employee, a part time magazine editor and a huge agenda, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition depends on its board members not only to attend monthly board meetings but to also be very active volunteers.

From the day she joined the board in June 2017, Dalia Belinkoff jumped right in, volunteering to be on the Squirrel Hill Magazine, Development, and Treasure Dinner Committees. When needed, she puts in time in the office and at key events like the Night Market, Lunar New Year and our public meetings.

Dalia is always ready, willing, and able to be where she is needed.

Dalia’s professional and community experiences are key. She recently retired from her job as staff attorney at the Pittsburgh Office of the National Labor Relations Board. She has served on various community and charitable boards such as Agency for Jewish Learning and as Chair of the Habonim Dror Foundation, a nationwide organization dedicated to supporting and raising funds for Habonim Dror North America, a Zionist, youth-led organization.

Dalia believes in our community. In her words: “I have lived in Squirrel Hill for over 35 years and

have always deeply appreciated it as a diverse, friendly neighborhood, with good schools, restaurants, shops, and other amenities of a big city within a small community atmosphere. I find remarkable the web of interactions that exist between people, institutions, and organizations that enable Squirrel Hill to maintain its character and stability. I wanted to work on the board of the Coalition in order to help maintain all the positive attributes I’ve found in Squirrel Hill.”

Dalia has three grown children, two of whom went to Allderdice. When there is time left, she likes to read, cook, bake, ride horses, ski, bike and auditing Pitt classes through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Pitt.

Eveline Young Eveline Young joined the board of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition in June 2017 and has been incredibly active and effective.

Eveline is intent on continuing to strengthen our community. Eveline and her husband, Professor KaSing Lau, have lived in Squirrel Hill since 1975, where they raised two children all of whom attended Falk Laboratory School and graduated from Allderdice.

Eveline has extensive experience as a community organizer and social planner and says that since retiring, she has wanted use her skills and experience to give back to her community. She certainly has. Her other volunteer activities are too voluminous to completely list here but include serving on the boards of Squirrel Hill Historical Society, Alzheimer’s Association- Greater Pennsylvania Chapter, YWCA of Pittsburgh, and University Alumni Club of Pittsburgh.

Continued on Page 10

Fall 2018 | 9

Familiar Faces

Meet Your SHUC Board Members: Dalia Belinkoff & Eveline Young

Continued from Page 9

Eveline is a third generation Chinese American. She finds Squirrel Hill to be a warm, welcoming neighborhood: “When we moved into our home, each neighbor on our street came to welcome us to the neighborhood.

They now are good friends, and we support each other whenever needed. This is a diverse community, we see people of various religions and ethnicities. When my children were young, I would walk up to the JCC and get daily reports from the merchants on Forbes of their sightings of my children. The neighborhood and the mercantile community provide such warmth. We also enjoy the convenience of being so close to the hospitals and universities.”

Eveline is also enjoying world travel. Her husband is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Chinese University of Hong Kong and Adjunct Professor at University of Pittsburgh. Professor Ka-Sing Lau continues his research in fractal geometry. As a result of continuing research and reputation, he continues to receive invitations to meet and speak at academic institutions world-wide.

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Our nontraditional art supply shop sells affordable, environmentally-friendly reclaimed materials every day of the week. Fill up a bag from our legendary Bulk Section with crayons, markers, pens, notebooks, folders, binders, clipboards, sticky notes, and more! Searching for a one-of-a-kind gift for that picky collector in your life? Got artwork sitting around without a frame? Renovating on a budget and looking for quirky hardware to outfit your dream home? Whatever your project, our Art Supplies, Vintage, Frames, Artwork, Office, and Fabric sections have what you need to save money and the environment at the same time!

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shuc snapshots Notes from your Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition Committees

Litter Patrol’s Good Neighbor Campaign

By Martha Raak

Litter Patrol Committee

By Rita Botts & Barb Grover, SHUC Board Members

The Litter Patrol’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of our residents, individuals who work in our business district, and the many people who spend short periods of time here as they transfer from one bus line to another. We work toward that goal by encouraging residents and business owners to keep sidewalks and streets free of litter in both business and residential areas. A clean, litter-free, aesthetically pleasing neighborhood with a vibrant business community is essential to a satisfactory quality of life.

We have raised awareness of the hazards of litter to human health, watersheds, and wildlife habitats since 2005. Each year we conduct a major Community Clean Up involving about 120 enthusiastic volunteers aged 4-90. Through our Adopt-A-Block program, about 30 regular volunteers periodically (e.g., weekly) pick up litter on streets of their choosing in Squirrel Hill.

In addition, our volunteers remove litter and provide trash collection along Murray Avenue during the Night Markets, as part of our participation in the city’s Beautify Our ‘Burgh program.

Our latest effort is our Good Neighbor Campaign.

Local business owners are committing to keep their sidewalks 1) free of litter, 2) free of ice and snow, and 3) in good repair. All who commit to these principles will receive a window decal to advertise their being a Good Neighbor.

Another opportunity to contribute to the cleanliness and aesthetics of our neighborhood is by investing in a Cigarette Butt Receptacle. For a very economical $50, businesses can purchase a receptacle that will be installed by the city and maintained by the Litter Patrol.

If you are interested in getting involved with the Litter Patrol or have questions about our projects, please contact us at litterpatrol@shuc.org.

14 | shuc.org

Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition’s Litter Patrol is initiating a Good Neighbor Campaign by working cooperatively with the merchants who participate in Uncover Squirrel Hill. There are several aspects to the initiative. The Litter Patrol is offering cigarette butt receptacles and recycling bins to be installed near interested merchants in the commercial district.

The second part of the program is the GOOD NEIGHBOR policy. In order to participate, each merchant must commit to: • Maintaining a litter free sidewalk- sweeping several times per day.

• Clearing sidewalks of ice and snow in a timely fashion • Repairing, replacing and maintaining sidewalk surfaces for safety and appearance.

By committing to these three principles, each merchant will receive a decal to place in a prominent place, a letter of commendation and recognition on social media and in the SHUC magazine.

Please contact Martha Raak or Nancy Latimer at goodneighbor@shuc. org to enroll in the program.

Bike-Ped Committee

By Marshall Hershberg, SHUC Board Member

Since its inception almost three years ago, the SHUC Bicycle-Pedestrian Committee has worked – and continues to work – on a multifaceted agenda to enhance the quality, safety, and accessibility of all forms of transportation affecting Squirrel Hill.

We see transportation improvement as a vital support of SHUC’s mission to strengthen our neighborhood’s residential, economic, educational, and recreational infrastructure and quality of life.

We conduct bi-monthly meetings, and we sponsor, or co-sponsor, public meetings with government agencies and private developers in support of these goals.

Ped-Bike Paths and Trails • Maintaining, improving, and connecting the bicycle trails and paths throughout Greater Squirrel Hill, both internally and externally, as with the Eliza Furnace Trail, the Great Allegheny Passage, and broader networks.

• Pursuing new trails and paths to fill gaps in connections and convenience • Promoting sufficient, convenient racks and other designated items for bike parking that also maintain the safety of sidewalks for all users • Coordinating with bicycling advocacy groups and with local, state, and federal government departments and funding opportunities to improve neighborhood bicycling, pedestrian, and public transit amenities.

Safety • Promoting the safety of all users and in all modes of transportation affecting Squirrel Hill and our region – bicyclists, pedestrians, persons with disabilities, and motorists. We are paying special attention to speed-limit and other traffic enforcement, as well as to traffic-calming initiatives, sidewalks, and crosswalks.

Public Transit Since pedestrian and bicycle transportation complement and support transit trips, the

Committee will work to enhance transit to and through Squirrel Hill. Our interests include the following, among others: • Acting to improve bicycling and pedestrian connections to public transportation • Promoting neighborhood awareness of public transportation initiatives and supporting those which promise to benefit Squirrel Hill, the City of Pittsburgh, and the region as a whole.

We meet on the second Thursday of every other month, 6:30-8:00 PM, at the Squirrel Hill Jewish Community Center. The next meetings will be October 11 and December 13. These are exciting times for all aspects of transportation, and they affect every one of our residents, businesses, and amenities. Accordingly, we warmly encourage you to attend one of our regular meetings and to join our efforts to improve this key component of life in Squirrel Hill.

Contact: Marshall Hershberg, Co-Chair and Coordinator, at ped_bike@shuc.org.

More SHUC Snapshots on Page 20

Say Hi to Murray!

Murray the Squirrel is available for events and visits to local organizations and schools. Call SHUC at (412) 422-7666 or email info@shuc.org to request a visit.

Fall 2018 | 15

SHUC Snapshots

Squirrel Hill Magazine Committee

By Rosemary Bernth, Editor

This year not only marks the 45th anniversary of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, but also the 10th anniversary of the Squirrel Hill Magazine. To view some of our past issues, check out our magazine archives on the SHUC website (shuc.org).

The Burrow Blog In the media world, the ability to communicate with readers is branching out into different digital forms. Although we have a digital version of the magazine on our website, we do not have plans to go entirely digital. Rather, we plan to use our digital components, whether through social media posts or blog posts, to compliment our magazine.

A great example of this is our blog, The Burrow.

The name comes from a previous editor’s play-onwords. The word borough means a small, independent neighborhood —a great way to explain Squirrel Hill’s identity of a small town inside the city of Pittsburgh. The word burrow means to dig, which explains the blog’s ability to uncover timely stories that otherwise might be missed in our magazine.

So the blog is meant to help showcase our community in between magazine issues, as well as provide more in-depth information on our stories.

Contributing Writers We welcome talented writers to volunteer in reporting the news of the neighborhood. Below are a few of our veteran writers: • Jody Handley: By day, she’s a product marketing manager for a software firm, and by night, she’s an active member of Minadeo Elementary’s PTO, several political activism groups, and occasional journalist.

• Kimberly Saunders: Kim has been a part of the magazine committee since 2014 and has a keen sense of editorial and journalism work.

• Ian Rawson: Ian is a retired healthcare executive and is a student in Chatham’s MFA program in Creative Writing. He enjoys interviewing people and sharing their stories and in discovering the lesser-known sources of energy and creativity in this community.

16 | shuc.org

To be a volunteer contributing writer, please email Rosemary Bernth at editor@shuc.org.

Gratitude

by Solange Lebovitz, Contributing Writer It is when you are much older And that you have time to reflect That you happen to ponder About your parents’ life With all their sacrifices Incurred days and nights.

How fortunate you are To have benefited from their love, Their steadfast committment Their unflinching courage In all situations Their constant optimism Despite reversals of fortune.

Blinded in your innocence Of youth and selfish exigencies, You grew up with indifference And complete acceptance Of their beneficence.

And now you wonder What made them so strong So forgiving.

So wrapped up in providing The warmth of their affection, The wisdom of their direction, Their hopes for your future, Their unconditional love.

Their example paves your way, And their aura clings to you Giving you the understanding And the realization Of the extent of your gratitude.

Celebrating Squirrel Hill Milestones 1-10 Years

Amazing Books & Records Bangkok Balcony Blue Monkey Tea Center for Creative Reuse Classic Lines Commonplace Coffee Crazy Mocha European Wax Everyday Noodles GreenLight Juice Jimmy John’s Ka Mei Kidz & Company Northumberland Food Shoppe Panda Super Market Pink Box Bakery Rose Tea Cafe Silk Elephant Sunburst Music Sumi’s Cakery Victoria’s School of Dance

20 Years

61 C Cafe Avalon Exchange The Bagel Factory Balloonatics A Child’s Wardrobe & Adults Too The Coffee Tree Roasters How Lee Kaya Meditteranean Grill New Dumpling & Sushi House Oom Yung Doe Shear Visions Ten Thousand Villages

30 Years

Artist & Craftsman Supply Capriccio Cheeks

East End Food Co-op Eyetique The Framesmith Glassworks Jerry’s Fine Used Records Murray Avenue Grill Pamela’s Diner Pro Bikes Squirrel Hill Shoe Repair Studio One Designs USA Professional Karate Young’s Oriental Grocery

40 Years

Aiello’s Pizza Carriage House Children’s Center C.S. Kim Karate Games Unlimited Invitations Plus Literacy Pittsburgh Lord Duncan Cleaners S.W. Randall Toyes & Giftes Uncle Sam’s Gourmet Subs

50 Years

Philip Pelusi Trying Together

60 Years

Dalmo Optical Eat ‘n Park Frick Park Market Mineo’s Pizza House

70 Years

Orr’s Jewelers Pinsker’s Books & Judaica Squirrel Hill Flower Shop

80+ Years

The Children’s Institute Giant Eagle Littles Shoes Squirrel Hill Cafe Squirrel Hill News Stand Homewood Cemetery

We congratulate all of our Squirrel Hill establishments on the many years of service to our community. We recognize the hard work and dediction it takes to make a business successful.

Here’s to many more years to come!

Support local businesses!

2018 Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards

S

even years ago, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition began a new tradition, honoring some of its finest community Treasures.

People and places make Squirrel Hill a great place to live, play, work and do business, and so on November 1st, we are putting the spotlight on some of our most extraordinary people and places. We are pleased

to announce this year’s Squirrel Hill Treasures, who have eached served our community for decades.

Natalie Kaplan — Founder of Carriage House and a champion of high quality early childhood education and family programming in Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh Chinese School — 41 years of connecting communities through Chinese language, heritage, and culture National Council of Jewish Women Pittsburgh — celebrating 125 years as the first Jewish Women’s organization advocating on behalf of women, children, and families here in the US and in Israel though progressive ideals and advocacy Littles Shoes — The 2018 Place Treasure — three-generations, locally-owned enterprise offering full service footwear expertise and experience, a fixture and anchor in the commercial

Natalie Kaplan At 83 years old, Natalie Kaplan loves to walk through the halls of her former elementary school, now part of the Carriage House Children’s Center (CHCC)which she founded.

“I started it because I felt there was a need to provide quality care for young children and at the time, there wasn’t a whole lot around for families,” she said.

“I’ve always felt the need for children to meet with other children and for families to get together. Having grown up in Squirrel Hill and always loving young children felt like the right thing to do.”

Kaplan has a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development from Penn State and a Master’s degree in Kindergarten Primary Education from the University of Pittsburgh. In 1974, Kaplan served as the executive director of the CHCC, which originally opened on Chatham College’s campus to serve children ages 3 to 5. In 1981, Kaplan established the Infant-Toddler Center of Squirrel Hill at the Wightman School building, in conjunction with the Carnegie-Mellon Child Care Center.

In 1986, when the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition 18 | shuc.org

Natalie Kaplan (Left) poses with Mr. McFeely along with a collegue during the days when the Carriage House was at Chatham College.

(Photo provided by Carriage House Children’s Center)

did not have the capacity or resources to update Wightman School Building to code, Kaplan and the CHCC board came to the rescue and restored the interior of Wightman School Community Building to what it is

today. Over eight non-profits and community groups occupy spaces in the building today, including the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition and CHCC. Kaplan also helped create The Children’s Center of Pittsburgh at Magee-Women’s Hospital and the National Council of Jewish Women Family Court children’s waiting room. She has also participated in countless community boards and committees.

“I feel very fortunate that what has always been

Pittsburgh Chinese School The Pittsburgh Chinese School will be celebrating its 41st anniversary, after being part of the Squirrel Hill learning community for 11 years. Located in Allderdice High School in SquirreLHill, the school serves nearly 300 students and 70 teachers and administrators.

“I think Pittsburgh Chinese School plays an important role for the community,” said Haixai Wang, a board member of the school. The school “promotes the understanding of Chinese culture and heritage for both heritage students and all the people who are interested in Chinese language and culture. The school also encourages the students in community services.”

The idea for the school began when Dr. Cho-Yun Hsu, a professor at University of Pittsburgh and Chinese immigrant, volunteered to teach his and some friends’ children

important to me I can still do,” said Kaplan. “Children are special. You watch them grow and you see what their futures are like. It’s a really rewarding profession.”

Chinese. The enrollment kept growing so much that in 1977, the Pittsburgh Chinese School officially registered with Overseas Community Affairs Council of Republic of China to receive free teaching materials.

“Being the largest Chinese School in the greater Pittsburgh area, PCS has attracted members from the city and surrounding neighborhoods, and has contributed to the Squirrel Hill community in several aspects,” said Justin Hsieh, chairman of the board.

Besides education, the school helps the Squirrel Hill community by encouraging families to shop in the commercial district. The school also provides plenty of volunteer opportunities for students to learn the importance of giving back to the community, including teaching assistants or performing in parades and festivals.

“The future is bright for our school and our students,” said Hong Chen, the current school principal.

Continue our Treasure Award Story on Page 20

Jun Deng (teacher) and Yuxin Zhang (teacher’s aide) helps Third Grade students learn to read and speak Chinese.

(Photo provided by The Pittsburgh Chinese School)

Fall 2018 | 19

2018 Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards

Continued from Page 17

National Council of Jewish Women For over 125 years, the National Council of Jewish Women has been the first Jewish women’s organization advocating on behalf of women, children, and families here in the US and in Israel.

“It has developed generations of female leaders who champion issues such as reproductive freedom, economic justice, ending domestic violence, education equity, and improved child welfare,” said Cristina Ruggiero, executive director of the Pittsburgh Section. “Through our service programs Volunteers at NCJW’s Back to School Store celebrate the beginning of the school year. (Photo provided by Cristina Ruggiero) where we are providing opportunities, tangible goods, and support to those in need, building colwe have reinvented ourselves many times over the laborations with like-minded organizations, harnessing the talent and energy of our members, NCJW years, while still focusing on our mission of serving and supporting children, women and families Pittsburgh Section has been a force of change and in our community,” she said. “As those needs have service.” changed, so have we.”

Ruggiero described the NCJW as an “incubator Ruggiero considered the organization as a group and initiator for many programs and services and of “doer’s,” members, volunteers, and supporters who agencies in Pittsburgh and specifically in Squirrel are passionate advocates for their community.

Hill.” Some examples she cited were the JCC, the “They make us who we have been, who we are, Jewish Association on Aging, and the Jewish Family and who we will continue to be,” she said. “I get to and Community Services-which started as a NCJW’s live my values of service every day through this job.

Friendship Club to help German-Jewish immigrants No matter what task I am focused on at work, I know adjust to life in America. One of its most recent prothat what I am doing will be part of the greater good. grams is the Center for Women, which partners with Having the opportunity to work with and learn from the Jewish Women’s Foundation to help women in strong, smart women has been wonderful. I am defithe community facing financial insecurity transition nitely a ‘doer’ as well; I am immensely grateful for the back into the workforce. opportunity to ‘do good’ every day at my job.”

“By responding to the needs in our community, Littles Shoes is located on Forbes Avenue and has been serving customers seven days a week for 90 years.

(Photo provided by The Pittsburgh Chinese School)

20 | shuc.org

Littles Shoes Littles Shoes has withstood the test of time – making it a Squirrel Hill treasured landmark in a changing retail district.

“People come here to visit, even people that have moved out revist the staff that they’ve grown up with,” said Justin Sigal, third-generation owner. “It seems to be part of the Squirrel Hill stop. The places that keep coming up are the longevity places, the ones that have been here for generations and family-owned.”

Sigal believes Littles not only stays involved with the Squirrel Hill community, but that it also becomes one as well.

“I grew up here,” he said. “Even before I started working, I was shaped by the people that have been here.

The majority of the staff have been here my entire life.

It’s all part of the family.”

Just because Littles Shoes is nearly a century old, doesn’t mean the shoe styles have stayed that way.

Littles has always tried to stay one step ahead of its competition, even if that means going to trade shows in Europe.

“We’ve evolved to bring in different types of products that you really don’t see anywhere,” said Sigal. “The sock game, we try to keep that different and ahead. We definitely try to push the envelope without leaving what brought us here.”

What’s in the future for Littles Shoes? Besides continuing to bring the latest shoes in comfort and fashion, Sigal wants to give the store more of a digital presence to reach customers, which might include a mobile app.

“It’s not necessarily we’re trying to become this huge internet business, but to be a presence on there and also try to incorporate what we do and believe in, which is service and selection,” he said. “We need to start to reach them digitally, but with our personality of the store. We want to keep those personal touches.”

2018 Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards Dinner Reserve Today!

Sold out last two years!

e!

Save the Dat

Fall 2018 | 21

The other

history museum

Call 412-421-1822 and Reserve your Tour of Choice now until November to ✦ view 19th century architecture, ironwork, stained glass, sculpture and landscape design! ✦ explore the symbolism found in American memorial art and landscapes! ✦ participate in treasure hunts to learn of influential & interesting people of Pittsburgh!

English Lane Nursery

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CALL ME NOW! GET THE RESULTS YOU DESERVE!

Congratulations to Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition for 45 years and to Mineo’s for 60 years!

And to Littles for being the 2018 Squirrel Hill Place Treasure!

We are grateful to our latest donors. As a membership-driven organization, we rely on you and your contributions to continue our work of serving you and making our neighborhood an even more vibrant place to live, work and play! Consider joining your neighbors below and become Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition members today! $5000 Robert Levin and Kerry Bron $500 - $1500 Ray and Harriet Baum Joseph Ott Richard & Helen Feder Nancy Bernstein Cynthia Morelock David & Susan Brownlee Lisa Citron & Bill Slivka Berry Barta & Donald Buckwalter Rocco & Vivian Didomenico James & Anne Burnham Barbara & David Grover Lea Simonds Bruce Rabin & Estelle Comay Katelyn Haas & Alex Conrad Barbara Carpenter & Michael Miller $200 - $499 E.J. & Mona Strassburger Mike & Grace Chen Thomas & Patricia Canfield Nancy Foley William Stevens Suella Pipal Maurice & Nancy Nernberg Gloria Kleiman Bob and Judy Dannenberg Hal & Erica Coffey A .J. Kerr Wayne Zukin Richard Ting David & Carol Eibling Rita Botts Gary Frink Eugene O'Sullivan Gary Fischer Frank Brooks Robinson Sheldon & Elinor Levine John & Lucy Douglas Stephen & Lisa Steindel Mark Fichman Mervin & Marcia Stewart Jay and Ilene Fingeret Rosalind Chow $100 - $199 Anonymous Joshua Sayles Dalia Belinkoff R. Donald Hoffman David Zubrow Ralph Lund Katie Parker Rebecca Acer University of Pittsburgh Elliot Oshry

$100-$199 con't Louis & Marcia Swartz Reid & Abby Ruttenberg Irving & Lois Liberman James & Louisa Rudolph Hilary Spatz James Colker Joel & Nancy Merenstein Daniel & Karon Siewiorek Maria Caruso Janet Durick Steven Hernandez Sandy & Patti Berman Lee & Myrna Silverman Erik Wagner Alice Young Charles Stewart Rick & Lisa Murphy Ann Rose Clifford & Rosanne Levine Eveline Young & Kao Sing Lau Kenny Steinberg Wayne Gerhold Farrell Rubenstein William & Sissy Lieberman Saundra Snyder Richard & Karen Brean Alice Buchdahl Mary & Chris Rawson $50 - $99 continued Cornelius Cosgrave Marlene Haus Laura Ellman Marsha Aarons Nancy Pulsifer Erika Strassburger James & Barbara Weiser Ron & Marcia Bandes Alvin & Barbara Rosenfeld Zelda Curtiss Daniel & Rosanne Stead Stephen Robinson Barbara Anderson Laura Ellman Barry & Kathy Kaighin Herbert & Ryna Meyers Barton Schachter Ceinwen King-Smith Alan & Jane Bress James Hathaway & Laura Quinn Kenneth Levin Martin Lubetsky Stephen & Janet Cohen Steven & Marcie Ritter Cherie Maharam Carole Neiberg Charlotte & Marc Graham

$50-$99 continued Reva Rossman Nathan Firestone Lila Horowitz Donald Solow Stanley Levine Johanna Roszner Marvin & Arleen Adelson Yanet Kaplanski Bert Rockman Barry & Yvonne Stein Gary Dubin Stephen Tannenbaum Bernard Bloch Michael & Angela Reilly Joan Markert Ira Frank Tom & Susan Lippard David & Francis Fall Adam & Shosanna Shear Bernard Pinsker Ignacio Grossmann Aya Betensky & Robert Kraut Melvin & Marcia Solomon Van & Paula Hall Lawrence & Eileen Paper Daniel Askin & Ronna Harris Kathleen Lokay Ben Lecrone Clark Lloyd Alex Botkin Up to $49 Helen Wilson Ann Posch Laure Swearinger Ivan Engel Tejas Gokhale Paula Reimer Nancy Hetzel David Pollock Peter Baum Ann Giorgi Cheryl Teplitz James Reitz Karen Greb Phyllis Baskin Mark Dewitt Michael Boyle Barbara Lindner Racille Lazar Carol Emerson William & Phyllis Katz Alex Musicante John Detwiler Yale Cohen Gloria Janavitz

Up to $49 Zarky Rudavsky Joyce Francis Jennifer Ganger Mark Freed Ann Giorgi Albert Treger Karen Greb Cheryl Teplitz Steven Belle Michele Rice Phyliss Caplan Suzie Steitz Leonard Plotnicov Zelda Curtiss Robert Glimcher John Soboslay Allan Cohen Hana Kovanic Asatoshi Maeshiro Eliyahu Gasson Deborah Winn-Horvitz Ethel Weikers Gloria Gottlieb John Soboslay Ashley Priore

Support Our Community By Becoming a SHUC Member today!

匹茲堡龍舟節

Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival

If you are a current member, thank you very much for your support!

Your support is what makes the many exciting developments for Squirrel Hill possible, from brand-new headline events like Squirrel Hill Night Market and Lunar New Year in Squirrel Hill to beautiful additions for our commercial district, including more than $700,000 in streetscape improvements on Murray Avenue, a newly renovated Squirrel Hill Post Office parklet, and more!

Your support is the reason that the ForwardMurray Gateway and stormwater mitigation projects are a priority. And that the Squirrel Hill Magazine can be mailed free of charge, to homes and business in 15217 connecting all of all neighbors to the community.

Your support is what allows us to continue to preserve, improve, and celebrate the Squirrel Hill community we all love. There’s no other place like it! Give today! Let's help keep SHUC around for another 45 years!

Name:

_________________________________________

Email:

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Address: _________________________________________ _________________________________________ Phone:

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Membership levels: __ $500 Advocate __ $200 Neighbor __ $100 Friend __ $50 Family __ $25 Individual __ Other $_______ Payment Method: If check : Please make payable to Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition 5604 Solway Street Pittsburgh PA 15217

Consider becoming a Sustaining Member with a unrestricted monthly gift that you can pay in a convenient, ongoing way! __Yes, please charge my credit card the monthly amount of __$5

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please name your gift $_______

or Credit Card: Visa or Mastercard No: _______________________________ CVV (back of card): ___________ Expiration Date:_________ Signature: _________________________________________

or go to our secured website: www.shuc.org/donate

September30 8:30Am-5:00pm

TH

North Park Lake 10301 Pearce Mill Road Allison Park, PA 15101

Racing

Food

Crafts

Cultural Demos

Marketplace

More!

© Atmhk and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Join us at the Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival on September 30, 2018 for a day of fun at North Park Lake! Watch exciting races or form your own dragon boat and compete against other community teams for medals and awards. Cultural demonstrations, food, I Made It! Market, and other activities will be available, so bring the whole family to this FREE event!

Visit our website for more information about our festival:

pghdragonboatfestival.org

Squirrel Hill Feature

Tradition is Recipe for Mineo’s Success

By Kimberly Saunders, Contributing Writer

W

hen Seattle transplant Michael Yacavino brought his girlfriend to Pittsburgh for the first time, there were three hometown experiences he wanted to share: an incline ride to Mt. Washington, breakfast in the Strip, and a Mineo’s pie.

“I told her if she didn’t like the pizza, it was over,” he joked. He needn’t have worried. Like thousands of customers over the past 60 years, she was hooked on the classic taste after the first few bites.

This year, Mineo’s Pizza House celebrates its 60th business anniversary. From humble beginnings as a local mom & pop pizza place, Mineo’s now enjoys a reputation for “best pizza in Pennsylvania” and has been listed among the top 26 pizza shops in the country.

The Early Years The Mineo legacy began in September 1958 when founder John Mineo, an Italian immigrant residing in Oakland, rented an empty storefront next door to the current location at 2128 Murray Avenue. John put his skills as a baker to work and opened one of area’s first pizza shops. The menu featured pasta and homemade pizza, with optional toppings of sausage, pepperoni, onions, green peppers and mushrooms. A true entrepreneur, John offered all five toppings for the price of four—a deal that still stands today as “The John Special.” John’s signature style was putting pepperoni and some other toppings under the cheese, 26 | shuc.org

which customers continue to enjoy today.

Hardworking and service-oriented, John made all his pizzas from scratch, using homemade dough, Italian tomato sauce, hand-cut fresh vegetables and a special blend of cheeses, grated daily. The Jewish community in Squirrel Hill was surprised to see an Italian restaurant that served pepperoni pizza. It didn’t take long, however, for the shop to develop a loyal following among residents of Squirrel Hill and beyond.

The growing popularity of Mineo’s prompted John to partner with friend Eddie Balestrino in 1960. For the next 20 years, John and Eddie worked hard at making Mineo’s a household name and a Pittsburgh tradition.

Changing Times Sons Dominic and Giovanni, Jr., joined the family business in the 1970’s as teenagers. Today, their children, John, Elissa, and Giovanni III, work in the restaurant as well. The shop is open seven days a week, and there are several family members present every day.

Despite growing competition from local newcomers (anyone remember “pizza bagels”), and national chains, Mineo’s never wavered from its original family recipe for success.

“We do everything old school, just the way my father taught us,” said Dominic. John believed in providing superior service and treating customers and employees like family.

Many employees have been with Mineo’s for decades, including Gary Robinson. “Gary, a young kid from Greenfield, lost his father at an early age and began working at Mineo’s at age 15. My father took him under his wing and taught him how to make pizza and how to run a business,” said Dominic.

Today, Gary is the manager of Mineo’s Mt. Lebanon

location, which opened in 1994. In true Mineo fashion, Gary’s own children and family members are involved in the business, ensuring its success. .

While the original pizza and pasta recipes are still a mainstay at both locations, the menu has expanded over the years to include salads, hoagies, a variety of appetizers and John’s own recipe for arancini, Italian rice balls. The Squirrel Hill pizza house added a full service bar in 2013 and hosts wine dinners and private events.

Customers can eat-in, take-out or have a 12-inch, 8-cut pizza shipped overnight to just about any location in the country.

The shipping option evolved when a good friend of the family, Toby Callet, moved to Florida but had a craving for Mineo’s pizza. The owners figured out they could half bake, then freeze the pie, and ship it priority overnight through Fed Ex, explained Giovanni, Jr. The frozen pies come with simple baking instructions so the pizzas can go from doorstep to tabletop in about 15 minutes.

“We can ship year-round to anywhere in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, for birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions, or if someone just needs a good old taste of home. Overnight shipping is especially high during Steelers’ season. No matter where they live, Steelers fans enjoy having that piece of Pittsburgh while they watch the team play,” he continued.

The Legacy Lives On Mineo’s continues to serve new residents of Squirrel Hill as well as the travelers who grew up in Pittsburgh and stop in when they come home, sometimes right from the plane!

“Customer stories are endearing. They tell us how long they’ve been coming and bring their own children and grandchildren. They like to reminisce about hanging out after high school games at Allderdice or Central Catholic, or how they met here for a first date, or got engaged here,” said Giovanni, Jr. While Brendan Marchione didn’t actually pop the question to Brady Totten at Mineo’s, the legendary pizza parlor did play a role in their relationship.

“I went to Oakland Catholic and Brendan went to Central so we spent a lot of high school weekends at Mineo’s with friends. We went to different colleges but would have date nights at Mineo’s when we were home on break,” recalled Brady.

Founder John Mineo works at the pizza ovens to create a variety of delicious, handmade items, such as the John Special. (Photo provided

By Mineo’s)

When the couple decided to marry last year, they had 20 Mineo’s pies delivered to their Fox Chapel Field Club reception to serve as a late night snack. “Like the Cookie Table, Mineo’s is a Pittsburgh tradition that we knew our friends and families would appreciate,” she added.

Traditions that have been handed down over the years seem to be the secret to Mineo’s staying power.

For three generations, the family has provided delicious, authentic Italian pizza, a friendly atmosphere, and exceptional service. For generations, customers have come back. And so the tradition continues.

“We are so proud and thankful to all of our vendors, employees and customers from Pittsburgh and beyond. They have helped make this milestone anniversary possible,” said Dominic.

To celebrate, Mineo’s will be throwing a big Pizza Party on Oct. 2. Check for details on Mineo’s Facebook page or website: Mineospizza.com.

For our next business profile, read about Aiello’s Pizza in the upcoming Holiday issue of the Squirrel Hill Magazine!

Fall 2018 | 27

It’s amazing how close you are to pediatric rehabilitation and therapy.

WEXFORD BRIDGEVILLE IRWIN SQUIRREL HILL PLEASANT HILLS

When a child comes to us for outpatient rehabilitation, our goal is to make the therapy as fun as possible. We have extensive experience treating a wide range of injuries and illnesses, including speech delays, concussions, feeding and swallowing issues, chronic pain conditions and athletic injuries. Our therapists provide individual attention to each patient, creating a uniquely personal approach.

And with top therapists on site at five convenient locations, kids receive comprehensive outpatient care close to home. To learn more, call 412.420.2362 or visit amazingkids.org.

The Children’s Institute: A History of Amazing Care

By Jenna Ammer, Marketing & Communications Coordinator for The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh

For more than a century, the work at The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh has been driven by a singular inspiration – amazing kids. Strengthening families and ensuring that children of all backgrounds, abilities and needs reach their fullest potential is at the core of all we do.

With early beginnings in 1902 as the “Memorial Home for Crippled Children” on a tree-lined street in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood, the organization later established its true home in the nearby Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, where it stands today as The Children’s Institute.

With educational services for students with special needs through The Day School, child and family services through Project STAR, and outpatient behavioral, physician and therapy services for children and adolescents, The Children’s Institute exists to help amazing children reach their fullest potential.

At The Children’s Institute, we recognize that meeting ever-changing educational, family, and health care needs is a privilege that comes with great responsibility – not only to the children and families we serve, but to the communities in which we exist. From Squirrel Hill’s Northumberland Street – affectionately named “Amazing Kids Way,” to Shady Avenue, to Denniston Street and beyond, The Children’s Institute is proud to have been part of this vibrant neighborhood that has shown tremendous support for our mission for more than 100 years.

In addition to the main location in the bustling Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, The Children’s Institute extends its outpatient physician and therapy services to provide convenient care close to home in Bridgeville, Irwin, Pleasant Hills, and Wexford.

When you’re looking for the right person to help address your child’s health, you want an open ear, an open mind, and experience. At each of our locations, we have all three. For children and adolescents of all abilities, The Children’s Institute offers specialty

care – including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, nutrition services, and more – to address a variety of issues: • Concussions • Chronic pain conditions • Feeding and swallowing difficulties • Orthopedic and sports injuries • Brain injuries • Spinal cord injuries • Developmental delays • Fine and gross motor difficulties • Torticollis and plagiocephaly Each child’s treatment is personalized and family-centered. Because we know the key to long-term success is family participation and understanding, we focus on the needs of the patients and their caregivers. We incorporate families into our therapy sessions, promoting understanding, a sense of collaboration and confidence.

In our experience, this approach is key to our patients reaching their maximum potential and living fulfilling lives.

Learn more about The Children’s Institute’s services and locations at www.amazingkids.org or call 412.420.2400.

This archive photo shows construction on what is now the The Children’s Institute on Northumberland Street. (Photo provided by Jenna Ammer)

Fall 2018 | 29

Squirrel Hill Feature

Frick Park Bowling Club East End Tradition since 1938

By Ian Rawson, Contributing Writer

“It’s quite simple,” said Allen Alexander as we looked out over the carefully-maintained green fields of the Frick Park Lawn Bowling Club in Point Breeze, across the street from the Frick Pittsburgh art museum.

“Whether you’re playing in teams of two or three people, the first player, or lead, throws the jack - a small, white ball - down the greens and that becomes the target,” he explains.

“Players take turns rolling their bowls (not balls) toward the jack. What makes the game so challenging and fun, said Alexander, is that the bowls don’t roll straight, they have a bias, and so they curve. A player has to get a sense of what the greens are like that day, how fast or slow they are, and then understand how their bowl is curving. Whatever the conditions, the object is to “draw to the jack” which basically means whoever gets closest to the white ball wins the point.

“Simple, indeed,” I thought on a recent Saturday morning as players gathered at the edges of the grass lawn, chatting amiably as they removed their bowls from their travel bags to get ready to play. Players often wear white for tournaments, a nod to the game’s British sporting heritage, but on regular league days (Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings) players dress casually in shorts and t-shirts.

On the day I visited the greens, the club members were bowling an “Australian Pairs” tournament in which teams of two players compete, bowling 16 ends. An “end” is when players bowl the length of the green, and then bowl back, which is the next end, and so on.

“People compare lawn bowling to bocce or petanque, which are similar but in English lawn bowling, the greens are like what you’ll find at a putting green and the bowls are not spherical, they curve to the left or right, depending on how 30 | shuc.org

Members of the Frick Park Bowling Club measure how close their thrown bowls are to the jack. (Photo by Ian Rawson)

you roll them,” he explained.

Allen’s British-born wife Doreen is the current president of the club. “When we moved to Pittsburgh we found out about lawn bowling and decided to join the club,” said Allen. “It was a great way to meet people, make friends and become part of a community. We love it,” he added.

During the game, you will overhear discussions among the players laying out strategies to land their bowl close to the jack, or to drive off nearby competitors.

It is a sport of millimeters, and frequently tape measures are brought out to determine the winning shots.

“The rules for lawn bowls are complicated and involve many intricacies.” Eileen Luba told me. She has completed the process for accreditation as an umpire and applies her skills primarily with a measuring tape.

She has applied her own bowling skills to win a national open competition in 1999 and a US championship in 2003, representing the US North East team.

“I learned an interesting fact about lawn bowls in California, where Walt Disney was an avid bowler. He saw bowling as a ‘green-friendly sport’ because you can

fit up to 64 players on a bowling green, using much less space than a golf course.”

The FPLBC has a proud history in Pittsburgh’s East End. The club was founded in 1938. The club house, built in 1940 by the National Youth Administration, was renovated in 2012 to include expanded space for storage, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, and a trophy display.

The club hosts open community bowling on Thursday evenings starting at 7 p.m. The first lesson is free.

For more information on the FPLBC, visit www. lawnbowlingpittsburgh.org or follow the club on Facebook. The greens are available for private events.

Call Allen Alexander at (240) 889-1058 for availability and pricing information. Proceeds go toward greens maintenance.

“We’re a family here”

CAMP PROGRAMS FOR ENTERING 2ND – 9TH GRADERS Check out our website to learn more about our different sessions for all ages!

For more information, contact Robin Anderson, Director, at 224-235-4665 or Robin@cyjmid.org.

www.cyjmid.org

Camp Young Judaea Midwest receives tuition assistance support from Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America

READY FOR A NEW JOB? Are you headed back to the workforce or looking for a career change? The Center for Women has resources to help you get the job that’s right for you.

A Frick Park Bowling Club member guides a new learner on how to properly bowl. (Photo by Ian Rawson)

• Career Guidance • Resume Assistance • Mentoring Program • Internships • and more!

Call today to speak to our Intership Manager!

www.centerforwomenpgh.org | 412-421-4400

Good News from Our Schools

New Leadership to Serve at Minadeo

By Jody Handley, Minadeo PTO President

Minadeo Elementary kicks off the year with new administration. We’re thrilled to welcome new principal Michilene Pegher and vice-principal Scott Gralewski to our main office.

Ms. Pegher is no stranger to our neighborhood.

The Hazelwood native and current resident of Point Breeze taught and acted as principal at Greenfield Middle School before she moved on to lead Manchester PreK to 8.

PPS board member Kevin Carter, who represents Manchester, didn’t want her to transfer. “Mrs. Pegher has been a great building leader and has really been a strong champion for advancing [Manchester] and improving its performance,” he posted to his Facebook page on June 20. “I thought that her leaving the school at this time could disrupt the progress being made there. However, I find her to be a wonderful Principal, the students at Pittsburgh Minadeo will be lucky to have her.”

She plans to apply the same leadership to Minadeo, she said, and is looking forward to joining the community.

“I am extremely eager to meet the families and students at Minadeo,” Ms. Pegher said. “I am blessed to be part of a school community that has so many stakeholders as partners to provide an environment where students can grow academically, socially, and enjoy their elementary experience. “ Ms. Pegher has a master’s degree in Reading from Duquesne University and a certification from Pitt in Administration and Policy Studies.

Vice-Principal Scott Gralewski has served PPS for over 25 years and is certified in Elementary, Special Education, and Administration. A Shaler resident, Mr. Gralewski was a vice-principal for 8 years at Carrick and 2 years at Taylor Allderdice and was a Principal in special assignment for 4 years, working with teachers and administrators on effective instruction within the RISE model.

32 | shuc.org

Shady Side Academy Unveils New Addition

By Jen Roupe, Shady Side Academy Director of Communications

Shady Side Academy dedicated its new science building, the McIlroy Center for Science and Innovation.

Beginning this fall, it will house the school’s Science Department, including 10 flexible classroom/ lab spaces; spaces for research, collaboration and independent study; faculty offices; and an outdoor amphitheater for classes, lectures and events.

The brick-and-glass building incorporates sustainable features that reduce environmental impact while creating teaching opportunities, such as a rain garden that collects storm runoff and rooftop solar panels that supply electricity to the grid. The building is expected to earn LEED Gold certification.

The science faculty is particularly excited about the state-of-the-art, college-level lab equipment that will be inside the building – such as a gas chromatography (GC) machine and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine. With that caliber of equipment, students will be able to do more in-depth experimentation, and advanced classes can engage in higher-level research.

“Not many high school labs have this type of equipment,” said Science Department Chair Dr. Joe Martens. “When our kids go on to study science in college, this is the kind of equipment and methodology they’ll be using.”

Creativity Grows at Community Day School Greater Pittsburgh, CDS is also thrilled to welcome to our campus two Shinshinim, 18-year-old Israeli emissaries who will connect our students and their families to Israel.

Community Day School students can look forward In our Lower School, Kindergarten to Grade 2 will to exciting new learning opportunities this year in our be introduced to a new Language Arts curriculum that vibrant school community. uses authentic texts to teach literacy instruction. A digital Our library and computer labs are being transformed blended learning approach to teaching Hebrew will be into a learning innovation hub dedicated to STEAM educa- expanded to Grades 1 and 2. Students in all grades will tion in a renovation project funded by a Legacy Learning come together bimonthly in multi-age groups for a characLabs match challenge grant and the generosity of the ter education program combining mindfulness exercises Rabin family and many community donors. with middot (Jewish ethical and spiritual principles).

This fall, we welcome to our faculty an additional We also invite all families with children ages 2-5 to Middle School math teacher and Learning Services teacher join us here at CDS on Sunday, September 23 from 10to provide academic support and enrichment. Joining our 11:30 a.m. for STEAM Senses of Sukkot to explore, wonstaff as a Learning Innovation Coach is Jackie Barnes, who der, and create together in celebration of this fall festival holds a doctorate in Learning Sciences and worked most holiday. recently as a Senior Research Scientist at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Thanks to the Jewish Federation of

By Jennifer Bails, Community Day School Director of Marketing and Communications

Allderdice Builds Community Outreach

By Carolyn Ludwig, Contributing Writer

Allderdice students will be welcomed back to their school community with many opportunities available to them, for fostering growth and enrichment. Many of these opportunities are established within our surrounding community. One fantastic program, currently partnering with Global Links and the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, is available to all students on designated half-day Fridays.

Allderdice students can connect with the community and hone their volunteer skills at Global Links during this half-day exchange, which will take place on all of the scheduled eight half-day Fridays this school year. Spearheaded last year by the PTO, this program will now be led by a rising Sophomore. More partners may be added to the program. Further details will be communicated throughout the year.

“Take your Father/VIP person to school” day (held

by PPS annually) was a great success at Allderdice this past May. Mr. Hall, school counselor, led the

surged participation for the day’s engaging activities.

Turnout for this re-envisioned event was outstanding.

Thank you, Mr. Hall, and everyone at Allderdice, The Pittsburgh Promise team, and all the fathers and VIP’s that came out for this special event, showing support for our students, school and community.

Allderdice students pose with the Global Links sign as they learn to connect with the Squirrel Hill community. (Photo provided by Carolyn Ludwig)

Fall 2018 | 33

Squirrel Hill History

Follow Me to Squirrel Hill—The Beginning of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition

By Helen Wilson, Squirrel Hill Historical Society Vice President

The changes taking place in Squirrel Hill in the late 1960s concerned a group of dedicated community activists so much that it caused them to form the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition Inc., or SHUC. In a 1973 Pittsburgh Press article announcing the coalition’s formation, newly elected SHUC president Edwin Grinberg is quoted as saying, “Squirrel Hill, I believe, may be the first middle class urban community in the country to take steps to prevent decay in its neighborhood and to work for improvements and solutions before a crisis prevails.” The key word here is before.

The article emphasizes the proactive view that problems should be addressed before they grew bad enough to destroy the neighborhood.

“I didn’t want to move to the suburbs,” said Grinberg, “and I think everyone else had the same feeling. We loved where we were. It was a grass-roots effort. We knew if it got too bad it would be too late. We raised money to rebuild the streets because Murray and Forbes were deteriorating. We got landlords to fix up their stores. We raised lots of money. We worked with the city. We created a bumper sticker that read, ‘Follow me to Squirrel Hill.’”

Concerns about the community—and the 14th Ward in general—were being voiced as far back as 1966.

Government funding was by necessity going to areas worst hit by blight, so the Squirrel Hill activists felt they had to do their own urban planning. Two of the things they were most concerned about were decent housing for the elderly and young, just-married residents whose plight was hidden behind the neighborhood’s affluent façade.

A 2012 Post-Gazette article commemorating the 40th anniversary of SHUC says that Squirrel Hill didn’t suffer the devastating destruction most Pittsburgh neighborhoods did after the steel industry folded. “We really didn’t have to reinvent ourselves,” Grinberg said, adding that the neighborhood benefited from having a “large educated class from which activists emerged with expertise in areas pertinent to community

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A banner announcing the 1990 Happening hangs across Murray Avenue. (Photo by Patti Hughes)

development.”

Elsie Hillman, one of the two first SHUC vice-presidents, paid the rent for the group’s storefront office through her foundation, “not because anyone expected it,” she said, “but because I wanted to do it. Everybody got into the act.

I think the neighborhood was stronger than it thought it was. It was a very strong Jewish community that was very involved in wanting to keep things the way they were or make them better, and that was a big plus. People really stood together.”

The Post-Gazette article continues by saying that planning for SHUC began in 1971, when “the Urban Affairs Foundation of the United Jewish Federation was asked to investigate symptoms of physical and social deterioration in the area.” Since Squirrel Hill’s population was 45 percent Jewish, the UJF wanted to find ways to prevent Jewish flight to the suburbs, which was happening in many urban Jewish areas nationwide. Squirrel Hill’s advantage, besides being the home of many Jewish temples, synagogues, and organizations, was that it was, simply put, a great place to live.

“The Jewish population in Pittsburgh was predominately in Squirrel Hill,” Grinberg said. “Cities throughout the country saw a mass exodus of Jews to the suburbs, but it was different here. We realized we had such an investment

in Squirrel Hill. All our institutions were there, our synagogues. Rather than have to move, the challenge was to fight to keep what we had.”

At the same time, the early activists were aware that about half of the neighborhood was not Jewish, “We knew we needed to reach out,” said Grinberg, who was then serving on the community relations committee of the United Jewish Federation. “We reached out and, lo and behold, we got momentum.”

From the focused early effort to save Squirrel Hill from disinvestment, SHUC branched out with committees on education, long-range planning and development, care of the parks and trees, and public safety.

One of the most visible signs of SHUC is the community activities it sponsors, something that has been going on since the beginning of the organization. In 1974, the PostGazette reported on SHUC’s plans to hold a street fair with “artists and craftsmen displaying and selling their wares, including “art work, batik, macramé and other techniques.”

Participating merchants were the Coach House, Arthur Moser Associates, Frank’s Men’s Wear, Friedman’s Men’s Wear, Cards Plus, Simon Sez, the Fotoshop, Newman’s, Adele’s and Baskin Robbins.

Ray Baum gets the last word. He says that “people are still concerned about the retail corridor, mainly because it lacks the variety it once had. But retail and housing markets are competitive enough that the coalition can focus on issues its founding members might never have imagined, from crime to stormwater mitigation. It is interesting that after all the work that kept Squirrel Hill from turning downward, 40 years later, stormwater issues are one of the biggest challenges. A lot of homeowners have flooded basements, and most business owners with basements are very concerned.”

SHUC, like Squirrel Hill, is continually reinventing itself.

Anyone interested in learning more about Squirrel Hill history is invited to attend the meetings of the Squirrel Hill Historical Society, held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave. Go to squirrelhillhistory.org to view upcoming lectures and events. Events are also listed in the calendar in this magazine.

Please consider joining the SHHS. Membership is only $15 per year ($25 for families). There is no charge for attending the meetings.

2018 Squirrel Hill Historical Society Meetings Tuesday, September 11: “How Geology Influenced the Landscape Paintings of John Kane” Albert Kollar, Geologist, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, will talk about the relationship between the geology of Western Pennsylvania and the landscapes painted by self-taught Pittsburgh artist John Kane.

Tuesday, October 9: “Getting to Know Our Neighbors: History of the Hill District” Terri Baltimore, Director of Neighborhood Engagement for the Hill House Association, will discuss the history of a neighborhood that has had a long and deep relationship with Squirrel Hill.

Tuesday, November 13: “Nine Mile Run” Wayne Bossinger, SHHS member and historical researcher, will talk about the convoluted history of Nine Mile Run valley, from its early days of primeval forest and salt licks to increasing use of the valley for salt production, gas and oil drilling, slag dumping, and finally reclamation and new uses.

Tuesday, December 11: “The Story of Roads and Bridges in Pittsburgh” Todd Wilson, transportation engineer, bridge historian and author of Pittsburgh’s Bridges, will demonstrate how the development of Pittsburgh’s roads is linked to its bridges. Through historical maps, photographs and other images, Todd will show that when bridges were eliminated, valleys filled in, and streets rearranged when new bridges were built, the results were irregularities in road alignments that seem puzzling today. Todd’s presentation will explain many of the city’s road inconsistencies and abnormalities that make driving in Pittsburgh uniquely challenging.

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Squirrel Hill Book Review

Rust Belt Boy: Stories of an American Childhood by Paul Hertneky Reviewed by Shayna Ross, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Squirrel Hill

Many of those who have grown up in the Pittsburgh region have been brought up by waves of immigrants that have poured into the city over time to seek better opportunities. Those years of steel mills and post-World War II development gave many natives and newcomers much to consider when observing the changing landscape of their home. The evolution of this city and the personal tales of many of its residents allows a beautiful mixture of cultures and histories to combine redefining what makes Pittsburgh so unique, pushing it through its smoggy years and creating a new, but recognizable heritage we all share together. This allows for well-crafted stories like those by Paul Hertneky to make the journey from the past, learning of his grandparents’ ways through Old Country Europe, to his enigmatic future, in which choosing to stay or go is the only option.

Hailing from Ambridge,Beaver County, named for the American Bridge Company, Hertneky learned, watched, and experienced the incredible wave of immigrants fulfilling their dreams of stable, well-paid work and close-knit homes for multi-generational families by working for a worldwide leader of steel production. More significantly, Hertneky also experienced the life of a baby boomer, recognizing the eventual end of the mills of the past generations and being launched into an adventurous, yet unstable, destiny. Written in the form of essays, he dictates his childhood in poetic ways and bringing forth imagery that we can easily see, smell, and hear.

As he ages into his teenage years and adulthood, Ambridge, as well as western Pennsylvania ages alongside him, heading towards uncertainty much like Hertneky’s future.

If you are interested in reading more about local history, check out the newly released and beautifully crafted book, “Squirrel Hill: A Neighborhood History” by the Squirrel Hill 36 | shuc.org

Historical Society. Additionally, if you are curious about the history of the steel industry in Pittsburgh, check out “Meet You in Hell: Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and the Bitter Partnership that Changed America” by Les Standiford. Lastly, don’t forget to also check out an oldie, but goodie, “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” by Stefan Lorant. Be sure to stop by your local library for more!

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The Squirrel Hill Magazine is looking for a part-time advertisement sales coordinator. Flexible hours! Commissionbased! All the nuts you can eat! info@shuc.org

By Justin Vellucci, Contributing Writer

Melissa Donnelly knows Spain.

The native Pittsburgher is entering her seventh year teaching Spanish at Taylor Allderdice High School. She even studied for a summer during her undergrad years at Universidad de Alcala de Henares, 35 miles outside Madrid.

A study seminar this summer led by Classrooms Without Borders, which offers educators and lay-people immersive experiences and professional development addressing Jewish themes and Holocaust history, was different. The Pittsburgh-based nonprofit took 30 teachers to Spain for 12 days. The group, whose Spain experience started in December with intense monthly workshops preparing the teachers prior to travel, also has led seminars in Israel, Poland and Greece. “[My undergrad studies] were just taking university classes in Spanish. This, I feel, was focused on real history I had never learned,” Donnelly said, as she sat recently in the Squirrel Hill branch of Carnegie Library. “I have grown up, since my first year, learning Spanish and Spanish history – and I never knew about this Jewish history.”

The experience, however, didn’t end this summer with insights into the history of Sephardic Jews in Spain. Donnelly is working with three other teachers – Winchester Thurston Spanish teacher Abby Holland, fellow Allderdice Spanish teacher Jen Felton, and Nazareth College and Career Prep teacher Marlee Flaherty – to use images and history taken during the trip into a Spanish language and culture book. In the book, the quartet follow a plush toy bull named Carlos as he traverses the Spanish countryside. One version of the book, which will be printed and also available as a downloadable PDF, will be aimed at young children, a second at more intermediate learners.

“My concept? It’s that I was in grandparent mode and thought, ‘What can we do to help the

little ones learn?’” Flaherty said.

Flaherty sees the book as a launching pad to deeper conversation for her ninth-graders about culture, identity, and issues such as authoritarianism, immigration, and commemoration of a nation’s past.

“I felt that a lot of the issues happening in Spain are very similar to issues happening here in the United States,” she said. “I want to discuss it in terms of Spain and have students extrapolate.”

“I think [I’m going to translate the trip] in little, simple, concrete ways,” added Holland, a Kansas City native who teaches Spanish to pre-K- through fifth-graders at Winchester Thurston’s two campuses.

“I’m teaching a language class but I have some ideas.

My students come from very diverse backgrounds.

I’ll just tell them people from all different faiths come from Spain.”

“We’re so thankful we got to participate in this seminar,” she added. “To me, something like this was a great experience.”

The elementary book will also be translated to French at a later time.

Classroom WIthout Borders teachers work together to compile the first draft of the new book. (Photo provided by Justin Vellucci)

Fall 2018 | 37

Squirrel Hill Feature

Classrooms Without Borders Teachers Design Book

Neighborhood Notes Squirrel Hill Resident Creates Comedic Web Series “Killing it!” follows the lives of best friends Mares and Kaps as they seek out fame and meaning in their almost 40-year-old lives. Co-creator Jonathan Kaplan states, “It’s a story about two idiots following their dreams, driven by their delusions, committed to their friendship- til death do they part. It’s pretty much based on real life!”

“Killing it!” was an official selection​of the webbased content festival, “Stareable Fest 2018” and received a nomination for Best Comedy Short​. Marianne Bayard is pleased to be presenting all 9 episodes of “Killing it!” at the Regent Square Cinema on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 7:30 PM​, followed by question and answer session.

Bayard says “Killing it!” is about following your heart, no matter how hard or crazy or painful it may be.” T ​ he creation of the series has been a labor of love for the actor-comedian duo Bayard and Kaplan, as they live in different states, co-create over Google docs and talk every day on the way to their day jobs in

order to make their dreams a reality.

With season 2 drafted, Bayard has begun to scout out Pittsburgh talent and locations for the 2019 shoot.

“Pittsburgh has so much to offer us- the talent, the crew, the production peeps. Everyone has been friendly and hospitable. ​I can’t wait to start shooting here next year.”

The Regent Square screening follows a similar screening in Boston at the Somerville Theater on September 28 and 29,​and Brooklyn, NY at Videology on October 18th.​Details for all screenings will be posted at www.maresnkaps.com .

“The biggest thing about web-based content -or any content I guess- is that you need to make yourself known to your audience,​” says Bayard. “ So, we’re starting with a grassroots approach, going to the cities we know, where the people that we love live, and getting them to help us spread the word. We are so excited.

We’ve come a long way, and can’t wait to see where we go from here.”

GIFT Program Connects Seniors to Community Eighty- year-old couple Lucy and Sam, (fictional name to respect privacy) glowed with happiness and appreciation when they were presented with a “Thanksgiving To Go” package. They had thought they would have to skip celebrating Thanksgiving.

This beautiful couple did not have the means or ability to shop and prepare for a Holiday meal or family to see that they enjoyed the holiday. That’s why “Thanksgiving To Go” was created by Giving it Forward Together (GIFT) Pittsburgh.

GIFT’s “Thanksgiving to Go” was started so that homebound seniors who can no longer host family dinners or join Thanksgiving meals can still feel a sense of joy and blessing during this important time of year. When memories of yesterday seem far away and loneliness is overwhelming. “Thanksgiving to Go” is a reminder to each recipient that our community really cares and has NOT forgotten them.

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Last year’s “Thanksgiving to G0” was a great success, and we are encouraged to see even greater results and community participation. GIFT is excited about welcoming our chairs: Carmella Wehrle, Emily Anderson, Missy Sovak and committee.

GIFT’s mission is to engage seniors, therefore residents at Cumberland Woods and other senior homes will be the volunteers to assemble the 200 packages.

This participation from residents helps infuse them with a renewed sense of purpose and community involvement. GIFT is still looking for volunteers to help prepare and deliver packages. We would welcome your participation as a volunteer and helping locating those elderly who would benefit from these packages.

Corporate/ Private Sponsorships are available. For more information, please contact Rochel Tombosky at giftpgh@gmail.com or 412-401-5914.

By Ian Rawson, Contributing Writer, & Rosemary Bernth, Editor

A nice feature about Squirrel Hill is the sense of satisfaction and appreciation for the community and its quality of life. When I explain to people on the street that we are celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, they are surprised that it has been that long. When I ask them what they might wish for Squirrel Hill 45 years from now, they struggle to visualize the potential changes.

Larry Grumet is a pizza guy, so he appreciates the familiar shops on Murray. He cites Rita’s as a model citizen, washing the storefront every morning and keeping the area clear all day.

Larry would like to see bicycle rental stands in Squirrel Hill, with so much traffic between here and the universities. He also observes that electric scooters would also reduce carbon emissions in the commercial area.

Doug Wolfe, a teacher in a local community school, hopes that somehow we would be able to create more green space in the community.

Rooftop gardens would also add a healthy atmosphere, especially in some of the Forbes-Murray commercial areas. He wonders if all new commercial and residential developments could be required to incorporate green spaces.

Michael Milch works part time in the former Pinsker’s Judaica store on Murray Avenue. He reports that the owner, Brad Perlman, has repositioned the operation as a café and store featuring Israeli wines. He reflected on the cultural shifts in the region, such as the loss of kosher butchers, as indicators of the need for more flexible and creative approaches to merchandising in Squirrel Hill.

Nathan Pantalone, the General Manager of Dobra Tea, appreciates the resources of Squirrel Hill, with its post office, library, banks, retail shopping and an internationally-flavored food

scene. Nat is investing in his café’s future by expanding the food preparation area, and by offering entertainment such.

“I think Squirrel Hill will develop more technologically and draw more students to CMU and Pitt.”

Bob Michel

“Squirrel Hill will have more affordable housing and 80% of its residents will be SHUC members.”

Barb Grover

“We will have better transportation connections, especially to Downtown.”

Dalia Belinkoff

Fall 2018 | 39

Squirrel Hill Feature

Visions of Squirrel Hill: The Next 45 Years

Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition Yearbook

45 Years and counting!

Do you recogmize any of these moments or people? In the past 45 years, we have shared so many good and happy memories with you, our neighbors! We hope to keep working hard to serve our community and share our ideas on how to keep Squirrel Hill thriving.

(Photos provided by SHUC archives)

Fall 2018 | 41

Events & Happenings

Play in the Park Pop-Up September 9, 11am-2pm Wightman Park Join neighbors at the park for fun, games, and renovation project updates. See pittsburghpa.gov/wightmanparkproject for more information.

Squirrel Hill Historical Society Program Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave. September 11, 7:30pm The Landscape Paintings of John Kane

October 9, 7:30pm History of the Hill District

November 13, 7:30pm Nine Mile Run (See Page 35 for more information on these meetings)

Annual SHUC General Member Meeting September 20, 6:30pm Wightman School Gym Robert Weimar, Executive Director of Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority will be the guest speaker. There will also be a presentation of the 2018-19 board officials.

Squirrel Hill Night Market Last One of the Year!

September 22, 6pm Forbes & Murray Avenue Inspired by pop-up night markets in Asia and around the world, the Squirrel Hill Night Market is a free, outdoor street festival that’s fun for adults and kids of all ages!

Squirrel Hill Farmers Market Every Sunday til November 11, 9am-1pm 5737 Beacon Street Fresh fruits and veggies come to Squirrel Hill on Sunday mornings! Join us and over 25 local vendors at this popular location that runs weekly through November 11.

Uncover Squirrel Hill Oktoberfest October 13, 4-8pm Forbes and Murray Avenue A self-paced, self-guided beer tasting experience in the business district featuring local beers.

Junior Garden Buds October 14, 10am Frick Environmental Center Families with children ages 5 to 10 are invited to join us at the Frick Environmental Center for Junior Garden Buds. This free program is based around the From Slavery to Freedom Garden, established in partnership with Heinz History Center. Explore and experiment in the garden at these monthly events. Join us as we get our minds and hands working as we learn how plants grow and how different people use them.

Uncover Squirrel Hill Upstreet Halloween October 31, 5:30-7pm Forbes and Murray Avenue Bring your children out for a fun night of trick or treating through the business district.

Participating businesses (posters will be displayed so you can identify them) will be handing out treats.

Squirrel Hill Treasure Dinner November 1 Pittsburgh Golf Club Each year we recognize and congratulate three individuals, businesses, and organizations that are integral parts to our Squirrel Hill community and one place in Squirrel Hill that has added historic significance to a community we call home.

Ticket holders will enjoy a cocktail hour followed by a delicious catered buffet supper, with live music throughout the evening. In lieu of speeches, a short, professionally produced film will honor our treasures. Reserve your tickets at http://shuc.org/treasures-reservation/

For more event information, check out our Community Calendar on our website.

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